Aftermath

By Ann3

Writer's Note: I must admit that I love the relationship between Carson and Laura - they're both so well suited ! So for all you other slushbuckets out there, here's a little private moment between them which sets up the end of the story. Enjoy !

Chapter Eighteen

While You Were Sleeping

He was getting there. Slowly, still sometimes painfully. But Carson Beckett was getting there.

Much of that progress had come, in time honoured tradition, by the protective closing of family ranks. John Sheppard's orders, Ronon's glowering presence outside his quarters, had ensured he'd not been disturbed.

For those with a really serious death wish, Laura Cadman took pride of place in the defensive line. As Carson's self appointed nurse and counsellor, she guarded over her charge with all the fierce protectiveness of a lioness protecting her cubs.

Even while he slept through thankfully calmer dreams, she still held him tightly wrapped in her arms. And when he did sleep, he'd do so for hours, giving her all the time she wanted to gently re-claim him.

He'd slept soundly through the whole night again, for which she was deeply, and gratefully, relieved. Curled up in her arms, pressing her hand, with gentle charm, against his heart, he lay calm in the peaceful sanctuary of his dreams.

Snuggled against his back, her head pillowed by the curve of his shoulder, Laura was on the verge of joining him there – a sleepily mumbled, chiding brogue startling her out of her thoughts in the most welcome of ways.

"No' that I'm mindin' it, love, but you're spoilin' me somethin' rotten…"

She was, too, she had to admit, but… hell, why stop, when she was enjoying it as much as he was…?

"Yes, baby, I know… yes, I'm spoiling you something rotten…" she grinned, gently kissing his neck – leaning closer to nibble his ear, before growling a playfully menacing Mafioso afterthought inside it. "Why…? You got a problem wi' that, sweet-cheeks…?"

Hints of dimples graced those sweet-cheeks as Carson shook his head in wisely rapid denial. He'd learned, very early in this wonderful relationship, that you did not mess with Laura Jane Cadman

Instead he eased himself onto his back so that he could look at her properly, treating her to a smile that could have melted the Arctic.

"No, love, o' course not… it's jus' somethin' I'm still gettin' used to, wi' havin' ye in my life, an'… I – I couldn't ha'e come through this without ye, love… I really should ha'e told ye that 'fore now…"

If not for the very real seriousness on his face, Laura might have burst out laughing. Her commanding officer may have led the field in the 'I'm-just-too-darn-cute-to-be-reprimanded…' stakes. But Carson 'Bambi Eyes' Beckett, always a close second, now posed a serious threat to John Sheppard's title.

The expression within them now would keep her in teasing credit for months to come, but – well, until he fully recovered from this horrific ordeal, she soberly realised, that would have to wait.

So instead she just smiled, returning that seriousness with the reassurance she'd already sensed he needed

"You've never needed to, baby…" she said at last, still gently stroking his hair back from his temple, sealing her next words with a gentle kiss against it. "Being there for someone you love when things get rough for them… well, it's all part of the deal…"

Rewarded by a shyly delighted smile, she then grinned, confident enough now for some gentle teasing.

"And you'd better get used to the spoiling bit as well, Kilt Boy… 'cos that's a lifetime deal too…"

It was a lot for a still healing mind to take in. And it would take an even greater effort for him to reply. Even when he did finally find his voice, the words that tumbled out didn't make a whole lot of sense.

"L – Lifetime…? Ye – Ye mean we're…? I – I mean, we're that serious, an'… an' everythin'…?"

Laura couldn't help it. That face, those eyes, that tongue tied stammer… it was just too much to take.

"Well, sure, babe… I mean, you did invite me to meet your mother…" she said at last, still laughing – too enjoyably occupied in snuggling against his chest to notice how this teasing had affected him.

Perhaps it was her own tiredness, too, which prevented her from sensing the subtle shift in his mood. He was, after all, still softly stroking her hair, so she had no reason to think that anything was wrong. So as Laura settled, still smiling, more snugly into his arms, that change in his mood passed unseen.

Lulled by his warmth, the soothing steadiness of his heartbeat, she was asleep within minutes. But for Carson Beckett, it was a wholly different story. His night's sleep was now well and truly over.

Stunned by what he'd just heard, its many implications, he was still struggling to take it all in. Love…? Lifetime…? Meeting his mother…? God, it made his head hurt just to think about it.

One word especially kept spinning around that head. One word had just turned his world upside down.

Lifetime.

The rest of his life lay ahead of him. He had so much within it to look forward to. So much to live for.

Gratefully resting his head against his pillows, he then resumed a now familiar study of his ceiling. For more reasons than his addled mind could count, Carson Beckett had one hell of a lot to think about