Disclaimer – I have no claim on Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis other than the chance to live out a few fantasies. Dr. Melody Hayden is my own creation and alter ego in this story.

Chapter 3 – Getting to Know You

Mel was confused by the sudden chilliness that had settled around Elizabeth as the two women made their way to the infirmary. I think Radek has a fan club, and she's not happy about sharing him. Like I have any designs on him anymore? I haven't been 'in love' with him for way longer than ten years, and same with him. But I think Miss Elizabeth's feelings have been hurt by my presence.

"I am sorry if Radek and I made a bad impression." Mel glanced over at her new boss.

"You did no such thing. Radek is entitled to having a past." Elizabeth answered with ice dripping off her tongue.

"Hey, I didn't come here to get into a fight over my ex-husband. I'll turn around and leave on the Daedalus if you want me to." Mel didn't want to start out with her boss like this.

Elizabeth stopped for a moment and turned toward Melody. "No, I am sorry. I am acting like a jealous schoolgirl over nothing."

"Does Radek have any clue how you feel?" Mel asked gently.

Elizabeth's eyes went wide with shock and surprise at the question. "No! I would never dream of it. The ethics of it alone are staggering. I am his superior. It would completely inappropriate."

"Wow. I never felt that passionate about him, and I was married to the guy for five years! And the way he was looking at you in the lab, I would venture a guess that Radek feels pretty strongly about you."

Elizabeth shook her head slightly to clear it. "Like, I said, it wouldn't be appropriate."

Mel nodded. "I'll keep it to myself, but a word of advise?"

"Yes?"

"Radek is too shy to make the first move." Mel winked at Elizabeth.

"Really?" Elizabeth looked vaguely confused.

"Elizabeth?" Both women turned to look down the corridor to see who was addressing the leader of Atlantis.

"Carson, I would like you to meet Doctor Melody Hayden." Elizabeth was glad for the interruption.

Carson held out his hand, and Mel reached out to shake it. "I have heard a lot about you from everyone at Stargate Command. They think you walk on water." Mel was laughing slightly as she related this.

Carson blushed but kept looking into Mel's eyes. "I really don't walk on water, but they are entitled to their opinions. Elizabeth, should I take this good doctor off your hands?"

Elizabeth looked slightly relieved. "You would do a much better job at showing her around the infirmary."

Mel began to follow Carson, but turned around and shot a look at Elizabeth. "If you ever need to talk about Radek, just let me know. He is really a wonderful man."

Elizabeth smiled. "I've noticed." She turned and walked back down the same corridor she had led Mel on.

"You know Radek?" Carson's voice was so close to Mel's ear that she jolted slightly. "Sorry, lass, didn't mean to startle you."

"Yes. I think Doctor Weir was more than a little shocked to find out that I had been married to Radek for five years."

Now it was Carson's turn to be flabbergasted. "Radek was married? He's never mentioned anything about it."

"I guess I need to start at the beginning. We were together for ten years, five of those married, we got divorced amicably, stayed very good friends, and now it's been ten years since we split up." Mel looked at Carson to see if he was keeping up. "I'm surprised that he hasn't mentioned me, because he sure has mentioned you in his letters." Mel saw Carson shake his head slightly. "Wait, has he ever told you about his good friend Humr?" Mel started to grin.

Carson nodded emphatically. "Yes, he has. He never said that he was married to Humr. In fact he never said that Humr was a woman."

"Humr is Czech for lobster. It's his little nickname for me from when we were doing undergrad summer school together. I got sunburned so bad that summer I looked like a lobster."

"Well, here we are at the infirmary." Carson led her through the doors. "I won't have you on the schedule for a few days so you can unpack and get to know the city a bit. The Daedalus won't be leaving again for nearly a week, so we will be slightly overstaffed for that time."

Mel walked in the doors to the infirmary, and then just started to gawk. "Wow! This is huge in here!"

"Yes, it does have the feel of a cathedral at times. We also have several of the other laboratories at our disposal." Carson chuckled. "You will get to know where everything is in time. I won't give you a formal tour until you are ready to take over for Doctor Casper in a few days time."

"By the way, thank you for asking me here." Mel blushed slightly as she looked at Carson. Sam never told me about those blue eyes! She is going to pay dearly next time I see her!

Carson smiled. "You came highly recommended from everyone in the Stargate program. Quite a few thought you should have come here in the first wave." Radek, you sly old dog! You never told me you had a red-headed woman in your past!

"Really? I know I had heard a few rumblings at that time, but I was in the middle of a tricky problem with the Tok'ra, and Jacob and Selmak needed me to stay and finish. I was glad I did, because I was able to catalog a whole new group of antibiotics that they're trying to duplicate on Earth."

"Did you now? We'll have to talk in greater detail about that sometime. Have you been shown the way to your quarters yet?"

Mel smiled coyly. "Are you trying to get rid of me already?"

Carson blushed again. "No, but you do look bit tired, and you probably want some time to acclimate yourself to your quarters."

"No, I haven't been to my quarters yet. I am in section D, level 10, room 14."

"Really? That's just next door to me." Carson smiled.

Wow, I'm going to live next door to Blue Eyes! "Then lead the way, Boss."