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.

I had written Complications, but thought of a new version of the story.

Chapter 5 – First Day

"So ye haven't given up on the city yet?" Carson greeted Melody as she entered the infirmary for her first official day.

"Nope. Been taking a few long walks on the piers and in some of the sections that are labeled as safe. I even know of three ways to get from here to my quarters." Mel batted her eyelashes and gave a small bow.

"That is quite an accomplishment. I don't think I know of three ways to get to my quarters." Carson winked back at Mel.

"So, what shift am I going to have?" Mel pulled a PDA out of her coat pocket so she could take some notes.

"Well, it's a bit different here on Atlantis than on Earth. The planet itself has a thirty-hour day, so we decided to have three ten-hour shifts. I usually take the first shift at six and Doctor Martinez has the third shift, so you get the middle shift."

"So that would be the equivalent of four in the afternoon until two in the morning?"

"Or the military people would say sixteen hundred to twenty-six hundred hours. The other doctors fill in as needed. You get one full day off, and usually you work only half shift or less on another day. We'll have to work out what days you want free."

Mel punched that into her PDA. "What about on call?"

Carson sighed. "If you are in the city, you are pretty much on call most anytime, especially if we need someone in that specialty."

Mel smiled. "And since my specialty is Emergency Medicine, I will get called often."

Carson smiled back and chuckled. "I think ye have the hang of our system. It's not as bad as when we were interns, but some days you will find yourself praying for your bed."

"Do we go off world or to the mainland often?" Mel was looking forward to visiting even more planets.

"You've been offworld fairly often, haven't ye?" Carson noted Melody's nod. "You may be utilized more often since you have the experience. I've two residents who haven't been offworld very often, so I may pair you with one or both to give them the experience."

"Have you started in on any of your horror stories Doc?" Colonel John Sheppard came limping into the infirmary supported on one side by Teyla and the other by Ronan and hopped up onto one of the exam tables.

"What? You mean the ones about how AG-1 comes back from nearly every mission with some hurt that we have to bandage?" Carson smiled and winked at Melody as he moved to grab a stool so he could check Sheppard's leg. He sighed as he peeled the boot and sock off. "What did ye get into this time, Colonel?"

"That would be walking off a cliff into a hidden ravine filled with brambles. And I thought I was graceful?" Rodney brought up the rear and dropped his gear on the floor.

Mel reached over and cuffed McKay on the back of his head. "Ow, why did you do that?" Rodney rubbed the sore spot.

"Because I can't reach that far," Sheppard growled. "Thanks, Doc."

"You are so absolutely welcome," Mel grinned at Sheppard and then McKay.

"You've hardly been in the city a week and already you're a pest," Rodney scowled at Mel before hopping up on the nearest free exam bed.

"Doctor Hayden, would you be a dear and get started on the post on those three? Nurse Patel will help you." Carson nodded at Rodney, Teyla and Ronan before turning his attention back to Sheppard.

"Well, who wants to go first?" Mel looked at her 'victims'.

"I will, Doctor Hayden." Teyla moved towards the bed Rodney hastily abandoned.

Mel went about her business of checking Teyla's vital signs as Nurse Patel noted them on the chart. After the exam was complete, Ronan slid effortlessly onto the bed Teyla had vacated. Just as Mel was starting his exam, they both turned to the commotion that was beginning on the other side of the infirmary.

"Rodney will you move off a wee bit?" Carson's voice was quiet but full of steel.

"Yeah, Rodney, back off!" Sheppard's voice was full of plain annoyance.

"What was I doing wrong?"

"You are getting so close you may as well sit on my lap!" Sheppard growled.

"I was only trying to see what Carson was doing!" Rodney sounded like a petulant child.

"Rodney, Doctor Hayden is the one who will be conducting your post-mission exam, so will ye go over by her exam bed?" Carson asked quietly as he continued to clean up Sheppard's foot.

Rodney skulked over to the other side of the room, and began to play with one of the small scanners sitting on the table.

"Rodney, are you supposed to be playing with that?" Mel asked, one hand out to receive the scanner.

Rodney huffed once, and laid the scanner in Mel's hand. The moment it made contact with her skin, the scanner came to life, making soft chirping sounds.

"What did you do?" Rodney moved to look over Mel's shoulder at the readout screen.

"You put in my hand! I did not touch any of the buttons." Mel was staring at her hand and the chirping scanner.

Carson came over to look at it. "You have the gene, don't you?"

Mel looked over her shoulder at him and smiled. "Apparently in spades. I guess it helps being a cousin of O'Neill's."

Rodney stood looking at Kate with his mouth working like a fish's. "You are related to General O'Neill?"

"Only sixth cousins through both our mother's sides, but that is the side of both of us that has the gene." Melody looked at Carson again. "I would have told you sooner, but these guys came in and spoiled the whole thing!"

"I wonder how strong your gene is," Carson quietly asked, not realizing he had actually put a voice to his thoughts.

"I guess it's very strong, or at least Caroline Lam thinks so. She was comparing it to the data you had compiled on Sheppard and O'Neill, and it stronger than O'Neill's."

Carson gasped. "How is that, love?"

Mel laughed. "I guess it helps to have O'Neill ancestors who were first cousins marry and have my great-grandmother! Caroline speculated that that amplified the amount of gene transmitted to at least the next generation."

"How much time have you spend in the Chair?" Rodney asked eagerly.

"I spent most of the last year in Antarctica, both as a medico and for training on the Chair."

"How good are you Doc?" Sheppard asked, looking at both Carson and Rodney.

"I have pretty good control of the drones if that's what you mean," Mel smiled at Carson, who blushed.

"That's a long time past, love, and we don't discuss it anymore," Carson looked furtively over at Sheppard to reaffirm that.

"Yeah, I've forgiven the Doc for nearly killing me with that drone. But I haven't forgiven him for not finishing with pulling these nettles out of my feet!" Sheppard brought everyone's attention back to the reason AG-1 had come to the infirmary.

"Doctor Hayden, we will talk later?" Carson whispered before walking over to finish up with Sheppard.

I guess we will. Mel thought to herself as she resumed her examination of Ronan.