Author: Jadelyn Tate
Story: Falling In the Black
Rating: T (just to be safe--it won't get up to NC-17 but I honestly don't know how mature it will get)
Disclaimer: I own no one but Nicole Scott.
Short summery: None
A/N: This focuses mostly on an OC dealing with life in the Pegasus galaxy from Season one through…whenever I end it. :D Also, this is for my own personal prompt challenge of 50 prompts. If I get enough interest, I may LJ community the prompts.
Thanks: To wild_force71 (aka Wild Force Ranger on ) for all her help as a sounding board. :D

Prompt: # 6 - Care

Nicole looked up when the door of her living quarters chimed. "Come in!" she called, opening the door. Standing in the doorway, looking exhausted, was Carson.

"Car!" she yelped, rushing over to him as he flopped down on her bed.

"She's gone," he whispered, head in his hands. Nicole frowned. She knew he'd been working on something to do with a vaccine against the Wraith but this was the first time she'd actually been able to speak to the man since he'd originally left for the planet.

"Carson, who are you talking about?" she asked, something in her chest tightening. Carson looked up.

"Perna," he whispered eyes misty. "The Hoffan woman I was working with. She took the inoculation and it killed her."

"Oh no," she breathed, sitting down and hugging him.

"And to make things worse, they're not stopping the inoculations," he whispered into her shoulder. "They're so determined not to be food for the Wraith that they're going to give it to everyone, regardless of the thousands who will die."

"But it won't work," Nicole said, shocked, leaning back to look at him. "Once the Wraith realize how dangerous the Hoffans are they'll simply destroy the planet from the air."

"Trust me, we tried explaining that but they didn't care," Carson said, wiping at his eyes. "They're convinced the Wraith will simply leave them alone."

Nicole couldn't say anything. The idea that the Wraith would leave a group of people essentially poisonous to them alone was laughable. Pushing her thoughts to the side, she focused on her friend.

"When was the last time you slept?"

"I don't know," he whispered, not looking at her. "I was so excited about the possibilities I didn't think of it and then when the sick came..."

"Okay, then when was the last time you ate?" she asked, biting back comments about his lack of self-care. Carson shrugged.

"Don't rightly remember."

"Alright, come on," she said, standing and pulling him to his feet. "Teyla's making Athosian stew tonight. Let's go get some before it disappears."

"The one that has the little potato things?" he asked as his stomach growled. Nicole's eyes softened and she nodded. In the months they'd been friends, she'd learned that Carson tended to get very childlike when tired or sleepy and it never failed to remind her of her brothers.

"Yeah, the one with the little potato things."

~~*A*~~

An hour later, Nicole was helping Carson, who'd nearly fallen asleep during dinner, back to his quarters. She was halfway there when they ran into Radek and Peter. The Brit took one look at them and then moved to Carson's other side, taking most of the Scotsman's weight.

"Which way?"

"To the transporter at the end of the hall," she said, shifting a bit. Radek followed them silently, holding his and Peter's tablets. With the Brit's help, they arrived at Carson's quarters much more quickly than she would have on her own. Gently, the two set him down on the bed and within minutes was dead to the world. Nicole rolled her eyes.

"Peter, help me get his jacket off," she whispered. Between the two of them, they were able to divest the Scotsman's jacket, shoes, and socks. Nicole went into the bathroom while the two men got his pants off and tucked him under the covers. Returning, she frowned at the doctor.

"I don't think he slept at all off-world," she whispered, reaching forward and running a hand over his hair. Peter shook his head.

"I think you're right," he agreed. Radek sighed.

"I heard what happened. Terrible loss," he agreed.

"I don't think it was just the mass human loss that got to him, though that was certainly part of it," Nicole whispered. "His partner, the Hoffan woman working with him, was one of those who died."

"Oh, poor man," Peter said, running a hand over his face. He glanced at Nicole. "I take it your staying here?"

"Someone's got to keep an eye on him," she agreed with a yawn.

"He's a grown man," Peter pointed out. "Are you sure?"

Nicole gave a wry smile. "Even doctors need someone to take care of them," she told them. She frowned a bit. "Sometimes especially doctors."

"I can watch him while you go get a few things," Radek offered as Peter smiled in amused agreement. Nicole nodded, standing.

"Thank you," she told them, glancing at her friend. "I'll be right back."

~~*A*~~

"How long has she been here?"

"I don't rightly know. I woke up and found her asleep in the chair."

"She was greatly worried about you at dinner last night."

"She was?"

There was silence for a minute as Nicole struggled to remember the night before. Teyla spoke up again just as everything came back to the linguist. "Do you remember dinner last night?"

"I'd be surprised if he did," Nicole mumbled as her eyes finally opened. Standing in the Scotsman's quarters was Major Sheppard, Teyla, and Elizabeth. She yawned and made a face as she straightened in the chair she'd fallen asleep in.

"Lass, what happened?" Carson asked, moving over to her. Nicole shrugged as she fidgeted, trying to work the creaks out without outright stretching.

"You pretty much passed out on the way here," she explained, blinking at him. "Peter and Radek helped me get you settled."

"And you stayed to keep an eye on him?" Teyla asked her tone approving. Nicole shrugged, not looking at anyone.

"I'm used to taking care of people," she said.

"Lass, you didn't have to look after me," Carson said. "I'm a grown man; I can take care of myself."

Nicole looked up at him, frowning. "Everyone needs to be taken care of sometimes," she told him disapprovingly. "Even grown men."

His eyes softened and he smiled at her in understanding. "Aye, I suppose they do," he agreed quietly.

Nicole smiled a bit. "So what do you remember about last night?" she asked, curious. Carson made a face at the smirking group.

"I remember…going to see you and heading to the mess," he said, glancing at Nicole. "After that everything's a bit of a blur."

"So you don't remember nearly face-planting in your stew?" Major Sheppard asked in a teasing tone. Carson's eyes widened as the three women hid smiles.

"Oh, no, I don't remember that," he said, frowning. "How out of it was I?"

"Pretty out of it," Sheppard said. "You didn't sleep at all on Hoffa, did you?"

"Not really," he admitted reluctantly. Elizabeth nodded.

"Alright, take the day off," she ordered, speaking up for the first time since Nicole had awoken. When Carson looked ready to argue, Elizabeth glared at him. "That's an order Carson. Your team can handle things for a day."

Nicole smiled, standing. Elizabeth turned to her. "You too, Nicole," she ordered. The linguist opened her mouth to argue but stopped at the woman's expression. "I happen to know for a fact you haven't taken a day off since we arrived. No going to the Culture Center today, understood?"

"Yes ma'am," she mumbled. Carson, Teyla, and Sheppard all chuckled at her petulant pout. Elizabeth smirked.

"I am not General O'Neill and you are not Dr. Jackson," she reminded her. "Don't make me give executive orders about how often you can work."

Sheppard, Teyla, and Carson all frowned but Nicole ducked her head, understanding the message. "Is anyone else confused?" Sheppard asked a bemused expression on his face.

"Nicole's old boss, Dr. Jackson, was known for having a couch in his office at the SGC so he could get a few hours sleep in between each working day," Elizabeth explained, smiling.

"He didn't often leave the mountain," Nicole agreed. "It drove General O'Neill batty."

Sheppard smirked. "So can I order McKay to relax?" he asked, almost bouncing in excitement. Carson and Nicole exchanged amused looks as Elizabeth smiled.

"If I thought that would work, I would have done it by now," Elizabeth retorted as she, the major, and Teyla left. Carson and Nicole both chuckled as the door closed.

"Thank you, lass," Carson finally said after a few minutes silence. Nicole ducked her head, a small smile on her face.

"Wanna watch a movie?" she asked, ignoring the thanks. "I have a few on my laptop."

"Just how much stuff do you have on that laptop of yours?" he asked. Nicole shrugged.

"I don't like being bored," she told him a she worked on bringing up her list of movies. "So I put as much as I could on here before we left."

Carson chuckled. "So what movies do you have?"