Obviously he had had too much Power Bars in combination with black coffee, since now his stomach was going haywire and kept him from thinking.

With a pitiful face Rodney dragged himself into Carson's office. "Anybody around?" he called, not getting a response, "Carson? Car...?"

That moment Rodney lost his breath, he leapt backwards holding his forehead with a hand. Alert he stared at the swinging metal bookstand her had just run into. What was that doing in his way? Had Carson rearranged his furniture?

Quickly Rodney grabbed one of its lower shelves to keep it from crashing onto him, but he wasn't too successful with it, the topmost shelves kept on swinging, some books fell down closely missing his head. He was about to let out a relieved sigh as a final jerk went through the bookstand.

Fearfully Rodney looked up and was showered by a swarm of neatly folded papers. Slowly he got down and collected them.

As he had picked up the last paper he ventured to unfold it and have a curious look. Then, as he began to read the first lines, Rodney realized that he had found a little treasure:

Dear Mum,

Hopefully you are all well. (I'm sure you are, because you follow all my prescriptions, don't you?)

I for my part am kind of well, too. Despite of the fact that I'm bloody lonely without you here in this remote place where I'm working now. It's so horribly far away from the next post office, so that I don't really know when you'll be getting this letter.

But, be unconcerned, it isn't all bad and worse where I am. In general people here are pretty nice and I can do a lot to help them every day.

And guess what: I've even found a friend!

His name is Rodney, he is a Canadian astrophysicist and a smidgen of an eccentric (really not the placid lad I always try to be).

We are getting along pretty well; even Stinky, my white lab mouse, likes him, it even seems as if the two of them understand each other's feelings.

There is only one thing Rodney shouldn't have done: Last week he said medicine were not more a science than voodoo.

Actually this sort of pissed me off, but for everybody's sake I fought back the comment about Canadians and hockey I had in mind.

(This doesn't mean Rodney won't get away that easily next time, ooh no...)

All, right, that's all for now.

Love, your favorite and only son, Carson

P.S.: Don't forget your walks in the mornings and evenings, they are really good for your circulation.

xxxxx

Rodney giggled and his stomach ache was forgotten.

So Carson found he was an eccentric? Inwardly he pouted still knowing that his voodoo comment was supported by firm evidence. He hadn't thought Carson to be such a petulant kid about certain things...

And how could this golf iron swinging Highlander even think of insulting the holy game?

Wondering what lament would come next, he unfolded another letter.

Dear Mum,

I'm still happy to tell you that all in all your little lad is feeling well around here.

But there's one little thing: I do miss your haggis and the great stew.

I really wished I had brought the recipes, since the bloody rations here all taste as chemical as they really are and there's not even a little chocolate left to console my stomach because Rodney has already munched everything away in record time.

And there's yet another problem to solve: even if I'd manage to remember all ingredients: here are bugger no sheep around. (But don't worry, we'll surely find a substitute for them pretty soon...)

Sorry this has been so short. I have to check on Rodney now, he had a funny accident an hour ago.

(I really wished I could tell you more about it, but you know I can't...)

Lots of Love,

Carson

P.S.: Could you say hi to Darleen for me? I haven't found the time nor the courage to write her, yet.

xxxxx

Funny accident, huh? Rodney was fuming a now. It hadn't been funny for him at all as he had been hit by this Wraith stunner.

At least now he knew what unimportant things Carson had spent his time with while he himself had been suffering.

This demanded some vengeance. Maybe finding out more about this Darleen could prove useful in planning a little retaliation prank. Quickly Rodney continued to rummage through the heap of letters.

xxxxx

AN: All right, so far with letters to Carson's mum. More diary work to expect next time.