Semper Fi

By Ann3

Writer's Note: I'm baaa-aaaack !! I'm still a bit wired from the weekend - had about five hours sleep over the last three nights, and... well, as you can imagine, my poor widdle brain is even more addled than usual ! Fantastic event, though, and can't wait for the next one !!

Anyway, before I head for my bed, and while I'm still half awake enough to do it, I thought I'd get this next chapter posted. And I know I'll be flattened by the crush here, but... well, who'd like to give the poor wee thing a good long cuddle after the last one ?

Yep, I thought as much. Sorry, girls, but - well, Laura got there first ! And as you'll find out in a few chapers' time, you really don't want to start messing with our Laura !

For now, though - well, let's be getting poor Carson that much needed hug !

See you for chapter four, kids, once I wake up... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... ;o)

Chapter Three

Doctoring The Doctor

He had no more tears left in him. No strength either. Huddled in her arms, he'd cried himself empty. And while the breakdown that had overwhelmed him was finally over, it had taken one hell of a toll.

Hands innately fated to save lives, brilliant hands that could make a scalpel sing, were still shaking. With the risen sun now strong enough to make itself felt, Laura knew it couldn't be from the cold.

Pressing them into the snug warmth of her lap, she then stroked her other hand through Carson's hair – taking care not to touch the bruise on his forehead, the livid reminder of his own desperately close call.

If he'd been any closer to that exploding DHD... well, that was the nightmare which haunted Laura. A mission that had already claimed so many lives could, so easily, have left her own devastatingly empty.

Even now, Laura wearily realised, that mission's aftermath was still tearing both of them silently apart. And for the city's CMO, such a complete failure of his self control was a thoroughly terrifying thought.

"God, lass, see – see me shakin'...!" Carson whispered, staring at his hands with scandalised eyes – the strength she'd seen in them, just moments before, giving way to fresh, heart-wrenching panic.

"I'm fallin' apart at the bloody seams, lass...! I – I jus' don' know what's wrong with me...!"

"I do..." Laura told him softly, holding his eyes so that he could find, and regain, precious strength from her own. "Baby, you're wiped out. You've barely eaten, or slept, or stopped to take a break, since you got back. And you've been through it with McKay enough times, Carson, and the Colonel too, for... well, for you to know what all that can lead to..."

Rewarded by a contrite nod of agreement, knowing she'd safely made her point, Laura then smiled – her next words markedly softer, but still firm enough to drive that point undoubtedly home.

"I know it's brought it all back, baby... everything that sick bastard did to you. But you're safe now. And you survived it once, Carson. You can do it again. But you've got to keep the strength to do it... you, more than anyone, knows that you have to sleep..."

It had been quite a lecture. Then again, Laura dryly reflected, she'd learned from one hell of a teacher. And, to her delighted relief, that teacher's tired and strained eyes now brightened a little with the strength it had brought him – the biggest mother hen in two galaxies now making a brave, if still rather shaky attempt at a comeback

"I – I know, love, but... well, I still have Rodney, an' Ronon, an' Kagan, an' Teyla to look after, an'..."

"Kate can take care of all that... she is your deputy, after all..." Laura pointed out with a slight smile – one which cautiously widened, in her joy of relief, as Carson smiled too, nodding in weary agreement.

"Aye, lass, I know... an' she won't stand for any nonsense from Rodney, right enough, but..."

Already half hearted protests lost all their conviction now, as lingering tiredness caught up with him – whatever he'd planned to say next becoming lost in the depths of a cavernous, face-bending yawn.

For all her concern over him, Laura bit back a smile as sleepily scrunched eyes struggled to re-open. Carson Beckett was asleep. He was just too damn stubborn, too adorably bloody minded, to admit it.

Determined to make the most of her advantage, she then pushed him carefully back onto the lounger – noting, in silent satisfaction, that a soft, slow, gently distracting kiss hadn't been entirely necessary. Apart from his snuffling attempts to breathe around it, he wasn't putting up any form of resistance.

Still kissing him anyway, she then tugged a tangle of quilts around them both, cocooning them in comforting warmth, before snuggling back against him.

"Kate's already said she can take care of the Infirmary for today, baby, while you get some sleep... and I'm gonna take care of you... okay...?"

Silence. Stillness. A complete lack of resistance which, if truth be told, she'd not been expecting.

Astonished that he'd surrendered to her so easily, Laura lifted her head from Carson's shoulder – the renewed anxiety on her face giving way, to rapidly stifled laughter, as she discovered its cause.

Through the time honoured remedies of fresh air and warm sunshine, the comfort of loving arms – yes, he was lost to the world, sleeping as soundly, and every bit as adorably, as the proverbial baby.

Settling very carefully back against him, Laura then smiled up into a now bright, blue, cloudless sky. It was still early days, of course, but... well, at least this day suddenly felt a precious bit brighter.