Semper Fi

By Ann3

Writer's Note: Awww, thanks for the reviews ! There's plenty more fun and games to come yet, but for now... well, at the moment, only Shep is in on the big secret. Time, I think, to spread the happy news. Enjoy !!

Chapter Eight

One Down, One To Go

It wasn't every day, Elizabeth Weir dryly reflected, that she witnessed such a caffeine-inducing sight. Two senior members of her command team, practically bouncing up the steps towards her office – both looking as ridiculously excited as two hyper-boisterous kids on Christmas morning.

She would expect such behaviour from one of them, of course, but her sweetly studious CMO...? In all the years she'd known him, she'd never seen him with such a multi-dimpled grin on his face.

Considering how quiet he'd been during the last few days, since that last, disastrous mission... well, it was intriguing, to say the least.

It must have taken something special, she mused, to bring about such a gratefully welcome change. Whatever that something was, it had, somewhere along the line, brought John Sheppard in tow. And, as she'd so ruefully learned, anything involving John Sheppard tended to cause havoc in its wake

Still watching them, Elizabeth didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or hide under her desk. She hadn't sensed so much mischief since that little escapade two weeks ago, with McKay's laptop

Rodney had brought it on himself, of course. That massive ego really didn't do him any favours at all. Thanks to a shang-hai'd laptop and some subtle re-tuning, that ego had been very effectively deflated

Every time he'd pressed a key, the dulcet tones of Carly Simon had berated the many follies of vanity.

Needless to say, Dr Rodney McKay, PhD x 3 with the collective ego to match, had not been amused.

'I swear, John, if you two have re-wired Rodney's laptop again, I'll send you both to your rooms...!"

Still wondering how she'd manage such punishment and keep a straight face, Elizabeth smiled – noting, in relief, that Carson, at least, had reverted to his more serious, blessedly sensible self as he and John took their seats opposite her.

Yet Elizabeth could now sense a growing nervousness within him, as though he had some awkward favour to ask. Whatever it was, the nervous glances he kept throwing towards John suggested it was something big.

Smiling back at him, Elizabeth passed him a calming mug of tea before settling back in her chair. This, she dryly reflected, could take some time. A nervous, tongue-tied CMO, she knew, could not be rushed.

Luckily, although seemingly not officially, he'd brought a self-appointed spokesman to ask it for him

"Sorry to drop this on you so sudden, Elizabeth, but... well, Carson needs that leave you said he could have..."

Elizabeth Weir's eyes rounded at that. With some exasperated rolling thrown in for good measure, so did Carson Beckett's.

"Um, hello...? I'm sittin' right here, son... an' I was jus' gettin' round to askin' Elizabeth myself..."

Abashed, for all of two seconds, John then grinned, finding it impossible not to gently tease his friend

"Yeah, I know, Carson, but... well, I just got there kinda faster..."

Sensing from another eye-roll that further ructions were about to erupt, Elizabeth cleared her throat – a meaningful glare quashing all thought of further 'helpful' intervention as she turned back to Carson.

"Well, Carson, it was my suggestion in the first place... so yes, of course you can still take it..."

Ignoring John Sheppard's 'I told you so...' grin, Carson smiled back. His relief at her decision was obvious, prompting another flurry of tongue tied gratitude

"Thank ye, lass... an' – an' it'll only be for a few days... I – I don't want to leave ye short handed..."

"Carson, it won't cause any trouble at all. I suggested a week, if you remember, and there is no reason for you not to take all of it..." Elizabeth assured him – waiting for his smile to re-settle again before trying, with a diplomat's skill, to satisfy her curiosity.

"After all, you and your mother must have a lot of catching up to do..."

Oh yes, something was definitely up. Why else would her CMO be blushing like that...?

"Aye, lass, that we do, but... well, to be honest with ye, that's not the main reason..." Carson said at last – taking a deep, settling breath, before shyly dropping the biggest bombshell that Elizabeth Weir had ever heard.

"With everythin' that's happened to me lately, lass, I've been doin' an awfu' lot of thinking, an'... well, it's made me realise how much I love her, how much I need her in my life, an'... well, I'm goin' to ask Laura to marry me..."

He'd expected her to be delighted, of course. He had expected the same reaction he'd had from John earlier. And yes, she was staring at him, then at John, then back to him again, with the same astonished disbelief.

But for her to then rise from her seat, practically run around her desk, and wrap him into an overjoyed hug was, Carson dazedly reflected... aye, that was a bit of a surprise. And for such a slender lassie, Elizabeth Weir could pack quite the rib-crushing hug.

As he gladly returned that hug, though, nothing could stop the smile on Carson Beckett's face from spreading.

One vital 'yes' down. One more, even more crucial 'yes' to go.