Semper Fi

By Ann3

Writer's Note: Okay, so the countdown to the big day starts here...! And the story's finished now, so I'm going to finish posting it this week, while I'm still home on holiday.

First, though, it's a quick trip home for our two favourite lovebirds. And, at last, a chance to be alone. No stress, no hassle, no unwanted interruptions. Well, kinda... ;o)

Just a quick reference to one of my favourite scenes from Duet, and a reference, too, from Misbegotton. Enjoy !!

Chapter Nine

Never Mess With A Marine

Once they got back to Atlantis, Laura mused, still slyly watching him, she'd have to get him initiated. Poker night with the girls would be so much more fun with such a complete pushover in their midst.

If Carson Beckett was as hopeless at playing cards as he was at trying to keep a secret from her – well, they'd bluff and gleefully fleece the shirt clear off his back.

And, with any luck, a lot more besides.

Perhaps thankfully unaware of this fiendish plot against him, Carson sighed, easing his head into a comfier spot against her shoulder, before settling back to sleep – the peaceful, carefree smile on his face causing hers to widen too, as she continued to watch him.

If truth be told, she'd already guessed the plans which lay behind it. After all, it wasn't every day that your CO granted you a week's furlough with such a broad grin on his face. And as soon as she'd heard those words, stammered so sweetly over yesterday's breakfast – well, Laura Cadman was savvy enough to know where that most fateful of invites was leading to.

'I've told her so much about ye, love, an'... well, mum's been fair naggin' at me for ages to meet ye properly...'

There was a more serious side, of course, to travelling across an entire galaxy to meet Carson's mother. He'd made her the same offer five months ago, as he'd fought to break Michael's brutal hold on his mind.

Through depthless courage and sheer bloody-mindedness, he'd come through that nightmare. Against odds that even the most reckless gambler would balk at, her precious Carson had survived.

For the next week at least, their knife-edge existence in the Pegasus galaxy could be left safely behind. Then again, Laura now sourly noted, life back on good old planet Earth held its own kind of threat.

As soon as that damn flight attendant had heard Carson's 'just darling' accent – well, that had been it.

In Laura's fiercely protective eyes, the fittingly named Randy had turned into a talon-painted vulture She'd set her predatory sights on the snugly curled, blissfully oblivious occupant of seat 37A – unaware that the occupant of seat 38A was a butt-kicking Marine who blew up aliens for breakfast.

Now, as she homed in, yet again, on her latest prey, Laura allowed herself a quiet, 'bring it on' smile.

It was, she smugly resolved, flexing her knuckles just for the sake of it, going to be very short contest. And all she was going to need to win it was one unmistakeable gesture. A single lift of her eyebrow.

'Yes, sister, you can look... and I really don't blame you... but back off, blondie... he's mine...!'

Having spent thousands of dollars on her perfect smile, Randy saw the threat to it – and sensibly fled.

And Carson's thanks for her protective devotion...? This latest, selfless defence over his adorable, irresistible little body...?

Well, however ticklishly enjoyable, a face making itself snugly at home against her neck really didn't cut it.

She'd forgive him, of course, as soon as he woke up and unleashed those big, bright blue eyes on her. And if this 'wee trip home for ye to meet mum...' really was leading to all her dreams coming true – well, she'd need to get used to a whole lifetime trying to find ways of making a stand against them.

Right on cue, the tuftily shaggy head stirred and lifted, those eyes already breaching her defences – blinking sleepily up at her, with all the charm of a newborn seal, as Carson eased himself gingerly upright.

Still smiling at that priceless expression, she then grew more serious as she saw the tiredness beyond it.

Just before they'd left, a medical emergency call had come in from the Athosians' mainland settlement. Keela, one of Carson's many 'unofficial' nieces, had gone into labour. There'd been complications.

Twelve fraught, exhausting hours later, to cheers of delighted relief, he'd saved one precious life – and brought another, kicking and screaming in healthy protest, into Atlantis' ever growing family.

There had barely been time for him to catch his breath and finish packing before they'd Gated to the SGC for their flight out of Denver. By that time, the adrenalin rush had worn off. He'd been spark out since take off, and still looked as though he could sleep for a week

"Hey, sleepyhead... you okay...?"

Somehow managing to smile back at her and yawn at the same time, Carson then grinned and nodded

"Aye, love, I'm fine... tha' stubborn wee bairn jus' didnae wan' tae come oot...!"

However concerned she was at how that exhausting labour had drained him, Laura had to grin too. She'd quickly learned that the more tired he was, the broader that already gorgeous accent became.

It was, of course, why she enjoyed tiring him out, through as many wonderful ways as she could find, as much and as often as she could

So it was with some disappointment that she watched him, fully awake now, reach into his jacket – his means of staying so for the rest of the flight causing Laura's eyes to almost fall out of her head

"Ye know what I need to keep me awake, love...? A nice absorbin' game o' cards..."