A/N: Thank you all so much for r&r'ing.
I said I'd update 'soon', right? I'm so sorry, but first of all I was trashed with school work and then I was stuck in work experience for 35 hours + a week. :-(
But there's one thing I found out for myself: I'll never learn how to lenite properly. ;-)
xxxxx
After Dana had toyed around with the remnants in her pudding bowl for awhile, she put down the spoon, letting out a long yawn with her mouth open so wide that she could hardly cover it up with her tiny hands.
"Whoa, there's somebody being really tired", Sheppard stated with a smirk.
Sighing Carson checked his watch, "I'd say it's about bed-time for the two of us", he pushed back his chair and took Dana by the hand, "See you all later."
"Yeah, see you." John still grinned adding with a twinkle, "If you ever need a babysitter, you know where to find me."
"Thanks", the Scotsman picked up the dictionary, before he finally gave in to Dana tugging at his hand and left.
xxxxx
"So, lassie, you can roll in right there, if you like", after they had arrived at his quarters Carson sat Dana, who had insisted on not going back to infirmary, down on his bed, "I'll sleep on the floor."
As he began to set out his spare blanket and pillow on the ground beside the bed, the girl suddenly burst into tears. Worried he looked at her:
"What did I do?", he grimaced as the sobbing grew even louder, "No, no, don't cry..."
He sat down beside her, putting a consoling around her shoulders and immediately the crying ceased. Carson thought for a moment, "You want me to share the bed with you, is it that?"
As she nodded, Dana's face lightened up and she screeched happily.
"All right, all right", he put the second pillow back into bed, waiting for Dana to get comfortable, before he crawled under the blankets as well.
Only moments later the two of them were sound asleep, Dana using Carson's arm as a cuddly toy-substitute.
xxxxx
"You're a little madcap, hear that?" Rodney told Dana who looked up at him with her big, round, blue eyes.
"Mad-cap", she repeated slowly.
"Yeah, that's right", he smirked, content with himself. Then, suddenly he heard a sound from behind.
Ehem.
Rodney flinched and turned around slowly, to find Carson who had built up himself right there, arms folded in front of his chest, glaring at him with eyes half-closed.
"Err, Carson, back already?" Rodney stammered, his face slowly turning crimson.
The Scotsman uttered an unnerved groan, "I can't leave you alone with her for a minute and you already start teaching the poor lassie such bloody filthy words. Really, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, Rodney."
"Better be careful not to blacklist yourself on this one", that was Major Sheppard who had just entered the rec room, carrying a stack of picture-books and other toys, "Sorry for being that late. Looks like I've already missed the fun."
"It's alright, Major", Carson replied helping him to unload all the stuff he had with him, "we were just about to get started."
Rodney simply eyed the scene with a frown, "Where did you get all that stuff?" he exquired.
"Sources unknown to you", John retorted, handing Dana the most important thing he had brought, grinning broadly, "Look, this is a football."
"That's so typically you", Rodney groaned.
"She seems to like it, though", Carson remarked, pointing at Dana who was hugging the egg-shaped ball with her tiny arms, throwing it back to John as he held out his arms.
Rodney rolled his eyes, "It's pathetic..."
"What?" the major shot him an offended glare as he threw the ball back to Dana.
That moment Dr Weir entered the room, getting into Dana's focus of attention at once. The little girl dropped John's football and looked at her with big eyes, before running into Carson's direction with a squeak, whispering into his ear on what he smiled and nodded, "Tha i Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth", squealing happily Dana ran back toward the expedition leader, almost falling over her own feet.
"Oh, hi", Elizabeth smiled, lifting up the little girl, "you're really cute. I still can't believe how you could've annoyed Sergeant Bates."
"Did he tell tails?" John inquired, having expected nothing else.
Elizabeth sighed, "Actually, yes. He came to see me this morning, claiming that Carson had threatened him. Did you?"
"Well, aye", the physician gave in, "but what else should I have done? The bugger is scaring my little Dana."
"I wonder why she smooched him, then", Rodney said, "must've been bad judgement of character."
John groaned at the stupid remark, "Come on, McKay, what do you expect from a scared four-year-old?"
"She's not scared", McKay protested, "all she is, is a whirling, little madcap."
"Madcap", Dana joined in with a merry chuckle.
Carson let out a heavy sigh, "Why in bloody hell, did you have to teach her this word? It's driving me mad."
Elizabeth tutted Rodney as well, "Carson is right, that's not very nice."
"Yeah, right, start conspiring against me", Rodney yapped wearily, getting up from where he was sitting. As he then marched for the door he tripped over the football, cursing as he landed on his stomach.
"Ronny", worried Dana leapt out of Elizabeth's arms. She ran over to him, covering him with kisses.
He pulled a displeased face, pushing her away, "Wah, thanks for the concern, but I'm fine."
Startled by the sudden rejection, Dana dropped to the floor beside him, breaking out into a heart-rending fit of crying.
"Oh, no", Elizabeth was the first to reach her, but her tries of consolation did not show the slightest effect. With a shake of her head she handed the little one to Carson who sat down on the sofa, taking Dana into his lap. He rocked her gently, letting her sob into his shirt.
"Look what you've done", John as he sat down beside them caressing Dana's hair, glared at the physicist in an accusing way and offering the football to her which she took, but didn't stop crying.
Slowly Rodney got up from the floor. He left the rec room quietly and obviously disgruntled, knowing that he had landed himself in the middle of Carson's and Dana's black list, not too far below Bates.
xxxxx
"Tha Ronny balach droch", Dana exclaimed pouting and folding her arms as Rodney entered infirmary later that day, actually playing with the thought of an apology.
"What did she say?" he asked Carson who was still sort of glowering at him.
"She said that you're a bad boy", the Scotsman replied plainly.
"Well, thank you", Rodney shot Dana an angry glare at which she stuck out her tongue, grimacing into his direction, "Actually I wanted to tell her I'm sorry, but not when she goes about me like that."
Carson let out an unnerved groan, "You're such a frigging softy, wailing about the truth after making my wee Dana unhappy", he paused and looked down at the little one who had just attached herself to his leg, "Poor bairn you are, aye?"
"Aye, aye", Dana consented, pulling another face at Rodney.
Rodney rolled his eyes skyward and mocked the Scotsman, "My poor, wee Dana. You sound like some wicked Highland mother sheep", with these words he stomped out of the infirmary again, "wait for the aftermath."
Raising both his eyebrows Carson and no longer hiding his grin lifted up Dana saying, "That's not our problem, or?"
"Chan eil", Dana agreed, cuddling up against his chest, sucking her thumb.