After an hour Carson had finished translating the letter that was actually written in tiny, hardly legible runes. He had just copied the translation on a sheet of paper as Elizabeth stuck her head around the corner. Dana was with the expedition leader, holding on to her hand.

"Any progress?"

"I'm done I was just about to call you, love." He handed her the copy and she sat down to read it:

Dear Finder,

Along with this letter you must've found our wee lass Dana. If so we ask you to take good care of her, for she is our greatest love and pride.
To protect her from a Wraith culling impending on our planet we sent her to this deserted settlement in the hope that she would be safe here. Unluckily there wasn't enough time to evacuate any more children along with her and none of the grown-ups had the possibility to keep her company. Our planet's population is very small, so all of us had to stay behind, trying to save as much of our culture from the Wraith as possible.

Please look out for news from us. We hope that we will be able to return and take our little one back home once everything is over.
Thank you very much for your care and attention.

Yours truly, Dana's worried parents, Dylan and Siobhan

Sighing Elizabeth put the letter away, "They seem to be a very optimistic bunch of people."

"Aye", Carson creased his brows, sighing as well, "What if someone else had found the poor lassie?" He reached for Dana who was standing beside him, quietly gawking up at him with her cup-sized blue eyes. She smiled at him broadly as he then sat her down on his knee.

"I mean, what if they don't come back?" Weir pondered quietly.

"Don't even think about it", Carson's eyes clouded a bit, "Not yet." Almost absent-mindedly he caressed the little girl's curly hair.

The expedition leader nodded gravely, "Right, let's think positive for the moment. I'll ask Major Sheppard to deploy some guards by the planet's gate. Perhaps someone comes through after all."

That moment Dana jumped off the physician's lap, just as though she couldn't take the sad atmosphere anymore. A moment later she returned, nibbling a shortbread finger from Carson's secret stash while trailing her favorite snuggly blanket, the team had found on the planet, across the floor.

"Awww, that's so sweet", Elizabeth clapped her hands and cracked a little smile.

Carson pattered the little one's head, "That's my little lassie. She really knows how to cheer us up."

Dana used their reaction to get her personal needs into discussion: "An cluich sinn a-nis?" She inquired looking up at both of them expectantly.

"What is it?", the expedition Weir asked.

"She wants to play", the Scot explained.

The expedition leader's smile broadened, "Looks like she doesn't want us to discuss the grave things right now", she got up and went over to the little girl, "What do you want to play, honey?"

xxxxx

As John entered Elizabeth's office he found her and Dana hanging about on the floor, doodling away on a big sheet of paper. For a moment John hovered by the door, quietly watching the scene. At last the mission commander spotted him. Quickly she got up, smoothing her shirt. "Oh, hello, Major. We were just..."

He grinned, "No, no, it's okay. I only wanted to tell you that I've dispatched someone on the planet. They'll radio in once something happens", he paused to take in the picture she and the little one were working on, "You're having fun, I take it?"

"Yeah, we do, don't we?", Weir twinkled at the little one.

"Aye", Dana tittered waving John towards her. Happily he followed her invitation. Once he'd knelt down beside her, she used her crayon to draw a bright, red heart on his cheek, sealing it with a smooch.

"Now, that's sweet", giggling the major snatched a green crayon from the box, painting a big dot onto the girl's nose. "Mind if I join you?"

Elizabeth smirked, "Not at all. We could use some grass down there."

"Okay", swinging his crayon he began to sketch some blades.

xxxxx

"Elizabeth, I...", as Carson entered the office about half an hour later he was greeted by a whole of five people looking up at him. Aside from Dana and her, Sheppard was there, along with Teyla and Peter Grodin who were all eagerly working on a big painting. His wee lassie was in their middle, laughing away merrily. As she saw him she put her little hand on the spot beside her, showing him to come over and sit down. He frowned, "Love, do you think that's such a good idea? I can't draw at all."

"Come on, Carson, don't be a spoilsport", Sheppard chimed in, "I could use a little help sketching sheep here."

"Right", pushing up his sleeves he grabbed a black crayon and walked over. After a moment he finished his first animal to which Grodin quickly added a pink ribbon. Dana smiled at it with delight, "Tha i brèagha."

"Thank you, lassie", Carson stroked her curls and she painted a flower onto his chin.

"And what do I get?" Peter inquired playfully.

The little one thought for an instant, then took the crayon from Carson to draw her version of a sheep on his forehead. "Thank you", he gave her a hug.

That moment Dana realized that she hadn't adorned Teyla and Elizabeth with paintings, yet. Quickly she set to work, beginning with a multicolored butterfly on Teyla's collar.

After awhile Rodney entered the room. As he saw all the colorful works of body art he uttered a loud shriek, cringing as Dana came hopping toward him with her arms outstretched for an embrace. "Ronny..."

"No, don't you dare painting me. It's childish and aside from that I'm allergic against those color pigments", he jabbered, obviously scared.

Elizabeth got up and walked over to him, "What is it, Rodney?" she asked.

"There's just been a transmission through the gate Grodin here completely failed to notice because he's been totally taken up with kiddy smearings."

Peter jumped up, glowering a bit. "There's no need to be insulting."

John joined him, "He's right, Rodney. What's wrong with our wonderful picture?"

"Well", McKay pouted, "It's the sheep that look like furry meatballs."

"Careful, lad", annoyed Carson got to his feet as well, "don't insult my pretty sheep."

Now Rodney realized that he was up against a posse of insulted people, all with their crayons still in hand, ready to decorate him from top to bottom. "All right", in a soothing way he tried to get out of this awkward situation, "why don't we go check on that message? It might be important."

"Fine", Peter made a step forward and a moment later the six others followed him to the control tower. Perhaps Rodney's assumption was right...

tbc. Thanks for reading. Baalsgirl