As John carried Dana into the gate room, the wormhole had already activated and the others had already assembled by the steps.
"There we go, little one", the major smiled, pecking her cheek.
"Aye", Dana nudged his nose with a still chocolaty finger in return.
A moment later two figures stepped through the Stargate, followed by Sergeant Bates and his team.
One of the visitors was a rather tall, blonde man in a kilt. He was holding a young woman's hand. She was wearing an equally checkered tartan sash, had curly, red hair and big, disk-shaped blue eyes that bore an almost uncanny resemblance to Dana's own ones.
"Any relatives of yours?" Rodney who stood next to Carson snickered quietly. He got
slapped on the head for it almost instantaneously. "Very funny, Rodney", the Scotsman hissed in a somewhat pissed tone of voice.
That moment Dana uttered a merry squeak. Pressing Mr. Carrot along with some crumbly brownie remnants into Sheppard's hand she leapt out of his arms and ran over to the couple. They were just as happy to see her. The woman took the girl into her arms and kissed her all over while her spouse caressed the little one's hair.
Carson sniffled away a relieved tear while Elisabeth was already urging him over to their guests to greet them in their mother tongue. But Dana was a little quicker than the expedition leader. She snatched Carson's sleeve and pulled him closer, proudly pointing at her new best friend and father stand-in.
"Ma, Pa, sin Carson, mo caraid as fhèarr. Carson, sin Màiri, mo màthair is Dylan, mo athair."
The physician blushed a bit and shook hands with Dana's parents. Then he took his turn and introduced Elizabeth to them. They talked for a while and agreed that they would stay around until their little one had packed and said goodbye to all of her friends. With a warm smile the expedition leader guided the couple to the conference room. Meanwhile Dana and the physician walked away to get her things.
xxxxx
As Sergeant Bates went into his quarters he noticed at once that somebody had been in here: There were brown, chocolaty crumbs all over the floor and on the freshly changed sheets lay his basketball all caked in crumbles as well. Sighing he picked it up. This had to be Dana's work. For a moment he sat down, turning the ball in his hands. Finally he decided to give it to her as a farewell present. He himself had gotten it from his little bro. But his youngest sibling would surely understand it when he gave the ball away to the sweetest little girl he'd ever met. Carefully the sergeant cleaned it and put it aside.
xxxxx
"She finally leaving ??" down in the engineering lab Dr Kavanaugh rejoiced on hearing the news from Radek.
"Finally?" the Czech repeated, "She's the nicest little girl I've ever met. I'll really miss her."
"Well I won't", his colleague sneered, "This little brat has totally ruined my lab."
"No, she hasn't", Zelenka groaned, "And now out of my lab with you."
"Fine. But maybe you'd better go look what McKay is doing over there", Kavanaugh sneered and was gone.
Radek turned around, "Rodney?"
"Yes, what?" the Canadian's head emerged from behind a wall panel.
"What are you doing there?"
The physicist uttered a slightly girlish giggle. "I was just thinking that maybe the Highlander's little madcap would like to have those for a farewell gift." Beaming he held up two Kit Kat bars, "They're my last."
The engineer looked at him with disbelief, "This is so totally unlike you."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. See you later, Radek", smirking he marched away without another word to say.
xxxxx
Then the big moment had finally come. Everyone was already waiting in the gate room for Dana's and Carson's arrival. Major Sheppard stood next to Rodney whispering,
"Hey, I'm still taking bets whether he's having his kilt on or not. Care to join?"
"No, thank you. I mean this is not the Highland Fling, or is it?" McKay retorted with a slight shudder.
At last the door opened and the two of them entered holding each other's hand. Dana was wearing her own tiny tartan dress, while Carson had indeed donned his blue and green kilt in all its prettiness. They were followed by Teyla who carried the bundle of Dana's things. The girl's father was there to take it from her at once, expressing his thanks by means of a deep bow.
Now Dana made her round and said goodbye to everybody. First of all she went over to Radek who patted her curly head and then even gave her a shy kiss on the cheek. Sniffling a little she went on to John who lifted her up and down several times and was snuggled vigorously in return. "Slàn leat, little one", he said at last looking a bit sad.
McKay was the next one in the line. He hugged the child and gave her the chocolate bars.
"Seòclaid", she exclaimed merrily giving him an extra hug. And then the big surprise came out: In remarkably good English laced with a thick brogue she said, "Thank you very much, Rodney."
There was an impressed hiss going through the crowd. Rodney was the first one to find his tongue again, stating, "Don't say you've understood us all the time?"
Giggling the little one shrugged and gave him a companionable nudge before she went on to Elizabeth.
The expedition leader smiled sadly and handed Mr. Carrot over to the lass. "Just take good care of him, hear?"
"Aye", Dana nodded and popped the rabbit's ear into her mouth almost instantly. Weir tittered a little and caressed the child's thick, blonde hair. "See you two soon, I hope."
After Teyla and Ford had said goodbye as well, it was Bates' turn to say goodbye. He lifted her up and got a big, wet kiss on the nose for it. Then he produced the basketball from behind, handing it to her. "I'll miss you, kiddo", was all he could say in this emotional moment.
Dana's mother took the ball and looked at it skeptically. Her daughter grinned broadly, explaining, "Sin bàsgaidbàl."
On hearing the queer pronunciation, Bates had to snort and suddenly the snort was followed by a tear. Quickly he wiped it away hoping that nobody had noticed.
Then it was Carson's turn. Trying not to look too sad he took her into his arms and held her tightly for awhile. In the end they were both struggling with their tears. Gently he kissed hers away.
Dana whispered to him, "Cèilidhidh air thu moch."
"I hope you will, wee lass", for a last time the Scotsman hugged her. Then he gave her the sock she had liked so much.
Before Dana left them Elizabeth went to her office to get the big painting they had all made together. The girl's mother used the time to thank those present in person once again, promising that they would stay in touch.
Then the painting arrived, neatly rolled up and tied. A moment later the reunited family left Atlantis, holding their little daughter in their middle.
xxxxx
"Beannachd leat, a nighean beag", Carson sighed and didn't quite manage to hold back his tears anymore. He felt totally alone right now, not knowing what to do without his little lassie.
Suddenly he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder. It was Sheppard. "Come on, doc. We're all kind of shattered now that she's gone and we'll all miss her."
"Yeah, we will", Rodney suddenly wailed from the other side, "Our sweet little madcap…"
"Rodney?" the two others glared at him and not much later they found themselves consoling their crying colleague. Totally out of his wit Carson even offered him the second sock he was still having in his pocket. As the physicist had calmed down again after quite a long time they retreated to the rec room and talked about what had happened.
"Well, well", John concluded at last, "One thing is for sure: Even though our lassie's gone, we're still having some crybabies to console…"
"Hey", Rodney protested sulkily, "You're the kid here. With all those brownie crumbles behind your ears…"
"Really?" the major lifted a hand behind his ear and as he pulled it back out, it was indeed full of brown, soggy crumbs. He and Carson exchanged an amused look and suddenly they were both laughing their heads off.
The Scot smiled, "Snuggly little thing, isn't she?"
the end
A/N: All right, now it's time to say goodbye little lass. Thank you all very much for your great attention. It really stunned me sometimes. Hope to see you all again soon.
All the best, Baalsgirl
Gàidhlig rocks ! ;-)