Note: This chapter takes place during 'Rising'

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"It"s near the end of the summer you know."

Carson blinked startled by Rodney"s announcement, "What?"

Rodney rolled his eyes, giving Carson an exasperated look over the top of his small mountain of food, "It"s almost the end of summer."

Carson frowned, "No it isn"t."

Rodney snorted, "We"re in the southern hemisphere remembering? Antarctica? Here it is."

"How could I bloody forget?" Of all the people that Carson had expected to make friends with, Rodney McKay was not one of them, but somehow, over the course of the last few weeks, it had happened. Carson suspected it had more to do with the fact that he had â–’discovered" the ancient gene though, rather than any shared interest or familiarity. Rodney seemed to have a tendency to attach himself to whoever seemed to be doing something that might help him or who was doing similar research.

Rodney just grinned smugly, taking Carson"s reply as a sign of victory, Rodney McKay had proved, yet again, that he was smarter than Carson. Carson sighed softly, shaking his head faintly as he watched the other man eat, knowing the man went a long way towards explaining his medical record.

"Ah, Doctor Beckett, there you are, I was wondering if you could help me with something?" Daniel appeared from some hidden corner of the complex, ignoring Rodney and his quickly diminishing pile of food as he meet Carson gaze, an eyebrow raised.

Carson hesitated for a moment glancing at Rodney before nodding his assent, promising to see Rodney later before standing and following Daniel from the room, doing his best to ignore the nervous feeling building in his stomach. It wasn"t like there was much they could do, there were cameras pretty much everywhere.

"It"s just here." Daniel supplied just as Carson was starting to wonder just where Daniel was taking him. Daniel motioned towards a door on the left hand side of the corridor, stepping aside to let Carson step through the door first.

Carson stopped in the doorway for a moment, glancing back at Daniel suspiciously, not surprised to see Daniel"s patented innocent expression. Stepping inside he frowned, glancing around at the various shelves, confused until he caught sight of a faint light out of the corner of his eye. He made his way carefully around a few freestanding units, slowing as he caught sight of the source of the light.

"Surprised?" Daniel stepped up behind Carson, having closed the door behind them, placing a gentle hand on the small of Carson"s back to lead him forward, towards the small table that had been set up in the only free corner of the room.

"Oh aye." Carson took in the small spread on the table in front of him, trying to figure out how exactly Daniel had managed to get it all to Antarctica in the first place.

"An advantage of being on good terms with a General." Daniel provided without having to be prompted, more than a little smug.

"General O"Neill didn"t ask what you wanted any of this for?" Carson questioned doubtfully.

"He supplied the alcohol by choice, he thought I"d need it having to deal with McKay, he gave some to Elizabeth as well."

"Brandy and red wine??"

"Plus a whole crate of beer." Daniel supplied, "The rest, I asked him to bring."

Carson smiled as he lifted the lids of the containers spread across the table, noting each of his favourite foods, "You put a lot of thought into this."

Daniel shrugged, smiling fondly, "It was worth it."

Carson turned away from the table to face Daniel, "It was?"

"Seeing that look on your face." Daniel answered, stepping close and claiming Carson"s lips, drawing out the kiss until they both had to breathe. "Definitely worth it."

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