Chapter 20
A/N #1 Ooh bring on the action of another type—oooh
A/N #2 This chapter is cleared for Arkeus to read, yep.
A/N #3 If you see any mistakes or inconsistencies, do let me know… also—I had an idea of writing Beckett with an accent--- and then I changed my mind—so if you see any funky spellings that obviously indicate that I am trying to have him speak with a Scottish accent please let me know.
A/N #4 Please read and review
Willow made her way from the mess hall towards the infirmary. It had taken her very little time to gather breakfast. She had picked up a small container of dried apples and cereal. Jonathon had given her a plastic bottle and some powdered milk. Apparently, most of the liquids and foods were in a dried form and she had to add a small measured quantity of dry milk to the bottle and cold water and shake. Jonathon was really a nice guy. When she thanked him for making the cake she clearly saw that she had embarrassed him. He probably wasn't too used to anyone appreciating his efforts. It was surely difficult to come up with interesting and innovative meals with their limited food supply. He mentioned they were going to be having an Athosian style lasagna for dinner and perhaps bread pudding made from the left over stale muffins. Willow had asked him if it would be okay for her to return early in the evening to make a picnic dinner. Jonathon had acquiesced—after teasing her about a certain Lieutenant doing much the same thing the night before. Willow had only given him a blush and a smile and left.
Willow hurried along the corridors towards the infirmary. She was intending on eating at her desk. Willow was a little apprehensive about going into the infirmary. Perhaps when she had left the previous day without speaking directly with Dr. Carson Beckett she had angered him. She seriously hoped it had been okay that she had spent the afternoon in the Athosian wing instead of fulfilling her duties as lab assistant. What if that kindly Scottish exterior hid a dark side? She knew this was highly unlikely, yet she worried all the way. When she arrived at the infirmary she found Dr. Beckett finishing up a basic examination of an Athosian male. He was listening to his lungs with a stethoscope.
Dr. Beckett held a small orange bottle of white pills in his hand. "Now, Haro, make sure you take one pill every morning. You have a very common ailment called high blood pressure. These pills will help you, if taken regularly. Make taking them a part of your daily routine—just the same as drinking that stout tea you have on rising." Carson was giving the older gentleman a stern look. He wanted to make sure he knew the importance of taking the pill.
Willow walked over to Dr. Beckett and stood at his side. She gave Haro a smile which was gently returned. Haro nodded his head first to Dr. Beckett and then to Willow and stood and left the infirmary.
"I hope he remembers to take his medicine. Renal hypertension is nothing to toy with." Dr. Beckett's worried eyes followed the older man out the door.
"So lass… what brings you to the infirmary so early this morning?" Carson asked Willow the question. He had been expecting her around eight or eight thirty. There was definitely nothing wrong with enthusiasm… but he didn't want her to burn out quickly. Working in the infirmary, even as a lab assistant, had the potential to be frightfully busy and hectic. Whenever there was 'fake' downtime he was sure to take it.
"Umm… well um, Dr. Beckett. Yesterday I left a little early. Teyla took me to see Charin in the Athosian wing. I didn't know if I missed the chance to perform any necessary duties. So I am here to make 'em up!" Willow wasn't sure what response she was expecting but his deep belly laughter was not one of them.
Carson was completely amused. Here she was coming in early to perform grunt work. Yesterday he had given her the job of cleaning and organizing test tubes—necessary--yes, fun--no. Willow was a girl after his own heart, she had returned for more—and returned early.
"Lass, this is definitely a first. I really think I have found something slightly more interesting for you to do." Willow smiled. She didn't know what was so funny about her stopping in early to do her job but she wasn't about to get offended when Dr. Beckett laughed. He looked like he definitely needed it.
Dr. Beckett suddenly stood. His attention seemed fixed on a point or a person in Willow's opposite direction. She turned to look. Her new teacher, Charin had arrived. It seemed that Dr. Beckett was equally as much a gentleman as Aiden.
"Ah, Charin. Thank you for coming in." Carson smiled welcoming at the older woman. He walked up to her about to take her hands in his in welcome but stopped. He bent his head awkwardly in the Athosian light forehead touch greeting. Their foreheads touched and met in friendship. He wasn't so comfortable with this hello or goodbye but it was the way things worked out. When he had first seen Teyla lean her head against Major Sheppard's head he had been sure the greeting had other meanings—the longer he knew the Athosian people the more he realized just how ignorant he had been of other cultures. Upon entering Atlantis, Charin had welcomed him as a friend. She was a well respected herbal practitioner and Beckett believed well worth knowing. Her knowledge included a full understanding of all types of herbs and herbal remedies. He knew that if he was going to keep the Atlantis expedition members safe and alive, at some point, he would have to figure out how to replenish his supply of medicines. Charin had some definite ideas about the uses of herbs and plants. It was rare for a woman of Charin's knowledge to frankly still be alive—she could have been culled by the wraith years ago. It was truly a blessing that she yet lived.
Charin turned and nodded in greeting to Willow. Her face wore a beatific smile.
"How is your heart?" Carson asked the question gently. He didn't want to alarm her in the least.
"Oh, it is fine. I was a little weak this morning. Teyla requested that I come and speak with you before we left for the mainland." Charin didn't seem at all worried about her condition. Willow was. Heart trouble?
"Have you prescribed anything for her heart? Does she have heart disease? Is it inflammatory or valvular or ischaemic? Is she a candidate for a pacemaker?" Willow fired off her questions at Dr. Beckett.
"Woah. Woah—lass. Slow down." Carson raised one hand to quiet Willow. She did know her stuff but he still had little intention of sharing the intimate details of a patients' condition with her.
Charin smiled and walked over to Willow. "The ancestors provide for me." Charin slid her arm around Willow's shoulder. "Do not worry."
"Okay." Willow felt a little embarrassed at her vehement reaction to Dr. Beckett. "It is just that modern medicine can help you out so much and I just want you to have the best…"
"I do." Charin smiled. "Enough about me—tell me is that a certain glow I sense about you?" Charin smiled knowingly.
"Glow?" Willow turned the word into a question. Surely Charin wasn't such a witch that she could sense sexual satisfaction? That really wasn't a skill Willow wanted to learn.
"You do look awfully chipper…" Carson added his observation.
"Uh. I am wearing bright colors. And uh—I have red hair. And uh—" Willow couldn't finish her statements because her face turned quite red. She was awfully chipper and there was no way she was going to say to Dr. Beckett or to Charin that it was because she felt sexually pleased.
"It is the glow of new love." Charin stated this as a fact. She stared Willow down—daring her to contradict her. Charin knew what true love felt like and exactly what it looked like on another's face. It was obvious Willow was in love. There was no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed.
Willow knew she had the choice to lie and deny it or to own up to the obvious truth. It really wasn't her nature to be so obvious but it was clear it was everyone else's disposition. Willow shook her hair back and answered, "I do believe it is."
Carson hadn't expected the truth—he had frankly anticipated that he would be able to tease her for weeks on end. The truth was oddly more satisfying. Ford was a lucky man.
"Are you done packing? Do you need any help?" Willow asked the question. She wasn't ashamed of her relationship status but there really was little reason to share too much. Considering Charins' heart problems she surely needed some assistance in packing away.
"Actually, I am completely finished." Willow looked so disappointed Charin came up with a job. "I would love your assistance in loading my things into the jumper."
"What time?"
"I believe in a few short hours. I will send Jinto to gather you." Charin nodded her head towards Willow and allowed herself to be led away to the cot. She sat and waited as Dr. Beckett began a quick examination. As he lifted the stethoscope to Charins' heart Willow looked away and busied herself with her breakfast. She couldn't believe the truth was out in the open. She was with Aiden—Dr. Beckett knew… Charin knew… Of course this wasn't a problem – it was doubtful that Dr. Beckett was much of a gossiper. Willow also couldn't imagine Charin gossiping. It seemed both Charin and Dr. Beckett approved. She felt quite happy that they did.
Willow had nothing to do but wait as Dr. Beckett examined Charin. She had ample opportunity to observe his bedside manner. Dr. Beckett was really a soothing man. He closed his session with Charin by giving her a small bottle of pills and saying goodbye in the Athosian way. Charin smiled briefly and left the infirmary.
Carson made his way over to Willow. "Okay lass, so what are you up to doing today?" He was quite excited to have a few more hints as to her knowledge and interests. Her quick fire list of possible types of heart disease had impressed him. She was no novice in knowledge, just surely in application.
"You could do some more thrilling work with test tubes—and even move on to sterilizing Petri dishes… or…" He paused to build up her anticipation. "You could help do some preliminary classification of herbal samples." Willow brightened. This was right up her alley.
"Um. I will take the sample classifications—and finish the sterilizing this afternoon. How does it work?"
"Well, I am making some headway in finding comparable herbs to replace common earth medicines. I am sure you have a little 'witchy' knowledge of herb uses…" He turned to give Willow a quick glance. He didn't want to insult her or assume too much.
"Yes."
"Well, my idea is to find herbs that can be synthesized into common needed medicines. I need you to look at small slides of the herbs and begin classifying them in quite a few categories. I can then look at your work—make the necessary clarifications and reclassifications and then go from there. This is step work in manufacturing our own medicines." Carson knew this was a worthy project. He hoped she would be able to provide assistance. Willow had to be the best person for the job—her specialized knowledge would be handy.
"I can definitely do this." Willow felt grateful. It seemed that Dr. Beckett had thought up this stage of the project directly for her. If she was any good at it she would be able to shave a good deal of time off of his work.
Carson set her up to begin her work. He was careful to give complete instructions and then to step away and allow her to find her own rhythm and way. He spent the first few hours of the morning glancing over at Willow occasionally. She was softly humming to herself as she worked. She had the laptop he had provided her open and was peering into the microscope at the plant sample on the dish. She would alternate between the microscope and the laptop. Peering and taking notes, peering and taking notes. She was very thorough and very good. He didn't expect that he would be doing much reclassification. This was a good thing. Around ten o'clock, Jinto made his way into the infirmary. He stood at the door slightly nervous. There was a tall and fierce looking marine standing behind him.
"Can I help you son?" Carson addressed his question to the marine guard. He already knew why Jinto had arrived. It truly annoyed him that Sergeant Bates saw fit to put the Athosians under constant guard. What harm could Jinto do? Carson rhetorically answered his own question… release a half ascended energy monster and accidentally drain a generator and get Ford electrocuted. Perhaps some Athosians needed to be under guard. The marine didn't actually answer. He just nodded his head down towards Jinto.
Willow looked up from her work and noticed Jinto standing in the doorway. She realized it had to be time for her to go and help Charin load her things in the puddle jumper. She stood and walked towards Jinto. She lightly ruffled his hair. She turned towards Dr. Beckett—"Okay, I'll be helping Charin. I'll be back as soon as I am done." Dr. Beckett nodded and watched her leave. The marine smiled down at Willow. He stepped aside and allowed her and the child exit first. It was a courtesy but Willow found it didn't have the same effect as when Aiden did it. She felt slightly uncharitable. Had this beef cake guy actually frowned all the way to the infirmary? Did he really need to keep such close watch on dear sweet Jinto? Willow made a point to respect others' belief systems and ways but sometimes it was awfully difficult to understand military ways. She was so irked she hadn't even noticed Jinto talking to her. "Sorry?" She looked down at his brown hair.
"Oh. I said. Charin said you will be visiting the mainland when you have time. I asked if you could bring me Jello the next time you come?" Jinto looked up at her hopefully.
Kids were much the same everywhere. "Of course I can." Willow smiled.
The marine led the way to the puddle jumper bay. Willow wasn't so sure she was needed. The marines were quite efficient and able. They were loading things into three puddle jumpers. She noticed Aiden standing off to the side helping a short and tiny elderly woman with her things. He lifted two of her bags to his shoulders and handed her a small basket. She smiled gratefully at him and stood off to the side to let him lead the way. He was obviously struggling a little. His eyes were lowered and he moved quite slowly. Willow hid a giggle behind her hand. What was he carrying? Bags of grain? Chunks of rock? The woman patted him lightly on his ass to help move him forward quicker. Aiden almost frowned but controlled himself. Willow didn't. She let out a slight giggle. Aiden looked up to find her laughing eyes. He gave her a sheepish half smile and moved towards the jumper. Willow moved towards the last bag the lady had left and tried to lift it. It really wasn't going to happen. She decided to wait for Aiden to return for it. He did.
"Hi." Willow was feeling surprisingly shy. This man had done all sorts of things to her body and here he was standing right in front of her. What she honestly wanted was for him to dip her in a standard movie type kiss, where the world would stop and the music would go on. Was there even a proper response?
"Hi yourself. I see you came to help." Aiden made his statement and looked down at the lumpy bag. What in the world did this lady have in there?
"I am all about moral support." Willow grinned and gave him three quick pats on the shoulder.
Aiden smiled. "Funny." He leaned over and picked up the bag. He put it on his shoulders in a standard fireman's lift and gave Willow a smirk. She didn't expect that.
They walked together towards the jumper. Willow didn't notice quite a few of the marines were giving her slight smiles. They were happy for Aiden and perhaps a twinge jealous. The man obviously had great taste. Aiden walked up the jumpers' ramp and was a little surprised to feel another quick pat on his ass. He was less surprised to hear a peal of laughter come from Willow. This lady had to be kidding him. What was with the taps on the ass? If he wasn't so sure he would dislocate his shoulder if he quickly dropped the dead weight he would drop the bag on the floor of the jumper. He respectfully maneuvered the bag to the floor and rotated his shoulders. Willow massaged one shoulder with laughter in her eyes.
"Is this your man?" Willow was surprised to hear the question come from the older woman.
Good lord. Was every person in Atlantis this nosy?
"Yeah." Willow gave up and just told the truth. "He is."
Bruised and battered shoulders were more than worth it. Aiden grinned down at Willow and the older woman. Now, it was definitely a good day. He smiled and went back to work.
"Um. Have you seen Charin?" Willow asked the older woman the question and blushed when she pointed to the middle of the jumper. Charin was not ten feet in front of her. She hadn't noticed. Willow quickly walked over to Charin.
"Was that him?" Charin asked the question—already clearly knowing the answer.
Willow blushed. "Yes." Charin nodded. Willow was sure her nod meant she approved.
"Do you have anything left that you need moved…" Willow began
"No. All I have is right here." Charin indicated the bags and rolled packages around her.
"You have made a good choice with that man." Charin nodded solemnly. Willow didn't know why her support mattered so much. Charin was like Mrs. Summers and Giles all in one. She impulsively gave her a quick hug.
Charin patted her lightly on the back. "Go on child. I will see you soon enough." Willow exited the jumper and watched as the marines loaded the last few bags and packages. She didn't see him but felt the moment Aiden walked up behind her. He slipped her hand in his and pulled her lightly away from the scene.
"I have a mission in three hours." He wasn't worried in the least but he didn't know how Willow would react. These missions were a part of the daily reality of being on Atlantis. He was half second guessing his decision to begin a relationship with anyone. He didn't know if he wanted to put anyone he cared about in the position to sit around and worry about him returning. Well the truth of the matter was maybe she didn't yet care enough about him to worry… or maybe the truth was he wanted her to be concerned for his well being. He didn't know what reaction he was going to get but he completely knew what reaction he wanted. Willow was thrown for a loop. Aiden was about to go on a mission—to another planet—and possibly put himself in danger of being attacked by wraith or any other demons that the Pegasus Galaxy had to offer. She walked up close to him and gave him a tight hug. She laid her head on his chest. "You'll be safe, right?"
"Yes."
"You're going with some of those tough looking guys over there with muscley necks, right?"
Aiden choked back a laugh, "Actually, Sergeant Stackhouse and his team, Major Sheppard, a few anthropologists and Dr. McKay and Teyla."
"That's not enough backup…" Willow looked up from his chest, now worried that she had insulted his very marine-ness. "Um. I mean, I am sure you are tough and all that but… I'll be quiet now." She put her head back down.
"We're leaving at fourteen hundred… two p.m." He lightly rubbed her back. This was the reaction he had wanted. "We are actually just going to look at some ruins."
"Okay."
Aiden knew he had to get back to work. Sheppard was flying one of the jumpers over to the mainland and he was going along to help supervise the setting up of a base camp. Despite Sergeant Bates assumption that one of the Athosians was surely a spy Aiden had decided to leave a small contingent of marines on the mainland to help with set up and to ensure that the Athosians were safe. Aiden was going along to make sure the mainland was safe. He wasn't sure what he was looking for or what he would be looking at but he wanted to get a good feeling for the landscape. You just didn't deposit people in the wilderness and expect them to fend for themselves—even if they were natural hunters and survivors.
"I know you have to get back to work." Willow was loathe to let go but she also knew neither could do anything if she held on.
"Yeah." Aiden was at peace.
Willow unwrapped her arms from around his neck and stepped back. She gave him an unsteady smile and squeezed his hand. Everything would be fine. He was just going to look at some ruins. "I will see you when you return. I've got dinner all planned." Willow punctuated her words by tapping him lightly on the chest.
She was a little nervous but to be a lot nervous would indicate she had absolutely no faith in his ability to take care of himself and the rest of the members of his mission team. She gave him a shaky smile and turned to walk back towards the infirmary. Aiden smiled and watched as she walked away. He turned and gave his attention back to his job, lifting the last bag and bringing it into the rear of the puddle jumper.
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Willow had made it back to the infirmary with ease, despite the fact she really wasn't paying any attention as to where she was going. She went back to work. At one pm she went to find Dr. Beckett to tell him that she was going to watch the team embark on their mission. Dr. Beckett was no where to be found. She went through all the rooms of the infirmary looking and looking. She finally gave up and had a seat on a stool. She figured he had to be gone for lunch and would return shortly. The easiest way to make sure she didn't miss him would be to sit in full view of the doorway, and so that was what she did. She was most surprised when he was able to walk up to her side and place a hand on her shoulder. He looked down with concern in his blue eyes. "Lass? Are you okay?"
"Oh. I was waiting for you…" Dr. Beckett had a large platter with two sandwiches and some fruit that looked like fresh grapes. Of course the grapes were a purple far deeper than anything Willow had seen before. "I noticed you didn't break for lunch, so I went for this from the mess. What is wrong?"
Willow didn't know how to take his kindness. On one hand she wanted to burst into tears—but that would be unbelievably silly. She wasn't by nature a crier but how do you react when someone you had become instantly emotionally and physical attached to was about to embark on a mission that might well end their life?
"Nothing. I am just worried."
"About Ford?" Carson was sure he had guessed right—unless she was worried about her friends. "You know, he hasn't even left yet—you have to think about gate travel like visiting another city. There really isn't anything to worry about until you hear the alarm."
"It is just that the first time I was 'off world' I saw a small contingent of wraith… I am sure any random place is safe—but how often do they encounter the wraith?"
"Honestly—fairly often. But that was surely because of the spy. I am sure that has changed." Carson knew his logic was sound and sensible.
"Really?"
"Surely." Carson closed that vein of conversation with that single word. "Now lass, try the fruit. Ford hasn't seen it yet—so it doesn't have a name…"
Willow looked puzzled. "What do you mean? Surely it had a name before 'we' arrived here?"
"Yeah—I am sure. It's just that Ford has a knack for coming up with the cheesiest names possible…" Willow gave Dr. Beckett a small grin.
"Like what? Tell me."
"Um… let me see…" He was glad Willow had got some of her good humor back. "He wanted to call the Puddle Jumpers—Gateships… he wanted to call the planet we're on Atlantica…"
"Hey! There's nothing wrong with Atlantica…" Carson shrugged. He half agreed with her and with Ford. "You have to admit, 'Gateship' is a horrid name.
"It is a ship--that goes through the gate…" Willow found herself interrupted by Dr. Beckett's laughter. "That's what he said."
"Are you going to watch him leave?" Carson asked Willow over his sandwich. He wasn't sure he should say anything but Ford was a good kid—really an old fashioned type guy. He'd like it. Actually, Carson would like it if someone, other than his boss was there watching for him to return.
"Yeah. I was going to ask you if it was okay."
"Of course it is, lass. Of course."
"They leave at two pm."
"Right." Willow said the word and willed the tone of lunch not to turn too dour and sour. She instead told Dr. Beckett about her work with the plants. Since that morning she had made definite headway in classifying the plant samples and she was eager to keep at it. She was sure she would have the bulk of the samples classified in about a week.
"I will be sure to look over your work when you have completed the first batch." Carson was sure he had made a good decision.
It was ten minutes to two pm and Willow nodded goodbye to Dr. Beckett and made her way to the gate room. When she made her way to the gate room Aiden and the rest of the team were standing around holding their p-90s and waiting for the dialing sequence to begin. Willow half wanted to yell from the balcony his name but didn't. She was sure he would see her. Teyla was actually the first person to look in her direction. She tilted her head and gave her a slight half smile. Willow watched as she elbowed Aiden and indicated that he should look up. Aiden smiled. Willow gave him a little wave. The dialing sequence began and Aiden walked backwards through the shimmering puddle. Willow was the last thing he saw as he left Atlantis. Willow closed her eyes and waited for the tell tale sound that would indicate that the wormhole had disconnected. He was gone—but he would surely return.
She walked back to the infirmary. She was desperate to get back to work, anything to get her mind off of the man she had only just accepted that she loved.