Author's Note: This one-shot is in response to two challenges, one formal and one informal. The formal one is for the Carson Beckett Challenges and Fun thread on Atlantis. We were to write a shippy, whumpy story where Carson gets in trouble off world and his lady has to rescue him. The informal one comes from Grace, who wanted to see a story where a fangirl of Carson's arrived on Atlantis. Somewhat Mary-Sue-ish, but not. This story is the result. Contains spoilers for "Intruder," "Duet," "Critical Mass," "The Tower," and "Coup d'Etat," maybe a few others. :) Enjoy! ~lg

oOo

RaeAnn Morgan walked toward the infirmary with slow steps. A knot coiled in her stomach, and she swallowed to try to wet her throat. She'd been on a ship for three weeks, having traveled from the Milky Way to Atlantis for her new posting. Still, she could not believe her luck.

He was there! RaeAnn swiped sweaty palms on her leg and forced herself into the infirmary. She had followed the work of Dr. Carson Beckett since he'd guest-lectured at her medical school. Over the years, that admiration had blossomed from professional intrigue to something a fangirl experienced over a favorite actor. She hated to think that she—experienced trauma specialist and newly-recruited doctor aboard Atlantis—had succumbed to the one thing that she always despised from her college buddies. Yet, here she was, barely able to keep her hands from shaking as she entered the domain of the one man whose work had fascinated her the most.

The infirmary resembled controlled chaos. Boxes of supplies were stacked everywhere while personnel swarmed the area. In the midst of it, doctors and nurses conducted exams of the new arrivals. RaeAnn took her place in line as she surveyed the area with wide eyes. Technology she'd never seen before—let alone used—appeared sporadically. She guessed the large arm that hovered over a bed was some sort of scanner and ironically mused that she could have used that back on Earth in the ER she'd run. Hand-held scanners appeared here and there, and the chatter was punctuated with quick reminders to lift "on three." It reminded RaeAnn that Atlantis's medical personnel had just been greatly boosted by the city's recent reconnection with Earth.

"Dr. Morgan?" A Scottish accent pulled her out of her thoughts. She turned and saw him standing next to a recently vacated bed, tablet in hand. He wore a dark gray uniform shirt under a white lab coat. Bright blue eyes sparkled, and he offered her a friendly smile.

RaeAnn walked toward him, the butterflies resuming their dance in her stomach as she drew close to him. He was smaller than she'd anticipated or remembered, only a few inches taller than her own five-foot, seven-inch frame. But his eyes were brighter, and his smile revealed charming laugh lines and an adorable dimple. She swallowed, hoping she didn't appear too nervous, and stepped forward.

His smile warmed as she approached. "It's quite alright, love. I just need ta take a wee bit of blood for baseline comparison. Like everyone who arrived on the Daedalus, you're good to go otherwise."

RaeAnn nodded. "Right." She hopped up onto the bed and slipped off her uniform jacket. He set aside the tablet and snapped on sterile gloves.

"So," he said as he worked, "how are you findin' our fair city?"

"Um. . . ." She searched for an answer, trying to meet his eyes. Her gaze didn't get beyond the zipper at his throat. "I'm not sure yet."

"Aye, it's overwhelmin' at first." He offered another smile as he reached for her arm. "Small pinch." The needle slid painlessly into her arm.

As he worked, she allowed herself to stare a bit. His eyes focused on his work, and his hands moved confidently as he finished collecting the blood and reached for a cotton ball. By the time he glanced at her, she'd looked back to his shoulder, the floor, or anywhere else but his face. She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes just yet.

He labeled the vials and reached for the tablet. "Well, I've glanced over your medical file, and everythin' looks to be in order. Any allergies I should know about that aren't in here?"

She shrugged. "No. Just seasonal allergies and almonds."

He made a note in her file, asked a few other questions, and sent her on her way. RaeAnn managed to meet his eyes long enough to give him a quick smile before bolting for the door. In the corridor, she stopped and let out a deep breath. She'd idolized Carson Beckett for years, dreamed about meeting him and working with him, and had frozen when given the opportunity to talk to him. She shook her head. "Wuss!"

oOo

Carson watched Dr. Morgan dart for the door with a sympathetic expression. The woman was pretty with intelligent brown eyes framed by purple-tinted glasses. But she'd been so shy that she couldn't meet his gaze. He understood that Atlantis could overwhelm a newcomer, but he seriously worried about her. He'd hired her for her qualifications as an emergency room doctor and trauma specialty. She'd run an ER near Cheyenne Mountain, and had done it well, for the last two years. That didn't fit with the shyness she'd exhibited just now.

With a sigh, he went back to his work. That shyness could create problems. If she hesitated because she was overwhelmed by Atlantis—or anything else—it could be deadly. The last thing he wanted was for her to return to Earth, heartbroken because she froze up when a patient needed her the most. He made a mental note to have Dr. Cole befriend her and went about his incredibly busy day.

oOo

Three weeks made an incredible difference in RaeAnn's comfort level. For her first two days, she was allowed to roam the city, read reports, and familiarize herself with life in Pegasus. And she had plenty of nurses and other doctors to fill her in on the details. One in particular, Amanda Cole, became her constant companion in the evenings, and the two women laughed as they shared life experiences. Amanda had worked for a short time in an ER back on Earth, and she loved some of RaeAnn's more humorous stories.

Dr. Beckett, however, still left her tongue-tied. She tried so hard to act normal in his presence, and those three weeks helped her to see him as a fellow human being rather than a hero. Not that he wasn't a hero. In the short time she'd been on Atlantis, she'd watched him go off world to treat the giant known as Ronon, and she'd heard stories about how one of the female Marines had taken over Dr. McKay's body and kissed him. For a short time, said Marine appeared in the infirmary, and the two of them often headed out for dinner, Dr. Beckett wearing a silly smile in the process. That, more than anything, tempered her admiration of him. While she still found him incredibly attractive, she wouldn't be caught dead admiring Dr. Beckett's. . .assets. . .with Laura Cadman in the general vicinity.

Carson also kept an eye on Dr. Morgan for those three weeks. She settled nicely, and he was relieved to see that her shyness didn't extend to her work. When anyone came into the infirmary, she professionally handled their needs and usually managed to make the injured person laugh or smile by the time she left. She even handled Ronon well, though the big Satedan didn't like anyone but Carson treating his wounds. When most women would have walked away from Ronon in tears or completely angry, Dr. Morgan simply shrugged and stitched whatever cut needed stitching. Ronon didn't like it, and, as a result, didn't like her. Neither did McKay, for that matter. He complained to Carson one day about Dr. Morgan's "rough personality and inappropriate humor." Carson settled the dispute by promising to have Dr. Biro treat Rodney the next time he needed it, and Rodney hadn't complained again.

If for no other reason, Colonel Sheppard liked her. Of course, Carson knew that Sheppard deliberately needled Rodney just to get a rise out of the physicist. All in all, Carson was happy with how the new recruits from Earth settled in to work on Atlantis and in his infirmary. As far as he was concerned, he couldn't have a better staff under his command.

oOo

A burst of feminine laughter turned heads in the mess hall late one night. RaeAnn covered her mouth with a napkin in an effort to not shower Amanda with tuttle root soup. Next to her, Marie also giggled as Amanda told them about one of her first experiences on Atlantis. It had been an unfortunate combination of mud, men, and mayhem. In the end, Amanda had walked away incensed and unable to see the humor in the entire thing until much later. And Major Lorne shuddered every time she mentioned a rainy or swampy planet.

But there was more. Amanda's gaze roamed the mess hall and settled on a table over RaeAnn's shoulder. The new doctor knew that her friend was already staring at the previously mentioned major. And she read the attraction and wistfulness in her gaze. "Have you thought about asking him out?"

Amanda blinked at her. "What?"

Marie picked up on RaeAnn's train of thought. "You should!"

Amanda shook her head and dropped her gaze to her mostly-empty plate. "No. He's got. . . .Just no."

"Why not?" RaeAnn wanted an answer, but she refused to press if Amanda closed the subject. In her opinion, it hadn't been closed.

Amanda thought for a moment. "He can't afford to be distracted." Then, she quickly turned the tables on the two women. "What about you two? Anyone you'd like to ask out?"

Immediately, RaeAnn's stomach clenched. What was she supposed to say to that?

Fortunately, Marie answered for her. "There is someone. . . ."

"Who?" Amanda demanded.

Marie grinned. "I'm not sayin'."

Amanda groaned. "That's not fair! You two figured out my crush. You gotta spill about yours!" She looked between the two and saw the way RaeAnn's face had turned red. "Dr. Morgan, do you have a secret to share?"

"No!" RaeAnn answered too quickly, and she knew it. She took a deep breath. "I mean, he's seeing someone else last I knew, and I really didn't come here for a relationship or, as my mom would call it, my M.R.S. Degree."

The two women laughed at that. Amanda nudged her arm. "Come on. Just tell us about him."

RaeAnn exchanged a glance with Marie and huffed. "Fine. We'll share."

Marie jabbed a finger into the air. "Only if you promise not to say anything."

Amanda held up her hands. "No names. Just tell me about him. . .them."

Marie looked at RaeAnn and nodded. "He's. . .um. . .hot. Really hot. Military, and every time I see him come into the infirmary, my insides just melt."

Amanda frowned. "That could be just about any Marine on this base."

"I know!" Marie's cheeky response brought another round of chuckles. "Seriously, though, he's. . .he's not in any command position, and he's got this crazy sense of humor that will have a girl laughing herself silly in an instant.

Coughlin! RaeAnn's mind immediately supplied the name. She'd observed Marie and Coughlin laughing together in the infirmary on several occasions and had always thought they'd make a great couple. She elbowed Marie. "You should ask him out. Whoever he is."

Marie folded her arms and stared at RaeAnn. "So, are you going to ask your guy?"

"Oh, goodness, no!" RaeAnn shook her head emphatically. "He's dating someone else."

Amanda raised an eyebrow. "You're falling for a taken man?"

"Yeah." RaeAnn let out a wistful sigh, staring at the wall as she pictured Carson's face. "He's a scientist here, not military. Amazing eyes, great smile, perfect squeezability. Just amazing from any angle! Completely dedicated to his work, too."

"Well, we know it's not McKay!" Amanda grinned. "Or is it? I heard he's dating Katie Brown."

RaeAnn gave her a bland expression.

"O-kay, not McKay." Amanda shrugged. "You know, we should do something about this."

"What?"

"How's 'bout a solemn oath to ask out our men before the year is over?"

RaeAnn started calculating the odds of that happening. "No."

"You're that certain he'd turn you down?"

"He's dating someone already!" She gathered her tray. "Maybe if this relationship he's in doesn't work out, but I don't see how it won't. They're suited for each other. I'll just. . .get over it." She marched away with her head held high, though her stomach was clenched. She'd not told anyone that she was so besotted with Carson Beckett that she could barely think around him. Her admiration had changed in recent months, tempered by Pegasus and his relationship with Laura Cadman. But she still struggled to breathe every time he looked her way, and she usually worked to keep from dissolving into a happy puddle of goo when he smiled at her. And he did so, quite often. It was his style of leadership that he treated all of his doctors and nurses with respect, kindness, and a wry sense of humor. That delightful Scottish accent only made the situation worse.

Resolved to get over her lingering fangirl-ish emotions and to put this crush on Carson Beckett aside, RaeAnn retired to bed that evening and spent the night staring at the ceiling.

oOo

Another couple of months and a few adventures passed. Carson endured the changes in his personal life as well as his professional career. He finally felt confident in Atlantis, not with what they faced but with the technology. Watching Colonel Sheppard devolve into the bug-like creature was harder on him than anything he'd anticipated. The colonel had become a good friend, and having his hands tied like that stung. Of course, it was Carson's last-minute epiphany that led to everything turning out okay.

And, of course, there was the entire incident with the ZPM and Colonel Caldwell. Carson had watched Charin, a close friend of Teyla's, die of old age. Teyla had planned the woman's memorial in spite of the danger, and Carson stayed behind to support her, hoping everything would work out. And it had, even though he'd had several tense moments at the Ring Ceremony, where Teyla sang and her people bravely resisted the instinct to run for their lives. His admiration for the Athosians grew in that moment, and he knew he'd grown during that entire affair.

Unfortunately, his personal life seemed to fall apart right after that. He and Laura had dated for several months, but they weren't suited for one another. Just before the news that the ZPM would overload came, Carson had asked her to remain behind on Atlantis so that they could try to work out their differences. It didn't work. They were just too different. And, every time he kissed her, he thought of Rodney. As much as he teased McKay about the entire incident, it bugged him on a purely male level. He wasn't like that, and he wished he could put it aside and think of Laura as her own person. His inability to do so, as well as her natural adventuresome attitude, led to some tense discussions where they decided to go their separate ways. She left for Earth while he was off world, trapped in a tower by a wannabe Lord Protector.

Not allowing anyone to see much of the behind-the-scenes occurrences, he threw himself into his work in the infirmary. His medical staff provided friendship, as did Colonel Sheppard's team. It took a few weeks, but he settled into life as a bachelor once again, and he realized that his relationship with Laura became a small regret in the grand scheme of things.

Three weeks after Laura's departure—about five weeks after they finally decided that they couldn't work things out—Carson was called off world to assist with a flu-like illness on one of Atlantis's allied planets. Carson had been numerous times for clinics, and he declined Elizabeth's offer to have Colonel Sheppard's team accompany him. He did take a security team, Dr. Morgan and another nurse with him, and the two medical personnel performed admirably under less-than-desirable conditions. After three days, he sent them back to Atlantis for some well-deserved rest. He decided, against Elizabeth's wishes, to remain behind and ensure the flu wouldn't return.

Finally, he headed out for the gate with the last of his equipment. He carried several heavy cases, having already sent the rest of it with Colonel Sheppard, who had checked in regularly in the last week. He was exhausted, wishing he'd just headed back to Atlantis in the Jumper rather than remaining behind to say goodbye to an adorable child who had captured his heart. The path to the Stargate wound through some hillsides, and some of the drops were quite steep. He carefully navigated the path, rolling his neck and looking forward to a hot shower, shave, food, and bed.

"Well, hello, Doctor." The words caught him off-guard. Carson whirled, and a fist connected with his stomach before he could see who had accosted him. Another blow landed on his kidneys, telling him that he'd been attacked by more than one person.

He gasped in pain, struggling to straighten as the heavy cases were ripped from his grip. He blinked and saw a thin man with a long ponytail, his smirk belying the tattered uniform he wore. "You're Genii."

The man grinned. "Well, ain't you a bright one." He walked forward so that he was nose-to-nose with Carson. "We were gonna just raid the village. But seein' you here, alone, was too good to pass up. Hand over the medical kit, Dr. Beckett, and we'll let you return to Atlantis."

Carson straightened. So far, the Genii and the Wraith thought Atlantis was destroyed, and they needed them to continue thinking that. "Where?"

The man balled up his fist and punched Carson again in the stomach. "Don't play coy, Dr. Beckett. We know who you are and where you've been holed up. We know Atlantis survived. So be a good doctor and hand over the medical kit."

The shock of the attack wore off after those words, and Carson swung, his childhood ability to scrap with the best of them coming out as his fist connected with a nose. The man he'd punched howled, and he took another kidney punch for his efforts. Someone kicked his knee, and he shouted in pain as it gave way with a sickening crunch. He didn't think it was broken, but he knew he'd favor it for a while now. Still, he fought back. The pack on his back was yanked from him, jerking his muscles and shoulders painfully. He pushed himself back to his feet and threw himself at the attacker in front of him. For a brief moment, he had the man completely at his mercy, and he managed to land several powerful, adrenaline-laced punches before he was yanked away. A fist connected powerfully with his jaw, and other blows landed.

"Get rid of him!" The gruff order barely registered as a final blow sent him teetering backward. His arms pinwheeled painfully, and then he went over the edge of the steep hill. Rocks, branches, and ground pounded on his already-battered body, and he came to rest with a rock connecting squarely with his spine. Carson held on to consciousness long enough to see blurry forms climbing the hills and away from the attack site. He tried to roll over, but agony spiraled through him. Broken or cracked ribs, possibly wrenched back, spinal damage, kidney damage. His medical brain listed the possible injuries, and he dropped his head with a groan. Not only did he know it was inadvisable to move, but he wasn't sure he could.

Staring at the sky, he closed his eyes and allowed unconsciousness to take him.

oOo

RaeAnn managed to settle into life on Atlantis after several months. As she watched the city go through changes, she managed to get a hold on her emotions concerning Dr. Beckett. While she admired him, it was from a distance. Even after Laura Cadman returned to Earth, RaeAnn couldn't bring herself to "make a move," as Amanda called it. Of course, working in the infirmary gave her a unique perspective. She saw the hours Dr. Beckett devoted to his work, and, while she would have loved to be a part of his life, she didn't want to split his focus. Not so soon after his relationship with Laura ended.

That was never so prominent as when he called her into his office just after his return from the Lord Protector's planet. He sat behind his desk and informed her that he wanted her to form a specialized trauma team specifically for the purpose of traveling off world to render assistance in emergency situations. With her specialty, as well as her experience in emergency rooms, he felt she was the best person to head it up. Feeling very humbled by his request—and a tad breathless at the way he'd treated her as an equal and not someone under his command—RaeAnn left his office and started training personnel right away.

Then, of course, he invited her off world with him to treat a flu-like virus. She understood, given her specialty, that it might require her expertise. But those days, with hours devoted to creating a vaccine, she managed to get to know Dr. Beckett on a personal level, one where she could look him in the eye, talk to him, and laugh with him without feeling like her stomach was doing somersaults.

"Dr. Morgan." The call came through her headset just as she gained her quarters. It had been a long day, and she was ready to relax. She hadn't fully recovered from her trip off world and had worked a full day in the infirmary.

With a tired sigh, RaeAnn touched her earpiece. "Go ahead."

"Gather your team and report to the Jumper bay. Colonel Sheppard's team has requested assistance." The announcement sent adrenaline coursing through her veins. She snagged the jacket she'd just shed and virtually ran from her quarters, already calling for her team to prepare. They'd trained for this, doing speed drills to the point that none of them wanted to hear the word "stopwatch" again. Now, it came in handy. Within ten minutes, the entire team converged on the Jumper bay with medical kits, backboard, and various emergency medical equipment. Major Lorne sat in the Jumper's pilot seat and blinked at their efficient movements as they quickly stowed their gear in the rear compartment.

RaeAnn moved to the front of the Jumper, where the major and Dr. McKay waited. "What's the situation?"

McKay gave her a bland look. "It's Beckett. He took a fall, and we're afraid to move him."

RaeAnn blinked as the Jumper started lowering itself into the gateroom. "And the nature of his injuries?"

"Bad," McKay snapped.

Irritated at being dismissed, RaeAnn faced him. "Dr. McKay, I cannot prepare my team to treat Dr. Beckett's injuries if I do not have an idea of what I will be facing. By saying simply 'bad,' you could mean anything from a punctured lung, a heart attack, or a broken neck."

"What, do I look like a medical doctor?" McKay fired back. At a sharp glance from Major Lorne, McKay sighed. "Fine. It looks like he fell down the side of a mountain. Sheppard was afraid to move him because of how he's lying."

RaeAnn forced herself to breathe. A fall she could handle. She'd treated several hikers in the Colorado Springs area over the course of her career, and she mentally began preparing for cuts, bruises, broken bones, possible internal bleeding, and the like. As they passed through the wormhole, she informed her team of what they would face, and the two men and one woman nodded in response to her instructions.

They arrived a few short moments later to see Teyla waving from the side of a mountain. Major Lorne told RaeAnn that he'd hover the Jumper over the path for her team to hop down, and then he'd have to circle the area for a place to land. The terrain was rocky, and the path wrapped around the side of a mountain to open onto a level field. It wasn't far away, and she remembered thinking about picking some wildflowers that grew in the field when she passed through the area just a day ago. Hopping out of the Jumper, she collected her gear and headed for Teyla. "Where's my patient?"

Teyla pointed. "Down here." She glanced at RaeAnn. "Dr. Morgan, we believe he was attacked."

RaeAnn looked down the mountain. Dr. Beckett lay on his back, his arms and legs sprawled with his feet toward the path and his head downhill. Even from this angle and in the fading sunlight, she could see the bruises that marred his body. She also saw the loose soil and rocks that would make reaching him treacherous. Thankful that climbing gear seemed to come standard with a Jumper, she quickly managed to climb into a harness and have her team lower herself and Teyla to Dr. Beckett's side.

He was regaining consciousness as she arrived. Running a scanner over his body, she quickly determined that his knee had been damaged somehow, but the most life-threatening of his injuries seemed to be the rock in the middle of his spine as well as the traces of internal bleeding. One eye was swollen shut, and his lip had been split in several places. It looked like he'd had the crap beaten out of him. RaeAnn touched his shoulder as his good eye rolled in the socket. "Dr. Beckett, just remain calm. We're going to get you out of here."

"Carson. . . ." He blinked as he whispered his first name. His good eye found Teyla, and he smiled at her before giving RaeAnn a grateful look. "It's good ta see ye, lass."

RaeAnn returned the smile, her hands already working to collect the backboard that had been lowered to her. She could get him attached to it with Teyla's help, but it would be painful for him. Still, with the limited climbing gear, she preferred to do most of her triage on the Jumper rather than a precarious mountainside. Leaning over him, she checked his pupil dilation and noted that he likely had a concussion. When he cringed away from the light, she touched his shoulder again. "I'm sorry, Doctor."

"My name's 'Carson,' lass." He seemed reluctant to simply lie there, choosing to watch her work as she swiftly got the backboard in place.

RaeAnn glanced at him, her gaze colliding with his. Though it was for a fraction of a second, her hands stilled as she smiled. She pulled herself from the moment and glanced at Teyla. "Carson, from what I can tell, you have no spinal damage other than some bruises on your back. Teyla and I are going to move you onto the backboard and then get you to the Jumper for triage."

He nodded with a wince. "Good."

Taking his closed eyes as permission, RaeAnn instructed Teyla on what she needed to do. When ready, she counted to three and rolled Carson toward the Athosian. He groaned with pain, hissing and breathing heavily by the time she got him situated on the backboard. Slipping the C-spine immobilizer in place, she strapped him to the backboard and nodded to her people above them. They began to carefully pull him toward the top of the hill while she called for Major Lorne to return with the Jumper.

All in all, the team had Carson back on Atlantis within an hour. Most of the triage passed quickly, but that internal bleeding worried RaeAnn. She walked next to the stretcher that met them in the Jumper bay, reading out the results of her latest scan to Amanda Cole. Amanda nodded and, with a firm tone in her voice, declined to perform the surgery. RaeAnn understood. She'd been hesitant in the past when Carson asked her to join him for surgery, and she knew Amanda figured it stemmed from a bad experience on Earth. Now, she'd have to actually perform surgery on the man who had caused the hesitation.

Hours later, the internal bleeding had been resolved, and Carson had been moved to a bed in the infirmary. Colonel Sheppard and Ronon returned, saying that a rogue group of Genii had attacked the doctor for his supplies. RaeAnn finished filling out Carson's chart and shook her head. His injuries should have been worse than they were, and it seemed the Scottish doctor had his own brand of luck. Not quite ready to call it a night, she settled into a chair next to her patient and watched him sleep.

oOo

Carson woke to the sight of RaeAnn dozing in her chair. He knew the feeling, had experienced it before. But, tonight, something else struck him.

She was beautiful. Not a wild beauty like Laura or an exotic beauty like Teyla. Her dark hair had been released from the snug bun she always wore, and it flowed over her shoulder in soft waves. She'd set aside her glasses, and her heart-shaped face had relaxed as she slept. Not wanting to wake her but feeling the pain creep into the drug-induced haze, he turned his head. And promptly groaned.

RaeAnn woke with a start. She blinked sleep from her eyes and pushed to her feet. "Take it easy, Dr. Beckett." Reaching into the lab coat she still wore, she pulled out a syringe and added pain medication to the IV port in his arm.

Carson watched her check his monitors and then reach for a cup of ice. She spooned an ice chip into his mouth, smiling when he nodded ever so slightly. He hurt all over. Finally, his throat felt wet enough to speak. "How bad?"

She met his eyes, her own gaze steady for the first time since he'd known her. "Not horrible, but definitely worse than usual."

He chuckled softly. "That wasnae an answer, love."

She grinned ruefully. "I know." Setting aside her scanner, she stood next to his bed and leaned her hip against it. "You have a pretty severe concussion that should heal in the next several days. Your knee is badly sprained, and it'll take four to six months for that to heal up. You've got three cracked ribs and bruised kidneys, not to mention suffering a bit of internal bleeding. That was quite a beating you took, and it's going to take some time to bounce back from it. You're just lucky that rock that you landed on only bruised your back rather than causing spinal damage."

"Aye," he agreed. The pain medication she'd slipped him was working, and he drifted back to sleep after whispering, "Thank you."

When he next woke, it was Rodney at his bedside. The physicist called for a doctor, and Amanda came over to speak with him. RaeAnn had taken the day to get some sleep after having spent nearly twenty-four hours either patching Carson up or sitting at his bedside. Carson made a mental note to give Dr. Morgan a commendation for her care and began to revise his previous opinion of the shaky doctor. When in her element, there was nothing shaky about her. Even Rodney, who still didn't like her, admitted she'd done well.

He was released from the infirmary five days later, and RaeAnn cautioned him against returning to work for another week. Carson declined the offer to return to Earth through the wormhole and went crazy in his quarters. He took to wandering through the infirmary, drawing an adorable scowl from RaeAnn as he simply chatted with Amanda or Marie. He also stopped next to RaeAnn's station on more than one occasion, striking up a conversation unrelated to her work. As medical doctors, their talk often revolved around their work, and they spent an entire afternoon sitting at her workbench and sharing experiences from their pasts. Carson noticed RaeAnn watching him appreciatively at times, and her smile always lit her face when he approached. And suddenly, he realized what had happened.

She wasn't afraid of Atlantis or of being a doctor. When she'd arrived, she'd been unsteady and nervous around him. Her nerves came from the attraction she felt for him rather than any insecurity about her abilities. That realization made him aware of her in a way that he'd never been before.

His first day back to work, Major Lorne escorted Dr. Lindsay to M28-177. Carson was on hand to receive the burned bodies thought to be the major and his team. He watched Amanda bolt for the door, unable to watch, and took it upon himself to figure out what had happened. And, when he needed assistance, he called for RaeAnn. Time revealed the Genii plot, as well as the radiation sickness that Ladon's people suffered, and RaeAnn worked tirelessly beside him as they tried to help those who suffered. In the end, when it was revealed that Dahlia Radeem had a malignant tumor in her lung, Carson called for RaeAnn to assist him with the surgery. And, this time, she didn't hesitate, almost anticipating what he'd need during the entire process.

With Ladon Radeem on his way back to the gateroom with Elizabeth, Carson took a moment to look down into the operating theater and breathe a sigh of relief. He'd heard from Elizabeth that they'd recovered Colonel Sheppard, Major Lorne, and the other missing personnel. It looked like this entire situation would resolve itself in time, and he was grateful for that.

RaeAnn joined him on the observation deck. "Dr. Beckett?" Though they were on a first-name basis most of the time, she insisted on maintaining that level of professionalism so long as they were doing more than research.

He glanced over at her. "Och, just thinkin', love." He smiled as she joined him next to a bank of monitors that recorded everything happening below him. "Lovely work today."

She smiled, her face darkening just a touch. "Thank you." She met his eyes. "I was going to head to the mess hall for some coffee. Would you like me to bring you a cup?"

"Aye, that would be great." He let out a deep breath. Over these last weeks, he'd allowed his feelings for her to grow into something a lot deeper than professional admiration. She turned toward the door, having removed her wire-rimmed glasses to rub at her eyes. "RaeAnn?"

She turned, surprised that he'd used her given name. Slipping her glasses back on her face, she blinked at him. "Yes?"

Carson smiled, deciding that there was no time like the present to ask what he'd been considering asking for days now. "Later this evening, when everything calms down in the infirmary, would you care to join me for dinner?"

For a moment, RaeAnn stared at him. Carson had just asked her to dinner? The expression on his face wasn't one he gave to just anybody. She'd seen that expression when he and Laura Cadman had first started dating. Only, now, there was something deeper behind it. There was friendship that could easily turn to more. She smiled suddenly. "I'd really like that, Carson."

His own smile widened, and she left before she embarrassed herself. Once in the corridor, however, she leaned against the wall in the same place she had all those months ago and suppressed the squeal of glee that rose inside. She had a date with Carson Beckett!

Going to the mess hall for coffee just as she'd promised, she looked for Amanda and Marie. She didn't find the former, but the latter was stirring her own coffee. RaeAnn rushed to her side. "Guess what?"

Marie turned and grinned slyly. "From your expression, you've got a date."

"Yep." RaeAnn reached for two coffee cups, filled them, and added cream and sugar to one and two packets of sugar to the other.

Marie watched closely, seeing how she prepared it. "No way!"

RaeAnn glanced up. "What?"

Marie pointed. "There's only one man on this base who drinks more than one packet of sugar in his coffee, and that's Dr. Beckett. That's who you're going on a date with?"

In spite of the blush that covered her face, RaeAnn grinned triumphantly. "And I didn't even have to ask!"