Life at Altantis continued as it always did with threats coming, injuries and trade agreements keeping the teams busy off world and when not off world Carson found himself being dragged along for movies and coffee and the small amount of down time Shepperd and his team had.
Once again Dr. Beckett found himself being taken off world under the care and supervison of Col. Shepperd and his able team, the lastest village they had been exploring and discussing possible trade agreements had realved that they had several elders that looked like they needed medical assistance and here Dr. Beckett was trekking into the old village towards a large stone temple.
The temple was surrounded like most a river and it was situated on a cliff with running rivers and small waterfalls with endless stairs leading up into the temple.
As the team reached the temple they found their path went directly to a river and a small waterfall, one of the temple workers stood on the opposite side of the river and greeted them kindly.
"We welcome you and the elders are eager to see your healer" he stated
"To enter you must be cleansed and washed in your holy river" he stated
After several more questions from Col Shepperd it had slowly been explained that they must cross the river and under the waterfall to be washed clean to enter the temple, they would be given clean "pure" robes once they re amerged from the river.
The boys kindly turned their backs as Teyla removed her clothing and crossed the river, passed under the waterfall and she exited the water she quickly dressed before she yelled over the shoulder that she would meet them inside the temple door. Teyla and the temple worker disappeared around the corner and the remaining men stood at the waters edge. Shepperd slapped Rodney on the shoulder and smiled "Off you go Rodney"
Rodney muttered under his breath as Shepperd turned around and walked over to Dr. Beckett and Ronan
"well" he laughed "nothing like a shower after a long walk"
Dr. Beckett was looking down at his feet awkwardly
"You right Doc?" Shepperd asked as he started to remove his shirt
"Aye" he muttered fiddeting with his clothing he looked down again after noticing Ronan had removed most of his clothing but his pants.
"You embrassed Doc" Shepperd smiled cheekily
"Got something under those clothes we should know about" he smiled
Ronan walked to the waters edge and after quickly removing his pants did the same trek to the other side before dressing and looking back over the other side at the remaining men.
"We should hurry" he called over the river
SHepperd looked at Carson who was still looking down at his feet before turning and quickly crossing the river as well. He dressed and turned around after joining Ronan on the river edge
"Come on Doc" he called
Dr. Beckett walked down to the waters edge and picked up the rope that Shepperd had thrown over, he looped it through the medical kits and after tying it he pushed it into the river and turning abck around after he could hear Ronan and Shepeerd pull the items over he started to undress himself. He had removed all but his shorts and a chesty singlet when he heard Shepperd whistle crudely.
"Who knew you were so fit Doc" he laughed "and is that a tattoo I see?"
Carson smiled thinking of his tattoo that ran over and around his calf and knee. The inked barbed wire covered what was a quite large scar from a knee surgery.
"Aye" he called
"Don't be embrassed Doc, its only one little tattoo" he laughed
"I ain't embrassed by me tattoos lad, and I got more than one" he snapped as he removed the rest his clothes and quickly entered the water.
He had not heard the surprised laugh of Shepperd or the shocked look on Ronan's face as he had entered the water and they briefly saw more inked skin.
Carson climbed out of the water and quickly wrapped the robe around his bottom half of his body and picked up another shirt before a hand touched his shoulder stopping him.
"What are these markings" Ronan asked, his eyes exploring the Dr. exposed body.
"They are tattoos lad" he answered "permanent drawings"
"What is this one" Ronan asked running his hand softly over the back of Carson's back
Carson tried to hide his bodies response to the gentle touch and the shivers that ran down his spine.
He sighed as Shepperd walked over and stood next to Ronan looking at the Dr's back, he was grateful when SHepperd answered Ronan's question.
"That is a drawing of the spinal cord and these" Sheperrd pointed too "are angel wings. The main religion of Earth, and Doc's religion includes these holy beings who have feathered wings, like a birds"
"Angel" Ronan repeated as he ran his hand to Carson's side and he gently turned the doctor around as he looked at the unfamiliar writing on the mans side.
"And these" he asked, Carson looked at Shepperd who shook his head
"It says Gra, Dilseacht, Cairdeas" the Dr. answered
"its Scottish gaelic, the old language of my people"
"what does it mean"he pushed
'Love Loyalty Friendship" he answered
Ronan nodded as he ran his hand up Carson's side to his chest and he traced the image his saw over Carson's heart.
"This" he asked
"It is my family crest and tartan from Scotland" he stated
Ronan wrapped his hand over Carson's wrists and pulled it to the side making Carson expose the inner side of his bicep
"These" Ronan pushed
"The left says Gillian, the one stolen and the right says Edmund the one failed"
"Kin?" Ronan asked
"Aye, my siblings they both died many years ago now"
"And this one" Ronan asked again moving around to Carson's back and tracing the barbed wire on his knee and calf"
"That was a drunken night out and I decided to cover my rather ugly scar"
"Dam Doc, I am surprised" Shepperd stated looking at the now blushing man
Carson surprised both men when he laughed loudly
"Well lads, your not the only ones who have had interesting lives" he stated
"OH come one Doc, you can't tell us that and not tell us more" Shepperd laughed
"You never asked and I never told" he answered before walking into the temple and pulling his shirt over his head.