Author's Note: As you know, I wrote this story for NaNoWriMo. There was a challenge in my local area to write an entire conversation using only facial expressions and body language. This chapter was my attempt to answer that challenge. Also, the restaurant featured in this chapter, Vesuvius, was shamelessly swiped from theicemenace with her permission. As always, hope you enjoy! ~lg

oOo

The drive to Albuquerque passed in relative silence. Alison arrived at Carson's house early Friday morning as the sun barely peeked over the horizon. He appeared in his door as soon as her lights flashed across the front of the home, wearing a pair of nice jeans and a dark blue button down shirt. He had a thick notebook tucked under his arm and carried his thick coat to the car. Rather than climbing out Alison simply turned down the volume on the mp3 player she'd brought for music. The soft rock shouldn't interrupt Carson's preparations, and it would give her mind something to focus on while she drove.

"Good morning," Carson greeted as he slid into the passenger seat. "I cannae thank ye enough."

"Don't mention it." Alison picked up the plastic travel mug from the coffee house and gave it to him. "Courtesy of my mother."

He accepted with a sweet smile. "I'll be sure to thank her when we get back."

They left Esperanza behind a short time later, and Carson took the time to enjoy his coffee as the landscape passed. Alison watched from the corner of her eye, amazed at the focus he displayed. Now that the sun had fully risen, she could see the light blue and tan pinstripes in his shirt. It fascinated her to see him dressed so casually even though she knew that the students likely expected a crazed old man with hair standing on end and Grandpa glasses perched on the end of his nose. She flushed as she imagined the expressions on the college coed's faces when this amazingly attractive doctor walked through the door. Admit it, Alison. He's HOT! The thought made her chuckle.

Carson glanced over, his eyebrow raised questioningly.

Alison shook her head. "Nothing. Just. . . ." She flushed. "Nothing."

He grinned at her, his dimple appearing and totally distracting her from driving for a moment. She caught herself before she did much more than drive by Braille, as her mother called it. He realized what happened, and his grin widened.

Alison's face burned. She'd just managed to reveal exactly how attracted she was to him by almost driving off of the road. That would have been great, Ali, she thought wryly. The man of your dreams asks you to drive him to Albuquerque. You get an entire day—minus the guest lecture—with him, as well as a nice dinner, and you drive off the road and kill the two of you before it happens. Pay attention!

The rest of the drive passed in silence. Carson finished his coffee with obvious relish, smiling every time he took a sip and thoroughly distracting her. She worked to keep her focus on the road, trying in vain to ignore the way his amazing blue eyes turned to his work and notes. Once that happened, she was able ignore the way he affected her. Mostly, anyway. His silent presence next to her, moving every so often as he made a note or turned the page, warmed her heart and made her wonder if she could handle having him around all the time. Part of her screamed, Yes! The other part of her—the part that demanded she think about her job with the SGC—was surprisingly silent.

At University of New Mexico, Alison and Carson were escorted directly to the classroom where he'd lecture. The students would begin arriving in a few moments, but they had time to absorb the large room, the way the desks were arranged, and the general feel of the space. The lights were focused on the front platform, where Carson would lecture, so Alison claimed a seat toward the back. She figured, like she had when he'd asked her to take him to Albuquerque, that she could stare at him without appearing out of place. After all, every other person in the room would either be staring or taking notes.

The class arrived one at a time and carrying heavy books and binders. Alison grinned as she watched them, remembering her days at CalTech and how she'd attended several guest lectures. None of those men had ever looked as great as Carson did, though, and she was again reminded that she needed to find some distance so she didn't completely embarrass herself when she left Esperanza for the SGC.

Once class started, Alison propped her chin on her hand as she listened to the instructor introduce Carson. The man, of course, knew nothing about the SGC or Carson's work in the Pegasus galaxy, but it was a glowing introduction nonetheless. Then, Carson stepped to the podium and began to spread out his notes. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen," he said through the lapel mic he'd been given. "Before we begin, allow me to thank you for havin' me. Please don't be afraid to ask questions as I teach." His Scottish accent floated across the room and caught the attention of almost every person there. Alison grinned as she watched the unmarried women straighten shirts, smooth hair, and readjust their position in their desks. Pens were raised, and Carson launched into his lecture with a twinkle in his eye as he glanced at Alison.

For a long time, she simply watched. Carson was a masterful instructor, and he loved his work. It showed in the notes he wrote on the white board, the way he spoke, and the times he stopped his lecture to answer a question. The students were intelligent in their questions, and Alison appreciated that none of the women made inappropriate comments. He was there with her, after all, and that made her feel possessive of him. Not liking the jealousy that stirred as she thought about other women admiring him, she pushed the emotion away and simply allowed herself to stare.

As if sensing her thoughts, he turned and caught her eye. Like in the car, his eyebrow rose, and a slight grin appeared on his face. Alison straightened, her chin leaving her hand as she realized she'd been caught staring. At that moment, she hadn't been thinking about his lecture or anything related to genetics—unless he counted how blue his eyes were and how soothing his voice was as genetics. Somehow, she didn't think he'd agree, though the look he gave her told her he liked the attention. Enjoyin' what you're seein', love? She could almost hear the question.

An answering smile crept across her face. Of course.

Without breaking the stride of his lecture, he glanced at his notes. Standing at the podium for a moment, he glanced up. His gaze caught hers again, and she realized the warning in it. Stop lookin' at me like that!

Like what? she asked with a quirk of her own eyebrow. Rather than "answering" her, he turned and began to write on the board. Alison's eyes traveled from the back of his head down to where his untucked shirt covered the rear of his pants. It was a shame, really, to have him wearing that shirt like that.

Without warning, he turned around as one of the students called his name. The business-like expression on his face lasted only so long as he answered the student. Then, he again traded another look with Alison. I know what you're thinkin'.

She smirked. Do you?

Aye, his nod answered. Alison felt her face heat and was thankful for the dimness of the area where she sat. She'd never been one to check out men before, though Dusty Mehra had worn off on her a bit. The Marine was rather vocal about which assets she liked best in her men. Alison had always gone very quiet during those conversations, but she couldn't resist shaking her head. Carson Beckett seemed to bring out the woman in her who appreciated more than just a kind smile and pretty eyes. With him, she appreciated the whole package.

As if reading her thoughts, he set down the dry erase marker he held and stood in place, facing the class with his hands on his hips, serious expression on his face. His gaze swept the room, stopping briefly on her. Stop distractin' me, love. Or I might call you up here for an example.

Alison couldn't help herself. She actually snickered. Thankful that someone else coughed at the same time, she dropped her chin back onto her hand and resumed her thoughtful pose. She tried looking at the white board, listening to the sound of his voice as she kept her eyes glued to the ground, or fiddling with her fingernails. None of it worked.

When her eyes were again dragged back to Carson's form, he grinned. Couldn't resist, could ye?

Nope. Her grin, while sheepish, was wide. She had never carried on an entire conversation—much less flirted—without saying a word. But Carson brought out a side of her that she'd feared didn't exist. She liked the power she had over him to constantly draw his gaze back to her, and she realized that she'd need to be careful. As much as she held sway over Carson, he also held the same sway over her.

Her quick glance away and shift in her seat was met with a slight scowl. What's wrong?

She shook her head slightly. Not now.

His smile crossed his face, but it wasn't the same. He'd sensed the change in her mood, and it affected him. He continued lecturing, but she caught his frequent glances her way. Are you okay?

Yes. It wasn't so much of a nod as it was a settling of her body in the chair. Her chin again came to rest on her hand, and she tried to think while his voice echoed in the classroom. She'd never realized how powerful her attraction to Carson Beckett really was. She'd known that she could lose her heart to him if she wasn't careful, but now she wondered if it was a hopeless cause. No other man that she'd ever known stirred the attraction that she now felt.

Carson stood still as he opened the floor for discussion following his lecture. He casually lifted his shirt tail to shove his hands in his pockets. After the student's observations on the lecture, he turned to motion to the white board with one hand while leaving the other in his pocket. The action revealed a bit more of what the shirt had hidden earlier, and he glanced over his shoulder as he talked. His words never slowed, but his expression was for her alone. Is this helping any?

Alison could not have stopped the reaction if she'd wanted to. She'd been taking a sip of the water bottle provided when they first arrived and choked on the liquid when she caught his expression. Students turned to look at her, and her face burned as she realized she'd been caught flirting wordlessly with the guest lecturer. True to form, Carson paused long enough to see that she'd be okay. Once he went back to discussing the topic, she frowned at him. Behave!

Avoiding water for the final ten minutes of class, Alison sagged in pure relief as Carson turned the platform over to the teacher. The older man thanked Carson for coming, making sure to mention Alison as well. She smiled politely as Carson left the stage, knowing it would be a few more moments before they were able to talk. And they needed to talk.

Finally, she walked toward him. He met her eyes. "Not now, love."

"I know." She fell into step with him as they left the classroom. A quick glance at her watch told her that they had time to get back home at a decent hour.

Carson caught the motion. "Don't worry about it. I've got reservations tonight at Vesuvius. I believe you mentioned you loved Italian?"

"I did." Her cheeks heated yet again. "Thank you for remembering."

He stopped in his tracks and faced her. "I wouldnae forget that, love."

It was the second time in a few moments that he'd used the endearment with her. Other than in your imagination, she added. It made her feel special and uncomfortable at the same time. Special because he cared enough about her to add her to the short list of women who warranted the endearment. Uncomfortable because she suddenly wanted more from him.

That realization left her quiet as she followed the directions on her GPS to the hotel that Carson had chosen for their trip. Once in her room across from his, Alison leaned against the door and let out a deep breath. If this night went as she hoped it would, there would be no turning back.

oOo

An hour before their reservations, Carson knocked on Alison's door. He wanted to give her enough time to find the restaurant and for them to settle into where he hoped the night would go. He'd spent the afternoon going over the class in his mind and wondering if he'd misinterpreted the entire "conversation" they'd shared. It was completely different from anything he remembered, and he quite liked it. Still, he'd never been so distracted from a lecture than he had that day. He was certain that there were several moments when his words lagged and the entire class realized that he was making eyes at the gorgeous woman in the back of the room.

Hearing movement on the other side of the door, Carson smiled and shook his head. He'd glanced up from his notes to see Alison sitting forward, her chin on her hand and her eyes staring at him adoringly. It wasn't that much different from the looks Katie normally gave him, but the woman made the change. With Alison, it wasn't a matter of calculation. She'd truly been enjoying the sight. When he raised an eyebrow to tell her that he'd caught the expression, she'd simply grinned at him.

And, of course, there was the moment he turned around from writing on the board to find her eyes following his every movement. But it wasn't his eyes or face that she was watching. She'd unconsciously bitten her lip and tipped her head to one side, classic signs of her admiration for his bum. And he'd liked it.

The door opened before he was able to school his features, and he blinked. Alison wore a black dress that ended just above her knees. She'd added a long-sleeved jacket over it, but the silver and diamond necklace that glittered in the hollow of her collarbone, combined with the stylish pumps, left him staring at her for a change. When he finally managed to meet her eyes—after shamelessly admiring the way the jacket and dress hugged her curves—she was grinning at him. She gave him a smirk, and he heard her voice in his head. Like what you see, Carson?

He finally found his voice. "Don't you look lovely!"

Suddenly, the coy expression was gone, replaced with the same sweet smile he'd remembered from their brief time in Pegasus. "Thank you."

Stepping back, Carson offered his arm and escorted her out to the car. Her dress, while different and very nice, wasn't overdone. He didn't feel under dressed in any way in his slacks and sport coat, and they chatted lightly on the way to the restaurant. But he couldn't forget the troubled expression on her face back in that classroom. He'd deliberately put his hands in his pockets and then turned his back, hoping to bring the playful, coy light back to her eyes. It had resulted in a choking fit, but she'd recovered well.

At Vesuvius, Alison handed the key to the valet and allowed Carson to usher her inside. He gave his name to the maitre d' and drew Alison to one side of the waiting area. Before long, their table was called, and he smoothly seated her before settling in himself. Then, he ordered wine and an appetizer without stumbling over the words.

Alison was watching him when he turned to face her. "Now I know what Italian sounds like with a Scottish accent."

He felt the flush creep up his neck. "I spent some time in Italy before joining the Program," he said. "I learned a bit."

"Well, you can interpret for me, because I'm just a home-grown girl from New Mexico."

For the next few minutes, they sat with their heads together over the menu as he explained the different items to her. She finally settled as their appetizer arrived, and he again ordered their meal. The waiter gave him a strange glance at his pronunciation, but he stopped long enough to ask Alison a question, revealing his Scottish accent in the process. After that, the man was more than accommodating.

Once their waiter left to place the order, Carson propped his arms on the table. He wanted to bring up their unspoken exchanges that day, but he couldn't figure out how to start.

Alison met his eyes. "I'm sorry for interrupting your lecture," she said softly.

Thankful for the opening, he smiled. "Don't be. Though I'm sure they think I'm completely incompetent."

"I don't think so." She shook her head. "Carson, your lecture was fantastic. If I'd not choked on my water. . . ."

"Let's not pretend." He reached over and gave her the exact same look he'd given her when he realized she'd been checking him out. "You and I both know that somethin' happened today."

She stared at the linen tablecloth. "Carson, I know I'm only back for a while. But I. . . .You. . . ." She let out a soft, frustrated sigh.

"Aye," he said as he reached for her hand. "I understand, love."

She laced their fingers together, studying the way their hands complimented one another. Her skin, while soft, wasn't delicate like other women's. She routinely handled P90s and various other weapons. In many ways, it more than appealed to the male side of him.

She shifted in her seat. "Carson, my mom wants us to get together."

"I know." He met her eyes. "What do you want?"

She stopped to truly think about that. The emotions that crossed her face were expressive, but they settled into a resolute look. "I think I want to find out if we can," she said as she nodded firmly.

"Good." He smiled as their meals arrived. They spent the evening in quiet conversation as Carson deliberately steered the topics toward anything that allowed him to learn about her. They laughed together, making him remember the way they'd laughed before Vega's death. By the time he escorted her back to her hotel room for the night, he'd managed to wrap his head around the idea of dating. He hadn't gone to Esperanza to turn heads, but Alison had never been just any woman. She'd been an unforgettable part of his life. Now, he looked forward to finding out how unforgettable she really could be. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he had more in his future than simply his work. And that made him smile as he drifted to sleep.

oOo

It was like waking up, but not. He first sensed sound, then the presence of others in the room. He heard them, actually. Identified Rodney's unique breathing pattern and knew that Sheppard wouldn't be far behind. Still, it took him a moment to fully open his eyes and look at the smiling faces of his friends. He'd survived! He'd made it out of that bloody stasis pod!

They told him that two months had passed, but the news that Jennifer had discovered the serum that stabilized his cells kept him from feeling too horrible about it. After all, Teyla was there, healthy and with a beautiful baby. He held the child shortly after awakening and smiled through his tears. He'd gone into that stasis pod fully prepared to never see her again. The doctor in him assessed the child's health, but the emotion in him adopted that baby as his nephew.

Carson woke from the dream, surprised that he hadn't had some horrible nightmare with being in such unfamiliar surroundings. It had taken a bit for him to settle into his home in Esperanza, and he now sat up and pulled his knees to his chest. Propping his arms on them, he wiped at the tears on his face.

He clearly remembered waking to see the faces of his friends around his bed. Seeing Teyla back had done him in, but he'd managed to hang on to his emotions until he had a few moments to himself. Now, though, he smiled at nothing.

He'd never dreamed about that moment. It wasn't one of the times that the psychologists were worried about, and he rarely thought about it. Truthfully, the happy moments didn't get much attention when he had horrible nightmares that interrupted his sleep. Carson chose to simply enjoy the pleasant memories and the reason he felt settled enough to think about them.

He'd walked Alison back to her room and had stopped just short of kissing her goodnight. They weren't ready for that yet, though he'd wanted to simply plant a soft kiss on her cheek at the least. Instead, she'd taken over and kissed his cheek, thanking him for a wonderful evening. He'd taken the two steps to his room and then paused to glance back at her. She was watching him with such a sweet smile that it had left him grinning like a fool as he prepared for bed.

Lying back onto his pillow, Carson let out a happy sigh and stared at the ceiling. Yes, life was definitely looking quite attractive, and he couldn't wait to see what else it held.

oOo

In Esperanza, a dark figure crept through the pharmacy. Careful to avoid the windows, it snagged bottles from the shelf and dumped several pills from each one into its hand. Then, just as quietly, the form set the alarm and slipped out into the night.

~TBC