"Evan." Shani's voice stopped Lorne in his tracks. He turned and saw her standing near the edge of the covered triage area still waiting to be taken down. He and Sheppard had turned the shade into a command post of sorts and were coordinating the continued removal of the building that had collapsed. In the twenty-four hours since the search for survivors had been called off, Evan had taken Shani to her home and ensured that she rested. Even then, she had insisted on spending the remainder of that time in the clinic, working with Olina, Orsic, and Karina. Now, she stood with her hands clasped in front of her, chin held high, and face clear. In that moment, he saw her as the sister of a planetary leader and not as one of the Satedan settlers.

A quick glance at Sheppard told him the conversation was over, and Evan moved to Shani's side. That she had called him by his given name and not the more formal "Major Lorne" she typically used spoke volumes to him. She needed something personal and was willing to interrupt anything to get it. "Shani. What's. . .ah. . .what's going on?"

"I need your help." She met his eyes, her brown ones tired but clear. "When Carson left yesterday, I got a glimpse of how he's been living."

"Yeah, in the back room of the clinic."

"No. In the closet of the clinic." Her words startled him, as did the force she put behind them. "Evan, his bed is nothing more than a couple of blankets on the floor with one to put over him. He has no pillow, and that pallet fills the little room. There are shelves over his bed that hold various medical supplies. I knew he was living there, but I did not realize it was so small. He has always told me it was big enough."

As she spoke, Evan narrowed his eyes. Out of all the people in Sateda, Carson was one who would put his own life on hold for others. He had saved lives the day before, no matter what his outburst had indicated. Now, to hear that he had been living in a closet. . . .Evan shook his head. "What do you have in mind?"

Shani glanced over his shoulder at Sheppard, who was currently speaking with McKay and Ronon. "Do you have some time? I would like to show you my solution and then take care of it before Carson returns."

Evan also glanced at Sheppard and decided the clean-up could continue without him. "Yeah. Let's go."

Shani led him through the streets back toward the clinic. Various people they met either nodded or gave tense smiles. The building collapse had shaken a lot of people, and Evan knew it would take time for that tension to fade. As they neared the clinic, he paid attention to Shani. She kept her head high, but he could see the stress she hid from others. He almost stopped her for a hug and decided it would be better to do so privately.

To Evan's surprise, Shani did not stop at the clinic. She stopped at the house next to it. The door hung crookedly on the hinges, and the inside showed that someone had tried to clean it out but gave up for some reason. Broken glass, a few clay pots, and tattered furniture were all that remained of the home. Rather than the one-room affair that Shani lived in, this house had two rooms and another closet. The main area served as kitchen, living room, and dining room, with a bedroom down a short hall. It was laid out quite similar to the clinic, and Evan couldn't help but think of subdivisions and model homes back on Earth.

Shani stood in the middle of the living area. "This is what I have in mind." She shrugged. "I do not know when Carson will return, but I hoped we could get it set up for him. It is close enough to the clinic that he can be on hand, and he can stay there—on the couch—when he has a critical patient."

Evan walked through the area, looking it over. It was located in one of the least damaged areas of Sateda, hence why they'd chosen the building for the clinic. All of the rubble that needed clearing was items that were inside of the house. The roof could use a bit of attention, as well, but the structure was sound. "I like it." He nodded. "I've got to let Sheppard know I'll be busy for the next while, but I can definitely help."

Shani let out a deep sigh. "Thank you, Evan."

"Hey." He held out his hand, smiling when she took it. With a gentle tug, he pulled her into his arms and held her, his smile widening when she automatically snuggled into his chest. "I'm glad you came to me."

They stood there for a long moment, each one enjoying the comfort the other brought. Evan rubbed Shani's back as he held her, surprised that she could stir such deep emotions in him. He'd always been rather calm and even-keeled, as his mother put it, but he suspected he could really lose control if anything ever happened to this woman.

Shani pulled back slightly long before he was ready to let her go. Her arms still stayed around his waist, however, as she gazed into his eyes. "Thank you," she said again.

"You're welcome." For a moment, Evan considered kissing her and then decided he wanted something a little more romantic than an empty house filled with ruins for their first kiss. Stepping out of her arms, he hurried to let Sheppard know what had happened. Sheppard was less than impressed that Carson had been living in a closet and gave Evan leave to do whatever he felt necessary. By the time Evan returned to the small home, Shani had already rounded up some cleaning supplies and had begun carrying debris from the house. They spent the remainder of the day dragging furniture outside, sweeping, cleaning, and patching holes in the roof. It was exhausting work, but, by the time the sun went down, both of them happily surveyed their results. Shani said something about traveling to Ataliya for furniture, and Evan walked her home while holding her hand. It might not have been the second date he'd wanted, but working in such close proximity with Shani had given him a unique perspective. She was a woman he was dangerously close to loving—if he didn't already—and he was surprised to find he had no problems with that.

oOo

Elizabeth padded through the streets of Sateda, admiring what her people had accomplished. She had spent a lot of time visiting with Sheppard, Carson, Rodney, and Shani, but the one person she wanted to see had eluded her thus far. Teyla always seemed busy with off world missions, training her people, working in the fields, or helping at the site of the building collapse. Now, with her departure only hours away, Elizabeth determined that she and Teyla would share at least a cup of tea. The stories she'd heard about Teyla's mentality concerned her, and she hoped to see whether the concern was warranted.

As luck would have it, she caught Teyla eating lunch in her small home. The Athosian wasn't necessarily welcoming, but she did allow Elizabeth to enter. "It is good to see you."

"It's good to see you, too." Elizabeth hated the distance between them. At one time, she and Teyla had been good friends, sharing breakfast at least three times a week. Life had sent them down different paths, but she still worried for Teyla. "I came to see how you're doing."

"I am fine." Teyla gave her that smile that said she should be careful of how she stepped.

Elizabeth stepped further inside the home, her time with Javan having taught her that pushing the envelope of safety was sometimes a good thing. "Are you?" She shook her head. "Teyla, I'm not here to psychoanalyze you. I'm not Kate Heightmeyer, and I really don't want to push you into a corner. But I'm worried. From what Carson and Rodney tell me, Sheppard's been a bit. . .odd off world, and I know he wasn't the only one betrayed on Kiah."

A hardness Teyla hadn't possessed before Atlantis fell entered her eyes. "If you are worried that I am somehow unstable, you should not."

"No, that's not what I meant!" Elizabeth held up a hand. "On Earth, we tend to talk through our problems. It sometimes helps just to get the emotions out in the open."

"My people are not so. . .open. . .with their emotions." Teyla lifted her chin. "Why should we discuss something that we cannot change?"

"Because, by discussing it, you can work through it, cope, and move on." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, a slight smile coming to her face. "Teyla, I know you're not too happy with the idea of talking about things right now, but your friends are concerned for you. Carson, especially."

Surprisingly, that was the right thing to say. Teyla's resistance melted instantly. "I know." She sighed and motioned to a chair. "Would you care for some tea?"

"I'd love some." Elizabeth settled on the chair, thankful she'd taken the time for her friend. Athosian items touched the home here and there, a sign that the refugees from Lantea were settling into their new planet. Elizabeth had already seen the beginnings of herds, overheard Javan preparing to get Sateda's shepherding community started, and walked through crop fields. Major Lorne, especially, was proud of what they'd accomplished here.

Teyla served tea and settled on the edge of her bed. "I am. . .torn," she began, clearly taking Elizabeth's invitation to talk seriously. "I know that Kalle received justice at Javan's hand. I know that Colonel Sheppard stopped me from killing him for a good reason, and I accept that it would not have been the right thing for me to do. But I cannot even begin to think about forming close bonds with anyone without wondering when they will betray me."

Elizabeth smiled. "Surely you know that Colonel Sheppard, Ronon, Rodney, and Carson won't betray you."

"Yes, and yet. . . ." Teyla looked up, and Elizabeth clearly read the conflict in them. "I cannot shake this fear that one of them will somehow become the enemy."

Elizabeth wished she knew what to say. She had not endured as much loss and pain as Teyla had over the course of her life and so could not offer any advice. But seeing how conflicted her friend was cut deeply. "Teyla. . . ."

"Do not pity me!" The sudden outburst showed Elizabeth what had concerned the others. Teyla made a visible effort to calm herself. "I am sorry, Elizabeth. But the pity of my own people has been difficult enough. I do not wish to see it on your face, either. Many days, I wish I could simply ignore everything around me, but I cannot. It is. . .frustrating."

"I imagine it is." Elizabeth took a long moment to sip her tea, searching for something to say. "I can't promise to never show sympathy, Teyla, but I can promise to listen. And a safe place to go if you ever need to just get away."

Teyla's eyes grew round. "Elizabeth, you are preparing for your wedding. I cannot interrupt that."

Elizabeth reached across the tiny room and took Teyla's hand. "Yes, you can! Javan, of all people, will understand and will not hold it against you. He knew when he asked me to marry him that our lives would be interrupted at moments by what happens here. It is the choice we made."

A smile turned up Teyla's lips, one that showed the old acceptance that Elizabeth knew from their days in Atlantis. "Thank you, Elizabeth. I will keep that in mind."

"Please do." Elizabeth set aside the half-empty teacup and stood. "I hate to cut this short, but I'm leaving in a couple of hours."

"I hear that Shani is coming with you."

"Yes." Elizabeth smiled, but it was tinged with worry. "Carson's not doing well, and she wants to pick up a few things from Ataliya for him."

Teyla blinked. "Is he ill?"

"No." Elizabeth shook her head. "He's a doctor, and having the knowledge but not the equipment is wearing on him. Shani's got something in mind, but I hope she's ready for a fight. Carson won't go down easily."

"I am certain she is up to the task." Teyla walked her friend to the door. "Thank you, Elizabeth. For the offer to visit and for stopping to see me."

Elizabeth surprised the Athosian by reaching out to hug her. "You're welcome." She left the home and headed for the small room where she'd left her bags. A quick glance back showed Teyla standing in the doorway, a sad smile on her face. Elizabeth hated leaving like this, but she had spoken truly when she said she accepted this life.

At the gate, she found Shani and Lorne speaking softly to one side while Sheppard watched. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, seeing how her future sister-in-law's eyes shone as she stared at the major. With a raised eyebrow, Elizabeth shared a grin with Sheppard. "Another pairing?"

"Looks like it," Sheppard said with his own grin. "Thanks for coming, Elizabeth. And for being here."

Elizabeth nodded and, once Shani joined her, dialed Ataliya. She stepped through the Stargate after another long look with her friends and smiled. The heat of Ataliya's desert slapped her in the face, a welcome feeling after the cool dampness of Sateda. Javan waited near the DHD, his face lighting up even more when he saw his sister. Still, he greeted Elizabeth with a kiss before hugging Shani. That night, they sat up way too late and shared stories of how their lives had been in the last weeks.

oOo

Carson spent nearly a week hiking through the fields of Sateda. The night he left the clinic, he barely made it out of the city before the emotion of the day caught up to him. He had pushed away the images of Olina half-buried for so many hours that he was unable to stop it when it began. Once the tears started flowing, they continued. Faces he had not thought about in weeks popped into his head. Marie, Ford, Halling, others they'd lost on Atlantis. Geir, friends killed on Kiah. Dahlia Radim. And now the combat engineer from the Daedalus. The pressure was too much, and he wound up crying himself to sleep that first night.

The morning breeze woke him just after dawn, and he pushed himself to his feet. It had been far too long since he had a vacation, and the residual headache from his meltdown did nothing to dim the beauty of the day. Once one left the ruined city, the beauty of Sateda struck him. He had visited Italy before completing his thesis, and this place reminded him of Tuscany with its rich fields, tall evergreen trees that stood in patches, and the rolling hills. For that first day, he simply walked and absorbed the calm around him. Out here, there were no buildings to be cleared, injuries to be treated, or adventures to be had. He could get back to the core of what made him Carson Beckett.

For the next six days, he lived off the land, fishing in the stream he chose to follow and allowing the peace of the wild, unspoiled landscape to soothe his mind. He cried for those he had lost and for his inability to return to Earth. His mum likely thought him dead after all this time, and Carson shed a few tears for his family. He had never intended to put them through any of this.

Finally, he felt ready to face the city once again. After all this time alone, his beard had grown out to cover much of the lower half of his face. He often kept it cut down to scruff, but his hair had grown quickly over the last days. He had taught several Marines from both Atlantis and Daedalus to cut hair, and he figured he could use a barber as much as any of them. And a bath, he realized as the wind shifted. Diverting his route, he found a spot along the stream secluded enough that his natural modesty wasn't a problem. After a long swim, he allowed the sun to dry his clothing as he trudged home.

Surprisingly enough, Carson was excited to see the clinic. Of course, that might have had to do with Olina and Ronon just leaving. Olina's face still showed bruises and cuts from her ordeal, and her arm was still in its splint. But she looked happy to have Ronon next to her. No patients waited inside, but Carson still blinked at Lieutenant Karina Morales when he came through the door. She stared at him, taking a moment to recognize the wild man across from her as the town's normally clean-shaven doctor.

He solved the problem the moment he spoke. "Lieutenant Morales."

She blinked and grinned. "Dr. Beckett! Welcome home!"

"Thank ye, lass." He glanced around, seeing how Shani had kept everything as neat as a button. "It's wonderful to be home." He headed down the hallway, not quite understanding Karina's panicked look until he opened the door to his room. Shelves now lined the walls, medical supplies from Ataliya filling them. Not one of his personal items remained.

Storming back into the main area of the clinic, Carson pinned Karina in place. "Lieutenant, where's Shani?"

"She's with Major Lorne, Sir." She rose to lead him out of the clinic but stopped when he stormed out of the door. A few quick questions to startled passersby told him that Shani and Lorne had headed to the edge of town with a large pack. Knowing that he could be interrupting something he didn't want to see, Carson still followed the directions. He found the pair of them sitting some distance from the city, talking as Evan stood in front of an easel. He approached quietly, seeing that Lorne worked on a painting of Geir.

Waiting until the major had lifted his brush from the canvas, Carson cleared his throat. "Shani."

She jumped while Evan turned slowly. "Carson. Welcome back."

Lorne dropped his paintbrush into a cup filled with what looked like water. He held out a hand. "Hey, Doc. Glad to see you home."

"Aye, glad to be back," Carson admitted. He turned back to Shani. "Where are my things?"

She shared a meaningful glance with Lorne, and the major began packing away his paints. Carson could see that the two of them had something to do with his missing belongings and waited not-so-patiently for Lorne to finish. Finally, with the painting tucked into a pouch after an explanation that these paints dried almost too quickly, the trio headed back to the clinic.

As they approached the building, Shani stopped Carson with a hand on his arm. She gave him a hesitant smile and indicated the house right next to the clinic. "In here, Carson."

He narrowed his eyes, recognizing the newly-hung door. Inside, he blinked and looked around. Ataliyan furniture filled the room. A small table for eating or working sat under a window that looked out onto a rear garden. Several pots and pans hung from hooks in the wall, and a comfortable chair and couch filled the rest of the area. Shani led him down the small hallway to a bedroom filled with an Ataliyan bed. It was narrow and nowhere near as nice as those he'd seen while on Ataliya, but the workmanship was unmistakable. Hooks in the wall held his clothes, and someone had added shutters to the windows. With the stone walls, the place reminded him of a medieval cottage.

Shani stood in the doorway of the bedroom while he stared open-mouthed. "Carson, you're always taking care of others. I felt like you deserved your own place. Somewhere that you could get away from the stress and just close the door on the world."

Carson blinked at her, wondering when she had become so wise. She stood next to Evan, the major's arm around her waist as she twisted her fingers together. Still, the determination on her face reminded him of Elizabeth and Javan, and Carson snapped his mouth shut. "Well, this is certainly. . . ." He looked around again.

Lorne grinned dryly. "She even brought you a tub, though it's a bit small." The major pointed to the closet across the hall. The door opened to reveal a washroom. "It's the least we could do to help, Doc."

"I. . . ." Carson blinked back sudden tears, already overwhelmed at the work they'd done on his behalf. "I don't know what to say."

"'Thank you' works," Shani said cheekily.

Carson gave her an exasperated glance before pulling her in for a hug. "Thank you, love. And I mean it."

She grinned at him as he shook Lorne's hand. "There's more."

Carson idly wondered when she had begun using contractions instead of the more formal Ataliyan speech. "More?"

"Yes." Her smile widened as she led the way back into the kitchen and out the back door. A fence had been built using stone from around Sateda, and the back yard had been tilled and planted. The yard—or, rather, garden—was quite large having been included in the back yard of the clinic. The fence met up with the corners of Carson's new home and the clinic, forming a complete rectangle with only one gate in between the two buildings. Shani pointed. "We have planted various Pegasus herbs and medicinal plants. The enchuri plant is quite useful, but I have seen it growing here in abundance. So we did not plant any of it. I believe that, with this garden, we should be able to synthesize various medicines for treatments using the knowledge you have from Earth and the experience I have from Ataliya."

Carson blinked several times, needing to push back the overwhelming emotions. Shani had taken everything he'd said in a rage and turned it into progress for Sateda. More than anything, she proved that his trust in her wasn't misplaced. "Thank you," he said, unable to fully stop the way his voice cracked. "Both of you."

Shani beamed, but Lorne put a hand on Carson's shoulder. "It was our pleasure, Doc."

As Carson nodded, Shani pinned him in place. "Now, take the evening to settle into your new home. Lieutenant Morales has been quite helpful in the clinic, and she and I can cover things for one more night."

Carson met her eyes and, once again, hugged her. He would send some sort of gift through to Javan and Elizabeth when he could, but, for now, he decided to enjoy the silence and solitude of his own home. As the young couple left through the garden gate, Carson walked the rows of neatly plowed earth and knew that more people than just Shani and Evan had helped. Turning this place into something straight out of the Middle Ages was a feat all of its own. Feeling more in touch with his Scottish roots in the garden, he smiled. Coming home had been what he needed to do, but he finally felt like he had made the right decision.

oOo

The village had been fully culled, and no one of the indigenous population remained. Homes burned, the ground had been scorched, and Wraith drones herded what few had survived into groups to be swept up into their ships. Ondre stood at the edge, admiring his handiwork as a Wraith commander walked toward him.

"You have done well," the Wraith said in that strange voice of his. "You have earned your freedom for another month."

Ondre dipped his head. "My brother will be pleased."

"Where is Orsic?"

Ondre smiled cruelly. "He is establishing a new base of operations since our last one was destroyed."

The Wraith narrowed his eyes. Part of their agreement was that the mercenaries' base of operations remain secret among them. Ondre agreed with Orsic's decision on this and chose to stand by his brother. He had not been to Sateda, choosing to stay on various worlds as a way of keeping in contact with their spies. Since Kell's death, many of their people had migrated to Sateda. Only a few, such as Ondre, still lived like nomads.

Finally, the Wraith jerked his head. "Very well. When next we meet, I wish to see Orsic as well."

Ondre nodded and watched the commander walk to the Ring of the Ancestors. This relationship with the Wraith had served them well. Every month, the mercenary group offered up a village for culling, and the Wraith allowed them to operate without fear of retribution. It had been this way since rumors of newcomers in the City of the Ancients had circulated among select worlds in Pegasus. They had awakened the Wraith from hibernation too early, and the dwindling human communities had presented Kell with a golden opportunity. He had worked out a deal with the Wraith, one that enabled the group to continue thriving. When Kell died, Orsic merely took over, with Ondre serving as his second. Ondre hated the Wraith, but he was selfish enough to see the benefits to their arrangement.

A body pressed against him, and his arm automatically went around the woman. He looked down into devious blue eyes and smiled. "Thank you."

Calixte gazed up at him, her hand coming to rest lovingly on his cheek. "No thanks is necessary." She returned his smile.

"You are certain you wanted this world culled?" Ondre ironically mused that it was too late to reconsider, but she had shown no signs of regret.

Calixte's expression changed to one of absolute rage. "I am certain." She sneered. "These people would not have protected me after I avenged myself of the man who dishonored me."

Ondre blinked. She had told him nothing of this, only that she hated Orestes and his people. "Who did this?"

"In time." She smiled up at him again, pressing her body against his. "It is of no consequence now. We have found one another and are happy. My revenge will come when time permits." She kissed his cheek. "Shall we return home?"

Ondre followed her to the Ring, already knowing what she had in mind for the evening. She had joined his people after telling him only that the leader on Sateda had betrayed her trust. She had said nothing of dishonor, though Ondre knew she was not innocent. Women like Calixte were dangerous, and he thrived on that danger. In time, he would prove that he was more devious than she was. Until then, he satisfied himself with plans to bring down Ronon and the intruders who dared to desecrate Sateda's heritage.

~TBC