A/N: *ducks thrown objects* I'm very sorry about not updating. I feel horrible. School started and everything got crazy really fast. I hope this will be worth your wait. Carson's back!
Thanks my patient beta, the amazing ladygris.

Through the Fire by GraceW

~Chapter 5~

Less pain came with the next time Carson woke, but his head still throbbed. Faint early morning sunlight fell through the small window, the cool darkness of dawn a welcome feeling. With what little he could actually see, Carson inspected himself. His clothes were nowhere to be found. Bandages covered his arms and his right shoulder. He groaned, partially in pain and partially in frustration. He was helpless, and he despised that feeling.

Heaving a sigh, he lay back on the bed, feeling worthless and very alone. Atlantis must be looking for him. His memories were being upgraded from flashes of light to scenes, faces and a big blue ocean. He began to remember… The darts, coming down in waves. The chaos, the fear. Goldman telling him to get to the gate and then running off. Hof, standing at the DHD. The explosion, the searing heat. His skin prickled at the memory. The heat had been intense, and the landing hadn't been onto a bed of flowers. Hof! Carson's heart ached as that memory surfaced. The sarcastic Oakland A's loving Marine hadn't been more than twenty-five years old, and he had been torn apart in the blink of an eye. Tears welled up in Carson's eyes and began to spill down, burning his sensitive skin. He shut his eyes, trying to block out the memory, and any other memory associated with the Wraith. Before long, he heard the creak of the door and the swish of fabric as his caretaker entered.

"Oh goodness! You are awake. Good for you." She placed the tray she had been carrying on the table, and looked closer at him. She cautiously asked, a pet name rolling off her tongue "Babe, why the tears?"

Carson couldn't respond, but he did open his eyes. Nean's worried face looked down at his as she reached for his hand. "Would you like some tea?"

As if on cue, Carson felt his stomach rumble. Nean ginned slightly, letting him know that she heard it too. He replied wearily. "Aye, that'd be grand."

She carefully helped him sit up. The dizziness almost made him black out, but he held on. After making sure he was not going to fall over, Nean handed him a large wide steaming cup. The vapors tickled his nose, and teasing his senses. The unique smell caught him off-guard, but he sampled the brew. The tea tasted fantastic, its sweet herbal flavor similar to Earl Grey. The warm liquid quenched his parched throat and slightly relieved his headache.

"Good job, Carson! Now drink up. You've got to get your strength back." She made a slight shooing motion and stood. "There is some of my special medicinal herb in the tea too; I think it will help with your pain." Nean smiled warmly and Carson gave her a confused look. However, something in the back of his mind told him that he didn't want to know what the so-called 'medicinal herb' was, at least not right now.

Just simply drinking the little bit of tea wore him out. Although the ache has lessened, his head still hurt, and the sensitive skin underneath the bandages on his hands and neck began to itch. He had been sunburned once, his first visit to California during one summer of his undergraduate studies. He was at a beach with some friends for the day, and forgot to reapply the sunscreen after swimming. For days afterwards, it hurt to move, it hurt to dress, and it even hurt to shower. That was the feeling he had now, however the pain was localized to his face, his neck and his hands. His mind wandered back to his own situation.

"Don't think too hard, Carson. We don't want those pretty blue eyes to pop out." Nean reached for the cup of half-drunken tea that was still in his bandaged hands.

"Umm. Do you know how I got here?" Carson asked hesitantly.

Nean stopped her clean-up and looked him in the eyes, suddenly serious golden-brown meeting inquisitive blue. She paused for a second, as if looking for something to say. "I don't know, babe. You were brought through the Ring by two men. They said you were caught in an explosion."

"Was there anyone with me, dressed similarly? I had two friends with me. One of them should have gotten through." Carson hoped that maybe Sgt Goldman had come through the gate as well.

"No, sorry. None of the refugees that I have talked to know who you are."

"Most wouldn't. I'm not from their planet." Carson didn't offer more of an explanation, knowing that Atlantis was still supposedly destroyed as far as the Pegasus galaxy was concerned.

Atlantis thought he was dead; Elizabeth must have…Carson suddenly panicked and demanded with all the strength he could muster. "I need to get to the Stargate, wait…I mean the Ring. My people, my friends, they probably think I'm dead."

"You are not going anywhere, young man." Nean took on a very concerned motherly tone. "Your injuries are too severe. The strain of a journey to the Ring would reopen your wounds, disease could find its way in."

Carson was taken aback, but his determination gave him energy. Blue eyes pleading, he begged "They can help me, please."

Whether it was the insane logic of the situation or his pleading, Nean seemed to relax. "Alright, I'll see what I can do."

Thanks so much for reading! And as always, please review!

~~Grace :)