Chapter 8

About seven months ago...

The jumper banked as it neared the cloaked city. Mrs Beckett gripped the consol in front of her in expectation of inertia, but because of the inertial control of the puddle jumper the only way one knew one was moving was by looking out the front screen. Then, suddenly, they passed through the cloak and Atlantis was revealed. The old lady gasped as the city was suddenly revealed and Laura smiled. Chuck was flying the jumper and she and Jennifer were seated in the rear seats. All three of those from Atlantis had been with the city for more than four years and Laura had to admit she had forgotten how impressive it had been at first sight. She relived those moments now through the eyes of Mrs Beckett.

"And you're telling me this thing can fly through space?" she now asked them.

"Yes, ma'am," Chuck answered with a smile. His parents had opted to remain on earth with his two sisters. He had not told them about Atlantis as such, but instead had informed them he was immigrating to a place where he could never return from. He had then told his entire family they were welcome to join him and that the place he was going to would be the opportunity of a lifetime. Laura suspected he had known from the start they would not leave their large mansion for an unknown future (that part had been a shock; realising Chuck Campbell was one of the richest men she would ever meet), that was why he had not told them the specifics of where he was going. They had also not seemed inclined to believe he would not return. Those who were leaving with Atlantis who had not told their families the truth would at least have the comfort of knowing either General O'Neill or Colonel Carter would go around and inform the families personally that their sons and daughters, brothers and sisters were lost somewhere and would not be returning. It was a small comfort, but it was all they had. Laura's own father would receive just such a visit. In fact, too many families would be getting a visit from O'Neill or Carter. At least she and Jennifer would not be asked to join any of those conversations as they had been asked to join Chuck.

"In fact, we'll be leaving tomorrow afternoon," Jennifer added.

"And it's the Atlantis of legend?" the old lady asked as they jumper descended through the open sky roof in the jumper bay.

"Yes, Mrs Beckett. When we found it, it was still submerged," Laura added.

Without taking her eyes off the screen the woman asked: "How long's it been under water then?"

This time Laura and Jennifer exchanged a glance. Then Laura shrugged. "We're not sure. Tens of thousands of years, possibly," she said. Someday she would have to ask McKay if they had ever figured out exactly how long the city had been submerged. But that was easier said than done: McKay still avoided her if he could, even after all these years.

"And Carson's been living here since 2005?" the woman continued as the puddle jumper doors slid open. Laura had told her all of this already, but somehow the woman seemed only able to believe it as soon as she sees it. Laura knew it was not because she was being difficult. In truth Laura could remember all the questions she had had years ago when she had first joined the Atlantis expedition.

"He's been the resident doctor from the beginning," Jennifer answered this time.

This time the woman turned to look at her three escorts. By now they were on their way to the infirmary. The hallways they were traversing were deserted, but that was the idea. As soon as they had landed, Chuck had taken the Life Signs Detector from the jumper and was steering them clear of all traffic. It would be disastrous if they should run into one of the earth scientists – as they had started to refer to those who would not be leaving with Atlantis.

"And you're planning on stealing all of this?" Mrs Beckett asked with a glint in her eyes. Without saying a word the three younger people merely smiled. "Aye, it seems you are," the old woman answered her own question before allowing Chuck to lead the way once more.

After only a few short detours the small group arrived at the infirmary. Chuck slipped in first to confirm the blips on the screen were friendlies before signing for them to come in. As it turned out only Carson was in the infirmary with the sick Sitnalta, but on their way over Jennifer had asked Duncan to meet them here. Knowing him and his fondness for Jennifer, he'd be here within moments.

At the sound of feet Carson turned around, smiling. His smile froze, though, when he saw his mother standing between Laura and Jennifer.

"Mum," he merely stated. Since their return to earth a few months ago, Carson had not been to see his mother. He felt it would be unfair towards Duncan if only the one got to see her and not the other. She understood his reasoning, even if Duncan had insisted he go see their mother. Their joint reason for not inviting her to join them now that they were permanently leaving was another matter entirely that Laura planned on discussing with him later on – in great detail.

At his shocked expression Mrs Beckett frowned and Laura realised the old lady would not know which Beckett this was. None of them had told her about the tattoos and she would not know yet how to recognize the subtle differences between the two men. She had only ever known Carson, after all.

"Carson," Laura said for the old lady's benefit and went over towards him to quickly kiss his cheek. But turning back to look at Mrs Beckett, she realised the frown had not disappeared. In fact, by now the woman was standing with her hands on her hips and she was glaring at Carson. Suddenly Laura wondered if any of this had been a good idea.

"Carson Beckett," his mother addressed him in the same soft accent as he had. "What is that on your face?" she demanded. Behind her, where only Carson and Laura could see, Duncan entered the infirmary. Shock clouded his features.

"Mum?" he hesitantly asked. But then he must have realised what he had said and he held up his hands. "I mean, I know I'm not your son, but what are you doing here?" he quickly added and Laura could see his sadness reflected in Jennifer's face. Duncan's lover was perhaps the most empathic person Laura had ever met and she knew the young doctor often worried about Duncan and the fact that he was in some ways not a true person. He knew that Carson was the real he, as he once put it, and he wasn't going to try and take over the other's life. Laura wondered if any of it will change once they have left earth and he – with the rest of them – would be starting a new life.

Mrs Beckett spun around on her heel. Then she threw her hands in the air. "Bloody hell, you've got one as well!" she exclaimed.

Laura grinned as she suddenly realised that with those few simple words Mrs Beckett had both Becketts uncomfortable.

"Mum, we got them so nobody would confuse us anymore," Carson tried to save the day by way of an explanation. The tattooed gate symbol was still healing and looked slightly scabby at the moment, almost like snake skin. With a quick left Mrs Beckett reached up and smacked him behind the head. By the sound of it, it could not have hurt, but Carson frowned. "Mum, please," he told her as he rubbed the back of his head. Duncan, on the other hand, stood sniggering. With an equally quick right arm the old lady smacked the other Beckett behind the head.

"Don't think you can stand there and think you're not my son," she loftily informed him. And then, suddenly, she burst out in tears. "You would really have left here without letting me meet my other son?" she asked through her tears.

"But I'm not your son," Duncan told her. His tattoo of the Pegasus was equally scabby-looking.

Mrs Beckett would have none of it, though. With a slight sob she took Duncan's face between her hands and glared up at him. Neither Beckett was very tall, but they were giants next to their mother. "I'll have none of that nonsense, you hear?" she told him. "Your lovely girl and her friends told me all about it, and as far as I'm concerned you are as much my son as Carson."

With a look of confusion and sorrow and something Laura couldn't identify, Duncan leaned over and hugged his short mother. But after a moment she pushed him away. "What made you decide to call yourself 'Duncan'?" she demanded.

This time everyone in the infirmary looked uncomfortable. The choosing of the name had been a bit of a team effort and none of them were innocent.

"Um, Highlander," Chuck finally answered. Mrs Beckett glared at him.

"What highlander?"

"No, Mum, the Highlander. As in: 'I'm Duncan McLeod of the clan McLeod' and all that," Carson explained. His mother glared at him.

"You mean to tell me your brother named himself after a McLeod?" she asked. At first Carson looked hurt, but then he smiled.

"Aye, I guess he had," he grinned and Duncan groaned.

"Well, then I guess it's a good thing I'll be joining you when you steal this lovely city," she informed them. As both Carson and Duncan looked slightly confused, the three who had brought the lady decided it was time to leave. As they neared the door Mrs Beckett called them back:

"Laura, Jennifer, Chuck...thank you," she smiled as they turned to look at her. Impulsively Jennifer rushed forward and embraced the woman.

"We wouldn't have it any other way," she whispered just loud enough for Laura to head. "We really love your sons," she told her, before stepping back and grinning. "Well, besides Chuck. He's just a friend," she added and Chuck blushed.

"Uhem," Chuck cleared his throat. "We'll go fetch your stuff from the jumper and then the two women will take you to where the rest of the new arrivals are hiding out," he informed them with as much dignity as possible. The rest of them merely grinned.