Chapter 10

They reached Tamsin's door and she waved her hand over the access panel, smiling at him over her shoulder. Carson swallowed –this wasn't like the last time he'd been in her room.

"Coming in?" She pulled gently and he realised their fingers were still laced together. He paused, less sure of himself now that they were on the threshold. Kissing in a corridor was one thing, but they could easily get carried away in private and he knew he wanted something more meaningful than a one-night stand.

"Have you changed your mind? I mean, it's ok if you have, I understand. I don't want to muck up our friendship if I've misread things." She bit her lip, worry written across her face as she looked up at him.

At that moment, Carson realised she was just as unsure as he was, despite the fact she'd initiated their kiss. He took a deep breath, squeezed her fingers and stepped into her quarters. She followed, still looking anxious.

He turned to Tamsin, catching her other hand in his. "You've not misread anything. Weren't you paying attention?"

She tilted her head, a hint of a smile on her lips. "I think I was a bit distracted. Maybe you'd better show me again? I'll try and concentrate this time."

"I should hope so," he huffed, pretending to be offended at her. He squeezed her fingers again, releasing them as he slid his own along her cheeks and into her hair. He felt her hands settle at his waist and he leant down, brushing his lips against hers. A small shiver ran through him as she deepened the kiss, her fingers slipping under the hem of his shirt and stroking the sensitive skin underneath. He felt her smile at his reaction. Two can play that game, he thought. He moved to kiss the corner of her mouth, then pressed a trail of fleeting kisses along her jaw and down her neck. He might have missed the soft gasp as he reached the point just where her collar bone met her neck. Just to be sure, he gently flicked his tongue into the hollow, drawing another gasp from her. He fixed his lips there, slowly drawing his tongue across the skin. There was no mistaking the quiet whimper she made at his actions. His heart was racing now, a mixture of desire, anticipation and a little anxiety. This was exactly what he both hoped and feared would happen.

"Tamsin..."

"Call me Tam." Her husky tone went straight to his groin. He knew he needed to slow things down.

"Tam, love ..." he said, resting his hands on her upper arms.

She drew back, meeting his eyes. "It's ok, I know. This is too fast, isn't it?"

"Aye, just a bit."

She smiled. "Sorry."

"Don't be." He swallowed. "I'd like this to be more than one night..."

She raised an eyebrow. "Would you, now?"

"You know what I mean. I'd like a little romance first..."

"I'm not sure I'd recognise romance if I saw it."

"Then I'd be delighted to help you."

"I'd be delighted to have your assistance."

"Now, where were we?" He gazed down at her, wondering briefly if this was still a bad idea.

She smiled gently, then closed her eyes, tilting her head slightly, inviting him to make the next move. Warmth spread through him, although it wasn't the intense heat of the previous few minutes. This was more like hope. Hope that despite the challenges facing them, it was worth taking the chance.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, hers twining around his shoulders in a gentle embrace. Their lips met in a soft kiss that promised many more evenings like this.

SGA

Tamsin couldn't honestly remember the last time she'd felt like this. With just a few kisses, Carson had managed to make her feel more alive than she had in years. There was no denying the raw desire she felt, but she was enjoying the feeling of just getting to know each other. At some point, they'd moved to the couch and she now sat with her legs across Carson's, arms around his chest.

She felt herself starting to doze off, although Carson gently nibbling on her collar bone jolted her into full awareness. Damn him! He'd worked that one out surprisingly quickly and wasn't shy about making her squirm, despite their unspoken agreement. Reluctantly, she knew it was time to call it a night.

"Carson, I could do this all night, but I've got an early start tomorrow."

"You're kicking me out?" The wounded expression in his blue eyes almost had her inviting him to stay, but she knew it wouldn't take much for things to get heated again.

"Sorry. I'm going to need all the sleep I can get; six hours in a jumper with McKay is not my idea of a good time."

"That's the research station on MG6-something?"

Tamsin had drawn the short straw and was heading to MG6-932 to provide medical cover for the science team stationed there.

"Yep, the ice planet. The one that makes Hoth look like an all-inclusive fortnight in the Bahamas. Guess who gets to freeze their bum off for the next four days?"

"Well, Rodney, for one."

She narrowed her eyes, poking him in the arm. "I meant me, thank you very much."

He laughed. "I know, but I like teasing you."

"I've noticed."

He hugged her tightly, nuzzling against her neck, making her shiver again. He was clearly wasn't going to forget the effect that action had on her. "I'd suppose I'd better go then."

"I suppose you had."

She swung her legs off his and unwrapped her arms. He stood, pulling her up and keeping hold of her hand as they reached the door.

"So, 'night, then."

"Aye, goodnight."

He leant down, offering a deep kiss that left her speechless.

"Maybe that'll keep you warm." He gave a wicked grin, waved a hand over the door control, and strode off down the corridor, hands in pockets. Tamsin would have sworn there was a slight bounce in his steps as she stared after him.

SGA

Early the next morning, Tamsin walked into the jumper bay, laden with cases. She wasn't convinced that a research station really needed this many supplies. Then again, she was travelling with Team Sheppard this time, and if rumour was to be believed, anything could happen where they were involved. Apparently, the luckless scientists had discovered anomalous energy readings, and McKay had decided he needed to check it out.

The jumper bay was as impressive as the rest of the city. Tamsin stopped for a moment to take it all in. This was probably the first and last time she'd get to see it given the length of time she had left in the city. The Ancients clearly did nothing by halves – and they seemed to have passed on their penchant for showing off to their descendants, given some of the architecture on Earth.

"It's quite something, isn't it?"

Realising she'd been caught staring, she blushed slightly as Sheppard strode up to her.

"It is," she replied, hoping he hadn't noticed the blush.

Sheppard waved in the direction of the jumper and the rear hatch began to lower. She knew Sheppard was the strongest ATA gene carrier, but that was still a pretty clever trick. Then she noticed the small device in his hand that looked incongruously like the key fob of her old Honda hatchback. Whatever else the Ancients had passed on, the concept of remote-locking hadn't been one of them.

They entered the jumper, Sheppard heading for the pilot's seat, Tamsin staying in the back section to safely stow the cases.

Sheppard turned around in the jumper seat, a lazy grin on his face. "So, first time in a puddlejumper? Don't worry, I'll be gentle."

Before Tamsin could reply, Rodney McKay stomped up the ramp of the craft, tapping at a PDA.

"At it again, Kirk? Stop flirting and let's get this show on the road. I have minions to yell at."

"Good morning to you too, Rodney. I was just being friendly."

"Yes, well, we all know about you being 'friendly'." He glanced up from the PDA. "Oh, it's you." The Canadian gave Tamsin such a sour look, she'd have sworn he was sucking a lemon, had he not loudly and repeatedly informed her of his severe citrus allergy during their first encounter.

"Dr McKay," she replied, with equal enthusiasm.

"You two know each other?"

"We've met, yes. Where are Ronon and Teyla anyways?" McKay glared around the jumper, as if they were hiding somewhere in the space.

"Do not concern yourself, Rodney, we are here."

Tamsin turned at the serene voice. She had yet to meet the other two members of the team, though Carson had mentioned both of them in conversation.

Teyla smiled at Tamsin. "I do not believe we have been introduced. I am Teyla Emmagan, daughter of Tegan."

"Tamsin Lucas." She stuck out her hand, which Teyla shook with slight hesitation.

"Ah, you are a friend of Carson's, I think? He has spoken of you."

We're more than friends after last night, Tamsin thought. She echoed Teyla's polite smile, hoping the other woman's Wraith mind-reading abilities didn't extend to humans.

"This is Ronon Dex." Teyla turned to the large man beside her.

Again Tamsin stuck out her hand. The Satedan stared down at it with a slight smirk. "Doc," he rumbled, then loped into the seat behind McKay.

"Yes, yes, all very polite, but can we leave now? I'd like to get there sometime this century, before the incompetent morons blow themselves up."

"I thought they were all hand-picked by you," Tamsin muttered to herself.

McKay's hearing must have been sharper than she gave him credit for, because he shot her another dirty look.

"Morons they may be, but they have some hope being actual scientists, rather than voodoo practitioners."

She gave him an evil smile. "Let's hope you don't get sick, then, Dr McKay. I didn't pack any chicken entrails for this trip."

McKay was gearing up for a scathing come-back, but Sheppard cut in.

"Now, kids, play nice. Long trip ahead and I'd rather not be explaining bloodstains on the walls to Woolsey when we get back."

Exchanging glares with McKay, Tamsin took a seat on the rear bench, knowing she was going to find it tough to ignore him for the next six hours. The hatch closed and the jumper began to rise. It was strange not to feel any inertia, the effect being that the jumper seemed to be still, whilst the city itself moved around it.

"Jumper two, you are go for launch."

Through the windscreen, Tamsin watched the wormhole engage and the jumper surged forward through the stargate.

SGA

Tamsin shivered as she perched on a seat, studying the laptop in front of her. Twenty four hours in this glorified igloo and another seventy-two to go. So far, she had experienced the shortest handover of her career from Dr Li; the man simply handing over the keys to the drug locker and scurrying away with a polite nod, and absolutely no patients. She would have been grateful for anything to do at that point.

Distraction came in the form of one Colonel John Sheppard, sauntering into the space set aside for medical treatment. Hands in pockets, he casually wandered around the area, inspecting supplies.

She watched him for a few moments, before speaking up. "Help you with something, Colonel?"

"No, no. Just checking everything's in order."

"And does it pass inspection?"

"As far as I can tell."

Tamsin smiled to herself. "You're bored, aren't you?"

He grinned, grabbing a stool and planting himself opposite Tamsin.

"God, yes. Rodney's berating minions, Teyla's meditating and Ronon's trying to find someone to spar with."

"You didn't fancy sparring, then?"

"Honestly, I'm still sore from the last time." Sheppard winced slightly, an apparently involuntary action.

"I can imagine."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Tamsin returning her attention to the laptop, Sheppard staring at the table.

"So how'd you end up in the Pegasus galaxy?" he asked, leaning forward.

"Well it wasn't being in possession of a funky gene, that's for sure." Catching his look, she went on. "I had an American colleague a few years ago. He said to call him if I ever needed a job. I made that call, and well, here I am."

Sheppard opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted.

"I need a doctor!" A skinny, bespectacled scientist staggered into the area, clutching a piece of gauze to his head. Ronon trotted behind him, barely containing a grin.

Tamsin was on her feet, instantly. "What happened?" she asked, trying not to jump to conclusions.

"I'm bleeding!" the man whined.

"Yes, I can see that. Take a seat over there." She pointed to the single metal bed in the corner. Pulling on gloves, she approached the hapless scientist. "Head wounds often look worse than they actually are." Carefully peeling the gauze away from his unresisting fingers, she peered closely at the wound. "It's not large, but you'll need a couple of stitches. How did it happen?"

"Ask him!" The man glared at Ronon.

"Anything you wanna share with us, buddy?" Sheppard threw a questioning look at his team mate.

Ronon leered, managing to look innocent and threatening at the same time. "Thought Kavanagh could use some hand-to-hand practise. He fainted. Landed on the floor. Man's a lightweight." He shrugged.

"Did he hit anything on the way down?" Tamsin asked. "Apart from the ground."

"Table." Ronon grunted.

She turned back to Kavanagh. "Any nausea, dizziness, headache?"

"Headache. I could use some painkillers."

"I could help you with that." Ronon gave a feral grin at Kavanagh, who paled.

"Okay, you, out. You're upsetting my patient." Tamsin wasn't going to take any nonsense, even from an intimidating figure like Ronon.

"It's just Kavanagh, Doc. He'll bounce back, just like a cockroach." This from Sheppard.

Tamsin looked between the three men. "I don't care if he's Joseph bloody Stalin, he's my patient and you two are not improving his condition. Out!" She kept her voice even, but there was enough of an edge that Sheppard and Ronon left the area without further comment, though Ronon gave a final leer at Kavanagh.

Gathering the supplies she needed, Tamsin returned to the injured scientist.

"You three obviously have history," she remarked, setting up equipment and taking a seat next to him.

Kavanagh sneered, then clearly regretted it. Silently, she handed him two paracetamol. He looked down at the pills.

"Is that all I get?"

"Sorry, head injury with loss of consciousness, can't take any chances."

"Figures, the golden ones get the good stuff, us lesser mortals have to suffer in silence," he groused.

Tamsin rubbed her eyes for a moment. "Look, I don't know what your problem is with those two, and frankly I don't care, but I'm doing my job as I see fit. And you'll be spending the night here too, I need to keep an eye on you."

Kavanagh rolled his eyes. "Lucky me."

To Tamsin's relief, Kavanagh mostly kept quiet while she cleaned and stitched the wound. A short protest left her wishing she could give him something stronger, but annoying as he was, she wouldn't take the risk of it masking symptoms of a potentially serious injury. Luckily he was now asleep, but it wouldn't be long before she'd have to wake him for the first neuro-check. She sighed, it was going to be a long night.

SGA

"Doctor Lucas?"

Tamsin shot upright, nearly falling off the stool.

"What? Yes! I'm up, I'm up!" She peered around the room, locating the source of the voice. "Oh, Teyla. Morning. I fell asleep didn't I?"

"It appears so." Teyla held out a steaming silver mug. "I believe you may need this, Doctor. Many people seem unable to function without it."

"Coffee." Tamsin took a sip, closing her eyes. "Thank you. ActualIy I prefer tea, but I could do with the caffeine this morning."

Teyla inclined her head with a hint of amusement. "I will try to remember that in future. I wonder, have you tried any of the Athosian blends?"

"I'm sorry to say that I haven't had the chance."

"Then perhaps I could introduce you to a few when we return to Atlantis, if you wish?"

Tamsin took another sip of coffee, considering the offer. "I'd like that, thank you, Teyla."

Teyla gave another graceful nod and turned her attention to her own drink. The two women sat in companiable silence for a few minutes. Tamsin's watch beeped. Another neuro-check. She gave a brief smile to Teyla.

"I've got to rouse Sleeping Beauty over there. This should be fun."

She rose from her seat and crossed to the corner of the room. Stepping around the privacy screen, she took a deep breath.

"Time to rise and shine, Dr Kavanagh."

The scientist muttered something rude, then groaned and sat up.

"And how are we feeling this morning?" Tamsin asked.

He shot her a withering glance. "Like I've spent the night sleeping on rocks and being woken up every five minutes."

"Well, I'm sorry if the accommodation isn't up to scratch, but this isn't exactly the Four Seasons. I just need to do a final check, then you're free to go."

Kavanagh frowned, but made no further comment. Fortunately, she could find nothing wrong with him, apart from his less-than-sparkling personality, and was able to release the scientist with a clean bill of health and a mental sigh of relief.

"Kharbachiya," Tamsin muttered, as Kavanagh left the area.

"Did you just call me a donkey? I'm hurt."

She turned to see Sheppard leaning against the table where Teyla still sat. He had his arms folded, adopting a casual pose, but Tamsin could tell that could change at a moment's notice.

"Actually it's 'son of a donkey', and no, I wasn't referring to you."

He smirked. "Kavanagh got to you, then?"

"Of course not, that would be very unprofessional of me." She attempted a dead-pan expression, but knew she probably wasn't fooling Sheppard.

"I don't know many people who speak Pashto." He narrowed his eyes. "Know any Dari?"

"I've picked up a few words here and there."

"You're just full of surprises, aren't you, Doc?" His tone was as casual as his position, but Tamsin was on her guard. Though she had nothing to hide, she wasn't about to share her life story with the man.

She clasped her hands in front of her, meeting his eyes. "Nothing that's not in my personnel file, Colonel."

Sheppard might have replied, but McKay chose that moment to clatter in, closely followed by Ronon. Tamsin allowed herself a smile at McKay's attire. He was dressed in cold-weather gear, just as Sheppard and Teyla were, but seemed to have added at least three scarves and a woollen hat. It gave him the appearance of a belligerent tortoise. Ronon's only concession to the cold seemed to be a long leather coat.

"There you are, Sheppard. We need to get going to those ruins, seeing as you won't let us take a jumper."

"It's a mile walk, McKay."

"Yeah, in snow, layered on ice, above perma-frost."

"It's a foot deep. That's July in Canada, isn't it?" Sheppard smirked.

"I'll have you know the highest recorded July temperature in Canada was 45 degrees Celsius, recorded July 5th 1937 in Midale, Saskatchewan."

"That's one day. What about the other 364 days?"

McKay scowled. "Bite me, Sheppard!"

"I believe we should be going." Teyla broke in, obviously used to keeping the peace between the group.

The team left the area with a quick goodbye to Tamsin, McKay still muttering.

SGA

Two days later, Tamsin sat in the co-pilot seat of jumper three on the way back to Atlantis. The pilot, a fresh-faced African-American twenty-something who had introduced himself as Lieutenant Anderson, seemed not to be the talkative type, for which Tamsin was grateful.

Team Sheppard had left MG6-932 shortly after returning from their hike to follow the energy readings. McKay had loudly declared the trip a waste of his valuable time; it seemed the source of the energy readings was a defunct Ancient generator of some sort or another. Tamsin felt some sympathy for whichever scientist was assigned to further investigation of that one.

The rest of her time there had been uneventful, but she was looking forward to getting back to the relative peace and privacy of her quarters. A long, hot shower, a decent meal and the prospect of seeing Carson again; things were definitely looking up.

SGA

The day after returning from MG6-932, Tamsin was leaving the mess hall, having enjoying an early lunch. The Daedalus had docked the previous day, replenishing the Earth food supplies, and she had been delighted to find macaroni cheese on the menu. Still, anything reasonably fresh would have been a change from four days of MREs.

As she was heading in the direction of her quarters, she spotted Carson walking towards her. She couldn't help the huge grin as he caught sight of her and smiled, his pace quickening.

"Hullo, Tam. How are you?" he asked, reaching her side.

She desperately wanted to wrap her arms around him and kiss him senseless, but that would be wildly inappropriate, indiscrete and would probably scare him half to death. She settled for a quick touch on his forearm instead.

"I'm good, thanks. How about you?"

"All the better for seeing you, love. It's been a tough couple of days."

He pulled her to one side of the corridor, quickly explaining that one of Atlantis' allies had been hit by a flash-flood, swamping several villages. Carson and several other medical staff had been called in to deal with the aftermath, along with rescue teams and equipment.

"There wasn't a lot we could do, but we've brought back some of the survivors with us. I just returned a few hours ago." He sighed, looking suddenly shattered, as if the strain of the last few days were finally catching up with him.

"Someone should have contacted me, I could have helped, instead of being stuck babysitting Kavanagh."

Despite the tiredness, Carson chuckled. "Good lord, is he still around? I thought he'd been sent back to the SGC in disgrace."

He paused, looking thoughtful for a moment.

"I'm not sure this is really the right time to ask, but I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me one evening this week?"

"We often have dinner together, you don't need to ask." Tamsin squinted up at Carson, an amused look on her face. As she caught his slightly uncomfortable expression, she realised what he actually meant.

"Oh, you mean dinner…, as in you and me, a corner table, candles?"

He nodded, his expression having changed to one of hope. She knew she shouldn't tease him, but somehow she couldn't resist it, she loved to watch his emotions chase across his expressive face and eyes.

"Dr Beckett, are you asking me on a date?"

"Aye, if you like." His voice dropped, accent thickening slightly and he fixed her with that direct gaze that made her forget there was anyone else in the world besides the two of them.

He knows, she thought, a slight flush warming her cheeks. He knows exactly what he does to me.

"Sorry, can't. Girls' poker tonight, and I'm on night shifts for the rest of the week." She kept her tone light. Even though she knew she was going to say yes, she didn't want to make it too easy for him.

"Well, then. Another time, perhaps?"

"Another time."

Carson gave a small, slightly disappointed smile and turned to leave.

Oh crap, maybe he doesn't realise? Stop playing games, woman! She thought.

"Carson," she called, softly. "How about a late lunch tomorrow and then I'm all yours for the afternoon?"

He turned back. "All mine? Sounds lovely, I'll pick you up at two?"

"It's a date."

Finally! It was all she could do to keep the grin off her face as he headed back down the corridor. As she watched him go, silently admiring his rear profile, an unwanted thought slunk in. You're going to get your heart broken again. It'll be just like last time.

Don't care, not listening, she told herself, shoving the thought away into the furthest corner of her mind.