Ooooohhh... Happy Reading :)
I leant against the doorframe, Jake left us to be. John stood behind me and placed a kiss discretely on the back of my neck. Craig was in a light sleep at the moment and I wanted to leave him be, if only to see him look so peaceful.
"Carson." John whispered in my ear and a tear rolled down my face. "He's not just my brother. He's my twin." I said, my voice cracking. John wrapped his arms around my waist, our hands resting over my heart with his head on my shoulder. "Remember what Emery said, he's going to be fine."
I sniffled and wiped away my tears, listening to the rain coming down on the window in his room, "I know he's fine; I just don't know how somebody could shoot their own child." I stepped out of John's grasp and sat in the chair by his bed and took his hand, placing a kiss on the back of it.
Craig woke up only moments later, a little groggy but the same as ever. "Please tell me I'm not seeing things." He groaned and I couldn't help but laugh amongst my tears. "I assure you, I'm here. I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner." I caught John sitting on the chair in the corner before paying my full attention back to Craig.
"How are you feeling?" I asked sceptically. "Bullets really hurt." He said blatantly, and I was happy for his good humour, "Aye, preaching to the choir." His eyes shot open, "What the hell Carson!"
I tried to calm him down but he stayed furious, "Craig. Please just hear me out." He stilled, his hand having a tight grasp on mine, "I work for the American air force, and I was assigned to a military team out in the field. I was shot last year but I was fine."
"You're full of shite Carson Beckett." I rolled my eyes, resting my head on his hand, "I got hit in the chest, I flat lined for about thirty seconds but I came around. I recovered just fine." Craig looked at me with sorrow, "It wasn't just you that was hurt, he looks like he's about to break down in tears." He looked over to John who had watery eyes. Of course he would, he was the one who was there when I flat lined.
"Craig. What happened with you and Dad?" He raised an eyebrow, "You already know what happened, I can tell." I sighed, "I read the report, yes, but I want to hear it from you." Craig's hand slipped out of mine as he rubbed his face.
"I work with a guy called Nathan. He's been married to Matthew for twelve years. I offered to drive him home but we were going to stop at Dad's because it was half way and it was late anyway." I nodded, urging him to continue. "Everything was fine until Dad found out that Nathan was gay, and then it all went downhill. Somewhere along the line Dad was convinced that I was being 'infected' by Nathan."
I bowed my head, holding back my anger from his sight. "I argued back and then Dad kept saying that if I was 'like him' I should be dead; that I don't deserve the life that I have. He said I would never be his son; he picked up his hunting rifle and fired. Nathan took him out after that and voila, here I am."
"Thank you." I whispered, the tears pouring down my face, "Carson?" He stroked my hair gently and I looked up to see his soft features. "Thank you, Craig." I said again but his face never changed, "I love you little brother and I will always defend you." I smiled, of course he knew. "So are you going to introduce me or what?"
I beckoned John over, "Craig, Colonel John Sheppard; John this is my brother Craig." John grinned and shook Craig's hand, "It's great to meet you." John said proudly. Craig looked him up and down before settling on John's swollen stomach, John laughed and brought the chair over from the corner and sat beside me.
"Craig what I'm about to tell you will sound like a joke but I swear to you it's the truth. John, he's a man through and through but he also has the ability to carry a child to term." Craig frowned at me, "That's impossible." I sighed, "We thought that too but it's all true. Meet your unborn niece, Craig." His eyes were watery, matching my own.
"You're not kidding?" He asked almost unsure and I just looked at him, "I wouldn't lie to you Craig." I whispered. "Oh my god," He cried and I rest my head on John's shoulder as he put a protective arm around me.
It was only a matter of minutes later that the conversation had turned more cheerful, but I had a nagging feeling inside of me. I wanted to help Craig out, really help him out but I couldn't do that if Atlantis was still a part of the equation. I'd talk to John later about it all, get some perspective.
Twins? Oh my! Haha, thought I'd mix it up a little :) And he told him everything!