Now I'm kind of looking to resolve anything so all hope can be restored :)

Happy Reading :)

JOHN'S POV

Telling Carson that I loved him wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I kept myself from saying it but I should have said it a long time ago; he deserved those words a million times over.

He sobbed into my chest, gripping my jumper tightly as I just held him there. Eventually the rain lightened until it had stopped altogether, I thanked God for the relief, despite the vicious words of Carson's father. God would never look upon a man like Carson with shame; he was too full of goodness.

Carson's sobs eased off and I carefully rubbed his back, rocking the man slightly. "Your father will never change in his ways but that's okay because I will spend every day for the rest of my life telling you how much I love you, proving to you that you are not nothing, because you'll always be everything to me and to your daughter." He sighed against my chest, exhausted.

I took him by the hand and we walked all the way back to the hospital where there were several police cars parked. We entered the building where Anne approached us and took us into one of the empty rooms. I sat Carson down on the bed and stripped the both of us of our clothes.

He was cold but nothing serious; I toweled him down before dressing us in scrubs. I lay down on the bed and pulled his head to rest on my chest. "He should never have been let out of custody; Carter said he was being held. Today was a mistake, Carson, and it won't ever happen again." I promised to him, stroking a hand through his damp hair.

A policeman came into the room looking partially sad but also a little irritated. I guessed that his feelings were aimed towards Carson's father rather than us. "On behalf of the police I want to apologize. Despite there being orders to keep him in custody he had been released. It was a terrible mistake on our behalf but I assure you I will do everything in my power to make sure nothing like this happens again." I nodded, knowing Carson couldn't handle anything right now; he just lay numb against me.

The officer left us and we sunk back into the silence, I listened to every breath that Carson took, it was soothing to me. After a while, Anne came in with some hot chocolate which we both accepted gratefully. "Jake told your brother what's happened. He's asked for you to see him but he said for you to come in your own time." Carson gave a feeble nod, sipping on the hot liquid.

"I love you too." He whispered to me and I couldn't help but chuckle a little, "I know you do." I pressed a kiss to his temple. "You want to go and see Craig or do you want to hang out here for a while?" He sighed, "I don't know." He was so lost that it made my heart ache for him.

"If I hadn't of seen him when I got out of the elevator, what would have happened?" Carson questioned himself more than he did me. "What if, by chance, he's let out from custody again and he actually gets to Craig this time and I'm not there?" I could tell he was really bothered by this. "What if he finishes the job this time and I won't even know because I'm tucked away safe in Atlantis?" I wrapped my free arm around him.

"I think you've already got an answer to these questions, Carson. I haven't got a clue so it's up to you – you do what's best." Carson frowned at me, "I could be telling you I want to stay on Earth, how can you say that?" I smiled, "I know you won't do that – you've not got anything here apart from your brother and you've got a family that is additional to me in Atlantis. Your home is Atlantis." He sighed and tilted his head onto my shoulder. "You know me too well."

I took a sip of my hot chocolate. "I love you, I should know everything." He sat up after that and retrieved his phone from his pants. "I don't know if it'll work but I've got to try." I raised an eyebrow for him to elaborate. "My home is Atlantis and that's where my family is. My family, John, and that should include my own brother." I smiled, now knowing what he was trying to achieve.

He dialed an old number, one planted in the furthest corner of his mind. "James, is that you?"

CARSON'S POV

"James?"

"Carson? Is that you buddy?"

"Aye, I can't believe you still kept the phone."

"I told you I would, didn't I?"

"You did, I guess I never quite believed you."

"You never thought I'd be president either but I just had to prove a point."

"You always were a show-off."

"Don't you know it. Carson, not that I don't love hearing from you for the first time in a good few years but I've got a feeling there's more purpose to this conversation than there has been so far."

"You're right."

"Well, what is it Carson?"

"My brother, Craig, he's British Navy and I want you to give him clearance to come to Atlantis with me indefinitely."

"What's changed for you to ask me that?"

"My father shot him for defending me and he came back to the hospital today to try and finish the job. I can't leave my brother here, James, it's not safe."

"Okay, Carson, I'll do it. You'll have to give me an hour so I can sort everything out but I don't see this as a problem and in the meantime I suggest you tell your brother about the expedition – even if he can't be posted I'll still clear him for civilian duties."

"Thank you so much, I appreciate everything you've done for me James, I honestly don't know how to thank you."

"I've always wanted a niece to spoil, Carson, maybe if you could give me that privilege?"

"The privilege has been yours for a while now, James, and it always will be."

"You've made one man extremely happy, Carson."

"I could say the same to you."

"I guess you could. I'll see you around, Carson; I've got some calls to make to the British Navy."

"Take care, James." The call ended and I turned to John with a relieved expression. "All that's left is to talk to Craig. Ball's in his court."

"I think we should go back to the bed and breakfast, John, this can all wait until tomorrow because I'm exhausted. John agreed so we left the hospital hand in hand, asking Anne to tell Craig we'd be back in the morning.

Aww, what a nice Mr. President :)