The sun shone brightly high above, Laura Cadman sighed as she covered her eyes from the abnormally bright sun, "Lieutenant?" came the voice over her head piece.
"Cadman, go ahead sir," she replied as she tapped her ear piece, she glanced over at Carson and Rodney. This reminded her far too much of the last time she was off world with the good doctor. However this time they all were much more relaxed. Besides she liked Rodney at this point, he'd been babbling about the same thing to Carson for the past hour. Although she was fairly sure it had something to do with his most recent brush with death. It had been just over three weeks since Rodney had been cleared to report back to duty after nearly dying from a plague.
"We've found the dart that was shot down…I can't say for sure, but I'm fairly sure it's wraith…we've definitely got an advantage if they're starting to shoot one another down. Go ahead and report back to the gate, we'll meet you there shortly," Sheppard returned.
"Yes sir, Cadman out."
"Looks like we'll be home in time for our date," grinned Cadman as she glanced back at Carson.
Carson had a wide grin on his face as Rodney rolled his eyes at the thought, "how come I never get to go into the field with Elizabeth?"
"Because she runs the helm, don't worry Rodney, it'll make life easier if ye ever actually propose to her," grinned Carson.
"You're proposing?" Cadman said jumping suddenly.
It was something nearly everyone on Atlantis had both been waiting for and dreading. If Rodney asked Elizabeth to marry him, they would become the first official married couple on Atlantis, and everyone was dreading that change, in fear that they would decide to send those who were married home. However, if anyone could convince them otherwise it was Elizabeth and Rodney.
"I have the ring," he stated softly.
"Really? Do you have it with you, can I see it?" Laura asked grinning like a young girl.
Rodney groaned and reached into his vest pocket, handing her the tiny velvet black box. He'd taken to carrying it around with him, when Elizabeth began to spend more and more time in his room during the days. Laura gasped as she opened it, the diamond wasn't huge, but it was beautiful, three diamonds, all princess cuts. "Wow, this had to cost a pretty penny, but why three?" Laura asked closing the box and handing it back to her friend.
"The diamonds on either side are for me and Elizabeth, the one in the middle is Lauryn. If I marry Elizabeth it won't be just about the two of us, there's a third person in this picture and frankly she's the most important."
"So when are you asking her?" Laura inquired.
"I'm not…not yet anyway…I can't explain it, the time just doesn't seem right."
"Oh come on, you love her don't you?"
"Of course I do…but it's just not a good time, there's more important things on everyone's mind, besides I think part of her is still afraid people don't trust her after the whole…Phebus thing."
"Everyone trusts Liz…."
"I know they do, and everyone else knows, everyone but Elizabeth…I can't do it yet…I've had the ring since the last time I went home…I've just been hiding it for awhile."
"Wow, you must be a good hider," grinned Laura as she shook her head. "Wouldn't it be amazing if we could stay on Atlantis after we were all married? Our kids would be the first Atlantian born children in the city in ten thousand years…"
"Yeah it would be cool…honestly I think Teyla and John may beat us to it though," chuckled Rodney.
"I think you'd be surprised. John isn't exactly ready to just settle down," Carson finally spoke up.
"You want my honest opinion?" Rodney asked looking back at his two friends, "I don't think any of us are quiet ready to make that big change yet, it's going to be a huge deal when someone finally gets married…no one wants to take that step because we're all afraid of the same thing…that we'd have to leave Atlantis."
"I though you said you'd give it all up if t meant being happy?" Laura said in surprise.
"I would…but I don't want Elizabeth to have to give up something as important as this, and not to Caldwell, don't get me wrong, he's a great guy, but…Elizabeth earned this position."
"Aye, I agree," stated Carson.
"Do you guys ever wish you hadn't made contact with Earth again?" Laura asked.
"It's weird…we spent our first year here dying to go home, we all wanted to find a way back to Earth…now we talk to Earth and we all want to stay here. Atlantis is my home now…" Carson replied.
"Mine too," whispered Rodney with a smile as he looked at Carson, "I've made too many friends to go home now," he offered.
Laura opened her mouth to make a comment when suddenly a buzzing sound interrupted their thoughts, "dart," she hissed.
"Not again!" cried Carson.
"Scatter!" yelled Laura, she, however wasn't paying attention and felt her legs go out from under her.
"LARUA!" yelled Carson.
Rodney's arm's shot out, grabbing the Lieutenant by the jacket and pulling her to one side, together the two dove behind a boulder, while Carson went the other behind a nearby tree. "Sheppard, we've got a dart…"
"Are you okay?" Came Sheppard's quick reply.
"We're fine, aren't we Cadman…Cadman…" Rodney turned around stunned to see her lying pale faced on the ground, turned just to her side. "Oh that's not good," he whispered, "Carson get over here now!" Rodney called into his ear piece as he moved over to Laura's other side.
"What happened?"
"She must have fallen and hit something," Rodney offered as he gently rolled her to the side, stunned to see a rock embedded in the ground, drenched in her blood.
"Laura," Carson called as he gently tapped her cheeks, feeling for a pulse he looked up at Rodney, "we need to get her back to Atlantis."
The first thing she became aware of was her pounding headache. She groaned, as an irritating beeping sound began to penetrate her senses.
"Laura," came a soft familiar voice. "Shh, Laura you're okay, you're in the infirmary on Atlantis, can ye open yer eyes for me?" Carson's voice continued.
Laura sighed, and slowly opened her eyes, prepared for the harsh brightness that always met her when she awoke in the infirmary. She was surprised to find it was dark, "Carson…why are the lights off?" she asked weakly.
Carson looked around at Elizabeth and John, "Laura, the lights aren't off…in fact they're the usual brightness…"
"Carson…" Laura said suddenly, turning her head towards the sound of his voice.
"I'm right here lass," Carson replied waving his hand in front of her eyes.
"Oh my god…Carson what's wrong with me?" her voice was becoming frantic.
"Shh, lass, you took a nasty hit to the head…it's possible the blindness is only temporary."
Laura felt her face begin to turn red, her unseeing eyes welling with tears, 'What am I going to do?' 'How will I survive?' 'What if they won't let me stay here on Atlantis'… 'Laura…you have to breathe…you can get through this…you just have to focus…' Laura thought to herself as a million other things ran through her mind at once.
"Laura, is there anything we can do?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
"I…uh…could I just be alone for a little while? Please?" she spoke in a quiet voice she barely recognized.
"Of course, we'll be around if you need us Lieutenant," John offered squeezing her foot.
"Laura, I'm going to be in my office, if you need me, just holler okay?"
"Carson…" She paused unsure what to think, what to feel, she was so scared…she'd been trained to take everything in stride. Yet, no matter how many times they gave you a situation in boot camp, no one could imagine the feeling of waking up one minute suddenly completely blind.
"It's going to be okay lass, I promise ye," Carson offered as he gripped her hand.
Laura spent the next three days in and out of consciousness as she tried to get rest, Colonel Sheppard had visited several times, offering his support and anything she needed. Elizabeth had also swung by. But Carson, it was Carson who seemed to be by her side every time she awoke from a nightmare, or found herself suddenly overwhelmed by everything going on.
Finally on the third day, Carson released her…or at least he had told her she was released, "Laura, love?"
"I…I…" she shook her head, she stood by her bed, gripping the covers in her fists as tears began to run down her cheeks, she didn't know how to cope with this, what would she do, she was so lost. She didn't know Atlantis like he did, she couldn't handle not seeing everything around her all the time.
"Laura…I'm done for the night, why don' we go get some dinner, then I'll walk ye back to your room?" Carson offered as he gently touched her shoulder.
"Ah…okay…Carson…how do I deal with this? I was trained to fight…I was trained…"
"Laura, listen to me, you were trained to be a fighter yes, but yer human, and that means like all humans ye are allowed to be scared lass, there is nothing wrong with be frightened."
"No?" she asked half laughing, half crying.
She felt two strong hands on her arms, "No, Laura, yer strong, don't this be a set back for ye…not when nothing else in the world can stop ye. It's scary, I understand that, believe me I do…but ye got to embrace it for now…because lass, like it or not, yer going to be blind for a while, I promise ye, it's only temporary though, okay…the swelling is already down, once any scaring heals ye'll be fine. Now, how about dinner?"
Laura smiled softly as she felt his thumbs brush away the tears that had fallen to her cheeks. Slowly and hesitantly she nodded, she could feel him grip her hand, leading her out of the infirmary.
"Uncle Rodney?" called the voice through the lab. JJ Sheppard looked around the room and shrugged, not sure where his uncle was. His father had sent him on a mission, and like his father, JJ never took a mission lightly, and he always got it finished.
"JJ?" Radek Zelenka asked as he moved over to the young man.
"Hey Doc, listen dad's lookin' for Uncle Rod, where is he?"
"I do not know, I haven't seen him…in a few days."
"Really?" JJ asked, as he ran his thin fingers through his short brown hair, a habit he had gained since arriving on Atlantis and spending time around his father.
"Not…since he came back from the planet…"
"Uh oh…that's not good…any idea where he might be?"
"No, I'm afraid not…if Rodney does not wish to be found, he can't be."
"Thanks Dr. Z," with that the eight year old hurried out of the room, in search for his uncle or father.
"Has anyone seen Doctor McKay?" came the voice over his radio, the boy quickly tapped his ear piece.
"Hi Aunt Lizzy," he grinned in a reply.
"Johnny, why are you wearing an ear piece?" she asked suddenly.
"Cause Dad sent me looking for Uncle Rodney…have you seen him?"
"No…actually, where all have you looked?"
"His labs…the cafeteria…" JJ began to count off the places on his finger, only coming up with three of the usual places. "He's not in his usual spots.
"All right, Johnny, I'm relieving you of your expedition, if you could please return to your dad…and give him back his ear piece, I'd really appreciate it," she quickly returned in his ear.
JJ's face fell for a moment, "yes ma'am," he mumbled.
Elizabeth chuckled in her office softly at the thought of the little boy's look. At eight years old Johnny had earned every bit of his name sake, he was already fairly tall for a boy, and gangly, his hair sticking in every direction and the hazel eyes that could turn most women to putty in an instant. The boy loved trouble as much as he loved adventures, and usually the two seemed to come hand in hand.
She sighed and tapped her ear piece again, "Rodney…" she spoke, hoping she would get an answer this time, however she was left empty yet again. "Rodney, if you're there please answer me…I need to find you," she whispered, thankful she was on a channel with just him.
She was just about to tap her head piece again and contact Carson to ask him about Rodney, when he heard a soft sigh, "what?" came the reply.
"Rodney?"
"Yeah?" he asked again, a little annoyed this time.
"Rodney, where are you?" she asked as she quickly stood up and turned away from the rest of the gate room, afraid someone might see the relief in her eyes or the fear for him.
"Same place I've been for the past three days," he mumbled.
"Yes…well that's not exactly helpful Rodney, seeing as we've just spent the past three days looking for you," she replied.
"East pier balcony…" he mumbled.
"Rodney, sweetheart," she said suddenly, a term she usually only used after hours when it was just the two of them.
"I'm sorry Elizabeth," came his nearly incoherent reply as he tapped the ear piece and she was met with dead silence.
"Damn it Rodney!" Elizabeth bit as she quickly removed her ear piece. Sighing, she sat back down in her chair, quickly running over in her mind what Rodney had been thinking going out to the East pier, alone…for three days…suddenly she shoved her ear piece back in, "Beckett…"
"Aye Elizabeth, what's wrong?" Carson asked in a sudden dire tone, as though he could tell something was very wrong.
Had they all become such close friends that they could judge one another's moods or any danger on a simple tone in their voice. "We've got a little problem."
"Who?"
"A certain scientist has gone AWOL, I've found him…but there's a very good chance he's been sitting on the East Pier for the past three days…"
"Dear God…Get him to the infirmary."
"He probably won't come," Elizabeth reasoned, she and Carson knew Rodney far better than anyone, John was a close third. However, they all knew that he could be a stubborn as a mule on even the best days.
"Elizabeth, he could slip into hypoglycemic shock at any moment if he hasn't had anything to eat."
"All right, I'll do my best," she replied as she quickly made her way through Atlantis' halls. She grabbed one of the transporters and punched the closest transport to the East Pier, she wouldn't have much further to go once getting there, but she had to admit she was concerned about him. He rarely went to this Pier, in fact it was just a constant bad memory of what had happened over a year ago when Koyla had taken the city.
She quickly tapped her ear piece, effectively turning it off and headed down the long hallway leading to the pier. And there he sat, on the very same steps they had sat on a year ago, his arms wrapped around him self. She realized instantly it was cold, with the wind blowing this close to the ocean…he had to be cold. She sighed, sometimes he had the temperament of a two year old. Moving over she sat down and did the first thing that came to mind, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him close.
"Hey, what are you doing out here," she whispered as he leaned his head against her's, seeking her comfort.
"Freezing," he mumbled.
She realized he was shivering, whether it was from the cold or from the beginning onsets of hypoglycemia she wasn't sure, but she would find out. "Rodney, you're freezing…literally, let's get you inside," she offered as she gently took his arm, but he resisted.
"I can't…"
"Why?" Elizabeth asked gently, touching his arm, causing him to flinch…some days she forgot all about Koyla…some days, but not nearly enough.
"I can't face her…"
"Who?" She felt like she was playing tennis, going back and forth with two or three word answers, but she bit her lip, hesitating to lay into him further.
"She's blind Elizabeth…I'm the one who pushed her down…"
"Rodney, that's not your fault, and Laura doesn't blame you. Rodney, it was an accident…" she replied gently as she pulled his face towards her.
"Should have been me," he mumbled.
"No Rodney, no, it shouldn't have been…it was just an accident. There's no reason to sit here and punish yourself, or freeze to death because you feel guilty, come on," she tugged him again, but there was less resistance.
She was stunned out how wobbly his legs were as he slowly stood, she wrapped on hand around his back, pulling him close, her hand beginning to rub his back, trying to give him some heat. "Rodney, have you eaten anything?" she asked as they walked to the transporter slowly.
"Yeah…fruit bars," he mumbled.
"Sweetheart, that's not a meal, you need a warm shower and food," she whispered as she felt another shiver flee through his body.
"No…no…please, 'Liza I'm not ready to face them yet…can't we just go to the room…somethin'…" he slurred slightly from the chill that was setting further into him.
"All right, we can go to your room, lets go," she quickly pushed the transport button and waited. Moments later they were in the hallway just outside his room. He walked slowly as though every step hurt on his abused muscles.
She waved her hand in front of the controls and waited for the door to slide open. Deciding the best course of action would be to get him warm quickly she removed his jackets and gently sat him down on the bed, proceeding to take off his shoes and socks.
"This would be flattering…at any other point," he mumbled half out of it.
"Yeah…well it would be for me too Romeo, come on, " she quickly drew back the covers and slide him between the sheet, two blankets and the comforter. She'd never been able to figure out why he slept with so many blankets, but humoring him she gently covered him back up with the blankets, amazed as his head hit the pillow and his eyes drifted shut. "Why doesn't that happen when he actually needs sleep," she cursed silently as she slipped into Lauryn's room to check on their daughter.
"Elizabeth?" Carson's voice crackled over the radio, she smiled shortly.
"I've got the beast down for the count, in bed fast asleep already, he said he ate some cereal bars while he was out there…I'm going to make some hot soup or something for him…try to keep him warm. I'm also taking him off duty for the next twenty-four hours."
"Why was he out there?"
"Apparently he blames himself for Laura's blindness," she replied.
"That isn't his fault…however Laura is currently sleeping as well, I'm camped out with my laptop on her couch…making sure she actually gets sleep…so looks like we're on nurse duty," she could hear Carson's smile as he spoke.
"I guess we are, well you'll know where I am," she removed her ear piece as she stepped back into the main room and laid it on one of the tables, she was heading into the small kitchen when she heard Rodney mumble something. She moved back to the bed and saw two hazy but coherent eyes looking up at her, "you okay?" she asked as she sat down at his side.
"Come here," he whispered softly, reaching out his arm, "They told us in the short military training I had…that the quickest way to warm up was body heat," he grinned.
"Rodney…behave," she replied standing up again, only to find herself being pulled back down by his hand.
"Please…I promise nothing funny…" he said gently, giving her the look she had patented as a Sheppard family trait that was gained by spending time with the Sheppards.
Shaking her head she quickly slipped her own jacket off as well as her shoes and slipped under the covers. She scooted close to him, until she was face to face, inches away from his nose, their legs entwined almost instantly as he wrapped his arms around her waist, she smiled softly and pressed a kiss to his forehead, gently stroking his cheek, "sleep…" she whispered as she continued to lull him to sleep with her gentle touch to his cheek, and her even breathing.
She smiled as he finally slipped into a fitful rest, there was something about this man, she knew this was the man she would spend forever with…she just had to wait until he was ready to admit it to himself. This was her best friend, her lover, and her future husband. "I love you," she whispered again as she closed her own eyes and drifted off to sleep, entangled in his arms and legs.
Laura smiled softly as she stood on the balcony of Atlantis, taking in everything around her. She'd woken up to the soft snoring of Carson Beckett asleep on the couch across from the bed. She knew where he was, she could sense him. She'd felt around until her hands connected with the blanket at the end of her own bed, then carefully moved across her room and draped it over the sleeping form of the man she'd come to care for so deeply.
Deciding she didn't want to go back to sleep, since that's what she'd been doing for the past several days as it was, she carefully made her way to what she was fairly sure was her balcony, as the door slid open she felt a smile spread across her face, when the window blew her hair around, yep, she'd hit the balcony dead on.
The first thing she noticed wasn't the obvious vastness of the ocean, which she normally noticed but it was the sound of the waves crashing against the side of the city, like hitting a beach side then sinking back down to join the rest of the waves, she could hear soft music drifting from a few floors down, which she was fairly sure was John's room. She could hear the wind blowing by her and Atlantis, getting caught between a couple of the higher towers and whistling to make it through the gaps. She could smell the ocean, as clear as she could back on earth. It was oddly reassuring, settling her nerves, she hadn't spoken to Elizabeth or John in depth just yet, but they'd both mentioned that she would remain here on Atlantis for as long as she'd like.
Another sound caused her ears to perk up, and she smiled again, his ever quiet and gentle feet alerting her to his presence. She'd always known he was gentle, but he seemed extra quiet as she truly listened to him. Each step was strong and sure, full of assurance, and yet she could almost detect the love in each step as well.
"Am I interrupting anythin'?" he asked softly. His voice held a little worry, she could just detect it in his tone. She loved the way he worried about everyone, loved the way he worried about her unlike any other ever had.
She paused taking a deep breath before answering him, "My brother was blind…just born blind…I remember being eight or nine years old when I walked into his room one day, and with the most serious face I could must, I asked him what it was like, not to be able to see the world around him," she smiled as her boyfriend remained quiet, allowing her to tell the story, "he looked at me with those beautiful green eyes, and just chuckled, 'I see the world as well as you do Little Lori, I just see it differently', he told me in this calm and loving voice. He pulled me into his lap and continued 'I see the leaves as I hear them rustle in the breeze…I feel the ocean cool my feet while I stand in the soft sand on a sunny beach…I can sense it's great depth as I hear it crash against the shore…I see love when mom hugs and kisses you and me goodnight…" she stopped and smiled at the memories.
"He's very wise," Carson whispered as he approached Laura's side.
She nodded, "He's just Jacob, that's just who he was…mom called him a wise old soul when we were kids. He never got angry or scared about it, he just took everything in stride and saw the world as it was, he never let anyone get him down…You know what he'd say to me right now? He'd take me by the shoulders and get this all too serious look upon his face, 'Little Lori,' he 'd begin, 'your so strong, this is just another challenge God has sent you to face, and I know you'll do your namesake proud, and face it like you have everything else, with strength, endurance, and confidence. In the end you'll conquer yet another challenge'," she smiled, softly, biting her lip for a moment.
"He's be right, Laura, yer too good to let this take you down," he felt her move closer, "come here," he whispered as he gently pulled her into a strong hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, "I'm here to help ye get through this, it's only temporary honey," he offered, lying his cheek against her forehead.
"I know Carson…don't let them send me home because of this," she whispered softly suddenly, unable to believe she'd truly just voiced that concern to him.
"Never lass, ye can't leave me…I won't let ye, and they can't afford to lose me, so ye have to stay," he replied gently.
Laura chuckled, she moved her head and pressed her ear against his chest, as she encircled her arms around his waist, his own arms around hers, she could hear his lungs drawing in each even breath, his heart pumping blood through his veins, and suddenly she hugged him closer, not wanting to be away from him.
She felt his arms pull her a little closer as well, this wasn't like any feeling she could ever remember before. She didn't understand it, but she definitely liked it. She could hear his breath hitching, his heart pounding harder, tilting her head back and up, she knew she had to be looking into his eyes. She felt her own heart begin to pound in sync with hers, s his face grew closer and suddenly his lips captured hers.
She grinned as she finally pulled away, "thank you," she whispered as she leaned her head against his shoulder, the two sharing the hug as he gently rocked her, she could hear him humming ever so slightly as he just held her, trying to help her find comfort in what was happening.
A week that went all to slowly for Laura flew by for the rest of Atlantis, however she was still cooped up in her room, waiting for her sight to return or some one to send her back home to earth. She wasn't really sure why she was suddenly so afraid to go back home, maybe it was because she'd found a home here on Atlantis, with friends…or maybe part of it had to do with her favorite resident doctor who had just vacated her room with a kiss to the cheek as he rushed out throwing his lab coat on. Either way, she adored it here on Atlantis, and was in no hurry to leave any time soon.
She was surprised when her radio crackled to life with voices, "has anyone seen McKay, he's gone AWOL again," came John's voice.
"I saw him this morning…be nice John, he's having a tough time," came Elizabeth's response.
"I saw him on the balcony earlier…the one just below the mess hall…I believe he was trying to be alone," Radek returned over his radio.
Cadman was surprised, not at Rodney trying to be alone, the scientist didn't like working with other people very often, but she wondered what he was having such a hard time with. Carson had mentioned a few days ago about him going MIA a few days earlier and being gone for three days.
Deciding to check it out she carefully made her way out of her room, based on what Radek said, she knew he was somewhere on this floor on the balcony right below the mess…which meant he was on the north side of this floor, "Okay…that's easy enough," she whispered to herself. She couldn't hear anyone else around, she half thanked whoever was listening to that, and cursed it.
She could hear the sound of the ocean getting closer, so she knew when she was approaching the balcony. She quickly swiped her hand over the controls, pleased to hear it swish open. She paused, waiting for a response from him. She could hear his heavy breathing, he knew he'd been found, "So, what's your problem?" she asked in her usual cocky tone, half a grin on her face as she stepped catiously closer to him, most of the balconies were the average size of a balcony in an apartment, some where a little larger, about five feet out, this was one of the longer ones, she knew she had to be at least three feet through it when he finally spoke.
"You shouldn't be here," he mumbled.
"Why?" She asked matter-of-factly, "because I'm blind?" She finished as her hand connected with the railing she grinned, 'Score one for the blind and blonde chick!' she thought.
"You just shouldn't!' he hissed in his angry tone, the one that held up a large sign telling everyone in a fifty foot radius that discussion was off limits.
Laura grinned, "really glad I'm blind, I can ignore the sign that obviously comes with that tone," she sneered in return. She only wished she could see his face.
"What do you want?"
"I already stated that, I wanna know what you're problem is and why the hell you keep disappearing on everyone?"
"Why do you care?" He growled.
She could tell he wasn't angry at anyone but himself, he was just venting. She shrugged off the rude tone and smiled, "because you're my friend, and a lot of people who are also your friends are worried about you, I just happened to be the first to get here. So I ask you once again, what's your issue?"
"I don't have an issue, would you please leave?"
"Am I your issue here?" She asked pointing to herself, "you know being in your mind for a few days sure gave me some insight into a lot of things McKay, and one of the biggies is that you blame yourself for every little stupid thing that happens around you. Jesus McKay, this isn't all about you. The world doesn't revolve around you!" she growled, unsure where her own anger was coming from.
"You don't think I KNOW THAT!" he yelled back waving his arms.
"You certainly aren't showing it! Get a grip McKay, not everything is your fault in the world!"
"I ruined your career, I've gotten more people kil…"
"Whoa! Wait a minute, you're out here giving yourself a pity party without inviting me! Because you think you ruined my career! You really are an idiot!" she howled, raising her voice an octave higher. "News flash McKay, you're not the one who saw the rock she was going to fall on and couldn't get out of the way in time! Did you think about that? It's no more your fault than it is mine! Rodney, it was a damn freak accident, it'll probably never happen again! And in a few weeks it'll probably pass! Move on McKay!"
"How! How do you propose I move on?"
"Take a deep breath and dive back into life! This isn't your fault Rodney, you shouldn't take blame for it! You didn't bash me over the head with a rock until I was blind, although I'm sure there have been times when you wanted to," she replied grinning.
"Like now?" he mumbled.
"Rodney, seriously, get off your sorry self pitying ass and get some actual work done."
"Why don't you," came a sudden reply she hadn't nearly been expecting.
"Excuse me?"
"You've sat in your room for a week, this is the first time you really left! You're blind, not stupid, and not incapacitated! Believe it or not you know your way around Atlantis better than you think! You're still of value to us here!"
Laura paused, realizing what he was saying was true, she'd been having her own lonely pity party for the past week. She quickly squared her shoulders, "fine…what say we go up to the cafeteria and have our selves some dinner, officially end this pity party?"
She waited for his response, he could hear the soft chuckle, "you're a real piece of work Cadman…"
"I know, you're just jealous," she said reaching out for his arm, surprised when she actually found it was there.
She tried not to blink as he shone the light into both her eyes, getting the reaction he was obviously looking for as he stepped away, "it's looking good lass, what all are you seeing?"
"Grays…shadows mostly…"
"Good, I'd say give it anywhere from a couple days to another week and you'll be right as rain," he said smiling as he squeezed her hand.
"Carson…" she spoke suddenly, unsure of what she was about to do, "thank you…for everything."
"Anything for ye lass, anythin'," he replied as he dropped a kiss to her forehead. "Yer free to go."
"Dinner and a movie or something tonight?"
"Aye, dinner and a movie, I'll meet you in the mess by seven," he replied.
"Love ya big guy," she called back suddenly realizing what she'd said.
"Love you too Little Lori," came his reply as he turned pink, her eyes turned back to him.
"Really?" she asked.
"No, truthfully I absolutely can't stand you…just thought I'd lead ye on," he grinned as she moved back over to his side. He pulled her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her lips, then another to her cheek.
"Whoa…keep it outta the hospital!" cried Rodney as he walked in.
"Hullo Rodney," Carson mumbled as he hugged her close again.
"Hi Rod," Laura chuckled.
"Hello…just came to see how she was?" he asked eyeing the Lieutenant.
"She is doing just fine, glad to know you care…now let me see your hands," Carson stated, noticing that Rodney was hiding them both behind his back.
"Damn it," mumbled Rodney as he held out his left hand which was covered in blood.
"I'll see you later Rodney, by Carson," she called as she made her way out of the infirmary.
"Aye, bye lass…come on Rodney," Carson muttered, his eyes still on his retreating girlfriend.