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“Carson, dear, the kettle’s on. Tea time!” Mrs. Beckett busied herself in the kitchen bubbling with excitement to have tea with her son again as if for the first time. He’d been home for well over a month but having him back from the dead was indescribable. It was heaven!
She made his favorite shortbread fresh every day since he’d been home, despite his claims it kept well for a few days in the tin. She didn’t mind, she told him firmly, as long as he was here, she’d keep it up. He conceded with a smile and they’d begin another conversation about family and friends catching up after several years' absence.
Beckett had returned to earth nearly six months ago and had persuaded General Landry to allow him to contact his family under the guise of mistaken identity of his body. It was an easy cover story since his original had passed in a terrible explosion leaving little to identify.
He knew it would come as a shock to them, especially his aging mother but he couldn’t bear to be away any longer. It had been two long terrible years since he’d been working for Michael and he wasn’t going to let any more time go to waste. He may’ve been a clone (which was a hard enough concept to grasp, even for him) but his thoughts, feelings, memories were all Carson Beckett. He was himself and needed his family.
Now sitting at his laptop in his childhood room (which his mother hadn’t touched) he was happily going over his email and research in private when he heard her calling him for tea.
“Comin’, Mum!”
His laptop dinged a notification for his email.
“Be right there. One minute…”
It was from Atlantis marked Urgent! He opened it expecting the worst and it was in fact much worse than he could’ve imagined. His best friend, the guy who’d saved him countless times and was his strongest supporter despite the fact he wasn’t the original Carson Beckett, was dying of a brain tumor.
And the worst part…the email was late!
Over a week since they first noticed the symptoms and his condition was progressing rapidly. The message was riddled with apologies about the delay and signed by Dr. Jennifer Keller.
The original Carson’s email address was assigned to the email and sent out at first and of course not received. It was Keller who caught it and sent out an updated email but only after a week’s time had passed. Carson had since gotten a new email since the SGC and Atlantis had archived the original.
Carson starred in shock. Not Rodney! No! A brain parasite! Memory loss! No! No! No! This couldn’t be happening! And it may already be too late!
A gentle knock rapped on his door, “Carson, dear, tea time. Is everythin’ alright?”
Carson quickly closed his laptop and went to let her in, “Sorry, Mum. Somethin’s come up and I’ll be needin’ to make a few phone calls. Ya know my friend, Rodney?”
“Aye, dear, the poor lad who helped with the funeral. Such a sweet young man and had naught but good things to say about ya…is somethin’ the matter with him? You seem anxious?”
“Aye, I’m afraid he’s very ill and I’ll need to go see to him. I’m sorry, Mum but I’ll need to cut our visit short by a few weeks. You’ll be alright won’t ya?”
Mrs. Beckett smiled sadly, “Oh dear! I’m very sorry to hear that. You go right ahead, Sweetie, and save ‘im. He’ll be in good hands with you. Whatever’s wrong, I’m sure you’ll fix ‘im right up!” and she gently kissed him on the forehead.
“But be sure to write or you’ll be hearin’ it from me! Give Rodney my love.”
___________________________________________________
“No, no! I wasn’t notified immediately! The gate won’t reach Pegasus?! Not enough power?!
I don’t understand! I came through not six months ago…yes…I see. And the Daedalus is already on its way? A week out! Is there anyone else I could speak with about…ah, yes. Thank you! Let me know if another ship is available right away! This is a matter of life and death!!…hello?...hello?...” Carson glared at his phone, “Bloody hell! They hung up on me!”
He sighed and sat down wearily on his bed, tears forming in his gentle blue eyes. Anger and sorrow welling to the surface made it hard to think.
No Stargate, no Daedalus. Good God! No options!
What would Rodney do?
Somehow this was always the question he asked himself in seemingly impossible situations. He hadn’t told Rodney but that question alone got him through many a tormented night on Michael’s ship and had given him hope when things seemed most hopeless. It was this quality in Rodney that most stood out to Carson. His stubbornness and unwillingness to give up. It overshadowed everything else in Rodney, including brains and ego.
And now, after all this time, Carson may never get the chance to tell him how much he meant to him, how much his heart, brains and determination got him through. This was torture!
What would Rodney do?
Sam!
Colonel Samantha Carter! Rodney would talk to her, if he could. Yes, that was it! Call Carter! With renewed hope, Carson called the SGC once more.
______________________________________________
“With all due respect, Colonel Carter, your request for immediate transport to Atlantis aboard the Apollo is denied.” Colonel Ellis stated smugly and leaned back in his office chair.
Carter and Beckett looked at each other worriedly, “Denied?!” Carter stated, more strongly than she intended.
She’d been devastated to hear of Rodney’s condition. He’d saved her life more than once and the tension between them was ancient history. She now considered him a dear friend and wasn’t about to give up that easily.
She’d been angry already that Woolsey had neglected to tell her and hadn’t heard through the SGC, since she was busy at Area 51 preparing the new ship, the George Hammond, to get it up and running. If it hadn’t been for Beckett she’d have heard after it was already too late. She shuddered at the thought.
“Why are you denying my request, Colonel? This request is exactly the same as Jeannie Miller’s request to use the Daedalus!” She tried to calm herself by gripping the arms of her chair waiting for his response. Beckett gulped nervously.
“Your request is for personal use of the Apollo, which is against SGC regulations. It’s not the same as Mrs. Miller since she’s family to McKay. So yeah, not the same. Request denied.”
He handed her the request form and began busying himself with other papers as if to say we’re done here.
“This is about McKay, isn’t it? God! I don’t believe you! You’re still hanging onto this petty vendetta against a scientist who showed you up by destroying the Replicators. This isn’t over! I will take this to the President if I have to! You won’t get away with this!...”
“Problem..?” General O’Neill poked his head in Ellis’ office and Carter stopped abruptly, putting her head down.
“General, Sir, please come in,” Carter regained her composure ready to plead her case to O’Neill, although still wary since she wasn’t quite sure about his feelings for McKay either.
She couldn’t be sure how much of McKay’s past he’d put behind him but was willing to give it a try. She owed Rodney that much.
“Colonel Ellis has denied my request to use the Apollo for transport to Atlantis on the grounds it’s for personal use. Dr. Beckett here has yet to take a look at Dr. McKay in his current condition. If he can operate and save McKay it would give us a distinct tactical advantage against…”
“I’m gonna stop you right there, Carter.” O’Neill put his hand out, “I’ve just been informed of McKay’s condition myself and whether or not he can be ‘useful’ in the future,” he said complete with air quotes, “ doesn’t really matter to me. He’s saved all our asses against the Replicators and the Wraith more times that I can count and he’s a very good friend of yours, Carter. That’s good enough for me.” He turned to Colonel Ellis.
“Ellis, prepare the Apollo for immediate departure to Atlantis to leave as soon as possible. You’re taking Colonel Carter and Dr. Beckett to Atlantis and I don’t want to hear anymore about it. Is that understood? Request un-denied.” He glowered at Ellis as he took the request form out of Carter’s hand and placed it on Ellis’ desk, pushing it towards him. Ellis’ eyes darted back and forth, knowing he’d lost the upper hand in this situation.
“Yes, Sir,” He saluted and stormed out of the office giving Carter a half second side eye. Carter gave a quick triumphant side smile and flashed a full smile at O’Neill and again at Beckett. Now they were getting somewhere!
_______________________________________________________
“Thank you, Sir.” said Carter once they were out of Ellis’ office and walking down the hall.
“Yes, General, thank you!” Beckett chimed in, “You don’t know what this means to me…I’ve been distraught ever since hearing the news…I’m worried it may already be too late but I’ve got to try to get to him…” He trailed off and his eyes started to appear misty.
“Of course, Doc!” O’Neill stated, a lump in his throat, “Been in the same boat with a certain obstinate yet loveable scientist myself...more than once in fact. Know exactly how you feel. Better get your gear together for the long road ahead.”
“Yes, Sir. Thank ya, Sir.” And Beckett hurried off to the locker room for the first time in the past few days filled with hope for his friend. He’d found a way to get to him!
“Carter, you don’t mind if I tag along?” O’Neill asked casually, turning to Carter who stared in shock.
“Sir? You want to see McKay?”
“Yeah. So?”
“I’d like that very much, Sir. McKay thinks very highly of you and I know he’d be beaming with pride over how you handled Ellis.”
“Well let’s not make a big thing of this. He’s your friend…I’m just well, a grumpy old general, really…you won’t even know I’m there. Oh, and I’m bringing Daniel. He’s been bugging me about Atlantis and I’ll need someone to play cards with on the long long long car ride. See ya in a bit!”
Carter looked at him and smiled as she headed to the locker room to catch up with Beckett. One thing was for sure, McKay wouldn’t be alone in the end. He’d touched more lives than even he knew. Carter swallowed. She hoped they weren’t too late.
_________________________________________________________
Post surgery with Jeannie and Jennifer there in the Atlantis infirmary, Rodney felt happier than he ever remembered feeling! After a good meal and some rest, he asked where his team was.
Jeannie told him they’d been around when he first returned but were giving them privacy since she had to leave soon. Rodney teared up. He didn’t want her to go so soon but she promised to come visit when Madison’s school year came to an end. With a kiss on the cheek, an extra long hug and tears in her eyes, Jeannie whispered, “I love you, Mer…”
“I love you too, Jeannie!” he responded, unprompted, tears welling in his eyes.
My training’s paying off, she thought. She squeezed his hand and turned away.
“Jeannie…I’ll come visit soon. Promise.”
Jeannie turned around, wiping her own tears away, “You’d better!” flashed a smile and a wave. Then she was gone. Rodney was alone in the infirmary with only the sound of his IV beeping. He breathed out a long sorrowful breath.
____________________________________
“Hi,” he heard a few minutes later. Sheppard was strolling casually up to him as if it were a normal night in Atlantis. “You okay?” he asked, noticing Rodney’s tears and trying to hide his own. McKay looked so helpless again.
“If you must know, Sheppard, no! I’m not okay. My sister just left. She’s the only family I have and I only see her when I’m either dying or she’s kidnapped.” Rodney sounded harsher than he intended to. John was only asking out of genuine concern and he knew it. But he was filled to the brim with emotions from the past couple of weeks and frustration seemed to be the strongest right now. He missed Jeannie already and wasn’t ready for any sarcastic remarks.
Sheppard sat down slowly in the chair next to McKay’s bedside. He nodded slowly, seeming to understand his fragile state of mind.
“Look, Rodney, I’m sorry your sister had to leave. The Daedalus was scheduled to go as soon as we got back. But I’m still here. I’m not going anywhere,” John reached out and laid a hand on Rodney’s and gave it a squeeze.
Rodney nodded, his eyes welling up, “I know, John. I’m glad you're here, really. But there’s… there’s something I haven’t told you. Before my mind was too far gone, I was afraid I might slip up about us…on the recording. So I…I told Jennifer I loved her, on camera, so there'd be evidence…in case anyone suspected us. I’m sorry, John. I didn’t think I was going to make it…”
Just then John grabbed Rodney in a big bear hug, tears streaming down his eyes, “I love you, Rodney and I know you love me. That’s all that matters. We know it. No one else needs to know. You’re alive! God! Rodney, you’re alive! That’s all that matters.”
He pressed his lips into Rodney’s as gently as he could. They both held on to what they had nearly lost. John drew back and laid his forehead on Rodney’s, both men in tears over the other. John hugged him again, this time more gently and rubbed his back as Rodney sobbed.
“Bloody Hell!” The familiar Scottish accent interrupted their embrace, “Rodney! I thought ya were na’ dying anymore! Keller said she’d fixed ya up. Good god, man! I wanted to come sooner! I’m so sorry!”
Carson ran towards them at an almost inhuman speed and looked at both men pleading with his eyes for an explanation. Both of them embarrassingly wiped tears from their eyes as they pulled away from each other. They belted out a glorious belly laugh still caught up in the moment despite the interruption. The laugh wasn’t directed at Carson but was a laugh of pure joy after the frightening near death experience. Beckett just happened to be there.
He frowned and again asked Rodney, “Is this a joke? I come all the way here and ya laugh in my face! Are ya dyin’ or not?! Please, Rodney, don’t joke about this!”
“Carson!” Rodney said finally, regaining his composure, “It’s alright. I’m not dying, not anymore. You heard right. Me and Sheppard were just hugging it out is all. It was scary!”
Carson relaxed a bit and shakily grabbed Rodney’s hands in his and sank his head into Rodney’s shoulder. He wasn’t too late! He made it after all!
“Don’t ya be scarin’ me like that again, lad…the both o' ya.” And he sat down on Rodney’s bed, let out a huge sigh and relaxed, “I thought I was too late. They mixed up my email and I got the message a week late. I…Rodney…thought I’d never see ya again. Broke my heart and sent me into a panic…”
Just then Rodney wrapped his arms tightly around Carson and both men wept openly.
“You almost were too late,” Rodney sniffed, “I’m sorry, Carson! I’m glad you’re here now but if it wasn’t for Keller and Sheppard, I’d be a goner! They saved me by operating on me in a cave…well, a shrine, really…Ronon’s Shrine actually. It’s a long story and I don’t remember most of it. Sheppard can tell you.”
“It is a long story, Doc. Guess we can order coffee and sandwiches.” John joked. Though Rodney looked around for a nurse. No such luck. Beckett pulled up a chair and the three exchanged smiles all around as Sheppard began his story about going to check on Nichols.
______________________________________________________
“And then Rodney says, ‘I think I got wetter than you’...” Beckett cackled as John imitated Rodney.
“Oh sure! Mock the dying man!” Rodney was indignant.
“Pretty sure you can’t use that line anymore,” Rumbled a deep but familiar voice. Ronon plopped down a tray next to Rodney and smiled at him, “Got you some jello from the mess. The blue kind.”
McKay smiled, “whatever you say.” and greedily reached for the jello, “I owe you big time, Ronon!”
“Nah,” Ronon chuckled, “Consider it payback for all the times you saved us! We wouldn’t be here without you…” he teared up.
“True, but I was talking about the jello.” Rodney laughed. He hoped he was out of tears for the night. He was getting tired of all this emotion these past few weeks.
Ronon laughed and gave him a big bear hug, “Good to have you home, Buddy!”
Rodney smiled, “Um, thanks!” and dove into his jello and smiled at Sheppard and Beckett.
“Anyway,” continued Sheppard, “We had to wait the full thirty eight minutes for the gate to shut down…Rodney had a fever and Teyla wanted to give him some Tylenol. She always did take real good care of us…”
“That’s because you three neglect to care for yourselves, as is typical with most men,” Teyla walked in with flowers, set them on the nightstand and laid a hand on Rodney’s shoulder, “It is good to see you, Rodney. And Dr. Beckett! I wasn’t expecting you!” Carson nodded to regard Teyla. She nodded back then gave Rodney a warm hug.
“Teyla…” he stared at her in a pleasant shock but couldn’t say anything else. John patted him gently on the arm, “Anyway, we gave him the Tylenol and just when he seemed to be improving, the gate shut down and he passed out in the jumper. Had me worried sick.
Wouldn’t wake up for nine hours! Ronon carried him through the gate and we took him to the infirmary…”
“McKay!”
Rodney turned to see who else had wandered in, “Carter?”
A lump came up in his throat as he tried to respond, “What are you…? how did you…? Hi! It’s good to see you!”
She gave him a big hug just in time for him to see General O’Neill and Daniel Jackson smiling down at him.
“Looks like you pulled through, McKay!” O’Neill said confidently, “Somehow I knew you would.”
“General…Dr. Jackson…I…I…” Now he really was in shock! Had General O’Neill given him a compliment? Did he care that much to come all the way out here to the Pegasus galaxy for him? Rodney blinked in surprise, his head spinning. He started blinking back more tears, much to his embarrassment.
“Hey,” said O’Neill softly, “It’s okay. You’re on the mend…here…” He awkwardly handed him the tissue box from the nightstand.
“Th..thank you…” Rodney managed to stammer, taking the tissue box and wiping his eyes.
“Rodney, we were all worried about you. Glad you’re okay,” Added Daniel, hating to see anyone cry. “It’s gonna be alright. Dr. Keller says the surgery was a success and you’ll be fully recovered in a few weeks. I wanted to stick around. Hopefully, you can help me with some of my theories on Janus’s Secret Lab…”
“Daniel?…a word?” O’Neill interjected, motioning Daniel to follow him as he walked towards the infirmary door. He wasn’t about to let him overwhelm McKay so soon after his surgery. There’d be plenty of time to discuss theories later.
Daniel patted Rodney’s arm in reassurance and started off after the General. Jack would have to listen to him! This was important, after all!
“What did I miss?” Zelenka said, approaching the ever growing crowd in the infirmary.
“Oh nothing much,” Rodney sighed from all the excitement, “ just a surprise visit from practically everyone. Pull up a chair. Sheppard’s telling Carson what happened.”
Zelenka sat next to Carson, nudging him gently on the arm in greeting. Rodney looked around at his team, his friends and the man he loved. He was wrong. His sister wasn’t his only family. He was never so happy to be wrong in all his life. These people were his family and this was his home. Not even a brain parasite could make him forget it.