Fic: In the Family Way (9(a)/11)
Sep. 29th, 2008 11:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rusty_armourTitle: In the Family Way (9(a)/11)
Author: Rusty Armour
Pairing: McShep, Beckett/Other
Summary: Some are born into families; others create their own.
Word Count: 4,596
Category: Slash, MPreg, AU
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: Pretty much everything up to and including season three.
Disclaimer: Thou Shalt Not Steal. Even in the interest of fic. Most of these characters aren't mine. I, uh, borrowed them. Yeah.
Well, I actually managed to meet the latest of my self-imposed deadlines. I’d been hoping to post this installment in September and it looks like I basically got it in just under the wire. Of course, it’s coming later than it should (as usual), but it’s fairly lengthy so I’m hoping that will help make up for it. And, if I’m not mistaken, I think this may be the part that most of you have been waiting for… *g*
I still have to fix that problem area in the second scene of the eighth installment. I’ll try to get to that soon.
As Sheppard studied Carson's face, several emotions seemed to flit across it at once: wonder, surprise, panic. Then Carson smiled, which made everything ten times worse.
Sometimes, he's as easy to read as Rodney, Sheppard thought.
"Colonel Sheppard, it's great to see you," Carson said. He almost sounded sincere.
"It's great to see you too, Carson." Sheppard glanced meaningfully over Carson's shoulder and through the door his friend was blocking. Carson didn't take the hint. Sheppard cleared his throat. "Uh, can I come in?"
Carson stared at Sheppard blankly for a moment. "What? Oh! You want to come in. Right. Uh. Okay." He stepped to one side, ushering Sheppard inside the house.
Sheppard stood in the front hall, surveying the living room. "Nice place."
"Uh, thank you," Carson said. Then, realizing what he'd said, he laughed and blushed. "I mean, thank you on Jeannie's behalf. I'm sure she'll appreciate the compliment."
"Jeannie's Rodney's sister, right?" Sheppard asked.
"Yes," Carson said. "She's been kind enough to let us stay with her." He paused, looking Sheppard directly in the eye. "But I gather you knew that already, or you wouldn't have come. How did you track us down, anyway?"
Sheppard smiled enigmatically. "Oh, I have my methods." He walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Carson quickly followed him, choosing the armchair.
"Can I get you anything?" Carson asked. "I believe there's still some coffee and Rodney made pancakes."
Sheppard started in surprise. "So Rodney's up and around, then?"
"Uh, yes," Carson said. "Is there some reason why he wouldn't be?"
Sheppard's eyes narrowed. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe because he contracted some mysterious illness that forced him to take an extended leave of absence?" Sheppard leaned forward, ignoring the twinge of pain from his abdomen. "It's funny, but no one seems to know what this mysterious illness is. Well, Elizabeth seemed to be under the impression that Rodney was suffering from some kind of breakdown. I have a feeling that she's starting to re-think that idea, seeing as you and Rodney have basically been AWOL for four months and haven't even attempted to contact the SGC or Atlantis."
"That's not true," Carson said. "I sent Elizabeth a letter through the SGC."
Sheppard laughed. "Oh, you mean that really vague note in which you informed Elizabeth that you and Rodney would have to extend your leave, but that she shouldn't worry because everything was hunky-dory and you and Rodney were having a super time?"
Carson grimaced. "Well, those weren't my exact words, but I suppose you got the gist of it."
Sheppard glared at Carson. "So, medically speaking, what does 'hunky-dory' mean? Are we talking cancer? A brain tumour?"
Carson's jaw dropped. "God, of course not! He's fine, Colonel. Really."
Sheppard scrutinized Carson's face, as if trying to determine whether he was telling the truth. He was apparently satisfied by what he saw because he slumped back in relief. "So he's really okay? There's nothing wrong with him?"
"Ah," Carson said. "Well..."
Sheppard jerked upright, banging his knees on the coffee table. "What is it? What's the problem?"
Carson shot a nervous glance towards the basement. "It's not exactly a problem per se as a...a condition he's suffering from."
"So Rodney's sick," Sheppard said.
Carson shook his head in frustration. "No, not sick. He's fine. Well, not fine, exactly, but, uh..."
Mercifully, the phone rang and Carson sprang out of the armchair to answer it.
"Well, that was quick. Yes, I can be there in about five minutes. No, everything's fine. Why shouldn't it be? You think I sound stressed? Jeannie, what could I possibly be stressed about? No, Rodney hasn't made any more pancakes. He helped me put the groceries away and then went to take a shower. No, listen. I'm not freaking out about this morning. This morning was wonderful. Perfect. Quite possibly the best morning I've ever had. No, I'm not being sarcastic. Jeannie, I'm hanging up the phone now. I'm hanging up the phone so I can come pick you up, not because I'm trying to avoid a conversation. Jeannie, I'll be seeing you in five minutes. We can talk then. Well, no, obviously not in front of Andrew. We'll talk later, then. I promise. Yes, honestly. I've got to go, Jeannie. See you in five minutes. Bye."
Sheppard made no effort to hide his smirk as Carson hung up the phone. "So, I take it that was Jeannie."
Carson ran a hand through his hair and nodded. "Aye, that was Jeannie."
"She sounded...interesting." Sheppard allowed his eyes to wander around the living room again in an attempt to appear casual. "And Rodney's in the shower?"
Carson's eyes widened. "You can't see him. Not yet. I have to talk to you first. There are things you need to know."
Sheppard raised an eyebrow. "That sounds ominous. Care to elaborate?"
Carson glanced hurriedly at his watch. "I've got to go," he said. "Just stay here. Right here. I'll be back in about ten or fifteen minutes. I'll explain everything then."
Sheppard plucked The Mirror off the coffee table and spread it open on his lap. "Sure thing, Carson. Whatever you say."
Carson eyed Sheppard suspiciously. "I mean it, Colonel. It's vital that you don't see Rodney before I talk to you."
"What if Rodney gets out of the shower before you're back?" Sheppard asked.
"If he does, he probably won't come up here," Carson said. "He'll go on his laptop or take a nap."
Sheppard looked at Carson incredulously. "A nap? Rodney?"
Carson sighed. "He's had more luck sleeping during the day lately than at night, and I'm pretty sure he didn't get enough sleep last night." He raised a hand when Sheppard opened his mouth to ask a question. "I have to go. We'll talk about it when I get back." Carson walked into the front hall and quickly threw on his shoes. "Stay up here."
Sheppard smiled serenely and started flipping through the paper. He waited until Carson had shut the front door and pulled out of the driveway, before he put down the paper and stood up. Then he was heading for the basement.
Sheppard didn't know why Carson was so worried about him seeing Rodney before they had a chance to talk. Sheppard had seen so many strange sights in the Pegasus Galaxy, that he didn't think there were a lot of things left that could phase him. He had almost turned into a bug for God's sake. Whatever Rodney's problem was Sheppard was sure he could deal with it. All the same, he still hesitated when he reached the bathroom door.
Sheppard knew that Rodney valued his privacy. While Rodney was often willing to divulge personal details from his past, whether people wanted to hear them or not, he could be surprisingly tight-lipped at times and there were definitely aspects of his life that Rodney preferred to withhold. There had to be a reason why Rodney had decided to sneak out of the Pegasus Galaxy and hole up on Earth. He was obviously hiding something and had somehow roped Carson into being his accomplice.
Sheppard wondered if he should follow Carson's advice for once and wait until he knew all the facts before he confronted Rodney. Then he heard the shower shut off and was suddenly reminded that the only thing standing between him and Rodney was a bathroom door. Unable to resist that kind of temptation, Sheppard reached for the door knob and turned it.
The shower curtain had been pulled back and Rodney's face was obscured by the towel he was using to dry his hair. However, Sheppard's eyes weren't drawn to Rodney's face, or even another notable piece of his anatomy. No, his eyes were glued to the swollen bump that was Rodney's mid-section. When Rodney's head emerged from beneath the towel, Sheppard was still staring at it and Rodney froze in horror.
Sheppard had to swallow a couple of times before he was able to find his voice and, even then, it was hoarse and pitched a little higher than usual.
"My God, McKay, what the hell did you eat?"
The first clear thought that popped into Sheppard's mind was that Rodney looked like a cartoon character that had swallowed a water melon whole. He tried to fight it, but he couldn't hold back the laughter. He laughed even harder when Rodney hastily covered himself with the towel, like some modest blushing maiden. Then Sheppard was dodging the bottle of shampoo that Rodney hurled at his head.
"Get out!" Rodney shouted.
"Whoa, buddy! Calm down!" Sheppard threw up an arm to fend off the bar of soap that went sailing through the air next.
"Out!" Rodney screamed. "OUT! OUT! OUT!"
A soap dish clipped Sheppard's arm, and then Rodney was stepping out of the shower and searching for more objects to throw.
"Look, Rodney, I'm sorry," Sheppard said. "Can we just talk about this?" He grimaced as a hairbrush hit his chest and only just managed to duck in time when Rodney launched a soap dispenser at him. When Rodney reached for the toilet brush, Sheppard knew it was time to pull back. He heard the toilet brush thump against the bathroom door as he made his retreat. Seconds later, Rodney was turning the lock in the door. Sheppard grabbed the knob, but the door wouldn't budge.
"Oh, come on!" Sheppard said. "This is ridiculous! Rodney, open up!"
"Go to hell, Colonel!" Rodney yelled from inside the bathroom.
Sheppard rested his forehead against the door. "Rodney, I'm sorry," he said. "I just wasn't expecting you to...to look the way you do. Not that there's anything wrong with how you look. It's just...Rodney, please let me in so I can talk to you."
Rodney's only response was to fling something else at the door.
Sheppard stared at the door for a second then decided that it might be a good idea to give Rodney the time and space he needed to calm down. Sheppard gave him eight minutes before he started pounding on the door.
"Come on, Rodney! Open up!" Sheppard said. He wasn't sure if it was a good sign that Rodney had stopped throwing things. When it came to Rodney, silence definitely wasn't the norm. "Rodney, if you don't open the door this second, I'm going to break it down! I'm serious, Rodney! I'll-Oww!"
Sheppard had been so focused on Rodney, that he hadn't heard the sound of footfalls on the stairs or noticed the blonde come at him with fists flying.
"Hey, watch it!" Sheppard cried. "That hurts!" He tried to dodge the woman's blows, but she wasn’t backing down.
"Get out!" she shouted.
Still trying to fend off the woman, Sheppard began backing away from the bathroom door. “If you’d just let me explain…”
“Get out!” The woman’s blue eyes were blazing in much the same way Rodney’s had just been, and Sheppard knew exactly who he was dealing with.
“Uh, hey…Jeannie,” Sheppard said. “This has all been some terrible misunderstanding. If we could just sit down and talk about it – ”
“If you don’t get out of here in the next ten seconds, this will be more than just a misunderstanding,” Jeannie said. “Capisce?”
Sheppard swallowed nervously and nodded. Then Carson was grabbing his shoulders and shoving him towards the stairs – not that Sheppard needed any encouragement. He took the stairs two at a time as he flew out of the basement.
He swept through the living room so quickly, that he almost missed the boy lying on the couch. Sheppard paused just outside the front hall and turned. The boy was gazing at him curiously, but didn’t seem frightened of the stranger in his living room. If anything, he seemed amused.
“Wow,” the boy said. “She’s really pissed.”
Sheppard smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh, yeah. You could say that.”
“Are you a burglar?” the boy asked.
Sheppard couldn’t help grinning. “No, I’m Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard of the United States Air Force.” He walked towards the boy, his hand extended.
The boy stared at Sheppard, his mouth forming a perfect “o”. “You’re Uncle Rodney’s friend,” he said.
Sheppard lowered his hand. “Well, yeah. I’m Carson’s friend too.”
The boy’s expression darkened. “No, my mom is Carson’s friend.”
“Uh…okay.” Sheppard was making a mental note not to get on this kid’s bad side, when something the boy had said clicked in his brain. “Hold on. Did you just say ‘Uncle Rodney’?”
“Yeah,” the boy said.
“Oh, cool. I didn’t even know Rodney had a nephew.” Sheppard remembered a name that had come up during Carson’s conversation over the phone with Jeannie and hazarded a guess. “You’re Andrew, right? It’s great to meet you.” Sheppard held out his hand again, and this time Andrew shook it. “Hey, are you okay?” Sheppard asked. Andrew had winced slightly when he moved his head, and Sheppard thought he recognized the look of someone who had just been released from the hospital.
“Concussion,” Andrew said, pointing to his head.
Sheppard’s eyes widened in concern. “Concussion? How?”
“Hockey game,” Andrew said.
Sheppard grimaced in sympathy. “Ouch. I guess it’s a good thing you weren’t playing football.”
Andrew snorted. “Football is for babies.”
Sheppard gasped and clutched at his chest. “Ah, Andrew, you’re breaking my heart!”
Andrew giggled and Sheppard decided that he could overlook the kid’s misconceptions about football.
“Can I get you anything?” Sheppard said. “Maybe an ice-pack or something to drink?”
“Can I have some pop?” Andrew asked.
Sheppard frowned in confusion. “Uh, pop?”
“Yeah,” Andrew said. “I think there’s some Coke in the fridge.”
Sheppard smiled smugly. “Oh, you mean soda.”
“No, pop.” Andrew was looking at Sheppard as if he were stupid, and Sheppard no longer had any trouble spotting the resemblance between Andrew and his uncle.
“Uh, I’ll get right on that,” Sheppard said.
“Why is my mom mad at you?” Andrew asked when Sheppard returned from the kitchen with a can of Coke.
Sheppard sat down on the other end of the couch. “It might be because I threatened to break down the bathroom door.” When Andrew gazed at him blankly, Sheppard said, “Your uncle locked himself in the bathroom.”
“Oh.” Andrew didn’t sound too surprised.
Sheppard studied him for a moment. “Andrew, do you know what’s wrong with your uncle? Is he sick?”
“No,” Andrew said. “He has a medical condition.”
“What kind of medical condition?” Sheppard asked. “Do you know?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Andrew took a sip of Coke. “I think he’s going to have a baby.”
Sheppard burst out laughing. “What?”
“He looks the same way Sangeeta’s mom did when she was pregnant,” Andrew said. “And he keeps getting bigger and bigger, as if there’s a baby growing inside him.”
“But-but men can’t have babies!” Sheppard spluttered.
Andrew shot Sheppard a pitying look. “Men are allowed to have babies in Canada. It’s legal.”
Sheppard was too stunned to speak at first. When he did manage to produce speech, he couldn’t quite keep the squeak out of his voice. “Look, kid, whether it’s legal or not isn’t the point. It’s biologically impossible for men to have babies.”
Andrew raised his chin stubbornly. “If men can’t have babies then how come my friend Britney has two dads?”
“Well, obviously your friend Britney has two dads because…” Sheppard trailed off when he realized that it probably wasn’t his place to explain where the children of same-sex marriages came from.
“Because what?” Andrew’s arms were now crossed over his chest and he was watching Sheppard. When Sheppard heard someone coming up the stairs, he wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or even more worried. He still didn’t have an answer when Carson stomped into the living room, muttering under his breath.
“Bloody Canadians locking themselves in the loo,” Carson grumbled. Then he smiled hastily when he saw Andrew. “Sorry. I didn’t mean you.”
“Is Uncle Rodney still locked in the bathroom?” Andrew asked.
“Aye,” Carson said, “only your mum’s gone and joined him, so now they’re both refusing to come out.” He scowled at Sheppard angrily. “You’ve made a right mess of things, Colonel.”
Sheppard sighed. “Yeah, I know.” He stared down at his hands for an instant, before posing the question he was afraid to ask. “Carson, is Rodney pregnant?”
“What?” Carson shot an alarmed look at Andrew and then glared at Sheppard, who rolled his eyes.
“Hey, don’t look at me,” Sheppard said. “Andrew’s the one who told me. Apparently, Rodney looks just like Sangeeta’s mom did when she was going to have a baby.”
“Oh, I see.” Carson ran a hand across his face.
“Carson, he says men can’t have babies,” Andrew said, “but Uncle Rodney’s going to have one and-and Britney has two dads, so Jamie or Claude must have had a baby too.”
Carson’s lips twitched and he coughed to hide his amusement. “Colonel Sheppard is right. Usually, men can’t have babies, but your Uncle Rodney is an exception to the rule.” Sheppard’s mouth fell open and he gaped at Carson in shock. However, Carson remained focused on Andrew. “It’s very complicated and it’s something you’ll have to discuss with your mum.”
Andrew made a face. “Can’t you just tell me now? Mom always chickens out when she has to talk to me about things like that.”
“Well, I’m sure she won’t this time,” Carson said. He grasped Andrew gently by the chin, examining the boy’s pupils and moving his head in a slow and careful motion. “How are you feeling? Can I get you anything?”
Andrew threw up his hands in frustration. “Now you’re doing it! Why can’t you just tell me?”
“Because I’m in line ahead of you, kid,” Sheppard said. “He has to talk to me first.” Sheppard grabbed Carson’s arm and yanked him into the kitchen.
“Shout if you need anything,” Carson called through the hatch.
“Yeah, whatever,” Andrew said, reaching for the remote and switching on the TV.
Sheppard sat down at the kitchen table and, with a sharp jerk of his head, indicated that Carson should do the same. “How the hell did this happen?” he asked. “How the hell did Rodney get pregnant?”
Carson sat down heavily in his chair, looking like a man who had been shouldering an immense burden for months. Then, in a sudden flash of insight, Sheppard realized that was exactly what Carson was.
Sheppard sighed and slouched back in his chair. “I want to help you, Carson, but I can’t unless I know what’s going on.”
“Aye,” Carson said. “I know.” Then, taking a deep breath, he told Sheppard everything. He explained that Rodney had been implanted with an Ascended Ancient’s embryo and how they had only discovered the truth after Rodney had started experiencing headaches and nausea. He described Rodney’s panic attack after learning the news – a panic attack that had led to Rodney’s wild theories about the military and his decision to flee to Canada. Sheppard had raised his eyebrows at that point, but didn’t interrupt the narrative.
Carson told Sheppard about how Rodney had been reunited with his sister and how Jeannie had invited them to stay with her. When Sheppard asked Carson how much Jeannie knew about Rodney’s condition, Carson had been forced to confess that Jeannie knew everything.
Sheppard’s eyebrows flew up again, and this time he couldn’t hold his tongue. “Everything?” he asked. “Define ‘everything,’ Carson.”
Carson bit his lip. “She knows about the baby, the SGC, and Atlantis.” At Sheppard’s look of disapproval, Carson said, “She caught me examining Rodney with the portable ultrasound. The rest she got from Rodney. Uh, apparently there was a penlight involved.”
Sheppard’s forehead creased. “A penlight? Rodney broke under a penlight?”
Carson nodded. “Aye. Jeannie shone it in his eyes.”
Sheppard stared at Carson for several seconds and then shook his head. “I’m out of the loop for a few months and…and this happens!” He stood up and started pacing around the kitchen. “We’ve got to get Rodney back to Atlantis. He should be in the infirmary, not in-in Scarborough!” Sheppard couldn’t quite hide the contempt in his voice and regretted it the instant he saw the hurt expression on Carson’s face.
“There’s nothing wrong with Scarborough,” Carson said. “It’s a lovely place. Rodney’s family is here and he’s healthy and happy. Well, he was happy until you came along.”
Sheppard’s eyes narrowed. “I’m guessing Rodney’s not the only one who’s been happy.” He flicked his eyes at the stairs leading to the basement. Scarborough is lovely. I can see why you’d want to stay. But this is about what’s best for Rodney. If you were thinking with your head instead of some other part of your anatomy, you’d see that.”
Carson’s eyes flashed angrily. “I am thinking of Rodney. He’s terrified of what the military and your government might do to him and the baby if they ever found out he was pregnant.” Carson rose from his chair and stood directly in front of Sheppard. “Do you think I haven’t tried talking him into going back? Do you think I haven’t worried about what could bloody happen every single day?” Carson laughed bitterly. “You swoop in here making accusations and judgments when you know nothing, Colonel.”
Carson sagged against the kitchen counter and stared down at his feet. Sheppard waited a few seconds and then placed a hesitant hand on Carson’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” Sheppard said. “You’re right. I don’t know anything.” He tossed another glance towards the basement. “And it seems I’ve only made things worse by coming here.”
Carson looked up at Sheppard with a serious expression. “No, I was wrong about that. Rodney needs you.”
“To do what?” Sheppard asked. “Be there when he barricades himself in the bathroom again?”
Carson smiled ruefully. “No, to support Rodney and help him make the right decision about the baby,” he said. “Rodney does need to return to Atlantis, but we can’t drag him there. He’d never forgive us for a start and he needs all the friends he can get right now. No, Colonel, this is a decision Rodney has to make for himself.”
Sheppard nodded as he digested this information. “Okay. I can do that. I can support him – if he’ll let me.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about Rodney,” Carson said. “Jeannie’s the one you should really be worried about.”
“Yeah, I kinda figured.” Sheppard was about to ask Carson if there was any way he might get on Jeannie’s good side, when Andrew’s voice broke into their conversation.
“Are you guys finished fighting yet?” Andrew called from the living room. “I’m hungry.”
Carson flashed a grin at Sheppard before sticking his head through the hatch. “What would you like? A grilled cheese sandwich?”
“Can I have two?” Andrew asked. “With ketchup on the side?”
Carson’s grin grew even wider. “Coming right up.” He turned away from the hatch. “I don’t think there’s any doubt which side of the family he got his appetite from.”
“I heard that!” Andrew said.
“There’s no doubt where he got his mouth from either,” Sheppard whispered. He stuck his head in the fridge to look for bread, cheese and margarine, while Carson went to the cupboard for some aluminum foil and an oven tray. Sheppard had just found the cheese when his eyes fell on that morning’s breakfast. “Carson, are those pancakes with – ?”
“Don’t ask,” Carson said. “Just don’t ask.”
“Uh, okay.” Sheppard placed the ingredients he’d found on the kitchen counter as Carson ripped off a strip of aluminum foil.
“I might as well make grilled cheese sandwiches for everyone,” Carson said. “If food doesn’t lure Rodney out of the bathroom, I don’t know what will.”
Sheppard opened the package of bread and started pulling out slices. “I just hope we have enough ketchup.”
When the grilled cheese sandwiches had been made, and Sheppard had delivered Andrew’s order, he picked up the plates Carson had set aside for Rodney and Jeannie. Sheppard had been expecting Carson to argue or protest, but Carson merely raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “Better you than me, Colonel,” he said. Sheppard frowned but still headed towards the basement with both plates.
Sheppard crept down the stairs, listening carefully for any sounds below, but all he was greeted with was silence. He wondered if Rodney and his sister could possibly still be in the bathroom. Then he reached the bottom of the stairs and froze when he spotted the bed.
Jeannie was leaning against the headboard, seemingly engrossed in a yellowed paperback with a faded cover. Rodney was curled up against her, and Jeannie was rubbing his back absently. Sheppard couldn’t be sure, but he thought Rodney might be asleep. Screwing up his courage, Sheppard moved slowly towards the siblings.
Sheppard had just reached the foot of the bed, when Jeannie lifted her eyes from her paperback and glared at him. Sheppard pasted his most charming smile on his face and set the plates down on the mattress with the exaggerated care of someone making a peace offering. Jeannie’s eyes flicked to the plates then back to Sheppard’s smile.
“What?” she said. “No drinks?”
Sheppard’s smile wavered for a second and then returned at full blast. “Right. Of course.” He flew back upstairs and grabbed two tins of pop from the fridge. When he returned, Jeannie was nudging Rodney in the shoulder.
“Come on, sleepyhead,” Jeannie said. “It’s time for lunch.”
“Lunch?” Rodney murmured sleepily. “Didn’t we just have breakfast?”
“Yeah, well, you’re eating for two,” Jeannie said.
“Oh, okay.” Rodney began to sit up, and Sheppard went back upstairs in case Rodney saw him and decided to lock himself in the bathroom again.
Andrew was only halfway through his lunch when Britney showed up at the door. She’d already had lunch, but she was more than happy to accept the cookies Carson offered her. She didn’t stay long as Andrew wasn’t up for much of anything more than talking and, even then, the conversation was interrupted by several jaw-splitting yawns on Andrew’s part. Andrew crashed about ten minutes after Britney left, and Sheppard was about to carry the boy to his room, but Carson beat him to it.
“It’s okay,” Carson said, scooping Andrew into his arms. “I’ve got him.”
Andrew stirred as he was lifted off the couch. “Carson?” he mumbled.
“It’s all right, son,” Carson said. “Go back to sleep.”
Andrew snuggled against Carson’s shoulder. “’Kay.”
When Carson returned to the living room, he sat down in the armchair with a sigh. “Poor kid. He’s absolutely exhausted.”
“A concussion will do that to you,” Sheppard said.
Carson smiled grimly. “I don’t think it’s the concussion so much as the analgesics. I’m sure before this, he was only ever given Tylenol for fever.”
“Before this, I was the one popping all the Tylenol.” Jeannie was standing at the top of the stairs. She pointed a finger at Carson. “You are so sleeping on the couch tonight, mister.”
Carson blushed and nodded. “Aye, I thought as much.”
Jeannie glanced around the living room. “Where’s Andrew? In his room?”
“Yes, I’ve just put him to bed,” Carson said.
“Okay.” Jeannie’s eyes shifted to Sheppard and she gave a sharp jerk of her chin. “Kitchen. Now.” When Sheppard didn’t immediately rise from the couch, she said, “That wasn’t a request. Move it, flyboy.”
Sheppard gulped and, leaping to his feet, followed Jeannie meekly into the kitchen.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-09-30 11:01 am (UTC)>>>Sheppard’s forehead creased. “A penlight? Rodney broke under a penlight?”
Carson nodded. “Aye. Jeannie shone it in his eyes.”<<<
LOL!
Looking forward to seeing Shep again in Installment #10!
no subject
Date: 2008-09-30 03:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-30 06:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-30 07:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-30 06:14 pm (UTC)Gotta love Jeannie. I can *so* see her doing this.
I'd leave more comments, but I must read the next part.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-30 07:23 pm (UTC)As always, any comments are appreciated. I'm just grateful that you're willing to take the time to read this. Thanks again. :-)
no subject
Date: 2008-09-30 08:31 pm (UTC)Sheppard, open mouth, insert foot.
Great instalment, going to read the next part now.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-01 02:17 am (UTC)Thanks for quoting that line! :-) It's one I'd been planning to use for months, so it was great to finally write that scene.
Sheppard, open mouth, insert foot.
Yep. Pretty much. *g*
Great instalment, going to read the next part now.
Thank you very much! I hope you enjoy the 9(b)! :-)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-13 04:32 pm (UTC)