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Elizabeth rolled her eyes. �First of all, if it weren�t for a lot of these people the Stargate program would have been shut down well before Doctor Jackson figured out that it took eight glyphs to dial Pegasus, so, as much as I may not like the way I�ll have to be while I�m there, I�m prepared to� do the politicking thing,� Elizabeth said, �for the sake of both programs. And second, I�m being forced to Washington for a week or more, and while I�m gone you three get to go on vacation. Carson�s already got tickets waiting for him to take him to Scotland to see his mother.�
�I do?� Carson frowned as he gathered together the leftovers from dinner to make himself an evening meal.
�You�re the only one of the three of us who has family to visit, Carson. The SGC was glad to foot the bill for a return-trip ticket for you to see your mom,� Elizabeth smiled. �And you two,� she said, turning to John and Rodney, �are going to have full access to anything you want within Cheyenne Mountain. One of their science labs has been emptied out for you, Rodney, and John, there are at least four SG teams that I know of that have offered to take you on as a fourth or fifth if you were interested in going offworld in a different galaxy.�
�Cool,� John smiled. He had been worried that he would be stuck on base doing absolutely nothing except recruiting new military officers to the Atlantis mission. Well, actually, he was most worried that he would be pulled off the expedition, or that they would send a new military commander to take his place, someone with a higher rank and political friends who could pull the right strings, but he was also worried about being stuck in the SGC with nothing to do.
�Well, I have to say I am certainly looking forward to working closely with Lieutenant Colonel Carter while we are back on Earth,� Rodney said, the lascivious tone in his voice making his friends cringe.
Elizabeth shook her head. �Rodney, the woman can not stand to be around you,� she said.
�Our relationship is a complex one, I admit, but I hardly think she can�t stand me,� Rodney said.
�Lieutenant Colonel Carter? Which one is she?� Carson asked.
�SG-1,� Elizabeth said.
Carson nodded. �Yea, Rodney, Elizabeth�s right. She �canna stand ya.�
Firmly in denial, Rodney shook his head. �She is simply reluctant to allow her true feelings come forth. Emotion in the military is frowned upon, you know, and it�s hard for women, especially beautiful blondes,� he said, his usual condescending self heightened by the lack of sleep he�d been surviving on for weeks.
�Okay, first of all, cut the sexist crap, Rodney, or you�ll join Kavanaugh on the deserted planet I�ve been promising him,� Elizabeth said, �and second, I know that she can�t stand you because she told me that she can�t stand you. Something about wanting to force a lemon down your throat whenever you open your mouth.�
�Ouch,� John said with a small smile. He had threatened the scientist with citrus more than once since they met; there was hardly anyone who hadn�t, John was sure. �I think I�m gonna like this Colonel Carter,� he said.
Elizabeth tensed slightly, but not enough that anyone noticed. �I�m sure you will,� she said before throwing out her teabag and making sure she hadn�t left any mess behind. �I�m going to try to get some sleep,� she said, taking her tea with her as she walked out of the kitchen, though the mess, and into the halls of Atlantis.
Though he thought that Elizabeth�s sudden departure was strange, Carson was too hungry and tired to investigate further, so he went to the large refrigeration unit�Ancient designed and just as hard to repair as the Electrolux he had had back home, though it kept food fresh much longer�and found his dinner, the plastic wrap over top bearing loopy writing in red Sharpie saying DOCTOR C BECKETT�S PROPERTY � DO NOT TOUCH ON PAIN OF IMMENSELY LARGE NEEDLES IN UNMENTIONABLE PLACES followed by a happy face and the scribbled signature of Sheryl Potter, one of the few people they had brought along on the expedition who was brave enough to volunteer for regular kitchen duty.