The door opened with Carson already on the threshold, shrugging into his white jacket.

"Yes, what's the--" He stopped speaking as he looked up, hands busy with his collar slowly stilling. "Teyla? Are you all right, my dear?"

"I am fine, I promise you," she said, smiling her best diplomatic smile as she tried to convince him of that fact. "Were you going somewhere?"

Carson sighed and looked down at his coat. "No, I suppose not. I've just gotten in the habit whenever someone knocks at this time of night. Bloody galaxy."

"I am sorry to have alarmed you," she told him, feeling even more awkward. Teyla knew that Carson was very sensitive to the welfare of everyone in the city, and that it must be difficult to be constantly summoned for such dire problems.

"It's not a problem," he said, ducking his head with a small smile. "Was there something I could do for you?"

Teyla hesitated, but she knew that it would just concern him more if she left. "I was hoping that we could talk. About my behavior," she added, though that was probably unnecessary, given his immediate look of concern.

"Yes, of course," he said and stepped back from the doorway, ushering her into his room. It was very neat, the computer and papers on top of his desk perfectly ordered, the chair in place. There were several photographs on his nightstand and the walls, mostly of an older woman. Carson hurried around her to pull out the chair, indicating that she should sit.

"Thank you," Teyla said as he seated himself on the bed. She took a deep breath and started before things could become too uncomfortable. "I wanted to apologize for my actions earlier. I am sorry if I--"

"Not another word," Carson cut her off, holding up a hand. "We've discussed this already, and I thought I made it very clear that it was a medical condition. You were ill, Teyla, and there's absolutely no reason to apologize."

"Yes, but," she tried again, but Carson sat forward, his forehead wrinkling.

"Has someone been saying otherwise, my dear? Sometimes it's hard for people to fully grasp how the body can affect the mind. If someone's giving you trouble, I can speak with them again."

"No!" Teyla assured him, both disturbed and comforted by the way he managed to make that sound threatening. She had not expected that of him. "Everyone has been understanding. But I wanted to be certain that I had not..."

"Hadn't what?" he prompted quietly.

"Before, when you were explaining things, you seemed very embarrassed, and I was concerned that I had offended you."

"Ah." Carson sat back, rubbing the back of his neck. He peered at her sheepishly. "Ah, no, you've got it backwards, I'm afraid. I came very close to crossing a line that should never be crossed, and so I was a bit flustered. It's I who should apologize. I'm sorry."

"Never?" she asked, then bit her lip as he looked startled. "I meant, think nothing of it. It was an awkward situation for everyone."

"That's an understatement," Carson muttered, then leaned forward, looking at her seriously. "Teyla, I need to make sure you understand something. Sometimes, when a person is ill, they come to rely on the person taking care of them. We call it Nightingale syndrome, but that's not important. What's important is that you not mistake any feelings of gratitude you might have for, well, romantic inclinations."

Teyla sat back, stung. "I am not a child."

Carson looked surprised. "I was not saying that at all! I'm just concerned about you, Teyla. I don't want you to feel obligated--"

Teyla stood, suddenly feeling cold inside. It had been a mistake to come to him. "I am sorry if my interest was ill-received," she told him. "But I assure you, I was interested long before you were ever in charge of my care. So have no worries on my behalf."

Carson stared up at her with wide eyes, but he didn't say anything. She stepped around the chair and headed out his door.

"Teyla!"

She stopped at his shout, despite her intention to continue. Then he was there, grasping her upper arm in his warm hand, turning her toward him.

"Teyla," he said. "I'm sorry. I handled that very badly. Could we start again, perhaps?"

Teyla sighed, then nodded. "I may have taken offense too quickly," she admitted with a wry smile. Carson chuckled and drew her back towards his quarters, leading her by the hand.

They stopped in the center of the room, and Carson finally dropped her hand. He stood staring at their feet, and Teyla wasn't sure what to do.

"You are a beautiful, amazing woman," he said at last, his voice quiet but sure. "I'm not blind to that, Teyla. When you kissed me in the infirmary, it was too easy to lose myself in you. That's not an ethical thing to do, do you understand that?"

She nodded, but she did not know if he noticed. "I can see how it could be, if it were something you did of your own volition. But you said yourself that the circumstances were beyond our control."

Teyla waited until he nodded once, acknowledging her point. "You did not lose yourself, Carson. I think, perhaps, that we were both confused about what happened because we wanted more to happen. Do not doubt that I know myself, and that I know what I want. "

Carson looked up, and Teyla was taken by his eyes--pale blue, almost grey, soft and open, intimate. Suddenly, she felt short of breath.

"Aye, and you go after it, don't you?" he said quietly. He raised his hand, tracing the backs of his fingers down her cheek. Teyla closed her eyes, swaying into his touch.

"Carson," she whispered. She turned her head into his hand, kissing his fingers before drawing them into her mouth.

"Oh, my," Carson said.

Teyla let go. He cupped the back of her head, drawing her into a sweet kiss. He kissed her cheek, then pulled her into a strong embrace.

"Teyla," he whispered into her hair. She buried her face in his neck, relaxing into his strength as he gently stroked her hair. It felt wonderful, but she needed more. She opened her mouth and carefully bit his neck. Goose bumps sprang up over his skin, and he shivered slightly.

"I want you," she said quietly, hoping that her honesty would not be taken amiss again. "Carson, I need you."

He pulled back, staring into her eyes for a long, dreadful moment. Her heart raced as she waited for him to tell her what was best for her--but then he pulled her forward and kissed her hard. Teyla clutched at his shoulders, surprised and pleased by the strength of his passion.

She gasped as he scooped her into his arms and carried her the few steps to his bed. He lowered her gently, then knelt beside her, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

"I won't do this lightly," he said quietly. "I care about you, Teyla, more than I wanted to admit to myself. I don't know what you're looking for, but if it's a one night stand, then I'm not your man."

Teyla swallowed, both unnerved and warmed by his words. "I do not know what we will find together," she told him, "but I hope for more than one night with you."

Carson smiled and traced his lips with his fingers. "Aye, I hope so," he said, and then kissed her again. Slowly, they drew each other's clothing off as they continued to kiss and neck. Carson broke away to take off his shoes and trousers, and then he joined her on the bed, finally naked.

Teyla ran her hands over his chest, marveling at how broad and muscled he really was. His bulky jacket hid much. She followed his trail of hair down, down until she found his cock, full and ready. Carson's eyes fluttered shut and his mouth dropped open as she stroked him, sliding the soft skin slowly back and forth over his hardness. She licked at his nipple. Carson groaned and slid his hands around her waist and down to her butt, pulling her into him.

They started kissing again, slow and hot, wet, open, exploring kisses. Teyla let go of his cock and she wrapped her leg around his thigh. They ground into each other, his warm leg pressing into her wetness. Carson began playing with her breast, cupping it gently before tugging on her nipple.

Teyla broke away from his mouth, and Carson immediately moved to her throat. "Carson, now, please," she panted.

He pushed himself partway off of her and leaned over the edge of the bed, fumbling for something. He knelt up, unrolling a thin-skinned protection over his cock. Then he lifted her leg as he settled closer.

"Beautiful lass," he whispered, and then pushed into her. Teyla cried out wordlessly. He felt so good inside of her, filling her up, the sensation almost overwhelming. He pulled out slowly, and slowly pushed back in, watching her face the whole time.

"Carson," she whispered, stroking his stubbled cheek. He pressed a kiss to her palm, still stroking slowly in and out, teasing her. She snapped her hips up on his next thrust, forcing him deep.

Carson grunted. He pulled back, nearly all the way, and held there. Teyla whimpered and urged him forward, but he only rolled his hips, circling his cock just inside her entrance. Just when she thought she might go mad, he surged forward, deep and hard.

"Yes!" she shouted. He pulled out, holding away from her again. He didn't wait as long this time before he thrust.

"Oh Lord," he grunted, then finally he sped up, matching her frantic urging of her hips, pounding into her time and time again. Teyla grabbed onto the headboard above the bed, pushing herself into him. Her eyes snapped open as her orgasm took her by surprise, taking her breath away as she clenched over and over around him. Carson thrust one last time and she felt him come.

He pulled out and pulled the condom off, dropping it off the edge of the bed, then flopped down beside her.

"That was bloody incredible," he said, wrapping his arm around her waist. Teyla snuggled in close, resting her head on his chest.

"Incredible," she agreed, feeling relaxed and sated for the first time in days.

Choose a different partner for Teyla.
Email me at shetiger at gmail dot com.
Return to more Atlantis fanfic.