The end of
the world as we know it
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Acknowledgements: Loads of
thanks to elishavah for being ever-wonderful
and loveable and supportive.
„This is it, then.“ Carson Beckett
looked gloomily into the fading sunlight reflecting off the
water below in a brilliant shade of crimson.
Sheppard’s fork stopped a few inches before
his mouth. “This is what?”
Beckett took a long swig from the mug he cradled
in his hands and closed his eyes, sighing. “The end of
the civilized world as we know it.” His voice was cheerless.
The major finished his last bite and wiped his
mouth with a napkin. “Don’t you think you’re
being a bit melodramatic?”
“Not in the least.” Beckett’s
mood seemed to be decreasing along with the sunlight. Sheppard
had never seen the doctor so uncharacteristically gloomy before.
It unsettled him more than he could say. If even this man lost
hope - where would the rest of them find theirs?
“Look, I’d appreciate it if you
didn’t bury us before we’re dead.”
Beckett laced his fingers tighter around the
mug in an almost protective manner. His eyes stayed closed.
“I’m not. But the civilized world ends today.”
“What?”
At the outburst, the doctor opened his eyes
again and peeked at Sheppard before his glance went back to
his mug. “In pretty much two or three minutes.”
“Beckett, I get a very unsettling Arthur
Dent feeling here. What the hell did they put in your dinner?”
“Tatties, mostly.”
Sheppard was torn between the wishes to strangle
the doctor or to start laughing. And damn that Scottish accent
for making even insolence sound oddly huggable. “Beckett
…” He decided to channel the anger.
“Well, you did ask …”
Sheppard sometime wondered who of them was worse
- McKay or Beckett. Or maybe they had a competition going who
of them could drive him insane quicker.
“Okay.” He pushed his plate away,
splaying both hands on the table. “I get the feeling that
I don’t really want to know this, but why are we facing
doomsday?”
“Because …” Beckett lifted
the mug to his lips, draining the remaining liquid, taking his
time.
Maybe strangling the doctor was a good idea
after all, Sheppard mused. Save the Wraith the trouble.
“Yes, Beckett?”
“Because this, major,” Beckett raised
the mug in a sad salute, “was the very last cup of tea
on Atlantis. As I said. The civilized world has just ended.”
Fin
