Rodney sat quietly in his quarters, staring straight ahead. Next to him lay a simple black picture frame – one finger lightly tapped the corner, the rest of his body motionless.

"You kept that?"

Rodney started at the sudden voice. "Carson?"

"That picture. You kept it." Carson Beckett smiled serenely, perched on an ottoman across from the bed. "I thought you might." He gestured to the frame lying on the bed and the photo inside it. It was of the two friends on a mission in the field, dressed in their military garb and talking merrily.

"I found it when I cleaned out your room. You don't mind, do you?"

"No, no. I'm glad you did." The two friends remained silent, each examining the other. "You look well. How's everything in Atlantis?"

"Oh. It's… well, different."

"Different is good?"

Rodney glanced dryly at him. "Depends on how you look at it." The room was quiet for a moment. "It's strange."

"Dr. Keller?" Carson changed the subject slightly. "How's she holding up?"

A hand went to his forehead. "Um, great, I guess. She's nervous, but she's running the place pretty smoothly."

"Good," Carson nodded.

Rodney picked up the picture frame by his side, rocking it between his fingers. "Carson… there's one more thing."

He furrowed his eyebrows at Rodney's apparent discomfort. "Oh?"

"I've spoken to Lieutenant Cadman."

His expression was perfectly emotionless; not a muscle moved until he repeated, "Oh?"

"You…" Rodney sighed. "She took it pretty hard, Carson." Surveying the still unchanging expression, he exhaled again. "She felt horrible for missing the funeral. She wanted to come, but she was stationed in Antarctica, they were in the middle of a crisis–"

"Really?" Carson snapped. "Is that why?"

"Yes, Carson, it was!" he countered, then softened slightly. "She poured her heart out, Carson. I swear I've never seen her so… so… Look, the things she told me… I don't think she's ever regretted anything more than losing you. She blames herself. And she really missed you, Carson. She still does."

Carson shook his head slowly. "I know."

"You know?" Rodney exclaimed. "You know, then what…?" He rolled his eyes. "You love her, Carson!"

"Aye." A bittersweet smile crossed his face. "If you see her again… tell her that, will you?"

"Of course." He nodded solemnly. Setting the picture frame up on his bedside table, Rodney struggled to alleviate the uneasy silence. "Radek and I are going fishing this weekend. I don't suppose you'd… like to come?"

"Ah, no," Carson shook his head. "I can't."

"Oh. Of course. You're… of course. Right. Sorry."

"Thanks, though."

Rodney fixed his eyes on his hands clasped in front of him; neither man spoke.

He suddenly looked up as a thought came to him. "Carson?"

The room was empty.

But he felt a sort of serenity as he glanced over at the empty ottoman.