-1It was a shell of what it once was.

Carson surveyed his room with sadness. Though he had briefly gone into his quarters after he had been rescued from his prison cell, he was so focused on finding a cure for himself that he didn't pay much attention to it before he went into the status pod.

Now, with his health as stable it could be, he had plenty of time to look at how Atlantis had moved on without him. Rodney had told him rather awkwardly that all of his belongings had been shipped back to Earth after his death. The real Carson Beckett.

Carson looked in the mirror on his dresser, studying his face.

Who was he? Would the people here ever accept him as Carson Beckett or would he always be considered the Clone? He forced those thoughts away; there was nothing he could do to change the situation he was in.

Turning away, he noticed a picture in a frame setting on the corner of his nightstand with a post it note attached to it. Immediately, he recognized Rodney's sloppy scrawl.

Couldn't ship this back to your mother. Thought you'd like it back. -R

Carson looked at the picture fondly. At least, he knew, Rodney would be accepting of him. He placed the picture on the table where he found it.

As he walked across the room, his door chimed. Quickly, he made his way to the doors. When they slid apart, they revealed Teyla.

"Teyla!" he said, surprised. It was only one day after she had given birth to her son. He hadn't expected her to be walking around Atlantis so soon.

"Carson," she said softly. "May I speak with you?"

Instantly, he was worried; there was something bothering her. Surely she wasn't still upset about his mistake in the infirmary. "Of course, come in," he replied, offering her a chair.

Gingerly, she sat in the chair. "I came to apologize," she explained. "When you tried to save me, I did not--" she stopped, considering her words. "I am sorry," she finally said.

"Teyla, I don't blame you for not coming with me. I'm sure you thought you were seeing a bloody ghost," he assured her, taking a seat on the edge of his bed. "I should be the one apologizing to you. If I was only able to break Michael's hold on me, I could have protected you."

"You know how powerful he is. Do not blame yourself," she said.

A sheepish smile crept on his face. "It's not that easy."

"I know," she admitted. "I am sure you have heard what happened to most of my people."

"Aye," he nodded, sadness creeping into his voice. "He's a monster."

They sat silently together, both lost in their angst. Finally, Carson broke the silence, standing up. "Well, standin' here mopin' isn't going to make us feel any better. I'd better see if Kate has some time for us to start some counseling."

Teyla's eyes widened. "Did no one tell you? Kate died nearly a year ago."

Disbelief was Carson's first reaction. He wondered how many people had been lost over the past two years.

"I'm so sorry," he finally said. He knew the two of them had formed a close friendship over their years on Atlantis.

"There has been much lost." Teyla looked around his barren room as she stood up.

"Aye, but you have a little one now. Colonel Sheppard and the others found me. Perhaps it is time to move forward. There is nothing we can do about the past," he suggested. "Now, go see your son. He is waitin' for you."

Teyla nodded, her mouth forming a wobbly smile. "Thank you," she said, embracing him. "You have been missed."

Maybe, Carson thought as he wrapped his arms around Teyla, there was hope that he would be accepted for who he was now.