Waiting....... (G)

"Have you heard yet?" Radek asked, voice tinny on the radio.

"Nothing," John answered wearily.

"Bah!" Radek scoffed. "They are being stupid!"

John sighed. He agreed but wasn't in a position to say anything himself. "All we can do is wait."

"You'll call?" Radek demanded.

"Yes, you'll be first, well, second. Jeannie first," John promised.

"I understand. Thank you," Radek signed off.

John rubbed the back of his neck wearily. If one more person called to ask if they had heard anything, he was going to disconnect the radio but he couldn't do that since they were waiting for the call.....

He wandered out to the back of the house where Rodney and Carson were sitting on the deck. There didn't seem to be any conversation going on that John could see, they were just sitting looking out into the distance.

The radio chirped again and they all jumped.

Rodney looked at John, "Answer that?" Please....

Carson looked down at his clasped hands and was silent.

John answered, "Yes?" A pause. "Yes, he's here. Who is calling please?" John nodded. He handed the radio to Carson. "It's for you."

Carson paled.

"Go ahead," John said gently.

Carson took a deep breath. "Carson Beckett here," he said to the person on the other end.

Rodney looked at John but John knew this wasn't his to say.

"Yea," Carson said to the caller. "I.... I dinna know what to say," he stuttered. "Thank you. I am.... honored...." Carson listened for a bit. "Yes, yes, I can do that. Thank you again." He handed the headset back to John.

"So?" Rodney demanded, looking between the two of them.

Carson looked at John beseechingly and nodded.

"That was the Nobel committee," John confirmed. "I suspect our friend here has just become a Nobel Laureate in Medicine."

Only because John knew Rodney so well could he see the frustration -- then he could see Rodney firmly squash that away and be happy for his friend.

"About time one of us got the recognition we deserve!" Rodney proclaimed.

"But... it wasn't me!" Carson protested.

"That isn't for anyone but us to know," John said firmly. "Just because the original Carson died protecting this city doesn't make it any less true for us that you and he, well, you're the same person."

"This calls for a celebration!" Rodney declared, heading for the kitchen.

Once they had opened the bottle of champagne that Rodney had thought to get, he proposed a toast, "To white mice, gene therapy and our friend Carson. You, and he," Rodney lifted his glass in acknowledgement, "are a colleague we are proud to have and a friend we cherish."

"To friends," echoed John.