Carson walked into his quarters to the smell of savoury meat and spices. He blinked, stepped back out, looked at the door, and walked back in.
"Carson?" Teyla's voice, from the kitchen area.
"Aye, love," he answered, furrowing his brow. "What are you up to, then?"
"I am cooking," Teyla said proudly, wielding a wooden spoon. "A recipe from Earth. John assured me you would be pleased with it."
"What is it?" he asked tentatively, not quite daring to look. It smelled lovely, but there was a bowl on the table that contained what looked like a deflated, fleshy balloon in water.
"In this pot is a mixture of oatmeal, suet, and several herbs and spices, as well as the heart, liver and lungs of a sheep," Teyla began.
"The pluck." Carson's face lit up. "You've made me a haggis?"
"Well, I have not succeeded yet," Teyla said, beaming back. "But I am trying. That is the stomach of the same sheep," she told him, gesturing toward the bowl on the table. "I am unsure how to sew it up once I have put the mixture into it."
"Put down the spoon," Carson warned.
"Carson?"
"Put down the spoon."
Teyla set the spoon on the counter, and let out a whoop of surprise as Carson picked her up easily and spun her around in a circle. She laughed with delight as he set her down again.
"That is the single sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me," he told her. "How did you know?"
"Several weeks ago, you were telling me about your home. You spoke with such eloquence, and yet there was a sadness in your eyes. You are... homesick?" she asked, the word unfamiliar on her tongue. "That is what John called it."
"Aye, I do get a bit lonely for home now and again," he admitted. "Scotland's lovely this time of year. But where did you ever get the recipe?"
"I wrote a letter to your mother -- Elizabeth read it to be sure I did not say anything that might compromise the expedition. She was kind enough to send the recipe and the spices, along with a... care package?" Teyla smiled. "I have left it on the bed for you. When they received the letter at the SGC, Dr. Jackson collected the suet, the stomach and the pluck -- I am told that sheep's lung is somewhat illegal in the United States -- and sent them, frozen, on the Daedalus."
Carson all but ran to the bedroom, returning with the package in his hands and looking like a child on Christmas. He pushed the bowl containing the sheep's stomach aside and set the package on the table. Once it was open, he took out a plastic container. "Shortbread," he told her, setting down another container. "And drop scones. There's wee bottles of Atholl brose," he exclaimed. "It's a sweet drink made with whiskey and honey and oatmeal. We can have that for afters. Oh, and she's made tablet. Lord, but I've missed my mum's sweeties. Here, have a piece."
Teyla looked hesitant but accepted a small piece of tablet. "It is very sweet," she said, smiling. Perhaps too sweet, but she wisely kept that opinion to herself.
Beneath all the goodies was a sweater, thick and hand-knit, in a lovely shade of blue. Teyla looked on approvingly as Carson tried it on. "It's a bit big," he said, turning around. "That'll be Mum trying to account for middle-age spread. What do you think?"
"I think that your mother chose the color quite carefully," she answered, barely able to contain her joy; she'd hoped he would be pleased. "It is exactly the shade of your eyes."
"There's a letter," he told her, sitting down. He read to himself for a moment. "Everyone's well and sends their best wishes. And there's something here for you," he added, digging through the packing materials and coming up with a small box.
"What is it?" Teyla asked, accepting the box as though it might break.
"You'll have to open it and find out," Carson told her, eyes dancing. "All she's told me here is that there's something for my thoughtful young woman, as thanks for taking care of her boy. Oh, Mum."
Teyla opened the box carefully, gasping. "It is beautiful," she said, touching the silver and amber pendant reverently.
"It is quite lovely," Carson agreed. "It was also my grandmother's. Here, let me clasp it for you, love."
Teyla was awed. "This belonged to your mother's mother?" she asked, turning around so he could put the necklace on her.
"Aye, and now it belongs to you. That must have been quite the letter you wrote."
"I did not tell her that I was your young woman," Teyla said, returning to the stove and stirring the haggis mixture. "I told her that I was a close friend to her son, and that I sensed you were yearning for home. I also told her that you are the kindest, most caring man I have ever known, and that I wished to bring the same joy to you that you bring to me each day."
Carson wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, planting a gentle kiss on her shoulder. "I think it's safe to say you're in."
"In?" Teyla repeated. "I do not understand."
"That shiny wee bauble you're wearing is my mother's blessing. Welcome to the family, Teyla."
* 1 sheep's lung (illegal in the U.S.; may be omitted if not available)
* 1 sheep's stomach
* 1 sheep heart
* 1 sheep liver
* 1/2 lb fresh suet (kidney leaf fat is preferred)
* 3/4 cup oatmeal (the ground type, NOT the Quaker Oats type!)
* 3 onions, finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
* 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
* 3/4 cup stock
Wash lungs and stomach well, rub with salt and rinse. Remove membranes and excess fat. Soak in cold salted water for several hours. Turn stomach inside out for stuffing.
Cover heart and liver with cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Chop heart and coarsely grate liver. Toast oatmeal in a skillet on top of the stove, stirring frequently, until golden. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Loosely pack mixture into stomach, about two-thirds full. Remember, oatmeal expands in cooking.
Press any air out of stomach and truss securely. Put into boiling water to cover. Simmer for 3 hours, uncovered, adding more water as needed to maintain water level. Prick stomach several times with a sharp needle when it begins to swell; this keeps the bag from bursting. Place on a hot platter, removing trussing strings. Serve with a spoon