The Tegan Chronicles

The David Files 1

In Search of Technology

Tegan sat in the mess hall talking to Sam, Jack and Daniel about an idea she had for disguising her voice to sound like a Goa'uld. "Since I'm slowly learning to control the glowing eyes, if I could get the deeper double voice sound I might just be able to convince the Goa'uld I'm one of them."

"I don't think Hammond would go for it." Colonel O' Neill pointed out.

"I'm not looking to go and try to infiltrate the Goa'uld Colonel." She pushed the remnants of her dry meatloaf around on her plate. "I just think it would come in handy the next time we're captured by the Goa'uld. Assuming Kalma'Kipu isn't on the black list."

"You say that like we're going to get captured," Jack tried to sound offended.

"With SG1's track record, I'm not holding my breath to the contrary." Tegan smiled before turning to Sam. "So, can you do it?"
"Sorry, but the kind of technology you're looking for is beyond my area of expertise." Sam dropped her spoon in her empty jell-o bowl. "What you're looking for involves micro-technics."

"It's ok," Tegan's tongue played pensively behind her teeth for a second. "It was just a thought."

"What about the CIA, or NID?" Daniel swallowed a mouth full of beets before continuing. "Surely they would have the technology to make something along those lines. I mean spy technology has advanced quiet a bit over the years."

"Even if the NID had the technology they wouldn't share it." Jack had had enough runs ins with the NID in his career.

"It's no big deal. It was probably a stupid idea anyway."

"I thought it was a pretty good idea," Daniel straightened his glasses.

"Me too, just wish I could help." Sam offered in way of apology.

"Don't worry about it," Tegan checked her watch. "I need to get back to the lab. I've got something cooking I need to check on."

"It's not one of your apple pies is it?" Jack drooled.

"No, sir. I don't think you want to eat anything that comes out of my lab."

"You're probably right," He tossed to her retreating back.


Tegan entered her lab and pulled her culture out of the incubator. It wasn't doing anything, and she doubted it would over the next several days. She put it back before dropping into the chair behind her desk. She was finishing up her latest field report when she decided if Sam couldn't construct the device she needed, she'd go to an old acquaintance at the DOD. Maybe it wouldn't turn up anything, but it was worth a shot. She grabbed her cell phone and headed topside for some fresh air and a signal.


"David, it's Tegan." She squinted as a fall breeze rushed into her face.

"Hey, are you in town?"

At least he sounded happy to hear from her. "I'm not. I'm actually calling to ask you about the possibility of the DOD having access to equipment that would alter a person's voice. Kind of like the old voice scramblers, but in microscopic scale."

"It's possible. I'd have to look into it and get back to you. But I can't discuss anything like that over the phone."

"How come I knew you were going to say that?" It was a rhetorical question, and she didn't stop long enough to receive an answer. "How soon can you get me the information?"

"How soon can you be in DC?"

"Tonight, if I can get leave and a flight out."

"I can probably have the information by then. Why the rush?"

"Classified; I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you."

"Funny. I never understood why you didn't turn down that transfer to NORAD. What could someone with your expertise possibly offer a deep space telemetry program?"

"I'm happy here David."

"Ok," He let the subject drop. "When you get your flight information give me a call, I'll pick you up and we can talk over dinner."

"Thanks David. I'll be in touch."

"Good, I'd hate for you to be a stranger, like you've been since you left the area."

"Talk to you later." Tegan hung up before he could go off on one of his tangents.


"What can I do for you Major?" General Hammond waved to an empty seat as Tegan stepped into his office.

"I was wondering if it would be possible for me to take a couple days of leave. SG1's not scheduled for a jump until Monday, and aside from a culture that's probably going to need to incubate for several weeks I'm caught up on all my work."

"What's the rush?"

"Something personal has come up."

"You'll be back Monday morning?"

"Yes sir."

"Have you cleared this with Colonel O'Neill?"

"Yes sir." She handed him the request that had already been signed off by her CO.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to head to DC, sir."

"Anything that I need to be aware of Major?"

"No sir. Like I said, it's something personal."

"Very well." He signed the request for leave before dismissing her.


Janet looked up at the light tapping on the open door to her office. She was finishing up her notes on a recent post mission physical she'd done on another team. "Hey."

"Hi," Tegan returned. "Am I interrupting?"

"Nope, I'm just finishing," Janet put her John Hancock on the bottom, and closed the chart. "Come on in."

"I can't stay long, but I was hoping I could ask a favor?"

"Ask away."

"I'm going out of town for the rest of the week and was wondering if you could keep an eye on the culture I've got incubating? It's not showing any signs of growth currently, and I'm wondering if it will."

"Sure. Where are you going?"

"DC, I'll have my cell with me if anything comes up."

"Work related trip?" Janet hadn't heard anyone mention it.

"No personal. Don't worry, I'll be back in plenty of time for my pre-jump physical Monday."

"I wasn't worried," Janet mirrored Tegan's smile. "Anything else I can do for you?"

"Not unless you want to give me lift to the airport."

"What time's your flight?"

"It's at 2150 hours, so I don't need to be there until 1900 hours."

"I can do that."

"Are you sure? I was going to ask Sam."

"It's not a problem. I'm sure Cassie will want to see you off."

"Thanks."


"Hey thanks for picking me up." Tegan gave her old roommate a hug when she found her at the luggage claim in Regan National. "I could've caught a cab."

"It's not safe this time of night," Paige pushed a lock of her shoulder length caramel colored hair behind her ear.

"You do remember I've gone through combat training?" Tegan held up her carry on and they headed toward the parking garage.

"Level four hand to hand, I know." Paige smiled. "It's just I carry a gun, and you don't."

"Actually I'm packing heat more often now, mainly when I'm in uniform."

"At NORAD?" Paige knew there was more to what Tegan was doing than just deep space telemetry. It wasn't like her friend's expertise made her the perfect candidate to be watching the stars.

Tegan shrugged.

"I know, classified. Despite the fact we both work for big brother."

"So how's the FBI been treating you lately?"

"You've read my emails." Paige grinned. "Same old, same old. I'm parked here."

Tegan looked at the Bureau issued fleet sedan. "Why am I not surprised?"


"So when you told me you could help me, it was just a ploy to get me to come to Washington?" Tegan threw her napkin over her barely touched dinner, having lost her appetite earlier in the conversation.

"No." David looked down at his almost empty plate. "But you don't have the clearance."

"I don't have the clearance my ass!" She couldn't believe she'd actually forgotten what a jerk he could be. "I've got more clearance than you could ever dream of having."

"Air Force clearance doesn't carry over to the DOD. I talked to my superiors and they don't give a shit what your clearance level is."

"Fine, I'm calling a cab," Tegan stood to leave. "Don't bother getting up."

"I thought you were going to stay with me?"

"What ever gave you that idea?" Tegan scoffed. "I never stayed the night with you when we were together. What made you think I would now?"

David stood up and grabbed Tegan's wrist. "Stay with me, it'll save you the cost of a hotel."

"I'm staying with Paige," Tegan tried unsuccessfully to pull away.

"That bitch is the whole reason we broke up. She filled your head with lies about me."

"No David, this is why I broke up with you." She looked down at the crushing grip he had on her. "Now, please let go of me."

"You're going to stay with me," He twisted her wrist while increasing pressure.

"No, I'm not." Another twist of her wrist, she tried not to whine. "You're hurting me David."

"You were always such a drama queen." It was becoming obvious he wasn't going to let her go.

"The lady asked you to let go, sir."

David looked up at the owner of the deep voice, who stood about six-foot-seven. It didn't take him long to decide to comply and let go of Tegan. "You always have to make a scene."

Tegan rubbed the reddened area of her arm lightly.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Would you like me to walk you to your car?" The tall gentleman offered.

"No, I'll be ok. Thank you."

"I'll be right over there, if he gives you any more trouble." The man pointed to a table where his blonde wife sat. At least Tegan gathered it was his wife, from the matching Celtic knot wedding bands.

She turned back to David, "It's over. I should have known better than to come to you for help in the first place."

"It's not over," He warned.

"Good night David."


"Thanks for letting me stay with you again tonight." Tegan sat down on the couch sporting a navy blue t-shirt and lounge pants in a matching blue with pale yellow moons on them.

"You know I don't mind," Paige sighed. She wished Tegan hadn't come back to town to see David, despite the other woman's insistence that it was nothing more than a business interaction. "You're always welcome to stay with me when you're in the area."

"I really appreciate it," Tegan reached into the bowl of air-popped popcorn and pulled out a handful. "So, how's Rorher?"

"Wouldn't know," Paige shrugged. She knew Tegan was trying to avoid the whole David subject. She was also pretty sure that's who left the circular bruise around her friend's wrist. "He left."

"Left?"

"Yup, packed his bags and headed to no-man's land, turned in his badge and everything."

"You're kidding." That didn't sound like the Rorher Tegan knew.

"He said I'd be safer without him as my partner."

"You didn't…" Tegan wasn't sure how to ask the question. But looking at her forlorn expression she already knew the answer.

"Do the naked human pretzel with him?" Paige nodded. "Sadly enough, I did. Once."

"You're kidding?"

"No. We were out of town on a case, and I was feeling… I don't know what came over me. I was lonely and went to his hotel room. It just kind of happened."

Tegan nodded, "You look really good."

"Thanks." Paige smiled again.

"New love interest?" Not that Tegan believed Paige ever loved Rorher in any other capacity than she could love a brother, minus the one nightstand.

"No. I've actually been spending a fair amount of time lecturing at Quantico; A little more slicing and dicing, but fewer calls in the middle of the night."

"Yeah."

"So when's the last time you did an autopsy?"

"A month ago actually," Tegan answered without thinking.

"Really, at NORAD?"
"No," Tegan shook her head. It wasn't really a dishonest answer, well for the most part. "There's a hospital and medical training facility on our sister base."

"You look happy."

"I like what I'm doing," Tegan nodded. She wished she could share the whole experience with one of her few true friends. "So did you get saddled with a new partner?"

"Yeah. He's kind of cute, you should come by and see him," Paige insisted. "I'll be at the FBI building for the next two weeks, stop by before you leave town."

"I will." Tegan yawned before looking at her watch. "Guess I should head to bed."
"So, when are you going to fill me in on the rest of your mysterious life since heading out to Colorado?"

"Over breakfast, my treat."

"Ok," Paige moved the popcorn to the coffee table. "I'll see you in the morning."


The next morning there was an incessant pounding on the door. "Department of Defense, open up!"

Paige opened the door to find two men in boring black suits standing there. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, we're looking for Major Kiser of the US Air Force."

"This can't be good," Tegan stepped into the living room in a pair of faded Levis, and a light gray t-shirt from her days with the air force academy. She was in the midst of towel drying her hair. "I'm Tegan Kiser."

"Major Kiser, we have a warrant for your arrest." The tall thin suit announced as he looked down at her bare feet.

"I didn't think David would stoop this low." Tegan laid the damp towel on the back of the couch while the shorter of the two men pulled out a pair of handcuffs. "Can I see the warrant first, and some type of ID?"

"Of course," The taller man handed a blue docket of papers to her before digging in his pockets for his ID.

"How come I always get arrested by rookies?" Tegan mumbled as she opened the warrant, earning a raised eyebrow from Paige. She quickly scanned the document. "I'm being arrested for conspiracy to steal government technology?"

"Yes, ma'am." The shorter agent answered as he produced his badge. "I need you to put your hands behind your head."

Paige pulled out her own badge as Tegan complied. "I'm with the Bureau, think I can do that?"
"I always knew you wanted to put me in cuffs," Tegan joked lightly.

"Sorry ma'am, protocol prohibits anyone aside from DOD personnel from cuffing the suspect." The shorter man was beginning to sweat, giving his puffy skin a more doughy quality.

"Don't worry Paige, I can always sue if they put the handcuffs on too tight." She made it a point to glare at the Pillsbury doughboy, "I know my rights."

"I'm sure you do, ma'am." The taller gentleman spoke. "And we're just doing our jobs."

"Wouldn't want to make that any more difficult for you;" Tegan turned to Paige as she was being cuffed, "My cell phone is lying on the bed. The first number on speed dial will get you the switch board at Cheyenne Mountain. Tell them you need to speak with Colonel Jack O'Neill on behalf of Major Kiser. Let him know what's going on, please."

"No problem."


Tegan was put in a small holding cell somewhere in the annals of the DOD building. She had been all but strip searched, but was given her own clothes to put back on. She thought it was a little strange, but figured they had just run out of those charming little orange jumpsuits.

A few hours later her first visitor arrived. Tegan looked up as her cell door slid open. "Real cute David, joke's over. You can let me go now."

As she stood up from the uncomfortable bunk, he shoved her back down. "It's the real thing sweetheart."

Tegan watched the door slide shut behind him, as she realized they were alone. "Oh, so this is what I get for not sleeping with you?"

"I wasn't asking you to sleep with me, just to stay the night." He towered over her, standing in her space so she couldn't get up from the bunk she was sitting on.

"You never were very good at taking no for an answer." Tegan was vividly reminded of the last time she'd turned down his sexual advances. He'd almost raped her. In fact had it not been for Paige coming home early from an out of town case, he would have.

He saw the fear in her eyes, and knew exactly what she was thinking. He bit down on the rush it gave him. As much as he wanted to be the one to strip her of her virginity, he knew he had to control himself. "I told you I was sorry about that. My hormones got a little a head of me."

"A little?" Tegan scoffed, and looked over at the abandoned guard station.

"They're taking a coffee break," A wicked smile curled the corners of his mouth as he backhanded the redhead.

Tegan glanced up at the security camera. David automatically followed her gaze.

"You know how finicky technology can be; it's on the fritz at the moment." This time he grabbed her hair and slammed her head into the cinderblock wall behind her. "When they come in to talk to you, you're going to tell them exactly what they want to hear."

"And what's that?" Tegan could already feel the goose egg forming on the back of her head. "That you're an asinine jerk, who just wants to get even with an ex-girlfriend? Or that you're mad, because I'm the first woman who hasn't wanted to sleep with you?"

"You bitch!" He punched her this time splitting her lip open.

"Oh, this is going to look real good on your permanent record." Tegan licked the blood from her lip. She knew he was trying to provoke her into attacking him, so he would have an excuse for the damage he'd already done.

"I don't think so. When 'we' get done with you, no one will even remember you ever existed."

"We? I always knew you were schizophrenic."

"When the DOD finds you guilty of espionage, you'll rot in a prison that's worse than hell."

"Oh, so the charge has changed to espionage?"

"You were seen trying to break into my office to steal top secret government documents."

"And I suppose the cameras are broken there too, and you're the only eye witness?" At the rate his story kept changing, she'd be out of there in no time.

"My you catch on quick."

"And when I'm cleared of the charges, I'll have your job and your ass on a silver platter for false imprisonment." Tegan threatened with a little too much bravado for David's taste. Another yank of her hair before she felt her head slam into the wall and darkness crashed down on her.


"You'll have to excuse her appearance, she said she'd never go to prison and she wasn't going to tell me why she was trying to steal the technology. Then she proceeded to bang her head against the wall." It was the next morning when David led Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter to a cell where Tegan lay in a straight jacket strapped to a bunk on her back. "We've had to keep her sedated and restrained since then."

Something about his smile turned Sam's stomach.

"We'd like to go in." Jack motioned to the cell door.

"Open cell six," David called to the guard at the control panel.

Jack stepped in followed by Sam. "You said she was hitting her head on the wall?"

"Yes Colonel."

"Then how do you explain the busted lip?" Jack questioned.

"My best guess, she bit it."

Sam reached down and pulled Tegan's lower lip back causing her to jerk back. "It's ok Tegan, its Sam."

"Sam?" Her voice was rough with sleep from the sedative they'd given her.

"Yeah, we're going to clear this up and get you out of here."

"Major Carter will be staying with Major Kiser, until the sedative wears off and Kiser can give us her version of the details." Jack announced much to Sam's surprise.

"I'm afraid I can't allow that," David protested.

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice. I've already cleared it with your director." Jack smiled; it was great to have friends in high places.

"If we could have a minute?" Sam looked from Jack to David.

"Certainly," David stepped out of the cell.

"Sir, I don't think Tegan did anything she's been accused of. And I'm certain she didn't get that laceration from biting her lip."

"Why do you think you're staying with her?" Jack tapped his forehead. "This guy's got so many holes in his story it looks like lace. I'm going to go see what I can find out about Tegan's activities since she arrived in DC, and dig up the dirt on this jerk. You just watch your back in the meantime, got it?"

"Yes sir."

"I'll be back as soon as I can."

Sam nodded as Jack retreated out of the cell.


When Colonel O'Neill returned several hours later he was accompanied by two security guards, the head of the DOD, and David who was sporting a pair of silver bracelets. Tegan looked up her head still a little fuzzy from the massive amounts of sedatives pumped into her body over the previous twenty-four hours. One of the security guards stepped forward and removed the straps restraining her to the bed.

Sam helped her to sit up, and together she and the guard removed the straight jacket. The head of the DOD introduced him self and apologized for Tegan's treatment and arrest under false pretenses. He explained that Colonel O'Neill had found witnesses who could account for her whereabouts the entire time she'd been in the DC area, and as a result David was being fired. He suggested that Tegan press charges against David for assault and making false accusations. She declined, and he requested that security escort him off the premises.

"The President called right after Jack talked to me, and he has given me direct orders to have you fitted with the device you seek before we let you go."

"Good ol' George."

"George?' Tegan looked up at her CO.

"General Hammond," Jack tilted his head to the side. "He really hit your head hard didn't he?"

"Not that hard sir." Tegan rolled her eyes, and then thought better of it, as her stomach lurched.

"He did knock you out cold, Major." The director spoke up.

"I realize that sir, but I've been told I've got a pretty hard head." She made a point of looking at Colonel O'Neill.
"Jack filled me in on the details, and I think we've got exactly what you're in need of. If you'll follow me."

Tegan wavered as she stood up and Sam put a hand out to steady her. "I'm ok."

"You look like it," Jack shot back incredulously.

"Just a head rush," She assured the group as she squared her shoulders and stepped out of the holding cell.

Two hours later she was fitted with a plastic brace that covered her lower teeth. She commented on how it reminded her of the Invisaline braces that were out, except with some added hardware. She was guaranteed that the DOD had been using the material as such long before it was used for braces or even bruxism guards. There was a small sensor, which lay directly behind her bottom two front teeth. If she pressed her tongue against it for three seconds it would activate the device, which would alter the sound waves as they came through her mouth giving them a much deeper quality.

"How does it sound, sir?"

"Like I could crap in my pants," Jack smiled.

"Yeah." Sam agreed. "I think it'll fool even Apophis."

"Let's hope," Tegan turned to the tech who had done all the adjustments on the device. "Now, how do I turn it off?"

"The same way you turned it on."

A few seconds later she responded in a normal voice, "Great. Now how much do I owe you?"

"You're kidding right?" The director smirked. "We aren't even charging NORAD for this one. It's on the house, accept it as our apology for what you've been through."

"I really don't hold that against you, sir."

"In that case, you could tell me what this device has to do with deep space telemetry."

"Sorry sir, but my work is classified."

"As I expected Major," He turned to face Jack. "I think you should keep this one around for a while."

"I plan on it Tom."


"Why didn't you press charges?" Jack asked when they were finally able to leave the DOD building.

"I think he got his just desserts. Besides, it's too much trouble."

"Too much trouble?" Sam shaded her eyes from the sun as she looked over at Tegan. There was a small bloodstain on the younger woman's shirt from the earlier altercation.

"Yeah. Besides, it would give David that much more time in my life. Time he doesn't deserve."

"David?" Jack rubbed his chin, putting two and two together. "You two dated?"

"Yes sir, and I think none of this would have happened if I'd just slept with him."

"Well, I'm glad you didn't lower your standards for the likes of him." Jack smiled.

"Me too, sir." Tegan looked up as they started to pass the J. Edgar Hoover Building. "Sir, I'd like to meet back up with you two in a couple hours?"

"You're not going to go break into anymore government offices are you?" Jack joked.

"No, sir. Not with out orders from you," Tegan smiled.

"Alright, we'll meet you back at the hotel."

"Thank you sir." She headed up the steps and into the lobby of the FBI headquarters.

"What do you suppose she had to do in there?" Sam questioned.

"Her old roommate, Paige is an FBI agent. She helped me solidify Tegan's alibi."

Sam nodded as Jack threw up his hand to hail a cab.