Down in the infirmary Jennifer was beginning to grow restless at being cooped up in the infirmary, without being able to work.
"Will you sit still?" Cadman complained as her friend continued to shift around on the gurney, "you make more fuss than Torren here." She smiled down at the infant who was engrossed by her dog tags.
"I would have thought you would be more sympathetic seeing how you are always trying to escape from here." Jennifer complained.
"Hey, you are the one who won't let us escape from here and give us the long lecture about endangering our health. It is not my fault you can't cope when the shoe is on the other foot." Cadman returned.
"Is she still complaining?" Lorne asked as he approached the gurney.
"She hasn't stopped since you left Sir." Cadman smiled at him.
"That is because 'she' doesn't need to be here, it is only a broken wrist." Jennifer said.
"And a gash to the head." Cadman added.
"And a bruised neck." Lorne chipped in, causing Jennifer to glare at him. "It is only another couple of hours, surely Cadman's company is not that bad?" He smiled. "Unless she is ranting about how unrealistic Speed was. Not for the plot, but for how they disarmed the bombs. Then she is worse than McKay." Lorne joked, carefully avoiding Cadman's mock glare.
"Coming from the guy who complains non-stop about the inaccuracy of 'the core', that is a little rich." Cadman said, before adding, "Sir."
"There is no way you can drill like that and that is ignoring the fantasy they came up with of what the inner crust was made of." Lorne defended.
"But 'the Core'? At least Speed was a half-decent film." Cadman responded.
Lorne's come back was cut-off by the appearance of a member of the medical team. "If I am not interrupting, I need to examine Dr Keller."
"Sure thing, I will see you in bit." Cadman said, before adding, "don't let her bully you into early release."
"No matter what she says she can't fire you for doing your job." Lorne added, causing the young medic to look worried as Jennifer seethed.
When Cadman and Lorne had moved away from Jennifer, Cadman said, "I think I am going to take the little guy to get some food."
"Just make sure that is all you do. Teyla will not appreciate you showing him how to blow stuff up." Lorne grinned, just as their radios bleeped. They both tapped their ear-pieces and listened as their faces changed from being relaxed, to worried.
They both said, "understood," into their radios, then nodded at each other. Lorne ordered, "get Torren out of here ASAP." Then he quickly hurried over to Marie.
"Major? What can I do for you?" Marie asked.
"I need you to think very carefully, when you were tidying the infirmary did you find any rucksack that could have belonged to Cole or Williams?"
"No, but I only joined in the tidy up after Dr Keller's surgery." Marie answered. "Adam's may be able to help yo.." Marie trailed off and then said. "Wait, I do remember seeing a rucksack in the supply closet. Everything that was out in the infirmary was put in there. It was at the back and I remember thinking it was odd it was in there, but had other things on my mind. Hold on a minute." She said as she called Adams over.
"What's wrong?" Adams asked as he reached the workbench.
"When you were tidying, did you come across any rucksacks?" Lorne asked.
"Not that I remember." He answered as the young medic who had been attending Jennifer approached.
"Are you talking about standard issue rucksacks?" He asked.
"Yes, did you see it?" Lorne asked, all signs of patience gone from his voice.
"Yes, I put it in the store room with everything else." He said causing Lorne to swear under his breath.
"I need you to clear the infirmary now. I will get Dr Keller. Do not go anywhere near the supply closet." Lorne said, his voice forceful enough that his instruction was carried out without question or pause. He then tapped his ear-piece. "Colonel Sheppard come in." He said as he headed back to Jennifer's bed.
"Go ahead Lorne." Sheppard's voice sounded.
"There is strong reason to believe that the rucksack is in one of the supply rooms here in the infirmary. I have started an evacuation."
"We will be there shortly."
"Oh Sir, can you ell Teyla that Torren is safe and is with Cadman."
"Will do. Don't take any risks and don't get bitten." Sheppard ordered as he signed off.
Lorne then went over to the curtained area surrounding Jennifer's bed. "Doc." He called before pulling back the curtain.
"Evan, is something wrong?" She asked surprised by his invasion.
"Yeah you get your wish. We need to leave now."
"What? Why?" She asked, any pleasure she might have felt from the early release was quickly replaced by worry due to the serious expression on Lorne's face.
"There might still be a bug problem. Can you walk?"
Jennifer paled at the thought of more spiders running round, but carefully slid herself off the gurney, with a supporting arm from Lorne.
"I thought Teyla caught the spider." She said.
"There is a possibility some eggs were brought back in either Cole's or William's rucksack, which could be ready to hatch." Lorne answered as Jennifer steadied herself on her feet.
"But spiders can lay thousands of eggs." Jennifer said as Lorne scanned the infirmary for any missed personal.
"Well consider that as thousands of reasons to get out of here as quickly as possible." Lorne said as a wave of nausea hit Jennifer.
"You ok?" Lorne asked concerned as Jennifer wobbled.
"Yeah just a side effect of the anaesthetic. I'm good." She replied after regaining her composure.
"Ok then, lets go." Lorne nodded.
Offering his support, Lorne led Jennifer towards the infirmary exit. Focused on the area behind him, searching for any other personnel or any sign of the spiders, Lorne was oblivious to a shadow that crossed their paths. It was not until he no longer felt Jennifer leaning on him and heard her yelp that he realised they were not alone.