A/N: Thanks again for the kind words and for reading my story.


Chapter 37 – Seeing Spots

Airman Peters, the guard at the ground level elevator check in at the Cheyenne Mountain complex, liked his job. Ok, if he were honest, when he signed up for the Air Force, he envisioned working at an airfield and watching jets all day, maybe even flying in one, but his post here was good. It wasn't a difficult job and while his security clearance only permitted him on the first level of the complex (you needed higher and higher clearances the further down you went) it still impressed the ladies to say he was posted at the top secret facility. He'd heard the rumors around town of what went on deeper in the mountain, and the rumors the guards traded amongst themselves would make the stories on even the most outlandish conspiracy theory web site look tame. But they were just rumors. Of course he wasn't a dumb man, and he couldn't see how much work they could do on deep space radar telemetry 25 levels under the base of a mountain. And then there was the man walking towards him.

He always felt a nervous prickle at the back of his neck when this man went through the check point, particularly whenever he had to ask him to stop so that he could inspect whatever he was carrying. He much preferred to just check his ID against the computer and waive him through. It wasn't that the man was belligerent or annoying or anything. In fact, he was the complete opposite, always polite, well spoken and patient. However, he was huge and always deadly serious, never showing even a hint of a smile. He gave you the impression that if you crossed him, even just a little, he would snap you in two just as soon as look at you. Peters had even witnessed him silence General O'Neill with just a look once, and the General wouldn't take that from anyone else. There was also the matter of his name, or lack thereof. He had the highest clearance level for the base, however, he had no rank in any of the services, nor even a first and last name. He simply went by Teal'c, more of a code name in Peters' mind than a name. He envisioned the man as part of some super secret shadow ops company, which made him wonder what job the man did in the lowest levels of the complex. Today he was carrying a large, lumpy bag that would need to be inspected.

Peters nervously opened the bag to begin the inspection as Teal'c stood straight, with his hands clasped behind his back. He was surprised at what he found inside and might have cracked a joke were the owner anyone else on base. However, in light of who this was, it was just more disturbing in his eyes. After thoroughly inspecting the contents of the bag, he allowed the large man to pass into the complex.

As Teal'c picked up his bag, he turned to the guard. "AirmanPeters, word of what I am carrying will reach no one, is that understood?"

The order caught Peters off guard, "Uh, oh, yes, sir. Of course, sir. No one will know, sir."

With a slight incline of his head towards the guard, Teal'c turned and continued into the mountain.


It was 2345 hours. O'Neill had once commented that the best time to sneak anything, or anyone, into or out of the infirmary was 15 minutes before a shift change. At that time, the staff would have finished their final rounds and would be busy with last minute paperwork before the new shift arrived. Due to the late hour, the rest of the SGC was also quiet with few people around the darkened halls. Teal'c crept into the infirmary to DanielJackson's bed, a large, quiet shadow in the night.

The archaeologist had been confined to the infirmary two days ago, immediately upon their return from planet muck. He was exhibiting signs of a rash, an allergic reaction to the swamp gunk he was covered in. At first it started out as dime-sized, bright red splotches all over his skin and related areas, including nails and hair. Then it quickly changed, the color turning to a bright blue. The rash itself was harmless enough, so he would probably be released from the infirmary in the morning, but due to the coloring, he would be confined to the base until it went away. Teal'c paused to look at his friend, then unwrapped the bundle he carried and carefully placed the item under the sleeping man's arm. There was a flash of light and then the shadow that was Teal'c was gone before he was detected by staff. In the morning, Nurse Halloway would check on her favorite patient to find him snuggled up with a fuzzy white teddy bear with bright blue polka dots.

The morale around the SGC had definitely fallen in the weeks since the loss of O'Neill and ColonelCarter. DanielJackson's confinement prevented the only team actively searching for a way to bring them home, from accomplishing the task. Teal'c knew that a little levity was needed to improve spirits around the base and knew, had O'Neill been there, his friend's ailment would be the target for the much needed relief. With that in mind, he had gone to the local toy store and purchased all of the spotted stuffed animals he could find. And so that O'Neill would not be disappointed at missing his friend in such a state, he also decided to capture as much on film as possible, starting with taking a picture of the spotted man holding a spotted teddy bear in his sleep.