Timeline: SG1: post-01x17 "Solitudes", and after BtVS: 05x22 "The Gift". Disclaimer: Nothing copyrighted belongs to yours truly. Author's Note: Written for Day 19 of the 2024 August Fic-A-Day. "Hey," the man in the hospital bed said as soon as he caught sight of her walking towards him. "You must be the mystery guest who came into the ice cave Carter and I ended up in." Smiling, she gave a positive reply. "That would be me. You were kinda unconscious when I got there," and she reached out to give him a handshake. "Buffy Summers." "Jack O'Neill. I'm sure General Hammond and the rest of my time have already asked you, but how did you get there? They seem to think you're from Earth." She pulled over a nearby chair and sat down. "I'm from California, specifically Los Angeles." Then because he'd asked and she really didn't want to go through the same Q&A for the third time, she gave the short version of her answers. "No, I didn't get there through a Stargate. No, I wasn't aiming to travel to the Antarctic. No, you can't ask. It's all highly classified and very hush-hush." He gave her something in between a smile and a frown. "Carter and Daniel been asking a lot of questions, have they? And not paying attention to the word 'classified', I take it?" "Yes. They seem like nice people and all, but classified applies to them, too. They just repeated the same questions using different words and phrases to try and trick me. It wasn't nice of them." He adjusted his position so he was halfway sitting up rather than lying down flat. There was definite amusement in his eyes, although curiosity and underlying questions were still there. "So you decided to hide from them in the infirmary?" Buffy gave a sheepish shrug. "Nobody likes hospitals, so I figured it would be one of the last places they'd come looking for me." "Good call, but both of them check in with me semi-regularly, so your hiding place won't work for long." "Well, while it is working... How are you doing? You didn't look so good back in the cave. Captain Carter said you had internal bleeding." This time he gave a reflexive grimace. "I did, but Dr. Frasier fixed me up. She also took care of the broken foot and the broken rib." He gave the foot in question an unhappy look. "I won't be back on active duty for a while." "You'll be back on desk duty in about two weeks, Colonel." A short, red-headed woman in a white lab coat interjected as she came over to check on her patient. "Until then, you're going to be a good Colonel and stay in bed." She gave him a stern, but still friendly look before she smiled at Buffy. "You must be Miss Summers. It's good you're here, I need to check you over as well." Looking a little like a deer in highlights, Buffy asked plaintively, "If I say no, can I just go be elsewhere instead?" Colonel O'Neill laughed and the doctor gave a genuine smile for her comment. "No, I'm afraid not. I know an initial check was done, but we need to do a further examination to make sure you are who you say you are." She frowned, "Why wouldn't I be me?" Dr. Frasier smiled reassuringly, "It's common practise here. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. Say goodbye to Colonel O'Neill for now and we'll get started right away." Buffy did as she was told and followed the doctor to another bed, where Frasier drew a curtain around them for privacy.