Capt. Isiah Cochran

Ah, freedom. Free to do what I'm best at. No unwanted 'superior' standing around soaking up my moments.

God! I love this job!

Click.

Another tumbler falls to my lock pick.

Click.

Slowly, carefully, I ease the knob over. No sound. Teasing the door open just a smidge, I slip the little blackened foil square between the door and jamb, right over the alarm sensor pad. Widening the gap, I press the foil firmly, setting the adhesive. Pulling the door free, I freeze for a moment.

Ah, no screaming alarms. No flashing lights. No sirens in the distance. All is well with my world. Dino-mite!

I can fly. Who needs drugs? Adrenaline is the best!

Slipping into the dark building, I draw the door closed carefully behind me. Snicking the lock on once inside, since I don't want anyone to follow me in after all that work.

Pausing, I settle against the wall, to listen and to acclimate my eyes. To review.

So, where's Mr. 'taps eagles,' now? He was so easily avoided as I successfully outsmarted the Bird Colonel, Mackenzie. He may be Colonel to my Captain, but he's not an investigator. Not a shaker or mover, just a desk jockey.

My face hurts from my wide grin at the thought of slipping those photos out under his Bird Colonel nose. HA!

Not that those photos helped me any as I was completely unable to get any ID's on them. Damn!

The car and plane I'd had better luck with, getting the numbers of both with my camera. The plane was a private government job as was the car. And surprise, surprise. Both were more often than not assigned to the NID. And here I thought they played in the big leagues! But they're mot smart enough to use different transportation often enough to prevent being traced? Spook boobs!

And to add to their official stupidity, my in-depth inquiries into Dr Means came in. Having lots of relatives, I've learned to use them to advantage. They checked out every location that Dr Means has even been and I received detailed histories from my wonderful family members on every move the man has made since birth.

Family is such a wonderful thing, they, as a local resident, can get in close and gossip... ah, ask questions that a lone, out-of-towner can't.

Out of the reams of seemingly unimportant gossip... ah, information, I found some hot stuff. Descriptions. Dr Means' physical description differed from location to location. Through carefully collation I was able to do a comparison, yep; they're almost all different. There were a few that might have been the same person, mainly in places he stayed only a short time. But I'd say that there were more than one person calling himself, and in one case herself, Dr Means.

Whoa! Talk about government conspiracy. Mulder eat your heart out!

Going back over the guy's credentials and after a few phone calls, I discovered that he didn't actually have those credentials. Nowhere could I find any actual official records, graduations, licenses, what have you. Even his private existence was a fraud, a very clever one, but a fraud just the same. Someone had made sure that the good doctor was a member in excellent standing in all the organizations that a real doctor of his profession would belong to. Lots of money was spread around to put his name in the right places, giving him the illusion of legitimacy.

Dr. Means is a front.

My money says he's a front for the NID.

Now I have to discover why.

Pushing away from the wall I softly step down the dark hall towards the front of the office suite, I'm looking for Means' office. Lady Luck is with me tonight, there are only two offices, one is filled with discarded office equipment and the other has an enormous desk with a computer setting on it.

Guess which one I went for?

So fast did I hack into that computer that I had to terminate the boot virus scan to get the e-mail program on line. Many people don't realize that Outlook Express can keep local copies of e-mails. A snoop's... ah, investigator's treasure-trove. Accessing the program, I began reading, our Lieutenant was obliquely mentioned repeatedly.

What I read sickened me, Means was deliberately trying to convince the Lieutenant that he was useless, to give up, roll over, check out. Well, maybe not 'check out' that was a little final, but that could've happened anyway. Means wanted him to disappear for some reason.

Lots of very private information about the Lieutenant and his relationship with his father were in those e-mails. Stuff that no one had a right to know, let alone use to destroy a young man's life with. Those e-mails I destroyed. Checking for backup disks, I thankfully found there were none.

Although having those e-mails for evidence of the one bit of information I did find would've been very good. They revealed that a tissue sample was taken from the young Lieutenant at the physical exam that Dr Means supervised before the young man's discharge from the hospital. That was their first meeting.

Records! Wouldn't the hospital have records? That, I needed to check. And I'd bet there isn't a mention of that tissue sample anywhere in his medical records.

A tissue sample? What conceivable reason would a psychologist need that? A blood sample yes, but not a tissue sample. After all, I do hold a degree in psychology.

Hey! What can I say? Mom wanted me to be a doctor. The degree was a compromise.

Thump.

My hands moved without guidance, shutting off the power to the computer, the only light in the room. Motionless, I froze in the desk chair, greenish squares dancing before me, listening.

Sceeeeeeeech.

The sound grated against my ears and I shuddered at the painful overly loud noise in the night silent building.

Apparently, I am not alone.

The sound had been just a mite muffled and seemed to come from directly in front of me. Since the door was in that direction, I exited out into the hallway. Directly before me was the closed door of the other office I'd dismissed earlier. Softly stepping up to it I placed an ear at the crack between door and jamb.

Yep, I could hear something, or someone moving around in there. Easing the door open I stepped in and pulled the door shut behind me. Stopping, I stood listening. Wanting my flashlight ready for use, I pulled it from my pocket and filled my other hand with my weapon. Also, ready for use.

"Ooof."

Click.

A pool of light erupted across the linoleum; I saw a pair of feet clearly visible at the far edge. Looking down I could see my feet too.

Uh, oh.

The beam of light moved directly at me, crawling up my body to blind me. Raising my weapon I pointed it at where I figured the guy with the flashlight stood.

"I'll shoot!"

The deadly gleam of my weapon had to be visible to the guy. Ah... unless he was blind. Nah, he has a flashlight.

"Imbecile."

Huh!

The beam of light dropped from my eyes, the dark was now populated by bight bobbing green suns. Switching on my own flashlight, I squinted, aiming its beam in a mirror path of the other. The glint of a silver eagle at shoulder height stunned me.

Shit! Colonel to my Captain!

"Who you calling an imbecile, you idiot! I could'a shot you!" Irritated, I ground the words out. He may be a colonel but he still didn't know what he was doing.

"Your aim is that good?"

What! He's so elitist!

"What in the hell are you doing here!"

"Report! CAPTAIN."

Crap, Colonel to my Captain. Shit! Can't get a break here.

"Ah... well, I..."

"I warn you Captain, if I receive less than the truth you will be a private in the blink of an eye."

"Ooookay, hold your water. I hacked his computer."

"And."

"E-mails."

"Captain, you are aware that 'report' means to volunteer information?"

"E-mails, lots of e-mails. Means communicated with more than one unknown person regarding Van Sickle. They were trying to emotionally cripple him to isolate him in preparation to possibly abducting him."

"Now, that wasn't so bad was it."

'Now, that wasn't so bad was it. Yadda, yadda, yadda!'

Mealy mouthed, jumped up, full of himself, no good, elitist, jackboot, stuck on hisself, stuffed shirt, on a stick, pedestaled, holier than thou SOB. 1... 2... 3... 4... 5...

Composing myself, I forced my hand to stop crushing my flashlight.

"Nah, painless."

Smiling an irascible smile I put on my best happy go lucky expression and laughed like a stubborn jackass inside my head at the little bit of information I hoarded there. Hey! Going back to the private sector was always an option.

"Since you are here you can make yourself useful and help me search this room."

Shit! Colonel to my Captain.

"Sure. You want I should get you a coffee first?"

MacKenzie just glared at me until I got busy searching. It damned near killed me to admit, but it turned out to be a good idea.

Poking around the stacks of junk, I worked my way over to the partially open window. Needing to know just how our Bird Colonel got in without the alarms going off I glanced over my shoulder checking to see if he was looking. Luckily, he was thumbing through a filing cabinet obvious to the world. Flashing my flashlight over at the window, I glimpsed something. What! Illuminating the window again, I took a bit longer checking it out. Damn! Can you believe it! He found the one and only window not attached to the security system. Talk about your dumb luck!

Backing away from evidence of my unnecessary labors at breaking and entering, I started rummaging in a mound of stuff in one of the corners, I found a couple of storage boxes full of files and in those files were receipts. Glancing over at the Bird Colonel, I began to stuff them into my jacket pocket. There were a couple of patient files too; one had the kid's name on it. Scanning it quickly, I knew that I would have to give it up to the Doc. But not before I made careful note of the drugs prescribed.

Hmmm. Although I was a bit rusty on meds, what I saw seemed a little odd to me. It would have to wait.

Lt. Eric Van Sickle

It must have been ages since I've laughed this hard.

The Colonel has so much padding on he could barely move. How could he box or whatever he plans on doing with Teal'c?

Teal'c was going to help me 'modify' my fighting skills to help minimize my injuries, I had decided to take him up on his offer. As for the Colonel, well...

I think I've been had.

Teal'c asked me to come at 7:00 a.m. sharp. Then in walks Colonel O'Neill in the most ridiculous outfit I had ever seen, in so much protective gear that I had to ask who he was. He had on a wrestling head protector, mouth guard, eye guards, protective gloves, hard shell elbow and kneepads, shin and thigh guards, shoulder pads, foot shields and a neck brace. He must have gotten the last item from the infirmary. But, the nut cup was the jewel in his attire, big enough for the Jolly Green Giant, it was duct taped to his waist. Reminding me of an actor's codpiece, a proud protuberance like the ones I'd seen in Shakespearean plays. Hardly any of him wasn't covered in an inch or more of white elasticized or shiny red padding.

He danced around a bewildered Teal'c poking shots at the big Jaffa.

"Ah, for crying out loud, T. Hit me!"

And Teal'c did, hit him. Bowled him head over heels. He was back on his feet so fast I blinked. Now how could he do that? The padding must increase his weight and decrease his mobility.

"Is that the best you can do? Come on, take your best shot?"

And Teal'c did, take his best shot. At the swing, I winced so badly, I nearly closed my eyes. Luckily, I still saw that Teal'c never connected. The Colonel danced away, right after connecting with a shot of his own. My eyes bulged in surprise.

Teal'c was fast, very fast. But the Colonel, damn, he moved like lightning. Yet, when he did, there was no haste to it, he... just moved. Having seen the man a lot over the last two weeks, I saw that he always moved gracefully, languidly but there was no hint that he could do this.

"Hey, T. Let's give the kid a show."

"As you wish."

So I watched as the two warriors let go and went at it with no restraint. Vicious blows were exchanged, ducking, dodging and kicks blurred into a dance of physical mastery. Each was bent on besting the other. Teal'c began to sweat heavily. The padding must have soaked up O'Neill's, each second increasing the weight he bore. Then O'Neill slipped up, he forced Teal'c to the floor and in so doing Teal'c's blow landed where he had not intended. The Colonel went flying, head first into the wall, striking the only spot on his body that wasn't padded.

"O'Neill!" Seemed involuntarily wrenched from Teal'c's throat as he bounded to his feet and ran to his unmoving commander.

Teal'c knelt beside the downed man just as I skidded to a stop next to them. Then I noticed that a fist was pounding the floor. The Colonel was alive. Teal'c gently rolled him over onto his back, the Colonel's face was deeply flushed and he wasn't breathing right. Teal'c pushed a muscled arm under his friend's shoulders and lifted, the Colonel swung his arms up to grip the arm reaching across his chest to help further support him.

"Relax my friend."

Hack. Hack. 'Damn!" Gossamer sound, but there. The Colonel was breathing hard now, in shallow swallows.

"Do not worry Lt.VanSickle, O'Neill has had his breathing knocked loose."

"Wind..." Gasp, gasp. "Wind knocked..." Pant, pant. "Wind knocked out of me."

"I think you mean 'the wind knocked out of him.' " I said to Teal'c.

"Is that not what I said O'Neill?"

"Kinda. No Jaffa jokes." Pant, pant. "Can't laugh." Gasp.

"How's you head Sir? You slammed into that wall hard."

Teal'c pulled the Colonel up and sat him to lean against the wall he had just assaulted. O'Neill reached up to gingerly feel the top of his head.

"No, I don't think I hit... dead on. Doesn't seem... to be even a bump, I think... I hit the floor harder, knocking... the breath out of me. Damn I hate that." The Colonel stopped to catch his breath before asking, "You okay there T? I didn't mean to connect that shot at all. I'm sorry."

"I am unharmed. You however will now rest and watch."

"Orders?"

"Indeed."

"Guess that's that then. Help me up."

Teal'c and I both gripped an arm and slowly pulled him up. Teal'c held onto him, until he felt he was going to remain upright. Releasing the man he began to strip O'Neill's of his padding, the Colonel griping every step of the way. I stepped in and helped. He was soaking wet and shaking, in reaction or having pushed himself beyond his endurance, I couldn't tell. He suddenly planted a hand on the wall to help support his shaking body, Teal'c clapped a hand back on him at that move. He needed to sit down; I increased my pace of removing padding

As the last piece of protective gear hit the floor, Teal'c steered the Colonel across the gym to where I had been sitting watching from the padded bench against the concrete wall. Following closely behind I stopping just long enough to grab a few dry towels from my bag and a bottle of water. Both I offered to my exhausted superior after he had eased his lean frame onto the bench with a loud sigh.

Teal'c and I tried to dry him off but he slapped our hands away muttering 'not dead yet.' So Teal'c stood with arms crossed and watched his friend. O'Neill ran the towel up and down his sweaty bare legs and arms, ending by burying his face in it, soaking the moisture off. Then, he slung the towel around the back of his neck to hang down his chest over the t-shirt glued there by the wetness of his skin.

While sitting on the floor, I watched the two of them. O'Neill looked up from trying unsuccessfully to pull the clammy tee away from his chest to see Teal'c watching him.

"What!"

"Are you well, O'Neill."

"I'm not the witch T."

"Obviously."

"If you're through, I think the kid is next," the Colonel said while jerking a thumb in my direction. I gulped.

Teal'c turned and pierced me with his eyes. They laughed! He was amused. It floored me.

Teal'c gestured to the center of the practice mats before striding to stand at their center. Feeling like a lamb to slaughter, I followed.

Facing Teal'c, I found up close he was large, very large. At 6'1" I'm not short, but I felt half that standing before this enormous man. He wasn't looking at me, but watching O'Neill. My eyes followed to watch the Colonel also.

"You found my Warrior Brother amusing?"

His words brought my eyes back to his; he boldly looked deeply into mine before dropping them to my maimed hand. Unable to look away from his face I felt him grasp my arm by the wrist and cradle my injured hand in his.

"Ah... yes, I did."

"He wished to teach you a lesson in his own way."

He slowly skimmed those powerful fingers across my skin, lightly exploring the scars where my fingers had been.

"He did?"

"Yes, I hope you comprehended it, I did not."

Finished exploring , he began to manipulate my hand, opening and closing it slowly and gently, never touching the two taped fingers.

"You didn't?"

"No, he does many things that are a mystery to me. He is my brother and I trust him, that is all I need to know."

Now he lifted my hand and seemed to peer closely at the taped fingers.

"The lesson, I think I know what it is."

"Please explain."

His eyes again enveloped me. All of his attention was on me. Expecting an explanation.

"All the padding wasn't to be funny, but to represent a disadvantage."

"Yes, I see. He is illustrating that a handicap can be overcome. He was most formidable today."

He returned his attention to my bound fingers. Laying my hand inside his, he used his hand to close mine. Busy watching him. I never noticed that he had been covertly watching my face. Was he watching for signs of pain? And to my surprise, I had felt none through all of his manipulations.

"Do you think he practiced this?" Indicating the Colonel.

"He had reserved this gym more than once over the last few days, for 'private' practice. Usually I am present for such practices. But I only know of these because they are on the sign-in sheet outside."

Looking down, I was just in time to see Teal'c slowly open his hand and release me, before taking a half step back.

"Hey, T."

The Colonel's muffled voice rang across the pause in our conversation. Teal'c turned his attention to the man that now lay flat on his back on the bench.

"If you bruise him, Fraiser will have my skin. Can you kinda, Tai Chi it?"

Teal'c looked slightly puzzled for a moment before answering.

"Easily. Thank you, O'Neill, a most inventive suggestion. Your skin will remain where it is."

"Yeah, until Fraiser hears about me and the wall."

A ghost of a smile lit Teal'c's face at O'Neill's words and he inclined his head in his friend's direction, although the man in question had an arm over his eyes. It's not the action, but rather it's the thought that counts, I'd guess. The respect it represented shook me to the core.

Suddenly I was the center of the huge man's attention.

"Will he be okay?" Stammering out my question, I felt my own concern for the Colonel's welfare.

"I will watch him, if not, then Fraiser will assuredly be informed about the wall."

Over the next two hours Teal'c slowly explored my personal combat reflexes discovering my new blind spots, then methodically invented moves to create new reflexes to armor those areas. All in the slow motion common to Tai Chi. In the end, I possessed my own martial art created and designed for me and me alone. Teal'c was only marginally satisfied and made me promise a new time to review and improve my new moves.

Colonel O'Neill shouted out encouragement and comments for the first hour until a SF appeared at the door. Teal'c and I watched as he stomped out, not in the least happy at being found. My impression it that he doesn't have enough fun, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying my systemic humiliation at Teal'c's hands far more than I was.

Suddenly, I realized that I felt... confident, accepted... wanted. Both of these men making me their focus for nearly three hours would boost anyone's ego into the stratosphere. But they also wanted to be with me, that... that was... the lightest feeling I'd ever experienced. Even knowing that this wondrous time was about to end didn't dampen that feeling, a feeling I had no name for.

Teal'c bowed slightly to me, before excusing himself to find his Warrior Brother and assure himself that all was well with him.

Was I dreaming? Did someone really care about me?

The answer shocked me.

Yes!

***

Two days after my meeting in Colonel O'Neill's office, I sat in the main conference room.

Disbelieving, I found it hard to realize that I was in charge of the meeting and the commanding officer, even temporarily. Damn, there are captains, and colonels here, and one very special man sat to the side, taking it all in. He said that even he was under my command for this mission. He would only invoke his rank in dire conditions.

My eyes traveled over those assembled at this early hour to lock with Colonel O'Neill's, his gossamer smile and jerk of his chin told me the show was all mine. Drawing in a breath, I held it a moment before...

"If I may have your attention."

The chatter in the room died down, all eyes fastened on me. Standing tall before them, I resume.

"I'm Lt. Eric Van Sickle and your commanding officer for this project."

Holding another breath, I watched the shocked expressions dawn across the faces seated around the table and the furtive glances towards Colonel O'Neill who sat impressively acting for all the world like my statement was boringly ordinary. Those shocked looks were replaced by questioning looks on most of those faces as I let the silence stretch.

"Each of you will find the mission statement in the folder provided."

Our purpose was two fold I explained. First, to study PBX 123, developing a plan to convert the tunnels located there into a second SGC base. Second, our performance on the first task would be scrutinized. We were the first test of a new non-combat level in the military with more relaxed physical fitness requirements. Our success could make it possible for those unable to meet regular military fitness requirements to be retained in 'safe zones' as non-combat military. Enriching our military might with our experience and knowledge, something that is now lost when seasoned personnel are discharged as unfit.

As I explained the mission's goals, I felt their attention fasten onto me. Astonishment and excitement shown in their eyes, they no longer saw me as a junior officer out of his depth.  We all shared a common goal; I was one of them. All of us had a very personal stake in the outcome of this mission.

During this, our first meeting, I spent some time doing introductions and offering base orientations for the few not intimately familiar with the SGC. After touching on Colonel O'Neill's role in the mission, I asked each specialist to look over their assigned part of the mission and review it. Rewrite it if need be. They had the knowledge and I needed them to apply it. If something needed changing, now was the time. Finally, I dismissed them to their reviews. The Colonel had seen that a few airmen were available as guides, helping get the specialists settled at computers or work areas. We would all reassemble after lunch and find out how far everyone has gotten.

With everyone settled, I leaned back into the chair at the head of the table and sighed into the now nearly empty cavern of a room. It had been easier than I dreamed. It had felt right. Worrying about doing this had been unnecessary and I now knew that I could handle it. A hand dropped onto my shoulder, I looked up into the face of Colonel O'Neill.

"Survived did ya?"

"It was easier than I thought Sir."

"Ya think! You're a pro kid. Keep this up and I could retire."

"You wouldn't..."

"What! And miss your rise in the new military, not a chance."

A sergeant poked his head into the room and speared the Colonel with a look.

"Oops, seems I'm wanted. Remember I'm around; call if you need help. Lunch, okay? You, me and Teal'c."

Each word louder than the last as he strode across the room to deal with whatever problem only he could fix that had arisen elsewhere on the base. I called my agreement as I rose to my feet. I wanted to tour the new team, talk to them one on one, get to know them, let them get to know me. Answer the questions they must have, but were unwilling to voice in the meeting.

This needed to come off perfect; I planned to head off any problems before Gating. I owed the Colonel that much.

Dr Daniel Jackson

"Humph!"

Startled, I jerked. Dropping the statue. Luckily, I was holding it over a bed of excelsior, having just removed it from its safe haven.

"Captain Cochran!"

Now, I was beginning to see what it is that Jack doesn't like about this man. Calming myself, I ignored my anger at being startled. Holding a breath, I slowed my hammering heart. Tucking the stature deeper into its protective bed, I sealed the container. 'Better safe than sorry,' as Jack says.

"Hey, Doc, you should go easy on that coffee, makes you jumpy."

"Thank you, I'll try to cut back..."

"Great, Doc. You should try Green Tea, good for the brain and won't make you as jumpy. It's very Zen."

He roams through my office like a shark circling a bleeding dolphin. Just waiting for the right moment to slash and tear.

Since the shelving holds irreplaceable artifacts, I slowly edge towards him imposing my body between him and them. Hoping he will take a hint and sit, I smile and point to a chair. He shakes his head and steps around me and actually snatches down a fragile terra-cotta figurine, the only one of its kind.

Darn it, I really need proper storage for such objects d'art.

I wish Jack were here. Sigh. At least he knows to leave the breakable objects alone.

Have I ever craved Valium before?

"Sooo, Captain. What can I do for you?" I ask as I follow him around like a nanny behind a three-year old.

"Actually, it's what I can do for you. Or for the Colonel O'Neill. Is he around?"

"Uh... no, he's gearing up for an off world mission right now. He won't be available for oh... about two weeks I'd say."

Darn, this is the last thing that Jack needs, this hero worshipper descending on him. He's got too much to think about without this.

"Oh."

His obvious disappointment nearly has me feeling sorry for him, nearly. But I do have an obligation to Jack to get this man to discover all the information that can be had about this Dr Means fellow.

"Well, you can tell me, I am dealing with this for Colonel O'Neill. Do you have anything new?"

"Yes, I do have new information. This quack Means is a..." He pauses and appears to be checking for unwanted listeners before continuing. "...NID front."

His dramatic pause was totally unnecessary because this information would have stunned me anyway. What would the NID want with a Lieutenant that had only been off world twice before receiving a medical discharge from the Air Force? Did I hear right?

"What!"

Unfortunately, I played right into his sense of drama with that exclamation. Cochran delivers the rest of the information with a melodramatic delivery reminiscent of Peter Sellers while I play the part of captive audience.

"Yes, Dr Means doesn't exist. Having tracked down all of his past jobs, I discovered his physical appearance was different from location to location. His credentials were bogus too. The vehicles at Petersen, at the time, were assigned to the NID. So far, I haven't been able to identify the players, nor have I been able to hook up with Dr Means or his goons again. They are laying low. And there's this..."

With a flourish, he hands me a file folder. Opening it, I find two plastic document protectors. One contains a receipt for a money transfer, a rather large sum. The other a photocopy of a medical prescription made out to Lt. Van Sickle by Dr Means. Slowly shutting the file I wonder how far Sam had gotten on ID'ing the men in the Captain's photos. Now, however, I wonder how long it will take me to talk him out of my office, so that I can get this information to her.

"This is all?" Perhaps, if I act like there should be more he might take offense and slink away, I try for disappointment. It's not hard.

"At the moment that is the only telling information. There is further information, I have proof that the doctor is non-existant and I can make that available now, if you need it."

"No, you keep that safe. Colonel O'Neill might need it later. Right now, I can't see a use for it. Thank you for bringing this. I'm not sure how it will help, but I'll check into it."

Grasping his arm, I try to steer him to the door while trying to pry the figurine from his deathlike grip with the other. He neatly steps out of my grip, replaces the figurine in its place, smiles and leaves without a word.

Just when you think you have someone figured out, they do something out of character.

Sam, I need to see Sam.

Dr Janet Fraiser

Neatly fanned across my desk are photographs.

Dr Mackenzie placed them there as an explanation after insisting that we talk in my office behind a locked door and shuttered windows.

In the photographs, there are men, some in uniform, some in suits. There are photos of a plane and a large dark car. Many of them were taken at night. Baffled I pin the man with my eyes.

"I don't understand."

"Lt. Van Sickle," he enunciates it deliberately, as if speaking to someone hard of hearing.

And here I had thought he had changed. I stare at him. What did these photographs have to do with the Colonel's Lieutenant? The look on his face tells me I should see the connection, but I don't.

"I don't understand."

"You asked me to check Lt. Van Sickle's chart..."

Shaking my head I clench my eyes shut. Tossing my open hands to either side in confusion, I ask.

"I don't understand what these photographs have to do with that?"

His face actually screws up in confusion.

"You haven't spoken to Colonel O'Neill?"

"No. What has that to do with the Lieutenant's chart?"

"You don't know about Captain Cochran's investigation?"

"Investigation?" Now, I'm totally confused. "Perhaps it would be best for you to start at the beginning and tell me everything?"

"Oh. I just... never mind. Well, after your call..."

The man explained for two hours, I had a hard time holding my attention on his words. What? Wait for it, he'll repeat it again, and again...

No! Yes, that is what he said.

Carefully I appeared to be listening, masking my churning thoughts. These men, who Mackenzie believed were NID, mentioned the Healing Device. Mackenzie doesn't know the connection between that and the Lieutenant. He has no idea, but does the NID? If they did, they would be itching to get their hands on the Lieutenant. This is not good.

"And there's this," Mackenzie waves a file folder at me.

Grabbing it, I find a prescription memo inside from a patient's chart, for Lt. Van Sickle. Oh, this can't be right. I glance up at Mackenzie.

"Not the usual drugs for handling physical trauma are they?"

"No, no they aren't. This one is notorious for forced questioning and date rape, making the recipient susceptible to suggestion. The Lieutenant was prescribed this drug? From when he left the SGC and until two days before he returned here?"

"Curious timing isn't it? He was given the drug by Dr Means while in session, only the first couple of doses were actually in the boy's possession. The drug was stopped the day Colonel O'Neill visited him."

"The Lieutenant never went back to Dr. Means after speaking to the Colonel, yet you tell me Dr Means made no attempt to contact him, a patient that missed a regular daily appointment. Yes, I could call all of this curious. But I have no idea what any of it means."

"Neither do I. I suspect that the NID either wants the boy or Colonel O'Neill in some way. The Colonel seems to be the only connection big enough to interest the NID."

Oh, if he only knew that there is a much bigger connection that would interest the NID, one that has nothing whatsoever to do with Colonel O'Neill.

[see Chapter Eight]