International relations were never my strong suite when I was deployed. Luckily most of my diplomatic duties consisted of showing them that I was a doctor and treating them. When they got loud about that, I would quietly give them a sedative. Doctors on the battlefield already have so much to think about. No need to have the patient gaffing at you too. Dr. Lee was animatedly talking about the newest project that was happening out at the Gamma Site and how the Oversight Advisory team would be impressed by the leaps and bounds of technology that they would see.

“And these little slugs that we have trained to produce a viscous fluid that can help make rubber,” Dr. Lee was saying. I have enjoyed my times with Bill and have found his infectious curiosity endearing, but this latest rant about rubber, oil and slugs had me looking at the clock and door routinely. I smiled and wondered if I should poke Carolyn to see if she was still breathing.

“I hate to interrupt,” Sam said from the doorway. She materialized from somewhere and I thanked her silently as she cut Bill’s next sentence short. “But Dr. Lee, we have to go. Pack up your last things, and meet us down in the Gate room.”

Bill’s face lit up even more. “I’ll be right there!”

Sam watched him hurry out of the room. Turning to us, she smiled. “Do you have any aspirin that I can have?”

“Sure,” Carolyn said. She walked out of the office with Sam, leaving me as I tried to clear my head.

“Woo-ho, Bay. No sleeping on he job,” Cam said coming in. “I need some service.”

“Ring the bell.”

“I seem to remember you chucking it at me after the last time I rang the bell.”

“That was to save you from Carolyn doing it. She would have hit you. I missed on purpose.” I smiled as his eyes widen. “Don’t play with the ladies who have the needles.”

“Yes, ma’am. How about I get some aspirin and be on my way?”

I nodded. “Sure, maybe you should take a bottle,” I said as Daniel came in. “Aspirin?”

“Please,” Daniel said, running a hand over his face.

“So a long trip or big headaches?” I asked as I located a clear container and filled it with 10 tablets.

“Babysitting,” Cam said with a grimace. Without hesitation he took three tablets and a swig of water, handing the bottle to Daniel.

I nodded with understanding. “Both, I see.”

- - -

Being stationed at the SGC has made me appreciate the true meanings of several military words. Such as “Normal” does not mean ‘normal.” Rather it is deemed “Normal” if you and your team come back with half the desert in your camos because you were running away from big baddies with big guns that were aimed at you. Same as “Mission” is more like a “deadly adventure that we only barely survived, and we may have pictures to show our kids someday.”

So when I heard Cam say it was a “Normal Mission” I figured it would be a fun visit to the infirmary. I made sure there was a comfy chair for me to sit on and began my check-ups.

“I will forever hate bugs,” Cam started. “Big ones, little ones, I don’t care. They all need to just be done away with.”

“I think some bugs are fine,” Daniel said, looking over to Cam. “They help scientists determine time lines of death. Even in Egypt the beetle held special meanings.” He paused as Cam made a face. “Yes, well, the man eating bug variant needs to go, no question about that.”

“I’m glad you see the point.” Cam sighed. “You know, sometimes I wonder why I do this. Trapped on a planet with dignitaries who panic or don’t seem to understand the severity of the situation and scientists who want to stop and study the darn things. And to top it off, we can’t even get to the Gate, and practically become stranded on a bug infested planet!”

“Hmm so maybe next time you should as for bug spray, not aspirin,” I said, checking Sam’s blood pressure.

“Well ya, you can only do so much with pelting the buggers with aspirin pills.”

“I imagine so,” I said. “I assume no dignitary casualties?”

“I think you would have heard before us, the way some of them were acting,” Daniel snorted.

“On a brighter note, Teal’c may try his hand at moving out again,” Cam said, smiling. Two pairs of blue eyes and an eyebrow raised met the statement. I was starting to replay the last tine that had happened. “Well, maybe we need to figure out the details more.”

I heard Teal’c mutter an, “indeed,” as Cam went back to sulking.

“I think it could have gone better,” he said at last.

“Ya think?” Sam muttered as she hopped off the table. “We get assigned the must boring job ever and we can’t seem to get through it without something going wrong.”

“But you thought up the containment field at the end,” Daniel pointed out. “You saved all of us. I think the dignitaries were impressed.”

“Ya, but that was after we had already lost some of the scientists.” She shook her head as she turned to leave. Pausing, she turned back toward us. “You know, this proves that something has really ruffled the Ori’s feathers if they go as far as to make an insect that will eat the Lucian Alliance’s Kassa corn plant from the roots up.”

“It was certainly an interesting experience to see the lil’ buggers at work,” Cam conceded. “Still hate bugs.”