DCIS House Bunny
Thursday, December 4, 2008 6:03 PM
From: "Danyella Silverfire"

Why do I have this thought of House getting personally involved with a DCIS case and the
demons being... confused, awed, respectful of him?
             Danyella Skyler Silverfire
 
 

---

 
 

Demon Criminal Investigative Services:  Family Negotiations.
 
 
 

Xander looked up as the request hit his desk from their deputy director.  He glanced over it.  "Why me, Fargo?  Usually Danny and Don go on anything diplomatic."  He looked at the other young guy.  Fargo was only a few years older than him.  "Usually I'm the one they send on the 'oh, shit, grab a weapon' cases."

Fargo smiled but shrugged.  "I don't know.  They said to bring the Knight and his adoptive father."

"Adoptive father?" he asked, looking confused.

"House," Stella said from her seat.  She smiled.  "The one you go to for advice and things, Xander."

"Oh.  Okay.  I guess."  He looked it over.  "Should I bring weapons?"

"No clue," Fargo admitted.  "Would that look wrong in a diplomatic mission?"

"Depends on the species," Xander admitted, going to look them up in the library.  Thomas took the paper from him.  "Do I bring weapons?"

"Don't you always?" he asked patiently.  He looked then nodded, handing it back.  "They're a warrior clan, Xander.  They would probably expect lesser weapons.  No artillery probably but perhaps your axe or a sword?"

"Thanks, Thomas.  Have I mentioned you're my favorite watcher this week?"  He grinned.  "Dress clothes?"

"Pack something you can get dirty in.  Sometimes their celebrations include tests of strength or mock battles."  Xander nodded, heading out.  Thomas smiled at the boy's back.  Perhaps he'd stay with DCIS instead of moving to the Council's new headquarters.  He did seem to enjoy the roving chaos they brought to his life.  Plus some very interesting research topics as well.  That one demon trapped in a wormhole was a fascinating topic he was helping Dawn research.

Xander walked into the infirmary.  "House, they wanted us to go on a diplomatic mission."  Chase broke out in cackles.  "They're a warrior clan and they decided he's like my adoptive father," he said with a pout.

"I'm trying to imagine House with tact," he said through his current bout of snickering.

"I can when I want to use it," House said, glaring at his minion.  "Just for that, you get to go do the flea and health checks for the unicorns."

"I already did them since I know you wouldn't take a rectal temperature without enjoying it," he shot back.  He pointed at the folder.  "There."

"Crap, I need a new bad assignment then."

"Dawn's got to do her physical for college and one of the slayers ate something orange that's given her literally explosive diarrhea.  As in it blew up the bench she was sitting on," Xander offered with a grin.

"I'll go figure out what she ate," Chase said, walking off shaking his head.

Xander let him see the request.  "Stella said that was you because I come to you for advice."

House nodded.  "You're snarky enough to be my kid."

"Remember that multi-Xander day?  You were one of them's favorite uncle," he teased.

"Yes I was.  I can see why too."  He bopped the kid on the arm.  "What should I bring?"

"Thomas said they're a warrior clan.  He suggested I bring my axe, a few other light weapons, and stuff to get dirty in just in case the wedding and negotiation includes some mock battles and stuff."

"I can pack that and good clothes," he decided.  "Shoo, send back that we'll be there tomorrow."  Xander bounced off to do that and then go pick out what he wanted to bring.

Jack, in the armory, watched Xander look at the swords before pulling down one down and his battle axe.  "Are we going to have a bad case?"

"House and I got invited to be diplomats and help a warrior clan with an upcoming wedding negotiation.  Thomas said I should bring them just in case.  Got any reloads for the service pieces done?"

"Sure do."  He got him a few filled clips and handed them over with another box of bullets.  Xander gave him a quick hug with a back slap then walked off to finish his packing.  He got a revolver for the doctor, walking down to give it and the spare bullets to him.  "Just in case you need it for Xander to shoot your way out, Doc."  He walked off again.

"Thanks.  At least I can use this type.  Got any spare daggers?"

"A whole drawer full," Jack shot back as he got onto the elevator.  "With sheathes."  The door closed and he shook his head.  Doctors going armed was just strange to him.  Then again, this was DCIS and that was Doctor House.  Both were very strange most of the time.  He found the daggers and pulled out the carrying sheathes.  House stomped in, his cane tapping.  "Need a new tip?"

"I can do that tonight."  He picked out two and a wrist sheath plus a waist holster then walked off to do his own laundry and packing.

Jack put things back up, still looking amused when John Winchester walked in.  "House and Xander are being sent to a warrior clan on a diplomatic mission."

"Do they need a slayer?"

"I hope not but Xander was happy that they might want to pet his weapons."

John just nodded.  "We'll make sure they don't need a slayer then.  Usually Xander only does big things that get rumors started about him."  He went to check with the boy, being handed the request.  "No slayers?"

"Probably not.  It's a diplomatic thing, John.  They wanted House too."

John gave him an awkward pat on the back.  "Try for tactful, kid.  Even if he can't, you can.  You learned how to be slippery-minded from Dean."  He walked off shaking his head.

"I wasn't before?" Xander asked himself.  He went back to his packing.  He had taken one of the portal bags from the armory for his weapons.  It fit nicely in his backpack of supplies.  Including some food and water in case they didn't eat things humans could stomach.  He heard a muted explosion and leaned off his balcony, looking down there.  "Did you eat the same stuff Steph did?" he demanded.

Mary grinned up at him.  "Nope.  I was just playing around."

"Explosives aren't a toy," he said firmly.  "You can blow your damn hand off!  Go get Jack to teach you how to do that right, Mary!"

"Which one?"

"Either.  O'Neill was special forces.  I'm sure he knows how to lay a charge."  She skipped off to the armory.  Xander pulled back in shaking his head.  Sometimes that girl was really too strange for words.  He wondered about bringing another bag but he decided it would look like he was a traveling princess so House would make fun of him.

***

Mary smiled at the grumpier Jack.  "Hi, Jack."  He flinched, looking at her.  "Xander yelled because I blew up a stump.  He said I had to come let you teach me how to do it properly before I blew my damn hand off."

Jack stared at the miniature slayer.  "You're only twelve, Mary."

"I know that."  She beamed.  "I'm more than old enough to learn how to play with dynamite."

"I didn't learn until I was twenty-five."

"Yes, but you're a *boy* and not a slayer," she said, liking her logic.

He stared at her.  "So's your watcher.  Would he agree?"

"I don't know.  Gibbs is off with his older charge."

Jack sighed, looking at her.  "Would John agree?"

"Dean said he could lay C-4 when he was sixteen.  Since he's a *boy* too and not a slayer, I should be able to learn sooner than him.  Just in case we need me to."

"There's four other explosives experienced people on base," he told her.  "Why would we need the mini-slayer society to have to learn explosives?"

"Because you're all men and therefore inferior beings to girls?" she suggested.

"I can spank you," he said blandly.

"No you can't."

"Yes I can."

"Nah-uh.  Gibbs would get you back."

"He'd agree with me.  Call him and make sure."  Watchers had the final word.  "And get Wesley's permission too."  Because Wesley could overrule Gibbs.  Though he might not.  Wesley had been warped by Xander for years.

She huffed but called his phone.  "Jethro, Jack in the armory said I had to make sure you agreed he could teach me explosives.  Xander said to have him teach me so I didn't blow off my damn hand blowing up another stump."  She grimaced.  "That was a quote," she said.  She rolled her eyes.  "I'll do them in a few minutes.  Can I learn?"  She started to bounce.  "Please?"

Jack took the phone.  "She said those who already knew are men and therefore inferior to her being a slayer."  He swatted her like Gibbs ordered.  "From him."  She pouted.  "That's what I think too.  Didn't sound too bad.  About like the one who farted on the bench and blew it up earlier."  He nodded.  "That's fine.  Thanks, Gibbs."  He hung up.  "He'll discuss it with you tonight.  Go do your PT punishment."  She huffed but went to do that.  He shook his head, texting Wesley just in case.

Wesley walked in a few minutes later.  "I wouldn't mind the older girls and those who are patrol cleared by Dean learning but no, she's a bit too young and too wild.  If you had the time, could you?"  He walked off again before Jack could answer.  "Mary, you're too young," he called as he walked.  "You must be patrol cleared to learn explosives.  No more playing with them either or I shall have Jethro spank you until you beg for mercy."  He went to get some tea then go back to his duty of calming Giles down from his panicking.    He had no idea what he was doing with the new Slayers Council building.

"I bet I can get Rodney's John to help me learn," she pouted as she did her pushups.

"Fat chance," Dean called.  "I can read lips.  You've got another twenty."  She sulked but did them.  Dean's word was law too.  At least until she was older and could kick his butt.  Then she could learn all sorts of neat stuff.

***

Xander bowed to their hosts.  "You requested us to come help negotiate?"

"We did.  We have some who wanted to have you be the impartial judge of worth."  He led them to a room.  "This is yours while you're here."  Xander and House both nodded.  There were two beds that looked a bit comfortable so that was fine.  "Come, we are sitting down now."  He led them on once they had dropped their bags on their bed.  Well, Xander had dropped his bag, House had dropped his on the same bed then moved Xander's to the other bed.  It was most amusing.  He led them into the meeting area, watching as they both bowed to the people in there.  It was kind of them.  They sat in the seats he pointed at.  "This is my daughter Mariscka."

"Well met," Xander greeted, making her smile.  "Your intended's family?"

"I wish for this one, Father."

Xander shook his head.  "No, I'm sorry.  I'm not going to marry anyone."  She sulked at him.  "Among humans, it's not done to marry before getting to know the person, or else we regret it."

"There are many human societies that have arranged marriages," House told him.  "Ours is not one."

"But I'm a good warrior, I can help him with his duties at the base and hunting."

Xander considered her.  "I still have not gotten to know you."

"It's because I'm a demon."

"No, I nearly married Anya.  I also lived with her for a bit and dated her for over a year before that step."  She slumped.  "I'm honored, but unless I got to know you, I would not feel comfortable with that step.  Beyond that, if I did, I might lose the respect of those whose opinions I care for."

"The Winchesters would hate you dating a demon?" her father asked.

"They wouldn't mind as long as it's a good relationship.  John talked with Anya when we started back up again because he didn't think she was sure what she wanted and that a real relationship that wouldn't hurt either of us was going on.  In this case, he'd want the same thing."  He looked at her again.  "We all agreed any of us can date anything we want, as long as it's a good, healthy relationship.  Me suddenly appearing with a new wife that no one's met and gotten to know, that I haven't gotten to know, would breach that and make them lose respect for me.  And some of the other clans that we have to deal with on cases as well."

She smiled.  "I can understand that.  Would you consent to go on a date with me?"

"If you can work it around my cases, I have no problem with that."  He grinned.  "But you have to be aware that cases and the girls come first in my life.  I'm their big brother and the heavy hitter for bad cases."

"We have heard your reputation as the Slayer's Knight," she agreed.  "I can see that happening."

"Also be aware that regulations say that no spouse may work on the same team as their loved one," House told her.  She slumped again.  "That's so no one acts out of emotion instead of panicking when Xander's case starts to require artillery."

Xander looked at him.  "I haven't been hurt on a case like that in a while.  I seem to get hurt on the lesser cases for some reason."

House patted him on the back.  "That's because your mind's screwed up, Xander."  Xander rolled his eyes, making her family laugh.  "If she wanted to date him, have her show up at the base and meet the others.  We serve meals with everyone in attendance and have nice areas to walk in the woods if they wanted.  That would be a safe first date so no one would say anything."

The father nodded.  "That is a good idea."  He looked at his daughter.  "Do you wish to put this off until you're older and see if you can tolerate this one or go with the family's chosen one?"

She sighed.  "He's sweet."

"It's all the chocolate I eat," Xander said with a grin.

She blushed.  "That is a bad thing to our kind.  Very naughty, Knight."

"I might die without chocolate," he admitted, considering it. "I'd have to sneak and eat it now and then."  The other adults blushed at that.  "I need it sometimes."

"I can see why," her father agreed.  "Daughter, it is your choice."

"Fine, I will go with the family's chosen spouse for me."  She smiled at him.  "If I was not getting so old I would have taken the time but we only live so long as breeders, then we shell up and turn into warriors.  I'm about out of breeding time."

"I wish you much luck with your breeding.  I hope they're good future warriors for your clan."  She beamed.  "Do you still need us to negotiate?"  Her father nodded.  "We can do that."

"Why did you call for me?" House asked.

"If she had succeeded, he would need his father to negotiate for him," her father told him with a smile.  "If not, we'll need you to make sure he's healthy enough for breeding.  He's had his people examine him but we do not know them so we cannot trust them."

"I can understand that.  I need to do some reading on your physiology."

"He's human," the daughter told him.

"Then I can easily do that as long as you know you're compatible?"  She nodded, beaming.  "Good.  Then let's get on with screwing him over for future offspring."  She giggled, blushing again.  Her exoskeleton showed the blush very well, turning a bright scarlet instead of a muddier dark brown.  The human was led in.

Xander stared at him.  "You have a name?"

"Who're you?"

"DCIS Agent Harris.  This is Doctor House."  He sat down, staring at them.  "We're here to help with the negotiations.  I'm here to make sure it's fair."  He nodded at that, staring at her.  "What's your name?"

"Randall."

"Randall?"

"Jenks, sir."

"Okay."  He made note of that on the paper in front of him.  "I could not find information, which side pays the dowry?" Xander asked the father.

"We pay his family for breeding rights."

He nodded, making note of that as well.  "House, you want to look him over so we make sure we have a reason to negotiate?"

"I can do that."  He stood up and grabbed his cane, walking the young man off to a room one of the aunts showed him to.

"I had a physical."

"They wanted an independent one."

"Oh."  He stripped down, letting him look him over.  "I've got one child already so I'm not worried about not working."

"Do they know?"

"No."

"We'll have to work that into the agreement so you can still see them if the other parent agrees."  He nodded at that, smiling some.  "Do you still work?"

"Yes, sir."  He concentrated and got himself hard.

House stared at him.  "That doesn't mean you fully work."  He handed him a cup.  "Into it."  The guy blushed but did that.  He held it up to the light.  "Good amount, thick and healthy looking."  He sniffed.  "No obvious signs of diseases.  I'll have the sample and blood work run for you."

"What blood work?" he asked.  House pulled out a vial and needle.  He winced but let House draw some for him.  "Ow."

"Suck it up, kid."  He sent it off with the messenger demon the aunt demon summoned for him.  "To Chase, at DCIS's infirmary.  Tell him to text me results.  Full health check."  The demon nodded and disappeared.  "Okay, let's go."  He left, letting the guy follow him.  "I'm having blood and semen checked at our infirmary.  Chase will text me in a few hours."

"Thank you, Doctor House.  You are more thorough than we would expect."

"Everyone should have a physical and blood work before getting hitched.  That way there's no nasty surprises."  He looked at the boy.  "Tell her or I will."

"I have a daughter already.  I wish to keep seeing her if her mother agrees.  I'm not sure how she'd feel about me marrying you but I can and will tell her if you let me."

"I'd adore that," she agreed with a smile.  "You should keep in touch with your other child.  It makes you more worthy to be my mate."

Xander looked at him then at her.  "Will he need to learn how to fight or use a sword?"

"He'll be guarding our offspring at home," she told him.  "Not out fighting.  That would be my job once I change over."

"That's fine, just getting the facts straight for myself."  She beamed.  "In case it comes up again."  She clapped and gave him a hug.  The human glared at him.  "I am a hunter.  I do need to know these things since I have dated a demon in the past.  I'm not ruling out who I'll date next time."

"Who did you date before?" the human asked.

"I dated Anyanka when she lost her powers."  The man whimpered.  "We were starting to get back together again when she got them back but she wanted to play and I wanted a real relationship."

The man stared at him.  "You're insane!  She tortures men!"

"I'd never be that bad to anyone who was mine."

The man swallowed, looking at his future bride.  "You're not that mean, right?"

"No.  I'm a warrior of the first class but only unworthy ones would hurt those that belong to them."

"Good!"  He smiled.  She smiled back.  "Make the bride price the standard and I'll agree."

"So far we've got you at six thousand per child she bears," Xander said, looking at his notes.  "An extra four thousand if you give her twins as long as they're born healthy.  Another two if there's triplets since they're so rare."  He looked up.  "Pending you coming up healthy.  Plus the standard initial dowry of fifty thousand American dollars."

He nodded.  "That is good.  I will do my best to give her as many children as she wants."

She beamed.  "We only have six years before I change over."  He shrugged.  "Good.  Father, are there any other clauses?"

"Do we need to look over anything like a fidelity clause?" House asked.

"Once they are mated, he can only have her.  It works that way with us."  House nodded.  "We will adjourn this until you get the test results back.  Then we will sign any formal papers."  That got a nod and they went back to their room to rest.  He smiled at his daughter.  "If he had consented to a union, it would have been very prestigious for us."

"Plus he's hot, Father."

"He is very beautiful," he agreed.  "As is the older one."  She smirked but walked off humming.  She was near heat so this was a good time to get the union notarized and get on with it.  That way the first grandchild would happen soon.

A few hours later, House got the text and went to find the potential groom.  "We have to talk," he said quietly.  He gave him a horrified look.  He held up his phone.  The guy moaned.  "I don't know if it will matter to them but it is something you have to disclose.  I won't have my rep tanked because of that."

"It shouldn't matter."

"Then I'll tell her father, let him know."  He walked off, finding the family together.  The daughter spotted him and waved him to their table.  He nodded at her.  "May I have him for a minute?"

"He'll be my spouse."

"There's a question about something minor being harmful to your kind."

"Oh."  She left them to talk.  Hopefully it wasn't anything bad.

He sat down, pushing over his phone.  "He has an STD."

"What is that?"

"Sexually transmitted disease.  In this case, he's got syphilis.  I don't know if it would bother your kind or not.  In us it can cause infertility later on and sometimes madness and death.  So far it looks like it's early on since Chase didn't say his seed had been negative for motility."

The demon considered it, bringing his own healer over.  "Is this something that will harm us?"

He looked then considered it.  "He still works?" he asked House.  He texted that to Chase, getting back a 'yes' answer.  "Then it will make the children come out a lighter color and have a firmer shell.  It should not harm her and we cannot catch it.  The children would be watched but they would still be strong enough until he was fully sick."

"There's treatments to help take down symptoms," House offered.

"Those are lethal to us," the healer told him.

"Okay.  So I leave that up to you to discuss.  I did tell him and he said he didn't think it should matter.  He's in the hallway by our room pacing."

"Thank you for being so honorable, Doctor House.  Will you and the Knight be joining our festivities later on?"

He smiled.  "Xander was wondering what sort you were going to have.  He heard rumors of mock battles and things.  He even brought his axe in case you wanted to help him pet it."

The chief moaned.  "That weapon is one that is blessed to us after what it has helped face.  We would like to examine it later."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind.  He calls it his baby about half the time."  He stood up.  "Let me get Xander if you're ready to go on."

"Please.  We may be adjusting his price downward some, but as long as it will not hurt her or the children I see no reason for it to not go on."  House nodded, leaving them to talk.  "I wish I had another daughter to see if he would like her," he told the healer.  "He would bring much status to the family."  The healer smiled and nodded.  "How low should we make his child price?"

"Cut the base price by a third, make it four thousand.  Make the twin price two and leave the triplet price alone since it's so rare."

"I can do that."  They gathered everyone together.  "Daughter, he is ill with a human disease that they get from sex.  Our healer has said it will not affect the child beyond giving it a harder shell and a lighter color."  She nodded at that, looking happier.  "Do you still want him?"

"Yes, Father.  He's still a good match."

"Fine, we'll have him but his prices are being cut."

She smiled.  "It'll save the family money to marry off my children once they're of age."  He smiled back and they went back to the table.  Xander and House walked in following the groom.  "We have talked and it does not matter to us," she told him.  "Our kind cannot catch that but it can infect the child a bit.  Make it a lighter color and affect the shell."

"Since that can happen, we'll be cutting down the child price," the father agreed.  "Four thousand per child, two extra per set of twins born healthy, and leaving the triplet price alone."

He considered it, looking at House.  "There are treatments."

"I told them that, they said it's lethal to them so you'd have to do it away from her if you did.  Even then, it'll only treat symptoms."

"The mother of my other child gave it to me," he admitted.  He looked at her, smiling at her.  "I still accept."

The father clapped.  "Then we'll celebrate while it's being drawn up and the priests are gathered."

Xander pulled his battle axe off his back, letting them see it.  "I heard you wanted to see my baby," he said with a grin.

The daughter moaned, taking it to look over.  "She is beautiful, Knight."

The groom looked at him.  "You use a battle axe?"

"And guns and swords and artillery.  That's been in a few very serious battles with me.  Including graduation."  She moaned again, tracing the faint carvings with a finger.  "I should sharpen her handle point later but the blades are useable."

"It's a beautiful weapon," she assured him.  The others gathered around to look it over.  She smiled at her groom.  "It was in the last battle in Miami, against that hell goddess."  He went pale.  "She has faced many battles at his side."  One of the guards came in and said something.  "Problems?  Are the priests already here?"

"Someone came here looking for the knight," he said.

Xander gave him a confused look.  "Problems on base?"

"A slayer."

"Here?" the father demanded, glaring at Xander.

He shrugged.  "I didn't bring one or set off my emergency beacon.  I have no idea why one's here.  Which one?"

"The youngest, Knight."

"She's only ten," he said, getting up to find her.  "Cordette, what are you doing here?"

She sniffled.  "I hate LA."

He gave her a hug.  "What's wrong?"  He sat down, making her stand in front of him.  That way they were nearly the same height.  "What's up?"

"I should be able to go to the mall by myself, right?"

He snorted.  "Hell no!  Dawn didn't get to go to the mall by herself until she was almost sixteen!  And that was alone.  She still had a chaperone if it was a date until she was seventeen."

She pouted.  "But she's normal and I'm a slayer.  I can handle myself better than she can."

He shook his head.  "You're still ten.  Ain't no way in hell, young lady."  She pouted.  "Tough.  What brought this pout fest on?"

"Alan said I wasn't old enough to go to the mall with my friends unless one of them went with us.  Their parents don't mind."

"Their parents obviously don't give a damn about their kids and also apparently want to be grandparents in the next few years.  Alan's smarter and nicer than that.  No, you're not old enough to go on group outings until you're probably fourteen."

She slumped.  "But I'm a slayer."

"So?"  He shrugged.  "You're still ten.  Being a slayer means you can beat up on someone but I doubt anyone who'd jump you at the mall would be a harmful demon.  Even in LA.  It'd be a human pervert and you couldn't kill them."  She sat down beside him.  "Did you tell anyone you were coming my way?"

"No.  They hate me.  They think I'm a baby."

He sighed, pulling out his phone to find the number.  "Hey, Charlie, Xander Harris.  I have Cordette pouting at me.  Teenage girl things a bit early.   No, I'm on a diplomatic mission with House.  Yes, that House.  They're a warrior clan.  They're cooing over my axe.  Anyway, we're having a talk about being around spoiled friends and things.  I'm letting you know since I doubt she left a note or anything; your father's got to be freaking out with your big brother."  She shook her head.  "Though she's saying they're not.  Yeah, that stuff.  I'll bring her back when I can.  Tell them we'll watch over her and spank her if she turns into the girls right after the First Evil battles."  He smiled.  "Thanks, man."  He hung up and looked at her.  "You're *so* getting it when you get home."

"They don't like me."

"Alan?  He wouldn't have adopted you and fed you all these  years if he didn't, Cordette."

"He was complaining that Miss Kitty was shedding."

"Cats do that.  Tara's new cat in Cleveland does that all over Giles' books and he complains but he doesn't mean anything by it.  Complaining is done by all adults sometimes, but it doesn't mean we dislike the creature."

She stared at him.  "He does."

"I'll ask him when we bring your tiny butt home for you, how about that?"

She nodded, resting against his side.  "I'm not sure I want to go back anyway."

"Why?" he asked patiently.

"My friends are mean sometimes," she said quietly.  "They think I'm a baby because Alan doesn't want me to go out by myself and things."

"You're *ten*.  There's no way in hell a good parent would let you out on your own at that young of an age, Cordette. If their parents do, I can gladly have a talk with CPS for them."  She shuddered so he calmed himself down.  "Tell me what's going on?"  She shrugged.  "No, don't shrug.  If it's bad enough that you ran away, you clearly need to talk about it with someone.  I make a good someone most of the time.  Or House is here if you wanted to talk to him.  Mary likes coming to him with questions."

She shook her head.  "It's nothing, Xander."

"Bullshit."

She looked up at him.  "How do you know?" she demanded.

He stared at her.  "You ran away."

"Oh."  She slumped against his side again.  "I guess it's getting to me.  Alan and them think I'm tiny and fragile.  My friends think I'm too fragile to do anything with them now because they won't let me out on my own.  Plus there's the kids at school."

"Who're saying what?" he asked.  She shrugged again.  "Have you talked to anyone else about this stuff?"

"Willow said kids pick on other kids."

"The last time I knew, Willow was encased in a crystal in the Elder's living room," he said blandly.  "Is she not?"

"She just got out."

"Gee, Leo, thanks for telling me," he yelled, looking up.   He looked at her.  "She's a shithead, Cordette.  Yes, there's some kids who pick on others.  Bullies exist because they have parents like mine were."  She let out a small grin.  "What?"

"You're still mad at her?"

He sighed.  "Yeah, I am," he told her.  "She might've been my best friend for a very long time but she did some things that were very harmful to me.  She nearly killed me."  She lost her grin.  "She screwed me up so badly I nearly left DCIS and you girls to go into hiding while I thought."  She slumped again.  "A lot of it was adult stuff that you don't need to know about but it was bad.  Very bad.  I still have nightmares about it.  Usually I only have them about graduation, the hellmouth battle, and Georgia."  She shuddered.  "Exactly.  So no, I don't think I'll ever forgive her for that.  Or for trying to have DCIS shut down for giving me a job and you girls a safe place to be."

She nodded.  "I guess I can understand that."  She squeezed his hand.  "She said it's normal that they're making fun of me because I don't see a point in liking boys and I'm not a gentle little girly girl."

He stared at her.  "Excuse me?  They're saying what?"

"Some of the girls are saying I'm a lesbian because I don't see a point in boys yet and because I'm not some delicate little girl who likes lace."

"Oh, we're going to be having a talk with them.  A very *long* talk with them," he assured her, giving her a squeeze.  "You're only a lesbian if you like girls, Cordette.  If you do, there's nothing wrong with it.  You know Amber is, right?"  She smiled and nodded.  "We see nothing wrong with that as long as whoever you eventually find is good to you.  Even if they're a good demon."  She gave him an awed look.  "Honestly.  As long as they're good to you."  She nodded, giving him a hug.  "C'mon, let's go talk to House.  Maybe he can clear up some of the idiots' bad ideas for you."

"So me not liking to crochet with the art class is okay?" she asked.

"I hate to crochet and only a few slayers like it.  Every girl is different.  Not every girl is a delicate little mousy thing.  Does Alan know about this?"

"He'd probably agree."  He smacked her on the head.  "Ow!"

"Good.  That's for the stupid thought."  He stared at her.  She grinned back.  "Yay.  He would not let them do that.  I know Alan won't.  You've handled enough on your own.  We'll be telling him while I yell at your teachers for you."  He stood up and pulled her up, walking her back that way.  "This one is getting married.  We've been helping her negotiate her wedding contract."

"I hope it's a happy one," Cordette said with a smile.  "I kinda ran away to have Xander straighten out my thinking."

She gave her a hug.  "It happens to all girls sometimes, young one."  Cordette grinned.  "Go talk with House.  He's got to be wise since the knight goes to him for advice."

"I will.  I didn't mean to intrude or panic anyone.  I'm sorry."

"It's fine.  It's a great honor on the family to have the knight or you here, slayer."  She beamed and walked over to House, tugging on his arm until he looked down at her.  She looked at Xander, who shrugged.  "Bad problems?"

"Bullying.  Stupid kids who need their asses kicked and their parents too," he told her.  He walked over to House, helping her.  "They decided she's old enough to go to the mall on group dates by herself."

"Oh hell no!" House told her.  She grimaced. "Tough.  You may be a slayer but you're still a ten-year-old girl, young lady.  Am I clear?  I am *not* going to have to deliver your child in a few years."

"Hopefully not until she's out of college," Xander agreed.  "We'll talk later.  I'm sure House can help me give you reasons why those other kids were wrong."

"Maybe, but maybe they're not.  I don't know why girls kiss boys and stuff."

"You're ten and you haven't hit puberty yet.  You're not supposed to know that stuff," House told her simply.

"My friends do."

"They need a social worker to save them then," he shot back.

She gave him a hug.  "You even sound like Xander."

He patted her on the back.  "We'll talk with your family and someone so they can help those kids."

"Yes, Doctor House."

"Thanks," Xander mouthed.  House smirked back.  He walked over to the other warriors, taking his axe from one that was swinging it.  "Like this," he said, showing him how.

Cordette snuck over and took it to try it out.  "Some day I'll have to borrow it for my great yearly apocalypses while the current potentials are still too young to be called."

"Some year," Xander agreed, showing her how to use it.  She beamed and the warriors were happy with her.  They showed her their weapons too since she seemed to like them.  It was a good celebration.  They even got together to mock battle.  Xander and the slayer were quite a good team.

***

Xander walked into the principal's office with a smile.  "Hi, I'm DCIS Agent Harris, Slayer's Council.  I need to talk to our slayer's teacher and the principal about some bullying problems she's been having.  Her father and big brother will be showing up soon."

"The teacher should be in her classroom.  It's after classes, sir."

"Thank you.  Which way to room ten?"  She pointed.  "Thank you."  He walked that way, turning on the tape recorder before he knocked.  "Ma'am, Slayer's Council.  I think we need to talk about some problems our youngest has had recently."

"What problems is that?"  She put down her pen.

"Some atrocious bullying by children who, frankly, I think CPS needs to talk to about their urgings toward sex at the tender age of ten.  Plus some more minor bullying about calling her a lesbian because she's not the most delicate of girls."

"It's clear to some of us," she said simply.

"Why?  Because crocheting bores her?"  He snorted.  "Plenty of real women are bored by those sort of activities and they still find wonderful men and marry.  Not that we care if she is or isn't, since she's too young to have any idea what a lesbian was until she looked it up."  The teacher went pale.  "She's ten.  Don't you think you and your little prozac minions saying that to her is a bit damaging to her psyche?"

"She's a too-tough little brat," she sneered.

"Hmm.  Why?  Because she can't crochet?  Because she can ride a horse?"  He sneered back.  "Lady, you have no idea how delicate that little girl is.  I just spent the weekend with her unscrewing what you and your little minions have done."  The principal came in.  "Good.  You can tell me why your teacher is letting and encouraging some of her students to call one of our slayers a lesbian and saying she's worthless because she's not old enough at ten-years-old to go out by herself yet."

The principal smirked at him.  "According to who?  We haven't had any such complaints."

"According to her and she has filed a complaint, madam.  She had a copy of the complaint form in her room.  I have it copied."  He pulled it out of his pocket and held it up.  She went pale.  "I see.  Then we'll wait for her adoptive parents to get here.  Shall we?"

"Who are you?" the principal asked.

"Slayer's Council, second in command, over the slayer's training."  He smirked.  "Also known as DCIS Agent Xander Harris."  She sat down next to her teacher at that.  "I should also tell you that I have alerted CPS that those girls, who are the same age, have been going out to grope their boyfriends at the mall.  Ten-year-olds should not be doing that.  That's a bit young, don't you think?"  Alan walked in.  He handed over the form, staring at him.

"This is what's been wrong?"

"That and her friends have been pressuring her to go out on her own even though she's not old enough yet.  They've been groping their boyfriends on those trips to the mall."  Alan growled.  "The teacher and her little drug horde minions have been calling her a lesbian.  She had to look it up.  She's a bit traumatized.  House and I had to talk to her about what that meant and how she wouldn't figure that out until after she hit puberty and how it was perfectly fine for her not to know why girls kissed boys at her age."

"She's got to be.  She doesn't fit in with our girls at all.  The girls here are delicate," the teacher sneered, standing up.  "I won't have you accusing me of things."

Xander stared at her.  "I can arrest you," he offered.  She flopped back down.  Don walked in.  He looked at Alan again.  "I'm all for letting her handle it on her own.  Up to the point where she ran away because this was stressing her out."

"I agree.  I thought it was minor stuff and she had handled it, Xander."

Xander shrugged.  "It's cool, Alan.  I know you're a good parent.  I also know that this is beyond that point."

"I agree."  He looked at the teacher.  "You called my daughter a what!" he demanded.  Don took the form to read over then growled at them.  "Down, Don."

"I did tell CPS on her friends since they've gotten to groping and their parents don't seem to give a damn," Xander told him.  "She gave me first names and in the report I mentioned they all went to school here."  He pulled out a card.  "This is the one I talked to earlier about this matter."

Don smirked.  "Thanks, Xander.  I think we can add to that if they need us to."

"Welcome.  Alan, do you want to keep her here in this obviously mediocre school?"

"It's one of the best academically in the city."

He walked over to Cordette's cubby against the wall, pulling out something to give to him.  "From the teacher.  That looks like the test they'll be taking in a few months for the state to me."

He looked it over.  "You're letting them cheat!" he demanded.  "How dare you!"

Xander handed Don the tape recorder.  "We do pay for private school if she needs it."  Don smirked.  "I'll be damned.  I don't want that little girl hurt.  I'm very proud of myself that I gave House my service piece.  By the way, Charlie has her.  She and Larry were talking about bullies since I mentioned they might have a talk about it.  Since I'm sure Charlie had his share of them."

"Yeah, he did, but nothing like this."

"Oh, she said Willow said bullying happened to everyone sometime."

"Good to know she's out."

"No one told me either.  I'm going to see why later."  He smirked.  "I'll let you know."

"Please."  Alan looked at him.  "Are you all right?"

"I heard and started to get phantom pains in my arm again."  He looked at the teacher.  "I want her license.  Anyone else?"  They nodded.  "Good."  He found a number in his phone.  "Sam, Xander Harris.  Yes, I know you're probably very busy but you're the most highly educated geek I know.  One of our slayers, Cordette, she's in a school where the female teacher is encouraging some of the students to call her a lesbian because she's not a girly girl.  Of course I knew you were back from your last assignment.  Rodney told me."  He smirked.  "Exactly.  How would I go about protesting her licensing and the school?"  He made notes on a piece of paper.  "Good.  No, but we did find evidence that the teacher was giving the students the answers for the upcoming state exams.  Yup," he said dryly.  "Please do.  No, I'm proud of myself.  House has my service piece," he said blandly.  "With Charlie.  Talking about bullies.  Because the teacher agreed she should be allowed to go to the mall by herself at age ten to meet with boys."  She shrieked at that.  "Can I get a bit of help with that one?  Thanks, Sam.  Call Danny, he's been missing you."  He hung up.  "Sam Carter."

"The astrophysicist that makes Charlie drool?" Don asked.  "Because she's got his size brains?"

"Yeah.  She's back for some meetings."  He smirked.  "She'd know about those sort of things too."

"Good!  It's good to get help," Alan decided.  He sneered at them, done with his ranting for now.  He had a good one while his son and Xander talked.  "We'll be withdrawing Cordette immediately to a better school that gives a damn about their students."

Someone knocked then walked in.  "Captain," Don said with a smile.  "Fast trip."

"Dawn helped."  She smirked.  "What happened?"  Xander held up the test form.  "Really?"  She nodded.  "I've got someone coming in a few minutes, Xander."

"Let me gather the rest of Cordette's things," Alan offered.  "She's with Charlie, Xander?"

"Yeah, I figured he had a bad time with bullying for a bit since he was so young when he started college.  She and Larry were talking about it."

"That's fine.  I'll make sure she knows she can tell me later."

"Her thing about not telling you was the going out alone thing," Xander told him.  He shrugged.  "They were pushing and she was getting some stress.   You told her how to handle bullies and it got worse."

"Charlie had the same problem.  I'll make sure she can talk to me and to leave a note next time."

"That's why I called Charlie, Alan.  To make sure you got told where she was.  She had a lot of fun at the wedding.  Oh."  He pulled a DVD out of his pocket, holding it up for Don with a grin.  "It was a warrior type of demon family wedding.  They had mock battles.  We teamed up for three of them.  They were highly impressed and she got in a lot of weapon petting time during it."  The principal sneered at that.  He let Don have it.  "That's your copy.  So you guys can tell her how good she did even though she did trip that one time."  He looked at the principal.  "Our slayers are girls who can fight but also do more delicate things.  Or else she wouldn't be able to ride side saddle."  He kissed Sam on the cheek.  "Remember to call Danny.  He's been pouting at Jack again."  He winked and left it to them.

"We'll watch that after dinner," Alan said.  "Then we'll ground her tiny butt for the next month for running away."

"She did?" Sam asked.

"She got overloaded and went to find Xander," Don told her.

"That's not a bad thing."

"No, she was safe.  It's still not right of her to run away and not talk to us," Alan said.  "It's good he's as overprotective as I am about my kids."

"I might be able to help since I'm a slayer too," Sam offered.  Her friend came in.  "Does this look familiar?" she asked.

"That's the test we have coming up next month.  Where did you get this?" she demanded.

Alan smirked.  "They gave it to my daughter.  They've also been encouraging bad behavior, bullying, and other problems.  There's a social worker already involved as well."

"Good!" she growled, stomping over to talk to them.

Sam grinned.  "When should I come over after dinner, Alan?"

"You can come for dinner.  I can cook enough for two slayers, Samantha."

She smiled.  "I wasn't going to impose."

"Morgan and Crissy are coming for dinner.  So's Connor and Gunn," Don told her.  "We're having a cookout.  Bring some extra, good burgers."  She nodded, shaking their hands and moving to help them.  Alan and Don got her things and left it in their hands.  Though Don did give Sam the copy of that complaint form as well.  She smirked at him for it and they left to let the two highly educated ones rip the two pitiful ones to shreds before they got them out of education for good.

***

Xander walked onto base and paused since all the girls were staring at him.  "What?  Did I suddenly change colors?"

"The demon chick wanted to marry you?" Faith asked.

"I see nothing wrong with it as long as it's a good, healthy relationship," he said firmly.  "Even if one of you wanted to.  As long as it's a healthy relationship I'm not going to say anything, ladies."  They all stared in horror.  He shrugged.  "Tough shit, get over it."

"Then why did you rag on B and Broody?" Faith asked.

"Not even I can call that healthy, Faith.  Looking back now, it wasn't as bad as I thought at first but with that soul clause there's no way it wouldn't turn out tragic.  So let me make this clear, ladies.  I don't care who you date as long as it's good for you.  Male, female, demon male, demon female.  As long as they're not going to hurt you or anyone else and they make you happy enough to giggle most of the time, then I'm all for it.  That's why John talked with Anya, because it wasn't looking healthy to him."  Dean nodded slowly so Xander knew it was partially the demon thing.  "I'm not going to encourage it any which way.  You'll tell us who you want to date.  It's part of growing up.  I'm not making arranged relationships for you unless you totally screw up and date a pedophile or something."  They smiled and nodded at that.  "Dean, do you see a problem with that edict?"

"No, I don't.  I know Sammy won't either.  Dad might be a bit more uptight with some of the older watchers, but they're older and more set in their ways."

"Good."  He smiled since he caught Daniel, Jack from the armory, and Wesley watching.  "You three?"

"As long as it's a healthy relationship and they don't end up on caseload, I've never cared," Daniel told him simply.

"We've met some frightfully nice demons over the years," Wesley agreed.  "I have no problem either, Xander, and I know Giles will only complain a bit."

"Would that be because the brain-sucking demon got him again?"

"Possibly," he admitted.  "How did you hear about that?"

"It was news at the wedding.  I called Buffy and she went to tie him down."  He smirked.  "The other girls were more than happy to help her."

"I'm sure they were."  He smirked.  "Jack, do you have a problem with that?"

"Not with some of the past ones of his I've heard about."

Xander smirked.  "They were nice to *me*.  Mostly."  He looked at the girls.  "Any other problems, ladies?"

"What was wrong with Little C?" Faith asked.

"Bullies.  The teacher and her happy little future drug abuser minions called her a lesbian because she hadn't hit puberty and didn't understand boys.  Her friends and the teacher thought she should be crocheting like the others and groping boys already."

"Alan need something for his throat?"

"Yup."  He smirked.  "Me too.  But I had already talked to CPS and a few officers that morning as well."  They all cheered at that.  "She's fine.  It's settled and they're back on good footing again.  Need help, Dean?"

"Nah, we're good.  Just usual PT.  Dawn could some help with her apartment for college."

"How would I know what college apartments need, Dean?  She should ask Sam.  He had one."

"Good point," he decided with a grin.

"I can do that," Dawn agreed.  She jogged over to give him a hug.  "We love you, big brother."

"I know Steph needs to go shopping.  She can go with you."  She laughed, going to get her out of the infirmary and Sam from language lessons to go with her.  Sam got the shopping card and it was good.  He looked at Daniel.  "It was a really nice wedding.  Oh, Dean, I downloaded the video to my email since I brought my laptop.  They mock-battle at wedding celebrations.  Cordette and I went back-to-back a few times."  He nodded, smirking at that.  "She's not bad.  She tripped once but she's pretty good."

"Good.  I look forward to grading it and having her in for a few weeks to work with Mini Mouth and her Minion there."  He pointed at Annabelle and Mary.

Xander looked at them.  Then at Jack.  "No artillery or explosives lessons?"

"Not until they're patrol cleared.  Wesley said so."

"Teach them the basics of how to use a gun or higher anyway.  Just in case?  Some of the not cleared jumped into Georgia.  Those two especially."

"I can do that."  Wesley nodded that was fine with him.

"Good.  Then I need a nap.  I had to stop over to talk to Leo about why Willow's free."

"Excuse me?" Dean demanded, moving closer.  "She's free and no one told us?"

"Yeah.  And the first thing I did was have phantom pain in my arm," he muttered since Dean could read lips.  Dean raised an eyebrow.  He shrugged he was fine.

"Uh-huh.  Where is she?"

"Cleveland.  Again."  He looked at Wesley.  "I'm not working with her unless it's a world-ending emergency and the universe is about to scream as it's being screwed.  I'm sorry but I can't, Wes.  I can't not hate her for it and I can't forgive her for it."

"I can see that, Xander.  Does Rupert know?  He's never mentioned it."

"No clue.  I'd assume so.  She was telling Cordette that some bullying was normal."

"Oh, bloody hell no," Wesley said.  "I don't want her near the young slayers."  He stomped off to call out there.  "Buffy, is Rupert back to normal  yet?  Because Miss Rosenburg was telling Cordette the wrong thing and it hurt her enough that she ran away briefly to talk to Xander about the bullying going on."  He listened to her babble.  "I do not care, Buffy.  We do not appreciate Miss Rosenburg's issues.  Even if she is better.  She nearly killed Xander, Buffy.  She's nearly ended the world a few times now.  That switching thing she did ended up in four world that had no people thanks to her wishes.  They are not fully closed off and those situations still hurt others.

"I will not have her hurting the girls.  They're more important.  If the older ones want to talk to her, fine.  I do not want her near the younger set."  He listened then nodded.  "That is your choice and you're old enough to make it, Buffy.  Mary, Anna, Cordette, and the younger girls are not."  She said something.  "Very well.  Keep her out there.  Because Xander heard and felt the loss of his arm again, Buffy."  She whispered something.  "We shall see."  He hung up and went out there.   "John, Buffy said Willow's still using magic and had summoned a higher demon to handle something in Cleveland."

"Excuse me?" Daniel asked.  "She did what?"  Xander groaned, walking off rubbing his arm.  "Dean...."  He followed Xander to calm him down.  "Did she endanger others?"

Wesley nodded.  "Buffy said so."

"John, you're going as backup to a team," Daniel decided.  "Horatio!"  He came jogging out.  "Miss Rosenburg is out of her confinement.  She's summoned a higher demon to the hellmouth to take care of an issue.  You're bringing John as backup while you investigate.  Rupert's mind has been sucked at by a demon so he's not fully normal."

"Miss Summers sounded a bit off as well," Wesley said.  "Like she had been under coercion."

Horatio nodded.  "We'll go now.  My full team.  John, anyone you need?"

"Just me."  That got a nod.  "I'll meet you at the airport in two and a half hours."  Horatio nodded, heading inside to gather his people.  "What if she does end up being charged?" he asked Daniel.

"We'll make a cell able to shield against any magic.  Plus let Xander make that decision for himself."

"Thanks."  He walked off.

"If you need slayer support, you yell," Faith told him.

"Agreed."  He smiled.  "You're a hell of a woman and a hell of a slayer, Faith."  He went to pack, finding Dean doing it for him.  "Xander?"

"Went to bed with a migraine."

"We're going to investigate what she did, son.  Let him rest for now.  Get him to eat dinner.  If he's still doing his arm, get him to House."  He finished his packing.  "Get me the colt too please."  Dean nodded, going to get it.  With a higher, there was no telling what was going on in Cleveland.

***

Radek Zalenka looked over the new information he got from their lab assistant on Atlantis, frowning.  "Carson?"  He came over to look at it.  "Is that not a problem?"

"It's a very bad problem."  He took it to look over, walking down to talk to the local doctors.  "House?"  He looked up from his notes.  "Take a look at this for me."  He let him see it.  "The lab on Atlantis just sent that to Radek."

He read it over, frowning some.  "Isn't that a form of diphtheria?"

"It appears to be."  He looked around.  "Any idea where Dawn is?"

"Not at the moment."  He paged her and she walked out of a portal a second later.  "We've got a problem on Atlantis."

"Hmm."  She tested her usual point of entry up there.  "I can't get to it."  They stared at her.  "It's covered with something.  Can we force a connection and call?  Abby's done that in the past."

"The ship's not in the right spot," he admitted.  He called the base.  "It's Zalenka.  We need to check on Atlantis."  He listened.  "When was the last data burst?"  He scowled.  "We have some here who can handle that."  He hung up.  "They are having a base-wide medical issue."

"I need a good image of the current space I'm moving you guys to," Dawn ordered.  They nodded.  "I'll get one from Rodney while you guys pack medicines."  She jogged off to the unicorn barn.  Rodney was hiding out there to get some peace and quiet.  "Rodney, your lab's got diphtheria."  He glared at her.  "Radek just found out.  My usual spot is covered so I can't use it to get up there.  I need good pictures and they might need help forcing a connection like Abby used to do to you."

"Said who?" he demanded.

"Carson."

"Crap."  He got up and brought his laptop back up to the lab.  "What happened?" he demanded.  Radek let him at the results.  "We're sure that's what it is?"

"Carson went to talk to House."

"I need good, real time pictures of a clear area.  The usual one is covered," Dawn told them.

"I'm not sure if we can force the connection.  She can only do it when the ship's in the right spot," Rodney admitted.  He tried, shaking his head.  "It's not there."  He called the base.  "It's McKay, where is the Dadelus?"  He listened to the report, then nodded.  "All right.  We'll do this the more normal way then.  Alert the general that I'm coming with Carson and probably one of DCIS's doctors to get back to Atlantis.  If he argues, Gibbs smack him."  He hung up, looking at Dawn.  "Now."  She ran off to tell them and get a few things.  He followed once he had his kit back together.  It had been in the office closet.  "I almost missed emergencies," he said, stopping to give Abby a kiss.  "The base is in lock down due to an emergency."  He took another kiss.  "We'll send Dawn back in a few minutes."  House was getting what they needed.  Dawn went through to mark the area, then took them to the base in Colorado.  The Marines pulled up guns.  "Stop it," he snapped.  The general rushed in.  "Diphtheria?" he demanded.

"We don't know how.  Doctor Beckett.  Who are these two?"

"Dawn Summers.  I'm the one who usually makes the portals.  They've got my usual spot closed off so I can't.  I'll be getting the medicine up there once I can open somewhere."  He nodded.  "This is Doctor House."  She followed Rodney out.  "Anything I should be aware of?"

"The gateway's cold," Beckett warned.  "House, it'll make you dizzy."

"I can hold myself up."  He looked at Dawn.  "You may be quarantined."

"We have that room on base set up for that," she reminded him dryly, smirking some.  "That way Sam doesn't buy me singing flower statues and things for my dorm room."  He nodded at that.  Rodney was arguing with someone.  "Let me."  She touched his head and he suddenly started to dial out for them.  She smirked.  Rodney smirked back.  "Only in emergencies.  Xander will paddle my ass if I do it otherwise."  The gateway opened and they headed down there.  She tested the portal first.  "This is going to make me nauseous."  She walked through and came out on the other side.  And promptly got sick off the side of the ramp.  "Oooooh."

Carson let House check her over.  "She's a bit drained," House admitted.  "It'll be an hour or so before she can create a portal."

"That's fine.  We have enough with us to do that."  The gateway shut.  "They can yell later."  He headed for his infirmary.  "Dawn, find a computer.  Email the base and send it through.  The protocols are in a set folder already.  All you need to do is push the start button on it."  She nodded, heading to do that while they went to find the disease ward.  He found Ronon staring into a room.  "How bad and why didn't you call?"

"Half a science team is locked in a lab.  They wouldn't let me.  McKay."

"I'll beat them later.  Help Dawn.  She's getting some things ready so we can get the medicine we need.  She's in the control room."  He nodded, heading that way.  "Masks?"

"Contamination suits," Carson said with a point.  They got them out and went in to look over patients.

House stared.  "This isn't fully our version of diphtheria.  The medicine will only help."  He looked over the next one.  He called Dawn.  "It's me.  Have them send up some extra antibiotics.  It's not our strain.  Also have them send up an anti-diarrheal batch too."  He hung up and moved on.

Dawn sent that and got one back since the gateway was slightly open on their side so she could send messages back and forth.  She answered the threat of court marshaling with the point that she already knew and had gotten people to and from Atlantis in the past.  Plus their own base.  She sent that message to Chase directly, getting one back saying he'd do it.  Then she sent one to her sister to tell the others they'd be okay but to keep down the slayer injuries for a few days.  "Hey, Ronon.  I need a really clear spot to bring about four cases of stuff through and it'll be fragile stuff that the docs will need immediately.  Then I'll probably pass out.  The magic up here is weaker for me to draw on."  She looked at him.  "Find me a spot."  He nodded, considering the base until he found the spot he thought would work best, pulling it up on a monitor.  "How far away from the sick people is it?"

"One hallway but it's the closest open area that's not outside and exposed."

She nodded.  "Okay."  She gathered herself.  "Let's go down there."  She left the latest threat after forwarding it to Daniel.  He'd cover her ass this time.  He might yell but he'd do it.

***

Daniel's email beeped and he frowned, getting into it.  He called the base.  "Hank, calm down.  It is Jackson.  Calm down.  Dawn's been there before.  She's how Rodney gets down to see Abby and how the others got down this time.  She's moving the medicine.  Why would she?  We have quarantine on this base,  Hank."  He smiled.  "Of course.  She'll blow it off too.  She's been threatened by worse than the military.  She had a hell god who wanted her blood for a ritual, Hank.  The US military is not that bad."  The general over the stargate program shuddered, he could hear it through the line.  "Just let it happen this time.  The whole base is apparently down by what she sent.  Just let it happen and we'll figure it out later.  All right?  House is our doctor here on base.  Yes, that was him.  You're lucky he didn't hit you with the cane.  He's even done it to Jack a few times.  Exactly.  Let them treat people, okay?"  He hung up and went to tell Jack.  "Dawn, House, Carson, and Rodney are back on base since there's an epidemic."  Jack gave him a dirty look.  "She couldn't open up the usual portal."

"Aw, crap," he muttered.

"I calmed him down already.  Told him he wasn't worse than Glory so she was going to snort at his threats.  Told him he was lucky House hadn't gotten him with the cane.  House told him it was diphtheria."

"How many teams are off-world?"

"No clue.  I've only heard from her up there.  I sent back a request for a status report but I haven't heard anything yet."

"Okay.  So we wait?"

"Where's the ship?"

"Here."

"Pick up a few of the docs on base just in case you have to go save them."  He nodded, making that call to get things moving.  He went back to tell Xander.  "Dawn's fine."  Xander was collapsed on his couch still.

"She's doing what?" he asked, uncovering his head.

"Saving Rodney's base."

"Uh-huh.  I didn't think she was a slayer."

"They're having a medical epidemic.  She couldn't open something from down here.  Had to go up there to do it."

"Hmm.  Okay.  I'll ask her if it's pretty later."  He put his hand back over his eyes.  "Let me know if I have to run up to save them."

"I can do that."  He left to tell Jack that.  "You might want to make sure the base is secure and not going to be attacked if someone knows it's a base-wide sickness."

"I can do that too.  I could use a portal right now."

"Abby hasn't gotten that figured out yet."

Sam leaned in the doorway.  "We do have another way," he offered.  "There's a demon in the cells that can make portals.  He should be able to make a transport portal."  That got a nod.  "Give him some consideration, see if he'd do it."  He smirked.  "Do we need to send slayers to help?"

"God I hope not," Jack admitted.  He called the base.  "We're going to try to get there the quick way."

"Helicopter will only take an hour," Danny pointed out.

"Or we can copter in.  Yeah, I need a status report to make sure we don't have to go retrieve teams and things."  He hung up, going to make sure Chase didn't have anything for him.  He took a vial.  "What's that?"

"For Dawn.  She's going to be collapsing soon.  She sent an email saying the magic up there was thinner so she'll have to draw on her own power this time.  That means the portal won't stay open that long and it'll be a problem when she passes out."

"All right."  He took it.  "Anything else I should know?"

"Not yet.  She did say Ronon was with her."

"That's good to know."  He jogged outside, getting into the helicopter the local base had sent over.  He headed back to save the universe once again.

***

Sheppard looked up as their current location's gateway opened.  "Hallelujah," he said dryly.  He walked through with the trainee team, finding Ronon waiting in the Ops center.  "What happened?" he called.

"A base-wide medical problem," Dawn called.  "I need muscles, guys.  I don't have enough energy to open the portal and float things through."  Sheppard came jogging up the stairs.  "I can open it.  I can close it again.  I can't do that, hold it open, and float."

"We can handle that.  Pallets of what?"

"Meds."

"Okay.  Guys, get some of the moving stuff," he ordered.  They ran to do that.  "Where?"

"The atrium nearest the mess hall," Ronon said.  "There's a half a science team locked in the main lab.  The rest are all sick.  That's why we stranded the away teams.  On Carter's orders."

"Even better.  How many?"

"Three others."

"I'll get them back to help."  He moved to do that, finding the gateway lighting up on its own.  "Okay.....  Hmm.  Home base.  Dawn, don't yell at anyone."

"I need to save my energy anyway," she admitted.   He nodded at that, shutting it once they were through.  "Hi, Jack."

"Dawn.  You okay?"

"I need about another twenty to unscrew what the wormhole did to my powers.  Otherwise I'll make a funky portal that'll warp stuff."

"Okay.  Chase sent you something for when you pass out."

"Good deal."  She looked at Ronon.  "Just put me on a couch and give me juice, big guy."  She walked off with Jack, letting Sheppard handle the military stuff.   Not like she understood it.  She found the spot she wanted, which was in the sunlight.  She concentrated on herself, pulling up the magic in her.  It wasn't often she touched the Key's energy but today she'd need it to be impressive.  And hey, not even Xander could nag her about this one.  It was necessary.  She pulled up the rest of the magic she had and opened the portal with her blood this time to make it more solid.

"You've got ten minutes to get the stuff," she ordered.  They rushed into the warehouse DCIS had things like this stored in.  They had stores of medicine for after the invasion.  Just in case they had brought something with them.  Jack and the military people moved the crates back quickly with a bucket line maneuver.   She wobbled.  "Guys, going soon," she noted.  The people over there helped by sending more over in another line.  The rest of the materials were sent over by floating, she didn't know who was doing it, but okay.  The last one was coming through when it started to wobble.  "Three seconds," she shouted.  Jack dove back through.  It caught his shoe, but he could replace them later.  She passed out in Ronon's arms.

"Let me put her down," Ronon ordered.

Jack looked at the directions Chase had put on the vial, finding the box of needles to inject it into her arm.  "One of you check on her periodically."  He helped carry the stuff to the mess hall, tapping on the door and waving the first one.  House came out, taking off his contamination suit in the plastic sheathed airlock.  "Medicine?"

"Good."  He came out to look it over.  "This'll work."  He pointed at cases.  "Those into the airlock."  They moved it for him.  "The needles too.  It's been opened?"

"I had to give Dawn something; Chase said to give it to her," Jack said.

"Good enough."  He went back in, getting back into the suit to push the stuff into the room with Carson's help.  They dosed everyone and settled in to check them over.  He checked the slayers over.  Carter was looking weak.  Tiff was trying to be robust.  "Stay down," he ordered.  She went limp and nodded.  "Carter, are you allergic to anything?  I can't remember off the top of my head."

"I just got my anthrax vaccine the day I came back, which was the same day it started, House.  I felt like crap from that one."

He nodded, checking her again.  "Okay.  It'll be soon.  Your slayer healing is working."  She nodded.  He got them bottles of water from the crate and let them sip.  "When you're stronger, help others drink."  He went back to injecting people with the medicines they'd need.

Carson looked over.  "Why did we have all this stored?"

"Jackson thought the invasion might bring a few new demonic diseases to LA.  This is what he had stocked and waiting."

"Good."  He got back to it.  They finally finished up and came back to help people sip water.  He found a few of the Marines in there in decontamination suits as well.   "Let me check on the scientists."

"Already did," John noted.  "They're not sick.  They've got air purifiers in there going strong.  They're free now and O'Neill is debriefing them about how this happened."  That got a nod.  "Rodney's chewing them a new one for waiting three days before calling."

"I'd do the same thing," Carson agreed.  "They earned that butt chewing this time."  House smirked at him through his hood.  "It may not be the Scottish way but I don't have a sword to go after them with or war paint."

House shook his head.  "You're a bit strange, doc."  He left, taking off the suit in the airlock.  "Fortunately it looks like we'll have them up and going for the most part in about a week," he told O'Neill when he ran into him.  "Where's Dawn?  What did Chase send you with?"  He handed over the vial.  "Hmm."  He went to check on her.  "Yup, you wasted your personal reserves.  Get me a vial of the painkiller too?  She'll have an overuse headache."  Jack did that.  Plus an IV drip of nutrient solution.  "Might help, yeah."  He started it and got her to drink the potion without waking her up.  He pointed at the Marine.  "If she moves, pukes, or whines, I need to know."

"Yes, sir.  I've seen her getting McKay in the past."

"The magic up here is thinner," he told him simply.  "She had to use from herself instead of the stuff laying around."

"In other words, the Force is thin around here," Jack said dryly at the confused look.  That got a nod of clearer understanding.  He walked House up to the command center.  "Do we need anything else critically?  The ship can be up here in a week."

"We need to find where it came from."  Sheppard jogged up the stairs.  "Not helping?"

"My team was on an away case.  We got this message," he said, settling in behind the computer system to replay the coded message.  Jack nodded at the 'base sick, stay there' order that got sent.  "We got that two days ago."  He looked at his boss.  "I have no clue what's going on.  I tried to call and they refused to open the gateway.  They had it blocked somehow from incoming calls."

"What's this dot?" House asked, looking at another monitor.

Sheppard rolled over to look.  "One of the Asgard."  He typed out a message to them, sending it over.  "That way they know in case they can help."  He looked at O'Neill.  "We know it didn't come from my trainee group."

"I did that many times," Jack said with a shudder.

John smirked.  "We went to people we already knew, sir."

"Good idea.  The last one I went with nearly got stoned to death."  He looked at the ship identification that came up.  "That's Haldir?"

"Hermoid, sir.  I  think."

Jack considered it and opened communications.  "Asgard ship, this is General Jack O'Neill.  The Atlantis base is currently under quarantine due to something that resembles a strain of diphtheria.  We have medical personnel present and medicine but we're not sure if it's safe for you guys to come visiting.  The docs are saying it'll be safe in about a week."

A voice came back.  "I understand.  We can sit up here and watch for other problems," it said calmly.  "Thank you, O'Neill."

"No, thanks, guys.  Don't want you guys sick.  Let us know if something's coming and we'll let you know when it's clear."  He hung up and looked at Sheppard.  "Set up a watch rotation to help with the sick ones.  House, you and Carson work out your own rotation with the docs I brought.  Find the source, McKay."

"I'm working on it," he complained.  "It didn't come through with a team so it may be native."  He looked up.  "No away team has logged in new samples for the last two weeks."

"It'd probably take about three to five days to really get a good grip on people," House told him.

"That narrows it down for me."  He went back to looking at the newly logged in samples.  "Let me head to Botany.  Most of them have been there.   At least it wasn't the plague," he said as he walked.

"DiNozzo had that," House told him.  Rodney shuddered.  He looked at O'Neill.  "We'll figure it out.  Check the base over.  Make sure there's no sick people in their rooms."  He nodded, taking Sheppard to do that.  House went back to check on the docs.  "How're we doing rotations?  We don't all need to be up twenty-four/seven."

"These ones can take over in about eight hours," Carson ordered, waving at the new docs.  "You'll work with my team for now, House."  That got a nod.  "Any news on where it came from?"

"McKay headed to Botany.  He said he didn't think it came from an away team.  Something about no new logged in samples in the right time frame.  Sheppard and O'Neill are checking for hiding people.  Dawn's in the area where the portal was on an IV drip because she looks wasted."

"We can check on her."  He pointed at one.  "Check on the girl who came with us."  She nodded, going to do that.  "Any other good news?"

"Not yet.  The slayers are both getting stronger.  Carter had her anthrax vaccine the day she got here and got sick."

"It happens," he decided.  They suited back up and went in there while the others went to find a spot to rest for now.

The nurse came back.  "Doctor House, is she supposed to look like she's starving?"

"She used her personal resources to open it.  Keep track of her."  That got a nod.  "Let me know if she gets worse.  Up her nutrient drip while you're at it."

"Yes, Doctor."  She went to do that.  One of the military guys sneered at her.  "She's the one who got the medicine up here.  It did this to her."

"O'Neill said the power she drew from is thin up here," the guard said.

The nurse nodded.  "House said the same thing."

"That was Doctor House?  McKay said he was grumpier than him."

"That was and he is.  He smacked Carter on the head for trying to get up."  She smiled.  "It'll go on.  Ronon, find her a bed when this IV is done with.  Keep track of her and let me know if there's a change."

"I can do that.  Do you need my help in there?"

"No.  We can handle it with the new docs."  That got a nod.  "Do you know how to disconnect it?"

"I've seen it done," he assured her.  "I can put on a bandage very well, nurse."

"Good man."  She went back to help, telling House how she looked.

Ronon looked at the guard.  "Go help.  I can watch her."  He nodded, doing that.  He sat down at her feet, looking her over.  "You are quite strong to do that but it was foolishly heroic.  You seem to take after your guardian that way."  The girl shifted in her sleep but stayed quiet.  He got her something to cover her.  She had to be chilly.  There was a cool breeze coming off the nearest deck.

***

Daniel  paced back and forth in the lab waiting on news.   Radek finally had enough of him annoying him and used some of Rodney's version of tact to shove him into a storage room and lock him in while he got back to work analyzing that strange virus strain.  Daniel got free a few minutes later, giving him a dirty look.  "Fine, I'll wait more quietly over here."

"Thank you.  It is not just you who is worried but there is not much our base cannot handle," he reminded him.  "After all, look what we've done already."

"Good point."  He checked the email accounts they had open.  Nothing.  Still.  "Anything new on the virus?"

"McKay sent one that listed the newest samples brought onto base and logged in.  That leaves something that wasn't logged in, which is against protocol, or something mutating.  We have no idea which yet.  He's checking over Botany probably since they've got the most samples to do."

"Okay, that's good to know."  He considered it.  "Why would Botany have a sample of diphtheria?"

"It could have come back on a plant sample."

"It's more likely it was brought back on a human," Chase said as he walked in.  "Most plants can't carry viruses like that."  Radek gave him a look.  "They can't as far as I know.  Unless your plants are vastly different."  He moved closer.  "That's a genome marking.  Test it for DNA and compare it to a species?"  Radek hit himself on the head and moved to do that.  "Speedle and the Miami crew were all CSI.  So was Taylor's team if you need help, Radek."

"I'm not much good with DNA," he admitted.

Chase called down there before Daniel could.  "Mac, we need the one who's the best in DNA stripping from a virus to come up to the lab."  He smiled.  "That might help but he's back in Las Vegas and Dawn's with Rodney handling a mass-virus on their base.  They needed stuff shipped like medicines."  He beamed at Radek.  "Why is he back?  That's excellent.  Send him up."  He hung up.  "Greg Sanders' flight back to his posting was canceled due to the problems at that airport.  He's back on base and his speciality is DNA."  Radek relaxed.  The young blond man came off the elevator and grabbed a jacket and gloves before walking into the lab.  "It's a virus but there's a genome marking," he said with a point.

Greg stared at it.  "I can break that down.  I need a sample."

"All we have are reports," Radek admitted.

Daniel called the base.  "It's Jackson.  I need samples to test treatments and things against ASAP.  I have someone here's speciality is DNA and there's genome markers in it, General.  Thank you, that would be fine.  Yes, in the lab."  He hung up.  "Thirty-five minutes to get it here by helicopter."

"We can handle that," Greg decided.  He went to check the DNA lab out, petting the machines.  He came back to point at something.  "That's not viral.  I've had to do some virus research in the past as work-study during my masters."

Radek looked then beamed at him.  "Thank you, Sanders.  I'm a physicist.  This is not my area."

"It's cool.  I haven't done it in many years."  Daniel went to pace outside and wait on the samples.  "Can I know what's going on?"

"The base we work on has been beset by this virus," Radek told him.  "It's a version of diphtheria."

"Huh.  We can handle it.  Do we have docs and medicine there?"

"We do.  Dawn as well," Chase admitted.  "She had to move the medicine from that end.  She's probably incredibly tired at the moment since the magic is thin there."

"Can we get information back to them?"

"Via email at the moment," Radek agreed.

"Then we can handle it.  What else do you want me to look at?"  Stella and Danny came up. "It's viral samples, guys."

"I've done some work with one during a case," Danny admitted.  "Stella helped then."

"So far this is all we have but we're getting some samples somehow," Radek told them, letting them see.

"So far we've treated it with the anti-virals and some very strong antibiotics plus a pretty decent anti-diarrheal.  If we need something specific we need to know sooner instead of later."

"Agreed," Stella said.  "Greg, DNA?"

"Waiting on samples so I can pull some out for comparison by whatever database these guys have at their disposal."

Radek smiled.  "You'd be surprised."

"No, not really.  Since I'm the liaison officer in Las Vegas, one of the demon hotels called me to help throw an annoying drunk demon out.  He was babbling that he should have went with Xander during his D&D game winning time so he could visit the temple in your galaxy.  He wanted the easy sex and humans didn't like him that way."

Radek gaped.  "They all know?"

"He was a council member out of LA.  A higher demon in status at the least.  Just annoyingly drunk at the time.  He did write a letter of apology to me and the hotel."  He grinned.  "I figure some of them heard about the win and some heard where that world is thanks to that win but otherwise, they don't really care.  They deal with so many realms it's not funny."

"Hmm.  I hadn't thought about that."

"To them, you guys are kinda normal.  It's Xander that they think is strange," Stella assured him with a pat on the arm.  "Danny, take the reports, go over them to compare."  He did that.  "Radek, take a twenty minute nap.  You clearly haven't slept in days."  He opened his mouth.  "Ah!" she ordered, holding up a finger.  "Do not argue.  Go nap until the other samples get here."  He nodded, going to do that on the couch in Abby's office.  She looked at Greg.  "Flight got canceled?"

"Yeah.  Vegas has fog for some strange reason.  We're not sure why the airport has been fogged in for three days.  It's clearly unnatural."

"I'll send someone that way to make the thing doing it stop," she said, calling downstairs.  "Mac, me.  Greg said the airport in Vegas has been fogged in for three days, which is unnatural.  Thanks."  She hung up.  "He'll go do that."  That got a nod and Greg went back to prepare what he'd need to break the sample down.

Daniel finally got there with the tray of blood units.  "Kind of frozen thanks to the method of transport."  Greg snatched one vial, heading back to his lab.  Radek came out to help but Stella shooed him to eat while they started breaking down.  He couldn't help with that and they knew what they were doing with blood samples.  Chase too.  Daniel sat down and waited, staring at them.  Danny finally turned and kicked him out of the lab.  So he went to stare from the hallway by the elevators.

Xander came off the elevator, looking at his boss.  "Dawn's magic wasted according to Phoebe, who had been helping move the stuff across the portal.  She's ghostly at the moment," he said quietly.

"We can't get you up there, Xander."

"Bullshit.  I can easily get to my temple and then gate there."

Danny beamed.  "Radek."  He came out.  "Xander's temple has a gateway."

"I had forgotten."  He gave him a hug.  "When we have what we need, we'll do that."

"Okay.  Let me know.  And anything else we might need from the emergency stores."  He looked at Daniel.  "Want the address of where we ordered from?"

"I have it on file still."

"Cool."  He went to get something to eat and drink, making himself relax for now.  His temple hadn't been pleased with him the last time because it had been a while since he had been up there.  It had been even longer this time.  Nearly a year in their local time.  He'd nag them if he had to.  It was an emergency and if they didn't like it, oh well.  Radek came down to find him a few hours later.  Chase got them packs with medicine vials for easy carrying.  Xander got them bottles of water and another two to carry with them.  "About a day's hike from the temple."  Radek nodded, getting what he needed to eat.  Xander sent them up there, watching the glaring people.  "Don't start.  The team that came by's people are having a sickness and I came up to help them."

"You're human," one said.  "Tauri."

"Kinda."  One stepped forward to test him, gasping and bowing.  He smirked.  "I've also been exposed to some things over the years."  He grinned.  "We'll be back this way in a few weeks.  Radek's people are very sick."

"The loud ones?" the one who had tested him asked.

"Mh-hmm," he agreed.

"They can recuperate here if need be."

"I'll let them know that if they need it."  He kissed her gently then smiled.  "Go have fun."  He walked Radek off, taking him to the portal.  Radek dialed and sent through the gate code, tossing through a pebble.  "Do they have a shield?"

"We can only hope it's clear."

"Cellphone," Xander told him.  "Like your transmitter."

Radek beamed and called the one Rodney had from Earth, making him jump and grab his butt when it vibrated.

"What?" he demanded as he answered.  "I'll make sure it's down, Radek.  Thank you."  He hung up and got into communications so he didn't have to run across the base.  "That's Radek and Xander.  They have new medicines," he announced.  "Lower the shield."  He barely heard the gateway shut off a minute later.  He got back to work.

Radek walked in and pointed at something.  "It's from this one's planet.  It shows their genome."

Rodney smiled.  "You broke down DNA?"

"Our liaison is a DNA god," Xander said as he walked past them.  He ran into Sheppard, handing over both packs.  "New meds, stronger this time."

"How did you get here?"

"Temple.  By the way, they said you guys could recuperate there if you needed to."

"I might take them up on that offer," he decided, going to the mess hall.  "Docs," he called into the airlock.  They'd hear.  House came out.  "Xander and Radek brought you new meds, stronger he said.

Xander waved from a safe distance.  "Chase said those would be strong enough and safer than the antibiotics you had right now.  They found the world it came from and Radek had those reports."

"Thank you, kid.  Dawn's somewhere recovering."

"Figured she was.  Phoebe said she was nearly drained dry."  He went to find her, finding Ronon first.  "Hey."  He leaned down to kiss her head, making her moan.  "Get up and walk for two minutes then go back to sleep, Dawnie.  Before you stiffen up.  C'mon."  He helped her up since she was only half asleep, making her walk around.  She went to the bathroom too then fell back into bed to drift back to sleep.  He smiled at Ronon.  "Magic can do that to you."

"It looks like she's still being drained," he said.

Xander nodded.  "Figured it was since the portal's slightly open."  He took his blaster.  "Laser?"  He nodded.  "Watch her for seizures.  She'll definitely have a migraine after this."  He went to find the portal and shot into it.  It created a small explosion as the air collapsed.  Jack and Sheppard both came running.  "Her portal was still slightly open and draining her further.  It was the air filling in the spot."  Rodney came running.  "My temple has healing herbs that work on things like the flu.  They're what kept me from being so sick last time.  Go get some and ask House if they'll help.  He's used them before."  He nodded, going to do that for him.  He looked at Jack and shrugged.  "If it'll help."

"It could.  I saw you after your last bout when you looked like you were about to die before they stole you."

"They just tested me because they thought I was a normal human.  Figured out I'm not."

"Why not?" John asked.

"Mermaid taint.  Hellmouth taint.  Possessions, compulsions, and other neat things in my past," he offered with a grin.  "Let me spell Ronon with Dawn.  I got her up to move for a few minutes."  He walked off again.  "That should help her a lot," he said, handing back the blaster.  "Go nap, Ronon.  I can take care of her.  She's like my little sister."

Ronon nodded.  "That will make her better faster."  He stood up.  "I have no idea what we're doing now."

"Now, we'll handle it and then make decisions.  And hey, if you come to earth, I'm introducing you to Buffy.  She likes her guys big, strong, protective, and warriorish."  Ronon smirked at that, heading out to take a rest and get something to eat.  He smoothed Dawn's hair off her forehead.  "Dumbass," he said quietly but he was smiling.  "You could have brought up the stuff you stored energy in.  Like I did."  He put one on her chest, letting it leak back into her.  She relaxed and looked a bit better.  "You can have the rest when we get you home, young lady.  You sleep it off.  You saved everyone."  She nodded, pulling on his arm.  He laid behind her to cuddle her, making her snore.  She was fully out and getting better.  He looked up when the nurse came in to check on her.  "I got her up for a potty break and some light walking around a bit over an hour ago."

"Her boyfriend, sir?"

"I'm her favorite big brother," he offered with a grin.  "And I have custody of her."

"That's fine.  I suppose it's helping her nap."  He nodded.  She checked her pulse and other vitals.  "She seems all right.  If I start another nutrient drip can you handle it?"

"I can get her up in an hour to drink juice and have a granola bar."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah.  I've had this headache."  He grinned.  "Potassium, calcium, some iron, and some sugar will help her."

"I can make sure."

"You'll need it for the sick ones."

"It'll be fine, sir."  She went to get one and connected it for him.  Then she left them alone.

Xander checked then looked at her.  "Maybe House will fuss over you instead of me this time, little one."  She moaned and swatted at him.  "I know you have a migraine now.  I had to shut your portal with a blaster.  Sleep, Dawn.  You've got an hour before I'll get you up and make you eat."  She nodded, drifting off fully again.  House came in a few minutes later.  "She'll have a migraine from me closing it on her.  The overuse headache she had from before will get worse than mine was last time.  I fed her back some of her own energy that she had stored too."

"That's a good idea."  He checked her over.  "Get her up to make her eat in a bit."

"I planned on it."

"Good."  He smirked.  "The new medicines are working well but Jack's about to have fits that you're up here."

"I've seen this place a few times in vision dreams."  He shrugged.  "Not like I'm off exploring and taking pictures.  Emergencies are usually escape clauses."

"Good point."  He went to tell them that.  "Xander's had dream visions about here?" he asked Jack.

Jack smacked himself on the head.  "Two of them.  Both of which happened."

"That's where those warnings came from?" John asked.  Jack nodded.  "Huh.  Interesting."

"He said he's not out taking pictures and it's not like it's not an emergency.  He's sticking with Dawn right now.  When Tiff and Sam Carter get up, send them to him too so he can take care of the slayers."  That got a nod from Jack.  "I'm off for a rest.  Where?"

"You can bum my bed, House."  John led him down to his quarters, letting him inside so he could nap.  He went up to check on the others.  Tiff was complaining.  He looked at her.  "You're not fit for duty."

"Others need my bed more.  All I need is rest.  I have extra healing."

"Xander's with Dawn in Ronon's room."  She nodded, walking out.  "Carter, when you're better, head there so he can fuss over you both."

"I can handle duties in a few hours," she told him.

"O'Neill's here.  He's higher ranked than both of us."  She nodded.  "He said so."

"Fine.  Whatever."

He looked at Carson.  "House is in my quarters."

"That's fine.  Come help me hold up this one so I can pour the new medicine down her throat."  John came over to help.  He was good enough to help move people even if he couldn't do more than tie bandages.   Carter got up and stumbled out of the mess hall.  "How much longer for the contagious part?"

"It's already over with.  Radek found that out."  He smiled.  "We work well together."

"We do."  They got back to feeding the people the new medicine.

***

Daniel finally got a report and sighed in relief.  "Dawn's going to be fine.  Most of the base survived the virus," he told the general since he was nagging him for information again.  "Jack's email said that they only had ten deaths from it."

"Did they find a cause?"

"They found both causes.  They found where it originally came from and the thing that mutated it.  They found that the herbs Xander's temple gave him when he had the flu helped a lot with the after care.  Got them stronger faster."  He reread it.  Then he looked at him on the video screen.  "The problem is that the virus is part of one of the native plants on that planet.  The Athosians are immune.  Teyla identified the plant as one that made some people sick now and then when they were already weak."

"Will they keep running into it?"

"They'll have to.  It's in one of the food crops."  The general moaned.  "I'll let McKay tell me what's got to happen.  We'll see if we can do anything about it, Hank."  The general nodded.  "I know this has stressed you out.  Want to take a few days until they come back?"

"I might take you up on that offer.  How did Harris get up there?"

"They went to his temple, which is in the same galaxy.   Then they gated over."  That got a grim look and a nod.  "Plus Xander had two different visions about problems up there that got sent up.  He's seen it before just not in person."

"The young girl?"

"Dawn is a future watcher and out heavy hitting witch," he said gently.  "Plus she's underage.  Xander's her guardian."

"I see."

"She's the one who got McKay down for conferences with Abby."

"So I heard from her in an email."  He grimaced but cleared it up.  "They are a cute couple."

"They are," he agreed with a smile.  "Dawn won't tell anyone.  She's seen stranger stuff and she knows what classified means."

"Good to know."  He considered it.  "Fine, we won't say anything except to remind her it's classified.  It was an emergency.  We couldn't have gotten the medicine to them nearly as fast any other way."

"Thank you."

"Not a problem.  What're we going to do about Atlantis if this is a common problem?"  Daniel shrugged.  "We'll figure that out later?"

"After we get full reports.  I want to know how common this problem is."  That got a nod.  "I'll talk to you when they come back.  Take a few days off, Hank.  You look exhausted."  He hung up and leaned back in his chair, thinking about his options.   He wasn't sure what he was going to do about Atlantis if this was going to be a real problem for them.

TBC....

To Part 40

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