Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis or any of the characters.

Summary: Set season 5 after The Lost Tribe (so possible spoilers for all events up to that) a stowaway arachnid sparks an infirmary lock down, whilst it's bite has an extreme reaction in the victim.

"Incoming wormhole." Chuck announced. "Captain Williams' IDC."

"Lower the shield." Sheppard ordered. When the shield had been lowered two men stepped through the gate. "Is there a problem captain?" Sheppard asked jogging down the stairs of the control room.

"No Sir." Williams answered.

"So what happened to the rest of your team?"

"Major Perkins and Sergeant Bowers are still at the signing of the treaty festival. The Major said there was no point us all suffering and to return, letting you know that everything was fine and to expect them in the morning, Sir."

"Ok then. Report to the infirmary and once you have been given the all clear come to the conference room." Sheppard ordered.

"Yes Sir." The two men said before leaving the control room.

On reaching the infirmary they were surprised with how quiet it was. Entering they noticed all the beds were empty and the lone figure of Dr Keller was hunched over a workbench.

Williams cleared his throat nearly causing Jennifer to fall off her stool. "Sorry Ma'am didn't mean to scare you." He apologised.

"That's ok Captain, I was miles away. What can I do for you?"

"Colonel Sheppard sent us down for post-mission checks."

"Shouldn't there be two more of you?" Jennifer asked.

"They are still on the planet finishing the negotiations, we were sent home for good behaviour." Williams smirked as he placed his rucksack against a wall.

"How come Perkins and Bowers got the short straws?" Jennifer questioned as she went over to the other side of the infirmary to grab some supplies.

"Perkins as our glorious leader felt it was his responsibility and Bowers being the only female on the team was personally requested by the village." Williams explained. "So where is everyone here?"

"Just one of those freaky quiet times. It probably won't last for long so everyone else on shift is on break until something happens." Jennifer replied.

"So how come you have the short straw?"

"Because I have tons of paperwork to finish."

"The joys of leadership." Williams smiled again.

"It will happen to you one day." Jennifer returned, wiping the smile off his face. "Ok then lets look at the two of you. Anything unusual happen? Any cuts?" Jennifer began.

"No Ma'am. Everything was pretty routine." Williams answered as Lieutenant Cole deposited his rucksack before rolling up his sleeve to allow his blood pressure to be checked.

Jennifer checked the Lieutenant's blood pressure, when satisfied she removed the cuff and said. "Ok that is normal you can lower your sleeve."

As the Lieutenant placed his hand on his shirtsleeve he felt something move on the top of his hand. Looking down he saw a spider crawl across the back of his hand. "Where did-" He started to say as he pulled the hand away when the spider bit him causing him to yell in pain.

Jennifer and Williams turned their attention to the Lieutenant and saw the spider drop to the floor and scamper away moments before Cole crumpled to the floor and began to seize.

Jennifer immediately went to the Lieutenant tapping her earpiece in the process. "This is Keller. Quarantine the infirmary now." Within seconds the infirmary was locked down and Jennifer was stabilising her patient, trying to ignore Woolsey's voice in her ear demanding an explanation. When Cole had stopped seizing she looked up at Williams. "Help me move him onto the bed."

"Will he be ok?" Williams asked he hauled the Lieutenant onto the gurney.

"I need to run some tests before I can answer that and to find that spider to find out what the toxin was." Jennifer explained as she checked Cole's vitals. Happy he was stable she tapped her earpiece again, finally silencing Woolsey. "This is Keller."

"Dr Keller. What is going on down there?"

"Lieutenant Cole was bitten by a spider that caused a severe reaction. We are not sure where exactly the spider is, but I assumed you would want it trapped in here."

"You couldn't have just shut the doors rather than quarantine the infirmary?" Woolsey asked, his voice full of disbelief.

"I was a little busy with my patient." Jennifer replied anger evident in her voice.

"It was the right call doc." Sheppard cut in. "Just try not to get bitten yourself before we can override the quarantine lock down. How is Cole now?"

"He has stabilised but-"

Sheppard then heard Captain Williams' voice shouting a warning before Jennifer screamed and the radio went dead.