Through the Looking Glass

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the people that I didn't create. I do, however, own Ian, and Jaffer and anyone else that comes into this story that I did create, so if you want to use them, ask first, because I might have other plans for them!

OOOOOOOOOO

"So how far away is this Alpha site place?"

Jack shrugged.

"Beats me. Once I walk through the gate, it only takes about three steps to get there… so I'd say… ten feet?"

Ian shook his head, smiling slightly.

"Sam would know."

"So ask her."

The cadet stopped, and Jack grabbed him by the Kevlar vest he was wearing and tugged on him, telling him to keep walking without actually saying it. It wasn't something Ian would take from many people, but Jack was definitely an exception. Jaffer stopped as well – the black lab having been walking beside Jack like a second shadow.

"I didn't mean it, smart ass. When you get there, ask Colonel Lang. He'll know."

Ian smiled; he hadn't planned on going back and asking Sam, he'd just wanted to fuck with Jack one last time before he was sent off to the Alpha site.

"I'll do that."

They walked into the embarkation room, and Ian found that Teal'c and Daniel were both waiting to see him off. As was General Hammond. Ian, Jack and Jaffer walked over to the base of the ramp, and stopped at the small group.

"All set?" Hammond asked the cadet.

Ian nodded.

"Yes, Sir."

"I don't have to tell you to behave yourself, do I?"

Ian shook his head, hiding his annoyance. The last thing he needed was a lecture, for Christ's sake.

"No, Sir."

"Colonel Lang will meet you and Colonel O'Neill – he's waiting for you. His orders are to show you the Alpha site and then put you into classes with the officers and recruits that are already there. When Master Bra'tac shows up, he'll take over your training for however long he's at the Alpha site – you are not authorized to leave the Alpha site, do you understand?"

Ian nodded. Where was he going to go? Mars?

"Don't worry, Sir," Jack said with a grin. "I'll make sure he's settled before I come back."

Hammond scowled at the interruption to his lecture, but he nodded.

"You do that, Colonel."

He turned and looked up at the command center and nodded, signaling to Sergeant Davis to start dialing the Alpha site.

"Here," Daniel said, holding out a book to the Cadet. Ian took it and looked down, and realized it was one of the books he'd borrowed from Daniel's place to read – and hadn't managed to get past the third chapter because of unforeseeable events. "Maybe you can finish it."

"Thanks, Daniel."

Teal'c stepped forward as well.

"Give my regards to Master Bra'tac, Cadet Brooks." The Jaffa told him.

"I'll tell him you said hi."

The gate flared, and Ian looked over at it, amazed as always by how cool it looked – never mind the craziness of the technology behind it, which just made it that much cooler.

"Ready?" Jack asked.

Ian nodded, and let Jack and Jaffer lead him up the ramp. Even though it was pretty cool that he was going off world – and he was looking forward to seeing Bra'tac again – he could help but feel like he was being banished, and that was just a little annoying. It wasn't like he was going to be able to send postcards or anything – and while he didn't have a lot of friends, he was pretty much being sent off to live with a bunch of strangers for the next three weeks or so. He stopped and took a look over his shoulder and then followed Jack and Jaffer through the gate.

And stepped out a moment later completely alone and looking at a barren wasteland. No Jack. No Jaffer. No Alpha site as near as he could tell. You'd think the Alpha site would at least have a building or two – or a few people – and wasn't Colonel Lang supposed to be waiting for him and Jack?

"Welcome, Ian."

Shocked, he turned and looked behind him. That was a voice he knew well, and one he'd never seen the face to. He'd heard it in his head several times. A man was standing behind him – where the wormhole would have been had it not disengaged when he'd stepped out of it. A man with black hair and gray eyes that were watching him cheerfully, as if amused by his confusion.

"Why do I get the feeling you're not Colonel Lang?"

"Because I'm not."

"What the hell's going on? How did I get here?"

There was no doubt that he was in the wrong place.

The man smiled.

"We built the Stargates, Ian. Do you think it would be so difficult for us to hijack one?"

OOOOOOOOO

The gate flared behind the iris, and Hammond looked over at Sergeant Davis, who was checking the computer. The man looked up at Hammond.

"It's Colonel O'Neill, Sir."

"Open the iris." Hammond moved from the control center and headed for the stairs as Davis obeyed the orders, palming the switch that controlled the metal barrier that protected the SGC from invaders.

The iris opened and Jack O'Neill came through a moment later, with Jaffer right beside him. He smiled as Hammond came over to meet him.

"How did it go, Colonel?" Hammond asked.

Jack shrugged, giving Hammond one of his patented cocky grins.

"Great, Sir. Colonel Lang was there to meet us, and he and Ian seemed to hit it off."

Hammond nodded.

"Thank you, Colonel. You're dismissed. Have a good night."

"Yes, Sir. You, too."

With Jaffer trotting beside him, Jack headed for Sam's lab, wondering if she was still there or if she'd gone home for the night.