Author's note: Thanks for the reviews and questions. While I can't answer all of them, I will say that this story is about ten years into the future from the last Camper's story – and about two years beyond the future that I envisioned at the end of Scion. And I'm glad to see that so many of you approve of my choice of VP. Some of the descriptions for this upcoming chapter were snagged from the White house site – just to give the credit where it's due.

OOOOOOOOO

They fell asleep that way. Sam holding Jack, who dozed restlessly in her arms, and the Secret Service guarding their privacy intently. One agent brought blankets and pillows, which Sam accepted with a tired smile of thanks, and she covered Jack, who moaned softly in his sleep – a sound that seemed filled with physical pain as well as emotional. She cuddled him closer, stroking his cheek with her free hand and resting his head against her shoulder to be as close to him as possible.

They'd have to deal with things eventually, she knew that. The job of President was far too public for much time alone with this, but Sam – and the Secret Service – were determined to give him as much time as possible to pull himself together and get over the shock of his loss. The press and the American people could give them a night. They owed them that much at least. Whether they remembered it or not.

OOOOOOOOO

The white 19th Century house overlooking Massachusetts Avenue in Washington D.C. was built in 1893 for the superintendent of the United States Naval Observatory. The house was so lovely that the chief of naval operations booted the superintendent and made the house his home in 1923. The house was "taken over" again in 1974 when Congress turned "Number One Observatory Circle" into the official residence of the Vice President.

It was easier to secure this house than try to secure the private residence of each new Vice President that came into office – especially since very few of them were actually from the D.C. area – so when Jack O'Neill won his bid for President after Hammond retired, his very reluctant but wildly popular Vice President elect was obligated to relocate. Much to the annoyance of his wife – who was very happy in their old house – although she hid it well and played gracious hostess whenever there was a dignitary in town that Nathan was willing to have in his home.

Annoyed or not, there was a definite smile on the face of the Vice President's wife when she walked out to meet the car that pulled up to the rear of the house – in a private driveway that was used to allow as much privacy as possible at those times when the V.P. and his family required or desired it.

"Ian!"

Despite the sad circumstances, there was no way Maggie Brooks could hold back her pleasure at seeing her son – who visited far too little as far as she was concerned.

The first to exit the car – after a Secret Service agent – Ian returned her smile, and the hug she gave him as soon as she got near enough. A high-pitched whine caused her to pull back almost immediately and examine her son closely.

Concerned, Ian pulled the puppy out of his jacket, and Maggie smiled.

"Oh, he's as gorgeous as Gina said he was," she said, taking him from her son without so much as a "May I".

The puppy whined again, but Maggie cuddled him close, and looked back at Ian as Shawn and Nathan got out of the car.

"Are you sue this is a good idea?" she asked, obviously worried. "Jack's pretty hurt by this loss and I'm not sure that a replacement puppy is really-"

"I'm sure."

Actually, he wasn't. But he had it on very good authority that there was absolutely no choice in the matter.

"Are you going to leave them out here in the cold night, or are you going to invite them in?" Nate asked, walking over and taking a look at the puppy as well.

Maggie smiled, and handed her husband the puppy. She turned to Shawn and gave him a hug.

"It's good to see you, Shawn."

Shawn returned the hug, amazed as always that a woman as small as Maggie Brooks was so strong.

"You, too, Maggie."

"Put their things in the basement," Nathan told the valet who came out to see if there was anything he could do to help. "Put the puppy in the room next to ours."

The valet smiled, well accustomed to the senior Brooks' sense of humor.

"Yes, sir."

Ian reached out and took the puppy back from his father before the valet could take him.

"I'll keep him with me," he said, tucking him into his jacket once more.

Shawn frowned at the possessiveness – which wasn't really one of Ian's normal traits.

"Is he okay?"

Ian nodded.

"He's fine, Adams. I just need to keep him close."

Maggie frowned as well, her maternal instincts hearing something in her son's voice and inflection that Shawn didn't. But she didn't say anything, knowing that if Ian wasn't ready to talk about it, he wasn't going to.

"Let's go inside," she said, instead. "We're going to put you two in the first two rooms at the top of the stairs."

"I should go see Jack," Shawn said, turning the direction of the White House – which they couldn't see from where they were. "He probably needs-"

"Sam's with him," Maggie said, interrupting and proving that what the Secret Service knew she knew. "He needs her more than anything else right now."

"Where are Nia and Jake?" Shawn asked, knowing she'd have that answer as well.

"With Daniel and Sally."

"Daniel's here?" Ian asked, walking beside his mother as they entered the house. It was beautifully decorated with many of the furnishings from their own home in New Jersey, and Ian couldn't help but feel comfortable there.

"He's been giving lectures at the Smithsonian all week," Maggie explained. "Sally's here, too, taking a working vacation."

Ian nodded.

"Then we'll wait and see them tomorrow…"

"You and the rest of the world," Nathan said, darkly. "As soon as word gets out what happened, the place is going to go crazy…"

Jaffer was a very popular fixture at the White House, after all, and there would definitely be a public outpour from this. The press would be all over each other with their intrusive questions and desperation to each be the one to break the story first.

"The Secret Service will keep them away…" Shawn said, looking over at the lead agent of Nathan's own detail.

The woman nodded, her expression serious but proud.

"You'd better believe it, Colonel."

Maggie looked at the boys – who weren't really boys anymore but would always be ten to her.

"Are you hungry?"

Ian felt green just thinking about eating, and Shawn looked exhausted as the long day he'd had caught up to him now that he was standing still long enough to feel it.

"I'm just tired," he told her.

Maggie looked at Ian, who shook his head.

"That'd be a very bad idea…"

Sleep was what he wanted just then, too. Luckily, Maggie could read him well, and shooed both of them to the stairs.

"Off with you, then. Breakfast is at eight."

By then she knew they'd both be starved, so she made a note to remind the morning staff to make extra for their morning meal to accommodate the new arrivals.

Ian kissed her, just as pleased to be with her as she was to have him.

"I'll see you in the morning."