The children and their guards had been close enough to the ambush to be able to hear all the shots that had been fired. Not necessarily from the Ashrak, but P90s make a loud noise – especially in confined areas like the corridors of the SGC and the noise had put all three of them into an ultra heightened nervous state. Dotty immediately ran to Shawn when the group of ambushers walked through the door, and he scooped her up into his arms easily.

"It's okay, sweetheart," he crooned as she sobbed in relief and fear into his shoulder. "They're all gone and you're safe."

"Where's daddy?" Michael asked Rodney as soon as the boy realized his father wasn't one of those returning.

McKay was quick to reassure, no matter how uncomfortable he was in that role.

"He got… dirty… and needed to go take a shower before he came to see you. He wanted me to tell you he's fine and not to be afraid."

McKay ignored Shawn's amused look as both boys clung to him for comfort in the absence of their father, but he hugged them close for a long moment before letting them go and straightening his uniform unconsciously.

"We should call your mother and let her know everything is okay, eh?"

The twins nodded and McKay pulled out his cell phone, knowing that with the lockdown over the cell would get reception without problem. He dialed Cassie's number and wasn't really surprised when she answered immediately. She had to know something was wrong by then, after all.

"Rodney?"

Now he knew she was worried, because she almost never called him that.

"Yeah, it's me."

"What's going on? Jack called me and told me that the entire mountain is locked down and-"

"It was," McKay interrupted. "It's not any more. I-"

"Where's Ian?" She interrupted.

"In the shower."

That brought her up short, and he wasn't really surprised.

"Are the boys okay?"

He looked down at the twins, who were watching him expectantly.

"They're fine. Just a little shook up, I think. Want to talk to them?"

"Please."

He handed his phone down to Michael, but Carter put his ear by the receiver as well, and McKay double checked the Guardian upload – just to make sure – while Mathews radioed Hunt to advise him of their status – as well as get any orders he might have for her.

"Doctor McKay?"

Rodney looked up from what he was doing.

"Yes?"

"General Hunt is asking how long it will be until you get the shield working again."

McKay scowled.

"Tell him I'll get to it as soon as I can. I want to sit in on the briefing and I'm not going to do anything until Ian gets back and can watch-"

"The President is coming to the base for the briefing so that will be put on hold until he gets here."

"How long will that be?"

"He's on his way."

Rodney rolled his eyes.

"Since I don't know where he's coming from, that doesn't tell me anything. An hour? Three? A day?"

Now it was Mathews' turn to scowl.

"He's about 45 minutes out."

"Then the shield will have to wait. I don't want to do anything until Ian has a chance to look at what the Ashrak did to it – I'm pretty sure I know what they did, but he knows the shield program better than I do."

"How long?" Mathews asked.

"I don't know."

McKay turned back to what he was doing, effectively ending the conversation. It was something he was very good at, and very few people would bother to continue a conversation with him when he clearly didn't want to talk to them. It was one of the benefits of having the reputation he had. Of course, there was always an exception to a rule, and a moment later someone tugged on his jacket.

"Rodney?"

He looked down at Carter, who was holding the phone to him.

"Hmm?"

"Mom wants to talk to you."

"Oh. Thank you."

He took the phone, and as soon as he had it to his ear Cassie was already speaking.

"Is Ian really all right?"

He nodded, even though she couldn't see it, and turned away from Carter – although the boy had already been distracted by Shawn and Dotty – so he couldn't hear him.

"He's fine, Cassie. He had to clean up, though, so he didn't freak the boys out."

"He didn't get hurt?"

"No. Well, he did get stunned by one of them, but like I said, he's okay."

There was a slight pause on the other end, as if she was trying to decide if he was lying to her to keep her from panicking, but eventually she must have made up her mind.

"Jack's on his way to the base. We were on our way to the Academy, but now we're on our way there, too."

"I'll let him know."

"Thanks."

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Jack leaned forward, looking out the window.

"We're not going to get there any faster by you doing that," Sam told him, amused, despite the reason they were going to the SGC.

"I know."

"Then stop. You're making everyone antsy."

He sighed, and rubbed Murray's ears when the lab put his head in his lap, obviously looking for comfort or trying to give it.

"I know. I just wish I knew what was going on…"

Sam was glad that the kids had decided to ride in the other car with the rest of the Secret Service detail. They didn't need to see him so worried.

"We'll find out soon." She put her hand on his knee and leaned against him, lightly. "Relax a little. Hunt assured you that Shawn's fine."

Jack scowled.

"I just don't understand what they want with him."

Sam shrugged.

"Maybe Ian found something out this time…"

Jack snorted, torn between amusement and annoyance.

"From what Hunt reported none of them survived long enough to learn anything from them. Guardian worked perfectly."

Which made Sam preen just a little. She'd had a hand in the development of the program, after all.

"As it should."

He smiled, and took her hand, leaning back in the seat and making a point to try and relax a little.

"This should be interesting to hear, anyway."

"Definitely."