Dinner with the kids didn't last nearly as long as it might normally have. The children, of course, had little interest in small talk and once they'd finished eating they were anxious to go play. Maggie sent them off to the playroom that had been set up for the twins on the rare occasions they were in town for a visit.

"I can't believe how much they've grown…" Sam said, watching as the children stopped long enough to see if the puppy wanted to come with them. Since he was still sound asleep and no more interested in them at the moment than they were in small talk with their parents, they hurried on out of the room.

Cassie smiled.

"Me, either."

"What I find amazing is how social they are…" Daniel said.

"You mean because their dad is such as incredible schmuck?" River asked, smirking at Ian who suddenly scratched his nose with only his middle finger.

Daniel had to smile, since he'd known that River wasn't serious.

"I mean because there are no children their own age to play with."

"The Athosians have some children their age," Cassie said. "We take them to the mainland sometimes for play dates."

"And other times?" Sally asked, curiously.

She'd only been to Atlantis once, after all – despite numerous offers to return – and she was curious about life in the city. Gate travel wasn't something she enjoyed, and she wasn't really all that keen on star travel, either – despite the newest ships that had been built with the newest drives that brilliant minds had been developing that made the trip less than a week, now.

"It depends," Cassie replied. "If Ian's around, they follow him like ducklings, going where he goes and helping him with whatever he'll let them do…" she smiled fondly at him, and he couldn't help but feel warm and fuzzy inside.

"If Ian's not around, and Cassie's busy, there are always other people more than willing to play caretaker," River said. "They hang out with Colonel Sheppard, Elizabeth Weir, the pilots, the Marines, the medics, and even Zelenka and McKay."

Sam's eyebrows rose.

"You let them spend time with Rodney McKay?"

Cassie smiled.

"I can't keep them away from him."

"Really?"

Ian nodded.

"They like him. And he's good with them."

"Rodney McKay?" Jack asked, pulling himself from the contemplation of the box over in the corner and his own inner turmoil for a moment over something so unlikely.

"Crazy, huh?" Ian asked.

"But he's such a… jerk."

"Not so much," Cassie disagreed. "At least not with them."

Otherwise they'd never let the boys near him.

"People change, Jack," Daniel said – although he never would have thought he'd say that in reference to Rodney McKay.

"Look at Ian here," River said, gesturing to his best friend. "Who'd have thought someone who'd been such a pain in the ass when he was younger could grow up?"

Ian scowled, but Cassie only giggled. It wasn't really said all that nicely, but it was a fairly accurate statement, there was no denying that.

"At least he managed to grow up," Maggie said, pointedly, with an amused gleam in her dark eyes.

"Touché," River said, grinning. He wasn't at all offended, well aware that he was far less settled than most of his friends were. But he liked it that way.

Before anyone could reply, though, a sudden rustling came from the corner of the room and every head turned that direction. The puppy had finally woken up and was starting to move around, looking for a way out of the box.

It was too much for Jack, who'd been on edge even with it sound asleep. He stood up abruptly.

"I should be going."

He didn't wait for a reply from anyone; instead simply turning and leaving, refusing to even look towards the corner.

They all watched him leave, and Daniel sighed, discouraged.

"I guess that answers that, huh?"

Ian shook his head and went over to the corner and picked up the puppy, who started licking his cheek, eagerly. Holding him firmly to keep him from squirming and falling, he walked back over and sat down.

"Don't give up on him, yet, Daniel. There's still time." He turned to Sam. "Got a spare bedroom I can use?"

Her blue eyes were anxious and worried, but she nodded as she stood up.

"I'll set it up as soon as I get back." There was no doubt in anyone's mind she wanted to catch up with Jack, and none of them were offended when she turned toward the door. "I'll be by tomorrow for Nia and Jake."

Maggie nodded, and walked over to her, her arm going around her waist.

"I'll walk you out, Sam."

When both women were gone, Daniel turned to Ian.

"You're killing him, you know? That puppy reminds him of what he's lost every time he looks at it."

Ian nodded.

"That's the whole idea."

OOOOOOOOOO

He was waiting in the car for her, but the black tinting on the window kept her from seeing him. Sam hugged Maggie and forced a smile.

"Thanks for dinner."

Maggie hesitated.

"Sam? Do you want me to talk to Ian? I could get him to leave Jack alone…"

Between her and Cassie, they had a fairly good chance of getting through to him, after all.

Surprisingly, Sam shook her head.

"He's doing what needs to be done. Jack'll understand."

Eventually.