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OOOOOOOOOO

"Bored yet?"

O'Neill stretched and nodded, grateful that Ian had called a break to things – even though he wasn't actually sitting in on the lecture that was being given. The Ancients seemed to grumble a little about stopping, but they had brought in refreshments and a data pad for McKay to use since he didn't have his laptop. Now they were standing in a group off to the side obviously discussing the information they'd been given so far.

"How are you doing that without any notes?"

"Giving them so much information, you mean?"

"Yeah."

"He has a photographic memory," McKay told them, coming over with a cup of something hot and steaming in his hand. "If he's heard it, he'll remember it."

Jack looked over at Ian, who nodded.

"Pretty much."

"That's a handy trick…"

"Yeah. Most of the time."

"His kids are the same way," Rodney told him, almost as proud as if they were his boys instead of Ian's. "They're well on their way to being geniuses. Of course, they've spent pretty much their entire lives on Atlantis, hanging out with the most brilliant people in the universe, so I-"

"Got a picture?" Jack asked Ian, interrupting McKay without hesitation.

Ian reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Normally there was no way he'd have been carrying his wallet along with him on a mission, but he'd been heading to Earth, not some far away Jaffa world, and there were times when he actually needed it – especially since he tended to get pictures of the boys done in wallet sized so he could carry them and show them off to one or two sets of grandparents.

He handed Jack a small stack of pictures, and O'Neill smiled.

"You're one of those, huh?"

"One of what?"

"Those dads that keep a million pictures of their kids handy for the first poor sap that makes the mistake of asking about the kids…"

"And you're not?" Ian challenged.

"Pffft," Jack waved his hand dismissively. "I don't need pictures to – this is Cassie?"

Since McKay had been looking over O'Neill's shoulder, he was the one who nodded.

"Yup, that's her – with Carter."

Since the boy looked exactly the same as the one in Ian's arm in the picture Jack just nodded, taking McKay's word for it.

"She's beautiful," he murmured. "I knew she'd grow up to be a knock out." He looked at Ian. "And a doctor, huh?"

"A genius," Ian told him. "Between her and Beckett the Wraith didn't have a chance."

"Janet must be proud."

"I'd like to think she is, yeah."

He looked through all the pictures, stopping occasionally when he found one with an interesting pose – and one that had both twins being held upside down by their ankles. By him. He was wearing a polo shirt and slacks, holding one ankle in each hand and grinning as broadly as the boys were.

"That was taken about a year ago," Ian told him.

"That's me…"

It was so odd seeing a picture of himself, especially since he'd never even met the two boys he was laughing so easily with.

McKay nodded.

"Weird, huh? To see yourself aged more than ten years… I…" he trailed off as the Ancients filed back into the center of the room, each of them holding a data pad as well. "Woops, looks like we're ready for Wraith Killing 201," he told Ian, picking up the data pad they'd given him.

"Great."

Jack couldn't hide the sarcasm in his voice and Ian smiled. Sander, however, had heard it as well as he walked over, and he, too, smiled.

"Colonel O'Neill? I was wondering if you would care to skip the intelligence report in lieu of perhaps being given a tour of the city? Ian and Doctor McKay are already familiar with it, or I would extend them the invitation as well, but since you do not seem to have much to include in the briefing, I cannot help but think you'd find it more enjoyable to have something a little more active to do."

Jack looked over at Ian, hopefully.

"Do you need me?"

Ian shook his head.

"Maybe they can teach you to pilot one of the Gateships. That'd save us some time later."

Sander nodded.

"I can arrange a lesson."

Since Jack was going to have some part in the reunion of Ancient and Earthling, he figured knowing something about the city they were living in – and the people in her – wasn't such a bad idea. Learning how to fly one of their ships was even better. And getting away from what had to be one of the most boring discussions about Wraith DNA was just an added bonus.

"How much longer are you going to be?" he asked Ian.

Ian looked over at Rodney, who shrugged.

"A couple of hours?"

"Yeah, probably about that."

"Enough time to see some sights and still get that lesson?" Jack asked Sander.

"Certainly." The Ancient waved Nijay over. "Nijay will show you around. Let her know if there is anything you require."

His second in command gave him a slight bow and then turned to O'Neill with another bow.

"What would you like to see first, Colonel O'Neill?"

Jack shrugged, uncertain what there even was to see, really.

"Take him to the observation deck on the tallest tower," Ian suggested. "That way he can get an idea of just how big the city is."

She nodded and gestured for Jack to precede her through the door, and Sander turned to the others.

"Shall we get started?"

The Ancient didn't understand how Ian could remember as much as he seemed to remember, but they weren't going to waste time asking about it.