Author's Note: I don't know the rules about people eating with the cadets in the lunchroom, either, but since it's my story, I suppose I can do whatever I want, eh? If anyone out there is a purist and says it's not realistic, I suppose I could mention that the Stargate isn't all that realistic, either, huh? Hehe. But I sure have fun with it!

OOOOOOOO

They chatted for the next fifteen minutes or so, but Sam had a lecture to get ready for, so they headed out of Shawn's room and towards the Physics classroom, which was where she was going to be giving her lecture. It wasn't just for his class – anyone interested in Astrophysics could attend – but Shawn was planning to go, so he hung out and helped her set up the dry erase board and other charts she had prepared for the lecture while they chatted more about what had been going on with the people in the SGC. They didn't mention the SGC, of course, just the people, and Shawn was glad to hear about the people he'd come to feel were a second family to him.

"What's with him?" Shawn asked, as he turned and almost stumbled over Jaffer. The black lab had been close to him – so close he was sometimes touching him – ever since he'd returned from changing into his clean uniform.

Sam smiled, and shrugged.

"He probably misses you."

Shawn's answering grin was positively beaming, and he hugged the big dog cheerfully – after looking around to make sure no one was there to see it.

"I've missed him, too." But he sure was acting possessive.

"Major O'Neill, may I say you have the best timing I've ever seen?"

They all three looked over and saw River walking through the door of the Physics room, a broad smile on his tanned face.

"Oh?"

"I'd probably still be running if you hadn't shown up and sicced Jaffer on Shawn."

Sam smiled, and held her hand out to the cadet when he reached her.

"I didn't have anything to do with it, but thank you for the thought. How have you been, River?"

"Sweet and innocent, as usual."

"Funny... Shawn told me that's how he was, and I didn't believe it anymore when it was coming from him than I do when it's coming from you."

"That's because they're both tools of Satan," Came a drawling voice from the doorway. "You should see them trying to corrupt me, Major... you'd be horrified."

Now Sam was really smiling, since she definitely knew Ian Brooks wasn't a saint. The New Yorker walked over and bowed extravagantly to her.

"Good morning, Ma'am."

"Good morning, Cadet Brooks." She held her hand out to him, as well, and Ian took it with one of his rare smiles. "How are you?"

"Fabulous. You look very good, too, if I might add without running the risk of being bitten." He looked down at Jaffer, who was still practically pinned against Shawn. The black lab wagged his tail cheerfully. "You do, too, Jaffer."

"Thank you, Cadet." Sam wasn't above enjoying a little flattery when it came from handsome young men, after all. "Are you two coming to my lecture?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," River told her. Not that he needed Astrophysics to be a pilot, but it wouldn't hurt to know about other stuff besides just flying. Who knew what else he might want to do between missions?

Ian nodded.

"Someone has to keep these two out of trouble."

"Oh? So, you're not the reason for all the running this morning?" Sam asked him, a twinkle in her eyes.

"Well... this morning... maybe..."

"And yesterday." River reminded him.

"And the day before," Shawn added.

"No, not the day before." Ian said, suppressing the urge to flip them off – which wouldn't do just then. Not with Major O'Neill in the room. "That one was River."

"Not the afternoon run."

"Yeah... but the morning one was..."

Sam chuckled, wondering just how much running they were doing. Obviously a lot. She'd have to look into it, though, to make sure it wasn't anything too serious. It wouldn't do to have Shawn – or his roommates – getting into too much trouble their first year. Although they were going to be in great shape before it was over, at this rate.

The chatting stopped then, because other cadets were starting to enter the room and take seats. Sam headed for the center of the room, while Shawn, River and Ian took seats as well, followed closely by Jaffer, who was sniffing River, now, and then Ian. Ian didn't mind at all – he liked Jaffer – and he scratched the black lab's ears idly while the room continued to fill. As Sam started to speak, Jaffer went over and flopped down at Shawn's feet, and the room was filled with the sound of people taking notes, and Sam's complicated lecture.

OOOOOOOOOOO

"So?"

"I didn't hear anyone snoring," Shawn said as Sam was packing up her notes and charts.

"Well... that's a plus, I suppose," she said, drolly.

"It was a good lecture, Major O'Neill," Ian assured her.

"Not too complicated?"

"Oh, it was complicated, but there's nothing wrong with that. It's not like anyone in the room was an idiot, after all. If they don't understand, they could have asked, right?"

"Did you understand it?" Sam asked him.

"Of course."

He did, too, Sam knew. Just by the lazy way he'd mentioned it. There was no confused look in his dark eyes, and he was far too comfortable with her for him to be exaggerating. She had a feeling if she asked him a question about the lecture, he wouldn't even have to look at his notes to answer it.

"Are you going to stay for lunch, Sam?" Shawn asked her, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Sure."

She'd stick around and hang out with Shawn – and his roommates – as long as she could, which meant until lunch was over and they had to get back to their classes. It wasn't every day she had a chance to hang out in her old haunts, after all, and she was enjoying herself.