"Did you have dinner?" Jack asked as they pulled out, following Sam as far as the corner where she turned right and they went straight.

"No."

"Probably just as well, but if you're hungry, we'll get something on base."

"I'm fine."

He'd had a big lunch after all. If they put something in front of him, he'd eat it, but there was no need to go out of the way to get anything. Not yet, anyways.

"Did Cassie enjoy herself?"

"I think so."

"River didn't try and put the moves on her, did he?"

"Of course he did. He asked if I'd let him take her home."

"And you said no?"

"Of course."

"Good."

"He's a good guy, Jack." Ian said, defending his friend.

"I know."

"But he's not right for Cassie. She deserves someone who won't be on a date with her and flirt with everyone else at the same time."

"I agree." Jack looked over at Ian, but the cadet was looking forward, his hand idly scratching Jaffer's ear since the lab had his head resting on Ian's shoulder, lapping up the attention that Jack couldn't give him while he was driving.

"How old is she?" Ian asked. "Just out of curiosity?"

"Ten."

Ian snorted, and looked over at Jack, who scowled.

"Seventeen. Why?"

"Just wondering."

Seventeen wasn't bad. That was practically eighteen, after all, and eighteen was even better.

"Why…?"

"Because I didn't know how old she was."

"And you're curious… because…?"

Ian shrugged, and Jack was pretty sure he wasn't going to get much more of an answer than that without a little digging. And since Sam wasn't here to stop him, he decided maybe a little digging wouldn't hurt.

"So… what do you think of Cassie?"

"She's okay."

"Just okay?" Jack asked. He couldn't help himself – not really. He liked Ian, but he had to make sure that the cadet didn't have any designs on Cassie, who was far too young to date anyone, and always would be.

"Better than okay?" Ian asked, wondering if Jack was looking for a compliment for Cassie or if he was trying to gauge how much Ian was interested in her. Since he didn't know which one it was, he wasn't sure how to respond, and knew he'd probably choose the wrong response.

"She's the closest thing I have to a daughter, you know?"

Ian decided to cut the crap. He didn't have anything to hide, after all, and he liked Jack and didn't want to make the Colonel fish any more than he already had.

"I wouldn't do anything you wouldn't approve of, Jack. I like Cassie and wouldn't hurt her."

O'Neill glanced over at him, and shrugged.

"I'd hate to have to kick your ass, you know…"

"Yeah, well, you wouldn't have to," Ian told him. "I'm not going to do anything." Besides, she was probably changing her mind about him even as they spoke about her.

Jack nodded. Good enough. He fell silent and the two of them drove the rest of the way without speaking, Jack thinking of what was to come in the SGC, and Ian allowing himself to become more and more convinced that Cassie was going to tell her mom to tell him she was gone if he called the next day.

OOOOOOOOOO

Ian's name was on a short list of those people allowed into the lower levels of the base, but that didn't stop the Marines at each checkpoint from checking him out thoroughly before allowing him past them. They checked their lists – Hammond had made sure his name was there – and then had examined his ID and his driver's license both, making sure that he was the same person.

Ian had been through the checkpoints before – once – and wasn't surprised by the security. He didn't mind it, either. Not only did it mean that he was seeing things that not all that many people saw – and some of it he'd already seen – but it also took his mind off other things. Short of being stripped searched and body cavity checked, he was fine with being checked out.

By the time they walked through the final checkpoint, Ian was fairly well anticipating seeing this Stargate, figuring it had to be the coolest thing in the world to be so well guarded. Deep space telemetry his ass…

Jack took him to his office first, though. On the desk was a lengthy nondisclosure form that Ian read through and then signed and dated. He knew about Military secrets, and wasn't about to spout off anything to anyone. Besides, sort of his roommates and his folks, he didn't have anyone to tell, anyways – and from the way Shawn had been given easy access to the place when they'd been here before, it was pretty apparent that Adams already knew a lot more about the place than Ian did or would.

He handed the form to Jack with a slight smile, and Jack set it in his empty OUT box.

"Come on."

He headed for the door, with Ian and Jaffer right behind him, but as he reached for the handle it opened and Sam appeared in the doorway. Behind her, Ian could see Teal'c and Daniel. Sam smiled.

"We made it."

"We wouldn't have left without you," Jack told her. He frowned when Daniel came into the room with Teal'c. "What are you doing here? You're hurt." Indeed, Daniel's arm was still in a sling.

"It's not like we're going anyplace dangerous," Daniel said, shrugging with one arm. He smiled at Ian. "I didn't want to miss this."

Ian looked over at Jack.

"We're going somewhere?"

"Yup. As soon as we get suited up for it." Daniel's comment aside, Jack didn't go anywhere without backup – and usually in the form of at least one gun and usually more.

"Let's go then," Sam said, putting her hand on Ian's shoulder and smiling in anticipation. "You're going to love this…"