The rest of the evening no one mentioned the question of where Shawn would live. Instead they had a good meal and discussed everything but – including the baby Sam was carrying, which led to Jack pulling out the ultrasound picture and showing it off. This sent them off into a conversation about what the baby was and what they were going to name it, which of course led to the whole 'it's a boy', 'it's a girl' thing, which Mae and Randy found humorous. Of course, they admitted, they'd had many of those same arguments – and without an ultrasound to prove them right or wrong. But then, Jack and Sam had an ultrasound, and they still didn't know what she was carrying.

When dinner was over, the Adams' declined an offer to come back to the house for a longer visit. It was getting late, and with the long day ahead of them, they wanted to get some rest. Neither was as young as they had once been, and it had been a rough few days for them. They hugged Shawn, shook hands with Jack and Sam, and headed for their hotel, while Sam, Jack and Shawn headed back to the house – with a doggie bag for Jaffer, who had been forced to stay behind.

"Did Ian show up?" Sam asked Jack as they drove home.

Shawn turned from watching traffic pass to look over at Jack from where he was sitting behind Sam.

Jack shook his head.

"River called… Ian wasn't back at six." He saw the worried look in Shawn's eyes in the rearview mirror, and was quick to add, "He might have just been late, though."

Shawn didn't look convinced – no more than Jack felt – or Sam looked.

"Where could he be?"

Jack shook his head.

"I don't know. I called a friend of mine, though. He's going to see if he can track him down."

"Chu?" Sam asked.

Jack nodded.

"Who?"

Sam turned around and looked at Shawn.

"Taylor Chu. He's a friend of Jack's from way back when."

"He's CIA," Jack told him. "But I just asked him to look for him – just in case. It doesn't mean I think he's in any trouble or anything."

Shawn wasn't the only who didn't look like he didn't believe him, and since Jack didn't believe himself, either, it wasn't surprising. For God's sake, Ian had managed to get into trouble going to Dairy Queen, how much worse could he be in now?

OOOOOOOOO

Jaffer swarmed them when they arrived, eager to say hello, and even more eager to have the snack that he absolutely knew had to be his. Why else would they be bringing food into the house, if not for him? Sam took the bag from Jack with a smile and headed for the kitchen, followed closely by Jaffer – so closely his nose was touching her leg every time she took a step – and Shawn took a little longer to hang up his coat, hanging back a little.

"Jack?"

"Yeah, buddy?"

"Do you think having me here is too stressful for Sam?"

"What?"

"You know, with the baby and everything… she should be taking it easy, not worrying about me."

Jack shook his head and pulled Shawn closer, hugging him tightly, but also putting his face close to the boy's ear.

"Sam loves you, Shawn," he murmured."And she's a lot tougher than you think she is – how else could she put up with me for so long?"

The cadet smiled, and looked over at Sam, watching her talk to Jaffer while she dished him a plate of meat scraps from the restaurant.

"That's true, huh…?"

"Yup." He ran his fingers through Shawn's hair. "You let me worry about Sam, okay? That's my job."

"But I love her, too."

"Fine…" Jack conceded. "You can worry about her a little bit, but don't let her catch you."

"Okay."

OOOOOOOOOO

Later that night, after the house had quieted down and everyone had gone to bed, Sam cuddled up against Jack and kissed his chin lightly.

"Do you think he's going to stay with us?" She asked him in a soft whisper – although he doubted anyone could overhear the question with Jaffer snoring so loudly from the foot of the bed.

Jack shook his head, sliding his hand along her side, and then bringing it to a rest against her abdomen like he always seemed to do lately. The baby didn't move, though – she must have been sleeping, too. Maybe even snoring, like Jaffer.

"I don't know, Sam. It'd be a big change for him."

"Not as big as moving out of state – and leaving the Academy."

"No, that's true." He sighed, and she could hear the exhaustion in the sound. He had as many things to worry about as she did – and more. Sam reached out and caressed his cheek.

"I want him to stay with us."

"Me, too, Sam…"

He kissed her softly, a loving kiss that told her if they didn't have company he'd be doing a lot more than kissing her, and Sam smiled, pressing closer in response.

When they fell asleep, it was deep and dreamless, secure in the knowledge that the other was there.

OOOOOOOOO

By the time he hit Arizona, Ian was forced to call it a day. He was exhausted from the power driving, and his head was pounding from staring at the road for so long. He needed a break – and a place to sleep. From the map he'd bought at the auto rental place, he saw that Littlefield, Arizona was the only town on Interstate 15 that was close – and would be the only one for a while – so when he hit that town, he stopped. There was a hotel right after the city limits sign, and the vacancy light was flashing, so he got out of the Explorer – made sure it was locked – and went into the office. Ten minutes later, he left the office carrying a key with a large number four on it, and he got back into the car and parked it in front of the room with the 4 on it. Taking the case, and the bag with another change of clean clothes in it, he went into the room and fell into bed. He was asleep almost immediately.

"What are you doing?"

He didn't even open his eyes. Even asleep he felt tired, and his head was still pounding.

"What?"

"Jack's worried about you. Everyone's worried about you."

"They shouldn't. I'm not worth them getting worried over."

"They don't agree." Ian didn't answer, and Alexander sighed. "Where are you going?"

"LA."

"Why?"

"Because Kinsey's there."

"And you think he might have something to do with this?"

"I don't know… but I need to find out."

"Why you?"

"Because Shawn needs Jack and the others, and he doesn't need me. And I can use the-"

"No, you can't."

"Sure I can." Now Ian opened his eyes – although there was no one there, only the Presence that he'd become used to. "Thanks to having my head stuck in that thing of yours – or your alternate's, or whatever – I know how to use some of those weapons I'm carrying around. I-"

"That's not what we gave you that knowledge for, Ian."

"I don't care."

It was obvious that he didn't.

"And if Kinsey isn't involved?"

Ian shrugged. He didn't want to consider that.

"Come home, Ian."

"No."

He'd come too far to turn around, now.