He felt the Presence with him, and opened his eyes, looking around. All he saw, though, was a room. An empty room that was bathed in a bright white room. But the Presence was overpowering, and Shawn felt some part of his soul react to it in some manner he couldn't understand. Almost as if he recognized it – although he didn't have a clue.

"Your mother would have been very proud of you…"

The voice was deep and gentle, and as filled with love as any Shawn had ever heard, and that same love filled him, soothing him like the warmest hug he'd ever received from Dotty, or James, or anyone else.

"Who are you?"

He wasn't afraid, he just wanted to know.

"I can't tell you, Shawn."

There was true regret in the tone of voice, and Shawn nodded, feeling better than he had in days. It was hard to feel sad with the boundless love that was emanating from the Presence that was with him.

"Do I know you?"

"No. Not here."

"Will I?"

"Maybe. Someday. If things turn out the way they should."

"How-"

"Don't ask." The voice was filled with amusement, and it made Shawn smile as well. "Just trust me, okay?"

"Okay."

He hesitated.

"You know my mom?"

"She loved you very much."

Shawn smiled. He'd always known that, of course, but it felt good to hear it.

"Do you think she would approve of me staying with Sam and Jack? Or should I have gone with my-"

"She told you what she wanted. And you did exactly what you had to to do it, and you didn't hurt anyone's feelings in the process. That's remarkable."

He flushed with pleasure at the praise, and felt a tenuous touch on his cheek. Even though his eyes were open, he still couldn't see anyone there, but it didn't frighten him.

"You look like Jack, you know, but there's a lot of your mother in you."

He smiled again.

"Then she's not dead, is she?"

"She'll never die as long as there's some of her left. You won't see her again, but she's a part of you, and that means she can't ever really die."

He nodded, and felt the touch fade, although the love was still as strong and powerful as it had been.

"You'll be fine, Shawn…" the voice told him, and Shawn could hear the pride in the voice. "You'll see."

He roused from his sleep, just a little, and looked around. It was dark and the house was completely quiet. Shawn frowned slightly, and settled back into the bed, pulling his blankets up around him once more. He'd been having the best dream, and even though it was already starting to fade, he felt the heavy burden of grief that had been weighing him down the last few days ease considerably. Unsure what had caused it, but comforted, the boy went back to sleep. This time it was dreamless.

OOOOOOOOOO

For all that they'd been watching for him, it was a surprise to Teal'c and Daniel both when they saw Ian. For not only was he coming down the street away from the hotel instead of towards it, but he was also heading directly to their hiding spot. By the time he reached them, both could see he was upset, and Daniel looked at Teal'c, wondering if the worst had happened – and somehow Ian had escaped after killing Kinsey – and was now regretting it.

Teal'c frowned, but tensed, ready to reach for Ian when he passed the Explorer. Once again Ian surprised them, though. He didn't pass the Explorer; he unlocked it, and got into it. And then broke down completely, sobbing quietly into the steering wheel. They'd been hiding behind his rented car. And should have realized it once he noticed the Colorado plates. But who would have guessed?

Daniel watched for an angry mob to start forming at the door to the hotel – which would have been a sign that something had happened to Kinsey. When nothing happened, and several minutes passed without any warning being spread – or any kind of alarm given – Daniel looked over at Teal'c and gave him a questioning look. The Jaffa gave him a look Daniel couldn't read, and then headed around to the driver's side of the door and opened it.

Ian didn't even notice that anything was going on until he felt Teal'c's large hand come to a rest on his shoulder, and then he about jumped out of his skin, his hand reaching into his jacket for one of the devices before he even looked to see who it was.

Teal'c's hand moved much quicker than Ian's, stopping him before he even made it inside his coat, much less his pocket.

"Easy, Ian Brooks, you are with your friends."

"Teal'c." He looked around, confused, and Teal'c let go of his hand, which dropped to the steering wheel. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

"Jack."

Ian saw Daniel coming around to stand beside Teal'c, the archeologist wearing an expression he could read.

"Is he here?"

Daniel shook his head.

"He had to stay with Shawn…"

"Good." Ian nodded. "He should be with him."

Daniel looked towards the hotel.

"Did you see Kinsey?"

Ian nodded.

"Did he have anything to do with the plane crash?"

Ian shook his head, and they both saw fresh tears trickling down the young man's cheeks a moment later.

"No. He didn't do it."

"Ian…"

"It's my fault, Daniel…" Ian said, softly, looking down at his hands, which he could only just see in the shadows created by the steering wheel and a streetlight. "If I'd have minded my own business, Dotty and James would never have been on that plane."

"It's not your fault."

"Quod erat demonstrandum, Daniel."

The archeologist frowned.

"No… the facts don't speak for themselves."

"Shawn must hate me."

"He does not blame you, Ian Brooks," Teal'c said. "No one does."

"We have to get you back. Jack's beside himself with worry."

"I'm not sure I'm going back."

"Are you going to steal this truck?"

"What?"

"You have to return this, right?"

Ian shrugged.

"Eventually."

"Then it's settled." Daniel reached over and unlocked the doors with the driver's controls, and opened the back door – the one behind the driver's door. "We need a ride home, anyways."

"How did you get here?"

"I'll tell you later – it's classified." He took Ian's arm. "You look tired, so I'll drive first. Go ahead and get into the back and try to get some sleep."

He was going to tell him to go to hell – or at least tell them to go away, but he knew they weren't going to. No matter what he said. And he'd hardly be able to intimidate Teal'c into leaving him alone – Teal'c would probably just truss him up like a branded calf or something and toss him in the back seat anyways.

Numb, Ian did what he was told, and got into the back seat, while Teal'c took shotgun and Daniel slid behind the wheel. He buckled his seat belt, but then simply stared out the window – exhausted and jaded, but fairly certain he'd never be able to sleep.

He was wrong.

OOOOOO

The phone woke Jack from a light doze, and he grabbed for it, trying to get it before the noise woke Sam. It didn't work, though. Even as he picked it up, he saw her eyes open sleepily – although she didn't say anything, she just tucked her head up under his chin and sighed contentedly, her hand resting on his chest.

"O'Neill."

"We found him, Jack."

He felt relief surge through him.

"Is he all right?"

Sam looked up at Jack, realizing who it must be, and Jack's free hand stroked her hair tenderly.

Daniel looked back at the passenger in the Explorer. Ian's head was resting against the window, his eyes closed – although there were lines of pain etched in his expression even then.

"He's a mess," the archeologist confided. "But he's healthy and whole, and nothing happened that can't be reversed." Meaning he didn't kill Kinsey. "At least, we don't think so." Daniel looked at his watch. "We're driving home, now, and we'll drive straight through – we should be there sometime around 5 PM."

"You're in the rental?"

"Yeah."

"I'll meet you at the rental office."

"Okay."

Daniel hung up and Jack set the phone down.

"Ian?" Sam asked.

Jack nodded, and hugged her close.

"They found him. They're bringing him home."