Driving straight through, switching drivers when one grew tired and only stopping long enough to fill up the Explorer, eat, and take bathroom breaks, they made far better time than Daniel had expected. It helped that Ian and Teal'c were both speeders when they didn't think Daniel was looking. Consequently, they pulled into the rental lot a few minutes after 4PM instead of 5, and Jack's truck was sitting right outside the main door. Beside his truck was Sally's car, and through the glass door of the office, Ian could see Jaffer flirting with the woman who had rented him the Explorer.

Ian opened up the back and pulled out the case. Luckily, Teal'c and Daniel simply thought it was an ugly suitcase, and neither had thought anything more of it. During one of the rest stops, Ian had transferred the devices from his pocket into the case, and then had locked it securely and left it where it was for the rest of the trip.

He wasn't sure exactly what he was going to do with the things, all he knew was what Alexander had told him. That they couldn't allow the technology to fall into the wrong hands – and that meant keeping it away from the military, because Ian knew as well as anyone that the military would instantly start looking for uses for them, and as dangerous as most of the items were, they could do serious damage before anyone had a chance to figure them out. Even Ian only knew how to use a few things in the case – although he had a feeling he'd know more and more as time passed.

He carried the case into the rental office and braced himself against Jaffer's greeting, while Jack (the dog) dodged past Daniel – who was smiling to see Sally waiting – to say hello to Teal'c, who grabbed him into a cheerful hug, scratching his ears and rubbing his shoulders and sides. Jack came over while Ian was stroking Jaffer's sides, and knelt down beside him, his brown eyes concerned and annoyed at the same time.

"You okay?"

Ian shook his head, looking around. Shawn wasn't there and neither was Sam, but he supposed it was just as well. He didn't want to face Shawn, and he didn't want Sam to have to worry about him. So it was better that it was just Jack.

"I don't know."

"What were you thinking, running off like that?" Jack asked, unable to hide how much that angered him. "Are you out of your mind?"

"I…" Ian trailed off, unable to come up with anything to say. Instead he shrugged. "Don't worry… it won't happen again."

"Damn straight it won't."

Jack stood up, his hand coming to a rest on Ian's shoulder for just a moment – belying just how mad he was – and Ian felt a pang of regret. He'd made his decision on the way home, and he knew Jack wasn't going to like it.

He stood up as well, nodded a hello to Sally and headed for the counter, handing the keys to the Explorer over and finishing the paperwork that came with turning in the rental car.

"Sally?" Jack said. "You're taking Teal'c?"

She nodded, her arm around Daniel.

"Yes."

"Okay." Jack gave Daniel and Teal'c nods of thanks. "Go home and get some rest."

"I'll see you later this evening, Jack?" Daniel asked.

Jack looked over at Ian, who was still filling out forms, and then nodded.

"I think so, Daniel. I'll call you."

They left, then, leaving Jaffer and Jack alone while they waited for Ian to finish up.

"Sam and Shawn are waiting at the house," Jack told him once Ian was done and had turned around to look at him.

Ian shook his head.

"I'm not going to your house, Jack. I need to go take care of something else."

"You can take care of it later. They're worried about you and want to see you."

Jack couldn't help but be worried, too. Ian looked awful. Pale and tired, and sad, as if the weight of the world was pressing down on his shoulders. Or a lot of guilt, which Jack was certain was closer to the truth.

"I need to do it, now."

"Then I'll take you."

He shook his head.

"I need to do it alone."

"Ian…"

"Jack…"

"Sam told me to bring you home," Jack said, playing the trump card that he'd always have available when it came to dealing with Ian. "Do you really want me to have to go home without you and face her?"

He felt a stab of guilt. Sam was worried. Jack had been worried. Everyone had been worried, and there wasn't any reason to be. He wasn't worth them all getting so upset. They should be saving their concern for Shawn. He sighed.

"Fine. But take me to the academy, first. I need to take care of a few things there. Then I'll go with you." He definitely needed to see the Commandant. Then, when he was finished, he could talk to Jack and the others and tell them what he had decided.

Jack nodded.

"But you're coming home with me."

"Fine."

"Your word on it?"

"Yes. As soon as I'm done I'll go to your house with you."

"Good. Get in the truck."

OOOOOOOOO

The academy didn't look any different. Ian hadn't really expected it to, he supposed, but it felt different this time when he and Jack pulled into the main gate. Maybe because this was going to be his last time coming here? He sighed, feeling a bit sad at the thought, even though he hadn't wanted to come here all that much in the first place. He'd done it because Nathan wanted him here. Nathan had figured his son could learn a few things about himself and become more disciplined if he went to the Air Force Academy instead of some regular school. Look where that had gotten him… But this wasn't Nathan's fault, and Ian knew it. It was all his.

"You okay?"

"Drop me off at the Commandant's office, will you?"

"Sure."

Jack ignored the fact that Ian had avoided his question, and bit down on the urge to ask him what he was going to say to the Commandant. He'd find out soon enough, he was sure.

Jack stopped the truck and Ian got out and grabbed the case from the back of it.

"We'll be in your room," Jack told him.

Ian nodded and turned towards the main building, while Jack drove over to the parking lot by the dorms.

OOOOOO

The secretary outside the Commandant's office knew Ian by sight. What was even more important, she knew that he was supposed to have been back at the school long before now, and that the Commandant had not been happy to find out he wasn't. Before Ian even reached her desk, she was already on the phone with the Commandant.

"Cadet Brooks has just walked into the office, Sir."

"Send him to me the minute he gets close enough to hear your voice, please."

"Yes, Sir."

She hung up and waved Ian over – not hard, since he was coming her direction anyways.

"You can go right in, Cadet."

"Thank you."

She gave him a slightly worriedsmile, wondering what he'd been doing that made him look so awful.

"I'll watch your suitcase for you. You could have dropped it in your room before coming."

He nodded, and set it down and then walked in the door.

"Close the door Mr. Brooks."

The Commandant was seated behind his great desk, in full uniform and looking not just a little pissed off, Ian could see. Ian, on the other hand, was in jeans, a t-shirt and a leather jacket – and needed a shave and a good night's sleep to help get rid of the dark circles under his eyes.

"Yes, Sir."

He turned and closed the door.

"You are AWOL, Mr. Brooks."

"I know, Sir. I'm sorry."

"Explain yourself."

"I… something unexpected came up and I had to leave the state, Sir."

"You should have called."

"Yes, Sir."

He knew that. He just couldn't have.

"It better not happen again, Mr. Brooks. I'm not a –"

"It won't happen again, Sir," Ian told him, interrupting. "I'm going to leave the academy."