They walked outside onto the deck and Ian shut the sliding glass door behind him. This wasn't really a conversation he wanted anyone to hear. It was cold outside – especially since they were neither one wearing a jacket or shoes – but River didn't even gripe about it. He just leaned against the railing of the deck and waited to hear what Ian wanted, knowing that it was probably important – at least Ian thought it was.

"So… I'm going to be gone for a while…"

Well, that was probably the most redundant thing he'd said in a long time. River nodded, though.

"Are you sure this is something you want to do?" He asked. "Even with the place of your own it still sounds like you'll be bored – even working with the O'Neill's."

"There's more to it than just the internship," Ian said, shrugging. "I can't really go into it too much, because it's classified and all that, but it might be something that I turn out to be good at. Who knows?"

River shrugged, too, but didn't ask what he was going to be doing. He figured he'd find out eventually. And Ian continued, knowing his roommate was freezing and not complaining about it.

"I need you to do me a favor."

"What's that?"

"Keep an eye on Shawn for me."

River smiled, bemused.

"He hardly needs my help, Ian. He did better on his finals than I d-"

"I don't mean help him with his homework, dipshit," Ian said, scowling – although it wasn't the angry scowl River was used to seeing. This one was more annoyed than anything. "I want you to keep an eye on him – and let me know if there's anything odd going on."

"You mean someone picking on him?" River shook his head. "They all know better, now."

Ian shook his head.

"No, I know that." He and River had long since taught the underclassmen not to mess with Shawn, and the upperclassmen were learning that lesson as well – although it took longer for River and Ian to find acceptable ways to make sure they knew that getting at Shawn physically or mentally – meant going through his older roommates. Especially Ian, who didn't have River's patience and good nature. "What I want you to watch for is mood swings or depression. Stuff like that. If something's going on that you can't figure out, give me a call and I'll come. I'll get you my number as soon as I know what it is."

River nodded, although he wasn't sure exactly what Ian was talking about. He probably would if it came up, though – although he'd do his best to figure it out on his own. In the weeks that Shawn and River were in their room alone – while Ian was recovering from his gunshot wounds – the two of them had become rather close, so River would be able to tell if something was bothering Shawn. Probably even sooner than Ian would – although Ian seemed lately to almost be able to tell when someone was up to something and was usually there when it started to happen. There and ready to put it down with a sarcastic comment or a brooding glare. Which was all it usually took most days.

"If I see anything I can't figure out, I'll call you," he promised. "Or if I need a place to bring a girl…"

Ian snorted, shaking his head, and allowing the change of subject.

"Moron. Why don't you settle on one girl?"

"When there's so much of me to spread around?"

"I thought you were seeing Gina's sister…?"

"She went back to her old boyfriend," River said. "Something about me not being able to make up my mind about what I want…" He shrugged, as if to ask who could understand what women wanted. "And are you planning on taking Cassandra Fraiser to the Valentine's Day formal?"

Ian scowled. Maybe he shouldn't have allowed the change of subject after all.

"Doctor Fraiser probably wouldn't approve."

"She's not the one who asked, though."

"Why don't you send Cassandra a letter? See if she'd like you to take her?"

River shook his head.

"She doesn't want me to go with her – or she would have sent me the invitation in the first place. I don't know why you don't just take her. It's not like you're seeing anyone else or anything." Not that that would have stopped River.

"Look…" Ian frowned. "Just watch Shawn for me, okay? And stay out of my love life."

"Or lack of it…"

"Yeah, whatever…"

OOOOOOOO

Sam stood near the sliding glass door, drinking a cup of hot tea and watching the two young men outside with a slight frown on her face. They weren't wearing coats, and they didn't have shoes on. Hadn't their mothers taught them anything? She wondered what they were discussing, but didn't get close enough to the glass to be able to hear what they were saying, instead just watching their body language to make sure they weren't arguing.

The two of them were so different. Like night and day – or maybe summer and winter. Ian being so dark and moody all the time – and with his dark hair and eyes, that seemed to fit him most days – while River was so warm and sociable that you couldn't help but smile when he came into a room. Different, all right, but not as different as they probably thought. Not when you saw them standing together like that.

"What are you watching?" Jack asked, coming over with Jaffer ambling next to him. He'd finished showering and had relinquished the bathroom to Shawn, who said he'd be ready in a few minutes.

"The boys."

Jack looked out the door and frowned.

"Are they arguing?"

"I don't think so. Ian's probably giving River a lecture about staying out of trouble or something." The New Yorker seemed to be doing more talking than River was.

"They don't have any shoes on."

She smiled; he'd noticed what she'd noticed and had reacted to it like she had. Disapproving. Yup, she was the pregnant one, but he was getting into dad mode already.

"No jackets, either."

"So I see." He wrapped his arms around her for a quick hug, his hand resting lightly on her belly. "Are you coming with us to the academy? Or going to the base?"

She leaned against him, her back against his front, and her hand came down lightly on his.

"I'll go with you. Once Ian's talked to the Commandant, we'll see if we're needed, too, and then we can go help Daniel finish moving out if he needs it and get Ian settled in. You called Nathan?"

Jack nodded, kissed her on the cheek and let her go. The discussion on the deck was winding down it looked like, and he didn't want the cadets to think they'd been spying on them.

"Yeah. Nate's curious, but he said he'd wait until Ian called to grill him about what he's going to be doing."

"And the package?"

"It'll be coming with whatever the next Military flight that leaves New York heading this general direction."

Sam smiled.

"You think of everything, don't you?"

He shrugged, giving her an answering grin.

"I try."