As soon as Shawn left the bedside, Ian looked at River, who had turned to toss one of his best smiles at a passing nurse that he didn't know – but hoped to meet soon. Despite the fact that she had to know he was only flirting, she couldn't help but smile back, which just encouraged River further. Ian scowled.
"Hey… dipshit. Pay attention."
River looked back at him, while Daniel grinned and excused himself, telling him he'd be back to talk to him later.
"What?"
Ian waited until Daniel was gone, too, moving down to visit with Shawn and Sam, and gave the Californian all his attention.
"How's Shawn been doing?"
"I killed him last night – crashed our Tomcat trying to do a carrier landing on the simulator."
The Air Force academy had several simulators – which were almost exclusively reserved for the use of the seniors and select juniors – but Jack (and other powers that be with far more brass than he) had arranged to allow River – and Shawn if he wanted it – as much time as they could get in the things, as long as their grades didn't suffer because of it.
Ian scowled. He didn't give a shit about the simulator – although now he was certain he'd never fly in anything River tried to fly.
"Nothing weird going on?"
River knew what Ian was asking, and rather than yank his chain any more – because he knew this was a serious topic for the New Yorker – he shook his head.
"We're not running so much, lately – I can't imagine why – but he's healthy and his grades are good."
"No one's fucking with him?"
River shook his head again.
"They know better."
Ian wasn't the only one who'd stick up for Shawn, after all, and River was heavier than Ian – although far easier to get along with.
"Good."
"Besides," River said, sitting down on the edge of the bed – avoiding the leg. "People like Shawn, once they get over the fact that he's so young. He'll probably make a better officer than either of us, you know."
"Better than you, anyways," Ian said. "You have a habit of shooting people that are on your side." He made a gun out of his finger and thumb. "I'm your leader, bang! Oops."
River grinned, looking around for Fraiser, who was at the far end of the room.
"You're the one who said it wasn't loaded."
"What?" Ian tried to look innocent. "I don't remember saying anything of the sort."
"Bullshit."
Ian snorted, grinning as well. It was nice to have someone to talk to that was his own age, really, and he felt better because of the company – although he'd sooner chop his head off than admit it to Hayden. The people that were usually around him – mostly SG-1 – were all so much older than him that while he liked them (and he did!) he felt a little out of their loop.
"Yeah, okay… I might have been a little too quick to say it was empty – but you should have checked it."
"I will next time."
"I'm sure Fraiser will appreciate it."
River nodded, and looked at the leg again.
"So… what did you do to your leg?"
"It's classified…" he said, mysteriously.
"Would it hurt if I do this?"
River poked the leg through the brace, causing Ian to jump just a little. Yeah, it would hurt.
"Bastard."
River grinned.
"So what did you do to it?"
"I'm not telling you, surfer boy, so go bother someone else."
Poke.
"Damn it, stop that."
"What did you do?"
"Kiss my-"
Poke.
Ian swore, although he was hardly being tortured, and waved to the nurse that River had been flirting with, causing her to come over – which immediately distracted River.
"Could you hand me something blunt and heavy, please?"
Since the nurse hadn't seen Ian looking quite this cheerful in – ever – she smiled.
"Is this guy bothering you, Cadet?"
"I'm River," River told her, standing up and holding his hand out. "I'm his-"
"He's not my anything," Ian interrupted, "and yes, he's in dire need of an ass kicking. Would you please bring me something to hit him over the head with?"
She laughed and took River's hand for just a moment – he was absolutely gorgeous – and then shook her head.
"River. If you continue to pester my patient, I'll have to have Doctor Fraiser come and-"
"I'm not pestering him. I'm visiting him."
"Still…"
"Okay, okay." River sighed dramatically, and watched as the nurse left, his eyes plainly showing appreciation for the way her uniform fit – which annoyed Ian.
"Would you knock that shit off?"
"What?"
"She's married, okay? Stop ogling her."
"I'm just looking."
"Well stop it. Jesus."
"Just for that, I'm not going to give you your birthday present."
"What?"
River smiled, amused.
"You think we didn't know? Or didn't care? Since I called your apartment last night and tried to get hold of you then – only to have no answer, although I can guess why, now – we brought it with us when we realized you weren't coming by the academy this morning."
"You got me a present?"
"Shawn picked it out."
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Where is it?"
River looked over at the doorway, where he'd set the bag down upon entering the room.
"Just for being a dick, I should make you walk over there and get it yourself."
"And risk Fraiser catching me out of bed…?" Ian made a noise that made River grin.
"She's got you whipped?" He asked, with mock surprise.
Ian scowled.
"I'm not whipped, shit for brains. Just a little cautious right now…"
"Which sure sounds a lot like whipped…"
"Go get my present."
River snickered, and moved, swinging his arm as he did and making a cha-KA! sound as he did.
Ian resisted the urge to throw his bucket of legos at him.