Author's Note: Well… that just proves that Jack and Daniel and all the others are more romantic than I am, because you're right. He would have brought Sam flowers, and I didn't even think of flowers. Bah.

OOOOOOOO

"That's a neat trick," Ali said, looking over at Ian and the baby, who was watching Sam with bright eyes from his position under Ian's chin, his ear pressed tightly against the steadily throbbing jugular vein. Sam smiled and reached out, wiping the wet cheeks of the tears that had smeared them during his fit.

"Who knew Ian was such a softie when it came to babies?" Jack said, sitting next to Sam and scooting close enough that he could put his arm around her.

Ian scowled, ignoring the way everyone else smiled at that thought. He knew he didn't have a way with babies. Truth be told, Jacob was the first one he'd ever held. Jacob was simply bonded to him in ways that they'd never understand – or actually, they might understand, but that Ian would never tell. When he'd healed the little lungs and other parts of the infant – God was it only a day ago? – Ian had left a signature imprinted on the infant's very psyche, a piece of himself because of the giving of his own life force to heal him, and Jacob responded to that every time Ian touched him.

"Tell me of the delivery," Doctor Ali requested from the other side of the cadet. "It must be a very interesting story."

Ian turned slightly green, looking at his unfinished lunch, and Sam wasn't the only one to smile.

"I don't think that's a good topic for a meal conversation," Janet said, delicately – much to Ian's relief.

Ali realized then that the people around him weren't doctors as well – except Janet, of course – and smiled. He and his colleagues were always discussing such things as surgeries, blood work, deliveries and all sorts of medically related topics over meals, but he supposed he could understand why the young man sitting next to him looked as if it wasn't a topic he'd want to discuss just then.

"You're right, and I'm sorry for bringing it up."

Ian shrugged.

"It's all right."

Which didn't mean he wanted to discuss it.

"So, is Jake okay?" Daniel asked, looking at Janet, who gestured for Doctor Ali to field the question. The big man nodded, all smiles.

"He's perfect. A couple more days of observation – just to make sure he's gaining weight, and because I've never allowed a preemie so small to go home – and he'll be ready to face the wide world."

Daniel smiled, not only because he knew that it was a relief for Sam and Jack to know that, but because he was relieved, too. Jacob was basically like a nephew to him, after all – especially since he didn't have any siblings of his own to produce them for him. He'd take Jack and Sam's baby in that role any day.

"That's good news."

"Give him here, Ian," Sam said, softly, reaching for the infant. "You need both hands to eat."

Actually, Ian only needed one hand to eat, but he didn't dare use only one hand to hold Jacob so there was no way he could. Not to mention he didn't want to accidentally drop something on him. He was more than willing to hand him over, though, and Jacob was ready to go back to Sam.

Ian applied himself to his lunch once more, while the conversation turned to what to expect by way of growth for the baby, and Janet watched the cadet eat, glad to see he had a good appetite, because at the moment she was just as concerned about him as she was about Jacob. Especially now that Ali had eased her concerns about the baby.

OOOOOOOOOO

"What's this?"

"My homework."

Jack looked at Ian, who was getting out of his wheelchair and back into his bed. It was mid-afternoon and Janet had sent Sam and Ian both back to bed. Ali had left a short time before, with Daniel escorting him up through the checkpoints and Fraiser didn't want either of her patients – or Jacob – out of bed for too long.

"Smart ass. It looks like a lot of legos to me."

Ian smiled.

"Yeah. I was bored."

"What is it?"

"A ship."

"Space ship?"

"Yup."

"Based on… anything in particular?"

He shook his head.

"I made it up."

"Has Sam seen it?"

"It's a bunch of legos thrown together, Jack. Hardly a monumental discovery."

O'Neill shrugged.

"Sam likes that kind of thing, though."

"Yeah, well… she likes you, too… so there's no accounting for taste…"

Jack grinned. He'd put up with that, but if Ian wasn't in Janet's infirmary, the boy would be in for some serious retribution. A wedgie at least.

"Don't destroy it until she has a chance to see it, okay?"

Ian shrugged. It wasn't like he couldn't rebuild it – and it was beginning to look like he was going to have plenty of time to do it, since Janet had mentioned keeping him through the weekend.

"Okay."

"Do you need…"

Jack trailed off, since Ian wasn't looking at him anymore. The cadet's gaze had wandered to the door, where a visitor had entered, carrying a large and bulky gift bag in her hand and was looking his way with a smile on her face. Cassie Fraiser waved at Ian, but made a stop to see Sam once Ian had waved back, and Jack knew Ian didn't need anything.

"I'll talk to you later, okay?"

Ian turned his attention back to Jack.

"Thanks, Jack."

O'Neill just shook his head, wryly, and headed over to Sam's bed.

OOOOOOOOO

"Hey, super smart boyfriend…" Cassie said, waking up to his bed a few minutes later, still holding the bag. "I heard a rumor that it's your birthday…"

Ian smiled. A real smile that warmed his dark eyes and softened his features considerably.

"It was yesterday, Cassandra," he told her, reaching his hand out for hers and squeezing it lightly when she took it. "You're a day late."

"Hey… I was here," she said, putting the bag in his lap. "You just wouldn't wake up enough to open your present."

Of course, she hadn't had the present with her when she'd come to check on him, but that was beside the point, right?

"You didn't have to get me anything, you know that."

She leaned over and kissed him, softly.

"I know. But I wanted to. Open it."

Ian let go of her hand and opened the bag, which was closed with a ribbon and a piece of tape. He smiled when he saw what was in it, and reached in and pulled out a fairly large stuffed teddy bear, black and silky with a brown nose and black button eyes. It was wearing a white T-shirt with the words 'I love you' across the front, and a card attached to its hand with a safety pin.

Ian smiled.

"Do you like it?"

"He's great. Thank you."

Even if it had been a simple card with no message inside taped to a daily newspaper Ian would have liked it, though. It was definitely a matter of the giver and not the gift.

"I know it's not a very macho gift…"

He reached out and took her hand, pulling her close and hugging her.

"I don't need macho gifts, Cassandra." He didn't, either. "And any present from you is better than anything from anyone else."

She smiled, pleased, and hugged him back, wondering if he had any idea how good he made her feel when he said stuff like that.

"Happy late birthday, Ian."