Author's Note: This chapter might be a little boring... sorry :)
OOOOOOOOOOO
When Ian and Teal'c pulled up to the visitor's parking lot at the High school, Andrew was already waiting. He ignored the convertible at first, since he wasn't looking for Sam's car – now Ian's. He was watching for the nondescript military sedan that Teal'c normally drove, instead, and only when he realized that the huge back guy in the front seat of the car was Teal'c did he realize that it was Sam's car. Although he had heard that Sam and Jack had given it to Ian Brooks – Shawn's former roommate and now a temporary member of SG-1 – as a thank you present. Andrew wished he could get presents like that – even though he didn't have his permit yet.
He walked over, wondering why Teal'c hadn't driven himself, but feeling a little surge of excitement as well. He'd heard a lot about Ian Brooks from Shawn and Teal'c – both of whom really admired the guy, which said a lot about him – and had been hoping that some day he'd have a chance to meet him. Shawn had said that Ian was a bit rough around the edges – Teal'c called him a work in progress – but they both liked him. Which meant that Andrew figured he had to be someone pretty interesting.
"Hi, Teal'c."
Teal'c smiled at him from the front seat of the car. Andrew couldn't help but feel good when he was with Teal'c – no matter how crappy his day might have been. The big Jaffa was probably his favorite person in the world – aside from his folks, of course. And Shadow, maybe, but she didn't count, because she was a dog. Add to that the fact that Teal'c never smiled, but always smiled at him, and it made him feel good. Behind Teal'c, sitting in the backseat of the convertible, was Jack, who was wagging his tail happily. Jack liked Andrew!
"Andrew, it is good to see you again."
Which might not have sounded like all that great a greeting, but for Teal'c it was enthusiastic, and Andrew knew it. Which made him feel even better.
He smiled, looking from Teal'c over the guy behind the wheel. Andrew had seen a picture of Ian once, so he knew this was him, but he really had expected him to be bigger than he was, and maybe a little more intimidating.
"This is Ian Brooks," Teal'c said, introducing the two. "My vehicle is not working, and he offered to drive me – otherwise I would have had to cancel our meeting, and I did not wish to do that."
"I'm glad you didn't," Andrew said truthfully, reaching over Teal'c and offering Ian his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Ian. I've heard a lot about you from Shawn."
Ian took Andrew's hand – a good thing about convertibles, eh? – and nodded. He'd heard about Andrew as well. Not so much from Shawn, but from Jack and Teal'c – and even Sam. He was sixteen – barely – and the other person that Thor was giving lessons to. Which interested Ian, really, since no one seemed to know exactly what it was that the Asgard wanted from them once they'd learned – although Shawn had promised to tell Jack the minute Thor told him. Presumably, Thor was keeping them in the dark until they knew enough, and Ian supposed he could understand that – although Shawn seemed to think it was genetically orientated since they were learning a lot of sciences and the math needed to keep up with the science. Which told Ian that Shawn could be right.
"How are you?" Ian asked politely, shaking his hand without testing his grip – macho guy bullshit that Ian didn't really buy into – and releasing it again. "You don't mind sitting in the back with Jack?"
Andrew shook his head. Like he'd ever mind sitting next to a dog?
Teal'c opened the door and leaned forward, taking the seat with him so Andrew could squeeze in. It wasn't hard, although his backpack hung him up for a minute.
As Andrew settled himself, putting on his seatbelt, Ian looked at him in the mirror. Andrew was pretty much nondescript, really. A little scrawny for sixteen – and he probably got teased about that, Ian bet – with dark hair and blue eyes that sparkled with good health and intelligence.
"Do you guys want me to just drop you somewhere and come get you later?" He asked, giving them the chance to dump him if they didn't want his company.
Andrew shook his head.
"I'm okay with whatever Teal'c wants."
He was, too. He just wanted to be able to have an intelligent conversation with someone. And spend time with people who didn't think of him as the smartest person in school, or someone who you just mooched answers off of.
"We will buy you a burger, Ian," Teal'c offered, tendering the Cadet an invitation to join them.
"Sounds good."
Ian put the car in gear and backed out of the parking space. Dairy Queen sounded good, and it was a nice enough day that they could take advantage of the little tables in the grass outside the restaurant so that Jack could join them.
OOOOOOOOO
Ian didn't speak much while he made his way through the double cheeseburger, fries and milkshake that he ordered. He did listen, however, as Teal'c interrogated Andrew about how his day had been – and then how the rest of the time had been since the two of them had last seen each other. It was obvious to Ian that the Jaffa really cared, too, because the questions were more than just 'how are you and how have you been'. Teal'c asked questions that required real answers, and even though Ian didn't participate in the conversation, he did find out a lot more than Andrew probably intended to let show.
It was obvious to Ian that Andrew wasn't quite as happy a camper as everyone probably thought he was. He was cheerful enough, yeah, but when answering questions about his schoolwork – his real schoolwork, not the Asgard stuff that Teal'c didn't bring up for obvious reasons – his expression turned bitter and his voice was filled with contempt. Not for Teal'c of course, just for the classes he was taking – which were advanced, but nothing compared to what he was ready for.
Ian understood how the boy felt. It was common knowledge that smart kids – geniuses, or whatever you wanted to call them – almost always had it rough in school. Not that the teachers didn't care, but there were a lot of kids in front of them and they had to work with all of them, not focus solely on challenging the super bright ones. Some of them were able to handle it, finding stuff on their own to do to keep themselves occupied, but many tended to simply get lazy because they didn't feel any need to try, and many never used the brains they'd been born with because of it.
Ian knew all this because he'd looked it up one day while he'd been sitting through a class that he had no desire to attend. He had been a prime example of one of those kids – although he'd also been blessed with a mother that always made sure he had something to keep him occupied, even though for the life of her Maggie Brooks hadn't been able to find anything that was a real challenge. She'd seen the need, though – mainly because Ian had never been good at hiding how he felt about anything – and she'd tried. Lots of parents would try if they knew there was a problem, but most kids were better at hiding the problem than Ian had been.
By the time Ian had finished his strawberry sundae, he was pretty sure that Andrew was a lot like he'd been – scary as that thought was – only without the attitude. He didn't say anything, though. Instead, he gathered up all the trash when they had finished eating and threw it away while Teal'c and Andrew continued chatting – although now it was about family members that Ian didn't know and past events that Ian hadn't heard of.
Teal'c asked Andrew if he wanted to go to a movie or something, but Andrew sighed and shook his head.
"I have to be home by five. But would you like to do something this weekend?"
Since it was already Thursday, it was hardly a lot of notice, but Ian knew that Teal'c didn't have anything planned – at least nothing offworld – and wasn't surprised to see the Jaffa nod.
"If you wish. I will call you later and make arrangements."
Andrew nodded, his smile far more genuine and happy than anything Ian had seen before.
"I'll let mom know."
He and Teal'c chatted more as Ian drove Andrew home, and when he pulled up in front of the house, Andrew smiled again as he got out, slapping Jack's side affectionately.
"It was nice meeting you, Ian. Thanks for the ride."
Ian nodded.
"Any time."
"I'll talk to you later, Teal'c."
"Indeed. I will call you this evening."
They both watched as Andrew walked to the door, was swarmed over by a large black lab and headed inside. But before Ian could put the car in gear, Teal'c spoke up.
"There is something bothering Andrew…"
