"Do you need anything before we go?"
Ian's hand had been stitched up and bandaged and Janet had given him a good dose of antibiotics – just to make sure there was no chance of infection, his chest had been cleaned of what little blood was there, and the four scratches had been thoroughly cleaned out and covered with an antibiotic ointment, and Jack was ready to return home, now that he knew his protégé was in good hands.
Janet smiled and shook her head.
"It's just for the night, right?"
"The DOT is supposed to be clearing the road first thing in the morning," Jack confirmed.
"Then we'll be fine."
Besides, it wasn't like they could waste too much of Thor's time, after all.
"Want me to leave Jaffer?" Jack asked Ian. "You know… in case a pack of angry gophers decides to chew up the tires?"
Ian scowled, and just barely stopped himself from flipping Jack the bird.
"I'll toss Andrew to them."
Jack grinned, and fished the signaling device from his pocket, turning to Fraiser.
"Call me when you get home so I know you all made it safe."
"Yes, Sir."
With a soft growl from Jaffer, Jack and the lab disappeared in a flash of brilliant white light, the Mountain Dew can still in Jaffer's mouth.
Janet looked at the two young men, each sitting on one of the over stuffed sofas.
"Alone at last."
Ian smiled, not at all expecting Janet Fraiser to be in such a good mood – or willing to banter with him. Of course, she'd also stuck up for him, helping him out when he'd needed it and offering to drive his car so he wouldn't have to leave it where it was, and while he really appreciated it, he had to wonder if maybe she was beginning to like him – just a little bit.
"Nice pajamas."
Janet flushed, looking down at herself. She'd actually been wearing a nightgown when Sam had called, but had slipped on a pair of sweats when she'd gotten up, tucking the nightgown into her pants like an overly large shirt. Luckily she hadn't been wearing something more see through. Even luckier that she'd been wearing clothes at all when Thor had beamed her up.
"Well… I was in a rush…" she said, seeing the humor in the situation.
"Would you like a cup of coffee, Doctor Fraiser?" Andrew asked, smiling. "I could make you some."
She shook her head.
"I'm ready to call it a night," she told him. "Where do I sleep?"
"There are lots of rooms upstairs – but they're pretty chilly – or you can take the rec room," Andrew said, thinking. "There are a few couches and we have lots of blankets."
"The rec room will be fine."
That way she could also be close to Ian in case something happened, and still be in her own space.
Andrew stood up and took her to it while Ian leaned back into the cushions of his own 'bed'. His hand was starting to throb a little as the shot she'd given him started to wear off, but he wasn't complaining at all – and wouldn't. It was better than it could have been, after all. A lot better. He looked down at his chest, wondering if the scratches were going to scar – which would make for an interesting conversation starter. If he ever found someone worth starting a conversation with in the first place.
Andrew came back, then, looking over at Ian.
"How do you feel?"
"I'm okay. Thanks."
"It was pretty cool of Doctor Fraiser to stick around, huh?" He asked, softly.
Ian nodded.
"Yeah. She's all right."
Andrew nodded, too, looking like he wanted to say more. Ian, of course, noticed, and while he normally wouldn't have pressed, he hadn't forgotten what his primary goal for that day had been. It certainly hadn't been to wrestle with bears, after all.
"Are you all right?" He asked.
Andrew nodded again.
"I was just thinking how cool it was that Jack and Doctor Fraiser rallied like that for you."
Ian smiled.
"It's not just Jack and her," he said. "It's everyone at the SGC. And it's not because it was me. They're all like that – no matter who it is that needs help. That's the kind of people they are – and a byproduct of the kind of things that they deal with daily."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a bond, I guess," Ian said, making sure to look over at the doorway that Janet had disappeared into. "You work with them, facing some seriously messed up shit day after day and eventually they're going to let you into their little group. Once you're there, you're family – more than family, even – and they'll do anything for you. Even come up into the mountains in the middle of the night on a Saturday wearing nothing but their pajamas just to make sure you're okay."
"And drive you home the next day just so you don't have to leave your car…?"
Ian smiled.
"You're a quick learner, Andrew."
Andrew smiled, and sighed, flopping down on the other end of Ian's sofa.
"I wish I could be in a group like that… It'd be great to have friends like that."
Ian snorted, and reached out with his foot, nudging the younger man's elbow.
"Dipshit. You're already in that group. You have been."
Andrew shook his head.
"Nah. I screwed up. I stayed behind instead of going into the academy and-"
"You've been in the group way longer than just this last year, dumb ass." Ian said. "The minute you started working with Thor and Shawn, you joined a group that is about as select as it comes. Add to that the fact that Teal'c cares more about you than he does anyone else on the planet – except maybe Jack and Jack – and fill it in with the fact that Shawn thinks of you as a brother, and you'll see that you've already got the friends you need. You certainly don't need the losers that hang out together and snub you at your school."
Andrew stared at him. He'd never actually thought of it like that, before.
"But they don't have time to really-"
"Teal'c makes more time to be with you than he does to do anything else," Ian said. "He's busy, sure, but he makes the time. Shawn would spend more time with you if you mentioned it to him – he told me that he assumed you saw too much of him with your lessons with the Asgard and wanted time away from him. And while he is limited in how much free time he has to spend off campus, I know if you mentioned wanting to do something with him, he'd make the time."
"You think so?"
"I know it."
"Huh."
Ian shrugged, and then made an offer that would have caused several people to have heart attacks had they heard it.
"For that matter… if you really wanted some company at night – and a headstart on the Academy next year – you can spend some evenings over at my place, and I'll start drilling you on the basic courses you're going to be taking next year."
"Really?"
"When I'm around," Ian said, shrugging again. "Why not? You're not going to learn anything hanging out with people who are just trying to use you for right answers, after all."
"Wow…"
Ian scowled. It wasn't like he was all that great. Andrew didn't need to make it seem like Jesus had invited him to go skiing or something.
"I'm not the easiest guy in the world to get along with, though…"
Andrew smiled.
"I'll take my chances… thanks…"
Ian shrugged – again. It was pretty much what he did when he was uncomfortable, after all. Well, among other things.
"You're welcome. Now move so I can get some sleep."
