It was almost an hour before the nurse found someone willing to go up to the door that Teal'c was guarding. Part of it was because even the doctors were unwilling to challenge him, but another part was that the nurse had said there was shouting coming from inside the door, but all they could hear now was conversation. Not even the best of them could hear what was being said, but they certainly didn't hear screaming. Which meant that things weren't desperate enough to force their way past the large imposing man who had materialized from nowhere and was obviously guarding the door.

Finally, though, it was time to check on the patient, and one particularly brave doctor approached the door with a male nurse in tow, both of them eyeing Teal'c nervously.

"I need to check on the patient…" The doctor said, lifting his chin just a little, trying to appear a little braver than he actually felt.

Teal'c rapped on the door without looking back at it, warning O'Neill that someone was coming in and then moved to the side without saying a word, although it was obvious he was telling them to go ahead and go in. Feeling a little more secure in his authority, the doctor pushed the door open, and was met by the man who'd been in the room talking to the patient.

Jack didn't say anything; he simply walked past the doctor and nurse and headed for the room Shawn was in, with Teal'c falling into step beside him.

"Did you learn anything, O'Neill?"

"Yeah, but let's wait until we're someplace a bit more secure."

Teal'c nodded, and the two of them walked back to Shawn's room, but didn't find Shawn – or anyone else – in the room.

Jack looked at Teal'c.

"Did they come and tell you if they were transferring the guys?"

"I was told nothing. Perhaps they went to check on River Hayden's progress…"

"Huh…"

O'Neill turned and headed out of the door, and almost ran over Daniel, who was coming into the room.

"There you are."

"Here we are," Jack agreed. "Do you know where Sam and Shawn are?"

Daniel's expression was serious enough that Jack actually felt a stab of worry, certain that something had happened. And Daniel's next words confirmed just how good Jack was at reading his friend.

"There was a problem with Ian," Daniel told them. "Janet transferred him and River both to the SGC, and Sam took Jake with her when she and Shawn went with them. I told her I'd tell you when you were done."

"Is Ian all right?"

"Janet said he went into cardiac arrest, but they got him back right away, and he's stable again. She said he should be fine, but she wanted to run more tests on him, and didn't want doctors here getting in her way."

He didn't mention that Janet looked far more shaken by Ian's trouble than Ian had. When he'd seen Ian before they'd bundled him into an ambulance with River, the New Yorker had looked like he was just soundly sleeping, while Fraiser was pale.

"That's where we're going, then."

He stopped just long enough to make sure there were guards on all four of the men who had tried to kidnap River – both military and local police – and then headed for the door.

OOOOOOOOOO

"What the hell is going on, Colonel?"

Daniel had driven the three of them to the SGC, where Teal'c and Jack had both stopped just long enough to collect Jack (the dog) and Jaffer from the kennels before heading into the mountain, where they were accosted by Hammond before any of them could get to the infirmary to check on Ian or River.

Hammond wasn't happy. As far as he knew there was a major leak somewhere, and someone was passing on information about the Stargate to Air Force cadets – and who knew how many? All he knew for sure was that O'Neill had spoken – at length – to one of those men, and he needed to find out what he'd learned.

"It's an organization called the Trust, sir," Jack said, following Hammond into the briefing room and moving to take a seat so Daniel and Teal'c could join them as well. Jaffer put his head in Jack's lap, eager for some attention after spending time away from him, and Jack felt the aching in his injured leg fade a little as he stroked the lab's black head.

"The Trust?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah. Apparently the slimebags from the NID banded together after the fall of their little group and formed a new one. This group is – was – actively recruiting. And apparently Ian was the first name on their Christmas wishlist."

"Ian?" Hammond asked, frowning. "Why?"

"Because according to his school records, he has a serious problem with authority – which they took to mean that he hated the military and might be interested in something a little less organized – discipline-wise."

"Why would he be in the Air Force academy if he hated the military?" Daniel asked, curiously.

"Because of his father," Jack said with a shrug. "But, if he didn't want to be in the military, they had a perfect place for him, and they decided that if Ian's anything like Nate, then he'd be perfect for their little group – if they could convince him to join up."

"And…?"

"And apparently Morgan sent his lackeys to feel out Ian… to see how he might respond to a first overture."

"And?"

"According to Morgan, his men tried it while Ian was jogging – which as you all know is probably the very worst time anyone could ever approach Ian – and he pulled his gun on them and sent them on their way before they could ask him anything."

Hammond's frown deepened.

"Did you know he was approached? Did he mention it to you?"

"No, sir. He didn't say anything." Jack held up his hand before the general could say anything. "Of course, I've been injured, and he might have been planning to say something later…"

Which didn't make Hammond any happier, really. Such a breach of security should have been reported immediately – and even Ian should have known it.

"So when Ian told them no… then what?" Daniel asked. "They went for River, hoping that he'd join up and bring Ian with him?"

"Exactly. Only things went bad, because Shawn and Ian both showed up at the Coffee House before they could finish talking, and Morgan panicked and grabbed River."

"Why?"

Jack shrugged.

"I didn't get that far before I was interrupted by the doctors…"

"I want more information from him, Colonel," Hammond said, scowling. "And I want to know what Ian Brooks knows, too – as soon as he wakes up."

"Yes, sir." He'd check on Shawn and Sam, first, and then see how River was. "I'll see-"

There was a polite knock on the door, and all heads turned towards it.

"Enter!"

An Airman entered the room, and looked over at O'Neill.

"Colonel O'Neill? You have a phone call, sir."

"Tell them I'll call them back."

"It's General Brooks, sir," the man told him apologetically. "He says it's important, sir."