When Jack returned from talking to Hammond, Ian and Nate were just emerging from the small supply closet off the entrance to the infirmary. Thinking of a good dozen jokes he would have had if either of them had just emerged from that closet with a female in tow, he stopped to talk to them.

"I need to borrow Ian for a while, Nate. General Hammond wants to discuss a few things with him, River and Shawn."

"No problem, Jack. I'm done with him."

They all headed into the infirmary, and Jack led them over to River's bed, where Shawn and Sam were still gathered, although Jake was fidgeting in Sam's arms. Fraiser came over as soon as she saw Ian and Nate return, and reached the bed just in time to hear Jack's first words to River.

"General Hammond would like a chance to talk to you three before he goes home."

"Yes, sir." River said. He looked at Janet. "Can I have some clothes?"

"I thought you liked being naked," Shawn said, grinning.

River flushed, looking down at himself.

"I'm not naked."

Janet smiled, and nodded.

"I'll have them bring you something more substantial, cadet."

"Thanks."

Ian didn't have a clue what was so funny, either, but everyone else did, including Janet to judge from the grin. He wasn't wearing much more than River had been, though, and he agreed that he needed more clothing. Luckily, he had a locker jut down the hall filled with extra street clothes – he didn't feel like dressing in a uniform.

"I have some sweats or jeans in my locker," he offered, much to River's relief.

"Perfect. I'll take the sweats. Your jeans probably won't fit me."

"That's because you're fat."

"It's not fat, it's muscle." He started to say more, but realized they still had an audience, and didn't feel like screwing with Ian with so many other people around.

"Doc?"

Janet looked at Jack when he spoke up.

"Can River make it to the briefing room? Or do we bring Hammond down to him?"

She frowned, looking at River.

"I can get up," he said, quickly.

Jack looked over at Janet, who hesitated, and then nodded.

"As long as he doesn't have to use stairs, he can probably get up for a little while."

Although she couldn't for the life of her understand why he wasn't more seriously injured. By all rights, he should have been mangled. Allowing him to get up and walk around would give her a better idea of how much tissue damage there was and if he'd need anything more than just aspirin for the next few days for the pain. (She had no intention of giving him anything stronger if she could avoid it, he obviously didn't react well to medications).

"We'll take the elevator," Jack promised.

"You're not keeping Ian here overnight, are you, Doctor Fraiser?" Nathan asked.

"No," Ian said.

"I might," Janet countered. "I'd like a chance to talk to him, but-"

"I'm fine," Ian protested. "There's not a mark on me."

Nate looked at Janet, his blue eyes questioning. Like Ian had said, there wasn't a mark on him – not even a scratch. Which made him wonder why Fraiser seemed so worried about allowing him to leave. Nate was very good at reading people, and there was something bothering the doctor – something about his son. And of course, that meant he needed to know what it was.

"You let Doctor Fraiser decide that, Ian," Nate said, shrugging. He looked at Jack. "They're going to see Hammond now?"

"As soon as possible," Jack confirmed.

"Good enough. Tell George I'd like to see him before he goes home, though, will you?"

"Sure."

Nate turned to Janet, who had looked surprised when the retired general had backed her up about Ian possibly staying overnight.

"I'd like a chance to talk to you, as well, Doctor Fraiser. If you have a minute while they're gone?"

Which couldn't have suited Janet more. She nodded.

"Let me make sure River's not going to fall on his face if I let him up, and I'll meet you in my office."

"That's fine."

OOOOOOOOO

Vice President Robert Kinsey was relaxing in his home, sitting in a soft, overstuffed chair with his feet up on the footstool in front of it and a drink in his hand. He ached from a long day on his feet, but he was getting better, and the aches weren't as bad as they'd been even a few weeks ago, which was a relief to him. He wasn't quite ready to go to bed, but he was winding down enough that he would be soon. A drink or two always made the aches go away.

The phone rang in the other room, but he ignored it. His wife was home, and she knew he didn't want to get up any more than he needed to. She'd answer the phone.

Sure enough, a moment later it stopped ringing, and a moment after that she came into the living room holding it.

"Bob? Senator Hoff is on the phone."

"Hoff?"

She nodded and handed the phone to him, taking his drink from him so she could refill it with one that didn't look so strong. He scowled, but he didn't say anything. Instead he took the phone and glared at her retreating back.

"Yes?"

The voice on the other line belonged to Jerry Hoff, junior Senator from the great state of Virginia, and another silent member of the Trust – one of the reasons that they had very little trouble getting funding for their little operation.

"Bob? Are you alone?"

Kinsey scowled. He hated it when Hoff called him by his first name, but no matter how many times he called him on it, Hoff would brush off the reprimand, saying there was no way he was going to bow and scrape to Kinsey.

"Yes, I'm alone. What do you want?"

"I've got some… unsettling news."

"What?"

"Admiral Leaf has just been found in his home… he's dead."

Kinsey felt his stomach flip-flop.

"Dead?"

"Yeah. It's…" the Vice President could hear the shudder in the younger man's voice as he took a deep, settling breath. "…it's pretty gruesome, from what I've been told."

"Dead?" Kinsey repeated, stupidly.

There was no doubt in his mind who had been responsible for that. Absolutely no doubt whatsoever. The only question was; was he next? Suddenly, the Vice President very much wished for his wife to bring him his drink – ad he couldn't get off the phone fast enough to call and double check that his secret service detail was close at hand.