The smell of breakfast woke Ian the next morning. An impossible smell, because he knew even as he woke up where he was and that there wasn't a kitchen in the infirmary. But he was pretty sure he smelled bacon and eggs and sausage and coffee. He rolled over and opened his eyes, looking around sleepily, and saw his father sitting in a chair beside his bed, feet up on the edge of the bed and a large bag beside him. Nate was munching on a breakfast sandwich, and sipping a cup of coffee as he read the newspaper, but it was obvious that his entire attention wasn't on the news, because the moment Ian moved, he set the paper aside and looked at his son.

"Good morning."

"Please tell me some of that's mine…"

Nate smiled, and nodded.

"As much as you care to eat."

Ian sat up in the bed and reached for the bag Nathan handed him, and pulled out a wrapped sandwich.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. I figured you'd want something substantial for breakfast and wasn't sure what this place offered up."

"The food's not bad," Ian said around a mouthful of sandwich. "Not as good as this, though."

He wondered how his dad knew that sandwiches from this place were his favorite meal – since it wasn't a fast food chain that they had in New York – but decided that he probably found out from Jack or Sam. It wasn't a secret, after all, and his dad was pretty good at ferreting out information.

Nate nodded and took another sip of his coffee, watching as Ian ate. He sure didn't seem unhealthy to the retired general, and he couldn't see any sign that the boy had collapsed the day before. He looked tired – but he always did, it seemed – and he was eating as if he hadn't had a square meal in days, but Ian had always had a healthy appetite, so that didn't concern Nate.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"I'm fine."

"Good."

Nate pulled another sandwich out of the bag and started in on it while Ian looked around. The curtain around his bed was open and he could see that Shawn and River were both still sleeping. A glance at his watch told him it was fairly early – but he was used to waking up early, and he knew Nate was as well. The medical staff was a skeleton crew at best just then with no critical patients in their infirmary to worry about and it being the weekend, and the two that there were in the room just then were both checking River's chart while the Californian slept. Probably talking about how cute he was, Ian decided.

"George told me what happened in the briefing yesterday," Nate said, breaking into Ian's thoughts.

The cadet scowled, reminded about just how upset he'd been at the reprimand.

"Yeah?"

Nate nodded.

"I know you didn't like it – and I don't blame you; there's nothing worse than a reprimand from an officer that you really like – but I wanted to let you know that I'm glad you called me about these guys."

"You are?"

"Yeah. If someone's fucking with you, then I want to know about it. Especially when it's more than one someone."

Ian felt oddly touched by the protectiveness in his voice, and despite the reprimand, he was glad he'd called Nate, too.

"Hammond didn't like that I didn't tell them…"

"You should have told them, son," Nate said. "Especially when you're doing the kind of crazy shit you're doing here. But I'm glad you called me, too."

Ian shrugged, but Nate was finished talking about the reprimand, now, knowing as he did just how Ian had felt about it.

"Do you like what you're doing here?"

"What do you mean?"

"With the Stargate program," Nathan clarified. "George showed me around this morning – kind of gave me the fifty cent tour – and I have to admit, it's pretty impressive. Which doesn't mean that you want to be here… so, do you?"

"Want to be here?" Ian asked, just to make sure he knew what his dad was asking. He shrugged, and nodded, almost reluctantly. "It's not so bad, and I like the people I'm working with."

Nate nodded.

"I can see that. If you don't like it, though… I could probably find you something else and see if you like it more…"

Meaning he'd pull every string he had a handle on if that was what it took to make Ian happy. And Ian knew that was what he meant, and it made him feel good.

"I'm doing something important here, dad."

"So you want to stay…"

"Yeah."

For now at least. Until Sam was able to leave Jake long enough to come back. And until he knew what the hell he was supposed to do with his life.

"Good."

Nate drained his coffee cup.

"I'm going back to New York this morning. Now that I know you're okay, there are some things I need to take care of. Do you need me to send you anything?"

Ian shook his head.

"I'm set, dad."

"You have enough ammo for your guns?"

"Yeah."

Of course, Ian just realized he didn't have a clue where his back up Glock was – or his car for that matter. Shawn would know, though. He'd had the gun last.

"Still coming fishing this summer?"

Ian nodded.

"It sounds good."

"Good. I'll hold you to it."

"Yes, sir."