Author's Note: A little language alert

OOOOOOOO

"You don't really have to come if you don't want to…"

They were walking through the SGC on their way to the elevators, and Sam had lagged back to talk to Ian, while Jack and Shawn gave River an abbreviated tour of what little he'd see on the way up top. There would be a more in depth tour at a later date, Jack promised, but that would have to wait for authorization from Hammond and the powers that be. River didn't mind waiting, he said, as Jaffer led the way towards the elevators and Jack carried Jake in his baby carrier thing. There was plenty of time for that, after all, and he was anxious to get out into the sunshine.

Ian shrugged.

"I don't mind, Sam."

He hadn't had any other plans that day – although he wouldn't have minded calling Cassie and seeing if she wanted to do something with him. There had been precious little time with her lately, and he missed her company.

She smiled, knowing it wasn't exactly the truth, and looped her arm through his for a moment, allowing him to be her escort until they reached the elevators.

It'd taken Janet a couple of hours to clear all three of them. River had been the one to take the longest, because he was actually still in a little pain, and Fraiser hadn't been all that sure she'd wanted to release him. Especially since he'd be going back to the academy that evening and she didn't want him trying to run around. What she'd ended up doing was calling the academy – where they were already aware that he was in a car accident and under her care – and making sure they knew not to allow him full active status until he'd had a thorough physical from the medical staff there. Janet was more than willing to admit that the staff there was almost as competent as her own, after all.

Then she'd kicked them all out of her infirmary, telling them that she didn't want to see any of them in there again – and looking directly at Ian as she'd said it. Ian had simply scowled, but the others had more than made up for his lack of cheerfulness.

"Stop somewhere for lunch?" Jack asked them as they all crowded onto the elevator.

"There's a food court in the mall," Sam said. "We can eat there."

Since Ian's car had been returned to the SGC in advance of his own release from the infirmary, he'd take his car and Sam would drive hers.

"Shotgun," River called as they all walked out into the bright sunshine – a welcomed change after being inside for the last day and a half.

Shawn scowled, but fair was fair, and he hadn't called it quick enough. Jack grinned and handed Jake to Sam who would get him into his car seat in the back of their car. Since they were going to be inside for several hours at least and it was a bright sunny day, he was going to leave Jaffer at the base in the kennels instead of forcing him to sit and wait for them in the car. Jack headed off with Jaffer, and while River and Shawn were settling themselves in Ian's car – which now had the top down – and Sam was getting Jake situated in his car seat, Ian opened up the glove box. And scowled.

"Where's my Glock, Adams?"

"You expecting trouble?" River asked, sarcastically.

Knowing that the gun was a sensitive issue with Ian, Shawn didn't tease him about it.

"It's in Jack's office, I think," he told him. "The cops wouldn't give it back to me so he had to get it for you."

Ian nodded. It wasn't like he was going to need it that minute, anyways, but it was definitely something he always wanted to keep track of.

"You guys ready?" Jack asked, returning from the kennels without his big black shadow in tow, now.

"Yup."

"We'll meet you there."

Sam gave Ian a final smile as he got behind the wheel, and then gave him an odd look when he started the engine. She'd driven that car for a couple of years, after all, and knew what it was supposed to sound like. And darned if it didn't sound like there were more RPMs under the hood than there had been. A lot more. He grinned, understanding the look immediately.

"Wanna race?" He asked her, revving the engine.

"Don't even think about it."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Jack smiled and pulled the car out of the parking space, and Ian pulled in behind them. He wasn't in any hurry to take over baby-sitting duties, after all.

OOOOOOO

"Where are you going to be?"

Ian frowned, looking around the busy mall, and then at Sam. In one hand he was holding the baby carrier thing, complete with sleeping baby in it. In the other he was holding a can of Mountain Dew. They'd just finished lunch and Jack had already gone off with River and Shawn, leaving Sam free to do her own shopping, since none of the guys had shown any interest in shopping for dresses and new bras and panties with her. Go figure.

"We'll wait for you right there," he said, finally, pointing to a bench in the middle of the mall corridor.

"You sure you don't mind?"

"He's sleeping."

Meaning he didn't mind just then. As long as he didn't have to pick him up or cuddle him or try and feed him. All of which still terrified Ian – although he was getting better at holding the baby the bigger Jake grew. He was still small, though.

She smiled.

"I won't be long."

"Take your time, Sam."

He meant it, too. She had precious little time to herself now days, and he knew it. It wouldn't kill him to watch Jake sleep for a while so she could enjoy herself. She nodded, and headed for the closest store, and Ian carried Jake over to the bench and sat down, putting the carrier beside him on the bench where he'd be able to keep an eye on the infant.

And promptly found out that babies are a good way to get attention. Even when you didn't want attention.

"Ooooooh, isn't he precious….?"

He looked up at the soft voice and saw a couple of older women had come over to look into the carrier. Both of them were about the same age as his mother and both had smiles on their faces as they looked at Jake. Ian scowled.

"What's his name?"

"Ringo."

One of the women frowned.

"That's an odd name…"

"Yeah, well… he's an exchange student. Go find someone else to gawk at, will you?"

The last thing he needed was for them to wake Jake up.

The women were both frowning, now, and they tossed him a pair of dirty looks before leaving, noses in the air in the manner of someone who has been terribly affronted. Ian glared at them as they went, and then looked back down at Jake to make sure he was still sleeping. Which he was.

"Oh… he's cute…"

He looked up and saw a young woman about his own age had come over and sat down beside him, looking into the carrier. Ian scowled again, watching as yet another young woman came over to look as well. This was ridiculous. He was a baby, for shit's sake. It wasn't like there weren't a million of them at the mall that afternoon. Why were they all looking at this one?

"He's sleeping. Go away."

The two girls frowned, unable to believe anyone could be so rude and waiting for an apology. Ian wasn't about to give them one, though. A moment later, they both left the bench, talking about Ian as they went. He didn't care, though. He looked and made sure Jake was still asleep.

"Awww… how old is-"

"Jesus Christ, lady, go away…"

Yet another woman had come up to him, and Ian was beginning to wonder if someone was playing a practical joke on him or something. It was insane. In ten minutes, he'd managed to attract the attention of several women – and just because of a baby. The woman stomped away, insulted, and Ian realized he'd spoken too loud that time in his anger, because Jacob was now waking up.

Well… shit.