The next morning, Elizabeth was on the porch, leaning against one of the posts next to the steps, her eyes still fixed on the spot where Kate, John, Lucas, and Rodney - who had gone to talk to one of the scientists at the SGC about something - had beamed from a few minutes earlier. She was still feeling a little groggy with sleep since the adults had stayed up late the night before talking.

When they did finally drag themselves to bed, she and John had just gotten to sleep when Lucas had wandered into their room, joining them after another nightmare. While not as traumatic as the ones he'd had over the past weeks, it had been enough to wake him up. He'd finally fallen asleep again, curled up against Elizabeth, John's arm resting across both of them, this time sleeping until Kate had knocked lightly at the door to wake them up for breakfast.

Suddenly, Elizabeth startled as a hand touched her shoulder. Reacting automatically, she swept her leg back and around, twisting as she did so to end up using her weight to hurtle the man behind her to the ground. Landing on top of him with a grunt, she had her fist lifted to plunge down when a yell from the door caused her to freeze.

"Elizabeth!" Sam stood framed in the doorway, one hand outstretched, the other holding the screen door open. "Don't!" Not taking her eyes off the man she was pinning down, Elizabeth remained where she was as Sam's tone became more reassuring. "Elizabeth, it's all right. It's just Jack."

"Jack?" Elizabeth blinked, then slowly started to lower her hand.

"Elizabeth?" Sam took a step forward, letting the porch door close behind her. "It's all right."

Elizabeth blinked again, then realized where she was. "Oh!" She scrambled back and off the man, extending a hand after she stood to help him up. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be it was my fault. I thought you had heard me cross the porch." Jack smiled at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth slightly returned his smile. "No, I'm afraid I was lost in thought, and I guess I just...reacted when when you startled me."

"That's what I get for showing up unannounced."

"Speaking of which, where did you come from, I don't see a car?" Sam questioned.

"My flight kept getting either delayed or changed, finally I just got fed up with it, called Landry and had him contact the Prometheus to give me a quick lift." Jack gave Sam a light kiss. "Miss me?"

"Mmm...maybe." Sam grinned, stealing another kiss, as Andrea opened the door.

"Jack!" Andrea, holding the door open, indicated for them to come inside. "It's about time you showed up."

"Wait 'til you see what I got for you this time." Jack raised his eyebrows at Andrea as he entered the house. "Did I miss the others?"

"Just barely." Sam smiled up at him. "We tried to hold breakfast, but they had to be in early."

Jack shook his head, "At least tell me there's still some coffee?"

"Just started a fresh pot." Andrea stated as they entered the kitchen, Elizabeth trailing behind. "Sit." She pointed to the counter, then busied herself pouring the coffee as they obeyed. "John said to tell you hello." Andrea slid onto one of the stools, joining them at the counter and drawing the package Jack handed her across the table. "Thank you for this."

"It seemed like something you'd like." Jack chuckled as she unwrapped it carefully.

Letting out a delighted squeal, Andrea held up a brightly colored sculpture. "Jack, it's beautiful. Where…"

"One of the Tok'ra delegates gave it to me in DC. I think the thing is but ugly and we both know that when I think something's ugly there's a 99 percent chance that you'll think it's a work of art, so..."

Sam eyed the thing warily. "What is it?"

"Art." Andrea held it up to catch the sunlight. "I've got to go find a place to put this." Standing, she brushed an absent kiss across Jack's cheek, then wandered off, the sculpture in one hand, her coffee cup in the other.

Elizabeth blinked in surprise. "Does she do that...often?"

"If it's art related. The muse, it can be down right vicious sometimes when it sinks it's teeth in you." Sam laughed. "Jack has a knack for finding the most outlandish things for her."

"Lucas, wait here for a minute while I run back inside and finish up." Kate indicated a chair in the hallway. "I'll be right back, all right?"

"I'll be fine, Kate." Lucas perched on the edge of the chair and watched as Kate disappeared back into the conference room where they'd been asking him questions all morning. He and Kate had finally been excused for lunch, while his dad had requested to remain and talk to one of the generals about something.

With a sigh, Lucas looked down the hallway to the nearby window. Glancing back at the door, he slid off the chair and moved to gaze down at the garden below. He'd been there for a few minutes, thoughts running through his head, when he heard light footsteps coming toward him. Tensing, he looked over his shoulder, expecting to see Kate looking for him. Instead, he caught sight of a girl, frowning at something she was carrying. Seeing her as no threat Lucas turned back to the window.

Stopping the girl, blink in surprise when she looked up and saw Lucas, "Are you lost?"

"Excuse me?" Lucas, returning his attention to the girl, tilted his head slightly.

"I said are you lost. You normally don't find kids hanging around the SGC unless they're with a tour group or something...and this isn't one of the ares the tour covers."

"No, I'm not lost." Lucas shrugged. "I was told to wait here."

"Oh." The girl held up the textbook she was carrying. "I'm having some problems with my homework, I was hoping to catch Sam since my dad had to go off world this morning. I didn't realize she wasn't here today."

"She's…" Lucas trailed off, remembering something, and changed his statement. "She's with my mom...not here though."

"Your mom?" The girl looked confused. "Oh, I'm Ashley by the way."

"Lucas." Lucas held out a hand, Ashley shook it. "Sam and my mom are talking with…" he frowned in thought for a moment, trying to remember the conversation he'd had with his mom earlier when they'd taken a brief break, then smiled as the name came to him. "With Jack."

"Jack's back?" Ashley grinned. "Nice I wonder what he brought me?"

"You know him too?" Lucas inspected the girl.

"Sure, I know just about everybody who works here or in close relations to the SGC." Ashley stated, still smiling. "My dad's Colonel Mitchell."

"Oh." Lucas answered not sure if he should tell her who his dad was.

"So why aren't you in school?"

"Why aren't you?" Lucas shot back levelly, one eyebrow rising.

"I only go part-time for some classes, then I'm homed schooled the rest of the time...usually. Sometimes I have to go for the whole day if both my parents are off world, but my mom rarely goes off world any more." Ashley matched the eyebrow raising movement. "What about you?"

"No I don't go to school." Lucas turned to look back out the window. "I just got here a few days ago. I'm sure my parents will be making me go to school soon enough." Lucas scowled at that thought, "Once the generals finally get tired of talking to me and asking me questions."

Ashley stared at Lucas. "The Brass are asking you questions? What did you do?"

"Nothing." Lucas snapped, then let out a long sigh. "Sorry, I'm just tired. They ask the same stupid questions over and over, you'd think they would know enough by now. They were talking to my mom for days, and this is my second day, and…" He sighed again.

Ashley blinked, the pieces finally coming together. "Your mom is Elizabeth Weir?"

"I didn't say that." Lucas' eyes narrowed. "And her last name isn't Weir anymore." This technically was correct, since his mom had now taken his dad's name, it wasn't his fault that no public announcement had been made.

Ashley took a step forward. "Hey, I didn't mean anything by it."

With a shrug, Lucas glanced at the textbook Ashley held. "What homework were you working on?"

"Oh, I had a question about some math homework." Ashley sighed. "I'll find someone else."

"My dad might be able to help, mom says he's a closet math geek...what ever that is." Lucas offered shyly. "He and Kate should be out in a minute. They're back in talking to the generals."

"Do you want to have lunch with me in the cafeteria?" Ashley offered. "If they let you?"

Lucas' eyes lit up. "Do you think they would?"

"We can ask." Ashley lifted a shoulder. "If you want."

"Are there a lot of people there?" Lucas glanced down the hall as a door opened.

"SGC personal mostly," Ashley shrugged. "But it's open to anyone."

"Lucas?" Kate looked up and down the hall until she caught sight of the two children. "There you are."

"Sorry." Lucas smiled sheepishly, glancing at Ashley, leading her toward Kate. "Kate this is Ashley, we were talking."

"Having fun?" Kate smiled. "Hello Ashley."

"Lucas?" At the male voice from behind her, Ashley turned surprised. "Miss Mitchell?"

"Colonel Sheppard?" Ashley blinked, she'd never really met John before but she'd heard stories about him from Jack, Sam, and General Landry. She looked at Lucas, who looked slightly sheepish. Leaning toward him, she whispered. "The Colonel is your dad?"

"He's not a colonel any more, he's...retired?" Lucas looked at John to make sure he'd used the right word.

"That's right." John ruffled Lucas' hair. "But sometimes people who are retired are still called by their rank."

"Oh." Lucas shrugged. "Ashley was looking for Sam because she had a question about her math homework, I told her you might be able to help her since Sam isn't here today." His eyes pled with John. "And she asked if we would have lunch with her in the cafeteria."

John exchanged a look with Kate, then returned his attention to the kids, both of whom were looking up at him, one in surprise, and the other with hope. "If I'm able to help, I'd be glad to, and…" he hesitated again. "Yeah I guess we can have lunch in the cafeteria."

"Really?" Lucas practically quivered with excitement.

"Really." John smiled. "But make sure you stay within eyesight" John gestured down the hall. "Shall we?" As Ashley and Lucas led the way, he fell in step with Kate.

"This will be good for Lucas." Kate murmured out of the side of her mouth. "Elizabeth said Sam had suggested introducing them."

"Elizabeth will feel better knowing Lucas has a new friend, close to his age." John replied softly. "She's been concerned about the lack of companionship for Lucas."

"I know." Kate smiled, then raised her voice as the kids glanced back at them. "We're right behind you."

Ashley nodded and looked back at Lucas, "So do you live here on earth or are just visiting?"

"We're not really anywhere right now. We're staying with…someone." Lucas answered evasively, looking around the plaza area they were going through.

Ashley pulled a door open and entered the cafeteria, taking a few steps inside before realizing Lucas was no longer beside her. Turning, she watched him look around the room in wonder as Kate and John moved to join him. When Kate caught her eye, Ashley nodded and returned to Lucas, touching his arm. "Come on, we just have to get in line to get what we want to eat."

"There's so many different people." Lucas blinked and unconsciously moved closer to his dad.

"Are you all right?" John bent toward Lucas as he continued to look around. "We can go back to the office we ate in yesterday."

"No," Lucas blinked up at him, "It's all right." He looked back at Ashley. "We get in line?"

"Over here." Ashley glanced at Kate, who smiled warmly. "Stay with me, I can show you what's good to eat."

"All right." Practically attached to Ashley's side, Lucas followed her, John and Kate following close behind as they moved through the crowded room. No one approached them as they selected their food, then moved to a table in a corner.

While they ate, John and Kate watched the kids talk to each other, Lucas asking hushed questions about different people and Ashley patiently answering. "I wish Elizabeth could see this." Kate leaned towards John, her voice pitched so only he could hear.

"One of us should call her to let her know how everything is going." John took another sip of the cup he'd gotten in line and winced. "And maybe I can find a decent cup of coffee."

"I'm sure we can find an office that's not being used at the moment." Kate smiled at the expression on John's face. "I can call Elizabeth while you help Ashley with her homework questions." Directing her attention to the kids, she raised her voice. "Are you two done?"

Lucas looked back at Kate and nodded. "Can we call now?"

"We can." John nodded, then looked at Ashley. "You're welcome to remain with us, Ashley. I can assist you with that homework problem while Lucas speaks with his mom."

"Really?" Ashley smiled. "Thanks Colonel." Together, they stood and carried their dishes to the disposal area, then left the room, Lucas still asking Ashley questions.