"Australia, huh?"

Shawn nodded as they approached the cabin.

"I guess they have to change the names eventually…"

It wasn't like this was the same cabin that they normally had – which had once been called China.

"Yeah… I guess…"

Jack wasn't so pleased. He had had a lot of changes in his life and didn't like this one – even though it was a little one and had nothing to do with life and death. The world was made up of little things, after all.

Shawn started to reach for the door, but it was thrown open and River looked at both of them, grinning cheerfully.

"Colonel O'Neill! Good to see you, sir."

Jack offered River his hand.

"You, too, River."

"How's the ankle, Shawn?"

"Broken."

"Aw, that sucks. What about Ian?"

"He's still out. Jack's going to take his place as counselor."

"Really? Sweet."

A half-dozen faces were suddenly gathered around River, peeking out the door. All of them lit up when they saw Shawn, but clouded a little when they saw Jack.

"Where's Ian, Shawn?"

Shawn moved into the cabin awkwardly, the kids and River making room for him and Jack both.

"He's still at the clinic, Chance."

"How come?"

Shawn wasn't so great with kids, but he was smart enough to keep from worrying the kids with the absolute truth.

"They're just making sure he's okay. Libby's still there, too. They're fine though."

"Is he coming back?"

"Sure." Shawn wasn't absolutely positive that he was, but he wasn't going to say otherwise, especially when he saw Sammy sitting forlornly on Ian's bed, looking at him and Jack with big worried eyes.

"Who's this?" Chance asked, looking up at Jack.

Shawn grinned.

"This is my dad. Jack."

Now the suspicious looks turned interested.

"Really?"

"Yup. He's going to be helping us until Ian comes back. Okay?"

There were assorted murmurs of agreement – although the kids still hung back a little. River was quick enough with kids, though, to recognize that they still weren't certain – and more importantly he knew exactly what to say to draw the boys' interest in Jack.

"Jack here works with Ian in the Air Force."

Jack tossed River an unreadable look, but when the kids turned to him with even more interest in their expressions, he had to admit that River's statement was exactly what was needed.

"Really?"

Jack nodded.

"Yup."

"You're in the Air Force?"

"Yup."

"Aren't you too old to be in the Air Force?"

Shawn grinned, wishing Sam had heard that particular question, and it was River who answered before Jack could.

"Jack's not old. He's seasoned."

"What does that mean?" Brian asked.

"It means that he's experienced," River said. "Who do you think teaches all the younger people like us how to be good Air Force officers?"

"I don't know…"

"People like Jack do."

"So you're teaching Ian?" Wilson asked.

Jack nodded.

"What are you teaching him?" Chad asked.

"Air Force stuff," Jack answered, evasively.

"Like how to fly?" Chance asked.

"No. Not that."

"I thought everyone in the Air Force can fly."

"Jack can fly," River said. "Ian just doesn't want to learn that, so Jack's not teaching him that. He's learning other things, though. Things that-"

They were interrupted by the bell ringing.

"Breakfast time, guys," Shawn said. "We can finish interrogating Jack later, okay?"

"Okay!"

They were all hungry, and had been given enough information about Jack that they were satisfied that he was okay – all except for Sammy, who hadn't moved from his position on Ian's bed. As the boys rushed for the door, Jack and Shawn both turned towards the little boy.

"What's wrong, Sammy?" Shawn asked.

The boy shook his head, looking down at his hands.

"Sammy?"

Shawn hobbled over and reached up to touch his leg, causing Sammy to look at him.

"Ian's dead, isn't he?"

Shawn shook his head, surprised at the question.

"Of course he isn't."

"Then why isn't he here?"

"Because they want to make sure he's okay," Shawn said, reaching up and running his hand through Sammy's hair. "You know how sore he was when his horse fought with River's horse, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, he's bruised like that – and he bumped his head. They just want to make sure that his head is okay before they let him come back. He's definitely not dead."

"Promise?"

Shawn nodded.

"Yes. He'll be back before you know it." And he would, too. Even if Shawn had to drag him in by his toenails.

"Okay…"

"Let's go get some breakfast, Sammy," Shawn told him, moving out of the way so the boy could get down from Ian's bed – although it was Jack who reached out a steadying hand to him when he looked like he was stuck getting down.

"Okay."

Sammy headed for the door, obviously reassured about Ian's health after talking to Shawn, and Jack looked over at his son, impressed.

"Good job, Shawn."

Shawn nodded.

"Sammy's an odd kid, Jack, but he's stuck on Ian – and probably the reason Ian hasn't spontaneously combusted yet."

"Maybe we should take him home with us," Jack suggested as they headed out into the rain once more to go towards the cafeteria.

"I didn't say Ian likes Sammy all that much…"

Jack smiled, and ruffled Shawn's hair, careful not to knock him over or put him off balance.

"You might be surprised, Shawn."

Uh huh.

OOOOOOO

"How old is he?"

Sam smiled down at Jake, who had once more fallen asleep.

"About four months."

"Really?"

She nodded.

"He was born March 23rd. He wasn't due until May."

"He's a preemie?"

Sam nodded again, and Mandy looked at the baby, shaking her head.

"He's big for being a preemie."

"I know. He also managed to avoid all the typical health problems that preemies have." She wasn't going to go into any reasons for any of that, though. "We got lucky."

"Yeah, you did."

Sam and Mandy – and Jaffer and Jake, of course – were in the bedroom area of the nurse's cabin, settling Sam and Jake into their temporary room. The bedroom area held two beds – all the guest cabins did – so it was simply a matter of showing Sam where everything was, and then giving her a chance to change and feed Jake before breakfast.

Jaffer watched everything from his position on the bed beside Sam, and Mandy couldn't help but sit down as well, running her hand along his silky – and slightly damp – black fur.

"How long have you and-"

The breakfast bell rang, interrupting, and Mandy made a face, but then smiled.

"Come on. I'll carry him for you, if you don't mind?"

Sam shook her head. There wasn't any way she was going to be able to carry him – she already knew that – and Mandy had already told her that she had kids, which meant she had even more experience with babies than Sam did.

"I'd appreciate that, thanks."

Mandy smiled.

"Let's go see how Jack is doing with the boys."