Epilogue

When the convertible pulled up to the main gate at Cheyenne Mountain, the Sergeant of the Guard waved at the driver, signaling him to stop. Since Ian was easy to recognize, and the top was down on the car so it was plain to see he was the only one in it, Ian knew that it meant he probably had a message to deliver. So instead of being annoyed at the hold up, he simply stopped.

"Good morning, Cadet." The Sergeant grinned as he approached, and Ian knew it was amusement – the Marines knew where he'd been the last week, and he was pretty sure one of them would eventually ask him how a camp filled with little kids had managed to give him the dark bruise on his cheek and the cut above his eye that his eyebrow did nothing to conceal. Well, he'd field those questions when they asked them – and he knew if there were a message, it wouldn't be just then.

"Good morning, Sergeant."

"General Hammond left word that he'd like you to join him in his office before SG-1 briefs."

Ian nodded. He wasn't surprised. Hammond probably had some other shit assignment for him now that he'd managed to survive camp.

"Thanks."

"Nice shiner."

Yeah, the guy just couldn't pass up the chance to make a comment now that he'd passed on the message.

Ian smiled; if the Sergeant had a big-assed bruise on his face Ian would have been just as amused, and he didn't mind taking shit – as long as it was good-natured – from these guys. When they weren't on guard duty at the main gate, they occasionally guarded the gate room, and had long since proven to him that they weren't a bunch of assholes.

"You should see the other guy…"

Now the Sergeant grinned, as did the Corporal who had walked over to the car while the two were talking.

"The way I hear it, the other guy is six…"

The two Marines chuckled, and Ian shook his head. For a top secret base, there sure weren't many secrets among those working there. And there was no doubt in Ian's mind who had passed on that little tidbit of information.

"He was big for his age," Ian said, putting the car in gear and started though the gate.

The Marines chuckled again, but waved him on through. Plenty of time to make fun of him later, after all, and General Hammond was waiting.

OOOOOOOOOO

He'd barely stepped off the elevator when he was stopped by Daniel, who was carrying a stack of papers in his hand.

"Hey, Ian, welcome home… got a minute?"

"Sure."

He didn't really, but Hammond didn't know he was on base – probably – so he could wait a few minutes before reporting to his office.

"Have you ever heard the name Anubis?" Daniel asked.

"He's one of the Egyptian gods, right?"

"Well, yes, he is… but that isn't why I asked. I was hoping maybe the name would trigger something in those Ancient memories you have stuck in your head."

"Like what?" Ian asked, curiously. He couldn't think of any other context he'd heard the name in before – except one of his high school classes. Since Daniel was an archeologist, however, Ian didn't bother to bring up any of that information. Surely he knew more about the old gods than Ian's senior anthropology teacher did.

"I'm not sure. We're going to be meeting up with Jacob and a couple of the Tok'ra, who say they have some information about a new system lord – one that has been previously unheard of up until recently. He's making up for lost time in a hurry, though. I was just hoping there might be something…"

He trailed off, still looking at Ian hopefully, but the New Yorker shook his head.

"Sorry Daniel. Maybe if I have a chance to think about it…"

Daniel shrugged.

"It was worth a shot. I'll see you at briefing, okay?"

"Okay."

Feeling a little like he'd let Daniel down – even though there was no way he could know everything about everyone – Ian headed down the hall to Hammond's office, while Daniel headed for his own.

OOOOOOO

The knock on the door pulled General Hammond from a stack of paperwork that had developed over the weekend, and he looked up. Seeing who it was through the open blinds on his window, he waved Ian in.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Ian asked, walking in.

Hammond nodded.

"Have a seat, Ian."

He studied the cadet carefully as he walked across the room and sat down, and was relieved to see that despite the injuries he'd sustained through the week, all he had to show from them were a few bruises and a stitched up cut on his head. He was walking fine, and actually looked like he'd managed to get some sun – and maybe even gain a pound or two.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as Ian settled into a chair.

"Fine."

There was a definite guardedness to that response, and Hammond wondered if Ian thought it was a trick question.

"I spoke with Gary Hines this morning…"

Now the wariness in Ian's voice moved to his expression, and the General almost smiled. Even if Ian were the most even-tempered person in the world, he'd still have made a terrible diplomat. You could read his expression so easily some times.

"He says you did a great job with the kids."

The wariness turned to slight surprise, and this time Hammond did smile.

"I'm impressed. I put you in a situation that you had absolutely no experience with – and even less desire to undertake – and you did what you had to do."

"I didn't have any choice."

Now there was a bit of bitterness in Ian's voice, but Hammond didn't mind.

"Of course you did. There would have been consequences, of course, but you could have refused. Instead, you went. You obeyed your orders, no matter how reluctantly, and from what I've been told, you handled yourself extremely well – especially considering the circumstances."

Since the last thing Ian had expected was praise, he was a little off balance, and it showed. Hammond didn't press the issue. In fact, he changed the subject completely.

"SG-1 is going off world this morning to meet up with Jacob Carter…"

Glad for the change of subject, Ian nodded.

"Daniel told me."

"Are you up for it? No lingering injuries?"

After all, when SG-1 had returned from camp their first time, he'd practically needed to give them a week downtime to recover.

"I'm fine."

Hammond nodded.

"Good. Briefing is in half an hour. Hopefully this meeting with the Tok'ra will be far less harrowing than the last time."

Ian couldn't care less. No matter what Gary Hines had said, or General Hammond thought, anything was better than camp. He'd even take a new system lord to deal with over any six year old. What was the worst this Anubis guy could do, after all?

The End!

Okay, so it's finally ended. I know it probably seemed to drag on a bit, but I love details, and they take a while to write. Sorry. Obviously, the next story will probably be dealing with more of the Tok'ra and Goa'uld, but it's also going to be the Asgard story I promised when I finished this latest campers story. So let me know what you thought of this one, please, and we'll start the next one soon after Christmas, most likely.