It was almost 30 minutes later and General Hammond found himself surrounded by all of SG-1, sitting in his office, trying to be as patient as possible. A real feat considering Colonel O'Neill was one of the occupants of the room.

It had been almost humorous to watch Jack almost fly out of the room soon after 'the call' had ended. Saying something to the affect of having to stop Carter from running some 'routine computer operations' or something to that affect. He wasn't quite sure what had been said, and decided to leave well enough alone. He'd hate to have to court martial almost half of his flagship team. Not that something similar hadn't happened before, and wouldn't happen again, but why go looking for trouble? Especially considering the company he was keeping.

If it wasn't Colonel O'Neill making some smart assed remark, the fact that both Major Carter, and Dr. Jackson were sitting no less than 10 feet from a device that Xander, and The President, claimed to be made of both technology and magic, had meant that he had literally had to order Carter to balk away from the object placed within a designated slot inside its container. He'd also been very close to asking the ever stoic Jaffa to hold back Dr. Jackson. Hammond assumed it was the lack of sleep and intensity he had been studying the Ancient writings, and ruins that had kept the man in check.

It was in the middle of these musings that Hammond noticed that Xander seemed to nod to himself, and walk over to turn off the light switch. As everyone saw him move, no one doubted what it meant, and got ready to be wowed by their first true bout of magic.

To no one's great surprise, the device did not disappoint.

Xander seemed to turn the receiver on with a mental flick. The device, and its container, did the rest. Everyone within the confines of the room, in its physical entirety, became affected by the spell.

What at first seemed to be a holographic image of the president began to appear to solidify to the point of being opaque. The next thing they noticed was the fact that the small cramped room suddenly was overlapped with an image of the oval office. Soon they were seated in leather chairs or on a leather couch. And damn if they didn't feel real.

O'Neill was the first person to speak in a shocked voice.

"No way, we have our own Holo-deck!"

"Not quite." Everyone's attention became directed at President Ryan.

The military people in the 'room' quickly straightened their posture and presented him with a crisp salute that he quickly returned before walking over to The General and extending his hand.

Hammond, somewhat shakily, accepted the handshake and was somewhat surprised to actually feel the warmth of The President's hand.

"What, how is this happening, Sir?"

The President shrugged. "Magic, or so I'm told. I really don't know the basics behind it, but I've been advised that those who aren't actually in this room, this time that would be everyone but me, should be standing when the spell ends." He motioned for everyone to be seated, and waited for them to do so. "Also, I forgot to mention to clear the area of any obstructions before we started this, so I would recommend that everyone stand up once this is done, and remain where they are until the spell disperses. I'd hate for anyone to hurt themselves falling over furniture that can't be seen at the moment. Keep in mind, your interaction with both myself, and everything in here is due to the spell. In actuality, you are all still in General Hammond's office."

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Given most of SG-1's lack of experience with magic, it was fairly understandable why they were looking around the Oval Office with wide eyes. Hell, this sort of magic was even new to Xander.

A polite cough from The President quickly brought everyone's attention to where it should be. Soon enough, once everyone had their wits about them, the meeting started in earnest.

They were quick to recap the little, yet still major, revelations about Xander's 'condition.' Which, by itself, was more than enough to gather The President's interest, however, when Colonel O'Neill went into a recap of the actual mission, President Ryan just sat back with a shocked look on his face.

Finally he just shook his head in disbelief while casting a small smile in Xander's direction. "All of this on your first mission; that has to be some kind of record."

Small chuckles went around the room before The President's face became serious once again.

"So, we have a slight understanding on what this machine did to him." He sent a serious and intense look over at the young man. "Xander, you do realize that, for your own safety, tests will have to be run."

Nodding his head, Xander responded to the pseudo question. "Yeah, I've given that some thought." He shrugged in acceptance. "I figure that we can work something out. But I have no intentions of becoming someone's lab rat." A stray thought caused a major shiver to travel down his spine. "I have no intentions of being 'tested' by someone like Dr. Walsh."

Having extensively read all files of The Initiative that he could get his hands on, The President simply nodded his head in full agreement.

"Do you have any suggestions, or requests?"

Xander cast a quick glance to the rest of his team, ending with General Hammond, before coming to a decision.

"I want either Dr. Frasier or Major Carter present at any test. I think their combined expertise should cover most of the testing anyone would want done."

Carter shook her head. "Xander, honestly, there are so many professionals in the field, who have specific concentrations in certain areas, that to not use them would be almost criminal in my mind."

Taking a deep breath, he relented. "Fine, but I want either yourself or Janet to approve whoever is going to run the test. I really want the majority, if not all, of the testing to be done at the SGC." He paused for a moment before bringing his eyes to rest directly on The President. "I want to be informed of what each test is for, and just what they will be done, how invasive it will be, stuff like that. And most importantly, I want to have the right to say 'No' to any test I don't feel comfortable with."

Silence permeated the artificial environment for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, The President nodded.

"I believe something can be worked out."

Xander blew out a breath of relief. He could feel the flow of tension just easing off of him as one of his worst fears had been allayed. He had no desire to wind up on some doctor's table, about to be dissected, just to see how he worked.

If either Janet, or Major Carter, were to be supervising and explaining just what was going to happen, not that he would actually comprehend what they were telling him, but they wouldn't lie, he knew he could trust them, well, he could easily live with this deal; needles or no needles.

"Do we have any idea why the machine did what it did to him?"

The President's question cut through his musings like a fog horn. Xander glanced off to his side as a tired looking Dr. Jackson met The President's gaze.

"Well, Sir, I haven't really had much time to go over all of the writings we have captured from the ruins located near the Stargate, and the writings that were found inside the chamber within the cave." Trying to get himself in a more comfortable position, he continued. "I do believe that I can make an educated guess, based on what we know of the race we believe to be The Ancients, and the amounts I have been able to translate thus far."

The President nodded his head, indicating for Dr. Jackson to continue.

"Well, from a past mission, where we visited P4X-639, a barren world that housed many ruins with Ancient scripture throughout the surrounding area. We met another archeologist from another world who had been studying the ruins, and an Ancient device, for months before we arrived. Needless to say Malakai, the other archeologist, activated the device, causing both Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c to be caught in a time loop."

Both Teal'c and Colonel O'Neill shared a glance before small, secretive smirks spread across their faces. The Colonel's only widened when caught a glimpse of Carter just off to his side.

"At any rate, we found that the device was supposed to use multiple Stargates, and the solar activity of the planet's sun, to create a sort of time machine. You see, apparently The Ancients were inflicted with some sort of disease. And this was apparently one way that their scientists were trying to go back in time, and rectify the problem before it ever occurred."

Glancing around the false room, and noticing that everyone was following along, he continued.

"Now, while I wasn't…um…around for this, there had been a major discovery at the site of the Antarctic gate. A woman was found buried in the ice, for god knows how long, who was actually able to revive. From the small amount of tests that Dr. Frasier was able to make, she had concluded that this woman was, in fact, an Ancient."

He noted, that while most were nodding along at this point, Colonel O'Neill was beginning to look sick at where he knew this was heading.

"It was soon found out that this woman had the same illness that we believe The Ancients had; the plague that wiped them out. I believe that, from the notes I read, Dr. Frasier believes the illness to cause some sort of aneurism that seemed to be both fatal, and untreatable."

He paused for a second while Jack could be heard mumbling, "And thank you for that little trip down memory lane." Being the diplomat that he was, Daniel simply ignored him.

"Now, like P4X-639, the ruins on this planet talk about the 'great plague' that swept across the Ancients. Within the chamber, the writings found on the metallic surface of the wall seemed to refer to a type of treatment they were trying to use." He sighed, sadly, as he continued. "I'm afraid that, from what I have been able to translate, the treatments were never successful. The machine that changed Xander, it was meant to heal him, and I assume, it was also meant to make him immune from the disease."

Silence once again reigned throughout the room before it was, once again, broken by The President.

"Do we know why it never worked for them?"

Daniel shrugged his shoulders apologetically. "I really need more time for the mass amounts of translating left to do, but from what little I do have, I believe it was something to due with treating the mind."

"Holy Hannah." Amused eyes turned over to where Carter was blushing after her whispered response had apparently been heard. "Sir, sirs, I may be wrong about this; but I believe that our DNA, our genes, are very similar to that of The Ancients." She looked directly at Xander. "Assuming that woman was, in fact, an Ancient, then we would indeed be quite similar." Glancing between General Hammond and The President, she continued. "Xander was injured when he entered what we thought was a cave."

Daniel nodded and added in. "Yeah, he actually took a staff blast that was meant for me." He sent a sheepish smile towards Xander. "Um, thanks again, for that." Xander simply chuckled and nodded.

"I think it might be safe to assume that, since he was injured, it activated the medical device that was designed to cure an Ancient's body, and presumably to immunize them from their plague."

When no one spoke up, she continued.

"Now, from what I saw, the first thing this machine did was to heal any wounds that were on his body, and not just the recent ones. Well, from what I could tell. Now, this is more hypothesizing than anything else, but since this machine is meant to manipulate and cure Ancient DNA, it may have thought that Xander's DNA was simply something it had to 'fix' since our DNA, our genes, are related. It effectively evolved his DNA, his genes, into what it correlated to its template, that being of Ancient DNA."

She had to remember to breathe before she got too far ahead of herself and Colonel O'Neill made some wisecrack comment to get her back on track.

"Now, after this, the machine began to change, alter, or perhaps correct something within his DNA. I really can't tell you what, as this is completely beyond me. But, and please remember this is complete guess work, what if this part of the process was the machine immunizing what it had already 'fixed.'"

After receiving some nods, she continued.

"The final phase Xander underwent was when the machine began to work on his head. I believe it altered the pathways in his brain to what would be considered the template of an Ancient." She held up her hand. "Again, this is all hypothesizing. But since Xander didn't actually have this 'plague' it was able to complete its final stage and immunize his mind from the illness." She glanced over towards Daniel. "It is quite possible that their minds were too complex to take away the disease once it reached their brain, but in Xander's case," She looked back at Xander with a small smile. "In his case, the machine was able to complete its job, and cure its 'Ancient.'"

Xander sat back in his chair and let out a huff. "So, we really believe that The Ancients are related to us as a species, or race, and that the machine actually changed me into one?"

Jack held up his hand. "First of all, yes. And second of all, we'll let Carter and Doctor Frasier tell you all about their thoughts on how The Ancients are related to us, and what it means for evolution. I assure you, it's all very fascinating." He resolutely ignored the minute glare that Carter was trying not to send him while in the presence of both General Hammond and The President of The United States.

Xander just afforded Jack a small smile before acquiescing. "Ok, fine. So, what happens next?"

Gazes were directed between General Hammond and President Ryan before George nodded his head and answered Xander's question.

"I suppose we start with some simple tests that Dr. Frasier and Major Carter can start up. Dr. Jackson can continue with his efforts in translating the ruins and writings from the planet."

George glanced over to The President and received a nod of agreement as Jack piped up with his own response.

"And Teal'c and I will do what we do best."

"I don't even want to know." Interrupted The President, "But I'll start the ball rolling on my end, and have a 'little chat' with certain people, and make sure they know when not to overstep their bounds again." Looking directly at Xander, he continued. "I will do all I can to ensure that they can't and won't do anything like that again."

Xander simply nodded, grateful to have his support.

As the meeting came to a close, the image of the Oval Office began to dissipate. Luckily the members within General Hammond's office took The President's advice and simply stood up from where they had been sitting.

Luckily no one was standing near, or on, the furniture of the small office, though the room seemed quite a bit more crowded than the larger Oval Office. The members of SG-1 smiled at one another, other than Teal'c, who simply lifted an eyebrow, as General Hammond's voice interrupted their musings on the spell they were just encased in.

"Ok, SG-1. You have the rest of today, and tonight, to use for resting, relaxing, and catching up on sleep. Please remember to stay within the SGC, since we are still under quarantine." After a brief pause as they all chuckled, he continued. "I'll go see about getting that lifted." He turned towards Xander before continuing. "I'll talk to Dr. Frasier, but we'll schedule a meeting to discuss what will be done. That will be tomorrow, at 0900." He glanced at the rest of SG-1. "I think you should all be there."

A series of 'Yes Sir,' and 'Indeed' rang throughout the room, before SG-1 made their way out of the room to go and try to get some much needed rest.

General Hammond sighed as he made his way to his own personal room, content in the knowledge that he had quite a healthy supply of extra strength aspirin awaiting his return.