The Brooks' house was as lovely as Sam had expected it to be. It was tastefully decorated, and homey for a house the size it was, and Sam decided that Maggie probably had a lot to do with that. There was a formal dining room dominated by a table that would easily seat twelve, but that Nate said they only used on rare occasions. A den that Nate really used as a hideaway when he wanted to sneak a cigar without Maggie hovering over him telling him it was bad for him, and a dance room that was strictly off limits to him – unless she needed him to dance with her for some reason. But the room that was the most interesting was the family room, and that was because of the Wall.

Jack had a Wall. One entire wall of their living room that was completely dedicated to Jaffer. Mostly pictures of the lab in every stage of his life from fuzzy puppyhood to sleek adulthood, and every leash and collar the dog had ever gone through (with most of the leashes having been retired because they'd been chewed up, and every collar outgrown). Nate and Maggie Brooks' Wall was dedicated to their son, and it was easily as complete as Jack's Wall to Jaffer.

"Oh, that's absolutely adorable…" Sam murmured as she walked over to the far right side.

These were the early years. Baby pictures of Ian wrapped in blankets and staring dazedly at the camera (something Jake did often), a shock of dark hair sticking in every direction and those eyes already as dark as Maggie's. A naked picture of him stretched out on his belly, barely holding himself up enough to look at the camera, but already with a gleam in his eyes now that would be the spark of intelligence she was so used to seeing.

Further along, there were toddler pictures. Ian learning how to walk. How to ride a bike. A picture of him sitting on a pony that was far too large for him. Several pictures of him and his mother dancing, and even one of him holding a fencing sword and looking for all the world like some kind of midget swashbuckler. There were school pictures; one for every year with him gradually getting older – with one of the last ones showing him with a nasty bruise on his forehead and a cut lip.

"That's the year he learned how to drive," Nate explained, when Jack paused at that picture. "When he wrecked his uncle's car."

The most recent picture was one of Ian and Cassie that Sam herself had taken – the night of Cassie's prom. Ian must have sent a copy to his mother, who had added it to the wall – along with a picture of him in his cadet uniform from the academy.

Besides the pictures, there were also several framed documents. One was Ian's diploma, one his acceptance to the academy, and several others were merit awards for academics.

"Not a bad collection," Jack finally said after they'd browsed through all of it.

"Maggie's kept everything," Nate told them. "She has all his report cards, and every note home from teachers, counselors and advisors. Someday she's going to put them up, too, she says, but I don't think she will. Otherwise she won't have anything to stash in the drawers of her desk."

Sam smiled, and decided that she was going to have something similar for Jake for when he grew older – and Shawn, too, for what little time they had left to have him.

Jack started to say something when Maggie reappeared – after far less time than any of them expected.

"I thought I'd find you in here," she told the group.

"This Wall is amazing," Sam said, leaning closer to get a look at Ian in a dragon Halloween costume when he couldn't have been more than five.

"It got a little out of hand," she admitted. "Because I love taking pictures, and he thinks it's a little crazy to keep adding to it, but someday he'll have children, and they'll be able to see what he was like when he was their age."

Nate snorted, but didn't say anything, and Maggie smiled.

"Any luck?" Jack asked, changing the subject. As nice as the Wall was, they had to get back to report – and he was hoping Ian was going to come with them when they did.

She nodded.

"He changed his mind."

"Really?" Sam asked, surprised. "How did you do that?"

"I'd rather not say," she told them. "And I don't think you should bring up his change of heart while he's around, really, because he's not happy about it."

"Meaning she guilt-tripped him," Nate said.

"No I didn't," Maggie protested.

"I don't care how you did it, Maggie," Jack said. "But I do appreciate it."

"I told him when he's done I expect him to come home and finish this visit," she told him. "I expect you to do what you can to make that possible."

Jack smiled.

"Will do."

"You could always come, too," Nate said. "Take a vacation and come fishing like we talked about. You can even bring the ball and chain."

Sam laughed.

"Thanks."

Before they could discuss it further, though, Ian showed up at the entrance to the room. He was carrying the bag he'd brought with him and wearing a scowl, but it was obvious to those in the room that he was ready to go.

Jack glanced at Maggie and then Sam.

"We're ready to go, then?" he asked.

She nodded, and Ian's scowl deepened, but he nodded as well.

"Yeah."

"Good."

"When does your flight leave?" Nathan asked.

Sam looked at Jack. They didn't have a flight to catch – not exactly.

"We're not sure…"

Nate snorted, shaking his head.

"You can stay the night and catch one in the morning…"

It was pretty late, after all.

Jack shook his head.

"Nah. We'll head to the airport and catch the first one leaving – hopefully we can be in Colorado by morning."

What he actually planned to do was contact Thor as soon as they were out of sight and be back at the SGC in minutes.

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"I'll drive you," Ian Piper said. "It's getting late and I should get some sleep."

"We could just get a cab," Sam said, thinking the same thing Jack was. A trip to the airport was a waste of time, really – and they should have thought ahead and known that Maggie and Nate would assume they were going to fly home and made arrangements.

"Nah, I'm going that way," Piper told them. He smiled at Maggie and Nathan. "I'll see you guys later."

Stuck now, Jack and Sam could only smile, too, as they made their goodbyes. Ian smirked, knowing that this wasn't in the plan, and still holding enough of a grudge at being sent off to help the Asgard that he was going to go along with it – just to extend the inevitable that much longer.