It was a thirty minute drive to the airport – even in the middle of the night with no traffic – but Ian Piper said he didn't mind taking them. They loaded into his car; Ian in the front with his godfather, Sam and Jack in the back, and for the most of the drive, Piper and Ian discussed how things were going with each other – and with Ian's parents. It was obvious that Ian Piper was one of those rare people that Ian Brooks was willing to actually have an extended conversation with, because the young man was relaxed and not at all annoyed as they discussed daily things like how work was going and what his mother was taking on as her next project.

Eventually, though, the Colonel changed the subject, looking in his rearview mirror at Jack and Sam.

"Nathan wanted me to pass some information on to you guys," he said, conversationally. "Without Maggie around, I mean."

Jack frowned.

"Really? What kind of information?"

"In only a few weeks – a month or two at the most – Vice President Kinsey is going to tender his resignation."

"Good."

Jack wasn't going to cry over that, that much was for certain.

"Why wouldn't he want mom to know about that?" Ian asked.

"Because while Kinsey is going to cite – publicly – that his health is the reason for his resignation, the truth is that there are rumors as to the extent of the part he had to play in kidnapping you and your roommates, and he's a political liability now. Especially if what he really did ever actually leaks."

"And mom doesn't know what he did?"

"Exactly. Your dad didn't tell her."

"Do you think he's going to pose a threat to the boys?" Jack asked.

Piper shook his head.

"Nate doesn't think so – not after that Trust fiasco."

Jack frowned.

"What do you know about that?"

It wasn't supposed to be for public record, after all.

Piper shrugged, looking back at Jack through the mirror once more.

"Probably more than I should, to be honest. But Nate knows he can trust me – and so can you. The only reason I brought it up is so that you're reassured that Kinsey isn't going anywhere near your boy or the others, Jack. He's terrified of Nate – with good reason – and for some reason he's just as scared of Ian, here."

"But there's always the chance he'll do something stupid now that he's out of the public spotlight," Sam said.

Piper nodded, as he pulled the car into the pick up and drop off area of the airport.

"Which is why Nate asked me to give you a heads up about it. Just in case."

"We appreciate it, Ian," Jack said, opening the car door.

"Any time." He turned and looked at them before they got out of the back seat. "If you need anything, feel free to call."

Jack offered him his hand.

"Thanks."

"And take care of Ian, will you? He looks like shit."

Sam smiled, even as Ian scowled.

"We'll do our best."

OOOOOOOOOOOO

"Why do I get the feeling we're not flying home?" Ian asked a few minutes later as they walked through the airport – which was very quiet in the dark hours of the morning.

"Because we're not," Jack said. "We're just looking for a good spot to call Thor."

He pointed all of them towards a small closet next to a men's bathroom and pulled a small device out of his pocket once the door was closed. He palmed the device, and an instant later the little room lit up as bright as day for a moment, and Jack and Sam vanished, leaving Ian alone in the closet.

He felt a moment of annoyance at having been left behind, and then realized what had happened, and felt stupid.

"Shit."

The cadet opened the bag he was carrying and took out a device of his own, and started adjusting it.

OOOOOOOOO

Thor looked up as Sam and Jack rematerialized on his bridge.

"Were you unable to locate Ian Brooks?" the Asgard asked them as soon as they appeared.

Jack frowned, looking around, and then at Sam, obviously confused by Ian's absence.

"He was right beside us," Jack said. "Why didn't you beam him up, too?"

"My sensors only showed the two of you, O'Neill," Thor told him.

"That's not possible," Sam said. "He was right next to me."

"I did not see him."

"Then you need to recalibrate those sensors," Jack said, annoyed. "He was right there. Look again."

Sam had a feeling that if Thor could have rolled his eyes, he would have. He knew there was nothing wrong with his sensors – but she agreed with Jack. Ian had been right beside her. Nevertheless, Thor looked back down at his control panel. His eyes widened a little, and Sam knew that he'd found Ian. It was confirmed a moment later when the young man appeared on the bridge in a flash of light.

"What was that all about?" Sam asked, curiously. "A glitch?"

Thor shook his head, looking at Ian suspiciously.

"There is nothing wrong with my sensors."

Ian scowled. Whatever conversation he'd had with his mother to change his mind about helping the Asgard hadn't changed how he felt about them, because Sam could see that he was already getting ready to say something. Something better left unsaid.

"Let's get back to the SGC," she suggested. "They're probably all waiting on us."

Thor looked over at her, and then nodded. A moment later all four of them vanished from the bridge of the ship.