Uncertain how long it was going to take for Jack and Sam to return from their mission to get Ian, Hammond had told everyone to get some sleep, had Shawn and Jake put up in a VIP room, and had gone to his office to wait for word. He'd ended up napping on the sofa there, which wasn't anywhere near as nice as sleeping in his own bed, but better than being away when he might be needed on base.
"Sir?"
Hammond came awake suddenly, startled, and looked at the door.
"Yes, Airman?"
"Colonel and Major O'Neill have returned with Thor, sir."
"Do they have Ian with them?"
"Yes, sir."
Hammond got to his feet.
"Go tell Shawn they're back, and have everyone meet in the lab," Hammond ordered.
"Yes, sir."
The general went to his mirror to make sure his uniform wasn't too wrinkled, and then left his office, wondering how they'd managed to convince Ian to return.
OOOOOOOOOOO
When he entered the lab he nodded a greeting to the Asgard scientists who were assembled, and then walked over to where Sam and Jack were standing next to Thor, obviously discussing what to do next. Ian was leaning against a far wall, on the opposite end of the room from the Asgard, watching them suspiciously.
"Welcome back," Hammond said, ignoring Ian for the moment.
Sam smiled.
"Thank you, sir."
"Shawn should be on his way any minute."
"Yes, sir."
He glanced over at Ian.
"Is he okay?" he asked, softly.
"He's a little annoyed," Sam answered just as softly. "But he's going to help."
"Good."
Hammond waved Ian over to join them just as the door opened and Shawn walked in. The younger cadet smiled to see Ian.
"Where did you go?"
"Home."
"What were you thinking?"
Ian scowled.
"I was thinking I'd been told I had the week off and could have a little time to myself."
"You can have a break when we're finished here, Ian," Hammond told him, annoyed, even though the boy was right and he had been told he could have the week off. Hammond himself had said it, after all. "I appreciate you coming back to help out, so let's get started."
They all looked at Ian expectantly.
"What?"
"Well… aren't you going to do something?" Shawn asked.
"Like what?"
"Whatever you're supposed to do…" Shawn said.
Ian sighed, annoyed.
"You thought I was just going to walk in, put my hand on their chests and make everything better?"
"Can't you?"
"It's not that easy, Adams."
"That's what you did with me," Jack said.
"That's different," Ian told him.
"How so?"
"Oh, I don't know… maybe because you're human?"
"What do you need?" Sam asked, a little exasperated because she had, indeed, expected Ian would just be able to put his hand on the Asgard and make things better. Thinking about it, she had to admit that it didn't make sense he would have been able to do that.
"Two things. I need to study the Asgard physiology – and the research they've already done – and I need DNA samples of all the Asgard."
"All of them?"
He nodded.
"It's either samples of them or bringing them all here. You guys decide. I'd personally just as leave they stay wherever they are, but-"
"What do you need a sample of each of them for?" Hammond asked.
"Because each of them are just a little different," Shawn said, guessing. "If he's going to include them into the cloning solution, then he needs to know what makes each one different and keep that difference stable."
Ian nodded, impressed that Shawn knew the answer, but not all that surprised, really. Shawn was a smart guy.
"Otherwise you're going to have a bunch of Asgard clones and no individuals," he told them.
The other Asgard scientists were nodding their agreement.
"That will take a while," Thor said.
"I need time anyways."
"We will get started immediately."
"You do that."
The Asgard all left in bright flashes of light, and Jack looked at Ian.
"What can we do to help you?"
"You? Nothing." He smiled when Jack scowled. "Don't be so annoyed. Sam can't help me either. What I need are Shawn and Andrew."
"Why them?"
"Because I can read Asgard, but I don't understand their technology – and I don't have time to learn it. Shawn and Andrew have both been studying the shit for years and know it better than anyone else on the planet. I need them to explain anything I don't get."
"Why can't the Asgard do it?" Hammond asked.
Ian scowled.
"Because I don't want the Asgard."
"He relates better to Shawn and Andrew anyways, sir," Sam said.
"And besides," Jack added. "That's what they've been learning all this stuff for anyways, right? Why not let them use it?"
Hammond nodded. He'd eventually have to discuss Ian's animosity towards the Asgard, but definitely didn't see the need to further antagonize the boy when he was already in a lousy mood. He looked at his watch. It was after two AM, and there was no way he was going to send anyone to the Stephens' house to wake Andrew up just then.
"Why don't we start in the morning, then?" he suggested. "That way everyone can be rested."
"I'm fine," Ian said. He'd rather get started and get the shit done as soon as possible, really.
"Me, too," Shawn agreed. He'd dozed off when he'd rocked Jake to sleep earlier, so he'd had a short nap.
"Very well." If they wanted to get started, who was he to tell them no? "If you need anything, just let someone know."
Hammond left the room, and Sam turned to Ian.
"You don't need anything?"
He shrugged.
"A case of Mountain Dew and a sandwich would be nice."
She smiled.
"I'll see what I can do."
