Another twenty hours later, and even Shawn and Andrew couldn't handle being in the same room as Ian. He was surly, short-tempered and snapping at anyone who came close to him, and absolutely refused to listen when anyone told him he needed to get some rest. Luckily, by then he didn't need Shawn or Andrew anyways. They'd finished going through the research the Asgard had left – which was impressive in itself, since there had been a lot of information – and now they were simply waiting on Thor to return. Ian spent that time in the little lab, sometimes staring off into space it seemed, and other times standing beside the stasis pod that held the Asgards' predecessor, watching it intently as if he somehow expected the thing to wake up and talk to him.
Whatever he was doing, he was alone doing it, now, because no one else wanted to be anywhere near him. Which was, of course, fine with him.
When Sam walked into the lab with Jaffer beside her, she found him exactly where she'd expected to; sitting in a chair with his hand resting on the protective covering of the stasis pod, his gaze firmly fixed on the human looking being inside. So intent was he that he didn't even notice she entered the room until she came over and put her hand on his shoulder. Then he looked up, obviously annoyed at the interruption and ready to snap off some unwarranted comment until he realized that it was her. Then his expression softened a little and the annoyance in his eyes faded.
"Hi."
"Hey, Sam."
He turned and looked back at the stasis pod.
"How's it going?"
"Okay."
"Shawn says you guys are finished going through the research…"
"Yeah. Mostly."
She didn't need to ask him how he expected to remember anything he'd read when he obviously looked so tired, but she did wonder if he'd understood it as well as he might have if he hadn't been so stubborn the last three days.
"Anything I can do?"
He shook his head.
"I'm not even sure what I can do."
She ran her hand along his shoulder, feeling just how tense his muscles were along his back and neck. Obviously even though he hadn't wanted to be forced to help the Asgard, the problem was driving him to find a solution – and she had to wonder how he'd expected himself to find a solution in a few days when the Asgard had had who knew how many millennium to explore it.
"The Asgard material wasn't much help?"
"Only to a point. It'll depend on what I find in their samples…"
"And this guy here…?"
Ian actually gave a tired smile.
"This guy is a girl, Sam."
"Really? How do you know that?"
As far as she could tell it wasn't either.
"Because the Asgard clones all start as females, and they add in the extra chromosome needed to make the males towards the end of the process."
"I didn't know that."
"Me, either."
She ran her fingers through the hairs at the back of his skull.
"We haven't heard from Thor yet. Maybe you should take a break and get some rest before they get back – that way you can look at things from a fresh point of view…"
He shrugged.
"I'm fine."
"You look tired."
"I had a nap earlier."
"When?"
"Earlier."
"I could have Janet sedate you…"
He scowled, even though he didn't think she was serious.
"I'm fine, Sam."
"Staring at this thing isn't going to-"
"Sam…"
Now it was her turn to scowl, and she moved around him to stand between him and the pod, her arms crossing over her breasts and her expression uncompromising.
"Ian. I'm not asking you. I'm telling you. You need to go get some sleep. There's a VIP room set up for you already. Go get a few hours sleep and come back. The rest will do you good – whether you think so or not."
"But-"
"No buts, young man. You're working hard, and we all know it. But you're going to take a break and get some sleep – and then get a hot meal in you – and only then do I want you to come back here."
He looked like he was going to tell her off. He even opened his mouth, obviously ready to say something, but Jaffer rumbled a low growl, adding his own admonishment to Sam's, and Ian scowled. But he kept his mouth shut and didn't say whatever it was he'd been about to say – which was good.
"I could have Hammond bring your mother in…" she added.
She'd expected that to really make him mad – especially since that was how they got him to work on the project in the first place – but he surprised her by giving her a slight smile.
"And tell her what? That I'm overworking myself trying to fix a bunch of aliens?"
"You don't think she'd believe it?"
"I don't sometimes…"
Sam smiled, and reached out and touched his cheek, surprised to see and feel stubble there.
"Go get some sleep, Ian. It'll make you feel better."
He sighed, but nodded, realizing that there was no sense in arguing with her.
"Okay."
"And take Jaffer with you. He makes a pretty good snuggle partner."
"If you can get past the fact that he takes up most of the bed…"
"There is that."
Sam waited until he stood up, and walked with him to the door, where Jack was lounging, pretending to be just killing time – although he'd been waiting all along.
When Ian walked past him with Jaffer beside him, Jack looked at Sam.
"How did you do that?"
She smiled.
"It's classified. We'd better get a guard on this door, though. I don't want anyone in here messing with his notes while he's sleeping or he'd never forgive me for making him leave."
Jack nodded.
"I'll take care of it."
