"Not bad…"
Ian opened his eyes at the voice that broke into his dreamless sleep, and realized even as he did so that he was still asleep. There was an inescapable Presence with him, now, and a feeling of friendship and warmth surrounded him, incredibly real – even in his dream state – and he felt a little less tired because of it. Awake enough, at any rate, that he could hold a conversation.
"Alexander…"
The dark-haired Ancient smiled at him, obviously pleased about something.
"Ian. You did good, boy."
Ian scowled.
"I told you I don't like you calling me-"
The Ancient raised his hand with a tolerant smile, cutting off the reprimand.
"I'm sorry, okay? It's a habit."
Which didn't make it okay, Ian thought, but he didn't say anything. Instead he just shrugged.
"Everything okay?"
"Everything's fine, Ian. They're all just waiting on you to wake up."
"Did it work?"
Alexander didn't need to ask what Ian meant; he already knew. The Ancient shrugged.
"No idea."
"What? I thought you guys knew what was going to happen."
"Why would you think that?" Alexander seemed truly surprised. "We're as in the dark as you are – at least in this reality."
"Really?"
The Ancient nodded.
"To change the subject, before you manage to get the secrets of the universe out of me without me realizing it… you should know that the Asgard aren't all as bad as Loki. None of them are as bad as he is, really – although there are a few radicals out there, just like there are in any society."
Ian scowled. The last thing he wanted to discuss were the Asgard.
"The others could have-"
"Nah, they couldn't have. Not in a free society like the Asgard have. All they can do is react to what he did, and make sure that they make an example of him – to keep him and any others who feel like he does from doing something like that again."
Alexander smiled, and continued.
"Not that you have to worry about any of them doing it again, do you?"
Ian knew exactly what he meant, and nodded.
"No. They won't be able to touch me again – or anyone at the SGC, really – if Hammond wants me to make it that way."
"Just remember… the technology that Dotty left is dangerous in the wrong hands – and you can't always make sure who tries to get at it."
"I'm not going to spread it around. Especially the really dangerous stuff. The Lafe device is defensive, though, and I can't see any way to turn it offensive."
"I agree." Alexander tilted his head a little, studying Ian for a moment. "You handled the Asgard problem extremely well, you know…"
"I could have used some help."
"You had all the Asgard, Shawn, Andrew and the entire resources of the SGC available to you. What more did you need?"
"You guys could have done something."
Alexander shook his head.
"No. I never would have even dreamed of the solution you came up with – not the method, anyways."
"What? Why not?"
"Because what you did was impossible."
Ian scowled.
"So you mean it didn't work?"
"No. I told you, I don't know if it worked or not. But it's something I never could have done."
"Why not? You're Ancients. You heal people all the time – and never fall on your faces afterwards."
"We've never tampered with the DNA of an individual before, Ian," Alexander said, shaking his head. "I never would have thought it possible."
"You tampered with Shawn's…"
"We bioengineered Shawn," Alexander corrected. "That's different. He is who he is because of those ancestors who came before him. The result of millennium of breeding. It's not the same as changing his DNA directly like you did with the Asgard clone. Had we thought it possible, we would have done it when we first saw the problem."
"If it's not possible, then how did I do it?"
Alexander shrugged.
"You're not an Ancient, Ian. You think differently than us, and unlike us – who have the healing ability naturally – you have to study what you can do and approach it in a scientific method. We merely do what comes natural."
"Which means what?"
Another shrug, and a sudden rush of good humor.
"Who knows?"
"That's enlightening," Ian said, sarcastically. "Thanks."
Alexander smiled.
"I guess you'll just have to wait and see where it takes you. Just remember… you have a great ability, but with it comes a great risk to yourself – and I don't mean from the Asgard."
Ian shrugged.
"I'm doing okay so far."
"Yes. You are." Alexander reached out and rested his hand on Ian's head – exactly as if he were giving a benediction. "You're doing better than we ever could have hoped for."
He felt a great wash of love just then, and flushed, because he knew it was all directed at him – and he wasn't comfortable being the focus of so much emotion. Not from a guy, especially. Alexander smiled and moved his hand, and Ian felt the surge of love ebb considerably, until it was far more bearable.
"You need your rest…" Alexander said. "And I have other things to do. Well met, Ian."
"Yeah. You, too."
An instant later, the Presence faded, and Ian was once more alone in his dreams.
He opened his eyes, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him. The bed he was in was soft, the room he was in was darkened – whether because it was night or just to keep the light out he didn't know and didn't care. The black lab that was sprawled beside him rumbled gently and whuffled him, but Ian was already closing his eyes and falling asleep.
They might be waiting for him, but he wasn't ready to wake up just yet.
