Daniel was the first to break the stunned silence that followed that statement.

"Excuse me?" he said, staring at Thor as if he'd just asked the team to go out bar hopping with him.

"We wish for Ian Brooks to return with us when we leave," Thor repeated.

"Um… why?"

"Are you out of your minds?" Jack asked, at the same time, over his surprise at the ludicrous request and straight into angry.

"It is a great honor we are offering him," one of he other Asgard said. "And an opportunity he will not be given on this planet."

"Ian Brooks carries the knowledge of the Ancients, O'Neill," Thor said. "And he saved our people. Those two are plenty of reason why he should be allowed to come with us."

"You-"

"We would extend the same invitation to Shawn and Andrew Stephens," Thor continued. "However, we assumed you would oppose such a suggestion."

"What makes you think I wouldn't oppose you taking Ian?" Jack asked, scowling.

"Ian Brooks is an adult."

"But he's not a stray puppy that you can just take home with you," Jack snapped.

Thor blinked.

"I do not want a puppy, O'Neill."

"Ian Brooks is wasted here on your planet," one of the Asgard said. "If he accompanies us, we will see to it that he will find-"

"He's not going with you," Jack interrupted. "He doesn't even like you. What makes you think that he'd-"

"Colonel." Hammond interrupted Jack before he could really get started, but he wasn't annoyed with him. He just needed to stop him before he could say something that couldn't be taken back.

"Are you listening to this?"

"Yes," Hammond replied looking at Thor. "What I can't understand is what possessed you to even suggest it…"

"I do not understand why you are so opposed to this proposal," Thor said. "He is not even a full member of the SGC. When his school starts at the end of summer, he will be forced back to your academy – where he will be unchallenged and most likely bored. We can use his help, and have no qualms about having someone so young with us."

"He's an established member of an SG team," Jack said, his voice unable to hide his anger that Thor had obviously been pumping Shawn for information – probably without Shawn even realizing what he'd wanted to know for. "My SG team. We're not giving him to you."

"With respect, O'Neill," one of the other Asgard said. "Should that not be his decision?"

Jack opened his mouth, clearly prepared to say something incredibly inappropriate, but Sam interrupted.

"Thor… Ian won't come with you. I can pretty much guarantee that if you ask him, he's not going to give you the answer you want to hear – and that's if he even allows you the chance to make the offer in the first place."

"Why are you so anxious for a protégé all of the sudden?" Daniel asked, curiously. "It can't just be the knowledge of the Ancients in his head. You guys are fairly well advanced yourselves…"

"Correct, Daniel Jackson. We would not need to exploit his knowledge – although it is formidable, as you well know."

"So what is it, then?" Sam asked.

"Just what we told you. We wish to honor him for what he has done for us."

"By taking him away from everything he knows?"

"By giving him a chance to use his gifts instead of sitting around waiting to grow up," Thor said, with uncharacteristic bluntness.

Obviously, of all the Asgard, he was the one who had spent the most time with Shawn and Andrew and had managed to pick up some of their attitudes and speech mannerisms.

Hammond scowled.

"That's not how it is, Thor. He's not sitting around. He's being-"

"He works here every day with the knowledge that soon enough you will send him back to the academy to finish three more years of schoolwork – work that he has already nearly completed, from what I have learned."

"That's not the way it is," Sam protested, softly, wondering even as she said it if that was how Ian felt. "He's a vital member of SG-1, Thor."

"We would allow him to continue whatever studies he desired – and still allow him an opportunity to be part of something important," one of the other Asgard said.

"He's already part of something important," Jack snapped. This time there was a low growl from under the table as Jaffer added his own agreement to that – or was merely echoing Jack's anger. "You can't have him."

"We would like to have the chance to make the offer," the other Asgard said. "We want him to understand the opportunities we could give him."

"There must be another way you can honor him…" Daniel said. "One that doesn't require him talking to you…?"

Thor looked at him.

"I cannot think of anything. My people value learning beyond all else."

"The Tau'ri value other things as well…" Teal'c said, speaking for the first time. "Perhaps there is something else that would appeal more to Ian Brooks."

"Yes," Daniel agreed.

"Like what?" Hammond asked, more than willing to ask for opinions, especially since he was in what was looking to be some kind of diplomatic issue ready to blow up. He couldn't let Thor and the Asgard invite Ian to go with them. The boy would undoubtedly blow his lid and would most likely say something that would sever ties with the Asgard for centuries. They weren't the best allies, sometimes, but they were still needed.

"There must be something," Daniel said, shrugging. He looked at Jack and Sam. They knew Ian best, after all.

Jack frowned.

OOOOOOOOO

"What are you doing, Adams?"

Shawn shrugged as well as he could with Jake in his arms.

"I'm taking my little brother for a walk, what does it look like?"

"It looks like you're carrying him," Ian replied. "What the hell kind of walk is that?"

"He needs the exercise. He's getting tubby."

Ian snorted.

"Why aren't you hanging out with the Asgard?"

"Because they're in the briefing room with everyone else."

"But not you?"

"Nah. They sent me away."

"It's probably just a bunch of diplomatic bullshit, anyways," Ian said, reaching over and plucking Jake from his brother's arms. The infant was four months old now, and Ian was becoming a little more at ease holding him. And found that he really liked being near Jake. "I wouldn't be too upset at not being allowed in."

Jake looked up at Ian, his brown eyes wide and expressive.

Shawn shook his head.

"I'm not. What are you doing?"

"I'm going to go find something to eat."

"Again?"

"I'm hungry."

"Where's Andrew?"

"Calling his mom and dad and telling them he'll be home tonight."

"Then what?"

"Then he's going to join me in the commissary. Which is where Jake and me are going. Aren't we, little man?"

Jake gurgled happily, and Ian smiled softly in reply.

Shawn rolled his eyes.

"Fine. I guess I could use a bite to eat…"

Besides, he wanted to see Ian try to stuff himself while holding Jake at the same time. It should be pretty entertaining.