The next morning Ian woke up late. Really late, too, not just a few minutes. It wasn't really his fault; he was still tired, even if he didn't feel all that wiped out, but even having an excuse didn't keep him from swearing when he opened his eyes and looked over at the clock. It was too late for a morning run – something he'd been looking forward to – and almost too late to even stop and grab something to eat if he wanted to be on base on time.
Scrambling out of bed, he had a quick shower and threw on jeans and a t-shirt, figuring he'd change into a uniform once he reached the base – that was the whole point of having extra clothes there, right – and headed for his car, grabbing a couple of Poptarts and a Mountain Dew on the way through the kitchen.
Even speeding he was still late when he pulled up to the main gate of the base, and he scowled when the Sergeant of the Guard waved for him to stop instead of waving him straight through. Whatever it was, it was going to make him that much later, and as it was he was going to end up putting up with some smart assed comment from Jack, he was sure.
"Good morning, Cadet."
Ian sighed, but tried to look a little less harried.
"Morning, Sergeant."
"Running late?"
Now he couldn't help but scowl. Smart ass.
"A little."
The Sergeant grinned – and so did the Corporal who was manning the gate itself.
"General Hammond left a message for you, Cadet. He wants you in the embarkation room as soon as possible."
Great. Probably the fucking Asgard had convinced him that Ian would be better off on the other side of the fucking universe or something. Just lovely. When he hadn't heard anything from Sam or the others before leaving the base the night before, he'd hoped – more like assumed, really – that Sam had been able to convince Hammond and the Asgard that the Asgard idea was a stupid one. Now he was probably going to have to try and do it himself – and he wasn't in the mood to be polite about it.
"Thanks."
The Sergeant nodded, and moved out of the way so Ian could drive through the gate.
"Have a good day, Cadet."
"Yeah, thanks."
OOOOOOOOOO
He parked the car and hurried through the other checkpoints as quickly as he could, receiving a message at each one that he was wanted in the gate room. Knowing full well that he absolutely couldn't go there in what he was wearing, he stopped at the locker room long enough to change before he headed for the elevator.
The corridors of the SGC were oddly empty. Usually there were people – civilian and military – bustling around carrying out various duties as they tried to get ready for the weekend. This morning, though, there were only a few of the regular security teams, and even they were sparse. He would have asked someone what was going on, but he was in too foul of a mood by then to really care.
Then he opened the door to the gate room, and the mystery of where everyone was was instantly solved.
The room was filled with personnel. Military and civilian, with all the military people in dress blues. Everyone in the room looked over as he entered, and Ian frowned, hating nothing more than being the center of attention.
A quick glance as he stopped in the doorway showed that everyone was there. Sam and Jack – also in dress blues – Daniel and Teal'c, Hammond (also dressed to the yards) were standing on the ramp that lead to the Stargate itself, and with them were several people he never would have expected to see that morning. Dominating the room, even standing beside Teal'c as he was, was Ian's father. Nathan was dressed in uniform as well, and even though Ian had seen him in full dress before, he had to admit that the array of ribbons on his uniform looked pretty impressive.
Beside his father, on the other side of Teal'c, was Bra'tac, who was standing beside Jacob Carter (who wasn't wearing an Air Force uniform). And even more surprising, standing beside General Hammond at the very top of the ramp in the shadow of the gate was the Commandant of the Air Force academy – who was also wearing dress blues. Standing beside Jack and Sam were Fraiser, Shawn and Andrew – all wearing uniforms – and Cassie, who was smiling so broadly it made Ian smile in response.
Hammond gestured for Ian to come over, and the crowd of people parted to make an aisle for him as he moved.
"Good morning, Cadet," Jack said as he approached. "Slept well, did you?"
Ian frowned.
"Did I miss something on the bulletin board?"
It was like the Anti-Casual Friday or something…
Sam smiled as well, but it was Hammond who spoke, before Ian could ask his father what the hell was going on.
"Attention to orders!" the general barked, reminding them all that he was in command of the base, and even though he didn't always force them to listen to him, he still could command their attention whenever he wanted to.
All eyes turned that direction, and the slight murmur of conversation that had followed Ian into the room hushed completely as everyone looked at Hammond.
The general, however, turned to the Commandant of the Air Force Academy, who stepped forward.
"Cadet Brooks! Front and center, Mister."
Confused, Ian stepped up, wondering what the hell was going on. Maybe a goodbye party or something?
"Sir?"
"Cadet Ian Michael Brooks, as Commanding Officer of the Air Force Academy of the United States of America, it is my privilege and honor to commission you into the officer corps of the United States Air Force."
"What?"
The Commandant ignored the interruption and continued.
"As of today, you are graduated from the academy and commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant, and subject to all the benefits, honors and responsibilities that accompany that rank."
The General smiled, and handed Ian a rolled up paper, and at the same time offered him his hand. Ian took both automatically, and when the Commandant had shaken his hand, he saluted Ian, who returned it automatically.
The Commandant smiled ruefully.
"May God have mercy on us all…"
Immediately, the other military personnel in the room saluted as well – including Nathan and all those standing on the ramp. Only when Ian brought his hand down did they, and now they were all smiling and there was a loud whoop from someone on the gate room floor – probably one of the marines from the sharp noise. Marines were good at being noisy, after all.
"Congratulations, Ian," General Hammond said, stepping forward and handing him a small plastic bag that held the single bar of a Lieutenant that Ian would be allowed to wear on his uniforms now.
Ian looked down at them, and then at the general – and the others.
"What's going on?"
"We're having a party," Jack said, smiling.
"Congratulations, Ian," Daniel told him.
"Thanks."
Suddenly he was surrounded by the crowd, all of whom were slapping his back and congratulating him. Hammond let this continue for a few minutes as he stood by the side with Nate and the Commandant of the academy, but finally he raised a hand and called for silence.
"There's a reception in the commissary. All personnel are excused to attend."
There was another whoop from the crowd, and they started to disperse, heading for the exit. Before Ian could go, however, Hammond stopped him.
"Join us in the briefing room, Lieutenant. We have to talk."
Ian nodded, still stunned by the events of the last few minutes.
"Yes, sir."
