Author's Note: in response to a review: Yes, Ian definitely would have been sworn in during his commissioning ceremony. I just forgot all about it. We'll have to pretend that he did, guys, sorry.

OOOOOOOOO

"When do you want to work on that shielding?" Ian asked Sam as the group headed for the commissary a few minutes later.

She shrugged.

"Let's wait until next week, at least," she replied. "We'll have to integrate the base's computer hardware to interface with the device and the iris at the same time, so it isn't something we're going to want to start on a Friday afternoon."

"Not if you want to spend some time with your dad this weekend," Jack said.

Now it was Ian's turn to shrug. Nate would probably head home – especially since his mom was sick.

"Or with Cassie," Daniel added, with a knowing glance.

Good point.

"We can do it Monday," Ian agreed.

The others smiled at that, and they were all still smiling when they walked through the door of the commissary.

"Ian!"

Cassie had been waiting by the door, and she greeted him with more than enough enthusiasm to make the teasing glances worth it. He smiled and slid an arm around her waist.

"Everyone knew about this but me, huh?"

"Mom told me last night – but only after she swore me to secrecy. Congratulations!"

"Thanks."

Shawn and Andrew also headed his direction, and Jack and the others excused themselves to go talk to someone their own age.

"Congrats," Shawn said, slapping Ian on the back.

"Only three years early," Andrew added, grinning.

"Took them long enough," Ian said, buffing his fingernails on his BDU shirt in a self important manner that made all of them smile.

"You realize everyone at the academy is going to hate you?" Shawn asked.

"Yup."

The seniors that had been commissioned at the end of the school term would all outrank him – for now, anyways – but those juniors and sophomores who had tried pulling rank on him, Shawn and River all the year before were definitely in for something of a shock. And while he wouldn't rub their noses in it – he wasn't the sort to do that – he'd like to be a fly on the wall when they all found out he wasn't returning to the academy to finish the next three years. And not because he'd washed out.

Shawn grinned.

"At least it'll even out the grading curve."

"Not with you and Hayden still there," Ian told him. "And not with Andrew here coming into the ranks. They're still all fucked."

"Hey, Ian."

He turned at the call, and found himself on the receiving end of several cameras going off all at once. The personnel at the SGC loved a reason to celebrate – especially since most of the times they were together were for memorial services of lost friends and comrades – so they were going to enjoy this for all they were worth. And besides, his mom would want pictures.

OOOOOOOOOOO

They took a lot of pictures. Ian ended up posing with everyone; Sam, Jack – together with Jake and with Jacob and separately – his dad, Shawn and Andrew, Cassie, Hammond, the commandant of the academy, Bra'tac, Teal'c, Daniel and even Janet Fraiser. All of whom were dressed sharper than he was even though the party was in his honor. Of course, if they wanted him to dress up, they could have warned him in advance.

"You're normally supposed to have a two week leave when you're commissioned," the commandant told him as they sat around a table much later, drinking juice (since it was still morning and way too early for drinking – assuming Hammond or any of the brass would allow drinking while on duty, which they wouldn't). "I don't know how the scheduling around here works – and I'm not asking – but make sure you give him some time off, George."

Hammond nodded.

"He has some vacation time coming, anyways. We'll see to it that he takes it. As events allow."

Ian shrugged.

"Give me the rest of the day off and that would be a good start…"

Nate snorted.

"A Lieutenant for only an hour and he's already making demands… someone needs to remind him of the chain of command around here, George."

"I thought I'd go home and call mom," Ian said.

"Of course, he should have the rest of the day off," the elder Brooks said, smoothly. "It's his day, after all. Right?"

The others smiled, but Hammond just nodded.

"Fine. Lieutenant? Go home and call your mom. Then take the rest of the day off."

Ian stood up. He didn't need to be told twice – and he wasn't going to give Hammond a chance to change his mind.

"But don't vanish," Nathan said, holding his hand up to stop Ian from leaving. "I want to see you again before I go."

"I'll have my phone on," Ian told him, looking around for Cassie. "Just give me a call and I'll drive you to the airport."

Nate nodded, and Ian headed for the table that Cassie was sitting at with Shawn and Andrew. He came up behind her, and rested his hand lightly on her shoulder.

"I have the rest of the day off. Let's go do something."

She nodded, but Shawn spoke up.

"Just the two of you? Or do you want more company?"

"Sure. We'll go find a movie or an arcade or something…"

It might be fun to do something that had absolutely nothing to do with saving the world – or even an entirely different race of beings – for a change.

"We could borrow Jack (the dog) and Jaffer and go looking for girls…" Andrew said, standing up. "We'd have to lose Cassie, first, but that shouldn't be-"

Ian shushed him by grabbing him in a headlock and covering his mouth with his hand.

"Some of us already have a girl…" he told the boy, speaking for himself and Shawn.

"Thank you," Cassie said, lifting her nose and pretending to be offended.

"Besides…" Ian said, smiling. "Jaffer's good for a couple of girls, but the real babe magnet is Jake – and Sam probably wouldn't loan him to us…"

Cassie snorted. Men!