Not surprisingly, Nathan Brooks knew the commanding officer of Hanscom Air Force Base. Equally non-surprisingly, that fellow was more than a little uncertain about the idea of allowing anyone to commandeer two of his fighter jets when the entire world seemed to suddenly be on alert and who knew when he might need them? Nate and he went back a long way, however, and after a short but intense conversation and a call to a couple of higher ranking officers over one of the military lines that weren't connected to the public lines and therefore weren't overloaded with panicked callers, Jack, Sam and Ian all found themselves suiting up into high pressure suits – along with a young Major who was going to fly wheelman for one of the planes.

Sam hesitated, though, as they walked out onto the tarmac with the others, and she looked at Nate.

"You'll go get Jake?"

Nate nodded.

"As soon as I leave here. Don't worry, Sam, I'll take good care of him."

She nodded, but still looked uncertain. They couldn't take him, though. There was no way he could go in the fighter, and even if he could, the SGC wasn't a place for him to be just then. Nate had assured her he'd take good care of him, and Sam was sure that having the baby to look after would also keep his mind off being worried about Maggie – who they hadn't heard from despite several attempts to call from the cell phones on the drive to base.

"I know you will."

Jack crouched down and grabbed Jaffer roughly by the head, hugging him close. Like Jake, there was no place for Jaffer on the plane, and Jack was forced to leave the big lab behind as well. Jaffer whined, as if he knew Jack was leaving him, and whuffled his face.

"You be good, little man," Jack told him. "And help look after Jake."

Sam came over to say her own goodbyes to the lab, and while they were doing that, Nate looked at Ian.

"So much for a nice quiet vacation…"

Ian nodded.

"You'll call me when you get hold of mom?"

"Yeah. Don't worry about her, son, I'll do enough for both of us."

That earned him a tight smile.

"If you get the chance, dad, send Jaffer out to us as soon as possible, will you? We might need him."

Nathan frowned, as if trying to figure out what the hell they'd need the dog for, but he just nodded.

"I'll put him on the first regular flight I can find – but no promises when that'll be."

Things were too crazy to make any promises just then. Ian just nodded, and before either of them could say anything else, Jack and Sam walked over with Jaffer.

"You ready?" Jack asked.

Ian looked over at the fighters, and swallowed hard, his face pale even under the slight tan he'd managed to get the past couple of days. Flying was not something he was fond of, and doing it in a jet was even less of a thrill as far as he was concerned – although he knew Hayden would jump at the chance.

"Yeah. Who am I flying with?"

"You can fly with me, or with Major Copeland."

"Not Sam?"

Jack shook his head.

"It's better to keep the two of you in separate planes," he said.

"Why's that?"

"In case something happens."

They might not be the two smartest people on the planet, but they were close to it, and they were undoubtedly two people who knew the most about the Goa'uld. He didn't want them in the same plane just then.

"In case what happens?" Ian asked, looking over at the plane again with a slightly panicked look.

"Nothing's going to happen, Ian," Sam assured him. "It's just a precaution. They're safe."

Major Copeland stepped up.

"Fly with me, Lieutenant," he suggested. "I'm the best."

Of course, there wasn't a fighter pilot in the world who wouldn't make the same claim. Jack smiled, and offered Nate his hand.

"We'll get in touch as soon as we can."

Nate shook his hand.

"I'll take good care of your son – and Jaffer."

Jaffer whined again, but he moved over to stand beside Nathan, who took the end of his leash from Jack.

"So much for the biggest secret in the world, huh?"

"Yeah."

Jack turned to the others.

"We ready?"

Ian looked as if he was well past second thoughts, but he just nodded quietly, and Sam did the same. She gave Nate a quick hug, and then turned and headed for the closer of the two planes. Jack would fly so she could use the radio and try and find out what was going on from the other military sources - and get in touch with the SGC.

Ian followed Copeland to the other plane, and listened carefully as the Major explained to him what he needed to do when he got in the plane.

Sam looked over at Jack as they got into their plane.

"I feel sorry for him…"

"He'll be fine," Jack assured her. "He's tough."

But Jack felt sorry for him, too.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

"Well, we have some good news…" Hammond said, coming out of his office later that day.

"What's that?" Jacob Carter asked, looking up from some reports that had been passed down from NORAD.

"Jack, Sam and Ian are on their way back. They're arriving at the Air Force Academy in a few hours – probably."

There was always the chance that they'd be diverted for some reason.

"Any word from Shawn or Andrew yet?" Daniel asked.

"The team sent out to bring them to the base have reported that they arrived at the lodge – only to find it unoccupied," Teal'c answered. He, of course, was well in the loop when it came to Andrew.

"That's a little odd, isn't it?" Daniel asked, concerned.

The Jaffa shook his head.

"They frequently take long hiking trips while those who would prefer to shop go into town to do so. It is a nice day for a walk, which is undoubtedly where they are. They will turn up eventually."

Hammond scowled.

He didn't want them to turn up. He wanted them here, at the base. Now. He needed to know what was going on, and the Asgard would at least be able to find out if there were any more ships heading their way.

A knock on the door stopped him from voicing that thought, though. All of them looked over, and saw one of the Marines that man one of the checkpoints.

"Sir? Your visitor has arrived."

Hammond nodded.

"Bring him in, Sergeant."

"Visitor?" Jacob asked, curiously.

Hammond nodded.

"Without Major O'Neill or Lieutenant Brooks here, we had to find someone close by that knows something about the Stargate and the technology – as well as the Goa'uld. Teal'c can only tell us so much, after all. Luckily…" and he didn't sound as if he was all that certain it was lucky. "… there was an expert who just happened to be passing through that we managed to divert over to the SGC."

Daniel wondered why Hammond didn't exactly seem all that pleased by the situation – especially when they really needed an expert just then without Ian or Sam there.

"Who?"

Before Hammond could answer, there was a light rap on the doorway, and a somewhat familiar face peeked around the corner. Hammond looked over at Teal'c, and then gestured for the man to enter.

"Jacob? Have you met Doctor Rodney McKay?"