Emmett Bregman hung up the phone and looked over at his partner.
"Air Force One is landing at the academy. We need to get going."
Ben nodded and scooped up his camera equipment, and then headed for the door, right behind Emmett, who felt the same rush of excitement and anticipation that he always felt when he was getting ready to do a particularly interesting filming session. It didn't get much more interesting than the President, after all – despite the seriousness of the situation.
He almost ran over Pia, however, who was apparently lurking just outside the door to their quarters. The Tok'ra regained her balance quickly, however, and gave Emmett a somewhat embarrassed smile, which chanced into a slightly different expression when Ben walked out the door as well.
"I was hoping you'd have a minute…" she said, ignoring Emmett.
Ben looked at Bregman hopefully, and Emmett rolled his eyes.
"You have ten minutes, Ben. No longer – I mean it."
The young man's face split into a huge grin.
"Thanks, Emmett. I knew I could count on-"
"Just meet me up top in fifteen minutes, okay?" he interrupted.
"Okay."
Emmett took the camera equipment from Ben, and shaking his head, he headed for the elevator.
Pia watched him until he was out of sight, and then turned her smoldering gaze on the young cameraman.
"Can we go somewhere?"
His grin turned positively wolfish, and he opened the door to his quarters.
"How about here?"
She smiled.
"Perfect."
She followed him into the room and firmly closed the door behind them.
OOOOOOOOOO
"They blew up your ship?" Andrew said, shocked.
Thor nodded.
"So it would appear."
"Wow…"
Shawn looked over at Jack, his brown eyes concerned.
"It's pretty serious then, huh?"
Jack nodded, soberly.
"Yeah."
"But Ian's new cloaking device should hide the SGC from the Goa'uld, right?" Andrew asked.
"Ian says it will," Jack replied. "But Sam and McKay are working on figuring out a way to make it do more than just cloak."
"Who?"
"Where's Ian?" Andrew asked at the same time.
"He's in the infirmary," Jack answer. "And McKay is a civilian scientist who thinks he's smarter than God and has the people skills that make Ian look like a social butterfly in comparison."
"What's wrong with Ian?"
"We're not sure yet. He's stable, though, so don't worry." Like they didn't have enough to worry about already? "Do you think you could help with the device?"
Why not see if they can get more brains in on that particular assignment? Besides, it'd be good to have someone there in case McKay drove Sam to thoughts of murder.
Shawn shook his head.
"I don't know anything about it. I could probably help Thor, though…"
Andrew nodded his agreement. Neither of them knew diddly about Ancient technology, but they could help Thor with anything Asgard, probably. And they both worked well with the little alien.
Jack nodded, pleased to have someone offer. Especially since Shawn and Andrew both knew the SGC personnel well enough to know the other scientist. That meant if Thor decided he needed something, Shawn would know who to go to to ask for it.
"Good. We'll get you guys set up in one of the labs, and then Pia and I will…" he trailed off, looking around, and realized that the Tok'ra was nowhere in sight. "Sonofa…" he looked at Shawn. "Head to the labs, okay? Just pick one that isn't being used. I've got to go find Pia."
What the hell was she thinking going off on her own at a time like this, and why didn't Jacob put a leash on the woman?
Shawn nodded.
"Okay, Jack."
Jack turned on his heel and headed back the way they'd come from. He'd get Teal'c and Daniel and a couple of security teams to help him, because the President was on his way in and there was no way they wanted a Tok'ra loose on the base with such a VIP coming.
OOOOOOOOO
Janet looked up from Ian's lab reports when Sam entered the infirmary, causing Ian to look over as well.
"She doesn't look happy, does she?" he asked.
"No."
She looked even more annoyed the closer she got, but by the time she reached Ian's bed she did manage a smile when she saw he was sitting up and was looking far more lively than he had been.
"You're awake."
He nodded, but ignored the small talk.
"What's wrong?"
She shook her head, still obviously annoyed, but also annoyed that he'd noticed.
"Nothing. How are you feeling?"
"Fine. Who has you so pissed off?" Ian's dark eyes narrowed. "Let me guess; McKay?"
"Big surprise there," Janet said, setting Ian's results down on the bed. "McKay is a pompous jerk."
"You want me to kick his ass, Sam? Or even better, turn Teal'c loose on him?"
She smiled at the offer and rested her hand on his arm.
"I can handle Rodney McKay, Ian. I just needed a break from him before I broke down and wrung his neck. Now, stop changing the subject and tell me how you're doing?"
"I'm fine."
"Janet?"
Fraiser nodded.
"He's fine. Still a bit of a headache, but he seems to be recovering from whatever it was nicely."
"What was it?" Sam asked.
Ian hesitated, but then shrugged.
"Just a mammoth headache... still hurts, really - although not enough to keep me in here," he added.
Janet nodded her agreement and Sam smiled.
"The President's plane just landed at the academy. Are you going topside to meet it?"
"Are you?"
She shook her head.
"I need to get back to what I was doing."
"So do I," he replied.
"But not until we're finished here," Janet added.
Sam nodded and patted his leg.
"I'm going to head back. I'll see you soon?"
Ian nodded.
"I'll be right there."
If for no other reason than to kick McKay's ass for saying the wrong thing.