They couldn't leave right away, though. No matter how much they wanted to. Ian had to show Sam how to set up the ZPM as a power source, and had to make sure she'd know how to disconnect it from the command center computer without shorting anything out – including the protective cloaking device. Then, because he just wasn't completely positive that he'd be back in time to help with the weapon in Antarctica (and he was pretty sure he wouldn't be) he showed her as well as he could how to set the ZPM into the power grid.

"You'll see it easier when you're actually there," he told her apologetically. "But when you come to the right spot, you'll know it – and you can't miss it. Daniel will know what to look for."

Which had made Daniel frown, because he wasn't exactly all that positive what he was supposed to be looking for. Ian had seen the frown, and slapped Daniel on the back.

"Don't worry. You will. It's right by the chair."

Which meant absolutely nothing. But Daniel had to hope that Ian knew what he was talking about and that it'd be clear by the time they got around to that point.

"And tell me again how I'm supposed to use this weapon?" Jack asked, trying hard to keep his own skepticism to a minimum. Especially with McKay right there.

Ian smiled, although he looked tense.

"The chair will know what to do. You just sit in it when they get the power on – and make sure that the ship you guys use is powered down, because it might take it for an enemy ship."

McKay just shook his head. Of course the chair would know what to do. He was glad that SG-4 was going along with them, because this Ian kid had undoubtedly snapped, and someone would need to hold him down when he finally went completely over the edge.

Jack didn't look any more reassured, but he did nod, and he stood back to watch as Ian and Sam finished hooking the ZPM up to the dialing computer.

"You're sure you know where you're going?" Hammond asked, coming up behind them. He had a group of the most important people in the world only ten to fifteen minutes away, but there was no way he was going to allow either group to leave without his being there.

Ian nodded, as the ZPM suddenly started to glow.

"I saw the address."

Hammond nodded, too, and followed as the small group headed out of the command center and down to the embarkation room, where Ian and McKay joined SG-4.

"Make sure you take care of him," Jack told Colonel James.

James smiled and nodded.

"I will." He turned to Hammond. "Sir?"

Hammond nodded.

"You have a go, Colonel. Godspeed."

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

Sam touched Ian's arm lightly, and then left the room, heading back to the dialing computer. She was going to enter the address in herself, just to make sure nothing went wrong on this end. There were already so many things that could go wrong on the other end, after all.

Colonel James looked at Ian as the members of SG-1 moved to stand by the wall. They'd watch Ian go – because he was one of them – and then they'd gather up Thor and Jacob and leave as well on their own mission.

Ian looked over his shoulder at the observation window and nodded when he saw Sam looking at him. He was ready. He turned to Jack.

"If my dad calls, tell him I'll call him back, okay?"

Jack gave him a tight smile and nodded.

"I'll do that. Take care of yourself."

"I will."

"We'll take care of him, Jack," Colonel James told O'Neill.

"I know."

The Stargate started to dial, and they all watched as each chevron locked and held its position. When it finally flared, none of them flinched – although McKay definitely looked a little green.

"Let's go," James said, leading the way. Without a word, his team formed a protective phalanx around Ian and McKay, and they all headed through the event horizon as well. A moment later the gate shut itself down, and Jack and Daniel looked at each other.

"I'm sure he's fine," Daniel said.

"Me, too," Jack agreed.

Neither sounded completely convinced, however.

OOOOOOOOO

It was wrong, and Ian knew it immediately. The room was right – at least as near as he knew it was. He'd never actually walked through a Stargate to get to this place. The only two times he'd been here – and only once in this reality – he'd been on one of the Gateships. But the first time he'd been here he'd seen the control room – or whatever the Ancients had called it (the egredioratory, his Ancient memories told him) – from the Gateship, and it was this very room. Although it had been filled with Ancients then, and was completely empty, now.

Too empty. Because SG-4 was supposed to be with him and McKay, and while McKay had just bumped into him from behind, SG-4 was nowhere in sight – and hadn't been, either.

"This is wrong…" McKay said, looking around and noticing the lack of company as quickly as Ian had. "Where are the others?"

Ian shook his head, looking around as well.

"I don't know."

OOOOOOOOO

"This isn't right…" Dobbs said, frowning as he looked around. The room they were in didn't look like anything he'd ever seen before, but he knew it wasn't a city – Atlantis or otherwise. It looked like some kind of hangar. A very empty hangar.

Colonel James shook his head, looking around as well, his P90 ready to fire at the slightest cause.

"Where's Ian and Doctor McKay?" he asked, frowning.

"I didn't see them come through," Dobbs said.

James turned.

"They were right in front of you Sergeant."

"I didn't see them, sir," Dobbs repeated. "Just you guys."

"And you will not see them," a gentle voice said. All four members of SG-4 whirled at the sound, guns up. In front of them was a good looking guy with blonde hair and a benign smile on his face.

"Who are you?" James challenged, his weapon pointed at the man – who had appeared so quickly and silently that it was unnerving.

"A friend. Be calm, Colonel. I will not hurt you. But you cannot go to Atlantis just yet. The city is not prepared for so many visitors – and you are not needed there."

"What the-"

James suddenly felt a piercing pain in his head, and the P90 clattered to the ground, momentarily forgotten as he pressed his hands tightly against his temples. A moment later, he fell to the floor, unconscious, and only a quick catch form the blonde haired man kept him from breaking his nose when he went down.

"Easy, Colonel," the Ancient said as he lowered the man's head carefully to the floor, and then checked the other members of the group to make sure none had injured themselves when they fell. "You'll be home soon. Just not yet…"