Author's Note: Okay! Here come the politicians. Just so you all know, I'm not trying to make any kind of political statement with this story. I'm not going to spend a lot of time on the political briefing, because I don't know a lot of politicians and I don't write them well (except for Kinsey, probably) but if it seems I'm picking on your particular country, just know that I'm not. Oh, and I'm going to make the world leaders up, as well, since Hayes is a made up character, there's no sense in bringing in real ones to work around him. That said, here we go!

OOOOOOOOO

There was one more thing that O'Neill had to take care of before he could go with his team on their mission. Something too important to wait, that was for sure. Sam joined him, coming down from the control center, and she and Jack converged on the young man who was standing at the doorway of the embarkation room, watching the proceedings with an odd expression on his face.

"Shawn…"

"You're not going to let me go, are you?" Shawn asked.

Jack shook his head.

"It's too dangerous."

"I'm not a little kid, Jack."

"I won't risk you."

"What if you need me?"

"We do need you. We need you to be here."

"Where I'll be safe." The word was said with scorn and distaste, but Jack nodded.

"Where we won't have to worry about you on top of everything else," Sam said.

The boy made a face, but he didn't say anything.

"Listen…" Jack said. "If anything happens…"

"It won't," Shawn said, quickly.

"If it does…" Jack repeated. "You're going to have to take care of Jake for us. Ian will help you. So will Hammond and the others. But you're his brother, and he's your responsibility."

Shawn swallowed, a huge lump suddenly forming in his throat and making it hard to breathe. Not because he was afraid of caring for his little brother, but because he was suddenly afraid for Sam and Jack.

"You'll be careful…?"

Jack smiled.

"We always are, Shawn. You know that."

The boy nodded, but he didn't look convinced.

"Colonel?"

Hammond interrupted before either Jack or Sam could say anything else, breaking the silence.

"Yes, sir?"

"Are you about ready?"

Jack nodded.

"Yes, sir. We just have to get that ZPM thing."

Sam rested her hand lightly on Shawn's cheek for a moment, and then brushed a gentle kiss against his cheek.

"Stay out of trouble, okay?" she said. "We'll see you as soon as we can."

"I will, Sam."

She nodded, and headed out the door and up the steps to the dialing computer, while Jack looked at the others. All they were missing were Thor and Jacob, and Jacob was in the corridor behind Hammond.

"Where's Thor?"

"On his way," Hammond replied. "The diplomats are here, so we're bringing him here one way, and them in another."

"They're going to find out about him eventually."

"But not today." Hammond hesitated, looking down at Shawn before glancing back at Jack. "You should probably know this… Kinsey's here."

"What?"

Jack said it loud enough that everyone looked over.

"He's the Vice President, Jack," Hammond said. "He's got the right to be in on the meeting."

"He's a pain in the ass…"

"Be that as it may," Hammond replied, "he still-"

"I'm going to go have a talk with him before I go," Jack interrupted. "Where is he?"

"Colonel." Hammond stopped Jack with a raised hand. "You let me worry about him. You have other things to worry about right now."

Jack scowled.

"You keep him away from Shawn, sir."

"I will."

"Don't worry, Jack," Shawn said. "I can handle him."

"You stay away from him, Shawn. I mean it."

"There's security everywhere, Colonel. It'll be fine."

Jack didn't look convinced, but before he could say anything, Thor walked through the door with a security escort of his own, and was promptly joined by Sam, who was now carrying the Zero Point Module.

"Are we ready?" she asked, frowning at the angry expression on Jack's face.

"Colonel?"

Jack scowled, but nodded.

"Yes, sir. We're ready."

He turned and walked stiffly into the room, followed by Sam and Thor, and joined the others.

"Dial it up," Hammond ordered, and the gate started to dial.

OOOOOOOOO

"This place is incredible…" Elizabeth Weir murmured softly, her expression awed as she walked at the rear of the group of diplomats.

Next to her, the Vice President of the United States made an indifferent noise, but he too, was looking around. Weir thought that instead of looking impressed, however, he looked rather nervous.

"You disagree, Mr. Vice President?" she asked, politely – even though she found him to be a less than agreeable companion.

"I've been here, before," Kinsey said, shortly.

"I've read about it, of course," Weir said, "but it's far more impressive actually being here, isn't it?"

The Russian ambassador who had been walking beside Weir nodded, answering before Kinsey could. (He wasn't going to answer, anyways, though, so it didn't matter).

"It is definitely like my people described it. Very secure, too, I hope."

Since Weir had been liaison to the Russians the last several years – since they had found out about the Stargate – she knew the ambassador far better than she did the Vice President, and she smiled.

"I'm sure it is, sir. Or they wouldn't have chosen it as the rendezvous point."

"I saw your movie, Independence Day," the ambassador said. "NORAD was one of the first places the aliens took out, is it not?"

Weir's smile grew rather than faded. She was genuinely fond of this man, despite his gruff-seeming exterior.

"Let's hope these aliens haven't seen the movie as well, shall we?"

The ambassador chuckled as well, the sound a little forced but no less genuine.

"Let us hope, Doctor Weir."