"So… do we go to Iowa?"

Hammond looked over at Hayes, who was sitting at the head of the table in the briefing room, with all the other world leaders – and several others – sitting around the table as well.

"You're asking me?"

"They're your people, George."

The general hesitated, and then shook his head.

"We bring them back here. Doctor Fraiser tells me that neither of them were injured too badly and that both will be able to travel soon. Better that we hold any further press conferences here where we already have control of security and attendance."

Hayes nodded his agreement.

"I would like a tour of this facility," the British Prime Minister said. Now that the threat of world devastation was over, he was very curious about the Stargate and everything else. Several of the others nodded their agreement.

"What about the alien ship?" the Soviet ambassador asked. "What will you do with it?"

"What about the alien weapon?" asked the Chinese ambassador. "Who will have control of it?"

This was a question that made all of them pause, because a weapon that formidable was definitely something that required discussion.

Hayes stood up.

"Let's have that tour, first," he said. "Then we'll have a bite to eat before we start discussing the future…"

None of them looked like they wanted the tour, now, but they didn't argue. There was plenty of time, after all. They would be able to address all their concerns. With a group as diverse as the one gathered at the SGC just then, it was a good time to make some policies.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

The rest of the room was silent as mother and son faced each other, but the irony wasn't lost on any of them. Ian, normally so volatile, was calm, while his mother – who was usually as cool as the other side of the pillow – was angry. Not so angry that she couldn't be concerned about how pale he looked, or how bruised, however.

"You shouldn't be out of bed…"

Ian made a half-hearted shrug. She was right; he should be in bed. There were bigger things to worry about, however.

"You shouldn't be yelling at Jack and Sam…"

"They-"

"Didn't do anything wrong."

"They put you in danger!" Maggie snapped.

Ian shook his head.

"No more than anyone else, mom. It's dangerous work, that's all."

"You lied to me. You told me you were working with Sam…"

He shook his head.

"You know I haven't." She'd know better than anyone if he'd ever lied. He was the worst liar in the world, really. "I've edged around the truth, but I've never lied to you. I have been working with Sam – and with Jack."

She scowled – and again she looked so much like him that Jack couldn't help but be amazed.

"That's not the same thing and you know it."

"Don't be like that, mom. You know I would have told you if I could have."

It wasn't like they had a lot of secrets between them, after all.

"You could have told me."

He shook his head again.

"You know I couldn't have – and besides, I wouldn't have wanted you to worry."

Her eyes flashed, dangerously.

"I don't need you to protect me, Ian Michael Brooks. I'm your mother."

"And you know I love you. But you also know that there's no way I could have told you what I was doing – and no way I'd have been able to explain it even if I could."

Maggie Brooks didn't look quite convinced, but she did lose the scowl.

"You shouldn't be out of bed…" she repeated.

He shrugged again, well aware that Fraiser was still holding him up.

"I had to make sure you were okay."

"Me?"

"We both know how wicked your temper can be when you're mad…"

She smiled, and Nathan gave a silent sigh, relieved. Ian was really the only one that could make Maggie go from furious to smiling like that. Not even he could affect her mood as readily as their son could, and he'd been glad to see the boy in the doorway – despite the fact that she was right and he shouldn't be out of bed.

"Smart ass."

She crossed the small distance between them and hugged him close, mindful to be careful and try not to hurt him, and Ian let go of Fraiser to return the embrace, leaning now against his mother instead.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" she asked, softly.

He nodded.

"Positive."

Realizing just how much weight he was putting against her – which was most of it – she frowned again and stepped back, still holding him, but now just for support. Janet stepped up as well, adding her own support.

"He's going to be okay, right?" Maggie asked Fraiser.

Janet nodded.

"He'll be fine in a few days – maybe more."

Ian looked over at Jack.

"How's McKay?"

"He made it," Jack told him.

"He didn't quite come out unscathed, though," Janet added. "Broken ribs, nasty concussion among other things."

"He'll be okay?"

She nodded and gestured for Teal'c to come give her a hand.

"You'll have a chance to see for yourself, since I'm putting you back to bed – in the same room he's in."

Which would make it easier for her small staff to keep track of the two of them – plus it would be easier for those guarding them if they were in the same room.

Teal'c took Maggie's spot, easily taking all of Ian's weight and easing the pressure on his injured knee. Maggie relinquished her son with minimal fuss, but did squeeze his hand once – something that would have made Ian roll his eyes or blush if not for the fact that he'd already let everyone see him sappy.

"We'll be by to see you later," Jack said as the three of them turned to go. "I'll have to debrief you both…"

Ian nodded.

"We'll be by, too," Nathan added, unnecessarily, as Maggie walked over and sat down beside him, using her chair for the first time since she'd entered the room.

Ian nodded again, but Teal'c and Fraiser were hustling him out of the room fairly quickly, and he didn't actually get a chance to answer.

When the door closed, Maggie looked at Jack, her expression still a little angry, but by no means as frosty as it had been.

"Tell me more about what happened..."

He smiled.

"As much as I hate to say it, we're really not all that sure. Mckay wasn't able to give us a lot of information before he zoned out again, so we won't know until we debrief them."

"Which will be when?"

"As soon as we stop pestering them," Nathan said.

Maggie scowled, but she saw the truth of that in Jack's expression and couldn't help but smile.