Since it was so late, Nathan and Maggie Brooks stayed at the SGC only long enough to make sure that Ian was well settled into the infirmary before they left. Nathan was stewing about something – he hadn't told Maggie what it was, but she'd get it out of him soon enough, she knew – and wasn't in the right frame of mind to be near so many politicians (although they were mostly asleep or retired for the evening). He also had a few phone calls he wanted to make – away from the SGC.

As soon as they'd left, McKay – who had been watching silently from the next bed over – turned to Ian.

"He's not your real father, is he?"

Already feeling like shit from the God-awful flight back to Colorado, Ian wasn't in the mood for conversation. But he couldn't help but respond to that question.

"What?"

"Because you don't look a thing like him…" McKay told him, shaking his head. "Obviously she's your mother – there's no doubt about that, since you look a lot like her – but the-"

"Shut up, McKay," Ian snapped.

"Hey, it's nothing to be embarrassed about," Rodney told him. "There are a lot of people who have stepfathers and-"

"He's not my stepfather."

"He-"

"McKay..."

"I'm just saying, it's okay to-"

"Shut up," Ian repeated, rolling onto his side and wincing when he jarred a half-healed gash. Chelani had done well, but Ian wished he'd had him do things a little more completely, now.

"Awwww, don't get moody on me…" McKay said. "I didn't mean to hurt your-"

"Shut up, McKay, or I'll find the largest bedpan I can and beat you over the head with it."

"Look, I just-"

Before he could say anything, a yellow lab suddenly jumped up onto Ian's bed, nearly toppling him off the other side with surprise. Ian rolled back over and wrapped the arm that wasn't pinned under him around Jack's (the dog) warm body, cheered by the lab's appearance. Jaffer was with Jack, he knew, but it was nice of Jack (the dog) to come see him. Of course, if Jack was around, then Teal'c was, undoubtedly, as well.

Sure enough, the Jaffa walked over from the other side of the room, glared impassively at McKay and then turned to Ian.

"O'Neill said you the trip made you ill. Are you recovered?"

Teal'c had seen just how green Ian had looked during the ride home, but had assumed it was from his injuries and not airsickness. As many times as Jack had explained things to him, there were still things he couldn't understand – and someone who hated to fly was definitely one of them.

"I'm fine, Teal'c," Ian assured him, feeling a bit foolish at question – although he'd never tell Teal'c that, of course. "Thanks."

"Daniel Jackson requested that I relay a message to you from Cassandra Fraiser…" Teal'c told him. "He said-"

"Cassandra Fraiser?" McKay interrupted, proving he was still listening, despite the fact that Teal'c's bulky form was between him and Ian. "Isn't that the little girl who was found on the planet that the Goa'uld wiped out with-"

Teal'c's head turned, his flat glare silencing McKay without a word. The astrophysicist cleared his throat, painfully aware of the differences of their sizes – and of the fact that Teal'c really didn't like him all that much.

"Sorry… I'll just… um… read my monitor…"

Teal'c glared a moment longer, but Ian broke that before McKay felt the need to squirm.

"What did she say, Teal'c?"

"She will be by tomorrow morning to visit and said for you to call if there was anything you wished for her to bring you from your apartment."

Despite feeling like shit and being annoyed with McKay, Ian smiled.

"Thanks."

"You are welcomed." Teal'c glanced at McKay and then back to Ian. "Would you like me to stay for a while?"

Ian snorted, softly, and shook his head, amused and a little touched at the offer. Obviously Teal'c was willing to glare at McKay all night to let Ian have a little peace and quiet.

"I'll be okay, thanks." He looked down at the lab who was sharing his bed. "However… if you let Jack stay…"

Teal'c nodded. He knew his dog would enjoy the stay as much as Ian would.

"I will come for him in the morning."

And he left.

"They're going to let that dog stay with you?" McKay asked, obviously surprised.

Ian just closed his eyes and allowed Jack (the dog) to cuddle a little closer. It was a lot easier to ignore someone annoying when you had someone to cuddle with, after all.

OOOOOOOOOOO

"How'd everything go?"

Jack shook his head, closing the door to their room behind him and Jaffer and walking over to sit on the edge of the bed. Sam was sitting in a comfortable leather chair, holding Jacob as he slept and obviously waiting up for him.

"You'll never believe what I just heard…"

"Good or bad?"

"Insane."

She smiled, wondering if he were exaggerating a little, and handed their sleeping son over to him so he could hold him for a while. He never had enough time to do that as far as they were both concerned. Jack tucked Jacob under his chin and rocked him gently as he started to tell Sam what Hammond had told him. Not surprisingly, she was just as shocked as he'd been about some of it – and surprisingly enough, she didn't seem at all surprised at others.

"I was wondering what they'd do about the Ancient's weapon…" she said, shaking her head when he finished. "I suppose that's one way to make sure no one country gets their hands on it."

"It's ridiculous," Jack said. He would have said it more firmly if not for the baby sleeping in his arms, but Sam knew him well enough to know he was miffed about the whole idea.

"But it makes sense…"

He scowled, but she leaned over and kissed him softly to stop any argument he might have made.

"I didn't say I liked the idea any more than you do, Jack. I'm just saying that it makes sense. What I really don't understand is why the President would think that General Hammond will agree to be the Vice President – even for a shortened term. He's not a politician. He doesn't even like politicians…"

"He didn't sound like he was going to say no…" Jack told her. "More like he was resigned to the idea…"

She frowned.

"I wonder what he said to convince him…?"

Her husband shrugged, carefully, and tucked their son into the crib that had been brought in for him. He was tired, Sam was tired, and they all needed some sleep.

"Whatever it was, he'd better not try that argument on me, because I'm not going to put myself into that den of thieves. Not for anything…"