It was fairly early the next morning when voices woke Ian from a restless sleep. He tried to ignore them, hoping to go back to sleep, but he recognized the voices immediately as Rodney McKay and Elizabeth Weir, and the subject matter wasn't something that would allow him to get back to sleep. Besides, his dreams weren't really all that great, and not something to rush back to, really.

"I was there, Elizabeth," Rodney whispered. "I was trying everything that I could think of, but nothing was working, and then Ian came over and touched a button and poof, it was all working. He's got to be right about it only working for someone with the gene, because there's no way he knows more about that stuff than me, and yet he managed to make it work…"

There was a sigh and a pause before he heard Weir speak again.

"I spoke with a few researchers I've met through associates thru-out Europe – which was interesting considering I had to ask all my questions without using specifics – and one of them is willing to take a shot at trying to isolate this gene so we can start gathering volunteers for the expedition."

"Did you talk to Ian?"

Another sigh.

"Lieutenant Brooks was less than enthusiastic about the whole idea…"

"That was the indication I got, too," McKay agreed.

Ian was suddenly aware of the heavy weight pressing against his side – his uninjured side, thankfully – and wasn't surprised when he opened his eyes and found Jaffer lounging next to him. The big lab was looking over Ian's body towards Weir and McKay, looking for all the world as if he was interested in the conversation – although he was probably just trying to decide if either of them had anything to eat stuck in their pockets.

He turned to look as well, and saw Weir turn towards him as she caught the movement out of the corner of her eye.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to wake you."

She sounded sorry, too, he decided.

Ian shrugged and sat up a little, leaning against the pillows behind him but feeling better than he had in days. Of course, that might have had something to do with Cassie being on base, too.

"Don't worry about it."

Weir looked at Jaffer, who had dropped his head to rest on Ian's thigh, but was still watching her.

"Is this your dog?" she asked Ian. It was obviously a reference to his parting shot toward her the last time they'd spoken, but he wasn't at all conciliatory.

"He's Colonel O'Neill's."

"He's cute."

Jaffer rumbled deep in his chest, his tail thumping lightly against Ian's ankle. He knew when someone was talking about him – and could tell from her tone of voice that she was saying good things only.

"We were talking about the Ancient gene," Rodney said, bringing the conversation back to the subject at hand impatiently.

"What about it?"

"Doctor McKay seems to think that a person would only need to have the Ancient gene to activate the Ancient technology – and that once it works anyone can use it after that," Weir said. "What do you think?"

"How would I know?"

"Everyone says you're the expert."

Ian scowled. Everyone should just shut their mouths, then.

"It probably depends on the device in question. The Gateships only work for someone with the gene, but once I turned on the computers in Atlantis, McKay was able to use them – and I'm pretty sure he doesn't have the gene."

Rodney looked annoyed, as if it was some kind of personal insult that he didn't.

"What about the other stuff there?" Weir asked.

Ian shrugged.

"I don't even know what all there is."

"How about-"

"How about you leave me alone for a while?" Ian interrupted. "At least until I get something to eat and have a chance to wake up…"

"But-"

"Hey."

Everyone looked over at the new voice, and Ian's expression softened noticeably when he saw that Cassie had joined them without him even noticing. Jaffer's tail thumped even harder against Ian's leg as the lab greeted her with a cheerful look and Cassie smiled and sat down casually on the edge of Ian's bed, reaching over him so she could rub Jaffer's ears.

"Hi."

Weir noticed the change in expression immediately, of course. She was, after all, a skilled diplomat.

"Hello. I'm Elizabeth Weir."

Cassie gave her a polite smile, but Ian could tell she was definitely curious about the woman.

"I'm Cassandra Fraiser."

"You're Cassandra Fraiser?" McKay interrupted, visibly surprised.

"Yeah."

"But you're… you're…"

Ian scowled.

"She's what?"

"I thought she was younger…" McKay said, lamely.

"You know me?" Cassie asked, surprised.

"Well, not personally, of course," Rodney told her. "But-"

"Doctor Weir isn't cleared for this conversation," Ian interrupted, annoyed.

"I'm cleared for-"

"You're not cleared for this," Ian said. "And Cassandra isn't really cleared for the conversation you guys were having, either."

Now it was Cassie's turn to frown. Not because Ian was excluding her from a conversation, or even because he was annoyed by something – these were things she was used to. She knew she wasn't cleared for everything, and was more than used to Ian's less than personable demeanor – which was fine with her, since she knew it was never aimed at her. But she was curious what had him so annoyed this time.

"You want me to leave?" Cassie asked, her hand lightly squeezing his knee – an action that was hidden by Jaffer's bulk.

"No."

It was obvious who he wanted to have leave, but before Weir could take the hint, yet another voice interrupted things.

"What's going on?"

This time it was Doctor Fraiser, and she wasn't pleased to see so many people crowded around her patients.

"I'm just visiting," Cassie said.

"When did you get here?"

"Last night." Before Janet could ask her about it, she added. "I'll tell you about it later."

Not all about it, of course, but at least how she got on base.

"And you?" Janet asked Weir, switching over to the other unauthorized visitor.

Elizabeth smiled, smoothly.

"I was just talking to Doctor McKay, and we accidentally woke Lieutenant Brooks up. I'd better leave so you guys can get started with your day."

"But what about-"

"We'll talk more later, Doctor McKay," she said. She turned to Ian. "I'd like a chance to speak with you again, as well, Lieutenant."

Ian scowled, but shrugged. Whatever it'd take to get rid of her.

"I'll be around."

"Good."

Weir left, and Janet turned to Jaffer, who was watching her cheerfully, his tail wagging idly.

"I'm not sure I even want to know what you've been up to," Janet told the lab, shaking her head with mock annoyance. She was used to Jaffer being wherever he wanted to be, after all. And truth be told, she rather enjoyed having him around, sometimes. Not that she'd ever mention that to Colonel O'Neill, of course.