River frowned, turning his back on the kitchen to look at his friend.
"What do you mean by that?"
There had been something odd in Ian's voice when he'd made that statement…
"Just what I said," Ian replied. "There is a place I know for certain doesn't have any media…"
"Why do I get the feeling that you're not talking about Siberia?"
"Because I'm not."
"The-"
They were interrupted by a loud knock on the door, and Ian stifled an automatic curse. So much for hiding at home from the press. He transferred to the other side of the couch – which couldn't be seen from the door – and gestured to River.
"Get that," he said softly. "And tell them to get lost… or go to hell. You choose."
River nodded and headed for the door. He wasn't quite as tired of the media as the New Yorker was, but then, he was a lot more of a people person than Ian was, too. But he was amazed that they'd managed to track Ian down so quickly.
The knock repeated just as he reached the door, and River scowled as he opened it. And was surprised to see that it wasn't the press at all. It was Cassandra Fraiser – who looked just as shocked to see him as he was to see her.
"River!"
He smiled, his flirtatious personality taking over even before he managed to wrap his mind around who it was.
"Hey, Pretty Woman. How did you know I was here?"
Cassie grinned, blushing despite herself. River was handsome and sweet and she'd fallen in lust with him pretty much the moment she'd laid eyes on him. Even now, a bit more mature and definitely in love with Ian, she couldn't help but be a little overwhelmed by his good looks and expansive charm. And he did have a wonderful smile. Some day, some woman was going to make an honest man out of him, and she'd be getting one of the best.
"I was looking for Ian…" she told him, slapping his shoulder as she slipped past him and into the apartment.
"Cassandra?"
Ian, of course, recognized her voice immediately and turned on the couch to verify what his ears were telling him.
She smiled and walked over, leaning over the couch to give him an upside down kiss.
"Hey. How'd you sneak off base? The guards told me you hadn't left, but I couldn't find you anywhere…"
"My folks."
"Ah."
"He's hiding from the media," River told her, coming up beside her. "Not that I blame him."
She nodded.
"I don't blame him, either. They're crazy."
"That McKay guy doesn't seem to mind…"
Cassie snorted.
"He's so annoying! Did you see the rest of the press conference?"
They both shook their heads. Ian had been on his way home, and River had turned it off after Ian had walked out of it.
"You'd think he saved the world all by himself – with just a little help from the SGC…"
River snorted.
"That bad, huh?"
"If he was half as smart as he thought he was…" Cassie said, trailing off and shaking her head.
"He's pretty smart," Ian said, causing them to both look at him incredulously. It wasn't often Ian offered compliments about others, after all.
"You think so?" Cassie asked, dubiously.
"Yeah."
"Not as smart as Sam, though…" she said.
He shrugged.
"Smart in a different way, maybe. And no where near as great."
"Jack doesn't like him," Cassie reminded him.
Ian smiled.
"I know. Teal'c doesn't, either."
"But you do?" River asked, surprised.
"I didn't say that."
The Californian looked unconvinced, but Ian gave him a dirty look, and River changed the subject back to the one they'd been discussing before Cassie arrived.
"What did you mean by a place where there's no media?" he asked. "Where?"
"What are you guys talking about?" Cassie asked as she sat down next to Ian.
"The Lieutenant here was telling me he knew a place where he could get away from the media circus…" River told her, coming into the living room as well. It wasn't like there was anything in the kitchen to eat, after all.
She snorted, indelicately.
"I doubt that… they're like flies around a piece of rotted meat…"
"Thanks."
She chuckled, and leaned against him.
"You know I didn't mean it that way."
He nodded, and touched her leg briefly.
"I know."
"So where's this great place you're talking about?" Cassie asked. "Timbuktu?"
"There's press there," River said. "Or there would be if they found out Ian was going there."
Ian scowled, knowing that at the moment at least, that was true.
"It's offworld…" he said.
She shook her head.
"I don't think that'd work, Ian…" Cassie told him. "The media is eventually going to ask for a demonstration of the Stargate – and that means they'd probably get to go with you offworld. Which would probably be worse than having them hounding you around here…"
"They couldn't follow me to Atlantis," Ian told her. "And there's no way they'd find out about it to even ask..."
"Atlantis?" River echoed, confused.
Cassie didn't look any more enlightened.
Ian nodded.
"Weir's trying to put together an expedition to Atlantis. She's already asked me to go."
"Atlantis?"
They were still both looking blank – although Cassie frowned.
"Is that what you were so hush hush about earlier?"
He nodded again.
"Yeah."
"What the hell are you talking about?" River asked, a bit annoyed at being so confused.
"Atlantis," Ian told him – and Cassie. "An entire Ancient city, sitting on the bottom of an ocean waiting to be explored."
"Offworld?" River repeated.
"Are you supposed to be talking about this here?" Cassie asked at the same time.
Ian shrugged.
"This apartment is secure. No one can bug it."
"How do you know for sure?"
"Just trust me on that one."
"Then tell us more about this city…" Cassie said, frowning. "Because as I recall, you didn't seem all that enamored of Doctor Weir earlier…"
Ian shrugged.
"At least she doesn't care about my favorite ice cream flavor…"