Author's note: So I know these are few and far between right now. I'm having problem with my home network, and since I always use my laptop for the writing (my new computer doesn't even have works installed yet) I am stuck uploading these from coffee shops and the like, places I am never at. Anyone have a router they're not using? Just kidding, but until I go out and buy a new one, this story is going to drag, and I really do apologize for that.

OOOOOOOOOOO

The party broke up not much later. Jack had heard the initial report of the infiltration of the base, and it didn't take long to describe how well Guardian did its job to separate the good guys from the bad guys and help take the base back. The technology that Ian brought into play was also helpful, and Jack wished – not for the first time – that they had more of the devices and people who could use them. He was pleased, though, that Guardian had done so well, although he and Nathan had both been one the receiving end of General Hunt's annoyance since neither had informed him of the existence of the program, assuming that he'd already known about it.

When they decided to call it a night, Jack and Sam went back to the SGC where they'd stay the night in one of the VIP rooms. Nathan and Maggie did the same, mostly to make it easier on the Secret Service agents, a couple of whom were already planning on staying the night at Shawn's since that was where Jake and Nia were. Despite the fact that the O'Neill's were in 'familiar territory' they weren't taking any chances. Andrew invited River over to his place, and the Californian accepted, taking Jessica with him, while Ian and Cassie were going to spend the night with Janet, leaving the boys at Shawn's but taking Alexander with them. They made plans to all meet up back at Shawn's in the late morning, giving everyone else a chance to sleep in and try to catch up with the different time zones.

"That was fun," Cassie told him as he drove them to Janet and Emmett's. Despite the fact that Atlantis time was purposely kept as close to SGC time, she sounded a little sleepy. "We should come more often."

He nodded his agreement.

"It's good to see them."

She smiled, glancing over at him in the dark interior of the car.

"Who'd have thought you'd ever admit something like that."

Ian snorted.

"Just keep it to yourself, okay? I have a reputation to protect."

OOOOOOOOOO

POTUS and the Vice President rode back to the base together, along with their wives. Despite Jack's grumbling, the Secret Service agents did all the driving and he and the others were almost always put in the back. At the moment, however, that was fine. This way they could talk and he didn't have to try to look over his shoulder and watch the road at the same time.

"So what else do you know about this guy?" He asked Chelani, who was looking out the window with interest as they drove.

The Ancient turned back to O'Neill.

"Frenush?"

"Right."

"Nothing, I'm afraid. I will be very interested to find out what the Goa'uld have against Shawn."

"Not as interested as I will," Jack said. He looked over at Sam, clearly hoping that she might be able to come up with something that he might have missed. She didn't have a clue, though, and it showed in her expression.

"Even if Jacob can tell us who he is, what can we do about it?" Nathan asked. "I know you guys know more about these Goa'uld than I do, but it's not like we can tell him to stop, right?"

Sam shrugged.

"There are options…"

"Like what?" Maggie asked. "We don't have the platform needed to launch an attack on a system lord – and really, we can't justify doing it over a grudge. Even if it is for Shawn…"

Maggie paid a lot of attention to what was going on with the SGC and knew even more than her husband about how things worked there. Not surprising since Ian was so deeply involved with all things political and military and now that she was in the loop she kept track of what he was facing as much as she could.

"Officially we can't," Jack agreed, leaning back into his seat a bit. "But there are ways. Between the Tok'ra and the Jaffa, we should be able to at least find out what the grudge is, and then we can decide what to do about it."

"Which means we wait until dad gets here and tells us," Sam said.

"Exactly."

"It'll be good to see him," Nate told them.

Sam agreed whole-heartedly.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

The VIP rooms at the base weren't as plush as their rooms back in Washington, but the bed was soft and Sam and Jack were both tired from the long day. They fell asleep almost immediately and both of them slept soundly, almost certainly because they were even more comfortable at the SGC than they were even in the White House. It was Sam who woke first, stretching languidly for a moment before she opened her eyes and saw the concrete walls that reminded her where she was. She looked over at Jack, saw he was still asleep and slipped out of the bed silently and carefully to avoid waking him. Not that he wouldn't wake up soon enough; they were both on Eastern time, after all, and because of that a couple of hours ahead of the rest of the base. But she might as well let him get as much sleep as he could. It was bound to be a busy day, filled with talk of Ashrak, yes, but also with a party and cake and lots of fun and presents, she hoped.

"Sam?"

She smiled, knowing that her absence had probably woken him and not her motions beside him. She leaned over and braced herself with an arm on either side of him as she gently kissed his lips.

"Good morning…"

"Already?" he didn't even open his eyes. Of course, he hated waking up quickly – a habit he'd gotten out of since leaving the SGC.

"Yeah. I'm going to go get some coffee. Go back to sleep. It's still early."

He mumbled something that sounded like agreement, rolled over, cuddle up against her pillow and went back to sleep almost immediately. She watched long enough to make sure he was asleep, and then got dressed and opened the door.

Not surprisingly, a Secret Service Agent was standing guard outside the door and he snapped to their version of attention as soon as he saw her. Sam smiled at him and he grinned sheepishly at having been startled.

"Morning Henry."

"Morning, Sam."

It was quite a concession that he called her by her first name, and it had taken years for them to get comfortable doing it. Of course, they always called the kids by their names, and they'd call Maggie by hers, but never Jack or Nathan. Which was completely between them and Jack. She didn't like being called Ma'am all the time.

"Anything new?"

"Your father arrived about an hour ago."

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"He told me not to."

Not that they took orders from Jacob Carter, but the Secret Service knew the day that POTUS and the others had ahead of them, and they were aware that they needed their sleep, too.

She smiled, not annoyed at all.

"Where is he?"

There was a quick whispered conversation that she only heard one side of as he consulted someone in his radio and then listened to the reply in his earbug, and a moment later he looked back to her.

"Commissary."

"Thank you."

That would be her first stop, then. Coffee and conversation with her dad sounded like a very good way to start her morning.