Author's note: Still need a router, but this close to Christmas I don't dare buy myself one until I see if someone else gets one for me! I'll do my best to get these out as promptly as possible in the mean time.

OOOOOOOOOO

Sam didn't need a security escort to the commissary. She knew where it was and since the Secret Service knew the base was secure, the agent outside their quarters simply gave the others a heads up that she was on the move and where she was going. She was hoping to surprise her dad by showing up before he probably expected her to, and she was looking forward to having a chance to chat with him about little things that weren't any more serious than how the kids were doing in school and that kind of thing before everyone woke up and arrived at the base and the conversation turned more serious.

She was surprised, however, to find that not only was her dad not alone in the commissary, but he was talking to Ian, who looked as fresh as if he'd been up for hours. Jacob Carter had his back to her, but Ian noticed her entrance immediately, and he smiled, which made Jacob look over his shoulder to see what had caught his attention. While Ian's smile had been warm – especially since it was Ian, who so rarely smiled at anyone but his kids – Jacob's was so welcoming that Sam couldn't help but smile back, feeling warm and fuzzy at seeing him after so long. He got up and crossed the room to meet her, hugging her tightly.

"Hey, Sammy."

"Hi, Dad."

"You look great."

"Thanks. You do, too."

"How are the kids?"

"Great."

"Jack?"

"He's fine, too."

"Everyone's fine, Jacob," Ian told him from where he was still sitting, his New York drawl amused. "You'd have heard if anything was wrong."

The Tok'ra threw Ian a look that was supposed to be disapproving but was also more amused than anything.

"These are questions you're supposed to ask your loved ones, Ian," Carter told him. "And if you had any social graces you'd know that."

Ian smiled.

"Are you saying my mother raised me badly?"

Jacob let go of Sam, but kept his arm around her waist as they walked back over to the table.

"I'd never say anything like that," he replied. "Your mother can only do as much as she could with what little she had to start with… poor woman."

Ian snorted, amused, and handed Sam his coffee cup.

"You start on that, Sam. I'll get more."

He got up and headed for the coffee machine and Sam sat down in the chair he'd abandoned to her, watching as her dad sat across from her.

"How are things?" she asked.

He shrugged, his eyes still cheerful.

"Fine. We're holding our own still, wreaking what havoc we can for the Goa'uld. You guys?"

"The kids are excited to be out of Washington. They have a bit more freedom here than they get back home." She looked over at Ian, who was pouring himself a cup of coffee. "And Jake gets to see Ian – which doesn't happen often enough for him."

"Is he still determined to be an archeologist?"

Sam nodded.

"When he's not telling us he's going to be a super hero, yes."

"He's smart enough to be one."

"A super hero?"

Jacob smiled.

"Smart ass."

"I learned from the best."

They both smiled at that, settling easily into their conversation, and Ian joined them only a moment later.

"How'd you sleep?" he asked, handing her a fresh cup of coffee, and taking his own back. "Better than back home, I bet."

"How'd you know?"

"Because you didn't have to share your bed with Murray."

Which made both of them smile – although the smiles were both tinged with just a touch of sorrow because both remembered the big black lab that used to be such a bed hog long before Murray came to stay with them.

"You've never slept with Jack," Sam quipped. "He makes Murray look like a rookie."

Ian snorted again.

"And never will if God loves me…"

Jacob laughed.

"So I'm invited to the birthday party, right?"

"Only if you tell us everything you know about Frenush," Ian replied. "Otherwise, no cake and no ice cream."

The words and tone were light-hearted, but his expression was serious. Jacob wasn't offended, though. Ian always looked serious, after all.

"As it happens, I do have some information that may or may not be useful," he said. "But I'm going to wait until Jack and the others show up, so I don't have to repeat myself."

Which made sense – even though neither of them were patient by nature. Sam was quick to take advantage of the wait, though, and smiled cheerfully.

"In that case, I'll buy you breakfast, while Ian rounds everyone up."

Since that included Shawn, Andrew and several other people who weren't even on the base just then, it would give them plenty of time to talk – and she wouldn't have to share him with anyone.

Jacob looked at Ian, making sure it was okay with him, and then smiled at the New Yorker's casual shrug.

"Sounds great, Sammy. Here? Or off-base?"

"Off base," Sam told him. "That way we won't be interrupted when Jack wakes up."

And if they were off base, Jack – or anyone else, including Ian – wouldn't be able to descend on them asking questions about the Ashrak until they returned.

Jacob nodded his agreement.

"Sounds great."