They met in Shawn's den – one of the few places that could be secured so that no one other than those who were already in the know would be able to hear what they were discussing. Gina wanted to be there as well and no one denied that she had a right to know what was going on and what was being discussed. Her child and husband had both been in danger, after all. McKay and Ian sat beside each other across from them, and Jack, Sam and Cassie were on the couch, watching Ian since they knew he was going to be the one who started the conversation. Jacob Carter was there, simply because he needed to know if there was going to be some kind of offensive against a Goa'uld, and Nathan was there because no one could tell him he couldn't be. Andrew arrived a minute later, with his black lab following cheerfully behind and River and Chelani bringing up the rear. The Ancient closed the door behind him and Ian stood up – mainly because he was used to standing to give a briefing, and this was what it felt like more than some kind of family chat.

"The problem isn't really the Goa'uld," he said without preamble. "The Goa'uld might be pissed at Shawn, but he can't come to Earth and try to get even."

"Which is why he keeps sending the Ashrak," Shawn said.

"Exactly." Ian agreed. "So the Ashrak are the problem here."

"What's the solution?" Sam asked, wondering if he'd already figured one out – even though that would have surprised her. Ian was good, but he was also thorough, and there was no way he'd had a chance to look at the problem from every angle yet. Not with all the other things that had been occupying his time that afternoon.

Sure enough, the New Yorker scowled – not from anger, but annoyance, and not annoyance that was directed at her.

"We don't know, yet," he admitted. "I've got an idea, but I need a bit of time to think through what I learned from the one that we got hold of."

"We don't know how long it's going to be before they come back, though," Gina said, sounding concerned – as well she should be, Ian knew. "What do we do until then? What if-"

"Guardian will keep them out of the SGC," Andrew said, before Shawn could say the exact same thing.

She looked over.

"And if they decide to simply come in some kind of space ship and land on our front lawn? Then what?"

"I thought about that," Ian said, drawing everyone's attention back to him. "What we're going to do is set up another protection here – just in case."

"What kind of protection?" Jack asked.

"Something like a miniature Guardian," Ian replied, looking over at Rodney, who was nodding. "I've already talked to McKay. He's going to stick around here for a couple of days and put it together."

"Yes," Rodney said, standing as well. "We'll want a complete protective net on the neighborhood, but I don't think we'll need to do the entire city…" he looked at Ian. "Do you think we should just cover the entire city?"

Ian shook his head.

"Just the neighborhood should be fine. I'm going to take a little time tomorrow and modify the shield that hides the SGC to also passively scan for any kind of craft that might be trying to sneak into our atmosphere. Guardian will automatically send up an alarm if they come through the gate, now that we know they can try it, and the program I create locks out their only other approach. If they come through the SGC they're toast. If they come in a ship, McKay's program will set off alarms, too, and the Guardian program he sets up will warn you guys – and the SGC so they can mobilize before the Ashrak even have a chance to get set up. McKay can run all the information through this room, if you want."

Gina's tense expression lightened a little, but Shawn's didn't.

"Do you think that'll be enough?"

Ian shrugged.

"It's temporary, Adams," he admitted. "But it's not going to be slip-shod or anything. We're taking this seriously, I promise you."

"I know," Shawn said. "I just…" he looked over at Gina, who caught his hand with her own. "Maybe Gina and Dotty could go somewhere else for a visit…? Until we get something more permanent put into place?"

Gina opened her mouth to say something, but Cassie spoke up first.

"Why not come back to Atlantis with us?"

Ian looked over, and he wasn't the only one.

"What?" Gina asked, surprised by the invitation. She wasn't anyone important, wasn't a scientist or a military specialist in anything and knew very well that she didn't have any particular reason to go offworld when tons of other people were far more qualified to-

"Why not?" Cassie asked. "I know Dotty would like to see where the boys live, and it's as safe as anywhere else – safer than many places, even, now that we don't have the constant Wraith threat looming over us. You guys can come for a visit while Rodney's getting things taken care of here, and come back when it's ready."

Ian looked over at Jack, who shrugged. He didn't have a problem with that solution any more than he had a problem with River's folks being invited to Atlantis.

"I don't see a problem with it," Jack told them. "It's not like there aren't other kids there, so Dotty won't be in the way any more than they are."

"It sounds good to me," Shawn said, looking relieved. He had been thinking of sending them off to visit his dad's parents for a while, but even visiting James' folks wouldn't have taken them anywhere that the Ashrak might not have had a chance to get to them. Atlantis on the other hand… While Shawn knew he could protect his wife and child, he also knew that Ian had inundated Atlantis with more Ancient technology than even the SGC had – after all, it was an Ancient city. No place was as secure.

"But…" Gina didn't like being rushed into things. "How long will we be gone?" she asked.

"I'll have the Guardian up in a matter of days," McKay told her, confidently. "Probably even sooner, really, but that's just an estimate. This place is going to be safer than Fort Knox by the time I'm done with it."

"And the more permanent solution?" she asked, looking at Ian.

He shrugged.

"I've got an idea about that," he told her – and the others. "But it's not set in stone, and it's not something I'm willing to be badgered about just yet."

Which was as nice a way as he could come up with to tell them not to ask him.

"Well?" Cassie asked, looking not at Ian but at Gina. "What do you think?"

Now it was her turn to shrug.

"I have some vacation time coming…" she said, and then she couldn't hide the smile at the sudden realization that she was being invited to Atlantis. How could she say no? It wasn't like a vacation to the Grand Canyon, after all. "We accept."

"Great," Cassie smiled. She'd enjoy the company.

"We're probably not going to go until tomorrow night," Ian said, standing up. "I need to take care of the shield – and I want to make sure Rodney understands Guardian before I leave him to making a new version for the house."

"I understand Guardian just fine," McKay told him, sounding offended. "In fact, I probably understand it better than-"

"Hey," Jack interrupted. "Someone bring me a beer. I can't listen to this without something to buffer it."