(2) Wild Blue Yonder
Chapter 1: Curiosity Killed the Carter
(2 weeks later) "Mom...the phones ringing, it's Aunt Sam." Cassie said yelling to the back of the house to her mom. "Go ahead and answers Cass, I'm pulling our laundry out of the dryer." Janet told her daughter while folding towels. "Hi Aunt Sam, mom will be a minute. She's folding laundry or something." She said while twirling her hair. "How was school today Cassie? Did you pass your math test I helped you study for?" Sam asked waiting patiently for her friend to answer the phone. It's not that she didn't want to talk with her goddaughter. She just had a more pressing matter at the moment. "I aced it with ease Aunt Sam. Once you explained algebra in english terms it was easy." Cassie beamed with pride. "Cassie, you're picking up on Jacks sarcasm." Sam said kidding around with her. "You say that like it's a bad thing...oh here's mom. I love you Aunt Sam." Cassie told her handing the phone off to Janet. "Go fold your clothes Cass and start your homework like I told you to 20 minutes ago." Sam heard her say off the phone. "Mom, I wanted to go outside and play with Colonel. (The episode Singularity Jack gave her dog she named Colonel.)
"You should have thought about that earlier, now go do as I asked...Hi Sam. Do you want a Teenager for a month or two?" Janet asked in a serious tone. "I'm good for now, maybe next weekend though. I heard through the grapevine Daniel asked you go out of town with him..." Sam said fishing for information. "I swear, Sophia should have been an intelligence officer instead of a medic." Janet complained to her friend. "I never said it was her that told me Janet." She replied waiting for the right time to ask the million dollar question. "But she is the one that told you though...So does that mean you're free to watch my little girl then?" Janet asked already knowing the answer. "It'll be no problem at all. I have some tear jerker movies we can watch." She replied. "Good, I'll let Daniel know we're good to go then." Janet said then continued. "Did you call to gossip or talk about your man-child?" she asked laughing. "As a matter of fact I am. He didn't do anything stupid this week...yet! I am calling about this weekend." Sam said laughing as well. Jack did have his quarks but he is just so damn handsome she thought to herself. "No Sam, I have no Idea where he's taking you this weekend. Jack is playing this one close to his vest." Janet answered honestly. "Surely you do...I mean you have needles and drugs." Sam half wined at her answer. The petite doctor chuckled at her friends pouting. "It's not funny Janet. Sophia can't even find out. She offered to forgo the hair appointment he owes her for information." Sam said with a huff. "Let me guess, Jack gave her the money for a hair do instead." Janet replied getting it right. "Ugh, that man can be so secretive it's maddening. I mean If Sophia can't find out it's got to be big." Sam said lying in her base issued quarters with a sigh. "Jack was black opts Sam, I'm pretty sure if he wants to keep a secret he will." She replied leaning against the kitchen counter smiling. "You're no help; its two days away and I need to know why I need my dress blues Janet." Sam crooned into the phone. "Wait, you need to take your blues with you!" Janet asked standing up. This little detail made her want to know as well." Cassie looked up from the dining room table then went back to folding her clothes. Colonel was lying at her feet chewing on a bone intently looking up at his owner wanting to play.
"You see why I'm so curios now. There's no official White house or Air force events this month so I hasn't the slightest idea what Jack has planned." Sam said picking up her current 'Popular Science' Magazine and flipping through it. "Maybe he's trying to throw you off using deception Sam." Janet suggested opening her fridge deciding what they should have for dinner. "That's a possibility though I don't see why he'd risk damaging our dress blues." She replied frowning at what columnist wrote. He clearly didn't know a thing about wormholes. "Why don't you ask your uncle, I'm sure if it's this big of a secret he'd know something?" Janet suggested as she pulled down some chicken stir-fry and tater tots, one of Cassandra's favorites. Sam dropped the magazine face palming herself. "Why didn't I think of that? He'll tell me because I'm his favorite god-daughter. Thanks Janet, I'll call you back after I talk with Uncle George." Sam hung up leaving Janet looking at the phone shaking her head. "Sam, you're his only god-daughter." She said mostly to herself then putting the phone in its cradle. "This isn't enough for the three of us mom." Cassie stated poking at the tater tots. "Your aunt is staying on base tonight apparently." Janet answered lightly swatting Cassis' hand. "Before you ask she's just acting like a woman in love." Her mother said getting a confused look back. "Go put away your clothes then we'll start dinner. I'll explain what you aunts going through while we eat." Cassie nodded going to her room wondering what it was like to be in love.
-You ended that sentence with a preposition. - Jack
"I hope that's not the base calling again. I'd like one night just to sit back read my news paper in peace." George said setting down The Gazette (Colorado Springs paper, since 1873) and answering the phone. "You've reached the Hammond residence, George speaking." He said with authority out of habit. "Hi Uncle George, how are you doing this wonderful night." His god-daughter asked more cheerful than normal. She was definitely up to something he thought. Samantha was also calling from base which meant she was working on a project after hours. "Hello Samantha, I'm doing well. I just sat down to read my newspaper." He answered leaning back in his lazy boy recliner. "That sounds relaxing. Did the Tigers (Colorado Springs amateur Hockey Team) win their game last night?" She asked because Jack liked the team. "I haven't read the sports page yet. When did you take an interest into hockey?" He asked knowing the answer. "Jack has dragged me to a couple of their games. Hockey is an interesting sport once you start paying attention." Sam replied honestly trying to think of a way to get her answers without being obvious. "I'm glad Col. O'Neill has gotten you out of your lab more. There are all kinds of things to do other than hide in your lab Samantha..!" George admonished his god-daughter light heartedly. "Uncle George, the tests I'm doing are really interesting. I need to complete them before this weekend..." Sam said realizing she just revealed her reason for calling. "That's why your calling then and not for hockey scores." He asked hearing her say 'for crying out loud' to herself. "Yes Uncle George, I'm dying to know. Jack hasn't told anyone and I suspect you're the exception." Sam stated forgoing subtlety.
"Samantha, do you mean to tell me that Sophia doesn't know anything at all?" he said with a chuckle. "It's not funny; Sophia is even frustrated at not being able to find out." She said with a huff. "Oh I think it's extremely funny Sammy." George just laughed harder at his god-daughters childish behavior. "So you do know where Jack is taking me then...hmm!" Sam countered in a sweet voice hoping he'll talk. "What makes you think I'll tell you even if I do know?" he countered taking a drink his whiskey. "...because I'm your favorite god-daughter." She said trying to sound innocent. "You're my only god-daughter Sammy, and no I'm telling you what Jack has planned." George answered laughing even more. "Uncle George..! I'm dying of curiosity here. We've been dating two months now and this is big, bigger than...well big!"Sam replied sighing into the phone. "I can tell it's important to you Sammy but trust me, you'll love what he has planned." He assured her thinking about how she acted around Christmas time in the past. "Ugh, men can be so stubborn. How about you give me a hint then?" Sam tried switching tactics. "No hints Sammy. You'll just have to wait just like you did at Christmas when you were 12." George answered her back with a smile. "That was the year I got my Lego space set everyone said was sold out." Sam replied remembering how surprised she was at the gift. She hugged both her parents tightly thanking them with happiness. "I know...Jacob showed me the pictures of how happy you were." George said knowing what lengths her parents went to finding the coveted legos. "I have that set in storage in bubble wrap." Sam replied knowing whatever Jack had planned she'd just have to wait till the weekend. "I have no doubt that you do Sammy." He said then continued. "Okay, since you're my favorite goddaughter I'll give you is this clue." He said getting Sam's attention. He's going to give me a clue...'yes my plea worked' she thought doing a fist pump in the air. "It does involve the Air force but not like you might think. That's all you get Sammy." George told her laughing at her once more. "That's not a clue anymore than what you told me about the Lego space set all those years ago." Sam huffed plopping down on her bed once again. "It's enough for you to go on though. Have a good night and don't stay too late. I have a paper to read and glass of whiskey to drink." He said with affection. "Thanks Uncle George, Its more than I had to go on than before. You have a good night as well and I won't stay up too late...promise." Sam replied back with her mind wondering what her wayward boyfriend was up to off world. "I'll see you tomorrow then Sammy, night." George said hanging up letting out a laugh he was holding back. He should warn Jack about Samantha's curiosity but he won't. It'll be fun to watch him squirm a bit.
2032hrs Frasier Residence... "I've been waiting for you to call back Sam; did your uncle spill the beans?"Janet asked with curiosity. "No, he just gave me a clue that makes no since." Sam answered her friend. "Well...don't keep me waiting. Maybe I can help you figure it out." She replied muting the TV. "He said and I quote 'It does involve the Air Force but not like you might think." Sam said with a yawn. Her research turned up nothing regarding events involving the air force. "Your right, that's not very helpful. I suppose you've done some digging coming up blank." Janet answered taking note of the time. I was getting close to Cassie's bed time. "There's no air force event's going on other than an air show with the Thunderbirds. I don't think that's what Jack has planned because it doesn't feel right for some reason." Sam replied yawning again. "I agree with you on that. An air show isn't befitting of a two month anniversary." Janet said noting her friend's sleepiness'. "...tell you what I'll do once Jack returns tomorrow afternoon. I'll use the big needles on him. That might get Jack to talk." She told her friend. "That's a good idea Janet; if he doesn't talk use them anyway. It'll serve him right for driving me crazy all week." Sam said with a smile feeling her eyelids getting heavy. "Consider it done; now you get some rest and I'll see you at breakfast." She replied laughing lightly. Her job was too much fun at times. "Thanks Janet, have a good night then." Sam answered hanging up and deciding to take a cat nap then get back to her work. Little did she know that the catnap would turn into a full night's sleep? Her dreams would consist of all the possibilities for the coming weekend leaving a smile on her face in the morning.
A/N:This chapter was fun to write for many reasons. I always wondered what our favorite characters would be like outside the mountain. I imagined Carter and Janet being all girly and gossiping while watching chick flicks. General Hammond I suspected would be sophisticated in his own way. Cassie I believe would be a normal teen for the most part. More fun interaction will be coming but it'll be between Jack and Sam though.