Sam's Choice

Chapter 1: The Arrival

November 6

Friday

Sam sat up. "Did anyone else hear that?"

Cassie raised her head out of Sam's lap and listened. "Sammie have you started hearing things too?"

Everyone paused to listen.

Jack came out of the kitchen with three beers and two root beers. "Yea, I thought I heard something too."

"Indeed O'Neill, I also have heard a noise."

Daniel nodded. "It almost sounded like a car." Suddenly there was a definite knock on Jack's front door and Sam smiled smugly.

"See Cassie, I told you I heard something." Cassie just rolled her eyes; she didn't see Sam lean in to begin her tickle attack.

There was another knock on the door, this time louder and more insistent. Jack put two of the beers down on the table in front of Sam and Daniel before heading towards the door. Cassie had finally given up fighting and was in the process of calming down as Sam finished combing her hair.

Daniel smiled.

It was just another Team Night; take out and a movie. After Janet died they had all rallied around Cassandra, who had moved in with Sam, by including her on Team Night and focusing on her.

He smirked; they were becoming more like mother and daughter every day. He and Jack had also been stepping up their roles in her life. Every other weekend they would take her out on little day trips and just be there for her. Daniel mused; it had really given Sam and Jack a reason to be together a little more. Even though, he grinned evilly to himself, Cassie did like him the tiniest bit better. When he heard the door slam shut Daniel shoved all thoughts of jealousy aside, lifted Sam's feet off his lap and went into the hallway.

"Hey Jack you okay?"

"Daniel, what's today's date?"

Daniel looked down at his watch. "Um, November 6th?"

Jack just had a frown crease on his face.

Without waiting for an answer he knew wouldn't come Daniel opened the front door again. A teenage girl was standing on the doorstep with a military issued duffle and a trunk. Pushing up his glasses Daniel stepped forward.

"Hi, I'm uh Daniel Jackson. Can we help you?"

Jack finally spoke up. "Daniel this is Diana, my stepdaughter." Turning to the girl on his stoop he tilted his head. "I thought you weren't coming till next week?"

The girl closed her eyes. "Hi Jack nice to see you too." She took a breath. "Um," she began bouncing "Paul showed up and pulled the plug earlier than Grandma had promised." Her voice was drenched in hurt as she shrugged a little too carelessly and hefted the duffle to a more comfortable position across her shoulder.

The shock and hurt Jack felt was quickly compartmentalized and hidden. "I was going to pick you up."

She nodded.

He swept open the door fully. "Well, you know where your room is, we're all waiting for the pizza guy anyway so just dump everything then we can do intros."

The young girl smiled as Jack patted her on the back and made her way through the hallway up the stairs.

000

Running a hand over his eyes and through his hair Jack made his way back into the living room, Daniel following close behind. "Well folks, looks like we've got company."

Sam and Cassie looked up curiously and Teal'c just raised an eyebrow.

Jack sighed. "The short story is that I married Sarah after her first husband had died of cancer. However, before he passed away they had a daughter, Diana Marie. As soon as we were married we went through the whole legal process and when we got divorced obviously Sarah got custody. I used to still see her every once and a while." He paused and Daniel could see that he choked back some emotion. "About a week ago Sarah was involved in a car crash, she was declared brain dead within forty-eight hours."

"God Jack." Sam almost reached out.

His sigh was almost a chuckled. "Yeah, that's the reason our mission to P4X-939 was canceled. Anyway I got a call from Sarah's mother a couple of days ago. Apparently Sarah's newest beau had no interest in signing the papers so I'm still her legal guardian in case of emergency." Jack finally sat down. "I was going to tell you guys tonight." He sighed. "She was going to, supposed to be coming, or moving in next week but apparently," he waved his hand in the other direction "Sarah's living will was in her boyfriends name so he chose to pull the cord a little early."

He was able to almost smile.

Cassie looked around. Proving how mature the nineteen year old was she just smiled. "Sounds great Jack."

Everyone else just nodded; they all knew how much Sarah had meant to Jack, even after the divorce.

000

Diana entered the room, hands tucked firmly in the pockets of her jeans, very Jack O'Neill style.

Said style icon stood up. "Diana, this is my team. You met Dr. Jackson already. " She nodded and Daniel smiled.

"Please, call my Daniel."

"This is T, he's from- well he's not from around here." Teal'c inclined his head as Diana studied his forehead, closely.

"My second in command, Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter and her daughter Cassandra." Both women smiled while their check tinted pink.

Before anyone could say anything else the doorbell rang. Sam jumped up and Diana watched her pad quietly over to the kitchen counter and pulled out the first drawer to the left, SG1 Team Night Funds.

She called back to Cassie in the living room. "Cass! How much was it, do you remember?" The young women followed her 'mother' into the kitchen.

"Twenty-four I think, plus five for tip."

Sam nodded and started counting while Cassie walked out to answer the door.

Diana watched with curiosity as they spoke in hushed tones, hugged and began setting up for dinner.

000

"Jeez Carter what's taking so long, are you making the pizza?"

Offering a half smile Sam just went in search of plates and drinks.

Cassie just smirked. "Jack, you really ought to be nicer to Sam. Especially seeing as you-" Jack cut her off with an 'ack!' and a warning finger.

"None of that young lady, thin ice Cassandra darling, very thin ice." Cassie just shrugged but had a very DanielJacksonesque evil grin on her face.

Sam waltzed in with an armful of supplies and smiled at Diana. "I don't know what your preference is Diana but we have pepperoni, cheese, veggie and Hawaiian."

Diana smiled back; watching Sam and the rest of Jack's team she began to think that it might not be so bad. Eventually she took a slice of Hawaiian and a slice of cheese. Jack huffed at her choice but said nothing and took two pepperonis while Sam and Cassie grinned and followed Diana's style.

000

After a long night of conversation and quite a bit of comedy Sam looked down at her watch, it was almost half past twelve. Brushing the bangs out of Cassie's hair she sighed. "I think it's time for bed. I am so beat."

Daniel nodded.

SG1 wished Cassie a good night at her door. Teal'c hugged the young woman wishing her a good night and best of luck when she returned to college the next day. Daniel then promised to make pancakes the next morning.

As Sam moved past Diana's room she saw Jack hug the girl. They we're both crying.

Diana sat on her bed and looked around her old room. It was exactly the same way she had left it all those years ago. Opening her backpack and pulling out a beautiful leather bound journal she sprawled out on her bed.

November 6

Mom's gone. I've spent the past two days crying at Grandma's. I know Jack's going to drag me to the funeral and force me to make peace with the situation but he can't today.

I did talk to her, a lot, before Paul came. Not all of it was good but it was a conversation. I still feel her with me and that's how I know it's all going to be ok.

Anyway it's seems that Jack's stopped being a hermit, which in and of it's self is disconcerting but his team looks like a little insta-family.

I don't think I could have dealt with a girlfriend.

But his team seems pretty cool and there's a girl who's a couple years older than me. He introduced her as the daughter of the woman on his team. A Lt. Colonel Carter. She seems nice too but it's pretty obvious that she isn't Cassandra's real mother.

Anyway, Jack came and saw me before bed. He actually started crying too and I know I'll have to watch out for him. But I think tomorrow's going to be better.

000

And what no one knew was that somewhere in one of the rooms two teams members silently ignited a blaze of unrestrained passion..