Cassie's Sound Advice

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters.

The sun was shining brightly through the trees and children were playing happily in the park. One of them was her own – well, not biologically hers, but hers in name and love anyway. She loved Cassie as if she had been her daughter her entire life and yet Janet couldn't seem to keep her attention focused on the little girl. A ten-year-old bundle of energy, full of love and compassion, and her mother couldn't seem to keep her mind off of a woman now lying mutely on a bed in the SGC infirmary. A woman who had just experienced something Janet would never understand, but wanted more than anything to share some of the pain she knew Sam was currently feeling. More than anything.

She sighed, blinking a few times and letting her vision settle on Cassie, the girl's long auburn hair streaming behind her as she ran toward the distraught woman seated on a bench watching her. Janet forced a smile as she welcomed her daughter into her arms and hugged her tightly, faking joy she knew she didn't have just yet.

"You don't want to keep playing, princess?" Janet asked, smoothing Cassie's hair and planting a quick kiss on her forehead, thankful the girl wasn't at the point yet where that sort of thing was embarrassing.

The alien girl shook her head back and forth, her long hair flying every which way as her grin faded into the recesses of her cheeks. "You okay, Mom?" she asked, genuine concern spread over her face as she sat down next to her mother.

A sad smile found its way onto Janet's face and stayed there as she draped her arm around Cassie's shoulders. The girl had only recently started to call her "Mom", but even that little spark of hope couldn't compare to the overwhelming sadness Janet felt suffocating her. "I'm just sad, Cass. I'll be okay."

Cassie nodded. "Sad because of Sam?"

"Yes, honey. Sad because of Sam," Janet replied softly, patting her daughter's hand and marveling at the perceptiveness in the little girl.

Nodding again, the girl scotched closer to her adopted mother and drew her knees up to her chest, something she had most definitely picked up from their good friend that they were currently discussing. They were quiet for a few minutes, each wrapped in their own thoughts before Cassie broke the silence with a quiet question that startled her mother a little, "You love her, don't you?"

Janet sat in stunned silence for a while, her eyes focusing on the swings instead of the girl on the bench beside her. After she had time to compose herself and think about the query, she finally replied slowly, "Of course I love her, sweetie. She's one of my best friends."

Cassie shook her head again. "No, Mom, not like that. Do you love her love her?"

The logic of a ten-year-old brought Janet's defenses down at last. She sighed heavily and nodded, finally turning toward her daughter. "Yes, Cassandra, I'm in love with Sam. But you can't tell her."

"Why not?"

"Because, baby, I don't want to ruin the friendship Sam and I have."

Cocking her head to the side, Cassie regarded her mother with large eyes, disbelief shining clearly through them. "But she loves you, too, I know she does."

Janet shook her head back and forth and ran her hand along her daughter's cheek lightly. "Aw, sweetie, that's very nice, but you don't know that for sure. Besides, wouldn't you like to have a father someday?"

"Sam's way cooler than any dad could ever be," Cassie answered quickly, a grin jumping quickly to her face.

Laughing out loud, Janet finally allowed the sentiment of the girl beside her fill her heart with hope, and she reached over to pull her giggling daughter into her arms. "Way cooler, huh?" she asked, her fingers digging lightly into Cassie's sides, tickling her and ensuing more giggles.