Earth

Pausing over the coffee, a hungover man looked up as someone opened the door to the gas station convenience store. A stunning woman with a cowboy hat on, snug jeans, and a flowing white top strode confidently in and placed down her cash for the teller.

Intrigued and feeling confident- probably from the lingering alcohol he consumed last night- the man walked over and whistled.

"Where did you come from, sweetheart?"

A pair of brown eyes focused in on him. Her face showed she had no interest in him. He couldn't blame her- he had at least thirty years on her.

"Toronto," she began, inwardly snickering at the private joke. When she first arrived to Earth, they trained her to say she was from Toronto. "Dallas. LA. New York. Chicago."

He whistled. "You've been around."

She grinned, grabbing her change and winked at him. "And that's only the places that I can legally tell you about."

Smiling, he thought about following her out to her car. But somehow, he didn't think he'd make it far- the actual distance or with her.

"A woman of mystery..." he saluted her as she walked through the door. "Good luck."

"Thanks," she called back, eager to be on her way.

Cassandra Frasier patted her trusty CJ-7 Jeep. They had been old friends for years. Jack stored it for her during hard New England and Midwest winters. But come spring, she came for it yearly. Music blared from the three decade old Jeep as it neared the entrance to Cheyenne Mountain. And because music spoke to her emotions, she grinned as Fleetwood Mac's song "Go your Own Way" began.

It was precisely what she was doing. She'd broken up with her job. Again. It never seemed to work out.

She stuck this one out for at least four years this time around.

Humming the tune as she drove, mostly because her singing was so terrible it ruined the song for even her, Cassandra felt her heart beating as she neared the end of her trek.

Soon, she'd see her family. And then figure out her next step in life.

Each bump approaching the mountain, handled effortlessly by its driver, proved the vehicle and its owner had traveled this path before. It had been a several months, but nothing had changed.

The sun poured down through the trees today. Grinning, Cassandra felt her long hair whip across her face as she made the last turn.

"Cass" a loud booming voice called out to her in the parking lot. "You're late."

Grinning like a fool, Cassandra dropped her bag that she'd just pulled out of the Jeep and jumped into the arms of General Jack O'Neill.

"By five minutes," she scoffed. "I had to get gas. And flirt with an old drunk."

Jack held on to her for an extra moment, then pulled back to look at her.

"You know how Sam worries about you."

"Yeah," Sam spoke up from behind them, earning a jump from Cassandra and her own hug. "Don't let him fool you. I'm not the one who has been pacing up and down the hallways."

"It's been months, kid," Jack said. "Way too long."

Sam rolled her eyes. "Ignore him. He's just worried that you're going to add to his growing population of gray hairs on his head."

Eyes twinkling, Cassandra smiled as she blinked up at him. "I don't see any more than last time."

Quick before she could wipe the smile off of her face, Jack threw an arm around her head and squeezed her. Instead of fighting it, Cassandra put an arm around his waist and secretly enjoyed the moment.

Cassandra look into the eyes of both of her surrogate parents. The pair had been her rock in her life after Janet had been killed suddenly off-world.

Almost immediately, after they had each composed themselves on that fateful day, the pair had met her at the college she was attending and held her as she cried. Mourning over her second mother had been even more devastating to her at that point of her life. Cassie and her mother had their troubled times during her teenage years, but as she grew older, Cassie cherished the time her mother spent with her on weekends and on their girl trips with Samantha.

"I'm sorry the last job didn't work out," Jack said hesitantly. "But Sam and I have a lead on another one. An old Air Force buddy said they're opening up a military clinic in DC."

"I'm ready to give up," the younger woman sighed as the three of them were approached by security at the entrance. Showing their badges and opening up Cassandra's bags, they passed through and made their way to the elevator.

"Every job I've had since graduating college hasn't worked for me. The questions about my childhood come up. Every friend I have known I have to guard my past and ends up not trusting me. Someone actually asked if I was enrolled in a witness protective service. And forget about having a relationship with a man..."

Jack perked up. "I like that part."

Swatting him, Cassandra smiled. "Yeah, I'm sure you do."

"Hey," Jack reasoned as he pushed the button. "Did I bring up your first kiss?"

Cassie narrowed her eyes at him. "You did now."

Jack had the decency to at least look apologetic.

Bringing them back to the topic, Cassandra looked at the ceiling. "It's hard to explain. You're both from Earth. I'm not. I didn't want a job at the SGC after graduating. I literally ran from this place. But now that I know how hard it is to function here as an adult, I'm running out of options."

Jack gave her a look of sympathy, obviously trying to think of something that would help her situation.

"We get it," Samantha listened. "We haven't gone through everything you have- but in a way, we get it. We've all made sacrifices."

Jack looked like he was about to say something but bit his lip and looked away. Secretly, Cassandra wanted to strangle them both. The pair had a serious denial of love for years. Her greatest wish was to see them together.

As the door opens, Cassandra took a calming breath. She'd never admit it to Samantha or Jack, but every time she walked into Stargate Command, waves of memories- many of them her worst- washed over her.

Losing her parents and the entire population of her planet. Nerrti. Feeling the presence of Jolinar of Malkshur off-base while innocently painting and waiting for her mom to finish with a patient- then later helping to reach out to a struggling and depressed Samantha Carter. And even though she was only eight, she remembered the ticking time bomb inside her body that no one seemed to understand nor wanted her to know about at the time.

She calmed herself by thinking of the good memories. Janet. Samantha's unfailing determination to make her a survivor. General Landry's gruff way of being friendly to her. Jack getting her that mutt of a dog. Daniel insisting for her to take every advanced placement course she qualified for. And Teal'c convincing her to learn self-defense when she came of age- mostly because Jack had heard that boys were coming around.

Cassie determined that she was lucky and shouldn't complain so much, especially to the people surrounding her. She was a survivor, thanks to her family that essentially adopted her the day she followed Teal'c's voice out of the tall weeds surrounding the crops.

Sam excused herself to answer a call coming over her radio. It only took one look to know her older friend was shocked and worried with whatever information she was just given.

"I have to go," Sam informed them distractedly. "Jack, you probably should come too."

"Why?" Jack asked, then was ignored as Samantha started to jog down the hallway and ask questions to whomever was on the other side of the conversation.

Sighing, she waved at Jack and Sam, following the halls to the mess, where she knew she'd be able to have a halfway decent meal.

A few hours later, Cassie heard voices outside Sam's door. Sam typically kept a room on base, mostly due to convenience when she was too tired to return home from a mission or her work. Cass had automatically went there after her stop for food.

Needing a nap, Cassie sprawled on the bed but found herself unable to sleep. Instead, she had opened an art magazine she'd picked up along the way yesterday.

A few moments later, Sam walked in, looking worried and tired.

"Sam?" She asked in concern. "What's wrong?"

"I'm fine. It was a long meeting, mostly involving bad news. Actually, Cass," Sam began. "There's an extended mission Jack and I are set to leave for."

"When?" Cassie said, disappointed as she anticipated the answer.

"Tomorrow," Carter sighed, seeing her disappointment even though Cassie attempted to hide it. "I know. You just got home. But hear me out..."

"Sam," Cassie began, "you don't have to explain. I've known the drill for a long time now. But I thought your days off-world were done?"

"They were," Samantha admitted. "It's Atlantis. Remember me telling you about the Wraith?"

Cassie nodded, remembering the hideous picture of the creature.

"They sound even worse than the Goa'uld."

"Exactly. They attacked a few days ago. The city is hurting right now and we just got the request this morning after their communications went back up. They had terrible losses in the last week. Jack and I are going there to get them back on their feet, along with Colonel Mitchell."

Curious why Sam was elaborating, she sensed there was more to the story.

"What are you not telling me?" she asked.

Samantha turned, closing the door.

"Jack and I want you to come with us," Samantha said hesitantly. "We need your help, professionally. Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard, the military commander, suffered major injuries a few days ago during a battle to save Atlantis. The chief medical officer initially requested his return to Earth, but the fact remains that Sheppard's leadership, even from a hospital bed, will be instrumental in getting the city back on its feet. He knows the city and the current people there better than myself. Woolsey requested the SGC provide or clear someone to come."

"He needs a physical therapist," Cassandra nodded, feeling a sense of unease.

"I know, Cass," Sam began. "Asking you return back through the gate is unthinkable after everything you went through. But-"

"But you probably have no one else to turn to with clearance," Cassie figured out, sitting on the bed, thinking the request through. "And I know you care for me too much to ask if there was an alternative."

"I wouldn't think less of you if you turned down the job," Samantha said. "But I hope you'll think about it. We can spend several months together. And I know you will be perfect for Sheppard."

Cassie looked up quickly. "God, Sam, you're not matchmaking are you?"

Dumbfounded, Sam paused and then grinned. "No," she chuckled. "I meant he tends to get testy one moment and has a reputation for turning on the charm the next. Anyone else would either quit or get love sick over him. Rodney fondly calls him Captain Kirk."

"Ugh," Cassie groaned. "Really?"

Sam rolled her eyes. "He's not as bad as I'm making him out to be. I'm warning you only because I know he's going to have a hard time sitting still and watching everyone else do his work."

Cassie's mind was racing. Over the last decade, she had become more impulsive rather than a planner when it came to taking new jobs. Hence, the variance of locations. Financially, Janet's planning had provided her with enough to survive without work for years, but she had not touched any of it. The military had picked up the tab of her schooling, considering her situation as well as what she considered a bribe to return back to them eventually.

Traveling through the gate was not on her list of items she cared to do again. But she couldn't deny the strong pull she felt to accept the job. Cass never felt like she belonged completely on Earth, despite the caring group that become her family over the years. Maybe Atlantis would be different.

"Okay," Cassie sighed, looking up expectantly at Sam.

"So think about it," Sam said, checking her watch probably to make her way to a pre-mission briefing.

Cassie stood.

"I mean, okay, I'll take the job," Cassie announced.

Shocked, Sam shook her head.

"Just like that? Are you sure?"

"I'm unemployed," Cassie rattled off. "I need to get over my gate fear. Sounds like this guy needs to get back on his feet or else you or Jack will be permanently assigned out there..." she began to smile secretively. "And I have my own reasons for going."

"You're sure?" the older woman said, coming up close and taking Cassie's hand. "I know this is a lot to ask."

Cassie nodded. "I am. And I also think I'm crazy. So you better get me to sign the papers and get to any briefings before I change my mind."

Grinning, Samantha indicated to follow her.

"Cass," Samantha began. "I didn't want to say anything. But I think Atlantis will be good for you. It's different than the SGC. Less rules. More of a community atmosphere. And you don't have to hold back your story to anyone, like at your other jobs. You can just be you. In fact , I don't even know who would know your story there without reading your file."

"Be myself?" Cassandra repeated. "I have no idea who that is anymore. But here's to finding out. So, what do I pack?"

Sam shrugged.

"Sounds like you can just load up the bags you brought," she guessed. "I do need you to write down items we'll need to bring for Sheppard's treatment- so any therapy items need to be requested immediately. You don't have a uniform, so just make sure to bring clothes appropriate to work in. Anything else we can borrow from others."

Cassie took a deep breath.

"Okay," she managed. "Pegasus, it is."