Chapter 4

When Sam wasn't off world, she liked to slowly wake-up, so when she began emerging from the depths of sleep, she noticed several things.

First, she wasn't in her house or in her own bed. The ceiling was made of wood, so she wasn't at the SGC either.

Second, she was most definitely not alone. She was warm-and she never woke up warm unless she was sleeping with someone.

Third, there was a guy in bed with her, and it wasn't Pete. Pete would never snuggle with her like this guy was doing, and he was too short to have his legs tangled up with her legs.

After Sam realized these three things, she shot off the bed and to a standing position, only to have Jack react in exactly the same way.

"Jeeze Carter, for a second there I thought we were under attack or something," Jack said as he ran a hand through his hair, and over his face.

"Sorry sir, I just forgot where I was and it surprised me," Sam offered as an explanation while she blushed.

"Yeah, well, I guess that makes sense," Jack acquiesced.

An uncomfortable silence filled the room.

"So…," Sam said attempting to get rid of the silence.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Cassie here last night, in bed with us?" Jack asked and then opened his mouth to correct his words, only to have Sam cut him off.

"I'm sure that she's fine. Daniel and Teal'c wouldn't let anything happen to her," Sam reassured.

"So, breakfast?" Jack suggested.

"Breakfast sounds good," Sam replied, following Jack out of the room, and hopefully leaving any awkwardness behind.

----

They made pancakes for breakfast, which was actually more of a lunch by that point and sat down to eat together, all five of them, around a large kitchen table.

Daniel purposely waited until both Sam and Jack had their mouths full of pancakes and orange juice, respectively before asking, "So, Sam and Jack were you both warm enough last night?"

The last few remaining pancakes became untouchable as they were splattered with orange juice from Jack's mouth and a partially chewed pancake from Sam's. Daniel even noticed that something like milk squirted out of Cassie's nose as she attempted not to laugh.

"What I meant guys, was that Teal'c and I both thought it was a little cold out last night, didn't we Teal'c," Daniel stated.

"Indeed I did Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said, the corners of his mouth turning up in a small, almost invisible smile.

"Me too guys," Cassie added, a grin evident on her face.

The mixed looks of horror and embarrassment on Sam and Jack's faces became too much and the three friends dissolved into laughter, even Teal'c, which caused everyone to stop and stare at the large Jaffa who rarely laughed.

And start laughing right along with their Jaffa friend.

By the time they were done, everyone, sans Jack and Sam, seemed to have forgotten why they were laughing and just started cleaning up the breakfast dishes.

Once they were done, Sam looked at Cassie and suggested, "Let's get dressed and go for a walk, just the two of us."

Jack caught Sam's eye and nodded, understanding that this was going to be one of those 'girl talks' that he wouldn't understand, and one that Cassie desperately needed.

A short while later, Sam and Cassie began a slow circuit of Jack O'Neill's pond.

"It's never easy to lose a parent, you know," Sam began. "There are still days where I want nothing more than to have my mom here with me, and now you've lost two mothers Cassie."

"I thought the pain would go away," Cassie said amid the tears.

"Oh Cassie," Sam said, pulling the girl into a hug and soon her own tears joined those of Cassie.

When both sets of tears had subsided, Sam grabbed Cassie's hand and they continued walking. "The only thing I can suggest Cassie is to remember the good stuff. Think about all those girls' days that we had where the three of us had so much fun going shopping and eating out."

"And those nights where we stayed up late talking and watching movies," Cassie added, a smile starting to form on her face.

"And prom night."

"My first school dance."

The two women giggled at that memory, how Cassie had called and insisted that Janet leave her own girls' night out and come get her because she wasn't having any fun. Sam, Janet, and Cassie had ended up having a sleepover in Janet's living room with several cartons of ice cream. At two in the morning a pillow fight had evolved from someone throwing a napkin, neither could remember who, and had continued until everyone had collapsed from exhaustion.

"There's a lot of good things you can remember about your mom Cassie, both of your mothers," Sam softly reminded her.

"It's not that Sam," Cassie stated, "I miss her when I need her the most. Someone to call home to when my roommate and I fight, a person to complain to about how horrible all my professors are, and someone to brag to when I make the Dean's List. That's what I want and miss the most right now."

"I went through the same thing when I went to the Academy," Sam confided.

"You did?"

"Yeah even though Dad was alive, it wasn't like I could call home and tell him that I hated my roommate, that my classes stunk, or brag about being top of my class. He was a guy and they just don't get those things," Sam explained.

Cassie smiled, nodding her head in agreement.

"What are you doing this summer?" Sam asked, the beginning of a plan forming in her mind.

"I'm not sure," Cassie claimed, "We're mid-Spring quarter, so I've got some time to figure it out. I guess you could say I'm keeping my options open."

"Are you thinking about coming back to Colorado Springs?" Sam questioned.

Cassie's eyes got slightly darker. "I don't think I can do that Sam. Someday, I'd like to work at the SGC, be a doctor like mom, but I think I'd worry too much about you guys being gone. Wondering if you were okay or not, you know?"

"I know exactly how you feel," a voice said from in front of them. Jack O'Neill stood there, casually leaning against a tree, his face serious, as he entered into the conversation. "I worry about them too, Cassie, especially now that I don't go with them."

Jack squeezed his way in between the two women, throwing an arm over each of their shoulders, and the threesome continued walking, now about three-fourths of the way around the pond.

"You know, we can take care of our selves," Sam reminded him, "You taught us well."

"I know," Jack said simply, "But this isn't about me or you, this is about Cassie. Anything I can do to help you out Cass?"

The girl was quiet for a long time as she thought about what she was going to ask for. They didn't have to tell her, but she was hoping that they would. "Can you tell me what's going on out there right now? Maybe put my mind at ease so I don't have to worry about Uncle Jack showing up on my doorstep telling me one of you guys are…dead or missing."

Sam looked at Jack who was looking at Cassie to see just what they were going to do about her request. Technically, they probably shouldn't tell her anything. But Cassie already knew the big picture stuff. If filling in a few details would make her sleep easier at night, Sam was all for it. But the decision really fell to Jack.

"How about we get Daniel and Teal'c together, and we'll tell you a little bit about what's going on out there in the universe?" Jack suggested, which made Cassie relax a little bit, but not a whole lot as he had don't anything to reassure her that traveling through the Stargate was in any way safer than it had been a year ago when her mom had died.

A short while later they all gathered in Jack's living room. Cassie was sitting on the couch between Daniel and Sam, while Jack sat in the recliner facing them, and Teal'c sat in an antique rocking chair off to the side.

Jack looked sternly at Cassie, "I probably shouldn't tell you any of this, but you deserve to know what's going on out there."

Jack glanced at Sam, giving her permission to begin.

"Things are the safest they've ever been, Cass," Sam began. "Most of the Goa'uld are dead."

"There are still a few out there," Daniel added, "But most of them are keeping a low profile."

"Yet we have succeeded in freeing many of their Jaffa and more join our ranks each day," finished Teal'c.

"So you're telling me I don't need to worry because traveling to other planets has suddenly become safe?" Cassie asked in disbelief.

"I don't think that it will ever be totally safe Cass, but I will say that it is as safe now as it has ever been," Jack proclaimed.

"Does that mean you're going to quit going through the Stargate?" Cassie asked looking at the adults in the room expectedly.

Jack was the first to speak. "I don't do much traveling now that I'm 'The Man', and I expect that will be the status quo for the foreseeable future."

Cassie looked at Sam expectedly, knowing that her answer would dictate, at least partially, what the other two said. "I don't know Cass. I'm needed in several places right now, and have been offered a position at Area 51 again. Not that I'm saying that I'll take it," she reassured, seeing the flash of horror in Jack's eyes at the thought. "Regardless, I'm going to be off world a lot less for at least a short time."

Daniel spoke up at this point, "I'm going to request a transfer to an off world base, the one I was scheduled to go a while back."

"Oh the one where the sexy space pirate took over an entire ship and tried to seduce you into helping her?" Cassie asked innocently.

"How did you know about that?" Daniel demanded.

"I have my sources," the young girl assured him with an amused expression on her face.

Sam was hiding her grin at the girl's humor when Teal'c spoke.

"I regret to inform you Cassandra Fraiser that I will continue my travels and apologize you for any concern this may cause you but I feel my people require my assistance," Teal'c claimed.

"I understand Teal'c," Cassie said, "I'll miss you."

"And I you," the great warrior said bowing his head.

"Hey now! Let's not rush to say our good-byes and farewells to quick here guys," Jack ordered, "We still have a day left, longer if we need it. I know the guy in charge and I think I could convince him to give us an extension if we needed it," Jack claimed, shrugging his shoulders.

Sam smiled and shook her head, only Jack O'Neill would put things that way.

Cassie just shook her head. "I can't stay; I need to get back to school."

That began a suggestion of holidays that she could visit for, which turned into quite a humorous undertaking as the group came up with some very unusual holidays to use.

----

Jack and Sam said their good-byes to Cassie at the cabin because Teal'c and Daniel were the ones taking her to the airport as they had their own flights to catch back to Colorado Springs.

Jack let Sam hug the girl first, knowing that he could deal her cutting into his time, but she wouldn't appreciate having her time cut short.

Cassie was squeezing Sam so tight that Sam was surprised that she could actually breathe, but she didn't complain. Instead, she just held the girl a little bit tighter, not wanting to let go of her.

Eventually Daniel cleared his throat. "Sam," he said, "You need to let her go so she can give Jack a hug and we can go."

"Okay," Sam said, still not letting go of the girl.

"Sam," Daniel said again just as Sam finally let the girl go.

Of course Cassie was only free for a few seconds before Jack pulled her into his arms for a much shorter hug, choosing instead to let her go but keep her at arm's length. "If you need anything," Jack said for seemed like the tenth time, "You call me or Carter, any time, day or night. If you can't get me at home, call me at the base. Walter knows to put you through to me and to interrupt whatever I'm doing-unless I'm talking to the President. Okay?"

"I will," Cassie promised and Jack pulled her into a hug once more, this time holding her just as tight as Sam had while dropping a kiss into her hair.

When Jack relinquished his hold on Cassie again, she quickly moved into Sam's arms once more.

"Your mom would be so proud of you Cassie," Sam whispered into the girl's ear so that no one else could hear.

Sam and Cassie's time came to end as Jack laid a hand on Sam's shoulder, telling her that she needed to let Cassie go. Sam tucked herself into Jack's side as they watched Cassie load up with Daniel and Teal'c and disappear from view.

Without much being said, they cleaned up around the cabin and loaded up Jack's truck. Sam took one last look before getting into the truck, taking in each detail and burning it into her memory just in case she never made this trip again.

"Ready?" she asked as Jack climbed in.

"I was born ready," Jack assured her, resulting in a giggle, which Sam suspected was exactly what he was aiming for.

And with that comment, the two began a playful banter which lasted the whole way to the hotel where they spent the evening and even into the final leg of their journey to Sam's house the following evening.

Jack, ever the gentleman, refused to let Sam carry her own bag and walked her to the door of her house. Sam unlocked the door and pushed it open allowing Jack to follow her inside where he set her suitcase down.

"Thank you for inviting me," Sam said, which resulted in a raised eyebrow in a Teal'c-like fashion from Jack. "Okay ordering me to go. As much as I hate to admit it, I had a good time."

Jack smirked. He had accomplished something this week. Sam had actually taken some time off and enjoyed herself, at his cabin.

"If you ever want to go again, just let me know," Jack offered with a smile, knowing that Sam would probably never ask to go to his cabin again, "I'd be more than happy to give you the keys and let you have it to yourself."

"It's a good place to go and think, isn't it," Sam admitted.

"It is," Jack assured her, "And what I told Cassie goes for you too. You ever need to talk, you know where to find me, my door is always open. We can always shut it and pretend that we're back at the cabin and there isn't another soul around for fifty miles. Call me any time."

"Thank you."

Jack turned to leave and was standing on the porch when he turned around and looked at Sam one more time, "Just promise me one thing though," he requested, "Don't use the Stargate to call 'just to talk', the paper pushers in Washington get kinda upset at that kind of thing."

Sam just laughed and shut the door in his face, which caused Jack to chuckle, something Sam could hear fading through the door as Jack went back to his truck and drove away, happier than he'd been in a long time.

That night, Sam settled herself into bed, and felt a sense of calm was over her, as though the storm she had been experiencing was finally over.

And for the time being it was.

----