Chapter 12: Cassie and Her Fun
Disclaimer: Only my stuff is mine.
A/N: Sorry for the wait! Can you guys (fellow US people) believe it's voting day? I don't know about you guys, but I am glad that all those campaign commercials are finally over. I was getting sick of hearing the same things over and over again.
BTW: I really love the slip up in the next chapter. I was given the idea by Matrix234; amazing, by the way!! It's very clever! So, be on the lookout for that, kay?
ENJOY!!!
Cassie bounced up and down in the backseat, her seatbelt being the only thing keeping her in her seat. Even though she was just shy of eighteen, she still got all 'little-girl' excited when going to a fair. She had begged her mom and hounded Sam, Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c to come to the traveling fair with her. It was only half an hour away from Cheyenne Mountain, so if any "big emergencies" happened, they were still close by.
It had taken awhile, but Cassie had managed to convince all of them. Teal'c had been the most eager to go; he had never been to a fair before. Everybody else went when she pulled out the guilt card, pouted, and said, "But…my birthday is so close…and I'll be going to college soon…and then who knows when we'll all see each other again…" in her most pathetic voice.
It worked beautifully.
And, now, here they were. Teal'c and Cassie were in the back seat of her mom's van, Sam and Jack were sitting (quite closely) in the small middle seat, and her mom and Daniel in the front. It may have seemed like the seating arrangements were spur of the moment…but Cassie had taken careful time to plan it. Unlike most minivans, the backseat of Janet's was the biggest so it'd be the smartest thing for Teal'c to sit there, right?
And the middle seat was the smallest…so it would have made more sense if Cassie and Sam shared it, while Jack and Teal'c took the back. But…Cassie wanted to tell Teal'c all about fairs before they actually got there…so those arrangements couldn't be helped. Sam and Jack would just have to deal.
And, oh! How they did.
Their legs were pressed together due to the confines of the seat and Jack had slung his arm over the back of the seat in order to minimize discomfort. This resulted in his arm becoming Sam's headrest. Cassie, who had predicted Jack's arm movement, had strategically reclined the seat enough so that not leaning against it would be very uncomfortable.
So Sam had no choice.
A fact, Cassie noticed, neither Sam nor Jack was complaining about.
Daniel sat in the passenger seat because Cassie wasn't stupid. She knew her mom really liked (maybe even loved) the archaeologist and that he felt the same about her. They really sucked at hiding it.
Almost as much as Sam and Jack.
So, Cassie sat in the backseat enjoying her successful semi-match-making and telling Teal'c all about the traditions of fairs. How you had to do all the rides, no matter how un-safe they look, eat tons and tons of cotton candy, ice cream, candied apples, and roasted nuts. Then you have to do all the rides again and see who can hold onto their stomach contents.
She also told him how the fair at night is always the best. The carnival lights glowed and the music blared through the speakers. People's feelings of excitement and fun just seemed to escalate when it got dark. Food tasted better, rides seemed more unstable, and people became more rambunctious.
Cassie had just started on the topic of carnival games when Janet pulled into a parking space.
"We're here!" Janet announced, turning the car off and opening her door. Daniel followed suit.
As soon as her mother's door was shut, Cassie leaned forward. "Oh, Sam…your door doesn't work. You have to go out Jack's side." She smiled brightly when Sam shot her a mildly suspicious look. "What?"
"Nothing." Sam sighed and grinned playfully at Cass.
Jack slid open the door and hopped out, stretching his long legs. Turning back to the open door, he held out his hand to Sam. "Carter." He said, winking at her.
Sam blushed, but slipped her hand into his, allowing him to help her across the seat and out of the car. "Thank you, sir."
"Can't you guys drop the military names for tonight?" Cassie grumbled loudly as she slid open the door on Sam's side and hopped out.
Sam narrowed her eyes at the teenager. "You said that door didn't work."
"Did I?" Cassie blinked innocently. "Oops." She smiled at the two officers and shut the door after Teal'c had stepped out.
"I swear, that girl…" Sam said, exasperatedly. Jack smiled and looked down at their hands.
They still hadn't let go.
Sam followed his gaze. "Oh! Sorry, sir--," she moved to pull away when Cassie's voice drifted to her ears.
"No 'sirs'!" she called and Sam and Jack laughed.
"Not a problem, Carter." Jack slowly released her hand, reluctant to end the contact.
"No 'Carter's' either! Tonight, you guys are just Sam and Jack!" Cassie said again, as the two officers walked around the car.
"If only it were that simple." Sam growled quietly, not realizing she had spoken out loud.
Luckily (or perhaps, un-luckily) the only person close enough to hear was Jack. He glanced at her, eyes unguarded in the moonlight. She saw his surprise and something else swirling in the brown depths. Sam refused to acknowledge what that 'something' was…knowing that, if she did, there would be no turning back.
A second later, Jack's eyes retook their mask and he held out his arm to Sam.
"Samantha, milady." he drawled in a heavy southern accent.
Sam giggled and swatted his arm lightly, but, never the less, hooked her arm through his. "Yes, sir!" she saluted smartly with her other hand.
"Sam!" Cassie called in a sing-song voice, letting on that she had been eavesdropping.
"Jack." Sam corrected loudly and smiling slightly when Cassie giggled. "She's really excited."
"Yep, as she should be. Fairs are great." Jack said looking up at the brightly lit Ferris Wheel.
"Really? You like fairs?" Sam asked, "unconsciously" leaning into him.
Jack smiled. "You don't?"
"No, I love them. They remind me of when I was a kid." Sam said.
"Same here." Jack agreed.
The group paid the admissions fee and Cassie dragged them off to the first ride…the Tilt a Hurl. The only person who grumbled about that one was Daniel. As they stepped off the ride they were all unsteady on their feet, stumbling over their own shoes.
Well…everyone except Teal'c, that is. The big Jaffa stepped gracefully from the platform and shot them all a smug look, complete with raised eyebrow.
"Shut up, T." Jack said, weaving slightly as he walked.
"I have not spoken, O'Neill." The corners of Teal'c's mouth twitched and Sam bit her cheek to stop from laughing.
"Yeah, yeah." Jack grumbled, beginning to walk steadily again.
They got through seven more twisty-turny, harrowing rides before Cassie held up her hands. "Alright! Junk food time!"
Sam and Janet glanced at each other. "Cass…" Janet started.
"You want to eat junk food…after that?" Sam finished incredulously.
"Duh." Cassie said, leading them to the nearest cotton candy/ice cream stand. "What do you guys want?"
After a lot of half-hearted protests and shrugs, Cassie turned back to the man behind the counter. "Seven cotton candies and…five ice creams, please." She handed the man the exact amount of money and passed out the goodies. "Okay…Teal'c, two cotton candies and no ice cream…" she gave everyone else one cold treat and the cotton candy, keeping one of each for herself.
"Let's grab that table over there." Jack gestured to a white, plastic table set off to the side, overlooking the lake.
The group sat and chatted aimlessly while everyone ate their fluffy and creamy goodness.
"So…who's up for doing all the rides again?" Cassie asked brightly, looking around at the happy, relaxed faces before her.
"I am, Cassandra Fraiser." Teal'c volunteered immediately, having polished off both of his cotton candies in about five minutes.
Sam and Janet groaned, while Jack and Daniel winced. "Uh, I think I'm done, Cass." Janet said, patting her stomach.
"Me too." Sam agreed, laying a hand over her own.
"I'd go with ya, Cass…but, uh…" Jack searched wildly for a plausible excuse not to go on any more rides. He didn't want to admit that he would toss his cookies if he did. "I, uh, gotta watch out for Cart—I mean, Sam." Jack amended when Cassie shot him a glare.
"Okay." Cassie shrugged and turned to Daniel.
Sam and Jack glanced at each other. The teenager accepted that way too easily. It was a flimsy excuse…she was up to something.
Jack, however, didn't mind. He really did want to hang with Sam. They very rarely got to be in such a crowded, anonymous place where both officers could be themselves. There was something about the ambiguity of fairs that allowed people to be who they wanted to be and not be judged.
Sam didn't really mind, either. She was perfectly content to just sit with Jack and people-watch. Maybe he'd put his arm around her again…'No! Must…not…go…there…' she struggled to bring her thoughts back to the conversation.
Apparently, Daniel's excuse was satisfactory because Cassie and Teal'c were standing up. "Okay, we'll meet back up with you guys in an hour. Then we'll do games!" Cassie said happily, bounding away with Teal'c in tow.
"Be careful!" Janet called after them. She turned to Sam, shaking her head in amusement. "My eighteen year old whirlwind."
Sam grinned. "At least she's having fun."
"She's really happy you guys decided to come." Janet addressed her three friends.
"Wouldn't miss it." Jack said, "accidentally" brushing Sam's hand with his own.
"She had a point, you know." Sam said, not moving away from his hand. "She is going off to college soon…and after that, it could be awhile before we all spend time together again."
A melancholy hush fell over the group. "Yes, well…" Jack said breaking the tension. "Let's not dwell."
"Jack's right." Daniel piped up, laying a comforting hand on Janet's knee. "We have this time together, let's not waste it."
"Well, now that that's settled…Carter, how about a walk around the lake?" Jack stood and held his hand out to Sam for the second time that night.
Sam smiled, stood, and stretched, taking Jack's hand. "Sure, Jack." She emphasized his name and blushed slightly when his eyes grew darker.
"Shall we?" he kept his voice light, but his eyes spoke volumes.
Sam shivered when he squeezed her hand and knew that her expression matched his. Blue and brown eyes filled with a passion… a love…neither knew they were capable of feeling.
"We shall." Sam answered. "See you guys in an hour." She called over her shoulder to Daniel and Janet.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Janet shouted loudly.
Sam blushed hotly. "Then I guess that leaves a lot of options!"
She heard Janet laugh before she and Jack were out of earshot.
The walk was uneventful. They circumscribed the lake, talking about topics ranging from their favorite movies to their favorite and least favorite missions. They were careful to keep their voices low, in case of nosy ears.
And if that meant they had to walk really close together…well, hey, they'd make the sacrifice.
Even though neither one of them acknowledged it, their fingers were still intertwined.
For the whole walk.
An hour later a slightly green Cassie (and a normal, slightly amused Teal'c) met Janet, Daniel, Sam, and Jack in front of the 'Passageway of Games.'
"You okay, honey?" Janet asked, taking a good look at her daughter.
"Fine, Dr. Fraiser." Cassie grumbled. She loved her mother, but because she was a doctor, she tended to want to baby her too much.
"Sorry, Cass." Janet smiled. "You just look a little green."
"And you look a little flushed." Cassie shot back good-naturedly. "You and Daniel have fun?"
Janet blushed and turned away from her daughter. Sam's eyes widened. "Janet!"
"What?" the doc looked at her shoes.
Sam was about to yell, "What did you and Daniel do?" but stopped when she realized who else was around. Saving her friend from further embarrassment, she leaned close and hissed, "You are so 'fessing up later!"
Janet nodded mutely.
Jack, sensing the need for a distraction, addressed the group. "Who's up for some games? I'm buying first round."
Everyone answered in the affirmative and they made their way through the game booths, trying to decide where to start.
"Spray 'em hard, spray 'em high!" One man shouted in cadence. "Hit the target first, and win the prize!" He stood at a booth that looked to be a variation of the 'water-gun' games. The ones where people squirted water onto a bull's eye target to see who can get their 'dinger' to the top first.
The only difference between those and this one was that, instead of water guns, there was a lever that you had to press repeatedly in order for the water to rise. It looked more like exercise than fun.
"Let's do that one." Cassie said, pointing to the man's booth.
"Why? It looks like work." Janet pointed out.
"So? Look, no one's going over there. I feel bad, come on!" Cass tugged at Sam and Jack's hands.
"No one's over there, because it takes effort, Cass." Janet said in amusement.
"Whatever." Cassie ignored the group's protests and eventually got them all in front of the booth.
"Well, hey there, little lady!" The man's voice boomed over the bullhorn. His eyes landed on Sam and Janet. "And, whoa there, ladies!" he leered at them.
Without thinking, Jack half-stepped in front of Sam and glared at the guy. Next to him, Daniel did the same thing. Sam and Janet looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
"Hey, there, big fellas…" the man's voice faltered and he quickly cleared his throat before falling back into his game booth mode. "So, who wants to take on my challenge? First one to the top gets their choice of a cuddly prize! What do ya say, gents? Win a little something for the gal pals?"
Sam felt Jack tense and move to take a step forward. She reached for his arm and held him back. Moving her mouth closer to his ear, she whispered, "It's what they do, Jack. Let's just play, okay?"
Jack nodded, but didn't relax his muscles. Sam sighed, squeezed his arm once before letting him go, and said, "What do you say, Jack? Think you can beat me?"
Jack turned his head and grinned. "Is that a trick question?"
Sam just shrugged.
"Four to play! Four to play! Which fickle few will step up to the plate!" Booth-guy shouted into the bullhorn.
"Daniel? Janet?" Sam asked, turning to look at her friends.
"Nah, we'll let you two play this one." Janet said.
"You sure? Okay. Teal'c, what about you?"
"I do not wish to play." He stated simply.
Sam and Jack shared a look. "Cass?"
"No, you guys play." The teenager smiled and pushed the two of them forward.
"But, Cass…you're the one that wanted to--,"
"Stop talking nonsense." Cassie grinned, cutting her off. "Now play." She ordered.
"Two? Just two? Well, okay, then!" the booth-guy directed them to chairs 2 and 3. "Who will win? Who will win? The little lady or the big, strong man's man?" Sam glared at him and he spluttered a bit before regaining his greasy persona. "On the count of three! One, two, three!" he shouted.
Sam threw all her weight onto the lever, sending the water-spray directly onto the bull's eye. Jack did the same. Both pressed up and down with all their strength, determined to beat the other.
Who ever said love didn't harbor a little healthy competition?
Cassie was rooting for both of them, but pulling for Sam more, if just to wipe that stupid leer off the chauvinistic booth-guy's face. She watched Jack's level inch a little higher than Sam's. Before she could stop herself she shouted, "Keeping pumping, Sam! Up and down! Come on, Jack's getting close!"
Both officers froze, the game forgotten. Janet clapped a hand over Cassie's mouth while Daniel cracked up laughing. Teal'c raised his eyebrow and the corners of his mouth twitched.
People who had been milling about within twenty feet of the game booth began cracking up and pointing. A few teenaged idiots wolf-whistled and made some very colorful comments.
Sam turned bright red and ducked her head away from Jack. "Cassandra Fraiser!"
"Sam, I swear! I didn't mean it like that!" Cassie said earnestly, fighting back her own laughter, knowing that it would not help her cause.
"You've done a lot of things today, young lady, that I've pretended not to notice." Sam growled, cheeks still aflame.
"Sam, please, it just slipped out. I promise!" Cassie raised her hands beseechingly and began backing away.
"Hey, look! Peanuts!" Daniel said loudly, grabbing Janet and Cassie and dragging them away from the irate major and silent colonel.
"Tea—Uh, Murray!" Daniel called when they had put a good ten feet between Cassie and Sam.
"Yes, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c bowed his head before quickly following the archaeologist. "I, too, require nuts."
"Murray!" Janet, Daniel, and Cassie said, though they knew it was too late. Riotous laughter broke out among the crowd again.
Sam rolled her eyes and dropped her chin to her chest. Jack reached for her elbow. "Come on, Sam. There's a pretzel over there that's calling my name."
Sam nodded and allowed him to pull her through the still chuckling crowd.
Cassie was so gonna owe her for this.
A/N: Please R&R!!
I may turn this segment into a stand alone story. It'll be a bit different; probably diverging from this one when Sam and Jack go for a walk.
I don't know, we'll see how it plays out. LOL.