Branches

The following story is under the sole ownership and copyright of J.L. Scott. Unauthorized copying and/or use is actionable in a court of law.

To borrow a phrase: SG-1, Star Gate and Alias no mine, no permission, no money, no sue...please?

AN: Sorry this has taken so long! Working on other stories now!

Brriiinnngg!

Brriiinn....

"Hello?"

"Hello."

"Hi!"

"Hello?"

"Hello!"

"Hey!"

"You can put the phones down. They aren't on anyway" the young girl's voice said. Sydney and Vaughn looked at their phones. Neither were on.

I just didn't want to freak you out she continued I do that you know. A laugh acompanied that remark.

"Uh, it's nice to hear from you" Vaughn said, aloud, unsure how to procede.

It's okay. It's easier if you talk aloud. I just wanted to let you know I'm all better Another laugh imposed itself My "personal" doctor fixed me all up!

"Cassi, I'm....I'm sorry about what happened" Sydney said.

No big deal. I've been a POW before. But both CIA agents heard that this experience had been different.

"I was the one who was supposed to be lookig out for you and it was my mother that hurt you" Sydney objected.

I think I was supposed to be looking out for me O'Neill replied pevishly The mother thing well........I suppose life is complicated at times.

"How's uh...Murry? Teal'c?" Vaughn asked to change the subject.

Teal'c. He's fine. He's right here. We're babysitting my little brother and sister. He says hi! There was more humor in her "voice" He didn't get in too much trouble from my Dad! My Mom was the one who harped!

"We never met your mom" Vaughn said.

That's cause she didn't come to "rescue" us! An image of a blonde haired, blue eyed beauty popped into their heads. Both of them were astonished. The girl looked just like her mother, as they recalled, but they also remembered thinking she looked exactly like her Dad.

Yeah, I get that. Depends on who I'm standing closest too. My Mom just had twins. Chards looks like Dad, but we aren't sure who Manny looks like. There was mild confusion in their minds.

Amanda and Richard. Cassi clarified.

"Who were the other two men that came with your father?" Sydney asked. She had been curious about them ever since they left France.

Oh, that was my Uncle Danny. He's a doctor in anthropology and linguistics, but he knows a lot about other stuff too. He was my personal tutor for a while. Guess that's why I'm such a dweeb. Dad calls him Spacemonkey. She was rambling a little, happy to have someone to tell about her family. Vaughn and Sydney got the impression she didn't get the chance often. The other guy, the younger one, was Greg. He's my.....boyfriend, I guess. But the tone meant "husband". Sydney wondered if they were just waiting for her to turn 18.

Oh, we'll wait! I still have a life to live! Cass said, confusing Vaughn but relieving Sydney.

I have to go now. But it was nice talking to you again! Vaughn kind of took that to mean "I hope you have a nice life!"

"Yeah" he replied, "It was nice. Take care of yourself" A smile and a.....good...feeling filled his head and he suddenly felt her absence. He looked at Sydney, sitting next to him on the bed. She had a faraway look on her face. Cassi must still be talking to her....

Sydney..........

"Yeah?"

I thought I should tell you.....you know, I thought my mother was died a few months after I was born. I dind't meet her until I was sixteen. Sydney wasn't sure where this was going, but she listened because she could "hear" it's importance.

I....I looked. In your mother's head. To fine a way to escape, a reason I was there.

"I thought you said you knew. You said you were the Child Borne of the Ring"

That was just something I pulled from her mind. To catch her attention. But thanks for reminding me, that bears looking into. Sydney, mostly what I found in your mother's mind was....you. Things she regretted doing, reasons she did them.....your whole relationship. She really never meant to hurt you. She really does love you. She's just a fly, trapped in a web. Sydney didn't know how to respond. One thing she'd learned from Cassi was that the girl NEVER lied, unless it was part of a cover to protect the innocent. But this was not something she would lie about.

I have to go. Prolonged exposure could hurt you. But I thought you should know. I hope it helps you! And with that, there was a goodbye feeling and then Sydney's mind was once again a private place.

"Syd? You okay?" Vaughn asked. Sydney thought about it for a minute, then smiled.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine"

Brrriiinnng!

Brrriiinnng!

Brrriii.......

"Hello?"

"Daniel? Is Cass there?"

"Yeah. Cass! The phone is for you!"

The cordless phone drifted across the room to the girl's waiting hand.

"Are you still at it?!" her amazed and slightly annoyed friend blasted.

"I know it's here somewhere!" Cass defended herself, "Uncle Danny has every major history book there is! It's got to be mentioned somewhere!"

"For cryin' out loud!" Cassie was really agrivated, "You've been working on it for weeks! You come home, go to Daniel's, go to sleep, go to work and do it all over again! You haven't taken a break since Charlie left!" she complained. Cass harumphed and shut her book. Cassie was right, darn it. She'd even missed Richard crawling for the first time. (His sister was still trying)

"Look. I have a weekend off. You're actually on Earth for a change, Greg's probably sitting by himself at home. WHy don't we go do something?" Cassi suggested hopefully.

"Okay" Cass agreed grudgingly, "Just not bowling. Greg stinks at it"

"Will you pick me up?"

"Yeah, as soon as I go get Greg" Cass answered unhappily.

"Yay! See you soon!" her friend replied and hung up. Cass set the phone down and poured a glass of orange juice for herself from the living room.

"Jeeze!" she heard Daniel exclaim as he narrowly missed walking right into the hovering cup.

"Will you please tell me when you're going to do that?" Cassi laughed and downed the juice.

"I'm going out with Cassi and Greg if my parents call!" she told him as she collected her things and headed for the door.

"Why in the world would they call here looking for you?" Daniel asked sarcastically. Cass laughed again and closed the door behind her.

AN: That's it! Hope you enjoyed!