Author's Note: I'm still trying to figure out this two job thing, so my writing time is severly limited. I'm going to try for a "post every Monday" schedule, and then maybe shoot for a second day every week, but Mondays at least. This one's totally fluff and mostly filler, but it serves its purpose. Thanks to Macisgate for being a VERY prompt and fantabulous beta :)
Disclaimers/Spoilers: See previous chapters. Nothing's changed. Rated 'R' for language and...adult situations, I guess.
"You're going to what, flyboy?"
"Super glue you to my barca-lounger, make you watch every episode of The Simpsons, consecutively, send your laptop through the 'gate to that water planet the Russians found, and have Teal'c sing for you."
"Jack, this is a big deal! I want to remember it."
"Three roles is plenty to remember it by. Leave the girl alone."
"I'm not doing anything wrong!"
"Three roles, Sam! You have an entire role of her making her bed."
"So?"
"This is what we call over protective on my planet; what's it called on yours?"
"But Jack--"
"Guys!"
As amused as she was by the entire display, Cassie didn't feel like watching almost Lt. Colonel Carter and almost Brigadier General Jack O'Neill, defenders of Earth, defeaters of the Gou'uld, duke it out in her new dorm room. Somehow, her Freshman year at UC Denver, she had managed a single room in a tow room suite. She wondered if her high ranking military superhero guardians had anything to do with it. She had a sneaky suspicion Jack hadn't wanted her to share a room with a any "drug addicted sex fiends" who would keep her up all night and disrupt "all that serious academic stuff" and her track obligations.
Not that she minded. She'd kind of been dreading sharing a room with someone. "Single Child Syndrome," she'd heard it called. Watching Jack and Sam glare at each other and bicker good-naturedly, she smiled. Being the ward of the USAF's finest did have it's perks.
"No more bickering, or I'll tell the security guards not to let you in when you come to visit," the young woman scolded, folding her arms across her chest, feigning indignation.
Jack, in turn, feigned offense. "'Bicker'? I do not 'bicker'!" A sparkle gleamed mischievously in his eyes. "Sam maybe, but me--"
"Hey!" Sam cried, slapping his arm.
In truth, they bickered like an old married couple, and they knew it. For years, Jack had loved pushing Sam's buttons and pushing her to her exasperated limits, just as she loved confusing the hell out of him with her "technobabble."
Cassie laughed and delighted in the feeling of it. Since that day on the bluffs, she felt as though a weight had been lifted. She, Jack, and Sam had spent another week at his Minnesota cabin, before returning to Colorado Springs to start packing her life up and preparing for Freshman Orientation. Luckily enough, her move-in day was two days before SG-1 was to return to active duty. Then, Sam and Jack would be officially promoted, and Jack would assume command of the SGC.
In forty-eight hours, they went back to saving the universe one planet at a time. Until then, they had the luxury of being friends, new lovers, and nervous "parents" sending their kid to college. For her part, Cassie was glad she'd decided to attend University of Colorado at Denver, even though she'd been awarded a full track scholarship to their Colorado Springs campus as well. Denver was less than two hours away. Far enough to be free, but not too far in case of an emergency.
Sam turned to Cassie. "We could stay and help you unpack."
Cassie smiled, inferring from Sam's voice that she really wanted her to say yes. However, as much as she loved Sam, if she let them stay, Sam would arrange the room the way she wanted, which meant everything from her DVDs to her feminine hygiene products would be alphabetized AND arranged in descending height order. No thanks, Colonel Obsessive Compulsive. "I'm ok," Cassie said, a little too emphatically. "You guys need to start heading back anyway. Besides, you have one more day of freedom left, and I don't want you spending it me and my fellow froshers."
"We could all go to dinner tonight--" Sam suggested, kind of desperately.
"Sam," Jack interrupted in a gentle, but warning tone. He took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Cassie's right. It's time for us to go."
Sam sighed, knowing when she was outnumbered. She gave her lover's hand a quick squeeze of thanks before dropping it and pulling Cassie into a firm embrace. "If you need anything--"
"I'll call the SGC, and they'll dial PXY-Z123 and let you know," Cassie joked, winking at Jack over Sam's shoulder. She smiled as she watched him stifle a laugh.
Sam scowled and looked at him. "This is your influence."
Jack held up his hands placatingly but replied, "Damn, I hope so." Sam reluctantly released Cassie, and Jack gladly took his turn.
"Good luck, Cassie-girl," he said. "Anybody gives you trouble, call me, and I'll come kick their ass."
Cassie laughed, "No offense, Jack, but don't you mean you'll be sending Teal'c to do the ass kicking?"
It was Sam's turn to laugh, while Jack bristled. "Again, I say, your influence, Jack," she chuckled.
"Haven't even gotten a desk yet, and I'm already being called soft," he grumbled.
Cassie and Sam smiled. "Jack, you've always been a big ole softy, admit it," Cassie chided.
Pouting like a wounded puppy, Jack looked to Sam for back-up, but she shook her head. "She's right, Jack."
"Hey! I've gone toe-to-toe with Gou'uld badasses a hundred times. C'mon! I mean, Ra, Apophis, Seth, Anubis!" He counted them off on his fingers, while his mouth gaped like a fish. He was determined to fix his wounded pride.
"Mmmmhmm," Sam said, reaching out and wrapping her arms around his waist. "And in spite of all that, a baby, a puppy, or one of us getting so much as a splinter turns you to mush."
Jack growled but said nothing as Sam placed a chaste kiss to his cheek by way of apology.
Cassie glanced at the clock and clapped her hands decisively. "Okay guys, I'm kicking you out. I wanna shower and change before the Frosh Meet-n-Greet."
"That's a dance, isn't it?" Sam asked, still in Jack's arms.
Cassie nodded. "It'll probably be lame, but I hear there's free cookies and soda, so---score!"
"Sweet!" Jack said, holding out his arm to give Cassie one final hug. He smiled when both of his girls were in his arms. They were right; he was a big ole softy--although he'd never admit it.
"Bye," Cassie murmured.
"We'll see you soon," Jack replied, kissing the crown of her head. He released her and she stepped away.
"Have a safe trip," she said.
"Be safe," Sam replied.
"Yeah," Jack added. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"Oh, the possibilities that leaves," Cassie retorted gleefully.
Jack smiled knowingly. Then he took Sam by the hand and gently led her out of the suite. Cassie decided to walk with them to the elevator. As they boarded, Cassie stuck her hand out to keep the doors from closing. "Just do me one favor, okay guys?"
Sam and Jack exchanged confused glances. "What?" Sam asked cautiously.
"No more airmen, no matter how cute, showing up at my door with condolences, ok?" she asked, her voice light with humor, but her eyes belied the seriousness of her words. "Tell Daniel and Teal'c too. Nobody dies or gets mortally wounded for at least, like, a year, okay?"
Jack smiled comfortingly, "We'll do our best."
The elevator started beeping angrily at being delayed. Cassie removed her arm and the doors began to close. "Love you both," she said.
"We love you too," Sam replied, hand in hand with Jack as the doors shut completely.
Cassie smiled and returned to her new life.