Notes: Ok, I admit, bit of a weird part. Sorry about that...the writers amongst you will know sometimes you can get a little stuck, and you need certain things to happen when they might not really fit...


Jessica Carter tugged at the bottom of Sam's leather jacket for the tenth time. "Auntie Sam, please!"

"Jessica, don't whine," Sam told her, getting fed up fast. She saw the girl's sad eyes and caved in. "Okay, I give in. You can have a cookie as well as an ice cream. Just don't tell your parents."

"Auntie Sam, Mom makes us eat fruit and vegetables and salad six days a week and gives us a few sweets on a Sunday. We eat healthy," Michael explained.

"Junk food it is then," she smiled. "Cassy?" She called over her shoulder. The teenager was lagging behind. "Honey, are you okay?"

"Yes, fine," she replied unconvincingly.

"We're going to the park in a minute," Sam told her. "We can talk then."

"Okay," Cass nodded. "So where next?"

"The toy shop," Jessica replied, pulling Sam towards the store. "We always go."

"JESSICA!" Michael yelled, pulling his sister off of his aunt. "Aunt Sam is not well, you need to be careful. Sorry, she's really stupid."

Sam laughed, "It's okay, and she's not stupid. She's just little. Why don't you and Jessica go ahead?"

The kids ran off in to the store and Sam and Cassy walked slowly inside. "What's up, sweetie?"

"I don't know," the 17-year-old shrugged. "I can't stop thinking about home, and you, and..."

"I get it," Sam nodded. "You lost your first family, and you thought you were going to lose me. And it scared you."

"Yes, it did, but I can't put it out of my mind. The thought that you, or any of SG-1, or even Mom could get killed. I can't stand the thought!" She sniffed. She wiped her eyes, and smiled. "Come on. If there is one thing I learned from babysitting it's don't let your eye off of a child under the age of 11, especially in a toy store."

Sam grinned and followed her down the Barbie aisle. "Cassy, I realised I never said thank you for taking care of me the other week. So, I'll say it now. Thank you."

"You would and have done the same for me," Cass shrugged. "I wish you hadn't moved out though. It seemed quite sudden."

"Yeah, well, I think I needed to be in my own house for a little," Sam told her. "You understand?"

"I think so," The Goth nodded. She was clad in a long black skirt and a black shirt with a purple cat on it. She was wearing a choker and a beautiful bracelet that Sam had bought her. She looked stunning. "You know you're welcome to come back if you need to. Mom is worried, she wanted you to stay longer."

"I know, I know."

"Did you tell her about the nightmares?" Cass hoped. She knew straight away what Sam was going to say, and sighed.

"No, sweetie. They've stopped now," Sam lied.

"Really?" Cassy blinked. She didn't buy it.

"Well, those ones have. I have others. But, I'm handling things. And the guys are taking care of me," Sam shrugged, picking up a Vet Barbie. "I remember buying a few of these for you."

"Please, don't embarrass me. I was 11, and the best I'd had until then was a rag doll. I thought a toaster was magic," Cassandra replied quietly, taking the box and putting it back on the shelf.

"Remember your twelth birthday, Daniel was worried that you were too old for dolls. I explained that you weren't, because you'd never had any. And so we bought you loads, and you made Jack play Ken and T...Murray play Miss Kimmie. And then of course Daniel was her little sister," Sam laughed.

"Oh god yes. And Daniel gave in and then he started doing this little doll voice. It was so funny," Cassy recalled. They just stood there, laughing for a moment. "It seems like such a long time ago. Oh god, and Jack...with the..."

"Doesn't it?" Sam felt a hand on her arm and she turned around to see Michael, standing patiently, with a game box in his hand. "Hey Michael, what you got there?"

"Auntie Sam, please may I have this?" He asked politely, handing it to her. She looked at Cassy, and grinned. He had always been a very sweet kid, very polite. Secretly, he was her favourite of the two siblings. Probably, she noted, because she had been more like Michael than Jessica during her childhood.

"A new game, sure, honey," She agreed. "That looks good. Maybe you could let Colonel O'Neill have a go later? I don't think he has that one."

"Okay," he nodded. "I'll go find Jessica, she's wondered off again. I think she's looking at the teddy bears." He marched off, leaving his aunt and Cassandra laughing.

"Oh he is soooo cute," Cass said. "Can I take him home with me?"

"I don't think my brother would like that," Said Sam. "But you could ask..."


There was a knock at the door, and Jack O'Neill frowned. Daniel looked at him, silently asking if he was expecting anyone. The older man shrugged, and went to open the door.

He found Marc Carter.

"Mr O'Neill..." Marc began. Jack did not like the look in his eye, or the tone of his voice today.

"Colonel. But, as you're Sam's relative, it's Jack," He replied, standing aside so that Marc could enter.

"You're wondering how I found you?" Carter asked, as he entered the living room. He heard the door slam, and then Jack was behind him.

"Yes. Among other things – for example, why you're here..." Daniel and Teal'C shifted over to make room for Jack on the couch. He sat down.

"May I sit?" Marc asked.

"I guess."

"I asked Sam to come home," he told them, setting down on the chair opposite.

"She's at the mall. She'll be back in about an hour," Jack replied, picking up his beer and taking a swig. "I don't have any more beers. Sorry. But I guess you have to drive anyway."

"Not to her home, I mean my home." He shifted in his seat.

"Why?"

"Because she needs to be with family, that's why!" He exlaimed, sitting back. He shook his head. "She's thinking about it."

"She is with family. Us!"

"Oh really?"

"We may not be any blood relation, but we are family," Jack replied angrily. "We are family. For the last seven years, I've comforted her when she's upset, I've taken care of her when she's sick, I've made her laugh. The three of us have been there for her, every time she needed us. We've always been there for her. Where have you been?"

"I appreciate all you've done for her. All that you will do for her. But, she needs to come home. She should heal at home, with me. I've always known whats best for her. I've always been able to help her," Marc was still fairly calm, although there was something about him that was getting Jack angrier by the second. "We lost our father, and my family is all she has now. I only want her to stay for a few weeks, until she's back to full health."

"For fucks sake, Marc, she's 34 years old. She's old enough to make her own choices!" He exclaimed, standing up. He was waving his hands about, and shaking his head. "34."

"I don't agree. I practically raised Sam. I think I know better than you what she needs. When we lost my mom, she changed. A lot. She got in to some really bad shit, and I don't want her losing grip again," Marc was clearly over reacting. The guys couldn't believe it. He thought that she was still a little kid. Jack wondered how well Marc would cope with all that she'd been through the last seven years. Jack seriously doubted he'd be able to do it.

"She doesn't have an addiction, she isn't self-destructive. Not this time, anyway. She doesn't have an illness affecting her mind," Jack argued. "She lost her father, and she is recovering from severe injuries. These injuries do not affect her ability to make decisions. She's finding it hard to cope - I know that. I think anyone would. But her going home with you isn't the answer. Maybe, in the past, it was. But she doesn't need you to take care of her. She's a Major in the Air Force. She didn't get there from being weak. She can handle this, she can get through. She's very capable. She's changed a lot. I think you're still living in 1983!"

"And we are here to help her. We won't let her give up. We're going to help her. We are helping her. You need to do the same," Daniel contributed.

"I thought I was," Marc sighed, closing his eyes for a second.

"I know. Just, trust her. Try to see her the way we do," Jack said, sitting back down. He was cooling off now.

"I'm just trying to look out for my baby sister. She's the only one I have," Marc said. Teal'C...rather, Murray, bowed his head, and Daniel nodded.

"I can understand that."

"Me too." Jack agreed. "Do you want a soda or something? We were just gonna start watching the game."

"Sure, a soda would be good," Marc nodded, smiling slightly. "Thanks." He got up and followed O'Neill into the kitchen, to O'Neill's surprise. "Colonel...Jack..."

"Yes?" Jack asked as he rummaged through his fridge.

"Uh, Sam talks about the three of you guys a lot when we're on the phone. But mostly she talks about you."

"I'm popular," Jack shrugged. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm not aware of regulations, Jack. Not really. But I do know it's against rules to have feelings for your Commanding Officer."

"Oh no, you found out about me and Murray! Don't blame him, it's all my fault really..." Jack joked, grabbing himself a packet of chips from the cupboard.

"I think Sam loves you, Jack. She's never talked about anyone the way she talks about you."

"Really?" Jack handed him the soda, and walked back in to the living room with his chips. "If you're trying to ask if we're dating, or...well, we're not. We are incredibly close friends. Best friends. Dating? No. There can be nothing between us while we are Air Force Officers."

"That's a shame," Marc smiled. "You make her very happy. I can tell." He paused. "I'm sorry...I don't even know if you feel the same. I guess I was kind of hoping that there was something more between you. I don't want her to be alone."

"She isn't alone," Jack objected, sitting down.

"She has plenty of friends, Jack. I mean someone to come home to."


I realise this isnt much like Dr Frasier Medicine Woman yet as there isnt much Janet, but there will be. Besides, Doctor Quinn was all about the whole village. This is about the whole SGC!!