The Intergalactic Social Event of the Decade

Part 5

Jacob followed Cassie into the Air Force Academy Chapel. He saw the man who must be his future son-in-law standing near the altar chatting amicably with the chaplain and Sam who was sitting on the front pew. Jacob took a moment to study Pete. I dream in the Pete. He still couldn't get that out of his head.

Not exactly General O'Neill is he? Selmak asked.

Unfortunately, Selmak, we're going to have to deal with the fact that Sam's not marrying Jack.

But Jacob couldn't deny the fact that the moment he saw Pete he automatically compared him to Jack. While Pete was broad shouldered and seemed reasonably fit (though a little on the soft side in Jacob's opinion), he was no match for Jack's wiry battle hardened frame. Pete had kind of a goofy look to him and it was no denying that the general had a definite goofy side, but it was also tempered by a dark strength that never completely left him. Jacob doubted that even though he was a cop Pete couldn't be intimidating or ever be able to cope with the darkness that had permeated Jack's life. Pete was a teddy bear compared to Jack's wolf. Pete was safe and at that moment Jacob realized what his daughter saw in the man. And what she was running a way from. Life with Jack O'Neill might be fun and frightening, wild and weird, lazy and lusty, but it would never be completely safe or easy or remotely normal.

Cassie prodded Jacob down the aisle to towards Sam and Pete. When Sam saw her father she smiled and got up to stand beside her fiancé. In her heels, which weren't exceptionally high, she was at least two inches taller than him.

"She's too tall for him," Jacob whispered to Cassie.

She laughed, "That's what I said."

Sam and Pete met them half way down the aisle. "Dad, this is my fiancé Pete Shanahan. Pete, this is my father General Jacob Carter."

"It's good to finally meet you, Pete." Jacob held his hand out.

Yeah. Right.

Shut up, Selmak. I'm trying to be nice.

Pete grinned inanely. "I'm so glad you could make it, Dad. I can call you 'Dad', can't I?"

"No."

Sam glared at her father but he ignored it.

Pete just shrugged and then leaned in closer to Jacob still grinning and whispered, "Can I talk to the alien?"

"Sure." Jacob nodded his head down and then lifted it up eyes glowing. "You're too short for her," Selmak told him.

Cassie had to turn away to hide her smirk.

"Selmak!" Sam said angrily but her father soon took control again.

"Sorry about that, Pete. Selmak's got an odd sense of humor."

"No big deal. I think Sam likes to tower over me, don't you, babe?"

Sam just smiled. She in fact had serious unresolved issues with their respective heights and his tendency to call her 'babe', but she refused to let her father think she was anything less than completely and perfectly happy. "Mark and Cindy should be here anytime. Mark's going to be Pete's best man."

"Did the kids come too?" Jacob asked "I can't wait to see how much they've grown."

Sam nodded and then asked, "How did you meetings go?"

"Pretty good. I think things are looking up between the Tok'ra and the Tauri. Garshaw and Anise are coming tomorrow to represent the Tok'ra at the wedding."

Sam winced slightly at the mention of Anise but replied, "That's great we'd be honored to have them here. Did you manage to get out of the mountain before now?"

"Oh, yeah. Jack and I went to Sayuri's last night for dinner and I stayed at his place."

"You stayed with General O'Neill.? "

"Yeah, Jack and Cassie got me caught up on TV and then we ended playing Scrabble until- what, Cassie? Two?"

"Three." she replied grinning at the memory. "Jack kept accusing us of cheating for using alien words, but he was using Latin. I don't see what the difference is."

"Latin? General O'Neill?"

"He learned on Groundhog Day."

"Oh, yeah. I'm surprised he still remembers it." Sam laughed at the memory of the General and Teal'c being forced to lean Latin to help Daniel with the translation. But as she laughed, she felt an odd pang of regret. It sounded like great fun playing board games with the general, Cassie, and her father until the wee hours of the morning. She missed just hanging out and having fun with her friends and family. But she had Pete now she reminded herself and he gave her more than they could offer. Still it would have been fun.

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TBC