Cassie blushed. "I guess so. Well, we're going out tonight, anyway."
Sam's grin widened. "Really? Where are you going?"
"There's a drive-in movie theater off the highway. I've never been to one, but Dominic insists they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. They're playing Star Wars."
"Really? You know that's Teal'c's favorite movie? And I don't think he's ever been to a drive-in."
"You wouldn't."
"Would I?"
Cassie glared threateningly.
"All right, I wouldn't." Pause. "So, what did you tell Dominic, anyway?"
"Same thing you tell people. Deep-space radar telemetry."
"I won't even ask how that makes sense."
"It's probably better that way." She took a bite of cereal. "You know, your boyfriend knows about the Stargate."
"I hope I didn't set a bad precedent."
"Nope. Just thinking."
"That serious, huh?"
"Are you?"
"I dunno."
"Me neither." Cassie picked up her empty bowl and put it in the sink. "Off to school, then."
"Need a ride?"
"No, thanks. Dominic's picking me up."
"Hey, Cass?"
Cassie stuck her head back in the doorway. "Yeah?"
"I'm glad we could talk."
"Me, too. You wouldn't mind if I moved in permanently, would you? I mean, until I go away to college. Since I have to sell the house anyway."
"If you wanted to keep it..."
Cassie shook her head. "No. I need to let it go, and move on. Anyway, if Mom's spirit were anywhere, it wouldn't be in the house. It would be at the Base."
Sam nodded. "I think you're right."
Cassie started to leave, then rushed back, holding a flat package wrapped in plain brown paper. "I almost forgot. I made this for you. Don't open it until after I leave."
Sam gave a questioning look, but waited until the front door closed to tear off the paper. Underneath was a painting of a child in a woman's arms.
Cassie and Sam.
Tears came to Sam's eyes as she realized that this was Cassie's way of saying that she could still depend on Sam. True, they couldn't make up the time they had lost. But there would always be new problems to be solved, new memories to be made. Now they had each other. And that was all that mattered.
THE END