After meeting Pete, Cassie reluctantly returned to college without speaking her mind.
It was another six months before Cassie saw her family again—not that she minded. Being away at college had given her a newfound freedom that allowed her to find herself. It was a chance to be happy—a chance to be normal where no one knew who or what she was.
By the time Cassie made her way through her second semester so much had happened at the SGC and with her friends she had a lot of catching up to do.
Cassie had called ahead and asked Teal'c to meet her topside and escort her down the 28 levels to the SGC.
"So how's Daniel?" Teal'c had always been quiet around her. If it were anyone else she would take it as an insult—but coming from Teal'c she thought it was endearing.
"He is presently resting in the infirmary."
"Oh—I made him some cookies." Holding up the bag, she smiled as Teal'c looked down and nodded. "Chocolate Chocolate chip, hope he likes them."
"It has been my experience that Danieljackson is responsive to all consumables which contain caffeine."
She had to smile, Teal'c always had a way of saying things that made you feel—appreciated.
Once clear of the elevator—Cassie took off on her own as Teal'c returned to his duties.
She had come here to see Daniel—but something had been weighing on her mind lately, and her first stop would be to Jack's office.
The door was left ajar only an inch or two and Cassie crept up to the door and leaned over to see Jack sitting at his desk. He was leaning back in his chair while throwing a newly sharpened pencil up at the ceiling in an attempt to get it to stick.
With a soft knock on the door, Cassie walked in with the biggest grin on her face.
"Hello General."
Nearly falling out of his chair, Jack grabbed the edge of his desk and looked at Cassie.
"Cass!!" Standing from his chair he walked around and hugged Cassie as the small bag of cookies in her hand bumped Jack in the back. "Oh! What are these?" He asked pulling the bag out of her hand.
"Cookies—for Daniel." She took the bag back and held it behind her.
"I don't get cookies?" He asked, feigning hurt feelings as he gave her the puppy dog look.
"When you go missing for a month and wind up in the infirmary—then I'll bring you cookies." Sitting down behind his desk, Cassie propped her feet up on the desk and grinned at Jack.
"Alright…outta the chair missy." Taking her hand Jack pulled her from his chair and she moved around the desk to the other chair. "So what's new?"
"Oh not much…I made the dean's list again."
"Oh wow—shouldn't there be a cake for something like that?"
"Yeah something…" She was beating around the bush and Jack could see it, he was just waiting for her to talk about what she really came here to talk about.
"Sooo, boyfriend yet?" Jack asked perking up his head.
"No time for that—"
"No time? Oh come on now…there's always time for stuff like that." Jack said, regretting his words the moment he spoke them.
"Ohhh really? Well, if that's not the pot calling the kettle black—"
"Cassie…"
"He has weird hair!" The words flew out of her mouth before she had a chance to connect it with a complete thought.
"What? Who?"
"PETE!"
The name echoed between his ears and now he was really regretting this conversation.
"I guess Sam told you…"
"She's going to marry him."
"Yeah I know, it happens." He was covering with jokes, his usual defense mechanism.
"He's weird."
"I know—the hair."
"I can't tell if it's a comb over if it's just really thin…" Cassie said leaning forward as she smiled.
"Well—everyone can't have perfect hair."
"I don't like him, Jack."
"Give him a chance."
"Don't want to—wait why are you being so PRO--PETE? You can't tell me this guy doesn't make you want to…"
"Punch him in the head?"
"Yeah."
"Have you talked to Sam about this?"
"Well—I tried, but…"
"But what?"
"She didn't like my idea…"
"What idea?"
"I told her that she should marry you." She was completely serious and that's what caught Jack by surprise.
"Uh—Cass, now—uh—" Pushing back form his desk he fumbled with the papers around him.
"Yeah…that's what Sam said."
"It's not like that—"
"Oh please. Act like I don't know you Jack."
"Aren't you supposed to be delivering cookies to Daniel?"
"Jack—"
"No Cassie."
It was a battle of wills now—who could hold out longer. But O'Neill knew better than to have a stare down contest with her, after all she was just like him when it came to being stubborn.
Much to his surprise, she looked away after a moment and walked to the door. Pausing only for a moment at the door she looked back at Jack.
"You're just going to let her go? Without a fight? Without saying anything, without knowing the truth—you are going to let her marry the wrong guy."
Closing the door, Cassie walked down the hall with a grin on her face that reached her ears—Mission accomplished.