Ties that Bind pt 5


While eating breakfast, Cassie brought up her wish to see her mother to the Colonel.

He said that we had talked about it earlier when I had gotten up and we were leaving the decision up to her. But we assured her that we would be there for her if she wanted to go through with it.

Cassie looked a little nervous and scared as she gathered her courage. She looked up. "Yeah, its something I have to do Uncle Jack. I can't explain it, but I have to let her know that I'm going to be okay."

Reaching over, he took her hand and squeezed it. "If that is what you want to do, I will support you and be there, if you needed me."

Since Cassie was sitting next to me, I put my arm around her shoulder and drew her close, giving her a kiss on her cheek. I assured her that I would be there for her as well.

"Haveyou called Daniel and Teal'c yet to see if they are coming by?" Cassie said with hope in her eyes.

I let her go and started to get up to take the dirty dishes to the sink. I could feel Jack following me, waiting to see how I would respond.

"I'll call them as soon as I finish washing the dishes, Cassie. I'll let them know the plan, unless you want to talk to them yourself."

"Yeah. I wanted to see if Daniel's okay. He drank a lot last night. He kept telling me how much he liked my mom, and how he wished he'd had the guts to tell her. That's a little ironic because I'm sure Mom had the same feelings for him, but never acted on them. It's strange how people react when a person they care for is taken away. I wish I could have told Mom everyday how much she meant to me, but until now, I took it for granted that she would always be there for me."

Hearing Cassie say what she did, I had to leave the room. She summed up exactly how I felt in a few sentences. I excused myself, saying that I needed to go to the bathroom.

Coming back a few minutes later, I could hear Cassie talking to Daniel. The Colonel was washing the dishes I had left behind.

Standing next to him, I grab the sponge from his hand. He held onto it, turning towards me so that Cassie could not see. "Are you okay?"

I smiled. "Yeah. That kid is smarter then she knows. It just kind of hit me what she was saying."

"You and me both. You were just lucky you escaped. I had to pretend I got soap in my eye. She's not blind, Sam. She sees things we don't. We can't hide everything from her. We better remember that."

Hearing my name, I looked over Jack shoulder and saw Cassie waving me over to the phone.

"Oh great! I have to talk to Daniel. I thought I could do this. I'm starting to have second thoughts."

Still holding her hand, Jack watched her. "Like I said, you have nothing to apologize to him about. If he can't deal with what happened, that's his problem. And you don't have anything to be embarrassed about either."

"Thanks for the pep talk, Coach. I'd better go talk to him." Walking past Jack, I could hear Cassie asking Daniel if he had taken any aspirin for his headache, and to make sure he drank a lot of liquids, water preferably.

Taking the phone from Cassie, I took a deep breath. "Hey Daniel. How are you feeling?"

I didn't hear anything on the other line. Did he hang up? Was he that upset? "Daniel, are you there?"

"Ah, yeah Sam, I'm here. How's Cassie?"

I could hear the coolness in his voice. I cringed and thought of all the trust and understanding that had been shattered last night.

"She's doing well. It was a little rough, but she is handling this better then we thought she would."

"We. So Jack did spend the night. Figures."

Walking away from the kitchen, I went into the living room so I could speak without being overheard.

"Daniel, I want to apologize for yesterday. It was..."

"Yeah it was a little strange seeing you in Jack's shirt, and him bare-chested. Did you think we wouldn't notice? You have a responsibility to Cassie now, and if I hadn't been so incoherent last night, I would have stayed and took care of her. It seems one of us has to step up to it since you were too busy..."

"Stop it, Daniel! Nothing happen. It was a temporary lapse of judgment, but nothing happened. I'm sorry it got to that point, but we were all hurting last night. I should have been more considerate, your right, but I was not thinking straight. You had alcohol to deal with your grief. I had a grieving girl and I needed someone to tell me that it was going to be okay."

I didn't hear anything from the other line. I was on the verge of tears. He was not going to forgive me; I could feel it. I had betrayed his trust in me.

"Daniel, are you still there?" I asked.

I heard him exhale. "Yeah, I'm here. Cassie told me what she wants to do. Do you think it's a good idea? I mean, it could be harmful for her."

Understanding that our topic of conversation had changed for the moment, I responded. "She says its something she has to do, Daniel. She's being very grown up about it, and I think it will help her heal. She has to let Janet know that she's going to be okay." Feeling my stomach churn, I knew breakfast was not going to stay for very long.

"She wants all of us there, right?"

"Yes Daniel, she does. Could we be adults about what happen last night till this is all over? I don't want her to be involved in this mess."

"Yeah, whatever. Look, my car is still over there, right?"

"Yes it is. I could drive it over and pick you guys up and then head over to the SGC."

"Okay, better you then Jack. I'm a little upset with him, and I really don't want to talk to him just yet."

"Okay, I'll see you guys in an hour."

Hanging up, I sat on the couch and wondered how I was going to fix this mess between Daniel and I.

Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I looked up. "I'd better get ready. I have to drive Daniel's car over and pick up the guys."

"I could do it. You can take Cassie and we'll met you at the SGC."

Fighting back my tears, I responded. "He's more upset with you then he is with me." Turning toward him, I could see his guilty expression. "What really happened between you two? "

Jack shrugged and put his hands in his pockets.

"I kinda of broke his glasses, but in my own defense, he did swing at me first. He got in a good punch, but I put my hands up to deflect his second punch and knocked his glasses on the floor. In our little scuffle, one of us must have stepped on them."

Putting my hands to my face, I whispered. "God, will he ever get over.."

"Get over what, Sam?" Cassie asked, walking into the living room

"Get over his hangover, Cassie. You know Daniel. Drinking too much is never good for him." Jack said

Smiling at Jack, I was thankful that I didn't have to answer her. I didn't know what I would have said.

"Well, the kitchen is clean. I'm going to get my jacket. Are Daniel and Teal'c coming over?"

"No Cassie. I'm going to go pick them up. Daniel and Teal'c took a cab last night, so I'll be picking them up and we'll me you two at the SGC."

"Okay, I'll be ready to go in a minute, Uncle Jack."

Getting up, I thanked Jack again for the quick save. Coming closer to me, he gave me a hug. I didn't stop him. I needed his strength to get through this day, and facing Daniel was just the starting point of many hard things to come.

Letting me go, he tilted my head up towards him. "I'm here, Sam. I'm not going anywhere, and I don't care what you said earlier. I will not forget what happen last night. I'll always remember, and if that's all you can give me right now, I'll wait. You are that special and what we have is special too."

I smiled with tears brimming from my eyes. "Why do our lives have to be so difficult? All I want is to have you hold me and never let go, but..."

Putting a finger to my lips to silence me, Jack finished for me. "If it wasn't difficult, it wouldn't be worth fighting for. I feel like I've just stepped into the ring and could go 15 rounds with the biggest baddest system lord. Samantha Carter, you're worth more to me then words can say, and once you understand that, you'll see why I'll always fight for you."

I wanted to turn away. I wasn't worthy of his loyalty or his love for me. I just kept my eyes locked with his.

The moment was broken when we heard Cassie walking back into the room. Walking to the other side of the room, I picked up Daniel's keys and went to get my purse. I had forgotten to call General Hammond with Cassie's request.

"Oh, Damn!" Jack looked up.

"What's wrong, Sam?"

"I forgot to call General Hammond with Cassie's request." Cassie looked at me and froze.

"Sam, do you think Uncle George won't let me see my mom?"

"I took care of that while you were in the shower, Sam. He's just waiting for me to call him back to see what time we will be arriving."

I smiled at him. He never ceased to amaze me.

"Thank you sir. I really appreciate you doing that. Let's get a move on. We have a lot to do today."

To be continued.