Chapter Ten
Disclaimer: Have we not gone through this before? The show doesn't belong to me, the characters don't belong to me, but the idea behind the story does belong to me. I'm not making any money by posting this (although, it would be nice if I was ... but it's not about money). That good enough?
A/N: Kazaa has a lot of SG-1 episodes, you've just gotta be patient with it.
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They were already prepared for her when the doorbell rang. Jack had been watching out the window for her car and when she pulled into the driveway Sam ran off into the kitchen and hid. She could barely contain her joy when she heard Cassie ask Jack why he was off work, wasn't being the general of the SGC practically a twenty-four hour day job? Jack had laughed and told her that yeah, it basically was, but the powers that be had seen fit to give him a few days off, under the circumstances.
"What circumstances?" She asked, worry creeping into her voice. "You're not hurt, are you? Daniel and Teal'c they're ok, right?"
"Calm down," Jack said, "nobody is hurt." He paused for a moment, "However ... there is somebody here that you'd probably like to talk to." Which was her cue, she took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the kitchen, stepping out into the living room.
Cassie stood in the middle of the room, shock apparent on her face. She didn't say anything for the longest time, she didn't speak, she didn't even blink. "I'm waiting to wake up," she finally breathed. "This has to be a dream."
Sam smiled, "You're not dreaming, Cassie. I'm here. I'm trying not to be offended at the moment, because you're avoiding me like I'm the plague."
Cassie shook herself out of her stupor and ran towards Sam, enveloping her in the strongest hug Sam had ever thought possible. Cassie's arms were wrapped so tightly around her that she could barely breath. "Cassie," she managed, "honey, I ... can't breathe ... let go."
She sheepishly obeyed, "Sorry. I just missed you so much, what happened? Why are you back? Did they descend you? What did you do? Why haven't yo-"
"Cassie, honey ... breath." Sam said, leading her over to the couch, and sitting her down on it. "One question at a time, alright?"
She nodded, breathed deeply, and started with her questions again. "When did you get back?"
"Not even two days ago. Of course I had to get tests taken to make sure I was alright, then I was sent home, so was Jack. General Hammond is taking over the base for a few days while he's on downtime. We went out and got something to eat then came here and called for you." She smiled, "Next question?"
"What happened? Did they descend you or something?"
"That," Jack said, stepping closer to the couch, "I can answer." He sat down on the coffee table in front of the couch and began, "Sam doesn't remember anything from when she was ascended, just like Danny boy didn't. You remember awhile back when I told you I was getting to go off world?"
She nodded, "Yeah ... it was like four months ago. Why?"
"Well, that mission didn't exactly turn out how it was supposed to. The people of that particular planet were blackmailed into getting SG-1, along with me, to come that day so we could be ambushed. Teal'c, Daniel, and the others got away safe, but I was taken hostage and ... well tortured by Ba'al ... again. During that time Sam used her powers to essentially save my ass and got descended for it."
"Oh ... have you talked to Jacob yet? Does he know you're home?"
"The Tok'ra have already been contacted," she explained, "but I don't know when I'll get the chance to see him."
"What about Mark? Have you called him yet?"
"I haven't had the chance to yet, but I'm going to tonight."
Cassie looked over at Jack; "Does she know about Pete? Have you told her yet?"
"Now why would I have to ... oh. I forgot she doesn't remember any of it."
"What about Pete?" Sam asked, looking at Jack. "Did something happen to him?"
He shook his head, "Nothing like that. He ah ... he got married."
"Oh," she said, looking down at her hands. "Well, good for him. I'm glad that he was able to get on with his life, he shouldn't have waited around for me to return, and it wasn't likely to happen. And ... even if I did," she looked at Jack, "I wouldn't be coming home to him."
Cassie caught onto the look and meaning of what she said, "Really?" She asked, "You two...?" She glanced between Sam and Jack, "When did this happen ... or my importantly, why wasn't I told?'
Sam smiled at her, "Calm down, Cassandra. Remember ... one question at a time."
"Alright, when did this happen?"
She looked at Jack, "I'm actually not really that sure, to tell you the truth. I remember something about before I ascended, after I was shot. I told him that I loved him. Then, from there on it's a blank, so whatever happened while I was ascended he'll just have to tell me. And, when I came back through the 'gate he was on the other side. He just laid one on me," she blushed. "I wasn't about to object."
A grin spread across Cassie's face, "Well, all that I can say about that is it's about damn time!" She squealed and hugged Sam again, "Oh, you don't even know how happy I am that you're home! We have sooo much to talk about."
Jack sighed to himself, it was going to be a long couple of hours waiting for Daniel and Teal'c.
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1843 Zulu
Sam and Cassie were sitting on the back porch talking when the doorbell rang so Jack was the one to answer it. He could have hugged Daniel and Teal'c for arriving, Sam and Cassie were driving him crazy with all of their girl talk. The two men immediately questioned their friend's whereabouts and Jack directed them to the backyard, following them outside after grabbing himself another beer.
They were giggling over something when the three men made it out back; Sam looked up at them with a sparkle in her eyes and jumped out of her seat, running to greet her friends. She nearly jumped on Daniel and almost choked him to death due from squeezing too hard. He didn't seem to mind and hugged her just as tightly, if it wasn't for the seriousness of Daniel's new relationship with one of the SG nurses Jack might have felt a little jealous, and Sam and Daniel had always been as close as brother and sister.
He was surprised, however, when Sam hugged Teal'c with the same force and strength that she had hugged Daniel. The large Jaffa seemed equally as shocked but hugged her back nonetheless, even though he was not the hugging type.
"It is good to have you home again, Colonel Carter." He said when she pulled back.
"Yes it is, Teal'c." She replied with a smile, "Your hair is coming along nicely."
"Indeed," he agreed, "it is."
"Hey, Jack," Cassie called from her seat, "where's this cake I've heard about?"
The older man smiled, "I've taught you well. It's in the fridge if you want some."
Teal'c glanced at Cassie, then at the others on the deck. Cocking his head to one side he turned and walked towards the house, Cassie's eyes widened.
"Oh, no you don't!" She called out, jumping out of her chair and breezing past everyone. "You'll eat the whole thing!" She managed to dunk past Teal'c and make it into the house before he did, locking the door behind her. Peaking out the blinds she smirked evilly, then disappeared into the kitchen. Thinking strategically, Teal'c simply reached above the doorframe for the spare key every member of SG-1 knew he kept hidden, just in case the worse was to happen or he simply left his key inside or at the base. It didn't take him fifteen seconds to open the door and not even ten seconds after that Cassie was squealing that he could only have a little piece, he had to save the rest for everybody else.
The other three just glanced at each other before laughter ensued. Moments later, while they were still laughing, Cassie came out of the kitchen with a smug look on her face, a large piece of cake on the plate in her hands. Teal'c followed, carrying his own plate with a slightly smaller piece, he did not look happy.
"What's the matter, T?" Jack asked, "You let the little one bully you?"
He raised his chin, "Indeed, she is very convincing. However, if no one else wishes to eat cake I have reserved the rest for myself." He glanced over at Cassie, "I have ... dibs."
Sam snorted and began to laugh historically at the serious look on Teal'c face as he said so. The jaffa did not find the matter funny, but ignored her laughter all the same and took a bite of his cake.
Daniel went inside to get himself a piece of the cake while Sam and Jack remained outside with Teal'c and Cassie, since they had already eaten some of it earlier. Getting tired of standing Jack led Sam to one of the patio chairs and sat down, pulling her with him. She laughed as his arm snaked around her waist, preventing her from standing up, and settled onto his lap, kissing him briefly. Cassie watched their performance with a smile and Teal'c held an amused look on his face, though he did not speak of the rule breaking behavior going on before his eyes.
Daniel came back out onto the deck, his own plate with cake on it in his hands, and his eyes fell upon the two sitting together. A smile played on his lips as he walked past them and sat down in a chair next to Cassie, sharing a look with the younger woman.
Jack and Sam looked at each other and Jack rolled his eyes while shaking his head. "He thinks he's the only one allowed to have some fun," he explained glancing at the young archeologist. "He'll get over it."
Cassie laughed and looked at Daniel, "What's this ones name?" She asked, nudging him with her shoulder. "Nurse number 5?"
He blushed and took a bite out of his cake, looking over at Teal'c. "Why doesn't anybody ask Teal'c how Ishta is doing?"
The jaffa's head inclined as he looked at the other three, then back at Daniel. "Ishta is well," he stated.
Daniel huffed and stuffed another piece of cake in his mouth, "We've only been on three dates." He said after he had finished the cake. "What's so wrong with me dating?"
"Nothing," Sam said. "I'm glad that you're dating again ... otherwise you'd be the only single one on the original SG-1. Jack and I have each other, Teal'c has Ishta, and now you have ... what is her name?"
"Her name is Mary." Daniel explained, "And we've only been on three dates, thank you very much. We're only dating ... not in a relationship."
"Talk about testing the water," Jack whispered into Sam's ear. She laughed and swatted him playfully.
"Leave him be, he's younger than we are, let him have his fun." She glanced at Daniel with a smile dancing in her eyes, "I think it's sweet that he's getting so embarrassed."
Daniel glared at her, "Why hasn't anybody questioned Cassie about the huge honking ring on her finger?"
Cassie's mouth dropped open and she sent Daniel the dirtiest look she could manage, Daniel just smirked at her and looked at the other three on the deck. In an instant Sam had managed to break free of Jack's hold and made her way towards Cassie, grabbing her hand for further examination.
"Oh my God," she gushed. "How did I miss a rock this big? Cassandra Marie Fraiser, why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
Cassie smiled weakly at her, knowing she was in trouble. "I wanted Dominic to be here when I told you ... it's as much his engagement as it is mine."
"You're only twenty!" She exclaimed, "You're going to get married so soon?"
"We're going to have a long engagement," Cassie explained. "We won't get married until I'm twenty-two, that's about a year and a half away." She smiled at Sam; "It was making me crazy before because I couldn't ask you to be my maid-of-honor. But ... now that you're back I can. So..." she asked, a hopeful expression on her face, "will you?"
Sam pulled her out of her chair and into a hug, "Of course! How could I say no?"
When they broke away Cassie looked at Jack, "I was wondering if you would give me away, Jack. Since I don't actually have a father...."
Jack got out of his seat and made his way over to her, hugging her just as Sam had. "I would be honored to," he said into her hair. He pulled away and stood next to Sam, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him.
"Now the only thing left to discuss," Cassie said with a smile, "Is when you two are going to get married."
They looked at each other, speechless.
"I ... ah ... think that's a little too...." Jack started.
"What he means," Sam said, "Is that ... ah ... we haven't even had the chance to date yet. We haven't even...."
"It's a little too early to think about marriage," Jack said, looking at Sam. "I'd like to take her on at least one date first." He looked back at Cassie with a smile, "Ask me later."
Sam pulled away from Jack, her mind buzzing, and went to sit back down. He followed her and sat down before she could, pulling her back onto his lap, his arm once again snaking around her waist protectively. "So?" He asked, "When do I get that one date?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck and laughed, "As soon as you'd like."
