Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Rating: Still PG

Setting: Three days after the events in chapter one of this story.

Authors Note: When I saw that people actually read my story AND reviewed it, I was so excited! Of course, then my creativity would not SHUT UP about the next chapter. So even though I have school tomorrow, I stayed up until 12:30 finishing this, and probably later once I post it. I will hate myself in the morning, but that is what they made coffee for, right?

Please review and let me know if you like the direction this is going. I am a little worried that I got too hung up on Cassie being "Independent..." please let me know if you agree!

Running Away: Chapter 2

Sam Carter's eyes were red and puffy. Her normally fair features were twisted into a terrible expression. The Colonel hadn't been sleeping well. She was worried about Cassie. Cass had been gone for three days, and had not even called her to tell her she was alright.

Jack wasn't doing too hot either. The search for Cassie did not go as planned, and his reassuring promise to Carter was broken. His eyes seemed to be sunken into his face, the brown no longer sparkling, but dull. He was living off coffee.

The two of them were sitting in the living room of Jack's house with Teal'c and Daniel. Teal'c was raising his eyebrow like always, at a loss for words. Daniel was pretty much the same. For what was there to say? Cassie running away was bound to happen. They had practically ignored her for two years.

"I'm going to check her apartment again," Daniel said, breaking to silence that had stretched across ten minutes. I'd do anything to get out of this depressing house.

"I will assist you, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c was obviously relieved to be delivered from this uncomfortable situation.

"We'll call you if she's there." Daniel said gently as they got up and started towards the door.

"She won't be there, Daniel. She's never coming back, and it's all my fault." Sam started crying again, just when they had started to think that her tears had been spent.

"Go ahead, Daniel." Jack walked over closer to Sam and put his hand on her back, gently rubbing her in a reassuring manner.

We need Cassie here soon, Daniel thought as he and Teal'c got into his car and pulled into the street. If not, Sam won't make it out of this heartbreak.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Cassie collapsed onto the bed of the motel room. She was exhausted. Driving from Colorado Springs to New Jersey took a lot out of her.

But even in her fatigued stupor, she smiled. Something was finally happening in her life. She had to make the most of it.

With the rest of her strength, she stood up and made her way to the puny table in the corner of the room. She flipped through the want ads. There had to be someone in New York City looking for a roommate…

New York City. She was bursting with anticipation to see the wonder that her mother had many times described to her.

"Oh, all the people in that city... It's an amazing place, Cass. Central Park, Broadway… oh, I love it there. Someday, I'll take you there. You'll be so blown away." Cassie could see her mother's wide brown eyes glitter. The memory was so close…

"You know, Mom, in a way, you did bring me here."

Cassie circled a few possibilities and returned to the bed. Tomorrow, she would take care of everything. But now, all she wanted was sleep.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Daniel Jackson, how are we going to assist General O'Neill and Colonel Carter to move on from their sadness?"

Daniel looked over at the Jaffa. They were driving back to Jack's house. Cassie hadn't been at her apartment. Daniel was starting to get the impression Cassie wouldn't be back for a while.

"Honestly, Teal'c, I have no idea. They are blaming themselves." He paused. "I'm sort of blaming myself, too. But I'm not worried. Cassie's a smart girl. Janet raised her well, and I know that wherever she goes, she'll take good care of herself."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps we should remind O'Neill and Colonel Carter of Cassie's maturity."

Daniel gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. "I don't think that's the best plan. The last thing they need is to be reminded that Cassie doesn't need them anymore. I'm starting to think that she doesn't need anyone." Just like her mother.

"She is like Dr. Frasier in that, is she not?"

Daniel was impressed with Teal'c's ability to infer what was being thought. "Yeah. She's just like Janet."

They drove the rest of the way in silence.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Cassie looked into the bottom of her coffee cup and let lose a huge sigh. She had been looking for a roommate for almost a week, and to no avail. There was always something…not quite right…with any of her potentials. In the ads, they should disclose the fact that they are freaks. It'd save me a lot of time.

"I'm serious, Mom! I should put 'no freaks allowed' in my ad!"

A loud voice drew Cassie's attention to the front of the coffee shop, where a girl, about her age, was talking with her mother. Loudly.

"Oh, come on. It can't be that bad." Her mother was obviously the calmer of the two.

"Mom, one guys asked if it was ok for him to use the closet by the door for storage. Of his nail clippings." Her face was one of utter disgust. A look that was met with laughter from her mother. "I'm serious, Mom!"

"Well," the older woman started. "If it's that bad, you can always have your brother move back in with you…" She trailed of with a malicious look on her face.

The daughter looked like she was going to be sick. "You know, it's not that bad."

"I thought so." The mother had that "all knowing motherly look" on her face. "Get us a seat, and I'll order for us."

The girl looked around for a seat, and then plopped down at the table next to Cassie. She flashed an easy smile her way, one that Cassie returned.

"Lindsey! Do you want caffeinated or decaf?"

The girl turned to the coffee bar. "Do you have to ask?" Her mother turned back to the barista and told him 'caffeine, please.'

Lindsey looked back towards Cassie. "I'm Lindsey."

Cassie was surprised that this stranger was speaking to her. "I'm Cassandra. Call me Cassie."

"Nice to meet you, Cassie," Lindsey was saying as her mother came up behind her. Lindsey sensed her and stretched her hand out to receive the warm liquid. "Do you want to sit with us?"

This stunned Cassie even more than the initial introduction. And by the look on her mothers face, she was not the only one stunned by this occurrence. But how was she to turn down the only attempt at friendship she had seen since coming to the Big Apple?

"Umm, sure." She moved and sat in the third seat at the table.

"I'm Claire." The older woman stretched out her hand. Cassie took it, still in a bit of a daze.

"You're new to New York City, aren't you?" This came from Lindsey, whom was obviously blunt by nature.

"Yes." Cassie took a sip of her coffee. God, they must think I'm retarded or something. One-word responses. Come on, Cass. Think of something to say… "I'm from Colorado Springs."

"Really? That's, err, fascinating."

Claire gave Lindsey a push. "How long have you been in town?"

Cassie looked this woman over. She looks sincere. "About a week." She bit her lip. "I still haven't found a place to stay."

"It's really hard in a city like this," Claire said sympathetically.

Lindsey looked at Cassie critically. "I'm in the process of looking for a roommate. Interested?"

"Maybe…"

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"Sam, I think you should go back to work" Daniel's blue eyes were full of concern. "It's been over a week, and you're not doing any good just moping on the couch."

Sam looked at him. She looked terrible. Tissues were thrown all around the room. "I will go back to work when I am ready to go back to work." Her words were slurred, even if she wasn't drunk.

"Sam…" looking into her broken expression, Daniel thought his heart was going to break. He thought that he decided not to do this, but the words came out anyway. "Cassie is a big girl. She can take care of herself. She hasn't relied on you in a long time. And maybe this is her way of telling you that she doesn't need you anymore."

"Cassie doesn't need me anymore." Sam tried out the words, and then shook her head. "Cassie's just a little girl who lost her mother. Of course she needs me."

Daniel shook his head. This was difficult. "OK Sam. But eventually, you will have to except it." He pat her on the head and left her alone in the house.

She felt her eyes filling with tears again, and she took off on a quest through her house for more tissues. She was going to need them.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Take it or leave it." Lindsey's hands were on her hips. She was clearly a no-nonsense kind of girl.

Cassie looked around the apartment one more time. It was…perfect. Basically, any 20-year-olds dream apartment. Stylish, and it had a great view of the cities skyline. Plus, it was cheap, provided Cassie could find a job fast.

"I'll take it."

"Great." Lindsey walked into her room, all the while calling back to Cassie, "I'm doing laundry tomorrow. If you want, throw some in the hamper by the TV."

Next thing Cassie knew, she was standing alone. This is all happening very fast. For a moment, she felt herself wanting someone's support. Sam's shoulder, Jack's quick wit. Or maybe Teal'c's solid presence, with a dose of Daniel's deep outlook on life.

Standing alone in a room took on a whole new meaning. Cassie realized that for the past 10 days, she had been completely alone. Even now, when she could hear Lindsey blasting music in her room, she was alone in the world.

Cassie unpacked her bag into her new room. I should have gotten rid of my apartment back home. The afterthought reminded her of how much she went on a whim in taking this journey. She finished unpacking, and with a sigh, took off into the city again, this time, looking for employment. Hopefully, it would be a good enough job that she could pay for college soon. The hope was fresh in her mind as she took off into the brisk January of New York City.

A/N: Don't forget to review! Oh, and thanks for reading!