Cassie's stomach was turning. Her mind was numb. Her heart was beating too fast. She was…having second thoughts. Strolling towards where people wait for arrivals in the airport, she told Claire, "I'm…"

"…having second thoughts?" Claire finished for her, grinning smugly, but not unkindly.

"Yeah. A little." She wanted to stop, but Claire didn't wait up.

"Well, you shouldn't be having them." She found an area in which they could sit with a clear view of the gates. "You made the mature choice, Cassie. I'm sure Janet would be proud."

Cassie smiled at the mention of her mother. "Why did you guys stop talking to each other? From the way you just said her name, I can tell you adored her."

Claire got this distant look in her eyes. "I did adore her. But she was also my little sister. She made some choices I disapprove of- marrying that bastard, for one- and I made some choices she didn't agree with."

"That's not a reason to disown each other."

Claire touched Cassie's cheek, tears threatening the corners of her eyes. "It's not. You're right. But sometimes, people make foolish choices. I know a lot about that." She wiped her eyes. "I know enough about foolish choices now to recognize one. And trust me: going home to Colorado is not one. You are doing what you know is right in your heart."

Cassie took Claire's hand. "I know now that running away was an irrational choice."

Claire shook her head. "I think you're misunderstanding me. It was what was right for you at the time. If you change your mind about something, it doesn't make you any less brave, or wise. It just makes you human. You've made your point: the rest of your life with Sam, Jack, Daniel and Teal'c will be everything you expected it to be in the first place. Cassie…I'm very proud of you. Your running away has seemed to cause heartache…yours and your families. But in the end, it only caused growth."

Cassie didn't know what to say. She hugged Claire, and they waited on the bench, holding hands, for SG-1 and the general to walk out that door…

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The four of them were making their way through the terminal in silence. Samantha was the only one smiling. She hadn't brought her pills. She didn't need them any more.

Daniel and Teal'c were worried for Sam. She was so convinced that she would soon see Cassie. It was her gut instinct that Cassie was waiting for them at the end of this hallway. But how could that be? Sam would be crushed.

Jack was worried because this was bound to turn into a situation in which tears (of joy or despair) would emerge. And they would have to share their feelings. It wasn't exactly his scene.

When they reached the end of the hall, Sam was ecstatic. Teal'c and Daniel were relieved. And Jack…was happy with a twinge of anxiety. Because there she was: sitting, waiting for them. The woman sitting near her pointed them out and Cassie stared, stunned for a moment. It soon faded though. Cassie was running towards them like a little kid.

Sam almost fell over due to the speed at which Cassie hit her. The two women embraced firmly, crying at the sight of each other.

"I'm so happy…"

"To see you! I'm so sorry I left…"

"I'm sorry I let you let yourself go." They pulled back. Sam scrunched up her nose. "Your hair is so long!" Cassie let out a wet laugh.

Behind the women's reunion, Jack cleared his throat. Cassie looked over Sam's shoulder.

"I didn't forget about you, Jack." She made her way over to him and hugged him. "I missed you."

"Me too." They pulled back and he ruffled her hair, looking it over. "It looks good."

"Thanks." She beamed, but he frowned. She looks so much older…

Cassie had made her way over to Teal'c. She stood in front of him expectantly. He simply bowed.

"It is good to see you again, Cassandra Frasier."

"Good to see you too, Teal'c." She stood for a second, and then gave him a great big bear hug. His face showed no change, so the four observers (Claire had made her way over from the seats) all laughed. He eventually wrapped his arms around her too.

"I hope that you are in the mood to watch the original trilogy of Star Wars films, Cassandra Frasier. I brought them along in my luggage in hopes that you would view them with me."

She pulled back and smiled warmly. "That would be nice." He bowed his head and fully released her.

Last was Daniel, who was standing shuffling his feet. She walked right up to him, and with a cold look in her eyes said, "I understand that you and Claire did some planning that I wasn't exactly informed about. Or pleased with."

Daniel looked uncomfortable. "I didn't ask to be called! I…" He stopped his protests when he saw Cassie raise a silencing hand.

"I guess I have to thank you for that."

He appeared to be confused for a moment, then grinned. "Well, it was no problem. Anything to see that face again." He cupped a fatherly hand to her chin. She broke into a brilliant smile from the serious expression she had been wearing and they melted into a great hug.

Once all the 'hellos' had been taken care of, they all stood in place, as if expecting one another to say something more. It was slightly uncomfortable, when from out of nowhere, Sam added in a motherly tone, "You really need to do something about that hair."

Cassie broke out in a series of protests, and was backed by the three men of the group. Sam had been fighting a losing battle until Claire joined in.

"She has a point Cass. When it's long like that, it hides your well-defined cheekbones."

Sam turned towards Claire, triumphant. "Thank you!" Then Sam noticed who it was, and how she looked. Claire looked a lot like Janet. Taller, and with long hair, but the face was the same. The eyes had the same type of seeing things, taking in every bit of information they could.

"I'm Claire." She stepped forward and shook everyone's hands. She was clearly trying to shake away any discomfort from the stares they were all giving her. It was strange to see the estranged sister of a dead friend.

"Hey, thanks for keeping an eye on our girl," Jack said, with a playful tug on Cassie's hair.

"You know," Cassie said, annoyed. "I might cut my hair so you can't do that anymore!"

Jack just grinned sheepishly and asked in his simple way, "Dinner?"

Cassie rolled her eyes. "It's a little late, Jack."

He looked at his watch. "Not to me." She looked at him, questioningly. "Time change."

"Ahhh," Cassie expressed, knowingly.

"We can eat. I didn't really have dinner." Claire said, looking at Cassie.

Cassie looked a little guilty. "Sorry."

Claire shrugged. "It happens. But you learned your lesson, right?"

Cassie thought back to their heart-to-heart earlier and smiled. "I sure did."

"Awww!" Jack squealed, mockingly. "A happy ending!"

Cassie punched him on the arm playfully. "Hey Jack? Lindsey got me a great early birthday present."

"Really? What is it?"

Cassie smiled evilly. "Well, she got me seven tickets to a Broadway show I've been wanting to see. It's called Avenue Q. And I want you to be one of the people there with me!" She walked off with Daniel, Teal'c and Claire towards the baggage claim leaving Jack with Sam.

"Not all Broadway shows are bad, right," he asked her hopefully.

"I like them, personally sir," She said with a smile. "But I know for a fact that half of the characters in Avenue Q are puppets." She followed the others, leaving Jack standing stock still, trying to think of a way to worm his way out of this one.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Notes: That's it for the main part of the story. I'm not exactly happy with the ending, but nothing else I tried was working out. Like I said before, it's been a busy summer. And, I was visited by my muse and I have a new story I'm working on. I won't start submitting it until it's done so I don't have a repeat of this looonnng break between updates. I mightsubmit an epilouge for this story either tomorrow or the next day, if I can type out anything worth reading.

Thanks to all my readers. This story's been a great experience, and I owe it all to you. All my love,
Spuds