May 23, 1984

Fifteen-year-old Samantha Carter hummed softly to herself as she mixed the batter to the cookies. Tonight, her brother, Daniel, was graduating and the Carters would be having a few family members and close friends at their house after the ceremony.

It had been about ten years since Daniel had come to live with them. He was the only foster kid that her parents had adopted, but that wasn't saying much since her parents had given up their foster parenthood after only a couple of years. With her father's military career, it was just too hard to give those kids the support that they needed without uprooting them every few years.

Sam smiled. Today, her father, Lt. Colonel Jacob Carter would be at the event. They only got to see him every once in a while with his job, but he was bound and determined that no matter how many other events he was at that he would go to every one of his kids' graduations. So, her father would pick her mother up from her appointment in town and they would all get ready for Daniel's graduation ceremony.

A hand reached into the bowl, scooping up some of the raw dough. "Daniel!" She scolded, mockingly.

"What?' He asked, innocently, his mouth full of the forbidden confection.

"That's for the party!"

He grinned. "I won't tell if you won't!"

She tried to glare at him, but failed. "Fine." She dipped her own hand into the bowl and collected a small amount of the sticky batter.

"You know you love me…"

They savored the batter as it melted in their mouths.

"So, when're Mom and Dad getting back?" Daniel asked.

Sam looked at the clock. "I don't know. I thought they'd be back by now."

"Don't you just wish you could call your parents to find out how much longer they'd be?"

"Kind of like their personal telephone number." Sam piped in.

"Yep, that would definitely be nice."

Suddenly, Jacob Carter appeared in the doorway, looking ten years older.

"Dad!" Sam greeted, placing another drop of cookie dough onto the tray and picking it up to show her father. "Don't these cookies look-"

"Sam." Her father silenced her.

Daniel had already picked up on Jacob's less than merry demeanor, and when Sam stopped, it was apparent to her as well.

"Dad? Where's Mom?" She asked, terrified at what his answer might be.

Jacob took a deep breath, trying to hold back his own tears. "There was an accident."

"What happened?" Daniel asked, calmly, his birth parents' death on continuous loop in his head.

"Where's Mom? Is she okay?" Sam asked.

"No, Sam, she's not okay!" Daniel yelled. "He's got the same look on his face as Nick had on his when he told me that my parents were dead!" He turned back to Jacob, his voice deadly silent. "She's dead, isn't she?"

Jacob's throat constricted. He had to remain strong for them. "Yes, Daniel, she's dead."

The cookie sheet fell to the ground as Sam's body went limp. She landed in Daniel's arms. "Nice going, Dad." He said, carrying Sam's petite frame to the couch.

Jacob bit his lip. Daniel's words rang true, but the pain of admitting failure was sharp. He had been late; Elizabeth had taken a cab and been hit. Just a few minutes, either way…