A/N: Okay, b/c I put a coupla words in here and a pretty graphic description of the Tanner's death this chapter is rated M. i know some people don't think it's all that bad, but i guess my view's a little different. also this chapter has not been beta'd and most likely won't be, others from now on will, unless my beta's sick, like she is right now.

That night, Nate lay in the bed Jack had cleaned off for him before the wedding. He'd thought it was awfully nice of them to take him in the way they had before any of the paperwork was through, especially given what had transpired between Levi and Sam.

Sleep was avoiding him that night, even though it was really only about eight. They were going to have a long day tomorrow and he'd decided to hit the sack early. It wasn't unusual for him. He'd done it often enough at school, and he could sleep through whatever ruckus was still going on in the house. Most of their guests were leaving that night, so it was pretty loud.

He smiled through his closed lids. They were treating him better than he'd thought. He didn't have to worry about a place to stay, or food to eat, or even if he needed it, they'd always be there for him. Sam had made that perfectly clear after his talk with Jack.

He'd approached her, wanting to appropriately apologize for what had happened to her. He still felt awful about it, and didn't think the apology he gave her when he'd been brought into their home was adequate. Of course, Sam being Sam, readily forgave him, pointing out that her fear was what led her to Jack's doorstep in the first place.

Sam and Jack reminded him so much of his parents. Not the military training, no. It was the depth of love he saw in their eyes. He'd spent enough restless nights back home watching his parents wedding video. He always hoped he'd find love like that, but he was pretty sure it wouldn't happen. Not for someone like him. He was going to be career military.

Originally, he'd planned to have nothing to do with the military once he graduated, but by his third year, he'd changed his mind. Now, though, he didn't really have a choice in the matter. Levi had made that certain, not that he was complaining.

I could help you get to sleep.

Nate scowled and rolled over, pulling the covers up over his shoulder and under his chin.

No. You know I don't like it when you manipulate my body.

You need to rest, as do I.

I've got a lot on my mind. Nate defended himself to his snake. Not that he needed to, Levi knew what he was thinking anyway.

And, of course, one of those things wouldn't happen to be a brown haired, Doctor's daughter.

Cassie? We're just friends. Nate gave a purely mental sigh and tried to ignore Levi.

It's more, and you know it.

When did you become such a pain in the ass?

When I blended with a brat like you. He laughed in Nate's head purely to show he was joking. They had a good relationship together and he was glad his young host was so defensive of him. If she is only a friend, why are you contemplating going to her house at the moment?

I am not!

You can't fool me, Nate.

Nate rolled over onto his back and stared at the ceiling, his hands behind his head. Okay, so maybe I am. I gotta talk to someone Levi, and you don't count.

Thank you, so much. Sarcasm dripped from the menal voice in Nate's head. Although, it might not be such a bad idea. You will tell them where you're going?

Nate was already rolling out of the bed, pulling on his jeans. Or, well, the jeans Jack had lent him. They were a little on the large side, but being at Military School allowed him to fill out once he'd hit fifteen. He was already as tall as Jack and not showing any signs of slowing down.

He threw on an old Air Force t-shirt and ran down the hall to where Jack and Sam were sitting on the couch spending some time with Sea and Tommy, Jack's parents already having headed off to bed. Nate pulled on his sneakers, ones Janet and Cassie had taken him out to get earlier that day, and started to grab the front door.

"Ahem?" Jack was standing behind Nate, his hands on his hips. "Where are you going?"

Levi took over, knowing it would sound more convincing from him. You owe me. "Nate is having trouble sleeping and won't let me help him. I suggested a walk might calm him down."

"Without a jacket?" Jack raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I can sustain his body temperature."

"I'd feel better if you guys wore a jacket." Jack shook his head, realizing he'd just spoken to Nate in the plural. He pulled out a semi heavy coat from the closet, it was still winter out there, and tossed it to the teen.

"Thanks Jack," Nate whispered. He sounded depressed, but Jack knew that wasn't unusual. Maybe this walk would be good for him. He pulled out his cell phone and slipped it into the jacket pocket before patting Nate on the shoulder.

Nate gave a wave to the others in the living room and left. The wind was biting on his cheeks, but Levi quickly compensated and Nate was plenty warm. Getting to Cassie's wouldn't take him long, he knew all the shortcuts. He'd spent enough time sneaking out of the house when he was home during the summer to know his way around Colorado Springs.

Cassandra understands more than you think, Levi said mysteriously. Nate continued walking, but sent a questioning thought at his symbiote. Levi didn't elaborate, though, hoping Nate would get the hint he didn't feel comfortable telling Cassie's story.

He made it across town in less than an hour, cutting through backyards and down ally ways. He knew it was dangerous, he almost got mugged once, back about two years ago, heading to a friends, but he had to get to Cassie's as fast as he could.

Nate stood in the front lawn, staring at the house. He could see two figures, one male, one female, through the kitchen window, and one light on upstairs. He assumed that was Cassie's bedroom and tossed a pebble at her window. It chinked lightly against the glass, but he didn't think she'd heard it. He was about to throw another, when he saw a silhouette approach and open the window up.

"Who's there?" she called out, searching for whoever was interrupting her homework, not that she minded really. It was schoolwork after all.

Nate stepped forward into the light from the front porch so she could see him and waved. "Hey, Cass," he said nervously.

Now that he thought about it, this wasn't one of his better ideas.

Well, DUH!

Shut up!

"Nate?"

"Uh, yeah." He shuffled his feet around and stared at the ground.

"Hold on, I'm coming down. Go around to the back," she instructed and quickly disappeared.

Nate nodded to the empty window and hopped the fence to the backyard, almost landing on Cassie's dog. He immediately started growling at the stranger. Something didn't smell right.

"Colonel, leave him alone!" a hushed whisper scolded from the direction of the back door.

The dog immediately turned and headed towards his master, obeying her without hesitation.

Nate grinned shyly at Cassie and walked up to the back deck. Cassie pulled out a deck chair for him and the two sat next to each other in silence. Nate noticed her shivering and was about to say something about it when she interrupted him.

"What's wrong?"

Nate knew why he'd originally headed out for Cassie's and now that he was here, sitting in the freezing cold, though he didn't really feel it, he wasn't about to back down.

"I couldn't sleep. We're holding the briefing tomorrow, and then we ship out. I guess I'm a little nervous." He held his hands folded over his lap and stared at his thumbs. He knew it sounded weak, and definitely unmanly. He wouldn't doubt if she started to think of him that way.

"Of course you're nervous. But that's not all is it?" She touched his shoulder gently, and before he could respond she continued. "My mom and Daniel are heading out to dinner together, sort of a date before this mission you're all going on. Wait here, when they leave, I'll let you in. It's too cold out here for this conversation."

She stood and went inside. Almost instantly he heard the front door close and Cassie came back out.

"Well, I guess they were eager to get out of here quicker than I thought," she laughed. She grabbed his hand and pulled him inside, much to the dismay of Colonel. He really didn't like this boy.

He can sense me.

Yeah, I know.

As he stepped through the door, Colonel turned on him, and Cassie pulled a zat gun out from behind the television.

"Okay, now who the Hell are you?" she demanded staring right into his eyes.

Something you wanna tell me, Levi? Nate snapped in his head. He could feel the answering shrug in his mind and mentally growled in response.

"Answer me, Goa'uld!"

Nate immediately jumped on the defensive. "I'm not Goa'uld," he spat.

"I can feel it!"

"Cassandra, my name is Levi. I am Tok'ra, not Goa'uld."

Cassie let the zat drop, knowing if he was lying, Colonel would protect her. He'd grown up to be a big dog after all.

"What's going on?" She flopped bonelessly onto the couch, and sighed, rubbing her eyes with her fingers.

"That's what I'd like to know." Nate fell down next to her. "How'd you know about Levi?"

"How'd you end up with a snake in your head?"

"You sound like Colonel O'Neill."

"Could he, I don't know, not speak?"

Nate nodded and choked up on the memory. He figured if she knew about the Goa'uld and Tok'ra, she knew about the Gate. "A Captain Gahrety was my next door neighbor. Levi hopped a transport in him and got to me to hide from the SGC. He was searching for a Goa'uld somewhere on Earth."

He was starting to tear up, though Levi was holding them back for him. Slowly, the anger started to bubble up, as much as Levi was trying to hold it back. He jumped up and started pacing, the fury written across his face.

"That DAMN snake killed my family! It was supposed to be a warning, but I didn't let him get away. I got the fucker! I'd never killed anyone, but Levi let me. My brother was twelve and my little sister was only five! Oh, God! What would have happened if Neal had been there?"

"I know how you feel," Cassie whispered.

"How could you?" he yelled back. "That fucking snake slit their throats and wrists and stood over them as they died! Blood covered their bodies, and ran down the alley way! How the fuck would you know how it feels!"

Cassie cringed, but knew he was lashing out at anything he could in his hysterical state.

He finally broke down, grieving for his family and dropped onto the couch. Tears fell freely down his cheeks and his sobs wracked his entire body. The thought of Neal dying had entered his mind once already, when Jack had misunderstood his question, but he hadn't let himself dwell on it until now. He could feel his heart breaking in a thousand different pieces. He'd never see his parents again, or his brother or sister. It wasn't fair.

The pictures played over and over again in his head. He could see his mom and dad laid out on the floor of the alley, blood pooling around them. His father was still alive, staring Nora's little body, lifeless and drained of blood. Nick was slumped over their sister, his eyes open in terror and his head bent back to expose the veins and arteries in his neck to increase the outflow of blood.

Tears tracked down Noah's face, but hope dawned in his eyes as he spotted Nate come up behind their attacker. He kicked the blade out of the man's hand from behind and grabbed his jaw and the back of his head, twisting sharply. The sickening double snap of host and Goa'uld rang through his ears, his own eyes glowing in satisfaction.

Nate ran to his father and tried to stem the flow of blood, but it was too late. His father reached up and brushed his cheek with his hand before it dropped and the light faded from his eyes. Nate pulled him into a gripping hug, but was startled away when he heard a sound at the end of the alley.

He turned to see a blonde haired woman standing, staring at him. He tried to take off after her, but she was too quick for him. He lost her after a couple blocks. Levi knew the Goa'uld had a cloaked cargo ship in the desert so he took off to find it before any of this got out.

Cassie knew his pain, on a larger scale, and knew it could take a while to get over the hurt. She pulled him into her arms and rocked him gently, one hand tracing circles on his back. She knew he might never let himself go again and needed all the support he could get.

Nate's arms wrapped up to grip her shoulders tightly as he sobbed into her shirt. He didn't care anymore if she thought him weak, his family was dead.

She didn't know how long they sat there like that, him sobbing and her rocking him back and forth. Eventually, his sobs died down and he pulled himself out of her arms.

"I'm sorry. I'm such an asshole, Cassie. You shouldn't have had to see that." He scrubbed at his eyes, trying to wipe away the evidence of his tears.

Cassie kept one arm around his shoulders and grabbed his hand with hers. "You needed it. It took me almost a year."

Nate looked at her confused, but didn't try to get out of her grasp. She stood and grabbed his other hand, pulling him to his feet.

"Come here." They headed upstairs to her room and Nate suddenly paled. If Dr. Fraiser came home and found him in there, he was certain she'd find painful ways to hurt him that even Levi couldn't block.

She led him to her closet where she pulled a tiny locked box from the back of her top shelf. She unlocked it with a key from her keyring and pulled out a little red tag, handing it to him. A planet's designation was stamped across the tag and a number followed it.

"They don't know I still have it," Cassie whispered as she sat down on her bed.

Nate let himself sit unusually close to her and held the tag in his hands. He finally understood that Levi knew about what had happened to the girl.

"I think Levi knows. He could tell me, if you're not comfortable."

Cassie shook her head and leaned into him. "Hanka. That's where I'm from. Nirrti killed everyone on my planet and tried to make a bomb out of me to destroy the SGC."

One lone tear made it's way down her cheek and Nate leaned in to wipe it off with the pad of his thumb. He let his hand cup her cheek and pulled her to lean on his shoulder.

"I never told them, but this is the tag Sam started to put on my father. I took it off his body and put it on the neck of my shirt. I should have died with everybody else. But I didn't and Earth has given me a second chance."

Nate tightened his grip around Cassie and started brushing her cheek with his thumb, the forgotten tag still in his other hand around her shoulders. He let his hand drift down to her chin and gently nudged her jaw up so her eyes locked with his.

"Thank you," he whispered. "For sharing that with me. I'm really sorry for the way I lashed out at you."

Cassie couldn't say anything. She just stared up into his eyes, mesmerized by their beautiful hazel color. She felt an instant connection to him. It had been brewing since she'd first met him and now she knew why they understood each other so well.

Nate shifted down close to her as Cassie angled her head up at him and they both leaned in at the same time, brushing their lips ever so gently together. The kiss was soft and sweet, neither pushing the other. Cassie wrapped her arms around Nate's neck and pulled him closer to her. Nate let the tag fall to the floor as he let his hands roam her back.

They pulled away from each other when breathing became an issue and touched their foreheads together. Neither could speak, but they smiled at each other, their eyes locking. They could say more with just their looks than with words, and Nate pulled Cassie in for a tight hug.

The couple, though not officially, leaned back onto the bed and stretched out, laying comfortably along the bed. It was already turned down so Nate grabbed the covers and pulled them over them, pulling Cassie into his arms. They fell asleep like that, holding each other in comfort, and fully clothed.

Nate knew he'd be in for it in the morning, Dr. Fraiser would probably find an interesting way to castrate him, but right now he didn't care. He had a beautiful girl in his arms and he finally felt okay enough for him to move on and not feel guilty for it.

You'll be okay, Nate.

Thanks.

A/N: okay i was really desperate to post this up tonight, b/c i'm just really hyper and excited! if any of you read my other story A Little Piece of Me, you'd know last week i had to suffer through a bridal show, well today that paid off. i got a call during work saying that one of the millions of things we filled out while i was there won my fiance and i a honeymoon package, 3 days 2nights in the bahamas all expenses paid. i'm too hyped up to even think about sleeping right now, so i just had to finish this chapter for you guys! tell me what you think, i finally did a Cassie/Nate chap for y'all! Please review!