Star Gates Crossing
Chapter 2: At the Gates
Sam came down the stairs the next morning still apprehensive about what she was going to do to get back on her way. The lobby of the Inn was bright and sunny and added a measure of cheer to her otherwise dour mood. Looking around for Daniel, she heard the bell on the front door ring and a young woman laden with boxes came through. Sam watched her balance her precarious load as she crossed to the reception desk and pushed the boxes on to it.
Once unencumbered she turned to Sam with a ready smile. "Hi! I'm Cassie."
"Sam." She couldn't help smiling back. The redheaded teenager seemed to ooze joyful exuberance and Sam felt instantly drawn to her.
"Nice to meet you." Cassie surveyed the empty room. "No Daniel or Teal'c?"
Sam shook her head.
"They must be in the barn."
Sam was confused by that statement. She hadn't had a chance to explore her surroundings the night before but she didn't think they kept animals on the property. It certainly didn't smell like it to her. But what did she know. She had spent most of her life on airbases and in cities.
"Come on, I'll show you. I need to take these boxes out there anyway." Cassie moved toward the packages.
"Here," Sam offered, "let me help you."
"Thanks." Cassie passed a couple of boxes off to Sam and picked up the rest.
They walked through the lobby and a lounge area full of cozy couches and sporting a large fireplace, out the back door and down the porch steps to a small path in the snow. The yard was spaced with trees, a couple of benches and a gazebo, and at the end of the path Sam could see a large red outbuilding that did indeed resemble a barn.
"It's a banquet hall and ballroom," Cassie explained. It hadn't held any animals for years. It had been renovated to serve as a gathering space. Daniel rented it out for weddings and parties. It was the largest hall in town. Cassie went on to tell Sam about the huge Christmas Eve party held there every year sponsored by the town's grand dame, Miss Cathrine Langford. Sam remembered Jack had mentioned something about a party to Daniel the night before. "Everyone in town will be there. It's the biggest social event of the year." Cassie enthused. "Are you coming?"
Sam said she didn't know. She was hoping to have her car fixed and be on her way long before Christmas Eve came around; although truthfully, she couldn't say where exactly she planned to go. After the conversation with her dad last night she was more convinced than ever that she was not ready to turn around and head back home.
As they approached, Sam could see that the rear doors of the barn were thrown open and she recognized the truck parked near the entry. Voices drifted outside, and they weren't very happy voices either.
"Jack, you promised you would come this year," an older women's voice intoned.
"I said I'd think about it," retorted the man whose voice Sam recognized from their journey into town last night.
"When are you going to let the past go and move on with your life?" asked the woman.
"There's nothing wrong with my life, Catherine, and I didn't come here to get a lecture about it from you."
"Well, one of these days you'll have to listen to someone."
Sam could tell from the exasperated tone of both the speakers that this was an old argument these two had had many times before. She felt very uncomfortable being privy to their verbal tug of war. It was clearly a private matter. Sam glanced over to Cassie and could tell the young girl also wished she were not hearing this.
After a pause Jack began their sparing match once again. "Why is it so important to you that I be at this party anyway?"
Catherine wasted no time answering his question. "Because you belong here, Jack. You know it. You just won't admit it."
"You know I don't like parties, Catherine." He was deflecting now, trying to ease the tension a little. Catherine would have none of it.
"You used to."
"Things change." Jack's voice was as hard and sharp as ice hanging from the barn eaves.
"You haven't changed a thing in five years." Catherine's accusation was equally pointed.
"I don't want to talk about that. Just tell me how many trees you need this year and I'll have them down here by tonight."
Before they could hear anymore, Cassie pointed them in a different direction. "Let's take these into the pantry around the other side." Sam readily agreed. The conversation she had overheard between Jack and Catherine had peaked her curiosity, but she knew it wasn't something she should ask about.
When they had deposited their load and still found no sign of Daniel or Teal'c, Cassie concluded they must be out doing something to prepare for the party.
Sam needed to find a way to get her car off the highway and she was famished; it had been nearly twenty-four hours since she had last eaten. She explained her predicament to Cassie. The girl confidently told Sam to leave everything to her; she knew just what to do.
They were soon out walking through the nearby town square as Cassie gave Sam a tour of the town and a history of all its residents. She pointed to the town hall where Mayor George Hammond oversaw all the goings on in town. Cassie described him as a good and fair man who ruled over the town with kindness and wisdom. Apparently, he had been something of a big shot out west at one time, but he wanted to find a quiet place to retire. He never planned on becoming mayor. "I don't even think he ran for the office," Cassie opined, "Jack just decided he'd make a good mayor and talked everyone else into going along with it. Surprised the heck out of Mayor Hammond when it was announced he had won the election."
"Mr. Woolsey wasn't very pleased," Cassie went on, "He wanted the job bad. But he's such a stickler for rules. So uptight."
"See that statue over there?" Cassie pointed to the large bronze figure in the center of the square. "When it was installed, Jack had Siler build the platform exactly three centimeters too high. According to Mr. Woolsey, that's a violation of city height ordinances for commemorative art in the public square. He's been trying for years to make the statue shorter, either by lowering the platform or shaving off the top of the statue's head." Cassie giggled.
"That seems a bit mean, giving the man a hard time for doing his job." Sam replied.
"Not at all," Cassie jumped to Jack's defense. "Everyone knows Mr. Woolsey is happier when he has something to complain about. Jack was just helping him out."
Before Sam could level more criticism, Cassie pointed down the main street at a sign that read "Ernst's Hardware Store."
"That's Miss Catherine's beau." The story went like this. The Langfords were one of the SGC's founding families. Miss Catherine's father established most of the public institutions in the town with his vast wealth. When she was young she fell in love with her father's assistant, one Ernest Littlefield. But Ernest wasn't content to stay in a small town. He wanted to explore and see the world. Catherine couldn't bring herself to leave her father, whose health was failing. They broke up and Ernest left. Catherine never married.
Years later Daniel actually ran into Ernst while on a dig in the Yucatan. The years hadn't been very kind to him. He was destitute, alone and longing for home. With Jack's help they were able to bring him back to the town and set him up in business. Best of all, Catherine and Ernst discovered they had never stopped loving one another.
"Now they are practically inseparable," Cassie concluded the tale as they arrived at their destination. "Isn't that just so that sweet?" Cassie swung the door open to local diner. Sam took in the delicious aroma as she contemplated the chances of ever finding a love that could endure like that. Sam was also struck by the part Jack and Daniel played in bringing the two lovers back together. She had no problem pegging Daniel for a sap, but Jack didn't come across to her as any kind of a romantic.
Sam and Cassie seated themselves in a booth in the middle of the diner. It was everything Sam thought a diner should be: cozy and inviting, with checked curtains on the windows and plush leather booths, swivel stools at the counter. Cassie assured her this place offered the best meal in town.
As they waited to be served Cassie continued her commentary on the residents of the town. She pointed to a pleasant looking man immersed in a giant book. "That's Mr. Quinn'" She explained that he had once belonged to some genius think tank, but after blowing the whistle on some kind of ethical scandal he was persona non-grata in his former circles. He had met Daniel at some kind of academic conference; so he came here looking for some idea of what to do with his life. "We needed a principal for the high school and he's like way smarter than almost anyone, except Daniel; so he got the job."
Cassie turned Sam's attention to the sandy haired man in the police uniform drinking a coffee at the counter and flirting with the dark haired waitress who was definitely too old to be wearing those pigtails. "Sheriff Mitchell. Jack knew him from the service."
"Really," Sam didn't realize Jack had been in the military. He didn't say anything when she had mentioned that her father was in the Air Force. "What branch?"
"Air Force I think. Pretty sure it was a long time ago for Jack. He doesn't talk about it much."
Sam wondered if he ever talked about anything. The more she learned about Jack O'Neill the more curious she became.
"Anyway," Cassie continued, "Sheriff Mitchell was wounded in combat; no one knows the details," she leaned in and whispered, "black ops." After a long recuperation, Mitchell left the military and Jack convinced him to take up the badge and become town sheriff. "He's sweet on Vala."
"Who's sweet on me?" The pigtailed waitress stepped up to their booth.
"Everyone," Cassie smoothly covered.
"I know. I'm irresistible. Do make sure you inform my dear Daniel of that the next time you see him." Vala flipped her hair over her shoulder and lifted her chin, regal as any queen.
Sam and Cassie placed their order and Vala returned to the kitchen, smiling and chatting with several customers on the way.
"Vala's a shameless flirt." Cassie took no time in returning to her previous narrative. "She especially loves giving Daniel a hard time. But honestly, I think she really likes Mitchell. She just doesn't want to admit it. She enjoys making him chase her."
"Where is she from?" Sam had noticed a vaguely British accent coming from the slender woman and it was clear she wasn't from these parts.
"No one knows. She just wandered in to town one day, bought the diner and made herself at home."
Sam reviewed all the stories Cassie had just told her. Two patterns emerged in Sam's thoughts. First, this was a town full of misfits who had all found a place to belong. And second, Jack O'Neill had a lot to do with many of them coming to be here. The man certainly wasn't at all what she would have expected from their brief encounter the night before.
Their food arrived and Sam reached for a fork. That's when Cassie noticed the improvised bandage on her hand. When Sam explained how she had cut it trying to fix her car, Cassie thought she should see a doctor.
To deflect her attention Sam sought a different topic. She thought about inquiring after Jack, but decided against it. "There is one person I don't know much about yet?"
"Who?" Cassie questioned, always eager to share more gossip.
"You," Sam said.
Cassie beamed. Sam could tell this was the story Cassie most wanted to share. She was just waiting for the right opportunity. "I'm from Toronto. But I have to tell you about my mom first."
Dr. Janet Fraiser had been working as a resident in a Minneapolis children's hospital five years ago. She was stuck in an unhappy marriage and wanted a different kind of life. That's when she met Jack O'Neill. Cassie didn't know why Jack was at the hospital. It wasn't something her mom talked about, but after getting to know him over several weeks they became close friends. Janet decided to leave her no account husband and come here. The town could use a doctor and her mom had said something about Jack needing her too, but Cassie never understood why.
Sam began to wonder if maybe there wasn't something more than friendship between the good doctor and Jack. She was surprised by the rush of jealousy she felt at that idea.
About a year after moving to Star Gates Crossing, there was an infectious disease outbreak in Toronto. Janet joined a medical volunteer team going there to help combat the epidemic. Cassie's parents fell victim to the mysterious plague, but with Janet's help they were able to save her. Cassie was all alone in the world. She had no other family. Janet had instantly bonded with the young girl and made arrangements to adopt her and bring her home to the SGC. "I miss my parents. But mom's great, and I love it here."
Sam had a new admiration for this cheerful young woman who didn't let her losses overwhelm her or drag her down.
They finished their meal. Several of the townsfolk stopped by their table to introduce themselves and say hello to Cassie. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. Sam could see why Cassie loved it here. She had never been anywhere like it.
o-O-o
Sam and Cassie walked up to a quaint house complete with white picket fence that looked nothing like a medical office except for the painted sign beside the door that read, "Janet Fraiser, M.D." They stepped inside to a cozy open living room. No desk or walls of files or antiquated magazines. A woman stepped out of a side office to greet them. She was petite, with sherry eyes and brown hair swept up in a loose chignon. She wore a white medical coat and looked every bit the small town country doctor.
Cassie greeted her mother.
"Where have you been young lady? I sent you to Daniel's with those boxes over an hour ago."
Without waiting for a reply the doctor turned to her guest and held out her hand. "You must be Sam." Noting Sam's surprise at being identified so readily, she added, "News travels fast in a place like this."
Sam reached out her bandaged hand. Janet gave it a cursory inspection. "I'd heard you had an injury. Well, you've come to the right place."
Sam didn't really think she needed a doctor, but this woman had no trouble taking charge within her own domain. Janet turned back to her daughter. "Cassie, you need to do your homework."
"But mom," she wined as only a teenager could, "it's my Christmas vacation."
"Yes, and you still have a lot to make up from when you were out sick last month. Mr. Quinn has been nice enough to let you finish your missed assignments over the break."
Undaunted Cassie continued to search for a way to avoid school work this afternoon. "I promised Sam I'd take her to Siler's so she can get her car fixed."
Janet gave an exasperated sigh.
"And Daniel was going to help me with my ancient civilizations paper."
"Fine," Janet raised her hand in surrender. "You can go with Sam to the mechanics after were done here and then meet me at the Inn, with your school books."
"Thanks mom." Cassie kissed her mother and run up the stairs, presumably to collect the assigned volumes.
Janet turned back to Sam with a look that clearly read, "Teenagers!"
Janet led Sam into a small examination room and began treating her hand. The cut wasn't terribly bad. It didn't need stitches. So Janet cleaned and medicated it and applied a more secure bandage. They talked as she worked, and Sam found herself really enjoying this woman's company. She was witty and insightful. Despite her earlier bout of jealousy, Sam was certain she wanted this woman as her friend. In fact, Sam quickly discovered there was no reason to feel threatened by the turn of Janet Fraiser's affections. It was unerringly obvious after only a few minutes conversation that the good doctor was head over heels in love with Daniel. Sam wondered if the distracted innkeeper had even noticed. She guessed not.
Sam thanked Janet and offered to pay for her services, but Janet wouldn't have it. "First treatment's on the house, and just make sure you don't need a second one." Then she shoved her and Cassie out the door with a reminder to be back at Daniel's in an hour.
o-O-o
A balding man wearing rounded spectacles greeted Sam and Cassie as they entered Siler's Auto Body Shop. He was speaking into an intercom system, "The Chevy in waiting bay seven is locked. I repeat, Chevy in seven is locked."
"Hi Walter." Cassie caught his attention.
"Miss Fraiser," the man replied politely. "What can I do for you?"
Sam stepped up to the counter. "I need to see about getting my car towed. I had to leave it on the highway last night, about ten miles from here."
Walter looked puzzled. He called out over the intercom for Siler. A lanky man with curly hair, glasses and stained overalls walked in from the repair bays carrying the biggest wrench Sam had ever seen. He and Walter conferred for a few seconds then Siler spoke.
"We've already got your car here, Ma'am. Mr. O'Neill called us to pick it up early this morning."
A couple of hours ago Sam might have been surprised by Jack's kind consideration, but now she knew better and it made her feel a little warm inside thinking about it.
Getting back to the business of her car, "So what's the damage?" Sam braced herself for the bad news she knew was coming.
Unfortunately, Siler didn't disappoint her. "You need a new fuel pump. Transmission needs to be rebuilt too. I could do all the work in a day or two, if I had the parts."
As it happened, Siler didn't carry any of the parts he would need to get her car running again. Moreover, there was no direct delivery to his shop. He would need to order them through a store in Duluth, and then someone would have to make the two hour drive there and back to pick them up. All told it would take at least a week before she could get back on the road again.
Sam left Siler's very discouraged. She knew she couldn't afford to stay at Daniel's for a week. She had no idea how to pay for the repairs to her car either. Still, she told Siler to go ahead and order the parts. As much as she hated it, Sam decided she was going to have to call her dad and ask for help.
o-O-o
Jack's truck was in front of the Inn when Sam and Cassie returned. Cassie's face instantly lit up as she yelled, "Jack!"
Sam was expecting to see the silver haired man come around the parked vehicle. Instead a short husky-like dog bounded into Cassie's arms. It waggled and squirmed trying to lick her all at once as she pet and nuzzled the animal. Sam thought it was a little peculiar that Jack had given the dog his own name.
Then the Jack Sam was familiar with stepped up to Cassie, "Don't I get some of that?"
Cassie released the dog and jumped into Jack's arms much the way the pup had done to her. Jack picked her up and spun her around. She screeched as squealed with delight as Jack hugged and kissed her and treated her like a little girl, which she didn't seem to mind in the least. Sam couldn't hold back a smile observing the tender scene.
Jack felt her intense blue eyes on him before even looking up. Suddenly embarrassed he let Cassie go and told her to take the dog out back to do his business. Cassie complied after giving him and Sam a knowing look.
He wanted to talk to her. He had been thinking about her all day, but standing right in front of her now he had no idea what to say.
"Hi." Sam broke the ice.
"Hi." Jack repeated.
"Any news about your car?" Jack buried his hands in the pockets of his coat to keep from fidgeting.
"Yeah. Not good." Sam answered back.
"Sorry." Jack replied with real sympathy in his voice. Pointing to the clean bandage he said, "I see doc fixed your hand."
"Yeah. Much better." Sam looked down at her hand.
"Good." Jack grasped for something to keep the conversation going. "I hope Cassie wasn't a bother."
"No. Cassie's terrific." Sam sounded very sincere, "She was a big help."
"Good. Good." Jack looked around. "Well, I should . . . go find her." He pointed in the direction Cassie had taken.
"OK." Sam smiled shyly as Jack walked away.
He wanted to kick himself for being ten times the idiot. Why couldn't he just have a normal conversation with the woman? By all accounts she was very nice and friendly. Daniel and Janet, and even Teal'c in his own way, said they liked her. Clearly she and Cassie had bonded. Jack tried to tell himself that he was being silly. It didn't really matter if his friends liked her, and he certainly didn't care what she thought of him. Yeah, right.
Sam decided to make a strategic retreat inside after the awkward conversation with Jack. Generally she considered herself an intelligent and articulate woman, but for some reason standing there face to face, staring into those intense brown eyes Sam lost the ability to string a coherent sentence together. He must think she's an idiot.
Sam found Daniel and Janet in the lounge sorting Christmas decorations while Teal'c rearranged furniture, presumably to make room for a Christmas tree. They chatted amiably, Janet reaching over every once in a while to pat Daniel's arm in an affectionate gesture. Yep, Sam thought, definitely in love. Daniel appeared oblivious to the attentions.
"Sam, come join us." Noticing her entrance, Daniel waved her over.
Sam sat down and began pulling ornaments from one of the boxes.
"No, leave the dog outside." Janet didn't even look up as Jack came in with an arm around Cassie who carried the dog.
"He really named his dog, Jack?" Sam whispered, unable to hold back.
Janet looked chagrined. "Cassie named the dog Jack. She thought it was funny because he's the one who gave her the dog."
Obviously this was done without consulting Janet.
"You let her keep him then." Sam stated.
"What could I do? Deny a lonely orphan her only friend in the world." This had to be the line Jack had fed her when she protested the gift. "Jack keeps the dog at his cabin most of the time. He brings him here to visit Cassie." This must have been the accommodation they had settled on after the fact.
Cassie cut into their conversation. "Mom, can I go with Jack to cut Christmas trees for the party?"
"Cassandra, we agreed you were going to work on homework this afternoon." Janet's voice brooked no protest, but Cassie was undeterred.
"But Mo-om, it's Chri-istma-as. Plea-ease?" As if elongating her words strengthened her argument.
Jack and Cassie looked at Janet with pleading eyes full of identical mischief. Finally, she relented.
"Have her back by five Mr. Jack O'Neill, or the next time you visit my office I have some needles with your name on them you won't soon forget."
Jack dutifully promised then loudly whispered in Cassie's ear, "Napoleonic power monger."
Cassie giggled.
Janet retorted, "I heard that"
Before Janet could change her mind Jack moved over to Teal'c and clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on T. We need you buddy. Not that I couldn't move all the trees myself mind you."
Teal'c looked at him with derision.
The three of them headed out the door while Jack continued the one-sided dialogue with his silent friend, "And this time, you can't monopolize the whole conversation. I want to talk with Cassie too."
Janet and Daniel chuckled at Jack's usual antics and returned to the decorations and party planning. Sam was a little disappointed Jack hadn't even given her a second look.
o-O-o
Over the next few days Sam found herself settling in and feeling quite at home in this crazy little town. She helped out with preparations for the big party, which seemed to consume the entire populace around this time of year. When she met Catherine Langford she was very impressed by the woman's intelligence and charisma, and she was a charming lady.
She met the jovial Mayor Hammond as well. When she saw how deftly he handled the priggish Mr. Woolsey she understood why the whole town had declared him the Mayor.
She spent several hours in conversation with the brilliant Jonas Quinn. He was the first to learn of her background in astrophysics. He was also interested in the sciences. In fact, Sam didn't think there was a subject Jonas wasn't interested in. She was certain he had consumed and retained the entire contents of the city's library.
Sam soon considered Janet her closest friend. It had been a long time since Sam had had a girlfriend to whom she felt comfortable confiding her secrets. Janet didn't pry, but Sam had shared with her some of the difficulties and doubts that drove her from her home and led her to this place.
Of course Sam adored Daniel, Cassie and Teal'c. In no time at all they were like family to her. And they had embraced her without reservation.
When Sam wasn't helping Daniel at the Inn or making preparations for Catherine's holiday extravaganza, she was at Siler's. At first she just thought she might be able to tinker with her car a bit and maybe find a way to get it running. That notion faded quickly.
But Siler noticed her skills with a wrench right away. Sam figured she could work off a little of the bill for her own repairs by helping at the shop. Then Sam found something even better. In a forgotten corner of the shop, under an old tarp, she discovered a beat up vintage motorcycle. Siler explained that he had planned to fix it up, but never had time to get around to it. She asked if she could work on it. He was all for the idea. Sam loved it, and Siler was excited to see what she could do with it. She spent hours in the shop after that.
Her only disappointment was that she didn't see much of Jack. Sam tried to deny the fact that she was intensely curious about the man, or that she wanted to get to know him more than anyone else in the town. She told herself it was because he was a mystery and she hated not knowing things. Everyone always spoke of him in such glowing terms, but they never really said that much about him. Sam caught herself thinking about him far too often. What did he do all by himself at that cabin of his out there in the woods?
o-O-o
Almost a week after Sam had arrived in town she was seated comfortably on a couch before the fire in the lounge of Daniel's Abydos Inn. Her feet were tucked under her and a blanket lay across her lap. The lights from one of the Christmas trees Jack, Cassie and Teal'c had brought back from their expedition several days ago sparkled behind her.
Daniel and Cassie were seated on the floor before a giant ottoman playing a game of chess. Teal'c was making paper snowflakes. Sam was reading one of her favorite books.
Janet sat down beside her on the couch, blowing on a mug of hot cocoa. "What are you reading?"
Sam was a little embarrassed to say. She was in very erudite company, educationally speaking, she felt a little foolish to be so enjoying a sci-fi novel. She sheepishly held up the book so Janet could read the cover. "Beyond Heaven's Gate. Book 6. Doorway to Heaven Series. RD Anderson."
"Oh, I love that one." Cassie looked up from the chess board.
"You've read it?" Sam asked with surprise.
"Everybody in town has read those books." Cassie said this like it should be obvious to Sam that these books are required reading in Star Gates Crossing. The statement earned glares from everyone in the room but Sam.
Sam decided she needed clarification to understand Cassie's statement and everyone else's reaction. "Why do you say that?"
Daniel jumped in before Cassie could speak. "You know the author lives around here. It's set in this area."
Sam admitted to knowing this information. In fact, it was one of the reasons she chose to come this way when she first set out from her home in D.C. what seemed like ages ago, but had really only been a little over a week. These books spoke to her soul and she thought maybe she could find some answers of her own among the lakes and trees and stars the author wrote about so lovingly.
"Have you met him?" Sam asked them collectively, "Mr. RD Anderson."
After experiencing more cagey looks all around Sam started to get the irrational feeling she'd stumbled into some kind of conspiracy.
"He's been known to come around." Janet replied then hastily changed the subject. "I hear you're ready to take Siler's death machine out on a test drive tomorrow."
Sam didn't see any use in carrying on about the book as it was a topic that clearly made everyone uncomfortable for some reason. Beside, Sam felt honor bound to answer Janet's accusation about her hobby. "It's a very nice vintage motorcycle, Janet. Not a death machine. And, yeah, I think it's ready to go." Noticing Teal'c's look of great concern Sam added, "I promise I'll be careful T."
He scowled at her as if to say, "See that you are."
Sam couldn't help herself. She got up from the couch, walked over to the big man, wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. As she pulled away Sam thought she may have caught a smile.