Chapter 2: Pancakes

November, Saturday

Week One

The next morning Sam strolled into the kitchen in a too large Air Force tee shirt and boxers. Daniel was already sitting on a stool sipping his third cup of coffee for the day. Sam smiled and kissed him on the check.

"Hey spacemonkey."

Leaving a hand on his shoulder she reached for the coffee mug he had left out for her and poured the steaming hot liquid into the waiting cup.

Daniel turned into her arm and pushed up his glasses. "Hey." He patted her back gently. "So, ah, what are you thinking?"

Sam looked up surprised. "I don't know. She seems like a very nice girl, kind of quiet but good." She took a sip of her coffee. "Jack used to speak of Sarah sometimes. He always described a very nice, perfect wife, biggest heart, a super-mom really. Like mother like daughter I guess." She took another sip. "He obviously loved her very much. He never said anything about a daughter but" she cleared her throat "it just seems like a very Jack thing to do."

Daniel chuckled and nodded before looking up. "Super mom?" Sam nodded seriously. He shook his head and glanced at his watch. "Where is Jack?"

Sam eyed her coffee and took another sip before answering.

"I heard him leaving early this morning." She didn't take her eyes of her cup it was bright green, kind of chipped.

"I think he went to visit her mother." She spoke haltingly. "General Hammond said they stayed close" she licked her lower lip "even after the divorce."

She rubbed her eyes.

"He went to her wedding last year."

"General Hammond said he always looked after Diana." she blinked at the ceiling.

"He's going to need some time Daniel. From all of us."

He reached across the banquet for her hand.

"And our support." Daniel nodded.

The rough sound of the front door opening broke their moment. Sam whipped her eyes while Daniel looked down to study his own cup. She gave Daniel a half smile before rising to met Jack in the hallway.

Daniel rinsed out his mug and made his way out of the kitchen; back to the guest room he had crashed in last night to don some clothing before the younger members of the household woke up. Plus if Sam was right Jack was going to want a minute anyway.

Daniel shook his head and turned on the hot water.

000

Sam stood leaning on the doorframe waiting for Jack to start sharing, both she and Daniel hand learned over the years that you couldn't push or force his sharing but it was always there. And sure enough he did.

"I never thought she would go like this." Jack took off his jacket and didn't meet her eyes. "It's just too, anticlimactic. We were supposed to grow old together, watch Diana marry and have children, grow even older, wiser and together." He rubbed his hand over his face. "They're going to bury her next to Charlie." He sighed. "God I need a shower." He paused suddenly and looked around semi-wildly. "She isn't up yet is she?" Sam shook her head. "Great." Jack patted Sam's shoulder as he passed her.

Once he left Sam sighed and slouched against the frame, rubbing her barefoot against her calf. She wanted to help him through this but she knew better than to push Jack O'Neill, plus she had more than enough shit of her own to deal with not to mention that he still loved Sarah so much more than she had realized and it was clear that last night was becoming more and more of a huge mistake. Shaking her head Sam moved to shower and redress when Cassie came bounding down the stairs.

"Hey, there you are!" Cassie enveloped her in a full-blown hug.

Sam held her out a little. "Sleep alright?" Cassie nodded.

Sam smiled and hugged her again. "Great, I'm going to use your shower. "

"Fine" Cassie mock-huffed. Sam smiled and moved again towards the stairs but last minute grabbed Cassie's sleeve.

"Hey, if she wakes up before Jack or I come back down just be nice, okay?"

Cassie just rolled her eyes. "Aren't I always?" She laughed. "Don't worry, I'll consider it a practice at my bedside manner." She laughed again, making her way into the kitchen where she would start the masterpiece breakfast she, Teal'c, and Daniel would create. Sam smiled and finally started up the stairs down the hallway to the warm pulsing water that was calling her name.

An hour and a half later Sam trotted down the front stairs towards the kitchen truly ready for a great breakfast and whatever the day would bring. Pouring a glass of V8 fruit juice she heard slightly raised voices coming from the parlor. First thinking Daniel and Jack were in a loud debate one room over she suddenly recognized both voices. And they weren't Daniel and Jack. Slowly, unwillingly, Sam began moving in the direction of the front door.

"I don't care, let me in!"

"What don't you get? It's over; you have to leave. Now."

"NO! Cassandra, I'm not leaving until I see her. This entire thing was an accident. Our relationship still has potential, I know it."

Gathering up all her courage Sam entered their sight. Placing a hand on Cassie's shoulder she steered the young woman back towards the dinning room. "Pete. What are you doing here?" Her voice was cool and distant compared to his almost frantic one. She could see Cassie standing in the back corner crossing her arms.

"I need to talk to you. I want to work this out. I love you. I know we will be happy together. I'll even change. I didn't mean those things I said Selmack and the house. I realize that we were just moving a bit fast."

Sam would have pitied him if not for the slightly rushed look in his eye. Sam shook her head sadly, unaware that Daniel now had his arms around Cassie and Jack was leaning against the dinning room doorframe with Diana looking wide-eyed around his shoulder.

"Pete stop. I'm sorry but this is not going to work." Expecting to finally close the front door she jumped when Pete pushed his weight against the door, keeping it open. Sam instinctively took a step back. It seemed that the closing door had snapped him.

"You're sleeping with him, I know it!" He took a step closer. "He's poisoning your mind against me, against us! Dammit, come on Sam! I will get you back, no matter what it takes." Sam shivered at the awfulness of this entire situation. Abruptly her three guardians came forward.

"Everything okay Carter?"

Her voiced wavered, as she was still unaware that they had seen the entire thing. "No, no everything's fine. "

Pete perked up at the new voices. He leaned in and whispered. "He's here now." Pushing himself even more in the door he shouted. "O'Neill O'Neill get your fucking ass down here!! Come protect your little.." Pete's face contorted as he tried to think up the dirtiest curse for his ex. A slightly confused and mostly pissed off Jack O'Neill came forwards saving him the need to. Flanked by Daniel and Teal'c they were all obviously sizing the man up.

"Peter." His voice was dangerously low and Diana who knew what this meant inched closer to Cassie. "What can I do for you?" Pete leaned casually against the doorframe grinning as if looking down upon his domain.

"Well I was just discussing the sick fuck affair you're having with Sammie here and wanted your opinion. She seduced you didn't she? Poisoned your mind.. I know she did it to me too. Was she any good though? " He shook his head. "Never did anything for me, really. You didn't forget to pay her right?" Cassie shrieked a little and moved closer to Diana who just gasped.

She took this time to look over the woman who was the object of discussion. Sam was so beautiful and so nice why would anyone want to hurt her?

Sam cringed and shied away from her guys who attempted comforting contact; this was just great. Jack's barely contained rage was palpable as he gripped the actual door. He straightened himself up. "Well now, if you're done ranting get the hell off my property and stay the hell away from my second-in-command."

"Oh your second-in-command?"

Jack leaned in. "Yup."

"Wow." Pete sighed in mock surprise, rocking on his heels and crossed his arms.

"I didn't know the Air Force allowed whores to be placed in high level command situations." He had barely finished with a sick grin on his face when he found a fist coming at him. Angled just right Pete found himself on his back on Jack's front stoop.

"Bastard."

Jack grinned smugly while Sam let out a sigh of relief. Out of the corner Teal'c moved gracefully to the door and lifted the Denver man effortlessly, carrying him to his car.

"And if you even think of coming near her again we will file a restraining order against you bastard!" Jack shouted before closing the door behind Teal'c. Sighing he rubbed a hand over his eyes. Daniel took a shaken Sam back into the kitchen while Jack and Teal'c took the girls into the living room.

"What a weekend."