Chapter 3: Back to Reality

November, Saturday (Pt. 2)

Week One

Teal'c and Jack took up opposite ends on Jack's fireplace. "Okay. What we are about to discuss is private family stuff. Stuff to be accepted and forgotten about, understood?" From their position on the love seat both Cassie and Diana nodded gravely.

"Okay. That man, Pete Shannon, is crazy. He and Sam dated for a while but it ended poorly." Jack sighed heavily and rubbed her palm over his eyes. When he had first found out what that bastard had been doing, he had never felt rage like that in all his years. Teal'c's voice pulled him back to reality.

"Samantha was abused by Pete Shannon."

Jack gave him a little glare. "When we found out we rallied to show her what was becoming of her and as a result she ended the relationship. We thought that would be the end of it. Obviously sick little pathetic excuse for a man is unable or unwilling to let her go." Teal'c saw the girl's faces try to accept what seemed so unreal. "We wanted him gone for good but she refuses to file for a restraining order. So if either of you girls sees him again let us know okay?"

Cassie nodded. "Is Sam going to be okay?"

"Samantha is not a changed woman and is not to be treated as such; she is still a great warrior and good friend. She has proved that many times over." He underlined the last statement with a hard stare.

Cassie smiled, that was so Teal'c.

Jack looked to Diana 's pale face. "You okay Di?"

Diana swallowed. "Yea. I just.. she's so beautiful and nice, you know?" The other three nodded.

Cassie sighed and wrapped an arm around her. "Yea."

November, Monday

Week Two

"You have to go."

"Why?!"

"Because, it's a federal law."

"That's such a stupid excuse."

Sam stifled a laugh. Diana was sulking in the back seat of Jack's truck, refusing to exit the vehicle to enter her new school.

"Well, I could walk you in if you would like?"

"Jack, that's not even funny."

"Why?" No answer. Finally after running his hands over the steering wheel several times Jack got out and threw open her door. "You are going to make Sam and me late for picking up Daniel and getting to work." He yanked the young woman out of the car and pushed her up unto the sidewalk. "I'll be back at 14:30 to pick you up." With that he slammed his door shut and put the car into drive.

Diana watched the car drive away before moving her feet. She was smiling.

About half way to Daniel's house Jack looked up. "We should probably talk about this." Sam's head jerked up.

"Um, no sir. We both agreed that it was just on one night thing, we were both mourning and one thing led to another-"

Jack held up his hand to cut her off. "Sam, I meant about Diana."

"Oh." She blushed furiously. "Right. Is there anything wrong?"

"Nothing yet. It's just as commander of the base I don't really make it home at a godly hour. Well what I mean is. I mean I was wondering" Sam smiled at his unusual lack of eloquence. After a few more minutes of entertaining herself with his stuttering she decided to put him out of his misery.

"I'd be more than willing to help sir and I'm sure Daniel and Teal'c would too so don't worry about it."

Jack sighed, relieved. "Great. Thanks so much."

"No problem sir."

Jack masked his disappointed at her initial reaction and they drove silently to Daniel's house.