So my scene dividers still didn't go up. I'm sorry if that makes the story a bit confusing. I'm still working on figuring out how to fix those. Hopefully the ones in this chapter will work.

Thanks again for reading my story!

-:-

"Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip toe if you must, but take the step."

-:-

It was several days before the old laptop rang again. Several days filled with second guesses and pacing. Cassie was on edge, but not with fear or anger. She was actually quite excited, which was a strange turn of events for her. She usually only thought about her old life with fear, sadness, or anger. Today she was almost jumping with joy at the prospect of being asked back into the fold. Strange, but her life has always been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs.

The old laptop rang again as Cassie frantically pulled on a jacket and scarf to hide her scars. She didn't care if her clothes were mismatched, she only cared that no one but her friends saw the permanent reminders of why she quit the first time. As she sat down in front of the ringing laptop she checked the caller to find that it was different than from before. Cassie thought nothing of this as she remembered using several different accounts during her years. She clicked answer and waited for the video chat to connect.

"Hello little firecracker."

Cassie was momentarily stunned by the face that greeted her. It wasn't who she expected at all. It was the older, dark haired man that stood behind Thornton. She remembered warning him and his younger partner about Thornton's untrustworthiness. Why was he the one calling her?

"Hello to you too mystery dude." Cassie plastered on a smile. "What do y'all want now?"

"Nothing." He drawled out slowly with a smirk.

"People don't just call for no reason little mini mohawk. Either you want something or someone else wants something and you're just their pawn. So which is it?"

He laughed, the man actually laughed. Cassie didn't think she was being funny but he obviously did. What else was she suppose to call him? She didn't know his name or his partner's name from before. So annoying nicknames and defining features were just gonna have to do.

"I like you Cassie Palmer. You still have a sense of humor even after everything you've been through." He smiled and slightly nodded his head.

"Well, thanks Texas. It's seems that I'm at a disadvantage though, you know my name but I don't know yours. I can't keep calling you spy dude or old man. So, what's James Bond's real name?"

He laughed again before saying, "Oh I really do like you. I'm Jack Dalton and this," he pulls the younger man from before into the line of sight of the camera, "is MacGyver. Most people call him Mac though."

"Really Jack, I was working on something important. I don't have time to-"

"Hello again blondie, or should I call you Mac since I now know your name."

MacGyver stared and stared some more. All the while Jack and Cassie had locked eyes and were trying desperately not to laugh. Cassie shook and valiantly tried to cover her smile with her good hand but Mac caught a glimpse of her upturned lips. Jack finally gave up attempting to smother his laughter and Mac mock glared at him but there was no real heat behind it.

Cassie sighed and wiped the smile from her face. "So, now that introductions are out of the way we can get back to the topic at hand. What is it that y'all want from me now?"

"We don't want anything from you little firecracker. I just figured that you would like to know that we stopped the release of a very deadly weapon."

"Congrats to y'all. If I had a hat on I'd tip it to you, but you get the idea." Cassie threaded her hands through her hair and began to braid it, thinking. "If that's all then I need to get going. I'm picking up dinner at this incredible little Italian restaurant and it'll be ready soon, so..."

MacGyver's eyebrows had scrunched together and he frowned slightly. Jack smirked knowingly as he looked back and forth between a curious Mac and a falsely bored Cassie. Cassie took in their expressions casually as she finished her braid and hoped that her fake disinterest didn't come back to bite her.

MacGyver with a small frown asked, "Why aren't you hostile towards us?" His hands found a paper clip on the desk and began to twist it. "You were adamant that you weren't to be contacted ever again. Yet here we are contacting you and you're not even a little bit angry. Why?"

Cassie hummed and cocked her head to the side considering giving a sarcastic response or a sincere one. She settled on sincere. "You two haven't done anything wrong to me. I don't have any reason to be angry with you contacting me again. I was just angry with Director Thornton. She was the one I didn't to ever speak to again. You two, however, are different to the agents that I've met before." She hummed again before glancing at the clock. "Look I really do have to go, but if y'all need something in the future I wouldn't mind helping the two of you out if I can. I just don't wish to speak to Patricia Thornton again if I can avoid it, but if it's unavoidable then you can still count on my help."

Cassie nodded at the men once and the cut off the connection. She could do this. She wasn't completely back in the game yet but this was a good start. Now, to face the world. Oh, the things she's willing to do for good food.

-:-

Mac turned on his partner the moment the call ended. "Why did you really contact her Jack? Because if I know you then that wasn't the complete reason. How did you get her number anyway?"

"Well, I may have memorized it from the other day and then put in my phone."

Mac closed his eyes. "Jack, really?"

"Yes, Mac. I looked in her file, that girl has no family left. I just wanted to check in on her after the other day...and I wanted to let her know that we stopped the use of a deadly virus." Jack paused and rubbed his jawline. "The offer of help was unexpected but considering her history before all of this...then it's not as surprising."

"You're really worried about her," Mac said quietly. "Jack are you sure you've never met her before the other day? "

"I'm sure Mac. There's just something about her that reminds me of someone else. I don't know, maybe she reminds me of Riley. Who knows."

Jack sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. He truly didn't know what it was about Cassie Palmer that made him care so much when they had only known each other for a few minutes. Maybe it was the knowledge that she and Mac had both lost their parents only to be raised by their grandfathers. Maybe it was the fact that what happened to her could just as easily happen to Mac or Riley. Whatever it was, Jack knew that he would check in on her even if he was ordered not to.

"Okay Jack, I understand. Do what you need to do. If that's occasionally checking in on her, then fine. Just...I don't know...I guess keep me informed."

MacGyver did understand where Jack was coming from. Not completely, no one could understand completely what went on in Jack's mind, but Mac did understand. In some ways he too had been thinking about Cassie Palmer but he also had Nikki and then Riley and then Nikki again on his mind. Cassie had been only fleeting thoughts since their first encounter, but he thought about her nonetheless.

This conversation though made her all the more real. Cassie Palmer wasn't some ball of anger and distrust. She had a humorous side to her and she had even offered to help them if they asked, which was more than Thornton got. They had Riley now though and the two agents couldn't and wouldn't abandon their newest team member. It wouldn't hurt though to have a backup in case something happened.

-:-

Thank you so much for reading this chapter and this story!

I want to say a special thank you to Gib and Dlwells51 for commenting on my last chapter. Your comments mean the world to me and I'm so glad you took the time to write them. Thanks again! I hope you two enjoyed this chapter!

I know that Jack and Mac and future characters might not act exactly how they do in the show in my story, but this is fanfiction. Which means that they will react how I want them to react and I will try and stay true to the characters as best I can but they won't be exactly the same.

I look forward to seeing you guys next time. The next chapter should be up soon and we will probably get into the action in that one.

Thanks again!