A/N: Sorry for the delay. Real life and writers block have conspired together and have prevented the characters from telling me their stories. I've been sending out telegrams, emails and mental telepathy, but nothing has gotten through, so I've been muddling on my own. I hope I don't disappoint.
Chapter 19
Cassie threw down her pencil and let out a groan of pent up frustration. She was a hairs-breath from following the pencil with her laptop when it was whisked off the table by her roommate.
"Oh no you don't. You do that again and you're paying for the next one. Isn't that what your Aunt said?" Nicole was trying to play it light, but she was worried about Cassie. The girl had been on the knife edge since her mom had died the year before, but in recent weeks, Cassie seemed to be slowly coming unraveled. Nicole had watched as the control Cassie had always exerted over her emotions gradually eroded. More and more often of late, Cassie could be found staring into space, or crying quietly. Her school work was suffering and she had begun to vent her anger and frustration on their various appliances and, in particular, her laptop, which Cassie had taken to send sailing. Cassie's Aunt Sam had fixed it twice and replaced it once already.
Cassie grunted and turned to glare at Nicole. "Your point?"
Nicole cringed inwardly. The two had been friends since high school and had become roomies in college. She and Cassie had grown as close as sisters, both drawn to each other by the loss early in life of their parents. When Cassie's adoptive mother had died the year before, a little of Nicole had died along with her, in empathy. In the time since, Nicole had watched Cass sink further and further into an almost overwhelming depression, especially in the few weeks since her Great-Uncle Jacob had died. She'd tried her best to be supportive, but nothing she did seemed to help for long. Cassie was getting worse, not better and Nicole had had enough. She wasn't going to sit by and watch any longer as her best friend spiraled downward.
Taking a deep breath and hoping her plan wouldn't backfire, Nicole responded, "Cass, you've got to get help." Nicole held up her hand to forestall the instant objection. "No, you're going to hear me out! I've watched you for the last year since your mom died. You're depressed, your unhappy and your schoolwork is starting to suffer. If you don't call your Aunt and tell her you need help, I will." Nicole came in close and took Cassie by the shoulders, "I can't watch you hurt anymore, Cass. You're my best friend. I can't lose you."
For long moments, Cassie held herself back, trying vainly to squash her emotions into the little ball of pain she'd carried since Janet's death, but it was no use. The pain had continued to grow and had finally burst the box keeping it contained. With a sob, Cassie collapsed into Nicole's arms and began to cry in earnest. After a while, she started pulling herself back together, reaching for the control she'd maintained for so long.
"I'm sorry." Cassie was embarrassed, but grateful to her friend.
"Hey, no worries. That's what friends are for, right?" Cassie nodded, but Nicole pressed, "You'll really call her, won't you? Cass, you need help. You can't do this alone anymore . . ."
Cassie sniffed and tried for a watery smile, but failed. She sighed, "Yeah. I promise. I'll call her today."
Later that day, after she had pulled herself together and Nicole had given her some privacy, Cassie pulled out her phone and made the call . . .
Sam and Jack spent the morning hiking, with Jack leading her to his favorite spots. He had spoken hesitantly at first, but then with growing ease of the times he had taken Charlie camping. Sam responded with stories of her own, of tagging along when Jacob had taken Mark camping, before their mom died. She'd been such a tom boy and had a much better time camping with her dad than Mark, who preferred his bed to sleeping on the ground.
They'd been getting to know each other outside of work and their professional personas.
"Okay, Carter. What's your favorite color?"
"Orange. What's yours?"
"Orange? Really? Mine's yellow."
Sam narrowed her eyes and cocked her head, "Yellow? Didn't you tell Bregman your favorite color was peridot?"
Jack grinned. "Come on, you don't think I was going to tell him the truth did you?"
"You told him you thought Tibet should be free. You meant that, didn't you?"
"Yeah, but everybody but the Chinese believes Tibet should be free. I just wasn't going to give him any real information about myself." Jack paused, then said, "at least not until after . . ." Jack trailed off, remembering Janet's death and the final interview he'd done with Bregman. In the end, he'd developed a respect for the man. Bregman had handled Janet's death with great respect and dignity. For that, Jack could forgive the man's profession.
Sam nodded, remembering, and reached for Jack's hand. "I miss her too."
Before they could move further down the path heading back toward the cabin, Sam's cell phone broke the calm of the surrounding woods with the driving strains of 3 Doors Down. Sam almost jumped at the sound, but reached instantly to answer, knowing by the ring tone it was Cassie. The girl had developed an almost rabid fascination with the band and had played their CDs endlessly over summer break. Sam had given in and developed a liking for the band as well and had marked Cassie's calls with the ring tone of the girl's favorite song, "Here Without You." Sam reflected that the title seemed prophetic now that Janet was gone.
"Hey Cass, how ya doin?" Sam was almost bubbling. She couldn't wait to tell Cassie the news about Jack and their wedding plans. She knew the young woman would be ecstatic. Over the years, Cassie hadn't made any secret of her designs on getting the two of them together.
Cassie tried to keep the tears out of her voice and, ignoring Sam's question, pushed for an over happy "Hey Sam! How's vacation at Uncle Jack's cabin? Anything interesting happening?" but the tone rang false and Sam heard it instantly.
Sam stopped walking and frowned. "Cassie, honey, what's wrong?"
"What makes you think anything's wrong? Can't I just call to check up on you? You are, after all, at Uncle Jack's cabin." Cassie tried to deflect Sam's attention with a suggestive tone, but the hitch in her voice betrayed her.
Sam didn't take the bait. Instead she put on her command voice and simply repeated, "Cassie."
Cassie sighed and fresh tears came to her eyes. She never had been able to hide from Sam. Not since the day they'd huddled together under that mountain waiting to die. Still, she tried her best to emulate Jack and forced light sarcasm into her tone, "I tried to destroy my laptop again."
Sam dropped the command and cajoled softly, "Cass . . ."
"It's okay. You don't have to fix it again. Nicole saved it." Cassie barked out a bitter laugh and the tears began falling.
"Cassie, honey . . ."
Cassie took a deep breath and dropped the act. She just didn't have the energy to keep it up. "Oh, Sam, I miss her so much. I can't concentrate. I –" Cassie choked and bit back a sob. She really hadn't wanted to break down on the phone, but it was all just too much.
Nicole came up behind Cassie and laid her hand on her shoulder. She'd let Cassie believe she'd gone out, but she'd hung around to make sure Cassie called her Aunt. Now she took the phone. "Sam?"
"Nicole? Is she alright?" Sam's concern vibrated through the phone.
"No. She's not. She needs help." Nicole hesitated, but went on, "since your dad died, she's been having a really hard time. I don't know what to do, Sam."
Sam thought fast. Going to Cassie at school was out. They needed privacy and the dorms weren't suited to having visitors over the age of 24. Sam glanced at Jack, who'd been following her side of the conversation. Concern was clear in his features, but he stayed quiet, waiting.
"Sir. Would you mind if Cassie came here?" Under stress, Sam fell automatically into old forms.
Jack ignored the slip. Now wasn't the time to quibble. He went immediately into command mode. "No, of course not. Tell her to pack her bag and have Nicole get her to the airport. There'll be a ticket waiting."
Jack walked a few feet away and pulled out his own cell phone. After a moment he spoke, "Walter? It's me. I need a plane ticket for Cassandra Fraser. Soonest flight available. She's coming here." Jack held the line as Walter scrambled and made the arrangements. Walter came on a few minutes later and gave him the flight number and time. "Cassie's on the phone with Carter at the moment, but give her 10 and then call her. Ask to speak to her roommate, Nicole. Give Nicole the information." Jack paused while Walter confirmed and then, "Walter . . ." Jack let it hang while he waited for the Sergeant to catch up.
"Sir?"
"Thanks, Walter."
"You're welcome, sir. I hope everything is alright."
"It will be. I'll keep you posted. O'Neill out." Jack snapped the phone shut and turned to Sam. "Walter's got a flight for her. He's going to call and give the information to Nicole in about 10 minutes. Cassie'll be here by this evening."
Sam nodded and smiled her thanks. "Nicole? The General has Cassie on a flight here. She'll be here this evening. Sergeant Harriman is going to call and give you the flight details. Can you get her to the airport?"
Nicole was relieved. Cassie's Aunt Sam and Uncle Jack were cool and if anyone could help Cassie, it was them. "Yeah, I'll make sure she gets there. She'll be alright, won't she?"
"She will, Nicole. She just needs her family right now. Thanks for your help on this one. I don't know what she'd do without you."
Sam hung up and looked at Jack. He walked over and took her in his arms, holding her close. "She'll be alright, won't she, Jack?"
Jack sighed and tucked his head into Sam's neck. "She will be Sam, but you're right. She needs her family right now and we're all she has left. C'mon, lets get the cabin ready for another visitor. We should probably call Daniel and Teal'c and get them back here too. She's going to need all of us."
Sam held on to him for another long moment absorbing his warmth and strength. Then together they turned and made their way back to the cabin.