Normally Jack would have pushed hard to get to his cabin, but he didn't want to stress Cassie too much so they took it relatively slow. Besides, his truck was not exactly a fuel efficient vehicle. After the third stop for fuel, Cassie looked over at him as she came back from the restroom.
"You know Jack; they make vehicles that are much more efficient now. They even measure in miles per gallon as opposed to gallons per mile." She teased.
Jack smiled as he finished with the pump. "Hey, one of these days, this thing will be a classic. And it will be all yours."
"Just want I always wanted. To own a big bus." She said teasingly.
"Yeah, well, the road to the cabin is pretty rough on cars and during the winter, the snow is brutal. Besides, you are driving the next leg." Jack responded.
Cassie looked up in shock. "Jack, I can't drive this big thing. You know what happened last time."
Jack smiled. "You bumped a pole Cassie. You were sixteen years old. It happens. You can do this."
Cassie looked dubious as she took the keys. She climbed into the driver's seat and frowned. She reached down and adjusted the seat as Jack grinned. She looked up and sighed and began to adjust the mirrors. She noticed Jack's smirk.
"I can't help my height." She protested.
The first few miles were a little slow, but she got the hang of it and did really well. Jack didn't exactly sleep but he did trust her enough to close his eyes. Cassie glanced over and considered jerking the wheel to startle him, but decided against it. She found she enjoyed driving the big truck and just being free and away from people.
They arrived late at the cabin after several more fuel stops. Jack grabbed their bags out of the back while Cassie walked around to the dock. Jack checked the generator and made sure the water pump worked. He started the generator and put the bags in the rooms and walked to the door and watched Cassie a moment. She seemed better the closer they got to the cabin. He knew she always liked it here, but with her in school and him in D.C. they didn't get to come here as much as they used to.
Cassie turned and smiled at him standing at the window. For a moment Jack was taken back to the small, shy little girl from Hanka who had stolen all of SG1's hearts. He remembered the first time she came here with him, Daniel, and Teal'c. She had been so innocent, so happy. He shook himself out of his reverie as Cassie came trotting back up to the cabin.
"It's still so beautiful and peaceful here." She said.
Jack smiled. "Yep."
Since it was so late and they were tired from their driving, they pretty much went straight to bed. Jack woke up several times and quietly went to check on Cassie to find her sleeping soundly. He watched her a few moments the last time before going back to bed.
She seemed to be relaxed here and more able to control her emotions. He lay there thinking about what the next step would be. Eventually she would need to go back to the world and he would not always be close by. He sighed then closed his eyes.
He awoke early the next morning. Even though he used the cabin as a place to relax, he almost always tried to wake up and view the sunrise over pond. He got up and quickly showered and dressed. He walked down the hall to Cassie's room. He found Cassie gone and the bed made. He smiled. This time he had a pretty good idea where she was. He turned and walked to the kitchen to make some coffee and hot chocolate. He looked out the back window to find Cassie sitting at the end of the dock, smoking a cigarette while waiting on the sunrise.
Ever since her first trip to the cabin, when Jack had woken a whiny protesting young girl up to take her out and view the sunrise, she always insisted on it at least two or three times while she was here. Much to Daniel's and Teal'c's chagrin, she sometimes wanted someone to share it with and woke one of them up to join her if they were here.
Jack finished with the coffee and hot chocolate and walked outside to the deck. Cassie looked up and smiled at him as she took the hot chocolate. "Thank you and good morning"
"Good morning. How long you been up?" Jack asked as he sat down beside her. He noticed her hair was wet.
"Not too long. Wanted to catch the sunrise." Cassie replied, leaning against him.
"It always is beautiful here isn't it?" Jack observed.
"Yes, it is."
"I take it you went swimming." He asked.
Cassie smiled sheepishly. "It was so peaceful."
"Water is probably still a little cold for skinny dipping Cassie. I will look around and see if one of your old swimsuits is here." Jack said.
"It's part of the experience." Cassie stated simply.
True enough. Jack had always had a hard time keeping her out of the pond, swimsuit or not, but he always worried she did not think enough about the temperature of the water. Luckily she only went skinny dipping when it was just Sam and him here, and Jack avoided coming out back when he knew she was swimming without a swimsuit.
The conversation stopped as they waited for the sunrise. Neither one noticed the bright flash in the cabin.