Cassie looked over at Jack. "So what time are we leaving?"
Jack couldn't help but grin at the game. "Early."
Cassie gave the expected groan before Jack added "But we will probably be able to catch one more sunrise."
Cassie's face brightened. "Great."
"Sunrise, Cass, no morning swim. If you are going to swim anymore, you will need to do that today and get it out of your system." Jack cautioned.
"Okay." She replied with somewhat of a whine to her voice.
Cassie did indeed swim one more time that late afternoon but didn't protest when Jack came out and set the warm towel on the dock indicating time to get out of the cool water. She climbed out and wrapped herself in the towel and sat on the dock. Jack watched from window as he prepared their supper. He thought about going out there to check on her but didn't want to intrude on her thoughts. She finally reached for her clothes and began to trod back to the cabin.
As she came in Jack regarded her closely. She noticed. "I'm good, I just…miss Sam."
"I know Honey. I do too. I wish…"His voice trailed off.
Cassie looked at him in concern. "Jack, you have to know that…well, this can't fall under a normal parenting skill, but you being here for me has been amazing. I could never have made it without your love and support. You are a great father."
Jack felt his face flush at the praise. "Thank you Cassie, but there are some things that just…I don't know, seem suited to a girl needing her mother or something."
Cassie chuckled. "Well, it's not like we are a traditional family and I think you have done as well as any parent could, mother or father." She walked over and hugged him.
Jack embraced the young woman a moment then kissed the top of her head. "I love you Cassie."
"I love you too Jack and thank you for being her for me."
"I always will be. Now go get dressed, and let's eat." Jack ordered playfully.
They ate and cleaned up the cabin. Cassie helped Jack make an inventory so he could plan on what supplies he needed to bring next trip. He made a mental note to add a bathing suit for Cassie to the list.
After all that was done and they had packed and loaded most of their stuff into the truck they sat around the fireplace. Jack noticed Cassie had gotten quiet.
"You okay?" He prodded.
She looked up from her book. "Yeah, just kind of nervous about talking to the doctor." She admitted.
"It will be fine. She is just going to help you work through it. It's important Cassie. Trust me." Jack said.
Cassie nodded and went back to her book. Five minutes later though, she hopped up and went to the back door and slipped out. Jack sighed. She was letting her nerves get to her again. He put down his astronomy magazine and went to the back door. She was near the dock, the light from her cigarette indicating where she stood in the darkness.
He opened the door and stepped out on the porch. She came walking up. "I'm sorry. I just…I don't know. Nerves?"
"It's natural considering what you have been through Cassie. One thing you can be sure of is that both Sam and I support you and I will be there for you through this." Jack said.
Cassie smiled at him. "I know. I am being childish."
"No you are not. Get that out of your head." Jack said firmly. He instantly regretted using the heavy tone but surprisingly Cassie took it in stride. She just nodded.
"Don't stay up too late okay?" Jack suggested remembering Sam's insistence on getting Cassie back into a daily routine.
"I won't. Just going to finish this and come in." She replied.
Jack nodded and went back in.
The next morning Jack awoke just as Cassie walked into his room to get him up for their last sunrise together. They walked out and sat on the dock and watched the sunrise, Cassie leaning against him. He looked down at her as she watched the sun come over the trees. He had checked on her several times last night to find she was sleeping soundly with no apparent nightmares. He looked back at the sunrise.
The trip back to the Springs was uneventful if not long. Cassie surprised Jack by asking to drive some this time. She seemed to actually enjoy driving the big truck. He would consider letting her take it to college with her if it weren't such a fuel hog and parking it on campus would be a pain for her.
They got to the house very late and unloaded the truck but didn't put stuff up before Jack shooed her to bed so she would be rested.
The next morning he fixed her breakfast while she put up the clothes and suitcases from their trip. They ate breakfast and cleaned up. Jack could see Cassie was apprehensive. She couldn't sit still. He finally said something.
"Cassie, calm down. It will be fine. You hopping around her like a frog is driving me nuts." He said playfully.
She nodded. "I'm sorry, I just…"
"Cassie, it's okay. No need to apologize. Just relax, okay?" Jack said, giving her a hug. "We have over an hour and a half."
Cassie nodded again and looked out back. She finally sighed and headed to the door.
Jack watched her go out. He looked out the window as she lit her cigarette and walked the yard. He sighed. One thing at a time.
Jack finished wiping down the kitchen and looked at his watch. Cassie was still outside. He walked to the door. She was sitting on the porch, head on her knees. He opened the door and walked out and sat down beside her. She didn't move, but Jack sensed she was waiting to talk.
"Cassie?"
"What if she says it's my fault, Jack? That I got what I deserved?"
"Cassie, that is not even an intelligent question and you know it. Even if you two argued, there is never, ever a reason for a man to hit a woman. You went through something terrible, something that no woman should ever have to go through, but you need to understand it was not your fault." Jack said.
Cassie raised her head and scooted closer to Jack and leaned against him. "Thank you for always supporting me and believing in me." She said quietly.
He wrapped his arm around her. "I always will."
They sat like that for a while, Cassie seeming to have calmed down some. After a bit, Jack looked at his watch. "We need to go."
They pulled into the clinic and got out. Cassie walked a little slowly and Jack took her hand in his as they entered the clinic.
The receptionist looked up as they approached. "Can I help you?"
"Cassandra Frasier." Jack stated, bobbing his head as Cassie who was looking down at the floor.
The receptionist nodded and handed him some forms. As they turned to sit in the surprisingly empty waiting room a door opened and a woman close to Sam's age came out. She looked at them. "Cassandra Frasier?"
Cassie looked at Jack then back at the woman then nodded.
The lady smiled warmly. "I'm Doctor Reagan." She walked over to them. She looked at Jack. "You must be Jack O'Neill, Cassie's father."
"Yes" Jack said offering his hand.
Taking his hand she looked at Cassie. "Hank Landry told me he gave you my name." She pointed at the forms in Jack's hands. "Why don't we work on that later? Cassie, would you come back with me?"
Seeing Cassie hesitate and look apprehensively at Jack she made a decision. "Cassie, would you like for your father to come back with you?"
Cassie nodded quickly then remembered her manners. "Yes ma'am" she said softly.
"Okay then." Doctor Reagan replied and led them to her office.
Jack instinctively looked around as soon as he entered the room and watched as the Doctor indicated Cassie sit in the chair across a low coffee table from her. She then indicated Jack to sit next to Cassie in the available chair.
"Now Hank didn't tell me why he gave you my name, only that he did and you are very special to the people he works with. I will admit that considering my specialty, I have an idea why you are here, but I would like to hear what you have to say." The doctor stated.
Cassie sighed and looked at Jack who smiled and nodded. She turned back to the doctor and began talking. She explained about catching John cheating on her and the argument that ensued and the shock when he hit her and his continued hitting and kicking her when she was on the floor. She explained how helpless she felt. She ended with her need to run and her flight across the country to Jack's house.
Doctor Reagan listened took notes. She noticed Jack tensing up when Cassie talked about what happened. She looked at Cassie as she wrapped her story with her return to the Springs. She looked down at her notes. She glanced back up a Cassie.
"Cassie, would you mind if I talked to your dad a moment?" She asked.
Cassie nodded and stood up. Doctor Reagan got up and led her to the door. "There is a break room right down the hall to the right. It will only be a moment."
After she closed the door she came and sat back down. "I take it this is the first time you heard the whole story of what happened?"
"Yes, it was." Jack replied tightly. "I had an idea, but…"
Reagan nodded. "It's rough for a parent to hear. I need to ask, just for clarification, what kind of changes have you noticed in her behavior."
Jack looked away a moment, then began to talk of Cassie's initial nightmares, her jitteriness around strangers and crowds, being easily startled, her lack of confidence, and of course smoking. He then added that she seemed to only be comfortable if he was within sight of her.
Doctor Reagan took notes and then looked up. "Well, I think some that is to be expected. I am going to ask you to be patient with her, which it sounds like you have been. I will say that I will ask to see her a couple of times a week to start with. I am going to ask that you allow me to speak with her alone on some those sessions, but there will a few I will ask you to join her. Will that be a problem?"
"Whatever she needs doc." Jack stated without hesitation.
Reagan smiled. "Cassie's mother?"
Jack sat up straight. "I think I need to explain that Cassie is a refugee from a war. Her original family was killed. My team found her and brought her with us. She was adopted by our doctor. A good lady who was later killed in the line of duty. Sam and I became her guardians after that."
Doctor Reagan sat back and absorbed this information. "That is a lot of tragedy for a young woman."
"Yes." Jack said in agreement.
"And this Sam?"
"Colonel Samantha Carter. She has been an important part of Cassie's life since we brought her here. She has been Cassie's mentor and her stability, especially after Janet died." Jack explained.
Doctor Reagan made a few notes. "And will Colonel Carter be able to come in at all?"
Jack looked at her a moment. "She is deployed. Her location would make that extremely hard." Jack said then added quickly, "However, if it will help Cassie, I am sure that she would be insistent, so I will see what I can arrange."
Doctor Reagan added to her notes and smiled. "If you don't mind, I would like to talk to Cassie. Do you think she will stay in here with me if you were not in the room?"
Jack got up and walked to the door. "I'll get her."
He returned a moment later with Cassie.
Doctor Reagan smiled at her. "Cassie, would you be willing to sit and talk with me a little more, by yourself?"
Cassie glanced apprehensively at Jack who squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "It'll be okay, Honey, I will be in the break room."
Cassie nodded and moved to the chair as Jack left and quietly closed the door.
About an hour later, Jack was sitting in the break room when Cassie and Doctor Reagan came in. He looked at Cassie, trying to get a read on emotions. She smiled slightly at him.
"I'm okay Jack" she told him.
As they drove home, Cassie was very quiet. She did not notice Jack turning off the road into a parking lot. She finally looked up when Jack turned off the truck. When she saw where they were, she smiled brightly.