They next morning Daniel and Teal'c headed back to the Springs, leaving Jack to spend some time with Cassie and ensure she was okay starting her new semester.

Cassie appeared more at ease as time went on and had no issues with nightmares or problems sleeping. She had taken on a volunteer position as a student guide, helping new students get oriented and finding places on campus. Jack noted she seemed to take pleasure in helping the new students. He also noticed that she did fine while on campus and he was not around. The first two days, she came home at lunch and immediately after class and called between classes to 'make sure he was okay' at the apartment alone, but that tapered off as her confidence grew and she was not afraid to stay on campus after classes.

On the eighth day of Jack's stay, Cassie did run across John. She called Jack and he could tell she was wound up.

After calming her down he found they had crossed paths in the student center. John had attempted to talk to her, but apparently some of the same people who tried to confront them at the restaurant intercepted him and blocked him from Cassie. It seems he was not held in as much in high regard as he used be.

Cassie reported the incident to the security guard at the center, and explained she had a restraining order on file with the campus police. The guard called the police to confirm the order and promised that they would talk with John about maintaining his distance or he would be banned from campus as well as turned over the local police.

She related all of this to Jack at ninety miles a minute. He talked to her a while and made sure she was in fact okay, and helped calm her down. She finally returned to what Jack considered her normal rate of fifty mile a minute chatter and seemed much calmer. He finally asked what time she was planning on coming home.

"I will be home right after my next class." She answered as if surprised by the question.

"Oh, okay wasn't sure if you…"

"Jack, you are leaving in a couple of days, I want to spend time with you before you go." Cassie said.

Jack smiled. "I would like that. I will see you when you get home."

Cassie came home a couple of hours later. They ate dinner and then relaxed in the living area.

"I'm proud of the way you handled it today with John." Jack commented.

"It was just…I don't know, strange. I was surprised when he approached me but I didn't panic. I was nervous, but I think deep down I knew he was not going to hurt me in public. He was mad when Rick and the guys stopped him from approaching me, I can tell you that."

Jack smirked. "I imagine he was. I don't think he has ever been told no."

Cassie nodded. "I'm not going to lie. When it was over and they led him away, I was a bundle of nerves. That's why I called. For the first time in a while, I wanted a cigarette." She admitted.

"But you didn't and that's what is important and you can always call me. You know that. It's what I am here for." Jack replied.

Cassie smiled. "I appreciate that."

Cassie looked at him. "Jack, I don't think I ever told you and Sam how much I appreciate you two being there for me and being supportive of me. You have been great parents. I know you had doubts about being a parent, but you have been an incredible dad. Thank you."

Jack looked down, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. "Thanks." He finally managed to say. He then smirked. "It wasn't that hard with you. You have been a pretty maintenance free kid."

Cassie smiled. "You didn't think that when you and Sam had to help me get a dress for that spring dance."

Jack grimaced at that memory. "It wasn't the shopping that was bad; it was your inability to pick a dress with enough cloth to go around."

Cassie laughed, "I wanted to look nice for my date."

"And I wanted you to have clothes on." Jack protested.

Cassie laughed again and leaned against him. "If it wasn't for Sam, I would have gone to the dance looking at home in Victorian England."

Jack smiled. True enough. Sam had become exasperated mediating between Cassie's picking styles that Jack decided was absolutely too revealing and Jack's picking dresses that were just short of ankle length, long sleeve turtle-necks. She had threatened to kill them both.

When it was over, Sam had bent his ear that night about his needing to balance being protective with Cassie's need to grow into a woman and decide for herself the standards she wanted to set for herself. Jack realized as time had gone on that Sam was right and Cassie had chosen her own path, although he admitted to himself he was pleased to see she stayed on the conservative side.

They talked until late and Jack chased her off to bed to rest for her classes.

The next night Cassie was subdued, but seemed to have a handle on her apprehension.

"Cass, you know that if you need anything at all, you can call me. Day or night."

"I know." She replied in an almost whiny voice. "I'm just…I'm going to miss having you around here, taking care of me."

Jack laughed. "I think that having an old man around would drive you nuts in month."

"That is not true." She retorted. She then quickly added, "About you being old I mean."

Jack laughed again then grew serious. "Cassie, I mean it. You call me if you have any issues, or even any trouble sleeping. I expect you to call me okay?"

She hugged him. "I will."

The first phone call came the next night. Jack was asleep when his phone woke him up, he quickly answered it. Cassie was indeed having trouble sleeping. She had gotten so used to him being there, nearby, her anxiety at not having him close was getting to her. He talked to her for almost an hour, making small talk and teasing her, when he noticed her responses were getting slower and her speech not always coherent. She was falling asleep. After telling her he loved her he told her to go to bed. She apparently did as she did not call back.

The next day she called and started to apologize for waking him in the middle of the night when he cut her off and explained that is exactly what he wanted her to do if she had any issues and he was glad he could help. They talked for a while, and he noticed she sounded fairly strong. She signed off with a promise to call tonight, much earlier, and 'check on him' before he went to bed.