Jack had lost track of how long he had simply stood there with Sam under one of his arms, but eventually she had pulled back from him. Again, he had wanted to say something. He had wanted to tell her that he was sorry, sorry for Janet, sorry for vanishing, sorry for getting hurt himself and sorry every tiny bit of pain she had ever felt because of the Stargate Programme and Cheyenne Mountain. In the end, he had simply whispered the name Cassie. Sam had pulled away from him, nodding and in silence they had left the base. Now they stood at the front door to their home and he did not want to unlock the door and go in. Sam seemed to understand as they both stood waiting for him to put his keys into the lock. Cassie had been picked up from school by airmen and brought to the O'Neill-Carter residence, she was waiting inside for them, probably believing that her mom was simply working late.
Turning his head to Sam, Jack knew that he needed to say something before they went in. "Sam, the, uh, the bedroom situation."
She nodded, agreeing with his unspoken words. "This is Cassie's home now."
The only obstacle now defeated, Jack unlocked the front door and entered the house before Sam. Cassie, Daniella and Sasha were all in the den – Sasha sitting on the couch whilst the two younger girls were both on the floor playing. Jack could not help the thought that both girls were now his responsibility as it flitted through his mind. It was Daniella who noticed her parents first and she smiled up at them. "Dadda!"
"Jack!" Cassie declared and then her face fell. "What happened to your arm?"
He realised that Sam was hiding behind him and he really could not blame her. "There was an accident." There were those stupid words.
"Are you okay?" she asked and he nodded. "Where's mom? Is it serious? Am I having a girlie slumber party?" It had only happened on a few occasions when the workload was that large that Janet remained on base and Sam or Jack would look after Cassie. More frequently it was Janet and Cassie popping in to check on Daniella and Sasha when Jack or Sam were injured.
"Cassie," Sasha said as she stood up. She had already realised the atmosphere that Cassie seemed blind to.
"What?" Cassie asked looking between Sasha, Jack and then Sam as she moved out from behind Jack. Her face paled and Jack could see her hands starting to shake very slightly. "What's happened? Where's mom?"
There was only one thing Jack could say, the two most useless words in the world. "I'm sorry." Cassie fell to her knees, sobbing and Sam rushed forward to her. Jack stood there feeling as useless as his words as the three most important people in his life had their hearts break and the happy home he helped to build was filled with tears and screams.