Daughter of My Heart, Chapter Three
Sam generally enjoyed briefings. They were useful, however the Colonel may otherwise feel, and, moreover, often informative on a more scientific level as well.
This, however, was pure torture.
Seated around the briefing room table as if it were any other day, Sam felt all the tension and 'fight' instinct one might expect coming up on a Jaffa patrol. Her back was ramrod straight as she perched stiffly in her chair, face schooled into a rigid mask of professional calm as she clasped her hands before her. Waiting.
And while on the outside she might appear the perfect soldier, on the inside every nerve vibrated discordantly against every other, jarring whatever sense of peace she may have been able to muster prior to arriving in the room.
Across from her, Daniel and Janet looked to be in similar states of agitation, although they had all mutually agreed that come what may, they'd find a way to keep Cassie in their lives. Janet, she knew, was still entirely prepared to take Cassandra full-time if need be, although Sam, for her part, couldn't imagine handing her daughter over without one hell of a fight.
She trusted and respected the doctor, even considered her a friend...but Cassie was her child. She needed the little girl in her life as much as Cassie needed her. And she'd woke up that morning certain that she could give up the Air Force, give up the Stargate, even, if it meant keeping them together for good.
Daniel gave her a reassuring smile, as if he could read her thoughts, her fears.
Even without her career in the way, would the Air Force let her keep Cassandra? She was still a single parent, after all, and if she were forced to resign, she wouldn't have an income anymore.
Maybe Hammond would relent, and let her take a desk job. At least then she'd still be employed.
All she knew for sure was that she couldn't lose Cassie. And she knew the little girl felt the same.
"Can I come too?," she'd asked that morning, as Sam had said goodbye. She'd be spending the day with her tutor while the rest of her guardians awaited Hammond's decision.
"I'm sorry, Sweetie, but General Hammond only wants to meet with the adults today," Sam had apologized.
"What is he going to say?"
"I don't know."
"I wrote a report, just in case," she'd said, handing Sam a slightly crumpled piece of lined paper. "Janet helped me."
Sam had read the page quickly, biting back tears over the simple words.
General Hammond,
Please let me stay with Sam. She's a really good mom, and I like it here. Janet and Daniel are great too.
- Cassandra.
"Thank you," Sam had managed, treasuring the words even as her chest began to constrict.
She'd brought the page with her, just in case.
Her career was the biggest obstacle right now. With her scare in Antarctica, Sam had almost left Cassandra motherless for the second time in just over a month. If it hadn't been for Daniel, it was probable no one ever would have found her and the Colonel. Just look how long that Jaffa had been there, undiscovered.
Even if the General, by some miracle, could overlook the mishap, could she? Could Sam in good conscience keep both her daughter and her position on SG-1, knowing full well that they might not be so lucky next time? The odds were stacked against them in Sam's current line of work. Could she risk putting Cassie through that kind of loss again?
General Hammond entered the room, silencing Sam's thoughts as he took his seat and opened the folder before him. All eyes turned his way, the air suddenly sucked from the room as everyone held a collected breath, waiting for him to begin.
"Sorry I'm late," he prefaced, nodding apologetically to the officers and archaeologist seated around the table. "Dr. Fraiser, we'll start with you. How is the girl faring?"
"Physically, Sir, she's in perfect health," the doctor began. "The device in her chest has been fully reabsorbed by her body as we predicted, and there have been no further complications with her health."
"How about psychologically? How is she doing with the loss of her family, her people?," he asked, pointedly keeping his gaze locked on the doctor.
Janet nodded, anticipating the question. "Well, Sir, she's doing better than any of us expected," she answered truthfully. "She's mourning healthily, talking to us about her past, remembering the people she cared for while still letting us in. I doubt most adults in her situation would be able to do the same, let alone most children, but Cassandra seems uniquely able to process the experience while moving forward with her life."
"And we're certain there's no post-traumatic stress?," Hammond pressed.
"Well, Sir, at the moment I'd have to say 'no'. She's adjusting well to her new life, without any sign of repressed memory in relation to her old one." Janet sighed. "That being said, Sir, post-traumatic stress disorder does not often surface right away, and I would like to keep an eye on her over the next several months to track her progress."
"Understood," Hammond replied with a nod. Then, turning to Daniel, said "Dr. Jackson. I understand you've taken an active role in the girl's life as well?"
"Yes, Sir," Daniel replied uncertainly, nodding.
"And what's your view of her current situation?"
Daniel coughed nervously. "Well, Sir, from what I can tell, she's very happy with how things are. She's looking forward to starting school soon, and she's really taken a shine to Captain Carter," he replied, motioning towards Sam.
"She understands the necessity for living with Doctor Fraiser while the Captain is off-world?"
"Yes, Sir," Daniel replied, nodding emphatically.
"And she understands the dangers involved in Captain Carter's line of work?"
Daniel looked to Sam, who shut her eyes in defeat. Here it was. The moment she'd been dreading.
"Yes, Sir," Daniel replied, glancing back to the General.
"How did she handle the news that the Captain had gone M.I.A.?," the General questioned, referring to Antarctica.
"Surprisingly well," Daniel replied. "She was concerned, but far from inconsolable. Doctor Fraiser and I explained that we were doing everything in our power to find the Captain, and that we'd do our best to bring her home safe."
The General shook his head. "Did you at any point make it clear that Captain Carter may not make it home?," he asked pointedly.
"No, Sir," Janet replied in Daniel's place. "We thought it would be in her best interest to give her hope, Sir."
Hammond shook his head once more. "People, if we're going to continue in this manner, you need to make it absolutely clear to the girl what the risks are. There may come a day when Captain Carter won't come home. She needs to understand this."
"With all due respect, Sir," Sam began, meeting the General's intent gaze, "I'm still willing to take a position in the labs here at the SGC."
"I understand that, Captain," the General replied, more softly now, "However, I still feel you're needed on SG-1. You've proven yourself uniquely skilled at coming up with complex solutions to technical problems while under immense pressure. You've saved the lives of your teammates several times already. I would be remiss in my duties if I allowed you to walk away, without a suitable replacement."
Sam stared straight ahead, breaking eye contact. She didn't trust her voice to respond.
"C'mon, General!," Colonel O'Neill exclaimed. "Cut Carter some slack. I'm sure there are plenty of eggheads around here who'd love to take her place," he added, sweeping his hand around the room in an all-encompassing gesture.
"None with her qualifications as both a scientist and a soldier," Hammond replied, shaking his head once more.
"This is her kid we're talking about," the Colonel retorted. "I'd say that trumps her team, any day!"
Hammond sighed, knowing where the man was coming from. "Captain Carter," he addressed instead, "I'd like to know your take on this situation."
Sam stared at him a moment, uncertain how to respond. Hadn't she already made herself clear, only to be shot down? She swallowed nervously. "Cassandra has come to mean a great deal to me," she confessed slowly, painstakingly, "and I will do everything in my power to keep her in my life."
"Are you willing to legally assign either Doctor Fraiser or Doctor Jackson custody of the child should anything happen to yourself?," he questioned.
Sam blinked in surprise. "Yes, Sir," she replied, nodding.
"And doctors. Are you willing to accept charge of the child should any harm befall Captain Carter?"
"Yes, Sir," they both responded, their voices almost perfectly in sync.
Hammond snapped the folder shut. "Then I see no reason to further uproot her from her home. Keep up the good work people. Dismissed."
And with that, he stood and left, leaving a table of bemused, yet elated people in his wake.