Daughter of my Heart, Chapter Forty
"Are you sure about this?," Sam asked again, for about the thousandth time.
"Mom!," Cassie sighed, frustrated. "It's four weeks there, one week home. And Uncle Jack has even arranged for a body guard. I'll be fine."
"It's just that you've never been around quite that much Naquadah before. I'm worried it'll make you feel sick."
Cassie shot her a look. "After watching you for the past few weeks, I doubt any number of Tok'ra could possibly make me feel as sick as my little brother or sister is doing to you."
Daniel had to hide his smirk. The baby was definitely doing a number on Sam.
"But what about college? What about all your own plans?"
Cassie shrugged. "Writing history kind of was the plan," she replied. "And this way, I'm not limited to Earth."
"This is all your fault," Sam said, rounding on Daniel. Daniel grinned unrepentantly.
"What can I say? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Sam growled something incoherent at them both.
"Took you long enough!," General O'Neill greeted from the briefing room. General Hammond, Janet, and Teal'c were all there to see her off as well, along with several people Cassie didn't know. And one oddly familiar...
"Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell," Cassie greeted with a smile. Sam's head whipped sharply in the direction of her daughter, a frown on her face.
"You know him?," she asked incredulously. "How?"
"Uh...," Cassie replied, realizing that with everything else that had happened, no one had ever filled her mom in on her little adventure to Washington.
"General Hammond introduced us," the Lieutenant Colonel supplied helpfully. Sam's frown deepened. She turned to Daniel for support, but he could only shrug.
"I'll explain it all later," Janet hissed, smiling to hide the moment of awkward tension.
"So, introductions all around," General O'Neill added, quickly pointing at the unknown faces in the room.
"Cassandra Carter, this is the Tok'ra Anise, and her host Freya," he said, pointing at a buxom young woman who acknowledged her with a polite smile and nod. "She'll be your contact on the Tok'ra end of things."
"I look forward to working with you," Anise spoke. "Jacob Carter often spoke highly of your talents."
"Thank you," Cassie answered shyly.
"And this," the General continued, indicating an unknown officer, "Is General Hank Landry. He'll be replacing me as head of the SGC. You and Mitchell here will report directly to him each time you check back onto base."
"It's nice to meet you," the General said, shaking her hand warmly.
"And this," he said at last, indicating the Lieutenant Colonel," is to be your escort for the duration of your time among the Tok'ra."
She glanced over at him curiously, and he shrugged.
"What about SG-1?," she asked. "I thought you were coming to join them."
"You are SG-1," he answered with a smirk.
"The team has been temporarily retired, seeing as how all the original members have decided to take their leave," Jack explained. "For the time being, you and Mitchell will be given SG-1's IDC, with the new designation of diplomatic team."
Daniel smiled. "For what it's worth, the status means you can call home as often as you need, to consult with other scientists and diplomats," he added meaningfully.
Sam smacked his arm. "You could've told me," she muttered.
"What about Colonel Osmond, and Lieutenant Hailey?," Cassie asked, confused.
"They've been reassigned to a new front-line team," General O'Neill replied cryptically. "And with Teal'c on Dakara, your parents opting for domestic bliss, and me off to Washington, that leaves you to carry the torch," he added significantly.
No pressure, Mitchell mouthed to her. She grinned.
"Thank you," she said, feeling her cheeks redden with the honour.
"If we are nearly ready, I will dial the coordinates," Anise announced.
"Just a few goodbyes," Cassie replied politely. Anise nodded, leaving the snug little family of SGC personnel huddled together for the send off.
"Do yourself proud, Cassandra," Teal'c intoned, warmly clasping her arm in his very large hand.
"You, too, Teal'c," she said, moving in for a hug.
"Take care of yourself," Janet reminded, hugging her so tight she almost couldn't breathe.
"I will," she gasped, pulled next into Uncle Jack's arms.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," he murmured into her hair, making her chuckle at the permission he'd just given her to have some fun.
"Stop by anytime," General Hammond said softly, pulling her in for yet another hug.
"As long as I call first," she remembered, earning a smile from the Texan.
"Remember to eat and sleep," her dad whispered, holding her nearly as tight as Janet had done.
"And don't actually do anything General O'Neill would do," her mom reminded, joining the embrace.
"I love you," she whispered hoarsely to them.
"Love you too, kiddo," her dad replied. Her mom was too teary by that point to speak.
"Madam Ambassador," Mitchell said, standing at attention.
"Take good care of her," General O'Neill said, slapping the younger man on the chest.
"Yes, Sir," he replied smartly as Cassandra moved over to join him, a single bag slung over her shoulder.
"After you," Mitchell said, indicating the way down to the gateroom, where Anise waited. Everyone else crowded into the observation room to see them off.
Standing at the ramp, she felt a thrill of trepidation shoot through her, even as the familiar thrum of Naquadah skittered across her skin. She turned, looking once more at the faces of the people she loved most in the world. Any world.
I love you, she mouthed, before hurriedly turning to follow Anise up the ramp. Mitchell was right behind her, his own rucksack slung over his shoulder. The blue event horizon rippled before them, as huge and daunting as she remembered from when she was a kid.
And just as she had then, Cassandra Carter, born Cassandra Devonson, stepped through the gate, into the next chapter of her life.
The End.