The long weekend at the cabin went by too fast and here she was. Miles away from Jack in DC, standing in her new home in Nevada.

She settled for an apartment instead of a house, because she knew this wouldn't be the place she would grow old.

Cassie was living at her student dormitory on weekdays, but would be visiting Sam on the weekends. Now that Sam has more regular hours in her job she wouldn't have to work on most of the weekends.

That gave her more time to focus on Cassie as she promised Janet to look out for her little girl.

It was Friday noon and not long until their first girls weekend.

She was looking forward to seeing the teenager again as the phone rang.

"Carter." she answered.

"Hey Carter, how are you doing?" a gentle male voice responded, causing her face to brighten with a smile.

"Hi Sir, I'm good. Just waiting for Cassie to arrive! How's DC?"

"Lose the Sir, Sam. I'm not your boss anymore, remember?" he reminded her with a smirk on his lips. "I'm good, but I'm already tired of these stupid people around here, you know. In fact I could definitely feel better if I were in better company. What do you think about a little trip to Washington?"

"I would love that Jack, but unfortunately I've got a lot of work that will keep me at work next weekend."

"No, you don't."

"What do you mean I don't? Yes, I do."

She could practically hear him smirking.

"I'm not your direct superior anymore, but I do hear things. Maybe you haven't been informed by now, but you'll have a meeting with Major Davis at the end of next week. And I thought you shouldn't bother booking a hotel. How about I'll send you my car to pick you up at the airport and after your meeting you'll come and find me and we can go home together?"

Home. That sounded good to Sam.

"Well, if I'm getting my orders I won't bother with a hotel room. Would be such a waste, wouldn't it? Make sure your fridge is filled, I'm not planning on leaving the house, Mr.!"

"Oh woman, I like the way you think. I'll do that. So, how's your apartment?"

"It's great, finally furnished and all boxes cleared out. Maybe we'll do a little more shopping tomorrow and see if Cassie wants to rearrange her room, but other than that it's all settled."

Not sooner had she said that a key was inserted and turned around in her front door lock.

"She's here, I gotta go. I'll call you when I get my flight details."

"All right, have a nice weekend, give Cassie a hug. See you soon!"

"See you soon! Bye, Jack."

As she turned around she was greeted by bright brown eyes: "Sam, it's so good to see you!"

Sam opened her arms and welcomed the teenage girl with a big hug.

"Great to have you here, honey. Welcome home Cass!"

"Thank you! But sorry, I didn't want to interrupt your phone call."

"No, that's ok. It was just Jack, telling me about a meeting I'll have in DC at the end of next week. By the way, he sends a hug."

"Thanks. But...ahm...Jack?" the girl has never heard Sam calling him by his name, it's always 'Sir' or 'Colonel' but never has she heard her saying 'Jack'.

After their confession at the cabin they agreed to take it slow and get used to their new situation, at least in telling people. They were still adjusting, figuring out how to make this work with a whole country separating them and don't want people to think it started way before they were allowed to.

"Yes, Jack. Remember, he isn't my superior officer anymore. I don't have to call him 'Sir' the whole time now."

"Yeah, I know. It's just strange to hear you finally calling him by his first name. I thought his rank was so burned into your brain. So, you're going to Washington... You should go to see him too."

"That's why he called. I think he's a little bored out there and could use to see a familiar face. If it's ok with you I would stay for the weekend. I know we agreed to see each other on the weekends..."

"Sam, it's ok. I don't need to see you every weekend. I also have my life and will be going out with my friends. It helps a lot just having you near. Go and have fun with Jack."

The girl had no idea how close to the truth she was with her statement. Having fun with Jack was something Sam had definitely planned.

Both women enjoyed their time together. They talked a lot about Janet, Cassie misses her mother dearly and Sam also wished she could talk to her friend from time to time.

Cassie would spend the next weekend with her boyfriend. He's coming to visit her since he's studying in another city. After school they weren't sure it would work out with them being in different cities, but they try to visit each other regularly.

"You're careful Cassie, aren't you? I know your mother must have had this talk with you a few years ago, but now you're older and Dominic has been your boyfriend for quite some time. I just want to make sure you're safe."

"Oh gosh, Sam. Yeah, I'm careful. I'm on the pill and we always use a condom, too. You know, with mom being a doctor there was not only talk about getting pregnant, I'm also aware of all the diseases I could get, believe me."

"I should have known. But this whole parental thing is new for me, so please forgive me if I'm being overprotective. I love you!"

"I love you too, Sam. And you're doing just fine. It's nice to be taken care of. So while we're talking about sex... What happened with Pete? You never really explained why he's out of the picture. Not that I miss him, but I thought you two were about to start a family."

Sam should have known that this question would come sooner rather than later.

A family.

Yes, they planned to have kids. It still is something Sam wants, but clearly not with Pete. She talked about children with Jack, but it wasn't a serious talk, just something that came up while they talked about the last conversations they each had with Jacob.

And beside that she wasn't even sure she was able to become pregnant because of what was left of Jolinar. A few years back after being blended with the Tok'ra she discussed it with Janet, but the Doctor told her it may take a while if it was even possible.

"I think I finally realized Pete was not what I wanted. I liked the idea of being married, having a husband to come home to and having a family after all those tiring years out there. Being normal for a while. But it turned out that's not what I was looking for. I'm not that perfect housewife he wanted me to be. He bought a house, for crying out loud!"

"He bought a house??" Cassie asked a little stunned, well aware that Sam used the phrase Jack uses all the time.

"Oh yes, a big house with a big yard for the dog..."

"Dog? What dog?"

"Exactly! He had everything planned out. He had decided everything without asking me about my opinion. I mean, I know I let him do most of the wedding plans, I thought because I had so little time outside the base, but now I know if I really cared about it I would have made the time to do those things together. But buying a house is huge Cassie, shouldn't I have a say in it?"

"Of course you should. I can't believe he did that."

"As Dad died he asked me if I'm gonna be happy. I'm ashamed that I lied to him and told him I was, but I think he knew I wasn't and he knew that I would find it out before I made a big mistake. I just wish I could tell him that I'm happy now."

"I'm sure he knows, wherever he is now. So it will only be you and me here for a while, huh?!" she stated with an encouraging smile.

Watching Sam, who was nervously biting her lower lip.

"Yeah... Well... Not exactly."

"What do you mean, not exactly? You're seeing someone? Sam I'm not sure you should rush into a new relationship so soon after breaking up an engagement and losing your Dad. Don't you think you should take some time? I mean, who is he? How long could you possibly know him and when did you have time to meet someone? Oh, he's working at Area 51? Is that even allowed?"

Sam burst out laughing: "Slow down Cassie, I think it's really nice that you're worried. But don't you think 8 years is long enough? I don't think you can call it 'rush things'!"

"What? What are you talking about? What 8 years?" and then it dawned on her... "Jack! You...you called him Jack."

"That I did." she tried to hide a smile.

"Sam, you aren't telling me what I think you're telling me?!"

"What is it you think I'm trying to tell you, Cass?"

"You're seeing Jack! You're finally seeing Jack!" the teenager squeals and rushed over to hug Sam. Both of them were now laughing loudly with joy.