Arriving at the parking lot in no time, both gathered their backpacks and equipment and made their way into the forest.

They walked for about half an hour before they arrived at their campsite near the river.

It was a little bay where they've been before. They knew their routine. Jack was going to put up the tent and Cassie started to look for firewood.

When she was little she had been a scout and Jack taught her well so she knew how to set up a fireplace.

"Cass, a little help over here?" He asked her to help secure the tent.

"Of course, Jack. Just let me put aside the last pieces of wood."

Around the fireplace were two tree trunks to sit on. She was looking forward to it, she always loved to sit at the crackling fire, a cup of tea in her hand to warm her fingers and talk to Jack.

"So, what do you want to do today? Should we take a walk around the lake and try to catch some fish later for dinner?"

"Sounds great, but I hope you have a backup plan for when we don't catch any fish!"

"You know me Cass, there's always a plan B." He said and winked at her.

When everything was ready and set up Jack took everything in his backpack that they needed for the day. The hike wouldn't be that long on their first day, so there was no need for Cassie to bring her pack as well. Two bottles of water, a few snacks and the usual gaer was all they needed.

Jack took the lead like he was used to and Cassie followed him.

"Tell me about that new boyfriend of yours? Do I have to remember his name?"

She laughed and he thought that this was a sound he wanted to hear from her all the time.

"I don't know yet, but he is really nice and it could be something serious. Ben is in a few of my classes and one day he asked me out on a cup of coffee. We've been going out since then. I think you'll like him! His Dad is also military so he does understand my life a little bit better. I mean with Mom dying in the field and you and Sam being in the air force. He knows not to ask further questions if he's been told it's classified. It's easy being around him. We laugh a lot. He's making me happy, Jack!"

"That's what I want for you, squirt!" He stopped walking and pulled her into a hug.

"Do you think Sam is sad that we didn't invite her to come with us?" She asked after a while.

"Why do you think so?"

"When we talked last night she said she wished she could come with us. And I feel a little guilty for not asking her. I know she has a lot of work right know and she told me she meant that someday she would like to do this as a family with all of us, but I thought she looked like she felt left out."

"No, I talked to her too. She knows this is our father-daughter trip and is happy for us. So don't feel bad. We'll do this again as a family, but now it's just us and believe me she's not sad, her hormones are going crazy right now so we need to learn to cope with her mood swings pretty soon." He sighed at the thought of this. Was he really ready to do this again? It's too late for these kinds of thoughts anyway, but once in a while the question popped into his mind.

Not willing to ruin the mood he mentioned Cassie to take the lead and began to walk again.

"Come on, let's head on. I'm curious if you still know how to fish. I bet I'll catch the bigger fish."

"Oh no, you don't. Come on Jack, let's go and catch dinner!"

It turned out to be a successful day. They caught a few fish, rounded the lake at day one and ate the fish which Jack prepared for them over the fire.

They saw the sun going down while they sat on their trunks next to the fireplace. You don't get to see these beautiful sunsets in Nevada. As much as she missed her mother in moments like this, Cassie was glad to have these people to call her family.

"And you, Jack? How are you doing? Already excited to get to marry Sam? I know you've done this before..."

He was fidgeting with a wooden stick.

"Excited?? I'm terrified, Cass! The most amazing woman on the planet wants to marry me and I'm not sure how I deserve her and if I can live up to her expectations. I'm not that young anymore, what if she realizes what she got herself into?"

"Oh Jack, Sam loves you! I know she doesn't care about your age. She's loved you for a long time and I can tell she's pretty excited about becoming your wife. Don't sell yourself short, you're a great catch, half the base mourns the loss of you. You were the hottest bachelor on base. Remember that I was in the infirmary often enough to hear the nurses talk. They drew straws to decide who gets to do your physical."

He looked like a deer caught in the headlights and that made Cassie laugh so hard she spilled a bit of her tea she was drinking.

"You really have no idea how handsome you are, right?"

"Handsome?" He asked.

"I would say sexy, but that would be weird, wouldn't it?"

"Ok, I'll get where you're going. Hmm,... well... thanks, I guess."

She scooted a bit closer so she could reach his arm. She placed her hand on his forearm to make him look up into her eyes.

"You're worth everything, Jack! She loves you, never doubt that and you're going to be a great father. This kid is so lucky to have you as his parents."

"Yeah, I wasn't that great the first time..."

"Don't say this, Jack! I bet you were a terrific father. I know you are the best I could wish for. Don't let an accident bind you to think you're going to be nothing less than great."

"It was my weapon, I was careless that day and Charlie suffered for this." his throat tightens as he speaks.

"Look at me, Jack. It was an accident, you've told Charlie more than once not to touch your weapon. Ever. You taught me the same. You're going to not let this happen again and that makes you even a better father. Believe me, it's going to be great. I can't wait to meet this child."

Tears were silently streaming down his face, touched by the words of the woman he helped raise. She stood up and walked over to sit right beside him. She drew him into her shoulders and let him cry for his lost son. He put his arms around her waist, holding onto her.

"You are a really amazing woman, you know that? Thanks Cassie! I'm sorry to ruin the mood like this..."

"No, don't be. That's what family is for. I'm happy that you feel safe enough with me to let these feelings show."

"I didn't know, but I needed that."

"I think you need to talk about Charlie, it doesn't have to be now or with me, maybe with Sam. Let her know about him, and how your relationship with him was. It might help."

He smiled at her. "You're sure you want to become a medical doctor? You'd make a great psychiatrist."

She smiled back. "I'm sure, I want to do what Mom did. But I can be your psychiatrist whenever you need me."

A few moments passed by in silence before he began to speak.

"He was a happy child. Had always a smile on his face. Many friends that regularly came over. Our house was never quiet and I loved it. We used to build aircraft and spaceship models together, his room was space themed. He wanted to be an astronaut, just like Sam. He would have loved her! I tried my best to teach him all the astronomy stuff I know. We sneaked out in the middle of the night just to watch the stars. Sometimes through my telescope and some nights we just laid down on a blanket in the middle of the yard to look up in the sky. He would have been thrilled if he knew his Dad had been in space so many times."

At this thought he glanced up in the sky, the sun was down and the stars made themselves known. "He was interested in all that science stuff and on the other hand he loved sports. We used to go up to the cabin a few times a year, so he could probably skate on the ice before he could walk. In the winter season we used to play hockey, but his real love was baseball. If I had been home more I'd loved to train his baseball team. Maybe I've got to do it this time around, whatever sport this child is going to love. We haven't had as much time together as I wanted, but the time we did spend together was the best time of my life. Until now."

Cassie was lost for words. Never had she heard Jack O'Neill talk that much in one piece, even less about his feelings and his dead son.

"That sounds like an amazing little boy. I wish I could have gotten to know him. I love you, Dad!"

"And I love you, squirt. Thank you!"

They sat by the fire until it was burned out, ready to go to sleep in the tent.

Next morning they were woken by the bright sunshine coming through the front of their tent. Cassie and Jack packed their packs for the day. Today they wanted to hike up to the waterfall and packed the swimming gear on top of the things they needed for the day.

The sun was shining through the trees as they climbed up the hills. It was a few hours later when they arrived at the waterfall.

"I don't remember this to be so exhausting!" Cassie panted.

"Yeah, now I know why I never wanted to have a desk job. I'm a bit out of practice myself." He stood in front of the water, resting his hands on his thighs.

They stepped out of their clothes, their swimwear underneath so they were ready to jump into the water.

"Well that's refreshing." Jack said as he splashed water towards Cassandra, who wasn't convinced yet to step into the cold little lake.

But it didn't take her long to dive towards Jack. Coming up from behind she managed to submerge him. They teased like this for a while until Cassie discovered the swing over the lake. It was a lovely place to be, they spent the afternoon swimming, sunbathing and just relaxing before they made their way back to the campsite.

Meanwhile Sam sat in the mess hall with Daniel and Cameron. Even if she wasn't on their team they included her in most of what they did.

This morning Teal'c came to get her for a short training session in the gym.

Daniel called her asking for advice in regards to his newest translation and once in a while Mitchell came around to pass some time in her lab, like Jack used to do. She quickly learned that it was useful to have something around for him to fidget with, just like Jack.

"So Sam, what are you doing tonight?" Cam asked her.

"Nothing exciting. I still have a test running in my lab and I thought about revising some gate protocols and uploading them into the computer. At night is the best time to do this because we rarely have incoming teams then."

"Oh no you won't!" He stated firmly what made Sam look up to him in confusion. "O'Neill would rip my head off if I would let you work through the night. Not in your condition and not if it isn't really necessary. We're having a team night at my place tonight and you're going to come. I'm in charge of the drinks, the boys bring pizza and a movie and you just have to turn up at 1800."

"But I..."

"Ah, that wasn't a request, that was an order."

Sam smiled at this. She was damn lucky to have such friends. When she started working at the SGC again she was a little afraid that she wouldn't fit in anymore, stuck in her lab, not able to go off-world for a while. But her boys made clear that they still considered her a member of the team.

"Ok, I'll be there, but I'll bring dessert."

"That's settled then, see you later. My place, 1800, don't be late!"