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sg_rarepairings story entry
The stories for the sg_rarepairings ficathon have been released...so, I can post mine here now...*g*...kinda cool that I got one of my f-list buddies to write for...heh....oh and ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
celievamp wrote mine! here...yay!
Title: Moving On
Author:elfcat255
Rating: PG
Warnings: none
Spoilers: Heroes pt 1 and 2, I guess
Word Count: 2,994
Written For:elliedragon
Prompt: Cassie/Jennifer-Post Heroes, angst, moving in
Author's notes:umm...I'm not very good with angst so I hope you like this Brain..*g*...beta bysams_ceara
The sound of something large hitting the wall and then thudding onto the floor made the blonde haired woman seated at the kitchen island cringe and tilt her head upwards to stare at the ceiling. Her shoulders slumped in defeat as she lowered her head and stared out the window, lost in thought. Another loud crash from the room above her head made her snap out of the stare. Shaking her head and throwing up her hands, Sam muttered, “I can’t take it anymore.”
Picking up the cordless phone from the countertop, she dialed a number and waited for the call to be answered. “Can you come over?” she asked, not bothering with a greeting. Nodding her head at the other person’s answer, she replied, “Thank you so much. I’ll be waiting on the front porch.”
Hanging up without a goodbye, Sam Carter rose from the stool and walked into the hallway. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and glanced upwards with a sad look on her face then with a heavy sigh she made her way to the foyer. Pulling the heavy oak door open, she left it standing wide open behind her as she walked onto the porch and moved to sit in the wooden swing suspended from the ceiling.
Letting her body’s weight slowly shift the swing back and forth Sam brought a knee up. Tucking it close to her body, she lay her forearm across it and rested her chin as she waited for whom she hoped could help her break through to the distraught young woman upstairs. Her eyes seemed to lose focus while she gazed into the distance and a gentle breeze blew across the porch, ruffling her short blonde locks. “I’ve tried all I can, she just doesn’t want to talk to me, sweetheart,” Sam said softly as a faint silvery shape coalesced behind her.
The breeze blew a little stronger sending a shiver down her spine. “Oh, it’s not like I haven’t tried. She just doesn’t want to hear what I have to say; she blames me for your death,” Sam muttered. A blast of cold air came from behind and made her sit up straighter. Wrapping her arms around her upper body, she shook her head. “Don’t start that!” she said in an aggravated tone. “I have enough to deal with right now. There is no way she’d believe me if I told her I could still talk with you! All I need is for her to think I’ve gone crazy. I talk to myself enough as it is,” Sam mumbled in a low tone. “Now I know what Jack felt like when Daniel kept visiting him. It’s hard enough making it through the days and nights without you even with you popping up like this,” she added with a sad sigh.
The breeze slowed until it almost disappeared and then with one final gust, brushed across the back of Sam’s neck causing her to smile wistfully. “Apology accepted. Now, here comes Jennifer. Let’s hope this works, sweetie,” Sam said to the wind as she stood up from the swing and walked towards the steps to meet the young woman pulling up in the driveway.
Turning off the Wrangler’s engine, Jennifer Haley watched as the woman who was her superior officer, mentor and friend walked towards her Jeep. She had offered to help the older woman during this time of grief and it looked as if Sam was taking her up on that offer. Taking a deep breath and fixing a smile upon her face, the young officer climbed out of the vehicle then walked to meet Sam at the edge of the walkway.
“Thanks for coming over so fast, Jennifer,” Sam said holding out a hand to the young woman.
Taking the hand offered to her, Jennifer gripped it tight and replied, “You sounded kind of rattled on the phone, Ma’am.” Sam’s eyebrows rose and Jennifer quickly said, “I mean Sam. It’s so hard to remember when to be a civilian and not.”
“I understand,” Sam told her with a knowing smile.
“So, what do you need my help with?” Jennifer asked.
Sam glanced towards the house than back to the young woman standing before her. “Could you talk to Cass for me? I’ve tried but she refuses to listen to anything I have to say,” the older blonde said.
“Let me guess, she’s angry and blames you,” Jennifer remarked.
“Me and all of Stargate Command. The only reason I think she’d listen to you is because the two of you are such good friends,” Sam replied.
Jennifer felt her cheeks begin to blush over and she ducked her head to hide it. If Sam really knew how close she and Cass were she might not have asked for her help. Coughing slightly, she cleared her throat and said, “Sure, I can talk with her if you want me to. Where is she?”
“Upstairs in her room. She refuses to come down when I’m in the house so I’ll wait out here while you talk,” Sam told her protégé.
Jennifer nodded in reply and clasping Sam on the shoulder moved past the taller woman and made her way up the steps, through the open doorway and into the house.
Sam watched the young lieutenant disappear through doorway and smiled. “You realize they had no clue we knew about them, don’t you?” she said aloud.
The wind picked up and Sam heard the faint trill of a familiar laugh. She chuckled softly and sticking her hands in her pockets, strolled back up the walkway to take a seat on the steps. The silvery form appeared not far from her and the two waited to see if Jennifer could talk some sense into their daughter.
****
Walking to the bottom of the stairs, Jennifer paused and looked around the living room. She thought about the first time she’d been in this house and how it had been one of the happiest days in her life. The Major and Dr. Fraiser had done their best to make the nervous cadet feel like she was a part of their small family. That the two women were a couple didn’t faze her at all. In fact, she’d felt so comfortable in their household that she’d enjoyed that day to its fullest and by the end of it she’d come to a new realization…she wanted to keep these women in her life, especially Cassandra. Even though there was a big age difference between them, when Jennifer and the teenager discussed a variety of different topics it was as if they were of the same mind on the subjects. That visit had led to her helping the teen with her schoolwork whenever Sam and Janet were unavailable due to work.
Stepping onto the stairs, the young lieutenant chuckled softly. Those tutoring lessons had progressed into movie nights and weekend hiking trips. The girl’s mothers were completely comfortable with their daughter’s choice in a companion. They put their trust in the older girl to keep Cass out of trouble and she kept it. But somewhere along the way, the two’s friendship began to turn into something else…something both of them had decided to wait on exploring further until Cass graduated high school and began college. The young woman was scheduled to graduate next week but the sudden death of her mother had thrown all of their plans out of perspective. Right now all Cassie could think about was losing the woman who had been her mother for the past eight years and Jennifer could understand that. What she couldn’t understand was the anger directed towards her other mother and she planned to find out why the young woman was treating Sam this way.
Continuing up the stairs, she reached the top and then walked the few steps it took to reach Cass’s door, which stood partially open. “Cass? Hey Cass, can I come in?” she asked. Not receiving an answer she slowly pushed the door open.
“Whoa, I guess she has been upset,” Jennifer muttered as she took in the room’s appearance. It looked as if a tornado had struck, what with clothing, books and various childhood objects strewn about the room. However, there was no sign of the young woman.
Backing out of the room, Jennifer continued down the hallway and did a quick check of the other rooms. There was no sign of Cass, though. She quickly moved back towards the stairs and made her way down them. At the bottom she glanced around the living room again and then moved to the kitchen with still no sign of Cass. Beginning to think she needed to call for Sam, Jennifer looked out of the kitchen window and smiled. There she was. Walking out of the kitchen and to the back door, the young lieutenant made her way out onto the deck and down the steps towards the tree house.
She stopped at the foot of the tree and called out, “Cass…hey, Cass!” But there was no answer and she tried again. “I know you’re up there! I saw you peek out of the window!”
“Go away, Jen!” a voice called out from inside the tree house.
“No! If I have to stay out here all day and night, I’m not leaving until you talk to me!” was the reply yelled back.
“What if I don’t feel like talking?” returned the voice.
“Then I guess I better get comfortable!” Jennifer remarked in a loud voice and moved to grab a nearby lawn chair. She set the chair next to the tree and took a seat, knowing Cass would break down eventually.
Ten minutes passed and Jennifer heard movement from the structure above her. There was a scraping noise and a wooden ladder slid from the walkway built around the childhood playhouse. Jennifer glanced up and saw Cass peering over the edge of the railing. “Well? Are you just going to sit there all day?” she asked sarcastically.
Smiling up at the younger woman, Jennifer stood up. “I knew you’d let me up,” she remarked.
“Just get your ass up here, Four foot nine,” Cass returned, using the nickname she’d heard her Uncle Jack use for the lieutenant.
Jennifer climbed up the ladder and soon stood on the walkway that circled the tree house. Cass was leaning against the railing beside the ladder and pulled a lever, which pulled the ladder back up. “Neat trick,” Jennifer commented.
“Mom thought of it,” Cass replied and then turned to walk into the house part of the structure.
Following after the slightly taller girl, Jennifer stepped into the house and was surprised by Cass suddenly turning around and throwing herself upon her. She quickly brought her arms up and wrapped them around the young woman, who she could now hear sobbing into her jacket. “Hey, it’s okay, Cass. Let it all out,” she crooned softly, running her hand along the distraught girl’s back in a comforting motion.
A muffled voice sounded from her chest as Cass asked, “Where have you been? I thought you’d be here sooner.”
“Duty called. I was offworld until a few days ago. I wanted to come see you but I had to finish reports,” Jennifer replied with a sigh.
Cass backed away from Jennifer’s grip and glared at the young officer. With eyes puffy from crying and her voice cracking she spat out with a tinge of venom, “Duty…duty is what got my mother killed! Duty is what kept Sam from being there to save her!” Jennifer stepped back; watching as Cass began pacing back and forth muttering, “Damn sense of duty. It’s going to get you killed one day, too.”
“Hey, don’t talk like that and stop blaming Sam for your mother’s death. Janet chose to serve in the Air Force. She saved countless lives; it’s what she loved doing. Blaming Sam or anyone else for her death is something she’d frown upon, don’t you think?” Jennifer told the pacing woman.
Cass stopped in her tracks and stared at the blonde, whom she’d begun to think she was falling in love with. She slowly sank to her knees and sat there on the floor with her head bowed. Jennifer was beginning to kneel down when she heard Cass say in a soft voice, “I miss her so much, Jen.”
Gathering the young woman in her arms, Jennifer pulled Cass into her lap and sat rocking her as the girl burst into tears again. After a few minutes of crying, Cass snuffled a few times and pulled back from the young officer’s grip. “You’re right, she wouldn’t want me to blame Sam or anyone else for something she chose to do. I guess I was just looking for someone to yell at,” she told Jennifer.
Pushing an errant lock of hair back behind Cass’s ear, Jennifer smiled at her and leaned forward to place a soft kiss on the sniffling girl’s forehead. She pulled back and remarked, “You know, you have another mother, one who’s hurting just as much as you. Don’t you think you need to apologize to Sam?” she said to Cass.
Wiping away the traces of tears with her hands, Cass nodded. “Yeah, it would probably be a good idea. I’m sure she’s getting tired of putting up with my tantrums; I’ve been such a bitch towards her these last two weeks, “ she replied.
Pulling Cass towards her, Jennifer hugged her tight, “She forgives you, squirt,” she told the girl.
Cass poked the young officer in the ribs. “Watch it with the squirt quips, you so can’t talk,” she remarked with a trace of laughter in her tone now.
Jennifer giggled and poked Cass back; this began a short tickle fight, which ended with the two of them collapsing on the tree house floor in a heap, breathing heavily from their horseplay. Jennifer’s lips turned up in a grin as she lay staring up at the ceiling. She’d gotten the sad girl to laugh and realize that she was blaming Sam for something she’d had no control over. Now it was time to get her to move on to something else.
“What are you doing after you graduate next week?” Jennifer asked.
“I hadn’t thought about it, why?” Cass replied.
“Move in with me,” Jennifer said quickly.
“What?” Cass asked in a confused tone a she raised up on an elbow to stare down at the blonde.
“Seriously, move in with me. You’re going to start college in the fall and move into a dorm. Why not move in with me instead? I’m sure Sam would be okay with it,” Jennifer said.
Cass saw the serious look on the young officer’s face and thought for a few minutes before she replied. “I guess it would be a good idea. I want to remember my Mom but staying in the house without her would be hard to do right now. I know Sam won’t be around as much, because of what’s going on at the SGC right now. I’m sure she’d rather see me staying with you then in the house all by myself.”
Jennifer sat up and grinned at Cass. “Then that’s settled. Come on; let’s go talk to Sam. I believe you owe her an apology and a big hug,” she told Cass.
“Yeah, I guess I do,” Cass agreed and stood up, holding out a hand to the blonde who took it, letting Cass pull her up.
They stood close together and Cass looked into Jennifer’s eyes. With a grin tugging at her lips she remarked, “I bet you think you’re pretty special now, getting me to calm down and everything.”
Shrugging her shoulders Jennifer answered, “Nah, I just knew you needed a second perspective on everything. Besides, that doesn’t make me special, just observant.”
Cass tilted her head and with a narrowing of her eyes said, “I know Sam called you.”
Swallowing hard, Jennifer felt her face begin to blush as she admitted, “Yeah, she did, but I was on my way out the door to come over anyway. I just didn’t tell her that.”
“Do you think my mom would have approved of us seeing each other?” Cass asked out of the blue.
Taken back for a second at the subject change, Jennifer was silent for a few breaths and then answered, “I know she’d approve. In fact, I think both her and Sam suspected we were headed in this direction anyway. They just wanted to let us go at our own pace, I believe.”
With a nod of her head Cass remarked, “You know, I think you’re right about that. I just wish Mom was here, so I ‘d know for sure though.”
A strong gust of wind blew in through the window of the tree house, sending dust flying into the air and rattling the boards of the structure. Jennifer gripped Cass around the waist, holding her tightly as the wind swirled around them, ruffling their hair and then it stopped as suddenly as it started.
Both young women stood silent for a few moments and then Cass spoke, “You may think I’m crazy, but I think I just got my answer.”
“I work at Stargate Command, Cass. I believe in all kinds of strange things and I think you did, too. Come on, let’s go talk with Sam,” Jennifer said, tugging on Cass’s waist.
With a nod, Cass let Jennifer lead her out of the house and dropping the ladder, the pair climbed down to go discuss things with Sam, the most important being Cass apologizing for her treatment of her taller mother. As the two young women made their way across the back yard, a silvery form appeared on the walkway of the tree house. It shown brightly for several seconds and then faded away. Janet Fraiser could rest now; her girls would be just fine.
sg_rarepairings ficathon have been released...so, I can post mine here now...*g*...kinda cool that I got one of my f-list buddies to write for...heh....oh and celievamp wrote mine! here...yay!Title: Moving On
Author:elfcat255
Rating: PG
Warnings: none
Spoilers: Heroes pt 1 and 2, I guess
Word Count: 2,994
Written For:
elliedragonPrompt: Cassie/Jennifer-Post Heroes, angst, moving in
Author's notes:umm...I'm not very good with angst so I hope you like this Brain..*g*...beta by
sams_cearaThe sound of something large hitting the wall and then thudding onto the floor made the blonde haired woman seated at the kitchen island cringe and tilt her head upwards to stare at the ceiling. Her shoulders slumped in defeat as she lowered her head and stared out the window, lost in thought. Another loud crash from the room above her head made her snap out of the stare. Shaking her head and throwing up her hands, Sam muttered, “I can’t take it anymore.”
Picking up the cordless phone from the countertop, she dialed a number and waited for the call to be answered. “Can you come over?” she asked, not bothering with a greeting. Nodding her head at the other person’s answer, she replied, “Thank you so much. I’ll be waiting on the front porch.”
Hanging up without a goodbye, Sam Carter rose from the stool and walked into the hallway. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and glanced upwards with a sad look on her face then with a heavy sigh she made her way to the foyer. Pulling the heavy oak door open, she left it standing wide open behind her as she walked onto the porch and moved to sit in the wooden swing suspended from the ceiling.
Letting her body’s weight slowly shift the swing back and forth Sam brought a knee up. Tucking it close to her body, she lay her forearm across it and rested her chin as she waited for whom she hoped could help her break through to the distraught young woman upstairs. Her eyes seemed to lose focus while she gazed into the distance and a gentle breeze blew across the porch, ruffling her short blonde locks. “I’ve tried all I can, she just doesn’t want to talk to me, sweetheart,” Sam said softly as a faint silvery shape coalesced behind her.
The breeze blew a little stronger sending a shiver down her spine. “Oh, it’s not like I haven’t tried. She just doesn’t want to hear what I have to say; she blames me for your death,” Sam muttered. A blast of cold air came from behind and made her sit up straighter. Wrapping her arms around her upper body, she shook her head. “Don’t start that!” she said in an aggravated tone. “I have enough to deal with right now. There is no way she’d believe me if I told her I could still talk with you! All I need is for her to think I’ve gone crazy. I talk to myself enough as it is,” Sam mumbled in a low tone. “Now I know what Jack felt like when Daniel kept visiting him. It’s hard enough making it through the days and nights without you even with you popping up like this,” she added with a sad sigh.
The breeze slowed until it almost disappeared and then with one final gust, brushed across the back of Sam’s neck causing her to smile wistfully. “Apology accepted. Now, here comes Jennifer. Let’s hope this works, sweetie,” Sam said to the wind as she stood up from the swing and walked towards the steps to meet the young woman pulling up in the driveway.
Turning off the Wrangler’s engine, Jennifer Haley watched as the woman who was her superior officer, mentor and friend walked towards her Jeep. She had offered to help the older woman during this time of grief and it looked as if Sam was taking her up on that offer. Taking a deep breath and fixing a smile upon her face, the young officer climbed out of the vehicle then walked to meet Sam at the edge of the walkway.
“Thanks for coming over so fast, Jennifer,” Sam said holding out a hand to the young woman.
Taking the hand offered to her, Jennifer gripped it tight and replied, “You sounded kind of rattled on the phone, Ma’am.” Sam’s eyebrows rose and Jennifer quickly said, “I mean Sam. It’s so hard to remember when to be a civilian and not.”
“I understand,” Sam told her with a knowing smile.
“So, what do you need my help with?” Jennifer asked.
Sam glanced towards the house than back to the young woman standing before her. “Could you talk to Cass for me? I’ve tried but she refuses to listen to anything I have to say,” the older blonde said.
“Let me guess, she’s angry and blames you,” Jennifer remarked.
“Me and all of Stargate Command. The only reason I think she’d listen to you is because the two of you are such good friends,” Sam replied.
Jennifer felt her cheeks begin to blush over and she ducked her head to hide it. If Sam really knew how close she and Cass were she might not have asked for her help. Coughing slightly, she cleared her throat and said, “Sure, I can talk with her if you want me to. Where is she?”
“Upstairs in her room. She refuses to come down when I’m in the house so I’ll wait out here while you talk,” Sam told her protégé.
Jennifer nodded in reply and clasping Sam on the shoulder moved past the taller woman and made her way up the steps, through the open doorway and into the house.
Sam watched the young lieutenant disappear through doorway and smiled. “You realize they had no clue we knew about them, don’t you?” she said aloud.
The wind picked up and Sam heard the faint trill of a familiar laugh. She chuckled softly and sticking her hands in her pockets, strolled back up the walkway to take a seat on the steps. The silvery form appeared not far from her and the two waited to see if Jennifer could talk some sense into their daughter.
****
Walking to the bottom of the stairs, Jennifer paused and looked around the living room. She thought about the first time she’d been in this house and how it had been one of the happiest days in her life. The Major and Dr. Fraiser had done their best to make the nervous cadet feel like she was a part of their small family. That the two women were a couple didn’t faze her at all. In fact, she’d felt so comfortable in their household that she’d enjoyed that day to its fullest and by the end of it she’d come to a new realization…she wanted to keep these women in her life, especially Cassandra. Even though there was a big age difference between them, when Jennifer and the teenager discussed a variety of different topics it was as if they were of the same mind on the subjects. That visit had led to her helping the teen with her schoolwork whenever Sam and Janet were unavailable due to work.
Stepping onto the stairs, the young lieutenant chuckled softly. Those tutoring lessons had progressed into movie nights and weekend hiking trips. The girl’s mothers were completely comfortable with their daughter’s choice in a companion. They put their trust in the older girl to keep Cass out of trouble and she kept it. But somewhere along the way, the two’s friendship began to turn into something else…something both of them had decided to wait on exploring further until Cass graduated high school and began college. The young woman was scheduled to graduate next week but the sudden death of her mother had thrown all of their plans out of perspective. Right now all Cassie could think about was losing the woman who had been her mother for the past eight years and Jennifer could understand that. What she couldn’t understand was the anger directed towards her other mother and she planned to find out why the young woman was treating Sam this way.
Continuing up the stairs, she reached the top and then walked the few steps it took to reach Cass’s door, which stood partially open. “Cass? Hey Cass, can I come in?” she asked. Not receiving an answer she slowly pushed the door open.
“Whoa, I guess she has been upset,” Jennifer muttered as she took in the room’s appearance. It looked as if a tornado had struck, what with clothing, books and various childhood objects strewn about the room. However, there was no sign of the young woman.
Backing out of the room, Jennifer continued down the hallway and did a quick check of the other rooms. There was no sign of Cass, though. She quickly moved back towards the stairs and made her way down them. At the bottom she glanced around the living room again and then moved to the kitchen with still no sign of Cass. Beginning to think she needed to call for Sam, Jennifer looked out of the kitchen window and smiled. There she was. Walking out of the kitchen and to the back door, the young lieutenant made her way out onto the deck and down the steps towards the tree house.
She stopped at the foot of the tree and called out, “Cass…hey, Cass!” But there was no answer and she tried again. “I know you’re up there! I saw you peek out of the window!”
“Go away, Jen!” a voice called out from inside the tree house.
“No! If I have to stay out here all day and night, I’m not leaving until you talk to me!” was the reply yelled back.
“What if I don’t feel like talking?” returned the voice.
“Then I guess I better get comfortable!” Jennifer remarked in a loud voice and moved to grab a nearby lawn chair. She set the chair next to the tree and took a seat, knowing Cass would break down eventually.
Ten minutes passed and Jennifer heard movement from the structure above her. There was a scraping noise and a wooden ladder slid from the walkway built around the childhood playhouse. Jennifer glanced up and saw Cass peering over the edge of the railing. “Well? Are you just going to sit there all day?” she asked sarcastically.
Smiling up at the younger woman, Jennifer stood up. “I knew you’d let me up,” she remarked.
“Just get your ass up here, Four foot nine,” Cass returned, using the nickname she’d heard her Uncle Jack use for the lieutenant.
Jennifer climbed up the ladder and soon stood on the walkway that circled the tree house. Cass was leaning against the railing beside the ladder and pulled a lever, which pulled the ladder back up. “Neat trick,” Jennifer commented.
“Mom thought of it,” Cass replied and then turned to walk into the house part of the structure.
Following after the slightly taller girl, Jennifer stepped into the house and was surprised by Cass suddenly turning around and throwing herself upon her. She quickly brought her arms up and wrapped them around the young woman, who she could now hear sobbing into her jacket. “Hey, it’s okay, Cass. Let it all out,” she crooned softly, running her hand along the distraught girl’s back in a comforting motion.
A muffled voice sounded from her chest as Cass asked, “Where have you been? I thought you’d be here sooner.”
“Duty called. I was offworld until a few days ago. I wanted to come see you but I had to finish reports,” Jennifer replied with a sigh.
Cass backed away from Jennifer’s grip and glared at the young officer. With eyes puffy from crying and her voice cracking she spat out with a tinge of venom, “Duty…duty is what got my mother killed! Duty is what kept Sam from being there to save her!” Jennifer stepped back; watching as Cass began pacing back and forth muttering, “Damn sense of duty. It’s going to get you killed one day, too.”
“Hey, don’t talk like that and stop blaming Sam for your mother’s death. Janet chose to serve in the Air Force. She saved countless lives; it’s what she loved doing. Blaming Sam or anyone else for her death is something she’d frown upon, don’t you think?” Jennifer told the pacing woman.
Cass stopped in her tracks and stared at the blonde, whom she’d begun to think she was falling in love with. She slowly sank to her knees and sat there on the floor with her head bowed. Jennifer was beginning to kneel down when she heard Cass say in a soft voice, “I miss her so much, Jen.”
Gathering the young woman in her arms, Jennifer pulled Cass into her lap and sat rocking her as the girl burst into tears again. After a few minutes of crying, Cass snuffled a few times and pulled back from the young officer’s grip. “You’re right, she wouldn’t want me to blame Sam or anyone else for something she chose to do. I guess I was just looking for someone to yell at,” she told Jennifer.
Pushing an errant lock of hair back behind Cass’s ear, Jennifer smiled at her and leaned forward to place a soft kiss on the sniffling girl’s forehead. She pulled back and remarked, “You know, you have another mother, one who’s hurting just as much as you. Don’t you think you need to apologize to Sam?” she said to Cass.
Wiping away the traces of tears with her hands, Cass nodded. “Yeah, it would probably be a good idea. I’m sure she’s getting tired of putting up with my tantrums; I’ve been such a bitch towards her these last two weeks, “ she replied.
Pulling Cass towards her, Jennifer hugged her tight, “She forgives you, squirt,” she told the girl.
Cass poked the young officer in the ribs. “Watch it with the squirt quips, you so can’t talk,” she remarked with a trace of laughter in her tone now.
Jennifer giggled and poked Cass back; this began a short tickle fight, which ended with the two of them collapsing on the tree house floor in a heap, breathing heavily from their horseplay. Jennifer’s lips turned up in a grin as she lay staring up at the ceiling. She’d gotten the sad girl to laugh and realize that she was blaming Sam for something she’d had no control over. Now it was time to get her to move on to something else.
“What are you doing after you graduate next week?” Jennifer asked.
“I hadn’t thought about it, why?” Cass replied.
“Move in with me,” Jennifer said quickly.
“What?” Cass asked in a confused tone a she raised up on an elbow to stare down at the blonde.
“Seriously, move in with me. You’re going to start college in the fall and move into a dorm. Why not move in with me instead? I’m sure Sam would be okay with it,” Jennifer said.
Cass saw the serious look on the young officer’s face and thought for a few minutes before she replied. “I guess it would be a good idea. I want to remember my Mom but staying in the house without her would be hard to do right now. I know Sam won’t be around as much, because of what’s going on at the SGC right now. I’m sure she’d rather see me staying with you then in the house all by myself.”
Jennifer sat up and grinned at Cass. “Then that’s settled. Come on; let’s go talk to Sam. I believe you owe her an apology and a big hug,” she told Cass.
“Yeah, I guess I do,” Cass agreed and stood up, holding out a hand to the blonde who took it, letting Cass pull her up.
They stood close together and Cass looked into Jennifer’s eyes. With a grin tugging at her lips she remarked, “I bet you think you’re pretty special now, getting me to calm down and everything.”
Shrugging her shoulders Jennifer answered, “Nah, I just knew you needed a second perspective on everything. Besides, that doesn’t make me special, just observant.”
Cass tilted her head and with a narrowing of her eyes said, “I know Sam called you.”
Swallowing hard, Jennifer felt her face begin to blush as she admitted, “Yeah, she did, but I was on my way out the door to come over anyway. I just didn’t tell her that.”
“Do you think my mom would have approved of us seeing each other?” Cass asked out of the blue.
Taken back for a second at the subject change, Jennifer was silent for a few breaths and then answered, “I know she’d approve. In fact, I think both her and Sam suspected we were headed in this direction anyway. They just wanted to let us go at our own pace, I believe.”
With a nod of her head Cass remarked, “You know, I think you’re right about that. I just wish Mom was here, so I ‘d know for sure though.”
A strong gust of wind blew in through the window of the tree house, sending dust flying into the air and rattling the boards of the structure. Jennifer gripped Cass around the waist, holding her tightly as the wind swirled around them, ruffling their hair and then it stopped as suddenly as it started.
Both young women stood silent for a few moments and then Cass spoke, “You may think I’m crazy, but I think I just got my answer.”
“I work at Stargate Command, Cass. I believe in all kinds of strange things and I think you did, too. Come on, let’s go talk with Sam,” Jennifer said, tugging on Cass’s waist.
With a nod, Cass let Jennifer lead her out of the house and dropping the ladder, the pair climbed down to go discuss things with Sam, the most important being Cass apologizing for her treatment of her taller mother. As the two young women made their way across the back yard, a silvery form appeared on the walkway of the tree house. It shown brightly for several seconds and then faded away. Janet Fraiser could rest now; her girls would be just fine.
