Chapter One: The Beginning
Page Six3, July 1999 Saturday "Oh! That's great! Now, I can get those experiments
going on the ore Daniel wanted me to look at. It had this curious line running through it that seems to emit minute traces of…" "No." "What?" "We're going shopping. Call Daniel. He's coming with us." Sam's
surprised protest was met by a dial tone and she glared at the wall, aware that Janet had been working as hard as possible lately, trying to ignore just how much she missed Cassie.
She bit her
lip, hoping her friend hadn't realized the reason she hadn't been over since the almost-teen had gone was because she didn't wanna think about it, either.
Cassie'd never been out of sight
before…well, not like this and certainly not this long.
She also knew that since Daniel was turning thirty-four in only five days and Cassie turning thirteen six days after that, their
shopping spree really needed him along so they could get a better idea what he wanted.
He was much more difficult to shop for than either woman had thought possible considering his variety of
interests.
Dialing Daniel's number, she tapped her foot, worried when the impression her toe made in the carpet stayed in place.
Listening to the repeated rings, Sam knelt down to touch the
carpet, hanging her head slightly in shame when she realized the carpet hadn't been cleaned in so long that it was sticking in place…she'd have to pay through the teeth to convince professionals
to repair it. "Hhhya…umm…hello?" Grinning
at his sleepy tone and obvious fumbling of the phone, Sam deliberately forgot about the carpet, making her voice as loud and cheerful as she could. "Daniel! Wake up and get ready. Janet's picking you up soon. You didn't forget, did you?" "No. Sleeping. G'night Sam."
Once again met with a dial tone, Sam gave a small huffy noise.
Well fine.
Janet could get him out of bed.
She stalked into the kitchen, bestowing the mostly empty refrigerator an annoyed
glance before picking up the cordless in the kitchen and dialing Colonel O'Neill's number.
Why should she be the only one to suffer? "Sir?" "Carter, I'm sleeping." "Sir, Dr. Fraiser needs you." "Wha?" The sudden alertness in his tone nearly made Sam dissolve into a matchmaking grin.
They were just too easy. "She has all these plans for today and Daniel's ruining them. I think she may cry, sir." "Oy…what plans?" "Oh! That's her pulling up, now. Sir, just…get
over to Daniel's and make him get up. Janet's really looking forward to today." "Fine." Dial tone…
Scowling openly now, Sam hung the offending appliance back on the charger.
Did no one politely get off the phone anymore?7:45 AM
The tinkle of the doorbell was Sam's cue to quickly finish the diet soda, dropping the empty bottle into the box by the refrigerator before crossing through into the living room.
Opening the
door allowed an energetic, ready-to-get-on-the-road Janet Fraiser to enter the room, the scent of wood and leaves entering with her. "New perfume?" Janet grinned, shaking her head.
"Nope. I noticed when I got into the car that it smelled like Cassandra's letter. She glued these gorgeous leaves to the edges
and now my whole house just smells wonderful. I guess it's just stuck on me, now." ...continue on to page seven
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