I am completely flabbergasted!

Mar 28, 2011 18:15

I won this challenge in stargate_las ! ZOMGosh!

The prompted was "American As Apple Pie". This was my second version. Both were centered on Cassie, but I started with her receiving a letter from the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) the week Janet died, and Sam finding it unopened on her dresser. But I did some research, and it's likely all the citizenship stuff would have been taken care of when the adoption went through. So I didn't finish it.

Name:  MajorSamFan

Shows:  Stargate SG-1

Story Title: Adopted American

Character/Relationships:  Cassandra Fraiser, Janet Fraiser, General Hammond and original SG-1

Rating:  PG

Notes/Warnings:  Set while Carter is still a Captain, so within a year or so after Cassandra comes to earth.


As a single man and as commander of a top secret facility, General Hammond rarely gave parties of the size or frequency that television military leaders seemed to throw at the drop of a hat. When he did spearhead a gathering off-base, it took place at a hotel or the private banquet room of a large restaurant. So Sam wasn’t too surprised when the members of SG-1 converged on her lab and collectively scratched their heads when an email came through from Hammond , inviting them to a barbecue at his place on July 4th.

“Do you think he’s going to retire?” Daniel asked no one in particular.

“Nah, Hammond will outlast me.” O’Neill picked up a pencil and tapped it against the lab table. Sam thanked her lucky stars she had just put away anything he might break before checking her email one last time for the day. Teal’c, standing at parade rest at the end of the counter, watched O’Neill briefly, sighed and turned his gaze toward her.

“Perhaps GeneralHammond wishes to congratulate us on saving earth…again.”

“We haven’t saved the planet for at least a couple of weeks,” Daniel answered for her, his deadpan delivery a rival for Teal’c’s.

“Does not this date have some significance for the Tau’ri? I recall festivities involving explosives last year.”

“Yes, Teal’c,” said Sam. “It’s also called Independence Day.”

“Like the movie,” offered Colonel O’Neill. Daniel and Teal’c stared at him blankly; Sam averted her gaze to avoid rolling her eyes at that travesty of science Cassie had talked her into watching. Fortunately, General Hammond appeared in the doorway just then.

“SG-1, don’t you people ever go home?” General Hammond asked from the doorway

“We could ask you the same thing, General,” O’Neill quipped.

“I’m just on my way out, Colonel. So did you get my email?”

“Yes, Sir. What’s the occasion? Other than the obvious…”

“Well, besides the holiday, as you probably know, the final paperwork has come through on Doctor Fraiser’s adoption of Cassandra. My granddaughters suggested throwing her a party. Since you honorary uncles and aunt are the closest thing she has to an extended family, I thought you might like to join us.”

“Excellent!” O’Neill tossed the pencil in the air and caught it.

“Can we bring any food, Sir?” asked Sam. She ignored the look of horror on Colonel O’Neill’s and Daniel Jackson’s faces at the thought of her cooking.  For once she appreciated the stoicism with which Teal’c met such situations.

“Just yourselves, Captain. Come over any time after noon. I’ll fire up the grill about thirteen thirty. Goodnight, SG-1.” With that, the General left, and once Sam closed up her laptop, the team dispersed.

On the Fourth of July, Sam arrived just ahead of the guest of honor, whom Tessa and Kayla, the General’s grandchildren, took in hand right away to show her the stack of presents that had piled up already. Sam gave Janet a quick hug, and Colonel O’Neill handed them both beers.

“Thank you so much for this, Sir,” the doctor said to General Hammond. “And for everything you’ve done to help with the adoption process.”

“My pleasure, Doctor.”

“I had begun to think it might take an act of Congress,” Sam said.

“An act of Congress actually might have been easier,” General Hammond only half-joked.

“You can say that again, Sir.” Janet sipped her beer and gazed over toward her daughter. “Worth it, though.”

The adults chatted, snacked and drank beer while the girls played. Colonel O’Neill occasionally wandered over to check on his “bambinas” or to push them in the swings. Then General Hammond started the grill, his daughter brought the meat out, and Colonel O’Neill hovered nearby suggesting a beer marinade. Daniel pleaded with the General not to put Jack in charge of the barbecue.

Then the girls came running up to where Sam and Janet sat.

“Janet?” Cassie asked, her brow wrinkled. Sam knew Cassie still occasionally slipped and called her that instead of Mom. Janet never pushed it.  Sam wasn’t sure how she would respond in the same situation.

“Yes, honey?” When Cassie wiggled her mouth and bit her lip, Janet took Cassie’s hands to encourage her to ask whatever it was.

“What is it, Cassie?” Sam asked, leaning in and putting her hand in the small of Cassie’s back. Daniel and Colonel O’Neill turned to find out what was troubling their little girl, too.

“Am I an American now?”

“Honey, you’re as American as apple pie!” When the puzzled look on Cassandra’s face clued Janet in that the idiom didn’t register, Janet added, “Baseball, hot dogs and apple pie are things we think of as being truly American - so that means…yes, you’re American.”

Cassie looked around at the other adults, who nodded in agreement.  Everyone let out a big sigh when Cassie smiled in response.

“Cool!” Cassie announced. “Can I go play some more?”

“Yes, you may.”

Although fireworks were illegal within the city limits of Colorado Springs , out at General Hammond’s house, they could have a small private show. With Colonel O’Neill and Captain Carter’s experience with explosives, and Teal’c at the ready with an extinguisher, they put on a nice display for the girls who oohed and ahhed as though it were a big show.

Later, Teal’c carried a sleepy Cassandra out to Doctor Fraiser’s car while the rest of SG-1 helped carry presents to the trunk.

“Mr. Teal’c, are you an American now, too?” Cassie asked as he set her in the seat.

“I am not. I am Jaffa .” Teal’c reached across and buckled her seatbelt.

“Don’t you want to be American?”

“I do not. But I value the freedom Americans enjoy. One day my people, too, will declare their independence from the Goa’uld. For now, I fight for that freedom.”

“And Jack, Sam and Daniel help?”

“Indeed.”

“Happy Independence Day, Mr. Teal’c.”

“And to you, CassandraFraiser.”

As always, constructive criticism is welcomed, appreciated and useful for future writing!

stargate_las, majorsamfanfic

Previous post Next post
Up