Cassie and the Holidays

They all needed a breather between dinner and dessert. Some volunteered for the cleanup detail, some to bus the table, some to stow leftovers, and others scullery duty. The little girl took her dog for a much needed walk along with the tall colonel.

"I understand about Thanksgiving, Colonel Jack. We had a feast after the harvest too."

"Mmm hmm."

"But the kids at school are talking about Christmas. They talk about Santa and elves and presents and the baby Jesus but I think I'm missing something."

"What did your mom say?" Jack asked.

"We didn't have Christmas."

"I mean your mom Janet."

"I didn't ask her."

"Ya know Daniel is better at stories, myths that sort of thing."

"What do you think?" Cassie really wanted to know.

"It's a time when we are grateful for family and friends and want to let them know." Jack gave a rather generic explanation.

"Some of the kids say they stay up late and open presents at midnight Christmas eve."

They had rounded the block and were returning to the house.

"Lots of people celebrate in the dark of the night to celebrate light, not being afraid, to have hope." Jack said.

"I was afraid but not so much now." O'Neill had a hand on her shoulder and gave her a hug.

"What about the baby Jesus?" Cassie asked.

"Now I'm no expert on these things but I think he's like this light that brings hope. Each person brings light into this world, they bring possibilities and hope. Each new baby brings all this and happiness and that's what we should celebrate."

"If it's the baby Jesus' birthday why do I get presents?"

"Because we love you." He said.

He touched the tip of her nose and said "A tiny ripple of hope."

Sam after placing the pies on the table she looked out the window for the stragglers and saw the two of them and the pup. She smiled at the perfect family, an already made family. She then felt a pain in her chest. Was this the family she might never have, not that man as a husband, not that young girl as a daughter. The pain was as sharp and bitter as the day she was told her mother would not be coming home, not ever. She let the curtain drop and got back to the task at hand.

A breeze swept into the toasty house along with the young girl and her two trusty companions. Cassie gave a big hug to the first person she ran into and nearly bowled over one Samantha Carter.

"He said I was a tiny ripple of hope."

These two together and the smile on Carter's face, Jack thought, better that pumpkin pie to top off Thanksgiving.