An enormous sign outside of Coronado High School blared Welcome Senior Cougars to Prom Night 2003.  The limo pulled up outside the gymnasium doors behind, and to Daniel’s relief, a queue of other limos.  He glanced to his right and saw the glow coming off of Cassie.  He couldn’t help but smile at her happiness.  As the car approached the entrance and stopped, Daniel’s heart went into overdrive.

 

God, I can’t believe how nervous I am.  This is nuts!  he thought to himself.

 

The driver came around and opened the door, again helping Cassie out.  Her friends must have been waiting for her as they all descended at once.  Daniel slowly slid out of the car trying hard not to stand out.  Cassie turned to him and immediately wrapped her arm around his, her face the picture of pride.  One hand stuffed in his pants pocket and his head slightly down, he let her lead the way.  As they walked passed her gaggle of friends he heard a few of the comments.

 

“OH. MY. GOD!  He is gorgeous!” one of the girls whispered… loudly.

 

“Where did she find him?  Do you think he has a brother… a younger one?”  another giggled.

 

“Well, she said it was a surprise… And I’m definitely surprised,” Rose, Cassie’s best friend said.

 

They made their way into the foyer and Cassie presented the tickets to one of the teachers at the ticket table.  She looked up at her and then looked over at Daniel, giving him a gaze that sent his stress level through the roof.

 

“Miss Fraiser,” she eyed Cassie sternly, “I assume this is your date?”

 

“Yes, Ms. Foster.  He is a very good friend of the family and was nice enough to agree to escort me so that I wouldn’t have to come alone,” she replied with an air of adultness that made Daniel stand up a bit straighter.  He didn’t want to embarrass her at all.

 

Still scowling at him the teacher nodded at Cassie to go on into the gym.  Daniel gave the woman a shy smile and followed his date.

 

As they entered the gymnasium, Daniel’s jaw dropped at the care taken to make the place as grand as it could possibly get.  The whole area was decked out like an old ballroom.  They even had a big swing band playing instead of a deejay.

 

Pulling Cassie aside for a moment, he asked, “What’s the theme of this prom?”

 

“USO Revisited.  It’s like the 1940’s.  Do you like it?” she asked in a worried voice.

 

“Um… yeah.  It’s just…  wow!  Your classmates really pulled out all the stops.  This is fantastic.  I never imaged the prom being like this,” Daniel said with an awe-filled look.  Holding his arm out to her, he proudly walked with Cassie to a table near the dance floor.  As he pulled a chair out for her, Cassie’s friends came over with their dates and asked to sit with them.  Daniel was happy that the table filled with all of her friends.  He figured that it would be easier to handle dealing with awkward questions.  Ones about where they knew each other and what he did for a living, etc.  Rose sat down on Daniel’s other side and watched him out of the corner of her eye.  He could feel a lot of eyes on him right then.

 

God, Jackson… he thought, stuck on yourself much?  Oh brother, now I’m thinking like a teenager.  Great!

 

Turning to Cassie, he gave her a small smile and asked, “Would you like me to get you something to drink?”

 

“No, thank you, Daniel.  We can just stay here for a little while.  You know, just talk and stuff.  Okay?”

 

“Sure.  This is your night, Cass.  I want you to let me know when you wish to do something.  Alright?”

 

“I will,” she answered then turned to her friends, “Okay everyone, I would like to introduce Dr. Daniel Jackson, my date,” Cassie announced to the table at large.  She then turned and rattled off everyone’s name to the archeologist.

 

Leaning close, Cassie whispered, “There will be a quiz later, Daniel,” she smiled at him.

 

He grinned back.  There was an awkward silence for some time, then Rose turned to Daniel and asked him, “So where did you and Cassie go for dinner, Mr. Jackson.”

 

Cassie jumped in to answer her friend so that Daniel wouldn’t have too, “DR. Jackson took me to Le Jardin Enchanté.  It was so wonderful, Rose.  Very romant—” she stopped suddenly when she realized how it would sound if she had told them it was romantic.  Shifting gears quickly, she continued, “It was very dreamy.”

 

“Wow, a real French restaurant.  Way cool,” Rose replied with a jealous look.  “Andy and I went to Michelito’s.  It was okay… Oh… I mean, it was really nice.  Thank you, Andy,” she back peddled.

 

Andy just nodded and continued to watch Daniel.  He then cleared his throat and addressed the older man, “Ah… Dr. Jackson, what do you do?  Are you a medical doctor?”

 

Daniel shook his head and said, “Um… no.  I’m an archeologist and a linguist.  Right now I work for the U.S. Air Force… as ah… consultant.”

 

“Cool.  I’m going to the Air Force Academy next year.  Maybe when I graduate, I can work up at the mountain.  I know they do some real advanced stuff up there.  Is that where you work?”

 

Daniel wasn’t sure if he should answer truthfully or not.  “Yeah, I do.  I help translate stuff and any… artifacts that are found around the world are brought there for me to study.”

 

Yeah, that would work.  He knew his lying skills were not the best.  Daniel turned back to Cassie and gave her a shy grin, pleading for a bailout.  She caught on right away.

 

“I think it’s time to dance, Daniel,” she informed him, standing up and holding out her hand to him.

 

That wasn’t what he had in mind, but went with it.  Following her out onto the dance floor, he swallowed hard when she turned and embraced him.  It was, of course, a slow song and Cassie actually wrapped her arms around his neck, moving in very close.  She was only a head shorter than he was and his chin rested on top of her head quite comfortably.  He knew he was in trouble.  This was not going to end well if he didn’t keep his highly educated mind from going primal.

 

The song was a long one from the forties and he remembered his mom holding him as a little boy and dancing around the tent in Egypt to a scratchy record playing.  Daniel closed his eyes and sighed at the thought of his mom.  He hadn’t entertained those kinds of memories for a very long time.  That’s when it hit him.  Cassie’s hair smelled like what he remembered his mom’s was like.  Smiling, he unintentionally pulled her closer to him, not wanting to lose the images of that once happy time of his life.  When the song ended, he pulled away slightly embarrassed.  The look on Cassie’s face told him she was confused by his warm embrace.

 

Smiling shyly he told her, “This dance reminded me of something that happened when I was little.  An image of my mom dancing with me in her arms in Egypt to that song.  I hadn’t thought of that in… well, forever.  It was nice.  A beautiful memory for me.  Thank you.”

 

She grinned at him, very pleased that she had given him nice thoughts.  Then her smile faded, turning to a glare of anger.  Her eyes fell on the approaching trio of boys, led by none other than Tyler.  Grabbing Daniel’s arm and forcibly leading him away, she glanced over her shoulder to see the boys speed up.

 

“Oh, great!” she mumbled.

 

Daniel looked at her confused.  When he tracked her line of vision, he spotted the boys gaining on them.  He vaguely recognized one of them as Cassie’s one-time boyfriend.  This was not good.  Still, he wasn’t going to let some punk ruin her evening.

 

“Cassie,” he asked in a low tone, “would you like to talk to him?  I don’t mind if you need to.”

 

“No, Daniel.  I’ve said everything I intend to.  He blew it one too many times with me,” she replied.

 

Just then, Daniel felt a heavy hand on his shoulder spinning him around to face the boy.  Boy was an understatement as he was as tall as Jack and definitely a football player, as well as his friends.

 

“Who the hell are you?” Tyler asked with a growl.  Not waiting for an answer, the light seemed to go on inside the kid’s head, “Oh hold on a minute… you’re that geek that works with Cass’ mom up at the mountain aren’t you?”

 

Daniel shrugged, not sure how to handle this without embarrassing his date.  “Daniel Jackson,” he said quietly and held out his hand in offering.

 

“God damn, Cassie.  Sink kinda low huh?  You gotta find a geek that’s as old as my dad to go to the prom?  Shit, I just figured you were coming with the girls or somethin’ lame like that.” Tyler turned and laughed with his gang of friends.  When he turned back, he saw that the geek was not happy.

 

“I think you need to take your friends, turn around and walk away.  You have no right to speak to a lady like that.”

 

“Shut up, dork.  I wasn’t talking to you.  Why don’t you go bang someone your own age?” he snarled at Daniel.  “Oh wait, maybe you can’t get a date… ‘cause you’re such a loser.”

 

Taking a deep breath and trying to remember that this was a dumb kid, Daniel took off his glasses and began to clean them on the sleeve of his jacket.

 

“Look, Tyler, right?” glancing at Cassie, she gave him an angry nod, “Tyler, this is neither the time nor the place for a confrontation.  Let's just go our separate ways and maybe later, Cassie will beat the crap out of you.”

 

“Oh right!  Like that would happen.  I won’t even break a sweat taking you down, you ancient, perverted creep.  You have enough Viagra to get you through the night?”

 

“ENOUGH!  Tyler, go blow,” Cassie yelled, then turned to Daniel, “Come on Daniel, this prom thing isn’t nearly as cool as the dinner was anyway.”

 

As they turned to go, Tyler sneered, “You’re a bitch, Cassandra Fraiser!”

 

Cassie spun around without even thinking and punched him as hard as she could in the face.

 

Unfortunately, Daniel saw that coming and got in between her and Tyler just as the blow connected with him instead.  And Cassie could punch!  Daniel’s head flew back nailing Tyler in the nose, knocking him flat on his ass in front of the whole prom.

 

After a stunned silence, the crowd erupted in applause.  And the teachers descended upon the small group of trouble makers.

 

“You five out of here, NOW!” Ms. Foster told them harshly.  “Miss. Fraiser, I expected better from you, young lady.  As for you,” the teacher turned on Daniel, “really.  An adult behaving like a… like a…”

 

“Teenager?” Daniel suggested sheepishly.

 

“Exactly.  Out.  All of you,” in a huff, Ms. Foster led them all from the prom floor and made sure they left.

 

***

 

The ride back to the Fraiser house was in a very uncomfortable silence.  Cassie was in tears for hitting Daniel.  For his part, he was upset at not just taking control of the situation and escorting her away from that… jock.  With an ice pack he had made up from the little fridge in the limo on one eye and his head thrown back against the car seat, he watched her with his other eye.

 

“I’m sorry, Cass.  I should have stepped in sooner and stopped it from getting that bad.  It’s my fault,” he told her and he reached out for her hand.  “I wish this could have ended better for you.”

 

Drying her tears she looked at him with such love and adoration, “Daniel, I’m proud of you.  Mom always said you were the peacemaker of the SGC and now I know why.  You have nothing to be sorry for.  I shouldn’t have let that arrogant imbecile get the best of me.  I’m sorry that I hit you instead of him.”

 

“Oh, you hit him alright.  Just not the way you planned on,” he told her ruefully rubbing the back of his head.

 

Sliding over next to the older man, she said in her most seductive voice, “Want me to kiss it better?”

 

Daniel gulped.  The special hell, Daniel!  He said, “Ahem… ah… no, no I don’t think so.  Thanks.”

 

He caught the playful look in her eye and knew she was teasing him.  Giving her a mock glare, he pushed her lightheartedly, which she returned.

 

When they pulled up to the house, Daniel was truly hoping that all he had to do was drop her off with Janet and then he could go home and hide for the next two days.  Instead, he saw that Jack’s, Sam’s, Teal’c’s and General Hammond’s cars were all there.  Rolling his eyes, he looked over to Cassie.

 

“Mind if I just drop you off?”

 

She noticed all the cars as well and thought about cutting him some slack when the door to the limo was opened by none other than Jack O’Neill.

 

“Home kinda early, arent’cha kids?” he mused.

 

Daniel was very glad it was dark and that his C.O. couldn’t see his eye, “Hey, Jack.  I was tired and Cassie wanted to come home.  You mind walking her in?  The limo can take me back to my place.”

 

Jack didn’t miss the plea in his friend’s voice and knew there had to be a story here.  “No, no, you have to come inside.  We’re all waiting for you.  All the sordid details are needed first hand.”

 

Daniel groaned as Cassie pushed him out the door.  O’Neill went around and gave the driver a hefty tip and told him he could knock off early.  The man smiled at him and murmured his thanks, then drove away.

 

Cassie pulled Daniel aside and wrapped her arms around him,  “Thank you, Daniel.  I really had a good time.  Even in spite of Tyler and his band of marry Neanderthals.”

 

Daniel laughed, “I had a great time too, Cass.  Better late than never, huh?  Bet I’m the only one that can boast that I was almost forty before I went to a senior prom.”

 

Neither of them noticed Jack still lurking outside watching them with a mischievous grin on his face.  Cassie then stood on tiptoe and gave Daniel a chaste kiss on the lips.  “Come on,” she whispered, “let’s go face the music.”

 

With a smirk, Daniel followed her inside with Jack close on their heels.  As the three of them entered, all talk stopped.  Janet was on her feet and over to them faster than one could blink.

 

“Cassie… what happened!?” she hugged her daughter tightly and then ushered her out of the room.

 

When Cassie cast an amused look back at Daniel, he noticed that her makeup had smeared down her face and her hair was all mussed.  Not to mention, Cassie’s right-hand knuckles were slightly swollen.  Boy could that girl pack a punch.

 

With his head down and hands stuffed deeply into his pockets, Daniel shuffled into the living room where the assembly waited.  To him, however, it seemed more like the Inquisition.  Sam came over to him and gave him a hug.

 

“I’m proud of you Dan…” she started to say when she saw his eye.  “What happened?!”

 

Jack came into the room and handed his blushing friend a beer.

 

“That seems to be the question of the night,” O’Neill smirked, “so, Danny.  Who’d you fight, and did you win?  I hope so since you were at a high school.  If not, you, Teal’c and I have a date with some training in store.”

 

Grumbling unhappily, Daniel sat down and pulled his tie off.  “It wasn’t a fight.  I… I, I just got hit… that’s all.”

 

Janet came storming back in with two new ice packs in her hand.  She was on the warpath and everyone present cringed.  Giving Daniel one of the packs, she turned and headed back upstairs to Cassie’s room without a word.

 

“Ooooohhh boy,” Sam mused, “I think maybe we should all leave before Janet gets a hold of Daniel or SG-1 is going to be a three-person team.”

 

“I didn’t do anything!” he protested loudly.

 

“Your eye says different, Danny Boy,” Jack snorted.  He was having too much fun with this.

 

Taking a long pull on his beer, the archeologist leaned back and rested his head against the chair cushion.  At least the dinner was excellent tonight, he thought.

 

Cassie and Janet came back in together and sat down.  The younger of the two had changed into a pair of sweats and a long t-shirt.  She was cleaned up and looking much more comfortable, albeit none too happy.

 

“Okay, will someone please tell us what happened?” Jack bellowed, “Teal’c is on the edge of his seat here, don’t keep him in suspense!”

 

“I believe it is you that is in suspense, O’Neill,” the Jaffa’s smooth and unruffled voice remarked.

 

“Don’t change the subject.”

 

Cassie took center stage and began to tell them what went on.  “First of all, Daniel was a perfect gentleman.  I couldn’t be any happier with our date tonight.”

 

She turned and beamed at him, causing him to go crimson yet again.  Then she continued, “Our dinner was fantastic and the prom was boring.  We did dance and before you ask, mom, Sam… he’s an excellent dancer!”

 

The entire room was now cast in a red glow as the chuckles escaped from everyone.

 

“OH for cryin’ out loud, get ON with it!” Jack moaned.

 

Daniel glanced up and sighed.  “Cassie’s boyfriend…”

 

“EX-boyfriend…” she interrupted.

 

“Ah… yeah… ex-boyfriend came over and tried to start something with her.”

 

“Oh, Cassie… are you okay?  What did he do?” Sam asked in concern.

 

“He was just mouthing off, as usual, and I got mad.  Daniel tried to be a peacemaker and that’s when… um, I kinda… accidentally hit Daniel.”

 

This time it was Cassie that was beet red.

 

Jack sprayed his beer across the room, hitting Teal’c, “You did that?  Damn, Cassie, you need to be on an SG team if you can punch like that!”

 

“Jack!” Janet scolded him, “let her continue.”

 

“Sorry…” he said, still amused, “Danny got beat up by an eighteen-year-old girl… oh, this is SO never going to get old!”

 

A pillow flew through the air and nailed Jack in the head.  When he looked to see who threw it he quieted down at the stern look from Hammond.

 

“Go on, Cassandra,” George said softly.

 

“Anyway, Tyler said something to me that really ticked me off and when I turned to hit him, Daniel got in the way and I decked him instead,” with an evil grin she elaborated, “but when Daniel’s head flew back… it got Ty right in the nose!  I think it was broken.”

 

“Oh, this is fantastic!  Our little Cassie takes out two guys with one punch!  This has got to be the best prom story ever!  Oh, to have been a fly on the wall there!”

 

Several pillows now descended onto the smart ass colonel.

 

“Are you okay, Cassie?” the gentle tone of Teal’c came after the pillow assault.

 

“Yes, T.  I'm all right.  Daniel and Ty were the ones that got roughed up,” she grinned at them.  “Well, long story short, we all got kicked out of the dance.  That’s why we’re home early.”

 

A round of laughter filled the room.  Even Daniel couldn’t help but smirk.  It had been pretty funny now that he thought about it.  After a few more drinks were consumed and more stories about other dates that went wrong were told, everyone decided to call it an evening.  Jack took a slightly tipsy Daniel home and tucked him into bed.  Janet made sure that he was okay before they had left.  Cassie wearily went to her room ready to fall asleep, but pulled her diary out to enter her thoughts.

 

 

Dear Diary,

 

Well, prom has come and gone.  Daniel was so wonderful.  I really wish I was older.  Yet, the whole reason for my asking him to go was because I thought Tyler was immature for getting us thrown out of the movies and here I got Daniel and I thrown out of the prom.  Guess it just goes to show you the old adage is true; ‘what goes around, comes around’.  Still, I wouldn’t have changed this evening for anything in the universe!

 

-Cassie-

 

The End