One-shot on Sam's musings about those two words Jack said.
She'd been thinking back to what he said. If only. Those two words alone meant nothing. Even together, in some cases, meant nothing. But coming from him. Coming from Jack, her CO, those words meant everything.
She looked at the picture of Pete she had lying next to her bed at her base quarters. She had it there more out of duty then anything. She loved Pete, she really did. He was a great guy. A great catch.
But when Jack said those words, her stomach turned all gooey. Sure, she covered it well. She was a Colonel in the United States Air Force. She'd learned to hide her emotions. And so had Jack. But he slipped. And she caught it. Jack had feelings for her. There was no doubt now. And Sam had feelings for him. She couldn't marry Pete knowing that there was hope for a future with the man she really and truly loved.
If only. Sam smiled at the words. That was Jack's little way of telling her he loved her. She picked up the phone and automatically dialed Pete's cell phone. She told him to meet her for dinner; she had something important to discuss with him.
As she left her quarters she ran into Jack. "Carter." He said, nodding at her.
"General." She smiled at him.
"Going out?" He inquired.
"Having dinner with Pete." She answered. Her stomach was all gooey again.
"Have fun." He said, ignoring his impulses to grab her and kiss her.
"If only." She said, then she rushed down the hall, leaving a grinning Jack O'Neill to watch her leave. That was her little way of telling him that she'd wait for him. For them. For the military to change its policies. For the world to be saved from impending doom. Forever.