A Ceiling in Underground Base

by Kestrel

Jack gazed at her as she read, then re-read, the anonymous note he'd slipped into her bag. "I love you," he'd scrawled. She caught his eye across the mess hall and held it. They stood simultaneously. Their paths crossed, and Jack swept her into his arms. Kissing her briefly, he raised a toast to the cheering crowd. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hammond smiling and nodding...

Jack awoke in pitch black. Groaning, he fumbled for his clock. 1:34 AM. He rolled over on to his back, and stared at the invisible ceiling that he knew was there. Ceilings in underground bases were inevitable, he thought, just like Hammond pitching a fit if he kissed Sam in the middle of the mess hall. It wasn't a bad idea, he decided, it was just impossible.

Next Day

Jack gazed at her as she read, then re-read, the anonymous note he'd slipped into her bag. He'd decided to go ahead and follow his muse, however brain-dead that muse might be. He'd cursed himself for twenty kinds of idiot in twenty different languages (an ability that had spawned from the advantage of knowing a certain Space Monkey) as he wrote the single-lined doomspell-for-his-job note, but he had followed through. Now to wait for the consequences. He'd reviewed them the night before, having been unable to get back to sleep after the dream.

A) He'd be fired. *That* was the ceiling in an underground base. Or, B) He and Sam would retire together. Not a bad idea, he mused, but he didn't want to cost *his* scientist her job any more than he wanted to lose his. *Or* C) She could stand up and walk slowly over to him, eyes sparkling, like she just did. Jack gulped visibly, and stood.

Sam got close. *Very* close, he thought frantically. Man, if *someone* doesn't intervene I might either grab her or pass out. The former being the ceiling...

"Jack," she whispered, "Did you write this?"

Not trusting his voice, he nodded weakly. To his immense surprise and relief, she smiled, then laughed and threw her arms around his neck. Their eyes locked a second before they closed at the kiss. Daniel noticed first and whooped, bringing all eyes to their previously private corner. Jack swore under his breath as upon breaking the kiss he discovered Hammond in the doorway. And Jack could see his C.O. was not too happy.

Scowling, Hammond stalked over to the couple. Jack still fearlessly had his arm around Sam's waist, but he was shaking. "You disappoint me, Jack," Hammond said. Jack hung his head. "I-"

The General cut him off. "I'm disappointed that you took so long, son! Why, everyone but you two could see you were meant for each other! Now, I phoned the President and got the non-frat rules bent just this morning, in hopes you would realize your destiny."

Jack raised and eyebrow, doing a perfect Teal'C impression. It just wasn't like Hammond to get sappy.

The General coughed and snapped back to business. "You may now follow through with a relationship with Major Carter, Colonel O'Neill." With that eye-widening statement, Hammond turned on his heel and left the mess, leaving Jack with a textbook salute drifting towards the floor and Sam hanging on their second kiss.

Jack turned and raised a toast to the cheering crowd. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hammond standing in the doorway of the mess. The General smiled and nodded, then left the couple to their fate as the entire mess flowed over to them, expressing congratulations and relief. Jack smiled at them all, downed his champagne, and hugged Sam tighter...

Jack woke in a cold sweat. Damn, he thought. I wish that had been real... but then I wonder. There's always tomorrow. After all, tomorrow and its possibilities with Sam are like a ceiling in an underground base... inevitable.