This started out as a rather interesting mental commentary in my brain. It takes place five years after Divide and Conquer, and considers everything up to Threads. Enjoy! GV.

It took five years. Five. But, it came through. Of course, it came through a year late, but it still came through. The battle was amazing. The debates it caused amongst the council sometimes got quite violent. Especially when Kinsey was introduced to it. But, George and I got through for the SGC.

"Ladies and Gentlemen." My voice rings throughout the gateroom, interrupting whispers debating what was going on. "Everyday, a team or more go through this gate." I gesture to the rather large and heavy ring behind me. "Sometimes to a friendly planet, sometimes to an uninhabited, sometimes to a habited, sometimes to a hostile. Every time a team steps through that gate, there is a chance that one person may not come back." Everyone is silent and looking at me in confusion, trying to see where I'm headed. My eye catches hers. They're her normal twinkling blue. Her blonde hair has grown out slightly at the insistence of her husband. "Everyday, we face regrets. Regrets that we didn't say something, that we did, that we didn't do something, or that we did to something. Everyday…" my heart longs for yours. "This place is more than a government base, it's more than a job for all of us. It's home. It's family. It's friends. 1 of us all are married to people who know nothing about what we do, where we go. 1. 3 of us are married to people who know about the SGC." Like you, Sam. "6 of us were married when we joined, or have gotten married, and have then divorced or separated." They were looking at their neighbour confused. "The other 90 of us are single and aren't able to hold a partner for more than a month." This caused those who are in that 90 to laugh. She didn't though. She's part of the 3. "The close ties we form between colleagues are close. So close, that many of us have fallen in love with someone we work with." Once again, our eyes connect. Why didn't you wait, Sam? "However, we are forbidden to act on that love. Five years ago, I went to the then commander of the SGC with a concern of mine. He admitted that it was also a concern of his. We took it to the President, and the Chief of Staff and several other key people. For five years, we kept the debate, the discussion secret, afraid to get anyone's hopes up. A decision was reached thirty minutes ago." I take a deep breath and for the third time since the start of the announcement, our eyes connect. I hold the connection. "As of thirty minutes ago, the Fraternisation Regulations no longer apply to the SGC and personnel." The room erupts in cheers. Our eyes are still connected. "One more thing. I expect an invitation to each and every wedding. Dismissed." I break the connection and leave.

I stand at the briefing room window overlooking the gate. People are still loitering around the gateroom. I spot two of the scientists embracing, and I smile sadly.

"Sir?"

My smile disappears. It's her. "Colonel Shanahan." She comes to stand beside me at the window. She's so close I can smell the perfume she's wearing. It's the one he gave her for their first anniversary. The one she hates but still wears.

"Five years?" She asks.

"Five years, Colonel." And you didn't wait.

"Sir…."

I sigh. "Go home, Colonel. Pete's probably wondering where you are." I turn and head to my office.

"I'm sorry I didn't wait."

The soft comment reaches me as I shut my office door. "Me too, Sam. Me too." The door shuts with a click that echoes rather loudly in my brain. The door to that part of my past has shut and locked itself. And I don't have a key.