A/N: This is an A/U taking place during the Season 5 episode Proving Ground. It's just something that popped into my head when I was re-watching the episode yesterday all because Carter mentioned 'personal feelings'. Anyways before I give it all away, you have those two words in the episode to thank, or not, for all of this. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4 – Proving Ground

"You hesitated, Lt." O'Neill said, almost yelling.

"I was assessing the situation sir," was Lt. Elliot was able to say.

"Ok, we all ended up dead, assess that." Glancing down at the clipboard he was holding, he then turned his attention to Satterfield, "So, what's your excuse?"

"I didn't believe Dr. Jackson was a Goa'uld."

"Why not Satterfield?" Carter asked, taking the lead from O'Neill.

"I don't know ma'am, that was just my instinct."

Satterfield started to open her mouth to say something, but quickly closed it back unsure of what to say. With a slight smirk on her face, Hailey spoke up for her, "She thinks he's cute."

"You let your personal feelings for the host, in this case Dr. Jackson and myself," she said motioning between her and the back of the room where Daniel and Teal'c had decided to sit and listen to the assessment, "Get in the way of what you knew needed to be done."

"When you're dealing with what we deal with, you've got to think on your feet and think fast," O'Neill said, pausing to make sure that he had their undivided attention. Seeing that he did, he continued, "Like Major Carter said, there is absolutely no room for personal feelings in the field. You just have to check it at the door when you report for duty. Period," O'Neill finished, more than a little frustrated with the group in front of him.

Satterfield, Hailey, and Grogan simply nodded their understanding while Elliot felt the need to mumble something under his breath.

"What was that Lt.?" O'Neill asked, curious as to what the young officer had to say.

"I said, 'that must never be a problem for you'… sir," Elliot finished weakly.

"Really, why is that do you think? You think that this special ops colonel doesn't ever have personal feelings because he says to check them at the door?" O'Neill said, silently enjoying the direction of the conversation.

Elliot didn't know what to say, sure that's pretty much what he was thinking but he wasn't about to agree with Colonel O'Neill, so he just averted his gaze.

"That's what I thought," O'Neill said understanding what the gesture meant. "What if I told you that I, more than most, struggle with that very problem daily, that every time I give an order that have to make sure that I'm not giving it because of personal feelings, that my reasoning is objective: what would you say to that?" O'Neill paused for a moment before quickly adding, "You have permission to speak freely."

"Well then," Elliot started to say, "I'd want to know what exactly it is that makes you qualified enough to give advice about this subject, sir," he finished not wanting to sound even more disrespectful.

O'Neill couldn't help but laugh to himself before he started to answer, "What makes me qualified?" Looking towards Carter he continued, "He wants to know what makes me qualified? What do you think Carter, should I tell him?"

Carter merely raised the corner of her lip.

Seeing the slight change in her expression, O'Neill knew he was thoroughly going to enjoy seeing their reactions to his next statement. "Carter over there," he said motioning to where she was standing, "Is my wife!"

The trainees just stood there slack-jawed, eyes wide open, unsure what to say. 'Was he joking? Just doing this to get a reaction?' Were the thoughts going through all of their heads, slowly they all figured that he had to be messing with him, that there was no way they would be married and on the same team; that this was his way of putting an end to their conversation.

"Report back here tomorrow for one more day of training with me," O'Neill said, snapping their attention back. "After that you will either be assigned to an SG team or not, dismissed."

Once they had all left, Carter approached him and said, "Well that sure shut them all up sir."

Closing the space between them, he started to reach out for her waist when Teal'c and Daniel emerged from the back of the room.

Jack was so startled that he almost jumped, and Sam, since she knew they were back there merely started laughing into Jack's neck.

"What the heck are you two doing back there?" Jack managed to ask once his nerves settled back down.

"We merely wanted to listen to your evaluation of their performance," Teal'c responded.

Before he could say anything further Daniel spoke up, "However, we certainly didn't expect that last bit of information. Given your current positions," he said motioning to the fact that they had their arms wrapped around each other, "I can't say you were joking around like you led them to believe and like I too had originally thought."

"But if you two really are married, then how could you not tell us about it."

"Daniel," Jack cut it, "You're starting to ramble."

Breaking apart from Sam, he gave her a nod and continued, "We really are married, and have been for almost three years." Reaching for his tags, a motion that Sam was copying, they pulled them out at the same moment to reveal matching wedding bands hanging from both.

At this, both men reacted similarly to the trainees and stood there speechless.

TBC…maybe

Well, I know I initially said that these would be 'short, little one-shots' but I seem to be having a hard time with that, so I will leave this up to you: do you want to read more about how they got married or not? I've already got the basic premise running around in my head but I want to see if there is an interest before I write it, otherwise I will just move on with this, and my other stories (and yes, I am moving on with Broken Bones for those of you that are still following it. I will, without a doubt, be posting a chapter for it in less than a day – I Promise!)