Chapter 4 – So what happens now???

I watched them from across the lawn. Even I could admit they were in love. I may not like it, in fact I may still need to have a little conversation with him explaining exactly how I can kill him but I can admit they are in love. He had better look after her.

"So George are you going to move one of them" I asked, I had accepted it would probably be Sam, it was a fait acompli as far as I could see. Well just as long as her career didn't take a dive.

"We all talked Jacob. You were right he is in love with her. I assume Sam told you how she felt" George was skirting round the answer. I had a feeling I might not like what was coming.

"She did, what's going on George" I asked warningly,

"Jacob calm down" Sel warned me.

"Well Daniel and Teal'c put forward a very good argument that Jack doesn't favour Sam now so why would that change" I could tell that George expected me to react badly just from his tone, so I did.

"George you cannot be serious. The only reason I convinced Sam to talk to him was because I thought you would pull her from the team" I was beginning to rant again.

"Jacob this is not your command" I didn't care, this was my little girl and her career is on the line. So help him he might be my friend but he will not ruin my little girl's life just to keep a team together.

George looked at the other men then back at me. Oh I knew he had an explanation ready I just wasn't sure that I would accept it.

"Jacob SG1 works. Like I explained to you. Having a couple on the team will not change the dynamic drastically" George tried to soothe.

"The hell it will George. Sam will be a sitting duck. Prey for any damn Goa'uld that wants to get to Jack" Had he completely lost his senses, this was ridiculous. I lived out there, I knew what she would be facing. No, I won't allow that. I was about to tell George exactly what I thought when I was interrupted.

"She has been that since the start Jacob Carter" Teal'c spoke and I whipped round to eyeball him, he was unafraid, unfortunately

"I don't believe you Teal'c" He could not be speaking the truth.

"Jacob Carter you have Selmak within you. I have lived many decades with the Goa'uld. They have always believed that Major Carter was mated with one of us, since the first mission. Apophis would not accept that she was a warrior of her own accord but merely there to support one of the males. He believed that was what made the Tau'ri weak. I believe it is Major Carter that makes us strong"

A long speech from a silent man. I listened to his words but wanted evidence. Just because Apophis had a strong male ego did not believe that all the others felt the same.

"Can you be sure others felt the same?"

"Jacob, nearly every civilisation we have visited have assumed that either I am with Sam or Jack is. Every time we have been captured they have used Sam to threaten us. Sometimes not obviously but it was always there in the background the veiled threat that if we did not do as they asked she would be harmed. We would be expected to listen to her suffering before accepting our own. Only the Tolan and the Asguard treated her as an equal"

"She never said anything" I whispered

"No we just all accept it and Jack treats us all the same. He expects Teal'c to defeat everything in front of us, me to understand every language that we come across and Sam to save us when we get into tough scrapes"

"But a relationship would change that" I argued

"I do not believe so Jacob Carter. O'Neill has loved your daughter for over a year and she has loved him for around 8 months. They may not have acknowledged it openly but both Daniel Jackson and I knew it was there"

I looked around the assembled group. They had obviously discussed much while Sam and I had talked.

"Sir, if I may, I know you are disappointed in the way this has been broken to you but it had to come out. They are right for each other. I am personally sorry that I did not go to General Hammond earlier, I just couldn't see a way out for them" Janet was most apologetic. She must have heard my comment to Sam.

"Dr Frasier you are not to blame, and I appreciate your comments" I spoke to her directly then turned to George;

"So what do you have planned?" Again I was pretty sure that I was not going to like the answer.

"If they keep it quiet I don't see a problem"

"NO. I will not have my daughter sneeking around with the man she loves. This has to be open or not at all. You cannot play with their feelings like that"

"I agree Jacob" Jack's voice came from directly behind me

"Sir Sam and I would like to take our combined leave, I believe it is around 6 weeks each. After that if we're not legal then I will move to another team. Sam's career will not be damaged, you have my word"

I turned to look at Jack, I took them both in. Sam was happy, she was really happy, her hand firmly clasping Jack's. I nodded.

"Very well Jack. I will put the paperwork in to temporarily remove Sam from your command. We can make a decision later" George did not look happy but I was. But wait a minute what did Jack just say

"he said if we're not legal"

"Oh Crap" I said out loud

"We haven't decided anything Dad" Sam said trying to calm me, it wasn't really working

"Jacob, this is between Sam and I. I know you care about your daughter, I won't hurt her but you need to let us decide what is best for us."

Jack was very firm and I did admire him for it, at least I would if I wasn't still a little angry at the thought of him being my new son in law.

"How did you expect this to end, either Samantha would have a broken heart or this – a wedding"

I had to cringe.

"If it helps Sel is totally on board with the wedding idea" I announced to the group, showing my disagreement with my tone.

Janet choked on her drink, Daniel stared and surprisingly Sam, Jack and George burst out laughing

"Well we'll let you know" Jack finished

It was time to leave, time to go back to work. George or Sam would get in touch if or when there was news. Sel was already planning what we would wear, and every other wedding detail he could work out from my mind. I shuddered at the picture he was painting of us all dressed up and Thor beaming in. Oh my word. That cannot happen.

Well whatever will happen will happen. I was glad Sel had let me go back but I was even more glad that he convinced me not to kill Jack or damage my relationship with Sam.

I walked back to the Tok'ra base and came face to face with Anise

"Jacob, Selmak. You have returned. Is all well?"

I took great pride in standing tall and announcing everything was well and there were no problems. Sel managed to stop me revealing potential wedding plans. He didn't think neither Jack nor Sam would appreciate it. The look on Freya's face, as it was host not symbiote that felt it, would keep Sel and I laughing for months. She really thought she had me, had destroyed my relationship with Sam and put a major spanner in the works of the SGC.

Ha that will teach her to mess with the Tau'ri.

"And with me Jacob, and with me"

'Touché my friend'