Author's Note: OK, so this chapter may be slightly OoC / unbelievable, but I kinda liked it, so I'm running with it.


Sam's eyes widened as she stared at the man standing before her; a man who looked more nervous than she had ever known. But she couldn't speak or think. All she could register was the feeling of her heart beating against her chest and the roar in her ears. Things only started to fall into focus again when Jack shifted closer.

"Sam?"

His question was uncertain and she blinked.

"Wh– what did you say?"

"Marry me." The words were stronger, but he still looked uncertain; as if he'd just made the largest mistake of his life.

Sam nodded slowly. "That's… what I thought you said."

She pulled one of her hands free and rubbed it across her forehead. "Jack – as much as I – I don't –"

"I know it sounds strange, but you said you'd hear me out once I asked you my question, so –" He reached down to grab the folder and as he held it, he tapped it lightly against his thigh. "The Air Force regs are still in place," he said, "but this is our way around them. Officially."

She raised a brow. "Officially?"

"Yeah," he nodded, then frowned. "Well, more like an unofficial kind of officially. We can't – we'd have to be discreet, but – it's all in here," he finished quietly as he held out the folder to Sam.

She took it and flipped it open. She took her time reading through the various pages and memos and official documents included but she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. When she reached the last page, she closed the folder shut and took a deep breath.

"Holy Hannah," she mumbled.

One of the documents was a set of transfer papers for Sam and they outlined her new position as the Head of R&D at Area 51, if she chose to accept the posting. She knew General Griffiths and his team had been after her for a while, but the SGC wouldn't let her go while the war with the Goa'uld was ongoing. Now that it had ended, however, and with Cassie out in Nevada, it was an ideal time for Sam to think about stepping away from the front lines. On the one hand, it would give her what she wanted – which was to be with Jack – but on the other, it would mean they would be even further apart and no regular schedule with which to see each other.

She briefly closed her eyes and then had another read over the documents. She could feel Jack watching her patiently as she tried to make sense of everything and what she wanted to do. She risked a glance in his direction.

"Teal'c's leaving," she said suddenly.

Jack pressed his lips together, then nodded. "Yeah, I know. He's wants to help the Jaffa rebuild and give them a new, free way of life."

"What about Daniel?"

She spotted Jack's slight wince, before he said, "He's due to ship out on the next expedition to Atlantis."

"And you're going to Washington."

He sighed. "Yeah."

Sam looked away from him and to the folder in her hand. "I don't think I could stay at the SGC, knowing you're all leaving and going onto different things. I'd feel like I'm stuck in the past and afraid to move on."

Jack tilted his head and listened.

"For eight years, we've done everything together and now we're going our separate ways," she said quietly, but quickly continued when she sensed Jack was about to interrupt, "this is the way it has to be, I understand."

She took a deep breath. "But if this is the end of SG-1, and we're moving on to new things, then we all need to move on – together."

Jack smiled softly. "No man – or woman – gets left behind." He then nodded at the folder in her hand, "but I don't want you to agree to this for those reasons."

"I know."

"Hammond gave me the papers after my meeting with Hayes," he continued, "this is the best they can do, Sam."

She looked at the folder and studied it as if it was a new piece of alien technology. Now that she'd gotten over her initial shock, she felt happier reading through the documents one more time. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Jack try hard not to fidget and she appreciated that he was giving her the time and space she needed.

There were forms with either the official SGC stamp on them, or the U.S. Air Force, and even one from the President.

The left-hand side of the folder contained Sam's personnel report from her time at the SGC and clearly outlined her role while she was assigned to Cheyenne Mountain, as well as her promotions and achievements. Hidden behind the report was a reference letter from General Hammond; the date shown it had been written during his tenure as base commander and behind it was another positive evaluation from the current base leader, Brigadier General Jack O'Neill.

Located on the right-hand side of the folder were a set of transfer papers for Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter to join Area 51 as the Head of Research and Development, but what caught Sam's eye were the dates.

Her posting at the SGC was due to end in twelve days' time; yet her posting at Groom Lake wasn't due to begin for another four weeks. She turned over the page and tried to hide her amusement as she read the notes:

"The President of the United States, acting upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Air Force, has placed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, integrity, and abilities of Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter. In view of these special qualities, not excluding the time, effort, sacrifice and dedication the officer has given in service to the Air Force over the past eight years, hereby find authorization for an extended period of personal leave.

During this period of absence, Lt. Colonel Carter will have completed her previous posting at Stargate Command, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs, and will be awaiting her new orders to be finalized as Head of R&D, Area 51, Nevada. At this time, while the officer will remain in service to the Air Force, they will be without a Commanding Officer, and as such, do not need to report in to a superior."

Henry Hayes

President of the United States

She placed the pages back into the folder and was about to close it when something fluttered to the ground. Sam reached down and saw it was a yellow sticky note. A quick look at Jack told her he didn't know what it was and she turned her attention back to the small piece of paper. She smiled as she instantly recognized General Hammond's handwriting.

He's a good man, Sam.

Your father would be proud of you both. I know I am.

Uncle George.

Sam choked back a sob at the note and quickly tucked it back into the folder to keep it safe. She finally met Jack's gaze.

"I know it's not perfect," he said.

"No, it's not," she agreed. "We'd be even further apart than if I stayed in Colorado Springs; not to mention the time difference – and who knows when we would be able to see each other."

"Maybe every other weekend?"

Sam shrugged. "Maybe, if our schedules allowed it, but you'll be even busier and putting in longer hours than you are now at the SGC."

"We can make time."

"I don't have the best history when it comes to relationships," she grimaced.

"Neither do I," he shrugged. "A marriage takes a lot of work, Sam, but I know we can make it work."

She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. "What if it doesn't work?"

Jack raised a brow in surprise.

"I mean, say we did do this," she added quickly, gesturing between them, "what if it turns out we couldn't live with each other. What if – what if we have habits that the other can't stand or we find out that we have nothing in common and we've just made a mistake?"

Jack's expression darkened. "Do you really believe that?"

She closed her eyes and listened to herself. No, she didn't believe that would be the case at all; and it terrified her in a way. She shook her head.

"No, I don't."

Jack observed her for a moment and then stepped closer.

"Samantha Carter," he said with a small grin. "You prefer blue Jell-O to red. You like your coffee black with one sugar. You like to read crappy romance novels when you're on downtime. You're allergic to mushrooms and you have used the same shower gel for eight years – a mixture of lavender and vanilla, in case you don't believe me," he quipped. "You love your nieces and nephew and would do anything for them. You're honest, loyal, caring and beautiful. You're the smartest, sexiest, most incredible woman I know. I've watched – and admired – your six for years. We practically lived together when we were on SG-1 and were away on missions." He paused and then added: "And off-world, when I was on watch, on more than one occasion I watched you sleep and wondered what it'd be like to hold you and wake up with you in my arms."

"You did?"

Jack nodded. "You sigh, quietly, rightly before you wake up. You get this little crease between your eyebrows when you're concentrating or working too hard. When you eat blue Jell-O or pumpkin pie, you always close your eyes with the first mouthful, just so you can enjoy the taste better. When you make a breakthrough with one of your doohickeys or when you get your hands on a new piece of alien technology, you get this twinkle in your eye –"

Sam reached forward and placed a finger against his lips to silence him, but he moved her hand.

"Even if you were to forget about everything I just said, nothing in the folder is official yet. The decision is yours, so if this isn't what you want, just say – and I'll let you go."

"That easy?"

"I didn't say it would be easy."

Sam swallowed hard at the emotions she saw in Jack's eyes and she could see the battle he was fighting; how hard he was trying to shield his emotions from her because he wanted her to decide on what she wanted and what would make her happy.

She thought of Jonas and Narim; Martouf and Pete.

Her Black Widow Curse.

She thought of Mark and Liz and their kids.

She wanted to experience what they had; the chance to have a family.

She thought of Janet.

She missed her and wished she could talk to her once again.

She thought of her mom.

She missed her even more.

She thought of her father and his words to her on the Prometheus.

You're content; you're satisfied; you're in control and that's the problem... You're missing something vital from your life… You're alone… It's time to let go of the things that prevent you from finding happiness. You deserve to love someone and be loved in return.

She thought of his dying words to her.

I just want to know you're going to be happy... Don't let rules stand in your way... You can still have everything you want.

Sam pulled her hand free from Jack's to wipe away a couple of stray tears that had escaped. She let her hand fall lower and suddenly felt her fingers tangle with something delicate. She glanced down and saw her mother's necklace. She had kept it on ever since Jack had fastened it around her neck, but she had forgotten about it. Until now. She let the pendant fall between her fingers as she remembered the General's words from that day in the park.

He wanted you to have it... I was to make sure it made its way to you.

She thought about the inscription on the velvet bag which had protected the necklace.

Leaa lo Kalaach.

She took a deep breath and handed the folder to Jack. "Ask me again."

His fingers brushed hers as he reached for the folder. "Samantha Carter," he said quietly, "will you marry me?"

Sam smiled softly. "Yes."