A/N Hello all, I'm so sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter posted. Most of you probably thought I abandoned the story, I assure you that i haven't. Life has just been a little more hectic than I expected and I've had trouble focusing. As most of you know, I homeschool my daughter, so that takes time, and we have a lot of home projects happening now. There's just so much going on that I feel guilty taking time to sit and write, which is ridiculous but it is what it is. I'm also still dealing with losing the friendship of a really good friend, and my writing buddy, so I lost a little mojo. That situation has been almost a year now but it still affects me. Anyways, that's my long-winded way of apologizing. I was going to conclude this story with this chapter but it got a bit long so I decided to break it up. I would also like to give a shout out to PixieKayGirl for suggesting a wonderful idea for the proposal scene, and a thank you for allowing me to use the idea along with some suggested iines, I hope I've done your idea justice. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, I will try very hard to not take forever and a day with the next, and probably final chapter :)
Chapter 17: There shall be a wedding
When it came down to it, the powers that be tried to change the agreement and make Jack and Sam jump through a few more hoops. They were told that in order for this to work Sam would have to be transferred out of the direct chain of command for at least a year before they could officially start a relationship. General Hammond wasn't happy because that wasn't the deal he made.
Neither Jack nor Sam was willing to wait another year so they both submitted their resignation. Surprisingly, that stunt had the Joint Chiefs singing a different tune. Suddenly they were saying that there was a misunderstanding. In the end, they honored the original agreement that General Hammond had made…with a few stipulations of course.
Jack had no idea that threatening to resign would have that much power, though it was probably Sam resigning that changed their minds, she is way more important than he'll ever be. If he had thought for a second that something like that would work, he would have suggested they do it a long time ago.
Jack is now a Brigadier General and he has the most amazing girlfriend in the world. Today he gets to announce her promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, something she still doesn't know anything about. Her promotion ceremony had gotten delayed with all the shenanigans about Hammond's deal.
All they really had to agree to was to be discrete, which they were planning to be anyways, especially at work. They haven't officially told anyone yet, other than Daniel and Teal'c of course. Though Sam may have told Fraiser, Jack isn't sure, but the tiny doctor has been giving him odd looks for the past couple of days.
Jack looks at his watch, it's almost time to present Sam with her new rank insignia, it's going to look so good on her.
Jack makes his way to the gate room where most of the personnel are gathered. Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c are in the front line, exactly where he knew they would be. Everyone, except Daniel, snaps to attention as Jack enters the room, he gives Sam a subtle smile as he walks by her.
"Thank you all for gathering here today. I'm not one for long speeches," Jack pauses and looks up to the ceiling, "Normally when I say something like that I get beamed away." Jack says, causing everyone in the room to chuckle.
"Anyways, I asked you all here to announce something that General Hammond had planned to announce before a couple other things happened," Jack says, glancing over at Sam, knowing that she knows that he's talking about the two of them, "It is with great honor and pride that I bestow the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and all the responsibilities thereof to Major Samantha Carter."
The whole room erupts in applause and Sam turns a beautiful shade of pink. The shock on her face is so much better than Jack had imagined.
Sam walks up the ramp and stops in front of Jack, he really wishes he could kiss her right now.
"Lieutenant Colonel," Jack says with pride as he pins the new insignia on her collars.
"Everyone is dismissed," Jack says after he and Sam finish the swearing in process.
Before leaving the gate room everyone comes and congratulates Sam on her new rank. Most with a handshake, Daniel and Teal'c with a friendly hug.
"How long have you known about this?" Sam asks when most everyone has cleared out of the room.
"Since the day Hammond told me about the deal he made," Jack says, really really wishing they hadn't promised to be discreet.
"Well, I didn't see it coming," Sam says.
Of course she didn't see it coming, Sam is way too modest to expect something like this. She works so hard and has done some really great things and yet, she never expects recognition. In fact, she's always surprised when she gets some sort of commendation for her accomplishments. It's just one more reason why Jack loves her so much.
"That was the point," Jack says, then adds, "And, by the way, Hammond was planning on announcing this no matter what happened with the deal."
"I'll have to call him and thank him," Sam says, looking at Jack with those beautiful blue eyes.
"Hang on," Jack says as Sam starts walking down the ramp, "There's one more surprise for you."
"Oh?"
"Yeah," Jack smiles before he and Sam are beamed out of the room.
"Where are we?" Sam asks, looking around, not recognizing anything.
One minute they are standing in the gate room, the next she and Jack are in the middle of who knows where. It was obviously an Asgard beam that brought them here. Is that part of the next surprise that Jack has in store for her? She can't imagine what surprise he has that would bring them here, wherever here is.
"This is a place called Manti, Utah," Jack says, "It's exactly in the middle of the state."
Sam wants to cry. They talked about a figurative Utah and now he's brought her to the actual Utah.
"It's a literal metaphor," Jack says, taking her hand in his, "to show you that I'm all in. In fact, I couldn't be further into Utah without going out the other side. Something I have no intention of doing. So, you're stuck with me, I'm never leaving you….ta."
Sam laughs at his reference to some earlier dates. She is also holding back tears, this is probably the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for her.
"You had the Asgard beam us here just to tell me that?" Sam asks, smiling.
"Well, that, and to do this," Jack says.
Sam gasps as Jack goes down on one knee and opens a little box. She doesn't even bother to hold back the tears anymore. She almost misses what he says because she is looking at the stunning ring in the box. She's no ring expert but this diamond is huge, surrounded by smaller ones on a white gold band. It had to have cost him a fortune.
"Sam, I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone else. Will you stay in Utah with me forever and be my wife?" Jack asks, she can tell he's nervous too. His voice is shaking slightly.
"Yes, of course, yes," Sam says without hesitation, she's never been happier in her life than she is at this moment.
She holds her hand out and watches as Jack slips the ring on her finger. She wraps her arms around his neck and leans forward and kisses him. She could stand here for the rest of her life kissing him.
When they part ways, Sam looks at her brand new piece of jewelry, it's so pretty. She feels like a child that just got a toy they really wanted. She has the strongest urge to do that weird sounding happy giggle and dance and click her heels together. She feels like she's on top of the world.
"I love you, Jack," she whispers and he leans down and captures her lips again.
"I would love nothing more than to stay right here doing this, but Thor is due back in his galaxy soon," Jack says.
"I can't believe you contacted Thor," Sam says, amazed. No one has ever done anything like this for her, ever.
"He owed me one, this was worth it," Jack replies.
"Is that why you made that quip about being beamed up earlier?" Sam asks.
"He was in orbit, I was nervous he was going to beam us up at the wrong time," Jack explains.
Sam laughs, it wouldn't be the first time Thor beamed Jack away at the wrong moment. This has been an amazing day. She got promoted and a fiance all at once. She feels giddy at the thought of being Jack's wife. She's fantasized about that in the past but never thought it would actually happen.
"We better get going," Jack says, breaking into her thoughts.
"I guess we have a wedding to plan," Sam says, she can't wait to shop for her dress. She wants Janet and Cassie to go with her.
"That we do," Jack smiles.
Sam feels a sense of contentment wash over as she looks up at Jack. He is quite literally the man of her dreams, she's so fortunate to have him. She looks down at the ring on her finger and feels a sense of happiness that she hasn't felt before. She glances back at Jack and smiles.
"We better get back then," she says, and watches as Jack calls into the communication stone to Thor to beam them back to the SGC. She can't wait to tell their friends about their engagement, but most of all, she can't wait to marry Jack.
Jack is frustrated. It's been nearly 3 months since he proposed to Sam and they are no closer to getting married. They had a day picked out but the Goa'uld decided to mount an attack that week, messing up their plans. They had another day picked out only to realize their marriage license had expired and they had trouble getting out of the mountain and to the renewal office before they closed. More recently, they had their day and everything set, and a representative from the Joint Chiefs decided to stop in for a visit.
Jack looks at the calendar, he and Sam set yet another date and submitted it to the joint chiefs as per their stipulations, only for them to come back and say that date isn't good. They didn't elaborate, but Jack can't imagine there would be another visit from the Joint Chiefs so soon. Jack is convinced they are deliberately trying to prevent them from getting married.
Sam told him that he's imagining things, that all these interruptions are just coincidences. Jack isn't too sure though. After the Joint Chiefs back tracked after their 'misunderstanding' they asked that Jack and Sam submit the date they wish to be married so that it didn't interfere with official business. Since then, every date they submit gets rejected. If not because of the Goa'uld attacking then it's something else. Jack has half a mind to just get married without telling the Joint Chiefs.
Jack jerks upright in his chair as an idea forms in his head. He looks at his watch, SG-3 and Sam are due back in 12 hours. He's not sure he can pull it all off but he thinks it's worth a try. Besides, he going rope Daniel, Teal'c, and Janet into helping him.
Jack stands at the end of the ramp waiting for Sam and SG-3 to walk through. Sam is the leader of SG-1 but SG-3 thought they found something that she should see so she went off with them.
Jack thinks of the impending conversation with Sam and feels a mixture of nervousness and excitement. He can't believe he got it all done. Of course, his friends were a huge help in that regard. He really hopes Sam doesn't laugh in his face when she finds out what he's done. Ideally she will be happy. As SG-3 starts filing through the gate Jack stands up straighter, ready to corner Sam and tell her of his idea.
"Sir," Reynolds says by way of greeting as he comes down the ramp.
"How did things go?" Jack asks, trying to calm his nerves.
"I'm sure Colonel Carter can give you all the details, Sir," Reynolds says, emphasizing the word all.
Jack laughs to himself. Undoubtedly Sam gave Reynolds a long and extremely thorough analysis that he didn't understand. The smile fades a little when he realizes that he'll get the same report. Jack shakes his head at the thought and hopes this idea of his will distract her from wanting to make a full report right now.
Sam finally walks through the gate and Jack's heart skips a beat. How can anyone make BDU's so attractive?
"Sir," Sam says as she approaches.
"Carter," Jack greets, with a slight smile.
"So," Sam starts but Jack stops her by holding up his hand.
"Before you get too involved in giving a report, there's something else I need you to do," Jack says, hoping his nerves aren't as obvious as he thinks they are.
"What's that, Sir?" Sam says, with curiosity in her voice.
"Marry me," Jack says, getting straight to the point.
He watches her to see if he can gauge her reaction. So far all he sees is confusion. She opens her mouth to say something a couple of times but nothing comes out. She's trying to figure out what to say, and she looks cute doing it.
"I am marrying you," she finally says with a coy smile.
"Yes, I know, but I mean marry me now," Jack says in response.
"What do you mean now?" Sam asks, sounding suspicious.
"I mean now, today," Jack says, taking a step closer and taking her hand in his.
"What's the rush?" Sam asks.
Jack feels himself get even more nervous as Sam loosens her grip on his hand and takes a small step back. He starts second guessing how he's approached this and wonders if he's said the wrong thing, or said it the wrong way.
"Come over here," Jack says quietly when he notices some SF's watching them. He certainly doesn't want, or need an audience for this conversation. He leads her to a quiet place to the side of the gate, they are still visible but out of earshot.
"Sam, every time we try to plan a day something interferes," Jack says.
"I know, but we have a new day planned and," Sam starts but Jack interrupts.
"I got word today that that day won't work," Jack tells her.
"Why?"
"I don't know, I was just told that that day is already reserved," Jack says.
"Alright, so we pick a different day," Sam says, trying to be reasonable.
"I have a feeling that the Joint Chiefs will find something wrong with any day we choose," Jack says, looking her in the eyes.
"You make it sound like they are conspiring against us," Sam says, with a slight chuckle.
And Jack is convinced of exactly that. Sam is too good and pure of heart to think anything like that of so called respectable people. Jack, on the other hand, got suspicious as soon as the Joint Chiefs tried to change Hammond's deal.
"Sam, how many times since the program has been running have we had a special visit from the Joint Chiefs?" Jack asks.
"Well, not many," Sam says.
"Exactly," Jack says, "They asked us to submit the day we want to be married so we do, and then someone decides that that day is a good day for a visit. And now the new day we picked isn't good either. I bet if we select another day, it too will be no good."
"Jack,"
"You know I'm right, Sam," Jack interrupts.
"Maybe, but why would they purposely delay things? They agreed to the deal," Sam replies.
"Yes, and as you remember, they tried to change the deal. I think they are trying to put it off hoping we'll decide to cancel the whole thing. If we get married right here right now, what can they say?" Jack says, pleading his case.
Jack feels like he can't breathe as he waits for her response. She hasn't said no yet, which he figures is a good sign. He was hoping she'd be a little more enthusiastic about this though.
"Jack," Sam starts again but trails off.
"The marriage license also expires in a couple days, and I really don't want to go through the hassle of getting it renewed again," Jack says.
"Are you saying we either get married now or not at all?" Sam asks, looking upset.
"No, no, that's not what I meant," Jack says, trying to defuse the situation. He thinks about what he said and understands why she took it the way she did. The last thing he wants to do is anger her when he's trying to convince her to marry him.
"What did you mean then?" Sam asks, not sounding any happier.
"I just meant that I'd rather use it before it expires again," Jack starts, then he tightens his grip on her hand and steps a little closer, "Sam, I love you and if you don't want to get married right now then I'll wait as long as necessary."
"I love you too," she says with a slight smile, "I want to marry you so badly, but I don't see how today will work. I mean nothing is planned."
Jack smiles mischievously, "Don't worry about that, just say yes."
As soon as she smiles he knows he's got her. Yes she's smiled as little as they've been talking, but the smile she's giving him now is different. The light in her eyes is also brighter as excitement and anticipation creep up inside of her.
"You know, getting married here isn't very discreet," she says.
"I know," Jack smiles, "I'll take full responsibility, don't worry."
"Alright," Sam says, giving him a full tooth smile that makes him weak in the knees, "But you get to explain to my dad why he didn't get to walk me down the aisle."
"Deal," Jack says, feeling excited.
"I can't believe we're really doing this," Sam says, excitedly.
"Go to your base quarters," Jack tells her.
"I have to get my post mission check and go home and get my dress," Sam says.
"No you don't," Jack says, then adds, "I told you, it's all taken care of. Go to your quarters."
Sam looks at him with narrow eyes and leaves the room. Jack glances up to the control room and gives a slight nod. It's time to get his plan in motion.