The Report, part 19

O'Neill flicked through the document until he found the corresponding page. His eyes went wide as he scanned the paragraph: "Due to the large number of civilian personal at the SGC, inter-personal relationship's will be allowed, as long as they pose no threat to operational or planetary security…"

Hammond leaned back in his chair, "If the rest of you don't mind, I would like to talk to Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter alone."

"Of course." Clark stood, "We have to get back home to England anyway. It was good to see you all again." Chavez followed him as he left, Jonas and Teal'c hot on their heals.

Carter looked at the door as it shut, then turned to General Hammond, "Sir, what's going on?"

"I'd like to know the answer to that one to; The Simpson's are on in two hours and I forgot to set my video." O'Neill smiled nervously

"What is the true extent of your feelings for each other?" Hammond looked at his two subordinates.

O'Neill looked like a deer stuck in headlights, "Well, you know the close friendships that are formed in small units under extreme pressure…"

Hammond waved him off, "You don't need to defend yourself son, I've known for a while." He pulled two copies of Dr Spencer's report and handed them over, "I have to say that I am impressed as to how the two of you have hidden your emotions so well over the last 6 years. I faxed a copy of this report to the President in the hopes that he would find a way to bend the rules slightly, given how many times the two of you have helped save this planet from total destruction."

Carter was confused, "So the whole reorganization, making the SGC an independent agency, was just so the two of us would be free to act on any emotion we may or may not have for each other?"

Hammond laughed, "No, that was to teach Kinsey a lesson; he may no longer be on the Senate Appropriations Committee, but he is still a Senator, and head of the NID. The new code of conduct means it is up to me to decide whether or not any inter-personnel relationships constitute a threat to the safety of this facility, and ultimately, the planet. I think I can trust the two of you." He leaned back, "You have some downtime due after your last mission. Take a few days off; think, talk, and decide if and how you want to take things. I don't want to see either of you on base until Monday at the earliest. Goa'uld attacks not withstanding."

O'Neill sat on his back porch watching the sun come up, a cup of now cold coffee held between his hands.

He was trying to think, but his mind still couldn't come to terms with what had happened the day before. He'd left the briefing room, and after getting changed, driven straight home. He'd sat on his sofa with a beer and watched The Simpson's before going to bed. He hadn't slept; he'd just lain there in bed, looking up at the ceiling. He had finally giving up on the idea of sleep as the first rays of dawn, and showered before coming out here to think.

The sound of a car pulling up on his gravel driveway brought him back to the real world, and he placed the coffee cup on the deck next to his chair. Soft footsteps making their way around the side of the house meant that it was someone he knew; none of his friends used the front door. He was surprised to see Carter round the side of the house. She stopped short when she saw him, her hair surprisingly unkempt, drifting down over her face.

"Hi." She took a tentative step forward, "I think we need to talk. About what happened, about what the General said."

"I hear the President's given him his third Star; Lieutenant General Hammond. It'll take a little getting used to."

"That's not what I meant sir."

"I think we can drop the 'Sir' part now, don't you Sam?"

"I guess so. It's just I don't think I've ever called you Jack before."

"You must have. We're avoiding to topic; you know that don't you."

"Sir, Jack, It's not easy for me; the last time I got involved with someone I worked with, it ended badly."

"I know, and it's not easy for me either; it's been a long time since I've been in a relationship."

"I suppose I felt safe with my feelings for you as I never thought they'd lead to anything. The regs always stopped it from progressing any further then just friendship. But now…"

"But now the regs have changed, and we have to suddenly deal with it all. I don't know whether to thank Hammond for arranging this, or to punch him for putting us through this." O'Neill turned to face Carter, "I love you Sam; have done so for a long time, and I don't think that's ever going to change. But I would never risk hurting you or damaging your career, you have to know that."

"I know that, and I think I love you too, but this is just all to sudden for me to take in at once." She walked over and sat next to him, "I don't know what scares me more; the idea of losing you without ever finding out how things could have gone, or finding out."

"You think to much Sam."

Carter smiled as O'Neill leaned over and kissed her.

To Be Continued…