The next month passed happily as Sam and Jack explored their relationship freely and intimately. Their happiness spread to everyone on the base, General Hammond had never seen such high morale in any of his commands. As much as he wished he could claim responsibility for it, he knew better. The night of Jack's retirement another betting pool started, one for when they would get engaged.

Exactly four weeks after their first kiss Jack impatiently paced the Gateroom. From the briefing room, General Hammond looked on with amusement, even from where he stood he could sense the nervousness in the man below him. He had his suspicions but didn't share them with anyone.

"Incoming wormhole!" the speakers blared.

Jack looked up at the control room and waited for Davis to reveal who was knocking. "It's the Tok'ra sir," he told him through the intercom.

"Well open the iris!" Jack yelled back as he turned to face the Stargate.

Moments later Jacob walked down the ramp and headed for Jack to shake his hand. "Hey Jack, where's Sam?"

"In her lab," he told him as he led him out of the Gateroom.

"What, is she too busy to come see her old man?"

Jack turned and gave him a small uneasy grin, "Uh, no, she thinks you're arriving later…Look Jacob, can I talk to you?"

Just then General Hammond intercepted them, "Jacob, it's good to see you!"

"George! How are you? You keeping an eye on my daughter and her choice in men," he told him with a sidelong smile to Jack as he followed George up to his office.

"Always Jacob! You ready to brave Jack's cooking tonight?"

"With Selmac, I think I can handle it." He looked over at Jack who was extremely fidgety and nervous. "You okay Jack?"

"Yeah, I just need to talk to you."

"Well here I am!"

Jack looked from Jacob to Hammond and pleaded with the latter. Luckily for him, the General was in a good mood, especially because he thought he knew what was going to happen. "If you'll excuse me for a second, I need to go check on something in the Control Room."

Jack was visibly relieved at his boss's understanding as he left the two of them alone in his own office. When he looked back at Jacob he regretted George's decision as he saw the serious look on Jacob's face. "What did you want to talk to me about Jack?"

Jack stumbled over his words as he gathered the nerve to ask his question, "Uh, Jacob, you know I care for your daughter a lot." Jacob slowly nodded, "In fact, I love her. And I… well I…"

"Spit it out Jack!" Jacob ordered him.

"I want to marry Sam!" he finally blurted out.

Jacob glared at him, after a long pause he spoke, "And?"

Jack was slightly confused, "And? … And I… I…"

"I'm not getting any younger here…"

He took a deep breath before speaking, "I'd like your blessing and permission to marry Sam."

Jacob tilted his head back as he considered his response, "Why?"

Jack tried humor with a small smile, "Because if I didn't get it from you, you'd kick my ass?"

Jacob nodded his head in agreement, "That too, but why do you want to marry her?"

"Because I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I want to make her happy more than anything in the world."

"And you can make her happy?"

'Uh oh, this doesn't sound good…' he told himself as he detected the doubtful tone in Jacob's voice. "Yes," was his simple reply.

Jacob stared at him long and hard. Finally he brought the corners of his lips up, "Me too. I'm happy for the two of you!" he told him as he enveloped Jack in a hug.

Jack relaxed as he hugged Jacob back, "Thanks!" When they looked at each other again, Jack once again used humor, "You know, for a second there I really thought you were going to kick my ass…"

"Not today, Sam would kill me if I did… But I still meant what I said a month ago," he told him seriously.

"Yes sir!"

Jacob glared at him a little longer conveying his seriousness before he broke out into a smile and patted Jack on the back as he approached the door. "Good, I'm glad we understand each other!"

When the stepped outside of the office they found Hammond standing there, "George!" Jacob happily called out.

He smiled, "Is 'Best of Luck' in order Jack?"

A shocked Jack looked at Hammond, "How…? How did you?"

"I'm not blind Jack. Don't worry I won't say anything… Good luck tonight!"

Jack smiled, "Thank you sir!" he told him as he accepted the proffered hand.

"Well I gotta get back to some work before tonight's little party… Jack, Jacob, I'll see you later."

"Yeah, I should go pay Sam a visit," Jacob told them as he went off in search of his daughter.

TBC