Life's Problems – Part 10

A/N: Thanks to all of you for reviewing! Thanks to the great Beta Readers!

Sam left her father in the infirmary and headed towards Jack's office. She knocked and waited for his response.

"Enter."

"General, do you have a few moments?"

"Sure, come in Carter." He became concerned when he noticed the solemn look on her face.

She shut the door behind her and he raised an eye brow at her actions. "That serious?"

She thought for a moment and quietly replied, "Dad knows."

"Dad knows what?" Jack was confused.

"He remembers my argument with Pete in the infirmary."

"That's impossible. He was unconscious when Pete came by."

"He knew Pete and I were arguing about you. He asked me about it, I couldn't lie to him Jack."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him the truth. I told him how I felt and that we were going to explore our options for the future."

"I bet he didn't take that well."

"Uh ... actually no he didn't take it well. He was pretty upset."

"Great .... So now what?"

"I think I calmed him down. He seemed OK when I left, but I wanted to warn you."

"Warn me?" Jack was a little shocked. He could understand Jacob being a little taken back by their relationship, but he didn't think it would come to bodily harm... would it?

Jack didn't get to ask what she meant, because his phone started ringing. "Listen, can you come by my place tonight so we can talk about this?"

"Dad is being released today, but I'll try." The phone continued to ring.

Jack nodded his understanding and picked up the phone. "O'Neill."

Sam smiled at him as she turned and left.

Jacob had been discharged from the infirmary late in the afternoon. He and Sam were now at her house finishing dinner as her cell phone rang. "Carter" She answered.

"Yes." She appeared to be listening to a long explanation.

"O.K."

"Alright, I'll be there in 30 minutes." She hung up the phone. "Sorry Dad, but it looks like they're having trouble with the dialing program. They were trying to contact SG-7 off world and they can't connect."

"You better go see what's going on."

"It may take a while. Are you going to be O.K. here?" He had after all just gotten out of the infirmary.

"Don't worry about me I'll be fine."

"O.K. Call my cell if you need anything. I'll be back as soon as I can." She waved to her dad before she picked up her keys and left for the base.

Jacob had finished watching the game and was starting to get bored. There was nothing else on T.V. All the books and magazines were related to her work and way over his head. That's when he got an idea.

Jack was watching a hockey game he had recorded earlier, when he heard the doorbell. His heart did a little flip, thinking it might be Sam. He was smiling when he open the door.

Jack's face froze when he saw his visitor.

"Well Jack, are you going to let me in, or do I have to stand out her all night?"

"Uh ... Sorry. Of Course come in. So how are you feeling Jacob?" Jack was recovering quickly from his disappointment and shock that the wrong Carter was standing in his house.

"Much better thanks."

"Would you like something to drink?"

"This isn't a social call Jack."

"Yeah, I was afraid of that." Jack mumbled. "Listen Jacob, I know why you're here."

"Good then that will save us both some time." Jacob turned and glared at Jack. "Are you going to tell me what's going on between you and my daughter?"

"Nothing is going on between us at the moment."

"Does that mean something happened between you two in the past?" Jacob actually enjoyed watching Jack squirm.

"What? No. I just mean that we aren't dating or whatever. We're just, uh ... talking."

"Is that all? Are you sure you haven't broken any regs?"

"Of Course not! Sam is too smart for that."

"Does that mean you would break the regs if you could talk her into it?"

"No! Jacob, I respect and admire Sam more than anyone I have ever met. I would never do anything to jeopardize her career, her life, or her happiness. "

Jacob was still waiting to be convinced that Jack was good enough for his daughter. "That's exactly what you're doing if you continue to pursue a relationship with her. Come on Jack. You're the base CO, now. You have an entire base to look out for. What do you think people are going to say when they find out you two are seeing each other? Her credibility as an officer will go out the window. They will think she slept her way to the top. She deserves better then that."

"Jacob ...

"No Jack. If you care for her, you would end this right now, before you destroy everything she has worked so hard for."

Jack knew Jacob was right. She would lose more then he would in this relationship, but at the same time he couldn't deny how he felt ... or how she felt for that matter. He and Sam had already talked about this. They both agreed they couldn't give up on this opportunity to be together. "Jacob, it's because we care about each other, that we can't end this. The SGC, our careers, and the fight against the Goa'uld are extremely important to us, or we wouldn't have waited this long. I'm sorry, but we're tired of pushing our feelings aside for everything else."

"What about the regulations?" Jacob continued to interrogate him.

"We are actually trying to figure out what to do about that."

"Are you expecting her to resign her commission since you're a big time General now?"

"Of Course not! She is needed entirely too much at the SGC. If anyone is going to resign it'll be me." He was offended that Jacob would think he was that shallow.

Jacob felt a little better, but he still wasn't convinced, so he continued to push. "So you're going to lie around the house all day and expect her to bring home the paycheck? The retired pension is not that great Jack."

Jack was getting annoyed. "Jacob I understand you have Sam's best interest at heart here, but I love her and I would never ever take advantage of her. I will do everything in my power to make sure she's happy and taken care of as long as I live. If that means I have to resign my commission and be a sack boy, at a grocery store, then that's what I'm going to do. She deserves to continue her career until she's ready to retire in another 30 years or so. I can't imagine what the world would be like without her at the SGC. I also can't imagine my life without her in it." He calmed down as he realized that he just admitted to loving her out loud for the first time.

Jacob just stared at him, waiting for him to continue.

"She completes me Jacob. After Charlie died, I thought that was it, my life was over. The last 7 or 8 years I have grown to love Sam very much. Why she feels the same way about me I will never know, but I will thank God every day that we have together. Jacob, I know she deserves better than me, but I can promise you that no one will love her any more than I do."

Jacob just smiled. "I'm glad to hear that Jack. You had me worried for a while."

Jack was confused by Jacob's sudden change in attitude. He was waiting for another round of questions. Then it dawned on him. "This was a test?" He asked astonished.

"Oh. Yeah. Sam told me how she felt and I had to see if you felt the same way."

Jack just laughed. He could understand the need to protect a child, even if she was an adult. "So I take it I passed?"

"As long as you keep her safe and happy, then you have my blessing." Jacob held out his hand to Jack. "If you ever hurt her, I promise you will regret it.

"Thank you, Sir, and I promise I'll do my best to make her happy." Jack said shaking Jacob's hand.

"This is not going to be easy Jack."

"I know."

"I need to get back. Sam should be getting home soon. I'll talk to you later Jack.

"Bye, Jacob."

Jacob walked outside to see the taxi still waiting for him. He pulled out a cell phone the SGC always gave him when he left the base, and began to dial. "George....

Sam had just gotten home to discover her house was empty. The phone book was lying open on the kitchen counter, so she knew her dad had taken a taxi somewhere. She had a pretty good idea where he might be. She grabbed her keys and headed back to her car.

Jack had just pushed play on the VCR, when he heard the doorbell again.

"Did you forget something Jacob?" Jack was saying as he opened the door.

"So, he was here." Sam said standing at Jack's door.

"Sam! Hi. Come in." Jack was glad to see her.

"I take it my dad paid you a visit?" She walked past him into the living room.

"Yeah, we had a nice little conversation."

She smiled at him. "You're still alive, so it must have gone well."

He motioned for her to follow him out onto his deck. They both walked outside to and sat down to gaze at the stars. "I wasn't sure at first. I thought he was here to talk me out of it."

"I'm sorry my dad came over here to give you a hard time."

"Don't be. He's a father just looking out for his daughter."

"Well what did he say?"

"He made some valid arguments. I answered them, but to be honest I think we need to talk this through."

"Are you having second thoughts?" Sam asked cautiously. She was praying he wasn't.

"No. no. I just don't want you to lose everything because of me."

"That's not going to happen, Jack. Besides I think I'll be gaining more then you give yourself credit for."

"Sam, I'm at the end of my career, and you still have a lot of good years to give to the service."

"Jack ... you're not retiring." She said sternly.

"Well I'm not letting you retire. You finally got command of your own team; the flag ship team no less. You're also, the leading expert on the gate."

"I could retire my commission and work as a civilian scientist. I would still be working at the SGC."

"Yeah, but you wouldn't be able to lead a team. They want at least one military officer leading each team. They would take you off of SG-1 and assign to you to a scientific team that goes off world once in a blue moon. Trust me, you would miss the action."

"Do you miss it?"

"Yeah, I do. I also, know I'm getting to old to go chasing a group of Jaffa through the woods. At least now, I can watch everyone's back by providing them with the correct Intel and right personal. It's not quiet as adventurous, but I think I'm still contributing."

"Of course you are. I can't think of anyone better to take over for General Hammond. That's exactly why you can't retire. We need you too much Jack."

"So where does that leave us?"

"I don't know. If neither of us retires then the regulations stop us from going any further. We're at the same place we have always been. I don't think I can do that." She said letting out an exasperated breath.

"I can't either."

"I still think I should resign. Look Jack, you know how it works in the field. You know how the SGC needs to be run. I can resign my commission and still work at the SGC, but answer to Area 51 or Washington. We could both keep a job we love and still pursue a relationship."

"No, you would be giving up too much."

He scooted his chair over next to hers reached over and intertwined his fingers with hers. They both sat in silence staring up at the stars. She sighed.

"Jack." She whispered. "I think we would be giving up more if we decided not to pursue this."

"I know."

She turned to face him. "I Love you, Jack."

Jack turned and looked into her loving eyes. "I love you, too."

"Then you'll accept my resignation?"

"No. There has to be another way. We just need more time." They were still facing one another. Neither wanted to let go

She nodded her head but didn't dare speak. She leaned in, just inches from him. She could feel his warm breath on her cool skin. Just as he was closing the distance between them ... her cell phone began to ring.

They both separated as if they had been burned.

"Oh, for-cryin-out-loud." She gave a weak laugh and caressed his cheek. She agreed with him. Her phone rang again.

She cleared her throat trying to regain her voice, finally she answered. "Carter"

"Dad, Hi." Her voice was a little higher pitch then normal. Jack turned to sit back in his chair. 'His timing is about as bad as Daniel's.' Jack thought to himself with wry smile.

"No. I finally got everything to work... Yeah ... I should be home soon. O.K. Love you too. Bye."

"Dad?" Jack said gazing at the stars.

"Yeah. He was checking to see if I got the gate to work, and when I would be home. I guess I need to leave. He'll be waiting for me." She leaned over and kissed his cheek, and whispered. "We'll figure something out Jack."

He grabbed her arm before she could stand. "I know Sam, just don't do anything ..."

"I'm not. I want make any decisions until we can talk about this again." She reassured him.

They both got up from their chairs. He escorted her to her car, with his hand resting at the small of her back. She could feel the warmth from his touch. He opened the car door for her and waited until she was in before shutting it. She rolled the window down smiling. "Good night Jack." She loved these little moments.

"Night Sam." He returned her smile.

He watched her lights disappear down the street before heading back inside.

Up Next: What are General Hammond and Jacob up to?

Several of you asked about a Jack and Jacob conversation. I hope I didn't disappoint. They needed to end on good terms for the next chapter. :)