Big thanks to CJ for pointing out the mistake with Jack's secretary's rank. I originally had her as a sergeant, but lieutenant worked better. I thought I had done all the changes, but must have missed one. I hate mistakes in my fics, so thanks again CJ.

This is the final part of the 'unfluffy' version. I hope you won't be too disappointed in my take on the way Jack and Sam would act. I will post the 'fluffy' version as an extra couple of chapters – some bits are the same, but some are different, as you'll see.

Note to ichargrl – I have always read ship, but I don't enjoy writing it - I'm afraid I don't have a romantic bone in my body. Nor do I think Jack and Sam would begin a relationship while they are serving together. I don't call myself a shipper any more than I am a slasher, and I've been writing slash a lot longer than ship. The only real way I see the SG universe is the one in my gen fic – especially General Jack. Nope – one tongue-in-cheek fic and one little fluffy piece do not a shipper make, but I'm glad you like it! Flatkatsi

Wives and Other Follies - Part Six.

Jason had almost reached the spot where his friends and colleagues were gathered before they noticed him.

"Jason. About time you got back." A short man wearing small rimless glasses turned to greet him.

"We were beginning to think you'd got lost." This time it was Eva Chin who spoke, her black hair shining in the bright lights.

Jason smiled back. "Well, I had to fight my way through the madding hordes at the bar, but I managed it." He halted on the edge of the group, pointing back to the man he had left several minutes earlier. "I was talking to General O'Neill. Nice man, despite being military."

"What section is he with?" One of the team leaders queried, clearly trying to decide if he was worth cultivating.

"I don't know," Jason answered honestly. "I didn't think to ask."

He was surprised when Sam interjected. "He's head of Homeworld Security."

"He's the new guy in charge? We should take the chance to get to know him better then, we'll be working closely with his department in the future." Most of the people around them nodded in response to Eva's comment, Jason included.

"I did invite him to join us." Jason couldn't help a trace of smugness from entering his voice.

"Well it looks like he's taking you up on the offer. Here he comes now."

Sure enough, Jason was surprised to see Jack O'Neill striding towards them.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Sam could see that something was wrong the minute Jack made his way through the crowd to her side, barely acknowledging Jason's stuttering attempt at a greeting. His face was blank, but she knew it was hiding barely concealed anger. She didn't know what had happened to upset her husband like this, but she knew she had to deflect him immediately, before he did or said something he'd later regret – if he hadn't already done so.

She pulled him to her, giving him a quick hug, and reached up to kiss him lightly on the cheek as she whispered in his ear. "I'm glad you're here. I was beginning to get bored."

For a second, he tensed, before his rigidly held muscles loosened and he returned her hug, lowering his mouth to kiss her gently on the side of her neck.

She relaxed for a moment, savouring the strength she felt as Jack's arm tightened around her, then straightened, smiling.

"Thanks for finding Jack for me, Jason."

"Jack?" Doctor Vesland frowned. "You two know each other?"

"You could say that." Jack interrupted. "I'm her husband."

"Husband?" Jason seemed to be becoming increasingly bewildered, a state that appeared to be catching by the looks on the faces around them.

"I don't use my married name at work," Sam explained, taking pity on the man standing in front of her, "but yes, Jack's my husband."

xoxoxoxoxoxo

The image of a short, fat, balding office worker crashed into pieces in the face of the tall, distinguished Air Force general, taking its place on the floor with that of the dumpy, mousey librarian.

In their place, General and Doctor O'Neill smiled at each other, and began mingling, finally together and intending to stay that way for the rest of the evening. They headed for the buffet table first - after all Jack had just travelled millions of miles without even being given a packet of peanuts.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

"That's so sweet." Linda whispered to her friend as the general and his wife walked past them, hand in hand.

"Isn't it." Jessica nodded, making a mental note of everything she saw so she could report back the tiniest details to the girls who hadn't been on the invitation list.

Then something much more interested caught her attention - the group of civilians the general's wife had been sitting with. "You know, some of those guys don't look half bad."

"Um . . ." Linda nodded her agreement, ". . .but they're scientists."

"Come on, Linda – don't be a snob." Jessica pulled her friend after her, heading for a particularly attractive young man. "What's good for the general is good for the secretary."

The End