Title: Safe Bet

Chapter: Those Who Wait

Summary:. So, Hammond wasn't there to tell him that his resignation would, under no circumstances, be accepted.

Disclaimer: As with every time before, the story and the characters are not my property, and I do not claim them to be such.

Authors Note: Blah, school has begun. That's one reason this took forever to get out. My laptop was messed up for more than a week, so I could do absolutely nothing in the form of writing. I'm sorry guys, it's fixed now, all is well! Also, I just have to say... for all the reviewers out there... Wow! Thank you guys so much! It means so much to me that you guys are enjoying this fic! This entire story has completely surpassed all my expectations, and most of it is because of all the positive feedback. So again, thank you guys!

XXXX

As the words left his mouth, a scowl passed over the Brigadier General's face. Hammond had expected such, but waited a moment to continue, allowing O'Neill's mind to swim with the different options of what would be said. Of course, the man didn't know of the conversation between Jacob and Jack, so he had no idea that the words 'not again' were the only thing the younger general was thinking.

"I'm not going to lie to you, Jack," the man said, "even though I understand how you feel for Colonel Carter, I can't agree with your wanting to leave. The president, as well, shares the same sentiment." He paused, to allow Jack the chance to reply, if he felt the need, but apparently, he didn't, since he simply crossed his arms over his chest, reminding George of his granddaughters, when they were told it was time for bed.

"After a long discussion, we came to a conclusion." he informed him. "One that I think you and Colonel Carter will both agree with completely."

This perked Jack's interests. So, Hammond wasn't there to tell him that his resignation would, under no circumstances, be accepted. He was, in fact, exactly the one to show him the infamous back door. The one he'd been searching for, for what seemed like years... For what was years, actually. Nine of them, to be exact. When he made no reply, George continued with his speech.

"Before I tell you what we decided, I first have to inform you of events that took place not more than a week ago. Major Paul Davis, when visiting Stargate Command for business, expressed a certain concern to Daniel Jackson about the nature of the relationship between Colonel Carter and yourself. After Dr. Jackson explained to him that there was nothing more than friendship between you, though not for a lack of wanting more, the Major came up with an idea. Perhaps if the president knew of your dilemma, something could be done. Everyone in DC, who knows of the Stargate, understands the importance of General O'Neill and Colonel Carter's work with the program, and therefore, all have a great deal of reverence for you both.

"Knowing this, Paul and Daniel traveled to Washington D.C., having a meeting set up with the president immediately. Because, as much as he likes you and Sam, he likes Daniel as well, for having opened the 'gate, and all his continued research and work he has done with the SGC. They went, talked with the president, and waited. Unfortunately, when the president gave them their answer, it was not as they had hoped for. For many reasons, suspending the fraternization regulations for the SGC was just too much trouble. Daniel went home empty handed, keeping the true nature of his visit a secret.

"Then, you sent me that e-mail. I called the president, filled him in on the situation, whereupon he informed me of his meeting earlier that week. The next day I met with him, and we had a discussion." Hammond paused, getting up from his chair, and smiling at the younger man. "To make a long story short, Jack... Hayes changed his mind. When faced with the chance of losing your involvement with the program, all the cons seemed minute. You are needed at the SGC, this facility could not run as it does without you. And, if your continued service here is dependent upon your ability to form a relationship with Colonel Carter, then President Hayes doesn't see any other option. All of the necessary paperwork has been signed and filed. You are free to do whatever you would like..." he paused, his smile growing, "as long as it doesn't occur on base, and is within the laws."

Jack sat at his desk, in a state of shock, as what Hammond had said sunk in. There were no frat regs? because of him? ... There were no frat regs?

"Well..." Hammond said, giving O'Neill a strange look, "I figured you'd be out the door by now."

Looking up at the older man, Jack smiled lightly, "I'm just waiting for somebody to jump out with a camera, saying 'got'cha!'"

"That's not going to be happening, son."

"So this is for real?" he asked. "There are no more fraternization regulations?"

"Pertaining to the SGC, no. There are no longer any frat regs."George specified. "You are free to see whomever you so choose."

He let out a deep breath, getting up from his chair, "Well... if you'll excuse me–" and before he even finished his sentence he was out the door, leaving Hammond in his wake, grinning like an idiot.

"Now," the man said to the air, "time to head to the security room."

XXXX

She was in her lab, as they had thought. Leaned over some alien device, her blonde hair sticking up in all directions, as if she hadn't brushed it in days. "What'cha doin', Sam?" Daniel asked, as he and Teal'c entered the room, looking around, although they knew were nearly every single thing was located in it.

"I'm attempting to calibrate the–"

"Sounds fun," Daniel said, cutting her off before she continued any further. "Is it going to take you awhile?"

Although she was slightly annoyed by him cutting her sentence short– since this was Daniel, and he hardly ever did such a thing– she nodded, "Oh yeah, it's gonna take quite a while."

"So... you'll still be in here working say... half an hour from now?"

Throwing him a curious glance, she nodded once more, "Yes, and probably for three or more hours after that. Why?"

"Teal'c and I were gonna catch something to eat, and we just came by to see if you wanted to join us."

She turned back to the device, shaking her head, "I ate with dad already. You two go on ahead, it's Lemon Chicken day." There was a hint of amusement in her voice, but Daniel knew why so he didn't press any further into the matter. Teal'c, not knowing of the situation, raised an eyebrow, but did nothing more, as was per norm when something of Tau'ri culture confused him.

Having finished their part of the plan, Teal'c and Daniel said goodbye to Sam, and went straight to the security room. The guys, and woman, who worked there didn't even seem to notice them as they entered, and most of them were crowded around one computer, save for two who were monitoring the others. The two made it to the screen in time to see Hammond stand up, and tell Jack, in a long, drawn out way, that the frat regs no longer existed. Not long after that, Jack hurried out of the room, and Hammond stayed behind, smiling to himself, before doing the same as Daniel and Teal'c and heading to watch his work unfold.

When he entered the room, he received a few salutes, but mostly people were focused of the lab of Colonel Carter. Watching, waiting, for Jack to arrive, and things to get all the more interesting.

XXXX

There was a strange sensation coursing through his veins as he rode the elevator up to level 19. His hands were shaking, not from fear, but excitement. He hadn't felt in such a way since the first time he stood before the Stargate's glittering blue horizon, although he didn't dare admit it at the time. The right words to say were running through his mind, along with so many other choices that it was beginning to hurt when he tried to focus on one. The airmen to his right was glancing nervously at him, but he didn't care. All he was focused on at that moment was getting to her office. Getting to her.

The door was closed when he reached it. Feeling like a teenager again, picking up his date for the prom, he swiped his card and waited for the door to open. It hissed, and her office was exposed. Not strangely, she stayed in her position, her back facing the door, leaned over her table, working. He stepped inside the room, allowed the door to close behind him, and took the time to simply watch her.

It was apparent she knew someone was with her, her shoulders had straightened, and she wasn't working as diligently any more, but it seemed as if she was waiting for whomever to make their presence known before she bothered to look away from the object before her. It was one of the things that drew him to her, yet at the same time, frustrated the crap out of him. She was completely focused on work, and although that was a good thing, it left little time for her to have a real life.

"Can I help you?" she said finally, her back still turned away from him. He grinned, thousands of inappropriate things running through his mind, but said nothing. Letting out a frustrated sigh, she sat back in her chair, took off her goggles, laid them down on the table, next to some strange tool, and then twirled around in the stool, prepared to chew who ever it was out, in the nicest way possible, of course.

"Oh," she said when she saw that it was him. "General O'Neill... I didn't know it was you. Is there something that you needed?"

His grin grew, but still, he said nothing. Instead, he advanced towards her, walking slowly, and she stood up, confused.

He was in front of her before she could say anything further, staring at her with what he was sure was a frightening amount of intensity in his eyes. He could feel his adrenaline kick in, as a look of uncertainty passed through her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could get whatever it was out, he had pulled her into his arms, his face merely inches away from hers.

"What are you doing?" she whispered, her voice shaky.

"I love you, Carter," he told her, before moving in closer and capturing her lips with his own. The kiss was soft and much shorter than he would have liked, but after the first five seconds Sam's sense returned to her, and she realized that what they were doing was wrong. She pulled away, looking at him with a mixture of annoyance, confusion, and underlying happiness.

"Are you crazy?" she asked, her voice a bit sharper, and a lot less shaky.

"I guess that depends on who you're asking," he retorted with a smile. "Why? Did I do something to make you think I might be?"

Throwing him a look that clearly stated she knew he knew exactly what she was talking about, she tried to pull herself from his arms. "Let me go, General, this is–"

"Nice? Comfortable? Refreshing? ...Against regulations?"

"That's the one," she replied, trying once more to break the embrace. He kept a tight hold on her, though, and there was no way she was leaving without force. And they both know she wouldn't resort to that.

Yet another grin passed over his face, "Ah... see, that's were you're wrong, Colonel."

"What are you talking about, sir?" she questioned. "Of course it's–"

"Not anymore." he informed her. "I found the backdoor... well, Daniel and Davis did, but that doesn't matter."

"You're not making any sense to me, sir."

"Okay... I'll say it a bit more slowly this time. There... are... no... more... fraternization... regulations. Confused now?"

"Ooh yeah."

"Well," he said, shifting his arms so that his hands rested on her hips, "see when President Hayes got news of my retirement, and why I was retiring, he decided that there was something he could do to keep me here. He's a smart man, you know? So... he, being the president, can do just about anything he wants. And, he wanted to suspend the frat regs for the SGC. Got it?"

"...Yeah, pretty much..."

"Good," he replied, moving forward once more and kissing her, although this time, it lasted for more than five seconds.

XXXX

They were already halfway into Episode II when the pizza arrived. Hammond payed for the meal, brining it back into Daniel Jackson's living room, which was crowded with amazing artifacts, that had occupied his attention for nearly the entirety of Episode I. Grabbing his beer from the coffee table, he sat down next to his friend, Jacob Carter, and refocused is attention on the movie.

Daniel Jackson, Teal'c, as well as Hammond had watched the beginning exchange between CO and 2IC earlier that afternoon, before forcing the Security guys to shut the screen off. Although they wanted to know how things would turn out, they weren't going to continue to spy on what was possibly one of the most important days of both General O'Neill and Colonel Carter's adult lives. They deserved their privacy.

Not long after that, they had sought Jacob Carter out, dragging him back to Jackson's place, to watch the full set of Star Wars, sans Episode III, which was not yet out on DVD. They'd all seen every movie, so nothing would be lost on them. Jacob was filled in on the situation, and surprisingly, was very calm and understanding, which they all knew was thanks to Sel'mac.

Sam had called not long before then, to say that she was taking a week long downtime, to relax, and maybe pick up a new hobby... like fishing. Shortly after that O'Neill called Hammond, asking him to stay for roughly a week while he went up to his cabin in Minnesota for some R & R. George readily agreed, telling the man to have fun, and make sure Colonel Carter wore lots of sun screen.

Jacob scowled at the remark, but his daughter was an adult, and he was happy with her brand new relationship with Jack. He was a good man, anyway, and a close friend. There wasn't anybody on the planet he trusted with his baby girl, but out of all them men he had ever met, Jack O'Neill was the closest to earning that trust as any could ever get.

Hammond set his beer back down on the table and picked up a piece of pizza, looking at the men around him with a smile. Though he didn't admit it, he greatly missed living in Colorado Springs, if only for the lack of better company in D.C. It was nice to be able to sit down with friends and enjoy a relaxing night watching movies and talking about the past.

He would call the president shortly, inform him of the events of the day, and ask for the time to return to the SGC and take over for Jack while he was on downtime. Jacob had already offered for him to stay with him at Sam's while she was gone. There was a guest room, and a pull out couch bed, and it would be a whole lot cheaper than getting a hotel, and much more comfortable than staying at the SGC. He'd call Colonel Carter later, and make sure it was alright with her, but for the most part, Hammond had agreed.

The phrase "good things come to those who wait" and been floating around in his mind for most of the day, and George had to admit, he had never been a believer of it before. But, now, there was no doubt in his mind. Samantha Carter and Jack O'Neill were living proof that in the end, all it takes to be happy is a little bit of patience.

The End!

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A/N: Ah! Bet'cha didn't see that one coming... it's over! However, I believe I will be writing an epilogue, maybe of them at the cabin... maybe after that, I'm not sure. Please let me know what you thought of how it ended. If you hated it, tell me so... but in nice words please! If you loved it, feel free to elaborate in as many ways possible. ;)

I hope you enjoyed reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I can honestly say that out of all my stories, this is the one I am the most proud of, and as I said before, that's mostly because of the reviews I received. You guys rock!