"Are you sure about this?" Sam asked.
"I've never been more sure about anything." Jack guaranteed. The past few weeks had been trying to say the least. Aside from saving the planet, for what Teal'c informed them was the tenth time, Jack had recovered from his injury with Kanan's help and then returned to Heunalla, where a new host awaited him, and the Tok'ra would receive him back with honors. It would have been a lie to say Jack was sad to see him go, but something deep inside of him had grown fond of the Tok'ra friend.
To their great disappointment, they learned that Anubis had survived Baal's attack. Ironically, he had escaped using the very cargo ships that Sg-1 had left on the other side of the planet. But Jack was more concerned with the task at hand.
Jack and Sam had already told Daniel and Teal'c about their plans to marry. Daniel had smiled and given Jack a sort of pat on the back before losing control completely, shouting "It's about time!" and "I always cry at weddings!" Teal'c had to go through a long explanation of what it meant to be a best man, which was a position Jack had split between him, Daniel, if all went well.
Sam and Jack had gotten into their very first 'official' argument when they decided to make plans for marriage. Jack had won the argument, through logic as well as stubbornness, insisting that the Air Force couldn't do without Sam's expertise. They stood in the briefing room, outside General Hammond's office and Jack bent down to kiss her before he went in.
"Good luck." She said. Jack knocked on the door and waited.
"Come." General Hammonds voice said from the other side. Jack opened the door and walked forward to the General's desk, where he was bent over signing some papers. But before he could say anything, the General spoke.
"Absolutely not Colonel." Jack was completely taken aback.
"S-sir?"
"You're here to put in your resignation, and the answer is no." He said with a smile. Then he did something so un-General like that Jack nearly fell over. He pulled out a party popper and pulled the string, causing a loud bang and a confetti snowstorm.
"How did you…?" But more confetti landed in Jack's mouth. Teal'c had just pulled the string of another party popper next to him, and Daniel was holding a muffin with two candles sticking out of it in his hands.
"Major Carter! Will you please come in here?" The General asked. She came in looking utterly bewildered. The broad smile had not left General Hammonds face as he pulled a black box out of his desk and walked up to the two officers.
"General?" Jack asked.
"Stand at attention Colonel, Major." They did and Teal'c and Daniel moved around behind the General. He opened the box in his hand and pulled out two small, silver Colonel's oak leaves.
"Congratulations Sam." Daniel said mischievously.
"Major Samantha Carter. Because of your exemplary service to the SGC, the United States Air Force, and this planet as a whole, you are being promoted to the rank of Colonel. May you continue serve with dignity and pride." The General pulled off her Major's insignia and replaced them with Colonel's wings and leaves, giving her a strong salute that she returned, still looking astonished.
"Uh, sir? Not that I'm complaining, but what happened to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel?" The General's smile grew to astronomical proportions.
"Seeing as you and Sg-1 just saved the world for the…" He looked to Teal'c.
"Tenth."
"Time, the President saw fit to make an exception-"
"In light of other events." Teal'c finished. Jack laughed aloud.
"You dogs!" Daniel dropped his head somewhat, like he always did when he was exceptionally happy.
"Teal'c" He stopped after Teal'c gave him a look. "Sorry, we told General Hammond about your plans, and he was able to convince the President that it wouldn't interfere with your professional lives, and the President really likes you already Jack, so he decided to cut you a break." Colonel's O'Neill and Carter looked at each other with giant smiles on their faces and hugged, laughing with joy.
"So when's the wedding Colonel?" General Hammond asked. Jack laughed again and ruffled his own hair.
"Actually sir, I think the question is where…"