Sorry folks, but here's the final chapter to my story. I hope this, longer than normal chapter, is worthy of your comments. I hope you enjoy it! Please let me know. I always appreciate your reviews. It helps me to strive towards improving my writing.

Sorry StarrGazer – I loved the idea but I hadn't planned it that way. I'm sure your scenario would have been great fun though!

Censure.

By LetitiaRichards

Previously:-

"I know!" he sighed, brushing away the moisture leaking from her watery eyes. He folded her into his arms again and kissed her thoroughly, hoping to dispel her doubts about their future.

Chapter 14

"O'Neill."

Jack looked round, breaking off the kiss to see Thor standing in the doorway.

"I believe it is time for you to return to the SGC," Thor said, tilting his head on one side and blinking at their rather coy embarrassment.

"Ah. Yeah. I guess." He squeezed Sam's hand to reassure her that he would be having a word in Hammond's ear very soon. "Let's get this over with!"

He followed Thor back into the room, dragging Sam behind him. He'd only just released her hand when they were engulfed in a bright light and found themselves in the briefing room, much to the astonishment and delight of the others gathered there.

"Jack!"

"O'Neill. It is good to see you well once more!"

"Colonel! How are you feeling?"

Jack held up his hand before Janet could get her fingers on his wrist.

"I'm fine thank you folks, thanks to my little grey buddy Thor!"

Janet still made a move and grabbed his wrist in a surprisingly firm grip, feeling for his pulse there. He sighed and surprisingly acquiesced to her ministrations though with an exaggerated sigh of frustration.

"Doc! I'm fine I tell you. And no...ahh!" he tried to blink but she was quicker, he'd give her that. He pulled back, blinking away the black spots from the effects of the pen light she'd whipped out before he could retreat. "I said I was okay!" he growled grumpily.

To his amazement, everyone smiled widely at his terse comment.

"What?" he asked, looking at everyone as if they had suddenly gone mad. Even Janet was beaming.

"You'll do sir!" Janet confirmed, replacing the pen light in her top pocket.

"And? What's goin' on?" he was still baffled as to why they were all so amused at his expense.

"Definitely back to normal then, would you agree Doctor?" Hammond asked, though he could tell without having her verify the news.

"Oh absolutely sir. No doubt about it. He's back to normal."

"What?" Jack yelled getting more than a little frustrated about being left in the dark. He spun round to see the others beaming with amusement too.

Sam was laughing outright, and Daniel was hiding his own laughter behind his hand. Teal'c was actually smiling too.

"Carter!" he warned. "Daniel! Et tu Teal'c? Doc? Will somebody tell me what is so funny here?" he demanded loudly with a scowl.

"Jack. It's okay. You can actually yell at us as much as you want," Daniel said, though that statement didn't make much sense to Jack as yet. He looked somewhat askance at his friend, wondering what had gotten into everyone.

"That's just the point sir!" Sam informed him, no longer able to see him getting madder. "You can lose your cool with us without any adverse effects. Which means that you are most assuredly cured."

Jack thought about it for a moment before he sagged with relief, smacking his forehead with his hand.

"Doh! So I can!" he crowed with delight. "I have sooo many arguments to catch up on!" he informed them with an evil glint in his eye.

"Colonel!" Hammond saw trouble coming and nipped it in the bud before Jack could make up for lost time. "I think Dr. Fraiser has several tests to carry out on you before you can take some time off."

Jack was about to object, saying that Janet had already declared him okay and that he was over it.

"That's as may be Colonel, but have you looked in the mirror lately. You look decidedly undernourished and if I might add, you have lost weight. I think it prudent that the Doctor give you a thorough medical examination. Just to be sure. Then consider yourself on light duties only after you spend at least one week off for recuperation."

"Ah! That reminds me sir. I have something of a personal nature to discuss with you General, whenever you can spare me a few minutes?" Jack asked more than civilly, perhaps wheedling, trying to get out of the planned visit to the infirmary.

"After your check up Colonel!" Hammond stated, giving Janet the nod.

Jack's shoulders slumped but he nodded.

"Yes sir," he sighed.

Janet came up to him and placed a hand on his elbow.

"Shall we Colonel?" she asked, though it was more of an insistence. She gently propelled him towards the door. He glared down at her, and then back at his so called friends, pouting at the General's manipulation of him, but all he received was wide smiles from everyone in the room.

He shook his head in defeat and allowed Janet to lead him from the room.

OoOoOoOoO

By the time Janet had finished the tests, he was sound asleep, and Sam slipped into the infirmary chair beside his bed to sit vigil over him.

They left him to sleep; and after 12 hours straight, he woke famished but feeling more refreshed.

He wasn't surprised to see Sam sitting there, but was more astonished to think he had slept, and for so long too.

Daniel and Teal'c sneaked him in some pizza, and although Janet frowned upon it, she didn't stop them from enjoying it. It was good to see him eating anything.

"You'll be pleased to know all the tests came back clean Colonel," she sighed happily.

"Great!" he mumbled round a mouthful of pepperoni pizza. "So when do I get outta here?"

"Just as soon as you and I have had that little talk Colonel!" George Hammond replied as he entered the room and overheard Jack's plea.

Jack looked up at the voice and swallowed his mouthful of the Italian staple with difficulty. The rest of the team looked up guiltily, but he just waved for them to carry on.

"When you've finished people."

Jack's appetite had suddenly fled, leaving him feeling rather nauseous from nervousness. He didn't normally feel like this, but knew what he had to discuss wasn't going to go down well with his CO.

The other members of SG-1 finished off quickly, dropping the left-overs in the box and beating a hasty retreat.

Suddenly there were just the two of them.

"Jack?"

"Sir."

"Cut the crap Jack. What is it you wanted?" Hammond asked getting straight to the point.

"Actually sir. I definitely want to retire!" he said, feeling the familiar bravado taking over.

"Why? What's so different about this time?"

"I want to pursue other interests sir." He looked up at George, determined to win this argument. "Personal interests."

"I see. And I wonder, would that personal interest have anything to do with Major Carter?" Hammond asked bluntly with a twinkle in his eye.

Jack was stunned rigid.

"How…?" he gulped a huge breath and stared at his commander. "...how did you know?"

George Hammond snorted with amusement.

"I'm not blind Jack, nor am I deaf. I know what goes on in this mountain perhaps more than you do."

Jack was speechless and a little affronted. He though he knew more than his CO did about what went on in the SGC.

"Then you'll know why I want to retire!" he retorted moodily, wondering why the General was making him suffer more by dragging it out of him.

"I can't let you do that son," Hammond sighed regretfully.

"Why not?" demanded Jack less than happy at the prospect of being stuck where he was with no hope of being with Sam.

"You're too valuable Jack. You're the best leader out in the field we have."

"No disrespect to you sir, but I don't give a damn. I'm not getting any younger. I've given my life to the Air Force, now all I'm asking for is to be allowed to live with the one person I...want...for the rest of my days. Is that too much to ask?" he demanded bitterly.

"You're determined to go ahead with this?"

"Yes sir. I'm leaving one way or another, but hopefully not, say in a few months time, in a box! Which is what it might come to. I've had too many close calls to ignore the signs General."

"Then there's only one alternative Jack that I can offer you. Will you come back as a civilian advisor; help train the younger folks for gate-travel?"

Jack didn't need to think it over for long. He loved his job and this was the chance he had to keep himself occupied and offer his services on a new level and all the while staying with his friends.

"I'd like that sir. Thank you!"

"Then I will tell the President you've accepted the position."

"What? He knew about this?" Jack gaped in shock. "You told him before I'd said anything to you?"

Hammond chuckled. He laid a hand on Jack's shoulder to calm him down.

"Don't get too upset over it Jack. I had a feeling you would want to leave SG-1 after this. Seeing the way Major Carter dealt with the upset of it all, just confirmed my thoughts. And don't think she didn't do a good job of hiding her feelings because no-one else would have seen it. She was damn good at hiding them from everyone; but I've known her a long time Jack. I knew what to look for. Plus, I had my suspicions too. I hope you'll be very happy Jack. You deserve this. So does she, if that's what she really wants."

"It's not a case of what SHE wants George. I may officially call you George now, yes?" Hammond chuckled again and nodded. "It's more a case of what WE want," Jack continued, "And what we want, is to be together."

The door opened and Sam hovered shyly in the doorway, her face flushing deliciously under their scrutiny.

"Come in Major. We were just discussing your future."

Sam entered the room and walked stiffly over to the bed after shutting the door behind her.

Jack smiled confidently at her, and she responded with wide curious eyes.

He reached out his hand and broke the good news to her, causing her to blush further but she was wearing a wide smile too.

"I'll leave you two to it. Jack, I'll have those papers drawn up right away for you to sign this afternoon.

"Papers?" Sam gasped. "Already?"

"Jack officially retires as from when he signs the paperwork, and then Colonel O'Neill, 'retired', starts work in a week or so's time." Hammond informed her before leaving.

Jack waited until Hammond had closed the door then took her hands in his and pulled her towards him as he slipped off the bed.

"I thought you were giving this up?" she asked full of puzzled curiosity.

"I am."

"But?"

"The President wants to keep me here to train the new recruits," he said with a shrug. "I guess he likes me!"

Sam spluttered with mirth. It was just like Jack. She could live with that; just as long as they were together.

"I like you too!"

"Like?" he queried with a little pout.

"Okay...I 'love' you Jack O'Neill," she giggled, leaning into his embrace and looking up into his dark chocolate eyes.

"Love you too Sam!" he said, kissing her tenderly, breaking off only to add, "For Always!"

The End.

I'd like to thank each and every one of you who read, and reviewed this fic. Thanks for your time and your endless patience in waiting for updates. I hope it was worth the wait and that you all enjoyed it.

Your flattering comments and sometimes humour kept me going when times were difficult. Many thanks to you all.