Author's Note: Thank you for all your kind reviews, I honestly didn't expect such a great response. You guys are wonderful and inspire me to write faster. Also, to answer fallingfromelysuim's question about exactly what Sam was worried about being court martailed over, I saw it two ways, either she was exaggerating, or, if the natives of the planet weren't as friendly as they seemed, they could possibly use the radio to figure out what kind of frequency etc they use and figure out an iris code through trial and error, which makes less and less sense the more I think about it. All right, I'm going to quit poking holes in my own story and get on with it.

Chapter 2: The Debriefing

SG-1 had half an hour to report to the infirmary then shower and change before their debriefing.

By the time the team and General Hammond were assembled, rumors of Jack and Sam's rekindled relationship had spread to half the base. They hadn't gotten the chance to change much in content, although most retellings seemed to hold an added embellishment about Colonel O'Neill accidentally/on purpose brushing up Major Carter's side as he stood up from catching her P-90.

All those stationed in the area or able to fabricate a legitimate reason for being there positioned themselves within earshot of the briefing room. The surveillance room was even more crowded, they had the volume for the briefing room turned up, and held the air of a group of people watching their favorite soap.

Most observers were spectacularly disappointed. According to SG-1, the mission practically went off without a hitch, aside from the very end when they were forced to leave earlier than anticipated. The only real noteworthy element was that Colonel O'Neill seemed more enthusiastic than usual about defending his teammates' actions, especially Carter's. The only consolation was the possibility that they had purposely censured some of the more juicy details in the name of avoiding trouble with the fraternization regulations.

Those who could only listen had all but given up and gone back to work, cursing the lost time and dashed expectations. However, a few minutes later some of them caught up with those in the surveillance room, all of them giddy with excitement.

"Did you see it?"

"See what?"

"I can't believe you missed it!"

"What was there to miss?"

"You should have seen it. After the briefing was adjourned Colonel O'Neill pulled out Major Carter's chair as she got up and then, this is the best part, he put his hand on her back just as they were leaving."

"All in front of General Hammond?"

"Nah, he was already in his office by then."

"I can't believe I missed it! Although, you don't think we're blowing this a little out of proportion, do you?"

"...No..."

Naturally, the SF stationed in the room at the time was tracked down and forced to give the blow by blow at least ten times. Through it all he maintained that O'Neill had actually been leaning on the back of Carter's chair when she got up, which had actually hindered the Major unlike of the chivalrous stunt they had heard. Although O'Neill and Carter did leave at the same time, the SF saw nothing even remotely similar to O'Neill putting his hand on her back, and suggested that the nature of a gesture made to Daniel at the time combined with the angle of the security camera might have created such an illusion.

The SF in question was quickly labeled as an unromantic non-believer. After all, those in the surveillance room had proof.

Thus, the rumors spread around the base faster than the cold bug in and elementary school, and mutated about as quickly.

Before long it was not uncommon to hear completely contradictory pieces of information from the same trusted source, and it was difficult to surmise from the rumors alone whether the two officers hated each other or were engaged to be married.

One thing was for certain as far as most people were concerned, either they were finally together and showing it, or they were finally together and not showing it, and they weren't going to rest until they figured out which one it was.

A/N- Sorry this chapter is kind of short, I promise the next one is pretty long, and I'll try and get it posted faster than this one. Thanks for your patience.