A/N: Sorry, folks for the cliffhanger. I always hated the good ole Senator turned VP, and I had to get rid of him quick in this story. That was the way I wanted to do it. Quick, clean (for us) and ugly (for Kinsey). Good riddance. Or is it? You know what they say... On with the story.

Chapter 4

After that laugh fest was done, Hammond continued, pulling out an official White House letterheaded document that read: "In recognition that you've worked hard for eight months, the President has ordered SG-1 to attend a camp for disabled children for the last two weeks of down time. The first two weeks are to be used at your own discretion." Hammond finished, but not before saying, "Speaking of which, will you and Major Carter join me in my office? Dr. Jackson and Teal'c, you are dismissed for two weeks. Report back to the base two weeks from this coming Monday at 0800 to pack some military supplies for the children."

It was a Wednesday, so that gave Daniel two and a half weeks to be himself. "What are you two going to do?" Hammond asked before heading to his office. Jack and Sam were also curious, so they stayed.

"I thought of relaxing on the beaches of Mexico for a few days before checking out a dig in the jungle." Daniel answered.

At this, O'Neill looked shocked and went, "For crying out loud, Danny Boy, don't you ever relax relax?"

"Jack, you of all people should know that going on digs for me is relaxing." Jackson said, smiling.

"OK, don't expect us to rescue you if you get lost." O'Neill said.

"If you do get lost, Doctor, use the homing device and satellite phone we'll provide and I'll send someone in the area to get you." Hammond said, understanding Jack's exasperation. He respected Dr. Jackson's devotion to his profession, but he didn't want to lose Jackson to a dig. After all, Daniel was the heart of the gate program.

"What about you, Teal'c?" Carter asked.

"I am visiting my son and Master Bra'tac. I have not seen them in over a year." Teal'c said.

"Now that's a vacation!" Jack exclaimed.

"Indeed, O'Neill. I shall return before this 'mission', General Hammond." Teal'c said.

"Very well, Teal'c." Hammond replied.

Hammond, O'Neill and Carter retreated to the general's office. "Sit down, you two." Hammond said.

They complied, not knowing what they were doing there. Oh, they had an idea. Carter had had the hots for her CO ever since they met, but due to their backgrounds and the regulations, she couldn't make her feelings for him known outright. Those feelings had been put to the test on numerous occasions. Carter had to suppress a lot of feelings for her CO.

Being trapped in the ice wastelands of Antarctica, the two of them had to survive for three days while the SGC searched for them. O'Neill pinned by the orb of the inhabitants of P4G-881. O'Neill having the knowledge of the Ancients downloaded in his head twice, the second of which, O'Neill had been frozen. The Edora incident, the Zatarc incident, the implanted memory incident on P3R-118 where they both admitted their feelings. The Aiyana incident, which led to the blending of Kanan into O'Neill. Too many close calls for Carter to take in hopes of a relationship with her CO.

O'Neill had to admit that he had feelings for Carter, although he did have misgivings on his second mission to Abydos about having her on his team. Carter had proved many times over that her quick mind was worthy of him giving her 2IC of SG-1. Jack's feelings for her were tested on numerous occasions, as well. Jolinar, the computer virus, the Zatarc incident, being drugged as a way to help Adrian Conrad, and the Prometheus incident among them.

All of these incidents were in front of Hammond, along with what looked like a fresh document as the two waited for Hammond to "dress them down". Hammond, of course, had other ideas. The fresh document caught O'Neill's attention first.

"Uh, sir, what's this?" he asked.

"I'll get to that later, Colonel. Right now, I just want to say a few things." Hammond said.

Sam and Jack both had the 'uh-oh' look, as if they were caught doing something they shouldn't have. Evidently, it must have shown on their faces because Hammond was smiling. "It's not the relationship," he said, adding, "You have been through so much in the last eight years that you deserve some time alone. Together. I just wanted to say it's been an honor serving with the two of you. Your dedication to the mission and your willingness to sacrifice your personal feelings for each other have made you what you are." Hammond started.

At this, Carter asked, "When did you know?"

"It's always been there, Sam. Since the first mission. Oh, the sparks were there, but knowing you as I do, I knew you could keep Jack in line from a military standpoint. The question was, for me, how long would it take for his personal defenses to crumble." Hammond said.

"My personal defenses? Why, General, you sly fox. I must say, it worked." O'Neill said, awed by his CO's powers of observation.

"Of course, I had to obey the regulations and remind you from time to time about the fraternization regs. However, I was secretly hoping that your friendship would create a very deep bond. Well, it did. And you two had the presence of mind to keep the feelings for each other at bay. Although, Dr. Jackson and Teal'c knew that the feelings had grown. I knew that was to be expected due to the nature of the team bond." Hammond paused to let this sink in. "I also knew that, eventually, the two of you were going to 'bend' the regs. Unfortunately, with Kinsey pulling the strings, I couldn't say anything. You know the animosity he has for you, Jack?" Hammond asked.

Boy, did he ever. "Yup," O'Neill replied.

"Suffice to say, he has tried everything to get you kicked out of the Air Force. That is, ever since the most recent incident involving him." Hammond said. "For that matter, Kinsey's even tried to get rid of me. Fortunately, I called in the cavalry to save us from Kinsey's clutches."

"Oh?" Jack asked.

"I'll save it for when SG-1 is back from vacation. Besides, the President all but ordered me to give the entire SGC a month off." Hammond said.

"Yes, sir. Thank you." O'Neill said.