A/N: Transitions, you gotta love 'em! I'll put the letter to Jack and Sam about their relationship at the end of the chapter. I just had to give Kinsey some last minute hard copy time. Patience is a virtue and I'm somewhat new at this, so please review and I'll fix my mistakes!
Chapter 5
With the enforcement of vacation coming directly from the President, Hammond set up a schedule for everyone to leave the SGC in shifts. He called for reinforcements from the Pentagon to take command while he went on vacation. He had Harriman put the iris on close while he input a code that only he could unlock. This meant that the SGC wasn't going to be receiving visitors until he got back. Hammond did give the code to Major Davis, just in case something happened.
Hammond and the first three SG teams then made their way off the base. Jack and Sam (Teal'c and Daniel had left the previous day) went along with him up to the surface, where Hammond said, "That document that got your curiosity, Jack, was an official order to forgo the regs and let the two of you to pursue whatever your feelings lead you."
At this, Sam blushed a brilliant red and gave the general a hug. "Thank you, sir.", was all she managed to say.
Jack shook the general's hand and said, "See you in two weeks for debriefing on the 'camp' mission." Hammond smiled at that as they went their separate ways.
"So, sir, what do you want to do now?" Carter asked.
"Sam, it's Jack while we're off base. And we're on vacation, for crying out loud." Jack said.
"Sorry, Jack.", Sam said, embarassed.
"It's all right. I definitely need a shower. Being on 21 missions in row..., well, let's just say the knees need a soak. The question is where to have it. Any ideas?" Jack asked.
"I always liked your house better than mine. I'll meet you there in, say, two hours?" Sam asked.
"OK. Going out or order in?" Jack asked.
"Why, Jack..., what'd you have in mind?" Sam asked.
"You heard the general. We're free to do whatever we want. And right now, the thought of two weeks alone with you is too much for the senses to handle. I was thinking of dinner and a movie out tonight. After that, we come home and warm up in front of the fire and just talk. How's that for a night?" Jack asked, as they made their way to their cars.
"Sounds relaxing. Do we sleep separate or together?" Sam asked.
"You're bad, you know that? Let's take this a day at a time. You know how I feel about you, Sam, but I wasn't planning on sleeping together." Jack said.
"We've done it before." Sam said.
"That's different. We were on missions and we didn't have a choice on the sleeping arrangements some nights." Jack said, shrugging.
They were at Jack's truck now. Sam's car was parked across from him, so they stopped. "You got to admit, sir, that you enjoyed the times I did sleep with you.", she said with a wicked look.
Jack knew she was right, and it showed in his expression. "Carter, I'll show you just how much I enjoyed it later tonight. I'll pick you up in three hours.", he said as he got in his truck.
"Yes, sir." Carter said, a flush creeping up to her face as she realized what she was getting herself into. Sam got into her car and drove home to pack for her extended vacation.
Little did she know that Jack was doing the exact same thing, as he pulled into his driveway and parked his truck. He took the letter that Hammond had given him, his keys and his jacket and walked into his house. Jack loved his house and loved it when he had company over. It gave him the feeling of being content, as if there wasn't a care in the world when he was by himself.
Right now, his house was just as he left it eight months earlier with some exceptions. Eight months of mail was strewn all over the landing, looking like a miniature version of Cheyenne Mountain. When Jack steered around this, he went to the other concern that he had: the back yard. On the way there, he put the letter from the President on the coffee table.
Jack opened the sliding door to the back yard porch and took the scene in with mild shock on his face. He knew that the weeds were going to be a problem, but the grass had grown to a point beyond his feeble abilities as a house person. Yep, he was going to have to call in professional help. Otherwise, his back yard was going to end up looking like a jungle filled with snakes. A thought that Jack found unimpressive, since he had been dealing with snakes for the last eight years.
Deciding against dealing with the back yard for now, Jack went back inside to find a frame for the letter when the phone rang. "Hello," he said, wishing it wasn't a telemarketer.
"Hello, sir," Carter was on the other end.
"Carter, five minutes and you can't wait, for crying out loud! What's up?", Jack asked, initially furious at Carter for calling him before he had time to shower. Now, he was curious.
"Should I go shopping before I get there?", Sam asked.
"I haven't had a chance to look in the kitchen, Sam. Knowing the condition of my food after eight months, however, you probably should. But could it wait until tomorrow? I thought we were going out." Jack asked.
"Oh, I forgot about that." Sam said.
"It's OK, Sam. Eight months away from home will do that." Jack said. "I thought you were going to relax in the bathtub?", he asked.
"I am, I just wanted to make sure you got home safely. See you in a few hours, Jack." Sam said.
"Will do. And Sam?" Jack asked.
"Yes, Jack?" Sam said.
"Thanks for checking in, I appreciate it. I'll be here waiting." Jack said.
"No problem, Jack." Sam said, hanging up the phone.
Jack smiled as he hung the phone up. Leave it to Carter to make sure he was OK. Jack searched his living room for an empty frame for the letter. After finding one that was big enough in a desk drawer, he carefully placed the letter in the frame and placed the frame on the wall above the fireplace.
Jack paused to fully appreciate the letter, which read:
April 1st, 2006
To: Colonel Jack O'Neill
Major Samantha Carter
Stargate Command
Cheyenne Mountain Complex
Colorado Springs, CO
From: Henry Hayes
President of the United States of America
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC
As I look at the mission reports that George has kindly supplied and your personnel files, I find myself wishing I was thirty years younger. But I'm not, so I will say this. Your dedication and your willingness to put the mission ahead of your personal feelings for each other shows that you two have sacrificed for the sake of the planet.
This letter is to thank you for that sacrifice and to officially waive the fraternization regs that have prevented the feelings that you have for each other. I do this in recognition of two facts:
1. As mentioned above, the sacrifices you have made to ensure the safety of this planet.
2. After saving the planet nine times and saving me from making an ass of myself in front of that scumbag, Kinsey, you two deserve a commendation for keeping your feelings in check. You also deserve each other in every sense of the term.
That being said, have a great vacation and take care of each other. George reminded of this, so I thought it was high time that it be put into the official record.
Good luck, you two.
Sincerely,
President Henry Hayes
PS: Jack, let me know when you two want to get married and I will personally officiate the ceremony. HH
PPS: Oh, before I forget, I mentioned to George the fact that there are promotions to be given out. I assume he has told you this. There is one thing that I didn't tell him that is folded up and put in an envelope so he wouldn't notice. HH.
Jack noticed the envelope and tore it open to reveal its contents. It was an invitation and letter that said:
This is to inform you that I will be personally handing out the promotions on Monday, August 28th, 2006 in the Gate Room on sub-level 28 of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex at 2:00 pm (1400 hours). This gives Dr. Jackson and Teal'c three months off and the two of you four and a half months off.
I need Daniel and Teal'c for a diplomatic mission that is to last the month of July to be held at the SGC. It should be obvious to you why I need them, but I'll put it here in writing.
Daniel is needed for his linguistics and his success in negotiating treaties. I have other people from my staff that I can take, but this involves the Stargate. Since Daniel is directly responsible in opening the Stargate for us..., well you understand why I need him.
I need Teal'c for security purposes in general and as my personal bodyguard to be specific due to the volatile nature of these negotiations. He may also serve as a background person in terms of providing me and the rest of the delegates with the necessary information on our potential, past and present allies and enemies.
You may be wondering why I haven't included the two of you. George will be wondering as well. We all know that you are the commander of SG-1 and the 2IC of George while you're on base. Simply put, I am giving you two every chance to enjoy yourselves and your newfound official relationship.
I know you are against the Stargate becoming public knowledge. This summit is not exactly what that is about. It is about establishing a committee to oversee the Stargate. The Asgard, the Tok'ra, and our other allies will be there to advocate that the Stargate should be left at the SGC. I will need the two of you to come in for the final day to sign the treaty. Don't worry, George will make your concerns known as will Daniel and Teal'c.
I'm granting you a field promotion to Major General, effective at the time of the ceremony. I'm also granting Major Samantha Carter a choice between honorable discharge with full access to the SGC so she can be a civilian scientist or a promotion to Colonel and the leadership of SG-1, as well as your 2IC of the entire base. It will be her choice, but I've done this so the two of you can be together as much as possible. I will await her choice at the promotion ceremony.
See you soon, Jack.
President Henry Hayes
Jack couldn't believe his eyes as he put this letter in a place where Sam could get to it after they got back from their "date". He chuckled to himself as he got ready to wash his dirt encrusted body in the shower.