Summary: Another "Stop the wedding!" (I couldn't help myself)
Spoilers: Anything with Pete, and all of Season 6 (Jonas) and Heroes, Grace, Fallen, Meridian, Smoke & Mirrors and Chain Reaction.
Disclaimer: blah blah I don't own them yada yada yada
Previously on Isn't it Ironic
"We'll be back," Jack yelled over his shoulder, before the screen door shut behind them. Daniel, Cassie, and Janet all turned to Teal'c at the same time.
"Teal'c spill, right now." Janet said, as the three started to advance on him. He merely nodded his head, and began to talk.
"In the time loop, O'Neill and I had many unsanctioned adventures within the SGC….."
CHAPTER NINE
The elevator bell rang, and the doors opened, depositing Jack O'Neill on Level 26 of the SGC. He followed a well known path, right into the briefing room, where General Hammond sat waiting for him.
"Nice to see you Jack," he said, standing and offering his hand. Jack shook his hand, and sat down next to him.
"Good to be back General," he replied, immediately starting to fidget; It was impossible for the man to sit still.
"What did you want to talk to me about, Jack?" Hammond asked, leaning back in the big, black, swivel chair.
"General, remember when you said that you would be retiring soon, and asked if I would ever consider running the SGC?" Jack asked, planning his next words very carefully.
"Yes, I remember, why?" he asked, knowing pretty well why. You didn't stay at the base for seventy hours a week, and not hear the gossip.
"Well, I was wondering if I could accept the position; as a civilian."
General Hammond sat, thinking, wondering how he could phrase the question to the president, his silence worrying Jack immensely.
"Has someone else already taken the position?" He asked worridly.
"Oh no son, I was just thinking about how best to tell the president." Hammond replied, a smile starting to spread on his face.
"Now Jack, tell me, this decision wouldn't have to do with Colonel Carter's and your recent relationship, would it?" He said slyly.
"I'm not military anymore, so… damn right it does!" He exclaimed, loving the feeling of being able to admit his feelings for his former 21C.
"Well, I will get you the job, if you will do something for me…" General Hammond said, his grin growing even bigger.
"Sure, what?" Jack answered. He'd fight Apophis himself, if he could keep his job, AND Sam. Hell, he'd fight Apophis, Cronus, and the Replicators. The General grinned like the Cheshire cat.
"Here's what I need you to do…" He said, motioning Jack to lean in.
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That afternoon, Hammond picked up his red phone.
"Mr. President, this is General Hammond, I have a special request for you." He said
"George, it's been too long, how are things at the SGC?" The President replied.
"Well, they're good, Hank. I got a visit from Jack O'Neill today."
"Did he want the job?" The President asked.
"Yes he did, and in the capacity of a civilian." Hammond responded.
"Well, George, I believe you owe me some money," The President said.
"I don't know Hank, don't count your chickens before they hatch."
"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked, suspiciously.
"Oh, nothing; it's been good talking to you Hank." Hammond said, before hanging up the phone. The President sat, confused, before the dial tone beeped back on, and he hung up the phone, shaking his head ruefully. Something was going to happen at the SGC, and he wasn't going to miss it.
"Susie, get me Air Force One; we're going to Colorado."
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Jack was pacing. And it was driving Sam up the wall.
"Stop it! I know that you're nervous, but the entire base respects you, and you will be fine." Sam said, causing Jack to look up at her.
"Oh, no, I'm not worried about that, I'm just trying to come up with the right way to propose to you." And before Sam could respond, Jack had turned and left, gently closing the door behind him. Sam blinked away tears, as the full implications of his words hit her. Yes! Her brain screamed. A smile graced her lips, and she turned back full force to her work. She wanted to go home tonight!
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Air Force One arrived just as the military personnel and scientists alike began to file into the "embarkment room". A memo had gone out that a mandatory meeting had been scheduled for all base personnel. The work on the grapevine was that General Hammond was retiring.
The aforementioned man entered, and Sam called out, "ten-HUT" as he walked to the ramp, and stood behind the podium.
"At ease people," he said, "I have some news for you all. As of 0700 hours Thursday, I am no longer the commander of this base." A ripple of talk went through the crowd.
"Squadron, attention!" Sam called out, bringing the military people back to the present speech; however, some of the scientists were still talking. Hammond sent them a death glare, and they stopped talking, taking on the air of innocence.
"Some of you may remember your new leader; he has assumed the command before."
"Not Bauer!" One of the scientists cried out, remembering the disaster that Sam had barely managed to avert, the last time that he had been in command. Hammond chuckled.
"No, this man is a civilian, and most of you know him fairly well, some especially well," he said, throwing a pointed look in Sam's direction. She blushed slightly, but never broke her stance.
"I would like to take this moment to introduce retired Colonel Jack O'Neill, the new civilian leader of the Stargate Command." A cheer erupted as Jack walked out from the hallway, with his dress blues on. As he walked up, the President slipped into the right annex, waiting for the killer speech.
"Thanks everyone, it's great to be back, and you know me, speeches aren't really my thing, but I do have one thing of great importance to say, or rather, ask. Colonel Carter, could you step forward, please?"
Sam complied, and walked until she was arms reach of him, trying to control herself. He just looked damn good in dress blues! The crack of his knees broke her back to reality, and she looked to him, only to find him kneeling on the ramp.
"Colonel Carter, Sam, even though we both know that you could do better than an old, retired Colonel –with bad knees, I might add--" That got a laugh out of the crowd, and he paused momentarily, to take time to grin at them, before looking back up at Sam. "Will you do me the honor of becoming Colonel O'Neill?" He asked, pulling a solitary diamond ring out of his pocket.
Sam stood, stunned, letting the tears pour out of her eyes, as she tried in vain to make the words come out. But, they wouldn't, so she did the next best thing. She knelt down in front of him, and kissed him with a need so great that she almost knocked him backwards.
He broke the kiss after a few seconds, and ignoring the whistles and clapping from their audience, asked her, "Is that a yes?" She looked at him, and shook her head in disbelief, and then replied: "Damn right it is!" He lifted them both up, and then wrapped his arms around her, for one last kiss, before placing the ring on her finger. They turned back to the crowd, hands intertwined, and Jack leaned back to the microphone.
"Okay, is everyone free for a fall wedding?" They laughed appreciatively, and Jack led Sam off the stage, and she returned to her place in the line. She opened her mouth to put the squadron at ease, but as she started to speak, the President walked onto the ramp. You could have heard a pin drop, as was the sudden change in the atmosphere.
"Congrats Jack!" The President said, as he reached the mike. Jack gave him a quick salute, and then he continued speaking.
"Folks, I am here on official and un-official business. I am here on official business, because Sam and Jack have given me courage to amend something that has been a long time coming. As of 0500 hours tomorrow morning, the fraternization regulations will be suspended for the military personnel working inside Cheyenne Mountain. You people work a dangerous job, and after some persuading from George Hammond, I see that suspending the regulations will be beneficial in the overall atmosphere of the Stargate Command. However, the commander of the base will have total control of all personnel, and the right to remove a member of a team, if it appears the relationship is affecting the dynamics of the particular team." He paused for effect, and let the information sink in, before dropping the next bomb on them.
"Which is why I have the pleasure of doing two thing immediately. Jack O'Neill, please step forward." Jack did as he was asked, confusion evident on everyone's faces, including Jack himself.
"As of right now," he checked his watch, "1530 hours Mountain time, consider yourself recalled to active duty." Jack looked at him in shock. "Jack, you are too valuable to the program to loose." Jack just nodded his head in consent, still reeling in all of the surprises that had been dumped on him in the last half an hour.
"And, I also have the pleasure of promoting you to the rank of Brigadier General Jack O'Neill." The President said, opening a box on the podium, and turning Jack to one side, and then the other, pinning on his stars.
Once again, Jack found himself at the podium.
"Well people," he said, "It would appear that I am now military. Thank you," and he stepped down, and went back to stand beside Daniel.
"Always leave them asking for more, right Jack?" Daniel whispered. Jack just nodded.
"And now, the most important reason why I am here, and the unofficial reason that I came," The President said. "Siler, break out the piggy bank, and pay up! And George, I believe that you owe me money!" Everyone laughed, except Jack, who had not found it amusing that people were betting on his love life.
After congratulations had been given to the couple, they headed back to Janet's house, with Daniel, Teal'c, and Janet for the first team dinner in a long time.
They were talking animatedly about the day, all of them except Daniel.
"What's up Danny?" Jack asked from the backseat, where he and Sam were cuddled, Teal'c huge mass taking up most of the bench seat.
"I was just thinking," he replied.
"Isn't that Sam's area of expertise?" Jack said, as Sam punched him playfully in the arm.
"Well, I was just thinking, isn't it ironic that it took terrible things to bring us together again?" They were all silent while they contemplated Daniel's latest thought.
Finally Sam spoke up. "Yeah, it is kinda ironic that the worst thing that had ever happened to me ended in me being the happiest I've been in a long time." She looked at Jack, who just smiled.
"Me too," Janet said, "It took me ascending, and being gone for three years for Daniel and I to get together, but honestly, I wouldn't change anything about that."
"Why not?" Sam asked.
"Because, I stopped you from making the biggest mistake of your life." She replied, glancing up from the road to look at Sam in the rearview mirror. Sam blushed, but Janet continued talking.
"And, I really value the friendship that Daniel and I had for all of those years. It makes a relationship a lot more comfortable, don't you think?" Sam and Jack nodded in consent, as Teal'c started to talk.
"Janet Fraiser, did you not just pass your house?"
Everyone laughed as Janet jerked to a stop, and threw the car in reverse. Yep, Jack thought, life is good.
THE END
a/n: I have no idea if the callings in the meeting are accurate, I guessed, based on the episode Chain Reaction, which I make several references to. Hope you all liked it! If you like, please drop me a review! I would love feedback, criticism included!
skiergal