Also, I never put a disclaimer on the story, and I now realize I probably should have. Of course, all the characters from SG-1 belong to MGM, not me. Please do not hold it against me if I improvise on some medical conditions and military documentation. This story is for pure enjoyment only. And since it is science fiction, I have taken some liberties in the medical and military areas to help further the story. Please do not take offense if you are in the medical profession, or if you are in the military. I have the utmost respect for the two fields. - Christine
The next morning Sam and Jack got right to work. Sam pulled up the regs on her laptop and started going through them, looking for the fraternization part that applied to them.
"Here we go," said Sam, starting to read through the paragraphs.
Jack handed her a cup of coffee, "Now what?"
"Well," said Sam, "I guess we just go through these line by line and see if we can't play with the words a bit."
"Play with the words?" asked Jack, sitting down at the table next to her.
"Well," said Sam, taking a sip of coffee, "maybe the wording isn't as air tight as we think it is."
Jack nodded, "It's worth a try," He took a sip of coffee, "I remember having to read and sign the document that contained all the regs, but that was a hell of a long time ago. I don't think I really read them either. Just kind of did the cliff notes version."
Sam smiled, "I know, I remember reading them too. But exactly what's in them now, line by line, I couldn't tell you."
"You mean the regs aren't stored in that supersmart brain of yours, just waiting for you to spit them out?" he teased.
Sam shook her head at him and smiled. "Nope, this 'supersmart brain' only has room for all the important astrophysics, alien technology, offworld travel stuff. I think the regs got put in the 'I read it once and probably won't need it again' part." She skimmed through the text until she found what she was looking for. "I got it. Let's see...Section 25, paragraph 1. 'While on active duty, officers may not date, live with, or enter into a similar social relationship with any other officer, regardless or rank, who reports directly to them. Such actions could put any and all other officers of the team in immediate danger and undermine any mission both officers were assigned to. While on active duty, officers may not date, live with, or enter into a similar relationship with any other officer, regardless of rank, whom they have direct responsibility or authority. Such a relationship reflects a conflict of interest in making necessary command and strategic decisions. Maintaining any inappropriate personal relationship with another officer, while on active duty, is prohibited. If officers are found to have engaged in, or are engaging in, an inappropriate relationship, disciplinary action, up to and including court-martial will be executed."
"Ok, so for the time you were convalescing, you were off duty, and so me being here was ok as far as the Air Force goes." Said Jack.
"Right," said Sam, leaning back in her chair, "But Monday, when I go on light active duty, we're breaking the rules."
"Right." Said Jack, "So, where does that leave us?"
Sam shook her head, "I don't know. It's not like I can stay off active duty forever. You know? I'm almost fully recovered. There's no physical or psychological reason to keep me from going back to full active duty."
"What was the part about officers who report directly..." Asked Jack.
"Officers may not date, live with, or enter in to a similar social relationship with any other officer, regardless of rank, who reports directly to them." Said Sam.
Jack smiled, "That's it."
"What's it?" asked Sam.
"Well, you don't report directly to me do you?" asked Jack.
"No." said Sam.
"And you don't have any direct responsibility or authority to me, or me to you right?"
Sam smiled, catching on, "Nope. I don't report directly to you, nor do I have any responsibility or authority over you that could compromise a mission or any command decisions." Sam nodded, "That just might work."
"Waddaya mean 'might'? It's pure brilliance." Said Jack, grinning broadly.
"Know what else? The active duty thing might be an out too." Said Sam.
"How's that?" asked Jack.
"Well, you're not a fighter pilot anymore are you?" asked Sam.
"That's what the president tells me all the time." Said Jack, lowering his voice, "'You know Jack, while you're not on active duty, flying bombers and alien space ships, your job here, in Homeland Security, is just as important to the future of this nation and planet. Even though it is a desk job.'"
Sam laughed, "Okay, but it's not like you couldn't go fly a plane or alien spacecraft. I mean, you might not be in Homeland Security forever."
"True," said Jack, getting up to fill his mug with more coffee, "Okay then, the best option here is the responsibility thing right?"
Sam nodded, "Seems like it. But how do we know it's ok to read between the lines? I mean, who can we check this out with?"
Jack took another sip of coffee and nodded, "I'm gonna call Hammond. If there's anyone we can ask about this, it's him." Jack went to the phone and picked up his address book, "And he's retired, so he's not gonna get in any trouble talking about this."
"What're you going to tell him?" she said.
"The truth, that I'm 'interested in' a fellow officer, with whom I have no direct authority or responsibility, and furthermore I don't even work with, and see if he thinks it'll be ok to date her." .
"Oh he's so gonna know it's me," said Sam. "You know that right? He has to."
"Maybe, and so what if he does? Seems like the whole damned base has had a running pool on us getting together for years."
"You know about that too?" she asked incredulously.
"Yup. How did you know?" he asked.
"Janet," she said. "You?"
"Daniel." He found the page with Hammond's number. "Did she tell you there's a pool?"
"Uh huh," said Sam sipping her coffee, "I almost died right there on the spot."
Jack laughed, "Me too. I wonder how much it is?" Sam shook her head. "Well, don't you wonder too?"
She smiled at him, "Just dial will you?"
He took a deep breath, "Ok, here we go." Jack dialed the number and Hammond picked up on the first ring. "Hey there George, it's Jack O'Neill. Yup, I'm just fine. How's the family? Good, good. And the girls? That's great." He looked over at Sam, "Hey listen, George, the reason I'm calling. I have something I want to run past you, but it's gotta stay between us." Jack nodded, listening to Hammond's response, "Yeah, it's personal." He laughed, "Of course I have a personal life." He looked over at Sam shrugging his shoulders. "Uh, well, I'm 'interested in' a coworker and would like to date her, and I just wanted a little clarification on whether or not it's ok under the regs to... Well, yeah, uh, you know her." He looked down at his feet. "Is it really that obvious? Um yeah, she's here with me."
Sam looked at him wide eyed, pointing at herself and mouthing 'me?'. She blew out the breath she was holding, and said in a whisper, "Oh crap, he knows it's me."
"Sure George, hold on." Jack covered the receiver with his hand, "George wants to talk to you."
Sam was speechless, "Me? Why does he want to talk to me? Oh crap, give me the phone." Sam took the phone from Jack and cleared her throat, "Yes sir, hello sir. I'm feeling just fine sir. Oh, sorry sir, I mean George." She started pacing around the kitchen. "Yes. Uh I am the coworker, yes. I understand the regulations prohibit dating between officers. However, they also state that it's prohibited between those on active duty and in direct authority or responsibility for each other. Clearly General O'Neill and I are no longer in that situation, and well, we were wondering if we were clear of those regs since we no longer have any direct authority or responsibility to each other? Or are we pushing the limit here?" Sam looked over at Jack, her expression tight with apprehension, "Yes. I understand." Then her face changed and softened up, and she smiled, "Really? Are you sure it's ok?" Jack moved next to her and she tilted the phone so he could listen. "Okay, then, thank you so much sir...I mean George. Oh hang on, Jack wants to talk to you again." She handed the phone to Jack.
"So, are you in the pool?" Jack shook his head, "Whaddaya mean you started the pool?" Sam started to giggle, "No way! Oh, that's sneaky George, very sneaky. Listen, thanks for the info. We both really appreciate it. Ok. Thanks again, talk to you soon. Bye." Jack hung up the phone and turned to Sam.
"Hammond started the pool? No way. Seriously? But how could a General do that without getting in trouble?"
Jack started to laugh, "Well, while Hammond started the pool, it was officially started by Private Shipper."
"Private Shipper?" she laughed out loud and walked over to Jack, enveloping him in a hug.
He pulled away and kissed her, then leaned his head on her forehead, "So, Colonel Carter, it seems we can, with the Air Force's blessing, officially date. And, armed with that intel, I suggest we plan a hugely romantic dinner..." he kissed her again, "and dessert."
"Yes sir!" said Sam as she leaned in for another kiss...
Thanks for all of your patience with me. I'm sorry if you guys all thought I'd abandoned the story. I would never do that to my loyal readers or to my story, so thanks for the patience...christine