AN: Apologies, there is a SIGNIFICANT amount of dialogue in this chapter. Please let me know if it is difficult to follow and I'll tweak it. Again still not 100% on this chapter. (I think I've figured out what it is, I don't like chapters where I need to use a lot of the transcript from the episode. Thankfully this should be the last one!)

Jack wandered through the familiar halls of the SGC, winding his way through the grey corridor's to Hammond's... no, Weir's office. He knocked on the door then opened it immediately, she was expecting him after all.

That being said, seeing her packing things into boxes was not at all what he had been expecting.

'Colonel, come in. How are you feeling?' she said kindly.

'Not bad.' he replied 'Haven't had the urge to go anywhere or build anything lately. And I'm pretty sure I remember everyone again.'

'Well, you have been given a clean bill of health as far as the finest medical professionals on this planet are concerned.'

'Well, what do they know?!' He said taking a seat. It had taken him long enough to get back to 'normal' even after Thor had proclaimed him fit and healthy.

'The President asked me to extend an invitation to you. Dinner at the White House.'

'Really?' The President? 'Do you know what they're having?' he inquired light-heartedly.

'I don't think I've had the chance to personally thank you yet.' she continued.

'For what?' he asked pleading ignorance.

'You risk your life over and over, and ask for nothing in return.'

'Well, don't be fooled. I've got a list.' he replied.

'Well I doubt very much there's anything that could properly repay you.'

Letting him have a relationship with Sam sounded like a good idea, but if Weir was leaving maybe he should be discussing his retirement proposal with Hammond. He made a show of looking at the boxes littering the office.

'Are you goin' somewhere?' he asked.

'As a matter of fact, the President has asked me to supervise the research of the Ancient outpost. It's gonna be a bit of a delicate situation, given all the various international claims already being made on the site.'

'Sounds right up your alley.'

'Yeah, well, much more so than this job.'

'Does that mean Hammond will be coming back?'

'No. General Hammond is being promoted. He'll be overseeing all things relating to Earth's defence on behalf of the Pentagon and Washington; the S.G.C., the 303 program, the Antarctic site. Unofficially it's being called Homeworld Security.'

Well shit, who they hell have those ass-hats in DC picked now? The last time they tried to replace Hammond it was with an agent for the NID, for crying out loud.

'Any idea who we're gonna be stuck with?' he asked.

'The Pentagon has convinced the President that there is one man who could run the S.G.C. and make it politically viable from an international perspective, despite the fact that he is part of the American military establishment.'

'Do we know this... shrub?' He settled on 'shrub' only after discounting several other choice words.

'Well, you know him rather well... Brigadier General Jack O'Neill.'

'Me?!' he exclaimed. Yet another thing he wasn't expecting.

'Yeah, you.'

'Brigadier...' Now that needed some pondering over. 'It was on my list.'

'Congratulations.'

'Um, I need to make a phone call, may I?' he said pointing to the grey phone on the desk.

'Be my guest.'

'Thank you.'

He shifted forward and turned the phone towards him before lifting the receiver and dialling a number from memory.

'Hello?' sounded the familiar voice.

'Sir, how ya doing?' Jack asked in an overly cheery manner, finding some space on the box covered desk to lean his elbow on.

'Jack! It's good to hear from you.' Hammond's voice sounded warmly. 'I'm well, I have been expecting a call from you.'

'Yes, I just heard about your promotion. Congratulations, Sir.'

'Thank you, Jack. But that's not why you called is it?'

'No, Sir. I've just been having a little chat with Dr Weir. Apparently, there's some interesting ideas about who should take over round here.'

'You're the best man for the job, Jack. And you deserve the promotion too.'

'Not that that doesn't sound wonderful but I just wanted to clarify a few things regarding my current situation in relation to that thing we most definitely did not talk about my house last time I saw you.'

A warm chuckle sounded down the line.

'Jack you've been MIA for months, officially you have been removed from the duty roster at the SGC and there is currently no one under your command.'

'Yep, that all sounds good. And this new position, how long do I get to think about it before I accept?'

'Dr Weir is expected in Antarctica on Monday morning with her replacement reporting for duty on Monday too, so we'd need an official response by Friday.'

'Friday, that gives us what? Three days?'

'I suppose so.'

'Okay, I'll have to talk to...' Jack's eyes fell on Weir still packing her things. '...to the team about it. I could probably give you an unofficial answer later today, which will probably be yes, and my official answer on Friday.'

'Jack, you know that if you want a particular situation to remain possible after your promotion there will need to be a very significant change.'

'Yes, Sir. I understand that, Sir.'

'I want an invite, Jack.' Hammond said warmly.

Jack grinned, 'Well I guess that depends on the team, Sir. Still, I'd keep Thursday clear if you can.'

'I'll see what I can do. I'll expect your call later.'

'Yes, Sir. Goodbye.'

'Bye, Jack.'

He set the phone in the cradle and tapped the receiver thoughtfully.

'Do you need to make another call?' Weir asked shaking him from his reverie.

'No. No, thank you.' he said to the current owner of the office as he stood and made his way to the door.

'So, what's the verdict?' Weir asked. 'Think you'll take the job?'

'It depends.' he said turning to look back at her as his hand settled on the handle of the door.

'On what?'

He grinned.

'The Mrs.'

'I realise you were married.'

Jack opened the door and replied. 'Not yet.' Then disappeared down the hall.

Jack wandered the halls of the SGC until he came across Sam's lab. He frowned finding the room lacking her presence.

Earlier that morning, he and Sam had parted company not long after breakfast. She had to take her groceries home, water her plants and the like. She tried to hide it, but he knew she was terribly nervous about his scheduled meeting with Weir.

'Will I see you later?' he'd whispered as they held each other by the door.

'Yes.' she nodded and kissed him briefly.

'You're going into work later, aren't you?' he asked as she slipped from his hold.

She sighed, which was enough for him to tell that he was right. 'Just let me know what happens.' She murmured.

'Will do.' He nodded.

A call topside confirmed that she'd checked in half an hour ago.

Then where could she be?

'Is there anything else I can help you with, Sir?' the airman's voice sounded on the line.

'Daniel Jackson, has he checked in today too?'

'Yes, Sir.'

'Thank you.'

He smiled hearing familiar voices from inside Daniel's office.

'What happened to us all getting a few days off?' he said striding into the room looking round the room at his team before letting his gaze settle on Sam.

'Sir.' Sam said standing straight, instead of leaning against the counter.

'Relax, Sam.' he said, waving a hand at her to resume her previous stance.

'How did the meeting go, Sir?' she asked.

'Good. Good. Though it took a couple of turns I wasn't expecting. Daniel, do you mind if I shut the door?'

'Sure, umm... do you want Teal'c and I to leave?'

'No, no I want to run this past you guys too.' he said closing the door.

'So what's going on?' Daniel asked his gaze following Jack as he made his way to the counter that Sam was leaning against and settled beside her, his arms stretching out at either side, his right bicep brushing the back of her shoulder.

'Well, not sure how much you guys know yet but Weir is shipping off to Antarctica next week to oversee the Ancient outpost team.'

Daniel nodded, 'Make sense, the number of countries interested in the site they really need a diplomat in charge. And she's gained quite a bit of experience round here even though there have only been a few missions authorised these past few months.'

'Will General Hammond be returning to the SGC?' Teal'c asked.

'No, he's got a new job in Washington, Homeworld Security they're calling it.'

Jack was very aware of how quiet Sam was being, he felt her pull from him slightly as she crossed her arms over her chest.

'Who's going to be running the SGC then?' asked Daniel.

'Brigadier General O'Neill if he wants the job.' he said chancing a glance in Sam's direction, who seemed to stiffen further at his statement.

'You?' Daniel said, needing clarification.

'Yeah. I think Hammond might have been bending some ears in DC.'

'Brigadier.' Sam murmured softly, but her small voice commanded the attention of the whole room. 'You should take it.'

'You think so?' Jack responded.

'You'd be crazy not to. You love working here and you wouldn't have to work in the field any more.'

'The whole running the base thing though, I'm not sure I'm cut out for that.' he pressed.

'Jack, nobody knows how best to run this place better than you.' Daniel said tentatively, sure Sam had given the verbal okay but her body language said quite the opposite.

'Thank you, Daniel.' Jack said kindly before looking back at the woman by his side. 'I called Hammond to clear up a few things while I was in Weir's office.'

'Like what, Sir?' She asked with little enthusiasm.

'Well, first thing is that I'm not currently on the duty rooster for the SGC and don't have any kind of command here, so you can stop with the Sirs. Secondly, I've got until Friday to give him an official response to the job offer.'

'So what does that mean?' Daniel asked, confused as to what impact this would have on whether Jack accepted the job or not.

'It mean there's something I have to do before I take the job.' He looked over at Sam and gave her a gentle nudge. 'You busy Thursday?'

'Seriously?' Sam said her arms falling by her sides.

'You said you wanted to before. Hammond wants an invite to but I said I'd check with you first. Did you really think I'd pick a promotion over you?'

She blushed and grinned.

'What are you talking about?' muttered a still bewildered Daniel struggling to follow the conversation.

'I think the Colonel...'

'Samantha.' he berated gently.

'Sorry, Jack just proposed.' Sam answered with a smile.

'Proposed what? As in proposed proposed? Walking down the aisle, I do, you may now kiss the bride kind of proposed?'

'That's the one.' Jack said with a grin. 'So Sam, want to get started on that whole marriage, kids and happily ever after stuff?'

'And the fishing, of course?' she said with a grin.

'Of course.' he said leaning closer. 'Is that a yes then?'

'Yes.' she beamed, her body turning towards his involuntarily.

'Sweet.' he murmured before leaning in and placing the most brief of kisses on her lips.

'Does such an event not require a great deal of planning?' Teal'c asked.

'We've saved the planet a dozen times over with less time on the clock, I think we can put together a wedding in two days. First things, first,' he said looking down at Sam, 'We should see if we can put a call out to Dad.'

'Sure about that?'

'You don't want your Dad at your wedding?' Daniel asked.

'Of course I do, but I also want to get married, I can't do that if my Dad has killed Jack.'

'Aw Dad loves me, I'm sure it'll be fine. Go give him a call.' Jack said placing his hand firmly on her lower back, pushing her gently towards the door.

'You're sure?' she said resisting him just a bit.

'Yes.' came his emphatic reply.

A wide grin spread over her lips. 'Good, I'll see you later.' she said disappearing out the door and down the hall.

Later, he liked the sound of that.

'You could have put a bit more effort into asking her to marry you, Jack.' Daniel commented.

'Two days, Daniel. Two days! If I'd booked a restaurant, got a ring and everything for tonight then we'd just be straight back here to call Dad for even there to be even the slightest chance he could get here on time.'

'Wow, you really thought it through.'

'Plus, I couldn't wait.' Jack added with a massive grin.

In two days he'd be married to Samantha Carter.

Jacob Carter permitting.

A/N: In case it's not clear, they're going to get married then Jack is going to take the job :)