Pop
For a big man Jack O'Neill moved very quietly, so Sam didn't hear him approach the door to her office in Atlantis. He waited for her to acknowledge him but with her attention on her computer it took a few minutes for her to look up.
"Hi!" she said in sudden realization.
"Hey," he smiled "busy?"
"Yeah, but it's time to take a break. Want to grab a cup of coffee?"
"Nope, just a few minutes in private will be fine. I wanted to talk to you."
"About what?" she asked.
He held out an envelope to her and motioned for her to open it.
"You're resigning?!" she asked in disbelief.
"Maybe," Jack shrugged. "It all depends."
"On what?"
"On what you say to this," He held out a small black velvet box but it was a long time before Sam moved to take it. When she did it was slowly with a look of shock.
"It won't bite, Carter, I promise," he said.
She smiled broadly at him and opened the box. Inside was a tiny solitaire style ring.
"Is this what I think it is?"
"Mmm-hmm," he answered. Jack knew she was dumbfounded.
"Carter, were both too old to play games. You know how I feel about you and it's never going to change. Just like I know how you feel about me. I love you, Sam."
He didn't know whether to feel happy or sad at the tears he saw in her eyes.
"Do you need time to think it over?" he asked with a sense of dread.
She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"You going to answer me anytime soon?" he asked, his palms starting to sweat.
"Yes" she said simply.
"When?" he asked
"No, that is your answer. Yes."
Jack actually thought his ears were playing tricks on him.
"Yes?"
"Yes," she repeated.
"C'mere," he said, motioning her away from the desk. She went to him and Jack enveloped her in his arms. "I've waited a long time to say that," he whispered in her ear.
He moved his arms from around her and took the ring box from her hand. He flipped it open and took out the ring, taking her left hand and slipping it perfectly onto her ring finger. One tiny drop of water came down and splashed on the back of his hand and he realized that she was still crying.
"You going to be ok?" he asked.
"Yeah, more than ok," she smiled up at him.