Ok so I know this may be a little out of character for General Hammond, or a lot actually, but I just felt like it. I mean , I always feel that, deep down, that's how his sentiments regarding those two were, don't you think?

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Part IV

"You wish to speak with me, sir?" A concerned Major Carter walked into my office

"Sir, you asked to see me?" An enthusiastic Colonel O'Neill barged into my office

They both look at each other

"Carter."

"Sir."

And then they look at me: "Sir?"

"Have a seat both of you."

"What's going o, sir?" Jack asks impatiently, as always.

"Just have a seat, son."I muster patiently "So I just hung up with the president. We've had a long talk."

"Concerning?" again Jack asked.

Sam just sat there nervously playing with her hands.

"Concerning the two of you, as a matter of fact." I blurt out, he wants to get to the bottom of this? I can do that!

"The two of us? Sir?" Jack confusedly looks at the two of them and gestures with his hands.

"Are we in trouble, sir? Did something from last mission's report….." Sam hasted trying to find out what she did wrong so she could apologize for it.

"It's nothing of that kind Major. Colonel. Your mission reports are fine. We were having a talk about you; your lives."

They just sit there with confusion drawn all over their face, and a small hint of worry?

I decide to get this over with as soon as possible so I just give it to them: "The president hereby orders you to go get married, as soon as possible."

Sam almost chokes in the middle of her breath and Jack's eyes grow wide then narrow then wide again.

Then he coughs while managing a small 'Sir?'

"You heard me. Apparently the only two not aware that you two love each other, are you two. No who am I kidding, you two know that very well. But the two of you won't admit it to each other. Instead you sit around in Air Force property writing down poetry and love talk on SGC paper. So I decided, instead of waiting for one of you to muster the nerve to talk to the other then come talk to me, I'd cut to the chase and get the work done for you." I explain to them.

I must admit I was too harsh on them while saying this, but I wanted them to feel ashamed, at least for a second there.

Not because they were in love, but because they had waited that long to admit it.

I admit I wasn't too thrilled by what I read but at the same time I was over the roof.

As a general and their commanding officer, I was disgraced by their action.

But as a human being, and practically like a father to them, I was over the roof. I was thrilled for them.

I always knew deep down that they were meant for each other.

If any two would make it it was these two.

And I also knew them well enough, to know they wouldn't let this interfere with their work.

I mean they hadn't compromised their work for the past seven years, so why start now?

Plus, whether they had admitted it or not, it was still there.

Their feelings have always been there and will always remain there, so what the hell do we gain from forbidding them to be together?

Nothing!

This was my opinion and the president agreed.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I'd almost forgotten that they both still stood there, staring at me, bluffed.

"Well then, go! Plan your wedding!"

"Wedding, sir?" Sam asks not really comprehending what's going on.

"What about the regs, sir? No officers under the same command are to….." Jack asks naturally.

"Sir!" Sam just shouts at him "What the hell are we….."

"Relax, Sam. Jack. The ergs have been bent just this once for two seasoned officers. Two of the very best officers we have, who have saved the universe numerous times."

"Sir?" That was the only word Sam could muster up.

"Here, this will do the explaining better than I would." I said while handing her Jack's letter along side without the box and handing him her letter.

"Sir, how the h…. how did you get this?" Jack asks more than pissed.

"Is this my….?" Sam asked while turning red.

I know I wasn't supposed to do this. I know it wasn't my place. I'm not allowed to take people's private letters and give them around. I knew all that. But I also knew that they were in love. And that they would never admit it, in order to not compromise one another's careers. I knew if I didn't do something, two lovers would have to suffer for a very long time.

So I did what I had to do. I interfered. I did something I never would have done.

But for these two I'd do anything.

Isn't that what you did for your children?

Plus deep down I knew for sure this was exactly what they wanted.

Hell they'd written it there black on white.

So even if they had to appear as if they were angry, I knew that at this moment deep down, they were two of the happiest souls ever alive.

They were thrilled.

Deep down they were thanking me, from the bottom of my heart. Some time later, they tell me that on that day they really felt that way deep down. Later they really thank me from the bottom of their hearts. But back to that moment now:

"I know I wasn't supposed to do this, let alone have seen this. But I did and I have."

Sam was no longer listening to me. Her eyes were fixated on the Letter in her hand and tears were threatening to fall down her face.

I waited for Jack's outburst but it never came: he too was lost in the paper in his hands; a wide grin on his face and his eyes were shining.

Then with a swift move he snapped the box out of Sam's hands and knelt to the ground in front of her and held her hand.

"Samantha Carter, after what we've both read, I guess there's no use in doing this the old fashioned way. So let's cut to the chase shall we? I mean I'd have done this earlier, much much earlier, but as you know… well as you know it was out of my hands. Well now that it's an order, and you know how much I love complying with orders, I have to do this." His eyes don't waver from their fixation into hers.

Neither do hers.

She chuckles softly. And one tear escapes her eye, but I don't think she even noticed it.

And for the first time I saw Sam Carter smiling a pure deep smile from her heart, like none I've seen her smile before, it was the smile of love.

"So Samantha? Would you do me the honors and accept to be my wife?" Jack popped the question while smiling a happy smile that had a joyous sound to it.

"Yes. Yes, of course I will!" she laughed out loud as he jumped off the ground to wrap his arms around her and finally hold her.

You could see that this embrace, this un forbidden lover's embrace, was something they both had been longing for, for a little too long.

He held her so close to him that you could feel how afraid he was to loose her. He was afraid that this moment would have to end and he'd have to let go.

And her arms were tightly clinging to him afraid to loose the protection and warmth his embrace gave her. She was like a child hanging on to her father so he wouldn't even dare to leave.

After a very very long moment that seemed like an eternity they let go, but you could see that they were somewhere private before they'd do it again.

Sam turned to me, then surprised me my wrapping her arms around my neck "Thank you, sir." she softly whispered in my ears.

Jack approached me next. He extended his arms to shake my hands, so I put my hand in his. "Thank you, sir." he said seriously.

Just as I thought he'd turn to leave, to catch up with Sam who was now almost out the door, he opened his arms to hug me a manly hug of appreciation and gratitude. I returned the sentiment and patted him on the back, only like a father would do…

In that moment I was as proud as a father can be.