A/N: this is the last chapter. Hope you like it :)

The SG-1 team had been home a week now, since their visit from the Ti-marni, and Jack hadn't been himself since their return. His mind had been clouded with thoughts about his physical ability. Anyone from the outside would assume nothing had changed, but he knew better, and by those disapproving looks Sam Carter had thrown at him across the briefing table, he was sure she could see the change in him.

Retirement was looking like a better option than it had previously seemed, he thought, as he lay awake in his quarters late one night. His body wasn't as easily controlled as it once was. His bones ached. His limbs were weaker than needed for the assignments SG-1 were given. Nothing made him feel more like a man than fighting the aliens to protect earth, but as long as he was unable to provide the same protection for his team, then he was next to useless on a mission.

Behind a desk, seemed less than fun, but at least it was a way of staying with the Star gate command, which was better than nothing. As he pondered over this, he considered another option. If Sam had used an opportunity to kiss him when she was not under the influence of another, then it might very well be possible to believe that they had a future if one gave up their position at SGC. Jack couldn't ask Sam to do that, but if he was retiring, it could be a win-win situation with the right result.

If he did retire, he contemplated silently, and he positioned himself in another facility then his relationship with Sam could go somewhere, he could finally stop dreaming about her, he could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted without the fear of losing his job with SGC.

What if Sam didn't want a relationship? He asked himself. No. she loved him, he was as sure of that as the sun rising daily. He knew by those possessive glances she would throw his way, and the jealousy that reared it's head on the odd occasion that a woman attached herself to him. Even her ability to care more about him, than herself, told him that there was no doubt how much she cared about him.

But Jack's mind was still uncertain. He was not good at retiring. He had done in numerous times and still ended back at work.

Maybe Sam was the answer.

Either way, he thought it better to at least talk to her about it first. Jack rolled over in the bed and looked at the clock on his nightstand. It was late. He lay there for a few more minutes contemplating a conversation with Sam, and when they'd find the time among the busy schedule of saving the world and visiting other planets, to say what needed to be said.

Reluctantly he pulled back the covers and climbed out of bed. He stood in the room staring at the closed door that blocked off the rest of the base from his quarters. He had to talk to Sam. He decided against staying in his room, and opened his door in search of her.

He paused outside her room, and considered returning to his own. He didn't want to wake her. Disorientation was the last thing he needed her to be for this conversation. But he was determined to sort this once and for all. The danger of his health could put his team at risk, and he wouldn't sacrifice their lives for his inability to throw in his job.

Jack paced the hall outside her room, as he thought about how to start a conversation. Would she be mad at being woken so late at night?

He took the plunge and knocked on her door.

A moment later she appeared, sleepy eyed with her hair on ends. Jack smiled. Only she could manage to look that beautiful climbing out of bed in the middle of the night.

"Sir?" she asked covering her mouth politely as she yawned. "Is something wrong?"

"No," he muttered fiddling with his hands.

Sam glanced at the watch on her wrist. "It's late, Sir."

"I wanted to talk to you about something," he said nervously.

Jack watched the disorientation on her face, and she seemed to blink it away easily.

"Can I come in?" he asked when she made no move to open the door.

Shaking her head, she stepped aside to make room for Jack. "Yeah, sorry…" she gestured.

Jack stepped inside her quarters. He glanced around, and his eyes caught the photo frame on her night stand. A picture of the team, Jack forward and centered. He smiled. "I see my face is there to greet you every morning," he teased playfully.

Sam blushed. "I like that picture of all of us."

"Right, of course…" he muttered. "Listen, I've been thinking. You were right-"

"Thank you, Sir. About what?"

Jack smiled weakly. "I haven't been myself lately. In fact I'm seriously thinking about retiring… and not coming back."

Sam nodded understandingly as she listened.

"I'm not as young as I once was, you know, and if you tell anyone, I'd deny it until I was blue in the face, but I'm not all that healthy anymore…"

"I know, Sir."

"You do?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"Of course, you do," he replied with sarcasm.

"Retiring?" she asked.

"How do you feel about that?"

"I don't- I don't really see how I fit into the aquation, Sir, it's not my choice, it's-"

"Oh, come on, Carter… I don't have to give the obvious answers, do I?"

"Yes, Sir, I'm afraid this time you do…" Jack could see how uncomfortable she looked.

Stepping forward, he drew her gently into his arms and held her, his face inches from hers, her scent strong and sweet, as he breathed her in. She trembled slightly in his embrace, and he momentarily panicked, until she rested her hands lightly on his biceps. Her smile was shy and heavenly, making his heart pound wildly against the wall of his chest, beating in rhythm with hers.

Jack lifted a finger to stroke her cheek. "As long as I'm not your ranking officer anymore…"

Sam only stared at him. Using the silence as a green light, Jack leaned in slowly, until his mouth settled on hers, moving over her lips with leisurely passion. He had waited a life time for this moment.

"Sir, do you really think-" she murmured against his mouth.

Jack ignored her, pulling his arms more firmly around her waist.

"At least… we… should," she moaned between kisses.

Jack did not release her. His left hand entwined in her soft blonde hair, as he enjoyed the scent and taste of Sam Carter.

"Jack…" she whispered.

Jack reluctantly pulled back, annoyed that she wasn't responding to this action as he would have liked, and surprised that she had used his name so casually. "DAMN IT CARTER! Just let me kiss you, for God's sake. I'm retiring. There isn't going to be a problem with this, unless you let it be," he explained irritably. This was supposed to be a moment of ecstasy.

"Sir, I-"

Had she changed her mind about her feelings for him? "You don't want to kiss me?" he paused feeling slightly nervous.

"I do," she assured him. "I just- is this really what you want?" Sam looked unsure.

"Carter, shut up now, and kiss me before I lose my nerve and I think you're interested in Daniel!" he stated.

Sam frowned. "Why would you think I'm-"

Jack was done talking. He pulled her roughly against him crushing his mouth on hers, as he attempted to salvage what passion was left in this moment. It took only a moment for Sam to respond to his kiss, and she brought her arms around his neck, clinging to him with hope and passion. The moment was reclaimed and in the quarters of Sam Carter's room, a long over-due romance began to blossom in a way that had never been able to form before now.

Thanks for sticking it out to the end. I would LOVE a review or two... Did I do alright? :)