Jack couldn't believe it had finally happened. He was seated at his desk in Homeworld looking at his Retirement Application, not only approved by the Secretary of the Air Force but by the President of the United States himself. He would be retired before Jake's one-year anniversary.
"Holly shit!", he said out loud.
And that wasn't the only news. It was like a snowball. Hank Landry would be replacing him as Head of Homeworld Security. Which opened a spot at SGC. And that lead to Sam. The brass wanted her there. She was going to be promoted to Brigadier General and offered the command of SGC. At Colorado Springs.
"Holly shit!", he said again.
She would go ballistic when she found out. They were still adjusting of having Jake in their life and now this. It was like the USAF decided to conspired against the Carter-O'Neill big time. Sure, go get married, have a baby and then, BANG! One of you gets retired and the other gets moved back to the Springs with a one-year infant. Right on the spot. Good old USAF!
He decided to end his working day. It was abundantly clear that his mind wouldn't be able to process anything besides this. He needed to talk to his wife. Jack looked at his watch. She should still be at her lab. It was too soon to pick Jake at the Pentagon's daycare. He grabbed his stuff, said his farewells to his very surprised secretary and headed to her lab.
She was alone in her office, typing at her computer. Oblivious to the rest of the world. Nothing new there.
"So how is the hottest Colonel in the Pentagon?", he asked from her doorway.
She slowly lifted her head. Her blue eyes were wider than usual and her cheeks blushed. He loved when he got her like that.
"What are you doing here?", she asked in a low voice.
"Checking hot, tall blond Colonels", he said with a big smile.
She blushed even more and quickly got up, grabbing his arm and pulling him inside. And then closing the door as fast as she could.
"What the hell Jack?! Are you crazy?!", she asked with her cheeks still red.
He leaned against the closed door, crossing his arms.
"It's all true. You're tall, blonde, hot as hell and a Colonel", he said still smiling. Like an idiot.
Sam looked at him with suspicious eyes.
"Are you drunk?", she asked slowly.
"Nops", he shook his head.
"What's going on?", she asked looking at him from head to toes.
"Missed you?", he asked shrugging his shoulders. He knew she wouldn't fall for that but decided to try anyway.
"Come on, Jack. What's going on?", she asked again. Clearly starting to lose her patience.
"Okay. We need to talk but not here. Can you leave earlier? We can pick Jake and go home. Can you do that?", he asked in a more serious tone.
Sam approached him but carefully not touching him. They were at a public place and they never display any personal gestures in such occasions. Jack's office with a very locked door had been the very few exceptions. Never Sam's lab or office.
"What's going on, Jack?", she asked again. She sounded like a broken record.
He discretely picked her hand.
"Not here, honey. Let's grab Jake and head home. I'll tell you there", he said in a low voice.
"Okay", Sam said. Apparently it was something of significant importance. "Let me just shut down this and warn the guys that I'm leaving earlier", she said.
"Sure", he said letting her hand go free again.
Sam shut everything and gathered her things. Then she told that she was going home earlier. Although she had never told anyone about her marriage to Jack, her staff was now used to see the Head of Homeworld Security in their labs. Especially since he had walked in one time with Colonel Carter's son in his arms. The baby was happily calling him "da-da".
They picked Jake who was, as usual, very happy to see his parents. Sam took him in her arms although he now walked fine on his own. But a running child in the Pentagon corridors wasn't exactly what they wanted. And he wasn't particularly fond of his stroller right now so they always carried him until they were outside. Jack had already the car waiting for them. Sam noticed that it was their car, not the service car.
"Why is our car here, Jack?", she asked as he opened the back door and started to put Jake in his own chair.
"I wanted to talk with you freely. I feel more comfortable this way", he said taking his hat and unbooting his jacket.
She entered the Escalade. He surely was strange today.
"Fine. But you better start talking. I'm not liking this at all", she said putting the seatbelt.
He started the engine and drove through the streets.
"I received the papers today. They finally accepted my retirement", he said not looking at her. He had his sunglasses on and his eyes were on the street.
Sam looked at him. "Oh…" It was all she managed to say.
"Yeah". He took a deep breath.
"I imagine there's more to it", she said seeing his tense shoulders.
"There yes. Probably better to wait until we get home", he said turning to their neighborhood.
Sam looked to the window. "Right", she muttered.
The rest of the drive was in silence except from the excited sounds coming from their son. Jack parked the big SUV in the garage and Sam got out and took Jake from his car seat. She put him on the floor and he immediately started to walk in the garage.
"Hey buddy. This way", said Jack patting on his leg as he moved towards the connection door.
Jake stumbled a little but followed his dad. Jack helped him with the two small steps and they were inside the house. Sam was already taking her jacket and her shoes.
"Come on, Jake. Let's take a bath and change", she said taking his hand.
They went to their bathroom and to Sam's tub. She started to fill it making sure that the water temperature was warm but not too hot. She started to take his clothes and Jake started to throw his bath toys inside. Once she was pleased with the water, she put him inside and the splashing began. He loved splashing with his hands, feet, and with the bath toys. His favorites were a yellow rubber duck and two red boats. Sam started to washed him with baby soap while he was playing and distracted.
"OK buddy, that's it", she said taking him out of the water.
Jack had already changed to more comfortable clothes and had his towel ready. She handed him to her husband.
"Come to daddy", he said picking him up.
"Da-da", he said putting his wet hand in Jack's face. One finger going right to his eye.
Jack quickly dried him on their bed despite his several attempts to get away. Their son didn't like to stay still for very long. After being dried, started the difficult process of getting him dressed. Jack put him his favorite bear flannel pajamas and put him on the floor. Sam had already changed and was brushing her hair after loosening it from the pony tail she normally used at work.
"Thanks for the help", she said giving him a quick kiss.
"You know that I like to do this", he said.
"I know", she said.
"It's still early for him to eat. Do you want to go downstairs and have a little chat?", he asked holding her by the waist.
She smiled and put her hairbrush down.
"Yes. It appears we have to talk. So lead the way, General", she said.
Jack kissed her neck and in one swift movement grabbed his son, holding him up in the air.
"Ready to go downstairs and play with your toys while mom and dad have a serious talk?", he asked. Kissing his belly and making him laugh.
They went to their living room and Jack put him in the playroom they had created in one corner. It had baskets and bins with most of his toys and also a play-mat where he liked to sit. But what he really liked was his teepee. He spent hours inside playing. They had put already a baby gate specifically designed for the top of the stairs. Just in case.
Jack sat on the couch and Sam went to the kitchen to make them coffee. She returned with two mugs. He grabbed his and put his bare feet on the coffee table.
"We're home, Jack. Start talking", she said sipping her coffee.
"Okay. First I shouldn't be telling you any of this because it's still not official but I'm retiring in one month so I really don't give a fuck anymore", he said.
She smiled and moved one foot near his thigh.
"Well, well…There's always a first". Her foot started to make slow movements against his thigh. "General O'Neill and my husband coincide for the first time since we're married", she said still smiling.
"Pretty soon, you'll be dealing with only your husband so…", he said shrugging his shoulders.
"I've dealt always with my husband, Jack", Sam said looking at him with a serious expression. Stopping moving her foot. "You're the one that insisted in keeping things apart", she added.
"I had to, Sam. Otherwise there could be accusations of favoritism or privileged information. And you know damn well how many people don't like me over there", he said with a closed face.
She took her foot away and moved closer to him, putting a hand over his leg instead.
"Okay. I won't get into that then. You said that you had your papers approved. What else?", she asked.
"Landry will replace me. In one month, give it or take it. Probably more. Depends on the person who replaces him at SGC", he said putting his coffee down.
Sam continued to drink hers and caressing his leg.
"Oh, so they also have decided that? That was fast…", she said.
"Yeah…It also involves a promotion", Jack said slowly.
"Really?", she asked completely oblivious to where the conversation was going.
"Someone that has already been at SGC, knows how it works…", Jack started to say looking at her.
Sam stopped drinking and her hand stilled. She knew that look.
"Wait a minute! Jack… Jack you can't be possible… NO!", she said shaking her head.
"It was always you, Sam. From the beginning. Hammond and I talked about it several times. You're always in the pot. At the very top. Apparently the top brass share that feeling. Congratulations Brigadier General", he said with a proud smile.
Sam was still shaking her head.
"No, you're wrong. I'm too young to be a Brigadier General, Jack", she said still not believing what he had said.
"It's not about age, Sam. It's about merit. And you've plenty of that, honey. Your career is stellar. You're an accomplished scientist. You've saved Earth countless times. And your latest work with the F-302s impressed them a lot. A lot! So trust me. It's more than deserved", he said with a smile.
Sam put her hands in her face, leaving only her eyes uncovered.
"Jesus, Jack. We'll have to move back to the Springs!", she said with a shocked face.
"Yes, there's that", he said, sighing.
"And you'll be retired", she said.
"Yes…?", he said raising an eyebrow.
"What will you do?", she asked with a clear panicked voice.
"I'll follow you, Sam. I'll go wherever you go", he simply said.
"It can't be that simple. You can't just retire after all these years in the service and just stay home", she said feeling her heart beat increase.
Jack grabbed her shaking hands.
"Honey, I've tried to retire as soon as we found out you're pregnant. I want to be home to raise Jake. I'm more than done with the Air Force and the Program. I want to do this Sam. It's okay", he said in a reassuring tone.
She kissed his hands.
"I love you", she said with tears in her eyes.
"I love you too. Now don't cry. Brigadiers Generals don't cry", he said with a smile.
She hugged him, hiding her head in his neck.
"This one cries", she said sniffling.
"Okay. You can cry all you want", he said caressing her hair.
"Okay", she said still holding him tight.
They stood there, in the couch, hugging for quite a while until Sam calmed down. She kissed his neck and slowly looked at him.
"Do you know when it will be official?", she asked.
"Probably within this week", he said. He gently caressed her lips with his thumb.
"Jesus, that's fast", she said closing her eyes.
"Don't worry. They will probably arrange a retirement ceremony of some sort. Might be official, I'm afraid. But the rest is just paperwork. And they should be talking to you too. Soon", he warned.
She opened her eyes.
"Oh… So I've to act surprised when they…?", She didn't finish the sentence.
"Give them your Oscar's award performance and you'll be fine", he answered with a big smile.
Sam lifted an eyebrow.
"Are you implying that I'm a good liar? You've always told me that I'm a terrible liar…", she said.
"You're a terrible liar when you're caught off guard. When you're prepared, you're a pro", he said giving her a slow kiss on the lips.
She smiled while he kissed her.
"A pro?!", she asked as the kissed deepened.
His hands went to her waist, bringing her close to him.
"Oh yes… You can fool them with your dazzling smile. God knows you tricked me several times over the years", he said continuing the kiss.
Sam stopped kissing him and looked at him. Almost offended.
"I… I tricked you?!", she asked with her blue eyes shining.
Jack started to slid his hand below her t-shirt, moving to her bra.
"Several times, Brigadier General. You just had to show me your mega-watt smile and I would do anything you would want me to do. I still do as you very well know", he said kissing her again. This time without giving her a chance to talk back.
Inevitably, things got heated as they started to make-out in the couch. They were so oblivious to the rest they completely forgot that Jake was in the living room with them. So when Jack was prepared to take Sam shirt out, he stopped abruptly.
"What?!", she asked breathless.
Jack also breathing fast looked to his left. Where their son was quietly standing next to the couch, with a baby bear in his hand. Looking at them with a smile. Sam moved her head and also saw him. Her hips jerked so much that she almost threw Jack off the couch.
"Shit!", she mumbled pulling her shirt back on.
"Hi buddy", Jack said getting off her.
"Da-da", Jake said first and then moving to his mother. "Ma-ma". He gave her his teddy bear.
Sam was already seated on the couch and took the teddy bear.
"Thanks, Jake. Are you hungry, baby?", she said picking him up.
Jack was still adjusting his clothes and trying to calm his very hard-on. Their kid had the worst timing possible!
"Ma-ma", he said grabbing some of her hair.
"Alright, let's give you some food", she said putting her hand over his and opening his fingers. He sometimes liked to pull her hair a little too painfully.
"Coming", Jack said following them to the kitchen.
The rest of the afternoon was spend taking care of Jake and discussing some more about the impending changes on the Carter-O'Neill family.