Chapter 10

A few weeks had passed since the barbecue. Stirred feelings, had settled and had been stored up again, and everything was back to normal… well, as normal as you can get when you visit other planets for a living.

A preoccupied Jack strolled down the corridor, humming a tune. He had just gotten to where he wanted to be when Sam came to the same point from the opposite direction.

"Hey, Carter."

"Hey, sir. Were you told to see the general as well?"

"It seems so."

"Do you know why we both have to be here?"

"I have no idea, Carter. Why don't we find out," Jack said as he knocked on the door.

"Come in," came a voice from inside.

"You wanted to see us, sir?!" Jack asked, waiting for permission to settle.

"Yes. Please sit down."

Jack pulled back a chair, and Sam did the same. Then Hammond continued, "You are aware that I have been away quite a lot these past few weeks."

"Yes sir." Sam said obediently."

"Well, these visits have been to see the President."

"The President??!" Jack asked, slightly shocked.

"Yes, the President. You see, it has been brought to my attention… well, I guess somebody reminded me that you two have… what we can call a special bond."

"We may be close, but we wouldn't do anything to compromise our positions in the Stargate program," Sam said defensively. Jack lowered his head slightly and sighed.

Looking over at Jack with sadness in his eyes, Hammond continued. "I know, we all realize that. That is why we have found a way to get past the protocols and the regulations, so you can both be together."

Both Sam's and Jack's heads shot upward in shock over what they were hearing.

"What do you mean?" Sam asked, as Jack simultaneously demanded, "How, sir?"

"Well, as you know, you cannot both work for the program and enter into any kind of relationship, but we've discovered a loophole that means that you can be married and in the program."

"So, what, we just get married?" Jack asked, slightly confused.

"There are a few kinks to work out, but essentially, yes!"

Jack's confused face turned into a smug grin as he saw Sam's mouth stretching into a smile that made her look like a Cheshire cat.

Jack and Sam walked out of the general's office, unconsciously moving their feet in unison.

Both were walking on autopilot. There was a lot to take in.: the many emotions that went with the opportunity that was given to them, and ultimately the decision that they were both going to have to make.

Sam was jubilant at the news from the general, and yet she had a deep-rooted fear that the colonel would not want to be her husband. Her thoughts, however, couldn't have been further from the truth. Jack's worries were about the rest of the team and how they would function post-vows. Marrying Carter would, in fact, fulfill, a secret desire his heart had held for a long while.

"I'm no expert, Carter, but I think that we need to talk through this a bit."

"Yes, sir."

Sam led the way toward her lab. Her entire being was tingling. Once they were both inside the room, Jack carefully closed the door, then turned around, and his eyes locked with hers. They stayed that way for several moments before one of them built up the courage to talk.

"My only worry is the team––I think they should be let in on this, too."

Sam's heart began to beat strongly; it seemed to be caught in her throat.

"Sir, do you mean that you think it's a good idea?!"

Jack held her in his gaze for a few moments, and then took a few steps toward her, closing the space between them. He looked down at her hands, the hands that had blown up a sun, worked on countless scientific projects, and fought enemies most people would never believe even existed, and then grasped them with his own.

"Don't you?" Jack asked.

Sam looked at the man she had grown to admire and––dare she say it?––love.

With slight tears in her eyes, Sam responded, "Yeah… I suppose I do." Her mouth turned up wide into the mega-watt smile she saved only for Jack.

He returned the expression with equal brightness. "Sweet."