Jacob found Jack alone in the cafeteria, a cup of untouched coffee sitting before him. The general appeared lost in thought, and his somber demeanor didn't go unnoticed. Jacob took a seat, and his presence seemed to startle Jack.

"Jacob," Jack muttered, his voice laced with surprise and tension.

"Hi, Jack," Jacob greeted with a friendly smile, though he was acutely aware of the unease in the room.

Jack attempted a smile in response, but it came out strained, and it was clear that something was weighing heavily on his mind. Jacob couldn't help but notice how Jack seemed to have aged since their last encounter, further confirming his suspicions.

Jacob decided to dive right in. "So, I just returned from the infirmary and had a nice talk with my daughter," he began.

Jack's face paled, and Jacob knew he had hit the mark. The conversation in the infirmary had indeed been about him and Sam, and now it was all out in the open.

"Oh," was all Jack managed to say, his unease palpable.

Jacob leaned in, his voice low and measured. "Yes, 'oh,'" he replied, deciding to play his cards openly. He knew Sam hadn't divulged any specifics, so he had to probe gently.

Jack looked at his hands on the table, his thoughts racing. "What else did she tell you?" he inquired cautiously, suspecting that Jacob was angling for something.

Jacob was not one to mince words. "We needed to talk when she's back home," he admitted. He didn't want to play games with Jack, who was more informed than he was letting on. "Why does my daughter need to talk to me outside the SGC? And why do I have a strong feeling that it involves you?" Jacob added.

Jack finally met Jacob's gaze, his eyes steady and sincere.

"We haven't done anything wrong, Jacob. You have my word on that. That's why we need to talk to you outside the SGC," he explained, speaking slowly and earnestly.

Jacob felt his anger begin to boil beneath the surface.

"You're her superior officer, Jack! You son of a bitch," he hissed, frustration and concern coursing.

Jack attempted to keep the situation under control, realizing the gravity of the moment.

"Stay calm, Jacob. Like I told you, we haven't done anything against the regulations. Please wait until Carter recovers; you'll know exactly what's happening. You have my word," he reiterated.

Selmak took control of Jacob, speaking with a measured tone. "General O'Neill, Jacob is too emotional now, so until he calms down, you will talk to me."

"Hi, Selmak," Jack greeted with a sigh, acknowledging the wisdom of discussing the matter with the Tok'ra.

Selmak continued, her approach more diplomatic. "As you can understand, Jacob is very distressed with this situation. He will wait until Samantha is better and at home. We will address the subject then, but please provide us with the truth about what is happening," she requested.

Jack nodded in agreement.

"Like I said, you both have my word. Carter sent a message because we wanted to talk to you about this. I just hoped it was under different circumstances," he added, his disappointment evident.

Jacob managed to regain control from Selmak and issued a stern warning.

"I'll wait, Jack, but I'm also telling you that if you do anything to jeopardize Sam's career or her, I'll kill you myself," he declared before abruptly leaving the table, leaving Jack with much to ponder.

Jack sighed heavily and hoped Sam would heal quickly, allowing them to address the matter under better circumstances.

Fortunately, Sam's recovery progressed more swiftly than Dr. Lam had initially predicted. With her strength returning, she felt ready to converse with her father. They arranged to have dinner at her house, with Jack bringing the food for the occasion. Jacob had been staying with her since her return, serving as a protective guardian but preventing Jack from visiting during her recovery days.

As they approached the evening of the planned dinner, Jacob couldn't hide his unease. He paced restlessly in her living room, voicing his apprehension. "I have a bad feeling about this, Samantha," he kept repeating.

Sam sat on the couch, her healing scar still causing intermittent pain. She was tempted to ask her father to return to the Tok'ra to retrieve the healing device covertly. She had pressing matters to attend to, and this discomfort was an unwelcome hindrance.

At the agreed-upon time, the doorbell rang, and Jacob muttered, "I'll go." Sam remained seated on the couch, her anticipation mounting.

Jacob answered the door and, seconds later, reappeared with Jack in tow. A warm smile graced Jack's face as he greeted her.

"Hi, Carter. How are you feeling?" he asked, his concern evident.

"Better," Sam replied with a smile. Jack's presence always had a way of making her feel better, no matter the circumstances. Jacob watched them closely, his nervousness clear.

Jacob inquired, "So, do we talk now or after dinner?" The tension in the room was palpable.

Sam rose from the couch, wincing slightly from the lingering pain in her abdomen. Jack quickly stepped forward to assist her, beating Jacob to the task.

"Thanks," Sam said, her touch marking their first contact in days.

"Let's have dinner, and then we'll see Dad," Sam proposed. She moved toward the kitchen, where Jack had left the food. Nervously, they followed her, ready to address the matter.

As the dinner unfolded, an uncomfortable silence settled over the table. None of them seemed willing to initiate the conversation they had been postponing. Sam cast occasional glances at Jack, who responded with subtle, encouraging nods, while Jacob watched this silent standoff, trying to choke down his food.

Finally, Jacob's patience wore thin. He slammed his utensils onto the table, demanding, "Okay. Get on with it."

Sam turned to Jack, and he cleared his throat, realizing the moment had come.

"Very well, Jacob. We have something to tell you, but please listen until the end," he requested.

Jacob was visibly fuming, but he managed to stay quiet, mainly due to Selmak's influence, which aimed to keep the peace. Jack recognized that the task of delivering the news fell upon him.

"You probably know I have deep feelings for your daughter," Jack began. "I finally told her after I found her during this Russian incident. It turns out she shares the same feelings. But, as I mentioned in the cafeteria, nothing happened between us. I talked to Hammond and asked for permission to marry her. I would have asked you first, but you were away," he said, glancing at Sam.

She gave him an encouraging smile, confirming her agreement with his words.

Jacob, however, seemed surprised. "You asked George?" he inquired.

Jack nodded. "Yes, we decided to do things through the proper channels. We received an answer a couple of weeks ago. They said 'yes.' We have a special dispensation order signed by the President himself," Jack revealed, a hint of a smile on his lips.

Jacob was taken aback. "They said yes?" he repeated, his surprise evident.

He looked at Sam, who was smiling warmly.

"Is that why you sent that message to the Tok'ra?" Jacob asked.

Sam met her father's gaze directly. "Yes, Dad. We wanted to tell you and ask you to be at our wedding. It has to be a small ceremony, but we want you to be there," she explained, her smile never fading.

Jacob found himself at a loss for words, the room suddenly silent.

"Dad?" Sam called out, seeking his response.

Jacob finally cleared his throat and admitted, "I'm sorry. I suspected something was between you, but I had no idea it was this serious."

Sam bit her lip, her curiosity getting the better of her. "What does that mean?" she inquired, her voice showing signs of rising emotion.

"He's your superior officer, Samantha, despite the presidential order. People will think you two have been sleeping together since the beginning. Your career and reputation will be ruined," Jacob bluntly declared.

Sam's cheeks flushed red, and Jack attempted to intervene.

"Oh, so that's what matters to you? What other people may think about me? Not my happiness?" she retorted, her voice taking on a slow, controlled, and icy tone that Jack recognized well. It typically preceded severe confrontations.

"Sam…" he tried to interject.

She raised a hand, stopping him.

"No, Jack. I want to know if my father values what other people may think about me, about us, or my happiness. So, Dad, what do you say?" she demanded again, her eyes locked on him.

Jacob maintained his steadfast gaze, determined in his opinion.

"I want you to be happy, Samantha. But at what cost? You've already received a black mark because of him because you decided to 'save him' instead of handing things over to the SGC and the Air Force. And now you want to marry him? You'll ruin everything you've worked for. And you will be responsible for it," he warned.

Jack felt the need to contribute. He didn't want Sam to face this alone.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Jacob. You're right about one thing. Sam shouldn't have faced the Russian Mafia alone because of me. But she's an independent, strong woman with my full respect. I may disagree with what she did, but I respect her decision. And I love her even more for willingly putting her career aside for me. Just as I tried to do several times for her, only to be denied each time, I went to George Hammond because it was the only way to marry the woman of my life. I love your daughter more than anything, more than my own life. I'll make it my life's mission to make her happy every day until I die," Jack affirmed, taking Sam's hand and squeezing it tightly.

Tears welled up in Sam's eyes, and she returned the squeeze, saying, "I love you."

Jack kissed her hand and whispered, "I love you too."

Jacob silently observed the exchange and said, "Well, Jack, that's all very beautiful. I don't doubt your intentions with Sam. But you know very well that people talk. You're at the Pentagon now, and as soon as word gets out about your marriage, her reputation will go down the drain," he said, his tone filled with regret.

Jack met his future father-in-law's gaze squarely and declared, "Once Sam is my wife, no one will say a word about her in my presence, Jacob. I promise you that. What they say behind my back is something I cannot control—never could and never will. We must accept and live with it, knowing we aren't doing anything wrong."

Jacob leaned back in his chair, conceding, "Very well. In that case, I suppose congratulations are in order," he said, finally smiling.

Sam had yet to release Jack's hand.

"Look, Dad, I'd like to have you at my wedding, but if you disagree, it's okay. You can say so," she said.

Jacob sighed, his eyes filled with understanding.

"Sweetheart, I felt obligated to warn you about the implications. If you feel your love is stronger than those, you have all my support. No one will speak ill of you in my face, as Jack said."

Sam bit her lip, tears now freely flowing.

"Thanks, Dad," she whispered, her voice full of emotion.

Jack chimed in with a teasing tone, saying, "Yes, thanks, Dad."

Jacob gave him a warning look. "Don't push it, General," he cautioned.