Finding Calm Waters Chapter 17-19

[iwrite4fun]

Chapter 17

Sam woke to an empty bed the following morning, and went looking for Jack. She found him sitting at the kitchen table a cup of coffee in hand, with Daniel and Cassie.

“Good morning,” she greeted everyone, though she gave Jack a kiss that was intended for his cheek, but Jack turned his face and captured her lips with his own, turning what would have been a peck on the cheek into a heated kiss.

They ended the contact when Daniel coughed discreetly. Sam, of course, looked embarrassed, while Jack wore a smirk.

“So you have a meeting with the lawyers today,” Daniel casually mentioned.

“Uh-hu,” Sam responded, getting her own cup of coffee.

“And Kathy and Jacob,” Daniel continued, looking at Sam to see how she was going to handle this.

“Are the kids going too?” Cassie asked curiously.

Sam glanced at Jack, who gave her a reassuring nod. “Jack and I are going to meet with them first. After a while, you’ll probably need to bring Nate and Lindsay in so that the lawyers and whoever else can talk to them. Then they’ll leave and we’ll talk some more.”

“Won’t this be a lot like the hearing that you and Jack went to for Cassie?” Daniel asked.

“No Space Monkey. Things won’t be that easy,” Jack declared.

“Why not?” Daniel asked as he pushed his glasses up on his nose.

“For one, Janet left a will that gave specific instructions on what was going to happen Cassie. Then, there’s the fact that Cassie is quite a bit older than either Lindsay or Nate,” Jack explained.

“And no one contested Janet’s will,” Sam added mournfully.

“Hey,” Jack said softly as he squeezed her hand reassuringly, “Things will be fine, I promise.”

It seemed that Jack’s words were enough to reassure Sam, because she smiled and turned her attention to making breakfast.

Sam had put her dress uniform on and gathered all the possible paperwork she might need and was waiting for Jack. Finally, he emerged from their bedroom, trying to straighten his tie, his jacket casually hanging over his arm. Without words, Sam stepped up and batted his hands out of the way, straightening the tie for him. When she was done, Jack rewarded her with a thank you kiss, and a confident smile, projecting the confidence he knew Sam was lacking.

Jack put his hand on the small of Sam’s back, leading her to his rental car. Ever the gentleman, he opened the door and waited for her to get inside before softly shutting it and getting in the driver’s side.

The drive to the lawyer’s office where they were meeting at was done in silence. Sam was lost in thought, going over her arguments one more time that she would use to convince Karen’s parents that she was the right person to trust with their grandchildren.

Meanwhile, Jack was thinking about all the changes that had occurred in the past two weeks, and all the things he had found out. ‘As soon as we get a chance,’ Jack promised himself, ‘I’m going to tell Sam everything.’

All too soon, they were there. Before they got out, Jack gave Sam’s hand one last reassuring squeeze and said, “I love you, and you will be a wonderful guardian for Nate and Lindsay, regardless of what they say.”

His words seemed to be exactly what Sam wanted to hear as she gave him a small smile. They stepped out of the car, Jack putting on his jacket and meeting Sam at the front of the car. Side by side, like they had done so many times before, they went off to fight another battle.

Jack was quickly becoming aggravated as he sat and listened to Karen and Jacob Lewis go on and on about how they “would be the best choice for Lindsay and Nathan’s guardians” as they kept saying.

Every time Sam tried to say something, she got interrupted or torn apart by the older couple. Eventually, Sam just gave up and let the couple talk. The lawyers, the one who had drawn up the Carter’s will and the one who was representing the Lewis’s, seemed content to let the talking go on and on, but the social worker was becoming tired of all the talking.

Especially, because Jack sensed, she had already reached a decision after talking with Lindsay and Nate in private.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, the couple had run out of things to say, the social worker turned to Sam and Jack and asked, “Is there anything either of you would like to add to the statement you gave earlier?”

“No thank you,” they both politely declined at the same time.

“Well then, I see no reason to not inform you of my decision right now. As you are all aware, Lindsay and Nathan Carter are both of an age where their opinion weighs a great deal on the final decision. Both were adamant and made their desires as to who they wished to be their guardian clear. Reviewing the materials that you have put forward along with your references and a thorough background check has made me even more confident in my decision. It is with all of this in mind, that I grant immediate guardianship of Lindsay and Nathan Carter to Ms. Samantha Carter,” the woman said.

Kathy and Jacob began talking over each other, trying to raise an objection while Sam and Jack shared a smile. When Kathy started laying into the social worker, Jack broke the silence that he had kept for most of the meeting.

“Hey!” He shouted in his best command voice. “The decision has been made, there’s nothing you can do about it, so just leave the woman alone.”

“And just who are you?” Jacob Lewis asked, malice filling his words.

“Major General Jack O’Neill,” Jack answered confidently, and continued, answering the next question that would be asked. “Sam was my 2IC for eight years and I’m here because the President of the United States wants me to do whatever it takes to get her back to work. All it will take is one phone call and you’ll have a presidential order giving Sam custody of Nate and Lindsay. Don’t make me make that phone call,” Jack dared as he stood up, unfolding his body to reveal his menacing frame.

The social worker shot Jack a grateful smile as Jack sat back down. “Anyways,” she continued, “I have nothing else. Ms. Carter, if you need anything you know how to contact me.”

“Thank you,” Sam said quietly as she turned to face the Kathy and Jacob. “You’re more than welcome to visit any time, and I’m sure that Lindsay and Nate would be willing to visit. Maybe we could work something out where they spend a couple of weeks with you during the summer,” she offered.

Kathy looked like she was still fuming but Jacob stood up and offered his hand to Sam across the table. “I guess that will have to do,” he grudgingly admitted.

Jacob’s comment broke the ice in the conversation that followed.

Sam was once more, safely encircled in Jack’s arms when something dawned on her. “Just when did you make Major General?” she asked, turning around to face him.

“When I agreed to stay on and help Landry take over of Hammond’s position. The President insisted,” Jack claimed, shrugging off her words.

“And you didn’t think it was important enough to tell me,” Sam accused.

“Of course not, it just kinda slipped my mind,” Jack apologized. “We had more important things to worry about than my promotion,” Jack reminded her.

“I guess,” Sam relented, “But don’t think I’m letting you off the hook that easily!”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Jack smiled at her, trying not to look smug at her words.

“And I don’t mean like that either,” she lightly elbowed him. “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

“Actually there is,” Jack said as he thought about he was going to break the news to Sam. “The promotion came from the President, but before I refused to take Hammond’s job on a permanent basis and move to Washington, I made a couple of demands of my own. I want you to move in with me. You, Lindsay, and Nate when we get back Colorado Springs,” Jack explained.

“Jack, as great as that sounds, I’m still working on the Orion,” Sam reminded him, “And that’s at Area 51. Me and the kids are headed back to Nellis.”

“I know that,” Jack accepted. “That’s why the Asgard who will be in orbit until the Orion is ready to leave, have offered to beam you from the SGC to Area 51 everyday.”

“Wow! Jack! Moving in together? I mean, if it was just me, I would have already said yes, but”

“Nate and Lindsay right? Actually, they were open to the idea. Kind of excited actually,” Jack claimed.

“You went behind my back!” Sam accused him.

Jack had the sense to look guilty.

“Fortunately, I think it’s a good idea, so you’re off the hook, this time,” Sam finished. “Anything else?”

“Just that you’ll be reporting to Landry for all things work related. The President thought it was strange that I didn’t want you under my command again, but when I explained the situation, he was quite an understanding man, after he got done laughing that is. Seems everyone and their brother at the SGC had a bet on when we would finally get together,” Jack said.

Sam buried her face in Jack’s chest in embarrassment. “Tell me you’re joking,” she begged.

“Nope.”

“I’m never going to be able to show my face at the White House ever again, let alone in Colorado Springs.” Sam groaned.

“Honestly, that isn’t as bad as it sounds Sam,” Jack reminded her, “Washington isn’t everything that it’s cracked up to be.”

“Of course you would think that, you’re not the one that”

“Everyone will think slept her way up the ranks,” Jack finished for her, before reminding her of her words from a few months before. “The people that think that are stupid Sam and those that believe it-well we’ll just let Teal’c deal with them!”

“Only because it will be easier that way,” he was quick to add at her glare that indicated he had better not think that she was incapable of dealing with them herself. “Teal’c does that staring thing with his eyebrow and it makes everyone cower.”

Sam laughed and kissed Jack on the lips, letting him know all was okay. “I guess since the kids already know, we’ll have to move in with you,” Sam declared, somehow managing to make it sound like a huge sacrifice on her part.

“Yeah, you wouldn’t want to disappoint the kids,” Jack murmured as he leaned in to kiss Sam once more.

Jack had insisted that the kids finish packing the previous day so that they could fly back to Colorado Springs the next day. It had taken quite a while, especially to go through their parents’ room. That experience had brought forth quite a few tears from Lindsay and Nate who chose to donate most of their parents’ things to charity, while leaving the house already furnished. Sam and Jack had talked with them about the furniture in the house, which both of the kids had been indifferent to keeping.

Kathy and Jacob had come over to help, and sort out a few things that they wanted to keep, but for the most part, Lindsay and Nate wouldn’t be taking more than personal possessions and clothes with them.

Meanwhile, Jack had taken advantage of the time to have Thor beam him and Cassie to Sam’s place at Nellis. Once there, they tagged items that Thor beamed to Jack’s house in Colorado Springs.

Jack had charted a plane to fly them back to Colorado Springs, considering they had all gotten there by plane and it would take a really long time to drive back. Sam agreed and let Jack charter the plane, knowing that it would be the only way they could take all the boxes with them. After all, they couldn’t make use of beaming technology with Lindsay and Nate there!

When they got to the airfield though, the pilot was someone that Sam, Jack, Daniel, and even Cassie were very familiar with.

“Ferretti!” Sam squeaked as the man pulled her into a bone crushing hug.

“Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter!” Louis Ferretti exclaimed once Sam was at arm’s length. He turned to Jack and pulled him into a manly, back slapping hug, “And Jack, a General, I never thought I’d see the day!”

“We say the same thing all the time,” Daniel added as he guided Nate and Lindsay over with Cassie at his side.

Ferretti gave Daniel a huge smile while Jack sent him a glare. “And who are these three?” Ferretti asked.

“This is my niece and nephew, Lindsay and Nate Carter,” Sam explained, and then traded a grin with Cassie, “And this young lady is Cassie.”

“Not Cassie? Janet’s Cassie? When did you become so grown up?” Ferretti asked in disbelief.

“We’re not sure ourselves,” Jack said, putting his arm around Sam, something that made Ferretti’s eyebrows shoot up, but he didn’t say anything.

“Come on guys, let’s get everything on the plane,” Jack ordered and the group quickly loaded all the luggage and boxes on the plane.

They were already in the air, Jack at the controls with Nate in the co-pilot’s seat. Both were acting like little kids with a new toy to play with. The two had bonded even more once Nate had admitted that he had considered following the family tradition of going into the Air Force so that he could become a pilot. Jack had quickly gotten down to business and started giving him flying lessons.

Ferretti had come back to sit next to Sam. “Jack told me about Jacob Sam. I’m sorry to hear that he died. He was a good man. He’ll be missed,” Ferretti lamented.

“Thank you,” Sam said quietly.

“So you and Jack, huh?” Ferretti said smiling at the idea, as he moved to a lighter subject. “You know Charlie and I were the first two to place bets after that first briefing. I never thought that the two of you would ever get together, considering how the odds were stacked against you. I’m glad you found a way though. If anyone deserves it, it’s you and Jackwhen is he going pop the question?”

Sam stared at Ferretti in shock doing a good impression of a goldfish with the way her mouth kept opening and closing but no sound coming out. Ferrett clapped her on the shoulder and laughed before returning to the cockpit and kicking an enthralled Nate out.

“Last I heard Sam was engaged to some cop Jack, so what happened that the two of you are so close now?” Ferretti asked, wondering how hard he would have to work to get a rise out of Jack.

Jack shrugged. “Her dad died, we went fishing, she transferred, and we started dating.”

“Any plans for a wedding in the future?”

Jack pulled a box out of his pocket and handed it to Ferretti. Ferretti opened it and whistled. “I’m guessing that would be a yes. How long have you had this for?” he asked, closing the box and handing it back to Jack.

“Too long,” Jack admitted, “And it will be even longer now, with Nate and Lindsay in the picture. I was going to ask her about three weeks ago, but Thor interrupted things.”

“Why does Sam having custody of Nate and Lindsay make a difference?” Ferretti asked confused.

“Sam just became a mom, to two teen aged kids, but a mom nonetheless. That’s not something that will be easy to adjust to overnight. I don’t want to put pressure on our relationship and her relationship with Lindsay and Nate at the same time. Besides, Nate, Lindsay, and Sam to all move in with me. That seemed like a big enough step for now,” Jack claimed.

“But you love her enough to buy a ring,” Ferretti prodded.

“If something happens to her before I have a chance to put a ring on her finger and show her just how much she means to me. I don’t know if I’ll survive,” Jack admitted.

They were beginning their descent now, so the personal conversation ended. Ferretti didn’t get a chance to say anything else to Jack until they were loading the last couple boxes into Jack’s truck.

“Don’t wait too long to ask her Jack. You’ve both had to wait so long already, and you love kids Jack. Don’t waste a single day,” Ferretti advised him.

Jack smiled wistfully taking Ferretti’s advice to heart. “I don’t plan to,” he promised.

“Just don’t forget to invite me to the wedding,” Ferretti commanded.


Chapter 18

It took the rest of the weekend to get everyone settled at Jack’s house. Cassie already had a room, but she would now be sharing with Lindsay while Nate would have his own room.

Jack had originally thought things would be a little cramped with five people living in the house, but suddenly he knew that he needed to put an addition on to the house. Every time he turned around, he felt like he was tripping over someone!

Cassie’s room had previously been the guest room, prior to Janet’s death, but now, housed the bunk beds that Sam had purchased for the guest room in Nevada. The bed originally in Cassie’s room had been relocated to Nate’s new room, which had been Jack’s office. Needless to say, there had been quite a lot of furniture moving going on during that first weekend.

Jack realized something though; he needed an office as did Sam that could be secured because of the classified nature of their work-something that his house was now lacking. So while they were spooned together in bed, Jack told Sam one evening during her first week living with him that he was going to look into putting an addition on the house. What he didn’t tell her that he would be doing the same thing to his cabin.

He figured that she protested enough at adding on to the house, telling him, “We can find our own place. We don’t need to make you-”

“You’re not making me do anything,” Jack assured her. “I always figured that I would add on someday, and now is a good of time as any.”

Sam eyed him suspiciously but let Jack off the hook anyways.

Jack was glad that he didn’t tell her he wasn’t just adding one bedroom and two offices, like she probably thought, but three bedrooms, two offices, and expanding the living room-and that the only time he had imagined adding on to his house was because he was married to her and they needed more bedrooms for their kids.

Jack always dreams that he would need six bedrooms for the kids, one for each of the future O’Neill hockey stars!

The end of summer came all too soon for the Carters. Nate and Lindsay had made a few friends, which made going to school seem slightly less daunting. The fact that Cassie had went to the same middle school was a relief for everyone. The school’s principal remembered Jack and Sam, both of whom had picked Cassie up from school numerous times and had been extremely reassuring for Sam’s sake.

Jack could tell that Nate and Lindsay could care less about the school; in their minds, they just had to go to school, something they had done since they were five!

Settling into a daily routine had turned out to be rather easy. Sam or Jack would drop the kids off at school in the morning and they would take the bus home in the afternoon. Cassie, who had transferred to the University of Colorado so that she could be closer to her family, would be home shortly after to keep an eye on them until Sam and Jack got home.

Sam and Jack had protested Cassie’s change of college, Sam more so than Jack, but Cassie had been insistent that she wanted to be closer to her family. And she really did consider Lindsay and Nate to be part of her family. There was no doubt that the older girl considered Nate to be an annoying younger brother and Lindsay to be the little sister she always wanted. Weekend shopping trips and late night talks with Lindsay were normal things for both girls.

Sam couldn’t have been happier about how things were going, except for one thing. Jack hadn’t mentioned taking their relationship further. She thought that moving in with him would mean that they would discuss the topic of marriage, but Jack hadn’t said a word.

What she didn’t know was what Jack was currently planning.

Jack surprised Lindsay and Nate by picking them up from school one Thursday afternoon in September.

“Uncle Jack,” Nate asked looking at the older man who seemed slightly off, “Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” Jack reassured him, offering both kids a small smile to reinforce his words as the kids climbed into his truck.

They drove to McDonald’s, supposedly because Jack was hungry, but even Lindsay noticed that he only got a shake. Finally Lindsay couldn’t take the silence any more and out rightly asked, “Are you going to marry Aunt Sam?”

Nate was lucky that Jack’s mouth was empty otherwise he probably would have found himself covered in chocolate milkshake!

“Am I that obvious?” Jack questioned.

Lindsay squealed, “I knew it! Cassie so owes me five bucks now!”

Jack examined Lindsay’s face and saw nothing but excitement reflected there. “So, you’re okay with the idea?” he asked.

“Yes!” Lindsay exclaimed.

“Of course,” Nate claimed with a reluctant smile that showed he really wasn’t as okay with it as he claimed-something that Jack noticed.

“Good,” Jack said, smiling in relief, though much like Nate’s smile, it was reserved.

When they got home, Jack placed a hand on Nate’s seatbelt, preventing him from getting out. He waited until Lindsay got out though before saying anything. “You want to tell me what’s wrong?” he asked the boy.

Nate shrugged. “Nothing.”

“Let’s go for a walk,” Jack suggested.

They walked towards the park while Jack asked Nate questions. “Problems at school?” he asked.

“No.”

“Problems with Lindsay or Cassie?”

“Nope.”

“Is it girls?” Jack asked slightly worried because he had no idea how to deal with that kind of stuff.

“Ewww!”

“Then it has to be with me or with Sam,” Jack concluded.

Nate just shrugged.

“You know I’m not trying to replace your dad, just like Sam doesn’t want to replace your mom,” Jack spoke aloud.

“I know,” Nate mumbled.

Jack turned to look at Nate. “You know, I was married before. Even had a son,” Jack admitted.

“You did?” Nate asked looking a little bit surprised.

“Yeah. He died, a long time ago. You remind me of him sometimes,” Jack claimed.

“I do?”

“Yeah. I only hope that I can do a better job with you than I did with Charlie. You’re a good kid Nate, and with the influence of your aunt, you’ll make fine man someday.” Jack stopped Nate with a hand on his shoulder. “I promise that I’m not going to take your aunt away. You and Lindsay are stuck with me just as much as she will be, if she agrees to marry me that is.”

“She’d better,” Nate declaring looking Jack in the eye, “Lindsay, Cassie, and I will gang up on her until she does.”

Jack laughed. “I’d pay to see that one, but let’s hold that plan in reserve and see if she’ll just say yes when I ask.”

“Okay,” Nate said, obviously disappointed that he couldn’t force his aunt into something.

Friday night Jack took Sam out to the same restaurant that he had several months before when he had planned to ‘pop the question’. Jack was pretty sure that Sam didn’t suspect a thing when he guided her out back to a gazebo that was lit with while lights. Jack led her to the middle gazebo and took her hand, fingering the box that was in his pocket.

“I love you,” Jack began.

“I love you too,” Sam returned.

Jack held up his hand. “Just let me do this before I lose my nerve,” Jack insisted, “Or we get interrupted again.”

Sam nodded and Jack continued. “I love you and cannot for the life of me figure out what you see in me. I’m older than you, sarcastic, and often say the wrong thing. But I hope that I got this right. You would make me the happiest man in the world, heck in the galaxy if you would let me be apart of your family, be a real uncle to Nate and Lindsay, and agree to be my wife. I guess what I’m trying to say Sam, is will you marry me?”

Sam blinked. And then blinked again. And then blinked a third time, trying to process his words. “I love you Jack O’Neill. YES!”

“Really?” Jack asked in disbelief.

“Yes!”

Jack pulled Sam in for the longest kiss of either of their lives.

A short while later they pulled into the garage at their house. Sam and Jack walked hand in hand through the door only to be pounced on by Cassie and Lindsay who must have been waiting for them.

Cassie only managed to stop Lindsay from saying anything by speaking first when she realized that there wasn’t a ring on Sam’s finger. “Did you have a good time?” she asked.

Sam looked at them suspiciously, especially when Nate, Daniel, and then Teal’c joined them in the kitchen. “Teal’c!” Sam gasped, “When did you get here?”

“Earlier this evening Colonel Carter,” Teal’c replied as he hugged the overly enthusiastic woman.

“Don’t look at me Sam, I didn’t know he was coming,” Jack insisted.

“Well?” Nate asked looking at Jack expectantly.

Jack looked at Sam and like so many times before, they carried out an entire conversation with just their eyes. Jack wrapped his arm around Sam’s shoulder. “Sam and I have an announcement to make,” Jack began, “We’re getting married!”

The girls let out shrieks of joy as the converged on Sam, but Cassie looked at the two adults rather confused. “Umm Jack, not to sound annoying or anything, but where’s the ring?”

“The ring? Ummmy pocket still,” Jack admitted sheepishly as he pulled the ring out and slipped it on Sam’s finger while his audience laughed.

Sam and Jack were getting ready for bed, when Jack caught Sam staring at her engagement ring for what seemed like the millionth time since he had put it on her finger. The platinum band had two small stones set on either side of a sapphire colored diamond. It wasn’t like either of her two previous engagement rings-it was better in every way, the ring she had always dreamed of having-but mostly it was better because it was Jack’s ring.

“It’s not going to disappear if you quit looking at it,” Jack promised.

“I know,” Sam admitted, “I just can’t believe you finally asked!”

“Finally? Do you know that I’ve carried that ring around since after that first trip to see you at Area 51? I wanted to be sure that you would say yes, and even tonight I wasn’t sure that you would agree,” Jack explained.

Sam stepped over to Jack and kissed him. “No matter when you had asked, I would have said yes-and if there would have been a priest I would have married you on the spot!” Sam declared.

“What if I had asked you in BDUs covered in mud?” Jack asked, hopefully starting a game.

“Then I would have said yes.” And Sam kissed him.

“What about if I had asked you in the middle of the gate room?”

“I would have said yes.” And Sam gave him another kiss.

“In front of General Hammond?”

“Yes.” And a kiss.

“In front of the President?”

“Yes, Yes, Yes!” Sam said giving him another kiss.

“Good, then I guess now would be a good time to tell you that the President is getting an invitation to the wedding,” Jack said. “It was part of the deal.”

Sam eyed him suspiciously. “What deal?”

Jack fidgeted a little bit under her gaze. “The one I made with Thor and the President that they got invitations to the wedding in exchange for the use of the beaming technology and me not taking Hammond’s position.”

“Oh. Wait-the President wanted you to take Hammond’s position?”

Jack gulped. “Yeah and I told him there was no way in hell I could do the politics thing.”

“So you're pawned it off on General Landry!” Sam accused him trying to look mad.

“Not totally, at least not yet,” Jack admitted, “But I fully intend to when I meet with the President next week. Speaking of which, Nate and Lindsay have a long weekend, some teacher in-service thing, so I was thinking that you, me, Daniel, Teal’c, and the kids all go to D.C.,” Jack suggested as he slid into bed.

“You were thinking huh? I thought that was my job,” Sam joked as she cuddled up next to him.

“Well I can have a good idea every now and then,” Jack claimed with a chuckle.

“And I suppose you told the kids already so that I’ll have to agree, right?” Sam asked, knowing full well that she would be ganged up on if she said no.

“I may have casually mentioned something,” Jack said, “And the President did want you to come.”

“Then I guess we’re going to D.C.” Sam sighed in an exaggerated manner, “Anything else you want to tell me now or is it all going to be a surprise?”

“Actually, there is,” Jack said as Sam turned around to face him. “The President has offered to officiate our wedding in the Oval Office. I told him that it was all up to you.”

Sam gaped at him. “He really said that?”

“Uh-hu.”

“You know,” Sam said as a smile began to form on her face, “Teal’c is only in town for a little more than a week and Daniel leaves on The Orion in two weeks, and I can’t imagine getting married without them being there. So I think you’d better call the President and tell him that we’ll take him up on the offer-but no extra guests!” She insisted, thinking about the length of the guest list for her wedding to Pete.

“You’re serious?” Jack asked in disbelief.

“Well yeah. How many people do you know that get married by the President in the Oval Office?” Sam asked.

“Umm”

“Yeah, so you better give him a call tomorrow morning and get things setup,” Sam ordered him.

“Yes ma’am,” Jack said offering her a mock salute.


Chapter 19

The entire next week, the base noticed that their General, well General O’Neill was in a very good mood while General Landry seemed to be the slightly cranky one, a role reversal from what the staff was used to-especially considering General O’Neill was about to spend a weekend in Washington-his least favorite place on Earth next to Antartica.

Everyone knew that General Jack O’Neill and politics didn’t mix. Walter had been overheard telling a group of technicians that the man would rather face a battalion of heavily armed Jaffa, alone, than do paperwork or talk with a politician. Unsurprisingly, every person in the room agreed with him.

The reason for the behavior of the two Generals was the talk of the water cooler, the infirmary, the mess hall-heck everyone seemed to want to know what was going on. Several people tried digging information out of Teal’c, Dr. Jackson, and even Colonel Carter, who reported to the base every morning before beaming onto The Orion for that day’s work, but no one would say anything. But Walter and Siler were sure taking bets!

Just when Walter thought that rumors couldn’t get any worse, General O’Neill informed him that the President would be arriving on base Tuesday morning for a visit. The General had clapped him on that shoulder and said, “Good Luck, I’m sure you’ll be fine Walter. And remember-Don’t call me or Carter unless it’s an emergency this weekend. Bug Hank for a chance, it may be one of the last chances you get!”

Walter had looked at the man in disbelief as he trotted out of the room, presumably to greet a returning Colonel Carter.

While the base was busy trading rumors, the Carter-O’Neill household was busy getting ready for a trip to D.C. Lindsay, Nate, and Cassie hadn’t been told that they would be meeting the President and having dinner with him or that they were going to Sam and Jack’s wedding. Yet going to D.C. was a good enough excuse to send the kids shopping for some new clothes.

Nate had protested loudly as Jack drug him to be fitted for a suit and tie. Of course Cassie and Lindsay made an afternoon out of shopping for new clothes and came home with more clothing than they could ever wear on a four day trip to D.C.

“There was a huge sale,” Cassie explained as she handed bags from the back seat of her car to Jack so that he could help carry them in the house. Three trips later, the car was empty and Jack wondered if there was any clothes left in the mall.

With preparations at home for the trip to D.C. causing so much excitement, Sam couldn’t help but compare her feelings this time to her engagement with Pete. This time there were no flowers to pick out or caterer to meet with. Though Sam suspected that there would be cake with dinner, at least she hoped there would be or Jack would never let her forget that their ‘wedding reception’ had been without the most important food group! In fact, Sam was feeling nothing but excitement for the approaching wedding day-compared to the nerves and doubt that had plagued her the previous two times.

Sam was almost disappointed that she had convinced Jack to keep the news of their upcoming nuptials quiet, which had been quite a feat in itself, because she so wanted to tell everyone that she was getting married to the man of her dreams.

Right after Lindsay and Nate got out of school on Thursday, Jack whisked them off to the jet that the President had arranged to fly all of them to Washington. When they arrived in D.C. it was already too late to do much more than get something to eat. So they ordered room service after getting checked into the hotel.

Not long after dinner, Sam sent the kids to their own room, reminding them that Cassie was in charge and to enjoy themselves while the adults spent the next day in meetings. Jack scowled at the mention of the meetings, hating just the mention of how he was going to spend the next day.

That night, the night before their wedding day, Sam and Jack were lying in bed once more, when Sam brought up the subject she had been thinking about for a long time.

“Jack,” Sam asked, “What do you think about kids?”

Jack was pretty sure he knew what she was talking about, but he felt the need to joke anyways. “Kids? Well, I think they’re great. Having Nate and Lindsay around is great. Finally there’s someone around who is close to my IQ.”

“Jack! Can you please be serious about this?” Sam demanded. “Besides, Nate and Lindsay are both very smart.”

“I’m sorry,” Jack apologized.

“You can make it up to me later,” Sam claimed.

“Sure,” Jack promised, ideas already swimming through his head.

“Kids,” Sam reminded him. “What do you think about us having kids?”

Jack sat up and turned on a lamp on the bedside table so that he could see Sam while they had this conversation. “I love kids Sam.”

“But?”

“But one of the first things to cross my desk after I took command of the SGC was a medical file. Your medical file,” Jack admitted.

“Oh,” Sam said as she understood that Jack already knew what she was going to tell him, “But that doesn’t mean we can’t try right?” Sam asked hopefully.

“Of course not,” Jack said, trying hard to hide his reluctance at the idea from Sam. Not reluctance at trying, but at the idea of being a father again. Taking care of Lindsay and Nate was one thing, but having a baby would be another story.

Being responsible for Nate and Lindsay who were already past the age that Charlie had died at was reassuring for him. The day Sarah told him that she was pregnant with Charlie had been the happiest and scariest day in his life, up until that point. Having a baby with Sam, one that would be solely dependent on them, would be the scariest thing he had ever done.

Luckily for Jack, Sam seemed so happy that he was willing to try, despite every doctor had said that she would never have children of her own, that she was starting to do things to let him know she wanted to start trying right now, which wasn’t something Jack was going to protest!

The next day the original members of SG-1 met with the Joint Chiefs and the President. It felt good to be able to tell them that all known threats in the galaxy were under control, something for which the many generals congratulated the team for a job well done.

Teal’c confidently told the group of the progress being made by the Free Jaffa as they discovered just what they could do with their newfound freedom.

Jack had been pleased that Teal’c seemed to make the Joint Chiefs nervous with just a glance. It wasn’t often that one got to see a room full of the highest ranking men in the country squirm just because someone looked at them wrong!

But no one was more grateful than Sam when the President announced that her transfer to the SGC had been approved. She planned to once again take command of SG-1 while also doing the occasional consultation with R&D out of Area 51, along with being the head of the Science Department at the SGC, therefore having her report to General Landry, the new head of Homeworld Security, made the most sense.

Sam and the President noted that Jack wasn’t the only one who gave a sigh of relief at that announcement. It seemed the Joint Chiefs were relieved to find out that they would not have to deal with Jack O’Neill on a day to day basis, which made Sam smile internally. It was plainly obvious that Jack O’Neill and politics just didn’t mix.

The President left as soon as the meeting was over, but not without whispering a reminder to Jack and Sam that he expected them and their guests an hour before the scheduled dinner time. The whispered conversation resulted in Sam and Jack getting questioning looks from the various generals and even Teal’c and Daniel, which they just ignored, much like they were used to doing.

For what had to be the twentieth time, Jack asked Sam, “Are you sure you don’t want to wear a dress for this evening?”

His only answer was a glare which caused him to raise his hands in surrender. “Okay, I get it. I’ll quit asking and go check on the kids,” Jack offered and was rewarded with a one of a kind Sam Carter smile.

Ten minutes later, Jack was pulling Nate out of his room and shoving him into the elevator. “I know you don’t like the tie kiddo but for where we’re going, you’re going to need it,” Jack declared.

It didn’t take long to get everyone into the limo that the President had sent to pick them up and once they were on their way, Jack, with Sam by his side, addressed everyone in the limo. “We’re going somewhere very special tonight. All of you need to be on your best behavior,” Jack warned, which earned him an elbow in the ribs from Sam, reminding him that that statement applied to him too.

“Just where are we eating Jack?” Daniel asked.

“Actually, we have to do something before we can eat,” Sam explained.

“What will be partaking in Colonel Carter?” Teal’c asked with a gleam in his eye like he already knew what was going to happen that evening.

Sam looked at Jack. Jack looked at Sam.

“We’re getting married,” they both said at the same time.

“Married!” Most everyone in the car said at the same time.

“How did you find a place to get married so quickly,” Daniel asked suspiciously, “Unless you were engaged before last weekend”

“No, we didn’t get engaged until last weekend,” Sam assured him.

“Then where did you find a place to have a wedding so fast. The wait for a place in D.C. must be like months,” Cassie claimed.

“I took a friend up on an offer,” Jack smugly said. “It’s not everyday that the President offers to let you get married in the Oval Office.”

“The President?”

“The Oval Office?”

“We’re going to the White House?”

Were the words that greeted Jack’s announcement as everyone tried to talk. Jack held up his hand, asking for silence, which he was rewarded with rather quickly.

“In case I didn’t make it clear, we are getting married in the Oval Office at the White House by the President who has then asked us to stay for dinner,” Jack explained.

Jack’s explanation was met with silence and smiles except for Nate who had a thoughtful expression on his face.

“Nate?” Sam asked.

“I’m trying to figure out what’s cooler you and Uncle Jack getting married by the President or having dinner at the White House!” Nate exclaimed.

Nate comment set the tone for the rest of the ride to the White House.

When they arrived at the White House, an aide quickly whisked Jack away the group, while another led Sam away after Jack disappeared from view. “I’ll see you guys in a few minutes,” Sam called over her shoulder as she followed after the aide. A third aide led the rest of the group to a room right off of the Oval Office. A few minutes later a very familiar man in a wheelchair joined them.

“General Hammond,” Teal’c greeted the man as an aide pushed the now retired General into the room, “I am glad to see you well. I feared the worse when Daniel Jackson contacted me.”

The General gave Teal’c a reassuring smile. “The doctors assure me that I will make a full recovery. I may have retired from the Air Force but I dare say you will still see me occasionally. As soon as the doctors will let me, I intend to move back to Colorado Springs to be with my daughter and granddaughters,” Hammond declared in a loud boisterous tone, one that left no doubt that that day would be soon.

“That’s great,” Daniel said ecstatically. “It will be good to have you around more. I’ve missed seeing you over the past year.”

“Will you not be going abroad Daniel Jackson?” Teal’c asked.

Daniel looked slightly embarrassed as he hung his head. “Yeah, I will,” he admitted, having forgotten for a second that he would be leaving.

At that moment, the door to the President’s office opened and Jack and President Henry Hayes walked out.

“General Hammond,” Jack greeted the man warmly, “It’s good to see you.”

“I would say the same for you son,” Hammond said sternly, “Except after everything I’ve done for you and Sam, you couldn’t even call to tell me that you were engaged. I thought I meant more to you than that,” the man chastised him.

Jack had the insight to look remorseful. “I’m sorry sir. I guess in the rush to get everything done and keep most people in the dark, we forgot to call you.”

“We didn’t forget anything,” Sam spoke from the doorway as everyone in the room turned to look at her, “I remembered to call General Hammond and make sure that he was invited.”

Jack couldn’t seem to find his brain as he stared at Sam. She had changed out of her uniform and was now wearing a beautiful ivory dress. The dress fell almost to the floor, totally covering the legs that Jack loved to see. Yet as he started at her feet and worked his way up to her head, he couldn’t help but take in the dress that was vaguely familiar. Suddenly it dawned on him; this must have been Sam’s mother’s wedding dress!

Suddenly, Jack realized that everyone was looking at him. “What?” he asked, removing his eyes from Sam.

Everyone laughed at his reaction as Hayes patted him on the back. “Nothing Jack. Come on, let’s go get you and Colonel Carter married.”

The wedding was short and to the point. Sam and Jack stood in front of the President, hands clasped as they repeated their vows to love and cherish each-“Always”. After they sealed that promise with a kiss, Jack and Sam were congratulated by everyone present.

The adults all gave them some version of “It’s about time,” while Nate and Lindsay gave Jack warm hugs as they welcomed their new uncle to the family.

Hayes held the happy couple behind for a couple minutes, all on the pretense of taking care of their marriage certificate. Once the room was clear, Thor joined them.

“Thank you for inviting me to share in your nuptials,” Thor stated.

“I’m sorry that you couldn’t be in the room with us Thor,” Jack apologized.

“It just would have been kind of hard to explain you to Nate and Lindsay though,” Sam explained.

“I understand,” Thor assured them. “My view from The Daniel Jackson was quite acceptable. I wish you many happy years together.” And then Thor disappeared in a beam of white light.

Dinner turned out to be a festive occasion as well. Considering they were eating at the White House, the meal wasn’t that much different from one that would have occurred at the O’Neill household, especially since the President relaxed and joined in the banter that Jack kept going.

And of course there was cake! A small two tier cake, one layer of chocolate cake and another of white, both decked out with lots, and lots of icing. Once the couple had partaken in the tradition of cutting the cake together, the President excused himself to make calls to some foreign dignitaries, but only after congratulating Sam and Jack on their wedding, and reminding them all that they would be joining him on Air Force One for the flight back to Colorado Springs. Nate had looked like he would die from pleasure merely at the mention of the famous airplane!

Sam and Jack had thanked the President profusely but the man once again waved off their thanks, saying “After everything you have done for this country, this planet really, it’s the least I can do. I doubt that we will ever do enough to repay the debt that we owe you. All of you,” he declared gesturing at the four original members of SG-1 and General Hammond.

“Still, thank you sir, for everything,” Jack declared holding out his hand for the President to shake. “Not every commander in chief would have been so understanding and willing to work with us or give Sam and I as much latitude as you have. I want you to know that I don’t plan to disappoint you.”

“I have the utmost faith in the two of you,” The President returned as he shook the General’s hand. “In all of you,” he quickly added, meeting the eyes of everyone in the room.

“Thank you sir,” they all replied.

While Sam and Jack took off to go back to their hotel, Teal’c, Daniel, Lindsay, Nate, and Cassie received a special tour of the White House. The White House group was quite surprised when they returned to their hotel and went to the ballroom, intent on giving Nate and Lindsay a small taste of the D.C. nightlife. Instead they ended up quietly backing out of the room after catching a glimpse of Sam and Jack wrapped in a lovers embrace and slow dancing to a well known love song.

Daniel and Teal’c exchanged knowing glances. A normal man would have taken his wife back to their hotel room and not emerged until late the following morning. Yet Jack was currently dancing with his wife. It showed the couple’s two closest friends once more that there was much more to Jack O’Neill than meets the eye. Jack had always told everyone that he hated to dance-never once had he been seen dancing at any SGC function, and it wasn’t for lack of invitations or opportunities!

But on his wedding night, Daniel and Teal’c had discovered his secret.

Major General Jack O’Neill didn’t hate dancing as much as he claimed. In fact, if the content grin on his face was anything to judge by, Jack O’Neill would be willing to dance for a long time as long as his partner was one Samantha Carter-O’Neill.

Chapter
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