The Stargate shut down as SG1 walked down the ramp to meet Hammond. "Finally!" O'Neill exclaimed, looking up and raising his hands in a silent prayer.

"SG1, welcome back, debriefing in three hours, go get showered and medically cleared."

"Yes sir!" O'Neill said, with a renewed enthusiasm.

:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:

The debriefing was long and each member in his/her turn gave his opinion.

"General, these people are just like feudal Japan," Daniel stated.

"Even after all this time?" Hammond asked.

"Feudal Japan and the rules governing it did not evolve for millennia. The last famous act of Seppuku was committed in 1912, and the famous Kamikaze in 1945 was the direct consequence of about two millennia of the same discipline, and the same Samurai spirit. In the Japanese culture, life and death were exactly the same and there was no question about faithfulness to one's lord. If the lord was defeated or dishonored, all his vassals would commit Seppuku. According to our Western standards, it may appear rather barbaric, but on the other hand, they were well educated in hygienic and medical matters, had a very rich culture, and their complicated set of rules defined a very strict, but very refined way of life. They were far more advanced than our Western civilization. When our ancestors ate with their fingers and bathed only once a year, they had chopsticks and the equivalent of saunas because not only was it healthy, it was relaxing. I could go on and on again, the list is long, but it's almost point by point what we encountered on P5X-748."

"Thank you, Dr. Jackson," Hammond said and turned to Sam. "Major Carter, do you have anything to add?"

"Apart from the fact that from the readings I got the first time around, the Naquada deposits seem to be rather important, no, sir. In a strictly scientific way, establishing a mining facility on P5X-748 would guarantee a constant source of Naquada for years."

"And what about on a personal way, Major?" Hammond asked, sensing the Major's discomfort.

"It is not for me to say, sir. But off the record, it might prove to be a dangerous thing to do."

"Thank you, Major. Teal'c?"

"All has been said by Daniel Jackson and Major Carter, General Hammond. My only comment would be that these people vanquished the Goa'uld who originally settled on P5X-748 from Earth, using agrarian utensils. We should not underestimate their capacity of fighting with the rawest instruments against high technology."

Hammond nodded then eventually turned to Jack.

"General, I would be the last person to recommend establishing a mining facility on that planet. As everybody told you, it's a very violent civilization, and like Teal'c said, they got rid of the snakeheads by themselves with spears and pitchforks. Right now, their leader loves us, we saved his butt -- no pun intended -- and helped him get rid of the bad guy. But we haven't stayed long enough on that planet. We don't know how long he's been the king--

"Shōgonate," Daniel supplied.

"-- yeah whatever. We don't know if he will remain the chocolate for long, and we don't know what can happen if another war explodes there and another guy takes his place. What if he doesn't like the color of our uniforms and decides to have a feast of SG units heads? You do what you have to do, General, but my answer to the question: 'do I recommend a mining treaty between Earth and P5X-748', is no, plain and simple."

Hammond observed his 2IC and signed at the bottom of the sheet on top of the folder that lay in front of him. "Then the case is closed and you're dismissed. SG1, from now on, you are officially on a seven day leave, thank you."

As Daniel and Teal'c raised form their seats and headed to the door, Jack and Sam exchanged glances, and remained sitting.

"Something I can do for you, Major, Colonel?"

Once again, Sam and Jack exchanged glances. They started speaking at the same time.

"There's--" "We--"

They stopped at the same time and Jack took the initiative. "Let me, Carter. Privilege of rank." He said, with a half smile.

She bowed her head in frustration.

"Was there something you wanted to tell me?" Hammond asked, starting to get a little annoyed at their behavior.

"Sir," Jack began, "back on the planet, we were put in a situation where we--" He took a deep breath. "I broke AFI36-2909. We-- ah-- I kissed Major Carter and well we-- we were both naked. Nothing more happened, I swear. I managed to stop before I did anything more, but nevertheless I broke the frat regs."

"Sir! If I may!"

"No, Major, you may not!" Jack interrupted.

"Colonel O'Neill tries to put the blame on himself but we're both--"

"Carter!" Jack once again interrupted, standing up.

"Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter!" Hammond shouted.

A sudden silence fell. After a moment, Hammond sighed, stood up, then grabbed the top of his chair and looked at both his officers. "AFI36-2909 is there for a reason, but in your particular situation, I have encountered nothing less than a highly professional behavior. I have known of your respective feelings for a long time now, probably even before yourselves, but history proved that it didn't impair your professional behavior time and time again. I don't believe it impaired your professional behavior on that mission either. This won't appear in your record."

"Sir--"

"Colonel," Hammond raised his hand. He rested his elbows on the top of his chair, then once again looked at both officers carefully.

Carter was staring at the wall in front of her, and O'Neill was doing the same with some invisible spot on the table.

"If we are having this conversation, I suspect there's some ulterior motive," Hammond resumed in a soft voice.

O'Neill sighed. "Actually, sir--"

"I'm willing to resign, sir, and if you deem my request acceptable, continue as a scientist at the SGC.

"Carter!"

"Colonel, that is MY decision!"

"And you're gonna hate me for it faster than you believe, as your CO, I refuse!"

"If your brilliant solution was to retire, sir, then you're not my CO anymore and I only report to General Hammond!"

"Carter, you're way over the line!"

"Which line, Jack? The one we crossed on that god-forsaken planet, or the one we crossed the day we realized we cared for each other more than we were supposed to!"

"SILENCE!" Hammond said in the most authoritative voice they had ever heard him speak with.

Once again, a sudden silence invaded the control room.

"SG1 is on leave for the next seven days. I suggest you two talk about what you want to do and come back to me about it. No resignation will be accepted, from either of you. You are both too important to this program, and right now, we need professionals, which you are, despite anything you might say."

"Sir, you don't understand--"

"I think I understand perfectly, Jack."

"What kind of professionals does it make us, General? Even if we don't act on our feelings - and that is an act of pure will, how we managed so far is still a mystery to me - we're breaching the regulations simply by caring. Do you think I would leave Carter behind--"

"Not anymore than you would leave Teal'c or Daniel, son."

"No, General. That might have been true until even last year, but-- It's changed now. I've changed."

"I have changed too, General." Sam joined the conversation. "I think we both realized we had changed when Janet--" her voice caught in her throat. She took a deep breath. "When Doctor Fraiser was killed in action, and Colonel O'Neill was seriously injured, there was a moment, between us and-- I realized maybe it was not worth it," she admitted softly.

"I love my job, I love my career, but I am in love with my Commanding Officer, and nothing is going to change that now. I know there are higher stakes than our own personal lives but-- how high can a soldier's spirit of self-sacrifice be if he or she questions his/her personal life? I've never thought I would say that, but I do now, General. I want to fight the Goa'uld, but I also want to be able to enjoy the peaceful life our victory will grant us, and after seven years-and more, I want it now. That's why I want to resign."

"Carter, I'll retire!"

"No, Jack!"

"I'm too old for the field now, it's time I leave younger, fitter people do the job, and you have all my recommendations for that!"

"I'll make it easy for both of you!" Hammond suddenly interrupted, exasperated. "I'll retire!"

Both stunned officers looked at their superior. "Sir you can't!" they chorused.

"Oh yeah! I sure as hell can! With the both of you it's becoming impossible to have a sensible discussion, much less give you orders! Major Carter, you resign your commission if you like, I have Colonel O'Neill's first star in the right drawer of my desk and was about to promote him to the rank of Brigadier General right after your leave, but Jack, if you want to retire, I won't be the one to stop you! This--" he retrieved a sheet from another folder on the briefing table "-- is my request for retirement, I think I have earned it! So basically no-one can stop you from doing what you want, only you and your conscience! My heart condition is already not so good, I don't want to worsen it, I am out of here now!" he stood up and took his folders before heading for the door. "Good night!" and he slammed the door shut.

Jack and Sam were too stunned to say anything for a long moment.

Then Sam whistled softly. "Brigadier General!"

The corners of O'Neill's mouth turned slightly upwards. "Yeah, who would have believed?" he commented half ironically.

"I always knew you deserved it, sir."

"What happened to Jack?"

She sighed. "He's locked himself into my heart."

There was a short silence, then Sam spoke. "Do you think Hammond was serious?"

"I think he was dead serious."

"So, what do we do?"

"Frankly, I don't know, Sam. I sill want to retire myself too."

"You can't. Now that Hammond's on the verge of leaving, you can't."

"So we're back to square one. Even if I become the commander of this base, you remain under my command."

"Jack, hear me out."

"I don't want you to give up your career."

"I'm not giving up my career, I am merely reassessing my priorities and I'm concentrating on my scientific career."

"I won't accept your resignation, Carter."

She sighed in frustration. "So what, you don't want to give us a chance anymore?" she asked, her anger rising.

"Don't talk nonsense, Sam, of course I want to give us a chance!"

"Then why won't you let me resign my military commission!" she said, standing up and leaning over the table.

O'Neill imitated her. "Because that's who you are! That's what you love!"

They were face to face. For a moment, O'Neill was compelled to crush her face between his hands and kiss her hard, but he restrained himself, and could see the same battle/frustration in the eyes of his 2IC.

"Ah crap!" he exclaimed, "I'll be at my cabin, good bye, Carter."

He exited the room, leaving Sam trying to understand what had just happened. After a while, she finally exited the room too, went to the locker room, and right out of the mountain.

She needed advice, and now that Janet was not there anymore, she had to talk to someone else. She was not a hundred percent sure if the direction she was headed was the best place for that, but she had to try.

:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:

Jack was not happy. He couldn't even find peace in the only place he knew he could recharge his batteries. Not catching fish didn't have as much appeal as before, the beer was either too cold or too warm, and those pesky mosquitoes seemed to be more annoying than usual.

He knew what was not right, of course, but he had no solution. He had tried to find one, but had always come to the conclusion of one of them resigning or retiring. His sense of duty prevented him from retiring, now that Hammond had made it clear that he had priority over him. And he didn't even want to think about Doctor Samantha Carter -- which she was already, of course, but she was first and foremost Major Samantha Carter, his Major Samantha Carter.

He sighed and took a swig from his long neck, still buried in his thoughts. He almost fell into the water when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder.

"Jeez Carter! I almost had a heart attack there!"

She couldn't prevent her giggles.

O'Neill was trying to clear his mind and breathe normally. Once he had enough control over his heartbeat, he asked. "Whatcha doin' here?"

She drew a sharp intake of air. "I think we have to talk, Jack." She said, pressing her lips tightly together once she finished talking.

Jack sighed. "Talk. Well, that's not my field of expertise, but if you do the talking for the most part, then I think I can manage." He smirked. "I'll get you a deck chair, wait a sec'." He disappeared behind the house for a minute and came back with the promised deck chair.

Once they were seated facing each other, she pointed to the cooler by his chair. "Can I have one?"

"Sure," he said, giving her a beer.

She opened it then took a swig before looking him straight in the eyes. "I went to see General Hammond when you left."

"Oh. I hope he wasn't too pissed."

She cringed a little. "Actually he was. But not directly at us. He was pissed because he had planned on revealing both your promotion and his retirement after our leave."

He nodded, pulling on his beer.

She took a deep breath. "I asked him for advice. He came up with something, and made a few phone calls."

O'Neill looked at her raising an eyebrow. "I bet I'm not gonna like it."

She smiled briefly. "Well, you're not going to be able to give me direct orders anymore, so you might not like it but I'm not complaining."

He closed his eyes, sighing. "You resigned!"

"No. I transferred."

"What!" he said, jumping from his chair.

She was laughing now. "Let me explain, before jumping to conclusions."

O'Neill resumed his position in his chair.

"When he requested permission to retire and was asked about his possible replacement, General Hammond thought of you at once, but he also knew your tendency at not being very good when it came to 'desk matters'. The direct involvement of Nellis in the Stargate program has always been kept at the minimum. It was a common decision from the president and the joint chiefs that there should be a minimum team of Nellis personnel at the SGC. Your assistant will be Colonel John Smith, especially detached from Nellis and very efficient when it comes to paperwork, procedures, and stuff that you don't particularly like. I thought about our conversation back on the planet, where you joked about me saying I would have transferred long ago if you weren't a good commander. Long story short, I was transferred to Nellis as the head of the alien technologies department and assigned to the SGC as Colonel Smith's Second in Command, and liaison officer between the two bases in scientific matters. He will help you prepare the missions. And while you will be monitoring the possible alien threats, exploration missions, mining, settlement of the Alpha site, and so on, Colonel Smith and myself will overlook the missions where we might encounter and use alien technology. I am also assigned to SG1, and given the command, too. That is if you're not bothered by the fact that a Nellis officer will be leading your flag team, I'll be happy to follow in your steps, sir."

"Wow."

She chuckled.

"That was about the same reaction I had when he hung up his phone."

They kept silent a moment.

Jack finished his beer. He watched a bird of prey circle over the lake before taking its plunge to catch whatever it was it had seen, then turned to the woman who was still sitting in front of him. "How did you get here?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Plane then cab from the airport," she answered nervously.

Then he noticed the small carry-on under the shed.

"That yours?"

"Yes."

"D'you plan on staying?"

She sighed in frustration. "I have my cell, I can call the cab company."

"Don't, I'll drive you back," he said, sitting up and beckoning her to follow him.

Sam closed her eyes, and fought the wave of nausea that had suddenly invaded her insides. She had done all this for nothing. She stood up and followed him to the house.

He picked her carry-on and let her lead the way. When he saw her go around the house to where his truck was parked, he finally decided to put her out of her misery. "Where are you going?"

His voice stopped her. She turned to him, he was standing in front of the entrance door to his cabin. "To where your truck is parked, I--"

He was smiling cockily, obviously very proud of himself.

She rolled her eyes. "I am so going to kill you for that!" she roared before stomping to where he was standing.

He threw the carry-on inside through the open door, and caught her as she prepared to swat him with all her might. He enfolded her in his arms, merely trapping her in the vice of his strong arms, while she wriggled to get free.

"I hate you, Jack! I so hate you!" she was struggling and trying to hit him.

He laughed wholeheartedly. "I'll believe that when pigs fly, Carter!"

He then picked her up and carried her through the corridors of the house to his bedroom, dropping her unceremoniously on the bed.

She was about to counter attack, but before she had time to realize, she felt his body press her into the mattress and his tongue seek entrance to her mouth. All spirit of revenge flew by the open window and she opened up to his questing lips and tongue, throwing her arms around his neck and crushing his chest against hers.

Jack was overwhelmed by his feelings for the blonde woman squirming underneath him. When he had heard her words, a heavy weight had lifted from his shoulders and seven years of repressed needs had come out in a raging fury, preventing him from even trying to control them. He felt her finally relax, and abruptly stopped kissing her.

She opened her eyes, panting, with a questioning look.

"Before we go further," he managed to choke. "I want you to know--"

She interrupted him by putting a finger on his lips. "Shh. No declaration now, Jack."

He looked her in the eyes.

"We know how we feel, right?" she asked, gently, but he shook his head.

"No. I've never said it aloud, and I want to." He took a deep breath. "The only thing I can offer you, Sam, is my love. It's all I have, but I give it to you unconditionally. I'm an old man, and I can be quite an ass, but know for sure that even if I sulk, even if I don't say it often enough, I love you. I have for a very long time, and nothing's gonna change that now," he said humbly.

She looked at him, caressing his hair softly, and smiling. "You're not an old man, Jack, and you're the man I want, you're the man I need. And you know, I can be a bit bitchy sometimes too, but I'm sure that we can make it work."

He smiled softly and once again captured her lips with his, his hands sneaking underneath her blouse, lightly tracing patterns over her skin.

Not wanting to be left out, she slowly started unbuttoning his shirt, sliding it down his arms.

:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:

He smiled against her mouth, leaving her blouse to deftly undo the button and the fly of her jeans, sneaking his hands under the denim material and sliding it down caressing her legs in the meantime. He quickly unlaced her sneakers and let the jeans pool down on the floor. He was all too aware of her hands gliding over the naked skin of his torso, and it sent tingles of anticipation down his spine.

She reached his waistband and teased him through his trousers, eliciting a groan from his throat.

Before they even realized it, they were both naked and slipping underneath the sheets.

Jack's hands were everywhere, igniting a fire she had never known a man could ignite in her. The urgency of their last highly frustrating encounter had nothing to do with what was happening now.

Jack took his time in memorizing her curves and what she liked or disliked. Treating her like a sacred object, with all the reverence he could muster. He gently cupped and kneaded her perfect breasts, gently circling both dark pink buds with his tongue, eliciting deep sighs from Sam as she arched her neck back in pure bliss. He stopped his oral ministrations, leaving his hands gently massaging where his tongue had been only instants before, and looked her in the eyes.

"I've waited so long for you to do this to me, Jack," she murmured.

He smiled. "I wanna take my time, now if you want fast, just ask and I can do fast too."

She chuckled. "I want you, Jack." She said, her eyes full of lust.

He smiled again, humbled by the fact that this bright and beautiful woman would want a man like him, but decided he had better things to do than dwelling over this. He kissed her again, his hands drifting low and finding their already damp target. He carefully explored her most intimate area, guiding himself with her squirms and moans. He gently probed, kneaded and stroked her inside, until she couldn't stand it anymore.

She grabbed his head and made him look in her eyes. "Jack, now!" she urged.

He smiled cockily. "What?" he teased.

"I want you, all of you, now."

"Oh really?"

"Jack, if you are not inside me in the next two seconds, I am going to do something rash!"

"Tsk, tsk tsk, you wouldn't---"

He was interrupted as she swiftly took the initiative and reversed the roles, pinning him to the mattress beneath her. She then grabbed him and slowly let him penetrate her soft depths.

He had been so surprised by her earlier movements that he only had time to merely register that they were joined. She had closed her eyes, her face flushed, her hair tousled, she had never looked more beautiful. He put his hands on her thighs in a gentle caress and brought her eyes back to his.

"Now what?" he softly teased.

"Now you just wait and see." She answered in a sultry voice.

She started rocking her hips, causing him to close his eyes in concentration. It had been a long time, and the seven and more years of waiting had done nothing that could remotely put some hold on his overwhelming physical needs. If she had planned on doing that as a tease, there soon would be nothing left to tease - well, so to speak.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts, that he barely registered her breath was ragged and irregular, when he could hold himself no longer and his release took him full force.He squeezed his eyes shut in deep frustration: that was so not like he had planned their first lovemaking. He was no better than a hormone driven teenager!

As Sam disengaged herself from him, he groaned and turned on his side, facing the window. He felt her hand reach for his shoulder but pushed it back.

"Jack? What's wrong?"

He kept silent. She knew him all too well: he was berating himself. For what? She had no idea but was determined to find out.

"Jack." She put her hand on his shoulder once again, and pulled him so that he lay on his back. Despite his primary resistance, he complied, and to prevent him from facing away from her again, she lay her head on his chest, idly playing with the smattering of hair. "What's wrong?" she asked again.

He sighed finally, and stroked her arm. "I'm sorry."

She raised her eyebrows, remaining in the same position. "For what?" she asked, genuinely surprised.

"For not giving you pleasure." He tried to turn on his side again, but she held him in position, raising her head and forcing him to look her in the eyes.

"Jack, you gave me pleasure!"

"Not like I thought I would. It-- I couldn't hold myself, I'm sorry."

She laughed wholeheartedly, earning an angry frown from him. Before he could express his anger, she put a finger on his mouth to shush him. "Jack, if you're talking about my orgasm, I had the best I could imagine, and that had not happened since I don't know when. Yeah, sorry to disappoint you, Jack, I had a sexual life before I came to the SGC."

He looked at her with round eyes, then blinked and replied. "And you managed to say all that in one breath? Wow! I'm impressed!"

She chuckled, then lay her chin on his breastbone, looking him once again in the eyes. "You're okay?" she asked gently.

"You're sure you're not saying that to satisfy my male ego?"

"Oh, definitely not, Jack O'Neill! After all these years of bordering insubordination more than once, you should know that I speak my mind, and I mean what I say!"

He enfolded her in his arms, smiling. "Then I guess we're in for a hell of ride." He murmured, softly kissing the top of her head.

She snuggled closer to him and resumed stroking his chest, reveling in the aftermath of what was the start of a new life, with the man who made her feel complete. He probably couldn't match her regarding astrophysics and alien technologies, but he had been her lead in life in every aspect ever since she had met him in that briefing room seven plus years ago, and he was the man she loved.

She sighed in contentment and closed her eyes. "I love you, Jack." She murmured before succumbing to a blissful sleep.

His hand stilled on her arm as he heard her words. He smiled and he too closed his eyes. All was now in its right place…

THE END