A big thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter.

Here it is...the last chapter. Hope you enjoy it!

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD.

By LetitiaRichards

Previously:

"All the time we're supposed to be engaged Daniel, I'm playing my part to the full," Jack stated enthusiastically, and in front of everyone in the commissary, he leaned across the table and kissed Sam deeply. Be damned who saw it. He couldn't give a toss.

Chapter 9

Sam was nervous, and it showed in her pale features and tremulous hands.

This was the big showdown. General Hammond was going to tell them that their so called engagement was off now that she had been returned. The all too brief interlude of a closer relationship between her and Jack had been fun while it lasted. Hammond was now obliged to discipline them for breaking the fraternisation regulations, and he was probably going to throw the book at Jack.

Just as she reached a hand towards the door intending to knock, Jack's hand wrapped round hers and squeezed it in reassurance.

"It'll be okay Sam. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. We'll be okay. I don't intend to go back to the way things were before. I don't care what they do to me. I want you to know that I'll be there, waiting for you, whatever happens."

"I'll be waiting for you too Jack," Sam said, looking up into deep brown eyes that sparkled with love and honesty. She smiled up at him in gratitude, but still couldn't help worrying; the butterflies in her stomach were working up a storm.

Jack squeezed her hand again before releasing it and knocking on the door for her.

"Come!" came Hammond's command and Jack opened the door and allowed Sam to enter ahead of himself.

"General," they both snapped to attention and saluted, waiting for Hammond's acknowledgement. He didn't look up, instead he pointed to the chairs and ordered them to sit down.

"Colonel. Major. Take a seat!"

The guilty pair cast a supportive look at each other but obeyed without question.

"Sir, if it's any consolation..." Jack began.

"Colonel!" Hammond snapped.

Jack stuttered, coming to a halt.

"It has everything to do with this damn fine mess you've both handed me," the General's opening shot had sucked the wind from Jack's sail and he dropped his gaze to the floor. "I needn't tell you how disappointed I was at your revelation. Hasty decisions were made in order to save the secret nature of the work that goes on around here, and to uphold the regulations, now the consequences have to be dealt with."

"We're really sorry General. We never meant..." Sam started hesitantly, "we never meant to put you in this position."

"Damn right I hope you're sorry!" he barked, making both Sam and Jack flinch slightly at his harsh tone, and the thump of his fist on the table.

Hammond stood and paced a little before returning to his seat and fixed his pale blue eyes on the errant pair. The silence in the room was deafening and you could almost cut the heavy atmosphere with a knife.

General Hammond let out a huge sigh and sat back in his seat.

"However," he began in a softer more amiable voice, startling Jack out of his gloomy thoughts, bringing his head up to face his CO for the first time since he'd entered the room.

Sam latched onto the single word like a drowning man to a life-raft. Dare she even contemplate or hope that perhaps they might get away with it after all. The General's tone had moderated considerably.

"Be that as it may, the President has given the pair of you a special dispensation to the regulations. Allowing you to fraternise, and, be together if that is your wish," he paused and couldn't help but smirk at the looks of astonishment on their faces. "The President feels that you have both put your lives on the line enough times in the past five years to warrant some special treatment in recompense to the number of times you have saved this world from annihilation. If you decide to go ahead and become a couple, then you are free to do so, and your 'engagement' will be officially recognised publicly. SG-1 stays as it is. In fact the whole of the SGC has been exempted from the rule."

To say they were both shocked would be an understatement.

"Are you okay with this?" Hammond asked, though he didn't need their reply as he could read it plainly in their wide smiling eyes.

"Yes sir, thank you sir," they gasped, still stunned. They both stood to attention and saluted. Hammond waved it away. He didn't want that, just to know it would make them happy was enough. They deserved it.

Jack turned to Sam, still worried about what she was thinking.

"Sam? You okay?"

She nodded, smiling, her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

"Oh yeah. Are you okay with this?" she asked timidly.

"You have to ask?" he spluttered. As if she would think he would turn down this golden opportunity. "Yeah! Aren't you?"

"Of course. It's great," she grinned.

"Just great?"

Sam laughed.

"Alright...it's perfect," she said seriously.

"Sure?"

"Jack!"

"Jus' checkin'!"

"So you both want this 'engagement' to happen?"

"Yes sir. That is... I haven't asked Sam yet. Not formally anyhow," he gulped.

Hammond rose from his chair and made an excuse to leave the room, saying he'd be back in a few moments. He had to see Dr. Jackson for a minute.

Jack grinned as he had no excuse now they were alone.

"Sam... I...er..."

"You don't have to ask Jack. I really do want to spend the rest of my life with you. My answer is yes."

Jack took her hands and pulled her towards him, his arms then encircled her as they kissed. Nothing too passionate, but enough to know they both wanted this; had waited patiently for it to happen for years.

There was a discreet knock on the door, allowing them to separate before Hammond re-entered and resumed his seat.

"So have you made you decision yet," the General asked, as if he needed to by the look of love on their faces.

"Yes sir. We both want this. How can we thank you General? We don't deserve this."

"You do Jack, Sam. Believe me when the President went into the details he wondered why he'd never thought about it before."

"Wow!" they said together, then laughed.

"Your official engagement party will take place on Friday night at the Academy's main mess hall. Invite who you want, but please, no alien's except Teal'c."

"No sir," they snorted happily.

Hammond waved them away.

"Dismissed Colonel, Major. I have proper work to conduct, if you'll excuse me."

They both saluted again and left Hammond looking after them with a big grin on his face and a shake of his head.

OoOoOoOoO

The party was in full swing. Jack and Sam had so many people come up and congratulate them, Jack was sure he didn't know half of them, but it was a great feeling.

Sam looked absolutely stunning on a beautiful red dress and Jack could hardly tear his eyes away from her. He was in heaven.

Sam had equal trouble to keep her mind on the conversation going on around her, she only had eyes for the tall handsome man clad in black chinos and open neck shirt with a white jacket. Her fiancé. It felt sooo good to call him that.

They had only had one dance together, everyone had managed to keep them apart. All too soon the evening drew to a close.

If Jack had anything to say about it, he wanted the last dance of the night to be with her. He went up to the disc jockey who was playing the penultimate song and had a word in his ear.

He went back to Sam, just as they announced the last song of the night.

"And for the last dance of the evening ladies and gentlemen, we have a special request from Jack for his lovely lady. Please give a warm reception to the happy couple," the DJ announced over the microphone, placing the appropriate disc into the machine, ready to play.

Jack took her hand as the floor cleared and led Sam onto the empty dance floor, stopping in the middle amid the applause. He turned and took her in his arms and the first drumbeats of the song began. He pulled her close, and whispered in her ear.

"This is for you Sam."

As Chris De Burgh's distinctive voice floated softly over the dance floor to them, Jack led her into the first movements of the dance, guiding her into a hazy cloud of love that floated around them. There was no-one else in the room but the two of them. Their feet moving automatically while their eyes locked onto each other as he repeated the words of the song to her along with the singer.

The room was silent except for the strains of the music, the crowded room hushed to watch the oblivious couple on the dance floor. Janet's eyes were suspiciously moist, but then, she wasn't the only one sitting at the main table who surreptitiously wiped a tear away.

Sam was swept up in moment, as the words Jack recited along with the song, rang in her head, while her heart overflowed with love for the man in her arms.

I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight

I've never seen you shine so bright

I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance

They're looking for a little romance

Given half a chance

And I've never seen that dress you're wearing

Or the highlights in your hair

That catch your eyes

I have been blind

The lady in red is dancing with me

Cheek to cheek

There's nobody here

It's just you and me

It's where I wanna be

But I hardly know this beauty by my side

I'll never forget the way you look tonight

I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight

I've never seen you shine so bright, you were amazing

I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side

And when you turned to me and smiled, it took my breath away

And I have never had such a feeling

Such a feeling of complete and utter love

As I do tonight

The lady in red is dancing with me

Cheek to cheek

There's nobody here

It's just you and me

It's where I wanna be

But I hardly know this beauty by my side

I'll never forget the way you look tonight

I never will forget the way you look tonight

The lady in red

My lady in red

I love you

Lady in red

My lady in red.

Sam smiled up at him, his face so full of love, shimmered under her watery gaze as her eyes filled with tears of happiness.

"I love you so much Jack!" she whispered ass the music ended.

He wrapped his arms around her tighter, drawing her close and she dissolved into the embrace.

"I love you too Sam, my lady in red," he whispered tenderly in her ear.

Their lips met in a deep kiss, overflowing with love and with overwhelming relief that they could do this now so openly and with official sanction too.

Suddenly they were surrounded by their friends, separating them whilst congratulating them both, and Jack and Sam were hugged by just about everyone there.

They were finally pushed towards each other where they met in silence, everyone leaving the room.

Finding themselves alone, Jack swept her up into his arms and kissed her soundly again, then led her away too, to a new and happier life.

The End.

Thanks to all of you who reviewed this story. I'm glad you enjoyed it, judging by your comments.

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