"Son are you trying to say that Anubis is gone forever" Hammond asked needing clarification

"Yes General. Now I too must go however I would wish time to talk to Samantha alone, if I may"

"I don't think so buddy" Jack jumped in

"Colonel calm down!" Hammond said sternly, he turned to their visitor "Orlin the last time you were here you placed Major Carter in danger and she ended up in serious trouble here. I assume that talking is all you wish and you give us your word not to remove her from the base" Hammond all but ordered the young man.

"General it is not my intention to harm anyone least of all Samantha. I only wish to discuss something with her" he responded

Hammond looked at Orlin and sighed

"Very well Major, take Orlin to your lab. Good job SG1, dismissed"

Sam looked at the man who had meant so much to her. She had no idea what Orlin wanted to talk about. So much had happened in the last few years since she had last seen him. However she did know how agitated this whole thing would make Jack, as she stood up to lead Orlin from the table she glanced at Jack. He was clearly unhappy, he always got a bit jealous when a younger guy was paying her attention. So Sam did the only thing she could to comfort him, she smiled, just a small smile but it was enough to tell him that all was well.

The two walked to her lab and Sam turned to face him once the door closed she was keen to stay in charge of the conversation.

"What do you want to talk about Orlin?" Sam asked trying not to sound too clipped

"Samantha I told the General that I watch humans but the truth is I watch you. That is how I came to watch the movie"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I wish to tell you I am pleased that you are happy now. I have seen you with him and you are enjoying life as you did not do before. Although I would wish to be the one to make you happy I am glad you have found him" He stroked his finger down her cheek as he spoke, a look of sadness on his face

Once he stepped back Sam stood shocked in the middle of the room. She had wondered when he had spoken of watching them but had not expected him to come out so blatantly and say it.

"Orlin that's very kind of you but if you have watched, you will know it is not something I can openly discuss" Sam squirmed her eyes darting from Orlin to the door and skirting over the security camera.

"You have no need to speak. You are happy and I am glad. Farewell Samantha. I will continue to check up on you, I hope you do not mind"

Sam watched as Orlin began to glow and soon all she could make out were his eyes. She watched as the glowing energy began to move out through the door, which Sam then opened and along the corridor out of sight. As the alarm went off to signal an outgoing worm-hole she belatedly realised she should have called Hammond to tell him but she was still in shock.

It was in that position, staring at the ceiling almost frozen, that Jack found her a few minutes later. He had been in the control room and had seen the energy ball appear and go through the gate, over-riding the iris. His greatest fear had been realised when he thought that Orlin had taken Sam with him. He tried to page Sam but she didn't answer so he had ran to her lab and there she was. She was looking a little spaced but definitely a beautiful sight to his old eyes.

"Sam" he tried the quiet approach first, not touching her because he might just hug her. There was no response.

Jack was getting quite freaked so decided it was time to bring out his trump card

"Major" he barked and shook her shoulders

"Sir?" Sam said snapping back to reality

"Report Major" Jack said, keeping the brisk tone in his voice but his eyes were telling a different story.

"Oh…Orlin has gone" she said a little sadly

Jack manoeuvred her back into her lab and closed the door

"What did he want Sam?"

"He knew, Jack he knew!" she whispered to him

"Knew what?" Jack asked totally in the dark

"Knew. Jack" she said emphasising both words and doing a small hand gesture to indicate both of them.

"Oh……OH…. And did he pass that information on to anyone else?"

"No he was just glad that I am happy" Sam said contentedly

Jack thought for a moment and Sam believed she could hear the cogs turning

"How did he know anyway?"

Now how to answer this one without world war three starting "Ermmm……..he's been watching us"

Jack was stunned then came back to himself "He was what!!!!!! When has he?"

"He didn't give me details about when but at some points over the last few years and he knows we are together so it has to have been when we were at home. We're not even together around Daniel and Teal'c much" Sam was beginning to panic, Jack could hear it in her voice.

"That's very creepy" Jack surmised

Sam started to fuss around her lab and Jack went back to staring at the floor while bouncing on his feet. Well he decided it was now or never.

"So I was thinking. Anubis is gone, he seems to have destroyed many of the system lords. Maybe it's time for me to retire"

"You don't mean that" Sam said back quickly

"Yeah, actually I do. Hammond thinks it's a good idea, figures he can still use me here, freelance so to speak. Maybe even the odd mission or two off-world, but me and you could be together properly. What do you think?"

"You spoke to Hammond already?" Sam skipped the main question to get more details

"Well only a brief conversation, you know hypocritically"

"Hypothetically" Sam automatically corrected

"Whatever, he said he thought me retiring would be good for….the phrase he used was 'team morale'. I assume since you guys are not desperate to get rid of me he must have been talking about you and me"

"You think he knows?"

"Probably, George is very sly and well you and I have been ridiculously happy for months so yeah I'd say he knows"

"Wow I think I need to sit down"

"Sam stop panicking he didn't look disappointed or upset and he didn't go and get his big regulation book to whack me with. So let's get back to the main question. What do you think about me retiring but staying on?"

"Honestly, I think it's fantastic"

"Me too"

AN: thanks for reading, have decided to leave it there, any more is up to your imagination.