I also disagree that Sam’s career would suffer more than Jack’s. In the military, fraternization is about the superior officer taking advantage of their rank. It has nothing to do with gender, so Sam, as the subordinate, would get off easier - though maybe not easy enough.

Janeway also angsts before she gives into the wacky impulse. I’m not sure which kind of stories you mean I don’t like - unless it’s explicit instructions on doing the wacky with no additional plot. I enjoyed “Surface Tension.” I’ll take a look at the other two, thanks.

Jack, however, does have the whole military structure and associated political aspects attached to him. If he and Sam are caught fraternizing, her career will most likely suffer much more than his. Stargate draws on today’s societal norms, which still look down on women “sleeping around” much more than men. Jack doesn’t want her to go through that.

Many fics let them “do the wacky” (terminology swiped from Lizbee), but usually there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth before they decide they will take that risk. You don’t like that kind of fic. Case in point: “Surface Tension” or “Christmas Flame”and it’s sequel “New Year’s Resolution”(all rated PG)

There’s also a remark she made in a TV Guide interview just before VOY started which is branded in my mind forever, that they had to deal with the problems of writing for a “female captain.” Janeway wasn’t a captain who was a woman, but a woman who was a captain. Sisko was never the “black” captain, nor Picard the “older” or “bald” captain. I’m convinced Taylor had some internalised issues that infected Janeway’s characterisation, which led to the whole Janeway/Chakotay romance “problem.” I think the “Talking Stick/Circle” fanfic series reimagined the Voyager premise nicely enough in a way that “solved” that problem. Too bad Jeri Taylor couldn’t. I mean, jeez, look how silly that whole New Earth episode, with the monkey, was! “My faith in our rescue is so strong that I can’t even make nasty with you on this private paradise, Chuckles. What kind of faith do you have? Grow some, why don’t you?”

I’m not complaining about Jack’s retirement from a practical point of view, just from a fic point of view. If he retires, or Sam joins another team, there will be no more running around together on weird planets for them, but running around together on weird planets is a big part of their relationship. My question is, why don’t more fic writers try to let them have it all - SG-1 and kissyface?

“Window of Opportunity” also shows Jack retiring so he is free to kiss Sam. Canon has provided this precedence, not fanfic.

Janeway and Chakotay do not have the luxury of retiring - unless it is to leave the ship. They have been thrown into permanent positions that are theirs as long as they are physically able to do them. To retire would mean getting home or settling down on a friendly planet and colonizing it - a solution I really think would have been prudent. I mean really, why is it so important to make this 70 year journey - especially after a few years, when Voyager has become home and the people aboard are family.

As to the question about why protocol is in Janeway’s mind, but not in Jack’s - in canon, I believe it is both of their minds - or Jack wouldn’t have been so careful to resign - even when his actions would never be known by anyone but Teal’c.

If you are talking fanfic, then I think writers take Jack’s penchant for bending the rules and apply it to fraternization - even though the show doesn’t do this. He has been known to commit court martialable offences when he believes it is the right thing to do. Canon-wise, I don’t think he has decided this because he may not believe it is right to risk Sam’s career for their relationship. Many fanfics create a situation for the risk to be acceptable, based on what is happening in the fic.

I have often wondered why doesn’t resign and take a civilian position at the SGC. There are other non-military members (most notably Daniel). But if Sam were in SG-1 she would still be under Jack’s command and the fraternization rules would apply whether she was a civilian or not. Still why is it so important for her to be on SG-1? That is my question.