To Hell and Back

"Well kids," said Jack, "looks like its been another successful mission.

SG1 had spent the last 8 hours on P3X5789 scouting the area for SG3's reconnaissance mission.

"Come on Jack," said Daniel as they were making their way back to the Stargate, "it could've been worse. At least we weren't attacked by Goa'uld."

"I dunno," said Jack, "might've made things a little more interesting."

Sam looked at Daniel, smirking at Jack's remark.

When the team arrived at the Stargate, Jack nodded in the direction of the DHD. "Carter."

"Yes sir," said Sam as she ran over to the device.

As the rest of SG1 waited for the wormhole, a small sound caught Teal'c's attention. Activating his staff weapon, he pivoted and peered into the surrounding forest. "What is it Teal'c?"

"I am unsure O'Neill."

Jack also turned, facing another part of the forest. Movement in the underbrush again caught Teal'c's attention, and his trained eyes suddenly saw dozens of warriors hidden amongst the trees. "Ambush!" he yelled.

As the sound left his mouth, the warriors began their attack, bombarding the SG team with advanced weapon fire. "Take cover!" Yelled Jack, as he, Daniel, and Teal'c ducked behind a large boulder. Jack turned to look at them and realized that Sam was still over by the DHD. "Carter!......Carter!"

Not getting a response, Jack motioned to Daniel and Teal'c to stay there. He then ducked and rolled to another boulder near the DHD. Peering out from his hiding spot, Jack saw a small white hand stretched out from behind the DHD. For a brief moment, fear gripped Jack's heart. "Daniel! Teal'c! Cover me!"

As Daniel and Teal'c returned fire, Jack ran over to the DHD to find Sam lying unconscious. "Carter," Jack whispered, but there was no response. Placing his hands on either side of her face, he gently rubbed her cheeks. "Carter…….come on Carter wake up."

Slowly, Sam opened her eyes. "Sir…..what happened?"

"We're being ambushed." Sam nodded slowly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine, a little bruised, but fine."

Jack grabbed her arm, and helped her to her feet. "On the count of three we'll make a run for the gate. Are you with me Carter?"

"Too hell and back sir."

With Daniel and Teal'c continuing to lay down cover fire from the steps of the Stargate, Jack and Sam made a run for it. But as they ran, a hidden warrior stepped out and fired his weapon at Sam. As the blast hit her leg, she yelled and fell to the ground.

"Carter!" yelled Jack as he stopped and turned around.

"Sir go! I'm not going to make it!" Sam looked at him with pleading eyes. "Sir!….."

"No!"

Sam looked behind her at the advancing warriors. "Sir there's no time!"

Jack turned to the gate. "Daniel! Teal'c! Go!" As they ran through the wormhole, Jack ran back to Sam. Looking down at her leg, he saw it was badly damaged and winced.

"Sir…."

"No" he said as he swung her up into his arms. Sam wrapped her arms around his neck as he began to make his way back to the Stargate, taking cover behind various rocks and boulders.

Sam looked up at him. "I told you to leave sir."

"Last time I checked I was the CO of this team."

"Jack," she whispered.

"I'm not leaving you," he whispered back as he carried her up the steps of the Stargate. As weapon fire still rained on them, Jack suddenly when down, dropping Sam, who screamed as she fell on her wounded leg. Breathing heavily, Sam got up and saw Jack on the bottom step, a pool of blood forming around him, seeping out of an open chest wound, and a bad gash on his head.

"Colonel!!"

"Sam," he whispered as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Stumbling down the stairs, Sam shouldered Jack's weight, but the dead weight was too heavy for her. Putting him back down, she looped her arms around Jack's shoulder and hauled him up the stairs, gritting her teeth against the throbbing pain of her leg. When they got to the Stargate, Sam threw Jack and herself through the open wormhole just as another onslaught of fire blasted towards them.

Meanwhile on the other side of the wormhole, Teal'c, Daniel, and General Hammond were staring at the shimmering event horizon. "Where are they Dr. Jackson?" asked General Hammond.

Daniel looked at the General, "I don't know sir. Jack went back to get Sam, but they weren't that far behind us." Suddenly the event horizon flickered and Jack and Sam came catapulting through the wormhole. The pair landed hard on the gate ramp, Sam letting out a moan as she went down on her bad leg.

General Hammond, Teal'c and Daniel rushed over to them. Dr. Fraiser and Daniel tried to get them onto stretchers, but Sam's arms were locked around Jack's body. "Sam," said Dr. Fraiser soothingly, "we need to get the two of you to the infirmary…..you need to let go."

Slightly shaken up, Sam mumbled, "….must protect the Colonel from weapon fire…."

"It's okay Sam. You're safe now," said Daniel. "You're back at the SGC." Slowly Sam released her grip on Jack, and medical personnel rushed to get him onto a stretcher. As General Hammond helped Sam to her feet, she stumbled and fell down. It was only then that they noticed the extent and severity of her leg wound.

"Major, you need to go to the infirmary," said General Hammond motioning for some medical officers to bring over a stretcher.

"No……sir……I'm fine……..Colonel…….needs help" she stuttered.

"We're taking care of him, but right now you need medical attention."

Still very dazed, Sam continued. "Colonel……needs help. He…..he has a large chest wound……deep abrasion on his head….bleeding heavily…..tried to stop it.."

"Sam," interrupted Daniel. "Dr. Fraiser has already taken Jack to the infirmary. They're working on him now."

Nodding Sam allowed Daniel to help her onto the stretcher. As she lay back, she could see blackness encroaching on her vision. Just before she slipped into unconsciousness she weakly grabbed Daniel's hand, "Jack…." she whispered.