I tried to also give you guys a little bit of action this time around. Let me know what you think!

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The sound of gunshots grew louder as the team approached the stargate, and Sam could hear the distinct bursts of staff weapon fire. She held one arm up to motion for Daniel and Teal'c to wait, and peered around the tree she had ducked behind. SG3 was holding their position, but they were under heavy fire. Sam counted six Jaffa still standing, and three lay still on the ground. Peterson was frantically trying to reach the DHD to dial the gate, but there was no way he was going to make it without more cover. Sam didn't hesitate to gesture for her team to help them.

Teal'c was the first to emerge from the woods, his steady hands shooting off blasts from his staff weapon, striking one Jaffa full in the chest before he had to duck for cover behind the nearest boulder. Daniel followed close behind him, weaving swiftly to avoid staff blasts and firing off rounds in their direction. Sam didn't stop to see how accurate his shooting was. She ran full speed towards the DHD, signaling for Peterson to stay back with the rest of his team. Between the sound of weapons fire, she heard a sharp cry and the heavy crunch of a falling body from somewhere off to her left.

Almost there…

She didn't stop to catch her breath when she reached the DHD, immediately punching in the familiar symbols that would take them to Earth. The gate began to spin, and Sam took half a second to see how they were faring. There were now three Jaffa taking cover behind the stargate, and she counted five on the ground. In the millisecond that it took her to realize that those numbers didn't match up, she was grabbed from behind and tugged sharply off her feet. She cried out and reached for her weapon. There was a loud spray of gunfire, and the figure behind her lurched and fell forward, collapsing on Sam. His elbow fell at an odd angle, the full weight of his body pushing into her ribs and knocking the breath right out of her. Her vision went white for a moment, and she felt something warm running into her hair and soaking through her clothes. From somewhere behind her, she heard Daniel frantically calling her name. Then, there was a loud whoosh from the stargate, and Sam felt herself being wrenched out from underneath the Jaffa that pinned her. Someone tossed her over their shoulder, and she felt the familiar rush as she was carried through the gate.

There was commotion on the other side. Just as they came through, she heard someone yell out, "We've got wounded!" and then Walter's voice calling, "Medical team to the gateroom!" The alarm was wailing all around her, and she realized as she was gently set down that it was Teal'c's arms that had carried her through the gate. She heard the iris slide closed and someone's heavy boots come running swiftly up the ramp. Everything had happened so fast, Sam wasn't sure what was going on. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to breathe, but still couldn't quite get any air. General O'Neill was suddenly kneeling beside her, his fingers pressing against her neck to find a pulse and yelling out fiercely, "What happened?" There was chaos in the room as everyone spoke at once. Sam realized with a shock that they all must be thinking that she was injured. Jack was wiping a sickening amount of blood from her face and neck with his sleeve, desperation written plainly across his face.

"Sam?" he called out to her. "God…Sam, please…"

She tried to tell him that she wasn't hurt, but she couldn't seem to make any sound come out of her mouth. She felt frustration tearing at her, knowing she was causing him so much anxiety. Jack held her face in his hands, his eyes filled with dread. Finally, she managed to fill her lungs, and she exhaled the words as quickly as she could.

"I'm fine, sir…it's not my blood."

He didn't seem to have heard her over the noise, so she reached up and grabbed his collar, pulling him down close to her face so that he could hear. Jack looked taken aback, and Teal'c hollered at everyone to be quiet. The room stilled, and someone shut off the wailing alarm. She repeated the words, her voice coming out in a rough whisper, and Jack stared at her for several seconds. Then he carefully ran his fingers over her neck and shoulders, down her arms, chest and stomach, checking her sides and even sliding his hands behind her back, searching for any injuries. Sam was still too breathless to protest, and found herself actually enjoying his touch, despite the intensity of the moment. Relief spread across his features when he found nothing, and he leaned back on his heels, letting his breath out all at once.

"Jesus, Carter! Don't scare me like that!"

She sat up and winced. Her ribs were definitely going to be sore in the morning. "Sorry, General. I'll try not to do it again."

The sudden recollection of what had passed between them earlier that afternoon made Sam feel a little nauseous, though it could have been the revolting smell of the Jaffa's blood that had matted her hair to her face.

Sam abruptly realized that Daniel and Teal'c were standing over her, and she felt guilty for forgetting that they were worried about her too. She gave them a thumbs-up and smiled weakly.

"I'm fine, guys," she squeaked out, still trying to breathe. "Thanks."

Doctor Brightman and three other members of her staff came rushing into the room, pulling a stretcher and carrying oversized medical bags. Sam opened her mouth to tell them that she was fine, but O'Neill held up his hand, obviously realizing what was she was about to say.

"Just go get checked out, will you Carter?" She could see that he was still overwhelmed, and wondered if it was only her imagination, or if his hands were actually shaking. She wanted so much to reach out and hold them, but she settled for what she hoped was a reassuring smile. A look of hesitation crossed his face, as if there was something he important he wanted to say. He looked around the room at the team members watching them, and down at the doctor who was making her way up to Sam. The look disappeared, and he started to stand, adding, "and get all of this…" He held up his bloodstained hands. "…off of you."

She nodded, allowing Doctor Brightman to help her down the ramp and towards the hallway. She heard the General snapping at the rest of the team.

"I want everyone else in the briefing room in fifteen minutes."

He caught Sam's eye just before she rounded the corner. She saw his lips move slowly as he mouthed two clear words to her from across the room.

"I'm sorry."