Jack grabbed Daniel as he fell, staring at Sam in horror. Suddenly, there didn't seem to be enough air to breathe.
"Very good, Major Carter," Colonel Attison said, smiling grimly, "Now why don't you bring that artifact over here."
"Right," Sam answered, holding up that strange box Daniel had been carrying. Then she turned, facing Colonel Attison, and fired once more.
Everything happened very quickly. Jack was throwing himself over Daniel protectively, Teal'c throwing the scientist to the ground behind the pillar and Colonel Attison fired reflexively as a bullet entered her brain. Sam was thrown back into Jack and Daniel, Colonel Attison was crumbling to the ground, and then all was silent and still. Nobody moved for a long second afterwards, until the scientist Teal'c held behind the pillar fainted. Then, suddenly, Jack took a long, shuddering breath.
"Daniel?" he asked, "Carter?" Daniel was warm and real beneath him, and Sam was stirring on top of them, shaking her head with a slight groan.
"Ow," she mumbled, then, "Sorry Daniel. Seems I broke your box."
"No…that was Miss Attison over there. Good aim, Carter. Now think you can get off of us?" Sam mumbled something vaguely derogatory when Teal'c joined them, helping her up.
"Are you harmed?" he asked, concerned.
"No…like I said, that box took the bullet," Sam answered, "I just got knocked off my feet. How is Daniel, sir?"
"Deaf," Daniel murmured from Jack's arms, not bothering to open his eyes, "Someone fired a gun in my ear." Everyone turned to look at him, heartened by this apparently lucid moment, but he had slumped back again and didn't seem likely to get up any time soon.
"Good aim, Carter," Jack said, all the while looking over Daniel, trying to determine how badly he might be hurt. The bullet Sam had fired at him had actually gone over his shoulder, though with all the blood already covering his chest he still looked a gory mess. Pulling open he shirt, Jack winced. He was so glad Colonel Attison was dead.
"All right kids," he said at last, willing to leave the clean up to the marines and anxious to get Daniel back into Janet's waiting hands, "Let's go home."