Stargate and Sg-1 are not mine.
Perimeters were scouted under the guise of a 'farm tour' for Jack, 'Murray' and Sam. They silently noted where disturbed places were, positive that the bad guys were still in the area hiding out. Two of the places had unobstructed lines of fire to the farm house.
Jason's earlier phone call had been round robined to numerous neighbors who were former military. This admission had caused Jack to laugh and notify the marine squad that he was borrowing from the Marine Barracks in D.C. It was agreed that the two groups merge as the locals would know the terrain better.
After dinner that evening C.J. and Daniel sat on the couch, holding hands with their weapons close by just in case. Sam, Jack, Teal'c and Jason were playing cards at the dining room table, Paul was trying to get some work done in between phone calls, and Joanie was reading a Nora Roberts romance, rocking gently in her chair. Sam stood and stretched, catching Jack's full attention. Her t-shirt was stretched tight over her breasts, causing him to sigh. He watched Sam walk over to sit in front of C.J. and Daniel, asking them questions about the past few days. Sam glanced at the Colonel and smiled that smile and his heart beat quickly in his chest.
Joanie silently messaged Jason with her eyes. They both recognized a besotted man when they saw one. Paul had talked to his parents about his friends that he saw in Colorado, but faced with the reality was something else. Here was a close-knit unit that was family. Even though Paul worked out of D.C. it was obvious that the Colonel, the Major and the others regarded him as more than just an occasional co-worker. Daniel leaned forward and snatched some papers out of Paul's hands, causing him to protest mightily until C.J. took pity on him and gave them back, after a whack on the head. Jack chuckled at the others, shaking his head knowingly.
"What makes you laugh Colonel?" Jason asked curiously. Jack smiled at Teal'c then at Jason, "It's like having a bunch of big kids. Then when the moment is right everyone is 110 percent, head in the game. I am lucky to be able to lead these guys." Jack said sincerely. Jason nodded thoughtfully, and his wife returned to her book.
At 2300 (11 pm for you non military types) everyone went to bed, except 'Murray' (Teal'c) who had first watch.
Daniel was lying in bed, waiting for C.J. to come to bed with him. She had cleverly arranged everyone, Paul in his room, Jack and Teal'c sharing the spare bedroom and Sam in C.J.'s own room. The door opened and a weary and worried C.J. came into the room, closing the door behind her. Daniel silently held up the sheet in invitation for her to slide into bed. She smiled and did, gratefully lying back with Daniel's arm around her shoulders. He held her securely, knowing even so that he couldn't touch the fear inside her. He knew that she was upset that the violence had followed her home.
"C.J. This is not your fault. You can't predict the future." He kissed her hair and held her closer as she sighed. "I know in my heart, but my head is pissed off." She grumbled, causing him to chuckle quietly. "Roll over on your stomach." He said, and with another sigh she rolled over. Daniel started rubbing her back in long lazy strokes, causing her to sigh in pleasure this time. He continued until she finally relaxed and fell asleep. He let himself fall asleep too; secure in the knowledge that Jack had everything under control.
Sam tossed and turned for about ten minutes, unable to shut her mind off. Her eyes went to the door when it opened, and she smiled when she saw the Colonel poke his head in the door. "Sir?" she whispered as he came to stand beside the bed. Her pulse was racing unsteadily as he bent down, "Hey Carter, my room is too quiet, can I sleep in here?" he whispered in return, causing her to giggle. She patted the empty side of the double bed and watched him lie down, dog tags jingling quietly. He lay on his side, head on his hand as he watched Sam in the moonlight. She smiled as he took his free hand and brushed her short hair off of her face. These stolen moments were rare, and all the more cherished when they did happen.
Jason came out of his bedroom to sit with 'Murray'. The large black man was a mystery, no doubt about it. He was sitting absolutely still, listening to the noises through the open windows. "Anything?" Jason asked almost soundlessly. 'Murray' shook his head no. Jason quietly poured some coffee, silently holding up the cup for his guest, but received another negative headshake.
At 0135 the radio crackled to life.
"We have movement behind the barn. All friendlies accounted for." The Marine guard stated. Jason ran upstairs to alert the others, racing back down in time to hear the radio crackle again.
"Engage!" The sounds of automatic weapons fire were heard throughout the moonlit night. The others raced down the stairs, taking up positions in various sections of the house, listening to the battle raging outside. Jack was cursing, not liking to be out of the action.
"Two down, two on the run. They are headed around the barn towards your location O'Neill."
"Understood." Jack replied in unison with Teal'c firing through the window with his P-90, taking the enemies went down.
"Two down in the yard!" Jack yelled into the radio and as he and C.J. raced into the back yard. He signaled her to check on the one as he checked the other. "One alive here." Jack said into his radio, as C.J. shook her head. "No pulse here, Colonel." She replied. Marines burst into the yard, taking custody of the wounded man and taking him away. The rest bagged and tagged the dead ones and the scene was 'scrubbed'. All evidence of the firefight removed.
C.J. was shaking from adrenaline overload, resting on the back porch. Daniel was beside her rubbing her back as the last of the marines left. Jack had gotten C.J.'s parents, Paul and Sam to go inside when shots rang out, spinning Jack around.
Time seemed to move in slow motion. Jack fell and C.J. looked up into a window in the old barn to see a gunman, flashes coming out of the muzzle of his weapon. C.J. stood and grunted from something that didn't even register, raised her P-90 and sprayed the window. She watched as the gunman fell from the window to land in a spray of glass on the ground. She heard shouting behind her as she walked over to the man, passing Jack, and noticing with detachment that his wound was not serious. She raised the P-90 and emptied the entire clip into the man on the ground.
Suddenly reality and time snapped back into focus and the noises of the night exploded around her. She turned and walked back to check on the wounded Colonel. "Are you alright Sir?" she asked calmly, kneeling beside Jack as she checked his arm. He cursed fluently, "Damn it! Yeah, how is it I am always hit in the arm for crying out loud!"
C.J. looked up at the porch to see Sam kneel beside the wounded Daniel, applying a tourniquet above his leg wound.
"Oh God." C.J. breathed and raced to the porch, kneeling in the spreading pool of Daniel's blood, watching his face go pale. "Daniel?" she said grabbing his hand. His eyes fluttered open and he moaned in pain, "I'll be ok Babe." He said and passed out. C.J. was peripherally aware of her parents helping Sam with Daniel and she stood, trying to get a grip on her reality.
No one knew that C.J. had been hit. Jack was leaning heavily on Teal'c when they both looked up and stopped in shock. There was a spreading stain of blood on her back.
"C.J. Davis, you are wounded!" Teal'c called out loudly. C.J. half turned and collapsed to the porch, inches away from Daniel.