Minutes later

Sam felt her head starting to swim as she dropped her weapon from it's poised position and stood with a weary stance. After taking evasive manoeuvres she'd managed to circle round behind the other body, and they'd trapped each other neatly into another clutch of trees. With racing heart and grit or her teeth she'd rounded the thick trunk protecting her, gun raised and aimed at shadows, only to come face to face with a similar weapon pointed towards her. She'd been more aware of the body extending the weapon, and the relief had an almost drowning effect on her and she was faced off with Teal'c, who reflected a similar look in his own eyes.

Neither of them had spoken what seemed like minutes to Sam, although upon reflection she doubted many seconds had passed. Teal'c merely dropped his weapon and looked concerned as she tried to analyse the moment in her mind. It was Teal'c who spoke first, with the soft elegant air which she'd been missing the past few days.

"Colonel Carter" relief was evident in the tone, concern in the eyes.

Sam had to give herself another mental shake and blinked a few moments, wondering if in some way she was sleeping through this all and it was just some trick her mind was playing on her. Before she could grasp hold of the situation, Colonel Reynolds appeared behind Teal'c and stepped forward quickly, lowering his weapon also.

"Colonel Carter" he also exclaimed in surprise.

Teal'c took a few tentative steps towards Sam and stood closer to her.

"Colonel Carter, are you alright?"

Sam snapped out of her surprise and removed her hand from her gun, flexing her fingers before looking up at Teal'c.

"Yes…I'm fine" she started, "I…we were returning to the gate…"

"We, Colonel?" asked Reynolds

"Yes…Cameron and Daniel…"

Sam's words trailed off and she realised, having been hiding under shrubs and behind trees for a good thirty minutes meant the two men would be wondering what the hell was going on. Pulling her eyes from Teal'c and Reynolds, she actively set her mind in motion to repositioning herself.

"Colonel Carter?" started Teal'c as she started walking forward past him

"I have to get back to them, Mitchell's hurt pretty badly, he can't walk. We've had to stretcher him all this way, I think it's cracked ribs and twisted ankle. Daniel's not in too good a shape either, we had to sling his arm" Sam explained as she walked, assuming the two men were behind her.

Her primary thoughts were getting back to Daniel and Cameron. She also had felt on overwhelming relief flooding through her the moment she'd realised help had arrived as Teal'c had stood before her. She feared she'd fall apart completely if she stood telling them of their predicament, and right now she couldn't do that. There'd be time to reflect and offer up thanks to everyone and anyone once they got back to Earth, and at that moment, it was still her aim. As they reached the path once more, she noticed two other members of Reynolds team keeping watch. They looked at the three surprised as they emerged from the brush, but didn't question what had happened.

"Colonel Carter, where are Mitchell and Dr Jackson?" asked Reynolds from behind her

"I had to leave them," Sam started pausing along the pathway and checking her compass "Daniel thought he had heard something and I left them while I came to check it out. Turned out to be you"

"Expecting someone else?" asked Reynolds as they once more left the pathway into the forestry

"We had Prior activity yesterday, so we've had to use the forest as a shield. It made the going tougher but safer also. I didn't want to be almost in reach of the gate, only to come up against a Prior or some other such enemy"

"You've had to walk through all this dense brush"

"Well it isn't all this dense" shrugged Sam "But yeah"

The three fell silent and Sam was just starting to question her mental mapping technique when they came across Daniel and Cameron. Daniel was alert and started to raise his zat when he saw it was Sam, before looking up in surprise at Teal'c and Reynolds.

"I found the cavalry" smiled Sam, as she crouched down by Cameron

"Hey…glad you could join us" offered up Cameron as a way of welcome

Daniel merely stood and continued to look at the two men in surprise.

"It is good to see you both," said Teal'c obviously relieved to have found all three safe and well…or at least safe and alive.

"I'm sure this will make an interesting briefing," speculated Reynolds, taking in the state of the two men "What say we get you all home and then you can explain it all to us"

"Sounds like a plan," said Daniel tiredly, stepping to one side as Reynolds and Teal'c manoeuvred to lift the stretcher.

Sam looked on with a slight concern, wondering if the stretcher would hold up when lifted at both ends. When it held she let out a deep breath, and stepped back to allow them to start moving forward and they started making their way back to the path. Cameron grinned up at her, she couldn't help but smile back in equal relief.

"Well you were right," said Cameron as they reached the path and the going was made much easier

Sam looked down at him questioningly

"Four Hours, eight minutes, and counting" said Cameron, lifting his arm and tapping his watch lightly

Sam pursed her lips, gave him a smile and took his hand in hers softly as she pondered on the past few days.

"Cameron haven't you learned by now…I'm always right"

After ten minutes along the pathway they emerged into the small open cove, the sun beating directly down onto them. Sam flinched, as her eyes had to abruptly get used to the change of light. They'd been walking through forest for two days and it had sufficiently protected them from the powerful rays. Cameron slung his hand over his eyes as he flinched and Sam ducked her head, as did Daniel.

"When did you arrive?" asked Sam to the other team who now accompanied them

"Not long ago Colonel" replied Reynolds "We'd started with a search of the immediate area for you and your team before we started to branch out to the forest. General Landry was going to send another team for further afield reconnaissance if we found no signs of you near the gate. Stargate Command had planned on sending a team through when you didn't report back, but when we connected with the Malp and saw the conditions we had to assume you'd taken up shelter somewhere. The General made the decision to hold off until he conditions cleared, we ultimately had to wait until today to come through."

"Not exactly the type of planet to vacate on" muttered Daniel

"Initial evaluations didn't show up any such weather activity as was encountered" pointed out Reynolds

"Yeah I know" added Sam, "Everything happened rather quickly unfortunately. It hit us at the ruin site and we had no option but to take up shelter there…"

"Which is when all hell broke loose," said Cameron with a groan

No further questions were asked as the three fell silent, each pondering on their own thoughts as to the adventure that they'd come through. One of Reynolds team started dialling at the DHD and Sam watched the gate start to engage.