With a grimace, Jack replied, "Yasureyabetcha, let's go and get this over with".

Sam and Jack stood and proceeded to their quarters to suit up for the mission.

PART FOUR: SURPRISE ATTACK

Less that 30 minutes later the original SG1, SG3 and the Tokra, Bashir, stood at the base of the ramp, prepared to embark. The Asgard representative had already been beamed back to the Daniel Jackson.

"Let the good times roll", Jack cracked in as light a tone as he could muster under the circumstances. Though he was his suspicious self about any plan which involved the Tokra, he was willing, for now, to let Sam's confidence and his sense of loyalty to Thor override his misgivings. "The original crew is back; how's it feel kids?"

"It feels good, as always, O'Neill", Teal'c replied in his inimitable low key fashion.

"Godspeed, SGs 1 and 3". The teams turned to the booming voice, apparently from the control room, and found General George Hammond among the observers.

"Nice of you to join the party, George! What's the occasion?"

"Nice to see you too, Jack. Just here to see you off; I don't get to see my original flagship team go into the field any more." Truth be told, George Hammond had misgivings from the beginning, when the President had first pitched him this mission. Although he couldn't put his finger on the problem or stop the mission, he did want to be in a position to help, if it came to that.

Nodding appreciatively in the direction of his former CO, Ambassador Jack O'Neill turned to his wife and Colonel Reynolds, a good friend and commander of SG3, suggesting, "What do you say we get this show on the road, Reynolds?"

"Yes, sir."

By now, Walter's familiar voice declared that the seventh chevron had locked; the 'kawoosh' of the final sequence let everyone know it was time to embark. All reservations aside, the teams walked up the ramp and into the world of P3X-779.

"See Carter, I told you. It's just another planet with lots of trees." Actually, as the teams stepped out of the gate, they found themselves in a spacious clearing flanked by heavily forested areas on both sides. The clearing itself appeared to lead to gently rolling hills; there were several irregularly spaced rocky outcroppings across the clearing.

"Yes, sir. It's another green, hopefully boring, planet." It amazed Sam how quickly they fell back into their professional roles when they were at work, particularly in the field.

"Ambassador, our intel suggests the lab we seek should be straight ahead. There is also the possibility of a Goa'uld reconnaissance station, slightly to the north of the lab.

At this, O'Neill fixed the Tokra operative with a look of utter disdain. "And you didn't think it important to mention this before because…? Reynolds, scope it out, Teal'c take point. Let's not assume this is going to be a walk in the park."

Jack walked just slightly behind Teal'c. As Sam watched him from behind she felt as though she'd gone back 10 years in their histories. It was as if nothing had changed: Jack and Teal'c on alert, vigilant, as always. With SG3 bringing up the rear, just behind Daniel, she felt perfectly safe, but less than battle ready herself. Sure she'd maintained a level of fitness, but as a mother of four, her body was far different than it had been 10 years ago. So many things were different. Her life was full and meaningful in ways she could never have imagined during those long walks from the gate when she was Jack's 2IC.

They'd gone about 1 click in the direction of the lab when Teal'c suddenly stopped and crouched low as if listening for a hidden assailant.

"What ya got T?"

"I believe we are not alone on this planet, O'Neill."

Before Teal'c was able to offer a more detailed assessment, the first blasts rang out from the left side of the clearing and the teams dove for cover. Jack and Sam found themselves on opposite sides of a large rocky embankment, much to Jack's consternation. From then on, Jack's efforts and attentions along with those of Colonel Reynolds, hunkered down with him, were directed towards repelling the small force who'd unleashed the first volley of shots.

In the midst of this firefight, Sam glanced towards her husband just in time to see two Jaffa approach his position from the opposite direction, break the cover of dense vegetation and open fire. Jack was hit on the initial volley, before he was aware of the second team of Jaffa. Reynolds managed to drag O'Neill with him to take cover on the far side of the embankment.

Meanwhile, Sam and the rest of the team returned fire. Within a few minutes, the battle had settled and the Jaffa who'd not been killed or wounded had fled.

It was then that Sam was able to run to her husband. Colonel Reynolds, who had already assessed the desperate situation, quickly moved out of her way and stood to the side. The sight that met her eyes was horrific. She fell to her knees beside the man she desperately loved, taking in the gaping wound to his chest, his blood soaked clothing and his fearful stillness. She touched the side of his neck searching for a pulse, knowing the search was in vain. Sam heard an empty sob rip from her chest and felt tears streaming down her cheeks. This was her worst nightmare; she simply prayed to wake up.

Her hands reached for Jack and caressed his face gently, hoping against hope she was wrong and he would open his eyes. The lack of response made her feel as if her own heart would stop. The reality of death reached its tendrils through her being as she leaned over the body of her husband, gathering him into her arms. She began to rock back and forth, holding her beloved securely to her chest.

By now, Teal'c and Daniel were standing directly behind their friends. Their own shock was palpable, the feeling of loss overwhelming.

Please don't panic, or have terribly bad thoughts about me --- Part 5 up soon!