Angsty slush warnings in this chapter. If you're of a sensitive disposition... get tissues. Sorry the update has taken a while but education must take precedent – things at college have been crazy! Anyway hope you enjoy this one.

Chapter 24 – To Go Down Fighting

Daniel fell hard, beside Jack, his first thought was that Jack had pulled him down to keep him from getting hit by something he hadn't seen but a flash of red caught his eye and he whipped round, his eyes falling on the bloody hole in the colonel's uniform. He reached out, but before he could touch his friend, the blasts around them resumed, though in lesser numbers. The reprieve that Jack's grenade had bought them was over.

Sam was running before her mind processed what she had seen. Pitching her last grenade into the trees, she used the distraction provided to reach Daniel and the colonel at a sprint, where they lay in the open, without cover. Daniel was white. She gave no instructions, simply grabbing one side of Jack's vest and, with her head ducked low, tugged him with all her strength towards the Stargate. Daniel caught on, taking a fistful of the colonel's uniform and adding his efforts to Sam's as they pulled him, on his front, behind the stone dais, the only other sheltered spot in the clearing besides the DHD.

From the corner of her eye, Sam was aware of Teal'c breaking cover and leaving the woods to draw the enemy fire away from his team mates. He shot off several bursts, as he traversed the distance to the DHD, ducking quickly behind it, to reload and glanced across at the rest of SG1. They were safe, but a thick line of the colonel's blood marked their retreat.

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Sam's ears were ringing. Her hands were warm with his blood.

'Help!' Daniel, help me!' Daniel fell back on his haunches, at a loss. There was nothing he could do! He grasped Jack's shoulder, as if trying to comfort the man who was barely conscious. Jack's body heaved as he coughed violently, blood pooling from his mouth onto the ground. Drops fell on the legs of Sam's pants as she levered him onto his side so that he might breathe more easily. He was awake enough to scream in protest. The sound travelled as far as Teal'c still squatting behind the dialing device.

By now the ground was soaked. Sam's skull echoed with the continued volleys of fire from the tree line and she could not take in what she was seeing. The shot has gone right through him, like a solid missile, leaving a bloody mess behind – bones, muscle, beating heart.

She pressed her hands to Jack's torso, hoping somehow to staunch the bleeding. Fluid flowed between her fingers, soaking her hands. Daniel could see her lips moving as he watched, immobile in his shock.

'No,' She whispered. Sense wrestled for dominance in her head. She could see the blood, see inside his chest. She knew what it meant, but the idea was inconceivable. It couldn't happen! His head thrashed against her thigh.

'Carter,' His teeth were clenched so tightly she could barely hear him. 'Roll—over. Me. Over.' She nodded, rolling him fully onto his back and cradling his head as gently as she could, her fingers leaving red streaks on his skin and hair. She sobbed, unable to hold the tears at bay as he looked at her.

'Jack...' His arm jerked, blindly reaching for her. She caught his hand and pressed his bloody fingers to her lips. 'Don't you dare.' She leaned over him, kissing his face, his mouth, her tears leaving smudges in the grime on his cheeks.

'Sam-' he coughed again, his shattered ribcage lurching against her hand as he fought to continue, '..you.'

She looked up at Daniel who shook his head, uncomprehending as he watched Jack try to say goodbye.

'You, Sam.' He shut his eyes. Sam grit her teeth, pulling his body against her in a protective gesture, jumping slightly when she felt his fading heartbeat against her palm.

'Please! I love you.' Why had she been so afraid? Why had she never said the words?

Daniel watched as Sam gently rocked Jack's body, touching his face and talking to him like a child with a doll. He roughly swiped beneath his glasses to clear his vision and steeled himself.

'Sam.' She ignored him. 'Sam.' He took her hand from where it rested over Jack's still heart. She looked up. 'He's gone Sam.'

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Teal'c brought his fist down on the clip, slamming it home with vehemence. His last one. Rising to take care of a couple of soldiers who had been making their way towards his position around the edge of the trees, he twiddled his radio.

'Daniel Jackson. I have one clip and two grenades remaining. O'Neill and Major Carter must be ready to retreat when it is detonated.

'Copy Teal'c but – Jack won't be coming with us.' Teal'cs heart clenched. He had feared the worst but had until now, refused to consider that possibility.

'Very well. We shall proceed without him.' But before Teal'c or Daniel could make a move, Sam grabbed Daniel's radio.

'Wait! Teal'c - is the crystal inside the DHD smashed or is it just the casing?' She waited for his reply, her breathing coming in short gasps. The idea of leaving Jack's body as a trophy for Hyden made her sick and if there was another way then she would do it. After a moment the radio buzzed.

'I believe the crystal is intact Major Carter.'

'Good. Do you still have a zat?'

'Sam?' Daniel was looking at her as if he were not quite sure whether to trust her sanity right now.

'Teal'c, use one grenade to buy you time to dial. Zat the crystal.' Daniel interrupted again.

'Will that work?'

'I don't know!' Daniel shut up. 'We'll only have one chance at this Teal'c. If it works we can use the second grenade to make a run for the gate. We just need enough power to establish a wormhole. Once it's stable it should be able to draw power from earth's gate.'

Teal'c responded in the affirmative but before they could act on their plan the bursts from the forest stopped so suddenly Daniel thought he had gone deaf. He spun around bewildered as a sickeningly familiar voice broke the short-lived silence.

'You are outnumbered and have casualties. Surrender and you will be returned to the institute unharmed. Continue to resist and we shall be forced to respond with deadly force.' Behind the dais, Daniel heard Sam mutter 'Deadly force,' her knuckles white on the barrel of her P-90. He laid a hand on her arm, afraid that she may do something stupid. 'We're doing this Daniel.' There were tears tracks still on her face and her voice was pained but authoritative. With Jack down, Sam was in command and he could not argue. He nodded, deciding to take a leaf out of Jack's book and stall for time. He reached for his radio again.

'Whenever you think it's the right time Teal'c.' he glanced across the smoky clearing to Teal'c, sheltered behind the DHD and caught his nod. Slowly, Daniel stood, the steps to the Stargate were tall enough that he could just look over and stared through the gate at the man who had brought about Jack's death, standing only yards away, within the clearing. 'I don't know if you've noticed,' he called out, trying to keep his tone light, despite the anger and pain burning inside him. 'But the phrases "institute" and "no harm" are mutually exclusive.' Hyden opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by a soft 'chink' before an explosion knocked him off his feet, to land crumpled on the ground, several feet from where he had been stood. Daniel had seen Teal'cs move from the corner of his eye and both he and Sam had curled up, heads and ears covered when the grenade detonated.

The minute that followed was fuelled entirely by instinct; any chance of controlled, calculated actions long gone. With Sam and Daniel providing cover, each on the last limb of their ammunition supply, Teal'c moved at a crawl around the base of the DHD and dialed earth then pulled out his zat, as shots seared past him, the marshals aim obscured by the smoke following the explosions. Daniel's voice burst through the radio as Teal'c reached safety again behind the lit DHD. 'Teal'c! Are you ready?' But an answer wasn't necessary. The blue vortex of the active Stargate rushed forward and settled, giving the smoky forest an eerie glow and without further instruction, Teal'c launched the final grenade and ran.

Behind the dais, Daniel finished sending the IDC and glanced once at Sam. She nodded, jimmying her weapon and with a deep breath, Daniel glanced down at Jack's body again and plunged from behind the steps into the melee of the clearing. Sprinting together they reached the foot of the long steps, with marshals on their heels, still firing. With no choice but to turn their backs and run, hoping, Daniel was sure he was about to feel fire rip through him as Jack had, when sparks flew around the ring of the gate and the light from the event horizon died. He heard Sam's yell of fear and dismay, looking wildly around, saw the smoldering remains of the DHD to his right, destroyed. For a second, he paused, but shouted orders from the trees urged the marshals closer. Sam felt Daniel catch hold of her hand and met his eyes and then Teal'cs as he glanced in her direction. Teal'c went onto one knee, P-90 raised and Sam and Daniel followed suit, ready to go down fighting. As the inevitability of death settled over them, not only the clearing, but also the sky erupted with vibrating sound.

AN On the whole, I'm not sure how well I write action. Maybe it's just one of those 'never liking your own work' things. Either way, constructive criticism is loved. And I claim artistic license on my interpretation of Stargate physics )

Another cliffhanger I know. Too dramatic? Who cares? Let me know what you thought and I'll try but can't promise another update before Christmas. If not, hope you all have a great holiday and look after each other )

prometheus246