Jack knelt on the ground, Matthew clutched tightly to his chest for as many moments as he could possibly spare. Holding him again, feeling his small body alive and warm and there, chased away all the nightmares which had haunted him, both sleeping and waking, for the last few terrible days. Feeling suddenly years younger, he stood, still holding Matthew, and turned to the team's commander, Major Nelson, who was already coordinating the former hostages to move out.

"We good to go?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir."

"Right, Major, after you."

Nelson's team moved out first, herding the group of civilians with them. As they waited for the room to clear, Jack asked Daniel. "You okay?"

Daniel nodded. "Now. What took you so long?"

Jack smiled, "Had to stop and ask for directions. Place wasn't on the tourist map." He paused, hesitant to ask the question foremost on his mind. "How was…?" He nodded towards the child in his arms.

Now it was Daniel's turn to smile. Ruffling Matthew's hair, he said, "Kid kept me safe for days. Right, Matt?" He winked, and the boy returned his grin.

"You betcha, Daniel."

Satisfied, Jack kissed the top of his son's head. "Good man. Now, let's get you back to your Mother." And turning, they quickly followed the others out of the room, Teal'c falling in behind them to guard the rear.

Despite being burdened by so many civilians, they moved quickly through the corridors, heading back toward the established rendezvous point near the base's entrance. The noise around them had all but faded completely, and Jack hoped it meant they'd successfully defeated the initial resistance and not simply that they were preparing…

A sudden burst of shots, loud in the near silence, exploded from somewhere to their right as they crossed intersecting corridors. Jack threw himself backwards, out of the intersection line of fire, keeping Matthew beneath him as he fell. Daniel and Teal'c landed next to them. The others had made it through and were on the other side of the opening; bolts sprayed across the space between them.

"Nelson, get these people moving. We'll be right behind you," Jack ordered into his mike. Pushing himself off the ground, he passed Matthew to Daniel. "Take him."

Daniel took the boy as Jack pulled his rifle up and into position. He moved forward to Teal'c and together, crouching at the corner, they returned fire down the hall. They were the better shots, and the enemy's fire fell off as they died. Realizing no one was firing back anymore, Jack and Teal'c moved cautiously into the corridor. When no one resumed firing, Jack yelled over his shoulder, "Daniel, move now," and Daniel crossed behind them, Matthew clinging to his side.

Jack and Teal'c leapt after him, and together they sped down the corridor in the direction the others had taken just a few minutes earlier.

"Kindler?" Jack spoke into his earpiece as they moved.

"Kindler here."

"Nelson make it back to you?"

"He's here, Sir. Everyone's present and accounted for and at the rendezvous. Just waiting for you."

"Don't, Colonel. Take three of the jumpers and get back through the 'gate. But keep it open. We'll be right behind you."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Jack sat at the controls with Teal'c to his right; Matthew sat strapped in on Daniel's lap behind them. They flew rapidly towards the 'gate, skimming the treeline.

And then there it was, the Stargate, visible in front of them, the glimmering silver pool of the event horizon at its center welcoming them in. Promising home.

Just as final escape seemed certain, an Al'kesh swooped down from across the clearing, landing in front of the 'gate. Blocking their access. It's hatch opened, pouring Alliance reinforcements out.

"Oh… Crap," Jack murmured under his breath. And then, into his headpiece, "Kindler… Shut the 'gate down. Now! You've got company. Looks like we're gonna have to get out another way…"

He turned the jumper around, away from the 'gate. Looking for a safe place to land.

And wait.

And plan.