Jack slid in beside Teal'c, tucking against a natural hollow in the ground.
"Man these guys are persistent," Jack said in hushed tones. They had been taking their persuers on arbitrary loops to give the others time to reach the safety of the gate. All the running around had his knees ready for a break.
He certainly was more than ready to be done with this place.
"They approach," Teal'c said. Both of them pressed against the ground even further, going completely silent.
Heavy boots thudded all around them, the local version of flashlights sweeping the groound. The men came through the area, but they continued right past. Neither moved until the group was a safe distance away.
"I think it's time to double back to the gate," Jack stated. The others had more than enough time to get there.
"Indeed."
"Hope Colonel Ryan's having as much luck with his group." They had split up into two groups to further confuse the guards chasing them. The rest of SG-7 had split off into the other direction, Lieutenant Manning staying with Daniel and Sam. And that was as much thought that he dared to spare for that. Now was not the time to get caught up in just how horrible she had looked when they found her.
Teal'c took point, wielding the sidearm that the other SG team had provided them. At least Jack could take comfort in that. They were armed, however marginal. It certainly wouldn't help them if they got pinned down, but it did widen their options.
Gunfire sounded from the direction of the stargate. While it wasn't surprising, it wasn't a good thing either. Of course they were aware of their prisoners' destination. Ryan had told them the two teams back at the gate had brought enough weapons and explosives to hold their postion for a while. There hadn't been time to question the source of veracity of the intel, Jack only knew that the mission to rescue his team definitely had some sort of local help. Otherwise he couldn't see how they could locate their position or mount a successful incursion. Specifics didn't really matter, so long as everything held true.
He flipped on the radio Ryan had given him, no longer worried about it giving away their position.
"O'Neill to the gate teams, what's your status?"
The response had weaponsfire and shouting in the background. "Hostiles are probing our perimeter. We're holding them at bay, but they're beginning to mass. What's your ETA?"
"Fifteen if it's a straight shot. What's the status of Major Carter and SG-7?" Jack asked about the others.
"Major Carter has already been sent through to the SGC with Doctor Jackson and Lieutenant Manning. The rest of SG-7 is holed up with us."
Relief washed over him. Everyone was accounted for, and at least for the time being he could put Sam out of his mind and know that she was in good hands. All that remained was for him and Teal'c to get to the safety of the gate. Jack followed Teal'c through the trees, his jaffa senses allowing him to pick his way through the dark obstacle course faster than Jack could have managed.
A stray beam of light filtered through the woods behind them. Jack took a quick look back to see where it was coming from. He saw the heads of several other flashlights a significant distance away.
"Looks like they've come back around," Jack announced. They didn't appear to have spotted him or Teal'c, but just seemed to be headed in the same direction. Probably called back to assist at the gate. At the distance they were, they didn't have to worry about getting shot. So long as they maintained it.
Less than a minute later he heard the shouts coming from the group, knowing that they had been seen. Someone fired, but the projectile hit a tree long before it got anywhere near them.
"Hurry up, T!" Jack huffed between breaths. Teal'c didn't respond. They both already knew that he was threading his way through as quickly as he could. As their pursuers got closer, Jack aimed his pistol behind him and let off a couple rounds. He didn't seriously hope to hit anyone, he couldn't spare the attention to aim and avoid running straight into a tree. He hoped to slow them down momentarily.
Apparently his shot was luckier than he thought. At least one bullet had apparently been close enough to make several of them dive for cover, he heard multiple bodies sliding into the dirt and leaves. But there was still the steady sound of footfalls behind them, not all had been scared by his action.
Jack may have even made it worse. Emboldened by his success, the remaining pursuers began firing again. Bullets sprayed into the forest, riddling the vegetation around them. He could also hear the firefight at the stargate, they were about to crest into the valley at any moment.
Jack pulled up his radio again. "We're coming in hot!"
The woods from their approach ended quite suddenly, giving way to the sandy descent into the valley. Teal'c took it in stride, but the change in terrain nearly sent Jack sprawling on his face. In the center of the valley, about one hundred yards away, he could make out the gate. The surrounding stones reflected the bright bursts of light from the defenders weapons.
"Down!" the call came through the radio. Teal'c dove to the ground immediately, Jack quickly following. A wall of bullets sailed overhead, stoping the guards in their tracks. They scattered behind whatever cover they could find. Short bursts kept them from coming back out.
Jack followed Teal'c, both keeping low to the ground on their approach. About halfway to their destination he saw someone approach the DHD, and the gate's chevrons began to light up. When the stargate activated moments later, light illuminated the whole area. The statues cast long shadows into the sand. They got up and ran the last portion.
"Don't stop!" Colonel Ryan called out to them as they passed.
"Don't need to tell me twice," Jack responded. They shot through the rippling surface at a dead run.
Teal'c's grasp kept Jack from tumbling down the steps at the end of the ramp, then pulled him to the side while he was still recovering. The SG teams poured through the gate like a flood of men. Colonel Ryan was the last one through.
"Close the iris!" he called up to the observation room. There were a couple slams against the metal barrier, projectiles or people Jack didn't know or care. Then the gate shutdown, leaving the only sounds in the room heavy breathing.
"Is everyone all right?" Hammond said as he entered the gate room.
"Just a few dings, sir," Ryan responded.
"General..." Jack began.
Hammond nodded solemnly before he could finish his request. "Go."
Jack didn't like the expression on his face, racing to the infirmary.