Jack exhaled in relief as the radio's static crackled to life once again. His grip on the radio tightened as one of Sam's men spoke up, his tone more relaxed now, though still cautious.
"It's all clear, Sir. It's just a lost driver asking for directions. No sign of anything suspicious."
Jack nodded, his shoulders loosening as the tension started to fade. He glanced at Sam, who seemed to exhale a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. But even with the immediate threat gone, the feeling of unease still lingered in the air, thick and undeniable.
"Continue surveillance," Jack said, his voice still firm, though less urgent. "Keep a close eye as night approaches. We can't afford to let our guard down."
A voice crackled back through the radio, confirming the order.
"Understood. We'll stay sharp."
Jack stood still momentarily as the radio clicked off, looking out the window. The fading light of day was giving way to the creeping shadows of evening. Despite the all-clear, his instincts told him something was still off. He didn't know what it was but could feel it deep in his bones.
Sam, standing beside him, didn't need to say a word. They both understood the stakes now. The game had changed, and their vigilance would need to stay just as sharp as it had been in the moments before the car had pulled up.
The night was coming. And with it, a new kind of danger.
The night, however, was unnervingly quiet. Sam stood by the living room window, arms crossed, watching the CQS and Landry's security teams patrol the perimeter. Their presence was supposed to reassure her, but all she felt was a gnawing tension in her gut.
Jack leaned against the doorframe, his pistol holstered but close at hand.
"You look like you're about to launch a full-scale assault."
Sam shot him a look.
"They're not playing around, Jack. If Kane wants in, he'll come with everything he has."
"And you think your guys can stop him?" Jack gestured toward the men outside, his skepticism clear.
"They're professionals," Sam said, though her voice lacked conviction.
Jack snorted. "We'll see."
Before she could respond, the sharp crack of gunfire shattered the silence. Both of them froze, exchanging a look before springing into action.
As the firefight raged outside Jack's house, miles away, in a dimly lit warehouse, Kane stood before a holographic display. His operatives gathered around the display, which projected a detailed blueprint of Jack's house and its surrounding security measures.
"They've increased perimeter patrols," one of his men reported, his voice tense. "CQS's private team and Homeworld military personnel are coordinating efforts. It'll be difficult to breach without casualties."
Kane stepped forward, his tall frame casting a shadow across the display. His sharp and calculating eyes scanned the data with unnerving precision.
"Difficult," he repeated, his tone calm but laced with menace. "Not impossible. Casualties are irrelevant. What matters is the objective."
He turned to his team, his voice soft but commanding.
"We proceed with Phase Two. Their defenses are a temporary inconvenience, but fear? Fear is a weapon far more potent than any bullet. We make them falter, hesitate. And then, we strike."
One of his operatives, a younger man with uncertain eyes, hesitated.
"Sir, with all due respect, if we escalate too quickly, we risk exposing our entire operation. What if—"
Kane's gaze snapped to the operative, silencing him mid-sentence. He stepped closer, his movements deliberate, his presence suffocating.
"What if?" Kane echoed, his voice dangerously low. "What if you remembered who commands this operation? What if you trusted that I have anticipated every possibility, every contingency?"
The operative swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "Understood, Sir."
Kane's expression softened, though his green eyes remained cold. "Good. Now, focus on your role. I've no room for doubt on my team."
He turned back to the hologram, his hands clasped behind his back. His voice grew quieter, almost contemplative. "Carter's brilliance is her greatest strength but also her greatest flaw. She'll cling to her family and principles, even as they become her undoing."
A woman standing near the edge of the room stepped forward, her tone challenging. "And what about your principles, Kane? You talk about humanity's evolution, but all I see is destruction."
Kane turned to her slowly, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Destruction is merely the first step of creation, Ms. Halstead. Humanity cannot evolve without sacrifice. Carter will learn that… and so will you."
The tension in the room was palpable as Kane stepped away, his focus returning to the hologram.
"Initiate the next phase," he ordered, his voice devoid of emotion. "Remind them that safety is an illusion."
Back at the house, chaos erupted as the sharp crack of gunfire shattered the tense silence of the night. Sam and Jack sprang into action, their instincts honed by years of experience, but the escalating situation left little time for thought. The house's floodlights snapped on, flooding the yard with harsh, white light and revealing dark figures moving with unnerving precision.
Kane's men emerged from the shadows, their weapons trained on the security teams patrolling the perimeter. Their movements were swift and calculated, each step coordinated as if rehearsed.
The first shots rang out, a volley of gunfire tearing through the quiet, followed by shouts of warning from the security personnel. Bullets ricocheted off walls and shattered glass, sending shards spraying into the living room. Sam and Jack ducked instinctively, taking cover as the windows exploded inward.
"Stay low!" Jack barked, grabbing his pistol and scanning for a clear line of sight.
"We're pinned down!" Sam shouted, her voice tight with adrenaline as she reached for her weapon. Her eyes darted to the boys' room upstairs, the thought of their safety driving her focus.
As they crouched behind the overturned coffee table, a moment of quiet settled between bursts of gunfire. Sam glanced at Jack, her blue eyes meeting his. The unspoken understanding passed between them, as clear as if it had been said aloud: We've been through worse. We'll get through this.
The memory of another firefight flashed through Sam's mind—one from many years ago when they'd been trapped off-world with no reinforcements and dwindling ammunition. She'd watched Jack take a hit to his shoulder but keep fighting, his determination unwavering. That same determination burned in his eyes now, anchoring her in the chaos.
Jack caught her glance and gave her a tight nod, the slightest flicker of a smirk tugging at his lips despite the danger. She knew what it meant—his way of saying, We've got this.
"Stay here!" Jack barked, holding his gun and moving toward the front door.
"Like hell I will," Sam shot back, holding her pistol as well.
They reached the entryway as the CQS team leader burst in, blood streaking his face.
"We're under heavy fire," he said, his breath ragged. "They've got tactical gear and high-caliber weapons. We're outnumbered."
"Where's Landry's team?" Sam demanded.
"They're engaging on the south side, but it's bad," the leader replied.
Jack cursed under his breath. "Get your people to hold the line. We'll cover the interior."
The leader nodded, rushing back out as another explosion rocked the house.
Outside, the chaos reached a fever pitch. Security teams shouted orders, gunfire blending into a cacophony with the sharp cracks of Kane's men's weapons. Each gap in the defenses was ruthlessly exploited, the attackers advancing precisely.
Jack leaned out, firing a quick volley before ducking back. His mind flickered to another battlefield years ago: Sam hunched over alien tech, sweat streaking her face as enemy fire closed in. Even then, she'd been brilliant and calm, someone he trusted with his life. That trust hadn't wavered—and it wouldn't now.
Beside him, Sam's jaw clenched as she reloaded her pistol, her movements methodical but tense. A sudden memory surged to the surface, unbidden but sharp—a late night in her old Pentagon lab, Kane's voice ringing in her ears.
"You're too cautious, Carter," he'd said, leaning over her workstation, his green eyes glittering with zeal. "This tech could redefine humanity—if only you'd stop letting fear hold you back."
She'd ignored him then, focusing on refining the algorithms that would later form the backbone of quantum entanglement protocols. She'd believed in the potential for good, for progress. But now? Now, that same brilliance was being twisted into a weapon by the man she'd once trusted as a colleague.
"Sam!" Jack's shout snapped her back to the present.
"I'm fine," she lied, tightening her grip on the pistol. But the guilt gnawed at her, a relentless ache she couldn't shake. If she hadn't created this tech, if she'd seen Kane's ambition for what it was… would they even be here?
"We have to move!" Jack barked, cutting through her spiraling thoughts.
Sam's grip tightened on her pistol. "Let's hold them off as long as we can."
They moved in sync, and every step and glance was a testament to their bond. Years of shared battles had forged something unbreakable, a connection that again carried them through the fire. But as the chaos raged around them, the weight of Sam's past threatened to drag her down, even as she fought to protect their future.
The sound of shattering glass echoed through the house, sharp and ominous. Jack was already moving, his instincts kicking in.
"Get the boys!" he barked over his shoulder as he headed for the source of the noise, gun in hand.
"Jack—" Sam started, but he cut her off.
"Go, Sam! Now!"
She hesitated for only a second before sprinting up the stairs. She slipped into the boys' room, closing the door as quietly as possible. The faint glow of their nightlight illuminated the scene: Jake and Benji weren't in their beds. Her stomach twisted in fear, but then she spotted movement under Jake's bed.
"Mom?" Jake's voice was a shaky whisper, his face pale as he peeked out. Beside him, Benji clung to his stuffed bear, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Sam dropped to her knees, her hands trembling as she reached out to them.
"It's okay," she said softly, crawling closer. "It's Mom. You're safe now."
Jake scrambled out first, his tiny body trembling as he threw himself into her arms.
"Mom, what's happening? Why are there loud bangs?"
Benji followed, clutching his bear so tightly it looked ready to burst at the seams.
"Is it bad guys?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
Sam hugged them both tightly, swallowing the lump in her throat.
"It's just some people trying to scare us," she said, keeping her voice calm. "But your Dad and I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."
A loud crash from somewhere in the house made them all flinch. Jake clung tighter to her, his voice rising in panic.
"Mom, I'm scared!"
"I know, sweetheart. I know," Sam whispered, her voice cracking. She pulled back just enough to cup his face. "But I need you to be brave, okay? Just like you always are. Can you do that for me?"
Jake nodded hesitantly, his wide eyes filled with tears. "Okay, Mom."
She turned to Benji, who was still clutching his bear. "And you, buddy? Can you help your brother be brave for me?"
Benji sniffled, nodding as he rubbed at his tear-streaked face. "I'll try."
"That's my boys," she said, her voice soft but firm. She stood, holding out her hands. "We're going to the safe room now. Stay close to me, and don't let go, okay?"
Jake grabbed one hand, and Benji took the other. Sam kept her body low as they moved toward the door, shielding them as much as possible.
The hallway was dim, lit only by the sporadic flashes of gunfire through the windows. Jack's voice could be heard downstairs as he barked orders into his radio.
Sam tightened her grip on the boys' hands. "Almost there," she murmured, more to herself than to them.
Benji stumbled, the sound of a nearby explosion making him scream and cling to her leg. Sam crouched down, gathering him into her arms despite the strain. "It's okay, baby. I've got you," she said, her voice soothing.
Jake pressed close to her side, his little hands clutching her jacket.
"Mom, I'm scared," he whispered again, his voice trembling.
"I know," she said, her voice breaking. "But I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."
Sam ushered the boys into the small, reinforced closet in the main bedroom—a cramped space lined with cold steel walls that seemed to magnify the tension in the air. Their lavender-scented laundry clung to the boys' pajamas, a fragile remnant of normalcy amidst the chaos.
Her hands trembled slightly as she locked the heavy door, the faint click of the mechanism sending a shiver down her spine. She knelt in front of them, her hands on their shoulders.
"You're safe in here," she said firmly, looking each of them in the eye. "I'll be just outside with your Dad. No matter what you hear or what happens, you stay here until I return."
Jake clung to her, his tiny arms wrapping tightly around her neck.
"Don't go, Mommy."
The words hit her like a blow, and she couldn't breathe momentarily. She kissed the top of his head, inhaling the familiar scent of baby shampoo that still clung to him despite his insistence he was "too old" for it.
"I have to, sweetheart. I have to keep you safe. But I'll come back. I promise."
Benjamin nodded solemnly, his face pale but determined.
"We'll wait. I'll keep Jake safe."
Her heart clenched at the bravery in his voice.
"I know you will," she said, stroking his cheek. "I'm so proud of you."
The distant sound of shattering glass snapped her focus back to the present. She closed the safe room door, the metallic clang echoing in the confined space.
"Stay quiet," she whispered one last time, her voice trembling slightly. "And remember, I love you both. Always."
Sam pressed her hand against the cold steel of the safe room door, lingering briefly before grabbing the flashlight Jack had stashed nearby. Her pulse raced as another explosion rocked the house, but she steeled herself. The boys were counting on her.
As Sam left the bedroom, her radio crackled to life. She adjusted her grip on the radio as Natalie's voice crackled through, steady and reassuring.
"Sam, I've got eyes on Kane's network. He's using a satellite relay for his surveillance feeds, and my team has found a vulnerability."
Sam frowned as the gunfire echoed outside. "What kind of vulnerability?"
"He's overloading the relay. If we intercept it with a counter-signal, we can force his operatives to regroup, disrupt their communications, and blind them temporarily." Natalie's voice carried a sharp edge of determination.
"Can we send the counter-signal from here?" Sam asked, crouching low as she moved toward Jack, stationed by the kitchen.
"You can. I'm uploading the code to your house's security system. I'll need you to run the command directly from the control panel."
Sam's mind raced. "And Kane? He'll know we've intercepted his network."
"He will," Natalie admitted, "but he won't be able to respond as effectively. Right now, his team has the advantage of full surveillance. Disrupting it will level the playing field."
Sam nodded, gripping the radio tighter. "Understood. Send the instructions."
Jack turned toward her, his expression stern. "What's going on?"
"Natalie found a way to cut off Kane's surveillance," Sam explained quickly. "I can run the counter-signal from the control panel here."
Jack's jaw tightened as he glanced toward the boys' room. "And once we do that?"
"His team will be scrambling," Sam said. "We use the time to regroup and reinforce."
Jack's lips pressed into a thin line, but he nodded. "Do it. I'll keep an eye on the perimeter."
Sam reached the security system panel in the living room, crouching beside it as she keyed in her access code. Natalie's voice came through again.
"Okay, the code is in. You just need to confirm the command and execute it. This will flood the relay with a false signal, forcing his team to go dark for at least five minutes."
Sam's fingers hovered over the keypad. "Five minutes isn't long."
"It's enough to destabilize his operation," Natalie replied. "He's relying on precision, not brute force. If we take that away, he'll falter for a moment. It will buy you some time to breathe."
Sam pressed the final key, and the screen blinked green before displaying a countdown.
"It's running," she said, her voice steady.
"Good," Natalie said. "Now, hold tight. My team's monitoring for any shifts in their movement."
Moments later, the gunfire outside began to lessen, the bursts becoming sporadic. Jack's voice came through the radio. "Looks like they're pulling back. What did you do?"
"Cut off their eyes," Sam said simply, relief threading through her voice.
Natalie's voice chimed in next. "They're regrouping. You've got a window, but it won't last long. Reinforce your defenses and get ready for their next move."
Jack stepped into the living room, his weapon at the ready. "If they're regrouping, that means they're planning something bigger."
"They're blind for now," Sam replied, standing to meet his gaze. "But Natalie's right. We must use this time to secure the boys and prepare for what's next."
Jack nodded, his expression grim. "Let's move."
Outside, Sergeant Morales, a young and determined member of the CQS team, was pinned behind a low wall, his breathing labored. Blood seeped from a graze on his arm, but he kept his rifle steady, his sharp eyes scanning for movement.
"Stay low!" he barked to the rookie beside him, a fresh-faced guard named Riley. "Don't panic, and don't waste your shots."
"Sarge, there's too many of them," Riley stammered, his hands trembling as he reloaded.
"We've been through worse," Morales shot back, his voice firm. "Focus. You've got this."
When a burst of gunfire forced them both to duck, Morales leaned out, firing a precise shot that took down one of Kane's men.
"See?" he said with a grin, ignoring the pain in his arm. "One down. Let's make it two."
Despite his fear, Riley nodded, his grip on the rifle tightening. Morales's unwavering confidence gave him the courage to lean out and fire, landing his first hit.
Further back, Captain Hayes of Landry's team coordinated their movements with practiced efficiency. Her voice carried over the chaos, calm and commanding.
"Flank left! Cover the civilians inside the house!" she ordered, taking down an attacker with a well-placed shot. When one of her team members fell, she didn't hesitate, dragging him to cover while still firing.
"Stay with me, McCall," she said, her voice fierce. "We're getting out of this."
The gunfire outside subsided into an eerie quiet. Sam crouched near the security panel, the glow of the countdown still blinking faintly on the screen. She pressed her ear to the radio, her voice sharp but calm.
"Natalie, give me an update. What's happening?"
Natalie's voice came through, clear but urgent.
"Kane's team has gone dark. My guess? They're regrouping and re-strategizing. We've got maybe five minutes before they come back full force."
Sam's jaw tightened as she glanced toward Jack, who was speaking quietly with the leader of Landry's team. He caught her gaze and nodded grimly, his body language reflecting the same urgency she felt.
"Jack," Sam called, motioning him over. "We've got five minutes, tops. What's the plan?"
Jack holstered his weapon and crossed to her, his expression hard.
"We use the time to lock down the house. Reinforce the entry points, regroup with Landry's and CQS's teams, and get everyone in position. This isn't over—it's just starting."
Sam nodded, standing and brushing the dust off her pants. "I'll check on the boys and ensure the safe room is secure. You coordinate with the teams."
"Be quick," Jack said, his eyes narrowing as he looked out the window. The floodlights illuminated the scattered shapes of bodies on the ground and the tense forms of their remaining security forces.
Jack stepped outside, his boots crunching against the gravel as he approached Captain Hayes of Landry's team and the CQS leader, Morales. Both looked worse for wear—blood-streaked Morales' arm from a graze, and Hayes' tactical vest bore scuff marks from close-range combat.
"We've got a brief window," Jack said without preamble. "What's the status?"
"Four down, six injured," Hayes reported, her voice clipped. "We've reinforced the south side, but the west flank is vulnerable."
Morales added, "Same on our end. They hit hard and fast, but the disruption gave us breathing room. We will hold the perimeter for as long as we can."
Jack scanned the yard, his mind working rapidly. "Get your men into defensive positions. Double up on the west flank—if Kane's smart, that's where he'll hit first."
"Understood," Hayes said, already barking orders into her radio.
Jack turned back toward the house, catching a glimpse of Sam through the second-story window as she secured the safe room. The sight brought a pang of relief but also steeled his resolve.
The first warning came as a low thud in the distance. Jack froze on the porch, his hand instinctively reaching for his radio.
"Report," he barked.
Morales' voice came through, tense. "Movement on the west side. Multiple tangos, heavily armed. They're coming in fast!"
"Hold your positions!" Jack ordered, his heart pounding as he turned toward the house. "Sam, it's starting!"
Inside, Sam bolted down the stairs, her weapon drawn. "The boys are in the safe room. They're secure."
Before Jack could respond, a deafening explosion rocked the west side of the house. The shockwave shattered nearby windows, sending shards of glass raining down. The lights flickered, then steadied as the emergency generator kicked in.
"Move!" Jack shouted, pulling Sam behind the kitchen counter as gunfire erupted outside.
Kane's men advanced ruthlessly, their dark forms moving through the yard like shadows. CQS and Landry's teams returned fire, their movements sharp and coordinated, but the sheer number of attackers overwhelmed their defenses.
Sam peeked out from her cover behind the counter, her sharp eyes scanning the chaos. She spotted Morales pinned down near the west side wall, his rifle jammed. Without hesitating, she grabbed Jack's arm.
"I'm going to cover Morales. Stay here!"
Jack swore under his breath but nodded, popping up to lie down and suppressing fire as Sam sprinted toward Morales.
Sam grabbed the rifle from Morales' hands and slipped into cover beside him. Her fingers worked quickly to clear the jam.
"Hang tight," she muttered, her voice tight with focus.
Morales grimaced but nodded, his hand pressed against his bleeding arm. "They're flanking us. We're gonna get overrun."
"Not if I can help it," Sam shot back, handing the rifle back to him. She grabbed her radio and said, "Jack, they're flanking the west side! We need support!"
"On it!" Jack's voice came through, followed by the sound of more gunfire.
Meanwhile, Jack fell back to the front entrance as two of Kane's men breached the door. He fired off two shots, taking one down instantly, but the other ducked behind a wall and returned fire.
"You picked the wrong house," Jack muttered, reloading his weapon with practiced ease.
The fight inside the house grew more chaotic as more intruders poured in. Jack and the remaining defenders worked together, using every piece of cover available to hold the line.
Sam stumbled into the house, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she slammed the door behind her. The distant gunfire and shouted orders outside created a cacophony that rattled her nerves but sharpened her focus.
"Jack!" she called out, her voice tight with urgency.
"I'm here!" Jack appeared from the kitchen, his weapon in hand and his expression grim. "Morales' team is holding the west side, but we've got breaches on the south and north flanks."
"We need to hold the hallway. If Kane's men pass the teams outside, they'll come straight for the kids," Sam said, brushing dust and debris from her jacket.
Jack nodded, his jaw tightening. "Then let's make sure they don't."
The two of them moved in sync toward the staircase, every step measured and deliberate. The sounds of chaos outside seemed to amplify the silence inside, and the creak of the floorboards beneath their boots felt almost deafening.
As they reached the hallway at the top of the stairs, Jack motioned for Sam to take one side while he covered the other.
"They'll come in waves," he muttered, checking his weapon. "You ready for this?"
Sam's lips pressed into a determined line as she loaded her pistol. "Always."
The first signs of movement came as a thud from the ground floor—a door slamming open, followed by heavy boots on hardwood.
"Here they come," Jack murmured, his stance shifting as he aimed down the stairs.
Sam crouched behind the banister, her weapon raised. She slowed her breathing, the adrenaline coursing through her veins threatening to cloud her focus.
The first attacker appeared at the base of the stairs, his weapon sweeping upward. Before he could fire, Jack pulled the trigger, the shot echoing through the house as the man crumpled to the floor.
"Next!" Jack barked, his tone sharp.
Two more attackers surged forward, their movements coordinated. Sam leaned out, firing twice. One man dropped instantly, but the other returned fire, forcing her to duck as bullets splintered the banister beside her.
"I've got him!" Jack shouted, leaning out just enough to take the man down with a precise shot.
"Nice shot," Sam muttered, repositioning herself.
"Stay focused," Jack shot back, reloading quickly.
The gunfire intensified as more men breached the house. One tossed a stun grenade into the living room, the blinding flash and deafening bang making Sam flinch. She pressed her back to the wall, her ears ringing as her vision swam.
"Sam!" Jack's voice cut through the disorientation like a lifeline.
"I'm okay!" she called back, though her head throbbed and her hands trembled.
She barely had time to steady herself before another attacker rounded the corner of the staircase. His weapon was already aimed at her, and Sam's breath caught as she realized she wouldn't be able to react fast enough.
"Get down!" Jack bellowed, diving across the hallway and shoving her out of the line of fire.
The bullet grazed Sam's side as she hit the floor with a grunt, the pain sharp and immediate. Jack fired three quick shots, dropping the attacker before turning to her.
"Sam!" he shouted, his eyes scanning her for injuries.
She pressed a hand to her side, wincing as her fingers faded red.
"It's just a graze," she said through gritted teeth.
Jack swore under his breath, pulling her into a sitting position against the wall.
"You're bleeding. Stay here and apply pressure. I'll hold them off."
"No," Sam snapped, her voice firm despite the pain. "I'm not leaving you to handle this alone."
"You're hurt!" Jack growled, his frustration evident.
"And they're still coming," Sam shot back, gripping her pistol tightly. "We protect the boys—together."
The attackers' footsteps grew louder as they advanced through the house, their shouts blending with the muffled gunfire outside. Jack and Sam exchanged a glance, unspoken determination passing between them.
"Watch the left," Jack ordered, shifting his stance to cover the right.
Sam nodded, her movements slower but no less deliberate as she braced herself against the wall. Despite the blood seeping through her jacket, her aim was steady as she fired at the next wave of intruders.
Downstairs, Morales' voice crackled through the radio.
"We're losing ground! Kane's men are flanking us!"
"Hold the line!" Jack barked into his radio, his voice sharp. "We can't let them reach the stairs."
As the firefight continued, the house became a war zone. Glass shattered, furniture splintered, and the acrid smell of gunpowder filled the air. Jack and Sam fought side by side, their years of experience evident in their precise movements and sharp instincts.
Sam winced as her injured side throbbed with every shot, but she pushed through the pain, her focus unyielding. Jack's presence beside her was both grounding and galvanizing, a reminder of what they were fighting for.
Outside, Landry's and CQS's teams struggled to contain the relentless assault. The once-coordinated defense began to falter as Kane's men exploited every weakness. Morales and Hayes shouted orders, rallying their remaining forces, but the attackers pressed on with brutal efficiency.
With Sam injured, Jack took the lead, covering her as they fell back to the main bedroom. They barricaded the door and positioned themselves in front of the safe room.
"This is it," Sam said, strained but determined.
"Yeah," Jack agreed, reloading his gun. "Let's make it count."
When the door finally burst open, Kane's men rushed in, expecting an easy win. Instead, they were met with a hail of bullets as Sam and Jack fought with everything they had.
The fight was brutal and chaotic, but Sam's injury slowed her. She stumbled, her vision blurring from blood loss.
"Sam!" Jack called, stepping in front of her and quickly taking down the last two attackers.
As the smoke cleared, the room fell silent. Jack turned to Sam, his eyes wide with concern. She was slumped against the wall, her face pale.
"Stay with me, Carter," he said, kneeling beside her and pressing a hand to her wound.
She managed a weak smile. "You always did have great timing."
The distant wail of sirens pierced through the ringing in Sam's ears, grounding her amid the haze of pain and exhaustion. Help was coming, but the cost of their survival weighed heavily on her mind. Landry's reinforcements quickly stormed the house, securing the area and aiding the wounded. Their calm efficiency brought a flicker of hope, even as the aftermath of the chaos settled around them.
Moments later, local police arrived, their flashing lights illuminating the shattered remains of the house. Officers moved methodically through the scene, taking statements from the security teams and documenting the damage. The stark contrast between their measured approach and the raw violence that had unfolded only moments earlier made the reality of the attack feel even sharper.
Jack refused to leave Sam's side as paramedics worked on her, his hand gripping hers tightly.
"You're going to be fine, Carter," he said, his voice steadier than he felt.
"Don't lie to me," she whispered, managing a weak smile.
He glared at her. "Shut up and let me save your life."
Paramedics worked quickly, stabilizing Sam before loading her into the ambulance. Jack glanced back at the safe room where Landry's men were escorting the boys out. They were safe, but he knew this wasn't over. She closed her eyes, exhaustion and pain pulling her under. But before she lost consciousness, she felt his hand gripping hers tightly, anchoring her.