SERIES: WHAT IF

TITLE: Second Time Around

(Possible spoilers for Fragile Balance)

Hmm, so I'm in trouble again…well, not me, not really. I'm not the least bit concerned. I've been there a time or two myself, or I'm there again. Damn, this always gets so confusing. With a grin that rivaled the best of them, Jack wandered into Hammond's office.

"General."

"Jack."

"So…what are you gonna do?"

"Not me. The NID has this one."

"Ah, damn it, Sir, you can't let them run roughshod over the boy. He's just a kid."

"Kid? He's a young adult, he should know better."

"Sure, we know better, but we do it anyway…I mean, he knows… I knew…I did it, so he's bound to do it…right? Maybe not. But the NID! Hell, I never got the NID; however, it's probably better to have them than my mother."

"Relax. I sent Dr. Jackson with Agent Barrett."

"Good call. Where is he?"

"Guest of the Colorado Springs Police Department."

"For cryin' out loud, it's just beer!"

"Three kegs."

"Three. Wow, I never got a hold of three. Hell, I never got two! I guess we really aren't the same." Jack wandered out the door mumbling something about things really are better the second time around.