Just a short one tonight - busy day but I wanted to get you something. Thank you for all the lovely reviews - and for letting me know if you wanted a sequel with Jon. Most seemed to want one (I totally get those of you who don't - I've never really liked most clone-fics myself - but I have grown to kind of like Jon). So, I'll probably do a short epilogue or sequel. Thanks again!

"So what now?" Jon asked, looking at the two men across from him. "What do I have to do to – uh – donate a piece of my heart?" He scrunched up his nose at that thought.

"Uh – I don't really know." Daniel looked at Teal'c. "I assume he'll have to go up to Thor's ship."

"I believe so. Are you comfortable with that Jon O'Neill?" Teal'c was worried about his friend, knowing how hard this was going to be for him.

"I guess I don't have much choice", he shrugged. "Still, I wish I had a beer. It would make it much easier!"

"We can ask Thor to get some for you", Daniel offered with a small grin.

"Just tell him to make sure it's Guinness", Jon demanded. "I only want the best if I have to give up some of my body – clone though it may be."

Daniel winced, clearly hearing the bitterness in Jon's voice. "It doesn't matter that you were cloned. You're you – your own person now. You may still have a similar personality and the same memories -"

"And the same DNA", Jon pointed out.

"Yeah – but you have different lives", Daniel reminded him. "You are also a lot younger and can do things he can't anymore."

"Don't tell him that – he wouldn't appreciate it."

Teal'c let out a laugh. "You are correct Jon O'Neill. He would not like that at all."

Jon got an evil look on his face. "So, I shouldn't call him 'old man'?"

"Uh, probably not", Daniel grinned in return. "Although I would like to see his face whe – ur – if you were to call him that."

For a moment the mood had lightened, but soon they were all thinking of the ordeal ahead. Teal'c let out a sigh – unusual for him – and reached into his pocket for the communicator. "Shall I contact Thor at this time?"

"Might as well", Jon nodded. "Wait! Let me get my jacket and I have to make a call. I was supposed to go out to a concert with some friends tonight."

After making his phone call Jon grabbed his jacket and keys. "Probably won't need these, but just in case. Alright – I'm ready."

Of course he wasn't, but he wasn't about to let on to Teal'c or Daniel that he was dreading the next few minutes. He didn't want to see his original – hated the thought actually. It would just serve to remind him of everything he had to give up. Worse than seeing O'Neill, however, was the thought of seeing S – Carter. He dreaded it like nothing else he could remember since he'd been – created.

He felt that usual tingle – the one which meant he was about to – okay, here he was. "Hi Thor", he said, looking down at the gray alien. He couldn't help but feel a touch of affection for the little guy, although it was tempered with a dislike of the Asgard as a whole – they were the ones who had started this whole thing. In a way, it was the Asgard who were his 'creators' but he sure as hell wasn't going to worship them.

"Jon O'Neill, welcome. I am grateful that you are willing to do this to help O'Neill."

"Yeah, well, the world just wouldn't be the same without the two of us", he joked. "So, where is the old guy?"

"He is resting. He is unable to leave the room he is in as my equipment is keeping him alive."

"That bad is it?" he frowned. Daniel and Teal'c had told him, but somehow he found it hard to believe that he – O'Neill the elder – was that weak. It just didn't feel right. "Okay – might as well get this over with. Lead on Macduff."

Thor stared at him. "Is there a problem with your memory?"

"My – what?" He frowned in confusion.

"You referred to me incorrectly. I was worried that there was a problem, although my scans indicated you are in excellent health. It is possible that the -"

"Uh – I'm fine Thor. It's just an expression. I simply meant let's go see – O'Neill."

"Oh. I understand." Thor clearly didn't but he'd learned to accept some of the eccentricities of humans and shrug them off. Without further discussion he led the three men to the room where O'Neill was waiting, along with Dr. Frasier and Samantha Carter.

Sam heard the door open and looked around to see Thor, followed closely by Daniel and Teal'c. A few feet behind was Jack's – no, she couldn't refer to him like that. It was Jon – Jon O'Neill. She looked at him carefully, thrown by how much he looked like his elder – self. The last time she'd seen him he'd looked much different but he was now turning into the man he would become.

Jon was looking at her with a strange expression on his face, which she couldn't read and which made her feel rather uncomfortable – but then he blinked and gave her the O'Neill grin. She could feel herself start to relax.

"Hey Carter", he called. "You're lookin' good."

"So are you – uh-"

"Call me Jon", he offered. "Yeah, I'm doin' good." He glanced over at the bed, to see the man he was here to help staring at him. God – he looked – terrible. He looked gray and drawn – and so old. He really was sick. "Hi", he said, not sure what else to say.

"Hi", his – his what answered? He didn't even know how to refer to the elder O'Neill.

"Call me Jack", the older man said seriously, although with a look in his eye that Jon knew well.

Jon, cracked a laugh. "Okay, I can do that. So, I hear you're not doin' so well. Got into a fight did you?"

"Yeah, you know me, couldn't stay out of trouble."

"I do know you – I kind of am you – although I'd like you to note that I haven't gotten into any trouble at all since – well, since I arrived."

"Really? That just proves you're not me – at least not anymore – which is probably a good thing."

"Uh huh. I don't think the world could take two of us – or you – or hell, I don't know. Anyway, I'm sorry you're not well. The guys thought I could help."

Jack grew serious and looked at Jon closely. "I told them I didn't want them to bother you. You have your own life and you don't owe me anything."

"Yes I do", Jon answered calmly. "I owe you my life, so the least I can do is save yours. Besides which", he grinned, "part of you will be cloned from me – which will make me feel much better."

Jack scowled at that thought but then nodded. "That's fair I suppose. You really doing okay?"

"You mean – my life?"

Jack nodded again. "Yeah. I'd hate to think you were – that things were, hell, you know what I mean."

"Not surprisingly, I do. You always did have trouble just getting to the point O'Neill."

"Hey -" Jack started to defend himself but Jon held up his hand.

"I'm doing fine", he interrupted. "I'm enjoying university, I have friends, a nice apartment, a car – and my choice of future, so yeah, everything's good."

"But what about beer?" Jack asked, his eyes narrowed. "You're still too young to drink."

Jon leaned his head back and laughed. "Yeah, that's painful alright. I did tell Teal'c and Daniel that after this you guys owed me Guinness – and lots of it!"

"You've got a deal", Jack said, his head dropping back. He was suddenly exhausted from the brief few moments of banter between him and – Jon. He had to think of the guy as Jon, not as his clone or as mini-me. He really was his own person now, with his own life. His lips quirked slightly – he actually really liked him too, which was either not surprising – or was really weird.

He glanced over at Sam and realized that she'd been awfully quiet. He could tell she was nervous being around Jon and for a moment he wondered about that. Then it hit him square between the eyes. He'd told her he'd been in love with her for years – so she had to know that Jon probably felt something of those feelings for her.

He looked at the younger man and noticed that he was avoiding looking at Sam. Damn – this was way too complicated. Thor better do his stuff and allow Jon to return back to Earth as quickly as possible, before anyone was hurt.

"Uh Thor?" he said, angry at how weak his voice suddenly sounded. "Shouldn't you get going?"

"I will have to prepare Jon O'Neill and yourself O'Neill", the alien said. "I will put you back into stasis in a moment. It will be easier on your body. Once you are in stasis I shall begin the process of cloning Jon O'Neill's heart and will then perform the transplant. When you wake up you will be well."

Jack nodded slightly, closing his eyes. He was too tired now to really care about much of anything, although he knew deep down he was both frightened and excited. Things could go wrong – even for advanced races like the Asgard. At the same time, he had hope that he would be better and no longer have to live like this. And then there was Jon – "Uh, this won't hurt him, will it?" he asked softly, referring to the other man.

"No, it shall not", Thor assured him. "It will only take a brief moment and he will be up and around almost instantly with no side effects. Now" Thor said, speaking to the other, "let us leave O'Neill and Samantha for a few moments. I shall return in a little while O'Neill, to put you into stasis."

Everyone headed towards the door until Jack's voice stopped them. "Jon", he whispered, just loud enough so his clone could hear. "Thank you. You don't know how much -"

Jon let out a rude noise and grinned. "I do – and you're welcome. Remember – beer!"

Jack grinned. "You've got a deal." He then looked at his other friends and gave them a smile. "You too", he said to them. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Jack", Daniel answered. "And you're buying us all a steak dinner after this is over."

"I can do that", he nodded.

"Indeed O'Neill – I too look forward to when you are well and we can celebrate together."

"Take care Colonel. You're in good hands", Janet smiled. "I wouldn't trust you to anyone else you know."

He grinned. "And Thor doesn't use big needles", he commented.

"No – but I have some just waiting with your name on them Colonel. Be well Sir", she said seriously.

After the door shut behind them Jack turned to his wife. "So – back into stasis eh?"

"I hate it, but at least it's for a good cause. The next time you wake up you'll be better."

"I hope", he said softly.

"Of course you will be", she said, her voice sounding determined. "In fact, as soon as you're up and around you're going to take me dancing."

"I am?" he smiled.

"You betcha Airman. I'm going to buy a little slinky black dress, and high heels and underneath I'll wear an itty bitty -"

"Stop", he cried. "I don't have my new heart yet and this one can't handle that thought."

She laughed and leaned down and kissed him. "You're going to be one hundred percent when this is over", she said. "I love you."

"I love you too", he smiled. "And I promise I'll take you dancing." His eyes grew serious and he studied her face, as if trying to memorize everything about her before returning to stasis. "Sam – if I don't –"

"Jack!"

"No, listen. I – want you to be happy. Promise me, no matter what, you'll be happy."

"I'll be happy when you're all better."

"But if I'm not – if something happens -"

"It's not going to happen Jack, so don't even bother saying it." She leaned down and kissed him, just as the door opened and Thor walked in. "I love you", she said again, "and I'll see you soon."

She stood up and stepped back while Thor went over to the equipment. He looked up and nodded.

"It is time", he told them.

Sam reached out and took Jack's hand, one last time, and kissed it. "Be strong and be well", she said. She then laid his hand down and stepped back.

Thor started up his equipment and within moments Jack's eyes were closing. A couple of minutes more and his vital signs had been reduced to almost nothing. "He is in stasis", Thor informed her. "He will be fine Major Carter, I promise. You must rest now. It will be many hours before I can transplant the new heart."

She nodded and then looked over at the alien who had been so faithful and so good. "I know Thor – but I need to be with him. I need to make sure he's not alone."

"I understand Major", Thor nodded. "I will have the others come and check on you and bring you something to eat. I will also return the cot so that you may rest yet remain close. I am sorry that you cannot touch him. He needs to be isolated in the stasis pod."

She nodded. "That's okay, as long as I can stay near him."

She watched as her husband lay there, as still as if there was no life in him. But there was – and soon – very soon, he would be back to health. She prayed.