Chapter 35

Sam wasn't sure if she should laugh or cry upon learning that Jack was stuck in an Asgard clone after he was badly wounded by a Draconian foot soldier. Using the two time dilation fields they were able to separate themselves from the ongoing battle and give themselves time to come up with a counter attack plan. Sam had come to the Odyssey using the ships' Gate system and headed for the infirmary.

Jack stood no more than three foot tall at the foot of the bed where his body lay. His gear and clothing was stripped and his body was covered with blankets to keep warm. A large bandage covered his shoulder but the infection had already begun to spread.

Janet Frasier worked with Carson Beckett who came over from the Dauntless. The pair worked with Thor to try and slow the fast moving infection and stabilize Jack's body but they seemed to be in a losing the battle.

Sam walked into the infirmary and found the small Asgard clone standing at the foot of the bed where Jack's body lay. She figured it was Jack in the Asgard clone and looking at his body. She had to regain herself upon the sight. She took a deep breath and approached, "How is he?" she asked the doctors.

Jack turned the large gray head of the clone and simply replied, "I'm dying."

"I'm sure we can find a way to fix this," she assured him. She wasn't sure herself but wanted to give him hope.

Janet stated, "The infection is going into his lungs. I've never seen anything spread so fast before. All treatments have failed."

Carson added with his thick accent, "The bacterium from a Draconian is resistant to all known anti-biotics. The infection will go septic soon. Thor has an idea though," he motioned towards him.

Thor still remained in uniform but absent the field gear and weapons. He spoke candidly, "We can place the body in stasis until we find a cure for the infection. In the meantime General O'Neill will be safe in the clone body he is currently inhabiting."

Sam looked down to the small gray body, "How exactly did you get in there?"

"Thor sent me in as an Avatar on the saucer ship. I was able to clear the lizards and secure the Gate. Then the lizards breached engineering and one went right for me on the table. Nailed me good," he miffed.

She asked concerned, "How long can he last like this?" She motioned towards the clone.

"Months," Thor assured. "That should give us time to find a cure for the infection. Of course if we don't find a way to counter this attack once the time dilation field ends we will still be in a losing battle."

Jack stated, "The Dauntless lost all shields. We can transfer the crew and blow the ship. Make it a big bomb."

"A blast that big will take us out too," she told him. "We would have to blow the Dauntless and escape at the same time before they detect us going into hyper-drive."

Jack suggested, "How about we slip back home?"

Sam paused for a moment. She looked at Janet and Thor and stated, "They won't be looking for that energy signature."

Thor admitted, "We could escape undetected."

Janet asked, "What about the doubles in our reality? There is another Thor and another Ba'al."

Jack stated, "Thor in our reality still looks like this." He then pointed to his oversize gray head. "I can live without Ba'al."

Thor cocked an eyebrow, "Going to your reality will affect our Ba'al and from what I understand he's much nicer than your Ba'al."

Sam suggested, "I can manipulate his molecular speed with the time dilation field. He will be safe. Our Ba'al we can live without. I like your Ba'al."

Dr. Beckett asked, "Wouldn't I be affected as well?"

"You're dead already in my reality," Jack told him.

"I am," he winced.

Sam shook her head, "No…He is still alive for the next year in our reality if we return to the repaired timeline. Or we can end up in a totally screwed up timeline and who knows what we will find. I can ensure everyone's wellbeing by altering molecular speed." She glanced down as she noticed Jack scratch the behind of the clone's body. She cocked an eyebrow, "You okay in there?"

He looked up at her and admitted, "This absolutely sucks, Carter! I'm three foot tall, I'm naked and I'm bald."

She winced, "It could be worse."

He agreed sarcastically, "My body could expire."

Thor stated, "The sooner we place your body in stasis the better your chances of survival."

"Do it," he waved the hand. He then asked Thor, "How did you deal with this for so long?"

"You adjust," he told him.

Jack suggested, "How about you beam yourself into this clone and I borrow your body for a while?"

Thor shook his head and sounded, "No!"

Short Time Later

Jack's plan to destroy the surrounding Draconian ships and escape to another reality was soon implemented. As the time dilation fields came to an end the Draconian ships concentrated fire power on the Dauntless which had been rigged to explode taking the Asgard vessel and the surrounding Draconian ships with it. As the explosion erupted and engulfed the vessels the Odyssey used the cover of the explosions to slip back into the original reality.

Within moments of slipping back the missing crew started to fill in the void. Soon, Livy lost control of her right side of her body as Qetesh returned as well. Livy closed her eyes as she felt the Goa'uld return upon escaping the clutches of the lizard people. She let out a sigh of relief and yet she was depressed for she had to share her body once more.

Qetesh looked about the engineering department, "How did we get here so fast?"

"Long story," she told her.

Qetesh then realized there were two versions of Samantha Carter before her. She puckered in thought. "When did your mother clone herself?"

Livy shook her head, "She didn't! We went to another reality when you and most of the crew disappeared in an altering timeline."

Sam figured, "If Qetesh is back then we must have repaired the timeline." She grinned, "Jonas must be back too."

Dr. Mitchell asked, "Jonas?"

"Jonas Quinn," she cheered. "You will like him."

Qetesh balked, "Alternate reality! Where was I?"

Livy admitted, "Don't know and I don't really care."

Sam checked the sensors, "The entire crew is back! We also retained those who came with us from the alternate reality. We have a full crew."

Vala came quickly to the engineering department. She cheered, "Everyone is back! I even saw Jonas." She looked at Livy, "Qetesh is back?"

"Yup," she nodded. "How's my dad doing?"

Vala admitted, "I think the crew mistook him for Thor."

Livy closed her eyes, "Oh god."

Meanwhile

Jack's body had been placed in a stasis pod as the doctor search for a cure after being bitten. In the meantime he was stuck living his life in an Asgard clone. He decided if he was going to be stuck in a little gray body he would make the best of it. With his height suddenly reduced by half he needed smaller clothes. Clothing was optional for the clone body didn't require clothing to stay warm. But Jack wanted to make sure he wasn't mistaken for an Asgard and thus he would wear clothes.

After some digging he found the smallest pair of coveralls on the ship. He had to shorten the pant legs and sleeves a bit but managed to do so with a pair of scissors and a sewing kit. He stood in his room and slid and green coveralls over the small stick figure body. He looked at himself in the mirror. "Shoes!" he determined he needed shoes to look more human. He looked down at the grayish feet and wiggled the toes, "Socks too!" He went for his drawer and found some socks and slipped them over his toes. The socks went all the way up to his thighs. He then found a pair of Sam's sneakers and managed to finagle them onto the odd feet. He stood back and examined his handiwork. "A hat!" he figured he needed something on the big bald head. He found his favorite brown cap and had to widen the fit but he did manage to place it on the head. He gave a nod of approval and headed out the door to attempt to live somewhat of a normal life until he could his body back.

Jack found being three feet tall wasn't to his advantage. He liked his previous height of over six foot. Now he was half of that but he decided if he had to be an Asgard he was going to be the best Asgard he could be while being human. He soon came across Thor who was looking far more human than he. Jack approached him, "Thor ole buddy." he greeted.

Thor wore the green battle dress and looked upon Jack's dressing of the body. He asked, "Why did you put the clothes on the body?"

Jack admitted, "I don't want to run around naked."

"The body is designed…" he began to explain when Daniel and Teal'c rounded the corner with Jonas Quinn as they updated him on their adventures.

Daniel started, "I have to warn ya about, Jack. Something happened to him…" he spotted Jack with Thor. It was an odd sight to see for Thor looked very human and Jack looked much like the old Thor he knew. He then noticed Jack had donned clothing. "Jack," he wondered if Jack felt okay for Asgard never bothered with clothing.

"Daniel," he replied. "I see Quinn came back."

Jonas gasped, "What exactly did I miss?"

Jack told him, "My body is in a stasis pod. I was bitten by this giant lizard and it gave me an infection. So, right now I'm in an old Asgard clone until they can fix me."

Jonas looked at Daniel, "That's General O'Neill?" he pointed.

Daniel nodded, "You put some clothes on, Jack?"

"Obviously," he replied. "Feels weird to be naked and no one else is."

"Oh," he could see the point. "Um…how is it going so far?" He felt awkward seeing Jack in such a state.

"Fine," he replied. "I guess I will get something to eat while I wait for my body to get fixed."

Thor told him, "I will have nutrition tablets made for you."

"Nutrition tables?" he asked.

"You don't have the ability to digest food," he told him. "We survived on tables that had the nutrients the bodies needed." He then assured him, "Don't worry…You can't taste much anyways."

"So," Jack figured. "Dinner time is gonna suck even more than before."

Thor winced, "Eating wasn't much of an event for the Asgard."

Daniel asked, "Those Sam's sneakers?"

He nodded, "And they are still too big for me."

"Does she know you are wearing them?" he wondered.

"No," he shook his head. He then had to catch loose hat and steady it.

His friend sighed, "You don't need to wear clothes, Jack."

"I want to wear clothes," he insisted. He looked up at Teal'c, "You have anything to say?"

Teal'c informed, "I do not."

"Good," he gave a nod. He asked Thor, "Can I drink coffee?"

He shook his head, "That would be damaging to the body."

"Damn," he huffed. One thing was for certain, Jack was the crankiest Asgard they had even seen.