Fifteen year old Jack rode to his house with Sam. "I figured you wouldn't appreciate me telling Hammond I called you before I went to sleep last night." He told her, his arms crossed over his chest. "Plus how do I explain this to our daughter? Carter, are you laughing at me?"

Sam snickered. "No."

"This isn't funny Carter."

Sam bit back a chortle.

"Oh for cryin' out loud." He huffed.

Sam lost it. She laughed until she cried.

"Fine. Laugh. You won't be laughing when you get arrested for statutory rape." He grumbled.

This just made Sam laugh again.

Jack sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Come on. Let's go see if we can find out anything… sir." Sam said smirking.

"Would you please quit enjoying this so much?" He groused at her.

She did take pity on him though and let him run his own briefing after his determined efforts to get into the conference room in the first place. It amused her to watch Jack as a kid keeping a bunch of seasoned pilots in line simply by his attitude and presence in spite of his appearance. She took mental notes for future reference.

Jack almost wished she'd go but he understood why she wouldn't. He'd have been the same way had it been her. His cells were disintegrating. He was dying. He'd never see his little girl grow up. Probably never see her again now because the last thing they wanted to do was confuse her. They had talked on their ride back to the base. It would be better if they introduced him as Jack's nephew, Jon, and that he'd gone on a mission then have him declared MIA then missing. That way Grace wouldn't be the wiser. She'd lose her dad but gain a cousin. Jack was pretty sure Grace knew he was her dad. She was a smart kid. He didn't say anything to Sam about it though.

Now he supposed it didn't matter. He'd be dead soon. Sam was taking it hard. She was a trooper about it but she was taking it hard the same way he'd taken it hard when he'd had to shoot her. At least he knew for sure she loved him back. Fat lot of good it did him now.

Sam is a little relieved to learn the mini Jack is a clone and not her… well whatever Jack was to her. She didn't even know where to begin to explain that situation to Grace. Of course, they had to find him first which had been easier than she thought it would be. He'd run into an old buddy who ratted him out and the convenience store had described him and told them which way he'd gone. Almost as if Jack did want to be found… eventually.

It was really almost comical introducing Jack to himself. Grace was starting to develop her father's personality so Sam now knew exactly what she was in for. It was pretty amusing when he tricked his clone momentarily into thinking he might actually let him die. Come on, Jack, you know yourself better than that she'd mentally admonished the clone.

Cloned Jack sighed. "Look, I appreciate the offer, but it's going to hurt too much seeing her every day… seeing you with her every day." He admits of Sam.

"Yah. I could see how that would be a problem." Jack agreed with the boy who now calls himself Jon. "The offer is open if you ever change your mind." He tells the kid. A thought crosses Jack's mind but he sets it aside.

Jack pulled up to Mountain Springs High School. They talked a little more and Jon decided he won't keep in touch. Oddly, that wasn't what Jack was planning to say to him. He was worried for the kid. He knew how doggedly determinedly he'd push forward through the pain but that wouldn't make it go away. Something would have to be done eventually but for now he had to let the kid go until he realized he needed help or was willing to accept it when offered. Yah it would hurt but… he might be able to fix that.

Jon got out and walks up to a trio of giggling girls. 'That's going to keep you busy for about a minute kid, until you realize how vapid teenage girls are again. But it will buy me some time.'

As he drove away Jack dials the second number on his cell phone. "Carter! How do you feel about a science experiment?" Jack grins at her answer.