Thanks as always for the reviews! Means everything! Especially the detailed ones which I will respond to properly at the start of the next chapter hopefully… I don't have time at the moment sorry. And yay I'm back on the C2 woo!

When it appeared obvious that Jack wasn't intending on continuing whatever it was he was on about, Daniel turned to Carter.

"Sam, what have you found out?"

"There's no record of his arrest as yet. That's probably because of what his hospital records indicate…"

"And what is that, Carter?" Jack asked, getting the feeling he was so not going to like the answer.

"He's listed as critical, sir."

Daniel was shaking his head. "But the principal told me that he just had a concussion and broken arm!"

"Turns out his injuries also included cracked ribs, the concussion involves a fracture to the skull and the break in the arm was particularly nasty – requiring some fairly complex surgery which may or may not repair the damage."

"Shit." Jack rubbed his hand through his hair and looked at Carter hopefully. "Critical but stable?"

"Can't say for sure just going by these records, sir."

"Shit." He said again.

Daniel sat down heavily behind his workbench. "What will all this mean for John? I mean what if that bastard dies?"

"Steady there, Daniel. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

"Daniel has a point, sir. Even if Frankston makes a full recovery, there may still be questions as to how a sixteen year old inflicted this kind of damage. If they start looking into the past of the clone it could get complicated."

"The clone has a name, Sam." Daniel frowned.

"Sorry, Daniel." Sam blushed. "Things could possibly get a bit hairy for John."

"JohnO'Neill must be protected!" Teal'c said with determination. "He has been through enough!"

"Easy there, big guy." Jack put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "We won't let anything happen to the kid. If anyone does any digging we'll take care of it. The SGC's secrets will be kept."

"But at what cost to your other self, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked. "What if in order to protect the secrets he can no longer continue to live in society as he is now? What will become of him then?"

"He'll manage, T. He's a tough kid."

Daniel lifted his head from his hand, his face dark. "So help me… if he even looks like he might get screwed over by anyone there will be hell to pay."

"Hey!" Jack held up his hands. "No need for the crazy talk just yet. Look, I know I haven't been completely comfortable with the whole mini-me thing but that doesn't mean I will put up with anyone messing with the kid. He's kinda family after all." Jack coughed. "Kinda."

"Don't you know the local sheriff, sir?" Carter asked.

"Yeah, good idea, Carter. I'll give him a call and get a sit-rep." Jack pulled out his cell. Andy was a poker buddy of his. Good guy. Best of all, he could be counted on to give Jack the intell he needed and not ask too many questions.

The rest of SG-1 waited as patiently as possible while their CO made the call. When he hung up, he turned back to them his expression serious.

"Do you want the good news or the bad news first?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Just a kiss. You can do it, O'Neill!" Ally goaded. "It's not a commitment. Don't be gutless!"

John still had her by the shoulders. He shook her. "Stop it!"

"Make me!"

"Argh! You're driving me insane!"

"You're already there, buddy! I know why you like 'The Wizard of Oz' so much! It's because you identify with the cowardly lion! Boohoo! If only you had some courage!"

And then he was kissing her. Fiercely. His first thought was that at least it shut her up. His second was that this felt so good. The third thought was 'what the hell am I doing?'. His arms wrapped firmly around her, he was supporting most of her weight since she seemed to have practically melted against him.

As gently as he could he extricated himself from the kiss.

Her eyes were wide. "Holy shit…" She whispered, her fingers moving to touch her lips in wonder.

Making sure she was steady on her feet before he released her, John turned quickly and fled to the bathroom slamming the door behind him. He slid down the wall head in hands as he tried to regain control of his breathing. Goddamn stupid teenage hormones. Where was his self control?

He'd probably made things much worse with Ally. Kissing her like that. When she was already vulnerable. He couldn't have an actual relationship with her after all. If her feelings for him went that direction it could threaten the friendship that meant so much to him. He didn't want to hurt her if he couldn't give her what she wanted or needed but most of all he didn't want to lose her.

"John?" Her voice came through the door softly as she knocked tentatively. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Just gimme a minute." He told her as calmly as he could. Damn it, she was calling him John again.

Eee...