More fic! Sorry it took so long! I'll try to be quicker in future... really... and better shortish than nothing.

"About asking her to help out with your female self-defence class?" Jack spoke each word deliberately. "As soon as I get back to base I'll mention it."

"Thanks."

Jack nodded in return. He wondered what the best way to convince Carter would be. He had no clue how traumatised girls would react to himself – despite the apparent trust they had for his clone – but he was certain Carter would be wonderful with them.

The kid was speaking again. To Ally. "Pix... there's something I have to tell you."

Jack realised what he was going to say and as much as it made him feel like a coward he found himself saying. "Maybe I'd better get going."

He was rewarded by an icy look from John. He sat back down on the couch.

Ally just sat quietly watching John, waiting for what he had to say. Knowing that it wasn't something she really wanted to hear but she appeared quite calm.

"The thing is... um... Mr Frankston died this morning."

"What?" Her tone was flat. Neutral. "How?"

"They don't really know. An aneurism maybe."

"Will they blame you? Or me?"

"We won't let them." Jack interrupted. "But no, I don't believe it was because of what John or you did. It just... happened." Yeah, the way stuff happens when Goa'uld decide its time for you to stop breathing for whatever reason.

"Okay." She replied simply. "At least the girls don't have to go through any sort of legal stuff. Court cases or whatnot."

"That's right." John replied. Cautiously, Jack thought.

"Clearly, I should feel something about this but I don't right now." She mused. "Probably later I will but I'll deal with that later. Can I have another coke?"

"Sure." Jack leapt to his feet to make it the way he'd seen John do earlier. Anything to feel useful and to not have to sit there watching her calm face. Worrying about what would happen when the news really did hit her. Would this mean she could never have closure? Who knew? What was closure in a situation like this? And he couldn't even bring her comfort by explaining just how painful and terrifying a death by hand device could be.

They watched an episode of the Simpsons and reluctantly – since they were about to watch another – Jack decided that he should head off. Daniel and Teal'c were no doubt going to turn up any time now and for some reason he didn't want to be here when they did. The kid would probably tell them he'd stopped by anyway but still.

"Nice to have met you, Ally." Jack nodded to her as John came with him to the door.

"You too, Just Jack." She grinned. "Thanks for the cake."

"You betcha." Jack nearly made it to the door when the bell rang. The Simpsons theme sounded again. "That is the coolest thing ever!" Then his face fell as he took in the empty cans on the coffee table and kitchen counter. "Damn! Daniel will kill me when he finds out I got you guinness. Don't suppose you have a back door?"

John shook his head. "And with your dodgy knee I wouldn't risk the fire escape."

"Why you little...!" Jack moved towards John with his hands outstretched, unintentionally looking like Homer going for Bart.

Meanwhile, Ally had opened the door and greeted Daniel and Teal'c/Murray warmly.

"Jack." Daniel's eyebrows raised. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Well, you know me, all unpredictable and whatnot." Jack removed his hands from John's throat and waved a hand.

"I'd offer you some cake but Jack ate it all." John grinned. "Good to see you guys."

"Did Jack also drink all the guinness?" Daniel asked pointedly. In disapproving tones.

"John gave a talk about you at school!" Jack blurted. Diversionary action!

"Jack!" John hissed. "Shut up."

"What?" Daniel blinked.

"You are so mean, Just Jack." Ally grinned. "Besides, I was saving that one for just the right moment. And Daniel, he got an A+ for it."

"You both suck." John grumbled.