Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997 18:10:15 -0700 (MST) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Memories - Part 10 Message-ID: Quantum Leap Memories by Katherine R. Freymuth Copyright 1997 Part 10 Al paced his usual eight steps. There was little he could do at the moment except pace and that was what bothered him most. Regardless of the outcome, he was hopeless in this matter. The door finally opened, allowing a Marine corporal to walk out just before Maddie. The corporal saluted Al. "Permission to escort Miss Daniels back to the Waiting Room, sir?" He seemed unaccustomed to referring to the aura of Sam Beckett as Maddie. Al nodded his approval. "I'll-ll be right d-down," he told Maddie. Maddie smiled. "We will have a few things to discuss," she told him before following the guard to the elevator. Al took a breath before he entered the infirmary to the sight of Dan MacArthyr standing with his hands in his lab coat's pockets. Al looked at the Chief Medical Officer with question. "Well?" he asked quietly. "She's in perfect health," Dan told him. "There's no sign of cancer in her." Al frowned slightly. "Are you sure?" Dan laughed slightly. "Admiral, I've run every test I can think of on her. She's as healthy as a person her age can be. Despite what she told you, she doesn't have cancer."" Al began to pace. Dan frowned at his actions. "What is it, Al? You want her to have cancer?" Al frowned at him. "Of course n-not. It's just..." He exhaled. "L-Look. I just d-doubt she's been w-wrong about any r-revelation she has had in her l-life. W-What if this r-revelation is true? She certainly b-believes it is." Dan approached Al slowly. "Al, stop worrying about it. She's fine and she knows that now." He patted him on the back once. "You should be happy about this. Your friend isn't going to die in the near future." Al smiled slightly. "Don't get m-me w-wrong on that, D- Dan. I am happy. B-But now I w-wonder w-what the h-hell that dr-dream of hers was all ab-about." Dan shrugged. "I'm a medical doctor, Al, not a psychiatrist. I don't think we need two shrinks in this complex, do you?" Al's smile widened slightly. "If the o-other is anything l-like V-Verbina Beeks, n-no thank you." Dan laughed slightly. Al took a breath. "I-I'd b-better go. I t-told Maddie th- that I'd ssssee her in the W-Waiting Room." Dan nodded. "Just a little medical advice for you before you go, Al. Take it easy. You're under a lot of stress right now and physical manifestations of that stress isn't a good sign." Al raised an eyebrow. "In other w-words, take i-it easy and I'll s-stop s-stuttering." Dan shrugged. "Couldn't hurt." Al gave him a wry smile. "If th-that's all th-there is t-to it, I'll n-never stop s-stuttering. I w-won't t-take it easy until S-Sam's home." "I am dying, Al. Despite what Dr. MacArthyr says, I am dying. I am as certain about this as I was about the dropping of those bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima." Al exhaled. "M-Maddie, th-there's ab-solute-ly n-nothing w-wrong with you. It w-was probably j-just a b-bad dream." Maddie looked at Al. I know the difference between a dream and a premonition, Al, and what I had was a premonition. I am dying, Al, and you are running out of time yourself, but in a different way." Al frowned. He sat beside his friend on the Waiting Room table. "R-Running out of t-time for what?" "To find out the truth," she told him. She smiled at him. "And to make sure Linda and John live a happy life away from Michael." "With whom? J-Joe?" Al asked with sarcasm. "Gracious, no!" Maddie exclaimed. "Joe would be worse than Michael! I love my brother but he is dang prejudice he makes me sick. No. All you need to do is convince Michael to give up the children and let God determine with whom they will go." She looked at Al and understood the uncertainty on his face. "Has your faith so dwindled that you can't trust that things will work out?" She turned his head and looked into his eyes. "I can tell you this. You will have happiness in your life soon and it will keep your faith stronger than it has ever been before." Al raised an eyebrow. "Is th-that your pr-prediction for my f-future?" "For your life, Al," Maddie corrected. "You are fortunate to have such good friends. Treasure them, especially Sam. You will never see just how much he cares for you but you will be forever touched by his deep friendship." Al looked at Maddie and smiled. "I d-don't havvve to sssee how much he cares, M-Maddie. J-Just l-like I d-don't have to sssee how m-much you care." Maddie returned Al's smile. "That is not what I mean, Al. I see four large stars in your eyes as well as many small ones. Don't ask me to explain further or it might not come to pass. When it does happen, then you will understand." She took her eyes from Al's. "But for this moment, Sam needs you and you will need him." She looked at Al again. "Go. Time is running short." Al slowly stood up and started for the Waiting Room door. He stopped a moment and turned to look at Maddie. "I d-don't underssstand any of th-this, M-Maddie," he told her. "You will," Maddie assured. "Go help Sam. Like I said before, I'm not going anywhere." Al nodded slightly and slowly walked out of the room, a ponderous look on his face.