Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 15:32:02 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Theresa - Chapter 17 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Chapter 17 A Friend in Need "How? When?" Sam demanded as he paced the hallway outside of the reception hall. "We're not sure," Al told him. "What do you mean 'we're not sure'?" "Well, Chris and his wife took their honeymoon in Egypt and he mysteriously died three days after they arrived. And since he did die in Egypt, Chris's death wasn't investigated very closely. All we really know is that in one week, on Saturday, June 3rd, 1995, Chris mysteriously dies and the coroner puts it down as natural causes," Al finished before putting the handlink into his trousers pocket. "What kind of natural causes?" Sam asked with a little annoyance and a little worry in his voice. "Well, knowing our experiences with Chris before, it was probably one of the damned seizures like the ones he had in the Waiting Room," Al said with a twinge of sympathy in his voice. "Seizures?" Sam asked. "He had seizures in the Waiting Room?" Al sighed. "You don't remember me telling you about the seizures," he said mostly to himself. "When you leaped into Chris, he had a couple of seizures in the Waiting Room. Now, part of it was psychosomatic and linked with his inability to walk." "Which has already been resolved," Sam concluded, facing towards the reception hall. "Right," Al confirmed. "The other part is due to a mis-connection of neurons in his brain." Al touched the side of his head for emphasis. "According to Dr. Beeks, if he has medical attention for his problem, he'll be fine." "But that was five years ago," Sam noted. "For him, yes." Sam sighed. "Al, unless I know exactly what happens to him, I don't think I'll be able to do him any good." "Well, Ziggy's having some trouble interfacing with the Egyptian systems but we should have some more data soon. In the meantime, I think you'd better get back into that reception. You still have a toast to make, not to mention making the acquaintances of some beautiful, young..." "Al! I'm supposed to be married!" Al frowned and took out the handlink. "That never stopped me," he commented as he opened the Imaging Chamber door and left. Sam shook his head and re-entered the reception hall. Jennifer waited by the door with concern. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked. "You haven't been yourself since the wedding." Sam gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure. I just needed some time alone that's all." Jennifer smiled. "I knew you'd act this way." Sam looked at her in confusion. "You did?" "The way you fussed over your tie before you went to pick up Chris, you'd think that you were the one that was getting married." Sam laughed, remembering what Al had said earlier. "Well, you would," Jennifer told him with a smile. "And then you didn't even look at me during the ceremony. You were more nervous than Chris!" She laughed and kissed him. She then motioned him towards the stage where the band was playing. "You'd better go up and give your toast. I think Chris and Suzanne are a bit worried about you." "Yeah," Sam answered, taking a glass of champagne from one of the servers nearby. He smiled, took Jennifer's hand and brought her to the front of the hall. He waited until the band had finished their song before stepping up on the stage and calling for everyone's attention. He smiled at Chris and Suzanne before starting. "First of all, for those of you who don't know me, I'm Jeff Sterling and this is my wife Jennifer." He motioned to Jennifer who smiled at him from below. "And we are here to celebrate the marriage of Chris and his beautiful bride Suzanne. Now, tradition says that I have to, as best man, stand up here and make a complete fool out of myself." The joke was answered by a few chuckles in the audience and a huge smile from Chris. "But, you know what?" Sam continued. "I don't mind. Because I believe any two people deserve each other more than these two deserve each other. Except perhaps me and Jennifer." There were quite a few laughs at that one, especially from Chris, Suzanne, and Jennifer. Sam raised his champagne glass. "And so here's to Chris and Suzanne. May you have a long, wonderful life together." "Here, here!" came several shouts from the guests. All drank to Sam's toast. "Your turn," Sam told Chris with a smile. Chris returned the smile and took Suzanne upon the stage with him. He took the microphone from Sam. "Suzanne and I really appreciate all of you being here and showing your support for us," he told the guests. "All I can say is thank you." He gave the microphone back to Sam. "Short and sweet," Sam announced, pointing to Chris and Suzanne as they left the stage. "Which one's the sweet one?" came a shout from the audience which brought about a laugh. Sam smiled. "How about we have these two start the real party with the first dance?" He got down from the stage and went over to Jennifer as Chris and Suzanne went onto the dance floor. Jennifer shook her head as he approached. "Now, don't tell me nothing's bothering you because you can do much better that what I just saw." Sam hesitated, unsure what to say. "Would you like to dance?" he finally asked. Jennifer laughed. "Sure," she answered. ******************************** Al walked into the cafeteria with a concerned look on his face, which Tina noticed immediately. Al poured himself a cup of non-alcoholic punch, took a slice of carrot, and joined Tina and Theresa as they talked. "What do you think, Al?" Tina asked, breaking into his thoughts. "Hmm?" Al asked, not having really been listening to their conversation. "I think Theresa should perm her hair, give it a little more body. What do you think?" Al looked at Theresa and nodded slightly. "That would be nice." Tina gently tugged her battery-operated, light-up earrings in the shape of ghosts. "Tough new assignment, huh?" she surmised. "You could say that," Al said before biting into the carrot. Tina smiled lovingly at Al. "Well, I've got the purrrrfect solution for your troubled mind," she told him, rubbing her costume's tail under his chin. Al raised his eyebrows, full of curiosity. "Meet me in your office at midnight," Tina told him. She suddenly shifted her attention back to Theresa. "I mean it, though. I really think you'd look great with a perm. Get it tomorrow so it'll be set when you go to New York on Monday," she suggested. "Trust me. It'll knock their socks off." Theresa's hesitation wasn't long. "All right. I'll do it, if you come with me." "Deal," Tina replied. "But not too early," she told her with a side glance to Al. Theresa understood. "Maybe I should stay here tonight." "Why?" Al asked, confused. Tina looked at him in surprise. "Oh!" Al realized. "Oh, no. No, I'll go to Tina's." He looked at Tina. "That is if you don't mind." "I can't wait," Tina smiled. She looked at the clock and sighed. "Gotta go. Gushie said it would take him a half of an hour to calibrate Ziggy to the Egyptian systems. Maybe we'll have some luck this time." She kissed Al gently before leaving the cafeteria. Al finished his punch and exhaled. It was obvious that something was bothering him. "So," Theresa finally said, breaking the silence. "When do I get to see Sam?" Al looked at her. "Well, I think tomorrow would be better than today. These things can't happen over night." Theresa nodded. "I understand. In fact, giving everything I've seen, I'm surprised you're being so generous." Al shrugged. Theresa smiled. She looked at the clock. "I think I'd better get a ride home," she said after a moment. "I'll take you," Al invited. Theresa shook her head. "That's okay. Besides, you'd never get there and back in a half an hour. And I think one of your fellow workers has taken a liking towards me." She looked at Al for a reaction. Al raised his eyebrows. "Really? Who?" Theresa pointed him out. "That guy named Tim with the curly blond hair." Al smiled. "Well, then, I'd say you were in pretty safe hands," he commented, seeing the man and knowing him. "Nice guy." Theresa nodded. "Sure is." Al looked at her from the side. "Are you planning a ..." Theresa smiled. "Admiral Calavicci, what ever made you think that!" she teased before starting towards Tim. Al stopped her gently by touching her arm. "Don't charge him," he warned, teasingly. Theresa gave him a friendly glare before going on to meet Tim. Al too looked up at the clock and realized exactly what time it was. He had a less than a half an our before he was to meet Tina in his office. He walked to the door, throwing away his paper cup as he did so, and went up to his office. ***************************** "What a day!" Jennifer exclaimed as she and Sam entered Jeff's and Jennifer's home in the suburbs. "I can't believe how tired I am!" "Well, a lot happened today," Sam commented as he took her coat to hang in a nearby closet. "You were awfully quiet on the way home," she commented as she sat down in a recliner in the living room. "I guess I have a lot on my mind," he answered, sitting on a couch by her. "I knew something was bothering you. It's about Chris, isn't it?" Sam looked at her with surprise. "How'd you know?" Jennifer smiled. "You've been worried about Chris since his minor seizure last month. You watch over him like a big brother." "Everyone needs someone to look over them," Sam replied, thinking about what Jennifer had just said. *He had a seizure last month. Just how minor was it?* Sam worried. Jennifer exhaled slowly. How was she going to get his mind off of Chris? She smiled as an idea came to her mind. "Oh, Dr. Sterling?" she called out. Sam turned to look at her, some confusion on his face. "Doctor," she said as she stood up and sat on he lap. "I have a problem." Sam smiled nervously, getting the gist of what she was doing. He wasn't sure he wanted to play along with this but it wasn't the first time he'd leaped into someone's husband - or someone's lover. He cleared his throat. "Umm... what kind of problem?" She stroked his chin and his hair. "It's my husband. I can't seem to get his attention. I'm thinking of having an affair. Doctor, what should I do?" Sam hesitated. He knew how Jeff would answer that. But he wasn't Jeff. "Umm... well..." He was saved by the telephone ringing. "Let the answering machine get it," Jennifer begged, kissing him gently on the lips. The kiss preoccupied him as the answering machine turned on. "Jeff! Jen!" came a frightened voice over the phone. "Gawd! Please be there! I'm scared, Jeff! Chris is having a seizure!" The words caught Sam's and Jennifer's attention immediately. Sam quickly stood up as Jennifer got off his lap. He hurried to the phone and picked up the receiver. "Suzanne, I'm right here." "Thank gawd!" "Did you call an ambulance?" "No, I... I was so frightened that..." "Call an ambulance," Sam ordered. "I'm coming right over!" He hung up the phone and started towards the door. "I'm coming with you!" Jennifer told him as she grabbed her purse, following him out the door. ******************** Al waited in patience for Tina to come to his office. He wasn't in a lot of hurry. He had a lot on his mind. He had really begun to like Chris Raj-ad-Allah when the man was in the Waiting Room. The kid had a lot of courage. A lot of guts. The idea that one of his seizures killed him was discomforting to Al. He didn't like it at all. There was a knock on his door. "May I come in, Admiral?" Al smiled. He looked at the speaker. "Better yet, I'll come out." He stood up, went to the door, and took Tina's hand. He kissed it gently, causing Tina to giggle slightly. "After you, my lady," he offered. Tina left the office with Al in tail, him closing the door as he went. ------------------------------------------------ I know. I know. Another cliffhanger. (Sorry, Sam.) Chapter 18 is next. Kat