Theorizing that one could time-travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett led an elite group of scientists into the desert to develop a top-secret project known as Quantum Leap.  Pressured to prove his theories or lose funding, Dr. Beckett prematurely stepped into the Project Accelerator…and vanished.

He awoke to find himself in the past, suffering from partial amnesia and facing a mirror image that was not his own.  Fortunately, contact with his own time was maintained through brainwave transmissions with Al, the Project Observer, who appeared in the form of a hologram that only Dr. Beckett can see and hear.

As evil ones do their best to stop Dr. Beckett’s journey, his children, Dr. Samantha Josephine Fulton and Stephen Beckett, continuously strive to retrieve their time-lost father and bring him home permanently.  Despite returning home several times over the last decade, Dr. Beckett has remained lost in the time stream…his final fate no longer certain.

Trapped in the past and driven by an unknown force, Dr. Beckett struggles to accept his destiny as he continues to find himself leaping from life to life, putting things right that once went wrong with the hopes that his next leap…will be the final leap home.

Author’s Note: 

 

The events depicted in this episode take place shortly after ‘Operation: Iraqi Freedom’ that spanned from March 20, 2003 to May 1, 2003. Although this episode is a sequel to the twelfth season’s episode ‘For Her Heart’, the events depicted here are fictitious.

This episode is dedicated to those men and women whom had both served and gave their lives in order to protect our freedom and defend our home, the United States of America . For this and much more, your memory shall forever live on in both our hearts and thoughts. 

God bless.

PROLOGUE

          His body rocked and lurched slightly as the quantum blue slowly gave way to dimly lit surroundings. All around him he could hear voices, though at that point they were still slightly garbled. One thing clearly noticeable was the heat; it was unrelenting. Sweat dampened his brow, stinging his eyes as it trickled downward. The nape of his neck and back were dampened as well. When he was able to clearly see where Time had placed him, Samuel Beckett looked down at his arms and saw that they were covered in fatigues and that his feet encased in sturdy black boots. The name ‘WRIGHT’ was stitched in black above his left breast. Slung over his shoulder was an object of considerable weight. Upon closer inspection that object turned out to be an M 16 assault rifle, or so memories that didn’t belong to Sam told him. Glancing back up he noticed that eight others were present, three of them female, all dressed in similar garb. It appeared to Sam as if he were in some sort of military transport vehicle.

        Heavy canvass covered where the windows would have been, but thin beams of sunlight managed to protrude underneath.

        “J-Man,” someone had called out from behind Sam. At first Sam didn’t respond, completely oblivious as he continued to sweep his gaze about his new surroundings. After a few moments he felt someone nudge him in the back. Sam looked over and saw a young Hispanic male who looked no older than twenty-five looking on at him questionably. “You feelin’ alright?”

        Sam spoke warily. “Um, yeah.” He took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

        “Now’s not the time to be gettin’ sick, Wright.” The young man, whose name on his uniform was Jimenez, said with a chuckle.

        Sam gave him a brief smile as he quickly averted his gaze.

        Just then, as the transport decelerated, a man poked his head around the corner from the passenger seat, his gaze firmly affixed on the group of young soldiers. “Welcome home, boys and girls.”

        Sam leaned his head back and said under his breath, “Oh boy.”

PART ONE

July 13, 2003

Iraqi Desert . Somewhere Near Baghdad

15:30 Greenwich Meantime (GMT)

          He was immediately met with a blazing sun as he stepped off of the transport. The other soldiers moved around Sam as he swept his gaze across the vast and barren desert. Several small, tan colored tents were pitched in the immediate vicinity.

        A few of the soldiers stood near by, smoking as they conversed. Others were either cleaning their weapons or setting up tents. Even from where he stood Sam could feel their strength, the spirit that they all possessed. They all appeared to be around the same age as Jimenez. At that point in their lives, going off to war should’ve been the last thing on their minds. Sam always held a high degree of respect for those men and women who bravely fought for their country. Even so, he hoped and prayed that whatever he was here to fix, he could fix before having to face actual combat. Not that he had never been in a similar situation; he could remember having Leapt into his brother’s unit during Vietnam . He had faced combat then; heck he’d even Leaped in during an ambush, if memory served correct.

        “J-Man.”

        Sam looked over his shoulder and saw Jimenez approaching him. Jimenez cocked a thumb towards the encampment.

        “Let’s go get our shit settled in. The sooner we do, the better; I’m starvin’!”

        Sam followed Jimenez to the encampment. They took the next several minutes and unloaded all their gear. After receiving some field rations from a soldier named Hawkes, Sam retired to the tent where he would be staying for the next day or so. Jimenez sat across from him, lighting a cigarette.

        “You sure you’re alright, man?” Jimenez inhaled the smoke and blew it out slowly, enjoying his simple pleasure. “Ever since we got here you look like something’s bothering you.” When Sam gave him a quizzical look, Jimenez elaborated. “Before we deployed, you seemed so confident, so sure of yourself.”

        “It’s nothing,” Sam replied with a shrug as he ate the small portion of soup that came in the small, green pouch. The soup didn’t taste all that great to Sam but, when on an empty stomach, anything sounded good.

        “I just hope this damned war doesn’t drag on for too long, but something’s telling me that’s not going to happen.”

        Sam held his gaze on the young soldier and that’s when he caught it. From the look in his dark eyes, Sam could tell there was something that Jimenez wasn’t saying.

        “Hey,” Sam said after a moment of silence as he set his plastic spoon down, “I’m sure we’ll be home before you know it.”

        “Sure as hell hope so, Joe.” Jimenez met Sam’s gaze and then smirked. “Is that her?” Jimenez pointed to the thin gold chain that Sam wore around his neck.

        “Who?” Sam was completely confused.

        “That locket you’re wearing.”

        Sam glanced down and pulled out the small golden heart shaped locket. Flipping it open with his thumb, Sam saw a picture of a young, African American woman smiling warmly. “Oh, uh, yeah. That’s her, alright.”

        “What’s her name?”

        Sam flustered. “Her name...oh well, I-”

        “Vanessa Andrews,” said a very familiar voice, a voice that only Sam heard. “She’s Joe’s fiancée”

        “Vanessa,” Sam said quickly. “We’re engaged.”

        “Congrats,” Jimenez said with a smile.

        “Sam, we need to go somewhere more private.”

        Sam slowly stood up, slightly bent at the waist. “I’ll be right back. I have to, um, answer a call of nature.”

        “Whatever, man,” Jiminez retorted with a raised eyebrow. He watched Sam leave the tent and then shook his head. He opened his own pouch, making a face as he pulled out a small wrapped bowl of soup.

        When he was outside Sam looked around for an inconspicuous area and was relieved to find only a few soldiers nearby, completely immersed in conversation. Sam went over to where a couple Humvees were parked. Al appeared next to him. After making sure that no one was within earshot Sam said, “What’s going on here, Al? I have no idea wha-”

        Al cut him off with a wave of his hand. “Calm down, Sam. I’ll fill you in on the details.” Al, clad in a silver colored jacket, dark blue button up shirt with a black tie, black pants and silver shoes, took a couple drags off his cigar as he looked around the encampment. He tapped a few buttons on the handlink and, after a brief moment of electronic chirps and beeps, Al read the data. “Well, first we’ll start with the basics. The date is the thirteenth of July 2003. Your name is Private First Class Joseph Wright. You’re twenty-one years old and your unit is Company F, 4th Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment of the 6th Infantry Division. Your fellow soldiers all call you ‘J-Man’. Let’s see… You’re somewhere in the Iraqi desert, near Baghdad to be exact. According to Ziggy, Joe’s home base is in Samarra . I had Ziggy run a check on what Joe’s unit had been doing on July thirteenth, 2003, and all she came up with was that the unit had been on a supply run to Baghdad .” As Al finished reading the rest of the data off the handlink, he lowered his head slightly as he looked in the opposite direction, clearly uncomfortable by what he was about to tell Sam. “Two days later, while en route to Baghdad , the unit fell under enemy fire.” After a few moments of uncomfortable silence Al looked back over at Sam as he said with much sorrow, “It was an ambush, Sam. The unit suffered two casualties.”

        “Who were they?”

        Al glanced at the handlink. “Corporal Samantha Morgan and Private First Class Joseph Wright.”

        “Does Ziggy think I’m here to save them?”

        Al shrugged. “I’m not sure, Sam. Ziggy’s refusing to project any calculations at this point. But if that’s the case then it wouldn’t be the first time you saved him.” When he saw the befuddled look on the scientist’s face, Al lowered the handlink. “A year ago, you Leaped into a friend of Joe’s,” the hologram explained as he puffed at his cigar. “You saved Joe from being stabbed to death when he was in high school.”

        “I don’t know,” Sam replied, frustration easily heard in his tone. “Maybe there’s some way I could warn them of the ambush.”

        Al shook his head. “Wouldn’t do any good, Sam. No offense but nobody would take you seriously. I mean, you can’t exactly just walk up to them and say, ‘Hey, I’m from the future and in the next couple days there’s gonna be an ambush.’”

        “There has to be some way, then. Al, why else would I have Leaped in here if I wasn’t meant to save the lives of Samantha Morgan and Joseph Wright?”

        “We don’t know that for sure yet, Sam. For now, you really need to keep a low profile. This is the first time you’ve Leaped directly into the Iraqi conflict.”

        “What are you talking about? What’s going on here, Al?” Sam felt utterly lost and confused.

        “This war started about eight years after you first Leaped.”

        “How did this all start?” Sam asked.

        Al keyed in the command on the handlink. “The war actually started on March 20th, 2003 and ended on May 1st. Prior to the invasion, the United States felt that Iraq was in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 regarding weapons of mass destruction. They had to be disarmed by force. From there the United Kingdom and the U.S. attempted to get a resolution which would authorize military force. However they withdrew it before it came to a vote after France , Russia , and then later China all declared that they would use their Security Council veto power against any resolution that would’ve included an ultimatum that would’ve allowed them the use of force against Iraq .” Sam shook his head in dismay as Al told the story. “When the invasion occurred, a few thought of it as a violation of international law that broke the UN Charter. On April 9th, 2003, Baghdad fell and the Iraqi army was defeated. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was removed from office; he was captured by coalition forces on December 13^th and was subsequently tried and executed in December of 2006.”

        Sam thought for a moment. “I don’t know, Al. From what you’re telling me is that we’d already won. If the United States was victorious and the bad guys were apprehended, then there’s got to be something else that we’re overlooking. I think I’m here for Samantha and Joseph.”

        Al sighed and then said with a shake of his head, “At this point we’re still trying to break into the records, but the Pentagon has got a tight seal on them. Even Ziggy’s impressed. We have no clue as to why you’re here. Many records pertaining to combat missions were tightly sealed. It may take some time to negotiate with the Pentagon’s defense systems.  I’ll see what we can do. In the meantime, just sit tight and don’t do anything until I get back. We’re in a real tricky situation here, Sam.” Al keyed in a command on the handlink and the Imaging Chamber door opened behind him. Stepping through the illuminated door, he said, “I’m going to go back to the Waiting Room and see if this kid can give us anything useful.”

Sam nodded and Al mirrored the gesture. Al waved to Sam as the door closed.

        Sam looked around to make sure that no one had been watching him ‘talking to himself’.  After making sure the coast was clear, he leaned his head back. He squinted his eyes as he stared at the radiant blue sky, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.

Project Quantum Leap

October 29, 2007

16:29 HRS

          As the hologram in the Chamber dissolved, Al strode down the ramp and over to the Central Control console. Dominic Lofton stood behind the console, inputting data as fast as he could pull it from the archives. He glanced up at Al.

“We’re still trying, Admiral, but we’re not finding much more that can benefit Doctor Beckett. As it is, Ziggy’s still trying to break into the Pentagon’s files. I’ll keep you posted.” Dom quickly set back to work, his fingers flying over the buttons on the multi-colored panel.

        Al tipped his head at the programmer and then started towards the corridor that would lead him directly to the Waiting Room. He looked over his shoulder and saw Verbena walking up to him.

        “Mind if I accompany you, Admiral?”

        “Not at all, ‘Bena. In fact I think I could use your help.”

Together they made their way down the corridor, conversing along the way. The handlink chirped and beeped occasionally in Al’s hand.

        Verbena glanced at the sheet of paper that was attached to the thin plastic clipboard. “The Visitor is currently doing quite well for himself,” she stated. “He has chalked up his Leap experience to be nothing more than an experiment conducted by the Army to see what would happen in case of capture.” Verbena tilted her head to the side and then added, “I must say that it’s quite a creative way of handling things.”

        “Or it could make our job that much tougher,” Al pointed out as they rounded a corner. The door leading to the Waiting Room was about ten feet ahead of them. A lone naval officer stood guard. “If he thinks that he’s being tested by the government then he won’t be so quick to give any information.” When they approached the Waiting Room door, the naval officer quickly snapped a salute to Al, which he returned. “As you were, Ensign,” Al said. Turning to Verbena, he let out a sigh. “I just hope that Joseph Wright is in a cooperative mood.” Verbena chuckled as Al bent at the waist and leaned forward. After the retinal scan was confirmed, the heavy metallic door slid open. Both he and Verbena stepped inside and, a moment later, it closed with its usual hydraulic hiss.

        As the Waiting Room door closed, Ensign Edward Sharpe IV quickly glanced over his shoulder. His stance wavered as his heart hammered in his chest. The myriad of emotions that overwhelmed the young naval officer had nearly brought him to his knees. Was it true? Had Doctor Beckett actually Leaped into Joe? For a moment, Ed tried to rationalize the situation, trying his absolute best to not jump to any conclusions. On the one hand, he thought, it could very well be an amazing coincidence. After all, Wright was a pretty common surname. Ed squeezed his eyes shut as his hands balled into fists. Taking several long deep breaths, he slowly opened his eyes.

         His heart was telling him exactly the opposite; his feeble attempt of rationalizing may have well been swatted away by one giant, bloated hand. The way he saw it, he was presented with the grand opportunity to save Joe. Ed didn’t know exactly at what point in Joe’s life that Doctor Beckett had Leaped into but, nonetheless, he was presented with the opportunity to warn Joe of his impending fate, with a chance undo a terrible wrong. He owed it to Joe and especially Vanessa. If he could only spare her those four long, miserable years... Like markings on a chalkboard, he could erase all the sadness and darkness and replace them with something much better.

         At this revelation, a flood of tears threatened to spill down his cheeks. Ed closed his eyes to prevent the escape. The corner of his mouth curled slightly in sort of smile that suggested that he may have finally found the emotional comfort that he had long sought. When he opened his eyes, a few tears of happiness managed to escape, but he didn’t try to hide them. He quickly pulled himself from his musings when he saw Corporal Henson approach him to relieve him of watch duty. He glanced at his wristwatch.

        “Its four thirty already, Corporal?” Ed asked with a quick smile.

        “Yes, sir,” Corporal Henson said with an expressionless face.

        “Well, I should be on my way then. Have a good night, Corporal.”

        “Yes, sir.” Corporal Henson stood motionless as he looked straight ahead of him.

        Ed quickly glanced over his shoulder as he hurriedly made his way towards the nearest elevator. When he reached the elevator, he roughly pushed the button. “Come on, come on,” Ed said impatiently as the elevator car made its descent. When the door had finally slid open, he quickly stepped inside, pressing the button that would take him to the first level. The door slid closed and began its ascent. As he stood in the elevator, he racked his brain for some kind of way to gain entrance into the Waiting Room. Just before the elevator doors opened, he had come up with a plan. The only problem at that point was that the person he needed to talk to wouldn’t arrive at the Project until tomorrow afternoon. Time was definitely of the essence.

July 13, 2003

Iraqi Desert . Somewhere Near Baghdad

20:30 GMT

       The sun had set about a couple of hours ago, the pale moonlight casting soft shadows onto the desert floor. Even though it was nighttime, the heat was still unbearable. According to the current temperature reading, it was an amazing eighty-two degrees. Earlier in the day, the temperature had reached an incredible high of one hundred twelve degrees. Of course, Sam had also discovered that sort of temperature was normal for the time of year. He also discovered that their encampment was located somewhere near the Tigris River , which ran from Turkey into northern Iraq and then south southeastward to the Persian Gulf .

          Sam currently found himself sitting in a group of three other soldiers around a small fire. Cigarette smoke mingled with the pungent aroma of the bonfire that hung over the group like a thick blanket.

        “Even though it’s only been about a month, it sure as hell seems like years,” Private Ethan Bradley said as he took a drag on his cigarette. “Can’t wait to get the hell out of this sandbox. The sooner we catch that son of a bitch Hussein the better.”

        “I hear that,” Corporal Samantha Morgan commented as she sifted the logs with her boot. “I have a two-year-old girl waiting for her Mama. I just want this war to be over with so I can go back home.” She leaned back, chuckling as she shook her head. “Hell, I thought I’d be safer in the Reserves and as a medic. Didn’t expect to be going on medical supply runs. Go figure.”

        Private Carlos Jimenez nodded. “I thought I had it figured out at first, you know. I mean, my father fought in Vietnam and my brother in the Gulf War. I guess I always thought that I had something to prove, that I had to live up to their standards.” Running a hand over his shaved head, he added, “I don’t resent the choices I’ve made; it’s not like that. But I think I should’ve taken a real good look at the situation before rushing into it.” Reaching down, he picked up a bottle of Budweiser and took a couple swigs. Setting the bottle down, he said, “I’m proud to fight for our country, I really am. It truly is an honor to serve alongside men,” Jimenez smirked as he regarded Corporal Morgan, “and women such as yourselves.”

        Private Bradley leaned forward, raising his beer bottle. When the others had followed suit, he then said, “We fight together, we die together. Brothers in arms.” Just before they all clinked their bottles, Bradley caught a raised eyebrow from Corporal Morgan. “Aw hell, Sam, you know what I mean.” They all chuckled as they clinked their bottles. When they sat back down, Bradley looked over at Sam. “You’re sure as hell quiet tonight, J-Man.”

        “I guess I’m just not in a talkative mood.” Sam sat next to Jimenez and Morgan.

        “That’s a first,” Bradley joked. Jimenez and Morgan laughed along with Bradley.

        Sam gave an embarrassed smile as he sipped at his beer.

        “Tell us about this Vanessa,” Jimenez said to Sam.

        Sam looked over at Jimenez. He flustered a bit as he tried to think of something to say. “Oh, well, she’s... ah, my fiancée. We’ve known each other for some time now.” Sam nodded as he took another sip of his beer. When he looked up, he noticed the trio giving him quizzical looks. Sam set his bottle down next to him. “It’s real painful for me to talk about it with my being so far away from her and all.”

        Corporal Morgan nodded. “I know what you mean, Wright. It’s hard not to get sidetracked by the mere thought of your loved ones.” She leaned forward as she faced the group. “There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by since I got here that I don’t think about my little Rachel. She’s all that I have in this world. And I’ll tell you boys something. No matter how far apart, no great distances or even a war can keep me from seeing her again. But,” she said a bit hesitantly, “if something were to happen to me, I don’t know what would become of my daughter. Both my parents are gone and I don’t have any other family. My boyfriend pretty much left me high and dry.”

        Jimenez listened closely to what Corporal Morgan was telling them. He wanted to ask her something, but felt it best not to comment on it. Instead he said, “What ‘bout you, Bradley? What’s your story?”

        Bradley shrugged as he sipped his beer. “There’s not much to tell, really. I got a girlfriend waiting for me back home, but I ain’t expecting her to stick around. I hooked up with her only a month before I shipped out.” When the group only stared at him, Bradley laced his fingers together as he cracked his knuckles. “I’m here to do my duty. That’s all you really need to know.”

        Sam could tell, as well as Morgan and Jimenez, that asking Private Ethan Bradley about his past was a bad idea. So instead, the conversation had shifted to other topics, such as their hometowns and other such small talk. Until he knew a little more about the life of Private First Class Joseph Wright, Sam didn’t want to say much on the topic. Given the situation, he felt it rather inappropriate to fabricate those kinds of details. These people, Jimenez and Morgan especially, had people waiting for them upon their return. Sam prayed that they all would make a safe and joyous return home. He made a mental note to ask Al the next time about what had become of all of them. For the time being, he simply enjoyed the time spent with them.

       While Jimenez was patrolling the area nearby with another fellow soldier by the name of Chapman, Sam sat on an old collapsible metal chair, staring up at the star filled sky. He wasn’t getting much rest that first night. There wasn’t much ambient light around, so to could see the evening sky in all of its natural, beautiful glory was a treat for the scientist. A few soldiers were up and about as well, but Sam decided to use the time for himself. Of course, he didn’t stray far from the encampment; he sat near one of the transport vehicles. Without even a second thought, Sam slipped his hand in his right breast pocket and pulled out a rumpled soft pack of Camels. Pulling out a green Bic lighter as well, he lit a cigarette. Taking a couple long drags, he exhaled slowly, a faint smile on his lips. For a moment or two, Sam simply enjoyed the temporary solitude as he puffed away on his cigarette.

        “Since when did you start smoking?”

        The voice had startled Sam so much that he not only dropped the lighter that he’d been holding, but the cigarette from his mouth as well. “Damn,” Sam muttered as he quickly brushed off the cigarette that had landed on his lap. When he looked up at his holographic friend, Sam spoke with a frown. “How many times have I asked you not to sneak up on me like that?”

        “Actually, Dom centered me near those tents over there. I’ve been here for about a minute now.” Al furrowed his brow as he gestured with the handlink at the pack of Camels. “Don’t change the subject either, Sam.”

          Sam rose to his feet. After looking around to make sure that no one was paying any attention, he faced Al. “It’s not me. I wasn’t even aware of it.” Sighing softly rubbed the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb. “It’s just some mind merging with Joe, I suppose.” Now that Sam’s ego had regained control, he noticed with much disdain the bitterness of the tobacco on his tongue. “Has Ziggy been able to come up with anything?”

        “Still nothing new,” Al reported.

        “I have to be here for Joseph and Samantha.” Sam looked past Al at the encampment. “You should’ve heard her, Al. She has a two-year-old girl waiting for her. The more time I spend with these soldiers, the more I’m certain that I’m here to save her.”

        Al sighed. “If it weren’t for your Swiss-cheesed mind, Sam, you’d know that you’ve already saved the unit.”

        “What are you talking about?”

        “Remember earlier when I told you about how you had saved Joe during one of your past Leaps?”

                Sam nodded as he went over to the transport vehicle and adjusted its long, wide side mirror. As Al spoke, he looked at the young face that stared back at him. Sam noticed a certain intensity that Joe’s blue eyes possessed.

                “When you changed history, Joe went into the Army where he went on to save four of his fellow soldiers. In the original history, nearly the entire unit was wiped out. A year from now, they all get to go home.” Sam turned his head and looked up at the hologram. “ Home , Sam . You made that possible for them.”

          For several moments, Sam had thought about what Al told him. Through the thick mental fog, Sam could faintly recall encountering a younger Joseph Wright.

        “I know you, Sam,” Al said softly as he stood behind Sam. “I know you want to save the world, but I’m not sure that you will be able to save them. It hurts me very much to say this; I’ve served with some of the finest men and women you could ever meet. We don’t need Ziggy to give us the odds on preventing the ambush, either. Whatever you’re here to fix, it’s-” Al closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. Letting it out slowly, he said rather painfully, “It’s not the ambush. Nobody here would believe you, Sam.”

        Sam looked over his shoulder at the hologram. “I know,” he whispered. Turning around, he held his gaze on Al for a beat before he started back to the encampment. “However, until Ziggy can come up with some concrete data as to why I’m here, I’m going to do everything in my power to save Samantha and Joseph.” Sam was about head back to the encampment when he remembered the conversation that he had with the others. “Al, could you have Ziggy find out what happened to Samantha Morgan’s daughter after she was killed?”

        Al keyed in the inquiry on the handlink. Less than a moment later, data scrolled across the screen. “When Morgan went into the service, she left her daughter in the care of a friend. When Morgan was killed, her friend had Rachel placed in the care of the State of Florida . She eventually found a home, but that didn’t happen for another year or so.”

        “Don’t you see, now? I Leaped here to save Samantha and Joseph. Now, until you can prove to me otherwise, I’m going to do everything in my power to save them.” Frustrated, Sam turned around and headed back towards the tents.

        Al watched Sam head back to the encampment with a heavy heart. When Sam went inside one of the tents, Al tapped at a couple buttons on the handlink. The Imaging Chamber door opened behind him. Stepping through the illuminated door, Al said, “Be safe, Sam Beckett.” With those words being said the Imaging Chamber door closed.

PART TWO

Residence of Edward and Christa Sharpe

Stallion Springs , NM

2010 HRS

          The door slowly opened, creaking a bit in the process. A shadowy figure had slipped inside as they closed the door behind them. The soft clicking of the lock, along with the ticking of a clock, was easily audible in the otherwise quiet room. Their High Definition Television set was on mute, its light flickering, creating a sort of strobe light effect through out the room. The figure had managed a few steps before it bumped into something. As the mystery person cursed under their breath, a light was suddenly turned on.

        “Sweetie,” Christa said sleepily as she rubbed her eyes, “is that you?”

        “Yeah, babe, it’s me.” Ed continued to rub his knee that he had banged against an end table. “Damn table.” A couple of Parenthood magazines had landed on the floor, along with some of their mail. As he bent down to collect the dropped items, he said, “I’m sorry I woke you. I know how important it is that you get as much rest as possible.”

        Christa yawned as she slowly sat up, the simple act proving to be much more difficult than normal. “It’s fine. I must have fallen asleep watching TV.”

        Ed glanced over at the television. “‘’The Dick Van Dyke Show’?” he asked with a smirk.

        “Yeah, they had some marathon on Nick At Nite. My mom and I used to watch all the old shows.”

        Ed chuckled. “My grandfather used to watch that show, too. He would always say that Mary Tyler Moore was one sexy woman, next to Grandma Sharpe of course.”

        Christa laughed. “I’m glad your home, but I thought you got off duty a couple hours ago.”

        “Oh,” Ed shrugged, “well, I just went for a little drive. I’m sorry, Christa, I should’ve called and told you I’d be late.”

        Christa smiled as he went over and sat down next to her on the couch. “It’s alright. So, how was your day?”

        “Interesting,” Ed said after a couple moments. Unable to hold back the excitement, his eyes almost seemed to gleam as he spoke. “It was probably one of the best damn days I’ve had in a long time.”

        “That good, huh? Tell me what was so great about it.”

        Ed glanced over at his wife as some of the excitement had quickly faded away. “Oh, well, you see... I can’t really say anything just yet.” When he caught Christa looking at him suspiciously, he quickly added, “But when the time’s right I’ll tell you. Promise.”

        “What’s going on with you, Eddie?” Christa asked as she met his gaze.

        “N-nothing,” Ed stammered. When he fell under Christa’s unwavering gaze, he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

        “You’re forgetting that I can read you like an open book. Just tell me, Eddie.”

        “I-I can’t. Not right now, but I will. Soon.” Ed felt like crap for having to be so evasive with his wife, but the time just wasn’t right. “I, ah, have to stop by the complex early tomorrow afternoon. I have to meet with somebody.”

        “Who?” Christa was rather confused. “It’s your day off tomorrow.”

        “I know that but this guy that I have to speak with is going to be there in the afternoon,” Ed explained to her, “and it’s very important that I be on time.” Ed then shifted his gaze to the television. “I just hope it isn’t too late by then,” he added as an afterthought.

        Christa wasn’t sure what to make of Ed’s odd behavior but she also knew that he could be rather stubborn at times, especially when he was up to something. Rather than spending the time confused and upset, she leaned her head against his shoulder as she picked up the remote that was lying next to her, turning up the volume as Ed kissed the top of her head.

        “Do we have to watch this, though?” Ed asked Christa with a slight frown. “I think ESPN is replaying the Daytona 500.”

        “I’m not going to sit here and watch a bunch of cars drive around in circles,” Christa told him. “I was here first and we’re watching ‘Dick Van Dyke’.

        Even though he wasn’t really upset, Ed shook his head as he relaxed, draping an arm around Christa.

July 14, 2003

Iraqi Desert . Somewhere Near Baghdad

0825 GMT

          Sam had shared a tent with Private Jimenez the first night. His legs and arms ached from the cramped space. After his talk with Al, Sam had only gotten a few hours of sleep. In fact, he had already been awake when the sun had risen. Jimenez had arrived back a couple hours prior from his patrol with Corporal Chapman. And according to Jimenez, Joe was supposed to be on patrol the following evening. Sam quietly stood up, bent at the waist, and made his way across the tent, stepping over the sleeping Jimenez in the process. When he was outside, he zipped up the tent and did some stretches, relieving the cramps that plagued his arms and legs. Finished, he wiped at his brow; the heat was already up in the nineties and was gradually climbing. The sky was a clear blue with not a single cloud in sight.

        Sam hoped that Al would be arriving soon with some more information as to what exactly he was there to do. Personally, he felt that he was there to save Joe and Samantha’s lives, but according to Al, the chances of that happening were pretty slim. Still, Sam would try. For if he didn’t at least try then what the hell would be the point in Leaping through Time in the first place?

        “Private,” a young man said to Sam as he emerged from one of the tents. When he approached him, Sam saw the insignia on his shoulder sleeve and saw that he was a captain. When the captain was close enough Sam could easily see that something was troubling the young man.

        Sam snapped a sharp salute. “Yes, sir?”

        The captain, whose name was Barnes, regarded Sam with a tip of his head. “Walk with me,” he simply said. As the two walked, the company commander held his gaze straight ahead of him as he spoke.        “My first and foremost concern is the safety of my soldiers, Wright. With that being said, I should tell you that I’ve gotten reports of an ambush that occurred in downtown Baghdad the other day. An assailant had approached them while the truck was stopped in traffic. They engaged with small-arms fire; five soldiers were wounded, one seriously. The reason I’m telling you this, Private, is because as you know, we’re headed to Baghdad . I’ve already lost quite a few soldiers whom I highly regarded.” They hadn’t strayed too far from the encampment. Barnes then stopped as he turned and faced Sam. “Joseph, I think that you’re quite an adept soldier, perhaps a bit cocky, but I want you to know that I’m proud to serve with you.” He tilted his head towards the encampment and then added, “All of you. I know that it’s generally not a good idea to go wearing your feelings on your sleeve, especially during wartime, but with the recent ambush... Look,” he said with a sigh, “the military wants us to be like fucking robots, but we’re not. I have to live with the fact that I’ve sent men and women into battle, to their deaths. I love serving my country more than anything in this world, but I’m not going to lie to any of you, either. I hope you’re a religious man, Private, because something tells me that we’re going to need all the faith we can get.”

        Sam was taken aback at what Captain Barnes had just said. “Um, Captain,” Sam started then he quickly closed his mouth. Here, he was presented with the opportunity to warn Captain Barnes of the impending ambush, to tell him that the very thing he feared would come to pass in less than a day unless they took the necessary steps to prevent it. However, recalling that Al had said that Ziggy still wasn’t quite as to what task Sam was to perform, he didn’t want to risk altering history potentially for the worse, no matter how noble his intentions may have been.

        “What is it, Private?”

        With a sullen look, Sam looked away as he shook his head. “N-nothing, sir. Never mind.”

        For a moment, Barnes held his gaze on Sam, studying his expression and simply smiled back at the troubled scientist. “Just to let you know,” Barnes said, “We head out at oh-five hundred hours tomorrow so if I were you I’d get as much rest as you can.” Barnes then started back towards the direction that they had come from just minutes before.

        When Captain Barnes was out of earshot Sam clenched his fist and said through gritted teeth, “Damn it.”

        “Tell me ‘bout it.”

        Sam looked over and saw Al, dressed in his naval uniform, standing a few feet behind him, his expression matching Sam’s to a T. “Why, Al? Why can’t I just... warn them or something?”

        “Wish I had the answer to that, kid, I really do.” Al scratched his nose as he looked around the barren desert for a moment. “I came here to see how you were doing.”

        “Did Ziggy find anything yet?”

        Al shook his head. “We were able to get into some of the Pentagon’s files but there wasn’t anything that could help you out. Most of the incidences mentioned in the files took places months after Joseph’s death. Of course, I must admit that I’m starting to think that maybe you’re here to save Joseph and Samantha Morgan.”

        Sam thought for a moment. “What all does Ziggy have on this ambush, anyway?”

        Al pulled up the data on the handlink. After a moment of reading it, he told Sam, “According to the report, a fifteen-man Iraqi paramilitary force had attacked the unit just as they were about to enter Baghdad . The unit had then managed to take out several of the attackers and even managed to destroy a couple technical vehicles.” Al glanced up at Sam. “All that means is they are trucks with guns mounted on them. The Iraqi paramilitary group retreated, but Company F had suffered two casualties in the process. From there, the company had managed to capture a couple of the Iraqi paramilitary members just outside of Baghdad .”

        “How were Joseph and Samantha killed?”

        “According to Ziggy, Corporal Morgan was killed instantly when the transport she was riding in rolled over as a grenade went off near the vehicle. Private Wright was killed when a bullet had struck him in the back as he pushed a fellow soldier out of the line of fire. The bullet had entered his back and struck his heart.”

        “Okay,” Sam said thoughtfully as he started to pace, “I can fix it. The first thing I have to do is make sure that Corporal Morgan is on the same transport as me. Maybe,” Sam continued as his tone rose along with the excitement he felt, “just maybe I can talk with Captain Barnes and convince him to let her ride with me. Then I can have you keep watch for the Iraqis. That’s when I warn them.” With a wide smile and a ton of excitement Sam said, “Al, I can save them.”

        As much as Al wanted to share in Sam’s enthusiasm, he had to remain realistic. “Sam, I, ah, wouldn’t get too excited just yet. Ziggy isn’t giving you exactly great odds on saving them.” Before Sam could balk, Al quickly continued. “Don’t get me wrong; I want to save them just as badly as you do, but we have to be reasonable as well. You got to remember, Sam. You’re a private. I doubt a unit commander will take any strategic advice from a private. However, I know you quite well and I’m well aware that’s not going to stop you. If you do manage to save Corporal Morgan then you still have Private Wright to save. This is where it’ll get tricky. Sam, remember earlier when I told you that Joseph Wright had managed to save four others before he was killed?” When Sam nodded Al went on. “Well, let’s say that you do manage to save Joseph, but somehow in the process you alter history and someone else ends up getting killed, whereas in the original history they were saved? There’s an ass load of potential outcomes riding on this decision.”

        Sam’s enthusiasm had faltered significantly. “I don’t believe it,” he said plainly. “I refuse to believe that I Leaped here to make sure that nothing gets changed. I believe, in my heart, that I’m here for them.”

        “I know you do.” Al looked at his friend with a warm smile and all the comfort that he could possibly offer. “I just want you to be safe, Sam. I know you’ve been in similar situations before, but I have to be honest with you when I tell you that this particular Leap is really hitting home for some of us back at the Project. There’s a few of us who have lost someone very close because of this war.” With lowered eyes and a heart full of sorrow, Al opened the Imaging Chamber door. He looked up at Sam as he stood in its illuminated form. “I’ll... ah, be back as soon as I can.” The Imaging Chamber door closed.

        “I don’t know, man,” Private Jimenez said as he cleaned his M-16 rifle, “he’s been acting kinda weird ever since we got here, you know?”

        Private Bradley smirked as he lit his cigarette. “You’re probably reading too much into it,” he said in between puffs of smoke. “He’s probably just nervous, and the last time I checked there wasn’t anything in the books saying that you couldn’t be.”

        Jimenez nodded slowly. “Maybe but I’ve been around this guy for a little while now; he’s always cracking some joke. Just the other night, I saw him talking to himself near where the trucks are parked.”

        “What’s wrong with that?” Bradley asked. “Many people talk to themselves.” He took a long drag on his cigarette and then said as he slowly blew out the smoke, “Of course if he starts to answer himself then there’s a problem.” Bradley laughed.

        Jimenez furrowed his brow as he shook his head. “He acted as if somebody was actually there.”  He adjusted his aviator sunglasses. “It’s the strangest thing. I sure as hell hope that he isn’t turning Section Eight on us.”

        “Don’t know what to tell you, man.” Bradley clapped Jimenez on the shoulder as he stood up.

        Jimenez decided to keep the subject closed for the time being. He went back to cleaning his weapon.

        “Corporal,” Sam called out to Morgan as he jogged to catch up with her.

        Corporal Morgan turned around as strands of blond hair slipping out from under her cap. She smiled at him. “What’s up?”

        Sam said, “I wanted to talk to you about tomorrow.”

        She narrowed her eyes at him. “What about tomorrow?”

        Sam said, “It’s just.... I was thinking,” he corrected himself as his nervousness grew. He wasn’t exactly sure if he should even be talking to her about the situation, but there was nobody else around. It may very well be the best time to tell her. “I’m just real concerned about tomorrow’s supply run. As you may have heard, there’s been quite a bit of activity there lately. In Baghdad .”

        Morgan seemed confused at first, but then nodded knowingly. “Oh, I get it. Captain Barnes spoke to you too about that too. Look, Wright, I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you.”

        “How can you say that?” Sam asked incredulously.

        “Because I can’t afford to think that way,” she quickly replied. “I’m not about to stand here and worry about something that may or may not happen. There’s no time for that shit, Wright. I’m here to do my duty so I can go back to Miami Beach and be with my daughter. I don’t want to think of the possibility of something like that happening. If I started thinking like that then I’d have to worry about Rachel’s well-being and that’s something that I refuse to do, especially now.”

        “But,” Sam retorted helplessly, “what if-”

        “‘What if’?” Morgan said a bit forcibly. “What if, Wright? What if nothing happens tomorrow? What if our base gets blown to shit during the night? C’mon, pull your head out of your ass and get focused.”

        Sam was about to further object when Morgan was already walking towards where Privates Bradley and Jimenez were. Sam sighed heavily in frustration. After a moment or two, he followed Morgan and went to join the others.

        Corporal Morgan barely regarded Sam as he joined the group. Both Jimenez and Bradley caught it but only exchanged glances.

        “I, uh, bet that tonight’s going to be pretty... hectic. You know, getting everything ready for the morning.” Sam frowned as soon as the words had left his mouth. He didn’t know what to say, but anything was helpful when breaking the ice for conversation. Sam felt uncomfortable in the silence.

        “Nah,” Jimenez replied as he finished cleaning his assault rifle. “There’s not much to load, really. The captain wants us out by oh-five hundred. I think we only got about another forty or fifty miles before we hit Baghdad .”

        Bradley looked over at Jimenez. “Did the captain have that talk to you about that recent ambush in Baghdad ?”

        Jimenez furrowed his brow. “I haven’t heard anything from the captain about that. Why? What’d he say?”

        Bradley flicked his cigarette butt and slipped on his aviator sunglasses. “Not much. He just said that the other day a couple of trucks were attacked in downtown Baghdad . They were hit as they were stuck in traffic.”

        Corporal Morgan grew more uncomfortable by the minute as the two soldiers talked about the ambush. Sam glanced over and saw the uneasiness in her facial expression.

        “I don’t know,” Jimenez continued as he looked past the tents and Humvees, towards the horizon. “With all the recent attacks in and around Baghdad , I have to admit that I’m a bit nervous going down there. I mean, I know it’s just a supply run an’ all. But still.”

        Sam listened intently as Jimenez was beginning to open up. He felt that he was on the right track. If he could increase their awareness then his chances of success would perhaps increase as well. On that mental note, Sam realized, speaking with the company commander may not be such a bad idea after all. Sam had resolved to speak with Captain Barnes later in the evening.

        “I personally think you’re worrying too much about it. At this point, it’s hard tellin’ just what exactly to expect.” Bradley didn’t appear to be worried about the possibility of an ambush. “One thing for damn sure,” he said to the two soldiers and the scientist, “is that no amount of training or preparation can completely prepare you for the unknown. And at this point, that’s exactly what it is.”

        “Staying focused is the key,” Corporal Morgan said after a moment. Her eyes affixed to Sam she added, “Some people need to keep that in their minds when they’re out there on the field. Worrying about that shit will only earn you a bullet.”

        “I’m just saying,” Sam replied as he met Morgan’s gaze, “is that we should at least keep in mind any possibilities when we’re out there. I just don’t want-” Sam stopped himself as he closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was met with the unwavering gazes of Bradley, Jimenez, and Morgan. “I just don’t want to see anything happen to you guys. We’re... family.” Sam wore his deep concern for the young soldiers like a coat.

        Morgan’s glare slowly gave way to a sympathetic smile. “Wright, I understand your concern. Don’t think for a moment that I don’t share the same thoughts, the same feelings. It’s just that with all that is going on, I can’t afford to sit back and worry about something that I have very little or no control over.”

        Bradley and Jimenez watched the interplay in silence.

        Sam nodded knowingly. “I understand that, Corporal, I really do. I guess,” he paused as he thought of how to best explain his concern without appearing too suspicious. “I guess what I’m saying is that with that recent attack in Baghdad and the countless amount of others in the area, I’m worried.”

        Jimenez nodded in agreement with Sam. “I hear ya, Wright. Now I’m not going to start and pretend that I’m not at least a bit nervous going down there ‘cause I am. Although,” he added as he leaned forward, holding his gaze on the three, “as long as I have you all watchin’ my backs, I don’t feel as spooked going in.”

        Bradley spoke after a moment of silence. “Just remember one thing, Jimenez, when we go out there tomorrow. No matter what happens to us, we’re always going to be brothers in arms. This,” he said as he waved a hand about the encampment, “is our family. We only have each other to look out for now.”

        Sam couldn’t help but to smile. Some progress had definitely been made. For now, all Sam could do was help keep the morale high and that is exactly what he intended to do.    

        The remainder of the morning had gone without incident. The temperature had reached an alarming one hundred and twelve degrees. Off in the horizon you could see the heat radiating off the desert floor. The soldiers of Company F had been kept busy with various tasks through out the morning and even into the afternoon. Captain Barnes hadn’t made much of an appearance as he remained inside one of the tents preparing for the next day’s supply run. Sam had the opportunity to converse with some of the other soldiers and noted the various personalities. Some of them had loved ones awaiting their return home while others didn’t seem to want to open up about their lives.

        Al hadn’t made an appearance all day either, which gave way to some concern. Sam knew that if anything had happened back at the Project, Al would’ve surely have told him about it. Then again, he did mention to Sam how Ziggy was having some difficulty attaining records from the Pentagon. Sam tried not to stress too much on this; he had quite a lot of faith in their abilities.

        During the downtime, Sam deduced it was the best time to discuss with Captain Barnes in private about his concerns. He had some success with some of the other soldiers earlier on. Sam prayed that it was due to more than just mere luck. He found Captain Barnes in one of the tents, talking with a couple of the other soldiers about the supply run. Sam poked his head inside the tent.

        “Is there something that I can help you with, Private?” Barnes asked as he looked up at Sam.

        “I’m sorry to interrupt you, sir, but I was hoping to have a few words with you alone.”

        Barnes said, “It’ll be just a moment. Come,” he said as he waved to Sam, inviting him to wait inside. Sam did as instructed. He waited for the next minute or so as Captain Barnes spoke with two soldiers, a Lieutenant Thompson and Sergeant Matthews. After they had left, Barnes walked up to Sam. “What did you want to talk about, Wright?”

        “It’s about tomorrow’s supply run,” Sam stated. “I just... had some concerns, you see.”

        Barnes nodded thoughtfully. “Okay. Tell me, then. Just what exactly are you so concerned about?”

        Sam thought for a moment. “Well, I was just thinking that with these recent attacks in Baghdad that perhaps we should take a more... cautious approach during this run.”

        For a moment Barnes had thought about what Sam was saying. With a nod and clap on Sam’s shoulder, Barnes said, “Is this about what I told you earlier? Private, I wasn’t telling you that to shake your confidence. I just wanted to make you aware of the situation. I have every bit of confidence in these men and women that we’ll get the job done.”

        “I-I know that, sir, but if you would just take a moment and-”

        Barnes cut him off with a wave of his hand. “Private Wright, I understand and appreciate your concern but this is my job. I make the decisions on how we do things, okay?”

        “But, sir,” Sam started to further protest but abruptly stopped himself when Barnes held his gaze steady on him.

        “Do I make myself clear, Private?”

        Sam sighed in defeat. “Yes, sir.”

        Barnes tipped his head. “Good.” When Sam left the tent, Barnes stood in the same spot, apparently lost in thought. He pondered for a moment on the discussion that he had with Sam. Smirking he said to himself, “You’re not the only one scared shitless, kid.”

        Sam walked alone, trying desperately to keep himself from screaming at the top of his lungs. Here he was, in the guise of a soldier whose company was fated for an ambush in less than a day and there wasn’t a damn thing that he could do about it. While he had managed to help raise the morale of some of the soldiers, talking to Captain Barnes hadn’t accomplished much. Sam was beginning to feel despair settle in; time was running out and so were his options. Al still hadn’t showed up so Sam really felt like he was in the dark.  “Come on, Al,” Sam whispered as he quickened his pace. The frustration continued to mount until it became unbearable. His hands clenched tightly into fists, Sam looked up at the blue sky and said in a raised tone, “Damn it!” When Sam looked over his shoulder he saw Private Carlos Jimenez looking at him rather curiously. Sam offered a faltering smile.

PART THREE

October 30, 2007

Project Quantum Leap

Records Department

1300 HRS

          Doctor Philip Jefferson sat behind the monitor, inputting some files into the system that Doctor Angela Ramsay had asked him to do as a favor about an hour and a half earlier. She had left early and had asked him to finish inputting the files. He agreed without a second thought, having been thrilled that she had even asked him. He was the only person in the small offshoot of the main Records Office, the soft clacking of the keys on the keyboard only heard by him. Situated on the far right hand corner of the desk was a small fan. The afternoon heat was a bit much, even nearly one hundred feet beneath the desert floor. Every now and then, he would stop typing just long enough to lean slightly towards the fan, feeling the cool air on his face.

         Every time he saw Doctor Ramsay his heart would skip a beat, his hands would get all sweaty, and he would verbally stumble over himself when he spoke to her. To put in simpler terms, he felt like a kid who was experiencing his first crush. He knew that he didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of ever being able to be with her, but being able to work by her side was sufficient enough for him. “One day,” he said to himself as he continued to type.

So intently focused on his work was he that he didn’t notice the young man enter the room. He stood behind Doctor Jefferson for a minute before he quietly called his name. Doctor Jefferson jumped a bit, startled by the sound. With his index finger, he pushed his glasses up as he turned around in the swivel chair. “Oh, hello. What can I do for you?”

        “Sorry to bother you, Doctor, but I was hoping that maybe you could help me out with something.”

        Jefferson looked at the naval officer. “What exactly is it that you need, Ensign Sharpe?”

        Ed gestured at the monitor. “I was just curious about something. Now I know this is going to sound rather odd but I was just wondering… would you by chance have access to security codes?”

        Jefferson was completely confused as to where the conversation was heading. “Why do you want to know?”

        “I don’t have a whole lot of time here, Doc,” Ed explained as he took a step towards Jefferson . “I was hoping that you would have some kind of access to override codes. You see, there’s this person that I really have to get in touch with but,” Ed said with a slightly forced chuckle, “I just have this slight, little problem.”

        “Let me see if I understand this,” Jefferson said. “You want me to give you an override code to gain access to a part of the complex that you’re normally not authorized to have. Am I correct?”

        Ed’s eyes widened a bit at Jefferson ’s response, but there was really no other way of putting it. He nodded. “Don’t get me wrong, Doc. I normally wouldn’t ask you for anything like this but it’s very important that I get into the Waiting Room. I need to bypass the retina and palm scans so I was hoping that you had an override code that I could use. I’ve already had to wait the majority of the day and I don’t know how much time I have left.”

        Jefferson was already shaking his head as he stood up. “No way, Ensign. I’m sorry but I just can’t do that. We can get into a world of trouble and I don’t know about you, but I sure as hell don’t want to have to answer to the Admiral.”

        “Listen, Doc, maybe, ah, we can help each other out.”

        Jefferson furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

        Ed thought for a brief moment. “Doctor Ramsay. I understand that you have... feelings for Doctor Ramsay.”

        “Now I don’t see how that is any of your concern, Ensign.” The look that Jefferson tried to perpetuate was one of annoyance, but to the Ensign he could see that he had been one hundred percent correct.

        “No use in hiding it,” Ed told him. “What I can do for you in return for your help is that I can set you up with Doctor Ramsay on a date.” The notion had come rather quickly to Ed; it was all that he had to bargain with. However, seeing as how fond of Doctor Ramsay Jefferson was, Ed thought that maybe he had hit the jackpot.

        Jefferson was about to further object, but as soon as the Ensign said that he could set him up on a date with Angela… well, it was rather hard to turn down the only chance that he felt that he probably had. “Y-you think that you can do that?”

        “Of course,” Ed lied as he clapped Jefferson on the shoulder. “No sweat. All you have to do is override the security on the Waiting Room door just long enough for me to get in and I’ll set you two up with a fancy dinner at the Blue Moon Restaurant. Deal?” Ed extended his hand.

        Jefferson quickly tried to rationalize the situation but, with the thought of having an elegant dinner with Angela Ramsay, it easily clouded the reality behind the desire. “Deal.” The two men quickly shook hands.

Jefferson then went back to his desk, sat down, and minimized the work that he’d been doing. His fingers danced over the keyboard as he inputted a series of commands and then tapped the “Enter” key. The screen then presented a list of names of the personnel with access to just about the entire complex. “In order to do what you’re asking, Ensign, you’re going to have to use somebody’s code. Now here is a list of all those who have access to such areas as the Waiting Room.”

        Ed quickly scanned the list until he caught sight of one particular name: SHERMAN-CALAVICCI, CAPTAIN JULIANNA, USN - LEVEL TEN AUTHORIZATION.

          “That one,” Ed said as he pointed to the name. “Could you use her override code?”

        Jefferson nodded. He clicked on her name and then was prompted with a list of possible commands. He clicked on a few more prompts and the screen presented an overview map of the tenth level of the complex. Jefferson located the section that was labeled WAITING ROOM and then clicked on it. The screen went to an enlarged, three-dimensional representation of the Waiting Room. After a few more prompts, the monitor displayed the Captain’s security override code. “Once I input her code, you’ll have exactly three minutes to get to the Waiting Room before the system switches back over. There will be a small white button just below the retinal scan. You have to press that to open the door.”

        “Got it,” Ed said as he was already heading for the door. “Thanks again,” he called over his shoulder as he ran out of the room.

        “Don’t forget our deal,” Jefferson said after him. When the Ensign had left, Jefferson slunk back in his chair and realized just what exactly he had done. “Oh shit,” he muttered.

One And A Half Minutes Later

Outside the Waiting Room     

        “Sir?” the Marine asked confused as Ed was about to push the small white button that was just below the retinal scanner. Ed paused as he turned and faced the Marine. “With all due respect, sir,” the Marine said as he kept his gaze affixed to the wall in front of him, “I don’t believe that you are authorized to have access to the Waiting Room.”

        Ed didn’t have time to debate his actions. “Listen here, Corporal. You are not to question my actions. Do you understand?

        “Yes, sir, but-”

          “‘But’ nothing. If anybody asks you, you saw nothing.”

        “Sir, what about the Admiral?”

        “You let me worry about Admiral Calavicci, Corporal.” Ed didn’t wait for the Marine to respond as he saw the small green light that was just below the retinal scan blinking. “Sorry about this, Jules,” he whispered. Ed pressed the white button closest to the scanner and the heavy metal door slid open. Ed’s heart was hammering in his chest as he took the first couple steps into the Waiting Room.

        Private Joseph Wright sighed as he sat on the reflective examination table, his gaze sweeping across the blue walls. Ever since he’d arrived here, he’d been subjected to such strange questions, such about the date, about his last clear memory, and, most importantly, about the unit that he was assigned to. The Admiral had been really interested in what he could remember about Company F. Joe had caught on early enough that all of this was an elaborate test perpetuated by the military to see what would happen in case of capture. The only aspect of the situation that had confused him was why the Navy was involved if the Army was the one conducting the experiment. When asked about his last clear memory, Joe had told them that it was being on the transport en route to the encampment that was set up for his unit. He could also remember that his unit was heading to Baghdad , but for what purpose he seemed to have forgotten, though he omitted the last part to the Admiral. Hell, he couldn’t even remember how he’d arrived at what the Admiral had referred to as the ‘Waiting Room’. When asked what he was ‘waiting’ for, the Admiral had simply replied ‘to go back home’.

        His last encounter had been with that hot looking Naval officer, the one with the long brown hair and a pair of legs that wouldn’t quit. Of course, he was completely devoted to Vanessa; Joe would never stray from her. Just even the mere thought of his fiancée brought about an ache in his heart that he would never admit to anyone. Just before shipping out, he promised her that they would be married when he returned. He could still remember how worried she was that he would not return. He promised her that he would, the last thing he told her having been ‘Don’t worry, babe. You’re forgetting who you’re talking to. I’m charmed.’

        He snapped his head up when he heard the door open. At first he couldn’t make out who had entered the room, but when they stepped into view Joe couldn’t believe his eyes. “Sharpeshooter? Is that you?”

        Ed Sharpe simply stood there, unable to move, speak, or even breathe. Even though he saw who appeared to be Doctor Samuel Beckett sitting on the table, he knew that he was truly looking at his closest, dearest friend, deceased these past four years. It was at that moment that he suddenly found himself in another place, in another time.

        “Dude, c’mon! We’re gonna be late!”

        Eddie looked over at Joseph as he was already making his way towards the truck. “Don’t sweat it, man. The girls said that they’ll meet us at the theater. Chill out.”

        Joseph smirked at Eddie. “What ‘bout chivalry? Didn’t your grandfather ever teach you that it’s rude to keep a girl waitin’?”

        “Trust me,” Eddie said as he clapped a hand on Joseph’s shoulder, “I’m going out with Christa Calavicci, and you’ve met her father before. You remember him, the Admiral? Well, let’s just say that chivalry is a prerequisite if you’re dating one of his daughters.”

        “Oh, yeah, I remember him. That dude’s so uptight that if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass in a week you’d have a diamond. I swear, E-Money, I think the dude has GPS implanted in Christa or something. I’d be careful where you take her, man. I’d hate for her dad to catch you two up at Makeout Point.” Joseph winked as he nudged Eddie’s shoulder.

        Eddie blushed. “It’s not like that, Joe. The guy’s just real concerned for Christa’s well being. She’s been through a lot in the past couple years, you know. Besides, I’ve only been dating her for about a month now. I still remember that Friday night after the Back to School dance when I dropped Christa off. Her dad was standing on the porch, staring at us. All I was going to do was give her a kiss on the cheek, but with her dad watching, not a pretty good idea.”

Joseph only chuckled as he climbed into the truck. Eddie sat down behind the driver seat as Joseph slammed the passenger door shut. Eddie started the truck and steered it down the street, heading towards the theater.

 “So,” Eddie said after a moment, “you’re really thinking about joining the Army, huh?”

        Joseph nodded. “I’m considering it. I spoke again with the recruiter yesterday. It sounds real interesting, but I don’t know if I’m gonna actually go for it.”

        “Uh huh.” The look in his eye told Eddie a completely different story.

         After several long, silent moments, he simply bobbed his head in response.

        Joe stood up and walked over to the stunned Naval officer, his head tilted slightly. “Eddie? How the hell did you get here? You’re the last person I’d ever expect to see around here.”

        “I-I work here,” Ed stammered as he soon found himself standing face to face with the very best friend who had been dead for the past five years.

        Joe eyed him suspiciously. “There’s something different ‘bout you. If I didn’t know any better I’d say you look... older. And,” he said as he gazed at Ed’s uniform, “when the hell did you make officer? I thought you were still taking classes for that.”

        “It’s a l-long story,” Ed said as a smile had slowly spread across his lips without any control. “I can’t believe you’re actually here. I-I had to see for myself and… here you are.”

        “Eddie, what the hell are you talking about? I just saw you about a couple months ago.”

        A floodgate of memories rushed through Ed’s train of thought. Yes, he did remember seeing Joe off as he was shipped out to Iraq . Vanessa had been there with him that day, too. Not a moment after Joe’s plane had taken off did Vanessa turn to him and cry on his shoulder. He could also remember Joe calling him on the phone, announcing his engagement to Vanessa. Then, two weeks after that, he had gotten a frantic call from Vanessa, saying that Joe was dead.

“I know this is going to sound a bit strange but I need you to tell me today’s date.”

        Joe rolled his eyes. “Jeezus, you too, man? Goddamn, what is it with you guys? Asking me these strange questions.”

        “Joe, it’s important. Just tell me. Please.” Even Joe could hear the pleading in Ed’s tone.

        Narrowing his eyes at Ed, Joe said, “July. July 13th, 2003.”

        Ed’s eyes went wide with realization as his heart skipped a beat. “Two days?” he mused to himself. “Two damn days. Oh, shit.”

        “Two days? Two days for what? E-Money, you’re not making much sense here. Care to explain all this to me?”

        Ed shook his head as he met Joe’s gaze. “I think it’s best that if you sit down for this.” Ed waved a hand towards the table. When he saw Joe’s questioning look, Ed added, “Trust me on this.”  Ed and Joe walked over to the table where both men sat down.

        “Okay,” Joe said after a moment, “first tell me where the hell I am.”

        Ed was still thinking of how to warn Joe of his ill fate when he half heard Joe’s question. “Huh? Oh, New Mexico .”

        Joe nodded with a grin. “So I’m back home. Cool.”

        “In a sense,” Ed replied. “You’re actually about a hundred feet below the desert. You see, you’re part of this experiment that went a little wrong.”

        “Experiment? I knew it,” Joe said triumphantly. “I knew the Army was testing me to see if I would crack. Why you’re in on it, I don’t know, but-”

        Ed shook his head. “No, not that kind of experiment. And it’s the Navy and the Marines, not Army.” Chuckling, Ed added, “Sorry to disappoint you.”

        “It’s just a lot of things around here don’t make sense. Like this.” Joe glanced at the reflection of Samuel Beckett. “Who the hell is this guy, anyway?”

        “He’s... well... he’s you. And you’re him.”

        “Yeah, that’s what the Admiral was telling me. People see me as this guy here and they all see him as me back in Iraq . My next question is how the hell is that even possible?”

        Ed held up a hand. “Joe, I don’t have much time here. Look, there’s something that I need to tell you, but it’s not easy.”

        Joe saw that Ed was rather hesitant. “Hey,” he said softly, “you can tell me anything.”

        Ed nodded as his hand slid into his pocket. His fingers brushed up against the piece of folded paper. After thinking about it, he withdrew his hand and ran it through his neatly groomed hair. “I’ve lived with this for a few years now,” he began as he tried valiantly to hold back the tears. “This is something that I never thought that I’d have the opportunity to say.”

        Unbeknownst to either the Ensign or the Visitor, a small surveillance camera well hidden within the Waiting Room had changed position, its lens extending slightly as a small red light blinked on.

Control Room

          “Have you found anything yet, Zig?” Al looked up at the swirling blue orb that hung from the ceiling. He leaned against the control panel where Dominic Lofton had continued to pull files from the archives. It had been several hours later and they were still where they had started. Al hadn’t had any contact with Sam in the past nine hours and, by Al’s guess, Sam was probably starting to go out of his mind. Al couldn’t blame him, really. Sam was stuck in the middle of a war that he absolutely knew nothing about and in a situation where hope seemed like a long shot. Either way he needed to get in touch with him soon.

        “Unfortunately, Admiral,” Ziggy said coolly, “I have neither found any further records that can be of significance nor have I yet calculated a probable scenario as to what Doctor Beckett is to accomplish.”

        “That’s just great,” Al groused. “I swear this couldn’t get any better.”

        Julianna entered the control room, wearing a tight fitting cat costume. “Hey, Dad,” she said to Al, ignoring the amused look she earned from her father. “I’m going out to a Halloween party with Tuyen,” she said after a moment.

        “So, are you Catwoman? Who is Tuyen supposed to be, Jules? Batman?” Al asked with a grin. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

        Julianna gave him a wicked smile. “I’m not Catwoman, just a simple cat. But that doesn’t mean that Tuyen can’t take me to his Batcave for a little R&R. As it is, I can just curl into his lap and purr.” Seeing the slightly stunned look on her father’s face, she laughed. “We’ll be gone for a bit and Mama Beth’s watching Jude. I’ve got my cell on me so if there’s an emergency-”

        “Speaking of emergencies,” Ziggy chimed in. Both Julianna and Al exchanged glances.  “I think I should bring to your attention some very interesting developments that are taking place in the Waiting Room.”

        “What are you talking about?” Al asked as he glared up at the orb.

        “According to the security system, Captain Sherman-Calavicci is in the Waiting Room as we speak.”

        Julianna frowned. “Ah, Ziggy? I’m standing right here. Perhaps there’s a glitch in the system.”

        “I assure you, Captain, that there are no glitches in my system. I am currently observing the situation.”

        “Then who the hell is in the Waiting Room?” Al practically shouted as he clutched the handlink.

        “Ensign Edward Sharpe the Fourth, Admiral,” Ziggy replied as if Al and Julianna should already have already known the answer.

        “What’s Eddie doing in the Waiting Room?” Julianna asked. “And how did he bypass the scans?”

        At first, Al couldn’t come up with a plausible reason as to why but after a moment it dawned on him. The Visitor was Joseph Wright. Joseph Wright had been Eddie and Christa’s friend back in high school. Al had a sinking feeling as to what Eddie was trying to do.

        “My system indicates that Captain Sherman-Calavicci’s override code was used by remote access from the Records Department,” Ziggy replied.

        “Let’s hurry,” Al said as he started towards the corridor that would take him on a direct path to the Waiting Room. Julianna quickly kept pace.

        “Just what is going on here? Talk to me, Dad.”

        “I’ll explain on the way,” Al replied.

Waiting Room

          “There’s so much I want to tell you,” Ed said to a very confused Joe. “I just don’t know where to start.”

        Joe held his gaze on Ed. For a moment Joe simply sat there, reading Ed’s expression. With a nod and a smirk, Joe said, “Does this happen to be about my being in Iraq ?”

        “Actually, yeah, it does.” An inner voice had cried out for Ed to simply tell Joe the truth but how was he to say it?

        “It’s like I told Vanessa. Nothing is going to happen to me. I’ll be home before you know it.”

        “But you can’t say that,” Ed responded. “You don’t know what the future holds.”

        “But you do?”

        Although to Joe the inquiry may had been spoken out of jest, to Ed that one simple question held more truth than his friend could ever know. “As a matter of fact, I do. Now I don’t know how much time you have left here but I need you to keep one thing in mind when you Leap back.”

        Joe furrowed his brow. “Leap?”

        Ed shook his head. “I just need you to remember one thing, okay? July 15th, 2003. Got that?”

        “Okay. July 15th, 2003,” Joe repeated. “Okay, I got it. Now, mind telling me why that date is so damn important?”

        “Th-that’s the day you-”

        “ENSIGN!”

Both Ed and Joe snapped their heads up and saw an irate Admiral Calavicci standing in the doorway next to Julianna, whose expression was a mirror image of Al’s.

        “Aw, shit,” Ed said under his breath as he suddenly paled. It was bad enough to contend with one pissed off Calavicci, but to have two extremely pissed off Calaviccis standing before you, ready to tear your head off... Well, hopefully, Ed prayed, he wouldn’t find out the answer to that.

        Joe shifted his gaze between Ed and Al.

        “Ensign Sharpe,” Al said as he entered the Waiting Room, “just what in the hell are you doing in here?”

        Ed began to stumble over himself verbally as he stood up. “Ah, sir, you see, it’s not what you-” Ed shook his head as he started over. “Sir, I was just wanting to speak with-”

        Al’s patience had grown quite thin by that point. Holding up a hand, he said, “Just step outside with me, Ensign.”

        Ed glanced over at Joe as he made his way across the Waiting Room and out into the corridor.

        Joe called out to Al, “Take it easy on him, Admiral.”

        Al didn’t regard the Visitor as he turned around and followed Ed. Julianna scowled at Ed as he walked past her.

        “Who in the hell do you think you are?” Al asked as both he and Ed stood outside the Waiting Room. “Just what were you doing in there anyway? And what’s this about using the Captain’s override code?”

        It took Ed every bit of courage to look the Admiral in the eye. “With all due respect, sir, I had to see him again. I had to try, you know?”

        “Try what?”

        Ed was about to speak when Julianna suddenly stepped in between them, her index finger pointed directly at Ed. “Tell me now, Sharpe, just how the hell did you manage to get into the Waiting Room?”

        “I-I was just t-telling the Admiral that I had to speak with the Visitor, ma’am. I want to tell you that I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean for it to get out of hand like this.”

        Julianna nodded as she turned and faced Al. A mock smile on her face, she said, “He says he’s sorry. That just makes the whole thing better now. I’ll tell you something, you ignorant son of a bitch,” she growled viciously as she once again looked at Ed, who by this point looked like a deer caught in headlights. “If you ever pull a stunt like that again...” She breathed several times as she tried to calm herself down. “Let’s just say that you’ll be damned lucky if you’re still in the Navy by the end of the day.” Looking over at Al, she said, “With your permission, sir, I’d like to speak with the Visitor. I want to find out everything that Ensign Sharpe told him.”

        Keeping his gaze steady on Ed, he nodded. “Go ahead. When you’re done, though, I’d like you to report to my office.”

        “Aye, aye, sir.” Julianna shot Ed one more glare before stepping in the Waiting Room. The door closed behind her.

        “Let’s take a walk, shall we?”

        Ed glanced nervously at Al as they started down the corridor. Ed knew exactly where he was going, but that did nothing to quell his anxiety. “Aye, aye, sir.”

        “What exactly did Ensign Sharpe say to you? I want everything, word for word.” Julianna stood before the Visitor, arms folded. She already knew that the Visitor was as arrogant as they come but that didn’t deter her in the slightest from getting to the bottom of things. She wasn’t a happy person at the moment, to say the least. Not only did this keep her from going to the late night Halloween party with Tuyen, but she also had to put up with this asshole mocking her. Then again, standing before him in a cat outfit didn’t help matters much either.

        The Visitor sat back, his eyes quickly glancing up and down her body. With a smirk, he asked, “Why you want to know?”

        “Because this stunt your buddy pulled may have cost him his career in the military and a long stay in the brig. So, if you want Sharpe to have even a slight glimmer of hope in keeping his ass above water, you’ll tell me what I need to know.”

        The Visitor only laughed. “Hey, first off I didn’t know that Eddie was gonna be coming in here, alright? Surprised the hell out of me. Secondly, I’ve been in situations where I didn’t think I’d make it out alive. I’ve seen things that’ll make your hair turn white. I’ve faced death already, lady, so a hot little number like yourself in some cat costume doesn’t quite do anything for me in the ways of intimidation.”

        Julianna bent at the waist, her nose brushing up against the Visitor’s. “Now you listen to me, junior. I was out there running combat missions when you were still suckling on your mother’s teat, so why don’t you cut the bullshit and get to brass tacks here. What did Ensign Sharpe say to you?”

        The Visitor remained defiant. “What the hell else can you, or anybody else here, do to me? I’ve been locked up in here for over a day now and the only other people I’ve spoken to are yourself, the Admiral, and some lady named Beeks. You don’t scare me, sweetheart. Get it? I’ve tried to be patient here; shit, I don’t even know what here is or how I got here. I just want to get this over with so I can have my life back.”

        Julianna slowly regained her composure. “Very well. If you’re so unwilling to cooperate with me then I guess I’ll have to find out some other way.” The Visitor remained silent as Julianna nodded to herself. Looking up at the ceiling she said, “Ziggy?”

        “Yes, Captain?”

        The Visitor looked around for the source of the voice, confusion etched into his features. “What the hell is going on here?”

        “Please access the audio of Ensign Sharpe’s discussion with Private Wright, please.”

        “Certainly, Captain.”

        Julianna looked over at the Visitor and smiled.

The Private Office of Adm. Albert Calavicci

1455 HRS

          Ed sat in the leather chair, hands folded and placed on the desk. He kept adverting his gaze whenever Al would make eye contact.

        “Did you really think that you wouldn’t get caught?” Al asked as he looked on at Ed with a mixture of confusion, anger, and empathy.

        “I-I wasn’t expecting not to, sir,” Ed spoke as he licked his lips. “I knew that what I was doing was wrong. I knew that somebody would find out what I was up to, but... I didn’t care much.” When Al’s eyes widened in shock and fury, Ed held up a hand as he quickly explained himself. “Before you get even angrier with me, sir, let me explain.” When he had held Al’s complete attention, Ed went about explaining his actions. “Have you ever known someone who was more than just a friend? Someone whom you would help, no matter what the cost may be? Someone whom you would help, all consequences be damned?  Well, sir, when my folks died my grandfather and Joe were the only ones that I had left. He was always more to me than just some friend. I thought of him as a brother. Hell, sir, I can still remember like it was yesterday how I felt when Vanessa called me up and told me that Joe had been killed.”

This time Ed didn’t hold back the tears that had been threatening to spill down his cheeks. With watery eyes, he looked steadily at Al. “He was going to get married when he got back. I had to help Vanessa pick up the broken pieces and to this day it’s still ongoing. And you know something, sir? You can never fault someone for going off to war; Vanessa and I were never angry at him for that.” Briefly, Ed looked away as tears started to trickle down his cheeks. “I wanted to give him his life back, sir. He deserves another shot, you know? I-I had to try.”

        “What all did you tell him?” Al asked after a moment of silence.

        Ed shook his head. “Not much.”

        Like Ed’s wife, Al could read the Ensign like an open book. “I don’t think you’re being completely honest with me, Ensign.”

        Ed slowly nodded. “I-I sort of told him the date that he’d die.” When Al seemed to be taking in what Ed had told him, Ed quickly spoke. “But he didn’t believe me, sir. I didn’t actually say that he was going to die; I just told him the date. That’s when you and the Captain came in.”

        Al sat forward, his gaze never leaving Ed’s. “You’ve put me in a very difficult situation here, Ensign. I won’t lie to you about the severity of your actions. On the one hand, I do understand what you’re telling me and I do sympathize with you. I know what it’s like to have someone special in your life, someone who you’d lay your own life on the line for. However, in doing what you did you violated half a dozen security protocols. You jeopardized the very security of the Project and, in all honesty, I’m obligated to court-martial you.”

        Ed closed his eyes. “I understand, sir.”

        “Until I have reached a decision, you are to remain confined in your quarters until further notice. Against better judgment, I will not have an escort go with you. I trust you can find your way back without getting yourself into further trouble. Don’t worry about Christa, either. I will contact her and let her know what’s going on.”

                “Aye, aye, sir.” Ed stood up and headed towards the door. Just before his hand turned the doorknob, Ed looked over his shoulder. “Sir?”

        “Yes, Ensign?”

        “I know I’m not in any position to be asking for any favors, but the next time you speak with Doctor Beckett, could you... ask him to do everything he can to help Joe?” When the Admiral only tipped his head, Ed opened the door and left.

        As Ed walked down the corridor, he went over the conversation that he had had with the Admiral at least a dozen times. He wasn’t upset in the least that he had been caught; that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that he didn’t get straight to the point with Joe when he had the chance. What scared him even more than the possibility of a court-martial was the possibility that he would never get another chance to speak with Joe before he would Leap back. There it had been, the very opportunity that he had wished and hoped for for the past four years and he blew it.

        “Ensign.”

        Ed looked up and saw Captain Julianna Sherman-Calavicci approaching him.

        Ed stopped and snapped a salute. “Ma’am.” When the Captain had closed the space between them, Ed gave a nervous smile. “I-I just want to apologize to you for my actions. I wanted-” The rest of what he was about to say was abruptly cut off by a swift punch to the jaw. Ed crumpled to the floor.

        “You listen to me, Sharpe, and you listen good. I’m not one to be screwed with, got it?” She glared at him as Ed picked himself up off the floor. “If it were up to me I’d have your ass tossed out of here so damned fast you wouldn’t know what had hit you. I don’t care what your reasons are; you had no right to use my code. From now on, you best stay the hell outta my way, understood?”

        Ed rubbed at his jaw as he replied. “Y-yes, ma’am. Loud and clear.”

        Julianna nodded and then continued on her way. Ed watched her go with a heavy heart and a throbbing jaw.

October 31, 2007

Temporary Quarters of Ensign Edward Sharpe IV

0015 HRS

          He had spent the rest of the day in the small featureless room. He had been placed under guard at the insistence of Captain Sherman-Calavicci. He had no way of contacting Christa to let her know what was going on, though he knew that the Admiral would have most likely have called her by now. He didn’t feel tired, not in the slightest. How could even sleep at a time like this? Then there was the matter of Joe; he had one shot to warn Joe, but he waited too damn long and now he blew it. This time around Joe’s death would be his fault.

         Ed had been sitting on the small bed when the door slowly opened. He snapped his head up and for a moment held his gaze on the doorway, waiting to see who would come inside. When he saw who it was, he jumped to his feet and went over to her as she closed the door behind her.

        “What’s going on, Eddie?” Christa asked as she tightly hugged her husband. “I got a call from Dad saying that you had broken into some restricted area of the complex. He almost didn’t let me in here, but I told him that I had to see you.”

          “That’s putting it lightly. Christa,” Ed said as he slowly pulled back from the embrace. He looked her in the eye and said, “There’s something that I have to tell you, but you have to believe me, alright? No matter how absurd it may sound. What I’m about to tell you is the absolute truth.”

        “Okay, I promise,” Christa spoke as she looked at Ed with confusion and concern. She let him lead her over to the small bed where she sat down next to him, holding his hand. It was then that she noticed a faint smile, a curl of the lip really, but she knew whenever Ed would get excited about something.

        “Sweetheart,” Ed told her, unable to keep the smile from spreading across his face, “Doctor Beckett,” he paused for a moment as he fought to control his excitement, “has switched places in Time with Joe.” When Christa furrowed her brow, he said with a broad smile, “Joe is here at the Project. He’s here and he’s in the Waiting Room at this very moment.”

          Christa’s eyes went wide with shock as she heard the words her husband spoke. “That’s... why you got into trouble, isn’t it? You broke into the Waiting Room to see Joe.”

        Ed nodded.

        “Do you have any idea what this could do to you? Dad is about to court-martial you.” She sighed as she closed her eyes. When she opened them, she asked Ed, “Just how did you manage to do it anyway?”

        Already having been used to being asked that very question, Ed had no problem telling his wife as well. “I used your sister’s override code to get pass the retina and palm scans. I had Doctor Jefferson from Records help me out. You remember that guy, don’t you? He’s the one who has the hots for Doctor Ramsay. I... sort of promised him a date with her if he would give me Jules’ override code.”

        “Edward George Sharpe the Fourth,” Christa said as she tried to control her anger, “I can’t believe you’d go and pull a stupid stunt like that! What were you thinking?”

        Ed leaned back a bit. “Damn, you sound just like your father when you talk like that. This is great. Now I got three pissed off Calaviccis to contend with. I don’t know what’s worse, a court-martial or a family of pissed off Calaviccis.” Ed chuckled.

        Christa only glared at him. “That’s not funny. I’m going to go talk to Dad and see if he can maybe lighten up a bit on your situation. Maybe I can talk him out of the possibility of a court-martial.” She stood up and started towards the door. She only got a few steps towards the door when she stopped and turned around, looking at Ed. “We’re going to have a baby, Ed. I want you to think about how this is going to affect our family.” And before he could offer her any response, Christa turned around and went to the door.

        Ed watched as his wife left the small, gray room. When the door closed, he sat there on the bed, thinking about Joe, Christa, their unborn child, the Admiral and the Captain. “Damn it all,” he muttered. He leaned forward and placed his hands over his face.

PART FOUR

July 15, 2003

          It was about a quarter after midnight and, at eighty-five degrees, it didn’t quite make the situation any more comfortable. Sam hadn’t seen Al all day and at that point he was beyond worried. He had spent the day going over every possible scenario as to how to accomplish his mission. He knew; felt deep in his heart rather, that he was sent here to save the lives of Joseph and Samantha.

        Of course, he had been around Bradley, Jimenez, and Morgan for the remainder of the day, the popular topic of discussion having been the supply run that they were about to embark on in about five hours. Bradley was asleep along with Morgan. Jimenez was nearby, unable to sleep. Sam didn’t feel like getting much sleep, either. The panic was already there, refusing to release its grasp from the scientist. He sat on an old metal chair, smoking a cigarette.

        “Sam?”

        Sam quickly stood up as he saw the hologram looking on at him curiously. “Al, thank God you’re here. What took you so long?”

        “I’m sorry ‘bout that, Sam. I had run into a little trouble back at the Project, but it’s nothing that I can’t handle.” Al nodded as he studied the cigarette in Sam’s hand.

        Sam caught the look and then realized what he was doing. Flicking the cigarette onto the ground, he looked at Al. Al was still dressed in his Naval uniform. “What’s the occasion?”

        “Oh this? Nothing really. I just felt like slipping it on... for old time’s sake.”

        “Please tell me you’re here to give me some good news.”

        Al quickly glanced at the handlink. “Well, although we were still unable to recover any records that may be useful for us, Ziggy is finally giving us the odds on your saving Joseph Wright and Samantha Morgan.”

        “That’s great, Al. So what are they?”

        “Um...” Al quickly pulled up the information on the handlink. “Thirty five point four two percent.”

          Sam’s smile quickly dropped into a frown. “Are you kidding me? Thirty-five percent?”

          Al held up his hands defensively. “Hey, I’m sorry, but it’s all we got. We still don’t know why exactly you’re here. If I had to guess, it’d be to save Joseph and Samantha but what can you do about that? You can’t exactly prevent the ambush from happening.”

        “I know, Al. I spoke with the company commander earlier today.”

        Al tapped at the handlink’s keypad. After a beep and a couple chirps, Al nodded. “That would be Captain Nathan Barnes. Thirty-one years old and serving his second tour. Let’s see if I can find anything else on this guy.” Sam looked on as Al pulled up information on the handlink. After a moment the link chirped a few times in succession. “Got it.” Al started to read the data when he suddenly frowned. Slapping the side of the link, he reread the information. “What? This doesn’t make much sense.”

        Sam looked on curiously. “Why? What is it?”

        “I-I don’t know. According to Ziggy, this Captain Barnes originally was killed on August 12th, 2005, during a non-combat related incident. The Hummer he was riding in had rolled over. Ziggy is now saying that he gets killed during the ambush along with Joseph Wright and Samantha Morgan. What did you do, Sam?”

        Sam shook his head. “Nothing. I haven’t done anything, Al. I’ve been here all day.”

        Al said, “You must have either done or said something for history to change like that. Somehow, you need to keep Captain Barnes from being added to the list. What did you say to him earlier?”

        “I just told him that I was rather concerned about heading into Baghdad because of the recent attacks.”

        “Maybe something changed when you spoke to him then.”

        “But what, Al? None of this makes sense.”

        Al punched in the code to open the Imaging Chamber door. Stepping through it, he said to Sam, “I’ll have Ziggy look into it. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Al smiled, waved, and then closed the door.

        Sam sighed.

        “Hey, J-Man.”

        Sam turned around and saw Private Jimenez standing a few feet behind him.

        “You all right, man?”

        “Yeah, Jimenez. Just worried is all.”

        “I know I probably shouldn’t say this but I ain’t too hot either on the idea of going into Baghdad .” Jimenez said to Sam as they stood near the tent that they had been sharing. “I overheard Captain Barnes saying something about heading out a couple hours earlier, you know, to beat traffic.”

        Sam thought for a moment. Perhaps this is what had caused history to change. If they had left earlier than in the original history, that should, in all likely hood, increase the odds of survival. On the other hand, the unit could’ve encountered the Iraqis sooner as well.

        “They’re already starting to take down some of the tents,” Jimenez said as he looked past Sam.

        Sam looked over his shoulder and saw that some of the soldiers were indeed taking down some of the tents. Among those soldiers helping was Corporal Samantha Morgan. Sam watched her for a few moments.

        “Hey.” Sam leaned back as Jimenez snapped his fingers to gain Sam’s attention. When Sam looked over Jimenez asked, “Tell me something, Wright. What’s your deal with Morgan lately? You’ve been either following her around like some puppy dog or staring at her. Are you fallin’ for her?”

        “What?” Sam shook his head. “Oh, no, no. It’s not anything like that. I’m just... worried about her.”

        “You think something’s gonna happen to her or what?”

        Sam shrugged his shoulders. “As a matter of fact, I do. I think that something terrible is going to happen to her unless I can stop it.”

        Jimenez gave Sam a quizzical look. “What are you talkin’ about?”

        “It’s hard to explain, Jimenez, but I honestly think..., I have this gut feeling that something bad is going to happen to Morgan.”

        “I just hope that this isn’t some kind of joke you’re pullin’, Wright. I heard about you, you know.” Jimenez chuckled.

        “No,” Sam said seriously, “it’s no joke. I would never joke about something like this.”

        Jimenez held his gaze on Sam for a few moments. “Alright, man,” he said to Sam, “I hear you. Just... don’t do anything stupid.”

        Sam smirked.

        “Hey, ladies.” Both Sam and Jimenez looked over and saw Bradley walking past them, some gear in hand. “We’re headin’ out in a couple hours; the Captain wants most of this shit packed now. C’mon.”

        Jimenez tipped his head as he and Sam stood up. Sam’s heart was racing. As he and Jimenez followed Bradley, a voice had called out to Sam.

        Captain Barnes stood in front of one of the tents, waving for Sam to come over. Sam jogged over to him. “Yes, sir?”

        “Come inside, Private.” Sam followed Captain Barnes into the tent. “I guess you’re probably wondering why we’re heading out earlier than expected. To be honest with you, I’ve thought about what you told me earlier, Wright. I always make it a point to listen to my men when they voice their concern, especially before embarking into a hostile area.” He removed his cap and ran a hand through his hair. “I share your concerns. I went ahead and contacted my CO and requested permission for an earlier departure and he approved it.”

        Sam was speechless; Al was right, he was responsible for the change. Instead of increasing awareness, he had only sped things along further down the original path.

        Captain Barnes smiled and tipped his head. “That’ll be all, Private. I need you out there helping pack up the equipment.”

        “Sir?” Sam called after Barnes. He mentally debated whether or not to directly warn Barnes of the impending danger.

        “What is it, Private?”

        Sam quickly reached a decision. “Sir, about thirty miles south of here is a fifteen man Iraqi paramilitary group. If we continue along our course, we’re going to run directly into them.”

        Barnes took a step towards Sam. “How do you know all this?”

        Sam sighed in frustration. “I-it’s a long story, Captain, but everything I’m telling you is the truth. I don’t know, sir. Call it a hunch, I guess.”

        “That’s a pretty detailed hunch there, Private. Care to tell me where you came across that tidbit of information?”

        Sam quickly thought of a way to explain his knowledge of future events. “I... had... this dream the other night about an attack that this unit was involved in.”

        “A dream,” Barnes said after a moment. “You want me to change our course over some dream that you had? Can you imagine how I would come across to my CO, telling him to change course all because of some dream you had? The route that has been mapped out for us is the quickest way into downtown Baghdad . It’s too late to change all that now.” Shaking his head and with a chuckle, Barnes said to Sam, “Private Wright, I appreciate and understand your concern. For now, I need you back outside and helping the others load up, alright?”

        Sam nodded sullenly. “Yes, sir.”

        When Sam left the tent, Captain Barnes chuckled some more and then went about getting ready to set about the supply run.

        “Damn it,” Sam muttered as he walked towards the trucks that were being loaded. Sam had quickly found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place. What else could he do to save all three soldiers?

        “J-Man.” Sam looked over and saw Bradley standing near the tent that Sam had just came out of.

        “Bradley,” Sam said.

        “I, uh, overheard you talking with the Captain about the run.” Bradley quickly glanced around to make sure that no one else was within earshot as he approached Sam. “You, um, think that something is going to happen to us?”

        “Well,” Sam hedged, “it’s... just a hunch. A dream I had.”

        “From what I heard you sounded pretty damn sure that something is going to happen. You know, J-Man, you keep that up and people are going to start to think that you’re Section Eight.”

        “Is this what you wanted to tell me?” Sam asked as he started to feel the frustration overwhelm him once again.

        Bradley shook his head. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”

        “I’m listening.”

        “You know… first of all, I don’t know why I’m saying this but… remember when we were talkin’ earlier about why we’re all here?”

        “Yeah.”

        Bradley licked his lips nervously. “When you started talking about the ambush in Baghdad , it brought about... my parents. J-Man, my parents were involved in 9/11. They, um, were killed when those planes crashed into the Twin Towers .” His eyes watered as he recounted the tragic incident to Sam. “I was getting ready for work that day; the TV was on and it was the news. I wasn’t paying much attention at first but... but when I heard a report saying that New York was under attack... I ran to the TV and turned up the volume, really loud.” Bradley paused as he took a slow, deep breath. “I remember hearing the news anchor say that the city was under an attack and that the Twin Towers had been demolished. I saw the clip of the planes...” Tears began to slowly roll down Bradley’s cheeks. “I saw the planes fly into the towers. I simply stood there, staring at that damned TV set like some brain dead idiot. My mother and father were right in the heart of the attack, J-Man. They didn’t make it. That’s the kind of shit that you see in the movies. It doesn’t happen in real life, you know?” Bradley quickly wiped at his watery eyes. “At that moment, I decided what to do with my life. It was also that very same day I spoke with the recruiter. Upon hearing of my parents’ death, I felt that it was my duty to answer the call.”

        Sam had listened intently to Private Ethan Bradley, his eyes watering as Bradley had spoke. “You did the right thing,” he told him. “You did what you thought was best and I think your parents would be damn proud of you.”

        “I sure as hell hope so.” He held his gaze on Sam for a moment and turned around and went over to the transports to help the other soldiers load up the equipment.

October 31, 2007

Project Quantum Leap Cafeteria

0030 A.M.

          “I don’t believe I heard you correctly.” Al sat across from his youngest daughter with a questionable gaze. “Do you realize what he’s done, Babydoll?”

        Christa nodded. “Yeah, I know exactly what he’s done. Don’t get me wrong, Dad. I’m not excusing what he has done, but I’m just asking you to hear me out on this.”

        “I don’t know,” Al started. “What you’re asking me to do... it would go against everything that I just told Ed. I couldn’t. I had to detain him for the duration of the day; there’s a guard standing outside his door. It was a tough decision to make but I had to do it, Christa. In the morning, I’m going to speak with him.”

        “Please, Daddy. I know how important this is to Ed. He and Joe were so close and it hurts me very much to know that Ed and Joe never got a proper goodbye. Please,” Christa said as she placed her hands on her father’s, “I’m not asking you to let Ed off the hook or anything. I’m just asking you to let him say goodbye to his friend.”

        Al hesitated. “Christa... oh, boy. I don’t know about this. Ed is ass deep in trouble, honey. I honestly don’t know what else to do, you know? Not only had he violated protocol but he also compromised the security of the complex. I’m obligated to have him court-martialed.”

        Christa lowered her eyes. “I know, Daddy. And I know Ed; he will face head on whatever punishment he receives. I also know that it’s right for both he and Joe to have their final words. Please. Both he and Vanessa never really got over his death.”

        Al was about to respond when Ziggy’s voice filled the empty cafeteria. “Admiral Calavicci?”

        “Yeah, Zig, what’s up?”

        “I feel that you should be in the Control Room; I have some new data regarding Doctor Beckett’s Leap that you should hear.”

        Al pushed his chair back as he stood up. Looking over at Christa he said, “I’ll see you later, sweetheart.”

        Christa laughed. “Have fun, Daddy, but please think about what I said.”

        Al nodded. “I will.”

Control Room

0040 HRS

          “What’s going on?” Al asked the moment he stepped off the elevator. He walked right up to the control console where Dom greeted him.

        “Morning, Admiral. I’m glad you’re here because Ziggy thinks she may have found the reason why Sam Leaped into the Iraqi war.”

        “About time,” Al replied. “So tell me what it is so I can get back to Sam.”

        “I don’t think that there’s anything that Doctor Beckett can do back there can help him accomplish his task.” When Al glanced confusedly over at Dominic, Ziggy continued. “Due to the discussion that you had with Christa in the cafeteria, I feel that it’s imperative to have Ensign Edward Sharpe present in the Waiting Room. I believe that Christa was right about letting you have Ensign Sharpe speak to Private Wright for one last time.”

        “That’s it? Just send the kid back in there again? What the hell is that going to solve?” Al couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

        “Due to recent events, I calculate a ninety-five percent probability that Doctor Beckett will Leap if Ensign Sharpe speaks with Private Wright one last time. However, because of the recent shift in the timeline, Doctor Beckett must also prevent Captain Barnes from being killed in the ambush.”

        “Oh, boy,” Al grumbled in disbelief.

July 15, 2003

0250 Greenwich Meantime (GMT)

        The next couple hours went by rather quickly for Sam. The soldiers of Company F had hurried about, packing away the tents and loading the equipment. Captain Barnes had stood by, observing the activity as he spoke with a couple other soldiers. Barnes had a map out and was pointing to a few places on it. Sam would cast a quick glance over in hopes of catching part of their conversation. Sam knew that he was just about out of time. At that point, he could only try his best; he had to not only duplicate the heroics that Joseph Wright had done in the original history in saving those four soldiers, but now he had to make sure that Joseph, Samantha, and Captain Barnes didn’t become casualties either.

        “We’re just about done here,” Corporal Morgan said to Sam, Jimenez, and Bradley as she placed a collapsed tent into one of the trucks. “Let’s get this show on the road, huh?”

        Bradley said as he adjusted his cap, “Thank God for that. You know, let’s just get this run over with.”

        Jimenez glanced over at Sam as he spoke. “I just hope all of us got their heads on straight. If anything were to happen-”

        “I’m fine,” Sam replied. “I know I’ve been pretty vocal about my concerns and I also understand that they may not sit well with some of you, but I just want us to be safe when we go out there.”

        Morgan stood near Sam. Clapping him on the shoulder, she said, “It’s all good, J-Man. We got each other’s backs. We get in, pick up the supplies, and then get the hell outta there. Simple as that.”

        Sam smiled and when Morgan had turned her back, he muttered to himself, “If it were only that.”

        The soldiers had all gathered around the two transport trucks once everything had been loaded. Captain Barnes approached them with two other soldiers, one on either side of him. “We’re all packed and ready to go. We got about another fifty miles before we hit Baghdad . The reason we’re leaving a little earlier than planned is so that we won’t hit the heavy traffic when we reach downtown Baghdad . Alright,” he said with a wave of his hand, “let’s head out.”

        The soldiers began to climb into the two transport trucks. Sam had started to follow Corporal Morgan when Captain Barnes called to him.

        “Private Wright, you’re supposed to be in the first transport.”

        “Oh, uh, well I was thinking that if I could just switch-”

        Barnes shook his head. “No time, Private. Just do as I ask you to.”

        “Yes, sir.” Sam said. He looked over at Corporal Morgan and for a moment they locked gazes. He mouthed the words ‘Be careful’ to her. She smirked, pointing to the two, armed soldiers around her, and climbed into the second transport. Sam climbed into the first transport truck along with Private Bradley. Private Jimenez was on the second one with Corporal Morgan. Sam sat right behind the passenger seat. Captain Barnes had taken the passenger seat in the first transport. The engine rumbled to life as the trucks began on their fateful journey. Sam closed his eyes as he firmly grasped onto every bit of hope and strength that he had had left.

October 31, 2007

Project Quantum Leap

Waiting Room

1:15 A.M.

          “No tricks this time, Ensign,” the Admiral told Ed Sharpe as they stood outside the Waiting Room door. “I have to get back to Doctor Beckett so I don’t have a whole lot of time.”

        “Aye, aye, sir.” Ed smiled as he glanced over at Christa, who stood beside him as she held his hand. “And I want to thank you, sir, for letting Christa come along.”

        Al nodded as he leaned down for the retina scan. He placed his palm on the palm scanner and leaned back as the heavy metallic door slid open. Al motioned for Ed and Christa to enter. Ed stepped inside as he continued to hold Christa’s hand.

        When Christa stepped foot in the Waiting Room, she looked upon the Visitor. The man she saw sitting on the examination table was her godfather, but she knew that beneath the illusion was Joseph Wright. She smiled widely as her eyes watered, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Joey,” she breathed.

        She briskly walked past the small group of hoodlums as she made her way over to her locker. She ducked her head as she ignored their taunts.

        “Hey, freak,” Brad Kensington called out to her. “It ain’t Halloween, babe. So why don’t you do us all a favor and take off that ugly ass Halloween mask?”

        “Or maybe she should keep it on,” one of Brad’s friends retorted. That comment resulted in more laughs.

        Christa fought to keep from crying as she quickened her pace. Brad pushed away from the wall that he’d been leaning on and he and his cronies started to follow her. When Christa reached her locker, her hands fumbled a bit as she dialed her combination.

        “What’s wrong, babe?” Brad laughed as he stood directly behind her, his hand gently placed on her shoulder. “You know somethin’? I shouldn’t be hassling you. Wanna know why? Because for someone who is as ugly as you to be walking around in public, that takes real guts.” He reached out and brushed a couple strands of hair off her forehead, laughing as Christa flinched.

        “Hey, Christa,” Joe said as he walked up to her. He saw the tears in her eyes and then stood in between her and Brad. “Damn, Christa, why didn’t you tell me the circus was in town?” Christa giggled as she wiped at her eyes.

        “Better watch it, punk.”

        Joe smirked at Brad. “Come to think of it,” he said as he turned and faced Christa, “I never really thought that talking chimps were all that impressive.”

        “You just don’t learn, do ya?” Brad asked as he took a threatening step towards Joe. “You better watch just what the hell you’re sayin’.”

        Joe nodded knowingly. “Of course, Brad. How could I say such things? I mean, after all, why give chimps a bad rep?” Christa had laughed along with Joe.

        “What are you laughin’ at, you ugly bitch?” Brad spat as he pushed past Joe, towards Christa. Joe grabbed Brad by the shoulder and spun him around. He landed one good, solid punch right across Brad’s jaw. His friends stood back as Brad lay on the weathered and cracked concrete, rubbing at his jaw.

        As Brad picked himself up off the ground, Joe stood over him. “I don’t ever again want to see you even lay a finger on Christa or even Vanessa for that matter. If I ever catch you or your gang of ‘lovable’ losers even standing near them, you will answer to me.” Reaching over and grabbing Christa’s books out of her locker, he nudged the locker shut and began to escort her down the hall. “Don’t worry ‘bout them. I’m sure they won’t be giving you any more trouble.”

        Christa continued to smile as she took a step closer to the Visitor.

        “CC?” Joe’s eyes had gone wide as he looked on at her in utter disbelief. “What did Eddie do to you?”

        Christa frowned as she glanced down at her pregnant belly. She then looked back up at him laughing.

        Joe looked back over at Ed. “What the hell are you feedin’ this girl, huh? Miracle Grow?” Ed laughed as Joe stood up, walking towards them. He and Christa shared a hug, Christa holding Joe tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I wasn’t expecting a reunion here,” Joe said with a smile as he pulled away from the embrace.

        “It’s just so good to see you again, Joey,” Christa said as she wiped at her watery eyes.

        Joe patted her on the shoulder as he looked past her. “Now here’s someone who I thought I’d never see around here again.”

        Ed smiled. “You almost didn’t.”

        Joe waved at Ed. “Hey, come over here and take a seat. I got a favor to ask of you.”

        Ed and Christa exchanged glances as Ed walked over to the examination table. Christa moved next to her father, his hand holding hers as she looked on with a broad, tearful smile at her husband and close friend, together for the last time.

        “Hey,” Joe said to Ed, “I wanted to take the time that’s been given to us and tell you that you were always more than just a friend. You were like my brother; you were always there for me. I just wanted to say ‘thanks’. For... everything.”

        Ed smiled widely. “Vanessa is a real lucky woman.”

        Joe laughed. “What? Ever since I started dating her, you’d always say that she was cursed!”

        “That was before I fully saw the bigger picture,” Ed replied.

        “Speaking of the bigger picture, there’s something that I need to ask you. This isn’t easy for me to say, either.” For the first time that Ed could ever remember actually, Joseph Wright was on the verge of tears. His eyes watered heavily. “After I’m gone, please look after Vanessa for me.”

        Ed was taken completely aback by Joe’s request, as was Christa. Ed glanced over at her and then back to Joe. “Look... um, Joe, don’t... don’t say that, alright? Y-you’ll make it and, when you get home, you and Vanessa are going to get married...” Ed trailed off when he saw the look of realization on Joe’s face.

        “Not this time,” Joe said, barely able to hold back the tears. Looking over at Christa, he smiled as a couple tears had finally managed to trickle down his cheeks. “Just sucks that I won’t be there to see that little face. Can’t believe you’re going to be a father, Eddie. Congratulations... to the both of you,” he said as he looked up at Christa. “I love you guys.”

        Al looked at Christa and nodded at her. Christa made her way over to the table.

        “You’re going to be a terrific mother, CC,” Joe said as he embraced her. “Just remember that Joseph is always a good strong name for a boy.”

        Christa laughed. “I love you, Joey.”

        Joe kissed the top of her head as he hugged her tightly. When he pulled back, he looked at her and wiped a couple tears away from her face. “The last thing I’d want either one of you to do is to be sad when I’m gone. The best way to keep me in your thoughts is to remember all the good times that we had together.”

        Ed said, “It’s still going to hurt like hell, Joe.”

        Joe nodded thoughtfully. “Funny thing about life,” he said after a moment, “is that nobody makes it out alive.” Shaking his head, he told Ed, “You have a family to worry about, Sharpeshooter. Just know that I’ll be watching over you all. I got your back.” He reached out his hand and Ed grasped it. Joe smirked and then pulled Ed into a bear hug. “Don’t ever forget that, alright?”

        “I won’t,” Ed replied. “Never.”

        Al looked on with a smile when the handlink chirped a couple times. Al held it up and glanced at the LCD readout. He then slipped the link and waved for Ed and Christa to follow him.

        “I’m going to miss the hell out of you,” Ed told his friend.

        “Remember what I told you,” was all that Joe said in return.

        “Goodbye, Joey,” Christa said as her eyes watered once again.

        “Take care of that baby, CC.”

        As the Waiting Room door closed, Ed and Christa watched Joe as he sat back down on the examination table, smiling at them as he flashed a thumbs up. When the door had closed, Christa turned around and went into the arms of her husband, crying softly as she rested her head on his chest. Ed held her tightly as he kissed her on the forehead.

Control Room

          “What’s going on?” Al asked as he walked past the control panel, towards the Imaging Chamber.

        “I didn’t want to disturb you while you were in the Waiting Room, but I should inform you that I have detected another alteration in the timeline.”

        Al pinched the bridge of his nose. “This Leap just keeps getting better and better.” Taking a breath and exhaling slowly, Al looked over at the swirling blue orb. “Okay, Zig. Lay it on me.”

        “The timeframe of the ambush that Private Wright’s unit was involved in has shifted once again. According to records that I have just come across, it states that the ambush occurs at 0322 hours, Greenwich Meantime, instead of the original time of 0655 hours, Greenwich Meantime. Doctor Beckett has precisely seven minutes before the unit is engaged in combat.”

        “How could Sam cause such a significant change like that?”

        “He didn’t, Admiral.”

        “That doesn’t make much sense, Ziggy. If Sam didn’t make the change then that means...” Al’s eyes widened in horror. “Holy shit!” He ran up the ramp and over to the Imaging Chamber door. Quickly slapping his hand on the scanner, he ran inside just as soon as there was enough space to move through.

July 15, 2003

En route to Baghdad

0315 HRS GMT

          Sam jerked back a bit when Al blinked into view, standing in front of him, the handlink beeping loudly in his hand. Sam couldn’t really talk at the moment, however.

        “Sam! I’m sorry I’m late but I’m here now, buddy. Just hang in there, okay?” When Sam tipped his head in response, Al spoke quickly with panic set heavy in his tone. “Ziggy says that the timeframe for the ambush has changed. Now she’s saying that it’s going to occur in about seven minutes.”

        Sam leaned forward a bit, hand covering his mouth just enough so that nobody could see him mouth the words ‘But I didn’t do anything.’

        “I know you didn’t, Sam. That’s why I’m here.” Al held his gaze on Sam for a beat. “They’re back.”

        ‘Who?’ Sam mouthed.

        “Lothos. Somehow Lothos is back and he’s sent one of his lackeys here after you. Ziggy just detected the anomaly. That’s why history was changing, Sam. It wasn’t you; it was Lothos.”

        Sam held his breath as he took in the grim news. ‘How.’

        “I don’t know, Sam. All we do know at this point is that there is another Leaper somewhere nearby. Ziggy’s having one hell of a time trying to track them.” Al tapped a few buttons on the handlink. “From here on, there’s nothing more you can do. Ziggy’s revised her odds now that she’s factored in this other Leaper and now gives you only a twelve percent chance of saving Joseph, Samantha Morgan, and Captain Barnes. Sam, despite the odds, you have to do something, okay? You’re in such a pivotal moment here in history that if this other guy decides to make a few changes... I can’t even begin to think of the outcome. Find them and stop them.”

        Sam nodded.

        The next four minutes went by rather slowly; Sam would constantly glance at his watch while Al kept revising the data on the handlink. Private Bradley looked over at Sam and nodded, flashing him a thumbs up.

        Al quickly pushed a couple buttons on the handlink. “I’ll be right back, Sam.” Al’s image vanished and a few moments reappeared in the same spot. “Sam! They’re coming up the hill! Get ready!”

        Sam braced himself as he awaited the impending attack. Al could see the intent anxiety in Sam’s eyes, the way his knuckles turned white as he gripped the M-16 rifle. It was just a moment later when the transport had lurched to the left as sand violently washed over the transport. When the transport had come to a complete stop, the soldiers poured out of it while someone had shouted, “Ambush, ambush! Pull back!” Sam bolted out of the transport, weapon raised, and ducked as he hurriedly made his way over to the other transport through the heavy dust clouds. The soldiers had pushed Sam out of the way as he tried to make his way inside to the transport that was lying on its side.

        “Corporal!” Sam shouted once he was inside the vehicle. He wildly looked around. “Samantha!” The sight that Sam caught horrified him beyond reason. There, situated near the driver side, was the body of Corporal Samantha Morgan. Upon closer inspection, Sam found that her neck was bent at such an angle, her sightless eyes staring straight at Sam. “Oh, God,” he breathed as he gently reached out and with two fingers, closed her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

        “Sam! C’mon, buddy! You gotta go.”

        Sam looked up at Al with much sorrow.

        “I know you tried, Sam, but if you don’t get out there now then it’ll all be over.”

        Sam did exactly that, climbing out of the turned transport, running through the thick, heavy dust clouds as gunfire erupted all around him. Through the haze of smoke and bullets, Sam could see the soldiers of Company F running, firing as they searched for any kind of cover. One particular soldier, Sam noticed, was on the ground, grabbing at his right leg.

        Raising his weapon, Sam took a deep breath before running out onto the field, firing the M-16 semiautomatic rifle along the way. When he approached the soldier, he quickly slung the rifle over his shoulder as he crouched down, helping the soldier to his feet. When the soldier groggily looked over at Sam, he smirked.

        “B-Bradley,” Sam stammered as he looked into the glassy eyes of Private Ethan Bradley. “You hang in there, okay? I’m going to get you to safety.”

        “Shit and I was beginning to worry,” Bradley said with a forced chuckle as Sam slung his arm over his shoulder and began to carry him as he searched for cover. Sam spotted what appeared to be a small, scorched brick structure. Some of the other soldiers were already there. Sam quickly led Bradley over to the building. When they had reached the building in safety, Sam had gently sat Bradley inside, against a wall. The inside of the building looked as if it had been ransacked. Papers littered the floor, some chairs and tables upturned. Sam then ran back outside, firing his weapon as he provided himself cover.

        “Sam!” Sam looked over and saw Al standing a few feet away. “One of the soldiers is over here. Come quick! He’s been shot!” Sam ran over to where Al had been standing. Lying at the hologram’s feet was a soldier, whose name was Hawkes, bleeding profusely from a bullet hole just above his left leg. Sam crouched down and gently picked him up.

        “J-Man,” Hawkes struggled to say as a bit of blood trickled out from the corner of his mouth. “We-we should’ve listened to you. You were right.”

        Under the weight of the soldier, Sam had moved him over to the brick building, shouting at Jimenez to provide him some cover fire. Jimenez nodded and fired several rounds of ammunition as Sam hurriedly made his way over to the building. When he was inside, Sam nodded to the field medic. The medic quickly set about dressing Hawkes’ wounds.

        Sam ran back outside and wildly looked around. Sam couldn’t see much offhand. For one it was still early morning and the sun hadn’t rose yet, the only light provided being the bursts of ammunition coming from the soldiers’ rifles. Al came into view, standing next to Sam.

        “Thankfully this ambush doesn’t go on for much longer. The company was able to fight ‘em off, but you still need to make sure that Joe and Captain Barnes are safe.”

        “Where is the Captain?” Sam called out to Al as he stood behind the building for cover.

        Al keyed in the inquiry on the handlink. “He’s engaged in combat but he’s not injured.” Just as Al lowered the handlink, an explosion resonated nearby, causing Sam to hit the ground. When he looked up he saw about two Iraqis approaching a soldier from behind, preparing to fire. Sam bolted to his feet and ran over towards them.

        “Get down!” Sam called out to the unknowing soldier. The soldier immediately hit the ground as Sam opened fire, quickly dispatching the militant group members. Sam nodded to the soldier, signaling that it was all right. The soldier, Briggs, slowly and shakily stood up. “There’s a building over there,” Sam called to him. “The others are grouping there.” Briggs nodded and took off as Sam provided him cover fire.

        Gunfire continued to erupt all around him as Sam made his way towards Captain Barnes. When he came into view, Sam saw he was looking for cover. About fifty feet away, one of the Iraqi’s technical vehicles was on a path directly to the Captain. Sam yelled for the Captain to take cover at the building. The Captain looked over and acknowledged Sam with a tip of the head. Sam provided cover fire as the Captain made his way over to the building. Sam yelled as the bullets from his rifle ricocheted off the truck; the clanging of metal against metal was hardly inaudible to the Leaper.

        Al blinked into view next to Sam. The handlink chirped in his hand. “Ziggy says that you’ve changed history; Captain Nathan Barnes doesn’t get killed in the ambush. Now, she’s giving you about a ninety-five percent chance of Joe’s survival if you head back to the building. From there, the unit overpowers the Iraqi forces and the rest is history.”

        Sam turned around and started towards the building when he caught sight of Jimenez, engaged in combat with an Iraqi.

        Al saw the look on Sam’s face. “Sam, Ziggy says that if you head to the building now then the chances of Joe’s survival will go up to a hundred percent. Private Carlos Jimenez will unfortunately be killed in action in about two minutes.”

        “And if I go help Jimenez?”

        “No odds,” Al replied. “History repeats itself.”

        Sam had reached a crossroads; on the one hand, he could very easily save Joseph Wright. All he had to do was take cover. But on the other hand, Private Jimenez was about to meet an untimely end, something that didn’t happen originally. What would Joe have done? Sam looked up at Al and said, “I know what I have to do.” With those words said, Sam quickly hefted his rifle and ran over to where Jimenez was.

          His rifle had clicked empty. Private Jimenez slung the rifle over his shoulder as he started to backpedal a bit, trying to find some escape route. The Iraqi would soon be on him. Just past the Iraqi, Jimenez saw the brick building where the others had gone. The Iraqi was closing the space between the two. Jimenez did not take his gaze off of the man; he simply stood there, waiting for death to come. At that moment, time seemed to have slowed to a crawl. Jimenez stood there, frozen in fear, as the Iraqi approached him, taking aim. Just as the Iraqi pulled the trigger, Jimenez felt himself being shoved forcibly to the ground, out of the line of fire, as a couple rounds were fired. For a moment, Jimenez had thought that he’d been hit, but when he cracked open an eye, he saw Private Joseph Wright lying next to him, bleeding profusely from two bullet hole wounds in the back.

        “Sam! Noooo!” Al ran over and knelt down beside Sam, looking on in pure horror. “I’m going to get you out of this mess, Sam. I swear it.” He started to frantically push buttons on the handlink.

        “J-Man?” Jimenez asked softly as he crawled over to Sam, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Why the hell did you do that, man?”

        “G-get to the b-building,” Sam sputtered as blood dribbled out of his mouth. “G-go.”

        Jimenez started to when he looked up and saw Iraqi standing over both of them, his rifle slightly lowered. Jimenez simply froze.

        “H-he wan-wants me,” Sam said as he gazed at the shooter. Instead of the older, dark complexioned, short haired Iraqi gunman, he saw moments earlier, Sam saw a younger, brown-haired man standing there, smiling at him as his index finger flexed on the trigger.

        “I’d listen to him if you want to make it out of here alive,” the mystery Leaper told Jimenez as his gaze never left Sam’s.

          Jimenez looked confusedly at the two for a moment before he clambered to his feet and took off towards the building.

        “We got ourselves quite a predicament now, don’t we, Beckett?” The mystery Leaper laughed as he knelt down beside the dying scientist. “I just never thought that it’d be this easy, you know? I didn’t even have to work for it this time.”

        “W-who...a-are...you?” Sam’s vision began to blur as he felt all his strength completely depleted.

        “You rotten, no good son of a bitch!” Al spat at the Leaper. “I swear to God himself that if Sam dies because of you, I will hunt you down and kill you myself. You hear me? I will find you and kill you myself!”

        The mystery Leaper shrugged. “Let’s just say that I’m someone who doesn’t like you very much. During this entire Leap, I’ve been keeping an eye on you, waiting to strike when the time was right. And now, goddamn it, I have you.” He then laughed as he took aim. “Lothos will be so pleased.”

        “L-L-Lothos,” Sam said as his eyes started to close. The continual gunfire that sounded through out the desert could still be heard, but it seemed rather distant to Sam as he found it just a struggle to keep his eyes open.

        “So long, Sam Beckett. Maybe now you’ll stay out of our way.” He took careful aim, his eyes narrowing into tiny slits, his finger curled on the trigger.

        Al, still knelt beside Sam, looked up at the gunman with such viciousness, such pure, raw hatred. The handlink gripped tightly in his hand. “I will find you, you goddamn son of a bitch. And when I do-”

          Just as the gunman was about to pull the trigger, and just before Al could finish his vow of vengeance, an aura of blue light engulfed Sam as the electric temporal energy coursed through him. At precisely the same time the gunman fired, Sam’s prone body had been encompassed in a blinding flash of blue-white light.

EPILOGUE

November 1, 2007

Whispering Willow Cemetery

Albuquerque , NM

        Edward Sharpe IV stood before the small, simple granite headstone with Christa at his side. He smiled as he reached out and gently touched the cool, rough stone. The past two days had been most precious to both the young Naval officer and his wife. Doctor Samuel Beckett had given them a gift: a chance to properly say goodbye to a most trusted and dear friend. For that alone, Ed Sharpe would forever be in Doctor Beckett’s debt. They had both been there, standing just outside the Waiting Room, when Ziggy had announced that Doctor Beckett had Leaped.

        Ed could still remember the look on the Admiral’s face when he had approached him in the Control Room. The Admiral looked absolutely devastated. But it was rather short lived when Ziggy had confirmed that Doctor Beckett had indeed survived the encounter. At that very moment, Ziggy was tracking Doctor Beckett through the timestream.

        The Admiral had informed Ed that he wouldn’t be facing a court-martial, but he would be under strict watch for some time. Ed had been temporarily removed as a Waiting Room guard. The Admiral had assigned other duties to him, but he wouldn’t be accompanied without a ‘shadow’. Doctor Philip Jefferson, the doctor who had given him use of the Captain’s code, was removed from his position as well, placed in another part of the Project. Through it all, Ed would face the situation head on, like he always had, and in time he would prove himself once again to the Admiral, not to mention Captain Sherman-Calavicci. That wasn’t to say that he didn’t feel awful for what had happened to Doctor Jefferson. Ed would forever live with the guilt of his actions.

        “Still going to miss the hell out of you,” Ed said as he knelt beside the grave marker, his fingertips lightly touching the lettering.

IN LOVING MEMORY

PFC. JOSEPH WILLIAM WRIGHT

U.S. ARMY

AUG. 8, 1981 - JUL 15, 2003

          “It seems so surreal,” Christa said as Ed stood back up. “He’s been gone for five years yet, we only spoke to him just hours ago.” Christa then gently placed a hand on her belly. “So, what do you think, Eddie?”

        “Hmm?”

        “If it’s a boy,” Christa said. “What about Joseph?”

        Ed gently pulled Christa into a one-armed hug. “I think that sounds perfect.” Christa turned around and rested her head against Ed’s chest as he held her closely. For several moments, they simply stood there, reflecting on the good times that they had shared, just like Joe would have wanted them to. Christa was the first to notice a young, beautiful African-American woman approaching them.

        “Vanessa,” Christa said as she went over and greeted her friend. “It’s so good to see you again.”

        “Vanessa,” Ed said with a serious face. Vanessa just looked at him, his arms folded, when he broke out into a smile. “It’s great to see you.”

        “I’ve missed you both so much.” Vanessa smiled at them for a moment before her gaze landed on her fiancé’s grave marker. “Joey-bear,” she whispered with a tearful smile, “I love you so much.” Looking back up at her two closest friends, she told them, “At first, when he shipped off to Iraq , I was mad at him. Mad at him for leaving. But the more I thought about it, the more selfish I felt.  I couldn’t blame him for going off to war to defend our country. It was something that he’d always talk about, especially after 9/11. He was so passionate about defending our home. He was the best damned man I’d ever known.”

        “And best damned soldier too, if I ever knew one.”

Vanessa, Christa, and Ed all turned their heads to see a young Hispanic man approaching them, dressed in an Army uniform. On his uniform he wore a Purple Heart and a name badge with ‘JIMENEZ’ in bold white.

        “Corporal Jimenez,” Ed addressed him as he noticed the insignia on the man’s sleeve. The two men shook hands. He shook Christa’s hand as well and then turned and faced Vanessa. “You must be Vanessa Andrews. J-Man was very lucky to have you,” he said. “Please forgive the intrusion, but I was just coming here to pay my respects to the man who saved my life.” Ed and Christa exchanged glances. “During the ambush that he was killed in, I came face-to-face with the enemy. I was out of ammo and seemingly out of luck. Just as I thought I was done for, Joseph came running up to me and pushed me to the ground. He took the bullets for me. If it wasn’t for him, Vanessa, I wouldn’t be here today.”

        Vanessa smiled warmly at Jimenez. “He was a very honorable man.”

        Jimenez nodded. “That he was.” He then reached into his pocket and drew out a thin leather wallet. Flipping open the wallet, he showed the three a picture of a young, blond haired girl who looked to be between the ages of eight and ten. “I adopted her,” he said, “after I came home. Her name’s Rachel Morgan; she was the daughter of a soldier whom I served with along with Joseph. When her mother was killed, little Rachel had nowhere to go. She had no other relatives; she would’ve been placed in a foster home. When I saw her face, she looked so much like her mother that I felt it would be wrong if she went to go live with complete strangers. I still remember that conversation we all had just before the ambush. She told us how concerned she was for Rachel’s well being if anything were to happen to her. You know something,” Jimenez added thoughtfully, “it was because of J-Man that we all opened up to each other like that. Had he not, I don’t know what would’ve happened to that little girl.” Smiling at the three, he said, “My wife and I have two other children of our own, but Rachel has been just a blessing to us all.” After he showed them the picture, he placed the wallet back in his pocket. He then looked up at them with a thoughtful expression. “Strange thing about J-Man,” he said after a moment as memories came to him with crystal clarity, “to this day I still wished I’d taken him seriously, but the day before the ambush happened, he warned us about it. He went on about how worried he was that something was going to happen to our unit. Sadly, no one really did take him seriously.”

        Ed extended his hand to Jimenez. As they shook hands, Ed said, “It’s an honor to meet you, Corporal.”

        “Same here... Ensign,” Jimenez said as he took notice of Ed’s Naval uniform. “Joe did talk about you, Ensign. He once told me that, growing up as an only child, you were the closest thing he ever had to a brother. He told me how proud he was of your going to school, taking all those college courses. He admired that about you.”

        Ed’s eyes watered as he listened to Jimenez talk.

        The four of them continued to converse, to talk about the life and times of Joseph William Wright, soldier, friend, fiancé. 

  <BGSOUND src="http://www.quantumleap-alsplace.com/virtualseasons/med/1312/03AmericanSoldier.wma">  

I'm just trying to be a father

Raise a daughter and a son

Be a lover to their mother

Everything to everyone

Up and at 'em, bright and early

I'm all business in my suit

Yeah, I'm dressed for success

From my head down to my boots

I don't do it for money, there's still bills that I can't pay

I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway

Providing for our future's my responsibility

Yeah, I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be

And I can't call in sick on Mondays

When the weekend's been too strong

I just work straight through the holidays

And sometimes all night long

You can bet that I stand ready

When the wolf growls at the door

Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady

Hey, I'm true down to the core

And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price

I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice

Oh, and I don't want to die for you

But if dyin's asked of me

I'll bear that cross with an honor

Cause freedom don't come free

I'm an American soldier, an American

Beside my brothers and my sisters

I will proudly take a stand

When liberty's in jeopardy, I will always do what's right

I'm out here on the frontlines, sleep in peace tonight

American soldier, I'm an American soldier

Yeah, an American soldier, an American

Beside my brothers and my sisters

I will proudly take a stand

When liberty's in jeopardy, I will always do what's right

I'm out here on the frontlines, so sleep in peace tonight

American soldier, I'm an American

An American

An American soldier

‘American Soldier’

From Toby Keith’s album ‘Shock’n Y’All

copyright 2003