VIRTUAL SEASONS EPISODES

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.

PROLOGUE

       As the Leap came to an end, he could’ve sworn he heard the shrill cries of an infant somewhere nearby, although at that point it still sounded a bit distant and slightly muffled. After the rest of the electrical energy had coursed through him and the aura of blue light had faded, he slowly pulled the large, soft pillow from his face as he began to adjust to his new surroundings. Where ever he was, he sure as hell felt awfully tired. Stifling a yawn and rubbing at his eyes, he turned over and sat up. It was rather dark in the master bedroom, he noticed. To the left of him, on the other side of the room, the window shade was pulled back a bit; what scenery there may have been was cloaked in darkness. Sam’s wandering gaze then fell upon a small alarm clock that was situated on a night stand next to the bed. According to the clock, it was four thirty in the morning.

        “Baby’s crying.” Sam jerked his head over to the left as he heard a woman’s voice coming from next to him. The woman sat up, yawned, and then stretched as she stood from the bed. “He sure has a set of lungs on him.” She looked over at Sam and smiled.

        “I’ll go get him,” Sam offered as he stretched and yawned some more.

        “No,” the woman replied as she was already heading towards the doorway, “you need to get ready for work. I’ll go feed the baby and then put him back down. Maybe this time I can sleep past five.”

        Sam smiled as he watched ‘his’ wife leave the room. He then swung his legs over to the side of the bed and stood up. He reached over and turned on the small light on the night stand and then went over to the small closet. When he opened its small door, he was promptly met with a police uniform, carefully hung on a wire hanger. “Work?” he questioned with a raised eyebrow. “Oh boy.”

PART ONE

September 9, 1981

        Sam stood in front of the full length mirror as he buttoned up his shirt. The young man who had looked back at him seemed rather familiar to him yet he couldn’t quite place where he’d seen him before. Perhaps it had been during one of many Leaps, but then again he could have been a part of his own social circles prior to his life as a Leaper. Either way, Sam figured the memory would find its way through the holes that riddled his mind or it wouldn’t come at all. Behind him, the woman, whose name he had yet to find out, went over to him while holding a small baby that was swaddled snugly in a blue blanket.

        “I guess a certain little boy wanted to see his daddy before going back to sleep,” she said as she stood behind Sam. “As soon as I tried to lay him back down he wouldn’t stop crying.”

        “That’s alright,” Sam said as he turned his back on the mirror and held out his arms to take the baby. “He is a cute little guy, isn’t he?” Sam smiled warmly at the baby as he tickled the baby’s nose with his index finger.

        “He’s very alert for being only a month old. He looks just like you did when you were a baby.” She then smirked as she watched Sam with the baby. “At least that’s what your father says. I’m thinking of taking him by his house today, I’m sure your father would love to see him again.” She looked over at the alarm clock and then said to Sam as she took the baby from him, “You best get a move on. You still have to pick up Dave.”

        “Dave?” Sam asked with a slight frown.

        As the woman looked at him curiously, the Imaging Chamber door opened next to her. Al stepped through its illuminated light, holding the handlink as the door slid shut behind him.

        “Oh, right,” Sam said as he shot Al a quick glance, “I’ll go pick up Dave.”

        Al caught the look and quickly tapped at the multi colored keypad. After a brief series of beeps, Al’s eyes narrowed as he slapped its side with his palm, the handlink producing a squeal of electronic outrage. After reading the data again, he then said to Sam, “We need to talk. I’ll meet you outside.” He pressed a button and his image vanished.

        “I’ll...see you later,” Sam said as he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

        “You’re off at three so I should have dinner ready by four thirty. Don’t be late, either.” She then looked down at the baby as Sam was just about to leave the room. “Don’t forget to say good-bye to your son.”

        Sam went over and gave the baby a gentle kiss on the forehead, tickled his nose once more, and then slipped on his jacket as he left.

        After Sam had gone, she then went over to the bed and sat down, smiling as the baby softly cooed. “Aren’t we just a handsome little guy,” she said as she gently brushed aside a couple of strands of brown hair. The baby stared back at her, alert and content.

        When Sam closed the front door behind him, he found Al standing near a tan colored sedan that was parked in front of the house. The sun had yet risen; the sky was still rather dark and speckled with stars. A cool breeze had stirred the leaves on the small walkway. “What’s going on?” Sam asked as he went over to the driver side of the car. “What does Ziggy have for me?”

        “As usual we don’t have much for you for the time being,” Al said a shrug.

        As he stood by the car Sam said, “Al, this guy that I’ve Leaped into, he seems rather familiar. Like I’ve met him before.”

        “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Al commented as he tapped a couple of buttons on the handlink. “Recently a few of your Leaps have involved this family in one way or another. It’s amazing. Well, this time around, you are Edward Sharpe the Third, you’re thirty-one years old and you’re a police officer working with the Albuquerque P.D. You, I mean Ed,” Al corrected himself with a wave of the hand, “has a partner. His name is David Carpenter and he had transferred to the Albuquerque department on September the second Nineteen Eighty One, just a week ago to be exact. Back inside that house there is Ed’s wife, Elaine, and their one month old son,” Al paused as he chuckled and shook his head, apparently amused by what he was about to tell Sam. “Your one month old son is Edward Sharpe the Fourth.”

        “The fourth?” Sam asked incredulously. After a moment, he then leaned his head back a bit and said, “I remember meeting somebody with that name. I’m not sure exactly when but I remember that name. Somewhere at a hospital,” he added as the memory had left him, obscured by a thick blanket of mental fog.

        “Actually,” Al said as-a-matter-of-factly, “you saved Ed the Fourth’s life not too long ago and you met his father during one of your Leaps.”

        “But you have no idea what I’m doing here,” Sam added as he unlocked the car door and sat down behind the wheel. Al re centered his image so that he appeared to be sitting next to Sam. “Right now I’m supposed to be picking up this David Carpenter but I have no idea where he lives.”

        Al was one step ahead of him as he was already reading the data from the handlink’s minuscule LCD screen. “It won’t be too far of a drive. He lives three blocks from you. I’ll give you the directions.”

        As Sam steered the car down the street Al read off the directions. After he’d picked up David Carpenter, Al then told him how to get to the police station. Once they arrived at the station, which was only about a twenty minute drive, Al then called open the Imaging Chamber door. “I’m going to go to the Waiting Room and check with Ed the Third to see if maybe he can give us some insight.”

        Sam watched Al leave and then followed Carpenter into the police station. In the early hours there weren’t that many police officers present in the small building but those who were there greeted both he and Carpenter as they stepped inside. Carpenter stopped briefly to chat with a couple of the officers.

        “Sharpe,” some had called from behind Sam. When Sam turned around, he was met with smiling face of a tall, lanky red haired man. “How are the wife and kid doing?” he asked.

        “Oh, they’re, uh, doing good,” Sam offered a hesitant smile as he nodded.

        “I saw them briefly when Elaine stopped by yesterday to see you. That’s one cute lookin’ kid you got there.” The officer then laughed as he clapped Sam heavily on the shoulder. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t take after you, huh?”

        Sam laughed along with the officer, although he didn’t quite share in the humor.

        “See you in a few.” The officer then took his leave. Sam watched him walk through the small office and then disappear around a corner. Carpenter then nudged Sam and motioned for him to follow. Sam did, he followed Carpenter down a small hallway and through the second door on his left. The small break room didn’t have much to offer, although Sam sighed in relief when he saw a coffee pot that was full.

        “Better hurry the hell up,” Carpenter told Sam as he went over to the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Don’t want to be late for roll call.”

        “R-roll call,” Sam repeated. “Right.” As he poured himself a cup of coffee, Sam prayed that what ever he was here to fix wouldn’t involving taking up the gun.

        “We don’t need Collins ripping us a new one,” Carpenter added as Sam followed him over to the room where roll call would be held. “I know I’ve only been at the department for a week but the guy seems like a real hard ass, you know?”

        “Great,” Sam muttered to himself. Sipping at the hot brew along the way, he followed Carpenter. As it turned out, the room where the roll call was held was only two doors down. As they entered the room, Sam saw an officer standing behind a podium, shuffling papers in order. Other officers were present as well. Sam smiled and greeted a few of them as he took his seat, which happened to be right behind Carpenter. Sam glanced around the room as he sipped at the coffee; some of the officers quietly conversed amongst themselves while a few of the others were writing in small notebooks.

        “Just wait,” Carpenter said to Sam as he glanced over his shoulder, “I bet we get stuck with the downtown beat again.” Shaking his head, he then turned back around.

        “Now that we’re all here,” the officer, Collins, then said as he looked about the group, “I think we can begin.”

June 18, 2008

Project Quantum Leap

Waiting Room

        “My wife and son are safe, right?” Edward Sharpe the Third asked Al as he sat on the examination table. He glanced down and pulled at the Fermi suit a bit.

        “Both your wife and son are perfectly safe,” Al assured him as he stepped around the table.

        “I still don’t get how you do this,” Ed said as he looked down at his reflection.

        “Well,” Al said as he stood beside the table, “it’s like I said. You have taken part in an experiment; you have switched places in Time with Doctor Samuel Beckett. His aura surrounds you, and yours surrounds him.”

        “I see,” Ed said as he hopped off the table and began to look around. “Do you know how long I’m going to be staying here? Forgive me if I seem rude, sir, but I really do want to be back with my family.”

        “And you will but it may be a couple days or so before you can go back.”

        Ed nodded. “This Doctor Beckett,” he said after a moment, “he’ll make sure that nothing happens to them, right? My wife just had our first child, you see.”

        “Sam is a very honorable man,” Al told him. “I can tell you not to worry but I don’t think that would stop you.”

        “It’s just that we finally have our family,” Ed said as he stood on the opposite side of the table. “For a while there we thought that we couldn’t conceive. I took Elaine to the doctors and had her checked out; they found nothing wrong with her. When I was checked out they found that the problem resided in me.” Ed met Al’s gaze and, just as quickly, he broke eye contact. “I won’t go into the details but for a while I thought I wasn’t going to-” Ed paused as he took a deep breath. Exhaling slowly he said, “I wanted us to be a family. I wanted to pass on the values and ideals that my father had instilled in me. So it came as a great surprise when we found out that Elaine was pregnant. When little Eddie was born we called him our ‘miracle child’.” As he spoke about his son Ed’s brown eyes lit up. “From the moment I held him I could see in his eyes such intelligence. You know, when he was born he didn’t cry. I heard somewhere that there’s something special about a child who doesn’t cry when they’re delivered. I know he’s just a baby an’ all but I can tell that he’s real smart, the way he just looks at you when you hold him.”

        Al listened as Ed talked about his son. He knew all too well what Ed was feeling; Al could recall how he felt the first time he heard he was going to be a father. Finding out when one is going to be a parent for the first time was something truly magical, something truly precious. It was a feeling of great exhilaration one felt when being told that in a matter of months you would be blessed. “You know, Ed, I got children of my own. Five of them. All girls.”

        Ed whistled. “I wish you luck on that, sir.”

        Al chuckled. “I manage. My oldest is forty-seven and my youngest is twenty-six. In fact my youngest is getting ready to have a child of her own soon.”

        “Congratulations.” Ed then said with a grin as he pointed at Al, “That’s another thing I like about being a parent. The possibility of grandchildren. I know it’s quite a ways off but I think about my own son having children one day.”

        “Imagine that,” Al said softly. The conversation had definitely taken a turn for the odd and unusual. He had to be careful on what he told Edward Sharpe the Third. He didn’t want to give him any information about Ed the Fourth’s future. After all, there was the slight possibility that when Ed Leaped back he could retain enough of his memory to affect Eddie’s life. What if somehow things were changed and that Eddie and Christa never met?  Or perhaps Eddie never would’ve joined the military, or joined sooner or later than he originally did. It was quite possible that Ed the Third could inconceivably undo all the good that Sam had done for Eddie, Christa, and their close friend Joe Wright. “I, uh, need to get going for now, Ed, but I’ll be back later on.”

        “You know where to find me, sir,” Ed joked as Al walked up the ramp. When the door had slid open, Ed caught a brief glimpse of the guard that was just outside the room. His head was turned slightly but it was enough for Ed to do a double take. The young man seemed awfully familiar to him. He started to step down from the table to get a closer look when the door slid shut.

        “Good morning, sir,” Edward Sharpe the Fourth said as Al stepped down the ramp as the door behind him slid shut. He noticed the strange look he was getting from the Admiral. After a moment, he asked hesitantly, “Is something wrong, sir?”

        Al blinked and rubbed his forehead. It amazed him just how much Ed was like his father; his demeanor, the way he always called him ‘sir’, the honor and decency that had seemed to run strongly through the Sharpe family that had convinced Al even more that Eddie would make a terrific father. “I’m fine, Ensign. I guess I’m still surprised to see you back on your feet. You know,” Al added with a shrug of uncertainty, “ever since the attack and all.” The events of the attack that had transpired only a couple months ago were still fresh in everybody’s thoughts. Many of Ed’s bruises had gone away; his body now marked with various deep running scars. In particular, two distinct, deep scars had marked his face, one on either side. Those scars were practically a mirror image of Christa’s. In fact, it was because of Eddie’s experiences at Lothos’ Project that strengthened the bond between he and Christa.

        “I have a duty to fulfill,” Eddie told him. “In fact I’ve felt much better these past few days than I have in the past couple months.”

        “Just take it easy. If you feel that you need to take a little more time off then don’t hesitate to ask.”

        “Thank you, sir, but that won’t be necessary.” Eddie glanced over at Al and smiled. “I got a wife and baby to take care of.”

        For a moment, Al just looked at him, still not quite able to believe it. He wanted to tell him just who was on the other side of that door but he also knew the inherent risks. Just like he wanting to tell Ed the Third, the risks were simply too great no matter how noble his intentions may have been. Al recalled the last time Eddie found out the identity of the Visitor, how he compromised the security of the complex in order to gain access. He could imagine what would happen if he found out the identity of the current Visitor. He continued to mull it over as he made his way back to the Control Room.

******

        The sun had risen, replacing the black sky with a radiant cloudless blue. The temperature had already gone up significantly, by the late morning it was already up in the high eighties. The streets of Albuquerque were beginning to fill with the usual morning traffic. Sam sat in the passenger seat of the cruiser as Carpenter steered it down a road that Sam had found to be very familiar. He wasn’t sure if it was just a case of mind merging with Ed or if it was from his own memory. Sam knew that he had frequented Albuquerque prior to Leaping. Either way he knew where he was going for once, and it felt pretty good. And, just as Carpenter had predicted, they were assigned to patrol downtown.

        “Over there,” Carpenter said as he pointed to his left, quickly bringing Sam out of his reflective repose. “That didn’t take long.”

        Sam looked over to where Carpenter was pointing and saw a small blue car going down the street. At first, he wasn’t sure why that had warranted his attention but when he quickly figured it out why when he saw that the signal light had been red. “Here we go,” he said under his breath as the cruise had quickly picked up speed. They followed the vehicle as the red and blue lights flashed. The blue car pulled over to the side of the road within a matter of moments. Carpenter brought the cruiser to a stop a few feet behind the other vehicle. He then looked over at Sam. Sam was oblivious to Carpenter’s gaze at first; he simply sat there staring at the blue vehicle.

        “Sharpe.” Sam looked over at Carpenter with a furrowed brow. “What are you waiting for?”

        Sam flustered a bit. “Oh, you, uh, want me to go out there,” he said although it sounded more like a question than a statement. When he was answered with a slight raise of the eyebrow Sam slowly nodded and opened the car door. He nervously stepped outside and made his way over to the other vehicle. The driver side window was already rolled down and the driver looked up at Sam.

        “What seems to be the problem, Officer?” he asked Sam as he appeared to be rather irritated.

        “W-well you ran the light back there,” Sam told him with a tip of the head in the direction that they’d come from. “I’m going to need to see your license and registration.”

        The young man let out an exasperated sigh as he reached over and opened the glove box. “Just great,” he said with much disdain, “this day couldn’t get any better.” As he pulled out a slip of paper, he then reached in his wallet and pulled out his driver license. Together with the registration, he roughly handed it to Sam.

        “I’ll... be right back,” Sam said as he eyed the driver curiously. When he went back to the car, he opened the door and reached inside, pulling out a blank ticket. He then began to fill it out.

        “Did they give you a hard time?” Carpenter asked as he saw the frustration in Sam’s expression.

        Sam shrugged his shoulders as he continued to fill out the ticket. “Just a little attitude.”

        “If they would’ve been paying attention to the road in the first place then they wouldn’t be in this mess.”

        Sam wholeheartedly agreed with Carpenter. When he was finished filling out the ticket he then went back over to the other vehicle, a 1978 Honda Accord. With the ticket, he handed him back his license and registration. “There you go, Mister Wells. Try paying more attention to the road for now on. Next time you could cause an accident.”

        “Uh huh,” Wells grumbled as he took the documents back. “Are we finished here, Officer?” he asked as he glared at the ticket he held.

        Sam nodded. “Yeah we’re done, but just pay more attention next time, alright?”

        “Yeah I heard you the first time,” Wells retorted as he tossed the papers into the glove box. Slipping his driver license back into his wallet he muttered something under his breath and then started the car as Sam went back to the cruiser. As he passed by a small deli, he caught a glimpse of his reflection off one of its window panes.

        “You look like you’re having fun,” Carpenter said as Sam closed the passenger door.

        “It’s going to be one of those days, isn’t it?” Sam questioned as he leaned his head back.

        Carpenter chuckled as he started the car. As the continued along their way both Sam and Carpenter noticed with a bit of amusement how the speed of the other motorists slowed down significantly as soon as they caught sight of the black and white cruiser.

        The rest of the day wasn’t as bad as Sam had thought it was going to be. After Sam had issued that ticket to the frustrated motorist, the rest of the morning had gone by rather smoothly. The afternoon brought them nothing out of the ordinary, either. In fact, the day had passed by rather quickly for Sam. He hadn’t heard anything more from Al since earlier in the morning; he wasn’t worried but he hoped that he would hear from him soon. When they arrived back at the station at one-thirty they spent some of the time filling out paperwork. Sam, of course, had no idea what he was doing at first. Edward Sharpe the Third may have been a police officer but Sam Beckett most certainly was not. As he shuffled through the papers, he snapped his head up when he heard the sound of the Imaging Chamber opening. The door had appeared next to Sam’s desk. Al stepped through, puffing on a cigar, as the door closed behind him. Sam got up from the desk motioned for Al to follow him. Sam led the hologram over to where the restroom was.

        “Ah geez,” Al groused, “not the head. Can’t we find some other place to talk?”

        After checking to make sure that nobody else was present, Sam went over to Al. “What’s going on, Al? I haven’t heard from you all day.”

        “Well,” Al started, “I’ve been in the Waiting Room with Ed.”

        “In the Waiting Room,” Sam repeated as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Okay. Have you got any information as to why I’m here?”

        After taking a couple puffs off his cigar, he nodded. “Hmm. Yeah. According to a newspaper article that Ziggy uncovered, there was an attempted bank robbery at the Albuquerque Bank and Trust on September the tenth, Nineteen Eighty One.”

        Sam grumbled, “Oh boy.”

PART TWO

       Al pressed a couple buttons on the handlink, taking a moment to read the data as it scrolled across the small screen. “According to the report, the incident occurred around four thirty in the afternoon. The guy who tried to rob the place, Robert Wells, was very nervous. Right after he held one of the tellers at-”

        “Wait a minute,” Sam said as he interrupted Al. “You said the guy who tried to rob the bank was Robert Wells?”

        “Yeah, why?”

        Sam rubbed at his forehead as he paced in front of Al. “Al, earlier today I pulled over a guy named Robert Wells for running a red light.”

        “Huh,” the hologram said thoughtfully as he held up the link, squinting as he read the data. “This guy, Wells, was very nervous when he tried to rob the place. After he held up one of the tellers at gunpoint, a hostage tried to run. Wells panicked and shot her. She was seven months pregnant at the time. David Carpenter and Ed Sharpe were present when this happened; they were both off duty at the time. Carpenter tried to calm Wells down and when he tried to get the gun away from Wells, he shot him. Wells was arrested and tried for the deaths of Ann Dalton and David Carpenter. In our time he’s still in prison.”

        “So I’m here to keep Carpenter and this other person from being shot,” Sam said. “Alright. What does Ziggy have on Robert Wells?”

        Al keyed in the inquiry on the handlink. After several electronic beeps he said, “Robert Wells, born September sixth, Nineteen Sixty. Let’s see, nothing else really happens to the guy until September ninth, Nineteen Eighty One, which just happens to be today. He had been working as an armed security guard at the airport when they laid him off. Around the same time he’d lost the place he was living at; he had been renting a room and hadn’t paid the rent in the past two months.”

        “That would explain the attitude,” Sam said as he recalled his encounter with Wells.

        “Attitude?” Al asked.

        Sam shook his head. “Never mind. Al, we know now why he tried to rob the place. It sounds like he was desperate. It’s like you just said, he lost his job and home in one day. Maybe the stress was too much for him.”

        “Maybe,” Al told him, “but you have to make sure that those two don’t get shot.”

        “And I will, alright?  All I have to do is make sure that I’m at that bank before four thirty. Maybe I can stop the entire robbery before it starts.”

        “This guy is going to be armed,” Al told him, “so I don’t think it would be a good idea to try to take him by surprise. For all you know, more people could wind up getting hurt this time around.”

        “I’m certainly not going to just stand by and let Robert Wells get away with it, either. Look, Al, I’ll figure out a way to prevent the shootings.” Sam stopped his pacing as he went over to the sink; holding to either side of the sink Sam leaned forward a bit as he looked at his reflection in the small mirror. “Keep me posted on any changes.”

        “No problem.” Behind Sam, the Imaging Chamber door opened. As Al stepped through, he told Sam, “Take it easy.”

        “Yeah,” Sam said a moment after the Imaging Chamber door had closed. Gazing at the image of Ed Sharpe Sam said, “Looks like we got our work cut out for us.”

        After Sam had dropped off David Carpenter, he returned to the Sharpe residence. It was around four o’clock when he pulled up in the small driveway. When he stepped inside the house, he was promptly met with the strong, rich aroma of something baking in an oven. The kitchen was to his immediate right. He saw Elaine standing by the sink washing her hands. In the living room, a bassinet was situated near the sliding glass door that looked out onto the small backyard. He went into the kitchen and kissed her on the cheek. She smiled as she turned around and wrapped her arms around Sam’s waist, pulling him closer. “Hey there, Officer,” she said with a smirk as she went to kiss him on the lips. Sam felt rather uncomfortable returning the affection. For one thing, Elaine Sharpe wasn’t his wife. And, judging from what he did know about Ed the Third was that he seemed to be a pretty decent person so for Sam to be with his wife in a romantic sense wasn’t appropriate. A residual of Ed was present though; the strong bond of love that Sam was experiencing towards Elaine was incredible, and it was making it that much harder for Sam not to fully return the affection.

        After sharing a brief kiss, Sam steeled himself away from Elaine. “H-how was your day?” he flustered.

        Elaine chuckled as she then went over to the oven. “I haven’t seen you act that way since high school, Ed.” Smiling, she then said, “My day was alright. Took little Eddie by his grandfather’s today. I tell you, Ed, every time your father sees that baby his eyes light up.”

        Sam asked curiously, “Speaking of the baby, where is he?”

        “Sleeping in the bassinet,” Elaine said. “I put it in the living room so that I could hear him in case he woke up.”

        Sam then went into the living room; the bassinet was situated near the sliding glass door that looked out onto the small backyard.

        “Dinner should be ready soon,” Elaine called out to him. “I figured an early dinner would be a nice change.”

        “Sounds great,” Sam replied as he went over to the bassinet. There he found that the baby wasn’t sleeping, in fact the moment he saw Sam the baby cooed and kicked his legs. “Hey there,” he said softly as he carefully picked up the baby. Sam smiled warmly at the baby as he carried him across the room and over to the couch. “Want to watch some television with me?” he asked as he picked up the bulky remote control. The television turned on to a news program. “The news,” Sam said to the baby with a slight shake of the head. “Not real entertaining, is it? Yeah let’s see what else is on, shall we?” He then changed the channel.  “Here we go,” he said as the program was of a NASCAR race that appeared to have been filmed sometime during the mid sixties. “Now that’s entertainment, Eddie,” he told the baby as he leaned back in the couch. Memories that didn’t belong to Sam allowed him to point out each car, telling the baby trivia about each one of them, along with the drivers and even a bit of track history.

        Elaine stood in the doorway of the kitchen, looking on with pure contentment as Sam watched television with little Eddie. “My boys,” she said with a chuckle as she went back into the kitchen.

        Twenty minutes later dinner had been ready. It had turned out to be an oven baked cheese and pepperoni pizza, which Sam had wholeheartedly enjoyed. The baby was in a small bouncy seat next to Sam’s table. With a foot hooked around the edge of the seat, he gently rocked the baby.

        “I was thinking,” Elaine said as she set a slice of pizza on her plate, “since you’re off tomorrow I was thinking of maybe going to the park and having a picnic. We haven’t done that in a while. The weather lately has been perfect.” After taking a couple bites she then said, “I also need you to stop by the bank tomorrow afternoon, Ed. I need you to deposit that check my mother sent us.”

        “Sure,” he replied. He picked up a bottle of Budweiser and sipped at it. “Thinking about it a picnic sounds great,” he told Elaine.

        She smiled widely. “You know something, Edward Sharpe?”

        “What?”

        “You’re truly something, you know that?”

        “So I’ve been told,” Sam playfully retorted. He then glanced down at the baby and saw that he was fast asleep.

******

        The blue Honda Accord was parked in a parking lot behind a convenient store. He had the seat as far back as possible and for several minutes he tried to catch some rest. When he found that rest wouldn’t come to him, he pushed himself forward. Gripping the steering wheel tight enough to turn his knuckles white, Robert Wells shouted, “Goddamn it!”

        He had nowhere to go, nowhere other than his car to sleep in. In the span of one morning, he had not only managed to lose his job but his home was well. To top things off he’d been ticketed for running a red light. He’d been so preoccupied that he hadn’t even noticed. It wasn’t like he crashed into somebody or caused an accident. How the hell was he to pay the damned ticket when he didn’t even have enough money to fill up his gas tank? He was out of money and out of luck. He had to do something. He didn’t know anybody in the town except for his roommate but that was a dead end. “This...SUCKS!” he yelled as he squeezed his eyes shut. When he’d opened them, a couple tears had managed to roll down his cheek. He glanced over his shoulder and saw two people walking past the car, staring at him as if he’d lost his mind. Rolling down the window, he stuck his head out and shouted at them “What? You haven’t seen a homeless person before?” The two pedestrians quickly hurried on their way as Robert rolled up the window. “Not all of us are so privileged,” he groused as he readjusted the seat. Glancing at his fuel gauge, he saw that he was down to a quarter of a tank. Turning the key in the ignition, he sighed as he shifted the car in reverse. “What a lovely fucking day.”

        As he drove down the street, he came up on a red signal light. As he waited for the light to turn green, he saw Albuquerque Bank and Trust to his right. He held his gaze on the small building, a slight smirk forming on his lips. He didn’t notice the signal light changing until a car behind him honked the horn. Quickly shifting into first, Robert continued to drive towards his unknown destination, a plan finally starting to come to mind.

******

        Sam and Elaine were in the nursery, watching the baby sleep peacefully in his crib. Sam draped an arm around Elaine. “Truly is amazing, isn’t it?” he asked her as he smiled at the baby.

        “It is,” she replied. “After all, he’s our miracle child. I feel that we were truly blessed with little Eddie. Every single day this past month I’ve been grateful to have him.”

        “Miracle child,” Sam thought out loud. He hardly noticed the raised eyebrow he earned from Elaine.

        “Yeah, that’s what you called him the moment he was born. When I heard the doctor say that there was a good chance that we couldn’t have a child,” she paused as she was barely able to hold back the tears, “I-I never thought that we’d be a family.” She turned around and hugged Sam, her head resting against his chest. “I’m so-” She paused again, as she lost the battle; tears were streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so happy that we have him, Ed.”

        Sam held on to Elaine as she cried her tears of happiness. As he held her, his gaze fell back on the sleeping infant.

June 18, 2008

Project Quantum Leap

Waiting Room

        Al sat next to Ed on the examination table, the handlink softly chirping in his hand. Ed looked down at it; he thought about asking what that device was but his thoughts were on other matters. “The guard that’s posted outside,” he asked Al. “He, ah, looks kind of familiar to me. What’s his name?”

        Al’s eyes widened a bit in shock. “I can’t give you that information, Ed. It’s classified,” he added when he saw the thoughtful look in Ed’s eye.

        “I understand, sir,” Ed replied as he looked up at the Waiting Room door. “I just can’t get over it, though. It was only for a moment but the way he looked...I could’ve sworn I’ve seen him before.”

        Al quickly thought of a way to change the subject. “So, Ed. H-how long have you been a police officer?”

        “About seven years. Although,” Ed added with a shrug of the shoulders, “it wasn’t always what I wanted to be. When I was younger I wanted to be a race car driver. I wanted to be in NASCAR.” Ed chuckled. “I used to go to a lot of the races with my old man. It was great. I even got to meet some of them, too. In fact,” he said as he narrowed his eyes in thought, “I remember this one time when I was a kid, I ran into one of my favorite drivers at a quarter midget race. He invited my dad and I to watch the race with him. Back then I’d never imagine I’d end up as a cop.”

        “What made you pursue law enforcement?” Al asked.

        Ed thought for a moment. “I always wanted to help people, you know? My grandfather was a cop, and so was my uncle. It wasn’t so much to follow in their footsteps, I suppose, but they did help inspire me. Knowing how much good they’ve done through out their careers, I kind of wanted the same thing. That, and it’ll help me be a better role model to my son.”

        “I have to tell you, Ed,” Al said as he set the handlink down on the table next to him, “that I haven’t met that many people who talked as passionately about their family as much as you do.”

        “Shouldn’t be that unheard of,” Ed said. “My family is everything to me. Sir, my father had passed along something very special to me, something that was handed down to him from his father. Our name. I always wanted to carry on that part of our family, our legacy I suppose you could call it. And someday, if he so chooses, he can pass it on to his own son.”

        “Your son is very lucky to have a father like you,” Al told Ed. “I didn’t spend much time with my father when I was growing up. Spent a good part of my childhood in an orphanage. Don’t get me wrong, my father worked his ass off for his family every single day, and I loved him for that.”

        “Weren’t you ever sad when he wasn’t around?” Ed asked. Hearing the Admiral speak about his father, it was something that he had never experienced. His father had always been for him whenever he needed him, always there to help guide him in the right direction.

        “Well, yeah, I was sad but I knew what he was trying to do. I had to be strong, not so much for myself but for my sister as well. You see, Ed, when my sister and I were both young my mother left us, left my father alone and hurt. From that day forward he did everything he could to make sure that my sister and I were taken care of.”

        “He sounds like a very good man.”

        Al smiled fondly. “Oh yeah, he was one hell of a guy. To this day, even though all my girls are now grown, I still think every now and then if I ever lived up to his standards.”

        “With a military career like yours while managing to raise five daughters...yeah I think you lived up to his standards. If,” Ed quickly added as to not offend the Admiral, “you don’t mind me saying, sir.”

        Al shook his head. “It’s alright, Ed.”

        “Every boy needs his father,” Ed said. “At least that’s what I think. Although we have different backgrounds, your father did the same my father did. It’s people like them that I want my son to be around.”

        The handlink chirped a few times in quick succession. As he picked it up he said, “I got to take care of some business but I’ll be back soon.”

        “Looking forward to the visit, sir.” Ed extended his hand and Al shook it. He watched the Admiral walk up to the door. Just as it slid open, Ed leaned to the side as he tried to see the guard. The guard turned his head slight and said something to the Admiral. This time, Ed got a better look at the young man in the uniform. “Who are you?” he breathed as the door slid shut. He sat back up as he looked at the reflective table top; the face of Samuel Beckett staring back at him. “The future,” Ed mused. He then glanced back at the door.

******

        Sam had awoke early the next morning. He was careful as to not wake Elaine as he made his way over to the nursery. Inside the crib, lying on his stomach, little Edward Sharpe the Fourth was sound asleep. Sam wanted to adjust the tiny blue blanket he was lying on but he was sleeping and seemingly comfortable. He then went into the kitchen and started to prepare breakfast. It wasn’t until another hour later that Elaine had awoke and gone into the kitchen.

        “That smells great,” she said as she went over to the cupboard and got herself a cup. As she poured her coffee into the cup she told Sam, “I can’t recall ever waking up after you, Ed. And this,” she added with a wave of a hand at the scrambled eggs and bacon that he’d prepared, “since when did you learn how to cook?”

        “Pardon?”

        “No offense, Ed, but you’re not exactly a world class chef. Remember the last time you tried cooking for me? Instead of macaroni and cheese, it was cheese soup.”

        “Oh, well, I watch a lot of...cooking shows,” he said with a slight frown. Rather than trying to further explain himself he went about preparing the table as Elaine looked on in utter amazement. When he was finished, he prepared her a plate. As she took her seat and started eating, Sam prepared his own plate. With a cup of coffee in one hand and a plate full of food in the other, he joined Elaine at the table.

        “I checked in on little Eddie,” Elaine told Sam as she took a sip of coffee. “This is the longest that he’s slept. On the one hand, I’m relieved; I’m glad to have gotten the extra couple hours rest. On the other,” she said with a frown, “I’m sort of worried. After all this is the first time, he’s slept in this long. What if he’s sick?”

        Sam held up a hand as he chuckled. “There’s nothing to worry about, now. I’m sure everything is alright.” When he noticed the concern look on her face he nodded and then said, “Would you feel better if I went and checked on him real quick?”

        She nodded.

        “Alright,” Sam said as he set his napkin down and stood up. “I’ll be right back.” He left the kitchen and went to the nursery. After a quick, yet close look at the infant, Sam saw nothing to cause alarm over. After he returned to the kitchen, he reassured Elaine as he took his seat.

        “I’m sorry, Ed. I’m just real worried that something is going to happen to that little boy. After all we went through I wouldn’t be able to handle it if anything were to happen to-”

        “Elaine,” Sam said gently, “everything will be alright. Trust me, I know how hard it is to try to not worry about these things, especially after what we went through, but know in your heart that I will do my best to make sure that nothing happens to Eddie.” Even though he had spoken the words, they did not come from Sam Beckett. Not to say that Sam wasn’t concerned but the brief moment of mind merging allowed Ed to comfort his wife. Sam honestly did care for the Sharpe family. They were honest, decent, hardworking people.

        “I know you will, Ed. That’s one of the things I love most about you. I always felt safe whenever I was around you.” She set her cup down and reached across the table, her hand finding Sam’s with a gentle hold.

        Sam smiled at her. For a moment, they simply sat there, staring at each other like two teenagers in love. Then, after they both chuckled, they returned to their meals. As they ate, they discussed their plans for the picnic. Although Sam listened to Elaine, his thoughts were also on the bank robbery. Perhaps there was some way that he could prevent the entire ordeal from ever happening. Until Al arrived to relay the projected odds, Sam was flying solo.

PART THREE

       Robert Wells sat in the driver seat, his mind racing a mile a minute. He had spent the night in his car. The heater core was busted so what little warmth he had was from an old, dirtied blanket that had been shoved in the back of his trunk. His last meal had consisted of a box of wheat crackers, a can of diet cola, and a granola bar. He had tried to call his friend to see if perhaps he could stay just a couple more days. His friend had turned him down, telling him that if he didn’t have any money then don’t bother asking. After that, he had stayed in a two level public parking building.

        Ever since he’d passed by the bank the other day, he contemplated the crazy notion of actually robbing it. The more he thought about it the harder it was for him not to laugh. Not out of humor but because up until that point he had lived a fairly comfortable life. Hell, he could even remember when he was a kid how nervous he got when his cousin tried to get him to shoplift a candy bar. He ended up not stealing it because he was so afraid that he was going to get caught. Unable to hold it off any longer Robert laid his head back against the seat and started laughing. His laughter soon dried up when his gaze fell onto the passenger seat. Glancing at it, he then sighed and shook his head.

        “This is goddamn crazy,” he said. “What am I going to do?” The longer he held his gaze on the passenger seat the fewer options had come to mind. He was desperate; there was no way around it. He was damned if he was going to spend another night on the cold, dark streets. He rolled down the driver side window as he took a quick look around the parking building. In the early hours of the morning, the building was beginning to get fill with cars. He didn’t want to draw any more unnecessary attention so he started the engine and, after waiting several moments for it to warm up, slowly backed out of the parking space and steered the car down the concrete ramp.

        As he drove down the street, he had come up on the bank again. He smirked as he drove past the small building. The smirk then quickly turned into a thoughtful expression as he continued his drive. He glanced at the gas gauge and saw that the tank was nearly empty. “Huh,” he muttered as he turned a corner.

June 19, 2008

Project Quantum Leap

Waiting Room

        “Good morning, Ed.” With two cups of coffee, one in each hand, Al went over to the examination table. After handing one to the Visitor, he then took a seat next to him. “How are you doing?”

        As he took a sip, Ed shrugged his shoulders. “Didn’t get much sleep, really. I wasn’t real concerned about sleep, though. I know my wife and son are safe with Doctor Beckett but it’s...hard, you know? Not to worry I mean.” Ed took another sip of coffee and then made a face. “Wow. That’s pretty strong. What is this stuff, sir? Jet fuel?”

        Al laughed. “Not quite but you’re close. It definitely does the trick.”

        Ed thought for a moment and then set his cup down next to him. Turning to face Al he said, “Admiral, I know that it’s classified information and all, but I was kind of hoping that maybe you could tell me the name of that guard standing outside this room.”

        “I’m sorry, Ed, I really am but I can’t. Trust me, it’d make things a lot easier if you didn’t ask.”

        Ed’s eyes lowered a bit. “I can’t help it,” he said softly. “There’s just something about that guy...I know how this is going to sound crazy but he kind of looks like my father did when he was my age. He seems so damn familiar and it’s driving me nuts.”

        Al did his best to hold back his nervousness. “I-I wouldn’t dwell on it too much, Ed.” After a brief moment Al said, “You know, if all goes according to plan then you should be returning home sometime today. Don’t know exactly when but it shouldn’t be too much longer.”

        That bit of news brought a smile to the young man’s face. “That’s great news. Not that it hasn’t been a pleasure talking with you,” Ed quickly added as he held up a hand, “it really has, but I do want to be back with my family.” He then picked up his coffee mug and took a couple sips. “Will I ever see you again?” he asked.

        Even though Al knew the truth, he said, “Maybe. But you know something, Ed? I never forget a friend.”

        Ed smiled. “Well, sir, if you’re ever in Albuquerque look me up. It’d be an honor to have you over. You can meet Elaine and little Eddie.”

        Al truly felt sorry for the man. He wanted so badly to just give him one moment with Eddie but Al also knew that Eddie wouldn’t be able to know the identity of the Visitor. It wouldn’t be fair to either man, really. Besides, how would Eddie react if he was only able to speak with his father for only a minute or two? Five years after the death of Joseph Wright, Eddie was just able to finally come to terms with the loss. Eddie’s father had been dead for twenty-two years so Al could only imagine what that could do to him.

        “So,” Ed said, “tell me about your youngest daughter. You say that she’s expecting...” Ed let the sentence hang as he noticed the distant look in Al’s eyes.

        “Huh?” Al said as he shook his head. “Oh my daughter. Right. Ah, well she’s due soon. It’s her first child so she’s real nervous.”

        “That’s understandable. I can remember how nervous Elaine was when we heard the good news. To be honest, sir, I can’t quite recall who was more nervous.” Ed chuckled. He was about to say something but quickly changed his mind. Al saw this and asked Ed what was on his mind. At first, Ed seemed a bit uncomfortable to ask but when Al insisted he asked, “Your daughter...she’s married, right?”

        Al nodded. “For a year now. Of course, they’ve known each other since high school. About ten years now I think.”

        “Ah, teenage love. I know the feeling. That’s where I met Elaine. From the moment, I laid eyes on her I couldn’t think of anything else but her. So, what does her husband do?”

        “Oh, him? Ah well he works for...the government,” Al said as he tried to be as evasive as possible.

        Ed smiled. “That’s good.” There was something more that he wanted to say to the Admiral but for the time being he decided to keep it to himself.

******

        Sam and Elaine had gone to the park in the early afternoon. Elaine tended to the baby while Sam had prepared the small picnic. It was a gorgeous, sunny day with very little traces of clouds in the sky. A warm breeze had rustled through the park, stirring fallen leaves on the grass. Elaine didn’t want to spend too much time outside, for she didn’t want to run the risk of little Eddie getting sick. Sam had his own concerns for bringing the baby outside at only one month old, but he also knew that if anything was going to happen then Al would have been there to let him know. Still that did little to ease the worry.

        “Do you really think we’d be happier in California ?” Elaine asked as she held the baby close. The baby was fast asleep and carefully covered in a blue receiving blanket.

        “ California ?”

        “Yes. We were talking about it a few days ago, remember? I was thinking about it, you know, and it’d be quite a change for all of us. After all we both were born and raised here in Albuquerque .”

        Sam wasn’t quite sure what to say. He offered her a hesitant smile and quickly returned to preparing their meals.

        “I know you want a change of scenery, Ed, but when would really be a good time, you know? All our family is out here and it would be nice to have little Eddie be around them. I mean, you and I were both the only child in our family so he has no aunts or uncles. My folks aren’t doing well right now and your mother is no longer with us.” She sighed as she lowered her head a bit. “I don’t mean to go on like that, Ed.”

        “Well,” Sam said thoughtfully, “family is important, and I can see your point, Elaine. How about we discuss it a bit later on?” He smiled and then said, “For now let’s enjoy ourselves and have a good time.”

        As Sam and Elaine enjoyed the great weather and each other’s company two children, one girl and one boy, ran past them as they chased after a soccer ball. Sam glanced over at Elaine and saw the look in her eye, the smile on her face as the children ran past, laughing and shouting.

******

        After the picnic in the park, Sam had dropped Elaine off at the house. He was to go to the bank anyhow to deposit the check that Elaine’s mother had sent. It was about a quarter after four when he arrived at Albuquerque Bank and Trust. The lines inside the small bank were rather long; only two windows were open. Sam quickly swept his gaze across the room and saw no sign of Robert Wells. To add to the intensity of the situation, he had not heard from Al all day. “Come on, Al,” he said under his breath. “Where are you?” The line had just moved when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. Startled, he turned around and saw David Carpenter standing behind him.

        “Small world,” Dave said.

        “Imagine that,” Sam replied. “What are you doing here, Dave?”

        “Just stopping by to make a withdraw. Bills, bills, bills.” Dave chuckled and then said, “How about we go grab a couple beers when we’re done here?”

        “Maybe,” Sam replied. “I still have a few errands to run.”

        Dave nodded and then leaned to the side a bit, trying to get a better view of the activities up at the front of the line. “Could this line move any slower?” Dave asked sarcastically. “I swear my ninety year old grandmother could move faster.”

        Just behind Sam and Dave, the formation of the line was a bit more widespread the closer to the double doors it got; many of the people were muttering some kind of complaint about the long wait while others were quickly filling out slips of paper at the counter top near the entrance.

        Sam glanced at his wristwatch. The time was four twenty two. “I need you, Al,” he whispered to himself as he shifted his body nervously.

        “Goddamn,” somebody from behind groused. “Some time this century would be nice.” The murmurs of agreement then briefly floated amongst the group behind Sam.

        He quickly glanced to either side of him; his body slightly trembled as his hands were shoved into his coat pockets. Robert Wells took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He wore a red hat and dark sunglasses. In one of his pockets was an old handkerchief that he’d found stuffed under the back seat of his car. He had gone over his plan a million times in his mind, but there was just one thing that he forgot to take into consideration; the fact that he was scared half out of his mind for even attempting this brainless act had made him rather jumpy. A few people walking by were giving him questionable stares. He then looked back over at the building.

        A small part of him was praying for a miracle to happen, something that would give him a good reason to abandon this crazy plan. After waiting a couple minutes and nothing had happened, Robert then wiped at his brow and quickly looked around. As he thought about what he was about to do, a couple of tears had managed to run down his bristly cheeks. He couldn’t believe what he had been reduced to. “Why me, huh?” he asked as he looked up at the sky. “What did I do to deserve this?”

        The longer she stood in line, the more painful it was on her back and legs. At seven months pregnant, she found that even some of the simplest tasks had become quite difficult to do. She had been standing in line for what seemed like days; all she wanted to do was make a deposit. She tried looking past her to see what was going on up at the front, but she couldn’t see much from where she was standing. She then glanced down at her round stomach and placed a hand on when she felt the baby move.

        “That’s quite a kick you got there,” Ann Dalton said to herself with a chuckle. “It won’t be much longer,” she added as she patted her stomach, “assuming we can get to the front some time today.”

        Sam saw the Imaging Chamber door appear near the front of the line. Al stepped through as he keyed in a command on the handlink. The illuminated sheet of light had vanished as the hologram quickly made his way over to the Leaper. “Thank God I’m not late. Before you say anything, Sam, I’m sorry. I was in the Waiting Room with Ed. But don’t worry, I’ll help you through this.”

        Sam turned his head to the side as he brought a hand over his mouth. “You’re cutting it awfully close here, Al,” he whispered.

        “I know,” Al replied apologetically. “I meant to show up earlier but I lost track of the time. I had Ziggy run another check to see if anything had changed.” Al shook his head as he read the data off the handlink. “So far nothing.”

        Sam looked over behind him, past the small crowd, at the heavy glass door. A quick glance at his wristwatch told Sam that his time was just about up. “I only got two minutes left,” he whispered.

        “I know, Sam, but we’re working on it. Unfortunately there’s not much you can do right now. From where you’re at, you wouldn’t be able to reach him before he can draw his gun out. We have to play it cool, Sam. As long as you can keep David Carpenter and Ann Dalton from getting shot, everything else will be alright. This guy, Wells, never got away with the robbery so we already know that. You save those two and you’ll Leap right out of here.”

        Sam looked behind him again. “I can’t believe this,” he whispered.

        “You’re telling me,” Dave replied, obviously thinking that Sam was speaking to him. “This is too damn ridiculous.”

        Sam barely heard Dave as he held his gaze on the door. The next minute seemed to have dragged on for an eternity. Al had stood next to him, checking data off the handlink.

        “This is crazy,” Robert muttered to himself as he stood in front of the bank, a wadded up black trash bag in one hand. “Just go home,” he told himself. “Just turn around and go home. Yeah.” He’d turned around and managed only a single step before he stopped himself, frowning as he thought about what he had just said. “Home.” The only thing that was waiting for him was a small, cold car that was parked in the parking lot behind the bank. He had nowhere else to go, no one to turn to. “This is it. It’s now or never. No turning back.” Quickly looking around, he ducked his head as he made his way over to the bank. He shoved his hand in his coat pocket and pulled out the handkerchief. He tied it around his face, covering his nose and mouth.

        The line had barely moved when the soft chime of the door bell was heard. Sam looked over at the door and didn’t see anybody at first. “Damn it,” he harshly whispered.

        Al was already tapping at the handlink’s blinking keypad. “He’s in here, Sam. He’s in the back.” Al then jabbed an index finger at the keypad and his image vanished. When his image reappeared, he was standing next to a person whose head was lowered, his face covered with a handkerchief. Al leaned in closer and saw the nervousness in the man’s eyes. “Oh boy,” he said as he pushed a button on the handlink. “Sam!” he exclaimed when he re centered on the scientist.

        Sam jumped a bit in surprise. “Don’t do that, Al,” he said as he brought a hand over his mouth.

        “Sorry, buddy, but I just saw the guy. He’s in the back of the line. And boy does he look nervous; he looks as if he could go off any moment.”

        Then, as if on cue, the quiet hum of activity was suddenly broken as somebody in the back of the line shouted, “Everybody stay where you are! Th-this is a holdup!”

PART FOUR

       The line quickly gave way as the nervous gunman made his way over to the counter, holding up his weapon as he made his way over to the counter for everybody to see. “Everybody just be quiet, okay? The sooner you all cooperate, the sooner all this will be over.” He then glanced back at the frightened teller, the pistol shaking slightly in his grasp as he pointed it at her. “You! G-give me all the money you got.” He then shook the wadded trash bag a couple times and then held it out to her. “And n-no tricks, either.” As the teller went about filling the bag with what money she had in her drawer, he swept his gaze across the large group of shocked and terrified people.

        “What are you thinking, Ed?” Dave asked Sam as he kept his gaze on the gunman. When he saw Sam step out of line he harshly whispered, “Sharpe! What the hell are you doing?”

        “Yeah, Sam,” Al said incredulously, “what are you doing?”

        Sam remained quiet as he carefully made his way up to the front of the line, being careful as to not draw the gunman’s attention too soon. As he made his way through the line, Sam was met with a few stares and wide eyed expressions. This wasn’t to say that Sam wasn’t nervous; his heart was hammering in his chest an he held his breath as he slowly made his way to the front of the line. When he was about halfway towards the front, he solidly connected with somebody going in the opposite direction.

        “Out of my way,” she told Sam. “I have to get out of here.”

        It took Sam a moment to calm her down; he gently reassured her safety as he held her shoulders. As he tried to calm her down, he glanced down and noticed her protruding stomach. He then looked her in the eye. “It’s okay, it’s okay,” Sam told her. “I’m a police officer. I can help you alright? But you have to remain calm.”

        It took another moment or two for the woman, Ann Dalton, to calm down. When she did, she met Sam’s gaze with watery eyes. “Y-you’re a cop?”

        Sam nodded. “Yes, and I can get us all out of this mess but you’re going to have remain here, alright? Trust me, Ann.”

        Ann frowned as she leaned back a bit. “How did you know my name?”

        Before Sam could even begin to come up with an excuse, Robert Wells shouted, “Hey! What’s going on back there?”

        “Stay here,” Sam said to Ann. When Ann slowly nodded, Sam smiled and then continued on his way towards the front of the line. Along the way, he quietly reassured many of the other people who were frightened. When he got to the front of the line, a few of the people moved back, giving Sam the space that he needed. With his hands raised, he took a couple steps towards Wells but was abruptly stopped in his tracks when Wells pulled the hammer back on the pistol.

        “Stay there! Don’t move another step!” Wells yelled as he whirled around and shakily aimed the gun at Sam.

        Al’s image blinked into view next to Sam. “Ah, Sam? You might want to take things easy here. Ziggy says that you’re changing things, here. She says that Ann Dalton doesn’t get injured. The odds on David Carpenter getting shot have gone down to ten percent while the odds on Ed getting shot have gone up to sixty. Originally, Carpenter tried this stunt and it got him killed.”

        As he kept the gun aimed at Sam, Robert narrowed his eyes and licked his lips. “You’re that cop that pulled me over the other day, aren’t you?”

        Sam slowly nodded. “You don’t have to do this, Robert. It’s not too late to end this.”

        Robert could hardly believe what he was hearing. As he heard Sam talk the stronger the anger was, the heavier the sorrow had set in. “You don’t get it, do you? It’s already over for me. I have nothing left.”

        “No,” Sam replied. “That’s not true. Let me help you. Please, don’t throw your life away over one bad mistake.”

        “WHAT LIFE?” Robert’s eyes flared with rage as the pistol shook even more. “Listen to me, you stupid son of a bitch! I don’t have a life, okay? I don’t have anything so it’d be kind of hard to throw something away when you don’t have it, don’t you think?” His laugh held no humor behind it.

        “What happened?” Sam asked.

        “What?” Robert asked incredulously.

        “With you,” Sam said. “What happened to you that brought you here to this point?”

        The gun still shook in his grasp, although it had subsided considerably. His eyes heavily watered as he squeezed them shut in an attempt drive away all the pain and angst that had held him prisoner for the past couple days. “Wh-when you lose everything that you have, which isn’t much, you tend to not give a damn about everything else. I tried, and I tried, and I tried! I worked my ass off until they fired me! Then,” Robert broke off into a very brief bout of humorless laughter, “then my friend tells me that I have to be out of the house unless I can come up with five hundred bucks! Tell you what, cop, you tell me how I can pull money out of my ass and then maybe I’ll start listening to you.”

        David Carpenter made his way through the crowd. When he was halfway towards the front, he glanced over his shoulder and saw a young, pregnant woman holding her stomach, taking short, deep breaths. “Are you okay, ma’am?” he asked her.

        Ann Dalton looked over at him and smiled. “Oh I’m fine. Just too much excitement, I suppose. I just want this nightmare to be over with so I can go home.”

        Dave took a couple steps past Ann and a few others; he saw Sam speaking with the gunman, and from the looks of things, Dave could see that Sam had a good grasp on the situation. He wanted to be up there, helping him, but he knew as well that if he were to do that he would very well end up making the situation worse. He then moved back and smiled at Ann. “It seems that my partner has got a good handle on things.”

        Ann asked, “Your partner? You’re a cop, too?”

        Dave nodded. “Yes I am. I just transferred here about a week ago. I’m from Las Cruces .” He could still see that she was rather scared so he kept her talking, getting her mind off the situation as much as possible. “So, uh, how far...along are you?” he asked with a tip of the head at her round stomach.

        “I’m seven months along,” Ann replied.

        “You want a boy or a girl?”

        “It doesn’t really matter to me but a little girl would always be nice.” Ann met’s Dave’s gaze and smiled at him.

        “You have no idea what I’m going through,” Robert said to Sam. “You probably have a nice house, beautiful wife, kid, good job...all that happy bullcrap. I bet you didn’t have to work real hard for it, either.”

        “This isn’t about me,” Sam replied. “I want to help you but you’re going to have put the gun down, okay? Let these people go and we can talk.”

        “And then what? You slap the cuffs on my wrists, throw my ass in jail, and call it a day?” The more the cop kept talking to him, the less Robert cared about anything else. At first he’d felt nervous when he came in but since he was already this far into the situation, there was no turning back now.

        “Listen to me, Robert. I know you think that you don’t have anything left, that nobody cares. That’s not true; I care about you and what happens to you. You’re right, though. I haven’t been in your situation but that doesn’t mean I can’t help.”

        “Oh really? And how could you possibly help me? And for that matter, why?”

        Al stood next to Sam, watching the interplay. A couple of beeps from the handlink got him to read the data scrolling across the screen. “Ziggy says that the police will be there in about ten minutes. It seems that while you’ve been talking to Wells, one of the people had managed to slip out the door and notify the police from some public payphone near by.”

        “Robert,” Sam said slowly. “The police are on their way. Now, before this gets out of hand any further, why not just turn yourself in? I promise I’ll do my best to help you.”

        “The cops?” Robert asked nervously and a bit quickly as his eyes darted from Sam, to the crowd, and then back to Sam. “B-but how? Who?”

        “That doesn’t matter. What matters is that if you don’t stop this now then you will be throwing your life away.”

        “SHUT UP!” Robert howled as he took a step forward, gun pointed straight at Sam. He held it on Sam for a moment and then suddenly took aim at a group of people standing behind Sam. “Which one of you called, huh?” When nobody answered him he pulled the hammer back with his thumb, the soft click of the hammer was seemingly louder. That simple click sent a wave of panic to surge through the bank’s occupants. The teller beside Robert ducked behind the counter. “Tell me! Which one of you called the cops?”

        “They’re not here,” Sam said quietly. When Robert jerked his arm around and pointed the gun back at Sam, Sam said, “They’re not here, Robert. Don’t do this.”

        When she heard the soft click of the gun, Ann flinched and instinctively turned away from the noise, her head buried in Dave’s chest. At first, he was startled but then he gently smoothed her hair and held her gently.

        “It’s going to be alright,” he told her. “Ed and I will get all of us out this damn mess. Just take it easy.”

        Ann nodded as she pulled herself from Dave, wiping at her watery eyes. “I-I’m so sorry about that.”

        Dave smiled at her and said, “It’s perfectly alright. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

        “I just can’t believe that all this is happening, you know? It’s like some horrible dream that I can’t wake up from.”

        “Trust me, all this will be over soon. Just a few minutes ago, I saw someone sneak out through the door. Hopefully they called the police.”

        “I just pray to God that nobody gets hurt,” Ann told him.

        “Of all people,” Robert said as he kept the gun pointed at Sam, “why would I take advice from a cop? Especially a cop who gave me a damned ticket for running a stupid light. It’s funny when you think about it,” he added, “how do you think I was going to be able to pay that ticket?”

        Al narrowed his eyes as he went over to Robert. Standing next to him, the hologram eyed him closely. “Sam, ah, I don’t think this guy really wants to hurt anybody. I can see how scared he is.” Looking back at the Leaper he said, “Continue to take it easy. He’s just a kid; he doesn’t know what to do.”

        “What would you say if I was able to help you get a job?” Sam asked. His arms were starting to cramp from holding up his hands so at first he started to lower them but when Robert grew even more nervous, Sam took a step back and then slowly lowered his hands.

        “Y-you could do that? Get me a job,” Robert said a bit skeptically.

        Sam nodded. “I can try. I can get in touch with some people and see if perhaps there’s some sort of work program that could help you get back on your feet.”

        Robert seemed to be considering this, if the slight curious look in his eye was any indication.

        “It’s working, Sam.” The handlink beeped a couple times. Al held it up and said, “The odds on Ed getting shot have gone down to twenty percent.”

        “At least put the gun down,” Sam offered. “I promise you that nothing will happen. No tricks.”

        Both the hologram and the Leaper could see the conflict that dwelt within Robert Wells. The gun wavered more with each passing moment.

        “I don’t want to see you get into any more trouble than you already are,” Sam told the confused and angry young man. “After all, it’s my job to help others. In fact it’s something that I’ve been doing for quite a while now.”

        “B-but I don’t have a home,” Robert said. “I’d have nowhere to go.”

        “Not necessarily. Let me see what I can do, Robert. Just please, put the gun down. I promise nothing will happen to you.”

        Robert could see the truth in Sam’s eyes. He then swept his gaze across the group. He knew damn well that at that point he wasn’t going to get away with it, not even if he really tried. The cop already knew his name, for starters. But, at the same time, he couldn’t just go back to nothing. Spending his days drifting along the streets aimlessly and his nights curled up in his car. Slowly pushing the hammer forward with his thumb, Robert lowered his gun as he pulled off the handkerchief. He dropped the gun as he staggered back until he bumped into a wall. Staring at Sam, he let himself slide down the wall.

        The handlink beeped a few times. Al held it up and read the new data. “Crisis averted, Sam. Ziggy says that everything turns out fine. The cops should be here in about five minutes.”

        The crowd looked on in slight confusion by the turn of events. Sam kept his distance from Robert, but he slowly made his way over to the dropped weapon. Kneeling down he picked it up and then went over to Robert. Sitting down next to him on the floor, his back against the wall.

        “Robert Wells willingly turns himself in,” Al said as he went over to Sam, continuing to read the new data. “Ed Sharpe makes good on your promise, Sam, and helps Robert find work. He even went to bat for him and helped Robert get a reduced jail sentence.” Al lowered the handlink as he held his gaze on the distraught would-be gunman. “Two years later, after losing his job, Robert Wells committed suicide by jumping off the roof of the building where he’d been working at the time.”

        “Oh God,” Sam breathed as he leaned his head back against the wall, eyes closed.

        “I know, Sam. I know you want to save the world but I guess there are some battles that just can’t be won.”

        Robert looked over at Sam. “Is everything really going to be alright?” he asked.

        “Uh,” Sam stalled, “um, I...think so.” He frowned at his words and then sighed; Robert Wells was only a kid and to hear that in two short years his life would actually be over brought a pang of guilt to his heart. His role as Leaper was to better the lives of those whom he encountered, not to alter them to make things worse. Indirectly he felt himself to be responsible for Robert Wells’ suicide. After the Leap was over, whether he would remember it or not, the guilt would carry on with him.

        “I’m so screwed,” Robert muttered and then chuckled as David Carpenter came over to them.

        “Is everything alright over here?” Dave asked as he shifted his gaze between Sam and Robert.

        “Yeah,” Sam said after a moment as he slowly stood up, “everything’s fine.”

        Dave nodded. “Good. They should be here in about a minute or two. I’m going to go tell everybody else, okay?”

        Sam nodded. As Dave left he looked over at Al and asked, “Everybody else is okay, right?”

        Al quickly checked the handlink and nodded. “Oh yeah. Nobody gets hurt. They’re all fine.” He then pressed a button and the Imaging Chamber door opened. “Since it seems that you still have a little bit of time left, I’m going to go say good-bye to Ed. I’ll be back.” He stepped through the illuminated sheet of light and with a single press of a button, the hologram disappeared.

        Sam looked about the lobby of the bank, watching as the crowd conversed amongst themselves as they awaited the arrival of the police. He even saw Dave talking to the pregnant woman who he had prevented from running off earlier.

June 19, 2008

Project Quantum Leap

Waiting Room

        “You should be going back home at any moment now,” Al told Edward Sharpe the Third as he stood in front of the examination table. “And when you do, you’ll probably find yourself at the Albuquerque Bank and Trust.”

        Ed smiled widely at the mention of returning home. “That’s great news, sir. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy your company,” he quickly added.

        “I just wanted to come by and say good-bye before you left,” Al told the Visitor. “I must say that the past day has been a...real treat for me.” When he noticed the confused look on the young man’s face Al said, “You’re one hell of a guy, Ed, and it was a great pleasure to meet you. I probably shouldn’t say this but you remind me an awful lot like somebody I know.”

        Ed laughed. “Is that a good thing?”

        “Yeah,” Al replied with a smile. “Yeah it is. Your son is very lucky to have parents like you and Elaine.” What Al wanted to tell him was how much his son was like him, how he’d grown and accomplished everything in life that Ed the Third had hoped he would. He, too, wanted to tell him that his son was going to be a father soon but the potential ramifications of the simple task far outweighed the good intentions behind it.

        “Am I going to remember any of this when I go back?”

        “Well,” Al replied with a slight shrug, “from what we gather most people who come here remember their experiences sort of like a dream. Some remember a bit more, though.”

        Ed nodded. “I just hope that I’m still able to remember what all we talked about.” Ed thought for a moment and then asked Al, “I bet you don’t get asked this often but do you think that there’s a chance that I may be coming back some day? I still don’t quite understand how this whole time travel business works but I’d like to do this again.”

        Ed was right; in the fourteen years since Sam Beckett had started Leaping through Time, Al couldn’t recall the last time that somebody had asked to come back to the Waiting Room. Speaking of which, since Sam had yet to Leap out Al surmised that it was most likely so that he could have some last words with Edward Sharpe the Third. However there had been several instances where he was given some extra time before moving on to his next assignment so it was hard telling. “I’m not sure on that one,” he told Ed, “but if given the opportunity I’d like to do it again.”

        After glancing at his reflection on the reflective table top Ed asked, “This is what you and Doctor Beckett do? You guys just jump through Time, helping people along the way?”

        “You could say that. We’ve been doing this for quite a while now so what you may consider ‘out of the ordinary’ around here it’s just another day.” Al laughed, as well as Ed, and after a moment or two the handlink chirped and beeped.

        Ed took notice of the handlink and asked, “I suppose you couldn’t tell me what year this is, could you?”

        “Ah, no, I can’t tell you that. It’s-”

        “Classified,” Ed finished with a smirk. “I didn’t think you could.”

        Al then tipped his head towards the door. “I have to go,” he said as he went over to the table, hand extended. “But I must say that it’s been real...educational.” The two men shook hands. “You take care of yourself now.”

        “Same goes for you,” Ed told him.

        Al smiled and then went over to the heavy metallic door. When he was at the top of the ramp, he glanced over his shoulder, watching the young man sweeping his gaze across the wide room. With a heavy sigh, he bent at the waist and stared into the small scanner. After retina scan was confirmed the door slid open. Al didn’t look back as he exited the Waiting Room.

        When he saw the door open Ed quickly leaned to one side and narrowed his eyes. Again, he saw the oddly familiar guard standing just outside the room. Although the door remained open for only a moment, it just long enough for him to catch a glimpse of his face. As the door slid shut, he sat back up. He took the time to think about all that he had experienced in the past day; finding himself in this strange, blue room with no recollection as to how he even got there in the first place, meeting the Admiral who seemed like one hell of a nice guy, finding out that this Doctor Beckett was a time traveler from the future who was currently living his life in the past, and then seeing that guard who was just on other side of the door. Thinking of all these things, and how familiar that guard seemed, Ed came to a conclusion that had even shocked himself. With widened eyes that began to water, he slowly got down from the table and took a few steps towards the door. He stopped himself and quickly wiped at his eyes with the sleeve of the Fermi suit. “Eddie?” he said in a voice that was hardly above a whisper. After saying that he laughed as he shook his head. No, it couldn’t be. It would be just too...strange for that to be the truth. There was no way. At least that what Edward Sharpe the Third kept telling himself as he went back over to the table.

******

        Sam and Dave stood just out in the front of the bank with the other hostages. The police had arrived and the scene was bustling, with people looking on from across the street. Traffic had even slowed significantly so that the motorists could see as well. The front entrance of the bank was crowded.

        “What made you go up to him like that?” Dave asked as he watched a couple of the officers speaking with an older gentleman and one of the tellers. Sam saw the teller look over her shoulder and point at Sam.

        “I could just tell that the kid was real nervous. I didn’t want to see him ruin his life.” With a shrug and a smile Sam added, “After all, that’s what we’re here to do isn’t it?”

        Dave laughed. “That’s true, buddy. I never would’ve figured that you would go right up to him like that but I’m glad you did. That took balls, Ed. You could’ve gotten shot.”

        “I’m just relieved that nobody was hurt,” Sam told Dave. The two looked over and saw Robert Wells, hands cuffed behind his back, being escorted over to one of the police cruisers. Robert caught sight of Sam and stared at him as he was he was led to the car. He only looked away when the two officers put him in the back seat and closed the door.

        “What a mess,” Dave muttered. He saw Ann Dalton standing near the car, speaking with another police officer. Dave excused himself and went over to her.

        “Hey, Sam.” Al came into view, standing next to the police cruiser that Robert Wells was sitting in. He went over to Sam. “I wanted to make sure that everything was alright with you. Ziggy checked into it and she says that Ed’s partner, Dave Carpenter, goes on and stays with the Albuquerque Police Department until Nineteen Ninety Nine when he retires. Ann Dalton goes on to have a healthy baby girl in November. And get this,” Al said as he continued to read the data, “Dave Carpenter and Ann Dalton wind up getting married in November of Eighty Two. They go on to have two children of their own, and they’re still living in Albuquerque .”

        Sam smiled as he watched Dave and Ann. “That’s great. What happens to Ed?”

        Al didn’t need the handlink for that, as he slipped it in his jacket pocket. With a heavy heart, he told Sam the fate of Edward Sharpe the Third. “On his son’s fifth birthday, August Ninth, Nineteen Eighty Six, he and Elaine were on their way back from the bakery with Eddie’s birthday cake when a drunk driver by the name of Dalton Reed was driving on the wrong side of the road. They collided head on; both Ed and Elaine were killed instantly. Reed survived and later was charged with vehicular manslaughter. He spent some time in prison and then was released.”

        “And I’m not here to stop that?” Sam asked incredulously.

        “At this point in time, Sam, there really isn’t much that you can do. Who knows? Maybe one of your Leaps would be the one that can save them.” It just as painful for Al to relay the news as it was for Sam having to deal with it.

        “But Eddie is alright, isn’t he?” Sam wasn’t completely sure; he could only vaguely remember encountering Edward Sharpe the Fourth.

        “Oh yeah,” Al said. “After his parents’ death, Eddie went to go live with his grandfather, Edward Sharpe the Second, until April of Two Thousand. After Ed the Second passed away of natural causes, Eddie stayed with a close friend of his until he graduated high school. I guess it couldn’t hurt to tell you this,” Al said with a smile, “but you do remember Christa, don’t you?”

        Sam nodded. “Uh, yeah, I think so. She’s your youngest daughter, isn’t she?”

        Al nodded. “Yes, and about a year ago for us she and Eddie were married. In fact they’re expecting their first child.”

        Sam couldn’t believe what he had just heard. “Little Christa’s going to be a mother?” Sam couldn’t stop smiling, even when a police officer had approached him.

        “You sure as hell look like you’re in a good mood, Sharpe,” the officer told him. He didn’t wait for Sam to respond as he glanced at his notepad. “Listen, Ed, these people here tell us that it was you who talked Wells out of robbing the bank. They said that it was you who was able to calm him down.”

        Sam nodded. “That’s right.”

        The officer then shook his head and chuckled. When Sam questioned him the officer simple held up a hand and said, “It’s nothing. Never mind. Of course you know the drill.”

        “Drill?” Sam questioned with a furrowed brow.

        “He means that you have to go down to the station and tell them what happened,” Al said.

        “Oh, right, the drill...yes. Look,” Sam said as he quickly read the name off the small pin, “Henson, I’ll be right down. There’s something that I have to do real quick.”

        “No problem,” Henson said. “I still have to talk to a few more of these people. I’ll meet you there.” Henson then went back over to join a couple other officers.

        Sam went over to the car that Robert Wells was sitting in. He saw Robert staring straight ahead. It was a few moments later that Robert looked over and saw Sam. Sam wanted desperately to help him, to prevent his suicide. When he couldn’t find the words to say, he sighed out of frustration. Two police officers then went over to the car. They both regarded Sam with a tip of the head and then got into the car. Robert was still staring at Sam as the car took to the streets, heading towards the police station.

        “Why, Al? Why can’t I?” Sam asked as Al stood next to him.

        “With Quantum Leaping, even some things are inevitable. You did what you could, Sam, and it was because of you that those two survived. It’s because of you that they got their lives back. You did great.”

        Even though he found comfort in Al’s words, he still couldn’t help but to feel sorrow for the tragic deaths of Robert Wells and Edward Sharpe the Third. Even as the familiar tingle began to take hold, Sam stood there next to Al, watching the police car down the street. His body was engulfed in blue light as the car turned a corner, disappearing from view. He looked at Al and smiled as the electrical energy ran down his body. The world around him was obscured in bluish white light as he once again entered the infinite realm of Time.

June 19, 2008

Project Quantum Leap

Cafeteria

        Ensign Edward Sharpe the Fourth sat across from Al at one of the many long tables in the cafeteria. He picked up the clear plastic cup and sipped at his Coca Cola. “Is everything alright, sir?” he asked as he set the cup down.

        “Oh yeah,” Al said with a nod, “everything’s fine. I just wanted to have a few minutes with you. I wanted to know how you and Christa were doing.”

        “Nervous,” Ed replied with a slight chuckle. “I don’t know who’s more nervous, me or Christa.” It wasn’t until about a minute later that Ed said something to Al, something that nearly everyone in the family knew about but didn’t speak of. “I-we,” he quickly corrected himself, “are still pretty scared, Dad. After what happened before, you know...with Christa’s miscarriage. We just don’t want anything to...happen again. I couldn’t handle it if it happened again.”

        Al, Beth, Julianna, and everybody else in the Calavicci family, not to mention the entire staff of Quantum Leap, shared the same concerns. Ever since Doctor Roy Bremmer, a.k.a. Duke Lothoman, was discovered to have been the creator of the toxin that had been used on Christa by the Evil Leaper, he, along with Commander Fulton and Jules, had increased security at the Project. Dom had even upgraded Ziggy’s sensors so that it would be harder for any Leaper to go undetected. “Listen, Ed,” Al said to the young Ensign, “ever since then we’ve upped the security here so if they even tried to come back, we now stand a much better chance of detecting them. Besides,” Al added with a shrug, “I doubt that even they’d be dumb enough to come back here and try again. If you ever have any concerns, or if you even just want to talk, you know where to find me.”

        Ed smiled as he picked up his cup. “Thanks, Dad, I appreciate that.” He sipped at his cola and then set the cup back down. “Christa and I are going to be taking a road trip here pretty soon,” Ed told Al. “Yeah, Christa and I are going to be picking up Vanessa, too. We’re still not exactly sure where we’re going yet but I’m finally able to cash in some of my vacation time. You know,” Ed added with a shrug, “to get some time for us before the baby arrives.”

        “That sounds nice. Just what ever happens, be careful.” Al met Ed’s gaze.

        “Of course,” Ed retorted with a smirk. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Well, slap my ass and call me Cowboy,” Ed said as he glanced at his wristwatch. “I wasn’t aware of how late it was. Christa and I are supposed to be going out for dinner in a couple hours. I still need to get back and change.”

        Al leaned his head back a bit and smirked. Ever since he recuperated from the near fatal attack, Ed hadn’t quite acted like his old self. At times, where he would’ve been uptight and nervous, he was calm, collected, and even a bit jovial. Al couldn’t understand what brought on the sudden change of character but he didn’t question it, either. At times it even made Al laugh. “Okay,” Al said with a chuckle, “you best get a move on then. It’s not best to keep the women waiting.”

        “Yeah,” Ed grinned, “tell me about it. I’ll catch you later, Dad.” Ed drained his cup, got up, and went over to the counter and placed the cup on a tray. As he passed by Al, he clapped him on the shoulder. “Take it easy.”

        “You too,” Al said as he watched Ed go over to the elevator. He didn’t look away until Ed stepped inside the elevator. “Huh,” he muttered as he sipped at his drink. In some ways, Edward Sharpe the Fourth was exactly like his father, and in other ways they were completely different. He remembered the Leap that had brought Ed’s best friend, Joe Wright, to them. He remembered how cocky the kid had been, the way he was always cracking some joke. It was the little things, really. Like certain things, he would say. Certain things that Ed now said. It was a mystery that Al had felt that he would never quite solve.