Date: Sat, 30 Aug 1997 16:10:11 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Choices - Chapter 9 Message-ID: Quantum Leap Choices by Katherine Freymuth Chapter 9 Dr. Alexander Hathorn winced as he slowly got up from his bed at his apartment in Alamagordo. He hated the disease that inflicted his body, that forced him to use a cane just to stand, that would soon force him to use a wheelchair, and that would eventualy take his life. Of all the opportunistic diseases for him to catch because of AIDS, he had to catch polio. But the pain wasn't just in his legs and back. It was in his head. He had been having migraines ever since.. .Ever since...He couldn't remember. He knew he should remember but he couldn't. It was as if nothing had happened in that part of his life even though he knew that something should have. Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself into a standing position, leaning on his cane for support. His body throbbed at him in complaint as he slowly and carefully made his way to the bathroom, showered, and dressed. The task exhausted him, making him thankful that he didn't have to drive himself to the complex. Leaving his cane in his bedroom, he slowly walked to his couch in the living room, feeling that he would be fine as soon as he rested a while. As he sat down to wait for his ride, another migraine hit him. "Damn," he muttered, his eyes closed against the pain, wishing it would go away. He had already tried every known ver- the-counter drug to stop it without results. He didn't want to see a doctor about it. He didn't like being examined, not even if it was done by a friend. However, he wasn't sure what brought about this fear of being examined. He hadn't feared doctors or examinations before the migraines came; that much he knew. He concentrated on the question of what had happened in that brief time of hislife that he couldn't remember. No matter how hard he tried, though, the memories still did not come back to him. What was more, he wasn't sure he wanted to remember. Sam was headed out of the front door of the Calavicci house, trying to remember the route to the Quantum Leap complex. He was greeted by the sight of Al standing by the front door. The retired Admiral looked tired and concerned, understandable given the circumstances of the leap. However, Sam had a feeling that there was more to his concern than the leap. "Good morning," Al greeted softly. "How'd you sleep?" There was a hint of jealousy in his voice. Sam smiled slightly. "We didn't share the bed," he assured him. "Beth slept on the couch. She said that you never sleep on the couch," he added. Al shrugged slightly. "Not unless I'm in the doghouse - figuratively." Sam looked at his partner. "Al, I need help. I can't wuite remember how to get to the complex." Al nodded. "That's understandable. But, first, you have to go to Alamagordo." Sam raised his eyebrows. "Alamagordo?" Al nodded. "You need to pick up Alex from his apartment. I had volunteered to take him back and forht between the complex and his place." He hesitated. "He just doesn't have the strength to drive." Sam didn't know what to say to Al's words. He was quicet for a moment. "Okay," he finally said. "How do I get there?" Al motioned him to the Ferrari in the garage. "Get in. I'll direct you as we go." Sam obeyed as Al positioned himself inside the car so that he would remain beside Sam as he drove. "Remember how to get out of town?" Al asked. Sam paused thoughtfully before nodding. "Good," Al commented. "Go to the highway and head towards Alamagordo." Sam obeyed, not speaking until he was afely on the road. "Did you check with Ziggy?" he finally asked. Al hesitated. "Yes," he answered. "Nothing's changed." Sam glanced at his friend. "Then why do you look worse than you did yesterday. Something must have happened. What is it?" Al shook his head. "Nothing," he lied, not wanting Sam to worry about the situation with Aptheker. "I've checked with Ziggy and the odds haven't changed an ounce." He paused. "And any and all alternatives look vey bad. The best is only at nine percent." Sam frowned at Al in frustration. Al noticed the look immediately and exhaled. "I'm not happy about it either, Sam. I don't like this leap either and I honestly do wish that you don't have to...." He trailed off, uncomfortable with his words. Sam exhaled. He could hear the sorrow in Al's voice and, suddenly, he wished he hadn't been so hard on Al earlier. Despite Al's belief that causing Alex's death was the right thing to do, the Admiral didn't like Sam and him being the cause. The two men were quiet throughout most of the journey, Sam driving and Al thinking about all that was happening. Sam. Alex. Aptheker. The concerns of everything filled his mind and made him wonder how he was going to solve it all. As they entered the Alamagordo city limites, Al broke the silence gently by clearing his throat. "Sam," he said slowly. "When we get to Alex's apartment, you're going to have to help him to the car. He has a lot of difficulty walking but sometimes he's too stubborn to use a cane. Turn right here," he instructed. Sam obeyed, a slight frown on his face. "He has trouble walking?" Al tilted his head. "Have you heard of opportunistic AIDS- related diseases?" Sam nodded his head. "They're diseases an AIDS patient is especially susceptible to because of their weakened immune system." Al nodded. "Right. One of them is polio." Sam hesitated. "And that's what Alex has contracted." Al nodded again, this time silently. Sam hesitated. "Is he taking anything for it?" Al exhaled. "He's going through some physical therapy and taking a vaccine every day but it really isn't having a huge effect on him. Sometimes, his legs and back hurt him so much that he just can't support himself." "Doesn't he use a wheelchair? How far along is he?" Sam questioned. Al took a breath. "He avoids using a wheelchair as much as possible but it won't be long until he won't have a choice. Remember, in this history, he dies in four months and one month is spent lying in a hospital." Sam's eyes widened in shock. "A month? Al, you never told me he was in the hospital for a month." Al nodded. "Are you starting to see what I mean? And he was on a respirator for most of that time. His lungs were almost completely paralyzed." He took a breath. "Sam, for someone who's too stubborn to use a wheelchair, staying a month in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines constantly, is toture." Sam frowned at Al's words. "It's still wrong, Al." Al didn't answer, looking at his friend. "Turn here," he instructed. "His apartment is on the left. Number 236." As Sam parked the Ferrari and started up to Alex's apartment, he had a sudden flash of memory. He was here before. Before he first leaped in 1995. He could see Alex clearly in his mind - tall, strong, and smiling. Alex was always smiling. Sam approached Apartment 236 with a mixture of anticipation and wariness. He really wanted to see Alex's smiling face again but he wasn't sure he could face the man he might have to, in his view, murder. "Go on in," Al told him as Sam stepped to the door. "They key's on my keychain, right next to the Ferrari keys." Once again, Sam obeyed, unlocking the door and walking into the apartment. "You're late," he heard a voice say. "Was your pale blue suit at the cleaners or something?" Sam looked at the source of the voice and hid his shock. He knew he should have been prepared but he wasn't for the sight of the thin, frail-looking man that sat on the couch only a few feet away. "I overslept," Sam told Alex, approaching him. Alex laughed slightly. "Al Calavicci overslept?" Sam shrugged slightly in response. Alex smiled knowingly. "I see," he said in a mischeivous voice. "In that case, I forgive you." Sam frowned slightly at the comment. Al, seeing Sam's confusion, shook his head withslight disappointment. "Sam, remember that this is ME you've leaped into." Sam exhaled, realizing that Alex was making a sexual innuendo. He shook his head slightly while Alex stood up. "Well, we'd better get going," Alex said. He slowly pushed himself erect, using the couch's arm for support. Al frowned at Alex and searched around the couch. "Where's his cane?" he pointed out to Sam. Sam frowned as well. He looked at Alex. "Alex, where's your cane?" Alex shook his head slightly. "I don't need it." It was an obvious lie; Sam could see that Alex was having trouble staying standing. Sam reached out his hand to steady the fellow scientist to Sam and fellow veteran to Al. "Then why are you so unsteady?" Sam questioned. "You do need it, Alex. Where is it?" Alex exhaled with consent. "It's in the bedroom against the doorframe." Sam nodded. "Sit down for a moment. I'll get it for you." Alex nodded slightly as Sam helped him back onto the couch. Sam then went to the bedoom and retrieved the cane. When he returned, he noticed Alex was holding his forehead in his palms, his head tilted forward. Al was looking at Alex with great concern. He turned his head towards Sam and looked at him for help. "Alex?" he questioned. He squatted slightly so that he could see Alex's face better. Al frowned, looking at his friends. "Sam, Alex had complained a couple of times about having headaches but I've never seen him like this." "It's nothing," Alex told Sam to his worried inquiry. Al lowered his eyelids. "Like hell it is. Sam, Alex is in a lot of pain. That isn't just a headache. Trust me." Sam looked at Alex carefully as Alex seemed to relax. It appeared that the pain was leaving him. Alex looked at Sam's concerned face. "What?" he questioned. "Alex, have you been having migraines?" Alex lowered his eyelids at Sam. "I said it's nothing, Al. Drop it." Al raised his eyebrows slightly. "There's a yes in that tone if I ever heard one." Sam was looking at Alex firmly. "Migraines are not nothing, Alex." Alex glared at him. "Can we discuss this some other time? We're wasting time by sitting here. In case you have forgotten, you may be retired but I'm not and right now I'm late for work." He paused. "So, let's go." Sam exhaled in slight frustration before helping Alex onto his feet. Holding Alex's right elbow in one hand and holding Alex's waist with the other, he helped the scientist out of the building and to the Ferrari. Moments later, he two were traveling towards Stallion's Gate.