From: Philippa Chapman (Glastonbury, Somerset, UK.) Date: Sun 16 Feb 1997 18:00 +0000 Subject: Close to You, Part 3/3 CLOSE TO YOU PART THREE Sam felt something warm and sticky on his hands and realised it was blood. He couldn't tell whether it was his, Grace's or the assailant's. Grace touched him briefly on the shoulder, then they were off again. All the gunmen seemed to have silencers, but the thud when they went off was still considerable. Sam's fingers encountered a wall. "Right, Sam. The master bedroom's to the right." Sam felt his way along the wall, trying to make out anything at all in the darkness. There came another couple of shots, then an almighty crash from a window breaking. An instant later, Sam was covered in fine shards of glass, the air was freezing cold and the curtains were ripped away as someone struggled in them in front of Sam. Sam gingerly picked himself off the carpet and carefully stood to his feet, dislodging the glass as he did so. He could feel several places where the glass had nicked his skin, but he was grateful that it hadn't been anything worse. The wind outside was keen as Sam regained his bearings. Distant lights combined with moonlight were making things much easier to see. Suddenly a man in black, complete with ski-mask came in through the window. Sam put up his hands. "I'm with INTERPOL," he said quickly. A flashlight was shone in his face, making him wince. "Alright. Stand aside and let us finish up the job." Sam watched as several more similar men came in and soon the chairman was liberated and the other gun-men rounded up. Al consulted his Handlink. "Ah, S.A.S. Some of the best. The chairman and his lovely lady are alright and these nozzles get sent down for a good long time." Sam looked around the room, then realised that Grace had been pinned under the curtain with one of the gunmen. He moved forward, pulled off the rich burgundy velvet and encountered a dead body. "Oh, no. Not Grace, please..." As Sam rolled the body over, he saw it was the gunman. Grace lay underneath, pale in the moonlight. Blood covered her tracksuit top. She moaned faintly. Sam knelt at her side. "It's okay, Grace. We did it. The S.A.S. are here now." Her eyelids fluttered open and she winced. When she saw Sam, her lips curved into a beautiful smile. "You were brilliant. The best partner I ever had. Thank-you for treating me like a lady," Al crouched beside Sam, his face full of concern, then Grace looked right at him,"And you are *unbelievably* naughty, Al. Just you wait..." "How do you know my name?" Grace smiled enigmatically. "One of the tricks of the trade," she looked back at Sam, "You're not the only one any more, Sam. There are at least five Leapers doing good in the world, but you're the best. The very best. And I've known about you and waited to meet you since I was 18." Sam glanced back at Al in shock, the question already beginning to frame itself on his lips, but Al simply opened his mouth in surprise, then vanished into thin air. No door; just vanished. Sam turned back to Grace just in time to see the blue-silver of a leap envelope her. "Au revoir, Sam." She vanished, leaving nothing behind. Sam sat down on the carpet heavily in a state of shock and touched the place where her body had just been. The shock was compounded by the pain of losing her so soon. "Ohhh, BOY!" 1989 New Mexico Al was bored and tired. Working on the project with Sam at all hours of day and night, trying to obtain all the equipment necessary to build the dream had shattered his last marriage into shreds. He wandered out of the complex, took the elevator up to the surface and went to get his first breath of fresh air in several days. The guards at the top saluted him as usual and fell back to let him past. He walked all the way down to the highway and lit a cigar in the evening light. "What I need," he said to no-one in particular,"Is a woman who knows about long hours and appreciates the fact that I can't always be there or, even better, a woman who will work alongside me and drag me into my office or bed from time to time. Of course, if she happens to be a peach as well, that'll be just perfect." He had finished his cigar and was contemplating reaching into the pocket of his unusually casual grey overalls for another when he saw the red sports car. "Wow, that's a beauty. Ferrari. Must be an import." He stood up to appreciate it as it drove past, but instead the car slowed down and stopped. Al sauntered over, then stopped dead when he saw the occupant. She was blonde, beautiful and came straight out of his sweetest fantasies. "Excuse me," she asked,"But I wonder if you can give me directions. I seem to be lost." Al favoured the vision of loveliness with his best smile. "Anything to help a lovely lady in distress. What's an Englishwoman doing out here in the desert?" The lady smiled right back at him and Al's interest rose several notches. "I was in the police force until recently and fancied a change of scene. I thought I might see about settling down over here and maybe taking a job in security, maybe even be a personal bodyguard. Do you think I stand a chance?" Al began to see possibilities that all looked highly enticing and exciting. The beginnings of serious desire started to spring into life inside him. "I'm Al Calavicci and I have quite a lot of say in the hiring and firing department...er....locally. Why did you pick New Mexico?" The lady laid her hand over his as she got out of her car. She was wearing a figure-hugging blue cat-suit. Al tried not to stare at the way certain parts of her moved under the fabric. "I'm Cassandra Elliott. If I told you that we shared one night together here in 1999 and I'm hoping very much that there might be more, would you believe me?" Al boggled. Adrenalin started to race around his body. "You mean that the time travel thing is going to *work*? If it brings such beautiful fringe benefits as you, Cassie, I'm going to be very happy. That's one *hell* of a chat-up line." She moved closer, evidently both nervous and excited. "You called me 'Cassie' then, too. Or rather, will call me.....I don't quite understand the theory. I only know that *I've* been waiting since 1976 to see you again." Al smiled delightedly as he pulled her into his arms. "Then I'd better not keep you waiting any longer, had I?" He kissed her, his senses and his heart plunging eagerly off the deep end into the sweetness she offered. When she proposed to him several kisses later, Al threw caution to the wind. "I've got access to a Cessna and a couple of days' leave. We could be in Reno and married by tonight..... I can't think past the prospect of having you making love with me for the rest of my life." Cassie smiled and stroked his face. "You were impetuous and passionate last time once your guard was down. I love you, Al. You are going to be the best lover I ever had." Al grinned. "You tell me *exactly* how good I was and I swear I'll do my damndest *this* time to be even better." Cassie's smile became radiant. "There'll be no barriers between us, darling. Not ever. I'm going to dedicate the rest of my life to making you happy." "Mmmm," Al enthused as he kissed her again,"I have a feeling that you're going to make all my hottest, wildest fantasies come true. This looks like love." "It will be. I promise." 'Let's give three cheers for the sailor's bride who casts all thought of rank aside. And gives up home and fortune too for the honest love of a sailor true.' W.S. Gilbert 'H.M.S. Pinafore.' 1989 (just) 1st January, early hours. Sam closed the door of Grace's empty room behind him and flopped onto the couch. The police, fire services and army had all finished interviewing him and now he was wrecked. He had managed somehow to convince the hotel that he was Grace's cousin. He put the loose cushion under his head, careful of the bruises and tiny cuts, then fell into a deep sleep. In the morning, he got up, took another shower then slept some more, this time in her bed. The pillow smelt of her skin - eau de cologne and something more subtle. He felt he owed it to her to try to put her affairs in order. He was sorting through what little paperwork she had later that morning when he heard the bump in the bathroom. He rose to his feet, all senses on the alert. He put down the can of drink that he'd been holding and moved carefully towards the bathroom. The door opened slowly. Sam stood behind it, waiting. Someone came out and Sam pounced. He rolled the person onto the floor and pinned them down. Turquoise eyes looked back into his and he jumped back in surprise. "*Grace*! Oh God, are you alright?" Then he was pulling her into his arms tenderly, holding her, convincing himself that she was real,"I'm so sorry, I had no idea....." Then his lips found hers and he lost himself in her kiss. They kissed over and over, hot sweet kisses of relief and reconciliation. Sam stroked her hair, her face and her arms. Then he stood up, pulling her along with him and they sat on the edge of the bed. "Why didn't you tell me that you were a Leaper?" "Forgive me; I realised that I could trust you very early on. I just never had a chance to say until the end." Grace smiled at him with open tenderness and Sam felt his heart surrender. "I thought you were *dead*," He kissed her again, then they sank onto the bed,"And you can see *me*. It's been so long since someone could see me...and touch me." "It's been a long time for me, too." Sam stretched himself out beside Grace and kissed her deeply. She pulled him closer and they rolled together further onto the bed. "I thought I'd lost you. Oh, *Grace*...." Sam gave himself completely to the intense longing that was flooding his body, finding Grace right there, sharing every sensation and magnifying it until he could hardly believe it was real. But it *was* real, every kiss, every touch, every smile of delight. They peeled off their clothes, longing to touch each other, hold each other. Both of them gave a cry of delight and satisfaction when their naked bodies finally pressed tenderly against each other. Sam traced the sweet fullness of her breasts and the curve of her hips. He wanted and needed to be even closer to Grace, but held back a little, realising that he hadn't exactly prepared for such an intimate moment. Grace understood the tension in his body. She put her hand on his chest. "Sam, don't worry. I don't normally have such things, but...." She smiled and Sam saw what she had provided. He let go of the final restraint when she welcomed him back into her arms. He looked deeply into her now intensely blue eyes and his soul was in his glance. "Grace, love...." "I know. I wish I could love you forever, too. But sometimes one day is all you ever have. Just love me as much as you can until you have to go." Sam eagerly met the sweetness that Grace offered. They soared together to a shatteringly intense climax that answered all the secret longing that had been there between them from the very start and filled all the lonely places inside with deep joy. Grace traced his lips with her fingers as they lay in the warm after-glow. "Sensei," she whispered, lovingly. Sam smiled tenderly. "There are two senseis here, Grace. We met each other and I think time stood still. It certainly did for me." He cradled her in his arms under the covers. Grace rested her head on his chest. "Yes, time stood still today. You bring to mind the words of Josephine in 'Pinafore'; 'And yet he is so wondrous fair, that love for one so passing rare, so peerless in his manly beauty, were little else than solemn duty.'." Sam kissed her hair and smiled. "You'll turn my head! Anyway, what is it that the object of her affections says....let me see; 'A maiden fair to see, the pearl of minstrelsy, a bud of blushing beauty; for whom proud nobles sigh and with each other vie to do her menial's duty.' That sounds perfect to me." Grace kissed his chest. "Ah, but you're not a sailor, my dearest darling." "No, that's Al, sweetheart. *He's* an admiral." Grace chuckled. "And he'd *love* being surrounded by sisters and cousins and aunts." "He certainly would! I'm content just to have *you*, Grace. I feel like I'm home here in your arms." "Yes, Sam, you are my home for now. Hold me close." They slept, wrapped in each other's arms; then woke together, reaching for each other instinctively. Sam reverently stroked Grace's body. "God help me if I don't want to make love with you all over again," he whispered. Grace kissed him as part of her reply. "Yes, Sam," she answered, before words became unnecessary. This time, Sam let Grace take control. They both gloried in the exquisite sensations that were enduced as they journeyed to the heights of pleasure and fulfilment, then slowly and softly back down to Earth again. Grace dropped her head on Sam's shoulder and they fell asleep, exhausted. When they woke up the next time, they shared Grace's bath. They both enjoyed the pleasure of simply being close to each other. Sam phoned room service and they sat, wrapped in towels while they ate. They retired to the bed and just talked, holding each other close. It was late that night, when Grace was deeply asleep that Al finally turned up. Sam was just coming out of the bathroom. Al looked at him, then Grace and a slow smile broke across his face. "Don't you dare say a *word*. And keep it to a whisper, please. Grace can hear everything we say." Al nodded, but a pleased smile threatened at the corners of his lips. Sam went to the couch and pulled on his tracksuit pants as Al began. "You've really changed the timelines, Sam. It all started when, because of certain *things* during the last leap, your aura got sucked back through time. Cassie never forgot me like she should have done and turned up at the project in 1989. You'll probably remember all this as history next time. Anyway, she completely swept me off my feet. We were married within 24 hours down in Reno and she's now spent the last 10 years making me the happiest man alive. Boy, did *I* have fun when I went back last time - she's an incredibly passionate woman," he grinned mischieviously, then his eyes suddenly grew more tender,"I also found out that I have a son, Sam. He got conceived on our wedding night and I now have this memory of you being there for us....it was so worrying for Cassie, being a mom that late, but she's okay and little Elliott is....a miracle. He's such a wonderful kid, just like his old man, except he's got Cassie's blue eyes. Oh, God, Sam, I never thought I'd make it as a dad..." Al's radiant smile said the rest. Sam's answering joyful smile was nearly as wide. He looked over at Grace's sleeping form and his face became radiantly tender. "You haven't explained about Grace." "I think I'd better explain myself personally." Sam moved over to the bed. "I'm sorry. We were trying to be quiet." Grace smiled in the semi- darkness. "If Al would close his eyes or leave the room, I'll make myself decent. And no peeking, now." Al continued to grin as he went into the bathroom, *through* the door. Sam helped Grace put on her tracksuit with tender care. He was kissing her when Al came back. "Er...should I leave you two alone for a bit longer?" Sam smiled and put on the light by the bed. "No, it's okay. Now, Grace. Tell Al everything. If there's a way of helping you, he and Ziggy will find it." So Grace began. "Even Sam doesn't know all of this. It started when I was a child. I could sense and see things, like people's auras. When I was 18, I happened to be living near the place where you were doing the stake-out as Cassandra Elliott. I saw Al on the pavement outside and I thought I was hallucinating. Then I saw you as well, when you went to check the telephone exchange box. I *really* thought I was seeing things. I was just on my way back from the corner shop with some milk or something like that. I remember wondering what on Earth was going on, especially when Al vanished into thin air. I knew instinctively that it was, to say the least, out of the ordinary. I had friends in the police force. I eventually tracked Cassandra down and we had this very *interesting* talk. She got me into the normal police force while she started putting everything in motion to have a reunion with Al. She knew that she had to wait until the late eighties. Then I started exhibiting stronger psychic powers. I could see crime scenes, criminals, victims. Then I started Leaping. Just small Leaps at first, then gradually larger. I read everything that I could get my hold of to help me. I learnt to direct my Leaps, psychically. I became invaluable to the police force and certain military people, but I refused to use my powers to kill needlessly." "When they tried to force me, I went to Europe and simply disappeared. I went to India and studied deep mysteries with a master, then China. I knew it was going to be tough and I thought I was unique, a freak. But then I encountered the evil Leaper and heard of a beautiful oriental woman who could 'walk through walls', as she put it. I met her and she described Sam to me so accurately that I realised he was a Leaper too." Al and Sam looked at Grace with surprise. "My *goodness*!" Sam said at last, "Tam-lin!" Grace covered his hand gently. "You started Tam-lin's life as a Leaper. She's saved the lives of several people already, but mostly in the oriental world. That's probably why you haven't been there much. There's my master in India and one in Africa; then there's you and me. That makes five at least. When I saw you come out of the gent's here on New Year's Eve, I knew we had to meet. You needed to know that you were not alone." Sam put his arm around her. "How do *you* cope, being on your own?" Grace looked into his eyes. "Now and again there are very special times when I am not alone." A deep and significant look passed between them. Al coughed poiltely. "Well, I've run this through Ziggy and she's going to see if she can do anything to help you. I'll get back to you in a while and we'll go for a retrieval on both of you." Sam pulled Grace into his arms as soon as Al had left and they made love one last time, with an almost urgent desperation. Neither of them wanted their idyll to end, but they both knew this might be the only time they had. When Al returned they had just managed to get dressed again. "Okay. Ziggy says that if this is successfull and you end up in New Mexico, there's a good chance that you will stay put, Grace. Of course, something Sam does afterwards may change that, but it's a start." "I don't know if I *want* to stop yet. It's such a priviledge, putting things right." "If Ziggy retrieves me too, then we could be together....." "I don't know if that will work, Sam. I would be out of my natural time. I should be turning 42 in 1999, not 31." "It can't hurt to try..." "Alright, but if it doesn't, don't be upset. I wouldn't change a single moment that we've shared." Al looked at both of them. "Oh, go on; kiss her, Sam. I'll get Ziggy to try while you're busy." Sam and Grace kissed one last time and the Leap covered them. Al exited the Imaging Chamber and kissed Cassie deeply. "I keep worrying that I'm going to lose you, too." Cassie grinned. "You could always fasten me to you with my handcuffs." "Stop it, you'll give Gushi a heart attack! Okay, Ziggy. Have we succeeded?" "MY FATHER IS MUCH CLOSER TO COMING HOME. GRACE IS STILL LEAPING, BUT THE CHANCES OF THEM MEETING AGAIN HAS RISEN TO 75%. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THEY MAY END UP HERE TOGETHER, UNLESS MY FATHER CHOOSES TO BE WITH DOCTOR ELEESE AGAIN." Al nodded, then smiled. "For a guy who only wanted one true love in his life, Sam has an incredibly complicated set of relationships. I suppose he'll pick the right one in the end; or maybe wind up with a harem. *That* would be interesting." Cassie linked her arm through his. "I'm glad Elliott isn't here. He'd be asking what a harem is." Al grinned. "How do you know that I haven't already told him?" "You'd better not, Albert Calavicci. I hope he'll grow up to be a one man woman. I'd like to see some grandchildren one day." "Yes, me too," Al steered Cassie towards his office,"Now all that talk of harems has got me thinking...." "You want me to get the tent and the Turkish Delight out again, don't you?" "Well, maybe later tonight, once Elliott is asleep. Sammi-Jo can bring her two daughters to play. But I was thinking of idling away some time until the school bus brings Elliott home." "And if Sam needs you in the next hour?" "We can stop kissing and cuddling for a while. This is just a rehearsal for later." Cassie smiled quietly to herself. She knew Al only too well after ten years of married bliss. He was going to need to make love with her now *and* later. LONDON Cassie smiled gently to herself as she re-materialised back in her rooms. She touched the dent in the pillow which was still warm from the impression of Sam's head. "Sam, I love you so much, but the time wasn't right. Anyway, I've already met Donna. I *know* who the one permanent love of your life is meant to be. I'm content that you loved me with your heart and soul while you were here, just as I loved you. My destiny lies in India, with Arjuna. He told me as soon as we met that one day he and I would be lovers, but that I would love another Leaper first. It looks as if he was right, although at the moment I can't imagine loving someone else as much as I love you. It's time for me to move on now, but first..." Grace tidied the room, then removed the pillowcase and hugged it to her chest. She looked upwards at the ceiling. "You'll have to forgive me. I need a tangible reminder - at least for the moment," she closed her eyes and pictured Sam's face,"Goodbye, my darling sensei..." Grace disappeared towards her future; or maybe it was the past..... JUNE 1996 Sam felt reality reform around him. He was on the edge of a swimming pool, alone, wearing blue masculine trunks and the sun was hot overhead. The water was cold. He looked around at white sun-loungers with several people cultivating a tan, then down at the brightly sparkling water. He knew he should be missing somebody very special in his life, but the holes in his brain refused to co-operate. He knew it had been a woman, but that was all. He looked down at the water again, which only gave back a fleeting impression of dark hair. he asked himself. A hand touched his foot and someone asked him a question in fluent Spanish. Sam caught enough to understand he was being invited into the water. He jumped in next to another man, presumably his friend, maybe a brother. He swam across the pool and got out of the other side, searching for clues. It was extremely pleasant here. Sam caught the smell of the sea, then saw it, across the road beyond a wide yellow beach and palm trees. A faint undercurrent of eau-de-cologne from someone nearby tugged at his memory. He smiled slowly and slightly regretfully; whatever it was had been one of the best times in his life. He sauntered over to the entrance to the complex. The sign at the entrance read 'Club del Carmen ; Lanzarote.' "Sun, sand, Spanish and Sangria," he murmured,"Ohhh, Boy!" AFTERWORD 'There's so many different places that this journey's brought me to, And so many different faces, but not one has looked like you. Though my heart knows where it's going, still my head is turning round. Always one last look behind me; will I lose what I have found? We could climb this road together, reaching out to touch the sun. And the windsong is our love-song and the windsong makes us one.' Adrian Snell, songwriter, 1970's (and still going!).