From: Coast2C@aol.com
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 21:34:30 -0400
Message-ID: <960430212638_387223901@emout12.mail.aol.com>
Subject: Convergence:  Part 18 of 25

Convergence
by
Dana Anderson

Part 18 of  25      (Author's Notes and Disclaimer found in Part 1)  

*               *               *               * 

When the pale blue light vanished, Jenna was surrounded in a 
suffocating darkness.  The voice was still there and it called to her.  
She did not want to hear it or respond.  The blackness went on and 
on.  

>From time to time she thought she could hear a familiar voice.  It 
produced a warm feeling in her, but she did not have the energy 
needed to listen closely enough to hear what it was saying.  The 
powerful voice was a hundred times louder and it took every ounce 
of strength she could muster to defy it.  After an eternity of 
resistance, the forceful voice began to recede.  She tried to reach out 
to something, anything familiar or safe; some anchor that could 
serve as a point from which she could start her journey back to life.  
Her senses returned no information to her mind.  Suspended in a 
void, purposeless and confused, the force of her will began to ebb. 

Just as the last, feeble activity of her mind began to fail, she became 
aware of a sensation of warmth.  She snatched at it with the trace of 
will she still possessed and held on.  The sensation of warmth grew 
and began to sustain the strength of her grip on its' support.  As she 
focused her invigorated will on the sensation, it began to take form.  
A strong arm around her torso.  The gentle pressure of a hand on 
her ribs.  A whisper of breath against the side of her face.  All these 
were familiar, and she struggled to identify their connection and 
significance to her.  Then a soft voice became audible to her.  "Come 
back to me" it said.  Recognition flashed through her soul and her 
mind responded with a joyful shout.  Al!

*               *               *               * 

After he called to Jenna, Al concentrated on the faint signs of life 
she still exhibited; willing  them to increase in strength.  As he 
waited for her to respond, his repeated plea became a litany.  "Come 
back to me" he said, over and over.  For a long time, it seemed a 
futile endeavor.  Finally, Al felt the cold rigidity of Jenna's body 
begin to relax.  

"That's right" he encouraged her.  "I know you can do it.  Come 
back to me."  With his left hand, he could feel her ribs expand with 
inhalations that became deeper and more frequent.  His right hand 
was clasped around her wrist and his fingertips registered a stronger 
and more regular pulse.  As hope began to surge in his heart once 
again, he repeated his plea.  "Come back to me" he implored.  

A wave of vitality seemed to course through her body.  "Al" she 
whispered.

Jenna did not speak again or open her eyes, but the force of life Al 
had felt return to her remained.  He mentally rejoiced at the 
transformation of the cold body he had held into the warm familiar 
form he now embraced.  But his elation could last only so long 
against the physical and emotional toll the last few days had placed 
on him and he eventually fell into a blissful sleep.

*               *               *               * 

Sam waited all night for Al to appear at the doorway to the 
infirmary's office.  At six thirty in the morning he decided he 
couldn't give Al any more time.  Dr. Ambrose had been right the 
first day when he had insisted that the Admiral was Sam's 
responsibility.  Al had seen Sam through some very personal and 
painful problems; it was time to return the favor.

Sam's eyes went directly to the spot where he had seen Al every time 
he had entered the ward room before, but Al was not there.  Sam 
was so surprised that he spent a confused moment trying to figure 
out how Al had left the infirmary without going past him.  Then 
Sam's glance settled on the bed and his heart leapt into his throat.  

Al was sound asleep in bed with his arms surrounding Jenna, a 
peaceful smile on his face.  He was holding her upper body across 
his chest and her head was leaning against the side of his face.  

Sam was rooted where he stood in shock.  In the minutes it took his 
frozen muscles to begin to relax, Sam's instincts as a doctor caused 
him to take a long look at Jenna's face.  The strained look was gone 
and her skin, instead of having the pallor of the corpse Sam 
expected, actually had more color.  As Sam continued to stare, he 
thought he saw her chest rise.  The impossibility of the situation 
caused Sam to shake his head.  This action snapped the immobility 
that had gripped him.  

Sam stepped over to the bed and carefully touched Jenna's wrist.  It 
was warm and there was a pulse.  He took his hand away and stood 
next to the bed while he counted to one hundred to calm himself.  
As Sam finally felt his heart slow to a normal rate, he reached out 
and put one hand on Al's forehead to wake him without startling 
him.  Al's eyes opened wide almost immediately and he started to 
move.  Sam caught his attention, motioned for Al to remain where 
he was and held a finger up to his lips.  Al relaxed back into the 
mattress.  Sam moved one of Al's hands away from Jenna's chest.  
He used a stethoscope to listen to a steady, normal rhythm of both 
heartbeat and respiration.  Sam used a pressure thermometer to get a 
reading of 98.5 degrees from Jenna's ear.  He felt the inside of her 
wrist again and measured a pulse of fifty five beats per minute.  

Al carefully watched Sam's actions and observed, with a great deal 
of satisfaction, the look of astonishment grow on his friend's face.

Sam put both hands in his pockets and stood silently at the bedside 
for a minute or two.  He looked at Al again.  "See if you can wake 
her" he said softly.

Al shifted his position slightly so he could look directly into Jenna's 
face.  He stroked her hair, forehead and the side of her face slowly 
and carefully with one hand.  "Jen, can you hear me?" he said.  
"Wake up.  Wake up and look at me."

Jenna's eyelids fluttered, she opened her eyes and looked directly 
into Al's gaze.  

"Good morning" Al said gently.  She smiled at him briefly, then her 
eyes closed again.

Sam attracted Al's attention and motioned for him to get out of the 
bed.  Al shook his head, lay down on his side and moved closer to 
Jenna so that their bodies made contact from head to foot.  He slid 
one arm underneath her and reached over her body with the other to 
completely embrace her.  He settled his chin above her shoulder 
which positioned his face against the side of her head.  Al closed his 
eyes and began to drift off to sleep again.

As a doctor, Sam was not sure he approved.  As a friend, he 
understood and was happy beyond words.  Sam grasped the top edge 
of  the sheet and blanket he had disturbed to check Jenna's vital 
signs and drew them up over the shoulders of the sleeping couple.  
Then he turned and left the room.

*               *               *               * 

When Jenna woke completely, two hours later, she was first aware 
of an odor.  It was both exhilarating and comforting; the scent of the 
man she loved.  She took a deep breath to savor his fragrance.  Her 
increased movement caused Al to stir and he raised himself on one 
elbow to look at her face.  He could see the fatigue and weakness 
there, but her eyes were shining as she studied his face.  

Jenna tried to speak, but all that escaped her lips was a dry, breathy 
sigh.  Al jumped out of bed with the intention of bringing her some 
water, then thought better of taking any action without a doctor's 
advice.  He kissed her forehead.  "Hold on" he said.  "I'll get Sam."  
Al pulled on his pants and hurried to the office.

As Al swung open the door from the exam room, he hit Sam Beckett 
squarely in the back.  Sam moved out of the way to allow him to 
squeeze through.  Al glanced around to size up the situation and 
realized that Sam had been barring Dr. Ambrose's entry into the 
ward room.  He threw Sam a look of gratitude.  "She's awake," Al 
said to his friend.  "and thirsty, but I didn't want to do anything until 
you had a look at her."

Al was resigned to the fact that he wouldn't be allowed back in the 
ward room until the examination had been completed, but Sam 
touched his arm and indicated that Al should accompany him.  They 
left Dr. Ambrose in the office and rushed to Jenna's bedside.

Sam handed Al a small pitcher.  "Will you get some water for her, 
Al?" he asked.  Al nodded and turned toward the bathroom.  
"Welcome back" Sam said to Jenna with a smile, and began to 
assess her condition.

Al returned and waited quietly for Sam to complete his examination.  
When he had finished, Sam pulled the bedcovers back up to Jenna's 
waist  and turned to Al.  He took the pitcher and poured a cup of 
water.  Sam turned back to Jenna and raised her head with one hand 
while holding the cup to her lips with the other, allowing her a few 
small sips before he took the cup away.  Al had moved up to the 
bedside next to Sam.  

Jenna looked at the two of them.  "If I ever need my tonsils out," she 
whispered "I'm coming here.  I really like the progressive rules 
regarding visitors."  

Sam's jaw dropped and Al began to chuckle.  When Al looked up at 
the expression on Sam's face, he laughed even harder.  He took 
Jenna's hand in his,  "I think Sam expected someone who just 
returned from the dead to have something a little more profound to 
say" Al remarked.  "How do you feel?"

"Alive" Dana replied, smiling.  The look in her eyes conveyed an 
additional message to Al.  "But tired" she added.

Sam's doctor reflexes kicked back in.  He picked up Al's shirt and 
tossed it to him.  "Get dressed.  I don't want her getting over 
stimulated" Sam said, with a wicked grin.  Al snorted, but grinned 
back.  Sam turned back to Jenna.  "Before we get out of here and let 
you get some rest, there's something I want to ask you."  He took a 
folded piece of paper out of his pocket.  Al had seen him looking at 
it several times over the past couple of days.  It looked like one of 
the pages from the stack of calculations Jenna had done on the 
retrieval program.  Sam opened the paper up and smoothed it 
against his chest.  He held it in front of Jenna so she could see the 
entire page.

"I found your calculations very interesting, but I can't follow them 
completely" Sam said.  Al's eyebrows rose at the admission.  Sam 
pointed to a symbol near the middle of the page.  "I don't recognize 
this.  What is it?"

"It's a variable" Jenna replied.

"I can see that" Sam continued.  "But what does it signify?"

"The Hand of God" Jenna answered.

Sam looked puzzled for a moment, then his eyes widened in 
astonishment.  "You have a mathematical notation for Divine 
intervention?" he gasped.

"You don't?" Jenna's expression was one of genuine surprise.

*               *               *               * 

Sam and Al spent the next few hours in Sam's office playing twenty 
questions with Ziggy and trying to catch up on the history of this 
timeline.  The major changes all seemed to be centered on Project 
Quantum Leap.  Ziggy confirmed that Dr. Beckett had not leaped 
back into the past, he had only projected himself as an observer.  
When they began to check the histories of some of the people whose 
lives Sam had changed, all the changes remained intact.  Finally, Al 
interrupted the interrogation.

"Enough, all ready" he growled, putting his hands to his temples.  
My brain hurts."

"But it doesn't make any sense, Al" Sam objected.  "If I didn't leap 
back into the past, those peoples' lives wouldn't have been changed.  
I thought you said Ziggy always remembered all the pasts, no matter 
what alterations were made in time."

Al nodded.  "Until now, apparently.  Maybe you and Jen can figure 
it out together."  He smiled as he said that.  "She insists there's 
something wrong with Ziggy's programming and I have to agree 
that the evidence of the last few days supports her theory."  He 
stretched and looked at his watch.  "I'm going to check on the state 
of the paperwork in my office."  Al looked Sam up and down.  "You 
should get some rest.  No sense trying to figure all this out when 
you're tired."

"You're right" Sam agreed.  He pried himself out of his desk chair as 
Al rose from the armchair which stood against the side wall.  Sam 
pointed a finger at Al and assumed a stern expression.  "You stay 
away from the infirmary and let Jenna get some more sleep.  I'll 
meet you for dinner at six and we'll go and check on her afterwards.  
Okay?"

*               *               *               * 

Sam was disappointed, to say the least, that Donna was in Boston.  
Ziggy said she would be back from her conference in a couple of 
days.  Sam tried to be understanding.  After all, from Donna's 
perspective they had been together a week ago.  He couldn't tell her 
that from his point of view it had been two years, and that visit had 
been brief.  Sam called her at the hotel again and concentrated on 
the enjoyment of hearing her voice.  He limited his expression of 
regret to telling her that he missed her and hoped that she would 
hurry back.  After he hung up, he sighed and went to bed.

*               *               *               * 

Al had to call up every reserve of discipline in his soul to stay away 
from the infirmary.  He grimly buckled down to wading his way 
through several days worth of paperwork in an attempt to distract 
himself from thinking about where he wanted to be.  At five he 
breathed a sigh of relief, turned out his desk lamp and went to his 
quarters to shower and change for dinner.

Al had thought that dinner would seem as interminable as the 
afternoon in his office.  Instead he found that, for all the time he had 
spent conferring with Sam as Observer on his leaps, he had really 
been starved for the opportunity to talk with his friend.  Just sitting 
there in a mundane place and eating ordinary food was made special 
because Sam was back where he belonged and they could talk about 
themselves and their concerns.  No worries about who Sam was and 
what he was supposed to change. 

"I'm sorry Donna's not here, Sam.  That's a rotten break for you." Al 
said, midway through the meal.

"Thanks, Al" Sam replied with a sigh.  "I just keep reminding 
myself that if I hadn't leaped back in time she wouldn't be here at 
all, ever.  It helps a little."  He sighed again.  "Let's change the 
subject."

"Okay, pal" Al said.  "What would you like to talk about?"

Sam's face started to take on what Al recognized as his innocent 
look.  "Gee, I don't know.  How about, oh, Jenna?" he said with a 
smile.  

Al glared at him.  

"Come on, Al" Sam implored.  "I usually can't get you to shut up 
about women.  Now here's an intelligent, interesting and lovely 
woman who, God knows why, appears to adore you and I can't get a 
peep out of you."  

Al had narrowed his eyes and folded his arms across his chest.  Sam 
smiled at him for a moment.  "All right, I get the picture.  Forget I 
asked.  So, beautiful weather we're having, isn't it?" Sam remarked.

Al barked a laugh.  He uncrossed his arms, picked up his fork and 
pushed the food around on his plate.  Al looked back up to Sam's 
face.  "It's great" he said, not necessarily referring to the weather.  
"Just incredible."  Then he returned to his meal.

Sam picked up his own fork and began eating again as well.  He was 
now even more interested in furthering his acquaintance with 
Colonel Jenna Tyler.  Any woman who had this kind of effect on Al 
Calavicci was worth getting to know better.

*               *               *               * 

When Sam and Al arrived at the infirmary they were confronted 
with a flustered Dr. Ambrose.  "Am I glad you two are here" he said.  
"Maybe one of you can talk some sense into her.  Or failing that, you 
might have enough combined fire power to knock her unconscious 
for another couple of days."

"Problems?" Sam asked.  Al just stared at the man.

"Nothing but" the physician complained.  "She woke up a couple of 
hours ago.  While I was out of the room she got out of bed and 
dressed.  If I hadn't gone back in she probably wouldn't still be 
here."

Sam and Al exchanged glances.  Sam turned back to Dr. Ambrose.  
"We'll take care of her, Doctor" Sam said.  "Go ahead and take 
yourself off duty."

Dr. Ambrose sighed in relief.  "Good luck, you'll need it" he said as 
he left.

"Should we take his advice and arm ourselves?" Sam asked Al.

"Completely unnecessary, trust me" Al replied as he headed for the 
ward room.

Dr. Ambrose had propped a chair against the door to the ward room.  
Al snorted and removed the chair and he and Sam entered the next 
room.  Jenna was fully dressed and sitting in the chair Al had 
occupied while she was unconscious.  The irritable expression on 
her face cleared when she saw who had entered the room.  

"The cavalry, at last.  You're here to rescue me I trust?" she asked.

Al scratched his head.  "Dr. Ambrose assigned us a job already.  
We're supposed to be the assault force on a mission to subdue you" 
he said.  Al looked at Sam.  "Which sounds better to you, assault 
force or cavalry?"

Sam shrugged.  "I don't know.  If I pick cavalry do I get to ride a 
white charger?"

"Very amusing" Jenna said looking back and forth at the two of 
them.  "Seriously, can you get me out of this place?"

"That depends" Al said.  "What did you do to Dr. Ambrose?"

"I merely pointed out to the good doctor that a patient who has 
exhibited a normal condition for a period of ten hours might not 
require constant medical supervision" Jenna replied.

Al nodded.  "And I'm sure you put it just like that.  What do you 
think, Sam?"

Sam motioned for Jenna to get up.  "Exam room, please.  Scram Al.  
Make some coffee or something."

All three of them walked into the exam room and Al continued 
through to the office without complaint.

*               *               *               * 

Sam joined Al in the office a half hour later.  Al glanced up at the 
doorway.

"She'll be here in a minute" Sam said as he poured himself a cup of 
coffee.

"How is she?" Al asked.

"Way too much like you for my peace of mind" Sam responded.  Al 
glared at him.

Jenna entered the room and accepted Sam's offer of a cup of coffee 
and a chair.

Sam sat down at the desk and faced Jenna.  "If you want, this 
conference can be private.  It's up to you."

Jenna looked at Al, then back at Sam.  "That's all right, Dr. Beckett.  
Go ahead."

Sam nodded.  "Okay, and please call me Sam.  First of all, it was a 
valiant attempt, but you didn't fool me."  He held up a hand when 
Jenna appeared to be about to interrupt him.  "Granted, all your vital 
signs are normal.  However, your reflexes, balance, coordination and 
muscle strength are still subnormal and significantly below your 
abilities as recorded in exams that were done prior to my retrieval."

Sam noticed the worried look that Al gave Jenna.  *Good,* Sam 
thought, *he's going to continue to be a help in her recovery.*  
"Second," he continued "I don't think these conditions are 
permanent, but there's no point in taking any chances."  Jenna 
sighed and looked down at her coffee cup. 

"Lastly," Sam said "I tend to agree with you that around the clock 
medical supervision is unnecessary."  Jenna looked back up at him 
with a relieved expression.  "But," he concluded "you need to take it 
very easy.  No strenuous activity, short work hours, plenty of sleep 
and exams every other day to check your progress.  Understand?"  
He meant the instructions to be heard by both of them and was glad 
that Jenna had not insisted that Al leave the room earlier.

Jenna nodded.  Al responded verbally.  "She understands" he said 
and looked back at Sam.  "We both understand."

"Good," Sam said, grateful that Al had picked up on his intention.  
"Well, get out of here both of you.  I'll leave a note for Dr. Ambrose.  
Come back day after tomorrow and he'll check you out again.  Good 
night."

*               *               *               * 

Al and Jenna left the infirmary.  When the elevator started, Jenna's 
knees buckled and Al had to support her by both elbows to keep her 
from ending up on the floor.  He took her to his quarters, sat her on 
the couch and sat down on the coffee table facing her.

"So, maybe you didn't fool Sam completely; but you did fool him.  
Didn't you?" he said.  Jenna nodded.

"How bad is it?" Al asked.  

Jenna looked up to meet his eyes.  She wouldn't lie to him, ever; and 
she saw in his eyes that he knew this as well as she did.  "Pretty bad.  
My legs are really weak.  I get dizzy if I stand up for more than a 
minute or two.  I keep misjudging distances.  My arms and hands 
are weak, too.  I'll pick something up and it just drops out of my 
hand" Jenna answered.

"And..." Al prompted.

She sighed.  "And my vision and hearing keep fading in and out."

Al rubbed one hand across his face, then got up to pace.  He came 
back and sat down on the coffee table again.  "And the reason you 
didn't tell Sam all this is?"

"I didn't want to have to stay in the infirmary" she admitted.  "I was, 
well, I was afraid to be alone there."

Al got up and moved over to the couch.  He put his arm around her 
and she laid her head on his chest.  

Al considered the situation.  If he called Sam and filled him in on 
her actual condition Sam would probably order her back to the 
infirmary.  The chances that Al could talk Sam into letting him stay 
with her were pretty slim.  It was one thing for Sam to let him get 
away with breaking the rules when he thought she was dying or 
during the first shock of her recovery; Sam wasn't likely to let him 
stay with her overnight again.  

Al thought about how hard it had been to sit next to her bed and feel 
unable to help her.  It must have been much worse for her, but she 
hadn't been given the opportunity to talk about it yet.  Al didn't want 
to do anything to endanger her, but he wasn't so sure that being in 
the infirmary was necessarily the safe choice.  He understood about 
being alone.  He also understood about hospital rooms.  He had been 
there, once upon a time, and knew exactly how she felt.

Jenna lifted her head.  "Are you going to tell Sam?" she asked.

Al kissed her forehead and squeezed her shoulder.  "I don't know" 
he admitted.  "But if I do, it won't be tonight."  He tipped her chin 
up and looked her in the eye.  "So, madam, I am at your service.  
Are you hungry?  Thirsty?"

"No," she said "Just tired.  But I would really love a shower before I 
go to bed."

Al considered this.  "No, I think a bath would be safer if you're as 
weak and dizzy as you say.  I'll help."

*               *               *               * 

The bath was difficult enough.  Jenna really was weak and Al was 
glad he had been, or so he had thought at the time, overly cautious.  
The bath had used up what little strength she had in reserve and she 
fell asleep as soon as Al climbed into bed next to her.  His concern 
for her caused him to sleep lightly and he awoke several times in the 
night when she began to thrash and cry out.  Jenna quieted right 
away when he held her and talked to her soothingly, but the 
disturbances of her sleep added to his worries about her.  He knew 
about nightmares, too.

*               *               *               * 

End Part 18 of 25