From: Coast2C@aol.com Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 21:47:49 -0400 Message-ID: <960430213032_387228292@emout13.mail.aol.com> Subject: Convergence: Part 21 of 25 Convergence by Dana Anderson Part 21 of 25 (Author's Notes and Disclaimer found in Part 1) * * * * If Sam hadn't known it was physically impossible, he would have sworn that Al held his breath the entire time Jenna was gone. Sam spent most of the afternoon and evening of the day she left with him. They outlined the phases of the retrofit and finalized the personnel requirements. After dinner, Al told Sam he was going for a walk. When Sam offered to keep him company Al declined. Sam returned to his own quarters and before he went to sleep he sent a fervent prayer to whoever might be listening that Jenna would return soon, and for good. Al was quiet but not openly depressed when he met Sam for breakfast the next morning. Sam had the feeling that Al was waiting, not ready to say good-bye and not ready to hope for anything more. When Ziggy interrupted them in the office later that afternoon to advise them that Donna had returned from Boston, Sam was torn. He was anxious beyond tolerance to be with his wife again, but he didn't want to leave Al alone. As Sam hesitated, Al gave him a look of complete astonishment. "Why the hell are you just sitting there, kid?" Al demanded. "Has it been so long that you've forgotten how to do it?" Sam was momentarily startled. "Do what?" Sam said, then reddened when Al groaned "Sam!" When Sam still didn't move from his chair, Al realized what was going on in his friend's mind. "Go on, Sam" Al said quietly. "I don't need supervision." "I never thought you needed supervision" Sam replied. "Just a friend, maybe." "Thanks, pal" Al said. "I did and I do, but not right this minute. Go on, get out of here." * * * * Al went to bed early that night and when his internal alarm clock went off he found himself wide awake at four thirty a.m. He decided not to try and force himself back to sleep so he rose and ran through his morning routine. As he left his quarters and walked toward the elevator he became aware of a pulsating vibration that was more tactile than audible. He continued to walk while he tried to locate the source and identify it. When he realized where it was coming from a smile spread over his face. Al retraced his steps to the door of Jenna's quarters and put his hand on the door. The wood was vibrating in time with a four four beat. *Well,* he thought, *she can't blame me for not knocking.* Al went into the living room. Jenna was not immediately in evidence, but her Class A uniform blouse had been tossed onto the couch. This brought Al up short, and he stood there staring at the dark green garment. Jenna never treated her uniforms carelessly. She was every bit as conscientious about her appearance as she had been when Sam and Al had glimpsed a small sample of her routine back in 1989. Al could think of only two reasons why Jen would have left it there; either it would soon be crammed into a duffel bag and require cleaning and pressing when she reached her new duty assignment or she wouldn't need to wear it again. While Al was trying to sort out his feelings about these two options, Jenna walked into the room. She had just gotten out of the shower. Her hair was wet and tousled, her bathrobe had a smear of toothpaste on the front and her eyes were red from an overnight flight on a plane that was too small for sleeping comfort. Al thought he had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life. Neither of them remembered moving toward the other, but they would always remember that embrace. * * * * An hour later, their physical passion sated for the moment, they looked into each other's eyes and touched the other's face lightly. Jenna was always reluctant to feel Al withdraw from her, so this time he had remained sprawled on top of her. He propped himself up on his elbows so he could see and touch her face. Finally, Al could not delay his question any longer. "Did you get your orders rescinded?" he asked. "Not yet" Jenna said. She saw the disappointment and indecision in his eyes and stroked his cheek gently with one fingertip. "I did everything I could. Now there's nothing to do but wait. I'd much rather wait here than in D.C." she added. "I'd rather you waited here, too" Al said "but what are we waiting for?" "Different orders" she replied. Al tried to get her to tell him more, but to no avail. "Don't worry, Al" was all she would say "everything will be all right." Finally, he decided to trust in her assurances. * * * * There was something to be said for waking up at four thirty if he could have a morning like this one and still be on time for breakfast, Al thought, as he and Jenna loaded their trays in the cafeteria. A phrase from an old Armed Services commercial popped into his mind so, with a playful grin on his face, he leaned over and whispered in Jenna's ear. "'We accomplish more before nine a.m. than most people do all day'." Jenna burst out laughing. When Sam and Donna entered the cafeteria they were confronted with the sight of Jenna in hysterics, Al clapping her on the back to keep her from choking and a confused knot of people trying to get their breakfasts without tripping over the hazard to navigation the laughing couple was causing in the main traffic lane. "I see Colonel Tyler is back" Donna remarked. "Yeah, she is, isn't she?" Sam said with a wide grin. He went over to Al and helped him get Jenna seated in a chair at a nearby table. Donna, Sam and Al returned to the kitchen, retrieved food for four and brought it back to where Jenna was sitting; still chuckling but beginning to regain some measure of composure. "What's so funny?" Sam asked, as he sat down. "Sorry, Sam," Jenna said, wiping her eyes with a napkin. "You had to be there." "Over my dead body" Al stated firmly, with a glance at Jenna. This set Jenna off again, so Al fixed a plate for her while she attempted to recover from her renewed frenzy of amusement. Al poured her a cup of coffee. "Here, drink some of this" he said, putting the cup in front of Jenna. "I swear I'll never understand how someone who's as lethargic as you are in the morning ever made a successful career in the military." Jenna, who had nearly attained a calm state, started to laugh again. "Lay off her, Al" Sam warned. "She's going to hurt herself." Al gave Sam one of his patented 'Who me?' looks, but when Sam just glared back at him he relented. Al poured Jenna a glass of milk, put it in front of her and began to serve food onto his own plate. Jenna gasped for breath for a moment or two, wiped her eyes on her napkin again and drank some of the milk. Jenna finally got herself under control and the foursome enjoyed a pleasant, if somewhat more subdued, meal. As their conversation ranged from one topic to another, with changing levels of involvement and interest among the individuals, Sam began to notice something unexpected in the dynamics of the group. Donna did not particularly like either Al or Jenna, Sam realized. When they finished eating and cleared the table Sam, Al and Jenna elected to remain for a second cup of coffee. Donna kissed Sam on the cheek and excused herself saying that she wanted to get started on her notes from the conference. Sam sipped his coffee for awhile in silence. Al and Jenna exchanged a series of glances. It was Al who spoke. "What's the matter, Sam?" Al asked. Sam looked up at the two of them. He didn't know what to say or how to say it. Al saved him the trouble. "She doesn't have any reason to like us, Sam" Al explained. "We don't have much in common, you know." "Maybe so," Sam objected "but I don't have much in common with you either and we're friends." Al sighed. "You're not Donna." Sam shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Al took another sip of coffee and tried another tack. "Look at it from her perspective, Sam. If I hadn't helped you get the funding for Project Quantum Leap you'd probably have secured a prestigious chair at some revered institution of higher learning by now. You'd have research grants coming out of your ears and be famous all over the world. Instead, you're out here in the middle of nowhere, buried in the desert with a project that no one else really understands, pursuing research you can't publish." Sam quietly considered Al's words for awhile. "I wonder what would have happened if she hadn't stood me up at the altar the first time; I mean before I changed history" Sam said. Al knew what Sam was really thinking. "It's not that she begrudges you having your dream come true, Sam, and she really does love you; it's just that this isn't how she expected your lives to turn out." "She doesn't remember that I leaped back in time, either" Sam added. "No, she doesn't" Al agreed. "You've changed her life and even her personality, to some extent, along with her history. You and I remember what happened before, but she doesn't. It's hard on her, flying back and forth between the places she wants to be and the man she loves. There she has lectures, conferences and faculty teas with people she can relate to. Here she has you; but she's stuck out in the desert keeping company with a couple of career military types she finds somewhat disreputable and completely incomprehensible." Sam still looked downcast, so Al went on. "Come on, Sam. Jen and I don't mind that Donna isn't likely to sign up as president of our fan clubs, why should it bother you so much?" "I don't know" Sam said. "Maybe it was just that I didn't expect it." "Well, get over it. Okay?" Al asked. "I'll try" Sam agreed. He looked over at Jenna. "Have you decided whether or not you're going to help me go through Ziggy's programming?" he asked. "I think I had better stick to the overhaul of the power plant for the time being" Jenna replied. Sam looked at Al, who returned a noncommittal shrug. "If that's what you want" Sam said. * * * * Jenna remained on the elevator when Al and Sam got off at the level of Al's office. As the two men walked down the hallway together Sam broke the silence. "Did Jenna get her orders canceled?" Sam asked. "No" Al said. "She's got something going on, but she won't say what. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what it is she's got up her sleeve." "I hope it's something good" Sam remarked. "You and me both, pal" Al confirmed. * * * * Two days later, Al was working in his office when the intercom beeped. "Admiral? This is Corporal Jenkins at the main entrance. Are any V.I.P.s expected today, sir?" "No" Al answered. "Why?" "Well, sir" the corporal almost squeaked "we've got a V.I.P., a very large V.I.P., at twelve o'clock. Approaching fast, sir." "I'll be right there" Al said. He bolted from his chair and hightailed it to the main entrance. By the time he arrived, the bogey had made his way across the parking lot and reached the same doorway in which Al stood. Very large was an understatement. The stranger was six foot eight at least and massed something around three hundred pounds by Al's best estimate; not an ounce of it fat. His impressive black face looked as though it had been chiseled from stone and his uniform was spotless. "I'm Major General Brooks" the man said in a deep, booming bass voice "and I'm looking for Colonel Tyler." The general handed Al his I.D. card and security pass. Al looked them over carefully, then returned them. "Admiral Calavicci" Al said, extending his hand and watching in concern as it disappeared into the general's huge grip "I'll show you where you can find her." *I hope this guy is on our side,* Al thought, as he conducted the general to the main power control room. *If it comes to blows I don't think even the entire US Navy football team could kick his butt.* When they entered the main power room, Al spotted Jen immediately. She was sprawled face down on the floor, her head, arms and shoulders thrust under the raised floor. Al was a little disconcerted by the fact that Major General Brooks seemed to have no more difficulty recognizing Jenna from the waist down and from behind than he did. The general strode over to her, bent down and grabbed the waist of her fatigue trousers and her belt with one hand and lifted her bodily out of the trench. He raised her, with one arm, up to the level of his shoulder and bellowed into her face. "Colonel, don't you know you're supposed to come to attention when a superior officer enters the room?" Brooks' voice boomed. Jenna looked distinctly uncomfortable and ridiculous dangling from his grip, but she somehow managed to reply with equal strength. "Put me down you big, dumb, son-of-a-bitch!" she shouted. Al nearly fainted. The general continued to hold her in mid air, observing her with the same expression an eight year old might have used on an interesting bug. "That's 'Put me down you big, dumb, son-of-a-bitch, sir!' to you runt" his impressive voice intoned. Jenna just glared at him. "So where's this stud that's got you so hot you were ready to resign your commission?" Brooks whispered. "He's on your six, range ten yards. He's eyeing a pipe and trying to figure his best plan of attack if you don't put me down in the next thirty seconds" Jenna whispered back. "Oh" Brooks whispered, then he bellowed again. "Do you have a hearing problem, Colonel?" "No, General. Put me down you big, dumb, son-of-a-bitch, sir!" she bellowed right back. "That's more like it" Brooks said with a satisfied smile and a chuckle. He reached up with his free hand and grabbed a fistful of Jenna's shirt just below her chin, tilted her to a vertical position and set her firmly back down on her feet. "Your uniform is a disgrace, soldier, and I didn't even get a kiss." Al suddenly decided it might be better to hit the general with the pipe first and then faint. "My uniform was fine until you manhandled it and you're not getting a kiss unless you've got something for me" Jenna said. "Oh, I got something for you" the general said with a robust laugh. "Boy, do I ever have something gooood for you." Al revised his plan. He would throw up first, then hit the general with the pipe and then faint. Brooks reached into his breast pocket, produced a folded piece of paper and handed it to Jenna. Jenna unfolded the paper and read it. She flung her head back to look Brooks in the eye. "Elevate me, big guy" she requested. Brooks grabbed her by both arms and lifted her so that her face was on the same the level as his. Jenna planted a big, wet kiss on his cheek. "Thanks, Joe" she said. "I knew I could count on you. I owe you big time." Brooks set Jenna back on her feet. "I don't know about that" he said. "If there's anything to this reincarnation stuff and you look me up in the next life I think I'll still be in your debt." "Well, how about dinner in Santa Fe and a couple of gallons of scotch?" Jenna suggested. Brooks shook his huge head. "Not this time, sad to say. I've got to get going. Take care of yourself, runt" Brooks said. He turned and crossed over to Al and gave him a long, contemplative perusal. Al made a motion toward the door with one hand and Brooks preceded him out of the room with a gleeful wink at Jenna. *Oh, brother,* Jenna thought. *If Joe tries to get Al's goat he's going to get _way_ more than he's bargaining for.* She considered going after them, but decided they would have to learn how to play nice together sooner or later, so they might as well start now. Joe Brooks kept his peace during the long elevator ride up to the main level. He could sense that the Admiral's mind was in overdrive; Brooks could almost hear the wheels turning. *I wonder which of the sixteen thousand questions that are bouncing around in there are the ones he's going to spit out,* Brooks thought. Neither of them had said a word to the other by the time they reached the main entrance, so Brooks made the opening sally. "Walk me to my car, Admiral?" Brooks inquired. "Of course, General" Al replied. When they reached the car, Brooks gave up waiting for the admiral to decide what he wanted to say. He turned and looked down into the intense, but not quite belligerent, stare the smaller man was aiming at him. "As you must have guessed by now, Admiral, Jen and I are very good friends; have been for over twenty five years" Brooks began. "In fact, with the exception of my wife, she's the closest thing to family I've got in the world. She's also got more guts and integrity than any two people I've ever met. If it ever came to my attention that someone hurt her, I might not be able to stop myself from snapping that person in half like a dry twig." Al met the general's stare evenly. "If you ever hear about someone hurting Jen, let me know" Al replied in a firm, quiet voice. "You can hold my coat and I'll do the butt kicking." Brooks continued to stare at Al for a few moments, then a booming laugh erupted from him. *The guy's got balls anyway,* he thought, as he lightly clapped Al on the shoulder with one hand. Brooks had intimidated men twice Al's size with a mere look. He put out his hand. "It was a real pleasure meeting you, Admiral" Brooks said with genuine admiration. "The privilege is all mine" Al said, shaking Brooks' hand with somewhat less apprehension than before. Al watched as the general folded himself into his car and drove off. Then he turned back to the project complex to see if Jenna could explain just what the _hell_ all this had been about. * * * * End Part 21 of 25