Date: Sat, 16 Oct 1993 17:21:03 -0500 (CDT) From: 2EI5ZEMANP@vms.csd.mu.edu Subject: "In Your Eyes" - Part VI Message-Id: <01H46SBDBH8A90NLAT@vms.csd.mu.edu> IN YOUR EYES Part VI By Philip Zeman 2ei5zemanp@vms.csd.mu.edu "... man that was a great movie. Who said `Hook' was bust?" "I agree. Good choice of movies, Neal." "Uh, thanks," replied Sam, although he had no memory of picking it out. Needless to say, he was glad that small talk wasn't made during the movie. He was in no mood to strain the charade any further than it already was. Why couldn't Ziggy give him any more hope than 61.8 %? And why was that choice really no choice at all? He was growing more agitated as each moment went by without Al appearing and giving him better news. "Neal? Uh, the tape's done rewinding, want to eject it?" Tom snapped his fingers in Sam's ear. "Neal? You okay?" "Wha-? Oh, sorry, Tom, just thinking about something. Don't worry about it." Sam hoped that he could ease Tom's spirits and his own with that fabricated line. Well, he was half-right. "You do too much worrying, you'll miss out on all the fun. Take a look at me, I got all I want right here." He kissed Karen lightly, and she giggled. "Oh, stop it Tom! You never worrying about anything is right! You probably don't even know what you'll do with your life!" Karen was suddenly concerned. Tom feigned shock. "Oh no, what will I do? Guess I'll have to live off of you, when you become successful." Tom started to laugh, but when he noticed no one else laughing, he stopped. "What did I say?" Sam decided to take the matter into his own hands. "Tom, you really should pay attention to what your life is turning out to be. And if you aren't careful and rely on too much, what happens if your crutch breaks?" "Hey! Who's a crutch here?" Karen seemed a little touchy. "Sorry, bad analogy," Sam apologized. "What I'm trying to say is that you have to take control. And hold on to everything good. You don't know what you have until you lost it. That sort of thing." "Neal, when did you stop working at Dairy Queen and start up your own fortune cookie business?" This time everybody laughed. "Seriously, you might be right." Breaking in to his best politician voice he continued, "I promise to take my life and everything around me more seriously." "Very funny, Tom," said Janet as she hit him with a sofa pillow. "Hey, hon, we better go. I have to get up early tomorrow, and you have to work, too. Can't let those fortune cookies get stale, you know!" Sam followed suit and lightly threw a pillow against her. "Thanks for reminding me." He popped out the tape as Janet and Karen exchanged hugs. "Thanks for the use of your house, Tom." "No problem. Oh, Janet?" "Yes?" "You going to be all right by yourself in your house tonight?" "Don't worry, Neal's staying in the guest room, remember?" "Guest room?!?!" Sam nearly choked on thin air. Janet looked over at him. "Yeah, remember? You're staying in the guest room while my parents are gone for the weekend. Well, not alone, really, my bratty little sister will be there, but she should be asleep by now. You are coming over?" The look in Janet's eyes clearly expressed that she was slightly angered by the fact he didn't remember. "Oh yeah, that's right. Sorry, don't know where my head is been." `The guest room, like it will be hard to not think of anything romantic while it's just the two of us, sister or no sister. Damn it Al, where the hell are you?' Sam swore to himself silently. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Al paced around the room furiously. It seemed like it had been an eternity since he left Sam leaving the dance. "Ziggy, you better have something new for me!" Al no longer furious. He was pissed. "It's been over an hour since you've searched for new options. What the hell is taking you so long?" I'M SORRY ADMIRAL, BUT THERE HAS BEEN TWO HISTORY CHANGES SINCE YOU LAST COMMUNICATED WITH DOCTOR BECKETT. IT SEEMS THAT HE CHANGED HISTORY FOR THE BETTER. "Then why hasn't he Leaped?" BECAUSE THIS HISTORY DOES NOT INVOLVE NEAL PHILLIPS OR JANET WILLS. IN THE ORIGINAL HISTORY, TOM CAMPBELL AND KAREN GEILER BROKE UP IN FEBRUARY OF 1993. HOWEVER, DOCTOR BECKETT CAUSED TOM TO EXPRESS HIS TRUE FEELINGS ABOUT KAREN MUCH EARLIER THAN BEFORE. IN THIS NEW REVISED HISTORY, TOM AND KAREN BROKE UP A LITTLE OVER ONE WEEK. "How can that be for the better?" PATIENCE, ADMIRAL. I TOLD YOU THAT HE CHANGED HISTORY TWICE. WHEN DOCTOR BECKETT CONTINUED TALKING WITH TOM, HE MADE TOM REALIZE THAT KAREN IS NOT A CRUTCH OF SUPPORT. NOW TOM AND KAREN ARE HAPPILY ENGAGED IN THE PRESENT TIME. "Thanks for following up on that, Ziggy, but what about Sam?" I'M SORRY, ADMIRAL, BUT THE ODDS OF NEAL AND JANET BREAKING UP ARE STILL THE SAME, AND THE ONLY CHANCE DOCTOR BECKETT HAS OF SAVING THE RELATIONSHIP IS TO HAVE -- "I _know_ that part, Ziggy. Are the odds still the same?" NEGATIVE. THE PERCENTAGE HAS INCREASED TO 62.3 %. "Great, a whole half a percent. Damn!" Al chewed fiercely on his cigar. "Let me know the INSTANT Sam is at Janet's house!" He headed towards the Waiting Room. "Neal is NOT going to like this...." Neal's expression brightened at the sight of the Observer. "Hiya, Al. What's up?" Then his countenance fell sharply. "What's wrong, Al? For God's sakes, you aren't screwing up things for me, are you?" Al hesitated. "Well, no, not exactly. In fact, we've helped Tom and Karen get engaged, as a matter of fact..." he responded, voice trailing off. "Hey that's great! I'll have to tell them about it. Of course, they'll have no clue what I'm talking about! So, why are you looking so sad?" Suddenly, Neal had this twisting feeling in his gut. "Spill it, Al. I can tell something's up." Al decided to finally get this off his chest; what the hell, he had told him almost everything else. "Neal, how do you feel about Janet? Is she just a friend?" "No fair, Al, you've already asked me this." "Enough sarcasm, ki-Neal. Seriously, how do you feel?" Neal was thoughtful for quite a long time, and he finally answered, "I don't know, Al. I don't know." "Neal, I should have told you this earlier, but, the reason Sam is currently in your life is to keep you and Janet together. According to the original history, you and Janet - how shall I put this - drift apart. And, well, we think that you could do much better in your life if you two stayed together." Neal's jaw hung wide open. "You mean, we break up?" "No, not exactly..." "And my life goes to hell without her?" "No, no, no," Al lied, wanting to keep Neal as calm as possible. "It's just that, well, sometimes, Sam's mission is to just make people happier." `I need to get out of here before he finds the real truth.' "Admiral?" Gooshie's voice rang out from the speakers. `I owe You one,' Al silently thanked Whomever was running the show. "Yes, Gooshie?" "I suggest you come to the Imaging Chamber immediately. Dr. Beckett has just reached Janet's house." "I'll be right there." Al turned towards Neal. "I have to go, Neal. I'll be back soon." Neal held up his hand to stop the Observer. "One question, Al. _How_ is Sam going to help me?" "Don't worry we're working on it." Al turned around, but Neal spoke up again. "Well, would it be all right if I talked to Ziggy?" Al considered this for a moment; what would be the harm? He already knew most of what was going on, and he might not get suspicious if he were allowed to talk to the ego-maniac computer. "Sure, go ahead." As the door closed behind him, Al steeled himself for what he was about to do. "All I have to do is change Sam's morals in bout 20 minutes," he said to no one in particular. "No problem. While I'm at it, I'll get him home by myself." Al paused, then continued his trek.