Message-Id: <314892CF.5D4D@skyenet.net> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 16:42:39 -0500 From: Christine Wirick Organization: Soong Press To: alt-tv-quantum-leap-creative@cisco.com Subject: The Assignment to Help an Orphan-ql story p4 "I know," Lori said softly, kissing the boy on his sweating forehead. "Just a little longer, and we'll get you some help." Lori looked up at Sam. "Do you think you can make it to the hospital on foot?" "I have to," Sam replied and pushed the door open against the blizzard's wind. He stepped outside to see Jonathan standing only inches away. "Jonathan, how'd you get here?" "Sam," Jonathan replied in a teasing voice. "Have you forgotten who I am already?" "Oh, right." Curious about how Lori would react to Jonathan's sudden appearance, Sam turned around and stuck his head through the open door and saw the puzzled look on her face. "Where have you been?" Lori asked Jonathan. "Does that matter?" Sam asked. "I think He's a Godsend." He turned toward the angel. "We need help getting the truck unstuck." "No problem. I think my friend and I can manage pushing you out." "Your friend?" Sam asked as an older man stepped out of the swirling snow into view. Sam climbed behind the steering wheel as the angel and the other man walked behind the truck. After only seconds of pushing, the truck moved forward onto the road. "Thank you, Jonathan," Sam said as Jonathan approached the driver-side door. Peter McKensie stood behind the angel. "Don't I know you from somewhere?" Lori asked the older man. Jonathan smiled and glanced back at the Scotsman. "Lori, this is Peter McKensie, your father." For a long moment, no one said anything. Lori looked down at the boy bundled in her lap as though afraid to look her estranged father in the face. "I don't want to speak with you," Lori said. "Do you hear!" "Lori, your father just helped you out of a ditch," Jonathan pointed out. "The least you can do is to be kind enough to give him a ride, so he won't be out in the cold." McKensie was rubbing his arms, emphasizing the fact that he was bitterly cold. "All right. But don't expect any more from me." "Jonathan, Peter, you'll have to ride in the back," Sam said, then closed his door. Jonathan and McKensie hopped up into the back of the truck, noticing for the first time that there was a stowaway. "Who are you?" Peter asked. "Greg Halsey, Marshall County health inspector," Halsey replied, blowing air onto his hands to keep them warm. "If you hitched a ride, then why in the bloody Hell didn't ya pitch a hand in gettin' them unstuck. They've got a sick kid up there that might've died if we hadn't of come along." Jonathan sat silently as a conversation unfolded between the Scotsman and the health inspector. By the time they pulled into the hospital parking lot, Peter McKensie had come to the conclusion that Gregory Halsey didn't have a heart. Not even one that was two sizes too small like the Grinch. After parking alongside the hospital sidewalk, Sam stepped out of the pickup, opened the passenger door and took Robin from Lori. Everyone followed him inside through the emergency doors. Halsey immediately went to a pay phone to call a cab. "Someone please help this boy," Sam yelled. "He has appendicitis." An orderly rolled a bed in Sam's direction, then helped the time traveler place Robin onto it. A moment later a black doctor in his early forties with a name tag reading "Dr. Marvin" came over and began checking Robin's vitals. A middle-aged nurse, Gladys, was writing the symptoms down as the doctor gave them to her. "Nurse, take this boy down to x-ray," the doctor ordered and Gladys began rolling the boy toward radiology. Sam turned toward Lori and clutched her hands inside of his. "He's going to be all right," he assured her. They entered the waiting room together. Halsey, cursing taxi drivers, and McKensie were sitting on opposite sides of the room. Lori took a seat on the south side, away from both men. Sam sat down beside her. "Where'd Jonathan go?" Lori asked. I wonder if he had something else that he needed to do, Sam thought. Did he go to help Al? "He was here a minute ago," Sam said. "I don't understand how he found us in the middle of a storm, or what he was doing for that matter, but thank God he came when he did. We might never have made it to the hospital in time." Sam looked at Lori's father. "There's also someone else you should thank." McKensie's eyes briefly touched on his daughter, then refocussed on the far wall. Lori sighed heavily. "You have to understand where I'm coming from." "But maybe he's sincere in his efforts to bridge the gap between you two." "He's had a lot of years when he didn't even think to call me or send me a postcard. Something. No, I don't think I owe him anything." The time traveler looked to the ceiling, wondering what more he could do or say. It would be a lot simpler if Al or Jonathan were around. * * * * Al had been sitting in his private room for a long time thinking about what Mark had said. He had even turned away Tina when she had knocked at his door. Sam depended on him as an authority. Al had realized that on the day he'd met Sam, but until Mark pointed it out to him, he hadn't realized that Sam viewed him as father-like. Al had filled the void that Sam's natural father had left behind. Maybe Mark's right, Al thought. I could be orphaning Sam in a way. I can't just abandon him. I have to go back, for his sake. Al wiped sweat off his brow. I'm gonna do it, Sam, he thought. I'm going to come back to you. He stood and went to tell Mark Gordon his decision. * * * * "Jonathan!" Ruth exclaimed as the angel entered the living room of the orphanage. "Where have you been? Sam and Lori had to rush one of the kids to the hospital a couple hours ago." "I went to speak with Lori's father. We found her and Mark stuck in the road about a mile from the hospital. Robin's going to be fine." "Thank God." Ruth breathed fervently, then looked him over in confusion. "What made you decide to visit with Mister McKensie out in this weather, especially when you hardly know Lori?" The angel shrugged his shoulders and said, "I wanted to help." "I think you're wasting your time, Jonathan. No matter what you do or say that child is never going to forgive her father for abandoning her." "Well, I'd like to think that there's still hope in every situation. She's with him now. Though they weren't speaking when I left." Ruth turned away to watch the children playing. Anyone of them would probably be overjoyed to have a father, and Lori was pushing away hers. Ruth stood and said, "Come along, children. It's time to eat your supper." The children eagerly followed the black woman into the dining room, that is everyone except Peggy. The angel wasn't surprised that Peggy stayed behind. In fact, The Boss had told him that he'd done everything he could to help Peter McKensie and that he should return to the orphanage to help Peggy. Jonathan approached Peggy, who was still sitting beside the window waiting for her Mommy and Daddy. "Hello Peggy," Smith said. "Do you know who I am?" The little girl looked puzzlingly at him as though she had just realized that someone else was in the room. "You're the janitor that Miss McKensie introduced to us yesterday," she replied. "Oh yeah, but that's kind of like a disguise. I'm actually an angel." "Really? A real true angel?" "That's right and in fact, I know your Mommy and Daddy. They're in Heaven with God right now. They're happy up there, and they want you to be happy too." "But I didn't want them to leave me." Tears began rolling down Peggy's face. "I need them, and they just went away." "But it wasn't their fault, Darling," the angel said, beginning to water around the eyes himself. "They want you to enjoy your life. Don't spend your time waiting for them to return when you can play with the other children. Your parents want you to be happy. They believe you'll find a new family soon." "I can't--" Before Peggy could finish, Al reentered. He glanced at the angel and nodded his approval, his smile showing none of the animosity he'd demonstrated earlier. He then glanced around the room, and Jonathan knew he was looking for Sam. "Are you an angel too?" Peggy asked the hologram. "No, I'm not," Al said slowly turning toward the little girl, confusion, distracting half his attention. He played with the hand link to Ziggy as if expecting it to tell him why he had been centered on the angel and the little girl instead of the time traveler. "Peggy, I'm an orphan just like you." The little girl stood for the first time in hours. "You mean, your parents left you too?" The child's face contorted in obvious pain. "Yes, they did. But they didn't mean to, Peggy. Just like your parents didn't mean to leave you. God just decided it was time for them to come home to HIM." "But I needed them in my home!" Peggy sobbed. Al knelt to Peggy's level. "I know. It's difficult growing up without parents, but you'll be okay. You just have to move on, and remember how much they love you." Peggy wiped her tears with her shirt sleeve. "I'll try, but I miss them so much it hurts." "In time, it won't hurt so much. You may not believe it now, but someday you'll feel happy again. You'll be able to smile and play with the other children." "Do you have a happy life?" "Yes, I do," Al replied. "It took me a while to realize how well things had turned out for me. Life can only get better for you, Sweetheart." Peggy raised her arm as though she intended to grab Al's hand, but it passed through him instead. "You said you weren't an angel," Peggy exclaimed with fright. "You lied!" "No, no. Do you know what a hologram is?" "No." "Well its kind of like a movie that you can see, but can't touch. That's what I am: a hologram. I'm from the future, and I came here to make sure you're going to be okay." Peggy furrowed her brow as if contemplating an idea well beyond her years. "If you're from the future, then don't you already know if I'm going to be okay?" Al laughed. "You know, Peggy, I think you're going to be just fine." He didn't need to ask Ziggy for confirmation. He knew it. Peggy started walking away. "Where are you going?" "To eat supper. I'm starving." Al looked at Jonathan and the angel smiled broadly. "I knew you would come back." "It took me a while to build up the courage." "But you're not the sort of person who would leave your partner high and dry." "Partner," Al said, musing over the word. "You are his partner. Sam wouldn't be able to solve the problems he faces without your help. That's why The Boss decided to bring you here. To help you realize how much Sam really depends on you." "Where is Sam now?" Al asked, glancing at the hand link, but deciding not to push the buttons. This time, he wanted the angel to answer. "He's at the hospital." "Hospital!" "A little boy took ill and Sam and Lori had to rush him there before his appendix ruptured." "I hope they made it." "They did," Jonathan said. "Well, let's pop on over there right now." "I can't." "But you're an angel. Why not?" "It's true that as an angel I can just 'pop' in wherever I'm needed as you so eloquently put it, but you see, The Boss says that I'm not needed in this case. In fact, it's best if I don't go. You need Sam and he needs you. Neither of you need me anymore." Al removed the cigar from his mouth and stared at the angel with glossy eyes. "Gooshi, center me on Sam," he said after a long moment. After the hologram vanished, Jonathan looked up and smiled. Sam sat quietly in the waiting room, watching Lori as she talked with the nurse named Gladys about Robin and the other children at the orphanage. "I really love children," Gladys said. I wish I could work with them everyday instead of dealing with one emergency right after another." "Children are wonderful," Lori agreed. "I never had any of my own, but I feel as though they are my family." "Mine are all grown," Gladys said solemnly. "It seems that as the years go by, they visit less and less." Lori thought that if only she had enough money, she and Gladys could get along conveniently. The orphans needed a nurse to take care of their daily health care. It was trivial to wish for it though. The orphanage would be closed down soon. She stood as Doctor Marvin entered the waiting room and Sam followed her. "He's in recovery," the doctor said, and Lori sighed heavily with relief. "He's still asleep, but he's going to be okay." "Can I see him?" Lori asked. "Why don't we wait until he can be transferred to a regular room?" Before the doctor had finished his sentence, Sam heard Al arriving behind him. Sam glanced back at his friend, smiling. Al puffed on his cigar, looking content. You're back to your old self. "Take care," the doctor said, gently touching Lori on the shoulder, then walking out of the room. Suddenly Greg Halsey rushed toward them. "This incident further proof that your building should be closed down," he said. "You can't even afford to employ a nurse." "The kid had appendicitis," Lori screamed. "That's hardly a preventable disease." "Oh yeah. Well, that doesn't change anything. You still don't have a nurse, and I'm still going to have you closed down by the end of the month." "What a dickhead," Al said. Halsey turned away from Lori and went to the window. The storm outside was finally tapering off. "Good," Halsey exclaimed. "Now, maybe I can get a cab." He left the room, looking for a pay phone. "Sam, Robin's going to be okay," Al said. "In a few weeks, he's going to be placed with a foster family, and he does quite well." "What about Lori?" Sam asked. "What?" Lori asked turning in Sam's direction. "I mean, what about it, Lori," Sam told her. "Don't you think it's time that you seriously sat down and talked with your father?" Lori looked toward the aging man, her lower lip trembling. "If you don't open up to him now," Sam continued, "you may never get another chance. He loves you. Can't you see that?" "Then why did he leave me?" Lori asked turning back toward Sam. Al started punching buttons. "Ziggy says that her parents had a volatile relationship and--" "You'll have to ask him that yourself," Sam said. Al lowered the hand link and puffed on his cigar. Tentatively, Lori approached her father, glancing back at Sam. Peter McKensie looked up at her and smiled warmly. She sat down beside him. He reached out, and she allowed him to grip her hand. "So often I've thought about ya, Lassie," he said. "But I had to leave, else your mom and I might ha' killed one another. If only I'd known what was happenin' to you." "You could have called or written." "I did write at first, but then your Mom moved ya, and I didn't know where ya were. I've been searchin' for ya for years and years. I only found out a few years back about your Mom passin' on. I'd give anythin' I owned if I could get back the time I lost wi' ya." Lori finally released thirty years of suppressed tears, then allowed her father to embrace her. Sam turned toward Al. "What happens, Al?" Al removed the cigar from his mouth, then peered into the hand link before answering. "Lori accepts her father back into her life," Al said, excitedly. "And he gives the funding to fix up the orphanage so it won't be closed down. A few days from now, Gladys, you know the nurse that took care of Robin, quits her job here and goes to work for Lori." "Al, I'm glad you decided to come back and help me," Sam said. "Well, if I didn't help you, who else would?" A few minutes later, Lori walked up to Sam. "Thank you for all your help," she said. "And when you see Jonathan, could you thank him for me?" Sam nodded. "You were right about talking to my father. It all makes sense now. I always thought he left because he didn't love me, but he left because he does love me. He didn't want me to suffer because of his and my mother's bitter arguments." Sam clutched Lori's hand. "May God be with you," he said, then felt the leap effect wrap itself around him. Mark felt a strange tugging as his spirit lifted from the Waiting Room and returned to his own body back in 1990. He saw a woman standing in front of him and realized he was holding onto her hands. He smiled, then released his grip. I got my old body back! he thought, jumping for joy. The woman looked at him oddly. "Sorry," he said with a laugh. He looked toward the doorway and saw Jonathan staring at him. He approached the angel. "Hey buddy," Mark said. "It's great to see you again." He placed his arm gently around Jonathan's back, and the two of them began walking down the corridor together. He had always taken their physical contact for granted, but in that moment he felt such great sympathy for Sam and Al that he couldn't help but feel a little sadness mixed in with the joy. "Has The Boss told you what our next assignment is yet? It was kind of boring in that Waiting Room. You know what I mean?" "Yeah. I know what you mean, Mark," the angel replied. "I think you're going to like our next assignment."