Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 16:50:47 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Whale ch 28 Message-ID: PART IV ALBERT Chapter 28 Falling. Floating. Light as a feather. Sam was very familiar with these feelings. They were a part of his life, as familiar as the memories passing before his eyes like images flashing on a movie theatre screen. Some of the memories Sam could readily understand: his mother making peach cobbler - Sam's favorite dessert, his father milking cows as Sam returned from basketball practice, his brother Tom returning from Vietnam and convincing his sister Katie not to date an abusive alcoholic named Chuck. Sam meeting a very drunk, very angry Albert Calavicci as the older man was beating a vending machine with a hammer. *Al!* Sam's mind cried out almost painfully. *Gawd, what happened to him after that last leap?* The memory of the leap stood out in Sam's mind but he couldn't remember the alternate history he knew was created then. All he could see in his mind's eye was Al standing before him, bruised, beaten. The look in his older friend's eyes was too horrible for Sam to bear. It was a look Sam had never seen before on Al. The Admiral looked defeated, broken, ready to die even if he had to cause his own death. *"I'm sorry, Sam. Forgive me. I betrayed you."* Sam sighed mentally. *Betrayed me? I don't believe that! You could never betray me.* *"Mr. Calavicci commits suicide a year from now by slashing his wrists."* *But I changed that. I know I did. Al's alive. I can feel it!* But something was still wrong. He knew he had helped Al but there was still something he was missing - personally. He felt as if he wasn't close to his Naval friend anymore. He felt alone. *"My gawd! They broke you."* It came like a bolt of lightning. That was why Sam felt alone. He had been so accustomed to feeling Al's presence in his mind, a feeling he had lost the moment Zoe had shot at him. *We're not neurologically linked*, he realized. *He's not a part of the project. Then what happened to him?* Suddenly, he felt the very familiar tug which told him he was arriving at a new place, a new time. The tingling sensation filled him just before he saw that he had arrived at his destination. He found himself standing in front of a door. Looking around quickly, he also found that he was in a very familiar hallway and he was alone. He noticed that he was wearing khaki shirt and pants, a white belt, black shoes, a few ribbons, and a nametag which read Steinman. There was something about his dress that made him pause. *I know that name*, he thought as he took a breath. *Well, I'm obviously standing in front of this door for a reason. So...* He knocked on the door and waited for whatever would come his way. The door opened quickly to reveal a very familiar face. Sam looked at the man with wide eyes. The man, in return, looked at Sam with questioning. "Is there a problem, Corporal?" Sam hesitated a moment. "Uh... No. No problem." Al Calavicci looked at Sam expectantly. "Sir," Sam added quickly, remembering the rank Al had called him. "Are you our escort?" Sam took a breath. "I guess so." Al lowered his eyelids at the answer before turning his head towards inside the hotel. "Shake a leg, Sam. Time to go." Instantly, Sam felt a knot in his stomach. The manner in which Al had spoken didn't feel right and Sam suddenly remembered why. *This isn't Al. She may look like him. She may sound like him. But she can't hide her own self. Gawd, how could I have been so blind before!* As he realized this, Sam's younger self came to the door, well-dressed in a plain black suit. He was finishing putting on his tie while the woman wearing Al's aura and Al's naval uniform looked at the older Sam expectantly. "Are you going to let us through the door?" she questioned. Sam resisted the overwhelming urge he had to punch her, to take violent action against this woman who ruined his friend's life. He resisted because, deep in his heart, he knew he couldn't do it - yet. He had no idea how doing it would effect his previous leap or how it would effect Al. Instead, he did as the "Admiral" said and stepped aside to allow the two to leave the hotel room. He then followed them down the hall, wincing mentally at the friendly banter Sam the younger was making with his would-be assassin. As the three exited the hotel, Sam noticed the government car sitting in the hotel's driveway, a Marine, whom Sam identified as one Corporal Hanton, saluted Zoe and Sam the younger before opening the back door of the car. "Good afternoon, Admiral Calavicci. Dr. Beckett," Hanton greeted them. "Good afternoon, Corporal," Zoe replied while Dr. Beckett gave Hanton a smile and a nod. The two entered the car, Dr. Beckett stepping in first. Once both were in, Hanton closed the door and immediately walked to the driver's side and opened the door. Sam followed Hanton's lead, getting into the front passenger's seat and buckling his seatbelt. Hanton started the car and the four drove away to the Congressional meeting that would literally change history. Gushie F. Conelf, head programmer and Assistant Director of Project Quantum Leap, walked into the Control Room and smiled at his wife, Tina Martinez-O'Farrell-Conelf. Tina returned the smile gently but thee was still great concern in her eyes. It was the kind of look that told Gushie there was something wrong. "What's up?" he asked as he approached her. She frowned, looking at the control console before her. "We can't get a lock on Dr. Beckett," she replied. Gushie frowned as well. He looked at the control console to confirm what she had said and to help in finding a solution. "This doesn't make sense," he exclaimed. "We have all the information we need for a lock: name, date, place. We should be able to get a lock." Tina raised her hands in frustration. "But we can't. Unless...." Gushie faced her with questioning. "Unless what?" He paused with realization. "He could be too close to himself." Tina nodded. "That would explain why Ziggy can't get a lock." "Or won't get a lock," another person added. Tina and Gushie looked towards the main door to see Edward St. John V looking at them with expectation on a response to his comment. "You think Ziggy is refusing to get a lock?" Tina questioned. Edward walked closer to them, a pensive look on his face. "I think Ziggy is leaning towards caution. We must remember the previous leap. It could be highly hazardous if I were to be seen by Samuel in his previous host." Tina nodded with understanding. "That may be true. But what about Dr. Beckett? How will he know what he has to do to leap?" Edward gave her a gentle smile. "He will know, my dear. I am certain of that."