Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 22:26:04 -0600 (MDT)
From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" <krfreymu@brain.uccs.edu>
Subject: Mirror - part 11
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.96.990415222530.30546l-100000@brain.uccs.edu>

Quantum Leap

Mirror of Deception
by Katherine R. Freymuth and Gary Marsh
Copyright 1998

Note: the <> signs are indications of the past.


Part 11

     Sam was in complete physical and emotional shock. He knew
the symptoms of shock. He knew he needed to talk to someone
about this. But who could he talk to? Gushie? It didn't feel
right.
     It was growing late in the day. He had spent the entire
day with Renee and Keith as they went Christmas shopping. They
returned with their hands full and with plans to go out again
soon. After all, Christmas vacation had just started for Keith
- two weeks of not having to deal with teachers - and there
was still much more to do.
     <The family had just finished dinner when Al had entered
the Imaging Chamber, a firm look on his face.
     "Sam, we need to talk. Alone."
     Sam gave a nod before leading Al into the bedroom while
Renee tended the dishes.
     "What have you got for me?" he asked.
     Al shook his head. "Nothing on the leap, Sam." He took
a deep breath. "I made a very serious decision and it's only
fair that you should know about it first."
     Sam sat on the bed, questioning in his eyes. "What is it?"
     "I'm leaving the project and the Navy."
     Sam stood up quickly. "What?!"
     Al took a breath. "You, of all people, should understand.
I just can't do this job anymore. The pressure, the lack of
sleep, the lack of appreciation for all I do, being treated
like an idiot because I'm not a scientist - I just can't do
it anymore. You understand."
     But Sam couldn't understand. He searched his mind
desperately for an explanation.
     "Things aren't going well between you and Tina, are they?"
he assumed with only partial correctness.
     Al took a breath. "Tina left me," he said blandly. "She's
marrying Mark Davalos."
     Sam's eyes widened in surprise.
     Al shrugged slightly.
     "You don't seem concerned about it," Sam noted.
     "Why should I be when I've found someone else, someone
I love," Al told the scientist.
     "Who?"
     Al shook his head. "You wouldn't know her. But - gawd,
Sam, I love her." He took a deep breath. "I haven't felt this
way about a woman since I married Beth."
     Sam hesitated. "You're giving up your career for her?"
     Al gave him a sarcastic smile. "What career? I haven't
had a career in five years." He waved his last comment away.
"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault. I just can't pretend
I belong anymore." He opened the Imaging Chamber door, giving
his friend a smile. "Gushie should be in soon and will take
over until they've found a permanent replacement. Just promise
me you'll look me up when you get home."
     "Al..." Sam started.
     Al looked at him firmly, as such telling Sam that his
decision was final.
     "Promise," he ordered.
     Sam hesitated. "I promise," he finally said quietly.
     Al smiled at Sam's response before giving him a friendly
wink and disappearing out of Sam's life.>
     That had been two hours ago and Sam still couldn't believe
it had actually happened. He sat on the bed and waited, hoping
he would wake up and find the whole thing was a dream. But the
longer he waited, the more he realized what happened. Al was
gone - permanently. He would never again walk into the Imaging
Chamber. At least, that was the intention that Sam sensed in
his friend. The thought and the reality of the situation hit
Sam like a rock.
     "Hey," a gently voice said at his side. "You okay?"
     Sam looked up at Renee standing over him, deep concern
in her eyes. He gave her a slight smile.
     "I'm okay," he said gently.
     Renee frowned, sitting beside him. "That's the second time
in two days that you've lied to me, Terry. What's wrong?"
     Sam's smile widened slightly. "The second time?"
     Renee returned the smile. "You didn't think I'd believe
that lie about having a bad day at work, did you?"
     Sam rose his eyebrows. "It wasn't exactly a lie."
     "It wasn't exactly the truth either," she pointed out.
     Sam exhaled. *Damn, she's good.* "I really can't talk about
it, Renee. It's just something I have to resolve for myself."
     It was Renee's turn to exhale. "This isn't like you, Terry.
You've never kept anything from me."
     "I'm sorry," Sam said sincerely.
     There was a long silence.
     "Just tell me one thing," Renee finally said.  She looked
at Sam firmly in the eyes. "Is it another woman?"
     Sam smiled at her. He shook his head. "No," he assured
her. "I don't think there could possibly any other woman for
Terry Hatcher."
     Renee laughed slightly and kissed him gently.
     "Glad to hear it," she said softly. She paused for a moment.
"It's snowing like crazy. The weather report said that we're
probably going to get two to three feet. You might want to call
the guys and cancel work for tomorrow."
     Sam nodded. "That's a good idea."
     They were quiet for a moment.
     "I'll get the phone list," Renee told him when she saw
that Sam wasn't moving. She stood up and looked at Sam with
concern. "Are you sure you don't want to talk?"
     Sam took a breath. "I'm sure."
     Renee nodded. "I'll be right back with the list."
     She left the room slowly, still very concerned about her
husband's odd behavior.
     Sam stood up, combing his hand through his hair. The news
of Al's departure came so suddenly and without warning. He still
couldn't understand why the Admiral left nor did he know what
he would do without Al's guidance and support. Al, after all,
was more than his partner; he was his friend and counselor.
There were things he could tell Al but not anyone else. He
couldn't imagine confiding in Gushie the way he could with Al.
     Sam suddenly felt very, very alone.


     "Adam, you've got to give me more time," the young man
begged, almost shaking in fear.
     "More time," the leaper said with sarcasm. He laughed
slightly before lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag
on it. He leaned back in his chair and looked up with heavily-
lidded eyes at the standing man. He smiled internally with
delight, seeing that his actions had the desired effect on the
man before him. The young man seemed even more afraid of him
than before.
     "Please, Adam," the young man begged again.
     A woman walked to the leaper's side with a wry smile.
     "Poor Kirk," she commented. "He looks like he's about to
wet himself." She laughed slightly. "Don't pass this opportunity
up, darling. He's so scared, he'd probably do anything."
     "Kirk," the leaper said in a silky yet commanding voice,
"you owe me three hundred fifty thousand dollars." He rose an
eyebrow. "That's a lot of coke, Kirk. You took and used three
hundred fifty thousand dollars of my coke.... and you want more
time."
     "Adam, I swear I'll pay you," Kirk pleaded. "I just need
a little time to get the money."
     The leaper frowned at him. "From whom?"
     Kirk didn't answer, his mouth open with anxiety.
     The leaper exhaled. He stood up slowly. His partner smiled
as Kirk took a step back in fear.
     "Kirk," the leaper said firmly. His features softened
purposefully. "I don't want to have to kill you. I'd rather
have my money. But I'm not going to wait forever."
     Kirk began to shake almost violently. "Please, Adam. No."
     The woman laughed heartily. "Oh, you are very good,
darling!"
     "I'll make you a deal, Kirk. You do something for me and
I'll forget all about your debt," the leaper told the frightened
man.
     "Anything, Adam. Anything," Kirk said quietly.
     The leaper smiled slightly at him. "Then, sit down and
listen very carefully."