The Greatest Love Requires Sacrifice

[Dbz77]

Summary: Sam leaps into a high school water polo player who will one day play for the U.S. in the Olympics. But is there someone else in need?


Chapter 1​

February 6, 1956

Dr. Sam Beckett looks at the white packed snow shone by the flashlight, picking at it with an ice axe.

"Okay, Sam," says Al. "Ziggy now says you can dig up."

And so the leaper continues to pick at the snow, white clumps falling off.

"You sure this is the way?" asks another man.

"It has to be the way," replies the quantum physicist. He keeps digging and digging with an ice pick. He can briefly recall winters at Elk Ridge, though he had never experienced a winter as severe back there, or in any of his leaps during the last five years of his time.

Sam feels the ice pick push through the snow.

"I see light!" exclaims another man.

Sam pushes through the hole, and soon emerges out into the daylight. He reaches down, pulling up the other two men with his gloved hand.

He then looks at Al, who is wearing shorts, a Hawaiian-style T-shirt, and sandals, a sharp contrast to the snowscape of the slopes of the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming.

"It's not over yet," says the observer. "You need to maker your way to a fire station. Just three miles from here."

"Let's go!" Sam yells to the leapee's two companions.

And so the quantum leaper trudges through the deep snow, heard to walk on even with his snowshoes. He can still recall the days he spent deep beneath the snow, when he and the leapee's two friends got caught in an avalanche. Fortunately, they managed to find themselves in a "cave" made by the snow. Unfortunately, in the original history, they were never found.

Each step Sam takes in the snow brings them closer and closer to changing the fate of the three men. He feels hungry, as they had finished their last can of beans just thirty-six hours ago.

"I wish you can send us some food," he says to Al.

"And why not wish for a hot tub while we're at it," says another man.

"that's the fire station!" yells Al.

Sam can see the wooden structure, about two stories in height. Parked next to it is a fire truck that looks like it was made sometime in the mid-1940's. The sight of the fire station- of civilization- adrenalizes the three men. Lactic acid burning in their legs, sweating under the heavy coats, they keep pushing.

"Help!" yells one of the men. "Is anyone there?"

They see someone come out, a man in a heavy coat, with an emblem on his shoulder.

"We were trapped in the avalanche a few miles from here," says Sam. "We...dug ourselves out."

ooooooo

"You clearly are not dressed for the weather, Al," says Sam, sipping some hot chocolate brought by Grand Teton National Park rangers. The taste was soothing and comforting, no doubt due to the fact that he spent three days trapped wonder a rocky ledge blocked by snow from the avalanche.

"I set the imaging chamber thermostat to eighty," says Al, still dressed in his Hawaiian-style shirt and shorts. He sips on a pina colada. "I wish we could actually take pictures of the holograms. Beth and the girls would be surprised to see a picture of me at the Grand Tetons in winter, wearing this."

He sees the leapee's other two companions sitting on a bench, covered in blankets and drinking hot cocoa.

The leaper walks to the fire truck. He had not seen his mirror image.

Looking at the right-side rear view mirror of the truck, he sees an ordinary-looking man, not too remarkable.

"What happens to him?" he asks the observer.

"You gave him forty more years of life, Sam," says Al.

A blue glow, invisible to the natives of 1956, surrounds Sam, and he leaps out.

After leaping in, Sam feels much warmer. Moving his limbs, he feels resistance.

Something light hits him in the head; the quantum physicist looks and it is a large ball. He looks around and finds himself in a huge swimming pool with a whole bunch of boys, all teenagers. He then gets a splash of water on his face.

"Oh boy," he says.

 

[Dbz77]

Chapter 2​

September 22, 1989

Dr. Sam Beckett swims around in the pool; he and the boys are clearly playing some sort of water sport. The movement of the swimmers disturbs the water.

"Okay, that's it for the day!" yells a man in his forties, wearing a T-shirt and shorts. "Everyone up out of the pool."

Sam gets up, noting the other boys getting up. This is clearly a high school natatorium.

"Bayog!" yells the coach.

The coach is clearly looking at Sam.

"Uh, are you talking to me, sir?" asks the leaper.

"Yes. I say Bayog when I want to talk to you, just like I say Johnson when I want to talk to Johnson, Tanzic when I want to talk to Tanzic, and Doyle when I want to talk to Doyle. Anyway, what was that there. You just let the ball hit you."

"Uh, school. I mean, I have to hit the books and stuff. Study for tests."

"When you joined the water polo team, you accept having to be both a top swimmer and a top student." The coach takes a deep breath. "Listen, men, I know this is the beginning of the school year. Most of you probably came back from vacations in Europe and Mexico and the Caribbean. But vacation time is over, and we have to step up our game! Go home, hang out at Del Amo Mall, play Nintendo or Sega, but when we meet Tuesday, we had better do better! Are we a bunch o' queers?"

"No, sir!" Sam and the boys yell in unison.

Sam takes a breath, following the other boys towards the locker room. He is still reeling from his freezing cold experience in the Grand Tetons, which was only minutes ago in his time. Although from the coach's mentioning of Nintendo and Sega, it would have been decades ago in this time.

The locker room looks like the ones Sam was familiar with when attending Elk Ridge High School in the late 1960's. The lockers are all made of steel. The familiar smell of warm sweat permeates the room.

He and the others pick up towels before heading to the showers. All of them are single stall, with curtains.

We didn't have single stalls in Elk Ridge.

Sam waits his turn, and then enters the stall. He turns on the water, feeling the droplets spray on his body. He enjoys the sensation of hot water, a sensation he had not felt in days. It is such a sharp contrast from the freezing cold of the Grand Tetons in February. Every second is like a vacation in tropical paradise. The leaper briefly recalls the time, maybe a few weeks ago in his time, when he met Bob Marley in 1960's Jamaica.

"People are waiting here," says a boy.

Sam turns off the water and wraps himself in a towel. "Sorry," he says.

He goes to the lockers, which are conveniently labeled by last name. He sees a locker with the letters BAYOG.

That's definitely how my name is spelled now.

He takes the padlock and combination and unlocks it. He briefly wonders how he knew the combination, but then recalls something about the leapee's physical aura interacting with his mind to know things unconsciously. Clearly, God, Fate, Time, or Whatever gave him tiny conveniences.

Sam, takes out a white long-sleeved shirt and black trousers- he clearly is in a private school of some sort where the students wear uniforms. He gets dressed, asking sure not to expose himself, though of course the boys are doing their best to avoid looking at each other.

High school again.

Finally fully dressed in a white shirt, black trousers, and black necktie, he takes one last look at his leapee's locker.

He sees something else.

It is a Polaroid photograph. Taking it, he sees a picture of a girl with a milky white complexion and loosely curled bright red hair. The leaper places the Polaroid in his shirt pocket.

He then walks out of the place, following the other boys. They walk to the front of the school, where many students are gathered. Sam notes that both boys and girls attend this school. Some of them get into cars. The leaper notes that half of the cars are luxury models like Lincolns and Mercedes and BMWs. Almost all of the license plates are California license plates. Taking a wider view, he notes there are hills behind the school, on on the hillsides are houses.

A boy with light brown hair taps Sam on the shoulder.

"Hey, Art," the boy says. "Lacey wants to talk to you."

Sam looks and sees a girl with blond hair tied in a ponytail. She wears a white blouse with a black neckerchief and a black skirt like the other girls.

"Uh, hi," says Sam.

"I have to make it quick, can't keep my stepdad waiting," says the girl. "Have you heard from Gabby?"

"Gabby?"

"Is she okay? I mean, her parents say she's fine, but.."

"I'm sure she's fine."

"See you later." She glances at the boy next to Sam. "Oh, hi, Wayne. Nice to see you again."

"Take care," replies the boy named Wayne.

Is Gabby the girl in the picture? Is she why I leaped here?

"There's your parents," says Wayne. Sam looks at an Oldsmobile station wagon. A black-haired man with a brown complexion steps out of the driver's seat.

"Get in."

"Hi, Mr. Bayog," says Wayne. "And Mrs. Bayog."

"Hi, Wayne, " says the man who is clearly the leapee's father. "How's school now that you're a junior?"

"Uh, fine, sir. I'm just glad to see Art. I mean, I know you told my folks he's okay and all, but I'm just glad to see him in person."

"You know, I started a job at Robinsons at Del Amo Mall. I'm working there Sunday afternoon; I wish Art could visit me."

Sam looks at Wayne. "I guess I'll see you at school Monday."

"Yeah, well, we scholarship kids gotta stick together."

Sam gets into the rear seat of the station wagon.

I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling

Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up

Never gonna let you down

The song from the radio stops playing.

"What?" asks Sam."I haven't heard that song in a long time."

"No radio when you're in the car," says Art's mother.

Quantum leaping through time, I've had to relive the teenage years of plenty of people. From hat I can tell, this boy Art got into some big trouble. I had this feeling that this trouble is related to the girl whose picture was in his locker.

Without the radio on, Sam looks around. The cars looks like they are from the 1970's and 1980's. The Oldsmobile slows down at a signalized intersection. From the signs hanging from the aluminum mast arms holding up the traffic signals, Sam notes they are at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Hawthorne Boulevard. Art's father makes a right turn.

He looks around at the storefronts on both sides of Pacific Coast Highway. Palm trees grow- a sharp contrast to the pine and fir in the Grand Tetons. He sees a billboard for the movie The Abyss. He notes Art's parents speaking in this language that he does not understand. He notes that they pass Crenshaw and Western and Normandie and Vermont, before going under Harbor Freeway and turning left on a street called Figueroa, to get to the freeway.

They exit on a street called 223rd Street, and soon navigate local streets. They soon reach a street lined with single-level, single-family homes. He notes a girl riding a a tricycle down the sidewalk, with black hair tied in a bun.

"You can go to your room until we cook dinner," says Mr. Bayog. "You'd better read your books."

"Uh, sure."

Sam walks through the house, which looks like a typical suburban house, noticing the living room and kitchen. He walks into Art's bedroom, which looks like the typical teenage boy's bedroom. There are dressers, a closet, and a bookcase with books. A trophy is in the corner. Reading the plaque, he reads writing as ARTUR BAYOG, CHAMPION, CARSON COMMUNITY WATER POLO LEAGUE.

Time to learn about Art.


He closes the bedroom door, and sees a full length mirror. In the mirror is a boy wearing a a school uniform, looking to be about fifteen to sixteen years of age, with a brown complexion. Black hair covers the boy's head. The drawers and closet reveals clothes. Also inside the closet is a box for an Atari Video Computer System, although the box is empty.

He also comes across some pictures. One of them is clearly a twelve-year-old version of Art, wearing swimming trunks and standing by a pool.

He then sees another picture.

Art is in the picture, looking about as old as he is in the mirror. The picture had been taken in a park.

And next to him is the red-haired girl from the photo, his arm around her.

That has to be Gabby. They must be boyfriend and girlfriend. Did they break up due to whatever trouble Art's in. am I to keep these kids together?

"Back to being young again,:" says a gravelly voice.

He turns and sees Rear Admiral Albert Calavicci, the observer of Project Quantum Leap, who appears to him as a hologram Al wears a bright blue jacket and blue trousers with a blue necktie.

"Tired of a Hawaiian shirt and shorts?" asks the leaper.

"Well, I hope you've recovered from hypothermia from the last leap."

"I still can feel the chill."

Al takes out a rectangular device with colored buttons. It is a handlink allowing him to communicate with Ziggy, the master computer of Project Quantum Leap. "It was easy to find information on your host. You are Artur Bayog. He was in the American water polo team in both the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and 1996 in Atlanta. Of course, that is years ahead of your time, which is Friday, September 22, 1989. His parents immigrated from the Philippines back in the late 1960's, married, and Artur was born in 1973 at L.A. County Harbor General, now Harbor-UCLA."

"I heard his parents were speaking this language."

"Tagalog. Well, anyway, Art participated in water sports since he was six, and when he was fourteen, he got a full scholarship to attend this exclusive high school in Torrance, California. You are living in Carson, just a few miles away. Well, Artur makes it to the Olympics without your help, so you are not here for that. And no one at his school nor their families get killed within the next few weeks."

"Gabby," he says. "I'm here for this girl named Gabby."

Sam shows Al the picture he took from Art's locker.

"I can see why he likes her."

"A picture of them together," says Sam.

"Cute couple."

"Art is in some trouble; I can tell he's grounded. And it has something to do with Gabby here."

"If I had a last name:" says the observer.

Sam looks around the room. His attention goes to the books again. He sees something, and pulls out a book.

"A yearbook," says Al.

Sam opens the yearbook. On the first page are signatures.

Junior year's gonna be radical- Wayne Tanzic

He sees another writing, surrounded by a heart.

I love you- Gabby

"I'll look to see if I can find her," says Sam, looking at the pages of sophomores- the yearbook was for the Class of 1989, and Art would be the Class of '1991,

The door opens, and Mrs. Bayog appears, wearing a simple dress.

"Dinner time," she says.

Ooooo

Sam actually likes the soup, eating it, savoring the tender beef and the green beans and the slightly sour taste, a soup that the Bayogs call sinigang.

The TV is off of course. Al looks around. In a shelf he can see some VHS tapes of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Boy With Green Hair

"How is water polo?" asks Mr. Bayog.

"I'm a little rusty after going back to school, but I'm picking it up," replies Sam. "I'm confident I'll have a bright future."

"A bright future. We're trying to figure out a way to save your future, son. We can't let what happened ruin your life."

"Okay, I deserve what is happening to me now, but this is a learning experience. I'll learn things. I'll grow. Success comes from learning the right lessons when you mess up."

"You might not be able to recover from this," says Mrs. Bayog. "I mean, you need to know this isn't just about you. You realize how much trouble you are in, right?"

"Yeah."

"This could derail your whole life. We can't promise anything."

Sam just enjoys the sinigang. He had never had this before. He knows that Art's life will not be ruined, not when he is fated to play water polo for the U.S. In the '92 and '96 Olympics.

"Go to your room, Art," says Mr,. Bayog.

Sam goes back to the teenage boy's bedroom. Looking at the picture of the red-haired girl, he looks through the yearbook to find her last name.

Minutes later, Sam hears a door open, and sees a white rectangular light. Al steps inside the imaging chamber.

"Did you find out who Gabby is?" asks Al.

"Have Ziggy look up Gabrielle Flannigan," says Sam. "Cross reference with the school, class of 1991."

Al punches some buttons in the handlink. He then walks towards the door.

"Where are you going?" asks Al.

"To watch TV."

Al sees Art's parents in the living room, watching a Sony 24-inch color television. The channel is set to 7. A sitcom appears.

"That's Perfect Strangers," says Al.

The episode is of course eleven years old in his time, but it somehow feels new, watching it inside an imaging chamber project a neurological hologram of 1989. He laughs at Bronson Pinchots' performance, as the actor skates on a skating rink.

"I think I actually missed this episode," says the observer.

The show ends in half an hour, and Art's mother turns off the television. She and her husband speak in Tagalog. Al does not understand, though he does hear them say Gabby's name.

One of these days, we got to design a translator.

He finally walks into Art's room to see Sam.

"What did Ziggy find?"

"I watched Perfect Strangers. It was the season premiere, where Larry and Balki go to this skating rink to challenge one of Larry's romantic rivals. I must have missed it when it first aired and never watched it during a rerun.

"I'm asking about Gabby, not Larry and Balki."

"All right, all right. Too bad you're not allowed to watch TV. Gabby- Gabrielle Flannigan- was born in 1973. She was actually born in LA. County Harbor General, four days after Art was born. She's still alive in my time. She does professional photography to supplement her trust fund. Her parents made sure she was set up for life."

"So her life is fine, and Art goes to the Olympics in three years. I mean, sure they must have speed bumps in their lives, but they end up pretty much okay."

"Yeah, maybe it's something else." Al pushes more buttons on the handlink. "What's this?"

"What's what?"

"Gabby has a son in my time."

"Well, she's be about twenty...wait, I think I know where this is heading."

"She gave birth to a baby boy named Connor on December 14, 1989."

"Three months from now."

"She was only sixteen at the time."

Sam looks at Art's reflection in the mirror.

"That boy in the mirror is the baby's father."

 

[Dbz77]

Chapter 3​

I was aware of teen pregnancy back when I was a young teenager in Elk Ridge back in the '60's. I have known of more than one girl who had to leave home to 'care for a sick relative', but us boys, as in experienced about these things as we were, knew what that really meant.

About three years ago my time, I lived a few days of a life of a pregnant teenager just before she was due to give birth. Now, three years later in my time, and three decades later in this time, I am now experiencing the other side of the equation.

I looked at Art's reflection in the mirror. I wondered what he felt when he first heard Gabby was pregnant.

All Al could do is talk to the boy and maybe pull up some more records. I had to get some sleep.

I still remembered the bitter cold from my time in the mountains in Wyoming.

Oooooooo

Dr. Sam Beckett eats a bowl of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes. On the table in the Bayog residence's dining room is a glass full on Minute Maid orange juice. Both of Artur Bayog's parents sit at the dining table. The leaper savors his simple breakfast of sweet cereal and orange juice, the first proper breakfast he had in days.

"You can go to your room now," says Art's dad. "We'll let you know when you can come out."

"Uh, okay," replies Sam. He goes back to Art's room and lies down on the bed. He reads some of the school textbooks Art has, which includes a Beginner's Calculus text book.

The quantum physicist decides to read the yearbook. He looks at a picture of the water polo team. He notices Art in the picture, as well as the boy Wayne Tanzic. Looking at the index and turning to another page, he sees another picture of three girls in uniform. One of them is clearly Gabrielle Flannigan, wearing a red blazer over her white blouse. Two other girls are with her- one is the blonde he met yesterday named Lacey, and the third is a brunette.

"Hey, Sam," says Al.

Sam, turns and sees the observer. "Anything new?" he asks.

"I had a chat with Art," answers Al. "A lengthy chat."

"What did he say?"

"He doesn't remember his parents' names, nor the name of his school, nor the name of the city he lives in. He does remember Gabby. They met in photography class freshman year, they had neighboring desks. Soon they started walking together, chatting about stuff. They've been on a few dates, like the movies bowling or dinner. Gabby even had dinner at his place; he said she liked the kare kare."

"What's that?"

Al punches some buttons on the handlink. "A Filipino dish, made with meat and shrimp fry and peanut butter? Looks like Gabby wasn't allergic to peanuts. Anyway, their dates was always chaperoned, and they were limited to holding hands,"

"it takes more than holding hands to get a girl pregnant."

"It was back in March of '89. The 25th, to be precise. Gabby's parents had invited Art for lunch. But something came up, and they had to go. It was just Gabby there.

They talked, started listening to music. That song "Hungry Eyes" was playing, you know the song from Dirty Dancing? Anyway, they wanted to play Nintendo in Gabby's room. The game wouldn't start, so they were blowing into the cartridge- this was five years before the PlayStation."

"The what?"

"Anyway, Art and Gabby kissed. They were teenagers, transitioning from childhood to adulthood, no experience in that part of life, with their blood saturated with hormones.

"And then their clothes ended up on the floor."

Sam stays silent for a while. "Does he remember Gabby's pregnant?"

"Yeah," says Al. "He's wondering what will happen to the baby, wondering how he'll fit into the baby's life. I mean, Art's still a child himself- back in 1989."


"The baby, Connor, that was his name, right?"

"Yeah."

"Gabby has a trust fund, so she was able to support him."

"We know they are not married in my time; Ziggy isn't saying we're supposed to make sure that happens."

"Yeah, I'd think I'd have leaped into their lives a few years from now if that's what I'm supposed to change."

"Ziggy's doing some deep diving into Art and Gabby's lives, to find out what exactly is wrong."

"Not all of my leaps involve stopping people from getting killed."

"In the meantime, I might as well read these books. I got nothing better to do."

he reads some of the books. This was stuff he easily had mastered when he was ten years old. He hopes there is more to this than boredom. There had been more excitement being trapped in an alcove in the mountains blocked by deep snow.

He then hears the door open. Art's mom stands.

"Yes?" asks Sam.

"Scott and his family is having a party," says Mrs. Bayog. "You can come."

"You mean I'm not grounded anymore?"

'Consider this a furlough."

"I'll get dressed."

Sam puts on some jeans and a T-shirt. He finds it a miracle that some strange physical aura allows him to fit into his leapee's clothes. He had not designed the quantum leap accelerator this way, but God, Time, Fate, Whatever had other plans.

He then follows Art's parents outside the house. He notes that the Oldsmobile station wagon is not parked on the concrete driveway. He sees the Bayogs walking along the sidewalk.

"We're not taking the car?" asks Sam.

"Scott and his family live just down the street," says Mr. Bayog. "it's not even a ten minute walk."

"Uh, sure. I guess being cooped in affected my memory."

"Just behave yourself."

He follows them as they walk around the sidewalk. Sam looks around, once again seeing a stereotypical American suburb in the late 1980's.

They walk towards a house that already has its garage open. No cars are parked in the driveway; Sam figures they had been relocated on the street. Some people already congregate there.

Art's parents greet this couple who appear to be in their late forties to early fifties. He can hear that they speak in Tagalog.

"How are you doing?" asks the man, his English accented in a manner unfamiliar to the leaper.

"I know I'll be okay," replies Sam, remembering he heard about Art playing water polo in the Olympics a few years from this time.

"Hi there," says a boy.

The leaper sees a boy with black hair and a brown complexion. He wears a red T-shirt and blue jean shorts, appearing a little fat.

"Hi," says Sam.

"it's good to see you," says the boy. "I haven't seen you all last summer. I was told you were in really big trouble. You didn't kill someone, did you?"

"Uh, no," replies Sam.

"Good to see you, Scott," says Art's mom.

Sam goes into the garage. On the tables there are aluminum pans filled with all sorts of food, none of which look familiar to him. Most of the foods have sauces and stuff. Another table has all sorts of soft drinks in two-liter bottles like Coca-cola and Sprite. Some of the guests to this party use serving spoons to put the food on Dixie plates. Sam decides to try some of the food, which he guesses are dishes invented in the Philippines.

He turned his head towards the street and sees Wayne Tanzic walking up the concrete driveway.

"Hi," says Scott. "You're Art's teammate from the water polo team. How are things?"

"Fine," he replies. "I'm Wayne, by the way."

"Hi, Wayne by the way. We have food here; it's probably not what you are used to."

"I had dinner with Art at his place before," replies the boy as he gets some of the food. He recalled the first time he ate at Art's house, trying the strange new dishes.

Wayne then looks at Art's parents. "So, is Art free to go?" he asks.

"We're giving him a furlough for now," says Mr. Bayog.

"Listen, once he's out of trouble, my parents are invited him and you to dinner."

"We' would like that."

"You'll like my grandma's pljeskavica."

"What's that?" asks Scott.

"It's an old Serbian dish," replies Wayne. "Art had it the last time he was over. Back in May, I think."

"it's been a long time," says Sam, not remembering if he ever had pljeskavica during the past five years of leaping or his pre-leap life.

"By the way, how's that girl?" asks Scott's mom. "Your girl friend. What was her name?"

:"Her name's Gabby," says Scott.

"She was such a sweet girl, you know. It's been over a year."

"She'll be fine," says the leaper.

"So this is Filipino food," says Al, looking at the dishes.

Sam looks at Al, and then at the party around him. He wishes he had a cell phone.

"At least I can listen to the music of this era here," says Al, walking towards a stereo system set up in the corner of the garage.


Gigolo, huh, sukka?

Gigolo, gigolo, huh, sukka?

Who's looking good today?

Who's looking good in every way?

No style rookie

You better watch don't mess with me

No money man could win my love

It's sweetness that I'm thinking of

We always hang in a Buffalo Stance

We do the dive every time we dance

I'll give you love baby not romance

I'll make a move nothing left to chance

So don't you get fresh with me

"What do we have?"

"I think we still have sinigang," answers Scott.

"Ziggy managed to find a column written by Artur Bayog in the Weekend Balita.," says Al.

"Weekend Balita?"

"Yeah, I think we have a copy around here," says Scott.

"A Filipino-American newspaper based in southern California. They actually covered Art's journey through the Olympics. He was a big deal in the Filipino-American community here. Anyway, Art wrote a column about the first time meeting his son."

Sam nods.

"according to the article," the observer continues, "Art confirm getting his girlfriend pregnant when she was fifteen. He doesn't mention her name or his son's name in the article. Anyway, his parents and Gabby and her parents met in some country club in the fall of '89 and agreed that Gabby would raise her son by herself, and Art would have no parental obligations to the baby. For the next few years, they never spoke or wrote to each other again, not even when home Internet access became commonplace. He somehow managed to find out about her photography business back- or forward- in 1996, and wrote her.

"Two years after the '96 Olympics, Gabby agreed to let Art meet his son for the first time. They spent time together, going to the Del Amo Mall, getting burgers from In-N-Out, and playing games on the Sony PlayStation."

"Sony PlayStation?" asks the leaper, unfamiliar with a term.

"Never heard of a Sony PlayStation," says Wayne. Hearing whom he thinks is his friend and teammate. "Maybe it's the sequel to the Walkman."

"A Sony PlayStation is a video game system introduced in 1994, just a year before you leaped," says Al. "When you leaped into your younger self, we actually played some PlayStation games with him- you."

"I read in a magazine somewhere that Sony's working on something," Sam says to Wayne and Scott.

"Sam, let me finish," says Al, even as Scott walks through him. He presses buttons on the handlink. "This is exactly what he wrote. 'I looked into my son's eyes, and I could tell he felt as if I was just a stranger, a long ago friend of his mom's, and not his dad'. When we embraced to say goodbye, he did not feel warmth. I wished there was something I could have done to be a part of my son's life'.

"And that's why you're here, Sam. You need to make sure that Connor will know his father for the first eleven years of his life."

"Wanna play Nintendo?" asks Scott.

"you might as well enjoy your furlough," says Art's father.

"Uh, sure."

Sam and Wayne follow Scott into the house, which looks pretty typical aside from at least half a dozen guests inside; Sam notes that the older adults are speaking the language called Tagalog. Scott takes a gray cartridge labeled River City Ransom. He inserts it into a Nintendo Entertainment System and turns on the power.

The TV starts flashing gray.

Scott removes the cartridge and blows in it. Inserting it again and turning on the power, the title screen appears.

"Ruthie used to complain having to do that," says Al.

He watches as the leaper and the leapee's two friends play River City Ransom.

Being trapped beneath he snow would have been much less boring if they had Nintendo, thinks Al, recalling the previous leap where Sam had to survive an avalanche's aftermath. It is just a beat-em-up game. It does look primitive compared to video games in his time. Sam clearly enjoys himself.

And yet, he wonders if Sam leaped into the wrong person if his mission is to ensure that Connor grows up knowing his father.

Finally, the three of them stop playing when the screen suddenly freezes.

"You know, Ziggy has a whole bunch of games from the Nintendo and Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis and Sony PlayStation in her databanks," says Al. "You definitely don't have to blow into the cartridges."

Sam looks around both the house and the garage and notices that half of the guests are leaving.

"Come on, let's go," says Mr. Bayog.

"Uh, sure," Sam says to the leapee's father.

"See you the next time your folks let you out of jail," says Scott.

"Wayne," says Art's father, "I could drop you off at your house if you like."

"Thank you, sir," replies the teenage boy. "I think I'm done here anyway. It'll be a lot faster than taking Torrance Transit."

"I'm sure you can give him directions," says Mrs. Bayog.

"Yeah, just get on Vermont and stay in the left lanes when you reach Anaheim to get onto Gaffey. I'll tell you the rest when we reach San Pedro."

"I'll go back to my office," says Al, presses buttons to open the Imaging Chamber door. The leaper looks as the observer disappears into the white rectangle.

Sam walks with Art's parents back to their house. Soon, he is lying down in Art's bed.

After reading various books- the only thing he is allowed to do- he hears a knock on the door.

"Hi, uh, Mom, Dad,:" he says to the Bayogs. "You dropped off Wayne, right."

"Yeah, even spoke to his dad for a few minutes," says Mr. Bayog. "We have news."

"What?"

"We've been speaking to Gabby's parents these past few months, wondering what do about you, her, and the baby. We came to a decision."

This is it. This is where Art is cut out of his son's life. What could I do?

"What is it?"

"We'll see Gabby and her parents at the Rolling Hills Country Club tomorrow morning," says Art's father. "We'll go there after church."

"Country club?"

"You once went there for Sunday brunch with Gabby and her parents last year," says Art's mother.

As Sam has a brief dinner with Art's parents, this time, just a microwaved Stouffer's macaroni-and-cheese with broccoli and this crunchy snack called chicharron- it is not often the quantum physicist leaps into a time period with microwave ovens- Al decides to join in, unseen by the Bayogs

"so I'm going to the country club tomorrow," says Sam, eating the macaroni and cheese.

"Yes, Rolling Hills," replies Art's father.

"The country club," says Al, "where and when baby Connor was separated from his father."

"There must be something I can do."

"You've already done it," says Mrs. Bayog. "We will clean up this mess. Just finish dinner and go to your room."

There is not much Sam can do.

Ooooooo

"Sam! Sam!"

The leaper wakes up, seeing Al. He looks at the clock, which reads 3:33.

"Al!" he yells "do you realize what time it is here? I have an important date that could decide the fates of three people tomorrow!"

"We've done some digging on Gabby's family history," says the observer. "there is an argument you can make to convince your- Art's parents and Gabby's parents to let Art be a part of his son's life."

"Tell me."

The door opens, and Mrs. Bayog enters, wearing a nightgown.

"You're still awake?" she asks.

"Trouble sleeping," Sam says to Art's mom.

"I understand," she replies. "I mean, this whole situation has been stressful for us, stressful for Gabby and her parents too. And you're feeling nervous about seeing Gabby again after all these months. You must be wondering what she's like now."

"Yeah, I am wondering that too. I'm worried about the baby."

"You have to trust us, Art. The baby will be fine. Just get some sleep."

Art's mother closes the door, returning to her bedroom.

Sam nods towards Al.

"Okay, Sam," says the observer. "Listen carefully. Let me tell you the story of a man..."

 

[Dbz77]

Chapter 4​

Quantum leaping through time, I've been in so many situations, from flying fighter jets to firefighting to skiing or to most recently surviving an avalanche. The task before me is to convince a boy's parents, a girl, and her parents to let him be a father. I just hoped what Al told me would help.

Sam steps into the Oldsmobile station wagon, while Artur Bayog's parents sit in the front seat.

"I'll be here," says Al, standing next to Sam as the former holds the handlink to Ziggy. Mr. Bayog starts the gasoline engine, and soon pulls out into the street.

The phone rings, in the middle of the night
My father yells "What you gonna do with your life?"
Oh daddy dear, you know you're still number one
But girls they wanna have fun
Oh girls just wanna have

"No music while you're in the car," says Mrs. Bayog, turning off the station wagon's stereo.

"You could cut us a break," says Al, knowing Art's mother can not hear her.

Driving along the city streets of Carson, they reach a church. It looks like a typical church with a steeple. The interior looks like churches that Al had been to, with the wooden benches and the altar and a crucifix hanging on the wall.

The observer once lost his faith after his own father had died. It took so many years to get it back.

"I hope you succeed," he says to Sam, sitting on the varnished wooden pew with Art's parents. The observer thinks of his girls, how he had always been there for them when they needed him since they were born. He wonders if words coming from someone who looks like a boy that had not reached his sixteenth birthday could sway four people that had originally made the decision to separate Art and Connor.

Sam, too, recalls the memories of his father. He recalls his final meeting with him during one of his leaps, although her had appeared as a different person. He is certain Art deserves a chance to see his son grow up.

Finally, Mass is ended, and the altar boys make their procession. Sam and the Bayogs walk to the church parking lot and get into the Oldsmobile. No one says a word as Art's father starts the car and then drives out into the street.

Sam just looks out the window to take in the scenery. He notes they are on a street called Lomita Boulevard. After passing Western Avenue, they turn left onto a street called Narbonne Avenue.

After passing Pacific Coast Highway, Narbonne Avenue rises up a hillside and soon curves to the left It has become Palos Verdes Drive East, and instead of apartment buildings and stores, there is open space with white fences separated the open land from the street.

"Rolling Hills Country Club should just be a few more minutes, Sam," says Al, pressing buttons on the handlink.

Mr. Bayog makes a right turn to the driveway. Ahead, Sam can see a large house which must be the clubhouse of Rolling Hills Country Club.

"This Club was opened in 1965," says Al.

Art's father parks the station wagon in the parking lot and all three of them get out.

"Let's go," says Mr. Bayog.

They all walk towards the front entrance of the clubhouse. Sam looks around,. He notes an elderly couple walk by, wearing polo shirts.

"Much more impressive than the clubhouse in Coronado," says Al. "Beth and I celebrated our seventh- or was it eighth-anniversary there."

"There they are," says Mrs. Bayog.

Sam notices three people. One of a man with red hair, appearing to be in his late forties to early, with a red goatee, wearing a polo shirt and slacks. With him is a woman of roughly the same age, with light brown hair.

And with them in a teenage girl in a one-piece dress.

Sam faces Gabrielle Flannigan for the first time.

Her face and her milky-white complexion and her curly red hair are just like they appear in her high school yearbook photos. But instead of the slim figure in the photos, she sports a large belly, a clear sign of pregnancy.

Her face says she's still a child.

There is silence.

"Uh, hi," says Sam.

"It;'s been a long time, Art," says Gabby, her voice soft, seeing the boy for the first time since the beginning of summer. She can still remember that fateful day in March when she and her boyfriend did things that set them on this course. "Oh, hi, Mr. and Mrs. Bayog."

"We should make this quick," says Gabby's father. "Let's have a seat."

They all sit down; Gabby sits between her parents.

I wondered how Art felt the first time around, seeing Gabby like this. It was one thing for him to learn he;'d gotten Gabby pregnant, but to actually see it.

Al is wondering the same thing too. There is no way he can show this to Art; all the teenage leapee would be able to see is an empty cavern.

"Gabby is going to raise our grandchild," says Mr. Flannigan. "We will financially support her. We can provide for the baby's needs while our girl becomes a mother to her child. None of you will have to worry, the baby will be fine. It will be best for all of us, for the baby, for Gabby, for Art, to all go our separate ways."

"Yes," says Mr. Bayog. "It will be for the best. Our prayers are with your family, of course."

"Thank you. We all wish you well."

"What about me?" asks Sam.

"We've already decided," says Mrs. Bayog.

"Will I still get to see the baby?"

"There's no need," says Mrs. Flannigan, placing her arm around her pregnant teenage daughter. "don't worry about the baby. You can finish high school, go to college or the military, play water polo. You have your life."

"Ma'am, it's not just about me."

"Let's be blunt here," says Gabby's father. "You're not even sixteen yet. There's no way you can provide for the baby by working at Burger King or at the mall. We will provide for the baby. You can trust us."

"Okay, maybe now I'm not able to pay for food or diapers, sir," says Sam. "But maybe I can read to the baby. I can sing songs, help the baby play with toys. Watch children's movies. Maybe look up at the stars, telling my s- my child all the constellations. Fathers can't do everything, that's true. But the time fathers spend with their children, is precious. I won't be able to make enough money to support the baby, not for a few years at least. I can give the baby my time."

"As Gabby's mom said, you have school and sports and your future."

"We decided this before we brought you here," Mr. Bayog says to Sam "You're here to listen."

"Sam," says Al, worrying they might leave and keep Art away from his son for the next nine years.

"You never met your father, did you?" Sam asks Mr. Flannigan. "He died on Omaha Beach on D-Day.

"How did you know?" asks Gabby's father.

"I...I might have said something about it," says Gabby. "Maybe at school or at the movies or something."

"Actually, your mom wrote about it in an article commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of D-Day," says Al. "It was a special in Life magazine.

"In his last letter to your mother, he wrote about looking forward to meeting his baby, to meeting you. After you were born, your mother included a picture of you in her next letter to your father. It was never confirmed whether or not he got to read it, whether or not he got to see what you looked like. On June 6, 1944, he took his last steps on Omaha Beach in France."

Mr, and Mrs, Flannigan, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Bayog, just stay silent.

"He never got to read to you, or sing to you, or sit under the night sky, looking at the stars and constellations and the Milky Way. He never got to teach you how to ride a bike or a tractor. He never got to go fishing with you. He never got to teach you about life. He never saw you graduate high school. He never saw you get married. He never got to hold Gabby after she was born.

"He may or may not have seen the picture your mother sent to him. When he stepped onto Omaha Beach, he knew he was risking his chance to meet you. But he risked it, and ultimately sacrificed it, because he wanted to give you a chance to grow up free from tyranny.

"Think about it, sir. He was looking forward to holding you , to being in your life. He gave that up, he sacrificed that, for your freedom. He sacrificed more than any of us could be expected to.

"So, yes, if I spend time with the baby, I might end up making sacrifices myself. That's what fathers do."

Sam briefly recalls his own father. He had not met a finer man, and knew his father would give all for him and his brother and sister.

There is silence at the table for a good ten minutes or so, as everyone digests what the leaper said.

"Gabby has a doctor's appointment Tuesday afternoon," says Mr. Flannigan. "We'll invite you to show up. If you decline, there won't be any hard feelings. We make no promises except to give you a chance."

Al punches the buttons on the handlink. "It's changed," says the observer. "Ziggy pulled up an article in ym. Artur Bayog wrote an article back in 1997 about being a teenage father, helping raise a baby while going through high school. He did make a sacrifice; he never played water polo in the Olympics; his life is more or less fine now that his son Connor grew up with him. He's not married to Gabby in my time, but then again in my time, he's just twenty-seven years old. No telling what happens after my time."

Gabby gets up and waddles towards Sam.

"Maybe we'll see each other again soon," she says. "I hope so."

Sam places his left hand on the pregnant teen's right shoulder. Unseen by the people in 1989, a blue glow surrounds him, and he leaps.