Date: Mon, 16 Jun 1997 21:09:03 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Choices - Chapter 2 Message-ID: Choices by Katherine Freymuth Chapter 2 Admiral Janet K. Kalarco had a headache. She'd been staring at her computer screen for nearly six hours, reading reports of every kind - from the research budget to the latest quotes about gasoline usage in the motor pool. She was tired - very tired. But there still were a few things to do before she could call her day over. She sighled slightly, leaning back in her chair and rubbing some fatigue from her eyes. Ever since Al had retired as Project Administrator and Chief of Security, giving the positions to Janet and to Captain Mark Davalos respectively, Janet had finally begun to see exactly how hard Al's job really was as Administrator. And he was Chief of Security and Observer at the same time! She wondered how he ever juggled those hats for so many years without going completely insane. She had thought once it might have been because he had a family to go home to. Janet had never really had a family. Like Al, she was an orphan. Her parents had died when she was very young. Her seven year marriage was the closest thing she had to having a family. But she had lost Theodore in the line of duty six years ago and, because of her infertility, they had no children. She had no one to go home to - except her cat. Of course now she knew that Al had juggled those hats so well because he had to. He could have given his duties to tohers but a part of him would miss those duties and would have snatched them back up again. She could see it happening to Al now, after a year an a half of official retirement from the Navy. He wasn't happy simply being the Observer - though Janet knew there wasn't anything simple about being Sam's Observer. Al was pining for the duties he had surrendered upon his retirement. "I don't need the aggravation anymore," he had told Janet. No, he may not have needed the aggravation but he wanted it - more than he thought. Janet knew Sl secretly enjoyed being in charge of practically everything in the complex, although if anyone had told him that, he would have laughed in his or her face. Now that he wasn't in charge, he went to Janet's office for his updates on the status of the complex. He even, a couple of times, called staff meetings without Janet's permission. Janet had learned quickly that, even though he had retired, everyone still considered Al the head of the Project and he would probably remain so until Sam came home again. Nonetheless, that didn't change the fact that it was really Janet who was in charge now. She was the one who had to go to the Committee every year to keep the funding going now, not Al. She took a deep breath and stretched her neck before sitting forward to read yet another electronically-sent report. The report didn't need to be read that day but she would read it anyway. It would keep her mind from the funeral she had just attended. Alex's funeral. A funeral that was too much like Ted's, filled with military protocol. To remember Alex's funeral would be to remember Ted's and Janet didn't think she could handle that much pain again. She had read past the third paragraph when she interrupted by a gentle chime that filled the office, telling her that Ziggy wanted her attention. Janet had only been in her new position for no more than a month when she discovered that, regardless of the situation, the parallel-hybrid computer that ran Project Quantum Leap would speak without some kind of warning. Janet therefore ordered Ziggy to give her some kind of warning, like the chime she had just heard, and to wait until Janet had answered. Al had warned her that it wouldn't last long but it had been over a year and, so far, it was still working. "Yes, Ziggy?" Janet questioned, leaning back in her chair. "Dr. Beckett has made an arrival, Admiral. Shall I inform Admiral Calavicci?" Ziggy queried, even thought the question was irrelevant. Janet nodded slightly. "Of course, Ziggy. Please inform me when he arrives at the complex. I assume you have informed Dr. Beeks." "Of course," the computer replied in a soft feminine voice. "Good," Janet answered. "I want an update on the guest in the Waiting Room as soon as possible." "Yes, Admiral Kalarco," Ziggy replied, ending hers and Janet's conversation. Janet took a deep breath with the intent of finishing the report on the computer screen. However, her eyes almost instantly focused on the picture she kept on her desk. It had been taken only a month before he was killed in that horrible raid on the complex. It was taken on their anniversary. They were sitting at a table in a nice restaurant. Their waiter had taken their picture at Ted's insistence. "An event like this only happens once a year," Ted told her with a gleam in his eye. "Besides, this oculd be the most important picture we'll ever have together." Ted couldn't have been more right. It was the last picture they had together. Janet sighed as she looked at the picture. She kissed the tips of her fingers and touched her husband's photo. "Onward to glory," she whispered, recalling the words of the well-known song from "Man of La Mancha". She then slowly stood up and walked out of the office. The gentle beeping seeped through every corner of the room, waking Beth from her fitful sleep. She peered over her shoulder at Al, whose right arm was laying gently on her hip. He, surprisingly, was still asleep. Beth slowly and gently extradicted herself from Al's arms. She walked around the bed, clothing herself with a robe as she did so, and went to the source of the beeping: the viewphone. "Hello?" she said quietly after pressing the receiving button on the viewphone. "Dr. Calavicci," Ziggy's silky voice came from the speakers. "I had expected Admiral Calavicci to answer." "He's asleep," Beth told the computer. "What is it?" There was a confused pause. "It is unusual for the Admiral to be asleep so early in the evening," Ziggy commented. Beth frowned slightly. She could see how Al had often complained about the stubbornness of the computer. She opened her mouth to speak. "What is it, Ziggy?" Al said from behind her. Beth turned to see him standing and looking over her shoulder. "Admiral, Dr. Calavicci told me that you were asleep," Ziggy commented. "Well, I'm awake now. What is it? Sam leaped?" "Yes, Admiral. Dr. Beeks is in the Waiting Room, interviewing the guest." "Fine," Al said. "I'll be there as soon as I can." He immediately disconnected the line with Ziggy and started towards the bathroom. Beth watched her husband as he entered the bathroom. She followed him in, stopping at the shower door. "Are you going to be okay?" she asked with concern, remembering his moodiness earlier. He smiled at her reassuringly and kissed her forehead. "I'll be fine," he told her gently. He looked into her eyes lovingly. "You know, it's amazing how a guy like me could have such a wonderful woman as a wife." Beth giggled gently before kissing him, assured that he was indded going to be fine, despite his encounter with Aptheker.. "I'll make you some coffee," she told him. "Knowing these leaps you've been telling me about, you'll probably need it." She started away. "And no cigars when it starts to get rough," she warned. "Yeah, I know about those puffs you've been sneaking when Verbina isn't looking." Al smiled slightly and shook his head. "I'll just have to be a little more careful not to get caught." "I heard that," Beth yelled at him, warningly. Al's smiled widened and he stepped into the shower and turned on the faucet. It wasn't long until he was showered, dressed, and driving towards Project Quantum Leap. Dr. Samuel Beckett, PhD to the sixth power, was very comfortable. He felt nicely warm. He could tell even with his eyes closed, that his head was lying on a firm pillow and that his body was covered with soft cotton bedsheets. But there was something else. He felt... Well, the only word he could come up with in his mind was loved. He felt as if someone very close to him loved him very deeply. He soon found out why when a soft arm wrapped over his left arm and touched his chest. *Someon very VERY close to me*, Sam thought with realization. "Oh, boy," he whispered. There was a gently giggle from behind him. "You've been around Sam too lone," a female voice told him. "You're starting to sound like him." There was a pause. "I haven't seen him for so long. We should invite him for dinner." Sam was thinking about her words. *I'm starting to sound like _Sam_? Sam who? Me?* He shook his head slightly. *Probably just a coincidence.* The woman behind him huffed. "What's that supposed to mean?" Sam frowned, trying to look over his shoulder at the woman but failing in the task. "What's what supposed to mean?" he questioned. "You shook your head. You mean you don't want Sam over for dinner?" Sam laughed nervously. "No, that's no it at all." The woman exhaled. "Well, he's your best friend. Just let me know in advance. I'm thinking tomorrow would be good. Why don't you run it by him tomorrow when you see him." Sam nodded slightly. "Okay," he said quickly, desperately wanting to get out of the bed and away from whomever's lover the woman was. The woman snuggled closer to Sam, laying her head against him. "I love you, Al," she said softly. Sam tightened reflexively when he heard the name. He quickly twisted arounf to look at the woman. "Beth?" he questioned quietly. Chapter 3 soon. :) By the way, the character of Mark Davalos was created by L. Elizabeth Storm. The incidence with the raid that I mentioned can be read in "Coup d'Etat", another one of my stories. Katherine Freymuth