Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 15:41:15 -0700 (MST) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Choices - Chapter 16 Message-ID: Quantum Leap Choices by Katherine R. Freymuth Copyright 1998 Chapter 16 "A suicide attempt?" Sam questioned incredulously. "It does explain his wish to have died in the explosion," Al commented mostly to himself. Sam looked at Al firmly. "If it was a suicide attempt, why was it judged to be a mechanical error from something I tinkered with?" Al shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe we missed something that Ziggy didn't. It was never your fault, Sam," he told him as he consulted the handlink. "She says we didn't factor in Alex's strange behavior. She's been doing her own research since she learned about Alex's migraines." He took a breath. "Alex requisitioned some rather volatile chemicals a week before the explosion and placed them against a wall he knew had a lose circuit. Which only proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were never at fault because you didn't start working on the electrical system until three days before the explosion." Sam shook his head. "It doesn't make sense. Why would Alex do such a thing?" Al looked at him. "It's possible, Sam. What's more, Ziggy says it's highly probable." Sam looked at his partner. "So what does this have to do with collaborating with _him_?" "Ziggy says the chances of you two avoiding contact are practically nil. I think she thinks that means you two are meant to help each other." Sam took a breath. "But our missions practically contradict each other." Al shrugged. "I guess you have to find a middle ground. Obviously, your mission is no longer about helping Alex die." Sam looked at the hologram with questioning eyes. "What does Ziggy say that middle ground is?" "She isn't sure yet." Sam frowned in frustration. "Hey, give her a chance!" Al defended. "She's got a lot on her mind, you know. It's not every day you learn you may have only twenty-four hours to live." Sam shook his head. "She's a computer, Al." "With an ego the size of Mount St. Everest. You should remember that," Al told him. "After all, you gave it to her." "The point is," Sam said firmly, "she is intelligent enough not to let her ego get in the way. We need answers, Al, and we need them fast. We have less than twenty hours left until the project's shut down and only sixteen hours until that explosion occurs. And that's only if we don't sleep." Al nodded slightly. "I'll speed her up." He raised the handlink and looked at it. "In the meantime, Ziggy says you should contact your younger self and start brainstorming as well." Sam got a pensive look on his face, instantly gaining Al's attention. "I've been thinking about that, Al. I don't want to shock him by just going up to him and touching him. He has enough on his mind than for that to happen to him." Al nodded. "Agreed. So, how do you think you should break it to him that you are actually a future version of himself?" Sam took a breath and looked at his partner. "Actually, you are going to break it to him." Al raised his eyebrows. "Me?" Sam nodded. "He's used to you being a hologram to him." Al thought about his words. He looked at Sam and nodded in agreement. "Sam." Sam turned his head to see Al standing beside him, looking at the scene before him with a somber expression. Alex was laying on the infirmary's examination table, completely unaware of the Chief's examination. There had been x-rays and CAT scans taken of Alex's skull and the Chief was now making a physical of Alex as he waited for the x-rays to be developed. "I didn't hear you come in," Sam told him in a low voice. "How's Alex?" Al asked. Sam exhaled. "Not good. Something interfered with the CAT scan, The Chief couldn't get a clear picture and he's certain it wasn't a problem with the equipment. We're hoping the x-rays show something." He didn't notice the puzzled look he was receiving from Janet and Verbina, who stood on the other side of the room. Genine, who stood on the other side of Sam, took a step forward and looked at Al with question. "Sam, I didn't see him enter the infirmary," she told her partner. Sam frowned. Al nodded. "She's right, Sam. She didn't see me enter because I popped in slightly behind you." Both Sam and Genine looked at him with shock. Sam slowly extended his hand to touch Al and found it going through Al's arm. He looked at Genine with question. Genine shook her head with confusion. "He isn't with me." Al smiled slightly. "We need to talk but not here. Go tell Janet and 'Bina that you're going to check what's taking the Admiral so long. We'll talk in the hallway." Without further explanation, he disappeared with a push of a button on his handlink. Sam looked at Genine with questioning yet again. "Ziggy is as confused as us but she hypothesizes there's another leaper here." Sam looked towards the door and took a breath. "Let's find out fir sure," he said quietly before he walked over to Janet and Verbina. "You okay, Sam?" Verbina asked with concern. "You were talking to yourself over there." Sam raised his eyebrows. "I was?" he questioned. "Must be the stress." He hoped that would be enough to ward them off. Verbina frowned at him slightly. "I think you should take a few days off, Sam. I'd hate to think you are having some kind of post-leaping stress after so many months." Sam nodded. "I'll take it a little more easy with myself. I promise." He paused. "I'm going to see what's taking Al so long. He should have been here by now." The two women nodded in agreement as Sam left the room. If it weren't for the different sets of clothes, Sam would have though something was affecting his vision. There were two Als, both dressed in the manner of the retired Admiral, both looking exactly like the other. Slight surprise crossed Sam's face and left just as quickly as it came. The surprise on Genine's face remained for a little longer. "Dr. Samuel Beckett," Al - the first one - said. "Meet Dr. Samuel Beckett." The two Sams slowly shook hands.