Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 15:44:02 -0700 (MST) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Choices - Chapter 20 Message-ID: Quantum Leap Choices by Katherine R. Freymuth Copyright 1998 Chapter 20 Al exhaled loudly and closed his eyes. He couldn't get what Alex said out of his mind. What had happened to his friend was too horrible to comprehend but also too horrible to forget. It was obvious now how Aptheker had gotten his information about Project Quantum Leap. And at what a price! Taking a deep breath, Al opened his eyes and walked away from the Imaging Chamber. There was nothing to do but wait now and Al needed a break desperately. He could worry about Alex's operation as he paced in the Imaging Chamber or as he laid on his couch in his office. Al voted for the latter at Sam's insistence. Sam himself had decided to take the time to call Beth and let her know he'd be staying in the complex. He then got himself a cup of coffee, went to Al's office, and waited. As Al entered his office in the present, he was confronted with an unexpected sight. "You're a little early to watch us drown into a permanent tabloid article, Senator," Al said as he sat at his desk. "I didn't come to see the demise of Project Quantum Leap, Mr. Calavicci," Weitzman said haughtily. "I'm here about Mr. Aptheker." He raised an eyebrow. "I know you would do whatever it takes but I never thought you were capable of going to such extremes." "Extremes?" Al questioned. "I yelled at him a bit but I don't call that extreme." Weitzman glared at him. "We both know what I'm talking about, Calavicci. There's a warrant out for your arrest and I'm here to make sure you surrender to the civilian authorities." Al raised his eyebrows. "What's he charging me with? Liable?" Weitzman stood up. His towering frame dwarfed Al and his desk. Al looked up into Weitzman's eyes, not in the least intimidated by the large man. "The police found Mr. Aptheker's body, Calavicci." Surprise crossed Al's face. "He's dead?" Weitzman didn't answer. He glared at Al with impatience. Al lowered his eyelids slightly but didn't remove his gaze. "You think I killed him." "He was shot six times with a military service automatic handgun. Your handgun. Forensics has just confirmed it." Al frowned strongly. "That's impossible. My gun is unloaded and locked in a display case in my home. Has been for years. And I've been here all night." "What about this afternoon at about four o'clock to five o'clock?" Weitzman questioned strongly. "Were you not at Mr. Aptheker's apartment at that time?" Al stood up and looked into Weitzman's eyes strongly but without malice. "Yes, I was there. I confronted him. We had words and then I left him quite alive. I was unarmed." "Your pistol was found in a refuse pile a mile from Aptheker's apartment. The police think you threw it out your car window." "I didn't kill him," Al declared firmly. "Calavicci, you can protest your innocence as much as you want but you're still the police's prime suspect. You had means. You had motive. You were in the area - in the apartment - between the times Aptheker was killed. And, most importantly, your gun was used in the crime. We had intended for Project Quantum Leap to disappear for a couple of years before reactivating it. I don't want Dr. Beckett to be lost in the past either, Calavicci. But now, we have no choice. Project Quantum Leap will be made completely public. The police found Aptheker's article and they see keeping the project out of the tabloids as being your motive. Congress can not cover the project up without being seen as a hindrance to justice." "I see," Al said in a low voice. "So regardless of my guilt or innocence, I'm being thrown to the wolves due to circumstantial evidence." Weitzman shrugged. "I'm afraid that's unavoidable." Al raised an eyebrow. "I thought by now that you'd realize that nothing is unavoidable." Weitzman didn't answer for a moment. "You have something in mind." Al took a slow deep breath. "Does this project still have until 1 PM?" "That hasn't changed," Weitzman told him. "Allow me to remain in the complex until then," Al demanded more than requested. "If you still intend to shut down the project then, I'll surrender myself to the police." Weitzman frowned with curiosity, "Why?" Al paused dramatically. "Because Dr. Beckett's current leap is directly related to what is happening right now. We're going to change history and the thought of shutting down the project will probably never even enter your mind." Weitzman looked into Al's eyes. "Calavicci, it's very late for me. I was awaken from a very fitful sleep and was told about this situation after a long flight from Washington. I wasn't planning on being here for another eleven hours." He paused. "And that is exactly how much time you have." He started walking towards the door. "I'll return at noon, Mr. Calavicci." He stopped and turned to look at Al. "Or maybe not." Without further words, he left the office. Al exhaled slowly. "I hope the latter, Senator. I don't fancy the death penalty." "Admiral," a soft voice spoke. Sam opened his eyes slowly. He had had an uneasy sleep, worrying about Alex and about the project. He looked at the clock on Al's desk to see that he had slept for five hours, which meant it had been seven hours since he left the infirmary. He hoped Ziggy's interruption brought good news. "Yes, Ziggy," he replied to the computer. "The Chief had completed the operation on Dr. Hathorn and requests your presence in the infirmary." Sam nodded and sat up in Al's couch. "Inform him that I'll be right down." He took a breath. "Have you told Dr. Beckett?" "Affirmative, Admiral," Ziggy told him. "Good. Thank you, Ziggy." He stood up and straightened his clothing. "You're welcome, Admiral," Ziggy replied before going silent. Hoping that Al was on his way to the Imaging Chamber, and this to the infirmary, Sam left Al's office. "Admiral." Unlike Sam, Al hadn't had any sleep. He remained awake during the entire seven hour wait and he doubted he would get any sleep for another five hours until he was absolutely certain about the success of the leaps. He did, however, lay down and attempt to rest. As he did so, he was plagued with worries and thoughts, the primary being who had framed him with Aptheker's murder. The more he thought about it, the more he was certain that it was Zoe and her cohorts. Al had one motive but they had the other - to shut down the project permanently, not just until the smoke of tabloid journalism cleared. "Admiral," Ziggy repeated the summons, snapping Al out of his thoughts. "Yes, Ziggy," he replied. "I have an update on Dr. Beckett's leap. The surgery on Dr. Hathorn has been completed." Al exhaled as he stood up and rubbed his eyes. He know he probably looked terrible and he knew he had a day's worth of facial hair growth due to being awake and away from a razor for 26 hours. "Do you have an updated projection?" he asked as he headed for the small bathroom off to the side of his office. "Affirmative, Admiral." Al washed his face quickly before quickly running an electric razor over his stubble. "What is it?" he questioned when Ziggy didn't continue. "There is an eighty-nine percent chance that Dr. Hathorn suffered no damage from the operation and will not attempt suicide by causing the incident in Lab 8G." "So, the explosion never occurs," Al concluded as he finished shaving, "That is what I said, Admiral," Ziggy replied. There was a long silence. Al frowned and glanced at the ceiling. "I have a feeling there's more," he said before leaving the bathroom. "There is, Admiral. There is still a seventy-two point sixty-seven percent chance that Project Quantum Leap will be permanently shut down and that you will be arrested for the murder of Dana Aptheker."