From: Coast2C@aol.com
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 21:48:46 -0400
Message-ID: <960430213152_387229837@emout13.mail.aol.com>
Subject: Convergence:  Part 22 of 25

Convergence
by
Dana Anderson

Part 22 of  25      (Author's Notes and Disclaimer found in Part 1) 

*               *               *               * 

Al found Jenna in her quarters.  She had changed from her wrinkled 
fatigues into an outfit Al had never seen before.  He paused to 
appreciate how incredibly good she looked in the lightweight, deep 
red sweater and clinging charcoal gray slacks.  Al had to remind 
himself several times that he had come looking for Jenna for a 
reason other than the one which was rapidly overwhelming his 
rational mind.  He deliberately suppressed his other impulses and 
concentrated on their recently departed visitor.

"Who the hell was that guy?" Al demanded.

"Al, I'm astonished" Jenna said with an impish grin.  "Basic military 
protocol obligated the two of you to properly introduce yourselves."

"Very funny" Al said.  "So I know his name's Brooks and he's a 
Major General.  What I want to know is, who is he to you?" 

"Well, for one thing" Jenna responded.  "up until a few minutes ago, 
he was my commanding officer."

Al's jaw dropped.

"I think you'd better sit down, Al" Jenna recommended.  "You don't 
seem to have complete control of yourself."  They went out onto the 
balcony and sat down.  Al unwrapped a cigar and began to prepare it 
for smoking.

"So he's the person you went to see in Washington." Al guessed.

Jenna nodded.  "I thought I'd let him know personally that Littleton 
was raiding his staff."

"You said 'for one thing', what else is he to you besides your C.O.?" 
Al wanted to know.

"We've also been very good friends for almost twenty six years" 
Jenna replied.

Al had finally gotten his cigar lit.  He took a couple of puffs and 
watched the smoke rise and disperse.  He was unsure if he could find 
a way to go on with this interrogation.  The mental image of Jen 
with Brooks, a giant who was almost three times her size, was one 
that Al simply could not or would not picture.  He wasn't sure how 
he would handle what she might say if he found a way to get his 
question out.  Jenna put him mercifully out of his misery.

"Al" she said softly, to get him to look at her.  Al met her eyes.  
"You know you can ask me anything and I'll tell you the truth" 
Jenna said.  "This one time I'll volunteer the information.  Joe and I 
have never been lovers.  I do love him, though.  He's the brother and 
I'm the sister neither of us had before we met.  You can you 
understand that, can't you?"

Al kept his gaze locked with hers as he nodded slowly.  He had 
never heard a better description of how he truly felt about Sam.  
Brothers who finally met.

They sat quietly for awhile, Jenna allowing Al to organize his 
scattered thoughts and conflicting emotions.  Suddenly, Al sat up 
abruptly.

"You said Brooks was your C.O. until a few minutes ago.  What 
happened?  Don't tell me he couldn't get your orders rescinded." Al 
said in an appalled gasp. 

Jenna had that gleam in her eye again and Al realized that she was 
amused it had taken him this long to pick up on what she had said 
earlier.  *Well,* Al thought, *I had one too many things going on in 
my mind.*

"My orders weren't exactly rescinded" Jenna replied  "They were 
overridden, though."  She reached into her pocket and produced a 
folded piece of paper that Al assumed was the same one Brooks had 
delivered to her.  "I hope Littleton chokes on whoever's guts he's 
chewing on when he sees this."

"Why does that guy Littleton's name ring a bell with me?" Al asked.  
"And how come every time you say his name it sounds like you're 
cussing?"

"He was the senior military advisor on that biological weapon 
project that blew up in 1989" Jenna said softly.

Al's face froze in a pale, shocked expression.  "And he's deliberately 
trying to get you assigned to him?" Al choked out.  "Why?"

"I guess he figures keeping me locked up and drugged for three 
months wasn't enough punishment for the likes of me."  Jenna 
replied.  "He was on his way to the top with a bullet, Al.  
Guaranteed Joint Chiefs of Staff material.  If everyone had died he 
might have managed to slap an 'interest of National Security' seal  
on the whole mess and kept it quiet.  But I survived and when that 
orderly blew the whistle everything came down on his head.  That 
little incident insured he'd never be more than head of one command 
or another.  He's been trying to find a way to ruin my career ever 
since."

Al shook his head in horror at the peril Jenna was facing.  

"It's all right, Al" Jenna said soothingly.  "He can't hurt me now.  He 
can't hurt me ever again."  She reached out and handed him the 
paper.

Al unfolded it and tried to focus.  He was still a little fuzzy and it 
took a while before the words made sense to him.  The ones that 
leaped off the page and repeated themselves in his mind were: 
Promoted to Brigadier General and retired.  Retired.  Al looked at 
Jenna in amazement.  "Retired?"

"Retired" Jenna confirmed.  

Al came out of his chair like a rocket.  He grabbed Jenna around the 
waist, lifted her off her feet and swung her around in a circle.  He set 
her down carefully, put his hands on her shoulders and looked 
deeply into her eyes.  "Will you marry me?" Al asked.  His voice was 
solemn but he had a grin on his face and his eyes were shining.

"Yes." Jenna answered.  "Absolutely."

*               *               *               * 

Rather than begin their celebration in the middle of a work day, 
when they might be interrupted, they decided to postpone more 
enjoyable activities until that evening and have lunch instead.  Sam 
must have arrived at the cafeteria shortly before they had as he was 
just seating himself at a table.  Al and Jenna grinned at each other 
and joined him.

Sam looked Jenna up and down in surprise.  Other than the short 
period of time when Jenna had been in the infirmary, he had never 
seen her dressed in anything other than an Army uniform.  "You 
haven't been dressing like that to work in the power plant, have 
you?" Sam asked.

"No" Jenna replied.  "But I found myself relieved of duty a short 
while ago, so I changed my clothes."

"Relieved of duty?" Sam echoed.  "What do you mean?"

"That's military speak, Sam" Al explained.  "You know, canned, 
sacked, services no longer required, don't let the door hit you in 
the..."

Sam interrupted.  "Okay, I get it.  What happened?"

"My commanding officer paid us a visit to deliver my new orders" 
Jenna said.  She turned to Al.  "I guess I'd better update my resume 
and start hunting for a job.  I hear there's a real interesting project 
out in New Mexico.  Either one of you have any pull with the Project 
Administrator?  Maybe I can get a job as a clerk."

Al shrugged.  "They're cutting back the staff.  No clerk positions 
available.  I heard they've recently discovered that they can't get 
along without a Deputy Director, though."

"Think I'm qualified for the job?" Jenna inquired.

"It was designed for you" Al replied.  "Think you could put in a 
good word with the Project Administrator for her, Sam?"

"I think I'll knock the Project Administrator on his butt and sit on 
him until he tells me what the heck is going on" Sam said.

Al pulled Jenna's retirement orders out of his shirt pocket and 
handed them to Sam.  Sam read the orders and a huge, bright smile 
broke out over his features as he looked back up at Jenna.

"You're free?" Sam asked.

Jenna shook her head solemnly.  "I may be easy, fella, but I'm not 
cheap; and I'm certainly not free."

"Yeah, Sam" Al interjected.  "We'd better think about this carefully.  
She'll probably expect us to start paying her a salary and 
everything."

"Do I need to remind you that as Project Director it's my job to tell 
you what I need and your job, as Project Administrator, is to go and 
get it?" Sam inquired.  "We need a Deputy Director.  I'll leave the 
negotiations up to you."

Al heaved an exaggerated sigh and Jenna started to rub her hands 
together and chuckle.  "We probably won't have much trouble 
agreeing on a salary" Jenna said "but wait until he sees my list of 
demands regarding fringe benefits."

"Does this mean you'll help me with Ziggy's programming?" Sam 
asked.

"Sure, Sam" Jenna agreed.  "Somebody should probably keep an eye 
on you anyway, keep you from pulling another bonehead stunt like 
you did the last time."

"Wait a minute" Al objected.  "Sam's just going to have to do 
without you for a week or two."

"How come?" Sam complained.

"I'm not giving up my honeymoon for anything or anybody" Al 
declared.

"Honeymoon?" Sam echoed, shifting his gaze back and forth 
between Al and Jenna.  

"Yeah, you know, Sam.  The first and usually the best part of a 
marriage" Al replied.

"Marriage?" Sam repeated.

"Did you get hit on the head or something, pal?" Al asked, 
narrowing his eyes at Sam with a look of concern.  He turned to 
Jenna.  "Maybe he's been sucking out more brain cells with a straw 
trying to cure Ziggy."

Jenna waved a hand in front of Sam's face.  He retained his blank 
expression, but blinked.  "How many fingers am I holding up?" 
Jenna asked, holding up two fingers.

"Two" Sam said.

"Well, he still has brain function" Jenna commented.

"Great" Al said.  "A genius who can count to two."

Sam blinked again and looked at Al.  "You and Jenna are getting 
married?"

"Correction" Jenna said.  "A genius who can put two and two 
together."

"That's why he made the cover of 'Time'" Al stated.

Sam's grin was back.  He rose from the table, put his hands on 
Jenna's shoulders and kissed her cheek.

"Back off, pal" Al growled, but his smile took the menace out of his 
words.

Sam put his hand out and Al shook it firmly.  Sam sat back down 
and looked at Jenna.  "You must be out of your mind" he said.

"And I thought 'Congratulations' was the standard sentiment" Jenna 
said.

"They might have to come out with a new line of greeting cards" 
Sam joked.  "Congratulations to the groom, good luck to the bride."

"That's my future husband you're talking about, Sam" Jenna warned 
him.

"Yeah, Sam" Al chuckled.  "Knock it off or I'll sic her on you.  Or 
maybe I'll ask Gushie instead of you to be my best man."  As soon as 
he said that, Al's eyes opened wide.  "Oh my God" he breathed.  "I 
just realized it's the best man's job to arrange the bachelor's party.  
I've never had one with milk and cookies and party hats before."

"Good" Sam said.  "I wouldn't want it to be the same old thing."

"I'll have Joe give him a call and make some suggestions" Jenna 
comforted Al.  "The casualty count from the last one he threw was 
five arrests, four broken bones, three concussions, two broken 
marriages and one pregnancy."

"Sounds like my kind of party" Al concluded.

*               *               *               * 

Joe flew down four days before the ceremony.  He had convinced 
Sam to schedule the bachelor's party at least three days before the 
wedding to allow time for recuperation.  A wise precaution as it 
turned out.  The party was scheduled for Tuesday night.  Jenna 
found the three of them in the infirmary on Wednesday morning; 
Sam on one bed, Joe on the other and Al dozing in a chair between 
them with a melted ice pack in his lap.

Jenna knelt down in front of Al and touched one hand.  Al jerked 
fully awake and looked at her.

"Hangover or still half lit?" Jenna whispered.

Al shook his head and put one finger to his lips, then pointed at the 
other two men.  He rose and pointed in the direction of the 
infirmary's office.

Jenna nodded and the two of the left the room silently.  When they 
reached the office and had two closed doors between them and the 
invalids Jenna spoke.

"How bad off are they?"

"It's about fifty-fifty whether either of them will be able to remain 
upright on Saturday" Al sighed.

"So, you guys must have had a great time" Jenna said as she started 
the coffee maker.

"The best" Al said with a grin.

"Do you think I can get a B12 shot into them without waking them 
up?" Jenna asked.

"Probably" Al replied.  "Just don't make any noise."

Jenna got what she needed from the cabinets and returned to the 
ward room.  Al poured himself a cup of coffee and started sipping it 
gratefully.  Jenna returned to the office quietly.

"Stuck them both without getting a peep out of either one" she 
advised Al.  "Will you stand guard here against Dr. Ambrose while I 
whip up my hangover cure?"

"Sure" Al said.

"Do you need one?" Jenna asked.

"Nope" Al confirmed.  "But I could _really_ use a massage.  
Especially if you ever want me to have movement in certain parts of 
my body ever again."

"No problem" Jenna said.  "As soon as I have everything necessary 
to return these two to the land of the living I'm all yours."

Jenna was back in about fifteen minutes.  Al had already stopped Dr. 
Ambrose from charging into the wardroom and throwing the 
unconscious pair into the hallway to fend for themselves.  

Jenna unpacked two plastic tumblers, a small pitcher and four 
thermal mugs from the box she had brought with her.  She poured a 
vile looking green liquid from the pitcher into the tumblers, filled 
two of the mugs with ice water and the others with coffee; then she 
pulled a thick black marker out of her pocket and marked the 
tumblers with a large numeral one, the water with a two and the 
coffee with a three.  

Jenna and Al carried the containers into the wardroom and left one 
of each beverage on the beside tables.  They left Dr. Ambrose with a 
stern admonition against awakening the Director or his 
distinguished visitor.

*               *               *               * 

Jenna started Al's massage while he was still in a hot shower and it 
was an hour and a half before he had regained normal movement 
and sensation in most of his body.

"Holy Mary, mother of God" Jenna exclaimed, somewhere in the 
middle of her efforts to make Al comfortable.  "You three must have 
left unconscious men and fainting women across half of Santa Fe!"

Al chuckled weakly.  "Maybe more than half" he boasted.  "That 
buddy of yours really knows how to party."

"It's lucky for him that Betty couldn't come with him or he'd be a 
dead man right about now" Jenna said.  "She doesn't have much 
tolerance for this sort of thing; a real upstanding church goer his 
wife is."

"Maybe I should count my blessings and keep my mouth shut, but 
why aren't you mad?" Al asked.

"Why should I be mad?  Because the three of you blew off a little 
steam?  I'd trust any one of you with my life or each other's.  I don't 
see any point in making a big deal about you needing to let your hair 
down and act a little crazy every once in a while.  Just don't expect 
to make a habit of it" Jenna explained.

She had finished with his back.  Al rolled over carefully, with 
Jenna's help, so she could continue her ministrations on the front of 
his body.  

"I think once a decade is plenty often for this kind of blowout" Al 
sighed as Jenna started working on his right arm and shoulder.

"That I can handle" Jenna agreed.

*               *               *               * 

When Jenna had restored Al's mobility to near normal he dressed 
and the two of them returned to the infirmary.  Joe was sitting on the 
edge of his bed finishing the coffee.  Sam was still unconscious.  
Jenna and Al each took one of Joe's arms and escorted him to 
Jenna's quarters, which had been given over to Joe for the duration 
of his visit.  Jenna fixed coffee while Al guided Joe to the bathroom 
and stood ready outside the door in case he heard crashing, groaning 
or other signs of distress.  

Jenna had finished a coffee break by the time Al led Joe, clad only in 
a bathrobe, from the bedroom.  She served coffee to both the men 
and started in on Joe's massage.  Joe took a grateful sip of coffee and 
sighed.  

"Al, you're one lucky man.  If I were home right now I'd be in a taxi 
with a blinding headache searching for a hotel room" Joe admitted.  
"Besides not getting cranky if a man ties one on, Jen makes that 
incredible hangover cure.  If you could get her to patent it the two of 
you would be set for life."

"I didn't get six degrees so that I could hawk a product that would 
get me accused of encouraging debauchery" Jenna said.  "Anyway, 
the shelf life of that stuff is about two hours.  Makes it hard to 
market."

Al had finished his coffee.  He reached into his pocket and produced 
a cigar.

"Don't light that" Jenna insisted.  "With Joe's complexion, it's 
impossible to tell when he's green around the gills and he'd never 
admit he couldn't handle it."

Al replaced the cigar in his pocket.

"Sam should be awake by now.  Why don't you get him started on 
his recovery and I'll meet you in his quarters in a few minutes" 
Jenna suggested.

Al gazed at her.  Joe was obviously enjoying his massage and Al 
didn't really want to leave the two of them alone.  It wasn't that he 
didn't trust Jen, it was just that he couldn't help being jealous of 
anyone else being the center of her attention.  Finally, he decided 
that he was capable of suppressing his misgivings.  He rose and 
kissed her cheek on his way out.

"That guy is absolutely nuts about you" Joe said after Al left.

"The feeling is mutual" Jenna replied.  "So, have you made up your 
mind about him?"

"On short acquaintance and pending further evidence, I'm willing to 
admit he might be worthy of you" Joe admitted.  "In fact, he kind of 
reminds me of you in several respects.  That's the bonus that tips the 
scales in his favor."

Jenna had finished her massage of Joe's head, neck, shoulders and 
arms.  She patted him on the back a couple of times.  "Well, big 
brother; I'm glad you're not planning to call the sheriff and have him 
run out of the county.  I'd hate to have to spend my honeymoon 
looking over my shoulder and wondering when you were going to 
catch up to us and dismember my husband."

"Not this one" Joe said, shaking his head carefully.  "I'd say he's the 
pick of the litter."

"I'm sure he'd be gratified to hear you say so" Jenna remarked, 
giving Joe's back another pat.  "Go get some sleep while I see to the 
other casualty."

Joe pried himself out of the chair with a groan and a grimace.  
"Good night, runt" he said, patting Jenna on the top of the head.  
"Thanks for the first aid."

Jenna left Joe and went over to Sam's quarters.  Al answered the 
door and returned to his duties as spotter while Sam showered and 
Jenna made more coffee.  By the time Jenna had finished Sam's 
massage, he and Al were both yawning.

"I can see that if any work is going to get done today, it'll have to be 
done by me" Jenna observed.  "Both of you get to bed and get some 
sleep."

"Thanks" Sam said sleepily in Jenna and Al's direction as he 
stumbled toward his bedroom.

Jenna looked at Al, who was blinking and trying to remain 
somewhat alert.  "Come on" she said to him.  "You get special 
treatment.  I'll tuck you in and kiss you good night."

Al was glad he hadn't let his jealousy get the better of him earlier.  
Jen fussed over him as he settled into bed.  She made sure he was 
comfortable and then sat down on the bed next to him.  "Thanks for 
making sure the three of you made it back safely" she said, looking 
into his eyes with an affectionate gaze.  "Sometimes Joe has a 
tendency to get a little wild."

"He's a great guy" Al said, yawning.

"He thinks you're pretty terrific, too" Jenna confirmed, smiling.  She 
kissed Al tenderly.  "Sleep well."  Al closed his eyes with a sigh and 
began to drift off to sleep.

*               *               *               * 

End Part 22 of  25