From: hlesser@delphi.com Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative Subject: Delusions: Chapter One Date: Tue, 19 Apr 94 05:17:38 -0500 Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) Message-Id: Quantum-Leap: Delusions By: Helen Lesser Chapter One August 20 1990 Sam was never prepared for the sensation of leaping, even when he knew he was going to leap. The force of being ripped out of someone's life and thrust into another was always disconcerting. Especially when he leaped into a person in a dire situation. So when the brilliant white then blue light dissipated into a rippling static charge and he perceived his first indications that he had "landed", he was totally unprepared for the terror he felt deep inside. He didn't know where it came from or why, But felt like he wanted to scream. His body tensed up as he prepared to fight or flight. An arm held him down and he felt a needle penetrate his arm above the elbow. His eyes snapped open. He was lying on a hospital bed. A non nondescript nurse of medium height stood over him taking a blood sample and he could hear frantic voices just outside the door. "Do you know where you are?", She asked as she withdrew the needle and placed a cotton swab and bandage over the stick spot. "In a hospital? What's happening?", Sam answered tentatively, trying to calm himself down, but that ebbing terror still remained. He had a bad feeling about this leap. Momentarily, he recalled a fear of being zapped with megga volts of electricity and shuddered. Did that ever happen to him? He couldn't remember. But why would that come up now? "Do you remember anything at all? You were pretty shaken when you arrived.", Sam started, wondering momentarily if the nurse knew just how much he couldn't remember. He shrugged thinking that was the safest response, since he truthfully had no idea what was going on. The nurse nodded. "You rest here, I'll be back soon.", The nurse took the blood sample and strode over to the white door of the small examination room. As she left, he felt terribly alone and scared. What had happened to this person. He started his usual perusal of himself trying to get some clues as to his identity. There wasn't much to go on. He looked down at himself and noticed he was wearing a hospital gown. A hospital ID hung loosely on his right hand wrist. There were no other personal effects in the room. He read the name printed under the white plastic sheath. Susan Leers. 'Ohh boy..',he groaned inwardly. He was a woman again. Well, at least he knew who he was supposed to be, that was an improvement. He lay still for a while trying to come to terms with what he was feeling. He could see no visible signs of injury and was in no physical pain. So, Why was he in a hospital? The nurse came back in carrying a tray which she set down on a table next to the bed. "You might be here a while so I've brought you some breakfast. It's still too early for regular admission.", She smiled kindly, then turned and headed out the door again. Well, he now knew it was sometime in the morning. Now if only he knew why he was here. There was always a reason, there was something wrong here that needed to be fixed and he was here to make sure it got fixed. And the way he was feeling told him it wouldn't be easy. "Thank you.", He said to her retreating back and sat up, suddenly realizing how hungry he was. How long had it been since his last meal? He had no idea. He quickly finished the cold scrambled eggs and toast and juice and wondered how they expected anyone to get well eating food like this. He was beginning to get restless now, so he got up and started to pace. Why was he being left alone for so long? He stepped lightly over to the door and turned the knob. It opened a crack and he could see that beyond the door was a short corridor with a large white double door located at one end and several other small rooms lined the walls on the other. It looked more like a jail than a hospital corridor. A man who looked to be in his mid fifties with short grey hair, slightly wrinkled features and large eyes covered with bushy brows, sat at a desk in the middle of the room reading a magazine. He was wearing a blue jacket with a hospital volunteer patch on the left breast pocket and a name tag. The man looked up at the sound of the door opening and smiled. "Good morning.", He said cheerily. "I wouldn't say that.", He heard Al's rough voice say grimly from behind him. Sam nearly jumped. He hated it when his friend popped in on him like that. "If its so good then why am I here?", He inquired more out of frustration than anything else. The man lifted an eye brow. Sam stepped back into the room and quickly closed the door behind him. Then moved over to the bed. He glanced over at the closed door, then addressed the hologram in a lowered voice, "What's going on Al? Why am I stuck in this room?.", The Observer's body was half hidden by the bed, so he moved aside so that he could be seen fully. He was wearing one of his more subdued outfits. Matching olive trousers and jacket, a black color speckled silk shirt with a green paisley tie and a large gold tie clip. His ever present cigar hung limply in his mouth as he chewed it absently. He poked the handlink a few times. "Well, your in the holding area of St. Mary's Hospital. Your name is Susan Leers, your 29 years old.", Al beat lightly at the squawking link then continued. "Its August 20th 1990 and your...", Al took the cigar out of his mouth and pointed it at him for emphasis, "...at least the person in the waiting room, is in the middle of a psychotic episode. Dr. Beeks had one heck of a time getting her to calm down enough, so we could get some data on her. Not only does she think she's been kidnapped by aliens. She's also claiming to BE one.", Sam's stared incredulously at Al. "From what I recall, that's not unusual." "Well, right, but, no ones ever been in this condition before.", Al drawled and Sam got the distinct impression that he was holding something back. "And...", He prompted in what was becoming a virtual ritual in their relationship. Al took a deep breath and fiddled with his cigar. "According to Ziggy, there's an 87 percent chance your here to keep someone from committing suicide sometime in the next 72 hours. In the meantime you have to convince everyone that your Susan and in crisis. At least until we can come up with more information about who, how and when it happens. Ziggy is having trouble accessing the records for this period. She's postulated though, that the whole affair was covered up by the Head of the Psych department so that they wouldn't get sued by the person's family, which is no real surprise." "Al, I'm not the one having the crisis." "You could have fooled me. You seemed pretty convincing a moment ago.", Al's brow creased with worry. and wished time, fate or what ever had chosen any other time and place than this for Sam's leap. The last time he ended up in a Psych Ward was bad enough. His fingers idly poked at the handlink, betraying his concerns. "How long have you been watching me?", Sam asked slightly irritated that the project observer would have spied on him. Al rocked on his heels and shrugged. A Woman entered the room just then, wearing the clinical jacket of a doctor. Al looked her over with obvious appreciation of her fine figure, long narrow cheek bones and medium length, permed hair. "I always did have the greatest respect for female doctors, but what a fox. You lucky dog you.", He commented enviously. Privately glad for her timely enterance. "Hello Susan, I'm, Doctor Webber. I have a few questions I'd like to ask you.", She pulled up a stool and sat down leaning her clipboard on her knee. Sam looked over at Al, who now stood behind the doctor with a unusually somber expression on his face. Sam sat down on the bed and wondered how he was going to pull this one off. "Do you remember where you live?" "You live at 30 Grimsby Drive in Ridgefield Connecticut and you work as a salesperson at an Office Supply Store named Edman's.", Al supplied as Ziggy updated the database on the small display screen on the handlink. Sam repeated the information and soon the intake questions were completed. Doctor Webber seemed satisfied with his answers, smiled kindly at Sam, closed the clipboard and stood up. "The transport will be here shortly to take you up to your room.", She stated and left the room. "Uhh, will you be all right Sam, I'm going to talk to Gushie and see if I can get more info on Susan and this...problem. We'll get you out of here soon...",'I hope', Al finished silently noticing the look of apprehension that crossed Sam's face. He keyed in the sequence that opened the door and stepped into it. The closing of the door rang in Sam's ears louder than usual and he shuddered involuntarily as brief periods of being in a similar situation were hazily recalled. ******** I hope you enjoyed this opening. This is my first Quantum Leap story and I would appreciate any comments and critiques. I'll be posting chapter two as soon as I finish and edit it. Keep leaping, Helen E-Mail hlesser@delphi.com