Date: Sun, 1 Dec 1996 15:01:37 -0700 (MST) From: Cathy Laughlin Subject: He Also Serves, part 4 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII He Also Serves, part 4 The angel held Sam for a long time, comforting him. Even so, the pain of his loss seared his heart. He remembered all the good things Al had done for him, and the memories filled him with a strange sadness. There was the time Al had thrown him that surprise birthday party, just when he was starting to think he'd been forgotten; and all the times Al had gone out of his way to make Sam smile. He smiled as he remembered what Al had been like when their Project was still fighting for approval, and he marveled at his friend's fierce determination. Al could face down whole Congressional committees with nothing on his side but sheer will-power. Sam thought about the terrible Leap into Vietnam, when Al had sacrificed his freedom so that Tom could live. Al had known that he had a chance to be free, but he never said a word. *You gave me back my brother, Al,* Sam thought sadly. *And I wasn't even there to comfort you as you died.* Sam sighed and buried his face in the angel's shoulder. He hadn't felt this lonely since his father died so many years ago. *I had a chance to help you, to give you back your chance at true love. I should have done that for you, Al. How did you ever forgive me?* A small sob escaped him, at the thought of the pain he'd caused for Al. "Oh, Sam," the angel whispered. "I know how much it hurts to lose the ones you love. But now is not the time to mourn- Al needs your help." Her words broke through the haze of sadness that had filled Sam's mind, and he looked up, puzzled. "He wasn't meant to die, Sam," she said. "History has been changed. You need to go to him now. He had a long life ahead of him, but he has been murdered by another Leaper. You are the only one who can stop it, the only one who can make it right." "Another Leaper," Sam mused. "Alia?" The angel smiled and shook her head. "No," she replied. "Alia is safe; she will never have to hurt anyone again. But her partner is truly evil, and she will never forgive you and Al for setting Alia free. You've got to go home, to your project, and stop her before she destroys Al's life." Sam nodded and steeled himself, ready for the task ahead. Then a new thought stole his resolve. "What about Daniel, the guy I leaped into?" he asked. "I can't just leave him here to die. I'm the one who failed this Leap, he shouldn't suffer for what I did." "He'll be all right," the angel promised. "When you leap out I'll stay with him and help him get to the top of the mountain." Sam nodded, his face filled with determination. *I won't come back without you, Al,* he thought. *Whatever happens, I'll save you. After all, I owe you one.* "I'm ready," he said, and Leaped. Far away, Al Calavicci stood on a hill and waited. He puffed thoughtfully on the cigar in his hand, and sighed with pleasure. He'd decided that the only thing better than the food in Heaven were the cigars. *It's such a wonderful place,* he thought to himself. *I wish Sam were here. It would make him so happy.* He heard a sound behind him and turned to see the angel who'd saved Sam's life. "There you are," Al said with a grin. "Did you tell him?" The angel nodded. "What did he say?" Al asked eagerly. "He's going to try," she replied, and frowned as she watched Al's grin fade. "What's wrong?" she asked, and gave Al a gentle hug. "Sam's gonna go and try to save me," Al muttered sadly. "What if he gets hurt? I'll never forgive myself if something happens to him now. I should be there with him, not here. I don't deserve this place." The angel released him abruptly and glared at him. "How can you say that? You and Sam have done so much good in the world. I can't think of anyone who's done more! Do you really think you haven't earned this?" At this Al shook his head and sighed, "That was Sam, not me. I was never really there. How could I take credit for something he did?" "Al Calavicci, you know better than that. There is an old saying- 'He also serves that stands and waits'. You have been there for Sam whenever he needed you, and you have spent the last five years of your life helping him. You two are partners, and neither of you can be happy without the other. Now you are going to have to stand and wait again, so that you can go home and see him again." "He also serves," Al muttered, and then smiled at the angel who stood before him. "All right, we'll try it your way. But only if you'll take me to lunch." The angel laughed happily and put her arm around Al's shoulder. "You got it, Admiral. You always did have a way with women." Al chuckled as the two headed down the hill together. Well, here they are, 3 and 4. The other parts will be here by the end of the week, so let me know what you think! ************************************************ * "Make the most of the Indian Hemp seed, sow it * everywhere!"- George Washington * * Free Kaneh Bosm-the world's safest medicine! * Cathy Laughlin: Hempster@nmt.edu * http://www.nmt.edu/~hempster ************************************************