Date: Sat, 11 Oct 1997 13:58:23 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Memories - Part 9 Message-ID: Quantum Leap Memories by Katherine R. Freymuth Copyright 1997 Part 9 "You're late," Michael said firmly as Sam entered the house through the back door. "Sorry," Sam said, looking at the man before him. It was obvious that Michael was hungover but he still looked much better than when Sam last saw him. He was nicely groomed, though dressed in grungy clothing. His temperament was much calmer than yesterday, though Sam was certain that was because Michael was much more sober. "That's an hour's pay docked, Madeline," he reminded Sam as he slipped on a thin vinyl jacket. Sam nodded but didn't say a word. "Michael looked at Sam with a slight frown. "No comment? That's not like you, Madeline." Sam took a breath. "Well, I guess I have a lot on my mind." Michael huffed. "Just don't let what's on your mind interfere with your work." He exhaled, grabbing a set of keys from a counter-top. "I'll be home late today. The boss is having a meeting." Without giving Sam time to answer, he exited the house. "He's gone?" Sam nodded in response to Al's question. "How's Linda and John?" "Asleep," Al answered, looking about the kitchen. He seemed less uncomfortable than he did before. Sam watched his friend look around with unease and was reminded of what Al had said had happened to the kitchen window. He took a deep breath, hesitant to speak. "Al?" Al looked at Sam with questioning. "You never did tell me why you broke the window with your fist," Sam said, looking at Al with expectancy of an answer. *"Momma! Come back! I'll be good!* Al exhaled slowly. He started pacing - eight steps, turn, eight steps, turn. Sam watched, patiently waiting. He could tell from Al's disposition that Al was in deep thought. "Y-Yesterday I w-would havvve told y-you I d-didn't kn- kn-know w-why I b-broke the w-window. N-Now, however, th-that isn't com-m-plete-ly true." He took a breath, stopping his pacing but not looking at Sam. He opened his mouth to speak but changed his mind quickly and began pacing again. "I b-broke the w-window b-because I w-was t-trying to s- stop my mmmmmother from l-leaving," he finally said quietly. Sam looked at his friend with sympathy. Al stopped his pace and noticed Sam's expression. "N-No comment, huh?" He exhaled. "Well, I-I d-d-don't b- blame you." He closed his eyes in frustration. He could easily hear his own emotional state by the stutter in his voice. Based on what he heard, Al judged himself to be a complete wreck and he was sure that Sam had made the same conclusion. "There's more, isn't there?" Sam questioned. Al hesitated before he nodded. "You w-wanted to kn-know w-why I w-was up ssso early this m-morning?" He looked into Sam's eyes. "I had a n-n-nightmmare last n-night. A b-bad one. 'B-Bina had to t-try to s-sedate me w-with hot ch-chocolate." Sam raised his eyebrows with question. Al shrugged. "Y-You kn-know m-me. I hardly even t-touch a-aspirin." He took a breath. "I-It w-wouldn't b-be ssso b-bad if I kn-knew w-what the h-hell the n-nightm-mare was ab-bout." There was a moment of silence in the kitchen. "Y-You'd better s-start cl-cleaning up ar-round h-here," Al broke the silence. "M-Maddie's job, y-you kn-know? I'm g-going to g-go back and sssee if Z-Ziggy had g-gotten anywh-where with her hypo-th-thesis." A moment later, Al disappeared through the tell-tale rectangular white light. "Michael! Hey, Mike!" Michael could hardly hear the voice shout at him in the noisy factory. He turned around to see one of his co-workers approaching him. Michael smiled. Not just a co-worker, Antonio was a neighbor and friend. "Hey, Tony!" Michael greeted. He shook the man's hand cheerfully. "How's it going? Why is it I only see you here when you live just across the street?" Tony laughed. "Because you work too hard. Listen, I just wanted to make sure. Was that Linda and John I saw going over to the Daniels place last night?" Michael frowned. "What?" Tony nodded. "Yeah. Saw them leaving through the back door. You mean you didn't know?" Michael's eyelids lowered angrily. "No. I was asleep." He took a deep breath. "Seems there's a couple of children that need to be lectured to." *A black cloud moved over the house slowly but did not cover the other houses or buildings in New York City's Little Italy. The house itself grew black draperies. The sight was grim - no, it was sad. Yes, that was the word. Sad. The house seemed to be in mourning. The door to the house opened, allowing two males and two females, all dressed in black, to enter. Each of the four approached a large wooden box. Better observation proved that the box was actually a coffin. The first to approach the coffin was young - a man barely in his twenties. He barely looked at the occupant of the coffin, seeming more interested in getting as far away from his companions as possible. He nonetheless left a large beautiful rose on the coffin and was in obvious mourning. The other three approached the coffin in single file, unafraid to be associated with each other. The first of the three was a young female, in her early twenties like the male before her. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she placed her own rose on the coffin and walked slowly away. The other two were young as well - much younger than the two before. Neither could even be considered teenagers. They too left their tokens of love on the coffin, though the male needed a little help from the female. Someone else entered the house then - a much older man, dressed sharply in black, but still very much in sorrow. He approached the coffin as well but laid two roses, not one, on the coffin. He looked at the face of the person in the coffin. "Why from this?" he asked. "Why so young?" Straightening himself, he saluted the body, allowing his medals to reflect slightly in the candlelight that permeated the house.* "Oh, gawd!" she whispered, waking from her uneasy sleep. "Oh, my gawd!" she repeated, standing and approaching the room's door. She knocked on it sharply. "Yes?" a female voice asked, filling the room. "I need to see the Admiral," she told the voice. "I'll see if he's available," the voice replied, sounding very curious. It was a long wait before her request was granted. "M-Maddie?" Al asked as he entered the Waiting Room. "W-What's wrong? Y-You d-don't l-look well." Maddie took a breath. "Al, don't try to get your friend to get me custody of Linda and John." Al frowned. "W-Why not?" Maddie hesitated a moment before she spoke. "Because I'm dying of cancer."