Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 22:24:54 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Mirror - part 9 Message-ID: Quantum Leap Mirror of Deception by Katherine Freymuth and Gary Marsh Copyright 1998 Part 9 Sam's first day as Terry Hatcher was comparatively uneventful with the exception of that time spent on the scaffold. After a dinner of meatloaf, green beans, and biscuits, Sam, Renee, and Keith spent most of the evening watching television, the future Senator having first assured his "father" and mother that all of his homework was done. Sam was grateful for the lack of major activity, though. He had to admit he was still a little shaken from being on the scaffold. The easy-going setting allowed him more time to settle into this leap. In addition, it allowed him to get to know the two most important people in Terry's life. Renee Hatcher was a very attractive woman. She and Terry had been married for ten years and were happily surprised by the gift of their son. They had believed Renee to be infertile and had been planning to adopt when Renee became pregnant with Keith. Renee spent most of her days working at him for a small computer programming company. Seven year old Keith Hatcher was what one would call a typical kid for his age. He enjoyed playing sports at school and with his friends in the street. He was an intelligent boy and made good grades in school. So, Sam found he had leaped into a happy family with the kind of problems that happen in any family. It made him wonder why he was here in the first place. There didn't seem to be anything that needed to be put right. "You feeling okay?" Renee asked as she and Sam readied for bed, Sam trying his best not to look embarrassed at having a woman he didn't know change clothes in front of him. He nodded. "I'm okay. Why do you ask?" Renee smiled. "You're awfully quiet tonight. You didn't say a word at dinner. I figure you had a bad day at work." Sam laughed slightly. "You had that right." Renee walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "Want to talk about it?" Sam shook his head. "Not really." He gave her a gentle smile. "I'll be okay." She shrugged. "If you said so," she told him as she slipped into the bed on the left side. Sam followed her lead, getting in on the other side of the bed. "Good night, honey," Renee said, giving Sam a gentle kiss. "Good night, Renee," Sam replied, hiding his slight discomfort at her kiss and shutting off the lights for the night. ********** Al opened his eyes to find Cathy snuggled against him, a content look on her face. He shook his head slightly, a little amazed by how carried away he and Cathy had gotten. Yet, Al had to admit he had never experienced anything as intense as last nigh t. He looked at Cathy, who had adjusted herself so that her head was against Al's chest. *What is it about this woman that has me so enthralled? I don't fall that easily. Do I?* Cathy opened her eyes and looked up at her latest lover. "Good morning," she said in a soft, alluring voice. Al smiled at her. "Good morning," he replied. Cathy slowly kissed him with intense passion. "Gawd, I love you, Al," she whispered breathlessly. What was more, she was beginning to believe those words. *I can't afford to fall in love with him*, she told herself as she kissed him. *I can't let it happen again. She would never let me live it down.* She shook her head mentally. *I must have had too much of that pudding. It has to be the reason I'm feeling this way. Gawd knows how it's affecting Al with how much he had and with how heavily laced it was. But I was so careful! I shouldn't have had but a tasteful!* "What time is it?" Al questioned in a breathless voice. "Who cares?" Cathy replied. Al slowly stood up. "I probably should get to work." Cathy extended her hands towards him and allowed him to help her onto her feet. "Why?" she questioned. Al didn't answer for a moment. "Good question." Cathy smiled at him. "Al, are you happy working there? They treat you as if you were a slave." Al exhaled. "I know. I know." "You don't belong there, Al," she said softly. "A man of your brilliance deserves better than doing endless paperwork." She paused, looking into his eyes. "Tell me no one else can do your job. Can you? You can't because it isn't true. Don't you want to feel useful again, like you did when you were in the space program?" Al nodded slowly, a lost look in his eyes. "You have to get away from that place," Cathy said in a whisper, "before they take away your reason for living, before they take away your soul." Al looked at her softly. "And if I do leave there, if I do resign, then what?" Cathy kissed him. "Whatever you want, darling." Al smiled slightly. "And if I want you?" She snuggled her head into the center of his chest. "Al, you already own me. I don't want to go back to England without you." Al kissed her hair. "You won't," he said in a near whisper. "I promise."