Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 22:27:23 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Mirror - part 14 Message-ID: Quantum Leap Mirror of Deception by Katherine Freymuth and Gary Marsh Copyright 1998 Part 14 "Shhh," she whispered gently into his ear, his head cuddled into his chest. "It's okay. You only did what you had to do." "Did I?" Al said quietly. "I murdered a man, killed him in cold blood. He didn't have a chance to defend himself." Cathy raised his head gently. "Look at me and tell me he deserved a chance." Al looked at the battered face and remembered how the man had denied being responsible. *He even accused her if hiring him to do it!* "He won't hurt anyone anymore," Cathy told him. "He won't ever again get away with doing what he did to me." Al nodded at her words. "I shouldn't feel guilty for what I've done. I know that." He looked at her. "So, why do I feel guilty?" Cathy stroked her fingers through his hair, giving a calming effect to her lover. "Because society says you should feel guilty. The idea has been burned into your mind." She took a breath. "But you saved my life by your actions, Al. You're a hero, not a murderer." She paused for a moment as she bent her head closer to his. "And I love you." She kissed his forehead before slowly sliding herself down so that she was laying beside him. She kissed him passionately as she wrapped her arms around his chest. "Al," she finally said in a near whisper. "Come back with me to England. I have to return and I don't want to be without you." She looked into his eyes. "I can protect you from the police. You know they'll charge you for murder if they catch you. Only you and I know the truth. They can't possibly understand." She paused. "Besides, if I am separated from you, I'll die. I can't live without you. Please, come with me." Al took a breath. "I'll think about it." Cathy shook her head. "Don't. Listen to your heart, Al. If you truly love me as much as I love you, there is only one answer." He looked into her eyes before kissing her passionately. "I do love you," Al told her. He gave her a gentle smile. "When do we leave?" "What's the status?" Cathy smiled, looking towards the bedroom door. "Hook, line, and sinker," she said silkily. "How marvelous! You have a definite gift, Catherine. How soon can you return with him?" "Already in the works," Cathy told the woman in the other end of the line. "He's packing right now. He's already bought the plane tickets. We should be arriving sometime tomorrow." The woman on the other end laughed with delight. "You certainly have him wrapped around your finger, don't you? I look forward to meeting the dear Admiral." Cathy hesitated a moment. "I have to go now. I'll see you tomorrow night." "I'm counting on it." Cathy disconnected the line and shut off the phone before replacing it in her purse. She then went into the bedroom and smiled at Al, who was shutting his suitcase. He turned and smiled at her. "We leave from Albuquerque in three hours so we'd better get going," he told her. Cathy nodded, wrapping her arms around Al's waist. "All ready, darling?" she questioned. Al smiled at her. "As ready as I'll ever be. Let me step into the head really quick and then we'll go." Cathy nodded again, releasing Al and watching him step into the bathroom. The moment he closed the door, Cathy turned to his suitcase and opened it. She looked at what he chose to take with him to England. Included in the suitcase were his uniform, his medals, and several pictures. Cathy exhaled slowly. *It's bad enough as it is without you taking everything that's precious to you. I won't let them have these as trophies*, she thought firmly, taking out Al's keepsakes and laying them on the bed. She closed the suitcase before quickly placing the keepsakes in the closet and shutting the door. Al stepped out of the bathroom and took both his and Cathy's suitcases. "Shall we go?" he questioned. Cathy nodded and followed Al out of the house. The conference room was filling up slowly with the senior staff of Project Quantum Leap. Each member took their usual seats: Gushie, Tina, Dr. Sammy Jo Fuller, and Dr. Donna Elesee-Beckett on one side of the table; Verbina, Dr. Daniel MacArthyr, Admiral Janet Kalarco, and Mark Davalos on the other. Two of the seats remained vacant. One of them had been vacant for years. The other was vacant for the first time during a meeting. Donna took a deep breath, formulating her words carefully. "I believe it's common knowledge now that Admiral Calavicci has resigned from the project." No one commented to her statement but all showed their regret of the fact. Tina and Verbina lowered their heads. Mark ran his fingers through his hair. Gushie clasped his hands on top of the table. Dr. MacArthyr leaned back in his chair with an exhale, folding his arms over his chest. Admiral Kalarco merely nodded. Donna took a deep breath once again. "His resignation means that we now have to reorganize the project. We'll need people to take over Al's responsibilities." She paused, looking at Admiral Kalarco. "It also means that you are now the highest ranking military officer in this complex." Janet nodded. "I know. According to Committee rules, as the highest ranking officer, I must take over as military liaison to the Committee." She paused. "That means it's now up to me to make sure the funding keep coming." Tina exhaled. "Big shoes to fill, Admiral. Al was a genius at manipulating the Committee for funding." Janet smiled at her. "Don't count me out yet, Dr. O'Farrell. I have a few tricks up my sleeve too." "So, what about an Observer?" Sammy Jo asked. "Gushie can't possibly take that over completely. He has his hands full as it is." Gushie looked at the fellow scientist. "We could arrange it so that you and I share the job. If we took turns at the leaps, we could still accomplish out own work without much difficulty." Verbina shook her head emphatically. "That may be so but what about Dr. Beckett? The Admiral bring his sole Observer gave him a definite anchor - a single person in whom he can confide and find companionship. I don't think that multiple Observers will give Dr. Beckett the sense of stability that he needs. In fact, it could be detrimental to his psyche." "I'll do it," Janet put in before anyone could comment. Gushie frowned. "But Dr. Beckett doesn't know you." Janet looked at him firmly. "Neither did he know Admiral Calavicci on that first leap. Besides, since I'm making out the reports, it's only appropriate that I personally observe the events I have to report." Sammy Jo took a breath. "It will take at least a week to create a strong link between you and Dr. Beckett." "Until then, Gushie and Sammy Jo will have to be the Observers," Tina added. "Creating a weak link between you and Dr. Beckett could bring about some technical problems later. A weak link between Sammy Jo and Sam would be easy to establish." Janet nodded before looking at Donna. "Dr. Elesee?" she questioned. Donna nodded with approval. "Okay, then," Janet told the others. "Let's do it."