Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 22:27:50 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Mirror - part 15 Message-ID: Quantum Leap Mirror of Deception by Gary Marsh and Katherine Freymuth Copyright 1998 Part 15 Sam had spent his Monday watching young Keith Hatcher, making sure nothing happened to the future United States Senator. True, he had no idea what was going to happen in Keith's life but he wasn't going to take any chances. Anyone around the boy could be the leaper who was there to change Keith's history for the worst. Sam had to stay alert. He was watching Keith play in the early evening snow when the sound of the Imaging Chamber door opening caught his attention. He turned, expecting to see a short man with curly red hair. Instead, he saw a woman with long brown hair which was pulled back into a ponytail at the nape. Her face was soft and gentle, reminding Sam of someone he once knew. A name instantly came to him, though the woman's features didn't seem to match the name. "Abagail?" Sam questioned quietly. The woman laughed gently. "Abagail's my mother," she replied, a hint of a Southern accent escaping her lips. Her smile faded slightly at her own words as a small sense of deja vu came over her. "You probably don't remember me," she said, ignoring the odd feeling. "I'm Dr. Samantha Josephine Fuller but everyone either calls me Sammy Jo or Dr. Fuller." Her smile widened. "You used to call me both, depending on the situation." Sam frowned and shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't remember." He paused. "Where's Gushie?" "He, Tina, and Dr. Beeks are busy preparing to link Admiral Kalarco's brainwaves with yours. She's volunteered to be your Observer since neither Gushie nor I can take the job permanently. ourselves." She saw the depressed look on Sam's face and sighed in sympathy. "I'm sorry. It was a poor choice of words. I'm sure Al will return. But it may take a little time and it's better if you have one full-time Observer than for me and Gushie to trade off and on." Sam nodded. "It's okay, Dr. Fuller." She hesitated. "I think I prefer you calling me Sammy Jo." Sam smiled at her. "Okay, Sammy Jo. Then you'd better call me Sam." Sammy Jo nodded as Sam turned his attention to Keith playing in the dusk light of the sun. "What happens to him?" he asked her quietly. She hesitated. "It isn't good," she warned. He exhaled. "It never is." She took a breath. "Ziggy says there's a..." She looked at the handlink in her hand. "...seventy-eight point fifty-two percent chance there the other leaper is going to kill him in the next thirty-six hours." Sam closed his eyes. "He's just a boy." "A boy who grows up to be a very influential, very powerful lawyer whose popularity and finesse allow him to be elected as the youngest Senator in American history," Sammy Jo pointed out. "That alone makes him a target." Sam opened his eyes and watched as Keith decided it was getting too dark to play outside. The boy brushed the snow off of himself, waved good-bye to his friends, and made his way to the house. Sam took a deep breath. "How does he die?" Sammy Jo shook her head. "We don't know. Ziggy's still collating the data she's getting but she can't predict what the other leaper is going to do." Sam paused. "Is it Zoe?" "Ziggy isn't sure but she doesn't think so. She thinks it may be someone new to us." "Zoe's Observer?" "Could be," the fellow scientist answered. "Who's Zoe?" a voice said. Sam turned around to see Renee standing in the doorway of the living room in which Sam was standing. "Renee," Sam commented. "I didn't hear you come in." "Doesn't surprise me," she commented, walking towards him. "Not with the way you were talking to yourself. So, who's Zoe or what's Zoe's Observer?" Sam exhaled. "It's a long story," he told her, hoping that would be enough. She frowned at him. "Terry," she said in a warning tone. *Damn*, Sam thought. He looked at Sammy Jo. She shrugged helplessly. Renee exhaled at Sam's lack of response. "Terry, you're really beginning to frighten me. You're talking to yourself. You're secretive. I don't know what to think. You're just not acting like yourself." Sam took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "You're right. I have been acting strangely and I'm sorry for frightening you by it. But this is something I have to work out on my own and I promise that I will soon and that things will get back to normal." Renee wasn't buying it and it was obvious from the look on her face. Sammy Jo was trying to find solutions in the handlink. "Tell her it's another woman," she told Sam quietly. Sam looked at her with astonishment. Sammy Jo looked at him firmly. "Terry has been seeing another woman behind Renee's back. In the original history, he admits it to her tomorrow night. He leaves his mistress and he and Renee go into marriage counseling together. They rediscover their love for each other and Terry remains faithful." Renee was becoming a little annoyed by Sam's lack of response. "Terry," she pressed. Sammy Jo continued her explanation as Renee pressed Sam. "History changed with Keith's death. When he died, Terry didn't tell Renee and they got divorced after she found out about it herself. Tell her, Sam. You're only up-ing it by one night." Sam exhaled and looked at Renee. "I lied," he told her quietly. "It is another woman." Renee turned away from him. "Oh, gawd!" she whispered. "I'm going to leave her," Sam continued. "I've been trying to think of a way to let her down easy. She doesn't know about you." He quickly looked to Sammy Jo who nodded in confirmation. "She's Zoe?" Renee questioned. Sammy Jo shook her head. "No," Sam told Terry's wife. "She's... Zoe's Observer." Renee shook her head. "I don't understand." Sam exhaled. "I know you don't. It's hard to explain. I just hope that you'll accept my apology and let me try to make amends." Renee didn't say anything for a moment. "Do you love her?" Sammy Jo shook her head. "No," Sam relayed the answer. Renee turned around slowly. "I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse." She paused. "It is over between you two?" she questioned as a statement. Sam nodded slowly. Renee lowered her head, not knowing what else to say except "Dinner's ready." Sammy Jo and Sam watched as Renee slowly left the room, a sad and thoughtful look in her eyes. Sam lowered his head in sympathy. "You had to do it, Sam," Sammy Jo told him. "It's the only way to save their marriage now, thanks to that other leaper." Sam exhaled. "I know. I just hate to hurt her like that." The two were quiet for a moment. Sammy Jo took a breath. "I'll go see if Ziggy has more information on who the other leaper is and what is going to happen to Keith." She opened the Imaging Chamber door. "Good luck, Sam." Sam took a deep breath. "Thanks, Sammy Jo." He was alone as he walked to the dinner table.