Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 15:41:20 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Mirror - part 27 Message-ID: Quantum Leap Mirror of Deception by Katherine Freymuth and Gary Marsh Copyright 1998 Part 27 Daniel Pole had waited just out of sight of Keith Hatcher's car, watching for his boss to come out of the building for the night. He was not at all surprised to wait a half of an hour for the young senator to appear. He was surprised, however, that the latter seemed a little confused about exactly where his car was. What was more, Keith appeared to be talking to himself. Pole watched with suspicion as Keith got into his car and buckled up. The Senator waited a few minutes before starting the car, apparently too busy talking to thin air than to focus on the act of leaving. Slowly, Keith backed out of his parking space before driving away. Pole quickly went to his own car, started the engine, and left in the same manner and in the same direction as Keith. "Are you sure you're okay?" Dan asked firmly, looking at Verbina. She smiled gently. "I'm fine. Honest. The migraine prescription really worked. The shakes are gone. Even the bloodwork proves it's out of my system." She took a breath. "The person we really have to worry about now is Al. I think we can safely assume he had a lot more than I did. If he encounters withdrawal symptoms, his life could be in danger." Dan nodded in agreement. "We have to find him first, though, and Captain Davalos hasn't had any luck in that area." He touched her shoulder gently. "I'm sure he'll show up." Verbina exhaled, feeling a little helpless. "What about Sam and the guest? How are they?" "Both are fine, Verbina." He smiled at her. "Just relax, okay? You've been through quite an ordeal." She looked at him firmly. "And I'm fine now. And I have a job to do." She smiled gently. "I promise to take it easy but I think they need me right now. I heard about Sam's assignment and I want to help." She stood slowly. "Thanks for the concern but...." Dan nodded with understanding. "Okay," he consented. "But remember, you promised." Verbina nodded before leaving the infirmary and heading down to the Waiting Room. Sam had barely gotten off the phone, having made dinner reservations for nine o'clock, when the doorbell rang. He took a breath and looked at the clock. It was 7:52. *He's early*, he thought as he went to the door, double-checking that it was Derek Thomas at the door. "Cancel the reservations! Dinner's on me!" Derek exclaimed as he entered the house, two boxed pizzas balanced on one hand, a bottle of champagne in the other. "How did you..." Sam questioned in surprise of the statement. Derek smiled. "Because I know you, buddy boy! It's always the same. Whenever we get together, you make dinner reservations. Who wants to go to a stuffy old restaurant when we can celebrate here?" He indicated the pizzas by raising them a notch. "Large with everything on it but no onions or anchovies, just the way you like it AND..." He raised the bottle. "... champagne for the occasion." Sam smiled slightly as Derek placed the items on the living room's coffee table. "A bit of an odd combination, don't you think?" Derek looked at him with question. "It wasn't the last time." Sam shifted very slightly at his mistake. "Well, you know... I... I still can't believe how well they go together." Derek gave a curt laugh. "Let me get a couple of glassees and some napkins. Still keep your champagne flutes in the china cabinet?" Sam nodded. "Yeah. I'll cancel that reservation." Derek didn't hear the last of Sam's words as he left the living room and headed towards the dining room and kitchen. "Pizza and champagne?" Janet questioned as Sam dialed the restaurant. The sound of her voice caused him to misdial. He opened the line again and redialed. "That was Derek's idea, not mine," he quickly told her before speaking into the phone's receiver. "This is Keith Hatcher. I made a reservation for two a few minutes ago. I'm afraid I'm going to have to cancel. Yes. Thank you." He hung up the receiver and turned to Janet, stopping at her serious expression. "What is it?" "Pole followed you here," she told him bluntly. "He's in a blue sedan across the street." She paused. "And Ziggy says there's a ninety-two percent chance that you'll be killed within the next two hours." Sam exhaled with trepidation as Derek returned with two champagne flutes and a large handful of napkins. *"A last meal before he dies?" A laugh. "How deliciously perfect!"* Sam froze slightly at the voice, recognizing it immediately. His stomach tightened into a knot at the confirmation that there was another leaper nearby whose only agenda was to kill him. Derek put the flutes and the napkins on the table. He sat on the couch with a smile. "You want to do the honors?" Janet frowned at the concern Sam tried to hide. "Sam, what's wrong?" Derek raised his eyebrows, waiting. "Well?" *"Yes. Well?"* Sam forced a smile as he took the champagne bottle, opened it and poured the sweet bubbly liquor. Before he could hand one to Derek, the latter took his glass and raised it high. "Here's to Fate, which brought two old friends together." His words were heavy with meaning which Sam could not grasp. He drank from his glass and put it down as Sam did the same. "Now, let's eat," he said, opening the top box. "I'm starving." *A laugh. "Yes. Please, do eat, Dr. Beckett. Enjoy your last meal."* Sam had to fight back shocking his shock. "She knows I'm not Keith! How?* "Something wrong, Keith?" Derek asked as he ate a piece of pizza, watching Sam carefuuly. *Okay, so she knows I'm not Keith but I still have some advantage because her leaper is waiting outside and neither of them know that I know this.* Sam shook his head in response to Derek's question. "Nothing," he lied, taking a piece of pizza. "Now, there's a lie," Janet commented. "I wish you would walk to me." *I wish I could*, Sam thought. *But she'd hear my side of the conversation.* Sam and Derek ate nearly both pizzas while Derek talked about everything that had happened since Keith and Derek last saw each other. The conversation was difficult for Sam, though, since Zoe and Janet both threw in their own comments - Zoe with glee, Janet with growing concern. Derek looked at the left-over pizza with a smile. "We downed that pretty good, didn't we?" Sam nodded, standing up and taking the boxes. "Yeah, let me put it away and I'll be right back." "Let me help," Derek insisted, corking the champagne and standing to follow. "No, that's okay," Sam told him, desperately wanting to get some privacy so that he could talk to Janet alone. "As you wish," Derek said with a shrug, the champagne bottle still in hand. Sam turned again, starting for the kitchen. "Sam!" Janet warned. But it was too late. Before Sam could react, the champagne bottle crashed down on his head, forcing Sam to the floor. Zoe applauded as Derek grabbed Sam by the hair and wrapped an arm around his neck. "Oh, my gawd!" Janet whispered in shock. "Al?"