From: "M. Cogburn" Date: Sat, 5 Dec 1998 13:50:45 -0600 Subject: Portraits Of The Past, Part 9 Chapter Nine The imaging chamber door opened and Al stepped out with his mouth hanging open. Margaret had wanted him to help her with a makeover from head to toe. He had helped her to get a new fashionable haircut, a natural makeover, and a new wardrobe to boot. In his opinion, she was a definite knockout. When he left her, she had just blown him a kiss as she stood in a tight black short dress. He held back a gasp as he wished for the tenth time today that he wasn't a hologram. Before the door closed fully behind him, he turned to take a quick look back. "Admiral?" A man's voice asked concerned. "Admiral, are you feeling all right? You look quite pale." Al turned back quickly almost loosing his balance. Al's gaze focused on Gooshie. Gooshie, was a short man with graying hair and concerned hazel eyes. Unfortunately, he always had a bad case of halitosis. Al blinked then consciously closed his mouth only to open it again. "Er, yeah, I'm . . . I'm fine, Gooshie." He blew out a deep breath then looked down at his watch. 11:00 p.m. "Is Jason still awake?" "No sir. He retired at ten o'clock. He said he seemed more tired than usual." Gooshie uttered stifling a yawn of his own. "Okay." Again, he stole a glance at the closed door and shook his head slowly. "Okay. Night, Gooshie." "Sir?" Gooshie walked around the console and started toward Al, but retreated when Al turned. "What?" "We may have a problem." Gooshie said with a frown. Al rubbed his face hard and approached Ziggy's motherboard where the head controller stood. Al hated it whenever he heard from Gooshie that there was a problem. It could be anything. It could be that one of Ziggy's many parts wasn't functioning as usual or that there was something terribly wrong with the leap. Whichever one it was, it sure wasn't in the mood to hear it. "What do you mean we may have a problem? We always seem to have a problem." "Well," Gooshie began. "Ziggy can't seem to make up her mind on what day Margaret dies. She is also computing different instances where she's killed. For example, now it's June 20, 1996 and she's hit by a train." "What?!" Al screwed up his face and looked up at dome on the ceiling that he considered Ziggy's eye. Ziggy's blue waves danced inside the dome and it seemed to mesmerize him only for a moment. "Ziggy what's going on?" "I'm sorry Admiral Calavicci, but there are too many variables at the present to accurately predict the day that Margaret Dawson dies. Dr. Beckett is changing history and so are you." Ziggy sounded agitated. Al closed his eyes as he sighed. He dropped his head forward and rubbed his faced once more. "Okay. Then do your best to rule out the variables that are a month or so away and deal with the ones that are closest to the date where Sam is. Let's deal with this logically." "Logical is my middle name, Admiral." Ziggy crooned. Al nodded with a wry grin. "Goodnight, Ziggy, Gooshie." "Goodnight, Admiral." They chimed. Al walked away from the motherboard and realized what he needed was a cold shower. The past ten hours stressed him to every extent -- mostly physically. He sighed as he walked down the corridor and wondered if he did the right thing. He stopped at the elevator pad and looked back down the corridor and chewed on his bottom lip. Did he need to wake Jason up and tell him what happened or to tell him that Ziggy can't make up her mind on the day that Margaret gets killed? He thought about that a moment. Nah, he'd tell Jason just about the make-over and leave the rest out. He stepped inside the elevator pad and waited for the appropriate level. He exited the pad and went to his living quarters. He closed the door and began to take off his tie as he went to the computer terminal. He quickly typed. Anything? The words replied back blinked at him. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CHANGE SINCE YOU LEFT. SORRY ADMIRAL. "Damn." His shoulders sagged only to stiffen as he heard a throat being cleared. He turned abruptly to see Tina in a seductive black teddy. One bushy eyebrow cocked and a grin broke out on his face. "You always know -- don't you?" He questioned softly. Tina smiled softly and ran her hand through her long auburn hair only to run it down the length of her torso. She maneuvered over to Al with a seductive sway and ran her hand up his chest. She placed a soft kiss on his lips then took his hand and led him to the bed. "Sometimes I do, don't I?" She responded quietly as she slowly walked him to the bed. * * * March 27, 1996 Margaret woke to the sound of the telephone ringing beside her. She reached over and picked up the receiver. "Hello?" "Margaret? You awake?" "Barely." She yawned tiredly as she recognized the voice on the other end of the line. It was Jon-Bob. He had moved from Scotland during his sophomore year and they had met at school when he had enrolled. She had been in the office when he walked in. And they'd hit it off well. "Are you ready for another day of higher education?" Jon-Bob laid back on his own bed and smiled. "Today, I'm ready for the world." Margaret moved up on her bed so she could lean against the head-board. She ran her hand through her tousled hair and smiled. "Oh, really? And, how's that?" "Tell you what, why don't you take me to school today and you can tell me how my day will go." Margaret smiled as she played with the receiver cord. "Done. When do you want me to pick you up?" Margaret looked at her clock which stood on her bedside table. It read: 7:00. "How about forty minutes? Is that okay?" "Sure doll. See you then." Margaret hung up the phone and sat up on her bed. She stretched her arms above her and yawned. She rubbed her eyes then stood to head toward the bathroom. Once she was undressed, she showered and dried off. She towel-dried her hair then wrapped her hair up in the towel. She then placed in her new contacts. She had received them two months ago, but she had never worn them. She had wanted to use them only for special occasions. This was one of those special occasions. She then applied the make-up she had bought yesterday under Al's supervision. He had taken her to the beauty shop and he had supervised a make-over. She smiled as she applied the make-up the way they had showed her. Al had told her what to say when they asked what kind of color scheme she wanted. When they had finished, Al had responded with one word -- "Woof." It was the same way when she got her hair cut. She had wanted a short fashionable hair cut but Al said that longer hair was sexier, so if she wanted to get it cut a little, she could, but not too much. She pulled down the towel her hair was wrapped up in and ran a comb through it. She picked up the hair dryer and dried her hair. Once done, she began to style her hair in the way the hair dresser suggested. Amazingly enough, she was surprised that she could do it. Once her hair was curled, she sprayed it with hair spray. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was now shoulder-length and curled at the ends. She went back to her bedroom and went to her closet. She picked out a tight black dress she had bought yesterday. It showed off the body she had worked so hard to obtain but never showed off. Al told her that it definitely showed off her long legs. The dress came approximately to the middle of her thigh. Once dressed, she slipped on her black pumps just as the doorbell rang. "Coming." She went to the door and took a deep breath as she opened it. Jon-Bob had been looking across the street. When he turned around he broadly smiled. "Well, what do we have here?" He stepped back from her and looked her up and down. He took a hold of her hands and spread them out so he could see her. He then twirled her around so he could see her entire body. "I have the pleasure of taking one sexy woman to school." "Oh, go on, Jon-Bob." Margaret smiled. "All right, you're gorgeous, beautiful, seductive . . ." "Ah, quit. You're making me blush." She said feeling self-conscious. "Ah, but it's a sweet one at that. Come, lets go." Jon-Bob took Margaret by the hand and led her to his car. He graciously opened the car door for her, let her get in, then shut the car door behind him. Before her father had passed away, Jon-Bob had become close with her father. They talked of going fishing and camping together, but it never was able to happen. Jon-Bob occasionally glanced over at Margaret as he drove. He was amazed at the transformation she had undergone. Not too long after their brief encounter in the office, he began to have feelings for Margaret. Those feelings of course, he hid, since she had a boyfriend. Now, he wanted to tell her about his feelings for her, but she had another in mind. As he parked the car, his curiosity got the better of him. "Who is this for?" He waved his hand up and down her body. "I mean, you don't dress up like this just to go to school. I know you too well." "Jon-Bob, believe it or not, I've been wanting to do this for some time now. I've watched all the popular girls with their tight dresses and cute haircuts and . . . and . . ." "And you just want to rub their noses in it, right?" "Yeah." As Margaret thought about what Jon-Bob said, she agreed more. "Show them what they've been missing." He had always known what they'd been missing. A wonderful person with a loving caring heart. Jon-Bob reached over and kissed her cheek. "Well, it's about time." He got out of the car, walked around then opened the car door for her. As she got out of the car, he pulled her to him for a quick hug. "They deserve what they get. However, you deserve only the very best." "And you deserve a kiss." She stated as he pulled away from the embrace. "Well, all right . . ." Jon-Bob tilted her head with his hand and their lips met for a sweet kiss. "Jon-Bob." Margaret replied surprised as she pulled away from him. "What?" He still had her in his embrace. "I . . . I need to get to class." She was surprised at his response. She had only considered him a friend, but maybe he thought of it something more than friendship. She'd have to talk to him about it later. Jon-Bob relinquished and released her. "I'll see you later, to take you home. Farewell, until then." He tapped his finger on her nose, smiled, then walked off to go to his first class. "Bye." As she walked up to the school, she wondered what was up with Jon-Bob. There were a few times when he really stumped her and she couldn't see where he was headed. She had feelings for Jon-Bob, but they weren't of love. They were of friendship. She just hoped that she didn't have to tell him that. She strolled up to the school doors and sighed heavily as she laid her hand on the handle. What was school going to be like today? Different or same old thing -- people passing her by and not noticing her or would they finally notice her? She often questioned herself about that each day but today it was different. She was different. A slow grin appeared on her face and took her hand away from the door. She was at a side entrance of the school. "Well, if I'm going to do this, might as well go to the front and get it over with." She turned slowly and began her way to the front doors. As she turned the corner, she walked by a small group of boys that always met in front of the auditorium. The group stared openly at her, then the catcalls began as she walked on past. "Whoa, who was that?" One questioned to the group loudly. Margaret turned back to them and grinned but continued knowing that today was going to be fun being able to confuse everyone just to spite them. The stares continued and a few whistles began and were shortened as girlfriends punched their arms. As she neared the door, a young man opened the door for her with a grin. "Why, thank you." She replied gratefully. She entered the school building and looked around for Sam. Would he recognize her or would he be like the others? Would he think that I've changed so much? "How you doin', kiddo?" Margaret jumped slightly. She smiled at Al then looked down the stairs at the students who passed by. "Just fine." She replied through her teeth. "Thanks for coming." "Wouldn't have missed it for the world." Margaret glanced at her holographic friend and her smile brightened. He wore an outfit that reminded her of a zebra. The black suit jacket and slacks had white jagged lined running through them, making him looking striped to say the least. He wore a black shirt underneath with a white vest that had black stripes running through it in a different style all it's own. He also had on a gold star string tie. He either reminded her of a cowboy or a zebra. The combination made her giggle. "What?" Al asked indignantly as he noticed the look on her face. "I think I look great. It's one of my favorite suits." He defended his fashion as she glanced at him once more. "Did I say anything?" Margaret asked amused. "You didn't have to. I get those looks from Sam too often." As Margaret descended the stairs, she straightened her shoulders and proceeded to walk toward her first period class. Several groups of girls stared at her only to begin to talk quietly to themselves. As she neared the door, a hand was placed on her shoulder. Margaret turned to see Billy McCray standing before her. "May I help you?" She asked knowing that Billy had never approached her before. She was amused at the look that Billy gave her. He looked startled for a moment as his gaze flowed over her body only to come up to her eyes once more. "Sorry, I thought you were someone else." He slowly turned away from her but kept glancing back at her as he walked away. "Looks like you've finally got their attention." Al remarked watching the young man leave. "He kind of reminds me of me." He remembered his carefree days when he was in the Navy before he met Beth. He could charm his way into anyone's affections. Especially Lisa, a navy nurse that was Al's girlfriend in 1957. Thinking of Lisa made him grin. Margaret grinned remembering the nickname given by his peers in 1957. "Bingo Bango Bongo." Al turned to her, his mouthing gaping open. "How'd you know my nickname?" Margaret shrugged her shoulders and grinned evilly and turned to go into her classroom, but Al wouldn't let it rest. "No, don't give me that. How . . .how, oh, Sam must have told you." She shook her head negatively not wanting to let on how she knew the name or even to discuss the name right now. She walked into the classroom and smiled at her professor who smiled back at her. "Margaret Dawson?" Professor Ashford asked as she sat down in her assigned seat. "Yes sir?" "Just making sure that it was you and not someone masquerading as you. You look absolutely, ah, absolutely . . . " He wanted to choose a word that would be appropriate for his student that wouldn't make it seem too wrong for a professor to be saying. "You look very nice." Margaret smiled knowing what he was trying not to do. "Thank you very much, Professor Ashford." He smiled back a response as the bell rang and the class filed into the room. Each person had to take a second look at her as if to verify that she could look that way. Al looked at her perplexed. He wanted to know how she had known his nickname, but knowing that she couldn't talk to him, he stood near the wall so he wouldn't bother her. Although he wanted to find Sam, he stayed with her throughout the morning popping in and out of places and she adjusted rather nicely to his holographic sense in the room. Margaret noticed that when Al popped out of the room that her back would stiffen and she would become tense, but as soon as he returned, she was fine, relaxed. At lunch, Margaret decided that she would eat lunch instead of studying as she always did. She went to the cafeteria along with the crowd and was surprised when she looked around the room. She had been in the cafeteria before, yet now it seemed different. It seemed less foreboding, more comfortable. She strolled over to the snack bar line and stood waiting to get her food. She stood quietly looking out across the room as she heard the conversation at the table before her. She made an effort not to look at them. "Yeah, it was her. I sit with her in Chemistry. Man, she sure has changed for the better." A male voice replied. "Change is good." Another responded. "Who are you talking about?" One voice stood out in particular and sounded familiar. Margaret stole a glance at the one talking and recognized him on the spot. Sam. In the quick glance that she had of Sam, the thought of him warmed her. "Haven't you seen her walking in the halls?" "Who?" He repeated. "The gorgeous blonde in the tight black dress? You haven't seen her? Wow, she's a knock out. I didn't know she could look that way." "Who?" He asked again with emphasis. "Who? Who? Man, you sound like an owl. Like you don't know the girl." The boy laughed aloud. "You were just talking about her the other day." Margaret grinned as she thought of Sam talking about her to these guys. She wondered what he had told them. Sam began to look irritated at the young man. He still didn't know who he was talking about. About that time, Billy showed up and sat down beside Sam. "Have you seen Margaret today?" "No why?" Sam asked then he took a bite of his hamburger. "Are you going to be surprised. She's changed." "Change is good and I wouldn't mind getting killed over that." The other boy supplied. "Give it up, Brad." Billy remarked as he made a sour face. "Changed?" Sam asked confused. "Yeah, changed." Margaret quickly scooted up in the snack bar line, so she wouldn't be noticed to much and got a drink for lunch. She wasn't very hungry so it would be enough. Once the bell for fifth period rang, she hustled herself down to the drama department ahead of everyone else. She at least wanted to be there before Sam caught her in the hall. She was talking to Mrs. Stacey when he walked in the door. "Well, Margaret, I'm glad you made it back today. I want to work on the rest of the play." Mrs. Stacey stated as she walked back toward her desk. "Margaret?" Sam questioned amazed at the changes in her appearance. "Hi," she responded not knowing what to call him in front of others. Would it be Sam or Jason? She decided not to add the name. "You look . . . phenomenal." Sam said as he followed her to her seat. He couldn't help but letting his eyes trace over her body. He wondered why the transformation had occurred. "Why did you do . . ." A thought suddenly popped into his mind. "Did Al do this to you?" He asked quietly. "No." Al and Margaret chorused as Al joined them. "I did not do this to her. I can't touch her if your swiss-cheesed brain remembers that. She wanted me to help her, so I did. I didn't . . . " Al began and waved his hands in the air for emphasis. "Al." Margaret interjected. "See the harm in doing so." He waved the handlink in midair. "It didn't change anything." He defended himself against an oncoming attack that Sam would usually give. "Al, please." She leaned in closely to Sam to talk privately with him. "Sam, I've been wanting to throw these half-wit, immature hypocrites on their rears since the beginning of high school. I can sum it up in one word that tells you what I want to do. Carpe - diem." "Seize the day." Al muttered softly. "Like you said last night, you want these nozzles to notice you for once. You know, Sam, she needs to be made aware of, to be noticed . . ." Al said as he began to pace with a philosophical air. "Al." "To be treasured . . ." "Al." Sam said louder to cut his friend's rantings. "To be loved . . ." Al's bushy eyebrows rose seductively as he turned at the end of his four paces and turned to look at Margaret. He brought his hands up and hugged his own body in a loving gesture. Margaret grinned at Al and Sam. She could tell that they were good friends and that they worked well with each other. They were kind of like Ren and Stimpy, Abbot and Castello, or Laurel and Hardy. She shook her head as Al eyed her once more. "Al." "What?" Al turned to Sam still in a philosophical air. "Would you just quit?" Sam sighed as he looked back at Margaret. "I understand where you're coming from. And believe it or not, I think you've done a good thing." "I knew he would see it my way." Al remarked as he lit his cigar with a grin. Sam rolled his green eyes, lowered his head and shook it. The next two hours were filled with total concentration on both the play and the music. Once the last bell of the day rang, Margaret and Sam walked to Senior Hall to their lockers. Their walk was silent until Jessica came up to them. "Well, well, well. If it isn't my ex-boyfriend and Miss Transformation. How has your relationship been going?" She asked sarcastically as she stepped in front of them. "Somewhat slow?" "Oh boy." Al responded when he centered in on Sam and Margaret. His eyes widened when he popped saw Jessica. He was sizing her up again and again wished he wasn't a hologram. Margaret's eyes shut tightly and she raised her hand to her face and pinched the upper portion of her nose. Her head began to ache and she softly moaned. She knew something would happen like this. Someone to ruin her day as they always had. And that somebody had been the same person in the past four years. "Are you okay?" Sam asked quietly. Margaret shook her head slowly and sighed heavily. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just have a headache, that's all." She said aggrivatedly as she looked at Jessica before her again. "A big headache." Jessica took a step forward toward Margaret expecting an answer to her question. "Well?" "We don't need this right now, Jess." Sam tried to deter her anger to a later time. He tried to move forward but Jessica stopped him by moving into his path. Margaret's blue eyes slowly locked with Jessica's brown ones. "It's all right, Sa . . . Jason. I can handle this." Having been taught Karate by her father and from others on the police force, she knew how to handle herself in any situation. The first thing you did was look at your opponents strengths and weaknesses then to plan a pattern of attack. Margaret quickly thought, "Jessica's strengths by looking at her: her mouth; weaknesses: her body. Pattern of attack: slam the bitch into the ground. After all, she deserves it. "Can you or do you need your new man to help you in your time of need?" Jessica retorted sarcastically with a grin as she raised her hands as a maiden in distress. "Look . . ." Margaret began. "No, you look." Jessica interrupted. "This transformation thing is nothing. It means nothing. Sorry, but you are no Julia Roberts." "Oooh, a cat fight. Cat fight." Al cautioned as he observed Margaret's face who began to become red with anger. Al also observed a small circle form around them as the girls anger grew. "You're an obsessive, egotistical, insolent person who makes a lot of hubbub over something that is none of your business. So, I suggest you take your bigoted opinions and leave us alone." Margaret tried to pass by Jessica only to have Jessica push her back. "Look, blondie, no one talks to me that way." "It's probably because you don't understand it." Both girls were in a foot of each other, intruding in their personal space. And neither of them stepped back. "Now, come on. Let's not fight." Sam responded trying to get them apart. "Jason butt out." Jessica warned as she reinforced her stance before Margaret. Her hands flexed at her sides and she wanted to just have the opportunity to hit her opponent. "What's going on here?" A deep voice replied. The group looked at Professor Ashford as he ran his hand through his hair. He repeated his question as he placed his arm around Sam's shoulder. "Is there a problem?" "No. No problem at all." Jessica glared at Margaret then turned and sauntered off. Sam blew out a long breath and looked at Professor Ashford. "Thank you." He smiled. "That's my job. You take care of her - you hear?" He patted Sam's shoulder then turned and left. "Yes sir. I sure will." Sam lightly smiled but his smile faded as he turned to Al. Hearing the conversation between them, Margaret slowly turned on her heel to face him and stiffly walked over to him. "I don't need anyone to take care of me -- especially some genius from the future who doesn't know how in the hell he is suppose to get back." She fleetingly glanced at Al. "See you later, Al." She looked back at Sam again then turned again only to walk away. Al pursed his lips then blew out a breath. "I'm sure she didn't mean it. Want me to go after her?" "No. She needs to cool off." Sam watched helplessly as she walked away. He could tell that there was an angry frightened little girl inside. As she made her way down the hall, Sam watched as a young man with brown hair approached Margaret. He pulled her into his embrace and glanced down the hall at him. Margaret pushed him way from her and said something to him only for him to turn away from her. He looked upset. Sam shook his head and glanced at Al. "What am I going to do?" He asked not really to anyone. "I don't know, Sam. I just don't know."