Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1993 18:20:35 -0400 (EDT) From: Brian Willard Subject: Revelations 3-Like Father, Like Son To: alt-ql-creative@cisco.com Message-Id: <01GYVGGY9NC29D4YA1@UNCA.EDU> Organization: University of North Carolina at Asheville "Like Father, Like Son" or "Revelations 3" by Brian Willard Sam was beginning to feel very tired. This young man, the son of the guy Sam had lept into, was still by the bed, weeping silent tears for his father. A nurse entered the room and came over to the young man. "Come now, John. Your father needs his rest." He looked up with teary eyes at his father, and then stood up. "Goodbye dad. Ma and sis send their love. They'll be able to come by sometime tomorrow. I'll be here if you need me." "Are you sure that Mrs. Beckett won't need some help on the farm?" the nurse asked John. "Nah, mom wanted me to stay here and look after dad, at least till she comes up tomorrow. I'm going out to the lobby, dad." He left the room slowly and went down the hall. "Beckett?" Sam asked in a raspy voice from the bed, "John... Beckett?" "Yes, he's your son. Oh, what is this. Your mind is fine. It's your lungs that are failing." "I'm my...I'm my...He's a great kid, you know," Sam recovered quickly. "I'm sure he is," replied the nurse, "now why don't you try to get some sleep. Save that strength for when you have visitors." She took the glass of water from beside his bed and refilled it at a sink on the other side of the room. "There. If you need me, just ring the bell," she said, hinting toward an old dinner bell sitting next to the glass of water. "I'm okay right now," Sam said with difficulty. He felt as if he had no vocal cords left. "Pleasant dreams," the nurse said as she walked out the door. Sam settled back in his bed. This was too much. For what possible reason would he leap into a man dying of lung cancer, and even more so...his grandfather. "Al...Al, where are you? What am I doing here?" But Al was nowhere to be seen (or heard), and Sam wondered what was taking Ziggy so long. What was the date anyway? If he really was his grandfather then it would have to be sometime before he was born. Something like that had happened to him before, but he really couldn't remember. He began to think of possible reasons for his being there, but none came to mind. And then something came to mind. Sam wasn't sure if it was what he was there to do, but he hoped so. At least he'd try. ********************************************* "What do you mean you can't find him?" Al shouted, "Where could he have gone?" "I have not been able to locate Dr. Beckett anytime within his own lifespan," Ziggy responded. "Well it's not like he just disappeared! We have a man in the Waiting Room who's dying of lung cancer, and if we don't find him soon he'll be stuck wherever he is forever!" ********************************************* Sam woke up as the nurse opened the door to his hospital room. She had with her his breakfast, and Sam if anything was definitely hungry. He also felt the strange desire for a good smoke from his pipe. "Swiss cheese," he said aloud. "Not for breakfast," replied the nurse, "but we do have danish and milk for you." "That'll do," he said as she set the tray on his bed before him, "Can you ask my son to come see me as soon as he gets here?" "He stayed overnight, Mr. Beckett, and yes, I'll go get him." She left the room and went down to the lobby to get John Beckett. Right as she left the observer appeared. "Took you long enough, Al." "Sorry, but Ziggy had a little trouble locating you. You see, you've leaped into one of your ancestors again." "I know I've leaped into my...again?" "Yeah, you once lept into you great-grandfather too. But that's not important now. Ziggy's still trying to figure out why you're here. By the way it's June 12, 1945. You're your grandfather, who's...uh...fifty-five." "I know why I'm here Al," Sam said, smiling, "my dad's here." "So?" "I'm here to keep him alive!" "Ziggy says you're going to die in eight hours. Now how are you going to save him when you're dead?" "Just watch me," he said just as the nurse walked in. Sam was surprised to see that Al was not watching her. "Hi, dad," John Beckett called from the doorway, "you wanted to see me?" "Yes. Come on in and have a seat by the bed. Uh, nurse, can we have some privacy." "No problem." She left the room quietly and when he no longer heard footsteps, Sam began. "You know what I'm dying of, don't you?" Sam asked his father. "Yes sir. The doctors said it was cancer." "And do you know what causes lung cancer?" "Oh, Sam! Don't start this again!" Sam ignored the hologram. "Smoking," he said, "Lung cancer is caused by smoking. In fact, I believe that in the future smoking will be banned from all public areas." Young John Beckett gave a halfhearted laugh. "And what else? Heart attacks are caused by too much meat?" "That too. I'm serious about this, John." "Then why don't the doctors know what causes cancer?" "Because they don't have it. You've got to trust me, da..son." There is a pause in the conversation. Al gives Sam a puzzled look and then shakes his head." "Why are you telling me this?" John asked. "Because smoking is not the way to die. I don't want you to end up like me. Look at me John. I'm only fifty-five. Fifty- five. Nobody should die at this age. I want you to make me a promise, son." "Sam, don't do this!" warned the observer. "That you'll never pick up another cigarette or smoke a pipe again. And that you'll watch how much fat you eat. That's bad for you too." "Dad, this is ridiculous." "Ah, but you're supposed to grant a dying man his last wish," Sam said with a hint of pleasure. Al rolled his eyes in disgust. "Besides, that's not too much to ask anyway. And if you won't do it for me, at least do it for your wife and kids." "I'm not married, Dad," "You will be. I know you will. So...do we have a deal?" "Well, I'll try...but I can't guarantee anything. But I will try...for you, dad." He got up from his chair and walked over to the bed. "If want to do something enough, then you will eventually do it. It's a Beckett trait." He hugged his father and then he lept. ******************************************** "He's back!" Gooshie shouted, "He's really back...as himself!" Sam felt rather woozy. He looked around at the strange white room, which seemed to glow. Then he looked down at the funny-looking man. "Back where, and who are you?" "Back at the project, Dr. Beckett," Gooshie replied, "You do remember the project, don't you?" "Project...Project Star Bright? Al Calavicci's project?" "No Sam," Al said, coming in from the Imaging Chamber, "your project. Project Quantum Leap. Ziggy what's wrong here?" "Nothing, Al. I've got a lock on Dr. Beckett," the hybrid computer replied. "Of course you do!" Al shouted in disbelief. "He's in the year 1985...and get this, he's leaped into himself." "What?!?" Al turned around and looked at Sam, and then he walked over to Gooshie. "Is this for real?" he whispered. "I'm afraid so, Admiral. Dr. Beckett has leaped into himself, at his own wedding." "Ohhh, boy." Coming tomorrow - Revelations 4 - "May the Best Man Observe" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Willard | "Revenge is mine, thus sayeth the hologram" UNC-Asheville | Sam Beckett, "The Leap Back" -----------------------------------------------------------------