Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 16:32:11 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: The Impossible Dream - Chapter 6 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Chapter 6 Sunday passed without much ado. Sam spent the day in the apartment, listening to music and thinking, spending a short time at the grocery store to replenish Jack's refrigerator for the next three days. He had made a whole list of possibilities and had scratched them all out, knowing Susie wouldn't go for them. He sighed. This leap wasn't going very well. If he didn't do the stunt, Susie would. But if he didn't find a stunt alternative before tomorrow afternoon, he would have to do the stunt and risk Jack's life. Or even his own. Sam didn't sleep well that night. He noticed Al coming in once to check on him but nothing was said between them. As quickly as Al came in, he left, apparently not wanting to disturb Sam's restless sleep. Morning came and Sam followed the same routine he had for the past two days. Having showered, dressed, and breakfasted, he left the apartment and drove to the arena on Jack's motorcycle. He parked the motorcycle in its usual place and went towards Susie's office. Taking a breath, he knocked on the door. "Come in," Susie told him in a bland voice. When Sam came in, he noticed that she was occupied with a ledger, *The show's cash profits*, Sam surmised. "Hi," he told her. Susie looked up. "Hi. Any luck?" "None you'd approve," Sam admitted. "Too bad," Susie told him without conviction. Sam frowned. *How do I get through this woman?* He paused, walking to the desk. "Susie, you want to tell me why you're so set on the semi-truck stunt when there are plentyof other great stunts that aren't as dangerous?" Susie raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean? Are you going back on your promise - as usual?" Sam's brow furrowed. "No, not at all. It's just... I think you should really consider what I told you about the semi stunt. It's dangerous, Susie. Too dangerous for me to do it and especially too dangerous for you." Susie smirked. "I knew you wouldn't keep your promise. Typical Jack Stutzman." "I just want to prevent anyone from getting hurt," Sam told her. "If you don't want to do it, that's fine. Now, if you don't mind,the show starts in an hour and I have to practice." She stood up and went to the door. "Susie," Sam warned. "Don't do the stunt." "I have to," she told him as she walked into the warehouse. "Why?" Sam asked, catching up to her and turning her around by the arm so that she would face him. "Why is it so damn important to do this stunt?" "You really want to know?" Susie shouted at him. "Because this stunt has been a god-send to me! Because it's keeping me open! Because if I don't pay off my lease on this place - pay off all my other bills on this place by this Friday, I'll lose everything! Please, Jack. Just until Friday. Then we'll do any other stunt you want. You know it's the semi stunt people are coming to see. It's just one more week. And if you don't do it, I will." Sam looked at her. She was desperate and determined. He knew that she wasn't bluffing - she would do it and she'll kill herself in the process. "Okay, Susie," Sam told her. "One more week." Susie hugged him ferociously. "Thank you, Jack. Thank you." She pulled away and looked at her watch. "Forty-five 'til." She sniffed, holding back tears she didn't want to show. "We don't have a lot of time." She walked towards the arena. "Bill! Shaakeen! Let's get moving! Show time in forty-five minutes!" Sam exhaled. "Oh, boy," he whispered to himself. ************************** "And now, the event you've been waiting for!" Bill announced. "A stunt so daring - so dangerous - only a professional stuntman can do it!" Sam sat on Jack's motorcycle, its engine purring like a healthy cat. He was sweating nervously. He knew what to do. He had gone through some trial runs before the show but those were small jumps over cars and barrels, not over a semi. "Sam," Al's husky voice told him on his left. "What the hell are you doing?" The voice was filled with concern. Sam looked at Al. Al was wearing his Naval uniform, telling Sam to get ready for a strict lecture. "What do you mean?" Al glared at him. "Sam, I know you too well. You've got that 'I'm gonna save the world' look in your eyes. You're gonna do the semi-truck stunt." Sam didn't look at him. "If I don't, Susie will." "Please welcome Stutzman the Stuntman!" Bill announced. Sam roared out into the arena. "Sam!" Al called to him. He lifted the handlink and re-centered himself on him. Sam was waving to the crowd. "Sam, this is crazy! Ziggy says that there's an eighty-eight percent chance you'll be killed!" "Well, that's better odds than the last time," Sam said, putting on his helmet. "Sam, I'm serious!" "So am I," Sam told him with a glare. "What happens if I _don't_ do the stunt?" Al hesitated. "She does it and gets killed." "I have to do this, Al," Sam told him firmly as he sped towards the ramp. "Sam!" Al exclaimed as he saw the motorcycle fly through the air and over the semi. Time seemed to slow down to a near crawl as hundreds of people watched rider and bike fly and come back down. There was a huge bounce. A scrape. A crash. And then - nothing. "Oh, my gawd!" Al whispered. "Sam." He hurried to the prone form. The arena was an instant mad house. People stood and hurried onto the arena. Susie, Bill, and Shaakeen hurried to Sam's immobile form. "Call an ambulance!" Susie ordered. Shaakeen hurried to obey. "Jack," Susie said to Sam. "You live, damn it! You live!" "You heard the lady," Al put in. "That's an order." Bill was checking Sam's pulse. "He's alive." Al breathed. "Thank gawd!" "But we dare not move him." Bill looked at Susie. "Keep him company. I'm going to send these people home." Susie didn't reply. She sweeped Sam's hair gently from his forehead. He was bleeding. Al looked at the handlink, punching it in desperation to get information from Ziggy. *Internal bleeding*, he read. *Heartbeat dropping slowly.* He looked at Sam and tried to gulp down the lump in his throat without success. "Listen to me, Sam," he said more firmly than he felt. It wouldn't do to show fear now. Not when Sam needed him. "You hang on and you hang on tight. I won't leave you. I'll always be here for you. I'm not going away." Al closed his eyes and folded his hand and, quite uncharacteristically, began to pray. The paramedics came into the arena and gently shooed away Susie and Bill. They checked Sam quickly and then placed him on a gurney. Having rolled the gurney into the ambulance, they allowed Susie to ride with him. As the hospital sped to Penrose Hospital, Susie held Sam's hand gently, assuring him that he'll be okay. Al also assured him verbally, wishing he too could hold Sam's hand. ************************ "Tell the truth, Doctor," Susie begged, standing in the waiting room of the hospital. "How is he?" The doctor lowered his head. "It doesn't look good. Mr Stutzman had severe internal bleeding and severe abrasions. He also has a severe concussion. Now, we were able to stop the bleeding and tend his wounds but, unfortunately, he has slipped into a coma." Susie gasped with fear. The doctor sympathized. "All we can do now is wait." "May I see him?" Susie pleaded. "Are you related?" Susie took a breath. "He's my fiance," she lied. The doctor nodded. "I understand. You can see him for a short while." He led her to the room. Susie could hardly move when she saw Jack lying there, tubes attached to his arm and his nose, his forehead bandaged, his body motionless.. She slowly went to his side and sat in a chair by the bed. Touching his hand, she looked about the room. She was alone. "Jack," she said softly. She gasped back a tear which threatened to trickle down her cheek. "I'm sorry. I..." She cried. "I should have listened. But we're both stubborn, aren't we? I think that's why I love you so much." She took a shaky breath. "Please, Jack... Please, Mike... come back to me. I don't think I can make it without you." She kissed his hand and placed it on her cheek. "I'll come see you every day. The show can wait." She laughed sickly. "Funny how something like this makes you realize what is really important in your life." She looked at his closed eyes. "You're important in my life, Mike. I love you." With that she released his hand and left him alone in the hospital room. Or so she thought. A pale figure sat by the bed, staring at the form on the bed. A fearful look was in his eyes. "I'm here, Sam. Hang on." --------------------------------------- Sorry but you'll just have to wait to know what happens next. Chapter 7 coming soon. Kat Al-coholism can be sooooo wonderful!