Date: Tue, 22 Oct 1996 12:51:16 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: The Impossible Dream - Chapter 15 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Chapter 15 Susan Paprocki sat by Mike Selantono's bed in Penrose Hospital, concerned as she had been for the past ten days. It was already June 28th and there was nothing but silence from the bed. There was nothing wrong with Mike physically. His breathing was regular. His heart was strong. He just wouldn't wake up. "Jack," she said softly. "Thought I'd let you know how everything was going. Had to re-open the show. Just couldn't afford to keep it closed, you know, with all those bills." She paused. "Bill and Shaakeen have been very helpful but there's no way I'll be able to keep the show going for long." She gave a weak, sad laugh. "They all want to see the semi-truck stunt." She took a shaky breath. "There's a board of inquiry on you, you know," she told the prone form. "They're looking into your accident. I know I'm going to lose my show but I don't care anymore. Thought I'd open a bike shop. You know. Motorcycles? I'll use whatever money I have left after this whole mess. I think I'll have barely enough." She took a deep breath and exhaled. Puckering her lips inward, she closed her eyes. She opened them again, slowly. Jack hadn't moved an inch. "Jack, can you hear me?" she said softly. "If you can, I just wanted you to know you can call me Mrs. Paprocki anytime you want but I'm thinking about changing my name to something Greek. I thought maybe you had a suggestion." Jack smiled a bit for just a moment. Susie's eyes widened. "Jack?" she questioned. No reply came. Not even a movement. Susie lowered her head and stood up. "Well, think about it, okay?" she told him. "I'll expect an answer when you wake up." She kissed him on the forehead. "See you tomorrow, Mike Selantono." With that, she slowly left the hospital room. ************************ "Admiral," Ziggy's voice put into Al's sleep. Al opened his eyes immediately. It wasn't difficult for him to wake up, especially recently. "Yeah, Ziggy?" he questioned, remaining lying on his back. "I have another lock on Dr. Beckett," Ziggy told him. Al sat up and slipped into his shoes. "How is it?" "It's strong and stable," Ziggy told him. "There is a ninety-nine percent chance that Dr. Beckett will awaken with the next fifteen minutes." Al's eyes widened with anticipation. "Have the Imaging Chamber ready. I'll be right there." He headed for the door. "Dr. Beeks and Dr. Elesee have been informed?" "Of course, Admiral," Ziggy answered as Al went out of his office. It was only a couple of minutes before Al burst into the Control Room. "Handlink," he ordered as he marched in. Gushie complied immediately with hopeful eyes. Al gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm sure he's fine," Al told him. "So am I," Gushie replied. Al marched to the Imaging Chamber door and took a deep breath before going in. He looked about. The scene hadn't changed much since he last saw Sam. There was a fresh dozen of roses by the bed. *Probably from Susie*, Al thought. A nurse was checking Sam carefully. A hopeful look crossed her face as she checked Sam's pulse. She quickly left the room, calling for a doctor as she left. Al started to smile. Her urgency told him Sam was regaining consciousness. "Sam," he said gently. "Sam, buddy, wake up." Sam's head moved slightly. "Come on, pal. Wake up," Al urged. "Al?" came a quiet reply. Al exhaled with relief. "Oh, thank gawd, Sam! Don't ever do that to me again, you hear? Do you realize how much you scared the hell out of me?" Sam smiled weakly. "Yeah. It's good to see you too," he replied softly. "So, how are we doing?" "Now that you're back, great," Al told him. "Just promise me you'll warn me next time you decide to go into a coma." Sam laughed gently. He looked over Al. It seemed obvious that Al hadn't rested the entire time that Sam had. He was haggard, wearing a plain black suit - the same he had worn for Beth's funeral - and his black armband. "How long was I out?" Sam asked. "A Beatles week," Al told him. Sam looked confused. "Eight days," Al translated. "I was afraid you'd go past Christmas. You nearly ruined my entire holiday." "Christmas?" Sam questioned. "Yea," Al told him. "It's December 22nd when I am. You're coming out of your coma is a great present, Sam. Too bad I can't give you one." Sam smiled gently. "So what happens to Jack and Susie?" "Well," Al said, taking his handlink in hand. "Jack goes back to his real name. The two marry next year and together they raised a little daughter and ran a motorcycle shop." Sam laughed slightly in the same manner as before. Al got a worried look in his eyes. "Sam, are you okay?" "I'm fine," he reassured. "I just got this feeling while I was asleep that they would do just as you told me." "Speaking of which," Al put in. "What's this about my uncle being a leaper and God being a bartender?" Sam laughed louder. "Just my unconscious telling me something the best way it could." "Telling you something?" Al questioned. "Telling you what?" Sam looked at Al carefully and again at his black armband. Al noticed Sam's gaze. He looked at the armband and then at Sam with curiosity. The look in Al's eyes told Sam everything he needed to know. "I LOST HER BUT YOU CAN GET HER BACK FOR ME!" "EVEN THOUGH WE TRIED, BETH STILL MARRIED THAT LAWYER AND I CAME HOME TO AN EMPTY HOUSE. IT JUST WASN'T MEANT TO BE." "I'M THE ONE WHO LED YOU BACK TO SAVE YOUR BROTHER. IF THERE'S ANYONE TO BLAME, IT'S ME." "LIFE GIVES YOU ONE SHOT AT TRUE LOVE! AND BETH WAS MINE! I LOST HER BUT YOU CAN GET HER BACK FOR ME!" Sam smiled at his friend. "I owe you one, Al." Al looked at him with wide eyes. "What'd I do? I didn't do anything." Sam nodded slightly. "Yes, you did. If it weren't for you, I would never have come out of that coma." *Among other things.* Al shrugged. "All I did was talk." Sam laughed. "I still owe you. More than you know." He had a peculiar look in his eyes. "You've changed my life more time than I can remember, even if I didn't have a Swiss-cheese memory." "Well, you can pay me back by coming home," Al told him with a gently smile. "Don't worry, though. We're still working on that." "I can't come home, Al," Sam told him somberly. "Now, don't get pessimistic on me, Sam," Al warned. Sam looked at him firmly. "Yet," he added. "I can't come home yet. There's still so much to do. But I will come home. I promise." Al watched Sam carefully. The physicist wasn't acting like his normal self. Al was worried. "Now, just relax, Sam. Everything's going to be okay." Sam smiled and nodded. "Oh, yeah. Everything is going to be okay." He looked at Al with love. "Thanks for everything, Al." A moment later, there was a flash of light and Al was alone in Imaging Chamber, confused. *What had just happened? And why do I feel like Sam was keeping something from me?* Al took a breath. Despite feeling being kept in the dark, he felt much better. Sam was safe physically at least, if not mentally. *His strange behavior is probably just a residue from his coma*, Al told himself as he stood up and headed out of the Imaging Chamber. For some reason, he felt that there was more to Sam's behavior than just his coma. What was it that Sam had said? His subconscious was telling him something the best way it could? Sam never did answer Al's question of what it was telling him. "How is he?" Donna asked immediately as Al came out. She was standing beside Verbina, waiting just outside of the Imaging Chamber. "Huh?" Al questioned, lost in his own thoughts. "Oh, I'm sorry, Donna," he said, realizing the question. "I'm not sure. He leaped before I could really tell. I think he'll be okay, though." Donna exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness." "And his dream?" Verbina asked. "Again, I'm not sure. Sam said something about his subconscious telling him something but he wouldn't tell me what." Verbina took a breath. "I have one more question. Will you be able to sleep tonight?" A slight smile crossed Al's face. "Yes," he told her. "I'll have a very good night's sleep." Verbina smiled. "Good. Now, I know you'll both be okay." With that, she left the Control Room. Donna followed, giving Al a large smile. Al thought for a moment. *There's still something....* He turned to Gushie, who was standing behind Ziggy's control console. "Have Ziggy inform me when Sam leaps in," he told him. "I'll be at home." "As always, Admiral," Gushie told him with a slight smile. Al returned the smile briefly and left the Control Room to head home, a pensive look on his face. --------------------------------------------------------- OOPS! Goofed the last time. NOW it's 3 more chapters. Kat