Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 15:40:21 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Theresa - Chapter 18 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Chapter 18 Images and Memories "Suzanne!" Sam called out as he entered the apartment he had once entered in a wheelchair. Jennifer echoed his call. An answer call from, what was obviously still, Chris's bedroom. Sam and Jennifer hurried to the door to find Suzanne holding her panting husband. "Did you call an ambulance?" Sam asked, going over to them. "No ambulance," Chris panted out. "No ambulance." Both Sam and Jennifer looked at Suzanne. "He was insistent," she told them. Sam sighed. "Jen, call an ambulance." Jennifer started standing up. "No, Jeff! No ambulance!" Chris called out, stopping Jennifer in her tracks. "I'm okay." "Bull!" Sam told him. "Chris, you've just had a seizure! You need to be in a hospital!" "Jeff, I'm fine," Chris told him, his panting now greatly slowed down. "Really." "Chris!" "Jeff!" Suzanne yelled. "That's enough!" She looked at Sam firmly. "Chris says he's fine and that's enough for me." Sam exhaled. He wasn't going to get them anywhere near a hospital today. "Okay," he conceded. "As long as you don't..." "Jeff!" Chris exclaimed. "It's our wedding night!" Suzanne put in. "Do you want to risk him having another seizure?" Sam replied. The room was silent for a few seconds. "Honey," Chris broke the silence, looking at his wife. "I think Jeff's right." "Chris!" Chris touched her cheek. "We'll have tomorrow night and every night for the next fifty years. Just tonight, okay? It doesn't mean we can't be together." Suzanne sighed. "Okay," she conceded. Chris nodded and smiled. He looked at Sam. "As long as you don't cook tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" Sam questioned. "Yeah. Leave the cooking to the pros!" Chris teased, giving Jennifer a wink. "I don't want the cook-out to be a disaster." "The cook-out," Sam said mostly to himself. "We'll see you tomorrow," Jennifer told Chris and Suzanne. She kissed Chris on the forehead. "Please, take care of yourself." "No problem," Chris answered. Sam and Jennifer left, both still very worried about Chris. Once they were gone, Chris looked at his wife with a smile. "Come here, beautiful!" "What about what Jeff said?" Chris laughed slightly. "Suzanne, he's no doctor." ************************************** The sun was at high noon when Al opened his eyes while lying in Tina's bed. He knew that he had to get up and go out to the complex and that Tina had to get up and go out with Theresa to prepare for the trip to New York. But he wanted nothing more at that moment than to stay in bed with Tina. Al sighed and gently nudged Tina awake. Tina gently moaned, not wanting to wake up just yet. She rolled over towards Al, revealing the cat's whiskers she neglected to wash off the night before. They reminded Al that he hadn't washed off his make-up either. His face was still pale white with black circles around his eyes. "It's past noon, honey," Al told her gently. "Time to get up." "Past noon?" Tina asked groggily. "And Theresa's expecting you at two," he gently reminded. "Oh!" she exclaimed, suddenly awake. She looked at Al and laughed softly. "You really have to wash up. You look so funny without the rest of your costume." "Oh, really, my little pussy cat?" Al teased, kissing her lovingly. Tina smiled. "Al, stop it." "Stop what?" "Al!" she laughed. Al sighed. "Okay, okay." He got up out of the bed and went towards the shower. "I'll get out your spare suit," Tina told him as she put on a bathrobe. "Thanks," Al answered through the door just before turning on the shower. Tina put out Al's suit and then proceeded to the living room. She opened the balcony door, allowing her pet crocodile into the apartment, and then went to the kitchen to start up a kettle of tea. A few minutes later, Al came out of the bedroom, dressed in a dark green suit with a lime green dress shirt and a matching tie. He went into the kitchen and kissed Tina. "I'll see you later," he told her. "Sam probably won't be awake," she pointed out. "Yeah but I have some paperwork to finish," Al replied as he went towards the door. "Sound like a lot of fun," Tina commented sarcastically. Al smiled at her and gave her a wink before going out the door. Tina sighed with disappointment just as her tea kettle whistled. She poured the hot water over her tea bag and took the tea with her into the bedroom. She undressed and sipped at her tea as she entered the bathroom. Putting the cup down temporarily, she washed the whiskers from her face. She then finished her tea before entering the shower. A half of an hour later, she left her bedroom dressed in a plain white dress and white four-inch heel shoes. Her hair was accented by a pair of chin-length earrings. She returned her cup to the kitchen as she ordered her home computer to dial Al's home phone number. "Hello?" a female voice answered. "Hi, Theresa. It's Tina," Tina said as she walked to the viewphone. "Sorry I'm running so late. I'll be there in a half an hour." "That's okay," Theresa told her. "I'm running a little late myself. See you soon." Tina smiled and disconnected the line. She proceeded to her car as she pulled out her keys. *********************** Al arrived at the complex at about one o'clock. He knew he had at least two hours before Sam would wake up. Years of living on a farm had trained Sam into waking no later that eight o'clock, unless he stayed up late the night before. Either way, Al knew he had a definite two hours. Which meant he wouldn't go into the Imaging Chamber for another four hours. No need to wake Sam prematurely. He walked through the complex, passing through the security check point and going on towards the Control Room. As usual, Gushie was there, reviewing computations with Sammy Jo Fuller, who was now out of her Southern belle costume and was dressed in a comfortable pair of jeans and a polo. "Rather informal today, aren't we, Sammy Jo?" Al commented as he entered. Sammy Jo smiled. "I could say the same thing for you, Admiral." "How's it going with calibrating to the Egyptian systems?" "We finished that last night, Gushie answered. "Ziggy's searching but she hasn't found anything yet. She may be having trouble translating the information." Al sighed. "Well, let me know when she gets something. Almost any information will help if it involves Chris's death. I'll be in my office most of the time." He turned to the large blue sphere hanging over the control console. "Ziggy, do you have _anything_ from those Egyptian systems?" "Shakespeare was right about Marc Antony and Cleopatra," she answered silkily. "About Chris Raj-ad-Allah's death?" Al pressed. "Very little," she replied. "However, I should have some information within a couple of hours." "Thank you," Al answered with a melodramatic nod. "You're welcome, Admiral," Ziggy replied. Al could have swore she was being melodramatic back at him. ************************* "So, what do you think?" Tina asked, seeing Theresa with her new permanent. Theresa took a careful look in the mirror. "I like it," she finally announced. Her once straight hair was accented by soft curls. It was not about three inches shorter and it now had bangs. "I like it," she repeated with a smile. "Do you think Al will?" Tina laughed. "He'll love it! You really do look up to him, don't you?" "Is there any reason why I shouldn't?" Theresa looked at Tina with a mischievous grin. Tina paused. "I can think of several but I don't think it'll change anything." "So can I," Theresa told her. "But I don't think friendship should be based on having the perfect friend. There's no such thing." She paused. "But you can get damned close." She smiled at Tina. It almost made Tina blush. "Come on," Tina told her. "Let grab a bite to eat and then get to the complex. I think Al has a surprise for you." *************************** Sam had an uncomfortable night's sleep. He had been worrying about Chris's health. He remembered how stubborn Jeff was when Sam was Chris. Now that Sam was Jeff, he could see that Chris was just as stubborn. *Which means he probably didn't take my advice last night*, Sam thought with disappointment. Sam opened his eyes to find Jennifer sleeping peacefully at his side. It was Sunday morning and Sam saw no reason to wake her at 7:30, which was how early Sam was awake. He would have slept later if it weren't for his troubled mind. He quietly slipped out of the bed and put on a robe. He then left the bedroom, going to the kitchen to make some breakfast. "Good morning, Sam," Al told him as he walked into the Imaging Chamber. Al tilted his head slightly as he looked towards the Imaging Chamber door before finally closing it. It looked as if he were inviting someone to come in. "How's it going?" Al asked with a mischievous smile. "Hi, Al," Sam answered as he opened a can of frozen orange juice and prepared. it. "I'm not sure how it's going. I just have this bad feeling about Chris, you know? Especially after last night." "Last night?" Al asked. "What happened last night?" Sam looked at him. "Chris had a seizure. And he refused us from calling an ambulance. I don't know. I don't think anything I can say to him will help him." Al sighed. "I know what you mean. He's a very stubborn man. But you still have four days to help him. You'll do it. You just got to keep at him." He hesitated. "Uhh...Sam? There's someone I'd like you to meet." He looked to his right and extended his hand to the nothingness beside him. A moment later, a beautiful young woman appeared, smiling and holding Al's hand. "Sam Beckett, meet Theresa Brookner," Al announced with a smile. "Pleased to meet you," Sam told him. She turned to Al with confusion. "It's okay. My touching you only allows you to see him, not hear him," Al assured her. She smiled at Sam. "Likewise," she answered him. However, Sam couldn't hear her for the same reason that Al gave Theresa. Sam looked at Al. Al had a feeling what was going to happen. "Al, could I see you alone for a minute?" Al sighed. He hated when he was right. He turned to Theresa. "Would you excuse me for a moment?" Theresa nodded. Al let go of her hand, causing her to disappear from Sam's sight. He followed Sam to the living room, far away from Theresa's hearing. "Al," Sam said, facing Al with a lecturing eye. "I have a feeling this Theresa Brookner doesn't work for the Project. Does she?" Al hesitated. "Uhh... no. She doesn't." "Then why is she in a highly classified area of the complex?" Sam looked into Al's eyes. "I think she deserves to really meet you," Al told him firmly. "Why?" Al looked at Sam curiously. "You don't remember Theresa, do you?" "No," Sam shook his head. "Do you remember when you leaped into that mother of three and you had to save your teenage son from those sickos?" "Yeah, a little," Sam told him. "I remember his friends were pressuring him to have sex with a girl named... uhhh..." "Do you remember his little sister, the one I sang to sleep?" Al interrupted.' "Yeah. What does this have to do with..." Sam suddenly realized what Al meant. "The little girl's name was Theresa, wasn't it?" Al nodded his head, a thin smile on his face. "That little girl is now a twenty-one year old woman who needs my help. She's been living on the streets for the past four years, Sam. Hooking. Prostitution." He paused to see if he was affecting Sam. Sam didn't say a word but it was obvious that he didn't like what Al just told him. "She remembers us, Sam. And people have been calling her crazy because she does. I think she deserves to know the truth about you and me and this Project." Sam sighed. "Al, Quantum Leap is a top secret project. You jeopardized the Project bringing her here." Al huffed. "You sound like Dr. Beeks." "Well, she's right," Sam told him firmly. "Now, I don't like it anymore than you that she became a prostitute and I think it's great that you're helping her out. But we can only go so far." "She won't tell anyone," Al said confidently. "How do you know?" "I just know. Trust me." "I knew you were going to say that," Sam muttered. "She only knows what she has to know to understand what happened when she was three years old. And I'm limiting her access in the complex. And she's very good at keeping secrets." "Is she?" Al looked slightly morose. "What hooker isn't? Besides, we trust each other. Theresa won't betray that trust which she holds dear. I'm the closest friend she's got." Sam sighed. "Well, the deed is done and there's little I can do right now to change it. I might as well make the best of it," he said, walking back to the kitchen. Al followed. "She'd really good at art. Has a photographic memory for faces. That's why she remembers us. I'm pulling some strings to get her a good job in art." Al took Theresa's hand again, thus bringing in her image. She said something, looking from Sam to Al. "What did she say?" Sam asked. Theresa read his lips and understood. She looked at Al in confusion. "Remember I told you that touching you only allows you to see him? Well, it's the same way on his side. Sam can only hear me, not you," Al explained to her. "I can't tell you why. You're just gonna have to trust me on this." He turned to Sam. "She was thanking me for letting her see you." He looked at Theresa again. "I think you'd better go now, honey. Sam and I have some business to discuss." Theresa sighed and nodded as Al opened the Imaging Chamber door to allow her to leave. She waved Sam good-bye before disappearing from his sight. A minute later, Al closed the Imaging Chamber door, leaving him and Sam alone. "Do you have something on Chris's death?" Sam asked, hopeful of a positive answer. "Well, Ziggy was able to confirm our suspicions. Chris did die from one of his seizures. She says that your best chance at saving his life is to convince him to see a doctor before he goes on his honeymoon." Sam laughed disappointedly. "Easier said than done." Al sighed slightly. "Yeah," he agreed. "But not impossible. I agree that Chris's head is a little thick. You just have to push him a little." "How?" Al shook his head. "I don't know, Sam. His walking was one thing but this..." He looked at him with sympathy. "Just do the best you can." He paused. "I really have to go now, Sam. I'm helping Theresa off to New York for some interviews. Hopefully, she get a good job there from some people I know." He opened the Imaging Chamber door and smiled at Sam. "I'll see you later," he told him just before disappearing behind the Imaging Chamber door. --------------------------------------------------------- If I didn't have all these cliffhangers, how do you think I'd get you to read my story? Chapter 19 coming right up. Kat