Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 15:38:27 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Theresa - Chapter 20 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Chapter 20 Building Pressure "Good afternoon, Gushie," Al said as he entered the Control Room. It was nearly three o'clock. Al had spent the morning and the afternoon doing necessary household chores (it's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it) after he left Theresa at the airport. It was a good way to occupy the time Al knew Sam would be spending in bed. "Good afternoon, Admiral," Gushie greeted. "What does Ziggy have on Sam's situation?" "The same as before," the programmer told him. "However, the chances of Mr. Raj-ad-Allah dying during his honeymoon have dropped." Al smiled slightly. "Good. How's our visitor?" "He's doing fine," Gushie answered. "Still a bit confused, but fine. Dr. Beeks has been keeping a close eye on him." Al nodded in acknowledgement. "Where's Donna?" he asked, curious. "I didn't see her in her office." Gushie paused a moment. "She's in the Observation Room." Al sighed slightly at the news before taking a handlink and going up. He opened the Observation Room door to find Donna Elesee sitting at one of the computer terminals, staring down into the Waiting Room. Al hadn't seen Donna since the Halloween party two days ago and had been hoping to catch her in her office. He had been too occupied in the past two days with his own problems. But seeing her sit at the computer terminal now, he knew the wife of Sam Beckett needed an ear to listen to her. And Al's ear was always available. He slowly walked up to her and gently placed his right hand on her left shoulder. Donna turned her head to see the source of that touch. "Hi," Al told her. "Hi," she replied. Her attention returned to the Waiting Room. Al lowered his eyes in thoughtfulness. He took a seat beside Donna and looked down on the Waiting Room with her. There, sitting on the Waiting Room table and talking to Dr. Beeks in a friendly, relaxed manner was Jeff Sterling. Only everyone saw him as Sam Beckett. "You okay?" Al finally asked after reflecting what Donna had to be feeling. She sighed. "Yeah, sure." Al grinned slightly. "Come on. This is Al Calavicci you're talking to. I've known you too long. There's something bothering you and it concerns Sam." Donna gave a slight smile. Al had a way of reading what people were feeling even when he didn't know them. And Al was right; they had known each other since the Star Bright Program. In fact, Al brought Sam and Donna together. "You're right," Donna told him, still staring sown at the Waiting Room's occupant. "Something is bothering me and it concerns Sam." "What is it?" Al asked, looking at her. Donna hesitated. "I don't think I'll see him again, Al." "What are you saying? Of course, you'll see him again," Al put in. "After all, it's only been a month and a half since you last saw him. Surely you remember that one night," he told her, referring to that day in September when Al and Sam had accidentally switched places in time. "It seems so long ago," she said, watching the person in the Waiting Room stretch his legs by walking about while Verbina Beeks left the room. Donna touched her belly gently. Al followed Donna's gaze at Jeff Sterling and noted her hand touching her belly. It didn't take much insight to figure out that night in September left an indelible mark in the world for Donna. He stood up, went to Donna's terminal, and pressed a button. A moment later, Donna's view of the Waiting Room was blocked as the wall in front of her reemerged. Donna turned her head and looked at Al, questioning his actions. "Donna, you're pregnant, aren't you?" Al said more than questioned. "You figure that out just by looking at me?" "In a way," Al replied. "Next time you don't want anybody to know, don't touch your belly with a thoughtful look on your face." Donna exhaled. It was obvious Sam's being away from her at such a time bothered her greatly. "Donna," Al said gently. "I've admired you for your stren gth and courage. Don't give up hope. Sam will come home." "But when?" Donna asked. "Will he ever know he has a child?" Al sighed and placed his hand on her shoulder, unable to answer the question. ************************* "You'd better hurry up or you'll be late," Jennifer told Sam as he finished putting on a red tie which almost matched his hair. Or rather Jeff's hair. "I know," Sam told her as he quickly checked himself in the bathroom mirror, noticing, once again, Jeff's contrasting brown and grey eyes. "Chris's probably already at the office." Jennifer laughed. "I doubt it,"she told him as she put on an earring. "Chris was even late for his own wedding. You'll probably beat him there." She paused a moment while Sam put on a blue suit jacket. "Jeff?" she called out. "Yes?" Sam replied, gathering his briefcase. "Don't forget to take the car for a check-up. And pick up a carton of skim milk, will you?" "Sure," Sam said as Jennifer came out of the bedroom. "I'll see you tonight," Jennifer told him, giving him a kiss. As Jennifer went out the door, Sam started to follow when he realized something. He didn't know where he was going! He opened his briefcase and took out one of Jeff's business cards. It read: Jeffrey Sterling, Senior Vice- President, Crawford and Sterling Law Firm. Sam raised his eyebrows. "Vice-President," he said with awe. "I thought you'd be at work by now," Al commented as he entered the Imaging Chamber. "I would be if I knew where I was going," Sam answered. "Oh," Al replied. "Well, then, I'll just have to give you directions. I'll meet you in the car," he told Sam just before pressing a button and disappearing. Sam took a breath, closed his briefcase, and went outside to the car. As he got in, he noticed Al in the passenger's seat. "Okay. So, where am I going?" Sam asked. Al lit a cigar and puffed on it for a moment. "East," he answered between puffs. "You remember where the wedding was? Crawford and Sterling's in that direction, about three miles west of where Stevens and Sterling used to be." "Used to be?" Sam questioned as he started the car's engine and backed out of the driveway. He started towards upper Manhattan. "Yeah. About four years ago, Sean Crawford bought up the majority of Stevens and Sterling and made you senior vice-president. That was okay with you... I mean Jeff... because he never did like being at the very top of the ladder. Besides, Stevens and Sterling needed Crawford's help. All the scandals around the business wasn't bringing much real business, just publicity. Well, anyway, Crawford moved the law firm further away from the Stevens and Sterling building which he and Jeff sold to some Japanese company. Take a right here," he instructed. "What about Chris? He works with me?" "He works _for_ you. With his help, you made Crawford and Sterling one of New York's best. Chris is your best lawyer and is on his way to a promotion to executive vice-president, just one notch under you. That is unless he dies in Egypt." "What does Ziggy have on that?" "Same as before. Take the exit," he instructed. "But the odds of his dying on his honeymoon are dropping." "How so?" "Well, Ziggy isn't sure. She says there's a fifty-five percent chance that he'll die either before the honeymoon or after it." "Can't she be a little more specific?" Sam asked, worried by the new information. Al pushed some buttons and hit the handlink with his palm. "Well, I'll have her do a complete run-down on everything that happens concerning Chris in the next few weeks but it's gonna take some time for her to come up with anything. She says it's too difficult to narrow the search on that right now because Chris's neurons are in a constant state of flux. So one minute it looks as if he'll die tomorrow; another minute it looks like he'll die three weeks from now. But first, we have to make sure you get to work. Take a left here," he instructed again. Sam sighed and obeyed. A few minutes later, Sam pulled into the parking garage of the Crawford Building where Crawford and Sterling was located. He got out of the car and started towards the elevator. Al walked a little ways with him. "I'm going back to get Ziggy to run that search, see if we can narrow that better. I'll come back as soon as I have anything," Al told him as he walked beside Sam. A moment later, the Imaging Chamber door opened in front of him and Al walked right through it, leaving Sam alone in the parking garage. Sam got into the elevator and pressed the level which Jeff's business card indicated his office was on. A couple of minutes later, the doors opened to a nicely decorated hallway. Sam stepped out of the elevator and followed the hallway. As he passed a particular door, it opened to show Chris coming out with a file. Chris stopped and smiled. "The world has come to an end! You? Late for work?" He laughed. "I never thought I'd see the day I beat you to work." Sam smiled. "Yeah, well, I overslept." "Hey! Are we still on for lunch?" "Yeah, sure," Sam answered. "But you're driving." *So I won't get us lost and look like a fool*, he thought. "Deal," Chris replied. "One o'clock. Your office." "Okay," Sam told him and started towards his office while Chris went to the elevator. Finding his office, Sam opened the door and went in. "Good morning, Mr. Sterling," a blondish-brown haired woman told Sam. She was obviously his secretary. "Good morning, uhhh..." he started. "Any messages?" he asked quickly, covering his hesitation. "Mr. Crawford would like to see you in his office as soon as you can," the secretary told him. "Thank you," Sam told her as she gave him a couple of sheets of paper which Sam found to be his appointments. *The more things change....* Luckily, he didn't miss an appointment with his tardiness. "I'll be in my office," Sam told the secretary. With that, he went into his office, closed the door, and sat at his desk. He had a feeling he was going to have a long day. An hour later, Sam found himself in the offfice of Sean Crawford, owner and president of Crawford and Sterling Law Firm. "You wanted to see me, Mr. Crawford?" Sam said politely, a little nervous for Jeff's sake. "Jeff, why so formal? How many times have I told you to call me Sean?" "I'm sorry," Sam responded. "No, don't be. Most people don't call me Sean even when I tell them to," Crawford told him. "Take a seat." Sam obeyed as Crawford took his deat behind the desk. "I wanted to discuss a few items with you. The McKinley case. How are we doing on that suit?" Crawford asked. Sam took a breath. How was he going to handle this. After all, Jeff should know this case intimately. "Well, I'd have to look into my files to give a definite answer." *That should work*, Sam thought. *I hope*. "Can't you just give me a general idea?" Crawford asked. Sam hesitated. As he did so, he noticed a white gleam out of the corner of his eye, telling him of the Imaging Chamber opening. "The McKinley case," Sam said aloud in a thoughtful voice as an indication to Al that he needed help. Al frowned. "The McKinley case?" He pushed some buttons on the handlink and shook his head. "Ziggy's got nothing. Tell him your still evaluating the case but so far it looks pretty good." Sam repeated what Al said. Crawford seemed satisfied with the answer and told him to keep him updated on the case. "I've read your recommendation for Mr. Raj-ad-Allah to be promoted," Crawford continued. "Well," Sam started, "I think he deserves it." "And he's your friend, isn't he, Jeff?" Al glared at him. Sam looked shocked. "I wouldn't recommend him if he didn't deserve a promotion," Sam told him. "I didn't think so but the Board of Directors questions it. Don't worry," Crawford told him. "I'm sure they'll promote him." "I hope so," Sam told Crawford as Crawford led him to the office doors. "You're coming to the party next month, aren't you?" he asked Sam. "Well, I'll try," Sam answered quickly. "Good. Now get back to work. You're my number one worker, you know." "I bet he says that to all his employees," commented Al as Sam came out of the office. "He reminds me of this captain I once knew. He used to kiss everyone's ass so long as it made him look good to his superiors. He thought he could impress me the same way but I saw right through him." "Did you have something for me?" Sam asked, ignoring Al's comparison. "Yeah," Al replied, getting on the proper subject. "The chances of Chris's being killed either before or after the honeymoon are going up. Ziggy isn't sure when it will happen but the odds just went up to sixty-nine percent." "Al, I really can't do much unless I know when," Sam pointed out. "We're trying, Sam, but since history depends on Chris's health, the time of death keeps shifting." "What do you mean?" Sam asked confused. "Is it that constant state of flux you were talking about?" "Well, partly," Al told him. "See, Ziggy has determined that the more you pressure him in see a doctor, the more likely it is he'll die before the honeymoon. But if you don't put pressure on him, he'll die either during or after his honeymoon, most likely after. Amd the pressure you put on him causes the neurological mis-connections in his brain to give him small spasms." "So what you're saying is that, if I put pressure on him, he'll die; if I don't put pressure on him, he'll die." Al looked at Sam with an apologetic eye. "I'm afraid so." "That's great, Al," Sam said sarcastically. "That's really great." With that, he entered Jeff's office. Al followed him in, walking through the wall. He watched Sam as he slumped into his desk chair and rubbed his eyes in frustration. "I know how you feel, Sam. It seems like a no-win situation, doesn't it?" Sam sipped on a cup of cold coffe that he had left on the desk before putting the cup down with a slight grimace. He didn't answer. Al walked up to him. "You can do it, Sam. I've seen you handle situations that I could never handle." Sam looked at Al. "But how am I going to do it?" -------------------------------------------- "Give me more!" Okay, then. Chapter 21 next. Kat "Don't do anything I wouldn't do. But if you do, take pictures." Al to Sam in "Southern Comforts"