Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 12:39:21 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Theresa - chapter 27 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Since the last two chapters were so short, I combined them into one. Again, I'd like to thank all my readers. It is because of you that writers like me are inspired to continue to write. Speaking of which, if you have a story of your own, don't hesitate to write it down. The more we write, the more entertained we are by the great stories on this Archive. Keep it up. Also, if you have any comments, please feel free to email me at the address above. And keep your eyes open for more stories by me. I should be posting more of "The Impossible Dream" soon. And now, the final chapter to "Theresa". ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 27 Departure "Sam, that was really dangerous," Al said as he, Sam, and Suzanne waited for news of Chris. Al was pacing the room, passing several times through a coffee table covered with magazines. "Ziggy says that seizure could have caused irreparable brain damage if not death." He looked at Suzanne, who sat on the other side of the room, away from Sam. "I don't think Suzanne will ever forgive you or Jeff for what happened." "It was the only choice I had," Sam whispered back. There was deep regret in his voice. "At least, I thought it was." Al sighed. "It's not your fault, Sam. Not really. This would never have happened if Chris weren't such a stubborn guy." "It is my fault, Al. And whatever happens, I have to take responsibility." Al was tinkering with the handlink, trying to get some information out of Ziggy. "It's my fault as much as yours. I was the one that suggested that Chris be confronted with the problem." He paused. "Anyway, Ziggy's pretty sure everything is going to be okay. She says that Chris should leave the hospital in a couple of days. His seizure was bad but it doesn't look as if it caused any brain damage. He does get treatment for his condition and he's still going strong today." "What about Suzanne?" Sam asked, thankful that Chris would be okay. "Well," Al said as he checked the handlink. "In about six months, she has a little baby girl whom she and Chris christened Die..." He hit the side of the handlink, getting it to give him the rest of the information. "...Diana but, since it wasn't too long ago, it's hard to give anything specific about anybody. But I can tell you that I was right. Suzanne never forgave Jeff for provoking the seizure and Jeff and Chris's friendship goes completely down the toilet." "So, I'm still here because I need to get Jeff and Chris back together," Sam deduced. "That's a pretty good evaluation of the problem," Al told him. "Ziggy's not sure but I think so." Sam looked at Suzanne. "So do I." He stood up and went over to her. "May I join you?" "I suppose," Suzanne replied, not very enthusiastic about the idea. Sam sat down. "Listen, Suzanne..." "No, you listen!" Suzanne exclaimed. "I don't know what is wrong with you but, ever since Chris and I married, you've been a major problem for both of us! So, from now on, you stay away from me and my family, especially Chris!" "If that's what Chris wants, I will," Sam told her. "But I wanted to tell you that I never meant any harm to Chris." "Bullshit," Suzanne muttered. "Suzanne, Chris is my friend. I care very much about him," Sam told her. "I can understand why you're angry with me but let me explain myself." He took a deep breath, quickly forming his explanation in his head. "Yesterday, I lost the only woman I have ever loved. The thought that I could lose my best friend to a seizure at any moment really frightens me. It's all too much for me." "So you tried to speed up the process," Suzanne said bitterly. "Chris is a very stubborn man!" Sam emphasized, not letting Suzanne's bitterness effect his explanation. "Do you really think he would have gone to see a doctor after the honeymoon? What would you have done if he had a seizure on the honeymoon? I had to show Chris that he was being selfish by waiting! I had to show him that his seizures were not only effecting him but were effecting us as well: you, me, your baby, everyone who know Chris." Sam sighed. "Don't you see? Chris won't acknowledge his problems unless he's forced to do so. It took forever to get him to walk again." "Walk?" Suzanne asked quietly. Sam hesitated. "Chris never told you?" "Told me what?" Sam looked at Al, questioning in his eyes. Al shrugged. "He probably didn't want her to know." "Told me what?" Suzanne repeated. "Tell her, Sam." Al said firmly. "Tell her how, on February 11, 1989, Chris was in a fatal car accident." Sam turned to Suzanne. "Told you about the car accident he was in six years ago." "What happened?" she asked softly. "In February of '89," Sam started, "Chris, his first wife, Monika, and his son Jeffrey were run off the road by a drunk driver. Chris lost control of the car and went over the side of a bridge." Al frowned. "I never told you the details. You must be getting that from Jeff somehow." "The crash," Sam continued, "killed Jeffrey, critically wounded Monika, and pinned Chris's legs under the dashboard. Chris was so effected by the accident that he remained in a wheelchair for over a year. But his paralysis was psychosomatic. Eventually, I helped him learn to walk again. Unfortunately, his seizures began with the accident and, ever since, he has refused to see a doctor." "Why?" Suzanne asked. Sam sighed. "I'm not sure but I think he's afraid of being reminded of that accident, even though seeing a doctor will help him with his seizures." There was a pause. "He had named his son after you. That must be some friendship you have." Al checked the handlink. "You've known each other since 1969." "Well," Sam smiled gently, "we've known each other for twenty-five years." Suzanne nodded. "Seems I chose to forget that little fact. I should have realized that you two would never hurt each other intentionally." She paused. "Unless it was for a good cause." She looked at Sam, glaring. "Admit it. You wanted Chris to have a seizure so we would take him to the hospital." "Of course not," Sam lied. Suzanne smiled slightly. "Yes, you did. You just didn't expect it to be this bad. Did you?" Sam shook his head. "No, I didn't." Suzanne's slight smile vanished as she thought of Chris's condition. "Oh, Jeff. Will he be okay?" "He'll be fine." The answer came not from Sam but from a doctor who had just arrived. Suzanne stood up and went closer to the doctor. "Chris?" she inquired. The doctor smiled. "Your husband will be fine, Mrs. Raj-ad-Allah. Once we were able to stop the seizure, we ran some tests. It looks like he'll be okay but we want to keep him here for a couple of days run further tests and see if we can prevent him from having anymore seizures." "May I see him?" Suzanne asked. "Actually, he wants to see both of you, especially you, Mr. Sterling. But don't excite him. The seizure took a lot out of him. He needs rest." The doctor led them to Chris's hospital room, allowing them to be alone with Chris. Suzanne immediately went over to Chris and kissed him passionately on the lips. Sam stayed by the door, staring into nothingness. Al, who followed them into the room, noticed Sam's look with concern. "Sam, are you okay?" he looked into Sam's eyes and understood. "You're thinking about Jennifer's death. Aren't you?" Sam didn't answer. "Jeff!" Chris called to him. Sam looked up at him. "Thanks, buddy," Chris told him. "But the next time you want to repay an old debt, think of something less painful." "Sam," Al said regaining Sam's attention. "Everything works out. Chris helps Jeff over the loss of Jennifer and suggests a few choice stocks which give Jeff enough money to buy back the law firm. Together, they make Sterling Law Firm a major player in the business. Chris is no longer a trial lawyer. Instead, he's the law firm's head legal consultant. Oh! And get this. They changed Diana's middle name from Elaine to Jennifer." Al smiled. "I'd say your mission here is done." Sam looked at Chris and Suzanne as Chris sat upright to wave Sam over. Sam smiled. "It's done," he assured Al before walking over to Chris and Suzanne and hugging them. There was a blinding white light. Al was suddenly back in the Imaging Chamber, its blue walls, ceiling, and floor telling him that Sam had once again leaped. Sam's mission was finished but Al's wasn't. Not yet. And Al knew it. He still had to help Theresa get started on her new life off of the streets. He pressed a button on the handlink, opening the Imaging Chamber door. Leaving the Chamber, he placed the handlink on Ziggy's console while looking at his wrist- watch. He hadn't realized the time until he noticed that it was nearly three o'clock in the morning. Al allowed himself a yawn as he looked around the Control Room. All of the personnel who were usually there had long ago gone to bed. As usual for this leap, Al was the last to leave the complex. He took the elevator up to the parking garage, got into his car, and drove towards his home in Stallion Springs, wanting nothing more than to lay his head down on the pillow of his bed. He finally pulled into his driveway. Getting out of the car, he went to his front door and entered the house, taking off his uniform jacket as he did so. "What took you so long?" came a yawning female voice. "I never heard of a guest waiting up for me in my own house," Al told Theresa. "I was expecting you much earlier," she yawned again, sitting up on the couch. "I guess I fell asleep." Al smiled slightly, dropping his jacket on the couch. "So, why were you waiting for me?" Theresa smiled. "I have the best news for you." "Let me guess," Al said. "The Navy's going to win the Commander in Chief's trophy for a change." Theresa laughed. "No. I have a job." Al smiled. There was hidden mischief in the smile. "That's great," Al told her. "When do you start?" "Monday morning," she told him. "But you already knew that." Al looked at her with wide eyes that turned quickly into a yawn. "I did?" Theresa walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you for suggesting me to Ms. Covington." Al smiled. "How the hell did you figure that?" "She told me that she'd seen my work and she said that Mr. Stane had suggested me to her." She shook her head. "Mr. Stane never kept any of my work. None of the people that interviewed me did. The only way she could have seen it is if either I showed it to her or you did." Al smiled. "You know, you're one hell of a lady." Theresa smiled. "I know." Al yawned again. "Tired?" "Very," Al said with a friendly curl in his lip. "Can't you tell?" Theresa laughed. She thought for a moment. "Tomorrow, would I be allowed to see Sam one last time?" Al looked at her. "I'm sorry, honey. I'm afraid I don't know if you could or not." Theresa nodded. "He's leaped. Is that it?" Al nodded. Theresa smiled. "Well, give him my love the next time you see him." She started towards the bedroom. "Good night, Al." "Good night, Theresa," Al responded, waiting until she was in the guest bedroom before grabbing his uniform jacket and going into his own bedroom. ************************ "I hate good-byes," Theresa said by the gate she was about to enter. "Especially when there with you." Al smiled. "Are you sure you don't want me to fly you? I know my way to Phoenix pretty well," he told her, jesting her a bit. Theresa breathed a slight laugh. "I know you do. But Elizabeth and Julie Anna already arranged this flight and they are my bosses." She looked at Al carefully. He was dressed in a khaki suit with a black polo shirt. He seemed very comfortable. Theresa smiled. "What is it?" Al asked, seeing the smile. "I was just memorizing what you look like," Theresa told him. "But you have a photographic memory for faces and images," Al pointed out. "So I know," Theresa answered, Al looked at Theresa, who was dressed in a teal t-shirt and black jeans. Her face contradicted her relaxed dress. "I'll miss you too," Al finally said, understanding Theresa's expression. "It's that obvious?" she asked. She sighed slightly. "Well, it's true. I am going to miss you greatly. I wish you could come along." As she spoke, she heard her flight number called. She looked at Al affectionately. "I guess it's time for me to go." She hugged him firmly. She paused. "I left you something in the studio." Al's eyebrows rose. "Theresa, you don't need to do that." "Well, it's done." She kissed him on the cheek. "Take care of yourself and Sam. And say good-bye to him for me. I wish he was here for me to say it to him myself." Al smiled. "If you ever need anything, just let me know. I'll be there for you." "I know," Theresa told him with a smile. "You're my angel." She turned away from him, picked up her carry-on bag, and went to the gate. She turned back to look at Al. "Al?" she called out. Al raised his eyebrows, indicating that he was listening. Theresa smiled widely. "I'll be back," she told him. "I don't know when but I'll be back. I promise." Al's eyebrows raised higher in surprise. It was exactly what he had told her when she was a four year old with a holographic "angel". But before he could respond to the phrase, Theresa was out of sight. Al smiled slightly and breathed a laugh. "You sneaky woman," Al muttered. "You never said anything about remembering that." It was at that moment that Al knew he would definitely see Theresa Elizabeth Brookner again. He went to the window and watched as Theresa's plane taxied down the runway and took off into the air like a huge albatross. Satisfied that the plane had taken off safely, Al put his hands into his khaki dress pants and walked towards the entrance of the airport. ************************ Al walked into his garage - a garage which had been an art studio for nearly two weeks. He looked about the garage with a smile. Theresa had cleaned it from top to bottom, leaving no signs that it had ever been an art studio. But there was one thing. Sitting in the middle of the floor was an easel covered with a plastic sheet. Al looked at it with curiosity before approaching it and removing the sheet. He stared at the canvas he revealed. There, in colorful acrylic paint, was the portrait of two best friends, one in a military uniform. Al sat on the garage floor and admired it with teary eyes. ----------------- THE END