From: lurker@iglobal.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Subject: Third Time's A Charm (Part 9) Date: Sat, 31 Aug 1996 22:52:09 -0500 Message-ID: <19960901034940441.AAH129@denp1-26.iglobal.net> THIRD TIME'S A CHARM by Deb Parizek and Rhonda Hallstrom ***** SIX MONTHS LATER: ***** Peter, as usual, was hip-deep in paperwork, trying to write with one hand, turning pages with the other AND talking on the telephone. He was missing one out of every five or six words but, on the whole, he thought he was doing pretty well. He looked up to see a strange-looking guy in the hallway. The guy was STARING at him. *DAMN!* Peter swore silently, as he realized he had just missed two whole sentences. "What was that again?" he asked his caller. He looked up - the guy was leaning against the wall, wearing a weird, amused smile and he was still staring! Frustrated, Peter said, "Look, lemme call you back," and hung up before he realized that he had just hung up on Jody and winced - he was in for it now. Deciding to make it worth his while, Peter got up and approached the guy. "Excuse me," he said in his cop voice, "do you have business here? If not-" Peter broke off. This guy looked REALLY familiar. "Do I know you?" The guy looked him up and down. "You look a lot better than the LAST time I saw you." "We HAVE met," Peter said. "Oh, yeah, we have." Finally, at long last, it dawned. Peter was thrown off by the guy's clothing. Now he was wearing khaki pants and a white shirt, open slightly in the front. Studying his face a bit more, he pictured him in dark navy blue, green sunglasses...."SAM!!!" Sam grinned as he was engulfed in a bear hug. "Ooof!" Sam said. "This is great!!! C'mon, you GOTTA meet Kermit!" *HOW could I have forgotten Peter's irrepressible energy???* Sam thought with amusement as Peter virtually dragged him across the squadroom to Kermit's office before he could make a sound to protest. Fighting a tornado would have been easier. "Peter...I'm not sure this is a good idea-" Too late, Peter extended his hand to knock on Kermit's closed door. "Kermit," Peter said, excitedly, opening the door without waiting for a reply, "you GOTTA meet someone-" Kermit rose at the interruption and was instantly on guard due to Peter's urgency. Peter dragged Sam into the office, where Kermit looked at Sam in the eyes - and sucker-punched him without a word of warning! "I don't like being kidnapped," Kermit said icily. "I think he recognizes me," Sam said wryly, gently probing the bruise that was already forming. "Peter?" Peter blinked and automatically oriented on the voice calling his name. "What-?" He saw Sam, jaw unbruised, looking at him with concern. He then turned back to see Kermit's office door, still closed, and his hand was extended to knock. "Peter," Sam gripped the young man's shoulder, "are you all right?" Peter felt a little confused. *What the HELL did I see?* he thought. He let his arm drop to his side. "It's okay, Sam - just give me a minute...." Peter let his mind drift to his Shaolin training at the temple. *OPEN IT, DAMN YOU!* In his dreams, he had SEEN the door behind which his father and Lo Si were in pain and needed his help. Then it had happened for real. He was a Caine - and, like it or not, he was also Shaolin. Partly, anyway. He could hear his father's voice in his mind: *Accept it. It is your path.* Peter smiled. *This was going to take some getting used to...!* Sam appeared once again in his line of sight. In a low voice, Sam said, "Peter, you're acting very strangely...! What's wrong??" Peter's smile turned into a full-fledged grin. Now, HE could play the mysterioso act!! It was about time!!! "Sorry, Sam," Peter said, still grinning like a dork, "Things have...changed since you were here last. I'm okay, really!" Sam looked doubtful and Peter took advantage of the lull. "C'mon, I'd REALLY like you to meet Kermit." He mused on it this time as he reached for the door. *I went in there hareum-scarem 'last time' and Kermit responded the same way,* he thought. *Maybe a little more tact is called for....* Peter knocked politely and glanced at Sam, who wore an expression of concern for his young friend's sanity. Peter copied his father's "is there something wrong" look, showed it to Sam and Sam looked away, faintly puzzled. *This could be fun!* Peter thought. "Come in," sounded from behind the door. As Peter reached for the doorknob, he extended his other hand to prevent Sam from following him. "Stay here for a second," he said as he opened the door. "Kermit," he said, entering, "I'd-" "Well, as I live and breathe," Kermit said. "Never thought I'd see the day YOU'D knock on a door...you okay, kid? Got a fever or something?" Ignoring that, Peter said, "I want you to meet someone. He's a friend of mine." "I thought I knew all your friends." "It would've been tough for you to have met this one when he was here," Peter said with a grin. He then turned serious. "He saved my life - three times!!!" Kermit raised an eyebrow. "Well, why are you letting him stay outside? Get him in here!" Peter waved his hand for Sam to come in. As Sam did so, Kermit slowly got to his feet. "Don't hit him, Kermit. It wasn't his fault." Kermit's eyes widened as he stared at Peter in surprise. "How did you know-" Peter, feeling mighty pleased with himself but hiding it, copied Kwai Chang Caine's shrug perfectly. "Oh, GEEZ!!!" Kermit stepped away from Sam in disgust. "Now HE'S doing it! Maybe the one I oughta hit is YOU, kid!" Peter grinned. "Um..." Sam interjected, "I don't understand...." "What do you mean, 'it wasn't his fault'?" Kermit demanded. Peter stepped forward. "This is Sam Beckett," he told Kermit, "a scientist. Sam, I think Kermit remembers his experience and is a little pissed about it." Sam turned to look at Kermit. "You remember...?" Kermit looked like he still wanted to hit Sam but finally just plunked down in his chair. "Not everything - and not at first," he said. "Just bits and pieces like doing something really messy with chicken noodle soup, that a "Stiles" was mentioned by somebody but it was obviously not OUR Styles and there was an "Admiral" somebody who kept referring to me as a 'nozzle' or making bad jokes about muppets. Now, too, the thought of the Challenger exploding somehow means more to me than it did before. Then I saw you-" It was Kermit's turn to shrug. "That crazy white room, no features...and looking into a reflecting piece of metal and seeing your face...." Sam looked more and more regretful as he listened. As Kermit wound down, Sam looked shameful. "I'm very sorry," he said quietly. Kermit looked up. "I...I never realized what it was like for the...guests. I was always so deep in trouble, it never occurred to me...." Sam looked at Kermit in the eyes. "I'm very sorry," he said again. "It was a scientific accident...and it's not occurring any longer, if that's any comfort." Peter listened in amazement. Kermit had vented his feelings - harmlessly! - and Sam had apologized! *Maybe these gifts ARE of some use after all....* "Can we start again?" Sam asked tentatively. He cautiously approached Kermit and extended his hand. "Hi. I'm Sam Beckett." Kermit stood up once more and finally, after much deliberation, shook Sam's hand. Peter, once again grinning from ear to ear, launched himself over to his friends and wrapped an arm around each of them. "Chandlers!" he said. "My treat!" ***** At Chandlers', Peter cocked his mischievous grin at Kermit. "So, Kermit," he asked, "when did you first figure something weird happened?" "Being at your father's with no memory as to how I got there was the first clue," Kermit said. Sam listened with interest; he always had a curiosity as to what the people he'd leaped into coped with the aftermath of his visits. "Then you hedged when I asked what had happened. Being in my apartment was a MAJOR freak-out, though. I knew someone had been in there, moving stuff around." Now, wait a minute," Sam protested. "I don't move stuff around!" "All right," Kermit amended. "but a few things WERE moved. Okay?" Sam shrugged an agreement. "In my business, not noticing a thing like that can get you killed." "Well, *I* am just happy that none of your...associates came looking for you when I was there," Sam said. "I don't know how I would've handled that." Kermit had to smile at that. "Hey!" Peter called out suddenly, rising from his seat. "Over here!" Sam and Kermit turned to see Caine enter the tavern. They briefly looked at each other, then at Peter, in confusion. Peter had not been out of their sight for a second, yet Peter acted as if he knew Caine was coming. And both men also knew that Caine did not have a telephone. "Tell me, Peter," Sam said nonchalantly, "what things HAVE changed since I've been here?" "Oh, nothing much, Sam...just finished my training," Peter replied, feigning innocence. "Now, I'm - to use the term Lo Si coined - a Shaolin cop!" Sam, his brow creasing in confusion, turned to Kermit for a translation as Caine reached the table and sat down. "Dr. Beckett...Sam," Caine greeted warmly. "How are you?" "Fine, just fine. I found my true path," Sam told him. "You were right." Caine smiled. "I am glad that you understand now." "He also likes being right," Peter teased. "Sam, I'm dying to know...how are you here as you???" "Let's just say we've finally worked the bugs out," Sam said. Caine looked at him and, as clear as if he'd spoken it aloud, Sam heard the priest say *Peter deserves more than that - he cares about you. He is your friend.* Sam sighed. He was not used to having friends like this, except for Al. Every time he made a strong connection with someone during a leap, he had to leave them. To keep from going insane, he erected some very tough barriers in his mind and was in the habit of disassociating himself from friends. Peter was different. He and his father loved deeply and without reservation, even those that they had known only a short time. They suffered more pain when their loved ones vanished but Sam had no doubt that their friendships were deeper. Sam had protected himself from feeling for far too long - he knew that - but breaking the habit was easier said than done. Strangely enough, Sam could feel that Peter did care about him. Perhaps focusing on that would help.... "Sorry, Peter," Sam said with a smile, "I didn't think your dad wanted to hear the technical details." "Can you give us a layman's version?" "Well, it's hard to explain," Sam confessed. "Basically, I found out that *I* was the one that controlled my leaping - not consciously, of course," he added with a quick look at Kermit. He tried to figure out a way to explain about Al's Place but the words caught in his throat. Peter could feel the turmoil Sam was under. "Hey, it's okay, pal," Peter said. "Obviously, you're STILL working the bugs out!" "Yeah," Sam laughed wryly. "Well, join the club," Peter laughed. "Time for my questions," Sam said. "You look great. Staying out of trouble?" "With MY pop around?" Sam laughed. "You will all be happy to know that Alia is free. She risked her life to save mine. By doing that, she earned her freedom. I don't know where she is but she's safe." "That's great!!" Peter exclaimed. Caine nodded. "His own arrogance did destroy him." "Zoey's dead and I haven't heard a peep from Lothos." "OH!" Peter exclaimed. "I forgot to tell you - Paul came back!" Sam nodded. "I know. I'm glad for you." It was Peter's turn to look perplexed. "How do you-" "Peter!" Jody came up from behind them. "Hey, who's your handsome friend?" Fighting a blush, Sam, feeling as mischievous as Peter, couldn't resist. "Hi, Jody. You're looking terrific!" Kermit swung an incredulous gaze at Sam while Peter fought valiantly to control his laughter. Jody, meanwhile, smoothed out her hair while she tried to place Peter's companion. "Uh...thanks....How are you doing?" Jody ad-libbed as she sat at the table. "Oh, I'm fine," Sam said. "It's great to see you again." Now Caine was fighting a smile as Jody tried to remember him. "By the way, how ARE Skalany and the Chief?" "Same old, same old," Peter said, chuckling. Desperately, Jody begged with her eyes at Caine to tell her who this was. Caine could not bear it any longer. "You of course remember Sam Beckett, Jody," he supplied. "He stopped by very briefly six months ago." "Of course, Sam," she said, squeezing Sam's arm in a hello. Kermit leaned closer to Sam and whispered, "What EXACTLY did you do in my place???" Sam winked at Kermit to let him know he was merely teasing Jody. Kermit still looked doubtful. "Well, I hate to break up a good time," Sam said, "but I really have to go. There are always more people to help." Peter stood with him. "I'll walk you out." They walked outside to the alleyway. Sam smiled at Peter. "I just wanted to see how you were, Peter. I'm really glad that you seem...content. You found your true path?" Peter laughed at the imitation of his father. "Yeah. I have." "Good," Sam said. "Well, thank your father for me - and thank you, too, Peter." "For what?" "For being my friend." They hugged as brothers. "Take care," Sam said. Then Peter watched, fascinated, as Sam vanished in blue electrical energy right before his eyes. "Well, Sam," Peter said to the empty air, "I gotta hand it to you....I didn't think ANYONE'S life was crazier than mine!" He laughed at himself and went back inside. ***** NOTE: How DID Sam Beckett know that Paul Blaisdell returned? For the answers to these and related questions, stay tuned for "CONNECTED", coming soon to a Fu fanfic list near you!