VIRTUAL SEASONS EPISODES

Theorizing that one could time-travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett led an elite group of scientists into the desert to develop a top-secret project known as Quantum Leap.  Pressured to prove his theories or lose funding, Dr. Beckett prematurely stepped into the Project Accelerator…and vanished.

He awoke to find himself in the past, suffering from partial amnesia and facing a mirror image that was not his own.  Fortunately, contact with his own time was maintained through brainwave transmissions with Al, the Project Observer, who appeared in the form of a hologram that only Dr. Beckett can see and hear.

As evil ones do their best to stop Dr. Beckett’s journey, his children, Dr. Samantha Josephine Fulton and Stephen Beckett, continuously strive to retrieve their time-lost father and bring him home permanently.  Despite returning home several times over the last decade, Dr. Beckett has remained lost in the time stream…his final fate no longer certain.

Trapped in the past and driven by an unknown force, Dr. Beckett struggles to accept his destiny as he continues to find himself leaping from life to life, putting things right that once went wrong with the hopes that his next leap…will be the final leap home.

Previously on Quantum Leap:

 

Sam has leapt into Karina Valance, a very popular high fashion model that is suffering from the purging form of anorexia nervosa.  He’s had to endure the pain and suffering of waxing and his host is not allowing him to eat.  On the other hand he’s decided that he really likes massages.  Still he knows he has to get through two photoshoots before he can complete his leap which is to stop another model from overdosing on heroin.   Al is having a blast seeing his buddy in such a strange leap.  Unfortunately, Admiral Thomas Beckett is making the game much less fun from Al's point of view when he comes to inspect the new security protocols.

PART ONE

September 17, 2006.

Playa de Ropa

Zihuatenejo/Ixtapa, Mexico

The third morning of the leap may have started off in a paradise, but Sam and the rest of the models were soon off to a beach in Zihuatenejo to go to work, which Sam had found incredibly tiring.  The beach they arrived at went by the name of Playa de Ropa.  It was ironic that in English the beach was translated “Beach of the Clothes” because the swimsuits were so skimpy, one would be hard pressed to label them as body coverings!

Sam's night had been somewhat difficult.  He was hungry and all that his host would allow him to consume was water.  He'd fill up with the water and then, an hour or so later, nature would call.  Still, since they hadn't needed to be at the mainland beach until 9:30 a.m., Sam managed to get a little sleep.

This morning, when he arrived, he again found the tables of food available.  He'd been able to eat a slice of melon and a piece of dry toast with tea before his stomach started to complain again.  It wasn't much, but at least he was keeping it down.  He'd arrived at the dresser's right as Al entered from the future, holding a cup of coffee and nibbling on a bagel, thickly spread with cream cheese.

"Hey, Sam," Al greeted before freezing from the look on Sam's face. "What?" he asked with a raise of his eyebrow.

The dresser had walked off, indicating she needed to help another dresser and to retrieve the basketball shoe glue spray so Sam found they could talk more or less freely.  "Oh, Al!  That looks so good.  Damn, I wish it wasn't a hologram too so I could have a bite."  He paused and, with an uncharacteristic whine, finished his thought.  "Not that she'd let me keep it down."

Al looked at the bagel in his hand and then at Sam. "Oh, don't tell me you're purging like she is...Sam, that's disgusting!"

Sam's eyes narrowed.  "No, I'm not, but her magnafluxing in that area hasn't stopped.  You saw!  All I had for dinner last night was soup and salad.”  He started pacing.  “And this morning, I got to eat one small slice of melon and a piece of toast."  Sam looked at Al, his eyes despondent.  "I'm gonna starve to death before tomorrow!"

"That's it? That’s all you’ve eaten?  Sam, you have to eat something more than that!”  Al finished his sentence and then took a bite of the bagel.

Still pacing, Sam reached the end of his stride before turning back.  "I can't, Al.  Don't you think I've tried?  I ordered a pizza after the Sushi place that first night and she made me throw that up along with the sushi.  I was lucky to keep those damned packing peanuts down.  Then I tried to have breakfast yesterday on the plane and I lost that.  I figure that she's just going to keep staving me!"

"Packing peanuts?! You ate packing peanuts?! Accidempoli!" Al exclaimed with disbelief.  He pronounced it in perfect Italian, ah-chee-dem-poley.

Sam looked at Al, glaring.  "Would you stop doing that?!"

"What?" Al questioned, spreading out his arms, the half eaten bagel and the coffee cup still filling his hands.

"Talking about food.  I don't know what the hell Archie Dumplings are, but they sound delicious." Sam's eyes glazed slightly. "Dumplings... with gravy... and chicken... and corn with butter!"

"Archie Dumplings?" Al questioned with a frown before raising an eyebrow with concern. "I didn't mention food, Sam." He looked at the bagel in his hand that Sam suddenly seemed fixated on.

"Yes, you did.  You asked if I'd eaten packing peanuts, which by definition I didn't.  They were rice cakes, but they might as well have been packing peanuts.  Then you said something about Archie Dumplings!"  Sam was still looking at Al's bagel, longingly.

Al blinked for a moment before realizing what Sam was referring to. He gave him a pointed look. "I said 'accidempoli,' Sam, not Archie Dumplings. Besides, I don't know anyone named Archie who makes dumplings."

"What the hell does that mean then?"  He paused.  "And would you either eat that or put it somewhere I can't see it?" He gestured wildly at the bagel.

Al looked again at the bagel and gave Sam a weak smile. "Sorry," he told him before looking around. Seeing nowhere he could hide it, he walked a short distance away before putting the coffee mug on the floor, followed by the bagel on top of the mug. Returning to Sam, he showed his empty hands. "Better?"

"Yeah!"  Sam stopped for a moment, seeing Al's expression.  He sighed.  "I'm sorry, buddy.  This leap just has me insanely hungry.  I guess I'm being a little crabby."  He closed his eyes.  "Ummmm...crab legs...with melted butter..."

Al rolled his eyes. "Accidempoli!" he exclaimed again, starting to pace.

"Don't say that again, Al!" Sam warned.  "It still sounds like you're talking about dumplings."

"I'm not! I swear!" Al professed, raising his right hand in oath. "It's Italian! It means 'oh, boy', Sam."

The dresser came back at that moment.  "Dumplings?  I know that the basketball shoe glue is sticky, but it's not like dumplings."

"Oh, boy?" Sam repeated with a frown towards Al.

The dresser chuckled slightly, looking somewhat confused. "The glue isn't like a boy either." 

Al bit back the urge to say the offending word a third time. "Sam... just... get ready for the shoot."  He waved his hand at him.

The dresser had Sam strip out of the robe he'd been wearing and slip into a one-piece bathing suit that barely had any fabric to it at all.  It took a significant amount of glue to get it to stay put, especially on his torso.  Sam was concerned that a good deal of the glue touched the hairs on his chest.  He cringed as he thought of how that would feel when they took off the suit.

The next two hours were spent frolicking again.  Sam was right.  He had three changes and each one left small bare patches on his chest.  He hoped they'd grow back.  Al coached him with his posing again.  Finally, as he was heading back to get out of the final outfit, Al indicated he was leaving to have a smoke.  Sam nodded, watching Al leave, only to have him appear a few seconds later, chuckling heartily.

Sam looked at him quizzically.  “Geez, Al.  That didn’t take long.”

“What can I say, Sam, I’m really fast,” stated the hologram, shaking his head slightly as if trying to shake a picture out of it.

“Uh…Al…most men wouldn’t brag about that.”  Sam looked at Al mischievously, “I guess Beth’s had to put up with that all these years, poor soul.  Sounds like the Calavicci Love Machine is just a myth!”

Al sputtered.  He was about to say something, but then saw Sam’s wicked grin.  He looked at Sam sheepishly.  “Okay.  I’ve got that coming.  I’ve really been giving it to you for this swimsuit shoot!  But, just so you know, it ain’t no myth!”

Sam laughed, grinning broadly.  “Al!  That’s a double negative!  You just admitted it is a myth!”

Al glared at Sam for a second before answering, "Well, you know what they say about myths... there's always an element of truth in them," Al countered, undeterred by Sam's pickiness over the use of the English language. For a moment, he remembered that, on one leap, he'd actually accused Sam of improper English. Well, what goes around, comes around, he thought with a shrug.

"Fine, Al.  Whatever you have to tell yourself."  Sam was still chuckling when the dresser came over and removed the last swimsuit. "OWWWW!"

Al ignored the scream of pain Sam gave, patting himself down for his cigar before pulling it out and putting it in his mouth.  “Hey, Sam.  I am really going to head out now, okay?”  He just hoped that by this time Julianna had gotten Tom out of the way again. 

Sam nodded, tears still in his eyes from the pain he’d felt as yet more of his hair was yanked off his chest.  He watched as Al left the room before gathering his things.  It was noon and the models were going back to the hotel to collect the rest of their belongings and head off for the airport.  Sam just wanted to get back to NYC and get this leap over with.

They arrived at the airport just outside Zihuatenejo at 2:00 p.m. and were on the plane back to NYC at 3:00 p.m.  They were set to arrive Eastern Time at 11:18 p.m. but that was, with the two time changes, that was equivalent to 1:18 in the next morning.  The lingerie shoot would be at 10:00 a.m.  Sam knew he’d better sleep at least some on the plane again.

By the time they touched down in New York City , Sam was feeling okay, although he was still tired.  He’d made sure to continue eating lightly.  He’d simply had salad for dinner again, even though they’d offered steak and potatoes.  He just about cried smelling the scent of the cooked meat wafting from the other rows in the first class section.  He just wanted to get back to the apartment and sleep.

PART TWO

February 4, 2008

8:00 A. M.

Project Quantum Leap

Stallion’s Gate, NM

Al stepped out into the Control Room again.  Seeing Dom, he questioned with his eyes.

“Yeah, Julianna has taken Admiral Beckett over to the Waiting Room.”  He paused as he watched Al walk down the ramp.  “I thought you were going to bust a gut when you stepped out and saw him.  What was so damned funny?  And why did you rush back into the Imaging Chamber?”

Al chuckled again.  Seeing Tom had brought back the dream full force and he’d had to laugh.  Beth was right; he needed to think of something unfunny.  “Oh, just a memory I had, Dom.”

Dom nodded and then went on with his explanation, “The Admiral understands that Verbena is planning to work with the leapee to convince her to seek help for her eating disorder when she goes back.  He wants to observe that process.”  He paused.  “By the way, Al, remember that Aurora and I are visiting some of her family in El Paso for the next few days.  We leave this evening.”

Al nodded.  “Okay, Dom.  Who will be handling the controls?” 

“Tina has the rotation.”

Al smiled.  “Hope you and the family have a good time, Dom.  You guys certainly deserve it.” Al keyed his wristlink, silently contacting Julianna.  A few moments later, her voice exited the small speaker on his wrist.

“Yes, Dad?”

“Julianna, it’s going to be 22 hours until Sam needs me again.  He’ll either be flying or sleeping until the last shoot.  You think you could step in if something unexpected happens?”

“Why?  Where do you plan on being?”

“I thought I’d take Beth into Albuquerque for dinner at Maria Theresa’s, you know, that restaurant close to Old Town ?  She loves that place.  And I thought this might be good time to see Donna and Stephen too.”  He remembered Sam’s request to let anyone who needed to know how much he stilled loved them be told.  This was important to Sam and so it was also important to him.

“You just don’t want to be here while Tom’s around.”  Her voice held annoyance and a conviction of truth.

Al had to acknowledge she was right.  “Well, there is that too, but really, this is really a good time to do this too.  You know how seldom we know pretty well that things will be under control.  I just want to make sure my bases are covered first.”

Julianna sighed.  “Okay, Dad.  I can do that.  And Tom is a good backup for me while he’s here.  You know he’s going to want to talk to you eventually though.”

Al paused, knowing she was probably right, but hoping for the best.  “Well, it is possible that he will need to leave before this leap is finished.”

Julianna didn’t say anything for a moment.  “Right, Dad.  Okay.  Have a good day with Mama Beth.”

She turned off the link and headed back to the Waiting Room.  Admiral Beckett was likely to be somewhat perturbed by the change in plans.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

February 4, 2008

8:00 A.M.

Project Quantum Leap

Stallion’s Gate, NM

Verbena met with Admiral Beckett and Julianna before heading into the waiting room.  She’d reviewed the tape and the data that Ziggy had pulled up on Karina Valance.  She knew that Karina would end up dropping out of modeling within a year of the leap.  Although the medical records had been sealed, it seemed likely that the woman would suffer a cardiac arrest in June 2007.  Verbena had no reservations that at least a significant reason for this was the model’s anorexic behavior.

Admiral Beckett had asked if he could observe through the two-way mirror and Verbena had agreed.  Although much of the funding for PQL was through the private funding that Alexander Garner had provided as his legacy, the Government still played a significant role in the project.  Any data the Admiral could obtain to show the value of the expensive project was bound to keep the quest for his brother’s return alive.

Verbena walked into the waiting room and found Karina lying on the bed, reading one of the fashion magazines that Tina had willingly lent from her collection.  It was a good thing that Tina kept her magazines - cataloged from what she had told them - so they were able to provide Karina with magazines that went no later than her own time frame.

Al had told Verbena how thin Karina looked.  She had pulled up pictures of the model from the timeframe she’d leapt from and had to agree.  The woman had definitely appeared significantly underweight. 

“Ms. Valance?  I’m Dr. Verbena Beeks.  I’d like to speak with you if that is all right.”

“What about?” the Swedish model laid the magazine down and turned towards Verbena.  Her movements were fluid and rather seductive.  It was a bit of a shock to see Sam’s aura performing those movements.

Verbena smiled.  She’d had two chairs and a small table placed in the room.  She gestured for the person in Sam’s aura to sit.  She first ascertained if the leapee would like anything.  She wasn’t surprised when the model turned her down.  She figured it was time to get to the heart of the matter.  “Well, Ms. Valance, we know that you have been purging.  This room, due to the nature of the project, is constantly monitored.  We’ve seen how you’ve made yourself regurgitate.”

Sam’s eyes grew wide and a look that generally did not cross his face appeared.  Verbena could tell the leapee was lying, again, not un-expectantly.  “I did not do that.  You must be mistaken.”

Beeks shook her head.  “No.  I can show you the video of the activity if necessary, but we both know it is true.”

Now the expression was one of outrage.  “You taped me without my permission!?  What right do you have to…”

The psychiatrist put her hand out and grabbed what to her looked like Sam, but knowing that she was touching a very disturbed woman.  “Ms. Valance, I know that Admiral Calavicci has informed you that this is not exactly a typical situation.  The man you see in the mirror has entered your life for a reason.  One of those reasons is likely to help you with this problem.  Believe me, he and all of us here only want what’s best for you.”

The model arose and walked away.  “It’s not a problem.  I work in the modeling industry.  I don’t want to get fat.  That’s all I’m doing.”

“No.  I know you don’t believe me yet, but you are not fat.  In fact you’re incredibly underweight.  You are physically hurting yourself.  Do you know what the medical outcome of starving, binging, and purging will do to you and your body?”

Hotly, Sam’s aura turned, “Yes.  It will keep me working.”  Karina paused.  “Besides, why do you care anything about me?  You don’t even know who I am.”

Verbena sighed.  “Karina, we know that you are a wonderful, vivacious woman with a wonderful life ahead, but only if we can get you to see what you are doing to yourself and to seek help when you return to your normal life.”

“That’s not true.  I’m just a fraud.  I grew up in a little town in Sweden .  I don’t deserve succeeding in the modeling world.  They will realize that soon and then where will I be?”  With Karina’s head down, Verbena couldn’t see the tears that had sprung to her eyes, but she saw the drops that fell on the Fermi suit.

Dr. Beeks walked over to Karina and lifted her chin.  She looked into eyes she knew were not her friend’s, seeing the troubled soul within.  “Karina, I know for certain you are not a fraud.  I also know you are going to need help with seeing that.  Once you do, your eating disorder…”  She saw Karina start to deny the situation again.  “…yes, eating disorder - it’s called anorexia nervosa - can be dealt with.”

Karina shook her head.  “No.  I’m just controlling what I eat.”

Verbena’s voice was soft.  “Baby, I know that’s what you think, but it’s hurting you internally, especially your heart.  Eventually your body won’t take it anymore and you could die.”  She sighed.  “Let me give you some articles on some of the people that have been hurt by this disease and have died prematurely young or have gotten help and what they say about that.  Don’t take my word for it.  We can talk after that.  Would you be willing to do that for me, Karina?  Please?”

She watched as Sam’s aura showed itself deep in thought.  It was almost like seeing Sam again, wrestling with a problem.  Finally, with a soft, tentative voice, Karina answered.  “Well, I don’t have much else to do here, but read, do I?”

Verbena smiled.  “I’m glad you’re willing to keep an open mind, Karina.  I’ll be back in a little bit with those articles.”  She stood to leave.  “And, honey, you should know, you are a pretty remarkable lady, one I’d sure like to see around much longer.”

Karina smiled.  Verbena thought how much she’d like to know that the smile she saw on Sam was from him, but was equally glad she’d made some headway with Karina.  She figured there’d be several more sessions and then hopefully, she’d be able to get the young woman to seek help.  She decided to identify some places that might be available to help the woman.  Hopefully, GFTW would allow the model to retain the knowledge of those places and choose one that would help her end the anorexia and related psychological issues that were literally killing her.

As she exited the room, she found Admiral Beckett smiling.  “That was great, Verbena.  I can see why Sam wanted you on the project.  You have a really wonderful style and ability to put people at ease.”

“Thank you, Admiral.  This project sure took me far a field from what I’d expected my life to be like, but I wouldn’t have traded working with Sam and his project for all the tea in China .  I just wish we could have him back with us again.”

Tom nodded.  “Yeah.  That’s something all of us agree on.”  He and Verbena said their goodbyes and then Tom turned to Julianna again.  "I guess we should head over to the Control Room to see if Admiral Calavicci is available to talk now."

Julianna hesitated for a moment, putting her hands behind her back. "Umm... Admiral Calavicci is not in the Control Room, Admiral. In fact, he is not in the complex."

The response was immediate.  "What?  Where did he go and why the hell did he leave?"  Yep, Julianna was right.  Tom was not taking this change well.

She took a deep breath. "He went into Albuquerque to do a couple of things, but he should return within a few hours," she finished quietly, already hearing the explosive reaction.

Tom’s eyes narrowed.  "And just who is supposed to take care of things if something goes wrong on the leap?  I've read through the logs.  I know that happens quite a bit."

"I am quite capable of handling anything that might occur, sir. And I seriously doubt that anything is going to happen," Jules told the irate Beckett. "Dr. Beckett will be either in a plane or sleeping or both for the next..." she glanced at her watch, "..twenty hours."

"What if the plane crashes? What if..."  He looked at her and realized that he was looking for trouble, looking for a reason to find Al not meeting his duties.  He had to acknowledge that the man had covered his bases, even if he didn't exactly like how he did so.  "All right, Julianna.  If you tell me you have things under control, I'll accept that."

"Thank you," Julianna said with a slight smile. "It's now nearing eleven hundred. Can I interest you in an early lunch?"

He paused.  "Yeah.  That would be great.  And we can spend the afternoon going over the plans you and Daniel have for future improvements."  He seemed to be finished when he added.  "I still believe this whole Albuquerque thing is to avoid seeing me."

"He really did have things to do there," Julianna corrected.

"I'm sure.  I just don't know if I'd approve of what they are."  He looked at Julianna's face and decided that he'd better leave that trail alone.  "Again, Julianna, I understand that things have been taken care of here.  I'll address any other problems if and when they come up."

"I'm sure you will," Jules muttered slightly under her breath before gesturing towards the door. "If you will, sir?"

With that the two headed to the cafeteria for lunch.  Julianna knew she'd helped her father dodge yet another of Admiral Beckett's bullets.  Unfortunately she knew her boss was right.  Her father was doing his best to avoid the man.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

February 5, 2008

5:30 A.M.

Project Quantum Leap

Stallion’s Gate, NM

Beth had been happy when Al told her they would be spending the day away from the project.  Al knew that Beth had taken the situation with Christa and Eddie rather hard and had not been sleeping as well as he would have liked.  Not that he could blame her. After all, their youngest daughter had nearly been killed - and their grandchild had been killed - by the maniac who had leaped into Eddie. Today had been the first time in a while Al and Beth had been able to have a close to normal day.  Still, Al was concerned that Beth was getting more on the frazzled side than he’d seen her recently.

The day had gone well.  It was good seeing Donna and Stephen.  Both were doing well in endeavors.  Stephen, unsurprisingly, was tearing through his studies at a breakneck pace.  Still, the fact that he’d made several close friends since coming to Albuquerque only justified Sam’s insight that his son needed more than the project.

Donna herself had been making some excellent progress on the entangled particles research her husband had pointed her to during the leap in which he had assured the drug approval which had saved her and Stephen’s life.  Donna had felt it wise not to tell Stephen about their near death experience, even if neither could remember it.  Al had indicated to her that he understood how strange that could be, knowing that, in one timeline, he himself had died in the gas chamber for a crime he had not committed.

Donna hoped to be able to bring some of her research back to the project soon.  She was still working closely with the project, even though the house that Stephen and she lived in was now a couple of hours away by car.  With the helicopter that Al had assured would be available at all hours in case of an emergency, the time away really wasn’t too different from staying in their home just outside the base, where they often stayed. 

The quarters at the project were acceptable, but the quarters were government property, not the home she’d created when Sam had been with her.  Their home in Stallion’s Springs held Sam’s grand piano, his library, the cabinets he built by hand.  It was in that home that she most felt his presence.  Using the helicopter to get to the project took barely longer than the drive to the project from that home in Stallions Springs, when one took into consideration the security protocols that were required to come onto White Sands Missile Base where the project was located.

Donna and Stephen both had been thrilled to hear Sam’s declaration of love for them.  Donna knew that Sam still loved her and their son with every fiber of his being and would until the end of time.  She just hoped that this new research would provide a way to bring him home for good.  That was the only reason she could pull herself away from the project for any length of time.  The belief that somehow, her work would be the key to bringing her husband safely home to rest in her arms again.

Al and Beth knew that.  They prayed for the same thing on a daily basis.

The dinner had been wonderful.  Beth had given Al a kiss when she found he’d made reservations at her favorite restaurant.  They had both enjoyed themselves immensely and had returned to the project feeling quite happy and mostly relaxed.

After a good night’s sleep, Al got up and dressed carefully in a dressed in a mottled purple silk suit with a black dress shirt and a silver tie.  Beth had indicated she had some things to take care of that morning as well.  She had put everything off to enjoy her day in Albuquerque .  Al kissed her and headed off to ImagingChamberland. 

PART THREE

September 18, 2006.

On the way to the Lingerie Shoot

NYC, NY

Having arrived home so late the night before, Sam had fallen asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.  When he awoke the next morning, he was ravenous.  Three days of hardly anything to eat!  He liked salads, he really did, but generally they were the precursor to something a bit more solid.  Like the steak he’d turned down the night before on the plane.  Just thinking about it again made him salivate.

Karina wasn’t what one would call a tiny woman.  She was almost six feet tall with long, lanky legs and mid length blond hair that would be perfect for any number of hairstyles.  Her natural beauty had brought her into this business, but she was painfully thin.  Sam’s medical expertise estimated that she could easily gain another twenty pounds and would still be on the lower side of the preferred body mass index.

He just didn’t get it.  Why would she put herself at such risk, why would she treat herself like someone who was in the midst of a sever famine?  He knew that this type of diet would eventually lead to dangerously low electrolytes and would place a strain on her internal organs, especially the heart.

Sam hoped they’d be able to help her see the need to seek medical treatment for this disorder.  If not, he was sure this beautiful woman who was his host would not survive another five years.  He figured he should check with Al about that when he returned.

Laura would not be on the lingerie shoot with him.  She’d said goodbye to him the night before at the airport, telling him she was leaving for a shoot in England the following day.  Rather, he was to be joined by four other models including Candice at the studio at 9:00 a.m.  He decided he really needed to eat something though. Otherwise his blood sugar levels would spike and he would likely pass out.

“Maybe she’ll let me eat some apples.”  Sam had noticed a little neighborhood grocery store a block over. The pectin would provide a filling sensation and the apple contained some of the needed electrolytes he craved.  He went over to the grocery and purchased three apples. He ate one on his way over in the taxi, savoring the flavor and happy that, indeed, the apple took away the edge of his appetite.  He was happy to note that he felt no queasiness.  He wondered if he should risk another, but decided to hold off for a while.  No use pressing his luck.

When he arrived at the shoot at the shoot, he was appalled at the outfits he would be modeling.  Bra’s, panties, nightgowns, bustier’s, and all in staccato heels.  It was his worst nightmare come true.

Al walked into Sam's world.  He chuckled as he saw his friend being dressed for the first shot in a long black negligee.  Sam gave him a sick, weak grin.

"Hey, Sam," Al greeted with a smile. "Nice negligee. Wonder if they have it in Beth's size. On you, though... too revealing."

The dresser, seeing the look on Katina's face asked, "What, is this outfit too tight?"

Sam looked to the lady arranging the outfit.  "Um, no.  I just don't think this is my style."

"Are you kidding?" the dresser told him as she finished the final touches. "Honey, you're a knock-out in that!"

She pushed Sam towards the direction of the cameras.  As he walked, he spoke to Al.  "This is horrible, Al.  All this see through stuff and frilly lace and things?  Have you seen what they have on the rack?"

"No, I haven't," Al told him, a wide look on his face. "What am I missing out on?"

"Yeah, I should have known, pervert that you are!  You're just eating this up, aren't you?"  Sam's strides, although graceful for a man, did nothing for the allure of the negligee.  It didn't help that the dresser had him put on feather highlighted black mule heels.

Al gave him a glare. "I prefer those on homo sapiens of the female persuasion, especially if the female's name is Elizabeth O'Dwyer Calavicci." The glare quickly turned into a smile. "But it doesn't hurt to watch a good lingerie photo shoot."

Sam just looked miserable.  "Well, at least they aren't using basketball shoe glue this time."  When they arrived at the camera area, Sam met up with the other models.   He was shocked when he’d seen Candice Morrison, the person this leap was to save.  As bad as this leap had been for him, his heart had gone out to the woman.  He knew she was ill from the dark circles around her eyes and the pale porcelain thin skin, although the makeup did a fair job of hiding the evidence.  She’d said hello to him with a lazy pitch to her voice, something he knew was from her heroin addiction.  He had been told that the two of them were pretty good friends.  He hoped, somehow, that would help him.

"Geez, Al," he whispered, "how does Candice stay a model?"

Al took a breath before answering. "It's simple. She's attractive and thin and can wear most clothing the average woman can't wear. You can see how makeup covers up a lot of flaws.  Besides, there's a whole look called Heroin Chic.  Even though its heyday was back in the late 1990’s there are still some who still follow that fashion.  The look isn't always simulated, like with Candice.”

"That’s horrible.  We got to save her, Al!"  Sam had that intense Don Quixote sound and look again.  He'd ceased thinking about himself and how much he hated what he was wearing.  If he could save this woman, that was all he cared about.

"We will," Al told him, looking into those intense eyes. "I believe in you, but first... it's show time."

Sam nodded and allowed himself to be posed with the other models into a shot.  For the next hour or so, Al wheedled and cajoled Sam, making crass comments about the little outfits Sam was dressed in and helping him to achieve a look that would help Karina keep her job.  Sam felt things had been going at least somewhat better when at the break he'd been able to eat a mini bagel and lox and keep it down.  That fact, to him, was a miracle.  Maybe Verbena was getting through to Karina.  Sam hoped so.

Sam cringed when the basketball glue spray came into play again a bit later when he was dressed in a little light blue lace & mesh trim matching panty and balconet bra set, which hardly left anything to the imagination.  Sam had hissed, "I wish this was over with." 

Al laughed.  "Come on, Sam, you've been through worse leaps."

Sam shook his head slightly.  "Name one."

"Umm... you've leaped into a diaper," Al offered. "At least this is human clothing."

Sam narrowed his eyes.  "I was an animal." 

"Yeah, that's true," Al quipped.  "But then...there was that one when you were in swimming trunks in the garbage section of the Queen Mary."

"Yeah, but..." Sam was about to answer back when Al looked up suddenly, obviously listening to something.  “What is it, Al?” questioned Sam, concern suddenly appearing in his eyes as he wondered what Al was hearing.  He watched as his friend’s eyes widened and the blood rush from his face.

"What do you mean, Tina? What's going on?" Al asked the unseen scientist with growing concern in his voice.  Al turned to Sam.  “I’ve got to go, Sam.  There’s an emergency with Beth.”  The hologram punched a few buttons, with brought the white door up.  “I’ll have Julianna come in soon to help you, pal.”  With that, Al disappeared from his friend’s world.

Sam was a little lost at that point.  He hated this shoot and Al had really been helping him get through it.  Still he pushed his way through several changes, although the photographer seemed less than happy with him. 

“Okay, I need to set up the next shot.  Take ten.”

Sam sighed.  He was called over to his dresser.  The thin mint green chiffon babydoll pajamas were removed.  He noticed the next outfit and cringed.  It was a black whalebone bustier with maroon highlights, a garter belt, and a skimpy pair of maroon satin panties.  He groaned.  “I have to wear that?!” he complained.

The dresser nodded.  “Karina, it’s not that bad.  You also have fishnets stockings on with this one.  Let me get you into it.”  Sam grinned weakly, allowing the woman to do her job.  She left to get another pair of the stockings, the pair she had having a rip in the left leg.  A moment later, he heard the door to the Imaging Chamber opening behind him. 

Without looking, Sam told his hologram, “I don’t want to hear it, Julianna.  Let’s just get through this little exercise so I can stop the overdose and leap the hell out of Dodge.”

“That’s all I want for you too, Little Brother.”

At the sound of the male voice, Sam turned around suddenly.  “Tom?” he croaked.  “What are you doing here?  I thought Julianna was going to be my observer.”

Tom started laughing.  “Geezus, Sam, you look like Dr. Frank-N-Furter from the Rocky Horror Picture Show!”

“You think I look like a hot dog?”  The good doctor was completely confused.

Tom continued to laugh.  “No.  I guess that Swiss cheesed mind of yours is still acting up.  That was a role in a movie.  Think Dr. Frankenstein in drag.  You must not remember our seeing it when I got back from ‘ Nam .”

Sam shook his head, wondering what would have possessed either of them to see such a movie.  “No. I don’t remember.  Why would anyone make a movie expecting a guy to dress up like this?”

“It was funny, Sam.  You really got a kick out of the song Time Warp.  Still, I gotta admit, Little Brother, that outfit would look a lot better on a few women I know.  You don’t exactly got the body for it.” Tom said while pressing a few buttons on the handlink.

Sam blushed.  “Um.  What happened to Julianna?”  He had been expecting her.  He didn’t particularly like that she would have been seeing him like this, but he had expected her to be there.

"She said she wanted to drive her father to the hospital.  Beth was in a car accident early this morning.  They're not exactly sure how badly she was hurt.  Julianna wants to make sure Al doesn't get in one himself.”

Sam sighed in resignation.  “Okay.  I guess it’s gotta be you and me then.”

Tom wasn’t sure he liked the hesitation in his brother’s voice.  “What’s a matter, Sam?”

“Well, let’s just say dressing in women’s lingerie in front of one’s brother isn’t exactly on the top of my list of things to do before I die.”

Tom smiled and gave him a wink.  “It’s okay, Sam.  I know it’s not you doing it because you enjoy it.”

Sam blushed again.  “Yeah.  That’s an understatement.  Actually, I hate it.”

The dresser returned to complete Sam’s ensemble.  “But you look lovely!”  Once she got the fishnets on him by hooking them into the garter belt, she told him, “They’re ready for you on the set.” 

Sam took a deep breath and exhaled before walking - if you could call what he was doing in five-inch hig