PROLOGUE

The quantum blue light flickered away softly leaving Sam muddled and disoriented. A soft breeze went through his hair and he could feel a tinge of cold in the breeze. There was a faint scent of the ocean, telling him that he was somewhere on either the West or the East Coast. There were hardly any lights in the small room, causing Sam to squint as he tried to focus on his surroundings. 

He then noticed the flicker of light from the corner. It was a candle. He started over toward the light, now flickering as the cool breeze wafted into the room. A shadow began appeared beyond the candle, the flickering light making it appear surreal as if he were becoming a part of some old classic fantasy movie.

"Well, are you coming or not?" A feminine voice asked from behind the candle. She brought up the candle as the light played on her face, making her face look like a mask from a horror movie that he could almost remember. She turned with the candle as she began to walk toward the door.

Sam frowned at her words and stood. "Wh … where are we going?" Why he had a creepy-crawly feeling, he didn't know but he was sure that it was all in his head.

She didn't even turn around to answer him. She opened the door and entered into the hallway. "It's okay if you chicken out," she said, as she looked both ways down the hall. "It just re-confirms my intuition about men. Spineless babies." She then headed right down the hallway.

Sam's eyes widened at her words before quickly following her, wondering what GodFateTimeWhatever had gotten him into this time. "Well, here's news for you. I don't believe in ghosts and goblins."

Another cool breeze flowed through the hallway, this time eliminating the flame that burned. Now in the complete darkness in the hallway, she turned to him even though she couldn't see him. "Reese, could you please explain to me why you wanted me here then? You convinced me just this afternoon that this place, this supposed haunted house, was the best place for me to practice."

Sam frowned at her words. "Practice?" ‘What could she possibly practice in a supposed haunted house? And in the dark as well?’ He wondered.

She sighed heavily then glanced at the blown out candle. "You know, if you don't want to believe, then that's fine, but you need to make up your mind." She focused her attention on the candle in her hand and slowly, the candle re-lit itself, casting a light that was brighter than it had been a moment ago.

Once again, Sam's eyes widened. He was sure that a candle of that size couldn't possibly produce that much light. Taking a step back to ponder the whole situation, the one utterance that came up was, "Oh boy."
 

     PART ONE

October 31, 1984

Salem, Massachusetts

Sam gaped at the flame with question. "H-How... How do you get it to be that bright?" He was truly and scientifically curious.

She regarded him as if he had lost his last marble. "What?" She asked him in awe. "Hello? Earth to Reese. What do you call a spell?" She shook her head as she turned back to go down the hallway, leaving him standing behind her. 

The befuddlement on Sam’s face was evident. A spell? As in witches and warlocks and black cats? Al, where are you? He wondered as he followed her yet again. "So... you're a... you're a witch, huh?"

She stopped in mid-step. She turned around so quickly that candle-wax spilled on the floor. The light again was playing shadows across her face. "What is your problem, tonight? You're not acting like yourself." She took a few steps to meet him. She gazed deep into his eyes allowing him to see her for the first time. "Why else would we be here to practice?"

He forced himself not to take a step back at the look she was giving him. "Yeah. Why else?" He didn't know what else to say, deciding to play along until his Observer and best friend showed up with some, preferably, helpful information.

She smiled showing two perfect dimples on her cheeks. Her light blue eyes captured the light, making them twinkle. Her black hair framed her pale face, making her appear malevolent and thaumaturgic. "Come on, oddball." She said as she motioned him back toward the end of the hall. "We'll stop there and sit down." 

Even as she started to turn, a small object ran up from behind and between Sam’s feet causing him to let out a yelp. The object was a small black kitten that nuzzled up against her legs. She picked it up and lightly kissed its head. 

He couldn’t quite comprehend what was going on around him. Black cats. Witches. Spells on candles. What was next -- a vampire?

Even as he wondered this, the sound of the Imaging Chamber opening beside him, caused him to jump slightly and yelp again. The holographic man who entered the room mirrored his actions. "Gees, Sam! Don't scare me like that!" Al complained, covering his chest with his left hand, the handlink making flashes of colors in the dimly lit hallway.

"What?" The girl asked, gazing at Sam peculiarly.

"Uh... nothing," Sam responded, giving her an equal curious once over. 

"Why are you acting so jumpy? You told me that you came here before. Why is it that whenever I'm around you, you act like you don't know how to act?" She inquired uncomfortably.

Al looked at her with equal but distinct uneasiness. "Maybe because he knows you're a witch!"

Sam faltered. "Well, I...."

"Now, you don't want to be here. I can feel that. Obviously, you are uncomfortable around me. If that's the case, then why did you invite me over here?" The little kitten had climbed up her shirt and was resting comfortably on her shoulder. It made a wired effect, the cat, the mask of the candle playing on her face, and the girl.

Sam took an unsteady breath. "I'm just a little uncertain about exactly what you're going to practice tonight. I... I want to make sure that you get it done right."

Al frowned at him. "Sam, what the hell are you saying? She's a witch! She could turn you into a toad or a lizard or...."

"... or a newt?" She finished off. "I thought you were my friend, Reese. You don't trust me, do you?"

"No!" Al exclaimed just as Sam, at the same time, exclaimed, "Yes!"

Sam grimaced at Al briefly before looking firmly at the girl. "I do trust you and, yes, I am your friend."

"Well, friend or not, I can tell that you aren't really into this now. If you want to stop and go home, we can. I can practice another night. It's not like I was going to practice voodoo or making figurines that I would prick with needles."

Al's eyes widened at her words. "Sam, keep your eyes out for those."

"Al!" Sam finally whispered angrily at his friend, astonished that he could be so crude.

"What?" The girl asked as she looked back up at him. 

Sam hesitated. "Uh... how about we try again later, then?" 

She nodded, handing the candle over to him. "Here." She took the kitten down from her shoulder. "Comes on, sweetums, let’s get you something to eat and then I'll take you home with me." She walked off in the other direction as the cat mewed in agreement as they disappeared from the candlelight.

Al frowned at the retreating form. "That was too close, Sam. I mean... she..."

Sam turned to Al after watching her retreat. "How could you? That was so rude, Al." Sam had a hard time condoning Al for what he had said. Things were all ready weird tonight; he didn't need an overbearing hologram on top of it.

Al frowned at him. "What the hell are you talking about, Sam? You weren't honestly thinking about going along with what she has cooking in her little black cauldron, were you?"

Sam frowned, not liking where this conversation was going. "Al ..." he started. "Al, you don't have any idea about what is going on here. What does Ziggy say that I'm here to do? Where am I?"

"You're in a really, really creepy house, in the dark with only a candle to light your way," Al answered him quickly. "Sam, could we please get the heck out of here?"

"Why, Al? Are you scared of the boogie man?" Sam chuckled seeing how odd Al was acting. He couldn't quite recall what it was, but he remembered Al talking about all the creepy crawlies out to get him.

Al glared at Sam with a look that told him that he was un-amused with the situation. "You can joke all you want but I'm telling you that girl is a witch." He pointed in the direction she disappeared. "And I can prove it."

Sam raised an eyebrow at his partner. "Oh?" He looked at Al wonderingly. "Do tell."

"Weird things happen around her, Sam," Al told him emphatically. 

"That would explain Holograms," Sam stated with a smile. "Come on, Al, you really think that she's a witch?"

Al gave him a sarcastic glare. "How do you explain the black cat? And all the weird things that happen to her enemies?"

Sam's forehead wrinkled at the thought. "What do you mean?"

Al looked around at his surroundings once again and shivered. "Meet me outside, okay?" Without waiting for an answer, he vanished with some punches on the handlink.

Sam's body language slouched as he thought of how Al was acting. He had to admit that something unearthly was going on, but he wasn't going to argue it in here anymore. He turned the way that she had gone. About 20 feet away, he found a staircase. After going down the creaky steps, he made his way outside to find Al standing outside looking at the house. "Oh, here you are."

Al looked far more comfortable now that he was outside of the house. "That place gives me the creeps," he stated emphatically as he glanced at the house in front of him.

"So do vampires and skeletons," Sam stated not actually knowing why he knew that. 

Al shivered at his words. "Don't remind me, Sam. Please."

"So...are you going to tell me who I am and why I'm here?" Sam said as he felt of his back pocket in search of a wallet to possibly tell him his identity, but he came up empty-handed.

Al took a deep breath and lifted the handlink, starting to walk away from the house as he spoke. Sam walked along side of him, listening to what his friend was telling him.

"Well, your name is Reese Spokes... sounds like a chocolate wheel," he muttered before continuing. "You're a sixteen year old computer geek who spends far too much time playing Dungeons and Dragons. It's 12:31 A.M., October 31, 1984, ... Halloween." He was obviously becoming nervous about the situation once again.

"And I'm supposed to stop what from happening, or did Ziggy not get that far?" Sam asked almost knowing the answer to that question.

Al hesitated at the question. "Uh... we're not sure what you're here to do, Sam. But whatever it is, it has to have something to do with Sabrina, the Teenage Witch over there." He gestured in the direction of a car nearby.

"Sabrina?" Sam asked looking over at the car where she was petting the kitten and laughing at its playfulness.

Al looked at him and frowned slightly, suddenly remembering that Sam had no knowledge of current television programs. "Never mind." He noticed Sam’s gaze. "Her name is Alexandra. Alexandra Marcus. She's the same age as you... I mean Reese... and she's..." He hesitated.

"Don't you say it, Al. Don't you say it until you can prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt." Sam pointed at him, then started toward Alexandra.

Al bit his lip, forcing himself not to follow Sam to stop him. The last thing he wanted to do was alienate Sam but he was extremely concerned about his friend's safety. Instead, he carefully took a couple of steps towards him, opening his ears to listen carefully to their conversation.

"Took you long enough." Alexandra said as she ran her hand down the kitten's spine once again. It purred loudly at the petting that it had been receiving, obviously happy with its new owner.

Sam smiled at her sheepishly. "Yeah, well, I kind of got a little sidetracked."

Alexandra looked up at him quickly. "Did you see something?" She asked hopefully. "Anything?"

Sam chuckled slightly. "I'm afraid not. I thought I did but..." He turned to look at Al firmly. "It was just my imagination running away with me."

Al frowned at him. "You couldn't think of anything better to say than a quote from a Motown song?"

"Motown?" she asked softly. She wrinkled her face not knowing where that came from. She shook her head and opened the car door and climbed inside. "I guess we'll try tonight, when you aren’t acting so weird."

Sam nodded, looking at Al once again. "Sure." He turned his head and looked at her again, noticing how very pretty she was in the moonlight.

"I've got to get home anyway. My folks will flip if I'm not in by one." She looked at her watch to see that it was 12:37. "We better hurry," she said as she shut the door to the car.

Sam hesitated before he walked around to the other side of the car and got in. He hesitated again before putting on the seatbelt and starting the car, looking very much at a loss as to where to go from there.

Al repositioned himself so that he was in the back seat, favoring Sam's side of the car. "Don't worry, Sam. I'll tell you how to get there. Just start going east. Besides, Salem isn't a really big city." He cringed slightly as he spoke the name of the city. Great. Just great. Witches. Black cats. And Salem.

"Salem?" Sam asked softly.

"Massachusetts. As in the Salem Witch Trials? Are you getting the picture here, Sam?" he emphasized.

Sam nodded. He looked over at Alexandra and smiled. "Do you know how many people would just go bonkers to find themselves in Salem, Massachusetts? I know someone in particular that thinks that kind of stuff is real. What do you think?"

Alexandra looked at him oddly. He definitely wasn't acting right. Perhaps he was coming down with the flu.

"What do I think?" she asked irritatedly. "I think that you're insane," she said hotly.

Al nodded in agreement with her statement. "Yeah, you're insane for sticking around this demon!"

"Demon?" She asked quickly looking at Sam. "Did you say demon?"

"Ah…no." Sam said quickly. He didn’t like the sound of this at all. It was almost as if she could hear Al. 

"I could have sworn that I heard someone say demon." She shook her head softly and looked at the kitten in her arms. "Did you hear someone say demon, precious?" The kitten mewed a response.

However, his holographic pal wasn’t thrilled. He squinted at Alexandra and looked at her warily. Al's eyes widened at her words. "Sam...." he said in a warning tone.

Sam sighed, knowing that tone in Al's voice. Either something bad was fixing to happen or Al was feeling all hinky again about her. He shook his head and glanced at her. "Ya know, I think that I'm lost." He said as he stopped at a stop sign.

She glanced at him with lowered eyes. "You? Lost? That's a new one."

Al lifted the handlink and pressed a few buttons. "Take a left and go until the next light then take a right."

Sam nodded to both of them again. "Yeah, you know, men never ask for directions." Changing the subject, he asked, "What are you going to name the cat?"

She smiled at the small animal. "I don't know. I was thinking maybe Jacqueline."

Al's eyes widened at her words. "Sam, she is NOT naming that mangy little thing after my eldest daughter!"

Sam’s chuckle came out but he coughed to try and hide it. He cleared his throat and looked at Alexandra for a brief moment. "Kind of formal, isn't it?"

She grinned at him. "Maybe. But we can call her Jackie. And my mom will love it. You know how fond of JFK she is. That is, if she lets me keep her."

Sam nodded at her statement, not knowing exactly how her mother loved JFK. Who didn't? "Well, ya know, I was thinking of maybe something... like... ahhh.... Oh.... I don't know.... Bingo." Sam said smiling at her.

"SAM!" Al protested vehemently.

"What? Name a cat after an old lady’s game? No way!" Alexandra giggled at the thought.

"I was thinking more along the lines of a... ya know... the dog's name, ya know... like the song?" Sam said as he glanced back at her.

Al glared at Sam. "Great, Sam. Thanks a lot. If you compare me to a dog one more time, I'll..." His threat faded due to lack of a proper threat to place on the hologram before him.

Sam bit at his bottom lip trying to hold in his laughter. He loved being able to get under Al's skin. It rarely happened.

Alexandra shook her head, lifting the cat so that their eyes met. "Well, Jackie isn't a Bingo kind of girl, are you, sweetie?"

Al frowned again. "Hey, why not? I'm a cat person." He looked at the cat. "Maybe not a black cat kind of person...."

The cat mewed and glanced over at Al. The hair on its back and tail puffed up. It hissed at the hologram sitting in the back seat growling lowly in his direction. 

"Hey, what's wrong with Bingo... I mean, Jackie." Sam asked as he glance away from the road for a brief moment, seeing its reactions.

Alexandra frowned a bit, lowering the kitten. "I don't know. It's almost as if she senses an evil presence or something. Poor lady!"

Al moved away from the hissing kitten, causing his image to disappear halfway into the back seat. The look in his eyes indicated that he wasn't happy in the least bit. "Sam..."

"You don't think that, really do you? An evil spirit following us around?" Sam asked as he looked behind him to glance at Al. He could see that Al wasn't amused at the situation one bit. He glanced back to the road. "And this evil spirit is whispering in your ear where you need to go?" he added, knowing that he was getting lost again.

Al straightened up at Sam's indication, giving him a glare for calling him evil. "Take another left two blocks from here and then go past the stop signs. Her place is on the right, number 333.... Sam..." He warned again. "Double trouble...."

Sam grinned at Al's words and followed them. "Ya know, them that dance with the devil are bound to get scorched." He said it not really knowing where he heard that before.

Alexandra calmed the frightened kitten, petting it affectionately. She sighed at his words. "Don't remind me," she said quietly. "They just don't get it, do they? I mean, it's not like I asked for all this. I didn't make any deals with the Devil."

Al frowned at her words, suddenly concerned with her attitude. The look on her face reminded him too much of his own daughter when she was about the same age, the look she would have when kids at school picked on her for being so smart.

From out of the recesses of his mind, a strong will came seemed to force his way in, making Sam step back. "I understand. I've been through it before. I didn't ask to be the way that I am. I just am. And," The car came to a stop beside the house. "And, I care about you." 

She gave him a small grin. "Thanks, Reese. But you can't really understand. No one really looks at you as if you were some kind of freak because you're good with a computer. "

"You're right. They look at me as a freak because I'm good with the game." Sam's hand took hers. "Just remember, I'm here. Okay?"

She hesitated before nodding. "I've got to get inside before Mom freaks." She opened the car door and stepped out. She leaned in and gave Sam a friendly kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Reese." Gathering the kitten in her hands, she closed the car door and went into the house Sam had stopped in front of.

Sam suddenly gained control again. He disliked that part of leaping. The feeling of not being in charge when some part of the persona was left behind. 

Al watched her go into the house, a sad look in his eyes. "Poor kid," he muttered, tinkering with the handlink.

"Yeah." Sam muttered as he turned to face Al.

Al frowned at him. '"What?" he questioned the confused look on Sam's face. 

"So, why the sudden change in attitude, Al. I thought she was the demon-child as you were trying to put it so eloquently back there," Sam said as he propped his head on his hands.

The older man hesitated in his answer. "Well... she may be a witch but she could be a good witch, you know?"

"East or West?" Sam chuckled.

Al glared at the joke. "We're not in Kansas anymore, Sam, " he countered. "All I know is that… well, she reminds me of Elizabeth."

Sam's brain just wasn't going to let him remember. He pondered on the name hoping that he could remember, but nothing came to him. "Elizabeth?" he asked blankly.

Al looked at him with understanding. "My number two child. She is a really intelligent woman, Sam, just like her mother in practically everything. Kind of ironic that we named her after Beth." He took a breath. "But she… she had some trouble in high school because of her being so smart. People just wouldn't..."

"…leave her alone," Sam said over Al's sentence. "I've been there. People just didn't think that a 14 year old would know anything, especially when I was the youngest in the junior class." Why he could remember that and not remember Al's children, he couldn't understand, but he wasn't going to dwell on it at the moment. "So, what am I here to do, Al?"

Al punched the handlink again and frowned strongly at what he read. "Oh, no," he said sadly, looking extremely forlorn.

Sam glanced at the handlink in Al's hand. "What? What is it?"

"Well, according to Ziggy, we have no record of Alexandra after October 31, 1984." 

"Wait a minute, Al. That's today." Sam's brow knitted together. "Ziggy must be having a sloppy floppy on this one. That can't be."

Al raised his eyebrow at Sam's choice of words. "I'm afraid there's more, Sam. Seems Reese Spokes... the guy you leaped into... there's no record of him after today either."

Sam looked at Al uncomfortably. "That's absurd. People don't just vanish Al."

Al hesitated for a moment. "We aren't dealing with ordinary people, here, Sam. We're dealing with witches."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Second verse, huh?" Sam shook his head. "Is there anything else that Ziggy says is going on? Anything that I need to be aware of?"

Al shook his head a bit. "Ziggy has nada. All that we know is that sometime in the next..." He raised his arm and looked at his watch. "... 23 hours, Reese and Alexandra are going to disappear off the face of the Earth. Their parents searched everywhere for them but never found them."

Sam growled. "Great. Just great. I'm going to be whisked away to some unknown planet where the witches' counsel meets, calling on the boogie man to be the judge and jury, and then have a very nervous hologram telling me what I should have done." Sam turned back around in his seat. "Ya know... if Ziggy could at least get things together before you come to see me, I might get more out of a leap."

"Hey, don't yell at me," Al complained. "I just tell it like it is."

"Just tell me how to get home," Sam said as he pulled away from the curb.

Al stopped at his words, his eyes growing soft. "Maybe if you clicked your heels together and said 'there's no place like home'."

"Oh, ha ha, Al," Sam said dryly. "Tell me how to get to Reese's home."

Al exhaled and nodded before guiding the time traveler to the Spokes' residence.
 
 

PART TWO

Al stepped out of the Imaging Chamber with a grateful sigh. He didn't feel comfortable with this leap at all, regardless of whether Alexandra was a good witch or a bad witch - dang, his thoughts really were sounding like Glenda from the Wizard of Oz. He did know one thing, though. He never liked the idea of witches, black cats, or spells, especially with the leap being on Halloween in both time periods. 

"Admiral?" Ziggy purred from all around him catching his attention.

"Yeah, Zig, what is it?" Al asked as he walked towards the control console.

"Dr. Beeks is having some complications with our current visitor. Ziggy's voice lowered un-expectantly. "I think that he's in love."

Al raised his eyebrow. "In love? With Beeksie?" He chuckled slightly.

"Yes, Admiral. His heart rate is abnormally high, and he keeps sighing when she's around him. I need to research this emotion more." Ziggy stated. 

Al glared at the sphere, which was Ziggy's visible main terminal. "I thought you got enough research peeking in on me and Beth." He started for the Waiting Room.

"Research complete." Ziggy stated. "No, Admiral, that wasn't research on the topic of love. That was research on human mating."

Al turned and glared strongly at the sphere again. "When it comes to me and Beth, you can't have one without the other. And keep your eyes shut the next time, you bag of bolts." 

"Yes, Admiral," Ziggy purred softly. 

Al turned again and went into the Waiting Room to find Verbena Beeks and the visitor speaking with each other, one of them with a lost puppy look in his eyes. Great, Al thought. A lovesick teenager. Better Beeks than one of the girls.

Both Verbena and Reese turned to see Al come into the room. Reese looked the older man up and down and then protectively got off of the bed he had been sitting on and stood beside Dr. Beeks, putting an arm around her waist. She quickly moved out of his grasp. Reese looked downhearted at her moving away from him. He glanced back at Al and frowned.

Al smiled at Verbena's reaction before his smile faded at Reese's frown. "Hi, Reese. My name's Al." He figured simplicity was best for introductions with visitors.

"Yeah, whatever," Reese said as he turned back toward Dr. Beeks. "Doctor, is there anything else that I could try to remember for you?" he asked as she tried to walk away from him.

Verbena took a breath, looking carefully at Reese. "Anything at all would be helpful, Reese. If you do remember anything, let us know." She looked at Al with a slight hint of desperation to which Al smiled widely.

Reese's shoulders slumped and his gaze went to the floor as he tried to think of anything. He already knew that if he didn't come up with something that this angel, this gorgeous woman would leave. He sighed knowing that nothing else would come. "Okay." He watched sadly as Dr. Beeks walked away from him, this time without him following behind. However, that didn't stop him from 'watching' her walk away. He grinned.

Al raised an eyebrow as he noticed the teenager's gaze. He chuckled yet again before walking carefully towards him. "So, how are you doing?"

Reese turned toward the older man. Al, was it? He looked him up and down at the outfit that Al had picked out for the day. "Obviously, better than your style," he said sarcastically.

Al put his hands into his trouser pockets, adopting a casual look. "Ouch," he replied with a hint of equal sarcasm, having gotten used to the bad remarks about his dress. He thought about his next words carefully. "Reese, I know you've already talked to Dr. Beeks but maybe you could talk to me now."

"About?" Reese said asked.

"About Alexandra," Al responded gently. "You two seem to be really good friends."

"Has something happened to her? Wait… you think that I had something to do with it, don't you?" Reese asked defensively. "Where am I?" he asked hotly.

Al raised his hand to ward off the anger the young man was projecting. "Hey, kid, it's all right. I don't think you did anything wrong. I want to help Alexandra out."

Reese looked at him warily. He didn't believe him. "The people that tend to help out Alex are the ones who don't like her at all." He looked Al up and down again. "And I feel like you're one of them."

Al hesitated. "It's not that I don't like her. But I do want to help her. And so does my friend." He waited to see how the young man would react to his words.

Reese leaned back on the bed and crossed his feet. "Your friend… you mean, Sam?"

Al raised his eyebrow with concern. "How do you know his name?"

Reese motioned with his head toward Dr. Beeks at the computer terminal. "Gorgeous over there told me." He took a deep breath. "So, how are you going to help Alex?"

Al took a breath, considering how to answer the question. "Well, we're not quite sure yet. Which is why I want to talk to you. Things are not going to go well with her and we want to make sure that she doesn't close herself off like she's going to."

"Oh… I see. You peered into your magic crystal with this lame excuse and you want me to give you answers so that you can help out. All right," he said warily. "What is it that you need to know? Or shall I make you play the game to find the answers that you seek?"

Al frowned at him slightly. "The game?" he asked with curiosity.

"Dungeons and Dragons," he said, his eyes meeting Al's.

Al chuckled a bit but stopped when Reese's eyes met him. A shiver went up his spine at the look in his eyes. "I'm not much of a game-player," he said carefully.

"We don't need the board to play." Reese pushed off the bed and walked toward Al. "All you need, Al, is a role to play, and you embed yourself into that role." He walked around Al in a brief circle. "That's all, and perhaps you get what you ask for or you get what you deserve."

Al frowned at the Reese's choice of words. "And what do you think I deserve?" he questioned careful, watching him with caution.

"That's for the game to decide. Not me." Reese settled down onto the floor and sat with his legs crossed. He looked up at Al with questioning eyes. "Are you ready to play or is there not time in the busy schedule that you run here? At this … this project?"

Al lowered his eyes brows slightly. "And what if I just want answers?"

Reese shrugged his shoulders at Al. "You have to play." He smiled at Al with a tight grin. It looked like he was reeling him in for the kill.

Al exhaled slowly, not liking the look on the visitor's face. "You don't give me much of a choice." He carefully sat down on the floor.

"Your choice has been made." Reese said calmly. "Who shall you play?" Pick a character from the realm of fantasy."

"From the realm of fantasy, huh?" Al questioned cautiously. 

"Yes. The Realm." Reese said mystically. "I'm the magician. Always have been. And you will be…" he prompted.

Al looked at him carefully, having a funny feeling about this young man but wanting to prove his theory. "Why don't you pick one for me. Who would you say I am in the realm of fantasy?"

Reese leaned back on one of his hand as he looked at Al thoughtfully. He licked at his lips, and then leveled his head to look at Al. "You are very cautious about the people around you; wary of others. But you have a humorous quality about life. I mean, look at your clothes. Hmmm…"

Al couldn't help but smile at his words but waited for him to answer his question.

"At first thought, I would have picked you as the Jester of the Court, but… that's not quite right…" Reese said thoughtfully.

"Gee… Thanks," Al said sarcastically.

"You may laugh at this, but for some reason, I see you as Sancho… you know… Don Quixote's partner… always there to help… but not quite fitting in that level of knighthood yet. So… I guess… a squire."

Al 's eyes narrowed at his description. It was a little too close to home to his heart. He fully remembered that leap in which Sam leaped into the actor and what was said between them just before Sam leaped, lines from "Man of La Mancha" with Al doing the role of Sancho.

"Okay, I suppose a squire will do," he finally said, watching Reese carefully.

Reese gave him a grin and said, "A squire has to earn his way up to knighthood. Since that is the case, the game will be of questions and answers since we don't have the board to help us along. Fine with you?"

"Depends on who's doing the questioning and the answering," Al replied.

"Well, my dear squire, both of us will be asking questions to some extent. More than likely, you will be asking since you are of a lower rank."

Al frowned at his choice of words. There was nothing like an Admiral being called a lower rank that of a sixteen-year-old boy.

"So… you come into my lair, wanting to know some answers. What do you want of me?" Reese’s hands motion toward himself, almost bowing his head at the same time.

Al was tempted to go right in and ask questions about Alexandra but knew that Reese would probably not answer unless he really played the game. Given that, he took a deep breath. "A fair maiden may be in trouble. I and my… knight… wish to assist her but we're not sure how."

"Squire, hast thou forgotten? To get answers from the highest magician, you must first ask a question." Reese reminded Al of what the rules were yet again.

Al frowned. He was far more used to just making a statement and getting results. "The maiden of whom I have spoken, do… dost thou know what might be troubling her?"

"Thou has stumbled upon a tragedy of other beautiful maidens not rejoicing or not…" Reese was looking for the word that he wanted to use, and finally gave up on looking. "…liking your fair maiden because of her oddities."

Al raised an eyebrow. "So I have gathered before. What might cause this maiden to withdrawal from the rest of the kingdom so that she is but an outcast?"

"We have all been outcasts at some point in time, whether it be hidden agendas," Reese leaned forward, his eyes peering into Al’s, "… time in cages, or personal attacks from those around us. Whether it is one of the other, she will always be an outcast to most of the kingdom. Can you see the path that needs to be taken, my son?" Reese asked as he raised his eyebrow looking at Al directly in the eye.

Al was having a hard enough time keeping his heart from racing when Reese mentioned 'time in cages'. This was all freaking him out, especially when Reese looked him directly in the eye. He swallowed, not having felt so utterly nervous since he was just an Ensign.

"No," he said quietly. "Not really. How…" He couldn't find words to express everything that was going through his mind.

Reese's eyes seemed to cloud over as he looked at Al, his eyes still focused on Al, but not necessarily seeing him. "Seek ye out the one that jumps over leaps and bounds, the one that will go to any length to save the other around them. They will know the reason and the why, but they must find out on their own." Reese slightly shook his head. He looked away from Al as if he had been in a trance and was given the magic word to wake up. Suddenly, he said, "I have a headache."

Al looked at him with a slight frown, obviously wary of him but also a little concerned. He couldn't say why but he genuinely felt close to him. "Would you like something for it?"

Reese sat there for a moment rubbing his temples, and pinched the bridge of his nose, then rubbed his forehead. "Ah... yeah... please, Admiral Calavicci…" he said softly.

Al's eyes widened at his words. "How did you know I'm an Admiral or my last name?"

Reese looked at him, his face squinting as if he were looking at the sun. "Oh man…" he said softly before passing out.

Al jumped when he saw the boy slump to the floor and quickly went to his side with concern. Checking his temperature by touching his forehead, he looked up to the Observation Room, certain that Verbena Beeks had seen the whole thing. Feeling how warm and clammy the forehead felt, Al carefully raised the boy and laid him on the Waiting Room table. Reese mumbled something as he was moved to the table, but Al couldn't make heads or tails of it. 

Verbena rushed down from the Observation Room and came to their side. "What's going on, Al? I don't like it when my patients faint on me."

Al glanced at her. "Neither do I."

"Well? What were you talking about? I mean, I had Ziggy turn off the sound for me, since I was working on some papers from the previous leap," she said worriedly as she took out an ear-thermometer.

Al hesitated in his answer. "We were playing a game."

"Game? What game? I didn't see any pieces of a game?" She quickly took the temperature and read it with a click. 102.3. "Damn. That's too high. Ziggy, flood the room with cool air…"

Al stepped back slightly to give Verbena the room necessary for her to work. "We were playing a role-playing game. Dungeons and Dragons."

Verbena’s jaw couldn't have dropped any lower. "What?" she asked incredulously. "YOU played Dungeons and Dragons with this sixteen-year-old?"

Al glared at her strongly. "It was for the leap, Beeks. Don't go advertising it."

"Al… I won't. I'm just shocked. I mean, this kid couldn't tell me anything but his name and his cat's name… ahm… Merlin. That and how beautiful and graceful I was… and… did you get anything from him that could help you with the leap?" Verbena shivered as Ziggy followed her instructions. Cool air was flowing right down on her and her patient aiding him in cooling down.

Al raised an eyebrow. "Merlin? His cat's name is Merlin?" He hesitated. "Is it black?"

"Al… How would I know? He didn't describe his cat." Verbena looked at Al knowingly. "What is it? You have that look, Al."

He started to pace very carefully, watching his feet as they moved. "This kid… in our role-playing… he told me that he always was the magician." He looked at Verbena. "Like Merlin. And he said some pretty weird stuff…"

"Like?" she prompted him knowing that he wouldn't tell unless she prompted him. "Go on."

He took a deep breath. "Well, for one, he decided that my character was a squire, like Sancho. And he also mentioned…" he shook his head. "He said that we all are outcasts in one way or another." He looked at Verbena. "He looked right at me and mentioned a cage."

Verbena listened carefully as Al talked. "Al, he’s right in some instances," she said as she began to get theoretical. "We are all outcasts until someone takes us under the wing and teaches us. Mothers and Fathers, teachers, doctors…"

"That's not what I am talking about," Al interrupted. He took a breath. "Verbena, I could swear he knew about me and Vietnam."

"Al, he's sixteen years old. How could he know about you and Vietnam? He's not that old." After saying it she regretted it and quickly said, "I'm not implying anything there either." She looked at him carefully. "Something else is bugging you. What is it, Albert?"

Al grinned slightly at her words before he started pacing again. "HE is!" Al told her firmly pointing a finger at him. "All this weird stuff he said about me needing to consult with the one who leaps over bounds and the cage and outcasts... And, top it all off, he knew my rank and my last name!"

"What?" Verbena asked trying to figure out what he was saying. "Al, hon, you're rambling now. This doesn’t make any sense."

Al gave a sarcastic laugh. "You're telling me that?" He never once stopped in his pacing throughout his rambling. "I'm telling you, Beeks, it's really… it's just too weird!"

Verbena sighed. She looked at her patient, and then said, "Ziggy?"

"Yes, Dr. Beeks?" the hybrid computer responded silkily.

"Were you able to record the conversation that the Admiral and Reese had?" she asked hopefully.

"I record everything, Dr. Beeks," Ziggy answered as if it were obvious. 

"Could you please load that into my computer bank under the title of VB5 and make it accessible through my desktop? I'd like to hear what the gentlemen had to say."

"Of course, Dr. Beeks," Ziggy replied immediately. "The conversation is already being downloaded to your computer."

"Now, Al, I will listen to…" Verbena paused listening to Ziggy. "Thank you, Ziggy." She turned her attention to Al again. "I will listen to the conversation, and if I hear anything about what you were rambling on about, I'll let you know. But, I really think that possibly you are over-analyzing the conversation." Verbena said plainly.

Al frowned at her strongly. "You weren't in the room, Beeks. You didn't see the look I saw in that kid's eyes. He knew. I don't know how but he knew." He took a breath. "Verbena, I never told him anything except my first name and he knew I'm an Admiral. He also said my last name."

Verbena broke into Al's sentence. "I might have told him. He did ask who worked her with me. I can't remember at the moment." Verbena said.

Al raised his head towards the ceiling. "Ziggy, did Dr. Beeks ever tell Reese my name and rank?"

"No, Admiral Calavicci, she did not." Ziggy said quickly. "However, there is a 46.5889% chance that he could have guessed it."

Al frowned strongly. "And just exactly what makes you come to that conclusion?"

"As Reese told you, Admiral, you are wary of those around you, you are cautious. In the game Dungeons and Dragons, there is a hierarchy in the realm. One who would act that way would be a King, compared to an Admiral." Ziggy reasoned.

"And yet he placed me as a Squire in the game," Al pointed out. "How do you explain that?"

Ziggy hesitated for a brief second. "Admiral, how many times have you played Dungeons and Dragons?"

"Counting today?" 

"Yes." Ziggy purred.

Al took a breath. "Once."

"Thus the lower rank. In the game, you proceed up the hierarchy, just like in real life." 

Al growled at the response before shaking his head.

Hearing the growl, Ziggy said, "No need to growl, sir. That's just how the world is… full of outcasts trying to find their place to fit in the world. Except for me, of course."

"No," Al insisted. "There was something happening in here. I can feel it in my gut. It was..." He sighed, knowing he couldn't possibly explain it to an overly logical, egotistic computer and a psychiatrist.

Ziggy offered one word for her observer. "Hinky?"

Al looked at the ceiling at the word Ziggy chose. "Close enough." He began to pace yet again before starting for the door. 

"Admiral, where will you be? I'll be hearing that conversation as soon as his temp is down." 'Bena asked as he walked toward the door.

He didn't stop as he spoke. "In the shower, cooling my aching head." He stopped and turned to Verbena. "You might want to check his head. He was complaining about having a headache before he passed out."

"Will do." Verbena watched as he left the room. Once the door was shut, she looked at her patient, and said with a smile. "He does over-analyze things too much. I'm sure that you're not an old man trapped in a kids body... more like vise versa."
 
 

PART THREE

Al had spent over two hours in the shower, allowing the cold water to clear the fog in his head. Everything that was happening with this leap was just too strange and no one, including his best friend, would listen to him, blaming him for being too superstitious for his own good. 

Finally, after realizing how cold he was really becoming, he stepped out of the shower, shivering as he wrapped himself in a towel and headed for the bedroom to change into a new set of clothes. He didn't expect his loving wife to be waiting for him with that 'come-hither' look on her face.

Beth raised her hand up motioning him to come to her with one finger, without saying a word, her eyes saying all that was necessary for him to understand.

He sighed slightly, still shivering from head to toe before obeying the implied order. He knew the penalty for disobeying her and it was too high in his opinion. Having her so close yet so far away at night was torture for a man like him! Slowly, he sat beside her, rubbing his arms to take away the chill.

Beth didn't miss the sigh that he heaved. She tilted her head as he sat down beside her, knowing that he needed to talk instead of what she had on her mind. She maneuvered around to where she was sitting on her heels and rubbed his cold back. Placing a kiss on the nape of his neck, she asked, "What's wrong, baby?"

He hesitated, knowing what she would say to what was on his mind. "Beth…" He sighed again before continuing. "Do you believe in witches?"

Beth was in the process of planting kisses up his neck toward his ear when she heard his question. Not expecting that question to come at such a time bothered her and she sat back to look at him. "Witches?"

Al frowned, more at himself than at Beth. Now he'd gone and done it, turning what could have been a time for relaxation into an inquiry. Why do I do that? He looked at her with wary eyes, wondering what she was thinking. "Yeah," he said plainly. "As in black cats and spells."

Beth looked at Al wonderingly. Usually, those kisses did more than enough to get Al's attention, but obviously this was pressing and needed her attention. What an odd question to ask, she thought as she frowned. "As in the occult? Well…" she hesitated, not knowing exactly what to say. Suddenly, though, an idea came to her head. "I guess it's a decision of faith, Al. We both believe in God, even though we can't see Him or Her as the case might be… so… I guess if you believe… then…" 

Al immediately shook his head as she spoke, realizing that she wasn't giving him the answer he wanted. 

"What?" she asked as he saw him shaking his head.

"I think... I think Sam may have leapt into a witch. Or whatever it is you call a guy who is a witch. What's that word?" he questioned.

Beth looked at Al in wonder. "A warlock?" she supplied for him.

Al nodded at the word, sure that she was right.

"You think that Sam leapt into a warlock." 

He nodded again, this time looking worried about what his wife would think about this. Al exhaled at her silence. "You think I'm imagining it all," he said knowingly. "I don't blame you."

Beth opened her mouth to say something but stopped herself as she thought about what she had just heard. She looked at Al seeing his worried expression. "No. No, Al. I wasn't going to say that." Beth laid her hand on his arm. "What makes you think that Sam leapt into a warlock? I mean, it could be possible… I mean… we had the Sasquatch that you guys saw, and then that leap with the so-called vampires. What makes you think that?" she repeated.

"This isn't like those leaps at all, Beth. I mean, this… this is…"

Beth interrupted him. "Then tell me why you think this is the case." she gave him her full attention as she studied him.

Al exhaled, trying to put into words without sounding like he was rambling. "The kid in the Waiting Room? He knew things about me. And I didn't tell him. But I can't prove it because the whole conversation told place during a game of Dungeons and Dragons." Beth raised her eyebrows at the mention of Dungeons and Dragons. He raised a finger to her expression. "Don't say it."

"What? Don't say what?" she asked innocently.

Al gave her a slight grin. "You know what." He took a breath. "Anyway, it.. it really bothers me. And this girl that Sam has to help? I think she's a witch too."

Beth took a breath and slowly let it out as she thought about what he had said. Dungeons and Dragons? Al??? Hmmm, and this bothers him… this is interesting. She looked at him softly. "Al, honey, is this what you feel deep down? Or is this something that you just think?" she asked, emphasizing the word ‘think’ as she watched his reaction to her question.

Al lowered his eyes, pondering her question. 

"No... Albert, look at me," she said softly.

He obeyed slowly, looking directly into her eyes. "Beth, that boy in the Waiting Room..."

"No… stop," she said, holding up a hand. She held his gaze. "Don't look away from me and answer the question, baby. Is this your gut instinct or a whim?" She wouldn't let him move away from her eyes.

"I… I don't know," he said honestly.

Beth nodded seeing the dilemma. "If you haven't convinced yourself, then how are you going to convince Verbena, Ziggy, me?" she asked knowing that he hated it when she did this to him.

He exhaled loudly, looking away and towards the floor. "I…"

Beth's hand shot out and moved his face back up to look into his eyes. "Baby… If you had said that it was your gut instinct… that this kid is a warlock, then I'd believe you. I think that you know that, don't you?" She placed a kiss on his lips before dropping her hand away from his face. 

He took her hand carefully. "I don't know what the hell is going on, Beth. I mean, what if Verbena's right and I heard what I wanted to hear? But on the other hand, that kid looked me straight in the eye and gave me the serious heebie geebies. And the girl in the past… there's just something about her, like… like she can tell when I'm around." 

"You've had that before, though," Beth reminded him. She could see the confusion in her husband's eyes. She didn't like it. He seemed so disconnected. 

"Not like this. Well, maybe like this," he corrected. He sighed. "Maybe I'm just too damn tired."

"Could be," she said as she lovingly rubbed his cheek with the back of her fingers. "You work yourself so hard. I worry about you anyway, and you still work yourself. You are too stubborn, Albert Calavicci."

"Well, someone has to keep this project on its feet," Al half-protested.

Beth stood up and stretched her legs. She stood in front of him, her negligee sliding down her body only stopping where the straps held it on. "And?" she said, knowing that he wasn't going to be just half-assed in his protesting.

"And who the hell else but me will keep that money coming in?" he continued. His eyes were on the negligee as he spoke, a slight smile slowly creeping onto his face.

"Who indeed?" Beth said as she put her hands on his shoulders slowly pushing him back. "Might I suggest something?" she asked softly.

"Anything you want, baby," Al replied.

"Let's play that game," She said looking at him as he popped up on his elbows to look at her oddly. 

"Dungeons and Dragons? You want to play Dungeons and Dragons with a demoted Admiral?"

She frowned at what he said. "I'll be Princess Beth, the owner of all the land… and you will be my…" she prompted him.

Al grinned slightly, finally getting what she was saying. "Your knight in shining armor?"

"My knight… hmmm, yeah…" She plopped down on the bed beside him and began to trace her finger along his chest. "And what do you think this strong, handsome, stubborn knight should receive for rescuing the fair maiden?" she asked smiling at him.

Al's grin became wider as he leaned towards her to kiss her passionately. 
 
 

PART FOUR

Sam had spent most of the night thinking about what had happened in the abandoned house and on the drive home. Alexandra certainly seemed to need some help but he wasn't sure in what area and he still couldn't come up with a rational explanation for that candle, other than Alexandra could have had a lighter hidden where he couldn't see it. Either way, he hoped that Al would be much more rational when he returned, especially since he still had no information from Ziggy about what he was there to do.

He had showered and dressed for the day, discovering that Reese had no classes, and was headed out the door to take a look around when he saw Alexandra approaching him with a gentle smile.

"Morning, Alex," he told her, wondering where he got the nickname.

"Morning, Reese," she said softly and placed a kiss on his cheek. "How are you this morning? Hopefully better than last night, right?" she asked hoping that his normal flare was back.

"Much better, thank you," Sam told her with a smile. "Sorry about last night. I don't know what got into me." Actually, what I got into, Sam corrected mentally.

"Me either," she said as she looked past him at the road behind them. "They'll be here in a little bit to take us to the meeting, won't they?" she asked a little concerned as she frowned.

Sam hesitated at her question. "Uh... sure. I think so." What meeting? He turned his head to look in the direction of her gaze.

Alexandra fidgeted with her hair, making sure that it was right and pulled at the low cut shirt that she had chosen for this morning. She looked back up at him with question. 

Sam looked at her knowingly. "Nervous?" 

"Nervous? Oh gosh, no." She said much to quickly. "I mean, it's the first meeting that you invited me too and why would I be nervous, I've never been nervous in my life...I wouldn't know how to be nervous... No. Not nervous at all.... Do I look okay?" She finally asked. "I could go change. Blue...blue isn't my color but I thought it would go well with my eyes..."

Sam touched her shoulder, forcing her to stop jabbering. "Alex, you look lovely," he told her genuinely. 

Alex blushed. She smiled letting her teeth run over her bottom lip and she looked away from him. She touched her chin with her fingers then nervously touched her lips, pulling at them. "Thanks," she said obviously not able to look at him at the moment.

Even as they spoke, a large mini-van pulled up to the side of the road and a gentleman stepped out of the van. He was an older gentleman. He was confident with himself but there was gentleness in his eyes that also showed great wisdom. He smiled to the couple and beckoned them over with a wave.

Hearing the van, Alex looked up and smiled even wider. "They're here," she said excitedly as she bit at her bottom lip. She took a step toward Sam and smiled brightly at him now able to look him in the eye. "Come on," she said as she wrapped her arm around his. 

Sam followed her lead, going to the van while putting his arm around her in return. They came up to the gentleman who smiled at him before looking at Alex.

"So, this is the young lady you were talking about," he said gently.

"Yes." Sam said as he felt himself being pushed aside again, only allowed to see, but not speak. "She ... she's the one that will endure the trials ahead of her." Reese looked at her as she got in the van, then looked back to the gentleman. "What do you think, old man?" he said teasingly.

The man laughed slightly. "She has promise in her eyes. I think she will do very well. Come on. Get in and we'll go." He walked to the other side of the van and got into the driver's seat. Reese hopped inside the van and sat beside Alex allowing Sam to come back into his role. Before any of them knew it, they were moving down the street towards their destination.

The van eventually stopped in front of a small house, which looked simple and old-fashioned on the outside. Opening the van doors, the gentleman guided Sam and Alexandra into the house and then into the living room.

Sam stopped before he sat on the couch. The room was almost eerie, with candles to light it and with a pentagram in the center of the carpet. Occult symbols were everywhere. On top of the table in front of them sat an orb that at the moment had an opaque look to it. Sam wasn't sure about it, but he could swear that it was a crystal ball. Along one of the walls were bookshelves that were covered with books on most of the shelves, the top half holding dolls that had pins stuck in them, wax laying beside them to make more. 

Along another wall sat a desk, where someone was sitting with their back to him, chanting a rhythm that he wasn't sure if it was a song or a beat to a song. As he leaned over to get a better look, he could see a OUIJA board leaning against the wall beside the desk. He sat up straight when all of the pieces were slowly falling into place around him.

Alexandra was so giddy with excitement of being in the small house that she continued to move on the couch where she sat beside Sam. Her hands constantly moved, touching her hair, her clothes and her hair. She touched Sam on the knee to get his attention. "Oh, Reese, thank you, thank you, thank you," Alex was saying softly. "I don't know how to thank you for bringing me to my first meeting… an occult meeting." 

Sam looked at her with a slight frown, obviously not comfortable in this setting. Her words only confirmed what he saw and he fidgeted slightly, wanting to leave. Al, where are you? He immediately regretted his thoughts. Al would have a field day with this!

"Reese?" Alexandra asked softly when she didn't get a reply from him. Alexandra quickly dismissed Reese then looked at the gentleman and smiled as she brushed her hair back behind her ears.

The gentleman who had brought them in was now letting others into the room before closing the door and latching it. All took their places around the desk, waiting patiently while looking at the back of the chanter/singer. Once everyone was seated, the gentleman went to the center of the pentagram and stood there for a brief moment, raising his hands as everyone focused on him. Even the chanter stopped making the noise. "Let us gather together to welcome one of our own. Reese, will you introduce her to us, please?"

Sam hesitated a moment, swallowing before standing to do the introduction. He looked around and then took a breath. "Uhmmm… this is…"

He cleared his throat. "Alexandra Marcus." A more confident voice seemed to boom through the room from Sam as Sam was once again pushed to the wayside. "She is a novice that I've chosen to take under my wing. Stand up, dear."

Alex stood up nervously as she looked at the others around her and smiled at them. 

Sam's arm went around Alexandra's waist. "I intend on making her a part of our beloved family."

As Reese said these words, the Imaging Chamber door opened, allowing in a humming Al. His chipper mood was well reflected by his dress, which consisted of a neon pink suit with a bright yellow shirt and a neon blue tie. He didn't seem to care that Sam would comment about how he looked like a psychedelic nightmare.

As Al stepped into the room, the chanter behind him sat up straight in her chair and began chanting once more, this time with more urgency.

"Hey, Sammy boy!" he practically sang as he entered. "You won't believe what Beth and I did last night…" His voice faded as he looked around the room.

"Good," the elder gentleman responded to the introduction as he smiled at Alexandra. He then looked back at the chanter who was supposed to be quiet during the introductions and went to her, bending slightly saying something softly into her ear. 

Al's face became drawn as he watched the scene. "Sam… Where the hell are we?"

Everyone's attention was focused on her except for Sam's eyes. His eyes were focused on Al, but it wasn't Sam who talked when he responded to Al, ever so quietly. "I am home," he said plainly, slowly letting Sam slip back in control of the situation.

Al frowned at the response. "What the hell do you mean, you're home. Sam…" He looked around at the creepy setting and shivered slightly, all of Beth's hard work going out the window. "Sam… This is not home. This is… This is…" He hesitated a minute. 

The chanter shook her head continuing to chant, and turned to look at Al as well. 

"Oh, boy!" Al said in reaction to the look that the chanter was giving him, certain that she could see him.

Her eyes widened as she looked upon him. Her head was tilted to the side and she repeated, "Oh boy?" Then fainted.

Al’s eyes widened with the look of a deer caught in a car's headlights. "Saaaaaam…" he said warily.

Alex tried to go to the fallen woman, but Sam held her in her place with his hand. "But… but… she needs help… I can help," she said softly to him.

Al noticed Sam's actions, grateful that there was at least one person in this whacked out room that made some sense. He didn't like the idea of anyone getting near the chanter, especially since she could see and hear holograms. "Sam, I think you'd better get out of here. I don't like this…"

Alexandra pushed his hands away as she looked up at him. "I don't like this," she said almost in a repetitive after Al. "I… I want to help her and I'm going to." She stepped away from Sam as he grabbed her arm once more. She looked at him sharply. "Reese… let go."

The entire complement of the room was starting to look directly at Al, making him shift with even more unease. "Sam… let's go… Now!" he practically ordered as he backed away from the group.

Sam let go of Alex's arm as he heard Al's cry. Even as he let go, he turned seeing how everyone was looking at Al and now at the downed chanter. He realized what was going on and said, "I'll be right back. I need some air," he said limply as he went to the door, unlocked it and began to go out to the hall. As he shut the door, Al walked through it.

"Yeah," Al said carefully. "Good idea." He followed Sam out the door, walking backwards with wary eyes. Having been freed from the room, he exhaled slightly in relief, still shaken up.

"Al! What the hell is going on here?" he asked softly as he pointed toward the door indicating the group inside.

"You want to know what's going on? I'll tell you what's going on! Witches and warlocks! That's what's going on! Sam, you've got to get the hell out of this house!" He was obviously having a great deal of difficulty in keeping the cheerful demeanor that he had when he came in. "I should have stayed in bed with Beth," he muttered in frustration.

Sam frowned at what Al had told him and wondered if he shouldn't just leave right now. He suddenly realized that he had left her in the room with the group of them. "But...Alex.... I can't leave her here, Al." Sam ignored the rest of that Al muttered knowing full well that Al wouldn't have left him alone for very long.

Al looked at him with a bit of shock, realizing that they had left her in there. "She's still in there! Gees Louise, Sam! We've got to get her out of here!"

He raised the handlink and smacked it hard to confirm what he believed.

Sam looked at Al knowingly. "I know that, Sherlock. Tell me something that I don't know...like what I need to do to leap out of this witches’ haven!"

"First, go get her and get out of this house," Al insisted. "It's that group in there that you have to worry about. They're the whole reason you're here!"

"What? Al, I can't stop a whole haven of witches. I'm not some...."

"Go get Alex! Now!" Al ordered him in his most commanding Admiralty voice, leaving no doubt that he would not allow Sam to disobey.

Sam's whole demeanor changed. He stood ramrod straight, his head was a little higher than normal, and his eyes locked with Al's. Reese had taken over, pushing Sam to the side again. "Why don't we just join in on the fun in there? See what's going on." 

Al frowned, glaring at him before he realized that there was something very strange about the way Sam was acting. His eyes widened, suddenly frightened with what he saw. "Reese...." he concluded with a shocked whisper.

A slow smile spread upon Sam's face at the whisper. "Come on, Bingo… let’s see what's happening." 
 
 

PART FIVE

Reese opened the door to the parlor and stood there looking at the situation before him. A small smile graced his face. Reese glanced at Al as he said softly, "My family. What a group. And look there, the newest member of the family helping out already." 

Alex was kneeling beside the chanter, coaxing her to wake up, and lightly tapping her cheek. The others were in the room were watching her and slowly began to turn and look at Reese. Slowly, they began to smile as well.

Al hesitated, looking at the situation before swallowing. "Uhmmm... Reese... Are you sure you want to put Alex through this?" he asked with a slightly shaky voice, a tingle going up his spine at just being near the haven.

Reese stepped into the room calling attention back to himself. Alex looked up at him and frowned. 

"Alex, dear… be a good girl and tell her to just wake up. Use what you were given… your ability." He turned toward Al wondering if he was watching the situation or if he was cowering in the corner. 

Al frowned, curious but wary, as he slowly walked back into the room. He didn't say a word but gave Reese a look that told him without a doubt that if anything happened to Sam, he would regret it.

Alex glanced around the room not sure as to what Reese was talking about. "My ability?" She looked confused for just a moment before she understood what he was referring to. He had used the words the other night when they had gone to the haunted house. She focused herself and closed her eyes, as she put her hand back on the chanter’s forehead. She slightly hummed and sighed at the same time, a light glow enveloping from her hand beginning to form around the chanter as well. She said one word and the glow dissipated when she said it, leaving her drained. "Awaken."

The chanter slowly began to move her eyes opening, blinking and she smiled at Alex and turned to Reese behind her. "Reese...she is one of us, isn't she?" she asked softly.

Al frowned at the question, knowing Ziggy's prediction.

Reese smiled in response. "Yes. Yes, she is." 

"And you will be her teacher… her facilitator, as you were for me?" she asked, her green eyes looking up at him in a loving manner, as if being able to talk to him was a privilege. 

He looked at Alex with obvious affection. "If she will allow me."

The haven looked at each other hearing the words he uttered. The looks that they gave each other were more than enough to give the impression that allowance wasn't a part of the deal with Reese. The older gentleman in the room moved forward taking Reese by the elbow and brought him farther into the room. "Allowance? When has this been a choice?" he asked disapprovingly.

Al followed, his eyebrow raised as he listened to the older gentleman. "I don't like the sound of this," he said mostly to himself.

Reese turned to the gentleman. "I feel that Alex should be given a choice in the matter," he said candidly.

"None of the others had a choice." The older gentleman frowned disapprovingly. "They knew what they were. She does to… now. She needs to…"

Reese looked hard at the older gentleman letting him know that his choice of words weren't of consequence. "What she needs to do is … she needs to make a choice. If she doesn't want to become the person that we want her to be, then she doesn't. And we leave her alone." He looked around the room, meeting everyone's eyes. "Entirely alone."

Al nodded in agreement, the first time during the entire leap that he actually felt comfortable around Reese. "You tell him, kid."

Reese slowly slipped to the side enough for Sam to pull through, only long enough to whisper, "Al, get me outta here."

Al took a deep breath, concern for his friend crossing his face. He watched as Reese went over to Alex.

Seeing the look on Al's face, he held out his hand to her, helping her to stand. "Do you understand what you just did, Alex?"

She looked at Reese with a hint of confusion. "I think so." She gazed up at him, her face showing her confusion.

Looking into her eyes with the most caring, loving look, he whispered, "Tell me. Tell me what you did… how did you do it?"

"I focused and she woke up," she said plainly.

Reese smiled at her. His arms embraced her in a warm hug. "Come. It's time to go." 

"Damn right, it's time to go," Al said with determination, hitting the handlink and hoping that it would help get some information on how to change this mess.

Alex hugged him. When she opened her eyes, she saw pink. She followed the pink pants up to the yellow neon shirt, to the blue tie. She finally looked into Al's brown puppy-dog eyes. "Reese, who's the man in the funny clothes?" she asked softly, still in his embrace.

Al took a step back at her observation. "You can see me?" he asked carefully.

"Who couldn't see you in that get up?" she said pointedly.

Al rubbed his eyes. "Great. Sam's gone MIA and I'm in a room full of witches who can see me."

She looked him up and down then looked back up into Reese's face as she heard Al's disclaimer. "And hear you too," she said smiling up at Reese.

"Well, then, Alexandra, how about you convince your boyfriend there to leave my friend alone so I can talk to him?" Al said with frustration.

"Boyfriend?" She looked at him and giggled. "He's not my boyfriend. I don't have a boyfriend. Reese is a good friend of the family."

"Reese… is in love with you," Al told her matter-of-factly. "And he's keeping Sam from doing his job here!"

In a sudden fury, Reese let go of Alex and stormed out of the house, slamming doors without touching them. He was almost halfway to the corner when Alex opened the front door. 

Al jumped slightly at the slamming of doors, a little spooked by them but getting used to the hinky procedures by the minute. He followed Alex as she hurriedly followed.

"Reese!" she called out to the departing young warlock.

As suddenly as the fury came, Sam was allowed to come back into play. He stopped in mid-stride not knowing where he was going and not sure why he was walking away without Alex at his side. Hadn't Al just ordered him to go into the room and get her out? If that was the case, then why was he out on the sidewalk without her?

She hurried to Sam, a look of confusion in her eyes. "Reese… why didn't you tell me?"

Al centered himself on the couple, looking back and forth, trying to determine what was going on in the conversation. Was she really talking to Reese or was Sam finally back?

"Tell you?" Sam asked confused. "I..." he began, not knowing where to start. This last little black out, as he was calling them, totally wiped him out.

Al exhaled in relief, taking the hesitation to meaning that his friend was finally where he belonged. "Sam, you really scared me back there."

"I did?" he asked Al not quite knowing what he did. 

Alex looked at him. "He said that you love me… how did you know it was love?"

Al shrugged at Sam's look of confusion. "There's a lot you missed out on, kid. We really need to talk." He looked at Alex, getting a feeling that she could still see and hear him. "Alone."

"Reese?" she asked Sam when he wasn't making any sense to her. "Do you love me?" she finally asked bluntly.

"Yes, he does, Sam," Al told him gently and knowingly. "I could see it in his eyes."

Without hesitating, Sam said, "Yes, I do. I… I always have loved you. Even before I knew before I knew about the charms that you have." 

"Cute," Al commented at the sentiment.

Sam somewhat grinned at Al's comment. "I know that I should have told you… but it never was the right time," he said, knowing somehow that that was the case.

"Well, that's what you're here for, kid. And there's more. So, kiss the lady goodnight and see if you can find a little private time." He looked at him with emphasis. "And no matter what, do NOT let her go back into that house."

"I want to talk more about this with you," Sam said as he heard Al's commentary. He looked at her with almost a blush showing on his cheeks and softly kissed her lips. "Promise me something now," he stated.

Alex smiled at him. "What is it, Reese?"

"Promise me that you'll stay away from the haven. At least for now. Okay?"

She was shattered. Her whole demeanor crashed. "I… I don't know. I…" She motioned back to the house. Tears sprung to the surface as she looked back at the house. "They didn't make fun of me. They at least took me into their circle… invited me in. Don't you know how long I've waited for that?" she asked softly, one solitary tear falling down her cheek.

Al saw the look on her face and instantly felt sorry for her. "Baby, you've got a gift but that is not the place for you. Trust me."

Sam wasn't sure how to keep her out. "I just need to be alone to focus myself. Promise me, please, that you won't go in that house without me."

Alex smiled and nodded. "I promise." She wiped at her tears and sat down on the sidewalk finally succumbing to the emotions that were welling inside of her and she began to sob.

Al nodded, grateful for that promise. At least it was a start. He took a step towards Sam, watching as Alex sat and wept. He sighed with sympathy before carefully guiding Sam a short distance from her, far enough so that they could not be heard but close enough to watch over her.

"Poor kid," he said softly. "She wants affection so much, she'll take it anywhere." He felt terrible for what he made Sam do to the girl but he also had the advantage of knowing her future.

Sam felt like a heel for not going to her, but knew that Al needed to talk to him about the leap. He nodded as Al spoke of how she wanted affection. "Poor kid," he mimicked. "What happens to her, Al? She doesn't wind up on the streets, does she?" Sam asked knowing that some girls did take to the streets looking for affection.

Al shook his head slightly. "No. No, she doesn't wind up on the streets. But she doesn't wind up being with anyone either." He motioned towards the house the haven was in. "That whole whacked out group in there… well, it doesn't go well for her."

Sam looked at the house, sensing something pulling him toward it. "What happens… why are you hesitant to tell me… Al?" he asked softly. "Al, don't tell me…" An idea began to form in Sam's mind as he took another step towards the house. Something was drawing him in towards it… and the sounds from inside the house were beginning to get louder and louder.

Al noticed Sam's actions and quickly stood in his way, even if Sam could easily just walk through him. "Don't, Sam! It's imperative that you don't ever go in there again! Do you understand?"

Sam looked at Al, his eyes having two emot