PROLOGUE  

With this strange leap finally over, Al felt a little sick.  He had heard Sam’s last words and suddenly knew that Clarissa had told him about the headaches.  He shook his head at the realization as he stepped out of the Imaging Chamber.  Raising his head, he saw Julianna waiting for him at the bottom of the ramp, and at the moment, she was the most marvelous sight for sore eyes.  “Hi sweetie,” he told her as he went up to her and kissed her on her cheek.  He looked at her face carefully noting the tension there.  “Is something up?”

       Julianna nodded at her father’s words.  “Come on, Dad, we need to go to the infirmary.  We got some news.  I think it’ll be better if it comes from Mom.”  She put her arm around his waist and walked along beside him.  Having all ready heard the news; Julianna had all ready made a trail mark in the floor of the infirmary from her pacing.  She couldn’t imagine what her father was going to do when he heard the news.

       Al frowned.  ‘This couldn’t be good,’ he thought to himself.  Matching her stride, they made their way down to the infirmary, just as another headache began to tease him with its persistence. “How’s my grandson?” he asked softly.

“He’s fine, daddy.  Kicking field goals,” she said softly with a smile as her left hand came up to her rounded belly.  She fell silent obviously not wanting to talk about her child at the moment.  That in itself made Al even more nervous about what they had found out.

He took the hint and just enjoyed having his oldest daughter beside him as they walked.  By the time they got to the infirmary, he was more than a bit curious as to why Julianna wasn’t in a mood to talk.  Opening the door for them, he headed toward his wife who was looking at the X-rays they had taken earlier.  “What’s the problem?”

       Beth turned when she heard the door of the infirmary open.  Meeting Al in the center of the room, she gave him one of the biggest, longest hugs she could before she finally pulled back and took her hands in his.  “We, I mean, Dr. Snyder and I have found the cause of your headaches, honey.  It’s not a tumor like we first thought.”  She saw him relax just a little but she was still worried about what she was about to tell him.  “Do you remember the chip that you had implanted into your cortex that gives Ziggy a way to link you to Sam?” she asked him softly knowing that he knew what she was talking about.

       Al tensed.  He instantly knew that something was wrong with the chip.  “What’s wrong with it?” he asked firmly, his concern growing not necessarily for himself. ‘The last thing we need is to lose contact with Sam because of the chip going ca-ca in my brain.’

       “Although it’s small, it’s been there much too long.  The blood that has surrounded it has degraded the chip and because of the degradation, it’s shocking you, thus causing the headaches.”

       “What?” Al asked in surprise before closing his eyes and placing his fingertips to his temples to ward off the pain of the headache that now was coming on stronger than it was before.

       Beth took her husband’s hands down from his temples and held them in her hands once again.  “Baby, we have to take the chip out.  It’s the only way to stop the headaches.  You can’t... you can’t keep that thing in your head.  I won’t let you.”

       “I’m not abandoning Sam because of a damn headache,” Al told her firmly, or at least as firmly as he could given the pain that he was in.

       Beth could tell from the pain etched in his face that he was having another headache.  “You know the pain that you’re feeling right now?  It’s only going to get worse until you can’t stand it, Al.  You’ve already passed out several times from the pain. Do you honestly want that pain to double?  Triple?  More?  How high do I have to go until you understand that it’s going to kill you eventually, Al?”  Seeing the stubborn set expression on his face, she shook her head.  “No, Al,” she told him firmly.  “You will be prepped for emergency surgery and that damn chip will be taken out.  As part of the medical team here, it’s my order and that goes higher than you and I’m sure that Bena will back me up on this one.” She watched him open his mouth.  “One word of negativity from you and I’ll make doubly sure that you don’t go toward that chamber for three months, Al.  Do I make myself perfectly clear?”

       Al didn’t say a word as he looked at his wife in frustration.  “What about Sam?  How in the hell are we going to find him without my chip?  Answer me that.”

       “We’ll find a way, Al.  But I’m not going to put your life or Sam’s life at risk for that matter.  I’ll be damned if I lose you because of a biochip,” she told him plainly.

       Al closed his eyes and sighed.  “Okay,” he moaned in pain and dropped to his knees.  His hand shot out to take Beth’s hand in his.  “Get the damn thing out if you want, but only after you’ve found a way to get in contact with Sam.”

       “But, Al, you’re in pain right now.  If it takes longer to figure out how, then,” Beth saw him look up at her with that grit determination in his eyes.  Shaking her head, she closed her eyes.  “Okay,” she finally conceded.  “Okay.  We’ll find a way to keep in contact with Sam before we take it out.  But if for some reason it gets worse before that time, I’m taking it out, Al.  No matter what.”

       Al nodded slightly.  “Fine.  Fine.  Now, get me to a bed.”

PART ONE

Stallion’s Gate, New Mexico

Project Quantum Leap

0300

Dr. Samantha Josephine Fuller sighed tiredly as she put her hand to the metallic disc that opened the Waiting Room door.  Her mind was full from the day’s events, even though it was the same routine that she had always had.  Then, of course, the sleepless nights hadn’t helped.  The dark rings under her eyes were showing.  Shifting the plans to her right hand, she brought her left hand up to her shoulder and massaged at the tension that was still there from the day.  Pouring over the massive plans that linked Ziggy and Admiral Calavicci to Dr. Beckett were starting to wear on her neck muscles and she consistently had to take breaks to work at the tight muscles in her neck.

          She was sure that she was getting closer to finding an answer.  It was there somewhere in those plans.  Somewhere.  But where?  She looked down at the plans in her hands and shook her head.  She was going to find it and if that meant that she had to pour over these plans day and night and risk strained neck muscles then so be it.  Admiral Calavicci’s headaches hadn’t gotten any better.  If anything, they’d gotten worse, so she was looking into every avenue she could so that they could remove the chip and still find her father in time.  At least in the last thirteen days, God/Time/Fate/Whatever was giving all of them a chance to find the answer before they leaped Dr. Beckett in time again.

She took in a deep breath knowing that the moment that she stepped into the Waiting Room, that she would feel the same sensation that she always had.  It was the feeling of being home.  Home.  The thought was something that she had with her mother, Abigail Fuller, before she went off to college.  She smiled as she thought of her mother and shook her head.   If her mother had only known that she was here, with her real father, and trying to get him back home, would she believe it?  Or would she still think that Will Kinman was her father?  Either way, it would take a battery of tests to confirm it for Abigail Fuller.

The Waiting Room door finally came to a halt and she stepped inside.  Her sneakers squeaked lightly against the newly cleaned floor as she walked toward the bed that was in the middle of the room.  She had been sitting at her desk for the majority of the day, reading the document in her hands.  She not only needed a change of scenery, but she also needed the inspiration from her father; the inspiration that seemed to permeate this room.  This room, the Waiting Room, was the only one that gave her complete serenity and focus.  She knew that if she could stay in this room, she could accomplish anything set before her. 

Lying down on the bed on her stomach, she began to look at the document once again.  She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a yawn as she found her place once again.  Slowly, her hand moved up to cup her cheek as she rested her head on her hand.  “Come on, Dad.  How did you do this?” she questioned softly.

She had asked Ziggy to help her with the problem but Ziggy wouldn’t budge on that information.  Neither Al’s code nor anyone else’s was going to get that kind of information from Ziggy.  “Ziggy, can you at least tell me if I’m getting hot or not?”

“If you are getting hot, Dr. Fuller, all you have to do is request the change in the air conditioner for that particular room that you occupy.  Would you like me to ...”

“No, Ziggy,” Sammy Jo interrupted.  “I meant – am I on the right track to finding the data that I need to help Admiral Calavicci?”

“The answer is there, Dr. Fuller,” Ziggy purred softly.  “I’m sorry that I can not help you.”

Sammy Jo placed her fingertips to her temples, closed her eyes and shook her head softly.  Lowering her head to the document lying on the bed before her, she lightly beat her head against it.  “I’ve got to find it.  I’ve got to help Al.” Sammy Jo rolled her head from side to side on the paperwork then sighed heavily.  ‘Maybe, just maybe osmosis would help,’ she thought to herself then snorted at the thought.  Lifting her head again, she placed her head in her hands.  “Why can’t I find this?” she asked herself softly.

Unbeknownst to Sammy Jo, a young man slipped into the Waiting Room and approached her.  He heard her softly spoken question and he shook his head.  Placing his hands on her shoulders, he leaned close to her ear and said, “Because, Dr. Fuller, you’re up at 0300 hours and your beating your head.”

Sammy Jo turned her head to look up into the caring, concerned face of Commander Daniel Fulton.  She grinned at his statement.  “Thank you for pointing that out, Commander.  I never would have guessed.”

Daniel lowered himself to one knee so that he could look into her lovely blue eyes.    “Making your brain resemble an etch-a-sketch isn’t going to help.  I honestly don’t think that you want to shake your head and start over, do you?” he asked with a small grin, his green eyes sparkling with laughter.

“No,” Sammy Jo sighed.  “You’re right, though,” she conceded.  “So, what do you suggest, sir?”  Sammy Jo asked as she sat up on the bed. 

Daniel grinned at her question.  In the last few years that he had been assigned at the complex, he had become very close with the woman before him.  They had gone out of the complex on numerous occasions, and he all ready cared a great deal for her and was just waiting for the right time to pop ‘the question’ to her.  “I suggest that you go to bed and get some rest, Samantha.  You’ve worked hard enough today.  You don’t need added stress.  Come on.”   He offered her his hand as he came up off of his knee.   

Sammy Jo glanced thoughtfully at this hand.  Slowly, she placed her hand in his then stood up.  She smiled sadly at Daniel.  “I just feel like I need to do whatever I can, while I can, to find out how Dr. Beckett did this.  I need to know.  Gooshie would have known.  St. John doesn’t have a clue.  With Tina gone on vacation for the next two weeks, I’m the only one here who can find it.  I’m not only doing this for Dr. Beckett, but I’m also doing it for Admiral Calavicci.  I’d never forgive myself if something happened to him, especially after everything he’s done for Dr. Beckett,” she said sadly as she glanced away from his intense gaze.

“It wouldn’t be your fault, Samantha.  You’re doing everything you can and it’s not going to help you, honey, if you stay up all hours of the night and put your own health at risk,” Daniel said softly as he reached up to lightly stroke her cheek.

Sammy Jo turned her gaze back to him.  “Why do you care so much, Daniel?”

It slipped out of his mouth before he had a chance to catch it.  “Because I love you,” he said it softly.  He swallowed under her now intense gaze but he had said it and he meant it.  He just hoped that she felt the same.

Sammy Jo blinked at his statement in shock of what he had just said.  It was the first time that she had heard that from him and it filled her completely with a warmth that she hadn’t felt in quite some time.  She had kept her feelings hidden from him until she was certain of how he felt about her.  Smiling gently up into his eyes, she said, “I love you too, Daniel.”

Daniel slowly brought her into his embrace then lightly caressed her cheek before he leaned in for a kiss.  His lips lightly brushed hers in a tender kiss; however, as his kiss grew, it became more passionate and intense.  A moment later, Daniel lightly rested his head against her forehead, trying to control the urges that were rushing in on him. His voice was hushed as he said, “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to tell you, or how long I’ve wanted to hear that from you.”

Sammy Jo closed her eyes at his words and smiled.  “I’ve felt that way for some time, Daniel.  I just wasn’t sure about how you felt,” she admitted to him.  She leaned back away from him for a moment and searched his face.

Daniel nodded at her admission, understanding why she had done just that.  In the last few years, she had come to him with all of her problems.  He had been an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, and a friend who cared.  He remembered when she had come to him a few years ago with a problem with a boyfriend who she cared a great deal for but he didn’t want a monogamous relationship with her.  He had seen the hurt in her eyes and had sworn from that moment on that he wasn’t going to hurt this woman in any way.  “I understand, honey.  There’s no need to explain anything.”  He lightly brushed his lips against hers once more before she turned back to the bed to gather the document that she had been reading.

When Sammy Jo turned back around clutching the theory against her chest, Daniel moved so that he could slide his arms around Sammy Jo’s slender figure.  He drew her against him with a small grin on his face.  “There’s no need to explain anything; anything at all.”  Lowering his head, he took hungry possession of her mouth. 

As soon as his lips met hers, Sammy Jo found that she was just as hungry for him.  She kissed him back with the same passion.  Her right hand lightly came up to touch his cheek, and then it slowly moved to run her fingers through his sandy brown hair.

Daniel broke the kiss to huskily call her name softly, questioning his actions.  When Samantha didn’t say anything, he boldly kissed her once again, but instead of his hand staying at her waist, it gently traced up her side to cup her breast.  Insistently, he caressed her.  He wasn’t sure if it was welcomed until she responded in kind.  Her actions told him what her voice hadn’t.    When his hand moved from her breast, it only moved a couple of inches to grab the document that she held between them.   Taking it from her, he slowly bent down to place it on the floor beside the bed.  Slowly, he traced his way back up her body before he laid claim once again to her mouth.

As they kissed, Daniels fingers manipulated the buttons on Sammy Jo’s shirt.  Sliding his hands inside, he could feel Sammy Jo shiver from his light caressing touch.  Sammy Jo’s hands responded in kind; unbuttoning his shirt, her hands caressing his sides then slowly moving up his muscled body. 

Daniel’s touch was gentle, urgent and tantalizing to Sammy Jo, and his kisses were driving her passed the point of no return.  It was when she felt his hands begin to fumble with her belt that she realized where they were.  What would she do if her father leaped and someone magically appeared?  What could she say?  Nothing.  She’d just be in a compromising position and be completely and totally embarrassed. 

Looking up into his desire-filled green eyes, she shifted her feet.  “Daniel?”

“Yes, Samantha?” he asked her, his voice husky with the need that was growing inside of him like an ember too close to dry tinder. 

“Why don’t we continue this in my quarters?”

Daniel searched her face for a moment then leaned in to kiss her hungrily again before he pulled back.  Switching positions, he swiftly picked her up into his arms then shuffled his feet toward the bed to get his equilibrium.  Feeling Sammy Jo’s arms glide up around his neck, he nuzzled her neck for a moment before placing soft, tantalizing kisses below her ear.  “Are you sure this is what you want?” he whispered.  He didn’t want to push anything on her.

“Absolutely,” she said softly.  “You’re all I’ve ever wanted, Daniel.”

Daniel didn’t have to hear anymore.  Turning with Sammy Jo in his arms, he started out of the Waiting Room.  He paused only a moment for Sammy Jo to enter the code to close and lock the Waiting Room door.  After a brief kiss, they headed down the corridor toward Samantha’s quarters.

Tarleton State University

October 3, 2001

8:30 PM

The quantum phasing dissipated for Sam to realize that someone was holding his hand, actually gently pulling it.  He lifted his head at who it was and heard a scolding female voice say, “Keep your eyes closed.  It’s a surprise.”  He quickly closed his eyes and let her lead him.

His face itched.  Sam’s left hand came up to feel a scratchy substance about his face.  It was terribly stuffy underneath the apparent costume he was wearing.  He could feel a breeze on his legs and he quickly assumed from the flowing garment around him that he was a woman again.  He grimaced, but continued on the trek that the persistent woman was leading him on.

He turned his head at the loud pounding country music and the rather loud whoops and hollers that they were moving away from.  He couldn’t remember the tune or the words to the music, but the beat was quite good.  He wondered exactly what was going on.  Was it a party?  Or a dance?  Or a combination of both?  Whatever it was, it sounded like the people that were now behind him were having a hell of a time.

His steps were slowed when the female took both of his hands in hers and slowly walked him backwards.  He felt his posterior end come in contact with a hard surface, and then his back felt it too.  “Keep those beautiful eyes, closed, hon.”

Sam did as ordered and felt a cool breeze assault his lower face as the woman pulled the mask up exposing his lips and part of his nose.  Suddenly a pair of lips met his.  He quickly opened his eyes and gently began pushing her away trying not to offend her.

Sam finally saw the woman before him.  She was positively breathtaking and definitely young.  He looked at her quizzically guessing her age to be approximately twenty-two or twenty-three -- if that.  She smiled slyly at him as she lowered the dark purple ski mask back over his mouth as he frowned at her.  “I know, I’m sorry.  I couldn’t help it my dear, Poo.”

‘Poo?’ Sam thought oddly.  ‘What the heck is a Poo?’ He was sure glad a mask was on his face to hide the embarrassment he was feeling.

The woman hugged him, her hands dipping lower on his back until both hands laid claim to each cheek.  “And you don’t have to say a word, my adorable Poo.  Your actions speak louder than words.”  After hugging him, she stepped away and smiled brightly.  “Until the game.”  She blew him a kiss then sauntered back toward the loud music.

Sam watched her in awe wondering exactly what in the heck was going on.  He shook his head.  He looked around at where he was and saw the reflection of himself in the nearby window.  His mouth slowly opened as he looked at the figure.  He was dressed in a long purple tunic, a purple ski mask in which the mouthpiece and nosepiece had been sealed shut with another kind of material.  There were symbols of odd shapes and markings sewed into the ski mask.  He was confused.  He needed Al.  He put his hand to the reflection and whimpered, “Oh boy.”

PART TWO

Stallions Gate, New Mexico

Project Quantum Leap

9:34 AM

“Dr. Fuller?”  Ziggy purred into her personal quarters and waited only a moment before calling again.  “Dr. Fuller?”

Sammy Jo hesitantly opened her eyes then closed them once again as she snuggled in Daniel’s arms.  “Go away, Ziggy,” she said softly as she ran her hand up his stomach and let it rest lightly on his chest.  Hearing his low moan in his sleep, she sighed happily.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Dr. Fuller, but Dr. Beckett has leaped.”

Sammy Jo’s eyes popped open at the news and she quickly blinked away the sleep.  “What do you mean he leaped?  You have contact?”

“Yes, Dr. Fuller.”

Sammy Jo nodded then began to move away from Daniel.  However, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him, putting his arms around her.  “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked sleepily.

“Dr. Beckett has leaped.  I have to go to work.  Al can’t do it, Daniel, and Julianna honestly can’t either.  She doesn’t need the stress on her pregnancy.  I, on the other hand...” she began.

“You are basking in the glow of the love that we share,” he finished for her with a smile.  “Dr. Beckett can wait for a few minutes, don’t you think?” Daniel knew even as he said it that she would give him that look.  ‘Yup, there it is,’ he thought to himself as she turned her head slightly to him.  He knew how important her work was to her, and especially knew how much Dr. Beckett meant to her.  Pulling her to him for a brief moment, he kissed her passionately once more then reluctantly let her go.

Sammy Jo smiled at him as she got up from the bed and went to her dresser to begin getting dressed.  “You know how important my work is, Daniel.”

“I know, Samantha,” he said as he watched her walk around her quarters.  He shook his head softly against the pillow.  “Woman, if you don’t hurry and put those clothes on, you won’t make it to the door.  I promise you that.”

Samantha grinned at him and couldn’t help but sashay her hips just a bit more than necessary as she went to her closet.  “I don’t think so.  I’ve got to get to work.  You know that and I know that.”

Daniel lowly growled as he watched her hips sway back and forth for a moment.  “Don’t torture me.”  Watching as she went into her closet to get a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, he quickly got out of bed, went to her and wrapped his arms around her.  Starting at her shoulder, he gingerly traced kisses up her neck to her ear lobe.  “God, you taste good,” he whispered against her neck as he continued to kiss and trace his tongue against her skin.  “Come back to bed with me?”

“I’d love to, Daniel, but I can’t.”  She turned around in his arms and gave him a warm kiss.  “I need to go and make sure Dr. Beckett is okay.”

Daniel sighed softly and reluctantly let her go.  “Okay.  I won’t keep you from your work.”  He watched as she began to dress and kept quiet until she was tying her shoes.  “I love you, Samantha.”

Sammy Jo smiled at him.  “I love you too, Daniel.”  Standing up from the chair she had been sitting in, she went to where he had sat on the bed and lightly kissed him.  “I’ll be back later.”  Seeing the wiggle of his eyebrows she lightly laughed then kissed him once more before she headed out of her quarters.

Yawning, Sammy Jo headed down to the Control Room.  She needed coffee.  As she walked by the cafeteria, she smelled the aroma of the coffee and turned to go inside.  She smiled at the few people that were in the cafeteria and poured a cup of coffee.  After adding cream and sugar, she stirred it and took a sip of the warm liquid.  She hummed as it went down.  “Caffeine.  The breakfast of champions.”  Taking her coffee cup with her, she continued on her trek to the Control Room.  Upon arriving, she smiled at St. John.  “Good Morning.”

“Good morning, Samantha,” St. John said with a smile as he leaned against Ziggy’s Control Grid.  “Did you finally get a good nights sleep?”

A smile spread across Sammy Jo’s face.  “Well, for a little bit,” she admitted. 

St. John shook his head.  “You shouldn’t do that to yourself, Samantha,” he tsked at her and shook his finger at her.  “All work and no play makes…” he began.

“Oh, don’t worry about me, St. John.  I got my fair share of ‘play’ last night.” She grinned at him.

St. John’s mouth flew open and he covered his mouth with his hand.  “No,” he breathed out softly.  “No.  You and Daniel?” he asked as he pointed his finger at her and moved it from side to side.

Sammy Jo tried to look indignant at his question.  “A lady never tells such things, St. John.  You know that.”  But the smile that appeared on her face gave away her secret.

“I knew it!” he said with a wave of his hand.  “I knew that you’d get together.”  He came over to her and gave her a small hug.  “See, I told you.”

Sammy Jo rolled her eyes.  She wasn’t going to get into that argument with him again about Daniel and how he ‘knew’ that they were perfect for each other.  He had also said that about other gentlemen that she had dated since he had come to work at the project.  Switching the topic, she asked, “Is ‘Bena in there with our new guest getting information?”

St. John nodded.  “Yes.  And Ziggy almost has enough information to find Dr. Beckett.”  As if on cue, a melody played in the room indicating that Ziggy had done just that.   “Ziggy, can you confirm that you have found Dr. Beckett in the year 2001?”

“Yes, St. John.  He is currently in Stephenville, Texas at one of the sister-affiliated schools of Texas A&M; namely, Tarleton State University.”

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas

October 3, 2001

Sam took a few steps toward the window that held his image and looked again at the mask that was on his face.  He was worried that the symbols that were adorned on it would be symbols that his parents had warned him about.  Upon closer inspection, he couldn’t find a symbol that reminded his Swiss-cheesed memory of any zealous or cult organization.

He moaned at the itchiness of the mask about him.  He brought his hands up to the mask ready to take it off when a voice stopped him.  He quickly turned to his left, and was shocked to someone dressed in another purple ornate garb, however, the mask that he wore was that of a character off a movie.  The visions of the movie played in Sam’s mind – a chainsaw and a lot of teens dying from the one in the mask wielding a chainsaw.  What was the character’s name? Jason?

“Don’t do it, man.  It’s not worth getting kicked out of the organization, is it?”

“Kicked out?” Sam asked as he dismissed the movie all together in his mind.

“Yeah.  Kicked out.  Don’t take the mask off.  I know that it’s your second time to do this and all, but you don’t’ need to blow it, dude.”  The masked person hit him squarely on his upper arm in a friendly gesture.  “You’ll get used to it itching your face.  Come on.  We need to get back to the party and keep spirit up.”

Sam grimaced not quite understanding what organization he was in or why he was supposed to keep spirit up.  He glanced up above him and looked up into the sky.  ‘Where are you, Al?’ he asked quietly to himself hoping that his friend would come soon.

Sam followed the Jason masked fellow back to the music filled area.  As he approached the group of people who were laughing, dancing, talking and listening to the band play, he saw other people in purple tunics running around in the crowd.  Some of the masks that they wore were completely outrageous.  Even from his Swiss-cheesed memory, he could remember some of the faces that were being portrayed: President Nixon, President Reagan, Alf; Freddy Krueger; The Easter Bunny; and other weird masks were running around in the midst of the group.  “What the...”

The sound of the Imaging Chamber door opening close by caused Sam to turn to it.  Sammy Jo walked onto the scene and grinned as she looked around at the spectacle before her.  She pursed her lips and began to sway back and forth to the music that was being played.   The Imaging Chamber door closed behind her as she scanned the crowd.  “Dr. Beckett?”

“Here,” Sam said as he stepped toward her. “In the mask.  Where’s Al?”

“I was wondering where you were in the group.”  Sammy Jo smiled warmly at him as she looked at the outfit that Sam was in and then looked at the others in the crowd.  They weren’t dressed up.  What was going on?  “Is it Halloween?  Why aren’t the others dressed up?”

“Ah, well, I’m not sure.  Who’re you?  Where’s Al?” he asked again.

“I’m Sammy Jo.   I’m taking over for the Admiral at the moment.  He had some unexpected things pop up,” she said as she looked at him with a hint of disappointment in her eyes.  She had hoped that he would have remembered her from the last time she was his holographic image.  Then again, that was over a year ago.  It was obvious from the look on his face that he didn’t buy but accepted her answer.

“So, what’s going on?” he asked her plainly hoping that she would give him some information to go on.                    

“You know I can’t tell you what’s going on, Dr. Beckett.  It’s against Project rules,” Sammy Jo responded plainly as she frowned at him.  “You know that.”

Sam grinned at her.  “No, Sammy Jo, I mean here,” he said as he pointed around himself.  “What’s going on here? I need to know what I’m here to do and why I’m dressed this way.  This isn’t making just a lot of sense here.”

Sammy Jo flushed in embarrassment as she held up the handlink.  She hit the appropriate buttons to see what Ziggy had for them then frowned.  “Ziggy says that she has no idea why you’ve leaped.”

“Great, great, great,” Sam mumbled irritated and swayed his arms lightly at his side before he looked back up at her.

“Hey, but she does have a little bit here,” Sammy Jo said as she looked back up at him then back down at the readout.  “All right here, let’s see.  It’s October 3, 2001 and you are in Texas.  You’re leaped into Kellen Eaton, a senior at Tarleton State University.  He is a Computer Information Systems major who is a devoted fan of the Tarleton Texans.”

“Well, that’s all well and good, but what does that have to do with the fact that I’m dressed up like a freak at the moment?” Sam asked pointing his hands up and down at his garb.

Sammy Jo smiled at him as she looked at his outfit again.  “Well, ahm, let me ask Ziggy to find out.  Just a moment, Dr. Beckett.”  Sammy Jo poked at the handlink a few more times before looking up at the other garbed nut that came running up from the midst of the group.

The feminine purple figure pressed up against Sam seductively then pulled him to her kissing him through the purple ski mask that she had on.  Upon letting him go, she went behind him and pinched his bottom causing Sam to yelp.

Sammy Jo grinned forgetting about getting information at the moment and watched as the purple female twirled Sam around and patted his chest with her hand.  “Go Texans!” she said in a high squeaky voice, then ran off causing Sam to look at her with his head tilted to the side.

“What the hell is going on here?” he finally asked.

Sammy Jo snickered at the question.  “Obviously some sort of kinky stuff.”  As soon as it came out of her mouth, Sammy Jo couldn’t help but giggle.  She had spent too much time around the Admiral.  Shaking her head, she looked back down at the handlink.

Sam rolled his eyes at the comment and looked at her.  “What does Ziggy have?”

Sammy Jo grinned as she focused on the small screen.  “Here’s something interesting.  Kellen Eaton is a part of an organization called the Purple Poo.”

“The Purple Poo,” Sam repeated interestingly.  “Okay.  Someone did call me a Poo earlier.  I wondered what that was.  What is it?”

After a few more punches of the buttons, Sammy Jo began.  “It’s seems that the Purple Poo are the spirit of Tarleton State University.  According to Ziggy, the Poo talk in high-pitched voices to everyone.  They are the most secretive and oldest spirit organization on the TSU Campus.  They promote spirit and involvement across the campus in all sorts of activities, but it’s mainly in sports.”  Sammy Jo took an informative stance and put her hand on her cheek as the information ran across the small screen.  “Purple Poo can be seen at every football and basketball game.  They arrive at the games in a purple limousine.  During the games, they interact with fans in order to raise spirit.  The famous 'Oscar P' chant initiated by the Poo would call upon the spirit of John Tarleton’s dead duck to give them luck,” she began to laugh.  “A duck. How cute.”

“Okay, at least, I understand why I’m dressed like a nut then.”   Sam pursed his lips and looked at Sammy Jo.  “But you have no idea as to why I’m here?”

“Why don’t you call on Oscar P to tell you what you need to do?” she asked with a smile.

“You know, I think that you’ve been around Al too much.  Could you please go back to the project and try to find out why I’m here?”    

“Okay.  Okay,” she said as she held up her hand to ward off the demands that were thrown her way.  “Don’t get your feathers ruffled.”  Sammy Jo giggled as she realized what she had just said.  “I’ll go back and find out.”  She called up the Imaging Chamber door and stepped into the light.  “Dr. Beckett, you have to wonder how they do call on John Tarleton’s dead duck.  What do you think they do?  Quack to get him here?  Flap their arms?”  Seeing the look on Sam’s face and the stance he was in made her stop questioning the Poo’s spirit and shut the door before her.

The loud country music blared out of the speakers bringing Sam’s attention back to the crowd around him.   He watched the crowd for a moment before moving among them.  He wasn’t sure exactly how he was supposed to act.  From judging the way the other purple people were acting, he could act as outrageous as he wanted.  Keeping to the outside of the group that had gathered in the courtyard of the university’s student union, Sam walked leisurely.  He heard a squeal behind him and he turned his head thinking that someone was in trouble, but bumped into someone, causing both of them to fall to the grass.

“Could you get off of me?”  A feminine voice asked a bit heatedly from underneath Sam.

Sam scrambled off of the young woman and sat back on his heels as he extended his hand to help her sit up.  “Here,” he squeaked at her remembering to keep his voice high.  He was more than a bit embarrassed, but the mask hid his embarrassment quite well.  ‘Maybe a mask isn’t so bad after all,’ he thought.  “I’m ... sorry.”

“What’s the deal, Poo?  Forgot to look where you’re going?” she smiled at him. She was quite attractive; she had shoulder-length strawberry-blonde hair, brilliant blue eyes and a warm smile.

Sam smiled at her through the mask and shook his head, hearing the words that came out, but he wondered exactly where they were coming from.  “No,” he squeaked as he looked into her eyes.  “It’s a new way to find Miss Right or at least Miss Right Now.  Marry me?”

She laughed.  “At least your honest.  But marriage?  We haven’t even known each other for five minutes yet, and you don’t even know my name.”

Sam held out his hand to her.  “Fair enough,” he squeaked.  “Give me five minutes and your name.”

“Sandra Keston.  And you?” she queried knowing that he wasn’t going to be able to tell her who he really was but then again sometimes the answers they give were so funny, she had to ask.  She had been going to Tarleton for the last three years.  She knew that you couldn’t find out who the Poo were until they graduated from college. 

Again, the words came out without him knowing rhyme or reason.  Sometimes this psycho-synergizing was good... and other times it just got him into worse trouble.  “Sam Beckett.” 

Sandra blinked at him.  “The playwright or the quantum physicist?”   

Sam sat there for a moment blinking at her a bit surprised at how Kellen had answered.  Why had he used his name?  He was going to try to find out when Al or Sammy Jo came back.  “Uhm... the quantum physicist,” he said truthfully.  “So...” he began but the psycho-synergizing took over once again, “how about that marriage?”

Sandra once again laughed at him.  “Your incorrigible, Poo... I mean, Dr. Beckett.”  She sat Indian style and leaned toward him.   “So, why is the good Doctor Beckett here at Tarleton?”

Sam blushed underneath the mask, as he felt the psycho-synergizing pass.  “Well...” he squeaked as he settled down in front of her sitting the same way she was.  Sam wasn’t able to finish whatever he was about to say when he saw Sandra begin to tremble slightly then began to shake.  Her breathing patterns went from calm to almost panting.  “Sandra?” he asked lowering from the squealing on he had used earlier.  “Are you okay?”

“I... I...” she stuttered seemingly unaware of the people around her.

“Here.  Let me help you,” Sam said as he helped her up to stand.  Her legs gave out and he quickly wrapped his arms around her and shifted slightly so that he could pick her up.  Once she was in his arms, he asked, “What dorms are you in?” 

Her finger flicked out before them and she pointed toward the building next to the student union.  Sam hurried her to the side doors only to find them locked.  “Front...” she mumbled and he walked around the building to take her in through the front doors.

As soon as he was able to get her into the dormitory lobby, he laid her down on the nearest couch and touched her forehead gently trying to ascertain what was wrong with her.  No fever.  He was unbuttoning her top button of her blouse to help cool her body down when an older woman walked into the Lobby, then quickly disappeared only to reappear with a drink in her hand. 

“Here,” he told her softly.  “It looks like you’re hyperventilating.  Take slow deep breaths, Sandra.  Slow and deep,” he whispered to her making sure that he kept his voice low.  “You’ll be okay.”  He wasn’t sure if she was hyperventilating or not… it seemed like she was having a seizure of some sort, but without a thorough check, he couldn’t be sure.

Even as Sandra began to do what Sam told her to do, the older woman who walked into the lobby rushed over to Sandra’s side and pushed Sam back away from her.  She then handed Sandra the drink.  “Exactly what do you think that you’re doing?  You’re not supposed to be in here anyway.  You shouldn’t be in this lobby at all.”

Sam blinked at the older woman.  “But… but she was hyperventilating.  She needed help.  I was just trying to…”

“I saw what you were just trying to do.  Unbuttoning her blouse is not helping her…”

Sam looked down at Sandra who was grinning and good-naturedly took the gripe-out session from the woman.  When she was done ranting, he said, “Yes ma’am.  I’m sorry, ma’am.  Won’t happen again.”  That seemed to appease her somewhat and he looked at Sandra once again.  “Are you okay?” he squawked.

Sandra smiled up at him and she nodded.  “Thank you.  I… I guess that I got overheated or something.  I… I’ll be fine.  Thank you, Dr. Beckett,” she said as she kept up the charade that he had started.  When the older woman looked down at Sandra with a raised eyebrow and crossed her hands over her ample bosom, Sandra grinned good-naturedly.  “You better go, Poo-man.  Don’t worry about me.  I’ll be just fine.”

Sam nodded at her words.  He looked back over at the older woman once more as he once again felt Kellen take over.  “Goodnight my sweet princess Sandra.  Thou shall be up on a pedestal for me from now until forever.”  Reaching out for her hand he grabbed it and leaned down gallantly and kissed it.  “Until we meet again.”  With that said, he left the Lobby and started back out toward the dance.

As Sam started back toward the dance, he heard a loud whistle from behind him and found a purple limousine in the driveway in front of the dorms.  “Come on, Poo!  Let’s go!”  The shrill came from behind the mask of President Nixon.

Sam cast a glance back at the Lobby of the girl’s dorm then looked back at the limousine sitting in the driveway in front of the dormitory.  He was sure that Sandra Keston had to be the reason that he was here.  What that reason was and why, he’d have to find out from Al or Sammy Jo, as soon as he or she could come back.  Until then, he had to be Kellen Eaton, a Purple Poo, and a CIS major.  Will the fun ever stop?

PART THREE

Stallion’s Gate, New Mexico

Project Quantum Leap

Sammy Jo came out of the Imaging Chamber with a direct purpose in mind – to get her father back home.  Seeing him again brought her reserves back up to full power.  As she walked down the ramp, she looked over at St. John and smiled at him, then looked up at the shimmering blue orb in the ceiling.  “Okay, Ziggy, I need you to run scenarios of why Dr. Beckett leaped into Kellen Eaton in the year 2001.”

“From the information that Dr. Beeks already gave me, I can say with a sixty percent chance that Dr. Beckett is there to either play Don Quixote in a theatrical performance that the drama department is doing; or sing the Star Spangled Banner at a football game.”

Sammy Jo frowned.  It couldn’t be that easy.  “Keep going, Ziggy.  I doubt that is why Dr. Beckett is there.”

“Yes, Dr. Fuller,” Ziggy responded quickly before falling silent once more to run scenarios.

Sammy Jo shook her head at the computer as she placed the handlink on its pad on the Control Grid.  Looking up at St. John, she smiled sadly.  “So, have you heard anything from Beth about Al’s condition?”

St. John shook his head sadly.  “No, Samantha, I haven’t.  Ziggy,” he said as he glanced down at the Control Grid where his hands were flying over the keyboard punching in new algorithms.  “Please update Dr. Fuller and myself on the Admiral’s condition.”

“Admiral Calavicci is being taken at the present moment to the infirmary.  It appears that he has just collapsed yet again.  I believe that Dr. Calavicci is planning on emergency surgery in approximately three hours to take out the biochip out of his cortex.  I do hope that she is careful.”

Sammy Jo closed her eyes at the news and brought her hand up to her forehead.  “The biochip,” she said softly but emphatically.  “Dammit,” she murmured and started off toward the corridor to head to her office to pour over the information that she had there.

“Dr. Fuller,” Ziggy cooed at her.