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"Al, what a nice surprise. What can I help you with?"
"It's not me, Doc", Al replied with a grin. Al was not known for his friendliness with shrinks, as he called them; but for verbena he made an exception. She'd won his respect and trust many times over.
"But, it is nice to see you too, it's been too long since we've had a proper talk. however, we have a problem".
"We have a problem, Al?"
"Well, alright, it's my problem, but, cos I respect you and your judgement, you're the only one who can help. Besides, she won't listen to me!"
"Who?"
"Sammy-Jo".
"What's wrong with Sammy-Jo? She's always been a fairly settled person, a bit highly-strung and tempermental sometimes, and a bit on the introverted side, but still pretty stable."
"Well, she's not settled at the moment".
"I think you'd better sit down Al."
Al sat, and thught of how to begin to tell Verbena all about his best friend's daughter.
"OK, Beeks, what do you remember about Sammy-Jo starting work here?"
"Well, it was in October 1996. You'd read about her achievements in some magazine, spoke to her and offered her a job. She accepted, and started working with Gushie and Tina to modify Ziggy and improve the retrivial programme. With her IQ she seemed one of the only people who could follow Sam's reasoning and calculations."
Al smiled at the irony of the statement.
"Well, Beeks, what if I told you that, to me, Sammy-Jo appeared here in December 1997. I left the imaging chamber and there she was working with Tina and Gushie, just as if she had been for the past year and a bit. It took me a while to get used to her, I can tell you. I have a vague recollection of hiring her and her starting in 1996, and it's a little confusing at times."
"I'm sorry, Al, I don't quite understand what you're telling me."
"When Sam leaps, he makes changes in the past. These changes have affects on the lives of people he's leapt into, and those around him. Sometimes, they have an affect on people at the project, creating an alternative time-line. This was one of those times. because I'm linked to Sam and Ziggy, I see both time-lines. In one time-line Sammy-Jo Fuller came to work at project Quantum Leap in October of 1996. In the original time-line she didn't never even existed. In December 1997, Sam leapt into Abigail Fuller's fianace, Sammy-Jo's father. He saved Abigail's life. He created Sammy-Jo's..."
"You mean? Oh my God. Sammy-Jo's here cos of Sam's leaping! Wait a minute, why didn't I know about this leap before?"
"It's classified"
"Why? All the files are accessible to all senior project personnel...But, if Sammy-Jo read the report she would find out...that Sam Beckett was really her father!? That's it, isn't it Al?"
Al just nodded.
"And now she's found out?"
"She knew, Beeks, it was in the depths of her mind all the time. She started having dreams, about a week ago. She's been able to sense the different time-lines, due to the link of neurons with Sam. We had to tell her. I don't know what to do, Beeks. I think she's in shock and denial."
"Well, thanks for letting me know, Al. I'll have a word with her." She paused. "Al, tell me, are there many instances like this, affecting the project, I mean?"
"Yes, Beeks."
"Are there any where, I've not been here?"
"No"
"Al, have you told me this before?"
"Yes, many times."
"Oh. How can you stand it, knowing both time-lines?"
"I really don't know. I guess that's why I tell you. Sometimes I leave Sam, and Tina's married to Gushie, other times she's with me".
"You and Tina, Al?" This was one time when Tina was with Gushie, but not actually married to him.
"Yes, Beeks. It's, it's not easy, I can tell you. Sometimes, I wonder whether one minute I'll be here and the next I'll find myself behind some desk in Washington. Still, this is the first time we've told Sammy-Jo who she really is. She really needs your help. I need to go and check on Sam".
With that, Al left, not wanting to talk to shrinks, even Verbena, anymore about how many things Sam changed, and how every time he entered the imaging chamber he was half scared of what he sould find when he got out.
Sept 3rd 1977. Beckett farm, elk Ridge, Indiana:
Al arrived to find Sam hugging his family in greeting. He smiled at the sight. It wasn't often Sam got to go home, even as someone else. As Sam excused himself to let the younger Sam have more find with his family, Al went over to talk to him.
"Mom looks so young. And dad, he looks great. Maybe this time I can.."
"No Sam. Ziggy says you're still here for Katie. At least you can help her. Be grateful Sam."
"I am Al, really I am. It's so great to see them all again."
"So, how was the ride down?"
"Akward, but OK. Does Ziggy have any ideas on how I'm supposed to stop Katie? If I remember correctly, she was crazy about Ralph, and so was everyone else. Why would she listen to her brother's girlfriend?" "We don't know yet Sam. Ziggy's working on it."
"Uh huh. So, if Ziggy hasn't got anything, why are you back. Is it Sammy-Jo?" Sam asked, seeing the sadness in Al's eyes.
"Yeah, Sam. She didn't take it well at all. Beeks is with her now. She's in shock and denial. She's angry at me for not telling her, angry at you for taking advantage of her mother, confused with who she is, and I guess, angry at you for not being a father and the person she always wanted you to be. You're like a hero to her Sam, you know. Now, I don't know. We've both betrade her. I should of told her Sam. it wasn't fair to keep her in the dark for so long."
"Al, you weren't to know. We both thought it was for the best. we didn't know how she'd react."
"Yeah, well, we were right about that! There's absolutely no chance of her leaping, either. In her words, sorry Sam, she'd never do something that stupid with no chance of retrivial."
"Well, you gotta admit, Al, she's got a point there".
"Yeah, well, if you hadn't made that stupid mistake, she'd never have been born!"
"It's ok, Al. Calm down. give her some time. I'm sure she'll adjust. Didn't you say she was just like me."
"Spitting image, Sam"
"Well there you go. try not to worry too much and let 'Bena handle it".
"Alright Sam, I'll try".
"Good. now, what about Donna, and me, and Katie."
Al punched the handlink.
"Still no more data on what to do about Katie. As for Donna, well, we had to sedate her. She was hystical. She kept asking for you Sam".
"Hope you didn't tell her where I was", he joked.
"You're in a good mood, considering".
"I'm home Al. My parents are here. Katie's here. This is going to be a good leap, Al, I can feel it."
"I hope you're right Sam. We don't need any more problems. You'd better go join your family sam. Your boyfriend's starting to wonder what's going on."
"Ha ha, Al". But he went over anyway.
Al gave the happy scene one last look as he left Sam's present.