Project Quantum Leap was impressive in both technology and scope. It was hard to believe this was his.

No, not his. The other Sam's.

But still. In another life, this was his creation. A secret maze of pioneered time travel technology, overflowing with knowledge and highly protected. Scattered memories were left intact from his brief meld with the Sam of this timeline, but very few of them centered on this place. It was a fascinating rediscovery of himself. He felt he could get lost in the endless hallways, spend hours exploring the rooms and examining the machinery.

That is, if he could get five minutes alone from any of these losers. Everywhere he turned, there was someone to congratulate the marvelous Sam Beckett on his safe return and a job well done. Touching him with disconcerting hands. Either too in denial or too stupid to realize that their idol was a fraud.

The Other Beckett knew what darkness was within the Doctor Beckett, the same darkness that dwelled within him. Only the doctor was a snake who kept it hidden under the guise of discovery and heroism. He and his hologram had cost both paradoxes their lives. But Beckett's goal of destroying them had breathed new life into him, united him with the Calavicci who was once his enemy.

The Sam who originated here, and the Al who lived on broken promises, they were the true villains. They brought all of this on themselves.

Once he'd finished up in the bathroom, Beckett left for another performance. As he'd predicted, it was less than a minute before he was being approached by yet another of the doctor's pathetic sycophants. The woman was in her 30s, wavy brown hair, reasonably good looking for her age. Repulsively cheery. He matched her joy with a pasted-on expression of his own.

"It's...it's an honor to have you back, Dr. Beckett." Her southern accent might've made her sound like an idiot were it not for her rich tone of voice. He found it sexy. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear nervously. "You probably don't remember me. I'd barely started here before you...y'know. But you were-are, my hero."

Ugh. "Thank you," Beckett said through his false smile, "Um...?" He pretended to search for a name.

"Sammy Jo. Er, I mean-" She straightened her posture and tried to be more serious. "Dr. Samantha Fuller. Dr. Fuller. I mean-" Embarrassed now, she closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands for a moment. "I'm sorry. I'm just nervous. You were the reason I got into this field, and I hardly got to meet you before-" She cut herself off, abruptly changed subject and tone. "I've been here six years now. I was heading the team working to fix the retrieval program. We came close a few times too." Nodding, she smiled and clasped her hands in front of her.

"Sammy Jo, right..." said Beckett, acting as if her memory was just dawning on him, "I remember you. Such potential." Her smile widened proudly. He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked as superior as he could get away with. "Don't worry about failing. We all can't be geniuses. At least you can fall back on your looks." Stroking her chin condescendingly, he winked, turned around, and headed back toward the party. Out of sight of the profoundly disappointed woman, he allowed himself a smug look.

-

"About time you showed up!" Calavicci called from the middle of the room. Someone had started some music, and he was dancing invisibly along with the crowd. Beckett looked away. Sure, it was easy for a hologram to enjoy himself; he didn't have to actually be here with these people.

The same voice spoke up next to him. "How you doin', kid?"

Still unused to the two Als, Beckett covered his surprise well. "Never better." God, he'd like to strangle him. It took much of his control to play nice with his tormentor.

Before Al could get out another word, a small figure had barreled into Beckett and caught him off guard again. "Hiya, Dr. B! Welcome back to the party!" she exclaimed in a twinkly voice. Her pert breasts were snuggled nicely against his body. He was entirely okay with this kind of touching, but unfortunately it didn't last long. "You like, wanna dance?" She giggled and wiggled.

Three sets of eyes were checking her out: one was Beckett and the other two were named Calavicci. The Observer, unseen by anyone but Beckett, got up close and personal. "Oh, Tina, Tina, Tina... I'll dance with you all night long..." He swung his hips forward suggestively.

Beckett chuckled. He coughed to cover it up.

"Leave him alone, Tina," Al said, along with a good-natured tug in his direction, "If the kid wants to dance, he'll dance. If you wanna dance with me, on the other hand..." He lowered his eyelids seductively.

"Oh come on, it's a celebration!" the redhead (Tina, presumably) said as she started back toward Beckett, swaying to the music, "Let's dance, Dr. B!"

"I think I'll have this dance."

Al and Tina looked behind Beckett toward the speaker, and the mood of the room abruptly changed. Curiously, Beckett turned around to see who had spoken.

He'd never seen anyone look at him like that before. Like he was the only light in a dark room. No one except...

Brown hair swept into a loose bun, sad eyes, a wistful grin. Tears brimmed as she looked at him; her breath was held captive in this single moment. The crowd watched, mesmerized, waiting.

One cautious step forward. Then another, quicker. Hardly contained now, she rapidly closed the distance between them and passionately pulled his lips to hers.

Well, he wasn't going to turn her down if she was offering. Whoever she was.

They parted. Beckett caught his breath and grinned with surprise. He didn't take the other Sam as the playboy type. "That was some welcome."

The mystery woman's smile faded. "You don't remember me...do you?"

"Uh-"

"Oh, uh, Donna!" Calavicci jumped in.

"Donna, of course," Beckett quickly covered, "I'd never forget you." Donna, right, Al had mentioned a Donna earlier. She sighed with relief.

"Donna Eleese-Beckett," the Observer continued, leaning forward with a devilish grin, "Your wife."

Beckett went rigid. His wife.

His wife.

"Heh, yeah, been waiting here for six years since that chump left her. What a prince, right?" Calavicci chuckled, checking her out now. "I'd give her a five or so, but she'd do in a pinch..."

"Are you real?" Donna asked, dazed.

"As...as real as you."

Their fingers entwined. She gazed deeply into his eyes. "Can we go somewhere alone?"

Slowly, Beckett's lip curled up in a wicked grin. He would love, loveto be alone with the good doctor's wife.

-

He couldn't see it. Why he'd married her. She was too mousy, too soft-spoken, too...ordinary. A good kisser, sure, but wholly unremarkable. But perhaps that's why the doctor left her behind. It was noteworthy that none of the memories that remained from his time as the other Sam had her in them.

But actually. He might've seen some of it in her eyes. The way she seemed to view him. Believing the lie. Sam Beckett must feed on that, her subservient need to please him. It ran so deep she'd waited for six years.

He couldn't wait to exploit that.

Their private quarters were nothing and everything like where he lived. The layout was strikingly similar, but when the doors opened at his own Project, he was met with blank walls, a bed, and only what was essential to live. Here, the door revealed a home.

Cozy, small, neat but not unwelcome. Temporary, just like any other leap. Or, the leap this journey equated to. He was used to playing the part as someone else, but to pretend to be himself, but at the same time not be himself...it was a little more of a challenge than he'd expected. He was careful not to give away what he was thinking, to let Donna take the lead. If she thought she was in control, she would think it was her fault when things fell apart.

"I thought about you every day," she said. Both of them were standing next to perfectly serviceable chairs. "Fought for you every day. I knew you'd come home to me."

"I...didn't think about you," Beckett said, tacked with suitable remorse, "I didn't remember you. Didn't think I had anyone to come home to." He turned away, hid his amusement.

"I know. I told him not to tell you about me...so you wouldn't feel guilty for doing what you had to do."

Beckett looked over his shoulder, disbelieving. She would lie just so he could be unfaithful? And they still thought he was a saint? At least he was honest about where he stood and who he had to screw along the way. "I remembered you when I left," he pointed out.

"I know."

Why was she so understanding? It was sickening. Despite himself, Beckett started to get angry. "You'd forgive me for that?"

"It took some time," she admitted, looking toward the floor, "but I did. A long time ago."

"Why?"

She stepped closer. Cupped his cheek. "Because I love you, Sam." She leaned forward, slowly, and tenderly kissed him. It was different this time. Softer. Less reactionary and more meaningful.

Beckett had been told "I love you" on more leaps than he could count. Passionately, hollowly, mistakenly, drunkenly, familial and romantic; it was not something he was unfamiliar with. But it was strange hearing it with his own name. Alien. He was unsure how to react.

So he kissed her back. Gently. Just to try it out. It wasn't unpleasant.

She looked up at him. Took his hands in hers. "I'm never letting you go again."

Odd, but he almost believed her. Stroking her shoulders, he leaned in and kissed her on the neck. Began to unbutton her dress.

He could hurt her later.

-

The party was starting to wind down, not coincidentally around the same time the food and drinks began to run out. It wasn't exactly an abundant spread anyway, what with the last minute nature. But Al wasn't done celebrating just yet. He munched on some pretzels, popped one into Tina's mouth as they bobbed to the music. She giggled.

Like a foal learning how to walk, a hooched up Gooshie zigzagged his way to Al and threw an arm around his shoulder. Al coughed. His breath had somehow gotten worse.

"Whensss Dr. Beckett comin' back?" he slurred. Wow, he was totally gone. There were gonna be some hilarious pictures tomorrow.

Al smirked knowingly. "Uh, something tells me Sam probably won't be coming back out tonight."

"Oh," the programmer said obliviously. He blinked. "He's missin' a great party!"

"Great for most of us anyway," said Tina. Her focus was on Sammy Jo, who was keeping to herself in the corner. She stirred her drink sullenly. "What's eating her?" Tina looked toward Gooshie. They both shrugged.

It was odd. Sammy Jo wasn't usually one to be a wallflower. Al decided to go find out. "I'll be back, babe," he excused himself, heading for the corner, "Save another dance for me!"

"You got it!" Tina giggled as she pulled Gooshie in for a dance in the meantime.

Sammy Jo was so distracted, she didn't notice Al's approach. "Am I gonna have to start a conga line?"

"Hm?" Sammy Jo looked up from her drink. "There's a conga line?"

"If it gets you to smile, sure. Though word of warning, if Gooshie's leading, we might end up dancing in the boiler room." Sammy Jo chuckled, and Al's smile widened. "There it is." Sammy Jo shook her head, and he leaned against the wall. "Everything alright?"

"Oh yeah, everything's fine," she said appreciatively, "I mean, this is huge. It's a big night."

"You get to see Sam yet?"

"Oh yes." Sammy Jo was polite, but oddly quiet. She didn't elaborate. She stirred her drink again.

Al quirked an eyebrow. "I thought you of all people would be jumping off the walls with excitement. You don't seem that happy about it."

"I am!" Sammy Jo said quickly, worried she looked ungrateful, "Sorry, I am happy. He's just...different than I thought he'd be, that's all." She shrugged. "But that's on me, not him."

"Ah." Al screwed up his mouth, put his hands in his pockets. "He just needs some time to adjust to being back. Don't take it too personally if he acts a little weird."

Sammy Jo nodded. "Yeah. You're right."

"He's been through a lot."

-

The sting of barbed wire brought Beckett back to consciousness with a start. He'd been dreaming again. Remembering. Like so many times before, he was able to bury it easily and quickly.

He looked beside him, where the doctor's wife slept peacefully. The sex had been...different. Something seemed off-putting that it had been meant for him and not a face in the mirror. But...then again, Dr. Beckett was just another mask when he thought about it.

Moving swiftly and quietly, Beckett got dressed and left the room.

-

This time of night the Project was mostly empty, save for a handful of security personnel. And Beckett supposed after that party, more members of the staff than unusual were tucked away and sleeping it off. That left him freedom to pad softly down the corridors, really take in what he'd been too irritated to fully appreciate.

He knew the programmer had been completely off his ass. The Control Room would be unattended. The door clunked shut. Beckett froze as he took in the wondrous sight, an awestruck smile slowly overtaking his features.

It was beautiful. Lights of every color of the rainbow lit up the bizarre, cubed console, centered between four ramps lit blue. And high above everything else, the most wondrous shade of blue he'd ever seen, was a gold-flecked sphere watching over it all.

Proudly, he stepped further inside. "Hello, Ziggy."

A pause. The ball came to glowing life. "Good evening, Dr. Beckett. I'm told you're back."

"How very perceptive of you." Smartass. He knew she knew. Maybe she didn't know exactly, but she knew something wasn't right. That made her smarter than Al, at the very least. Well, why wouldn't she be? He created her. Not that this would be an issue much longer.

"I'm very busy, you know," the computer sniffed, "so you mustn't interrupt my work. It's important."

"Oh, I won't be too long." Beckett stepped up to the control panel, ran his hands along the colorful surface. Though the computer was quiet, he felt like unseen eyes were watching him with suspicion. He studied the controls, listened closely to seeming silence. Entered in his code.

"This is unusual behavior, Dr. Beckett," Ziggy said with annoyance, "And in accordance with my programming, I have no choice but to report to Admiral-"

"Override that section of the programming, Zig," Beckett ordered casually, pressing some more buttons. The sphere went mute again. "Atta girl." A few more tweaks in the program, and...viola! No one but him had access.

"This is a violation of my programming, and I refuse to-"

"Hey Zig? I think it's time you shut up." And with another press of a button, the sphere and the console went dark. Beckett was pleased with himself. This had been too easy. You'd think the legendary Project Quantum Leap would have tougher security. He turned to his invisible companion. "It's done."

"Not yet, bucko," Calavicci said, puffing on his cigar, "You still gotta get the files. So don't get cocky."

"Fuck you; I'd like to see you shut down a government project singlehandedly."

"You had the codes from that ancient Blue Book recording Lothos dug up," Calavicci said pointedly, "And besides, you ain't doin' it singlehandedly."

"I forgot; I have you to hold your dick in your hands and make sarcastic comments."

"Watch me observe as you're getting your ass kicked by security, since you seem to have this handled on your own." Calavicci smirked at his own joke, and Beckett glared. "Besides, if I don't keep an eye on you, Lothos will send someone else who's less lenient." A dark shadow passed over him. He was no longer joking.

Beckett shrugged, and the argument was over. He studied the dimly lit Control Room. Calavicci shoved his hands into his pockets and took a few steps forward.

"Real kick in the ass, ain't it?"

"I gotta admit, it's impressive."

The sound of footsteps drew their attention, and Calavicci quickly phased through the wall to investigate. Within moments, he was sticking his head back in. "There's security patrol coming this way; you should disappear for now. You can come back tomorrow night and finish the job."

Nodding, Beckett quietly slipped out and returned to his quarters.

Calavicci remained behind for a bit. The last light blinked off.