-1I do not own Saved By The Bell. Neither do I own any of the original characters or storylines referred too. They all belong to Peter Engel/NBC productions. Neither am I anything to do with those companies. This is just a story by a fan of the show for other fans of the show. Neither is this story meant to express any personal political views, everything that happens is purely for the purpose of the story only.

Chapter Three

A Trip To Cal U

When she had started back at college Nicola Powers had taken a lot of extra credit courses, graduated with a first class degree, a distinction in her masters and was now working towards her PHD while working as a teaching assistant herself at USC. There was no prouder people than her daughter and husband. Even at just four, Joseph Powers knew just how fabulous and clever his Mum was, probably because Screech told him every day.

That weekend Nicola and Screech were off up to Cal U to visit Paul, to watch him in a squash match against Stanford's best player that was already on the pro-circuit. Paul, as a senior and captain of the squash league at Cal U was well known around the campus. Paul was in the most sought after fraternity, lived in one of the best rooms in the frat house and seemed to have a different girlfriend every time Screech and Nicola visited. Though, back when he was a freshman, Paul had ended up living in the same dorm his Father had once lived in.

It was back on the day that Nicola and Screech had first dropped Paul off as a freshman that Screech met Mike Rogers again. Screech remembered it like it was yesterday.

'Mike Rogers, your not still in college?'

'Kind of, I never really left since you were here when I was doing my masters. When I got my psychology PHD, I became a professor. What brings you back here anyway, Samuel 'Screech' Powers?'

'We've just dropped my son Paul off, he's a freshman', Screech had explained.

'Now, that does make me feel old.'

Paul had done some psychology courses as part of his degree, even though his major was sports science. He had thought it would come in handy if he was going to pursue a career in that field and work with all kinds of people. Therefore, during his sophomore and junior years Mike had been one of Paul's professors. And Mike, as a sports fan and ex-pro football player always liked to support the colleges sportsmen and women.

So that weekend when Screech and Nicola arrived to watch Paul play in his biggest squash match to date, they weren't surprised to see Mike or at the fact he had saved them a seat at the front, with a fantastic view of the squash court through the glass, just like he always did.

'Hey there Screech', even his old RA couldn't get out of the habit of using his old nickname, even now. 'It is okay me still calling you that isn't it?'

'If it wasn't Mike, I would have told you by now. All my old friends still call me that and it does make me feel youthful still.'

'I guess Paul was lucky not to acquire a daft nickname.'

'Paul is way cooler than I ever was.'

'He must have inherited that from his Mother, like his raquet skills.'

The players appeared then and went in to the squash court. Paul looked nervous, but then he was playing someone that had never been defeated on the college circuit and already had a bronze medal from the world championships.

The undefeated senior from Stanford won as predicted, but it had actually been a very close match and Paul had certainly got him frightened he might lose at some point. Paul's coach said it was his best match ever and all Paul's friends went down to congratulate him when he came back out of the court. His parents and Mike could hardly get near him.

'I think you really scared that guy in to thinking he might just lose', Mike told him when they finally managed to reach him.

'I'm so proud of you Paul', Screech hugged his son 'And I know your Mum would be too.'

'Thanks Dad, that means a lot to me. My friends want to throw me an almost victory party, do you mind?'

'Of course not Paul, you guys go and have a good time.'

Screech and Nicola ended up back at Mike's apartment, Mike making Nicola laugh with the things he remembered Screech getting up to as a freshman in his dorm.

'So Nicola, hows your daughter doing at UCLA? She's a senior too isn't she?'

'That's right Mike. She's a computer science major. I think she has decided she wants to teach high school kids. I guess that's Sam's influence.'

'It was my wife Judith that inspired me to carry on and become a professor. It's certainly not something I ever thought I would be doing back when I was on the 49'ers. You know Screech we should have a bit of a dorm reunion one day.'

'That's a good idea Mike. I was only talking the other day about how we all promised to stay in touch with Alex and Lesley after our ten year reunion and we never did. I haven't a clue what they are up to now, or even where they are.'

'They must both have profiles on the alumni site, do you ever go on there?'

'Well, I do have a profile, but I never really have the chance to go on there. I've got a high school of five hundred kids whose education I'm responsible for, a wife in post grad school, a son in college, a stepdaughter in college, a son in pre-school, plus a robot to take care of.'

'Yes, Paul has told me all about the adventures of Kevin over the years.'

'Well, its Josie that's in love with Kevin. Her boyfriend doesn't get a look in when she brings him home. I'm sure Kevin is the attraction of her staying living at home and not living on campus. That and not having to pay any rent of course. Though she does work in the campus library three nights a week.'

The next morning before they met for lunch with Paul and Mike Screech and Nicola went over the Golden Gate bridge and enjoyed a morning by themselves in San Francisco. They both loved the city and neither of them had visited for a while.

When they got to what was Paul's favourite restaurant back in Berkeley Mike and his wife Judith, a literature professor at Cal U and Paul were already sat at the table waiting for them.

'Nicola, I was just thinking , we have been away for a day and a half now. That's enough time for Mum and Dad to have taught Joseph all the words to yet another Elvis song.'

'I wonder what one its going to be this time', Nicola was curious. 'After all, he already knows all the words to Love Me Tender and Suspiscious Minds, that's quite an achievement for a kid his age.'

'Screech , you have just reminded me. I was having a clearout the other day and I found something of yours. I've brought it with me to return to you, I think I've held on to it for long enough.'

Mike then handed Screech an old cassette tape.

'I don't believe it. My chimps after dark tape. I'd forgotten all about that. It's a shame I don't have an old fashioned cassette player to play it on.'

'I wouldn't say it's a shame at all Screech. I'd say it was a blessing in disguise, especially for Nicola here. Trust me Nicola, how he found that annoying noise relaxing, I will never know.'

'I'm almost sure my parents have an old fashioned cassette player in their garage. Maybe I'll give it a whirl for old times sake when we get back to LA.'

'Screech, your not really going to put your wife through that tape are you?'

'Of course not. I was just kidding. I can't believe I used to sleep to that stuff either. But then of course, I didn't have Nicola in those days', Screech put his arm round his wife as they waited for their coffee's to arrive.

'Sometimes guys, I have to admit, I do miss being an RA over at the dorm. It was fun, the kids made me feel young and alive, in a different way to how it is when your teaching them.'

'One of my professors at USC is due to retire when I finish my PHD and already keeps telling me I should go for his job. I'm not sure though, I still haven't really decieded what I want to do career wise for the next twenty-five years or so.'

'But Nicola, you've already had an amazing career, all the places you've been in the world.'

'But Mike, like being a footballer, flying wasn't half as glamorous as it sounds. Sure I saw some beautiful places, but I mostly saw a lot of airports and trust me some of those airports I never want to see again.'

'Well, Mum, Sam, while we are on the subject of careers, I think its time to tell you my good news. I've been offered a job when I graduate, on a well known gym chains graduate scheme, so hopefully I'll be managing my own gym in a few years. Sampsons certainly has enough gyms throughout the states and the world for me to take charge of one of them somewhere. It means when I'll graduate, I'm just going to be living in San Francisco and I'll start work in one of the Sampson's gyms there the week after I graduate.'

Screech had to drive back to LA later, but he was so proud of his son, he ordered champagne or everyone else to celebrate with.

'I'm so pleased for you Paul. It's not easy to find a job in the field you want straight away. You've been really lucky.'

'I know, but I was determind . I started looking as soon as I was told I would never be in the pro squash leagues and that I wasn't going to have a star studded career like my Mum had. But I've enjoyed playing squash in college and I'll always continue to play for leisure. I still love the game.'

Finally back in LA late that evening Nicola and Screech picked up a sleepy Joseph from Screech's parents house.

'Okay Mum, tell me now, what song have you and Dad been teaching him this time?'

'Jailhouse rock', Mrs Powers admitted 'We've been singing and dancing all around the house to it.'

Screech and Nicola looked at each other as if to say I'll toss you for who drives him to school in the morning. But then Nicola remembered, it couldn't be her.

'Oh Sam, I've just thought, I have to assist a lecture at eight in the morning. I'm going to be leaving for school early.'

'It's okay Nicola. I was brought up on all those songs myself. I'm sure I can cope with my son singing them on the way to school, out of tune and badly, kind of like my parents did to me when they took me to school.'

'Oh Sam, I love you and I'm so glad we've got two sports mad kids, otherwise we may never have met.'

They put Joseph to bed and then Nicola got her papers ready for the morning. Nicola smiled to herself, if anyone had told her a few years back she would be back in school at her age and studying for a PHD, she would have laughed in their faces. But she was so glad things had turned out the way they had.