They made love again, falling asleep in a frantic tangle of legs and arms. It was almost a relief to have no Project to wake to the next day, or to worry about the debriefing, since long over.

Sam awoke at nearly eleven p.m., using the bathroom and making sure the house was shut down for the night before collapsing next to Al in the bed. The older man was awake, smiling like a contented cat as Sam pulled the blankets over him and laid at his side. It was a warm, comforting feeling to know Sam was relaxing in the best way he could. Drayton had yet to return his call, and until then, time was theirs to do with as they wished.

Straddling Al's torso, Sam gripped both of the smaller man's wrists, taking and possessing his mouth, putting every bit of love he held for him in the kiss. He laid atop the spare form, pressing his crotch against Al's aroused organ, smiling as he felt the warmth and solid mass there. It was like a honeymoon, of sorts, making love the whole day long, and into the night, no interruptions or...

"Ah..."

The small, soft intake of breath made Sam pause, freezing and turning to confront whoever was standing in the doorway of the bedroom. "Uh..."

"Tina?" Al gasped, staring in open mouthed amazement and shock.

"Al?" The little blonde's eyes were wide and deeply blue, her tanned skin paling at the sight she'd confronted.

Snatching at the blanket, Sam managed to pull most of it over himself before falling back to his side of the bed. She was willowy and perfect, down to the last molecule, and, right now, looking angry enough to blow a missile silo.

"You let him on top!" The words snapped from her mouth, Al looking guilty and still astonished. "Never me, you asshole. I wanted to surprise you." She laughed shortly, the sound completely without mirth. "Some surprise. I could kill you."

She swept from the room, Al motioning Sam to stay for a moment and following her as quickly as he could manage, pulling a robe on as he did so. The sound of breaking glass made Sam's head snap up, the moment Al left the room. It was enough for Sam to snatch up his own robe and run to follow his friend into whatever situation had developed. This one was a doozy.

"Bastard!" Tina's eyes slitted, fists braced at her side as she confronted Al. "Didn't waste a moment, did you?"

"Tina, baby, you have to understand..."

"Baby, my ass." She glanced at Sam for a moment. "Actually, his ass." Seeing the worried expression on Sam's face, she felt herself wilt, knowing his concern was focused on her. "Sorry. I guess I should've called. Kansas City was boring, Al. I sort of missed you. That, and I wanted to tell you it was over, just plain out, because..." She sighed, letting Al take her in his arms and hold her gently.

"It was over a long time ago, Tina." Al was well aware of Sam's eyes on him, worried and waiting. "Before Sam came back we both knew. You told me once, that I was happier with him than I was with you. That you wanted me to be happy. I'm sorry you had to find out this way. You still have a key to the house, and I never expected..."

"I saw the light in the bathroom and heard sounds." Tina grinned. "It sounded like someone having a good time, and since it was coming from Sam's room...I thought maybe you were out. Your bed was empty."

"Haven't used it for a while." Al glanced over at Sam as the other man sat down, both arms crossed over his chest. "We've got a kind of commitment, honey. You know in your heart what you and I had together wasn't marriage."

"This is?" She pulled away from Al's arms and slumped on one of the stools, staring at the two men. In all the years she'd known him, Al had never once mentioned being gay, or interested in men outside of the friendship he held for Sam Beckett. "You two have something permanent? Is that it?"

"Yes." Al pressed his lips together, saying the words and feeling the support emanating from Sam. He reached out and took the other man's hand in his, the return grip strong and firm. "We're happy, Tina."

"Yeah, just the picture of marital bliss," she replied sarcastically.

"Now one minute..."

"Don't 'one minute' me. Al Calavicci! I gave up three years for you, held you when Mr. Wizard knocked around in Time. Finally, I got to the point where I couldn't share, when I got sick of waiting five or six days for you to come home because Sam needed you. The least you could've done now is called and said, maybe, that it was over, instead of letting me walk in on this!"

"If it's any consolation," Sam said quietly, his hand still firmly in Al's. "I started the whole thing. Al told me you'd left and it sounded permanent. Neither of us did anything to intentionally hurt you, Tina."

"You. I should've figured as much. You were never much into dating."

"That's enough." Al's voice was nearly a shout. "As a fighter you were never fair, just a royal ass bitch."

"You were a great teacher!"

"In about ten seconds I'm going to knock both your heads together." Sam's calm voice made the two combatants pause. "Tina, correct me if I'm wrong, but you came here to settle things with Al?"

"For good." Tina wrapped her arms around her body, smiling slightly. "I've got another commitment, someone who cares. Marriage, the works."

"That's great," Al said quickly, inwardly relieved that Sam had deflated a potentially volatile situation. "Who's the guy?"

"It's not important. What matters is that he's reliable, and willing to spend time with me and not a Project, or someone else. He's mine and wants to have kids and a life. Damn it, with you we had fun, lots of things, but never the commitment." She glanced apologetically over at Sam. "It isn't you, pal, never was. I sort of knew something deeper was between you two, and let it slide, thinking, I guess, that you might not come home. Isn't that awful, wanting you gone? I did, for a while. Couldn't live with myself after a while, thinking that way, and then, well..." Sighing, she glanced over at her former lover. "We fought. Tooth and nail. That last one..."

"You took out my tail lights. Good aim."

"And then I left. Cleared my stuff out and took a plane to mother's. Spent a lot of time alone, getting my head together. I didn't call you because I knew you were home. You guys have gotten more press coverage than the president, although lately it's sort of disappeared. You were good for me, Al, and I wanted to give you a proper goodbye before I began my new life. And..." She shrugged. "If being with Sam Beckett makes you happy, and that's a first, let me tell you, then so be it. Christ, in the six years we were together I never made you happy. Don't say I did, because there was always that little bit of fear in your eyes, not trusting me. It's gone now. You didn't apologize when I came out here, or offer some kind of explanation, just stated the facts. None of that bullshit deception you used when you'd bed one of your bimbos and try to sweet talk your way out of it. Surprised the hell out of me."

Glancing nervously over at Sam, Al remembered his frequent infidelities with women, most notably one in particular who wanted to write his life story. The younger man's expression was indefinable, carefully neutral. His body language, however, was telltale. Arms wrapped around torso, introspective, but ever alert to every nuance of conversation.

"Which you did frequently," Tina continued, standing and snatching her coat from where she'd thrown it over a chair in her haste as entering the house. "I have to leave, appointments and all that."

"You have a car I presume?" Al asked, trying valiantly to keep the coldness from his voice.

"Of course. He's waiting out in front." She hesitated with her hand on the door and turned for a moment. "Sam?"

Beckett's head tilted upwards, his attention totally centered on the woman.

"Take care of him. Put up with his little 'habits'. Good luck."

As the door closed, Al grimaced. "What the hell did she mean by that?"

"I think you know." Sam sighed, shaking his head. "Did you really cheat on her? I want the truth."

"Not as frequently as she'll have you believe. Hell, her and Gooshie..."

"This isn't about her and Goosh, Al. You. Are you going to do that to me? I don't think so, but I need a reassurance from you."

Al hated the question the moment the words left Sam's mouth. It was something he'd not thought about once since he and the kid had began their relationship. Other women hadn't turned his head since Sam had came along, although he had to admit there had been times when he'd one or two harmless passes at his aide without thinking. "I don't have to answer that," he managed, turning to the kitchen. "Want some coffee?"

"No, damn it, I want an answer. I'm not going to be your maid in waiting, obediently sulking every time you have an affair, and you expecting me to want you when you come home. Forget it. I'm not Tina, and I'm not about to put up with that for six years."

Back to his lover, Al braced against the counter, trembling. "You heard what I told her? That we have a commitment?" He laughed shortly, a harsh sound. "She used to kid me that our affair had a swinging door that I kept using, in and out of the bedroom to another one. Damn it, she was right. I used to come running back and find her here, pissed as hell. You were around for a few of those, before you Leaped. Duck out the door the second we started shouting and sweep up the broken glass afterward."

"I remember that." Sam grinned in remembrance. "She took out the patio doors that time."

"I didn't blame her, but then...then, I couldn't help myself. She wasn't my true... whatever. I felt it was okay to cheat on her, because what we had was good sex and fun, no commitment. That only came up, towards the end. I was so buried in the Project, and worrying about you, she came second, then third, then...she didn't exist. God, Sam, I'm not going out on you, or screw around with anyone. Maybe, well, I'll flirt a little with someone once or twice, but it'll be harmless. Meaning nothing."

"I can accept that." Sam pushed off the chair and strode to Al's side, wrapping his arms around the slight body. "Just remember this," he whispered, his breath touching Al's ear. "If I ever find out you've messed around, I'll kick your teeth down your throat."

"Sam..." Grinning, Al snuggled into the embrace, feeling the warm lips on his neck. "Did you see the look on her face..."

The phone rang suddenly. Not wanting to move out of Sam's arms for a moment, Al reached for the phone. "Ah...Hello?" Wandering fingers strolled into his robe, parting the silk and playing with his lightly haired chest, Sam's mouth moving along his collarbone. "Daystrom? Ug...Sam...!" At the mention of the designers name, Sam backed off, smiling mischievously. "No...he's right here. When? I guess so. What's his name? Oh. Fine. Thanks."

"What?" Sam pounced the moment Al rang off. "Did we get the funding?"

"I'll put that sentence right next to 'Oh Boy' on your list of most frequently said phrases! He's coming tomorrow, the bigwig. Daystrom isn't giving us a name but said to expect him sometime around two p.m. Don't get too hysterical. He doesn't want a practical demonstration, just talk at this point."

"I'm getting a headache."

"For real?" Al eyes widened in alarm.

"Not that kind of headache." Sam brushed the worry from Al's face, taking his mouth with his, and kissing him hard. "Distract me," Sam breathed, breaking the contact.