Chapter Four: Like Son, Like Father

May 17th, 2003, Project Quantum Leap, Stallion's gate, New Mexico:

'Al', exclaimed Nicholas as Al entered the waiting room, 'I'm pleased you're back'.
Well, he's certainly in a better mood than earlier, thought Al. He still didn't know what to say to the boy, though. Nicholas certainly seemed to know him well enough, but he guessed that wasn't surprising. Any son of Sam's would be like a nephew to Al.
'Um, yeah. I had to give Sam the news', Al told Nicholas, 'He's not really sure what to make of all this, though. And, to be honest, nor am I'.
'Oh, of course', agreed Nicholas. 'This isn't exactly normal, even for here, is it?'
'You can say that again, kid. We're gonna need some information from you, though. Do you have any idea why Sam's where he is?'
'Well, the records of the leaps are still kept pretty secret, especially those involving people at the Project. I only knew what was happening because of growing up at and then working at the project. Dad never really told me much about his leaps, but I got a lot of stories from you. I guess dad didn't want me to know about his leap into me. I only know because I came across some old records of yours. I guessed your password you see, 'Beth', and when I saw my name I couldn't resist. As I got older I decided that when I leaped I would have to talk to you and only you about it. I, er, decided not to tell Sammy-Jo and mom who I am, yet. I didn't know if they would really be able to understand it.'
'Well, Sammy-Jo probably would. Only, she doesn't know who her father is, yet, let alone that she will soon have a half-brother. And, mom?'
Nicholas looked worried. 'Er, Donna Eliese-Beckett..'.
Al looked relieved. 'Right, yeah, good. No, no, don't tell them anything. I know how quickly the time-lines can change round here, and I usually remember both lines, but the others don't. We don't want to mess anything up until we know exactly what's happening and why Sam has leaped into you. I hope Sam isn't getting into any trouble there, though'.


June 20th 2035, Project Quantum Leap:

Sam, meanwhile, was enjoying being home, surrounded by intelligent, caring people he knew well. He was home, and he was going to take a bit of time for himself for a change. He deserved it. He may be in the future, he may not be himself, but he was just about the closest he could get to it!
He still couldn't believe he had a son, though. He'd always wanted children, and it was nice to know that during all his work and then his leaping, he still had had time to raise a son who looked to be following successfully in his footsteps. He thought that he was bound to be proud of him. He wondered idly who Nicholas' mother was, whether it was someone he already knew, or someone he'd meet after he finished leaping. (He didn't remember Donna). He now knew instinctively that he would soon finish leaping and go home, to his own time. After all, Nicholas was born at the Project, wasn't he?
He wandered around, taking everything and everyone in, smiling vaguely at people who Nicholas knew but he didn't, and smiling joyfully at old friends.
He couldn't help thinking that there was something he was missing though. As he made his way towards the personal quarters, he suddenly heard a familiar voice:
'Well, Sammy-Jo, I guess we're nearly ready for the next leap. Gushie's checked Ziggy through and the retrieval programme is on-line again after the last lot of blown fuses. Tina says that Nick's finished the latest set of equations, so, as soon as we get a lock, Abby will be all set.'

Sam's face lit up at the mention of a working retrieval programme, but it wasn't that that stopped him in his tracks and made him watch and listen. Even before the speaker turned round to face his direction, he knew who it was. As they turned round, the speaker saw him.
'Nick, hi', he said, 'Everything alright?'
But Sam couldn't answer. He knew now what he'd forgotten. It must have been all the shocks that this leap had brought. It was too late now, though. He was face-to-face with himself!

'Oh,boy', whispered Sam Beckett to himself. It was too much of a shock for him to do anything else as he looked up at the older version of himself. He was thirty years older but hadn't really changed a bit. Plain old human curiosity got the better of him and he just stood and stared at who he would become. Even at 83 you could still tell that Sam Beckett had one of the best minds at project, if not in the rest of the area and beyond. It was only then that Sam really realised just how far into the future he had leaped. Nicholas was in his late twenties and he hadn't even born until some time after Sam's, Al's?, present. Sam guessed that birthing techniques for older women had much improved during that time. Ever that, or he'd had gone off with a woman at least half his age, and that was much more Al's style than his!
The older Sam Beckett meanwhile just stared at his 'son' with a very strange look in his eyes and, resolved to have a private talk with Nicholas later.

At that moment, Sam heard the imaging chamber 'door' open again and Al appear.
'Oh my God, Sam, it's you!' he exclaimed unnecessarily. But, what else was there to say. Sam looked briefly in Al's direction, but didn't say a word.
The older Sam cleared his throat, bringing everyone's attention to the immediate present (or future). 'I'll see you for dinner later?' he asked.
'Uh, yeah, sure', replied Sam/Nicholas. With that Sam and Sammy-Jo said goodbye and continued their walk and discussion. But not before, his younger self noted, he had given a glance to the precise place that Al was standing in.

'Oh, wow. What a blast, hey, Sam. Just think, it's us, in thirty years time. God, I must be a right old codger by now.'
'Er, actually, Al, I, er, I don't know how to tell you this, but... That news I got from Tina. It was about you.'
'I, I'm not here in this future am I?'
'Well, technically, you are. Everything's fine there...It's just, you, you die six years before this!'
'Oh'. Al took a moment to take this information in.
'Well, hey, look on the bright side. I'll be over ninety. That's a good innings, as they say. Not many people have done as much as I have with their life, or had as good friends. And, who knows what else I'll do. I still have twenty odd years, remember.'
'Yeah, I keep forgetting the time period. You'd think I'd be used to time differences by now. It's different with the future than with the past, especially when it's our future! It's been a big shock, and I think the swiss-cheese is affecting my mind even worse than usual. I didn't even think to try and avoid my future self.'
He suddenly remembered something else.
'Al, I'm pretty sure he, me, I mean, knows what's going on. He looked almost directly at you. How can he not recognise the signs, even after all those years?'
'Well, if he does, he'll know the things at stake and hopefully not get too involved'. Sam looked sceptical at Al's remark. He didn't think he would able to keep out, especially if it meant a chance to see or hear his best friend again after six years, if it was him. And it was him!

Amongst all this animated talk though, neither Al nor Sam had noticed a very familiar man who, having abandoned Sammy-Jo, was watching from around the corner of the next corridor, his suspicions confirmed.