(13)
It was the first time Al had confronted this particular Visitor when she was neither incoherent nor unconscious. With Verbena Beeks hovering protectively at bedside, he introduced himself. "Ms. Winters, I'm Albert Calavicci. I'd like to talk to you about something very important."
Vicki glanced nervously at Verbena, who gave her a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand. Al noticed that the Visitor was studiously avoiding looking down at herself--at Sam's body. No doubt the gender difference was as confusing for her as it was for Sam; more so, since Sam had been through it before. Gently, he drew her attention back to the matter at hand. "Ms. Winters?"
"Yes, all right..." The sound of her voice--deeper, masculine now--seemed to upset her. Her gaze darted to Verbena again.
"It's all right, dear," the psychiatrist said soothingly. "Just listen to what Al has to say."
Vicki nodded. There were tears in her eyes, and her fingers plucked nervously at the sheets, but she was obviously trying to control her fears. Al appreciated the effort; this Leap hadn't been a picnic for any of them.
"Okay, great," he said warmly, projecting his approval. "I know this is difficult for you. And you probably just want it all to be over so you can go home."
She nodded solemnly.
"Well, we want that too," he said, earnestly. "We want you to be able to go home. But for that to happen, you have to help us."
"What do you want me to do?" It was barely a whisper.
Taking a deep breath, Al began...
Some time later, Al emerged from the Waiting Room, tired but triumphant. Verbena had stayed behind with the Visitor to begin preparations. Vicki had agreed to let them suppress her memories of 1790--but not before she had, at Ziggy's insistence, recorded it all for the archives. Anxious as he was to get back to Sam, Al had nevertheless listened with interest to Vicki's incredible story. As far as he was concerned, it had pretty much settled the question of whether or not Barnabas Collins was a Creature of the Night--his hand automatically crept up to his neck--and a few other things besides. Of course, it would take more than eyewitness testimony to convince Mr. Skeptic Beckett...
Fortunately, Al didn't have to try. Sam was staying safely away from Barnabas and, once Verbena had taken care of Vicki's memory, Sam could Leap. And they could all put Collinwood behind them.
While her memories of 1790 were all too clear, Vicki was a bit more muddled when it came to her present at Collinwood. How else to explain that, once past her initial shock, she had professed to still have feelings for Barnabas? In love with a vampire? Maybe she was nuts, after all. Al shook his head. Well, it was her neck...
"Admiral?"
"Yeah, Ziggy," Al answered, distractedly, patting his pockets in search of a fresh cigar. "What is it?"
"You had better get to the Imaging Chamber right away, Admiral," the computer said, tensely.
Something in its tone made Al's blood run cold. "What's happened, Ziggy?"
"Dr. Beckett has changed history, again," the machine reported. "Now Victoria Winters--Dr. Beckett--dies tonight."
Forgetting everything else, Al ran for the Imaging Chamber.
* * * *