***

After sending Newkirk to Hogan, as he was instructed, Carter slowly made his way to Klink's office. He was confused- not that this in itself was unusual, Carter was often confused, but this time he really did have a reason.

When Hogan had first brought the 'Klink Problem' to their attention, he had said that Klink was talking to himself. But when Carter and Kinchloe listened in on Klink, Carter had heard two voices. One was unfamiliar and one was Klink's. Klink had sounded strange. It seemed as if it wasn't really Klink's voice at all, and at the same time it was. Very strange.

And that wasn't even the real reason that he was so confused. The other voice (whose name was Al?) had talked about things that Carter had never heard of. Who was Barbara Streisand? What was a computer? Then there was all of the talk about the future. The voice talked as if Klink's death and the discovery of the underground had already happened. What did it all mean?

He was also concerned. Why was Hogan still going forward with the mission? Didn't Kinchole write down the stuff about the people being found in the tunnels? And why hadn't either of them said anything about the people who were going to be killed when the underground was discovered?

Carter didn't know and he had no more time to ponder it. He was finally at Klink's office. Thinking up what he was going to say to him, Carter knocked on Klink's door.

A second later he heard a "Come in."

After taking a breath, Carter walked inside and shut the door. Then he turned to face Klink and promptly forgot to breathe. This had to be the 'Sam' that the other voice had mentioned. Sitting in the Commandant's chair, wearing the Commandant's clothes, was a man that Carter had never seen before. The man was much younger than Klink, with green eyes. The man's hair was brown with a stripe of grey in the front- How could Hogan confuse this man with Klink?

Sam rose, concerned, "Are you alright?"

Carter nodded slowly. The voice coming out of Sam's mouth was the Commandant's voice and it wasn't too. Just like before, on the bug.

Sam sat down, "Have a seat."

Carter sat in the chair across the desk, feeling very nervous. How could Hogan have confused this man for Klink?, he asked himself. Sam looked at him expectantly and Carter swallowed. "The Colonel asked me to clean your office."

Sam looked surprised. "Clean my office?" He glanced at the papers littering the desk and floor. "Tell Hogan that I appreciate his concern, but it isn't necessary."

Carter stared at Sam intently, debating whether or not to let him know that he knew who he really was- or at least, who he wasn't. This Sam had sounded like he wanted to help. Maybe with the Colonel helping too, Sam could do what he came here to do. But who knew what Sam might do if he knew that Carter knew? Maybe I should talk to the Colonel first, he thought, maybe he can tell me what to do.

"Is that all you came here for?"

Carter almost nodded, but stopped. "Actually," he started, having made his decision, "I want to ask you a question."

Sam looked wary. "And what question is that?"

"Is your name Sam?"

***

"Is your name Sam?"

Sam stared at him, the question flying from his mouth before he had a chance to stop it, "How did you know my name?"

The man looked at him and smiled, "So I was right; you are Sam."

Finding no words forthcoming, Sam nodded mutely.

"I didn't think that you were Al, I mean, Al doesn't sound like Klink the way you do. Besides, he kept calling you Sam so it was pretty simple, you see?"

Sam's confusion must have shown on his face as the man explained. "The underground has a bug in this office. I listened in."

"You could hear Al?"

The man nodded. "Yeah. But there's one thing that I don't understand. How come the Colonel thought you were Klink? I mean, you don't look like him at all."

What to do? This man obviously could see him and, at least, hear Al- was he insane? Retarded? Similar brain waves? It didn't really matter why it was possible, like everything else about this leap, all that mattered was that it was. It would be pointless to continue to claim to be Klink when this person could tell that he wasn't. But what would happen to the time line if he told this man the truth?

But before he had a chance to begin explaining the imagining chamber door opened and in stepped Al in all of his finery. At least it was tailored, it seemed to Sam that it had to be- no clothes maker in his right mind would create that particular concoction of fuchsia and green pinstripe. The man's eyes widened and he quickly got up from his chair.

"Where did you come from!"

Al had that puzzled worried look that he always wore when he found out that someone besides Sam knew that he was there. "He can see me?"

The man looked at Al strangely. "How could anyone not?"

Al sounded alarmed. "He can hear me too?"

Sam sighed. It seemed that the leap had gotten even more complicated. "Yes he can, Al. And he can see me." He looked at Al and put on his most serious face. "We have to tell him."

"No we don't." Al gestured wildly and his voice rose with every word he spoke, "Sam, you do want to leap, don't you? You don't want to stay here for the rest of your life, do you!?"

"Of course not. But we can use all the help we can get. Besides, what do you want me to with him?" Sam said, pointing to the man. Or , at least, where the man had been sitting.

***

Sometime before the end of the 'discussion' between Al and Sam, Carter had snuck out of the room. He had to tell someone. He had to tell someone because he was deathly afraid that he had gone crazy. People don't appear out of thin air. Especially not wearing fusha. What if he didn't see Klink as Klink because there was something wrong with him and not with everyone else? What if he imagined hearing that other voice on the bug? What if-

It was then that he ran right into Sergeant Shultz, knocking them both down.

***

Shultz sat on the ground for a moment, feeling dazed. When he had recovered himself, he glared at Carter. The annoyed tirade died in his throat. Carter looked more than a little winded- he looked pale and frightened. Shultz stood and helped the shaky Carter to his feet. Knowing, knowing mind you, that this had to do with some sort of monkey business, he asked what was wrong.

Carter looked at Shultz. "You won't believe me."

He nodded. "You are probably right, but why don't you tell me anyway?" He gently started to lead Carter back to his barracks as Carter began his tale.

***

TO BE CONTINUED . . .

(Sometime soon)

(I think)