Chapter 2:GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME
"Al?" Sam questioned as he entered the hospital's parking lot.
"What?"
"Where's my car?" Sam looked at him.
"That one." Al said taking a wild guess, which just happened to be
correct.
They drove as quickly as possible to where Steve was. While Al "beamed"
in between the two of them .
The first time Al went to Steve he was still unconscious because of the
anaesthesia. But by the second time he had started to come round.
Unfortunately, the man sitting in the room with him gave him another
shot and Steve went back into his 'drug induced sleep'.
Al went back to Sam. "Why would they bring Steve to Wyoming? " Sam
asked Al.
"Well, because Wyoming is far from L.A. and also they have
their "church" located there. "
"Church? Why a church?" Sam asked.
"Come on Sam, you've been thru cult things before."
"Yeah, the Ku Klux Klan, but at least I was already apart of the club.
Not some doctor friend of the victim."
"True. I'm going to go check on Steve. He came out of the
anaesthesia, but they put him back under." Al said as he went
"You do that but be quick, I need help getting there. " Sam said as Al beamed out.
After about 20 minutes on the road Al returned to Sam.
"You're not going to like this, Sam."
"Why?"
"Because Ziggy says Steve has only a 88% chance that he is going to
make it thru till Wednesday."
"What's today? " Sam asked, hoping it wasn't Tuesday.
"Sunday." Al replied.
" Monday, and Tuesday. Two long days."
" It'll take a little more than a day to drive there." Al said.
"So we just have Tuesday. Since it's Sunday night. Oh, boy."
"It could be......"
"Don't say it. " Sam cut in.
" Say what?" Al asked, as if he didn't know he was going to
say "worse."
" Because it always gets worse. Anyway, I'm going to have pull the
car over and get some coffee." Sam/Jesse looked in his pockets. He had
no wallet and no money. Hopefully there would be some in the glove
compartment. Nope.
" No money?" Al said.
"Nope." Sam continued driving. He looked woefully at the gas station
as he drove past.
"Have you been to the Waiting Room?" Sam asked Al.
"No why?"
"I think you should go check on the real Jesse and find out about him
and Steve.
" Why?"
"It may help us. You know allergies, ah, a little history." Suggested Sam
"Oh, I get it you don't want me here."
"No I do, I just think it may help in the future if we knew a little
inside information about Mark, Amanda, and Steve. Come ?c "
" Usually , it doesn't Sam." Interrupted Al.
" Just humour me Al. Come back tomorrow when you have it all."
"Alright." He hit the computer and beamed to the waiting room.
With Al out of his way for a while he could think about what to do.
Meanwhile in the 'Waiting Room' ?c
"So Quantum Leap, huh? Yeah, right." Jesse said.
"It'll help your friend if you tell us about him." Al tried to
reason with Jesse who was refusing 'cause he thinks he's been kidnapped.
"They're going to find me and get me home. Mark and Steve always know
what to do." Jesse said as he tried to loose Al by rolling his eyes.
"Listen, Steve is undercover, his dad and friend Amanda know that, so do the entire police department. Jesse, Sam is the only one that
can help find Steve. "
"Well, I can't help you find him. I've had my body snatched!"
"You're impossible. Alright go ahead try touching the walls there is
no way out of here." Al said trying to convince Jesse that no one
could find him.
"Wow! How'd you do this. Blue glow, no door?" He looked at Al convinced at last. "So
ah, what information can I give you?"
" I'm not sure, Sam said, it will help for me to be able to come talk to you. For now I'm going to
go beam over to Steve, you start thinking of what to do."
Al beamed out without another word.
Sam didn't have a road map and without Al he kept getting on the
wrong road, but some how he found a sign that said 20 miles to
Wyoming State Line. It was late afternoon on Monday. The night
without Al had seemed slow and the radio station lame. Sam drove
10 more miles and decided to stop and rest at a Texaco gas station.
There was enough room so he could stay a while. Al finally decided to
show up.
"About time. I have 10 miles to go before I have to cross the
boarder. What did you find out?" Sam grumbled.
"Well, I found that kid Jesse, wasn't very helpful. Sam, Steve is in
a lot of trouble. "
"Yeah, he's going to get killed in two days. What more can happen?"
"Oh, a lot. They're trying to brainwash him and if that doesn't work
he'll be killed."
" Why are they brainwashing Steve?" Sam was astonished.
"To complete a 'Trinity' apparently. There are two other guys that
look like Steve."
"I don't know even know what this guy looks like, and there are two
others!"
"At least they don't sound like the real Steve. We have to hurry, with
the amount drugs in his system; we'll be lucky if he knows his own
name."
"That's the least of our worries. We still have to get him back to L.A. Go
check on him and see where they are. "
"Right."
Al beamed back to Steve. He found he was located in a warehouse,
which was next to a church. There was a poster that said. "Sign up
for Monday night prayer meeting." Perfect Al thought. He saw Sam's
car. He beamed to him.
"I'd turn around and find a close parking space 'till tonight" Al
said.
"Why? "
"Because that's where Steve is. And, good news, there is a prayer
meeting in the church tonight. You might want to sign up. We can check out the
place. "
"A prayer meeting. And it's Monday. Al are you ......."
"Sam, it's a perfect opportunity."
"For what?"
"To scope out the place and meet the members of the church." Al replied.
"Right. Should I sign up now?"
"You can there is someone in the church now. I think it's the
priest."
"Okay. Let's do it. " Sam parked the car in the church's drive way.
He couldn't get over the size of the place. It was a new wooden church.
Painted a pure white and had the nicest stained glass windows Sam had
ever set eyes on. He opened the door and walked in.
"May I help you?" A priest said.
"Yes, my name is Sam Beckett and I am here for the prayer meeting.
You are?"
"Reverend Thomas. Sign up sheet is right over there."
"Thank you. I'm new to this area, and I was wondering if I could look
around the church. "
"Sure, My assistant, Laura Long, will guide you. Miss Long!"
Long ? Sam thought was this must be the Ms Long that Al had mentioned.
"Hi I'm Dr. Beckett, ah, Sam . " Sam felt like hitting himself for
stuttering like a fool.
"Just call me Laura ." Replied Laura a Japanese American, thin, tall, and
about Sam's age.
"Miss Long would you please show our guest Dr. Beckett around.
Please?"
"I'd love to."
Rev. Thomas pulled Laura to his side and whispered. "Be careful what you
show him." Laura didn't respond to the threat.
She simply took Sam by the hand and headed to the front of the
church.
"So where you from?" Laura asked Sam trying to open up a
conversation.
"I'm from L.A. "
"People call that Sin City. "
" I thought that's what they call Vegas?"
"They do, but around here they call L.A. Sin City. For
wealth, power, and greed." Laura said as she threw a Bible on the
bench.
"It's a new church. Finished building her just last year. And that's the Reverend's
pet project, restoring that old organ." She said as Sam pointed to a
old piano in the back.
"So, how long have you been here?" Sam asked.
"Ah, two years. I was in deep and the Rev. helped me out . He helps a
lot people out of debt."
" People like me? Out of towners?" Sam asked hoping that he could get
information which would lead to Steve.
"Yes, you have to fill out thousands of forms though. Unless of
course you can't read or write. We've had a few of those."
"What happens to those that can't ?" Sam asked.
"They come work for me. " The Rev. Thompson cut in.
"We need to clear the attic for tonight's prayer meeting, would you
please help me?" The Reverend asked Laura.
"Sure, no problem sir. "
"Can I help in anyway?" Sam asked.
"The windows need cleaning and the floors need vacuuming. The person
who was going to do it today called in sick so he was unable to join
us. You may help with that." The Reverend replied hoping Sam would decline the
offer.
"Sure, I'll be happy to." Sam said. "Ah, where can I find the cleaning
stuff?" Hoping it would be in the warehouse.
"It's in the closet in the kitchen. Miss Long will assist you after
she moves things in the attic until then would you like to join me
and have some coffee?" TheReverend asked.
"I'd love a coffee I've been on the road all day and haven't been able
to get anything to eat."
"Well, come join me. Mrs. Thompson would love to meet you." The two
men headed out to the parsonage. They walked right past the
warehouse. Sam got a chance to look in the windows as they walked
by, but he didn't see a thing.
" What's that used for?" Sam asked.
"The warehouse is where we store our supplies, and we have a guest
room for those who call a week in advance. It's really very nice in
there, however, it is off limits for non members."
"But what about the guests? The guests are members which have no other
place to go for the night. We let them stay there or in the attic."
"But I thought the prayer meeting is held in the attic?" Sam was confused.
"It is there are four rooms up there. A bedroom, bathroom, conference
like room, and a classroom. My wife teaches Home Ec up there. "
"Quite a operation you have going on here. Said Sam trying to appear impressed. "So is this a school too?"
"Yes in the basement. Do you have any children?"
"No, but I hope to some day."
" Well, we also have adult classes. Here is the parsonage. " He
unlocked the door.
"Please take off your shoes, Sir. My wife's policy. Honey! We have a
guest."
A very beautiful woman stood in the doorway of the kitchen.
American. Late 20's blond hair, green eyes .She was tall and she was
dressed in a Navy blue jumper and a white blouse.
"Catherine Thompson. And you?" Mrs. Thompson said holding out her hand.
"Ah, Dr. Sam Beckett."
"Why does that name sound familiar?" Catherine said. "I know, I think I have
read an article about you - about a project called Quantum Leap?"
"Not me. I was adopted and then orphaned. I didn't like my original
name so I changed it. " Sam said as he thought quickly.
"From what?" Reverend Thompson asked.
"Jesse Travis." Sam said then realized he shouldn't have told them
that.
"Could you make us a pot of coffee, honey?"
"Sure, how do you like yours Dr. Beckett?" Cathy asked .
"Black. No sugar." Sam replied.
Sam had forgotten that this was now 2001, and not far from the real
time zone of 2005. He was amazed with this leap because of the year.
A not so familiar decade. He was finally used to being in the 50's
that he had forgotten about the 90's. Time was drawing nearer toward the prayer meeting.
The Reverend was in his 50's and sounded like he was part of the mob. He was tall, about 200lb, an Italian American. A mobster to a T. They continued talking until Al
showed up.
"Sam time to go." Al said.
"Uh, I'd better go back to the church and help Miss Long clean up. "
"Yes, well, thank you, that talk on Quantum Physics was very
interesting, (he lied), I would like to discuss the End Times with you
later on. Say after the prayer meeting?" The Reverend asked trying to be
polite.
" That would be interesting. Sure, I'd love to. I have to find a
place to spend the night, but I can come back after I find one." Sam
didn't really want to, he hoped that the priest would let it go.
"No stay with us." The Reverend suggested. We'll have a great breakfast tomorrow."
"I don't want to put you through the trouble. "
" No trouble at all. You can sleep in Larry's old room." Mrs.Thompson
said. Then realized she shouldn't have.
"Larry?" Sam asked
"My cousin Larry. He used to stay here until he went to college. "
The Reverend said.
"Oh, okay, if it's not to much trouble I'd love to." Sam said
goodbye to Mrs. Thompson and the Reverend took him back to the church.
A few minutes later they were back inside the church.
"MISS LONG!" he yelled in a friendly voice up the stairs. "The
attic done?"
"Yes.Sir."
"Good help Mr. Beckett here. The windows and the floors need doing. I'll be in
my study I don't wish to be disturbed. Dr. Beckett have a nice evening,
I'll see you tonight." Sam nodded in return. The two men headed in
different directions. Sam to do his allotted tasks and the good reverend to his evil
ways.
"Al?" Sam questioned as he entered the hospital's parking lot.
"What?"
"Where's my car?" Sam looked at him.
"That one." Al said taking a wild guess, which just happened to be
correct.
They drove as quickly as possible to where Steve was. While Al "beamed"
in between the two of them .
The first time Al went to Steve he was still unconscious because of the
anaesthesia. But by the second time he had started to come round.
Unfortunately, the man sitting in the room with him gave him another
shot and Steve went back into his 'drug induced sleep'.
Al went back to Sam. "Why would they bring Steve to Wyoming? " Sam
asked Al.
"Well, because Wyoming is far from L.A. and also they have
their "church" located there. "
"Church? Why a church?" Sam asked.
"Come on Sam, you've been thru cult things before."
"Yeah, the Ku Klux Klan, but at least I was already apart of the club.
Not some doctor friend of the victim."
"True. I'm going to go check on Steve. He came out of the
anaesthesia, but they put him back under." Al said as he went
"You do that but be quick, I need help getting there. " Sam said as Al beamed out.
After about 20 minutes on the road Al returned to Sam.
"You're not going to like this, Sam."
"Why?"
"Because Ziggy says Steve has only a 88% chance that he is going to
make it thru till Wednesday."
"What's today? " Sam asked, hoping it wasn't Tuesday.
"Sunday." Al replied.
" Monday, and Tuesday. Two long days."
" It'll take a little more than a day to drive there." Al said.
"So we just have Tuesday. Since it's Sunday night. Oh, boy."
"It could be......"
"Don't say it. " Sam cut in.
" Say what?" Al asked, as if he didn't know he was going to
say "worse."
" Because it always gets worse. Anyway, I'm going to have pull the
car over and get some coffee." Sam/Jesse looked in his pockets. He had
no wallet and no money. Hopefully there would be some in the glove
compartment. Nope.
" No money?" Al said.
"Nope." Sam continued driving. He looked woefully at the gas station
as he drove past.
"Have you been to the Waiting Room?" Sam asked Al.
"No why?"
"I think you should go check on the real Jesse and find out about him
and Steve.
" Why?"
"It may help us. You know allergies, ah, a little history." Suggested Sam
"Oh, I get it you don't want me here."
"No I do, I just think it may help in the future if we knew a little
inside information about Mark, Amanda, and Steve. Come ?c "
" Usually , it doesn't Sam." Interrupted Al.
" Just humour me Al. Come back tomorrow when you have it all."
"Alright." He hit the computer and beamed to the waiting room.
With Al out of his way for a while he could think about what to do.
Meanwhile in the 'Waiting Room' ?c
"So Quantum Leap, huh? Yeah, right." Jesse said.
"It'll help your friend if you tell us about him." Al tried to
reason with Jesse who was refusing 'cause he thinks he's been kidnapped.
"They're going to find me and get me home. Mark and Steve always know
what to do." Jesse said as he tried to loose Al by rolling his eyes.
"Listen, Steve is undercover, his dad and friend Amanda know that, so do the entire police department. Jesse, Sam is the only one that
can help find Steve. "
"Well, I can't help you find him. I've had my body snatched!"
"You're impossible. Alright go ahead try touching the walls there is
no way out of here." Al said trying to convince Jesse that no one
could find him.
"Wow! How'd you do this. Blue glow, no door?" He looked at Al convinced at last. "So
ah, what information can I give you?"
" I'm not sure, Sam said, it will help for me to be able to come talk to you. For now I'm going to
go beam over to Steve, you start thinking of what to do."
Al beamed out without another word.
Sam didn't have a road map and without Al he kept getting on the
wrong road, but some how he found a sign that said 20 miles to
Wyoming State Line. It was late afternoon on Monday. The night
without Al had seemed slow and the radio station lame. Sam drove
10 more miles and decided to stop and rest at a Texaco gas station.
There was enough room so he could stay a while. Al finally decided to
show up.
"About time. I have 10 miles to go before I have to cross the
boarder. What did you find out?" Sam grumbled.
"Well, I found that kid Jesse, wasn't very helpful. Sam, Steve is in
a lot of trouble. "
"Yeah, he's going to get killed in two days. What more can happen?"
"Oh, a lot. They're trying to brainwash him and if that doesn't work
he'll be killed."
" Why are they brainwashing Steve?" Sam was astonished.
"To complete a 'Trinity' apparently. There are two other guys that
look like Steve."
"I don't know even know what this guy looks like, and there are two
others!"
"At least they don't sound like the real Steve. We have to hurry, with
the amount drugs in his system; we'll be lucky if he knows his own
name."
"That's the least of our worries. We still have to get him back to L.A. Go
check on him and see where they are. "
"Right."
Al beamed back to Steve. He found he was located in a warehouse,
which was next to a church. There was a poster that said. "Sign up
for Monday night prayer meeting." Perfect Al thought. He saw Sam's
car. He beamed to him.
"I'd turn around and find a close parking space 'till tonight" Al
said.
"Why? "
"Because that's where Steve is. And, good news, there is a prayer
meeting in the church tonight. You might want to sign up. We can check out the
place. "
"A prayer meeting. And it's Monday. Al are you ......."
"Sam, it's a perfect opportunity."
"For what?"
"To scope out the place and meet the members of the church." Al replied.
"Right. Should I sign up now?"
"You can there is someone in the church now. I think it's the
priest."
"Okay. Let's do it. " Sam parked the car in the church's drive way.
He couldn't get over the size of the place. It was a new wooden church.
Painted a pure white and had the nicest stained glass windows Sam had
ever set eyes on. He opened the door and walked in.
"May I help you?" A priest said.
"Yes, my name is Sam Beckett and I am here for the prayer meeting.
You are?"
"Reverend Thomas. Sign up sheet is right over there."
"Thank you. I'm new to this area, and I was wondering if I could look
around the church. "
"Sure, My assistant, Laura Long, will guide you. Miss Long!"
Long ? Sam thought was this must be the Ms Long that Al had mentioned.
"Hi I'm Dr. Beckett, ah, Sam . " Sam felt like hitting himself for
stuttering like a fool.
"Just call me Laura ." Replied Laura a Japanese American, thin, tall, and
about Sam's age.
"Miss Long would you please show our guest Dr. Beckett around.
Please?"
"I'd love to."
Rev. Thomas pulled Laura to his side and whispered. "Be careful what you
show him." Laura didn't respond to the threat.
She simply took Sam by the hand and headed to the front of the
church.
"So where you from?" Laura asked Sam trying to open up a
conversation.
"I'm from L.A. "
"People call that Sin City. "
" I thought that's what they call Vegas?"
"They do, but around here they call L.A. Sin City. For
wealth, power, and greed." Laura said as she threw a Bible on the
bench.
"It's a new church. Finished building her just last year. And that's the Reverend's
pet project, restoring that old organ." She said as Sam pointed to a
old piano in the back.
"So, how long have you been here?" Sam asked.
"Ah, two years. I was in deep and the Rev. helped me out . He helps a
lot people out of debt."
" People like me? Out of towners?" Sam asked hoping that he could get
information which would lead to Steve.
"Yes, you have to fill out thousands of forms though. Unless of
course you can't read or write. We've had a few of those."
"What happens to those that can't ?" Sam asked.
"They come work for me. " The Rev. Thompson cut in.
"We need to clear the attic for tonight's prayer meeting, would you
please help me?" The Reverend asked Laura.
"Sure, no problem sir. "
"Can I help in anyway?" Sam asked.
"The windows need cleaning and the floors need vacuuming. The person
who was going to do it today called in sick so he was unable to join
us. You may help with that." The Reverend replied hoping Sam would decline the
offer.
"Sure, I'll be happy to." Sam said. "Ah, where can I find the cleaning
stuff?" Hoping it would be in the warehouse.
"It's in the closet in the kitchen. Miss Long will assist you after
she moves things in the attic until then would you like to join me
and have some coffee?" TheReverend asked.
"I'd love a coffee I've been on the road all day and haven't been able
to get anything to eat."
"Well, come join me. Mrs. Thompson would love to meet you." The two
men headed out to the parsonage. They walked right past the
warehouse. Sam got a chance to look in the windows as they walked
by, but he didn't see a thing.
" What's that used for?" Sam asked.
"The warehouse is where we store our supplies, and we have a guest
room for those who call a week in advance. It's really very nice in
there, however, it is off limits for non members."
"But what about the guests? The guests are members which have no other
place to go for the night. We let them stay there or in the attic."
"But I thought the prayer meeting is held in the attic?" Sam was confused.
"It is there are four rooms up there. A bedroom, bathroom, conference
like room, and a classroom. My wife teaches Home Ec up there. "
"Quite a operation you have going on here. Said Sam trying to appear impressed. "So is this a school too?"
"Yes in the basement. Do you have any children?"
"No, but I hope to some day."
" Well, we also have adult classes. Here is the parsonage. " He
unlocked the door.
"Please take off your shoes, Sir. My wife's policy. Honey! We have a
guest."
A very beautiful woman stood in the doorway of the kitchen.
American. Late 20's blond hair, green eyes .She was tall and she was
dressed in a Navy blue jumper and a white blouse.
"Catherine Thompson. And you?" Mrs. Thompson said holding out her hand.
"Ah, Dr. Sam Beckett."
"Why does that name sound familiar?" Catherine said. "I know, I think I have
read an article about you - about a project called Quantum Leap?"
"Not me. I was adopted and then orphaned. I didn't like my original
name so I changed it. " Sam said as he thought quickly.
"From what?" Reverend Thompson asked.
"Jesse Travis." Sam said then realized he shouldn't have told them
that.
"Could you make us a pot of coffee, honey?"
"Sure, how do you like yours Dr. Beckett?" Cathy asked .
"Black. No sugar." Sam replied.
Sam had forgotten that this was now 2001, and not far from the real
time zone of 2005. He was amazed with this leap because of the year.
A not so familiar decade. He was finally used to being in the 50's
that he had forgotten about the 90's. Time was drawing nearer toward the prayer meeting.
The Reverend was in his 50's and sounded like he was part of the mob. He was tall, about 200lb, an Italian American. A mobster to a T. They continued talking until Al
showed up.
"Sam time to go." Al said.
"Uh, I'd better go back to the church and help Miss Long clean up. "
"Yes, well, thank you, that talk on Quantum Physics was very
interesting, (he lied), I would like to discuss the End Times with you
later on. Say after the prayer meeting?" The Reverend asked trying to be
polite.
" That would be interesting. Sure, I'd love to. I have to find a
place to spend the night, but I can come back after I find one." Sam
didn't really want to, he hoped that the priest would let it go.
"No stay with us." The Reverend suggested. We'll have a great breakfast tomorrow."
"I don't want to put you through the trouble. "
" No trouble at all. You can sleep in Larry's old room." Mrs.Thompson
said. Then realized she shouldn't have.
"Larry?" Sam asked
"My cousin Larry. He used to stay here until he went to college. "
The Reverend said.
"Oh, okay, if it's not to much trouble I'd love to." Sam said
goodbye to Mrs. Thompson and the Reverend took him back to the church.
A few minutes later they were back inside the church.
"MISS LONG!" he yelled in a friendly voice up the stairs. "The
attic done?"
"Yes.Sir."
"Good help Mr. Beckett here. The windows and the floors need doing. I'll be in
my study I don't wish to be disturbed. Dr. Beckett have a nice evening,
I'll see you tonight." Sam nodded in return. The two men headed in
different directions. Sam to do his allotted tasks and the good reverend to his evil
ways.
