LIFE OR DEATH
Part 15: The Long Day is Over
Author's Note: Hey all! This is the second, and final part of the crossover. So, after this chapter, no more nostalgia. I hope that I'm capturing the characters of Sam and Al correctly. Right now, I'm basing their behavior more on the fanfic TV series from Phoenix Virtual Television (I think that's the name of it.) They do a Pretender virtual TV series (and movies) but the site is a little messed up for some odd reason. But the QL site is pretty true to the series. Oh, and a little bit of back story on the QL part: I'm basing the characters and the situations on the timeline after Mirror Image (the last episode), in which Sam goes back and influences Beth to wait for Al, who was taken prisoner by the VC in the Vietnam War. In that timeline, Al and Beth are married with four daughters. They might make an appearance, or they might not. Since I'm writing this note at the beginning, anything goes! :D Anywho, here's the rest of the story. Toodles! ~~ Samantha
Author's Note 2: Well, I'm finally finished with this one. It gave me a lot of trouble. I think this took me a month to finish. Wow. I hope y'all don't hate me, or forgot about me!!! That would be terrible!!! Well, if this chapter is horrible, let me know. It is longer. That's good, isn't it? Hehe, toodles! ~~Samantha
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Parker reclined on the couch, listening to Jarod and Debbie debate something or other. Lately, he'd been acting a little bit funny. There were times when he seemed like he'd forgotten parts of their past, only to come up with it a few moments later. And his voice was funny, like it wasn't even his voice. - Parker, you must be going nuts, - she scolded herself mentally, - of course it's his voice, it sounds the same. - But it didn't in a way. She supposed that being blind sharpened her hearing, somewhat. But, she didn't expect to be able to detect a change in voice sounds. She entertained the idea that he was coming down with something. It could be true, but she wasn't all that sure.
"Parker? Hello? Parker?" Debbie called, trying to get her attention. Parker shook her head and turned to where the sound of Debbie's voice was coming from.
"Yes?" she murmured, inwardly puzzled. Normally, she'd answer with "What?" Things certainly had changed with her.
"I asked if you could go with me to my baton twirling contest? Daddy can't go because of business." Parker thought for a bit, but listened with the other part of her brain that wasn't being used. It sounded like there wasn't anybody else in the room.
"But, honey, I can't watch you twirl," she protested rather lamely. She heard Debbie scoff.
"That doesn't matter, Parker, and you know it. I want you there for moral support! C'mon, pretty please???" she asked with a pouty voice. Parker debated mentally for a few moments.
"Sure, I'll come," she whispered, still not sure if it was the right thing to do. Immediately after she'd given her answer, Debbie attacked her with a huge bear hug.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she cried out with joy in her voice. Parker hugged her back and slowly smiled.
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Project Quantum Leap
Jarod paced the floor in the Waiting Room. Things just weren't happening fast enough. He knew Parker better than this Sam person! It was all ridiculous. He was strong enough to help Parker. But then he realized something.
Obviously, he wasn't strong enough to save her from herself, or he wouldn't be in this situation. The thought sobered him. He stopped his pacing and settled down on the "bed" and looked in the mirror. The face of Sam Beckett stared right back at him. - Sam's a pretty good lookin guy, - Jarod mused. He stroked the shock of white hair that made him look like a distinguished gentleman.
"Um, Jarod?" came the voice of Verbena Beeks. He turned around and faced the woman. "How are you doing?" she asked. He thought for a bit, wondering if he should really tell her the truth. Then he realized that she would see right through any lies he tried to pass off, no matter how good a pretender he was.
"I'm miserable. Parker's going to die. Worse, she's going to kill herself, and I don't' know why or how. And I can't stop her. I'm helpless. How should I feel?"
"You are justified in your emotions, Jarod. But you can help. Anything you may know or remember about Parker that could give us a clue on why she kills herself would be a tremendous help," Verbena said soothingly. Jarod looked at her.
"There is absolutely nothing more that I can tell you. Parker is a very complex person. I don't understand her half the time. I guess we just have to wait and see."
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Sam overheard Parker and Debbie's conversation. While he was listening in, Al suddenly popped in behind him.
"Jeez, Al!" Sam whispered, "Don't do that again! I could blow my cover!"
"Sor-ry pal! Hey, what's goin on in there?" he asked while leaning over Sam's shoulder.
"Debbie invited Parker to her baton twirling contest."
"Uh, Sam? What's the date of the contest?" Al inquired after a squeal came from the handlink.
"Tomorrow, Al. Tomorrow," he whispered in reply while continuing to listen. Meanwhile, Al punched some keys on the handlink and waited for Ziggy to feed him the numbers.
"Sam?" he whispered with a tremor in his voice, "you gotta hear this. Ziggy says that Debbie dies at this contest. The odds are 97% that you gotta save Debbie. Holy shinola! I'll bet that's why Parker kills herself! Debbie gets shot by a Centre assassin, and Parker can't save her! In her remorse. . ." Al slid his pointer finger around the front of his neck in a cutting motion.
Sam turned and looked at the hologram that only he could see and hear. He took a deep breath and said, "You mean that I have to convince Debbie and Parker to let me come, too?" He rubbed his face with his hand and sighed heavily.
"Who's out there? Jarod, is that you?" came Parker's voice from the den. Sam sighed again and walked into the room.
"Yeah, it's me. What's up?" he asked. Debbie started jumping up and down like a little child, instead of the high schooler that she was. Sam smiled at the sight.
"Parker says that she's gonna go with me to my contest tomorrow! Finally! I get to drive somewhere!" She clapped her hands in glee, and Sam smiled yet again. Then he sported a hurt look.
"But what about me? Aren't I invited?" He stuck out his lower lip and used Jarod's puppy dog eyes to reel her in. He watched Debbie contemplate it. Then she turned to Parker.
"What do you think, Parker? Should we let him come?" The older woman let a brief look of relief cross her face.
"Sure. He can describe to me what you're doing, so it's like I'm seeing it," she remarked as if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Sam chuckled lightly.
"Thanks, Deb. You too, Parker." With another smile, he left the room and headed towards his. He sank down on the bed and held his head in his hands, his breath leaving him in a rush. He still wasn't used to the host taking over like that. Most of what Sam had said in the den was via Jarod. He still wasn't sure how it happened, but he had felt like he was only a spectator, and that someone else was doing and saying everything. His hands were shaking. He could only hope that Jarod wouldn't take over again in an important time.
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Project Quantum Leap
"Ziggy?" Al demanded as soon as he exited the Imaging Chamber.
"Yes, Admiral?" purred the voice of the parallel-hybrid computer.
"I'm going to sleep. I want you to wake me up in three hours." Ziggy sniffed.
"Of course, Admiral. Although, might I add that it is currently three in the afternoon? I know that you find it difficult to sleep when it is still daylight out," mused Ziggy with a hurt tone to her voice.
"Thanks for the consideration, Zig, but I'll be fine. I can sleep, trust me," he stated while taking a puff of his near-extinguished cigar.
"Fine, Admiral. Have a nice sleep." Al waved absently as he made his way to his quarters.
"Hey, Pops!" called out Al's youngest daughter Madelyn upon his entrance to the Calavicci quarters.
"Hi, Maddy. Could you keep it down while I'm in here? I'm gonna try to catch a few Z's," he murmured while taking off his jacket. She nodded, and he flopped on the bed, still in his clothes. A minute later, he was snoring loudly enough to wake the dead. Maddy shook her head slightly and tiptoed out of the room.
While Al was sleeping away, Jarod was wide awake. He didn't know why on earth someone as strong-willed as Parker would kill herself. He hated that he couldn't be there for her.
Instead of wallowing in his misery, he decided to do something useful with his time. Well, if he could find something useful to do, that is. Being trapped in a blue room and not able to roam freely helped feed boredom. It also reminded him of the Centre, even though the aura about the place was far friendlier.
Sighing, he paced the room, trying to envision what was happening in his current time.
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Parker sighed and flopped on her bed later that night. Truth be told, she couldn't wait to go to Debbie's contest. It hurt her deeply that she couldn't see it, but Jarod had unwillingly saved the day by suggesting that he come. Now, all she had to do was survive being around him all day.
And that was another thing entirely. As of late, she had been feeling more comfortable in Jarod's presence. But then there was the little tidbit that he sounded so different. It wasn't that he was coming down with something. No, it didn't sound like that at all. It was more like he was a totally different person. After doing some mental comparisons, the split happened after that day when the two of them were sitting in the back yard. He started acting strangely for a few moments, but he was completely normal after that. She would have to talk to him about this. If she could summon up the courage.
- Face it, Parker. You're falling for him--if you haven't already, - her inner voice challenged her. She picked up a nearby pillow and shoved it in her face. No! She couldn't be falling for him! She had been trained to hunt and to hate him.
- But can't love overcome even the most rigorous of training? - the voice reasoned calmly. Removing the pillow, she sighed again. She accepted the fact that she very well may be falling for Jarod. The day of their capture, that brief blissful day in the cabin, returned to her memory. She smiled faintly at the memory of their kiss. She had felt something that day. And she intended to rediscover that. But in due time. She wasn't ready to deal with it yet.
The Next Day
"So, Debbie, what all goes on at these twirling. . .things?" asked Sam. Debbie, who was behind the wheel, chuckled.
"I twirl, Jarod. Really, it's a long process. I'm marching today, so that'll be. . .not very interesting. That's the boring part. And what's worse, they play marching music for hours! Ugh! I hate that part of it! But the rest is fun. Are you going to be able to explain it well enough for Parker?" she asked with a hint of teasing in her voice. Sam feigned being indignant.
"Are you joking? If I can become a doctor in one day, surely I can accurately describe a simple baton twirling contest!" he exclaimed. A deep chuckle from the backseat was almost music to Sam's ears. If Parker was laughing, that meant that she wasn't fairly depressed. Now all he had to do was keep the darling Debbie from being killed, and he could hopefully leap.
The next thing Sam heard was the Imaging Chamber's door opening and closing. Al had popped into the seat next to Parker. He took one look at her and nearly shouted, "Yowza! What a hottie, Sam!" After Sam cleared his throat loudly, Al produced a sheepish look and turned his gaze back to the handlink. "Well, Sam, Ziggy says that the odds of Debbie dying with you there have dropped to 53 %. But that's still pretty high. You're going to need to keep your eyes peeled, buddy. You also might wanna keep your eyes on Miss Parker, here. Zig's predicting a 32% possibility that she might be the one to die. Oh, boy. Sam, there's now a 72% chance that you could get shot. Be careful! I'm gonna go talk more with Jarod about the Center. How they work. Stuff like that. Keep on your guard." With that, Al blinked out of sight.
"Jarod?" asked Parker.
"Yeah," answered Sam. After a few moment of silence, Sam turned his head back to see if anything was troubling her.
"Nothing," she murmured as she turned her unseeing eyes out the window, her expression one of being lost in thought.
She had thought she'd heard a voice in the car just moments ago. Perhaps the radio had been turned on. She couldn't tell what the voice had been saying, but it was there. Faint, sort of distorted, fuzzy, but there. Parker decided not to mention it anymore, but rather to wait and see if it showed up again.
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Sam's eyes scanned the crowd every so often, looking for potentially dangerous figures. Parker seemed at ease. She was actually smiling. Soon, she nudged his shoulder and whispered, "So, what's she doing?" The glow on her face was like one of a proud older sister, or even a mother. The change in her was startling. Sam felt a twinge of something in his heart. But as soon as he felt it, it was gone. Shaking his head, he realized that it was a residual feeling of Jarod. He mentally chuckled, understanding now that Jarod had feelings for this woman.
"She's practicing her routine," he murmured as he shifted closer to her. "Oh, it's her turn now. She's walking to the centre of the square and taking position." He continued to describe what was happening as he casually placed his arm around her on the back of her chair and whispered into her ear.
Sam held back a chuckle as he saw her blind eyes begin to move back and forth. So, he now knew that Jarod had some kind of effect on Parker. Interesting. But before he could finish his description, something caught his attention.
"I'll be right back, Parker. There's something I have to take care of," he whispered, leaving her side. He had seen a suspicious-looking person on the other side of the gym. Out of nowhere, Al popped up beside him.
"Yikes, Sam. Oh, to be a rascally young teenager again. Shave off thirty some odd years and I'd be chasing these girls around like a dog after some steak," he leered, rubbing his face with his hand and looking around. Sam shot him a look while continuing to be on the move.
"Al," he whispered," I think I saw the assassin. Now is not the time to drool."
"Where?" Al asked, instantly turning serious.
"The other side of the gym. Could you go check it out?" Al nodded, then blinked out of sight. Mere moments later, he came back again.
"Sure enough, Sam, he's over there where no one can see him. He's settin up his gun now. You gotta hurry, Sam!" he implored. With that, Sam sped up his gait and followed the hologram that only he could see.
There he was. Intense hatred filled Sam. Almost on autopilot, he ran over to the man and threw a swing at his face. The man went down with a grunt. Sam started raining blows to him, eventually rendering him unconscious.
"Sam," came a soft whisper. The autopilot went off, and Sam turned around to see Al standing behind him with a concerned look on his face. He then looked at what he had done. He fell to his knees and realized that Jarod must have taken over. The man on the floor groaned. Sam immediately moved to the would-be killer and pinned his arms behind his back, kicking the gun away from both of them.
"Sam, the security guards are coming. Just keep him there, and everything should be fine. Debbie stays alive, Parker doesn't kill herself, and most importantly Jarod stays alive. Zig says that you should leap any minute now." Al stood and waited there as security guards came and apprehended the man Sam had under control.
Sam actually went through interrogation before asking, "Why haven't I leaped, Al?" The hologram simply shrugged. He was about to say something when Miss Parker, who was led by a very frantic Debbie, approached Sam's side.
"Oh, Jarod! What happened? Why did someone have a gun here?" Debbie asked as she hugged his side. Sam looked to Parker. Her face showed no expression. He then looked down to Debbie.
"I don't know," he replied somewhat unconvincingly. Nothing else could be done, so Sam led the two outside and to the car. He decided to drive. Parker sat in front, and Debbie fell asleep stretched out on the backseat.
"Jarod," Parker murmured, keeping her unseeing gaze forward, "he was from the Centre, wasn't he?" Sam turned his head to look at her. She was smarter than he gave her credit for.
"Yes," he whispered. She inhaled and nodded her head. Nothing more was said for the rest of the trip.
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"Are they alright?" Jarod demanded of Verbena. He sat on the bed in the middle of the room with his hands gripping the edge.
"I don't know, Jarod. Admiral Calavicci hasn't returned yet."
"I beg to differ, Dr. Beeks," came the silky voice of Ziggy. "Admiral Calavicci is on his way back. Dr. Beckett has successfully prevented the assassination from happening, yet he is not leaping at this moment."
"Well, why is that?" Jarod asked, looking up at the ceiling. Ziggy scoffed.
"Dr. Beckett has something else he must do before leaping," she replied in a 'you're-an-idiot' tone of voice.
"I understand, Ziggy. But what is it that he must do? Do you have any idea?" he asked, almost assuming a tone of Dr. Sam Beckett himself.
"Yes, I do know, Jarod."
"Well, then what is it?"
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you. It concerns you and your future. Therefore, you simply cannot know," she answered without apology. Jarod sighed in frustration. He was getting nowhere, fast.
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Later that night, when everyone else had gone to sleep, Parker felt her way towards Jarod's room. She was mighty suspicious now. She had heard the voice again. And there was definitely something different with Jarod's voice. When he whispered into her ear, she knew. She felt the heavy door and knocked lightly, hoping he was still awake.
"Come on in," grumbled a deep voice, thick with sleep. Parker chuckled silently, knowing that she'd woken him up. She opened the door and slowly made her way into the room.
"Jarod, you awake?" she whispered.
"Mmhmm," he murmured sleepily.
"I have to talk with you about something." He sat up and patted the bed, meaning for her to sit down. She followed the sound until her knees bumped the mattress, and she sat. "Jarod," she started, "there's something about you that's been bothering me."
"Gee, Parker. Go ahead, tell me how you really feel," he joked.
"Jarod, your voice is different. -And- I've been hearing another voice sometimes around you. It was staticky at first, but it's gotten clearer. And it calls you Sam. Something's not right and I want to know what it is," she quietly demanded. She could hear him swallow. Then hesitate. Out of nowhere, a voice spoke.
"Try to deflect it for as long as you can, Sam." The voice was gravelly and quiet. Then she could feel Jarod nodding slightly.
"There it was again!" she whispered fiercely. "Who are you? And what have you done with Jarod?
"But I am Jarod," he replied deeply. Parker shook her head. She reached for his face and felt just below his right eye. No mole. It was confirmed. This was not Jarod. She exhaled heavily and stood up.
"You're not Jarod," she whispered as she backed away, "There's no mole. Who are you?" Before he could reply, Parker tripped over something on the floor and fell with a cry.
"Parker!" he cried out softly, getting out of the bed to go to her side. Upon reaching her, he pulled her into a sitting position and sat beside her. He sighed before speaking. "You're right. I'm not Jarod. My name is Sam. Sam Beckett. I can assure you that Jarod is doing just fine where he's at. See, I travel through time. Well, I actually 'leap' through time, using people, setting wrongs right. I can't control where I go. God, Time, Fate, or Whoever controls this ride sent me to Jarod's life."
"But why? Is it something with the Centre?" she asked confusedly, not really sure what was going on. He sighed again.
"Parker. . .you were going to kill yourself this week. . . because Debbie was supposed to die today at the contest." Parker's hand flew to her mouth as she gasped loudly. One half of her didn't believe a word he was saying, but the other half felt that there was truth to what he was saying. So, to gain a better understanding, she started asking him about quantum leaping, and all the aspects of it.
"So," she began after a few hours of explanation, "does Jarod's consciousness take over at any time." Sam hesitated.
"Yeah. He does." Parker paused this time.
"So, let him. Just this once," she whispered. Sam was about to protest, but sure enough, he felt Jarod take over, and Sam took the backseat.
Parker reached up and touched the right side of his face, just below his eye. The mole was there.
"Parker," he murmured deeply, in the voice that was his. This was Jarod. In a moment that seemed to last forever, he captured her face with his hands and lowered his face to hers. Their lips met. He slid one of his hands to the back of her neck to deepen the kiss.
As soon as it had begun, the moment dissolved. He moved his head away, and Sam returned. One tear made a solitary trail down Parker's cheek. Sam gently wiped it away with a finger and said, "Be easy on him, would you?"
After he'd said that, he felt the familiar sensations that preceded a leap. He playfully tousled Parker's hair and said, "It's time for me to go. I don't know if Jarod will remember anything that happened. I think you will. All I have to say is simply love him." Sam smiled then, even though she couldn't see it, and leaped.
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Jarod opened his eyes and found himself on his bedroom floor next to Parker. He nearly hugged her so tight that she couldn't breathe. She was alive! Luckily he restrained himself from touching her.
"Parker," he began, "what are you doing here?" She chuckled, a sound that he hadn't heard in weeks.
"I had to talk to Sam," she replied before slowly making her way up and out of the room. Jarod climbed back onto his bed, still pondering her response. But before long, he was asleep, dreaming of blue rooms, a parallel-hybrid computer, and a doctor named Sam.
Part 15: The Long Day is Over
Author's Note: Hey all! This is the second, and final part of the crossover. So, after this chapter, no more nostalgia. I hope that I'm capturing the characters of Sam and Al correctly. Right now, I'm basing their behavior more on the fanfic TV series from Phoenix Virtual Television (I think that's the name of it.) They do a Pretender virtual TV series (and movies) but the site is a little messed up for some odd reason. But the QL site is pretty true to the series. Oh, and a little bit of back story on the QL part: I'm basing the characters and the situations on the timeline after Mirror Image (the last episode), in which Sam goes back and influences Beth to wait for Al, who was taken prisoner by the VC in the Vietnam War. In that timeline, Al and Beth are married with four daughters. They might make an appearance, or they might not. Since I'm writing this note at the beginning, anything goes! :D Anywho, here's the rest of the story. Toodles! ~~ Samantha
Author's Note 2: Well, I'm finally finished with this one. It gave me a lot of trouble. I think this took me a month to finish. Wow. I hope y'all don't hate me, or forgot about me!!! That would be terrible!!! Well, if this chapter is horrible, let me know. It is longer. That's good, isn't it? Hehe, toodles! ~~Samantha
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Parker reclined on the couch, listening to Jarod and Debbie debate something or other. Lately, he'd been acting a little bit funny. There were times when he seemed like he'd forgotten parts of their past, only to come up with it a few moments later. And his voice was funny, like it wasn't even his voice. - Parker, you must be going nuts, - she scolded herself mentally, - of course it's his voice, it sounds the same. - But it didn't in a way. She supposed that being blind sharpened her hearing, somewhat. But, she didn't expect to be able to detect a change in voice sounds. She entertained the idea that he was coming down with something. It could be true, but she wasn't all that sure.
"Parker? Hello? Parker?" Debbie called, trying to get her attention. Parker shook her head and turned to where the sound of Debbie's voice was coming from.
"Yes?" she murmured, inwardly puzzled. Normally, she'd answer with "What?" Things certainly had changed with her.
"I asked if you could go with me to my baton twirling contest? Daddy can't go because of business." Parker thought for a bit, but listened with the other part of her brain that wasn't being used. It sounded like there wasn't anybody else in the room.
"But, honey, I can't watch you twirl," she protested rather lamely. She heard Debbie scoff.
"That doesn't matter, Parker, and you know it. I want you there for moral support! C'mon, pretty please???" she asked with a pouty voice. Parker debated mentally for a few moments.
"Sure, I'll come," she whispered, still not sure if it was the right thing to do. Immediately after she'd given her answer, Debbie attacked her with a huge bear hug.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she cried out with joy in her voice. Parker hugged her back and slowly smiled.
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Project Quantum Leap
Jarod paced the floor in the Waiting Room. Things just weren't happening fast enough. He knew Parker better than this Sam person! It was all ridiculous. He was strong enough to help Parker. But then he realized something.
Obviously, he wasn't strong enough to save her from herself, or he wouldn't be in this situation. The thought sobered him. He stopped his pacing and settled down on the "bed" and looked in the mirror. The face of Sam Beckett stared right back at him. - Sam's a pretty good lookin guy, - Jarod mused. He stroked the shock of white hair that made him look like a distinguished gentleman.
"Um, Jarod?" came the voice of Verbena Beeks. He turned around and faced the woman. "How are you doing?" she asked. He thought for a bit, wondering if he should really tell her the truth. Then he realized that she would see right through any lies he tried to pass off, no matter how good a pretender he was.
"I'm miserable. Parker's going to die. Worse, she's going to kill herself, and I don't' know why or how. And I can't stop her. I'm helpless. How should I feel?"
"You are justified in your emotions, Jarod. But you can help. Anything you may know or remember about Parker that could give us a clue on why she kills herself would be a tremendous help," Verbena said soothingly. Jarod looked at her.
"There is absolutely nothing more that I can tell you. Parker is a very complex person. I don't understand her half the time. I guess we just have to wait and see."
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Sam overheard Parker and Debbie's conversation. While he was listening in, Al suddenly popped in behind him.
"Jeez, Al!" Sam whispered, "Don't do that again! I could blow my cover!"
"Sor-ry pal! Hey, what's goin on in there?" he asked while leaning over Sam's shoulder.
"Debbie invited Parker to her baton twirling contest."
"Uh, Sam? What's the date of the contest?" Al inquired after a squeal came from the handlink.
"Tomorrow, Al. Tomorrow," he whispered in reply while continuing to listen. Meanwhile, Al punched some keys on the handlink and waited for Ziggy to feed him the numbers.
"Sam?" he whispered with a tremor in his voice, "you gotta hear this. Ziggy says that Debbie dies at this contest. The odds are 97% that you gotta save Debbie. Holy shinola! I'll bet that's why Parker kills herself! Debbie gets shot by a Centre assassin, and Parker can't save her! In her remorse. . ." Al slid his pointer finger around the front of his neck in a cutting motion.
Sam turned and looked at the hologram that only he could see and hear. He took a deep breath and said, "You mean that I have to convince Debbie and Parker to let me come, too?" He rubbed his face with his hand and sighed heavily.
"Who's out there? Jarod, is that you?" came Parker's voice from the den. Sam sighed again and walked into the room.
"Yeah, it's me. What's up?" he asked. Debbie started jumping up and down like a little child, instead of the high schooler that she was. Sam smiled at the sight.
"Parker says that she's gonna go with me to my contest tomorrow! Finally! I get to drive somewhere!" She clapped her hands in glee, and Sam smiled yet again. Then he sported a hurt look.
"But what about me? Aren't I invited?" He stuck out his lower lip and used Jarod's puppy dog eyes to reel her in. He watched Debbie contemplate it. Then she turned to Parker.
"What do you think, Parker? Should we let him come?" The older woman let a brief look of relief cross her face.
"Sure. He can describe to me what you're doing, so it's like I'm seeing it," she remarked as if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Sam chuckled lightly.
"Thanks, Deb. You too, Parker." With another smile, he left the room and headed towards his. He sank down on the bed and held his head in his hands, his breath leaving him in a rush. He still wasn't used to the host taking over like that. Most of what Sam had said in the den was via Jarod. He still wasn't sure how it happened, but he had felt like he was only a spectator, and that someone else was doing and saying everything. His hands were shaking. He could only hope that Jarod wouldn't take over again in an important time.
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Project Quantum Leap
"Ziggy?" Al demanded as soon as he exited the Imaging Chamber.
"Yes, Admiral?" purred the voice of the parallel-hybrid computer.
"I'm going to sleep. I want you to wake me up in three hours." Ziggy sniffed.
"Of course, Admiral. Although, might I add that it is currently three in the afternoon? I know that you find it difficult to sleep when it is still daylight out," mused Ziggy with a hurt tone to her voice.
"Thanks for the consideration, Zig, but I'll be fine. I can sleep, trust me," he stated while taking a puff of his near-extinguished cigar.
"Fine, Admiral. Have a nice sleep." Al waved absently as he made his way to his quarters.
"Hey, Pops!" called out Al's youngest daughter Madelyn upon his entrance to the Calavicci quarters.
"Hi, Maddy. Could you keep it down while I'm in here? I'm gonna try to catch a few Z's," he murmured while taking off his jacket. She nodded, and he flopped on the bed, still in his clothes. A minute later, he was snoring loudly enough to wake the dead. Maddy shook her head slightly and tiptoed out of the room.
While Al was sleeping away, Jarod was wide awake. He didn't know why on earth someone as strong-willed as Parker would kill herself. He hated that he couldn't be there for her.
Instead of wallowing in his misery, he decided to do something useful with his time. Well, if he could find something useful to do, that is. Being trapped in a blue room and not able to roam freely helped feed boredom. It also reminded him of the Centre, even though the aura about the place was far friendlier.
Sighing, he paced the room, trying to envision what was happening in his current time.
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Parker sighed and flopped on her bed later that night. Truth be told, she couldn't wait to go to Debbie's contest. It hurt her deeply that she couldn't see it, but Jarod had unwillingly saved the day by suggesting that he come. Now, all she had to do was survive being around him all day.
And that was another thing entirely. As of late, she had been feeling more comfortable in Jarod's presence. But then there was the little tidbit that he sounded so different. It wasn't that he was coming down with something. No, it didn't sound like that at all. It was more like he was a totally different person. After doing some mental comparisons, the split happened after that day when the two of them were sitting in the back yard. He started acting strangely for a few moments, but he was completely normal after that. She would have to talk to him about this. If she could summon up the courage.
- Face it, Parker. You're falling for him--if you haven't already, - her inner voice challenged her. She picked up a nearby pillow and shoved it in her face. No! She couldn't be falling for him! She had been trained to hunt and to hate him.
- But can't love overcome even the most rigorous of training? - the voice reasoned calmly. Removing the pillow, she sighed again. She accepted the fact that she very well may be falling for Jarod. The day of their capture, that brief blissful day in the cabin, returned to her memory. She smiled faintly at the memory of their kiss. She had felt something that day. And she intended to rediscover that. But in due time. She wasn't ready to deal with it yet.
The Next Day
"So, Debbie, what all goes on at these twirling. . .things?" asked Sam. Debbie, who was behind the wheel, chuckled.
"I twirl, Jarod. Really, it's a long process. I'm marching today, so that'll be. . .not very interesting. That's the boring part. And what's worse, they play marching music for hours! Ugh! I hate that part of it! But the rest is fun. Are you going to be able to explain it well enough for Parker?" she asked with a hint of teasing in her voice. Sam feigned being indignant.
"Are you joking? If I can become a doctor in one day, surely I can accurately describe a simple baton twirling contest!" he exclaimed. A deep chuckle from the backseat was almost music to Sam's ears. If Parker was laughing, that meant that she wasn't fairly depressed. Now all he had to do was keep the darling Debbie from being killed, and he could hopefully leap.
The next thing Sam heard was the Imaging Chamber's door opening and closing. Al had popped into the seat next to Parker. He took one look at her and nearly shouted, "Yowza! What a hottie, Sam!" After Sam cleared his throat loudly, Al produced a sheepish look and turned his gaze back to the handlink. "Well, Sam, Ziggy says that the odds of Debbie dying with you there have dropped to 53 %. But that's still pretty high. You're going to need to keep your eyes peeled, buddy. You also might wanna keep your eyes on Miss Parker, here. Zig's predicting a 32% possibility that she might be the one to die. Oh, boy. Sam, there's now a 72% chance that you could get shot. Be careful! I'm gonna go talk more with Jarod about the Center. How they work. Stuff like that. Keep on your guard." With that, Al blinked out of sight.
"Jarod?" asked Parker.
"Yeah," answered Sam. After a few moment of silence, Sam turned his head back to see if anything was troubling her.
"Nothing," she murmured as she turned her unseeing eyes out the window, her expression one of being lost in thought.
She had thought she'd heard a voice in the car just moments ago. Perhaps the radio had been turned on. She couldn't tell what the voice had been saying, but it was there. Faint, sort of distorted, fuzzy, but there. Parker decided not to mention it anymore, but rather to wait and see if it showed up again.
----------
Sam's eyes scanned the crowd every so often, looking for potentially dangerous figures. Parker seemed at ease. She was actually smiling. Soon, she nudged his shoulder and whispered, "So, what's she doing?" The glow on her face was like one of a proud older sister, or even a mother. The change in her was startling. Sam felt a twinge of something in his heart. But as soon as he felt it, it was gone. Shaking his head, he realized that it was a residual feeling of Jarod. He mentally chuckled, understanding now that Jarod had feelings for this woman.
"She's practicing her routine," he murmured as he shifted closer to her. "Oh, it's her turn now. She's walking to the centre of the square and taking position." He continued to describe what was happening as he casually placed his arm around her on the back of her chair and whispered into her ear.
Sam held back a chuckle as he saw her blind eyes begin to move back and forth. So, he now knew that Jarod had some kind of effect on Parker. Interesting. But before he could finish his description, something caught his attention.
"I'll be right back, Parker. There's something I have to take care of," he whispered, leaving her side. He had seen a suspicious-looking person on the other side of the gym. Out of nowhere, Al popped up beside him.
"Yikes, Sam. Oh, to be a rascally young teenager again. Shave off thirty some odd years and I'd be chasing these girls around like a dog after some steak," he leered, rubbing his face with his hand and looking around. Sam shot him a look while continuing to be on the move.
"Al," he whispered," I think I saw the assassin. Now is not the time to drool."
"Where?" Al asked, instantly turning serious.
"The other side of the gym. Could you go check it out?" Al nodded, then blinked out of sight. Mere moments later, he came back again.
"Sure enough, Sam, he's over there where no one can see him. He's settin up his gun now. You gotta hurry, Sam!" he implored. With that, Sam sped up his gait and followed the hologram that only he could see.
There he was. Intense hatred filled Sam. Almost on autopilot, he ran over to the man and threw a swing at his face. The man went down with a grunt. Sam started raining blows to him, eventually rendering him unconscious.
"Sam," came a soft whisper. The autopilot went off, and Sam turned around to see Al standing behind him with a concerned look on his face. He then looked at what he had done. He fell to his knees and realized that Jarod must have taken over. The man on the floor groaned. Sam immediately moved to the would-be killer and pinned his arms behind his back, kicking the gun away from both of them.
"Sam, the security guards are coming. Just keep him there, and everything should be fine. Debbie stays alive, Parker doesn't kill herself, and most importantly Jarod stays alive. Zig says that you should leap any minute now." Al stood and waited there as security guards came and apprehended the man Sam had under control.
Sam actually went through interrogation before asking, "Why haven't I leaped, Al?" The hologram simply shrugged. He was about to say something when Miss Parker, who was led by a very frantic Debbie, approached Sam's side.
"Oh, Jarod! What happened? Why did someone have a gun here?" Debbie asked as she hugged his side. Sam looked to Parker. Her face showed no expression. He then looked down to Debbie.
"I don't know," he replied somewhat unconvincingly. Nothing else could be done, so Sam led the two outside and to the car. He decided to drive. Parker sat in front, and Debbie fell asleep stretched out on the backseat.
"Jarod," Parker murmured, keeping her unseeing gaze forward, "he was from the Centre, wasn't he?" Sam turned his head to look at her. She was smarter than he gave her credit for.
"Yes," he whispered. She inhaled and nodded her head. Nothing more was said for the rest of the trip.
----------
"Are they alright?" Jarod demanded of Verbena. He sat on the bed in the middle of the room with his hands gripping the edge.
"I don't know, Jarod. Admiral Calavicci hasn't returned yet."
"I beg to differ, Dr. Beeks," came the silky voice of Ziggy. "Admiral Calavicci is on his way back. Dr. Beckett has successfully prevented the assassination from happening, yet he is not leaping at this moment."
"Well, why is that?" Jarod asked, looking up at the ceiling. Ziggy scoffed.
"Dr. Beckett has something else he must do before leaping," she replied in a 'you're-an-idiot' tone of voice.
"I understand, Ziggy. But what is it that he must do? Do you have any idea?" he asked, almost assuming a tone of Dr. Sam Beckett himself.
"Yes, I do know, Jarod."
"Well, then what is it?"
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you. It concerns you and your future. Therefore, you simply cannot know," she answered without apology. Jarod sighed in frustration. He was getting nowhere, fast.
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Later that night, when everyone else had gone to sleep, Parker felt her way towards Jarod's room. She was mighty suspicious now. She had heard the voice again. And there was definitely something different with Jarod's voice. When he whispered into her ear, she knew. She felt the heavy door and knocked lightly, hoping he was still awake.
"Come on in," grumbled a deep voice, thick with sleep. Parker chuckled silently, knowing that she'd woken him up. She opened the door and slowly made her way into the room.
"Jarod, you awake?" she whispered.
"Mmhmm," he murmured sleepily.
"I have to talk with you about something." He sat up and patted the bed, meaning for her to sit down. She followed the sound until her knees bumped the mattress, and she sat. "Jarod," she started, "there's something about you that's been bothering me."
"Gee, Parker. Go ahead, tell me how you really feel," he joked.
"Jarod, your voice is different. -And- I've been hearing another voice sometimes around you. It was staticky at first, but it's gotten clearer. And it calls you Sam. Something's not right and I want to know what it is," she quietly demanded. She could hear him swallow. Then hesitate. Out of nowhere, a voice spoke.
"Try to deflect it for as long as you can, Sam." The voice was gravelly and quiet. Then she could feel Jarod nodding slightly.
"There it was again!" she whispered fiercely. "Who are you? And what have you done with Jarod?
"But I am Jarod," he replied deeply. Parker shook her head. She reached for his face and felt just below his right eye. No mole. It was confirmed. This was not Jarod. She exhaled heavily and stood up.
"You're not Jarod," she whispered as she backed away, "There's no mole. Who are you?" Before he could reply, Parker tripped over something on the floor and fell with a cry.
"Parker!" he cried out softly, getting out of the bed to go to her side. Upon reaching her, he pulled her into a sitting position and sat beside her. He sighed before speaking. "You're right. I'm not Jarod. My name is Sam. Sam Beckett. I can assure you that Jarod is doing just fine where he's at. See, I travel through time. Well, I actually 'leap' through time, using people, setting wrongs right. I can't control where I go. God, Time, Fate, or Whoever controls this ride sent me to Jarod's life."
"But why? Is it something with the Centre?" she asked confusedly, not really sure what was going on. He sighed again.
"Parker. . .you were going to kill yourself this week. . . because Debbie was supposed to die today at the contest." Parker's hand flew to her mouth as she gasped loudly. One half of her didn't believe a word he was saying, but the other half felt that there was truth to what he was saying. So, to gain a better understanding, she started asking him about quantum leaping, and all the aspects of it.
"So," she began after a few hours of explanation, "does Jarod's consciousness take over at any time." Sam hesitated.
"Yeah. He does." Parker paused this time.
"So, let him. Just this once," she whispered. Sam was about to protest, but sure enough, he felt Jarod take over, and Sam took the backseat.
Parker reached up and touched the right side of his face, just below his eye. The mole was there.
"Parker," he murmured deeply, in the voice that was his. This was Jarod. In a moment that seemed to last forever, he captured her face with his hands and lowered his face to hers. Their lips met. He slid one of his hands to the back of her neck to deepen the kiss.
As soon as it had begun, the moment dissolved. He moved his head away, and Sam returned. One tear made a solitary trail down Parker's cheek. Sam gently wiped it away with a finger and said, "Be easy on him, would you?"
After he'd said that, he felt the familiar sensations that preceded a leap. He playfully tousled Parker's hair and said, "It's time for me to go. I don't know if Jarod will remember anything that happened. I think you will. All I have to say is simply love him." Sam smiled then, even though she couldn't see it, and leaped.
----------
Jarod opened his eyes and found himself on his bedroom floor next to Parker. He nearly hugged her so tight that she couldn't breathe. She was alive! Luckily he restrained himself from touching her.
"Parker," he began, "what are you doing here?" She chuckled, a sound that he hadn't heard in weeks.
"I had to talk to Sam," she replied before slowly making her way up and out of the room. Jarod climbed back onto his bed, still pondering her response. But before long, he was asleep, dreaming of blue rooms, a parallel-hybrid computer, and a doctor named Sam.