Road Trip - A Look before the Leap

The author thanks Bellasarius Productions, Universal Studios and any other creative entities responsible for Quantum Leap.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Day Three - At Camp

Through the night, Al woke early and often. At least three times he woke up from some nightmare or another. Around six, he gave it all up and rose. His morning shower was a little colder than he liked, but it sure made him ready to face the day. He had a pair of jeans and a Navy sweatshirt in his gear. He threw on a yellow shirt, pulled the sweatshirt over it and took a look outside.

The morning was pure magic. The weather was a little warmer than usual and he was dressed fine for walking outside. The sun through the barren trees had an intriguing labyrinth-like quality. In the light he could see more of Camp Amazing Grace. A pier stretched out fingering into the lake. Down near the end he saw Katie sitting on a pylon. He quietly approached her, "Good morning."

She spun around. "Oh! You startled me."

"Sorry." Pointing to his feet he said, "Tennis shoes don't make noise." He took a seat on the pylon across from the young woman. "Listen, about last night."

She interrupted him immediately and curtly. "Nothing happened."

"Maybe not, but it has in the past. He beats you."

"Chuck is a great guy."

If he heard one more time how Chuck was a great guy, he was going to vomit. "Great guys don't beat their wives."

Her pained expression was suddenly replaced with an angry, but untrue glare. "Stay away from me and stay away from Chuck. He said all you officers are alike and he's right!" She stormed off back toward the house.

Al followed her with his eyes and as he turned he saw Chuck standing on the front porch of the house. He muttered, "I got to find Sam. He's got to help her."

Distance was what Katie needed right now, so Al opted not to go into the house yet. The water was beautiful. The sun skipping off it shimmered and he thought he would soak up the calm before harried family time began.

Staring off into thoughts of happy moments spent in space travel, he didn't hear Chuck coming up behind him at first. When he did, he figured it was Sam. He turned with a smile and found the big man defiantly looking down at him. "What is it?"

"Thelma wants you inside. She's making breakfast."

"Great." He got up and brushed past Chuck realizing that the Petty Officer was a full head taller and about 90 pounds heavier. If an Admiral's rank wasn't going to impress him, his five foot six, 142 pound frame sure as hell wasn't going to do it either. The battle with Chuck had to be won through intimidation, the same kind Chuck used on Katie.

He found Sam tying his shoes in the living room. "Hey, Al. Sleep good?"

"Just fine."

Sam wanted to believe him. "Really?"

The genuine concern on Sam's face made him smile. As much as Sam could frustrate him, he never had anyone in his life who so freely accepted all the foibles Al owned. Sam really cared. "Yeah, Sam. I did. In fact, a lot better than I thought I would." Sam jumped to his feet eager to have his mom's breakfast and to get on with the day. His enthusiasm made Al smile. "Listen, I need to get some time with you alone. We have to talk."

Sam's heart skipped a beat. "You want to talk? You mean really talk?"

He waved that idea away with both hands. "No, something else. It's important, but we have to talk privately."

"I thought that after breakfast we could take a walk around the grounds. It's a beautiful place."

"Deal. One walk around the camp."

From the kitchen they heard Deb calling, "Time for breakfast boys." A herd of lumbering elephants dashed to the table like Pavlov's dogs waiting for a treat. "Good grief. I'm surprised the house is still standing!" With a laugh and a flourish she placed a huge stack of pecan pancakes on the table and said, "Guests first. Admiral, you start and then pass them down."

"These smell fabulous."

"An old family recipe, but there's more food coming, so don't fill up on the pancakes."

Al smiled and handed the plate to Sam. "I like when Deb says there's more food coming."

Dave patted his growing paunch. "I like it too, maybe a little too much."

The pancakes went around the table followed by warm maple syrup. Thelma sat down while Deb and Katie finished bringing out scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, baked tomatoes, more biscuits and a plate of bagels with a lump of cream cheese on the side.

"Bagels?" Al picked one from the plate. "Boy, these are still warm. You got a bagel joint in the woods somewhere?"

Thelma started in. "I found the recipe in the library. Now, I don't know if they're any good. I never made them before and I sure never boiled bread before."

Al took a bite and was transported back to Avram's Kosher Bakery on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. "I haven't had bagels like this since I was a kid. You sure you're not a Kosher Methodist or something?"

It was sweet to see the older woman blush. "Now, you don't have to eat them just to please me."

"Trust me. I'm only pleasing myself here. I'm not sure how kosher it is to eat bagels with bacon, but I don't care. Pass me some of that bacon, Tom."

Breakfast continued on with everyone still talking at once. Half an hour later it was time to clean it all up. Al started clearing the table, but Deb took the plates from his hands. "Nope. You're a guest. You don't have to even think about cleaning up. That's why I have two sons." Jason and Tom got the not-so-subtle hint and reluctantly began putting dishes in the kitchen. "And they do dishes so nicely, don't you boys?"

Sam wanted to go for their walk. "Listen, I'm going to take Al around the camp. Anything I need to know about?"

Dave told Sam about some new trails that were well marked and that one trail he used to hike was off limits now. The bridge over the creek was in need of repair and too dangerous to play around, but that didn't matter. There was still a lot of ground to cover and the woods around Amazing Grace were beautiful.

They started out going north and for nearly an hour they talked about nonsense, fun things like baseball and basketball. Dave wanted to get a game of three on three going in the lodge that afternoon. They talked over the merits of the Beatles versus the Stones. It was a good time. From Al's perspective, this is what Gooshie meant. They needed to know they could communicate on any level at all. Usually their long conversations centered on science. They both loved it so much, but this was frivolous and it felt good.

The deep woods opened into a small grove where half a dozen park benches waited for them. Al walked over to one where the sun would warm their backs and sat on the table. Sam sat next to him. "It's great out here, Al. Sometimes I wish I would have been satisfied with this life."

"So, you know that you wouldn't be, right?"

It sounded like a silly question. "Oh yeah. I thought about it a lot when I was in grad school. People seemed to expect so much from me and I wasn't sure I wanted to please them. No one was asking what I wanted."

"That happens a lot. The orphanage threw me out when I was 16 without asking me what I wanted."

Sam was remembering a time when everyone was pulling everyway and he was terribly unhappy. "That stinks, doesn't it? I wasn't sure what I wanted. Part of me still wishes I had gone into music. It would be great to have more time to play the piano."

"Yeah, I like when you play."

"What about you? If you weren't in the Navy, what would you be doing?"

"Turning into mulch."

"I'm serious."

"Me too." He looked at Sam and the kid wasn't buying it. "Look, Sam, if I hadn't gotten into Annapolis, I would have ended up stealing from someone who would have knifed me and I'd have bled to death in an alley. Three days later, the garbage guys would find me and after a month or so laying on a slab in the morgue with no one claiming me, they'd dump me in potter's field. End of story."

"I don't believe it. Not you. You had too much going for you."

"This is a dumb game, kid. What might have happened doesn't matter. There's enough real stuff to think about."

Sam thought he'd ask again. "I was hoping we could talk about Vietnam."

Al sprung off the table and kept his back to Sam. "Why do you need to know about Vietnam?"

"It's not a need to know thing, Al. It's your need to tell."

"I don't have any need to tell you about Vietnam, but we have to talk about something serious and it's not easy." He sat across from Sam on another bench. "Last night after you left I heard some stuff from Chuck's and Katie's room." Smiling at Sam he admitted, "She's a good kid, Sam. Real charmer."

"Yeah. I'm glad she's happy. She had a tough time after Tom died. I didn't think she'd ever get over it, but who would figure she'd marry a sailor."

"Not every guy in a Navy uniform is a gem, Sam. Some are real pigs."

"Yeah, but Chuck's great."

"Shit, why does everyone keep saying that? You know, the only one of you who hasn't said it is Katie and she's the only one who has the right to."

"What's with you?"

"Last night, Sam, I was brushing my teeth and I heard them fighting. It got loud."

"So? I've seen you through two wives. You've been a little loud on occasion. It was nothing. They argued." Sam stared into the dirt. "It happens."

That was a different reaction than Al anticipated. "Don't you want to know why it got loud and what happened after?"

The cold hard table all of a sudden felt really uncomfortable. "Not really. It's their life."

Nothing more to do except it short and sweet. "Chuck is abusive, Sam. I went up after I heard her ask him to let her go."

Sam's blood turned cold and Al saw the scientist's posture change. "You're wrong, Al. Chuck is a great guy."

"Stop with that shit. The bastard beats your kid sister." He stormed over to Sam. "You're her big brother. What are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing is going on between Chuck and Katie. She knows better. If he was abusing her, she'd leave him."

"That's not how it works for a lot of women, Sam. They cover for the scum. I don't know why, but they do. Katie is covering for Chuck probably because she doesn't think people will believe her 'cause 'Chuck is a great guy' and she doesn't want to come off as being stupid."

Sam didn't get angry often, but Al was telling him that Katie was an abused wife and he was too stupid to see it and she was too stupid to walk away from it. He was the smartest man in the world and if anyone should discover that his sister was in trouble it should be him. "Katie is not stupid."

"I didn't say she was. Sam, here she is, the kid sister to the smartest man in the world and she can't find a husband who treats her right. She's afraid to show you she's in trouble, but you're her big brother. Protect her."

He'd heard enough. Sam didn't like his abilities questioned especially when it came to something as important as his family. The smartest man in the world knew everything and what he didn't know wasn't worth knowing. And Al Calavicci, a man who'd been through five wives, was telling him about his sister's relationship. Hell, he'd met her less than 24 hours earlier. There was no way Al would know something that Sam didn't. "Katie is fine and I don't like you talking about Chuck like this."

Al walked up and shoved his face right into Sam's. "Listen to me, doctor. Your kid sister is getting beaten. You're her big brother. Protect her."

Sam stared down at Al and found something to say. "Like you protected Trudy?" The gray look on Al's face broadcast that the line was stepped over big time.

The Admiral backed off and sat on another bench. This time he didn't want to look at Sam. He understood full well that he failed Trudy, but his kid sister was dead. Katie was still here and needing help. Sam pegged it though. Al was trying to do for Katie what he couldn't do for Trudy. God damn, why wasn't he able to help Trudy?

There's a certain kind of silence in a winter wood. No birds sound out. Squirrels aren't running through leaves on the ground. The breeze has nothing to rustle in the trees. So two men sitting on picnic benches have nothing to hear except their own breathing. It doesn't take long for the silence to need breaking.

Al gazed out toward a creek winding down about 20 yards away. Sam had to believe him and if it took telling some really private thoughts to help Katie, then it was time. "There was this one guard at a camp I was at in '72. Five years is a long time to be a prisoner, especially when you got a guy like the Marquis hanging around. All the guards had nicknames, Sam. We called him Marquis because he was the Marquis de Sade. He didn't just have fun beating us. His fun was in picking the most agonizing ways to do it. So, when he picked me that day, I knew I was in trouble. He locked my ankles in this iron bar. I guess my feet were about a yard apart. Then he strung me up by my wrists," he unconsciously started stretching his arms out to his side, "with my feet off the ground. He left me there I think it was three days. The sun burned me so bad I could feel the blisters growing." His breath shuddered and his eyes closed tight. It all happened in 1972, but he felt it now. "That's when he started whipping me." And he felt the stripe coming down. It was 1986 and it wasn't happening, but he knew where each lash fell and how it tore open his skin. "Weird thing about getting whipped, Sam. A lot of it, the pain part is from being hit over and over. The cutting was a separate thing." He snickered. "Sometimes the cuts felt good in a way. When your blood evaporated, you cooled off a little." There was more to say, but it wasn't going to be said. He had a point to make and to do it he had to look at the young scientist, his best friend. He walked over to Sam, his face filled with shame and self-hate. "It's taken me fourteen years to tell anyone about that day and I can't tell you the rest. The whole thing makes me embarrassed, more like humiliated. I know you're going to tell me there's nothing to be humiliated about and maybe that's true, but it doesn't matter. Now, Katie is like me. The pain is more than she wants to admit to anyone especially someone who thinks she can take care of herself." He stopped talking, stopped breathing, stopped looking at anything. Finally he shook his head and took a few steps away. "I am telling you the truth about Katie. For God's sake, protect her."

Sam had prepared himself for the kinds of things Al might someday describe, but knowing the facts and seeing the effects were vastly different. There was nothing that looked like a tear in the Admiral's eye and that was almost more frightening. "Al, I'm sorry he did that to you. It had to be hell, but I'm glad you're starting to open up."

The Admiral turned to face Sam again. "Did you hear what I said?"

"Yeah, and this is a real breakthrough for you."

"You are one stupid son of a bitch." He started walking away. "I'm going for a walk - alone! I'll find my way back."

"You can't go off alone. You know better!"

He turned and yelled at Sam. "So do you! Leave me alone. Go play ball with Chuck. I hear he's a great guy." He took off at a jog, trying to distance himself from his anger even more than from Sam.

"Al! Wait!" He had to chase the Admiral down. His long legs let him catch up pretty quickly. "Listen to me, Al. I'll talk to her. I'll ask what's going on, but it has to be her decision. She's a grown woman."

"She's your baby sister and there are times when the cavemen had the right idea. When a woman is in trouble, you take care of it for her. Now I know I failed Trudy, but you can't fail Katie."

Reminded of the cruelty of his statement, Sam turned crimson. "That was an ugly and untrue thing to say. I wasn't thinking."

"Listen, maybe it's better we both shut up for now. I want to drive into Ft. Wayne and visit a friend."

"What friend?"

He flashed a wicked, though unconvincing smile. "Hey, I got one in every port."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

By eleven o'clock Al was in his dress blues and driving into Ft. Wayne. He checked out the cassette collection again and opted for silence. Sometimes the best music was empty sound where you could think about the important things in life without outside influences. He fibbed to Sam. There was no girl waiting for him in Ft. Wayne. His mission was different today, which was why he put on the uniform.

Half an hour later he pulled into the small parking lot of the local Navy recruiting office. With five inches of ribbons on his chest and Admiral stripes on his sleeve, he'd get access to telephones and would have the privacy he needed for the phone call he planned to make.

He put on his hat and made his entrance. The two young men relaxing at their desks looked up and were absolutely startled to see an Admiral in front of them. The blonde Ensign got up so fast that he banged his knee against the desk with a crack that sounded painful. Both saluted and briskly said, "Good morning, Sir."

Al returned the salute and immediately advised, "At ease, Ensigns. . ." he checked the names on their shirts, " Figueroa and Benson." He smiled at Benson. "Ensign Benson. I would guess you get a little flak about that."

Ensign Benson smiled, "Yes, sir. Quite a lot."

"I promise I won't add to it." The boys were so very young and it constantly amazed him to think he was ever that age. "I'm Admiral Albert Calavicci. I want to take care of some business while in town. I need access to a telephone in a private space. I'm hoping this is the place."

Ensign Figueroa said, "Yes, sir. We have a private office in the back. There's a phone there you can use, but sir, if you don't mind."

Al anticipated the next question and pulled out his wallet. "You want to see an ID. Good call, Ensign." He showed both men his official Navy ID. "Now, the only other thing I need is a good cup of coffee."

Benson smiled as he checked Al's ID. "We may have a problem there, sir. There is no good coffee in this office. We have some stuff that smells like coffee, but we don't know if it really is or not. I can get you a cup of that."

"Sure, I'll try almost anything once." He pointed toward the back of the room. "So, who's going to show me the office?"

Ensign Figueroa led Al to the space he wanted while Benson brought him the coffee. Figueroa said, "Sir, I'll notify our CO that you're here. He's only five minutes away."

"That's fine. If he's available, it would be good to meet him." Benson brought the coffee and the two recruitment officers left Al to conduct his business. He shut the door, sat at the desk and pulled an address book from his pocket.

Flipping to "C" he found the number and dialed. After two rings he heard, "Chegwidden."

"Hey, A.J., Al Calavicci here."

"Hey, Al. What's up? Last time I saw you, you were on top of a piano singing badly."

"Yeah, that was fun. I'm out here in Indiana visiting Sam Beckett's family."

"You must be a foreign national out there."

He laughed. "I'm not sure how to take that. Listen I got a favor to ask you. I need you to check on a Petty Officer for me. I want to know his record."

"You got to give me a reason, Al."

Still joking with his buddy Al snapped, "Okay. I'm an Admiral and you're not."

A.J. roared. "I guess that will do it. Who is he?"

"Chuck Zdenek, probably Charles. He's stationed at Great Lakes. He's married to Katherine Beckett. That's Katherine with a K."

"How soon do you want this? Knowing you, you want it right now."

"Good boy, Captain. You got it. Let me give you the telephone number here. I'm at the recruiting station in Ft. Wayne."

A.J. took down the number and began working on Al's request. Outside the office Al heard the CO arriving. A.J. would need a little time so he might as well shoot the breeze with some fellow Navy officers.

Half an hour later, the phone rang and Figueroa answered. It was Chegwidden and Al once again disappeared into the office for a private conversation. "What do you got?"

"The guy's a prince. He's on the edge of dishonorable discharge. Seems he likes to start fights."

"Great. This SOB is married to Sam's kid sister and I think he beats her."

"Well, it would go along with his pattern. He's not choosey about who he hits. He broke a woman's jaw in a bar fight in Chicago. His buddies backed him on it being an accident, but I don't believe it. The whole episode has a hinky feel to it."

"Thanks, A.J."

"Al, you're not going to take him on, are you? The guy is Paul Bunyan with an attitude. He's taller than I am and outweighs me by forty pounds."

"That all? Damn. He looks even bigger. Trust me, A.J., I'll do my best to stay out of his way, but this might be the guy's last week in the Navy. Start proceedings on him. I'll keep you updated."

Theirs was a 20-year friendship and the attorney knew his friend well. "Al, if you do something stupid, he can kill you. From what I'm seeing here, it's a miracle he hasn't killed someone already. I don't know why he's still in the Navy."

"For Katie's sake, I'm glad he is. We might be able to take care of him."

A.J. wasn't letting him off the hook. "Promise me you won't antagonize this guy. You only got in the Navy because you fit in the cockpit of an A-4."

"Smart ass. Listen, I got to go. I'll let you know what's happening here. Contact Great Lakes and get info from his CO. It's a direct order from me."

"Thanks for the order. Gives me the clout I'll need to talk to his CO."

"Tell them anything want. I'll back you up. I'll call you tomorrow." He hung up the phone and made his way back out to the officers at the recruiting station. They had a customer. Benson wanted the potential recruit to meet a real Navy hero. Al parlayed the introduction into a commercial for the Navy and the kid looked like he would sign anything to become a sailor, but Al told him, "Enthusiasm is important, but so is this decision. The Navy has a lot to offer you, but be sure first. Go home and think about it. Find a good friend that you trust and talk through it. I hope you'll be signing up, but only if it's the right thing for you."

The wide-eyed young man hadn't counted on meeting an astronaut and his smile was contagious. He shook the Admiral's hand and Al left the building to make his way back to the cage. Damned stupid nickname for a camp, but what was, was.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Sam walked around the camp trying to figure out how he was going to approach Katie. He wanted to find her alone and it was hard to do. She stayed glued to Chuck to the point where Sam began to see what Al saw instinctively. It took a few hours, but at last, Chuck was throwing a football with Jason, and Katie was with Thelma in the kitchen.

His hands were stuck in his pockets and he felt terribly uncomfortable, but he walked in and smiled. "The two prettiest women in the world."

Katie kidded him. "About time you realized that."

He put his arms around her in a big bear hug. "Always did realize it." Without letting go he said, "Katie, can I talk to you?"

"Sure, Sam."

"Let's go outside." He took her hand and led her out onto the front porch. They sat on the swing. "This is hard, Katie."

Her heart sunk. She hoped Al hadn't spoken to Sam, but apparently he did. She decided to play dumb. "What's hard?"

"Al and I talked this morning. He seems to think there's a problem with Chuck."

Katie went on the defensive. "I don't like Al. I know he's your friend, but last night he stormed up to our room demanding that Chuck treat him like an Admiral and being really mean."

Sam had witnessed Al in military mode often enough. Considering his small stature, he could intimidate pretty well, but storming up and demanding to be treated like an Admiral just wasn't his style. Sam realized it was true. All of what Al told him was true. "Katie, Al told me Chuck hurt you last night. We have to get you away from him."

"He didn't hurt me. He just grabbed my arm. I wasn't listening to him and sometimes he gets angry with me. He should. I don't listen well enough."

"No one has the right to hurt you for any reason."

Getting hurt wasn't fun, but she was Chuck's wife and sometimes a woman had to put up with things. So many of the wives she knew on the base were in similar circumstances and they all maintained they had good marriages. "Sam, I love him and he loves me. We argue. Even Mom and Dad argued."

"Dad never laid a hand on Mom and you know it. Why do you let him hurt you?"

"It just happens sometimes, but it's nothing. Just a bruise every so often. Last night he was so mad at Al. He came here to get away from officers. He hates officers." She wanted Sam to let it go, but part of her didn't. Something was terribly wrong in a relationship that depended on pain to keep it together. Still, she was Chuck's wife and she would stand by him.

"Well, I know what he does to you. Al knows and I think you need to tell Mom. Dave and Deb can help us now. We have to get you away from Chuck."

"You float into my life once a year for a decade and now you're telling me how to live. Think again, genius. You don't know everything and I'm not leaving Chuck. He's my husband and I love him. That's all you need to know." Pushing off the swing, she marched back toward the front door. Turning back she warned, "Don't you dare tell Mom. I'll tell her you and the Admiral are lying." She walked into the foyer and found Chuck waiting for her. She kissed him. "Honey, I'm so glad you're here." Chuck took her hand and they went back outside. "Chuck, let it go."

Sam was right outside the front door. Chuck pushed it open throwing Sam off balance. He caught himself before he fell. Chuck pretended to be surprised. "Sorry, doc. I didn't see you."

"Yeah, well, my mistake apparently." He looked into Chuck's eyes and now any doubts that remained were gone. Sam could see the rage in Chuck and wondered how he ever missed it in the past. Katie needed to be safe. "Where are you going?"

"Your mother wants me and Katie to go into Albion for some groceries. Your friend is a pretty demanding guy. Thelma seems to think she has to cook just for him." He gently pushed Katie in front of him making a blockade between him and an angry Sam. "Let's go."

They got in the car and Sam sadly watched them until the car drove around the last turn. His little sister was a battered wife. He wanted to tell the others, but thought he needed Al first. Checking the time, he hoped his friend would return soon.

An hour passed and Al still hadn't shown up. It would have been better for Al to return before Chuck and Katie, but that wasn't the case. Sam heard the front door and Chuck carried in two bags of groceries. He walked past Sam without saying a word. Sam caught Katie by the arm before she followed him. "Stay with me."

"Sam, stop it. I swear we'll leave right now if you don't."

Chuck came to them. "Anything wrong?"

"No, Honey. Sam is just being goofy like usual." She hugged her brother. "I love you, too, Sam."

If Katie wouldn't stay with Sam, then he'd keep Chuck with him. "Hey, Dave wanted some firewood chopped. You interested in helping?"

Jason chose that moment to wander through. "Sure could use your help, Chuck." He kept walking. "Yours, too, Sam."

With Jason in the lead, Chuck and Sam walked out the back door to take care of some firewood. Sam was glad Katie had a reprieve. At least she'd be safe for a little while longer. He still wanted Al to get back. It was almost 3:30 and Sam wanted resolution before dinner.

For nearly half an hour, the three men chopped wood. Sam liked the physicality of it. His world was computers and keyboards. This honest, hard work that depended very little on his brain was good release for him. Chuck was a regular guy when he was working hard with his hands. No wonder Sam didn't catch the evil side of him. This is the Chuck he'd seen most often, but he had to keep from thinking things were really fine. He knew better now.

From the kitchen window he heard his mother. "Sam, come here. I need your help." He walked in to help Thelma open a few jars that were just too stuck for her.

Sam asked, "Where's Katie?"

"On her way to the lodge. She has a headache and wants to lie down." Thelma looked into Sam's eyes. "She seems different somehow, Sam. I can't figure it out."

"She has her reasons. I'd rather she'd tell you herself."

"So you know and I have to wait."

"Won't be too long, I'm sure."

Katie left her mother two minutes earlier and as she walked to the lodge, Al returned and found her alone. She didn't want to talk to him, but he was intent.

He lit a cigar and told her, "I know about Chuck's temper. He broke a woman's jaw."

"Admiral, please drop it. I'm fine. I love him and we're fine."

While Sam was with Thelma, Chuck wended his way to the front porch looking for Katie. He didn't like what he saw. She was talking to Al and it wasn't going to be a good night for Katie. He walked toward them.

Katie saw him first. "Oh, God, just go, Admiral. Please go."

Al's cigar sent up small streams of smoke that blew away with the constant breeze as he watched Chuck coming toward them. Something about Chuck's posture made his blood run cold. The guy was a powder keg and if Sam wasn't going to do anything about it, then he would. The cigar was dropped to the ground and crushed out. He was glad that he'd been to the gym a few days earlier. His fighter instincts were tight and he was ready, even if Chuck was bigger than Sam. Oh, well, sometimes a little guy had an advantage.

Katie's eyes flashed between Chuck and Al. Her husband gave her strict unspoken orders. She knew he didn't want her anywhere near the Admiral. She was confused, but she also began to realize that she didn't want to be hurt any more.

Chuck and the Admiral were only about 20 feet apart, but it was the difference between a life of hope and the desperation of a secret hell. The Admiral took her in his arms and hugged her. She whispered to him, "He's going to be so mad." Tears were already streaming down her face.

Al gave her one more squeeze. "I know, honey, but it's all over. You go up to the house right now and get your brother. I'll take care of Chuck."

His arms felt like her Dad was there protecting her. She didn't want to leave his safety. "Come with me, Admiral, please."

Gently, he pushed her away from him. His eyes stayed focused on Chuck. "I'll be there in a minute. Go now. Get Sam." Katie took off running and Al walked deliberately toward Chuck, his hands flexing and praying the younger man wouldn't beat the shit out of him. But if anger is a motivator, then the Admiral was motivated. Zdenek stood waiting for him and that was fine.

When he got closer, Al said, "Petty Officer, we have to talk."

"You're no Admiral out here."

Al ignored the statement. There were more important things going on. "You're done beating that girl. You're done. Understand?"

"Fuck you." He turned his back walking farther down the pier.

Al didn't move. The more distance between them the better. "I started dishonorable discharge proceedings against you today. You're also done with the Navy."

The walk stopped. He'd have nothing left. "You're not going to do that, Calavicci."

"That's Admiral Calavicci to you, understand, sailor?"

Chuck slowly approached the Admiral. "No, I don't think so. Why don't you tell me again?"

"So you want criminal charges too. Be easy enough to take care of. I don't give a shit how long you sit in a prison."

"She's my wife! She does what I tell her."

Anger made the Admiral move in closer. "Not any more. She's done taking your crap." The closer he got, the more Chuck seethed. "You and me, we're going to pack up your belongings and then you're leaving. Katie won't be seeing you again."

"You can't do that."

"Want to bet?" Chuck made his move, but anger made him clumsy. Al ducked when the huge fist came toward him. The move made it easy for him to drive a blow into Chuck's gut and he went flying. "Now, I get to call the MPs. Assaulting a superior officer isn't a good idea, sailor."

"Fuck you." Chuck used his body mass to plow into the smaller man. Al fell hard against the pier, the back of his head cracking down on a pylon. He was dazed and unable to see the Petty Officer follow through on the next attack. Chuck grabbed Al's collar and lifted him off the pier. By the time the Admiral could regain his bearings, Chuck landed three hard fists in his belly. Al's knee cut upward and got Chuck where he kept his brain. Both men moved away slightly to regain composure. The back of Al's head was bleeding and a pounding started already. He dropped to his knees woozy and knowing he'd lost the fight already, but Chuck wasn't done. The big man barreled into the Admiral and his only objective was to kill.

Katie ran toward the house as fast as she could. She heard the fight and stopped to take a look. She saw Al going down, his small frame limp and lifeless. "Oh God, no!" She ran inside and found Thelma in the kitchen. "Where's Sam?"

"Out back." Thelma saw panic on her daughter's face. "What's wrong, Katie?"

"I got to get Sam!" She ran through the house and screamed for her brother. He saw her terror and followed her to the front of the house. She pointed and Sam watched Chuck stomp a heavy heeled boot into the Admiral's chest. Al was motionless as Chuck ripped the ribbons from his breast pocket. The array was thrown into the water. They disappeared into the dark lake. Then Chuck threw an unconscious Admiral in after them.

"Katie, call the State Police now!" Sam took off like a bat out of hell and called on every one of his martial arts belts to keep Chuck from killing him. A final kick to Chuck's head put him down on the pier unconscious, but Al was still in the freezing water. The surface was no longer rippling and Sam's fear almost kept him from moving, but a greater fear gave him the strength to jump into the icy water to find the Admiral.

He dove into the lake where he thought Al went in. The icy cold hit him and opening his eyes was hard. The water was murky and he didn't see anything big enough to be a man. Surfacing for a breath he saw Katie pointing farther out. Five yards away, Al floated face down in the water. A few kicks, a stretch and Sam had the back of Al's jacket in his hand. The chilly water permeated Al's wool clothing adding at least thirty pounds of unneeded weight and the distance to the pier seemed longer than it was, but Sam called on all the power in his body and soul. Finally, Jason and Katie lifted the lifeless Admiral to the pier.

Tom had a baseball bat ready to swing at Chuck while his father tied the man's hands behind his back. Mike took the bat from Tom and told his son, "Go to the highway and signal the police." Tom took off.

His ear to Al's chest, Sam didn't hear any breathing, but his heart was strong. "Damn you, breathe!" When Al didn't follow orders, Sam pulled open the wet tie trying to strangle the Admiral and started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. It took nearly a minute to get Al's lungs moving without help. The Admiral coughed and dirty water spilled out. He panted as his eyes opened. Sam's firm hands gently turned Al on his side. "Don't move."

A few more hacking coughs got all the water out and he pushed Sam away. His voice was raspy. "I'm okay." Sitting up he held his stomach trying to control the pain in his aching gut. "The bastard has a good right cross." His breathing started evening out. "Where's Katie?"

She knelt beside him. "I'm right here." Tears were pouring from her eyes. "Thank you."

"Don't cry, kid. You're okay now." Involuntarily, his eyes closed again. Katie caught him falling forward.

Sam was testing limbs to see if anything was broken. "But I'm not sure you're okay. Be still."

"I'm fine, Sam. Shit." He looked up and saw Thelma. "Excuse me. Sorry."

Sam's mom leaned down, gently took Al's face in her hands and kissed his forehead. "Thank you so much." She ran her hand over Al's wet hair, pushing it off his face. When she touched the back of his head and he gasped. Thelma opened her hand and said, "Sam, look."

The doctor saw blood. "Okay, Al. We're taking you to the hospital."

"I don't think so."

Deb reached the group carrying a litter from the infirmary. Katie and Jason helped her open it and it was set next to the patient. Sam looked his friend straight in the eye. "You might have a skull fracture. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, I understand you fine, but my head isn't broken. I may have a little concussion, but no fracture." His wet skin began shivering in the 40-degree air. "Can we go inside?"

Sam motioned Jason to help and Al was placed on the litter. Deb wrapped a blanket around him and they left Mike holding his baseball bat on an unconscious Chuck. Adjacent to the main house, the camp infirmary was well outfitted. Since they were so far from a medical center, Deb insisted that they have the equipment to care for any number of emergencies especially water injuries.

Sam and Deb wrapped Al in blankets. Once his body warmed up, he began to feel the bruising and the tangerine-sized lump on the back of his head. Al knew full well that except for a headache and some magnificent black and blue marks he was going to be fine, but part of him liked the fuss. It was almost like having someone who really cared.

The stethoscope practically attached to his chest. Sam listened and listened and listened making sure he didn't hear anything rattling inside that shouldn't be rattling. Deb prepared films for x-ray and as Al predicted there was no fracture. The cut took 14 stitches, oxygen was pumped through a nasal canula and an IV dripped antibiotics into him. The Admiral lay quietly knowing the rest would do him good. It was good to finally feel warm again.

After the police left with Chuck handcuffed in the back seat, Thelma brought Sam a change of clothing and about an hour later, things got to a point where everyone thought they could begin to relax. The infirmary had a lot of visitors and Al was feeling a little like he was dead and mourners were viewing the corpse. "You know, everybody, I'm fine. You'll see. I'll be on my feet in a few minutes."

Sam finally let fear take over and he sounded weak and wounded himself. "Not if I can help it."

"I've been beaten worse than this a lot of times."

Looking at his family, he asked, "Could you leave us alone for a few minutes." Everyone filed out through the door leading into the house leaving the scientist and his friend to talk "Al, I'm sorry." Tears began to form in his eyes. "I didn't believe you."

Al looked at Sam. "Listen, you don't have to believe me, but you should have believed what you saw. Katie could have gone back to Great Lakes with that nozzle and he would have ended up killing her. So if you want to apologize, apologize to her."

"What's wrong with me? She's my sister and I love her. Why didn't I see what Chuck was?"

Al had a feeling he knew the problem, but he wasn't sure how Sam would react. "Kid, Gooshie said that if we get funded, then you and I have to be friends, real friends. Well, real friends say things sometimes that aren't fun. You willing to let me keep talking?" Sam nodded, but actually wasn't convinced he really was. "Okay. We know it can't be lack of intelligence. I also know that it isn't because you don't care, but there are times, kid, when I swear you don't see. It's more like you don't want to see. There is this magnificent world in your head and it's Utopia. In your world, people are like you. They're kind. They hold doors open for old ladies. They love hearing kids laugh, but that's not the real world. You don't want to think men like Chuck exist, so in your head you don't let them. You block them out to the point where you don't even see what's in front of your eyes."

Sighing Sam wasn't convinced. "You're telling me I'm just a naïve Indiana hayseed."

"You say that like it's a bad thing. Sometimes I wish I knew what it meant to be naïve. I never had the chance, but you did." Sam was looking like a small child who broke Mr. Finster's window and ran away before fessing up. "Sam, there is this guy named Untermeyer. He was a poet. Wrote this poem once called Prayer. Now I'm not a good one for praying, but I always liked this poem. There are two verses that you need to learn and keep in your head. Listen close and memorize them." Al had to take a second to bring the verses back into his aching head, but he finally began, "Open my eyes to visions girt With beauty, and with wonder lit - But always let me see the dirt, And all that spawn and die in it. Open my ears to music; let Me thrill with Spring's first flutes and drums - But never let me dare forget The bitter ballads of the slums." Al closed his own eyes. He kept those words for himself, but as a reminder that there could be beauty in the world. Sam needed them now for the opposite reason. "So, it's good and right to see wonderful things in the world, to expect them, but you can't close your eyes to the bad stuff."

With more candor than he usually shared, Sam admitted, "I'm ashamed."

"I can imagine, but take a look at the results here. Chuck is in jail and Katie is safe."

"Thanks to you." He looked into the face of this man who was now far more a friend than he imagined every having. "You forgot to add that you're safe too."

He sure wasn't feeling well, but he would recover. "I'll admit the SOB nearly got me, but . . ."

Sam interrupted him, "No, I mean you're safe. No one will ever do things to you again."

"Do things?"

It was a confession he didn't mean to make, but the words spilled out. "When we took off your wet clothes, I saw the scars."

Al suddenly knew what Sam was talking about the remnants of over six years of imprisonment. "Don't go there, Sam." It was bad enough that not too long ago he was drowning in some stupid lake. He didn't want to rehash the past. It wasn't time.

"Remember what Gooshie said. If we're going to be friends, I have to tell you the truth. I heard what you said this morning about the Marquis and what he did to you, but it didn't become real to me until I saw the scars on your back, I had no idea you were beaten like that."

"You saw nothing. Let it be."

"You tell me to see the dark side of life, but when I do, you turn me away. I can't learn if you won't teach."

Sarcasm came first. "I'm not much of a teacher." Al's eyes turned away and his openness disappeared. "Like I said, don't go there, Sam." Then his face turned away. "I'm asking you."

The conversation was over. Sam knew it, but he didn't know what else to say. "I think it might be a good idea for you to get some sleep. I'll lower the lights and pull the shade." Sam checked the flow of oxygen and the IV and then followed through with the lights and shades. "I'll be in the next room." He checked the time. "It's 4:45, Al. I'll wake you for dinner." There was no response.

Al was grateful for the dark. This road trip was getting overwhelming and he wasn't sure he wanted it to go on any further. Once he determined he was alone, he gingerly touched his chest and grimaced. He may have been beat up worse in the past, but this one was pretty good. Every muscle ached. Every breath hurt. The chance to get some sleep was welcomed. Heavy eyes closed under the influence of pain medication and exhaustion. In five minutes, he was asleep.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

He didn't want to wake up, but Sam was telling him it had to happen "Okay, okay. I'm up."

"Glad to see it. I'll be waking you every two hours or so."

Waking a patient every two hours was the procedure for a concussion and the Admiral had been hit on the head enough to have been through it all too many times. "My head is fine. It's a bump. That's all. Don't worry so much."

"No pain?"

"I didn't say that." As he sat up he felt light-headed, but he figured he earned that right. His head pounded, but Sam didn't need to know. "Chuck did a number on me, didn't he?"

"Tomorrow we're going into Ft. Wayne. Deb and I both want you to get a more complete set of x-rays, especially your head. Between getting bonked and the near drowning, I'll feel better having a neurologist check you out."

The throbbing was starting in. "Good idea."

Sam thought Al would argue with him. It was disconcerting to have the Admiral agree so easily. "I want to take a look at the damage." He started untying the hospital gown. The exposed bruises were even angrier looking. "These things are still growing." He pressed his fingers against the baseball-sized bruise on Al's right side. The Admiral flinched and let out a short yelp. Sam apologized. He didn't want to hurt his friend, but he had to know the progression of the injuries. "I got to poke a little more."

Al steadied himself for more pain. "Get it over with."

Sam worked quickly, but gently. He discovered two marks on Al's back. They were dark red, apparently where Chuck's boots kicked with all his weight. "I didn't see these before. This might be a broken rib. Damn."

He touched the first one and Al gasped. "Jesus, Sam, be careful." When the lights in his eyes stopped flashing in pain he said, "That son of a bitch is going to pay for this." He remembered A.J. "I got to call Chegwidden. The MPs need to get involved here. Where's the phone?"

"Phone calls can wait. The Sheriff's Department has Chuck in a cell for attempted murder." His hands pushed on the second bruise he found on Al's back. The reaction was even stronger. "Listen to me. I think we need a hospital. We're going to pack you up and go as soon as we can."

"What's wrong? So, it hurts. You have King Kong step dancing on you and see how you feel."

"These are pretty significant. I want to be sure you don't have a bruised kidney." He slipped the gown back over Al's shoulders. Supporting Al's back, he guided his patient back down in the bed. "Let me see how Dave transports patients."

"You give them pants and put them in a car."

"I'd rather have an ambulance."

"You're nuts. Get me some clothes. I can sit in a car." A deep breath left him light-headed again. "I want all the fucking documentation you can get on what he did to me. Make it look worse than it really is, Sam, because Chuckie is going to fry."

"Attempted murder is pretty serious charge."

"I got to get A.J. trying him at JAG. Civilian court doesn't care that I'm an Admiral. JAG does. Attempted murder of an Admiral will get a few more years added to his sentence."

Deb poked her head in. "How are things going?"

Sam motioned her over. "I don't know how, but we missed two bruises over his right kidney. We need to get to Ft. Wayne now. I don't want to wait until morning."

Her hand touched his forehead feeling for fever. "Then I guess we won't be offering you anything to eat. I'll have Dave get the van ready."

"An ambulance might be safer for him."

"The van doubles as transport. He'll be lying down. Got a hook for the IV and everything." She left them alone.

Al saw worry in Sam's face. It's not that he hadn't seen it earlier, but enough time passed for him to settle down. This was a concerned doctor Sam look. "Okay, what's wrong?"

"Maybe nothing, but those bruises on your back weren't there two hours ago."

"You mean the asshole really hurt me? I figured I'd be sore, but not more than that." His hospital phobia began to kick in. "I don't need a hospital. You can do everything here."

"Al, if I thought I could I would, but if you have a kidney bleeding, then you might need surgery. I can't diagnose that here and I sure can't do the surgery."

"Surgery? You're talking surgery now?"

Agitation wouldn't do the patient any good. "No one is talking surgery."

"You said surgery. I heard you."

"Calm down, Al. I'm sure you're fine. I just want to be careful." Soothing Al's fears wasn't going to be easy. "You have to settle down. It's just a precaution."

He heard Sam. He even believed Sam, but his life held too many moments when he thought things might be okay and things got screwed. Maybe he didn't believe Sam. Maybe he did. Sam told him it was probably nothing, but Greg died when the guard kicked him in the back. Took a week and it was agonizing. That was fifteen years ago. He wasn't in Vietnam now. The hospital would just make sure things were right. God damn it. Why did he have to think about Greg? His eyes closed trying to block the memory of the Marine Sergeant's last attempts to breathe. There was nothing he could have done for him except promise he'd never forget. Why did he make those promises? Remembering hurt too fucking hard, but he kept promises. His word was the only thing of value he owned. He didn't hear himself mutter, "Damn it, Greg."

"Who's Greg?"

Sam's voice brought him back to the real situation. "No one. You know me, Sam. I hate hospitals." Like the good Italian boy he was, Al had overreacting down to an art form. "They creep me out." His breathing got a little heavy.

Picking up Al's wrist, Sam started timing his pulse. It was a too fast, but not too bad. "You're getting agitated. I really think you're fine. Don't worry."

Whether he was sick or not wasn't the question really. It was the hospital itself. Anything that looked like confinement where people tied you down and stuck things into your body - anything like that was a return trip to Vietnam and the pain he feared was pain from the past. Sam didn't know that. He attributed it to some childish hatred of doctors. Maybe there was some of that mixed in, too. He didn't have many positive encounters with the medical profession when he was younger. They did nothing to keep his dad from dying. He wasn't even sure they were called in to help when Trudy's lungs filled fluid and she drowned in her own infection. His own sensibility brought him out of his panic. "I know I'm okay, Sam. It's just. . ." he paused to find a reason that had nothing to do with him, "This was too close for Katie. Way too close."

Half an hour later Dave was driving the van with Al stretched out in the back, Sam and Deb monitoring the IV and trying to make the bumpy road as painless as possible. Al kept his eyes closed hoping to avoid any kind of conversation. All he wanted was for there to be an end to this day, an end that didn't involve surgery.

The car behind them carried Jason, Tom, Thelma and a shaken Katie who laid her head on her mother's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Mom."

"I know, Katie. Al is strong. You'll see. They'll send him home with us." Her daughter started crying yet again. "This is worth crying over, sweetie. A lot happened to you today and I'm so glad the Admiral was here to help you and I'm so sorry none of the rest of us were. I hope you'll forgive us someday."

"As soon as you forgive me." Katie dried her eyes. "It's a miracle Sam and the Admiral had time to come out here, a real miracle."

The two car caravan pulled into Parkview Hospital around 8:30. The staff in the ER was waiting for the arrival of their prestigious patient. The head of every possible department that might be involved in the Admiral's care had been summoned. X-ray rooms were manned and waiting to make sure their honored guest was cared for well.

Dr. Alan Landecker was first in line to attend to the Admiral while a nurse took the history from Deb and Sam. He worked quickly, but methodically having all items ready to get the test results he wanted. Blood was drawn, temperature and blood pressure were taken, his heart rate monitored. The doctor was pleased to see that the cruel gash at the base of the Admiral's skull was neatly stitched, but the lump under it was big enough to be seen by the naked eye. X-rays were ordered and by 9:15 the Admiral was getting his picture taken.

Another hour later, Al fought increasing pain, but these new assaults were the result of having been manhandled by a lot of people looking to complete their jobs. It wasn't until almost two in the morning that everything was judged and a diagnosis could be made.

Landecker met with Al, Sam and Deb. His blue eyes and shock of red hair made him look younger than his 45 years. He offered seats to all and took one himself. "Looks like we have good news here. Looks like your attacker kicked you a few times in the back and damaged your right kidney, Admiral, but not too seriously. There's some bleeding, but it should heal on its own without a problem."

Al was so sleepy that he struggled to listen. "No surgery?"

"No surgery, but you will need bed rest and then you have to lay low for a few days. Nothing strenuous for awhile."

"Good. Let's get back to the camp."

Landecker squelched that idea. "Not tonight. I'd like you to stay overnight for observation and then tomorrow I scheduled a complete neurological exam. That takes time and it takes a rested patient. You're not going anywhere tonight."

The Admiral smiled at Sam. "This one sounds like he actually finished med school.

"The bump on your head is a good-sized hematoma. There is a small hairline skull fracture, but again, nothing to be overly concerned about. It's superficial. There's no intra-cranial bleeding, but that's one reason why I want a more thorough neurological exam tomorrow including a CAT scan. We have a private room waiting upstairs. We called in nursing staff specifically to care for you. I think you'll be comfortable here, Admiral."

Al's eyes labored to stay open and lost the battle. His forehead tightened down with a wince. "Just make it stop hurting."

"Once we get you to your room, we'll give you some pain meds."

Sam's relief was evident on his smiling face. "That's great news. I was a little nervous."

Al tried smiling again, his voice fading into sleep. "Now you tell me."

Half an hour later Al was asleep in the room upstairs and Sam settled into a chair not meant for dozing off, but it didn't matter. As far as he was concerned, he'd sleep standing in the corner. Al was not going to be left alone, not after what he did for Katie. He listened to Al breathing steadily and in peace. The comfort he felt lulled him into sleep as well.

The world was still dark when Sam startled from his rest. The Admiral's imaginative and relentless mind had him back in Vietnam again. The words were whispered, painful attempts to stop the torture. "He doesn't know. You're killing him."

Sam put his strong hand on the Admiral's clenched fist. "It's okay, Al. Wake up."

Words and a warm touch weren't going to do it. Al was still in hell "Stop. Take me. He's a kid." The despairing look on his face broke Sam's heart. "Please stop. Take me."

Stronger hands took Al's shoulders and gently shook him. The Admiral had to wake up. "You're in Ft. Wayne, Al. Wake up. It's a dream."

Dark brown eyes opened slowly and the fragile, embarrassed officer murmured, "Sorry." His eyes closed and within minutes the Admiral followed his own advice, hopefully without dreams of the past interfering with the rest he needed.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

AUTHOR'S NOTE: All rights to this story are reserved. Neither the whole nor parts (with exception of short excerpts for review purposes) may be published elsewhere without written permission from the author. Thank you.