My Sixth Sense

"Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived"

Helen Keller

Sigari (Smell)

Part 3/6

For the first time since he could remember, Sam had been able to smell Al. No, not Bingo, his Al.

It had happened during his latest leap, Sam had leaped into a bar, and he took two steps forward, and his whole world shifted. Memories he thought he had lost forever came streaming back.

He remembered giggling as the proud drunk he was, he remembered laying his head against Al's shoulder as he became dizzy with glee. He remembered the smell. It was Al. He smelled his brand of cigars on his shirt, mixed with just the right amount of lady's perfume and his own cologne. This in turn mixed with the bar's atmosphere, and the scent became that of success.

One of victory as they celebrated finally being granted funding for Project Quantum Leap. So familiar was the setting, that Sam half expected to see himself sitting at the table, with his friends gathered around. With Al. He definitely felt Al's presence.

However few times it was noted, Sam Beckett could still be wrong. As it was in this case. There was no Al in the bar, and the smell belonged to an older black man who sat atop a bar stool, his arm coiled around his drinking, sipping it mournfully and slowly.

Hypnotized Sam floated towards this man and sat down on a bar stool, close, but still keeping his distance. He sat on the stool, and asked for a scotch. Not that Sam would drink it, but for whatever reason he felt compelled to order it, and when the drink was set down in front of him he remembered why.

Al had tried to drink a lot more than he should have that night, and each time Sam had to remind him on not drinking too much. Al was in good humor, and he just teased Sam and mostly importantly, he listened. He only had one glass of scotch the entire night, and spent most of his time blabbering while the others drank and nearly choked on the absurdity of Al's tales.

He could even recall some of them, almost all of them where about women, of course, and he could remember himself blushing. There were no worries that night; the worries were saved for later.

So drawn into the past, Sam didn't even hear the imaging chamber door open. So drawn into the past, Sam didn't jump at the sound of Al's voice. It all fit, it all made sense.

"Hey Sam, well you're in the year nineteen fifty-nine and we think you're here to-Sam? Sam?"

"I can't believe we did it."

"Sam? Did what?"

"Quantum Leap."

"Sam? You ok? Sam?"

"I'm fine, I…I just remember Al. Do you remember?"

"Course I do! Remember what?"

"The day we got approved for funding."

"Oh yea, oh boy what a night! First time you were more drunk than I was."

"Yea?"

"Yea, of course, you didn't even drink that much." Al straightened up as he raised his head to remember. "You were really drunk on happiness, that night Sam, boy I had never seen you happier." Sam smiled, and bowed his head towards his glass. "Except later, when Ziggy was born."

"So, ah, what am I here to do Al?"

"This one is a piece of cake Sam, all you have to do is stop a bar fight, and stop this man Quinton Forester from getting killed, he's ah…that guy with the big muscles…and big moustache."

"Who kills him?"

"Ah…" A quick flurry of fingers and squeals. "Frank Wolfe, he's the one over there at that table with the lovely lady with the big-"

"Al!" Sam hissed, and Al gulped and mumbled under his breath and bowed his head.

"Well, Ziggy says you just save his life, and you're bound to leap outta here."

"How long?"

"How long?" Al echoed with confusion.

"Until the bar fight Al, how long?"

"Oh, about twenty minutes."

"Do you know what's it about?"

"Well the report says that Frank thought Quinton was eyeing his girl, they exchanged insults, then a couple of punches, and before anyone could break it up, Quinton slipped and his the side of his head against the edge of a table hard."

"Hard enough to kill him?"

"Yup." Sam could see from the corner of his eye how the bartender was eyeing him, but he didn't care. He was probably thinking he was just drunk, even though he didn't touch his drink.

"Al?"

"Yea?"

"Could you…could you sit down?"

"Sit down?" Al looked around in puzzlement, and was about to sit down on the floor, when Sam waved his hand in an impatient gesture.

"No, I mean, is there a way you can sit…on the bar stool there?" Al cocked his head, and slowly nodded his head.

"Sure Sam, let me ask Ziggy." He pressed a couple of buttons on his handlink, and he was now sitting cross legged on the barstool facing Sam. "This is the best we can do…"

"That's fine…" Sam looked to his hands, and closed his eyes, and took in a deep breath.

"You ok Sam?"

"…Fine." Sam repeated, and turned his head to look at Al. It was amazing, it was almost as if he had never left home. He could sense his buddy for the first time in years, and it was almost like he was really there with him. Well of course Al was always with him, but this was different.

"How are you Al?" Sam whispered, and then proceeded to take a drink from his glass, eyeing the bartender with the same suspicion the man gave Sam.

"Wha- How am I? Sam you sure you're ok?" Al frowned, and worry began to crease his brow.

"I'm fine Al, can't we just…talk? Talk about ourselves for once, rather than who I'm leaping into?"

"Sure-sure kid, it's just well…it's a surprise that's all." Al looked ahead towards Sam and then cocked his head in thought. "How-How am I? Well, I guess I'm ok, considering."

"Considering what?"

"Oh the usual, my best friend stuck in time, Tina cheating on me with Gooshie. Paperwork. That's the big one." Al held his wrist and shook it gently. "The number of signatures those nozzles need…unbelievable…"

"Paperwork? That's the big one?" Al gave Sam a guilty look.

"Well, Tina cheating on me is pretty bad too." Al lit up as Sam scowled, and lost it, and began chuckling. "So, how are you Sammy?"

"Fine, you know Al…it's kind of odd, but I'm getting used to this. To leaping, to live these bits and pieces, and to know I'm actually helping, of course I miss home…but sometimes, I forget what home is…"

"The stars." Al nodded, and Sam took a chance to give a sharp glance towards Al, who shrugged. "You said once how you loved the stars, because whenever you looked at them…you could remember your family, you could remember your friends, and you could remember your home, because you knew that we all shared one sky…" Sam's lips twitched in a smile, as if envisioning the night sky and everyone that came with it.

"Do you ever think I'll get home Al?"

"Of course you will kid." Sam bowed his head, and muttered under his breath.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because…I spent eight years of my life wondering the same thing…and I made it because I kept fighting for it. If you want it bad enough, you'll make it Sam. You will come home."

"And I have you and Ziggy, and Gooshie all rooting for me huh?"

"Yea, you do." Al set a fatherly gaze of pride upon Sam and watched as he took a small sip of the scotch.

"I wonder, it has to be different, right? When I come home…everything will be different…"

"Oh hey, not everything…I'm keeping your office spick and span, although I did have them paint the walls a nice rose tone. And of course Ziggy will be the same loveable computer that she is…" The handlink squealed in agreement, and Sam had to grin. "Of course I'll be there. Wouldn't miss your homecoming for the world." Sam didn't dare voice his doubts. Sam was just grateful that Al had enough confidence for the both of them.

"Uh-oh Sam, trouble's a-brewing" Al nodded towards the two men whose voices were growing with frustration and anger. Sam quickly stood up from his place on the bar and quickly made his way over as they began punching each other.

"SAM!" Sam heard his name being called, and it almost felt as if it were an echo. He recognized the source as Al, and he managed to catch Mr. Forester as his head was mere inches from the table that would lead to his death.

Sam caught him and shoved him upwards, and the man was already leaning forward, ready to continue on the fight. Sam just shoved Mr. Forester back down onto his chair with sheer force, and he pushed Mr. Wolfe back, Sam tried speaking reasonably to both of them, however they were each arguing over Sam's head, trying to push past him and beat the living daylights out of one another.

The following actions happened so quickly, that it was difficult to comprehend just what had occurred. The two men finally got impatient with the intruder and they quickly shoved him out of the way, both of them pushed Sam hard, and he felt himself go flying backwards. It was a nice trip, and it happened in less than a second. But oh! What a lifetime can a person manage to live in a second.

However, he didn't go far before he felt another body come between him and the table that he would have landed on. He would have shared Mr. Forester's fate, had his rescuer had, well, not rescued him.

He sagged against the arms, his energy flowing from him as he came crashing down from the adrenaline rush.

"Relax, I've got you kid."

Those words…and the arms felt so familiar…and the smell, everything about his rescuer screamed…

"Al?" Sam leaned forward, thought for a moment, and then looked behind him to face his savior. It wasn't Al. It was the elderly man from before, and he had a hint of confusion upon his brow, and then he noticed Sam staring at him expectantly.

"Al? My name is Henry, boy, that's quite a spill we took." The smell was different. The man no longer had that distinct smell of cigars upon on him. The elderly man stood up with a wince, and proceeded to help Sam up, who was looking around him in confusion. Where was Al? His hologram was missing…

What the hell had just happened?

He was so sure that Al had been there with him, and yet…it didn't make any sense…could it be that he was right before? That Al was indeed in the bar with him?

Before the scientist could contemplate the matter any more, he was plucked from one life, and thrown into another once again.

Another that was not his own.

And Sam had to wonder.

Would it ever be?