Getting close to the end! Thanks mes amies who are reading. And many thanks to those who review :le heart: Oh! If anyone has a livejournal and would like to friend me to maybe see future doodles of the duo...feel free! Link is in my bio, and I gots some Al icons already...just in case anyone is inter-ested. Ok, I shall hush, hope you enjoy!

My Sixth Sense

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Sweet & Sour (Taste)

Part 4/6

Perhaps it had been a mistake to run off after the killer. The worst part of it was, that Sam hadn't even caught the killer, no, all he managed to catch was a forceful blow across his jaw.

And another to his head, Sam heard his friend scream in his ear not to give up. To not go to sleep, to wake up damn it Sam, wake up! At least he hadn't been shot. Or had he? No. He threw the gun aside. Yes, and then, he ran…and Sam followed. Stupid Sam. Stupid Sam. He hadn't hit him that hard…had he?

Then why was he so sleepy? Sam reached up to touch the back of his head. Oh. That made sense. He had hit the wall. Sam coughed and he briefly wondered what this familiar taste was in his mouth. It made him tingle with fear, it hurt so much. Don't go to sleep Sam, no come on, the killer, Sam you have to stay awake. Sam, please, please stay awake.

Oh but he couldn't. He was sorry that he couldn't please the caring voice. Such familiar words, such familiar…ah he placed the taste, blood. Blood had a unique smell, and even a more unique taste.

Oh gosh it hurt.

And Sam closed his eyes, his body shutting down taking him to another time…

-o-O-o-

The images came in a disjointed mix, and Sam let his eyes flutter, wondering if perhaps this was another leap. But no- this wasn't a leap. Was it?

Sam shut his eyes, as the images continued passing by him with a rapid urgency. Sam wondered if he was dead. It sure felt like it. Sam opened his eyes, and Sam gasped. He was definitely dead.

The scenery around him was glorious. The sky was painted with deep brushstrokes of red and pink, with fine thin yellow highlights. The air was crisp and brilliant, and as Sam looked he found the beauty of life in the desert. There was a scurry of movement and Sam grinned as he knelt down to examine the tiny lizard blinking up at him before hurriedly scampering away behind a nearby cactus plant.

"He looks like you." A voice spoke up behind him, and Sam turned around quickly and found himself staring into his best friend's eyes. The eyes crinkled in amusement, and with a small gasp, Al left Sam's line of sight and stood staring back at the sunset.

"Al! What are you doing here? Are you dead too? Al? Am I dead? Al?" However his friend did not respond, rather he whispered with a faint tint of nostalgia in his voice.

"Isn't it wonderful Sam? See? What did I tell you? And what if you had stayed working huh? You would have missed this!"

"What do you mean? Al? I don't-"

"Oh forget the numbers for a moment Sam! Just take a look around you! You know, it's almost as beautiful as Cindy in accounting." Al gave Sam a familiar smirk, and then once more turned his head to face the setting sun.

"Numbers? Is something wrong with Ziggy? Al? What are you talking about?" Al turned back at him angrily.

"Sheesh! I'm sorry I mentioned accounting! Sam we left the project to take a break, you do know what that means, don't you?" Everything Al was saying sounded so familiar, that finally Sam's mind clicked and he realized he had stepped into a memory. A memory in which he had no control.

Sam began to get a creepy crawly feeling. This wasn't a good memory…but how could that be? Al seemed so at peace…but some part of his mind nagged at him. Something bad was about to happen.

Even though Sam hadn't said anything, Al continued speaking as if he did, his irritation slowly growing.

"Yes a break, I know there's work that needs to be done…I know that Sam. We've been working our butts off. I haven't slept in four days, you haven't in six! Just relax. Come on, relax."

Oh yea, Sam recalled those days. Those high-stress days when all Sam did was work, eating and sleeping came second.

"Of course I care about the project! How can you say that? Of course I care!" Sam winced at Al's upset dialogue and the hurt look in his eyes. It was a wonder Al stood by his side as long as he did.

"Aw, I know Sammy…we're both cranky." Al's eyes softened, and Sam nearly jumped out of his skin as he felt Al's hand placed on his shoulder. Sam clutched the hand, and squeezed as hard as he could, and made way to hug him. And he did, he was able to hug Al! Sadly Sam remembered that it was just a memory, and that the touch was a false one…but it was as close as he had gotten in years.

"Ok, ok Sam, enough of the mushy stuff." He turned and Sam turned with him. The sun was a bright red, and he remembered how much he loved New Mexico, the sunsets were just one part of it…It was little wonder so many artists flocked here to paint the beauty of the sky.

After a period of silence from the two men, the sky's paints were replaced with a deep purple shadow sprinkled with bright twinkling stars.

"You want to leave already?"

"What? No let's stay a little longer Al…it's so beautiful."

"Oh the equation huh? Alright kid, if you're sure, I'm not going to argue with you."

"No! Al! Come on, argue with me!"

"I know well enough, that when you set your mind on something…" Al shook his head chuckling. Al began moving back towards the car that Sam had finally noticed on the side of the road.

"You want to drive?" Al questioned with surprise, then shrugged. "You don't have to Sam, I'm fine…" Suddenly Sam felt his heart fly up to his throat and nearly gagged as it chocked him with recollection.

"No! No! Al, you drive, I want you to drive! Al!"

"I guess you're right…well ok, but you better not hurt my baby."

"No! Al! I will! Damn it Al, you drive!" However, Al threw the keys and Sam mechanically caught them with his right hand, and found himself walking towards the driver's side of the car. With each step he took, his mind screamed.

You can change the past! You can change this…he didn't have to get hurt…it was a stupid accident…

Sam was now inside the car buckling his seat belt, and he glanced to Al who was staring at him with amusement.

"Ha, ha very funny Sam. Honestly, How do I start it again?" Al repeated in a mocking tone, and shook his head. "If you're going to be like that, might as well let me drive…"

"YES! Yes! Come on Al, you drive!" The car started and began bouncing up and down along the bumpy roads of the desert. Sam was still behind the wheel, he was in a near panic state. At least he could stop what happened before, he wasn't tired, he wasn't thinking of the equation, he wouldn't get distracted…He could still stop this.

Sam kept his eyes open for the coyote that would dart in front of the car. Sam didn't bother paying attention to what Al was talking about, he couldn't get distracted. Hadn't something Al said gotten him upset? So upset that he had turned around to face his friend for a brief second? A brief second was all it was, and it was enough…

There, he saw it down the road, it was creeping very quickly knowing he was treading dangerous grounds. Sam tried hitting the brakes, but they wouldn't respond, he was still going.

"NO! Damn it, no!"

"SAM! Look out!" Sam closed his eyes in pain as he felt the car take control and the steering wheel jerked left, sharp and quick, the car then skidded across some of the road's loose gravel, the speed and the momentum and the uneven land caused the car to go flying and flip over and over against the rocky terrain.

He didn't feel the pain as he had the first time, he remembered hitting his head various times and cutting his hand, as some window shattered…after what seemed like a lifetime, the car finally slowed, rocking one way before finally coming to a complete stop.

Sam gulped as he tried to turn away, and he brought his hand to his mouth as he had before, and he recalled tasting blood.

Blood was everywhere, Sam blinked and his chest filled with the same fear as it had that night, his friend was deathly still. Sam unhooked his seatbelt, and dashed to the other side of the car. The car was totaled, bent in horribly and mutilated beyond recognition.

He did his best to open the passenger door, and managed to swing the damaged piece of metal open, and Al's arm quickly slid down to his side, his own hand covered with blood as well. It was the passenger window that had shattered; it broke on that first flip.

Nicks and cuts were found upon Al's hand, and a few on his face. The big scary one was the one on Al's head. Sam quickly did what he did before, and got Al of the car and out of the horrible position he was forced to be in. He was very careful with his friend, even though inside he felt a large panic seeping through every organ of his body.

He remembered how he had feared Al to be dead. It was truly frightening, and he remembered the first time he tried to check Al's pulse, he couldn't find it. He later realized it was because he was shaking and finally he found it. He found it over and over, every ten seconds he would make sure Al was breathing and that his pulse was still steady.

Sam's rational mind reminded him that Al had lived, that yes there were some complications at the time, but Al was still alive.

Then why did he feel so damn scared?

Sam was reminded as Al's pulse became weaker, weaker and harder to locate.

"No, no…Al…Wake up, damn it Al." Al's eyes fluttered open briefly, he muttered a couple of words, and his eyes began to close once more. "No Al! Don't go to sleep, you have to stay awake…Al, please, please stay awake."

Sam, wake up, please…

No, no, no. Why was this happening again? He was loosing him. Please, why?

All he could taste was blood. Blood, dirty, dirty, blood…

God, please let him wake up. Sam, everything is ok, please don't leave me, wake up for me kid, wake up.

How could Sam wake up? Wasn't he already awake? Yes, he hands flew to Al's forehead. No. He was in a nightmare. How could he help Al? He was hurt so badly…how could he help?

Wake up for me Sam. I need you. Wake up.

Blood, all he could taste was blood.

Wake up? How? How?

All he could taste was blood.

Sam shut his eyes in pain.

Pain. So much pain, a fire. A fire of pain and hurt…and blood.

"Sam? They caught the killer. All you need to do is wake up, and Ziggy says you'll leap. Sam, buddy, please, please wake up."

Al. Al. He was hurt. Wasn't he?

"Al?"

"Oh thank God, Sam you had me scared…"

"Al? A-Are you ok?" He could still taste the blood.

"Me? Me? Of course I'm fine! You're the one with the nasty bump on his noggin!"

"No-No, you were…" Although it did hurt. Maybe Al was right, but hadn't Sam seen him in the car accident…?

"Oh Sam. Sam." No, Al was safe. But still, Sam felt slightly guilty…for that time…it was his fault.

"I'm sorry Al."

"Sorry? Kid, what for? You have no reason to be sorry, you hear me? No reason! You're ok, you're going to be fine…"

And Sam believed him.

Why?

He couldn't taste the blood anymore.

No.

Not anymore.

What he tasted was so much sweeter.

So Sam closed his eyes in peace, and let the leap take him.

Maybe this time he would go home.

Maybe.

He was so close.

Maybe.