Alone for Christmas

This Quantum Leap™ story utilizes characters that are copyright © by Bellasarius Productions and Universal Studios. No infringement on their respective copyrights is intended by the author in any way, shape or form. This fan fiction story is written solely for the entertainment of the readers and is not for profit. All fiction, plots, and original characters are the sole creations of the author.

A special thank you to Al's "brunette in Delaware" for her permission to publish this story. It was written as a Christmas gift and therefore truly belongs to her.

Alone for Christmas

Epilogue - 1995

It had been 35 years since he last held Trudy on that miracle night and ten years since the Admiral last saw the diner. On that trip, he brought the best friend he had, Sam Beckett. That was when he explained the first miracle that happened at Mona's Diner, the one when he was only seven, and he left it at that. The second miracle Christmas was still only his. No one else knew except for Miss Mona, Miss Gracie, and Deuce. The agony of the knowledge he gained that day darkened his heart, but then the glory of holding Trudy just one more time allowed him to sail the skies without the aid of an airplane.

Now he stood in the doorway of Mona's Diner once more. He saw what he dreaded seeing, his safest haven decimated by fire. The door was non-existent, so he walked in unobstructed. The emptiness saddened him beyond understanding and compounded the deep sorrow in his soul. The room was too quiet. "Miss Gracie, I need you to sing for me again." His fingers ran along the charred edges of the counter. "Still can't find a cheeseburger anywhere as good as yours, Miss Mona." Two lighting fixtures hung from the ceiling by wires that didn't look strong enough to hold up a piece of paper. With a laugh he said, "You should have let me help you with the electrical, Deuce. It's a wonder the place didn't burn down years ago."

The finality, the demise of his rescue station cut deeply. No more safe havens existed for Al Calavicci. He did what Miss Mona and Trudy tried to teach him. He loved. It made him feel alive and whole, but the melancholy part of it was hard. His wife left him thinking he was dead. Now, his best friend was lost in time with no real hope of coming home.

Too many dark thoughts. It was Christmas and he was in the place that held the most profound memories of the holiday for him. His was a soul that needed a partner and he was profoundly missing that. "It isn't right. This place should always . . . be. I know I'm not the only one whose life changed here."

He walked to the booth that held his first set of miracles. Half the table was missing and the seats showed open springs with most of the upholstery gone. "Sam found my book here."

"I found a guitar, too." He walked around the room a little. "Too bad about the diner. I know it means a lot to you."

His legs went rubber and he nearly fell. Turning he saw his friend. "Sam, are you home? Please tell me you're home."

Sam stood across the room. "Sorry, Al."

Seeing his friend electrified him with hope and as quickly as hope appeared, it vanished. "You got to come home, Sam. I can't do this much longer."

"It's getting rougher for you all the time, isn't it?" Without a nod or a word, Al answered the question. "I don't know what to do, Al. I want to come back."

Looking at the burned relic around him Al said, "There comes a time when you can't come back any more. Like here. I thought I'd always have the diner to come back to, but it's gone now. It's gone and you're gone and Beth is gone."

"You aren't losing hope on me, are you? I can't do this without you, Al."

"Then don't do it. Come home."

Sam walked to his friend's side. "Our work isn't done. You know that better than I do. You're the one who keeps pushing me to finish each leap."

"It wouldn't be the first time I was wrong." Ghost images flooded his memory and then decorations started filling the walls. The smell of hot chocolate rose and made him smile. Realizing his new miracle, he looked back at Sam. "I'm feeling sorry for myself and I didn't even notice that she did it again."

"Who did what?"

He brushed off a dirty counter stool and sat down. "You're here and it's not a leap, right?"

The thought hadn't occurred to him, but he had to agree. He parked himself next to Al. "I don't know. I just was here."

The surrealism needed testing. Al pulled at the fringe on the scarf Sam had around his neck. He could touch it. It was real. "You're wearing Mrs. Zimmer's scarf." The diner continued its metamorphosis and soon Al and Sam saw nothing of burned tables and chairs. Color returned to the place and it was warm and comforting. Then the room exploded in a flash of light and both men instinctively knew where to look. The tree, it was splendidly there. The Admiral smiled at his buddy, "I think the miracle this time is for both of us." They embraced, two dear friends for whom time was a blessed companion and a daunting enemy.

But they were guys and guys didn't do mushy stuff. It was time to swagger like the real men they were and they did, ending up by the beautiful tree and gazing into the brightly colored decorations. "I wish I could have met Miss Mona, Al."

"She would have loved you, but then she loved everyone. My sister was like that too." He started walking around the tree, taking in all the glory when his foot bumped against a box, all wrapped up in gold with a red bow on top. A small card on top read "For Al and Sam."

Sam saw his friend's eyes grow huge. "What's wrong?"

The inexplicable always happened at Mona's. Nothing should surprise him, but this did. "Looks like Santa left a gift for the two of us." He picked the box up from the floor and took it to his and Trudy's booth. Sam sat across from him looking like a six-year-old school boy who knew he was on the Nice List.. Al loved that Sam could still be a child when confronted with Christmas presents. The Admiral told him, "You open it." He slid the box toward the younger man.

Now, Al meticulously unwrapped gifts, savoring the colors of the paper, the design, the mystery they concealed, but Sam was more direct. He wanted the insides, so ribbons were torn and paper flew. Pulling the top off the box, he found an envelope. "Well, I guess this is it." Sam handed it to Al. "This one is yours to open."

A few deep breaths helped him regain his composure. After all, he didn't want Sam to see his hands shaking. Al opened the envelope and unfolded the slip of paper inside. The tension needed releasing. "This better be pretty deep." Then he winked. "I mean, when stuff like this happens you're supposed to discover the meaning of life, aren't you?"

"That would be nice." Sam waved his hand. "Read, come on!"

"'Dear Al and Sam, I knew you'd both be back. It is so satisfying to see how you have kept your promises to each other. I'm proud of you both. Sam, home is not a place you visit. Home is any time your heart is content. And Al, don't forget Gracie's song.'" He put the paper down. "That's it."

"Not quite the meaning of life." Sam was confused. "What did she mean by 'don't forget Gracie's song'?"

His gravely voice wouldn't attempt to sing, but he'd heard the song often enough to know the power of the words. "O lay aside each earthly thing, and with thy heart as offering, come worship now the Infant King." 'Tis love that's born tonight!"

"I always liked that song." Sam knew he wasn't going to be there much longer. "Al, we only have a few more seconds. I have too much to tell you."

"You don't need to, kid. I know."

"I do, too, Al. Not sure I ever told you that, but I know." Then there was no more Sam and the diner began to turn back into the burnt shell of memory. The guitar faded away, the tree began to disappear.

All alone again in this most mystical place, Al folded up his note and placed it in the pocket over his heart. He didn't want to leave, but there was no other choice. With his hand on the diner's door, he called out, "Merry Christmas, Miss Mona. I love you. Thank you for everything. Without you, I'm not sure what would have become of me. Take care, be well, rest well. I don't know if I'll ever get back here again." Before his words started sounding more stupid, he made his way to the street.

He didn't hear Miss Mona softly, gently tell him, "You don't need to come to my diner any more, Al. 'Tis love that's born tonight."

MERRY CHRISTMAS and May the Blessing of the Season be Yours!!
Some Children See Him © Alfred Burt and Wilha Hutson