Chapter 2

Project Quantum Leap

March 2010

For the last few hours, Jack had been monitoring the leap from the Control Room, amused by Ziggy's indications of what was happening at the museum. Al, in the meantime, had gone to check the Salmit circuit which was acting up in the radium ring. Ziggy had suggested that based on its readouts, she wasn't going to be responsible if she couldn't contact Dr. Beckett. Finally, the computer became quiet in its updates of the great museum heist, as Jack had referred to it. "Hey, Ziggy. Everything okay?" the ex-Time Agent asked.

The voice of the computer answered, "Based on what happened to my tracking abilities the last time Dr. Beckett left the planet, I surmise he is no longer in any time or place on Earth. I assume that means that the TARDIS is moving again outside those parameters."

"That's what I thought," Jack answered cryptically. "Gooshie, keep monitoring in case they come back. I'm going to go see Rose." He immediately headed towards the Waiting Room. Swiping his hand across the lock, the door opened and he walked in, smiling at the young woman crossed with a man's aura sitting on the bed. "Hope you aren't too bored."

"I've been catching up on some movies," Rose answered.

Jack nodded. "Have you seen the 'Lord of the Rings' series? Pretty damn good."

"Twice already," she told him, leaning back against the wall behind her. It was clearly obvious from the look on her face that movies were the farthest thing from her mind, despite having been watching whole marathons of the entertainment form.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Jack asked kindly.

She gave him a weak smile. "Just thinking of how this Sam Beckett guy is out there traveling with the Doctor and I'm stuck here. I mean... there's only so many movies and chips and Diet Coke you can take. And I don't even have my mobile. Can't even call my mum and let her know that I'm okay..." She paused at her own words. "Oh, gawd! Mum... I've been so preoccupied with being in this place, I didn't even stop and think..."

Jack looked down. "You won't be able to talk with your mum anymore, Rose."

She ran the tip of her fingers through her hair in a vain attempt to straighten it, even though it didn't need it. "I know. I remember," she murmured. "She's in a whole different universe. But..." She frowned, looking at Jack. "How'd you know?"

"The Doctor told me."

She turned from him, pulling her legs up to her chest. "I suppose he told you about my dad, too. And Mickey."

"Yeah. From what he said, there's no way to reopen the link. I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry you'll never see your family again."

"Yeah. Well... I made my choice. I told the Doctor I'd never leave him." She suddenly seemed very angry. "And I wouldn't have if this Doctor Beckett hadn't knocked me out of my... my... aura! What the hell is taking so long for him to get out of my life?"

Jack shook his head. "That's just the way this leaping works. They don't control the leaping. He'll leap out when he's completed what needs to be done."

"And how long has it been? Three weeks?"

"Closer to four. The good news is that the Doctor finally picked up Sam. They're not in ancient Egypt anymore."

"Well, goodie for Sam," she muttered, clearly not impressed with the news.

He went over and put his arm around her shoulders. "Rose, I know this sucks. Just know that you'll be back with the Doctor eventually. I don't think it's in his plans to travel with Sam for long."

"It's been four weeks and I've gotten nothing from him," she told him bluntly. "I mean, he can travel anywhere through time and space and he doesn't even drop in to say hello." She glared at her friend. "As for you, you're a bit of rubbish, aren't you?"

"What?" Jack asked, somewhat taken aback.

"I mean, what are you doing on this end to try to correct this? And don't give me that story about how some external unknown force is sending this Sam Beckett into other people's lives."

"I can't help it if that's true, Rose."

"Well, at the very least you can use your obvious influence to let me out for some fresh air. What harm would it do?" She stood up and turned towards him. "Jack, if I don't get out of here soon, I'm going to go barmy."

Jack sighed. "You already have the run of the project."

"Have you ever gone four weeks without seeing a stranger? Or a tree? I may be able to go practically anywhere in this... place... but..." She took a breath. "Oh, Jack, you've been out there. Could you just sit still in a single place, not see the sun for four weeks?"

"I've done that, Rose."

"Okay. Fine. But I've been here so long, I know everyone's favorite alcoholic drink!"

"Really?"

"Yours is 'Sex on a Beach'," she told him. "You like it for the name, not the drink itself 'cause you find it too sweet. Admiral Calavicci prefers bourbon but only drinks on special occasions. Gooshie likes Amaretto Sunrises 'cause he actually likes the sweet drinks. Tina's a wild woman and likes pepper tequila in shots with lime and salt. Dr. Beeks likes rum and Coke. Sammie Jo likes Fuzzy Navels 'cause she likes peaches. And Brenda in Records likes Pina Coladas. And that's just to start."

Jack blinked for a moment, plainly impressed. "Wow. Being with the Doctor's really made you observant. Not that you weren't before..." He then changed the subject abruptly to address her concerns. "You should know that no one's seen Dr. Beckett for over fifteen years. If you leave this place, people might recognize him."

"I'm not asking for a trip to the heart of London where I'll dance the Tarantella in front of a million people. I just want to go to a park or something. Just get out and lay on the grass or... something."

Jack shrugged. "Not much grass up top. Mostly sage brush and desert plants."

"It's still better than white walls everywhere, isn't it?"

Nodding, Jack made his decision. "Okay. An outing, but we'll make it a fun one. If you could see one thing in America, what would it be?"

"Anywhere in the entire United States?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah. I think that would work. One trip. Where do you want to go?"

Rose bit her lip mischievously. "Honolulu?"

Jack tilted his head. "Bit of a time lapse there but I think we can do that."

"You're not going to get in trouble for it, are you? I mean, we could go to Los Angeles or New York."

"Me? In trouble?" His look told her he thought she was looking for trouble.

"In a heartbeat, Jack Harkness. You were born for trouble." She grinned slightly, her tongue between her teeth.

"Well... yeah. What's the fun in playing it safe?"

She seemed to consider his answer for a moment before leaning forward, her eyes focused on his. "So, how short a trip? Couple of days?"

Jack smiled. "Up to you. We can take a week... maybe two."

Rose laughed. "You are so going to get in trouble," she taunted him.

Jack grinned at her. "It's good to be the boss."

She giggled again at his words. "Yeah. I think I could possibly put up with a week on a tropical island. Even with you."

Smiling, Jack gave her a look up and down. "I wonder if auras tan. Sam looks like he could use some sun."

"Oh, yeah," she said, suddenly reminded about looking like Sam. "Or if I can tan with this aura around me." She frowned. "You know, it's weird. I look at my hand and I see my hand but, when I look in the mirror..." She bit her lip again. "Tell you what, though. I'll be the only girl on the beach topless."

"Yeah," Jack commented, his eyes skimming her form again as he thought about seeing Rose bare-chested.

"Oi!" Rose warned him. "You behave yourself. I know you can see both auras so you just... ignore them both and focus on your own tan."

"Oh, you're no fun," he teased, garnering a glare from her. He put his hands up. "Okay, okay." He paused to consider. "I wonder if there are any nude beaches. I so hate tan lines."

"On you or on me?" she questioned with a mischievous grin.

"Both," he answered honestly and with a bit of lechery.

She slapped him playfully on his arm. "So... when do we leave?"

"I'm thinking tomorrow. That work for you?"

She tilted her head as if seriously considering his suggestion. "I don't know. I'll have to check my day planner. Hmm... Yeah. I could do tomorrow. I could do this second."

"Well, I suggest we get you some appropriate clothes to wear."

She fingered the Fermisuit she was wearing. "Not in fashion, I take it."

"No. Although, I think if he had worn it at the right place, he could have started a craze. Doesn't leave much to the imagination."

"This?" she questioned as if he'd lost his mind.

"Yeah. I know some... friends that would have really..." For a second, he could almost hear the Doctor's response. "Oh, never mind. But I was thinking about Sam's wardrobe. He hasn't even been back since 1999 and even then his clothes were from 1995 at the earliest. I'm thinking shopping. Of course, we'll have to borrow from his closet while we are out. Perhaps jeans and a shirt would work. Anything else though, we're getting new." He looked her over with a critical eye. "You'll need to wear sunglasses and a baseball cap. Hopefully, no one will recognize you."

She raised an eyebrow, following him through the now open Waiting Room door. "What? Afraid of paparazzi?"

"Actually, yes, sort of. I told you, Dr. Beckett hasn't been seen since 1995 by the general public and hardly more than that in the project. I'm hoping nobody recognizes you... um... him... um... you know what I mean."

"And he's that famous?"

"He was on the cover of Time. Absolute genius, called 'the next Einstein.' "

"So, famous," Rose concluded. "Well, then... just have to be a little careful. Where is his closet anyway?"

Jack smiled. "We'll ask Al." He went to the Control Room, Rose following.

As they walked in, Gooshie turned to them. "Oh, hello, Miss Rose."

Rose smiled gently at the older man. While his breath could knock down the nearest wall, he was a gentleman in every sense of the word. "Hi, Gooshie."

Jack then asked, "Hey, Gooshie, where's Al? Has he gone home yet?"

"The last I heard, Captain, he was still examining the Salmit circuit." He grimaced slightly. "He didn't seem to be in a very good mood about it either."

"Yeah... Beth or a Salmit circuit. I know which I'd choose."

"The Salmit circuit?" Rose teased.

"You've definitely been in that room too long," Jack answered quickly, smiling.

"Well... depends on what kind of trouble you can get into with a Salmit circuit, whatever that is."

"Could be painful... not that that's a problem if you're with the right person."

"And I bet you would know all about that."

"Umm..." Gooshie put in, clearly looking uncomfortable with the conversation. "Perhaps you should discuss this at another time?"

"We could and we might," Jack responded, giving Rose a wink, causing her to duck her head to prevent herself from laughing out loud. "Anyway... we need to find Al."

"What do you need me for?" the man in question asked as he walked into the Control Room. His face and coveralls were covered in dust and grime, as if he'd been crawling in a tight space. He looked at Jack. "We're going to need an extra five thousand dollars."

"For a Salmit circuit?" Jack questioned with a frown.

"Yeah. This one has passed its expected lifecycle two years ago. We'd named it the 'Bunny' 'cause it kept going and going. I guess Elmer Fudd decided to shoot the wabbit."

"Poor wabbit," Rose commented.

Jack sighed. "The budget's tight as it is. I'm afraid some creative accounting is in order, especially since I just gave you a raise only a month ago."

Al shrugged. "Easy come, easy go." He turned to Gooshie. "Order one immediately. I'll make sure the funds are there to cover the invoice."

"Hard come, easy go," Jack corrected. He frowned for a moment and then decided to let the rather raunchy thought that came to his mind to go unspoken. Instead, he decided to get to the point of their quest. "Hey, we need your help, Al. Where are Sam's quarters?"

Al frowned, looking at Jack, then at Rose, before returning his gaze to his boss. "Why do you want to know?"

"Need a pair of jeans... and a shirt. Shoes would be good too, maybe boots." He looked at Rose and then his face lit up. "Maybe a cowboy hat." He turned back to Al. "Did Sam wear cowboy hats?"

"Umm... yeah. Not often but...yeah. But I thought we agreed that Rose should stay in the Fermisuit. Just in case."

"Well, I've decided a little reprieve is in order."

"What kind of reprieve?" the Admiral questioned with suspicion, not liking the look on Jack's face.

Jack didn't fully answer that question... yet. "Nothing much. Just an outing. Sam's not going to be showing for a few days so I figured Rose needs a chance to get some fresh air."

"How can you be so sure?" Al protested. "We never know when he's going to leap, Jack. You've read the reports."

Jack shook his head. "Nope. Not going to happen. They've left the planet."

Al paused for a moment and then continued as he thought of a potential scenario. "What if Sam leaps out while offworld? There's nothing in the rules that says that isn't possible!"

"Well... I can't be sure that the sun's not going to go supernova either but I'm willing to bet it doesn't." He looked Al directly in the eyes. "Listen, you're going to have to trust me on this. I'm sure that Sam will not be leaping and I'm going to take Rose out for a bit."

The Admiral hesitated for a long moment. He had put his faith in Jack a lot since the Doctor came into their lives. While he wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea, he had to admit that, in spite of everything, Jack seemed to have a grasp of each situation even when he didn't fully explain his reasons. He sighed. "Fine. Just stick with the clothes, all right? Bad enough you have to go and violate his privacy." He reluctantly gave directions to Sam's quarters before pausing in thought. "Why would you need a hat?"

"Can't afford to have people recognize him," Jack tossed back, continuing to head out the door towards his quarters with Rose.

"What do you mean you can't afford to have people recognizing him?" Al demanded, following at a march. "This isn't going to be just a step out of the complex for a picnic in the desert, is it? Jack... what are you doing?"

"Well… Sam's wardrobe I'm sure is really out of date, and based on which clothes he picks from Rose's wardrobe, I bet he's not as fashionable as you and me."

"That's true," Al conceded.

"So, we're going shopping to get Rose some new duds."

"Shopping?!" Al yelled. "You can't go out shopping! What would you want to go shopping for?"

"Need a better wardrobe for our trip," Rose told him over her shoulder.

"Trip?! What trip?!"

"We're going to Hawaii."

"What?!You can't go to Hawaii!"

"Why not? Last time I checked, there were still flights going back and forth to that state," Jack stated.

"To all of the islands, actually," Rose corrected. "I'm thinking Oahu first. Then the Big Island."

"Oahu? Big Island?" Al stammered. "But... he'll be recognized! I mean, she'll be... Sam's family lives in Hawaii! What if you run into them?"

Jack frowned. "Hmm... that puts a small glitch in the works." He turned to Rose. "How about the Caribbean?"

"That works too. The Virgin Islands?"

Jack nodded. "Sounds good to me."

"Virgin Islands?!" Al exclaimed, hurrying to block their path. "Neither of you are going anywhere, much less the Virgin Islands!"

Jack looked at Al sternly. "Last time I checked, I was listed as the director of this project. I say we're going and we're going. You got that?"

Al lowered his eyelids. "Or what?"

Rose leaned towards him. "I wouldn't push him if I were you."

"Or I could stop funding," Jack stated, even though he had no intention in following up on the threat.

"Yeah, like that's going to happen," Al huffed a laugh. "You'd never cut funding, though I still don't know where you get it or why you're keeping us funded. But since you threatened... Just... please, don't be gone too long. I mean, Sam really could leap any minute and..." He ran his hand over his face.

"Al. If I really thought this would be a problem, I wouldn't do it."

"So, how long will you be gone? A few days? Maybe a weekend?"

"Weekend isn't long enough. The jet lag's going to be horrific going to the Caribbean."

"Okay, then... a week?"

"Well, that's hardly long enough. We need time to actually travel to where we're going. And then a week or so for the sights..."

Rose added with a grin, "And that's not counting the time it takes to perfect a tan... without any lines."

"Two weeks?" Al asked weakly.

"It'll fly by, Al. I promise." When he could see the man wasn't convinced, he continued. "Rose has been cooped up here for four weeks. That's just too long in one place. It's really a good idea, Al, once you get used to it."

Al's gaze drifted over to Rose. Now that he thought about it, he could see that she was growing a bit pale in the skin and was hiding intense restlessness in her eyes. And he couldn't deny that Sam had never before spent so much time in one person's life. In addition, being able to see both Sam and Rose, he was again reminded of just how young she really was. His thoughts drifted to his daughters and how he would feel if one of them had to spend four weeks in an underground facility. "You're right. Four weeks is too damn long." He went over to Rose and took her hands. "You just be careful. Okay? And I'm not saying this for Sam's sake but for yours. I care about you, you know."

Jack looked at him. "We're just going to Albuquerque for shopping, at least for now. Maybe Sante Fe. Great stuff on the plaza, especially if you like southwestern." He looked at Al. "I think that rugged look would be fantastic on Sam, don't you?"

Al pinched at his nose. "Jack. She needs to keep Sam incognito, not get him onto the pages of GQ."

Rose grimaced slightly at Jack's suggestion. "Besides... I hate southwestern."

Jack's eyes rose. "How can you hate southwestern? The vests, the hats, the western cut shirts, those tight jeans..."

"Maybe on you, Jack, but never ever on me. No matter whose aura is surrounding me."

He let out a sigh. "Okay. Then the mall in Albuquerque should be adequate."

"Now, I didn't say we couldn't look," she protested.

Jack's face lit up. "Right! And maybe you could try a few things on for me. I'm going to need to take something back for Ianto when I leave." He looked off to the distance a bit as if imagining something. "Leather and fringe."

"Yes to the leather, no to the fringe."

"You two are going to be the death of me," Al bemoaned as he watched the two walked away in the direction of Sam's apartment. "I can already feel my blood pressure going up."