Disclaimer: I own nothing. I thank the creators and owners of these characters for allowing me to write fan fiction for my own and others enjoyment.

The Road Not Taken: Another Path

Chapter 1

April 22, 1970

Why? It was such a waste! Sam remembered Tom's graduation from Annapolis a little less than a year ago. It was a beautiful day in Maryland and it had been thrilling to see all the Midshipmen throwing their caps in the air. He recalled how happy Tom had been when he'd been chosen for SEAL training. He'd actually been positive that his first command of a SEAL unit in Vietnam would turn out just fine.

But it didn't. Tom had gone off to that damned jungle and had gotten himself killed. Now they had buried his body. His mother and father, though proud that their son had served his country were heart broken. Sam had never seen them as despondent as they were the day the military car pulled up in front of the farmhouse. A tall Navy Officer in dress whites had exited the car and marched smartly up to the house, his eyes steeled to address the pain he knew his message would cause.

Tom had been killed instantly. There was at least some comfort in that.

The last time Sam and Tom had been together was the previous Thanksgiving. The family had one final meal before Tom had left, with a promise of many more to come when he returned from Vietnam. There would never be such meals again. Whenever they got together again, Tom's absence would be keenly felt.

Sam thought back to Tom's insistence that he go to MIT. Tom had spoken to Dr. LoNigro and had been told that Sam's mind only came around once in a generation, maybe only once in several generations. He'd convinced Tom that Sam needed to receive the opportunities that MIT would provide.

Sam had been excited by the possibilities. Dr. LoNigro was really cool and the ideas that they'd discussed had been mentally stimulating. Now, however, he had family obligations to consider. He couldn't leave his parents alone after losing Tom.

Today had been the hardest day that Sam had ever faced. The town of Elk Ridge had turned out in force, filling the church with men in black suits – most worn only for funerals, weddings, and other special occasions – and women in black dresses and hats with black netting over their faces.

His mother was wearing such a dress and she'd looked absolutely lost. His father, though trying valiantly to be strong for his wife, was struggling with his own pain. Katie was unsure of how to feel, having just turned 13 and never having faced the loss of one so close to her. She cried bitterly all of the time, angry and upset that Tommy would never walk through the door of the farmhouse again. Sam knew he was hurting badly with a pain he felt would never cease. Even though he and Tom were 6 years apart, he'd been quite happy being Tom's "Little Brother."

The eulogies had gone on, with many of Tom's friends and teachers speaking of the boy they knew and the man they'd not yet gotten a chance to know. At the gravesite, The American flag had covered Tom's casket. He had received military honors by the Navy and the protocols had been followed with precision. The flag had been removed, folded, and placed into his mother's hands. She'd looked at it sadly, wishing with all her heart that it was Tom she was holding and not the flag.

Now they were back at the house. The neighbors had brought food and they were gathered in small groups throughout the first floor, speaking in quiet tones and expressing their sorrow. While proud that many of Elk Ridge's finest young men had been willing to serve their country, they were also greatly saddened that some had paid the ultimate price in this service. They said as much to the Beckett family while offering their heartfelt condolences that Thomas had been one of the latter.

Sam pulled away from the gathering, from the overwhelming crush of these neighbors, seeking out a quiet space to think. He had a decision to make. He could continue down the path Tom had felt he should take. He could go to MIT and further explore that concept he'd formed years before about time and the ability to address it as nobody had before. Or he could go in another direction, putting his family's needs before his own.

He knew his Dad was struggling with the farm. When Tom had left in 1965 to go to college, Annapolis no less, his Dad had lost his greatest help. Sam, at age 11, had stepped up to the plate to take on Tom's tasks. However, while Tom was constitutionally and attitudinally focused on the farm work, Sam tended to focus on a broader canvas and this sometimes was detrimental to good farming practices. Sam knew that if he was going to help his Dad, he needed to take a more academic approach to farming.

He'd been offered a scholarship to Indiana State based on his basketball abilities. He'd considered taking a pre-veterinary course of study. Since Terre Haute was relatively close to Elk Ridge, he'd be close to the farm and his family. Then Tom had effectively changed that plan when he'd pointed Sam in MIT's direction. Now Tom was gone and Sam felt the need to get a B.S. degree in Agriculture. He'd heard some of his Dad's friends speaking about sustainable agriculture which the extension agent had introduced them to. Sam needed to learn more about the techniques applicable to the agricultural field.

Since the news of Tom's death had arrived, Sam had sought out and spoken with the High School guidance counselor. He had told Sam that Purdue had an excellent Agriculture program and suggested applying to the West Lafayette Campus and looking into a basketball scholarship there. The Boilermakers were a part of the Big Ten Conference.

In the meantime, he could spend another year in Elk Ridge, being there for his family. He wouldn't be starting school in the fall as he'd been planning. Even though Dr. LoNigro had indicated that Sam was smarter than anyone he'd ever met, how could they really know? They hadn't even been able to measure his IQ right. He said it was off the scale. How did they know this wasn't just a glitch?

Sam thought back to the basketball scholarship. Even before Tom had gone to the State Championships in 1964, Sam had decided to follow in Tom's athletics footprints. It made Sam happy that he wasn't only a "brain," but that he had exceptional athletic ability as well.

Okay. He'd let his parents know the direction he was planning to go in a few weeks. He couldn't do it now, of course, but soon.

Sam felt better after coming to a final conclusion. He walked back into the living room and saw Katie sitting on the couch. Going over to her, he sat down. She looked at him with sorrowful eyes and Sam put his arm around her. "I'm going to miss him too, Katie."

Katie looked down for a minute and then brought her eyes back to Sam's. "I know, Sam. I'm glad I still have you."

They continued to sit there together, feeling both a part of and yet strangely distant from the activities at the house. Life had changed for them and facing the future without their big brother was not a pleasant future to think about. They said nothing more.