A Leap Into Destiny

Lost Christmas, I Give Thee My Heart

After what felt like an eternity, Sam fell to the floor with a thud, hitting his head hard.

"Oh boy…" groaned Sam.

Getting up, he noticed Al right next to him, next to a massive stone formation. His friend appeared to have fallen unconscious as well.

"Where am I?" Sam looked around.

Nearby were all giant stone formations in a circular position.

"Stonehenge," Sam realized.

Then he noticed Zoey and two other figures at the center of Stonehenge. One was a black man with an electronic communicator in his hand. Judging from the device in his hand, Sam deduced that whoever he was, he must've been to an observer to Zoey, just like Al had been to him.

The other stranger, however, was a mysterious figure in dark blue robes, holding a medieval staff in his hand, alongside an hourglass that rested on top of the staff.

"That hourglass…" Sam stared at it intently, realizing that he had seen it before.

"Thames, get up!" Zoey told her assistant.

"Did I die and go to Kansas?" Thames asked groggily.

"No, now come to your senses!" she insisted.

Thames got up and backed away. Unexpectedly, his body did not phase through Zoey's as the two bumped into each other. She stared at him in awe, as it slowly dawned on her what was going on.

"I'm back in my own time," Zoey said elatedly. "Thames, this is wonderful!"

Thames then felt a chill down his spine as he looked up at the mysterious figure in front of himself and Zoey.

"Uh, I think I may want to lie back down now," Thames grimaced.

"You!" Zoey glared daggers at the stranger. "You cost me my revenge!"

"Have I now?" the robed figure asked in a raspy voice, pointing his finger towards Sam Beckett and Al Calavicci a few yards away.

"Thames, give me your gun!" ordered Zoey.

"My pleasure," Thames took out his pistol and handed it to Zoey.

"Oh boy," Sam took a step back.

As he backed away, he felt himself bumping into somebody else. Turning around, Sam stood face to face with Al Calavicci.

"Al?" Sam said in wonderment. "Did we just…"

"Touch?" Al replied. "Yeah, we did."

"And that means… I'm back in my own time!" Sam said elatedly, forgetting for the moment that his life was in danger again.

"Welcome home, Dr. Beckett," Zoey smiled. "I regret to inform you that your stay will be a short one."

"Oh great," Al grunted. "Now we have to deal with the Wicked Witch of the Leap."

Zoey, however, did not press down on the trigger immediately. She turned back to the dark figure present at the scene.

"Your name, stranger?" she asked.

"Thou shalt know me as Kairos," replied the mysterious figure.

"Thank you Kairos," Zoey said graciously, "for restoring me back to my present time. But now I have no further use for you."

With that, she fired several rounds into Kairos, watching in satisfaction as the mysterious figure fell to the floor. The staff, along with the hourglass, fell a few inches away from him.

"Thames," she ordered. "Go and fetch this leaper's staff. It appears to be the source of his time travel capabilities. After I'm finished with Dr. Beckett and his friend, we shall bring it back to headquarters for further study."

As Thames went over to the staff, Zoey fixed her gun on Sam and Al.

"Well Al, this isn't exactly how I thought I would spend my first day back home," confessed Sam.

"Oh don't worry," Zoey reassured him. "You can die knowing you perished for a noble cause. You see, Project Chronos would have never been launched if it hadn't been for your research."

"So that's the name of your little pet project, eh?" Al glared at her.

"Yes, but you and your partner won't live to tell about it," Zoey promised.

"Hey Zoey!" Thames called out.

Zoey sighed. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Something's not right with this staff," Thames told her. "There's nothing scientific or technological about it! It's not installed with any sort of leaping tech!"

"What?" demanded Zoey. "How can that be?!"

"I don't know!" answered Thames. "It's just a staff and an hourglass!"

"Thou art a fool!" a dark voice from behind alerted the observer.

Thames could only stare in shock as Kairos, now back to his feet, grabbed him by the forehead with an inhuman strength and forced him to his knees. With that, a powerful dark aura covered Thames as Kairos held him firmly in place. Slowly, Thames felt the life being drained out of him.

Before long, Kairos held in his hand an old, decrepit man who had been aged far beyond his own natural age. The blackness in his hair had turned white and wrinkles shone all over his face.

At that point, Zoey lowered her gun and turned her attention back to her partner, staring in shock as she watched Kairos drain the life and remaining youth out of Thames.

"Thy efforts were for naught," Kairos informed her, letting go of Thames.

The observer fell to the floor like an aged mummy.

"Zoey… run!" Thames warned her.

"Thou should know thy place!" Kairos kicked the helpless Thames aside.

"What are you?!" demanded Zoey as Kairos moved towards her, Sam, and Al ominously.

"As I have told thee before," Kairos replied. "I am thy beginning and thy end."

Kairos spared a glance at both Sam and Al.

"Begone!" he declared with a wave of his hand, enveloping the two men with a red pulsating energy and making them disappear.

oooo

As Sam opened his eyes, he noticed how he was in the middle of a busy, bustling street. At that point, snow began to fall.

"Al, where did we—" Sam looked around in bewilderment.

Unfortunately, Sam was standing on the road. A large bus came by, nearly running into Sam. Luckily, however, Al was there to pull Sam onto the sidewalk just in time.

"Whew, thanks for the save!" Sam breathed a big sigh of relief.

"Where are we?" Al looked around. "I don't think we need Ziggy's help on this one."

He gestured towards a massive clock tower.

"We're in London, England," Al told Sam. "This is December 25th in the year 2007."

"Then that means," Sam said excitedly.

"You're home, Sam," Al smiled. "Just in time for Christmas."

So overwhelmed by his own return home that he almost completely forgot about Zoey and the mysterious figure known as Kairos, Sam sank to both knees in happiness. As he looked up into the sky, tears poured down his face.

"I'm home!" Sam cried happily. "I'm finally home!"

He finally got up and began shouting at the top of his lungs.

"I'm home!" he shouted again. "I'm back in my own time!"

Several passerbys looked at Sam as if he had gone stark raving mad.

"And you're here with me!" Sam grinned. "My best buddy Al… finally in the flesh!"

He gripped Al and hugged him tightly.

"Whoa careful," Al gasped. "Having trouble breathing, Sam!"

"Sorry," Sam let go. "It's just that I'm so excited to be back!"

"Well save your energy, Sam!" insisted Al. "You're back but you haven't even made it back to your family yet."

"Donna…" Sam recalled. "You're right. I remember now!"

"She's missed you, Sam," Al told him.

"We need to get back!" insisted Sam. "Are there any boats or planes we can take back to America?"

"It could take me a while," Al replied soberly. "I mean, I was transported all the way from an imaging chamber in New Mexico to a foreign country. Boy, customs are really going to have a field day with me!"

"So what do we do first?" asked Sam.

"First things first," Al answered simply. "We check into a hotel. Then I find an ATM to convert my dollars into the local currency…"

oooo

"I don't think you understand," Zoey backed away as Kairos closed in on her with his staff.

"Pray tell," Kairos beckoned. "What is it that I understand not?"

"I… I'm not your true enemy!" insisted Zoey. "The two men you vanquished… they are the ones you want!"

"And yet thou art the one who assailed me," Kairos glared at her.

Thinking fast, Zoey began to make things up on the spot.

"I have," she said. "But it was only to test your magnificent power. And now that I have seen it for myself, I can do no more but humble myself before your eminence!"

Taking the extra step, Zoey bowed down before Kairos on one knee to humble herself.

"Interesting," Kairos stroked his chin. "Thou art the one who freed me from the hourglass?"

"Yes!" lied Zoey. "Yes… I was the one who freed you."

"I should strike thee down where thou stands," Kairos glared at her.

"I realize that, your magnificence," Zoey beseeched, "but I now plead to you for my life with full knowledge of your abilities!"

"Very well," Kairos relented, "thou hast convinced me."

"Thank you, your eminence," Zoey smiled, still bent down on one knee.

"The power of the time staff led me to those who could manipulate time," Kairos told her. "As such, I was led here to thee."

"Well, I would consider myself a time traveler," admitted Zoey. "But being able to manipulate time? Hardly."

Kairos studied her closely. He detected not a single strand of magical potential within her. But yet, he still sensed in her the ability to travel through time.

"The power to affect the realms of time is within mine own power," Kairos told her. "But I sense no magic in thee. How art thou able to traverse through time?"

"Well I can't claim to be a magician," Zoey answered, "but I do possess something that aids me in leaping about through time."

"And what, pray tell, is that?" asked Kairos.

"Science," she smiled.

"Science," Kairos looked at her curiously. "Most interesting."

"So who exactly are you?" asked Zoey. "Another leaper?"

"Leaper?" Kairos scoffed. "I know not what thou speaks of, woman."

"Look, my ability to leap through time is not… magical in nature," Zoey explained. "As I have stated before, science is what enables me."

"Thou must explain to me what this science is," Kairos requested.

"I can and I will," promised Zoey.

"In truth, thou holds much promise," Kairos said, commending her. "I offer thee the chance now to become mine apprentice."

"Apprentice?" Zoey looked pleasantly surprised.

"Yes," Kairos said, raising his hand into the air. "Mine own powers will be thine."

At once, he produced a dagger in his hand. It looked to be of some early medieval design.

"Zoey…" a familiar voice spoke up.

Zoey looked down to see Thames next to her. He was old and decrepit now but still alive. The observer managed to get on both knees and clasp her by the arm.

"Zoey, we have to get out of here!" Thames pleaded.

Without a word, the dagger floated into the air at the command of Kairos. It hovered across thin air until it finally reached the female leaper's left hand.

Realizing the power Kairos held and the possibility that all of it would be hers to command, Zoey stared at the dagger longingly with a blank expression.

"Kill this wretch," ordered Kairos, pointing a bony finger at Thames.

"Zoey, no!" Thames looked at her in fear.

"Shhh," Zoey bent down, putting the knife on the floor. "I would never dream of such a thing."

With that, she embraced Thames in a hug, giving relief to the man finally. However, Kairos smiled as he watched out of the corner of his eye.

Almost without warning, Zoey picked up the knife again and plunged it right into the heart of Thames. The observer looked in shock and agony as his partner twisted the knife into him.

"But I have new dreams now," Zoey informed him, "and I'm about to make them come true."

"Zoey," Thames spat. "You murderous b—"

He did not get to finish his sentence as he spat blood and fell down. Within a few short moments, Thames was no longer among the living.

"Thy task is complete," Kairos nodded approvingly. "Thou art in my services now."

"And I am proud to serve," Zoey turned around, bowing.

"Now," Kairos told her. "I command thee to present to me this… science."

"Very well, your eminence," Zoey agreed. "Come, I don't believe our organization is far from this area."

oooo

"Good news Sam," Al went up towards Sam. "I got our hotel booked and our trip back to America should take place five days from now."

The two men were at a local pub, celebrating Sam's comeback with a warm meal and drinks.

"That's great!" Sam was ecstatic. "Did they make you go through a lot of red tape though?"

"Lucky for me, I made some calls to the right people in America," Al replied. "So in a few short days, we'll get back home safe and sound."

"Then I guess we'd better enjoy the time we have right now," Sam raised a glass. "It's not every day you get to spend Christmas with your best friend in a foreign country."

"No it is not," Al agreed, raising his glass. "A toast?"

"A toast!" Sam smiled. "To the success of Project Quantum Leap!"

"Quantum Leap?" a drunken bald hooligan staggered up towards them. "What's that supposed to be? Some new brandy?"

"Uh no actually," Al corrected him. "It's top secret."

"Top secret?" the drunk hiccupped as a few of his friends gathered around. "Suits me just fine! You know what's not a secret?"

"What's that?" Al asked.

"I don't like 'yer face!" the bald drunken patron took his glass of champagne and splashed it on Al's face.

All of the drunken guy's friends guffawed at what he had done to Al.

"You are really asking for it," Al told the hooligan.

"You gonna give it to me?" the lush taunted.

"Al, he's just trying to bait you," Sam told his friend. "Let's ignore 'em."

"Tonight's your lucky night," Al told the drunken hooligan and turned back around. "For Sam's sake, I'm not going to let a pimple like you ruin my evening."

"Oh come on!" the drunk taunted again, pushing Al from behind. "Let's see what you're made of!"

"Hey, I think you need to learn some manners!" Sam turned around to the drunk.

Before Sam could get up, a larger man in a mohawk came up and put Sam in headlock, squeezing down on the physicist with his big, bulging arms.

"Shut 'yer trap, dweeb!" the hooligan with the mohawk growled at Sam. "You could both use a good pounding!"

In the meantime, the drunken man turned Al around and grabbed him by the collars.

"I'm gonna bloody enjoy this!" the lush declared.

"Alright Al!" Sam squeaked while in the headlock. "Guess we got no other choice!"

As the drunk took a swing at Al, Al blocked it and came back with a punch that knocked the bald drunk back-first onto the floor. Additionally, Sam got out of the mohawk guy's grip and grabbed him by the arm, Judo tossing him onto the hard floor.

"Get 'em!" the other hooligans jumped into the fray.

Two men grabbed Al from the side as a third one began to pummel him. A large redheaded hooligan attacked Sam, punching him across the face two times and sending him careening towards a table.

"Omph!" Sam staggered back, realizing he tasted his own blood in his mouth.

Sam caught himself as he fell onto the table, wiping the blood off his lips. As the redhead came in closer Sam lashed out with his foot and kicked the man in the stomach, making him keel over. As the hooligan held his stomach, Sam grabbed a chair and smashed it over his attacker to take him out.

The quantum physicist then rushed over to help his observer and best friend who was being pummeled by the three men.

Sam quickly grabbed the man who was punching Al in the stomach and spun him around, punching him in the solar plexus. As the attacker grunted in pain, Sam floored him with an uppercut.

Seeing his chance to escape, Al elbowed one of his assailants in the stomach as Sam grabbed the other one and yanked him off of Al. Al took down his attacker with a punch to the jaw while Sam knocked the other one out with a swing kick across the face.

"I can't believe this!" declared Sam.

"Can't believe what?" the now bruised up Al Calavicci looked at him.

"After all these years, I finally get to have a barroom brawl with my best friend by my side!"

"Sam, I know you're excited to be back in your own time and all," Al frowned, "but is it really necessary to—"

"Al!" shouted Sam. "Incoming!"

Now back to their feet, the bald drunk and his mohawked friend charged Sam and Al.

Quickly, both men ducked underneath, grabbing the attackers and flipping them over the bar counter.

"A toast, Al?" Sam grabbed a beer bottle on the table.

"A toast!" Al agreed.

As the two hooligans rose, Sam and Al brought the beer bottles down, smashing it across their foreheads to knock them out for good.

"Aye Carumba!" Al knelt over as Sam helped him up. "I think I might've broken a rib."

"Here Al," Sam helped his friend up. "Let's get back to our hotel room."

Before the two of them could make it to the exit, several policemen entered into the bar with their batons ready.

"Halt!" the chief officer told them. "In the name of the law!"

"Oh boy," Sam exchanged worried glances with Al.

Author's Note: The name Kairos is based on the Greek word for time. Along with the word "chronos," they both signify time, except "kairos" refers to a more permanent period of time where everything occurs, rather than sequential time like "chronos" where time is more chronological. Also, with regards to the year this is taking place, my take on the situation is that Project Quantum Leap began in the year 1999. With five seasons, I interpret five years to have passed by with Sam leaping around. And since my fic takes place three years after the series finale, it would bring the grand total of leap years(no pun intended) for Sam to be eight years, by which time, it would be sometime in 2007 for my fan interpretation of this fic.