Quantum Leap
"A Time to Hurt, A Time to Heal"


Chapter 1

SUMMER 1998

      It was a typical day for a summer day in New Mexico. That is to say,
it was hotter than hell, or at least so thought the average height,
olive-complexioned man who stepped out of the heat and into cool,
comfortable, air-conditioned corridors. The man gave a quick salute to a
Marine guard, who stood just inside the doorway, before walking towards an
elevator that led down to other, more highly guarded levels.
      The man went down six levels and exited the elevator. He then
proceeded down a corridor to a door on the right. Stopping before it, he
placed his hand on a silver plate by the door, causing it to open for him.
      "Good morning, Admiral Calavicci," a female voice greeted as the man
entered the room. "How was your night?"
      Albert Calavicci smiled at the question and at the memory of the night
in question.
      "It was very good, Ziggy. Thank you," Al replied to the
parallel-hybrid computer.
      "Should I expect Dr. Martinez-O'Farrell to come in late today?" Ziggy
asked.
      Al glared at the ceiling. He could have sworn that the computer was
insinuating something sexual in the question. What really bothered him is
that the computer would be correct in the insinuation.
      It wasn't a secret that Al and Tina Martinez-O'Farrell were an item.
Everyone knew that Al and Tina often spent the night together. Last night
had been one of those nights.
      "No, Ziggy," Al replied. "Dr. Martinez-O'Farrell will be coming in at
her usual time."
      "As I thought," Ziggy commented in a sultry voice.
      Al tilted his head, making his glare at the ceiling have a stronger
meaning.
      "Any messages?" he asked.
      "Dr. Beeks would like to discuss the situation with Dr. Hathorn. She
requests to see you as soon as possible."
      Al nodded. "Okay. Anything else?"
      "Negative, Admiral," Ziggy replied.
      Al nodded again. He took a breath. "Anything on Sam?"
      "Negative, Admiral," Ziggy replied. "Dr. Beckett is still between
leaps. I hypothesize, however, that his next destination will be San
Francisco, California, 1967."
      Al huffed. "Ziggy, the last time you made an accurate prediction about
where and when Sam would arrive was just before he leaped into that stuntman
in the 1970s. You crashed shortly afterwards."
      "Nonetheless, that is my prediction," Ziggy told him.
      Al sighed. Regardless of Ziggy's confidence in her ability to predict
Dr. Samuel Beckett's next assignment, the fact still remained: none of the
predicted destinations were Stallion's Gate, New Mexico, 1998.
      "Well, let me know if you get anything," Al instructed.
      "Of course, Admiral," Ziggy replied. "Shall I inform Dr. Beeks of your
arrival?"
      Al shook his head. "No. I'll take care of that. Thanks, Ziggy."
      "You're welcome, Admiral. Have a pleasant day."
      Al exhaled as he sat down at his desk and accessed the personnel files
on his computer, looking for Dr. Hathorn's file. They'd been having some
problems with him lately. The doctor seemed restless most of the time,
unable to concentrate on his work, which focused on the possible physical
effects quantum leaping had on the human body.
      Al perused the file. He huffed. Nothing in the file gave any
indication for the reason of Dr. Hathorn's unusual behavior. Still, if Dr.
Beeks was concerned, there had to be cause for alarm.
      Dr. Verbina Beeks was Project Quantum Leap's staff psychiatrist. As
such, she had a huge responsibility over the mental health of the entire
Quantum Leap staff and especially over the mental health of the guest in the
Waiting Room and of Sam Beckett, the creator of Project Quantum Leap who was
currently time traveling from one life to another.
      Because of her great responsibility, she knew it was wise to let minor
problems slip by Al's attention. As Administrative Manager/ Chief of
Security/ Assistant Director/ Observer on Project Quantum Leap, Al didn't
have time to review every problem. If Verbina did bring a problem to his
attention, it meant the problem was serious. Very serious.
      Al pressed a button on his desk, keeping his eyes on the computer's
monitor.
      "Verbina Beeks," replied a soft female voice very much unlike Ziggy's.
It was soft, gentle, caring and yet, Al thought, somewhat alluring.
      "'Bina, it's Al. Dr. Hathorn - what is it about him that bothers you?
His record's almost perfect."
      He could hear Verbina sigh on the other end.
      "Could I see you in person about this?" Verbina asked him.
      "Sure," Al told her. "I'll come to your office right away." He
disconnected the intercom line before shutting off his computer terminal and
standing up. Leaving his office, he went to the elevator and started down to
Dr. Beeks' office, one of the three occupied offices on the lowest level of
the complex. The other two belonged to Al and Sam. Sam, however, wasn't
around to use his office and Al preferred his sixth level office, since it
was a close to being in the middle of the complex as possible.
      As the elevator door to the tenth level opened, Al was greeted by a
salute from a Marine guard on duty. Al returned the salute as he stepped out
of the elevator and then strode with ease down the corridor to a door
marked: Verbina L. Beeks, Staff Psychiatrist. Without knocking, he entered
the room and sat in a chair across from the office's desk.
      He waited patiently while Verbina finished writing a sentence. Once
she had finished, she lowered her pen and looked at Al with intensely
worried eyes.
      "It's that bad?" Al questioned at the gaze.
      Verbina nodded. "Dr. Hathorn needs help, Al. He's very sick but he
won't admit it to himself."
      Al frowned. "What's the matter?"
      Verbina looked at Al seriously. "He has AIDS. He just told me last
night after I pressed him about the results of his physical. He'd altered
the results because he was afraid he's lose his job if it were found out
that he has AIDS."
      Al sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
      "How'd it happen?" he asked, looking at the black psychiatrist.
      She shrugged. "He won't say. He won't talk about it at all but it's
obviously bothering him a lot or it wouldn't be effecting his work."
      Al looked down in thought. "Probably embarrasses the hell out of him,"
he added. "So, what do we do?"
      Verbina took a breath. "Well, one thing we have to do is assure him
that, regardless of him having this, his job is secure."
      Al nodded. "Of course. And then?"
      "Try to get him to talk about it without pressuring him into it."
      Al exhaled. "Easier said than done, Verbina. He's ex-military and you
know how quiet we officers can be."
      "That's why I want you to talk to him, Al. You're probably the closest
friend he has. He listens to you," Verbina told him. "He respects you."
      Al shook his head. "And I know him too well. If he won't talk to a
civilian, he sure as hell isn't going to listen to me, a Naval admiral.
There are just some habits a person can't break."
      "At least try to get him to open up a little. His closing in on
himself isn't helping either him or anyone around him."
      Al exhaled and nodded. "I'll talk to him."
      Verbina looked pleased at the answer.
      "Now," Al said, standing up. "If you'll excuse me, I have a lot of
work piled on my desk which..."
      "Admiral," Ziggy's voice interrupted Al in mid-sentence.
      Al looked at the ceiling with a sigh. "I hate it when she does that,"
he commented.
      "I apologize for interrupting your conversation with Dr. Beeks,
Admiral. However, I estimated that you would have left Dr. Beeks' office
before I would have the opportunity to..."
      Al nodded. "Okay, Ziggy. What is it?"
      "Dr. Beckett has leaped."
      Al nodded again. "Have you got a lock on him or do you need additional
data?"
      "I do have a lock on him, Admiral," Ziggy replied. "As I predicted, he
has leaped into San Francisco, California, 1967."
      Al looked at Verbina with slight surprise. Verbina smiled in
amusement.
      "Do you know into whom he has leaped?" Al asked.
      "Negative, Admiral. That will require interviewing the guest in the
Waiting Room."
      Verbina stood. "Looks like we both have to get to work right away."
      The two left the office together and headed for the Quantum Leap
Control Room, which was only a couple of corridors away and through a
security door.
      They entered the large room that housed Ziggy to find Gushie, the head
programmer, and Tina hard at work preparing the Imaging Chamber for Al's
use. Al watched as the two bustled from one point to another, from one end
of Ziggy's computer terminal to the other, quite a feat for Tina since her
four-inch heel shoes limited her speed.
      Al smiled. Tina sure was something to behold. She always dressed for
going out on the town. Her hair, a beautiful blondish-auburn, was always
done up just right. Her make-up was always perfect. Yet, behind her model
image was an even more beautiful mind, which quavered from genius to blond
bombshell at a moment's notice. It didn't hurt at all that she also had, as
Al would say, a very nice set of casabas.
      Tina noticed Al's gaze and smiled at him.
      "Hi, Al," she greeted warmly as if they hadn't just seen each other
only three hours ago.
      "Hi, Tina," Al replied. "Gushie," he greeted the redheaded
curly-haired scientist beside Tina.
      "Good morning, Admiral," Gushie replied as Al approached the control
console.
      "Is it safe for Dr. Beeks to go into the Waiting Room?" Al asked.
      Gushie nodded. "The guest is still unconscious, though. Dr. Beckett
apparently leaped into him while he was asleep." Gushie looked at Al.
"Either that or the guest thinks he's dead."
      Al huffed in amusement. It wouldn't be the first time the guest in the
Waiting Room had thought he was dead and had gone to heaven. Or hell even.
      "Go check on him," Al told Verbina.
      Verbina nodded and went into the Waiting Room.
      Al looked at Tina. "Is the Imaging Chamber ready?"
      Tina nodded as Al took a handlink from the control console.
      "All set," she told him.
      "Okay, then," Al said, walking towards the Imaging Chamber door.
"Let's at least let Sam know we're here." He placed his palm on the censor
plate by the door and entered the chamber.
********************

      Normally, leaping into a person left Samuel Beckett, PhD to the sixth
power, with an uneasy feeling. This time, however, it was different. It
wasn't leaping into a bed that was different. He'd leaped into a bed several
times before and, no matter how comfortable he was, he'd still feel that
strange uneasy feeling.
      This time, though, Sam didn't feel dizzy or uneasy. In fact, he felt
just the opposite. He felt as if he were floating on a cloud. He felt numb.
What's more, he didn't care. He liked the feeling - very much.
      He opened his eyes. The room was bright and cheery. The shades were
opened wide, allowing the sun to shine into the room. The furniture was made
of well-kept solid oak and the carpet was no more than three years old. Sam
smiled. *Whoever I've leaped into has really good tastes*, he thought.
      Sam shifted his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. He closed
his eyes and swallowed. All of a sudden, he wasn't feeling very well, as if
the leaping effect has suddenly hit him like a rock.
      LAY BACK DOWN, a voice in his mind told him. YOU WERE MORE COMFORTABLE
THEN.
      Sam rubbed his eyes in an attempt to clear his head. *No*, he answered
the voice. *I have to be somewhere. It's important.*
      THEN YOU'D BETTER TAKE YOUR MEDICINE, the voice told him.
      *Where is it?*
      IN THE NIGHTSTAND.
      Sam opened the nightstand's drawer to see an unlabeled prescription
bottle full of pills. He picked it up from the drawer and examined it. He
frowned.
      *What are they?* he asked the voice. A wave of nausea hit him. *Will
they stop this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach?*
      TRUST ME.
      Sam sighed. He opened the bottle and took out a pill. He looked at the
pill carefully.
      *Are you sure about this?*
      TRUST ME. I'M A DOCTOR.
      *So am I*, Sam told the voice.
      ALL THE MORE REASON TO TRUST ME.
      Sam couldn't argue with that. Or at least, he didn't want to argue.
The nausea was getting worse.
      Keeping the pill in hand, he closed the bottle and replaced it in the
nightstand. He stood up and staggered into the nearby bathroom. He then
quickly poured himself a glass of tap water and washed the pill down his
throat.
      He looked at himself in the mirror. The reflection that stared back at
him was tired, haggard looking. He estimated that the man in the mirror was
about five feet ten inches tall. He was thin, a little too thin for his
height. *About thirty-eight years old*, Sam estimated. The man looked
intelligent. *I have to be a doctor. Does that mean that voice is he?*
      "How's it going, Sam?"
      Sam jumped in shock at the voice. Only this one was different. It
wasn't coming from inside his head. He quickly looked about and jumped with
an exclamation at the sight of the man in the yellow pinstriped suit with
black dress shirt and shoes. The man was holding a colorful calculator-like
object.
      "Take it easy, Sam," the man told him. "It's just me."
      Sam looked at the man. For some reason, he couldn't recall the man's
name, though Sam was certain that he knew him.
      The man looked back at Sam with concern.
      "Are you okay, Sam?"
      Sam swallowed and took a deep breath.
      "I'm fine. You just startled me, that's all."
      The man's concerned expression didn't change.
      "Are you sure?"
      Sam nodded. *What is this guy's name? * He looked at the man. "I'm
fine, Al." *That's it! Al!* "Honest."
      It was obvious that Al didn't believe him, which was too bad because
Sam was beginning to feel much better, the nausea was gone and that nice
semi-numb feeling was returning.
      "I think you'd better sit down, Sam. You don't look so good."
      Sam nodded and returned to the bedroom, Al following. He sat on the
bed and looked at Al.
      "So?" Sam asked.
      "So what?" Al replied, still watching Sam with some concern.
      "So, why am I here?" Sam asked. "Who am I? Where am I? All that."
      Al's eyes widened. He could have sworn he was talking to someone else
a minute ago but now Sam seemed fine.
      "Well, we don't have a lot right now," Al told him, raising the
handlink. "You're in San Francisco and it's July 11, 1967 and you've leaped
into Dr. Byron..." He hit the side of the handlink. "... Zetter." Al
frowned. There was something familiar about the name and an uneasy feeling
in his gut told him that the memories associated with the name were not
pleasant.
      "What's wrong?" Sam asked, seeing Al's expression.
      Al paced the side of the bed. "I just have a bad feeling about this
leap."
      "Why? What am I here to do?"
      Al looked at Sam and froze at the sight of the aura. It was so
familiar but he couldn't place where he saw that face before. What really
got Al was that Sam's eyes, the only thing that let Al know Sam was really
there, were cloudy and distant, the opposite of their normal brightness.
      "We're not sure," he finally answered. "Ziggy's still digging for
information but, as soon as we get anything, we'll let you know."
      Sam nodded. "Okay. What do I do until then?"
      Al opened his mouth to replied but nothing came out. He shrugged.
      "We don't have anything on Byron right now so the only thing I can
suggest is for you to take a shower, get dressed, and take a look around."
      Sam nodded. Sounded like a good idea.
      YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, the voice returned.
      Sam closed his eyes and rubbed his temples to clear his head.
      "What's the matter?" Al asked.
      Sam looked at him. "Where does Byron work?"
      Al shook his head. "We don't know that one yet, Sam."
      Sam nodded. "I'm sure I can find out. There's got to be something in
this house that will let me know."
      "That's a good idea," Al told him, watching him carefully. Something
was definitely wrong. "I'm going to go back and see if we can't help you out
here."
      Pressing some buttons, Al opened the Imaging Chamber door and walked
out, closing it behind him.
      Sam watched in fascination as Al disappeared into the white
rectangular light. It seemed more beautiful than before. He smiled as the
light disappeared and relished the sense of awe that was filling him.
      *As they say in the Sixties, that was groovy.*
      Sam laid back on the bed and stared at the ceiling, no concerns on his
mind.