CHAPTER 30 Bernie was helping Alfredo prepare the evening meal, when Sam appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. "Do you have a few minutes Bernie?" Sam looked a little flustered, Bernie had noticed. "Of course I do. What's wrong Sam?" Her face full of genuine concern. "Can we t-talk, I-I mean in private? I want to ask you something and it's r-really important." Sam felt embarrassed and a little tongue-tied. "Come on Sam, we can go to my quarters. Or if you prefer, yours?" Bernie took hold of his arm. Alfredo looked up and smiled, his face wrinkled with age. He'd known Sam for more years than he cared to remember. Never before had he seen Sam so happy, so at ease with any female as Bernie, but today Sam had something on his mind. Sam looked troubled, but he was not surprised after what Sam had gone though. He never did like Rosie much, she was okay in small doses but he didn't care for her attitude. He watched as Bernie led him away, now Bernie was another matter, she was a good kid. "Mine I think, I'd feel more comfortable there." They strolled through the empty cafeteria, down the corridor. Al stopped them halfway. "Sam there's a phone call for you." "Who is it?" Sam looked at Bernie then back at Al. "Joel. I think he wants to thank you for the birthday present you sent him." Al beckoned to Sam. "Who's Joel?" Sam looked at Al puzzled. "He's your gr..... erm, er, Sammi's son, er, Sam." Al said awkwardly as he re-entered his office. "Oh right." Sam turned to Bernie, "Go on in, I should only be a few minutes." Bernie continued into Sam's quarters and Sam followed Al into his office. Al handed Sam the phone as he neared the desk. "Hello Joel, how are you doing." Sam, listening, covered the mouthpiece with his hand and looked up at Al, "How old is he Al?" "Seventeen, yesterday." Al answered, whispering. "That's great, and I bet you were pleased to have your mom home for a couple of days." Sam listened. "You didn't, oh I see you're at University. What are you studying?" Sam raised his eyes to Al. "Same as me and your mom then, it must run in the family." Sam moved the phone away, staring at it. He couldn't believe the words that he'd just said. Al stood, arms crossed rubbing his chin and looking at Sam pensively. Sam returned to his conversation, "I can't remember what I gave you for your birthday Joel, you know my accident. Oh right you've heard about it. N-no, I'm fine now." Sam glanced over to Al, covering the mouthpiece again, "What?" "Nothin' pal." Al tuned, wiping a hand round the back of his neck. "That's great, a dune buggy, f-from all of us, mind you take care on it." Again, Sam moved the phone away, gaping at it. "Bye Joel." Sam stood, motionless, holding the receiver in both hands. Al moved towards Sam, replacing the receiver. "What is it?" "He called me Gramps, Al." Sam's brow creased. "Woah," Al looked at Sam concerned, "No pal, don't ask me to explain, not again. Ask Sammi this time, your Swiss-cheesed memory's not in my area, not this time." "No Al, I'm not gonna ask you to explain anything. When I was talking to Joel, somehow I knew he was family. Sammi will tell me, when she's ready. I can't believe it though Al, little bits are coming back, they keep sneaking up on me and they just seem to jump out at me." "That's good Sam, you'll be back to normal in no time." Al moved to the other side of the desk and whispered to himself, 'If what we call you is normal, then we're all in big trouble.' Al suddenly turned back to Sam, changing the conversation. "I've phone the agency, there sending us a replacement for Rosie tomorrow, at ten. She should be in on the same flight as Pearson. They can only send us one though, there's no-one else available. Beth said she'd help out when she's needed, give her somethin' to do, she said." "That's fine Al, it's funny though, the agency's usually phoning us up for vacancies." Sam winked at Al as he started closing the door. "See you later Al, I've got some unfinished business to attend to. Wish me luck." "Yeah pal, you wont need it though." The door closed and Al breathed a sigh of relief. Sam left Al's office and headed for his own, he opened the door to a cabinet and pulled out two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. He looked at it puzzled, the last time he'd seen this bottle, it was nearly full. Then he remembered, 'Ha, must have been some celebration Al, we nearly drank the whole bottle.' Then he was suddenly shocked as the memory became a clear image. He could see Al leaning back in the chair his feet on the desk, twirling an unlit Havana between his fingers. They were laughing about Ziggy and phase one of the project. Was this the first spark of his memory returning? He didn't want to build his hopes up too high so he let it drop, but he couldn't help a smile at the image he'd remembered. There was just enough whiskey to calm him and perhaps Bernie too. He returned back to his room. He placed the glasses onto the small table beside the couch and proceeded to pour out the whiskey. "None for me Sam." Bernie's voice was determined. "And I think you shouldn't either." "A small one won't hurt, surely?" Sam held the bottle up giving it a little wiggle, "There's not enough here to get a skunk drunk," he laughed. "Besides I need it." "You know I don't like to be around alcohol Sam." Bernie held a hand up to her mouth in dismay, "Sorry Sam, I forgot, you can't remember. Can you?" "Remember what? What about alcohol?" Sam looked curiously at the bottle. "I doesn't matter Sam, go ahead, honest, I'll just have a very small one." Sam finished filling his glass but only half filled Bernie's, he took a gulp out of his own before sliding the other over to Bernie. He sat beside Bernie on the couch and placed his glass beside hers on the table. He placed an arm around her shoulder and drew her near, his lips brushing her cheek. She could smell the whiskey on his breath, but it wasn't the foul, strong, stale, sickly odour she remembered. This was sweet and fresh and fragrant, she breathed it in, she didn't need the whiskey, she felt drunk and dizzy just from Sam's touch. Their lips met and she was lost again in Sam's arms, his caresses, his love. Sam drew away slightly, "You know I love you and I'll never do anything to hurt you?" "Yes Sam, I know." She said hazily. "All that I have, I want to share with you. My life, my work, my dreams, my hopes, everything. Will you share them with me Bernie?" "Yes Sam I will, I'll even share your fears and pain, your worries and sorrows. I'll love you as no other woman could love a man, with all of my heart and soul, I give them willingly to you Sam, to cherish forever." "Oh Bernie, you would do that for me?" He held her close and kissed her cheek. "Anything Sam, as long as I'm with you." "Will you work with me?" "If you think I'm capable, yes I would." "Oh God I love you." Sam tenderly stroked the side of her face, inches apart, their lips almost touching. "But I don't know, somehow that word doesn't seem to be enough, these feelings I have for you, I more than love you. I cherish you, worship you, adore you. You are my Queen amongst Queens." "Then my love, you are my King amongst Kings." Their lips met once again and all time was lost. Day turned to evening and evening into night.. Time didn't matter, they were in love, they were together. The morning sun streamed through Sam's bedroom window. He turned and trailed a delicate finger from Bernie's shoulder, down her back. He couldn't resist the temptation as his lips kissed her fragrant flesh. She stirred in her sleep. "Good morning." She whispered, wrapping her arms about him. Their bodies entwined in a wrath of ecstasy. Sam turned as Al's voice filtered through to the bedroom. "Sam!" Al knocked on the door. "Sam it's eight-thirty, the plane's due in at ten." Sam sat up suddenly, Bernie rolling out of his arms. "Right Al, I'm coming. Just gonna take a shower, then I'll be right with you." "Right, so long as I know you're about." Al whistled as he returned back down the corridor. "Come on Bernie, we've got work to do." Sam said as he headed for the bathroom. "I know Sam, just seems a shame to disturb such perfect bliss." She heard Sam turn on the shower, she ran toward the bathroom. "What are you doing?" Sam laughed as Bernie joined him in the shower. "Just sharing," she smiled as water splashed down her face, "sharing everything you do." They laughed and cajoled as the water and bubbles soaked their bodies, sending torrents of water to the floor.