Leap of Fate (Part 4 of 4) By Adina Ringler aringler@earthlink.net Disclaimer, etc in Part 1 X*X*X February 25, 2001 Project Quantum Leap Stallion's Gate New Mexico Al grabbed some supper for both he and Agent Scully before heading back to the Waiting Room. Sam had charged him with asking her a few more questions, but Al's anticipation for the visit was more for himself. What Sam needed aside. Al admitted he had grown attached to their lovely visitor. One just had to like Special Agent, Dr. Dana Scully. Not only did he like her, he enjoyed the banter, and her company. He enjoyed it despite the fact that it made him uncomfortable knowing what little he did about her future. He wished there was something, anything, he could do to help. But that was a big no-no. He sighed. Changing things was Sam's department, and even that Sam had little control over. Sam didn't choose what he could change, and meddling could upset God, Fate, Time, or Whatever was leaping Sam around. Not that that had ever happened. Al didn't want to find out, either. That could have dire consequences. The nagging feeling he had twice before was back, though, and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why, or what, it meant. Al knocked before entering the Waiting Room, and hearing Agent Scully's reply, opened the door. "Supper has arrived," he stated with a smile. "Well, at least I can say you are feeding me well," Scully said. They sat and ate in companionable silence for a while. "Anything new?" Scully asked. "I hate to sound like a broken record, but no," Al answered. "I do have two questions from Sam. Actually, they aren't specific to the case." "Oh?" Scully asked, curious. Al wasn't quite certain how to proceed. "Well, Sam's been pretty lucky during this leap. That is... he hasn't had to worry about blowing his cover." "How so?" "You and Agent Mulder have been working this case from different vantage points." "I'm sorry, Al. I don't think I'm following." "That is... Sam hasn't had to spend much time with your partner. Uh, in the same place." "Oh. Okay. I see what you are saying. Dr. Beckett hasn't had much of a chance to say or do something...well...out of character. That is, do something I wouldn't do." "That's it. Exactly." Al said, hoping that he wouldn't have to "spell it out." "Until now?" Scully stated. "Until now. He's meeting Agent Mulder later this evening, and he's a little worried. "That he will do or say something to give himself away?" "Yeah," Al stuttered, his face coloring slightly. It wouldn't take an FBI Agent to figure out that Al was beating around the proverbial bush, and she had the distinct feeling which bush he was beating around. she thought. Not life-threatening dangerous, but personally dangerous. "Admiral. Are you asking me if the nature of Agent Mulder's and my relationship goes beyond the strict professionalism of our partnership?" she asked, pinning him with her ice blue gaze. Al forced himself not to betray any uneasiness at her change in demeanor. "No. Not in so many words, Agent Scully. No," Al said simply. Scully let out a sigh. "Well, you'd be the first person to actually have the guts to ask me to my face... I think..." she trailed off quizzically. Al smiled weakly. "Actually, Agent Scully, from the information that Ziggy has found, you're still keeping them all guessing. There seems to be quite a lot of money riding on bets and office pools," Al said trying to make her laugh. Scully's expression turned from anger to mortification. Al didn't say anything, but Scully could see from his expression that he didn't understand the nature of her discomfort. "From time to time, I have heard whispers behind my back, or down a hallway when others had no idea I was around. For the most part, I could care less what they thought. But to think that you could easily access that type of information, well... I didn't realize that people's speculations were that...I don't know... widespread. To think that this overshadows our work somehow, Al, is very disappointing," she finished, eyes downcast. "I see...well, don't think anything more of it, Agent Scully. Really. First, that information wasn't easy to come up with. And, if you haven't noticed, Ziggy has a penchant for gossip. She can sniff it out of the deepest, darkest,and most unbelievable places." Al dipped his head and smiled, trying to make eye contact. "And, again, there is *still* no conclusive evidence either way. Scully looked up. Al continued, "It's almost like-" "An X-File?" Scully finished for him. Al chuckled and Scully smiled in spite of herself. Even though Scully was smiling again, Al had to press on. That nagging feeling was surfacing again. Like there was something important he should say. "Truly, I wasn't trying to pry. I mean, hey, I'm as curious as the next guy, but it is none of my business. Sam said the same thing. Still, he doesn't want to mess up. You know? After all, Agent Mulder is a skilled investigator. If you started acting strangely, well... that would put him on edge, to say the least." Al rubbed his eyes. "It's obvious you two share more than a, how did you put it, 'a strictly professional partnership.'" Scully was about to argue, but Al stopped her, holding up both hands. "No. Let me finish." This was going to be a semantic tennis match. "I don't doubt for a second that your partnership is professional. *Strictly* is the is the term that doesn't fit." Again, Scully tried to speak. Again, Al stopped her. "*And*, I'm not saying you are participating in any, shall we say, 'activities' forbidden by rules written or implied for law enforcement partners. What I *am* saying is that what you and Agent Mulder have between you is not *just* a partnership in the strictest sense of the word. It's not *just* anything. If you guys were *just* partners, Sam wouldn't have felt what he had, and told me about it. He wouldn't be as jumpy either. He would also give himself the guilt-trip of a lifetime if he screwed it up between you two. Whatever *it* might be." This really was a nerve-wracking conversation, but Scully could see Al's point. She also had to admit that it was nice, if this was truly happening, that someone was looking out for her...and Mulder. She let out an explosive sigh. "I understand why you asked, Al...I just don't feel comfortable talking about this with you." It didn't take a degree in psychology for Al to see that her emotions ran deep where her partner was concerned. From what Sam said about his experience in the car, Agent Mulder's feelings ran deep as well. Al wished there was some way to lighten the mood. Scully's question startled him out of his reverie. "What exactly did Dr. Beckett feel?" she asked, curious. The glint returned to Al's eyes. "I believe that Sam likened Agent Mulder to a starving man and that Sam felt like he was Agent Mulder's lunch.'" Scully colored a bit. she thought and could feel the temperature in the room rise a few degrees. Al could see that Sam had hit the nail on the head. "If that makes you feel uncomfortable-" "I didn't say that it makes me feel uncomfortable, Al," she interrupted, almost shyly. Al shared a conspiratorial smile with her and stopped her, "Let me finish. Imagine how uncomfortable Sam feels." At first, Scully didn't get it, but when she did, the usually unflappable agent couldn't help but giggle. "I love to watch Sam squirm sometimes, especially when it comes to women. He's very proper, you know. But since it's a guy sending some ambiguous vibes, I figured I'd cut the kid some slack this time," he said with genuine fondness. Scully really could understand, now, why Al had brought up this topic of conversation, and she did feel sorry for Dr. Beckett. Listening to Al's story, though, steadily gave her insight as to the person that was Al. It snapped in place almost at once. "He's your best friend, isn't he?" she asked softly. Al was amazed at how quickly she had turned the tables on him. With a smile, he mimicked Scully's earlier statement, "Agent Scully, as you suggesting that Sam and I are more than *strictly* co-workers?" "Touche, Admiral," she said, not unkindly. "Yes, Agent Scully, Sam is my best friend." Al felt he owed Scully more than just a statement of fact, so he went on to explain, "When we met for the first time, I was in the process of destroying what was left of my life at the time. I wasn't suicidal. I was just a very angry person at that point. When Sam came upon me, I was fighting with a vending machine...and losing." Despite the painful memories, Al smiled, remembering that first meeting. Then he continued, "The whys and wherefores are not important, but he gave me a job. And we became friends. I needed someone to believe in me, and that is just what he did. I can't say for sure, but he probably saved my life." Scully smiled warmly as an encouragement to continue if he wished to do so. "You see, I want my best friend back. I just wish he would finish the damn things he's supposed to do, so he can get back home to his family and his friends. Where he belongs. I know he's done so much good for others, but we all just want him to come home. Permanently. And as selfish as it sounds, I would give just about anything to have Sam back, coerce him into ditching work, and popping into LA for an evening to take in a Lakers' game." Scully was genuinely touched. "That is not selfish at all, Al. It's called being human." She paused for a moment. "And I think after being partnered with Mulder, that I understand the power of belief." With her last statement, the pieces of what had been nagging Al fell into place. It was his conscience, and it was trying to tell him something ever since he and Sam had shared that mutual pat on the back. Sam had been right when he had said that he had sensed respect and affection. But he had left out trust...and belief. Scully could tell that her words had some how sparked some sort of revelation in Al. Al focused his gaze on Scully. "Have you ever told Agent Mulder you believe-" "Al, I don't believe half of the-" "No, Agent Scully, that you believe in *him*? You do believe in him, don't you?" Scully didn't even hesitate. "Of course I believe in Mulder. If I didn't, I wouldn't be with him." >From what Al had learned about Agent Mulder, it would mean a tremendous amount to the former FBI wunderkid to have someone like Agent Scully believe in him. Not at all unlike the way Sam had believed in him what seemed like all those years ago. "When Sam and I were discussing what to do yesterday, he reminded me what a great team we made, and, well... that he appreciated our friendship. He believes that between the two of us, we'll figure out a way for him to get home someday. He's right. I know we will, and he'll come home. So, I'll ask you again, 'Have you ever told him that you believe in him?'" Scully was at a loss. Her memory wasn't at its best right now. "I... I think I have. But he has got to know that." "It's not the same as saying it. You may or may not remember anything about this leap when it's all over, but this is important." The thought of all the things the two of them would have to face together, made him shudder. If he could help them to help themselves... To further stress his point, he took her hands in his own. "Dana, regardless of what the nature of your relationship with Agent Mulder is now or in the future, promise me... promise me that you'll tell him you believe in him. It could mean all the difference in the world. After all, it's the little things that count." His heartfelt entreaty did not fall on deaf ears. She couldn't help the tears that welled up, but didn't spill from her eyes. "I promise, Al. If it is within my power, I'll tell him." Al's sense of relief was almost palpable, to the both of them. He was tired, but He did have some information to get back to Sam. Al let go of Agent Scully's hands and smiled. She smiled back. "I guess I should get some of this information to Sam." "Yeah. I guess so." "Er...what should I tell Sam if, well...he starts feeling like 'lunch' again?" Scully thought for a moment, her smile deepening. "Tell Dr. Beckett just to 'go with it.'" "And that is what you do? Just go with it?" Al asked. "Yeah," she said. A split second later, she smirked and added, "For now." A devilish grin appeared on Al's face as he started to depart for the Imaging Chamber. "Al?" She said, stopping him. "Yeah?" "You said Dr. Beckett had two questions. I'm almost afraid to ask. What was the other one?" "Oh...nothing really." Al said, "What does Agent Mulder like to eat? He asked that you bring him dinner!" X*X*X Joe's Diner Somewhere on the outskirts of Baltimore, MD Sam was in line, patiently waiting to pick up some food for Agent Mulder. Al had popped in earlier to add some scant information to what he had collected. He also gave him Scully's praise as an investigator. Sam had to smile at that. From what Al said, that kind of compliment from Agent Scully was to be highly revered. At least he felt a little bit of relief about his upcoming meeting with Mulder. He wasn't quite sure what exactly had transpired between Agent Scully and Al, but Al seemed a little less tense than he had the last time he had popped in. At least, from what Al said, he didn't have to worry about how to respond to Agent Scully's partner. It seemed like acting like a deer in the headlights was status quo. That description wasn't quite fair to Agent Scully, but he couldn't think of anything more politically correct. Sam pondered the menu and ordered. Fifteen minutes later, he paid for dinner. He had just gotten into the car when he had this strange feeling that all was right with the world. That was quickly replaced with the premonition of a "tug." "No! " Sam yelled to no one in particular. "What have I done? I have to know!" That was the last thing he said as the crackling blue light surrounded him and he leaped to his next destination. X*X*X Stakeout Baltimore, MD Scully had felt completely disoriented for the past forty-five minutes, but she couldn't figure out why. She also felt an overwhelming desire to prove to Mulder just how much she believed in him, despite what had happened at headquarters and the courtroom the other day. Mulder had even started the whole thing by obliquely stating how much he cared about her, by telling her that he didn't want to be the cause of any reprimands in her file. She was trying so hard, but to her, it seemed that she had only succeed in sticking her foot in her mouth just seconds before. As he fumbled with a reply, she was determined to give it one more try. He was looking at her with that goofy smile he sometimes wore. "Mulder, I wouldn't put myself on the line for anybody but you." She pinned him with the intensity of her gaze, as if by doing so, he would understand the force of her words. Her words struck him in almost a physical way, and he was totally unprepared for the onslaught. His mouth went dry, unable to speak the words even if he knew how to reply. It didn't hurt; on the contrary, it was pleasurable. Her words, her voice, her eyes, all bespoke unconditional loyalty. He had never thought-- hoped to think-- that he could command, much less deserve, such loyalty. Here was a truth he never thought to find. And he knew, *knew* it was the truth. His partner had just neatly packaged it up, as if wrapped in brilliant paper, bows and ribbons, and dumped it into his lap. Lock, stock, and barrel. If he still harbored any fears that Scully really was a spy, those thoughts fled the field of battle. Just hightailed it and ran. He let himself enjoy the gift she had given him for the briefest of moments. The feelings it inspired were so intense, he thought he might burn. He needed to deflect them somehow, or else he'd lose all composure. He did so in the only way he knew how. With a shield of humor. He leered. "If there's an iced tea in that bag," he said, slitting his eyes and wagging his eyebrows, "it could be love." Although her heart was pounding and despite Mulder's humorous ploy, it was absolutely clear to her that he understood the message she was trying to send, and she felt as if some sort of mission had been accomplished. She dug into the bag which held the drink she couldn't quite remember buying. She started speaking before determining the cup's contents. "It must be fate Mulder," she said handing the cup to him while glancing at its top..."Iced Tea." *FINIS* - Leap of Fate