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'Al', exclaimed Nicholas as Al entered the waiting room, 'I'm pleased you're back'.
Well, he's certainly in a better mood than earlier, thought Al. He still didn't know what to say to the boy, though. Nicholas certainly seemed to know him well enough, but he guessed that wasn't surprising. Any son of Sam's would be like a nephew to Al.
'Um, yeah. I had to give Sam the news', Al told Nicholas, 'He's not really sure what to make of all this, though. And, to be honest, nor am I'.
'Oh, of course', agreed Nicholas. 'This isn't exactly normal, even for here, is it?'
'You can say that again, kid. We're gonna need some information from you, though. Do you have any idea why Sam's where he is?'
'Well, the records of the leaps are still kept pretty secret, especially those involving people at the Project. I only knew what was happening because of growing up at and then working at the project. Dad never really told me much about his leaps, but I got a lot of stories from you. I guess dad didn't want me to know about his leap into me. I only know because I cave across some old records of yours. I guessed your password you see, 'Beth', and when I saw my name I couldn't resist. As I got older I decided that when I leaped I would have to talk to you and only you about it. I, er, decided not to tell Sammy-Jo and mom who I am, yet. I didn't know if they would really be able to understand it.'
'Well, Sammy-Jo probably would. Only, she doesn't know who her father is, yet, let alone that she will soon have a half-brother. And, mom?'
Nicholas looked worried. 'Er, Donna Eliese-Beckett..'.
Al looked relieved. 'Right, yeah, good. No, no, don't tell them anything. I know how quickly the time-lines can change round here, and I usually remember both lines, but the others don't. We don't want to mess anything up until we know exactly what's happening and why Sam has leaped into you. I hope Sam isn't getting into any trouble there, though'.
June 20th, 2035, Project Quantum Leap:
Sam, meanwhile, was enjoying being home, surrounded by intelligent, caring people he knew well. He was home, and he was going to take a bit of time for himself for a change. He deserved it. He may be in the future, he may not be himself, but he was just about the closest he could get to it!
He still couldn't believe he had a son, though. He'd always wanted children, and it was nice to know that during all his work and then his leaping, he still had had time to raise a son who looked to be following successfully in his footsteps. He thought that he was bound to be proud of him. He wondered idlely who Nicholas' mother was, whether it was someone he already knew, or someone he'd meet after he finished leaping. (He didn't remember Donna). He now knew instinctively that he would soon finish leaping and go home, to his own time. After all, Nicholas was born at the Project, wasn't he? He wandered around, taking everything and everyone in, smiling vaguely at people who Nicholas knew but he didn't, and smiling joyfully at old friends.
He couldn't help thinking that there was something he was missing though. As he made his way towards the personal quarters, he suddenly heard a familiar voice:
'Well, Sammy-Jo, I guess we're nearly ready for the next leap. Gushie's checked Ziggy through and the retrieval programme is on-line again after the last lot of blown fuses. Tina says that Nick's finished the lastest set of equations, so, as soon as we get a lock, Abby will be all set.'
Sam's face lit up at the mention of a working retrieval programme, but it wasn't that that stopped him in his tracks and made him watch and listen. Even before the speaker turned round to face his direction, he knew who it was. As they turned round, the speaker saw him.
'Nick, hi', he said, 'Everything alright?'
But Sam couldn't answer. He knew now what he'd forgotten. It must have been all the shocks that this leap had brought. It was too late now, though. He was face-to-face with himself!