Two Sides, One Coin (2)

Two Sides, One Coin
Part 2

SongStar

Washington DC---White House
June 22, 2001 2 days before
11 am
The blue white light faded from around Dr. Sam Beckett, leaving him momentarily disoreiented. As his brain started to kick back in something else decided kick him as well. He didn't notice a small round object suddenly come his way and smack him upside the head.
"Ouch." he said, closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead.
Someone started laughing histerically and Sam cracked one eye to see who it was. His gaze landed on a man leaning back on the couch across from his desk and he was the one that was doing the laughing. Sam's brain kicked in a second later and identified said person. It was Sam Seaborn, a very much alive and breathing Sam Seaborn at that, who was practically on the floor he was laughing so hard.
"Its not funny." he growled.
Sam managed to stop laughing for a second and look at him. Two second later he was laughing again.
Toby/Sam sighed. "Why me." he mumbled.
Sam laughed for a couple more minutes. Toby/Sam just waited him out, all the while drumming his fingers on the desk and wondering idly where Al was.
Sam did stop a moment later. "I'm sorry." he said, whiping his eyes "That was just way to funny."
Sam B. rolled his eyes. "It wasn't that funny." he grunted. However he did have to admit it was one of the better situations he had ever leaped into.
Sam looked up at him, still fighting to keep from going into histerics again. "Your no fun." he muttered and gestured towards Toby's desk. "Before you got hit in the head, you were about to tell me how you thought the speech was going."
Sam/Toby raised an eyebrow and looked down. He actually didn't know and he had forgot to ask Toby what the gist of it was before he left. He was saved the trouble of fumbling for an answer when the door opened and out came Al.
"Just tell him it's fine and send him back to his office," the Admiral instructed.
Sam didn't hesitate any further. He looked up at the man who shared his name and nodded. "Its fine. You should go finish it."
Sam Seaborn raised an eyebrow. "Really?" he asked.
Sam B. nodded and picked up the document and handed it over to the younger man. "Yeah."
Sam took it and quirked a smile. "Thanks." he said, not one to argue with good fortune when he saw it. He did however give Toby/Sam a quizzical look as he told him he see him later and then left for his own office.
"Thanks Al." Sam sighed looking at his friend.
Al smiled "Hey no problem. Always happy to help." he added with a touch of sarcasm.
Sam sent him a brief glare and caught sight of the ball that had boucned off his head, laying near the bookcases. He got up and picked it up and then went back over and sat down. Getting the sudden urge to bounce it, he threw the ball against one of the walls and caught it as it returned. He gave a small smile as he did it again. "This is kind of fun," he thought to himself.
Almost as if knowing what Sam had just thought, Al rolled his eyes and shook his head. After two more times of Sam bouncing the ball, he cleared his throat.
Sam stopped bouncing the ball and looked at his friend. "Yes?" he asked and then rolled his eyes when Al just scowled at him. "What's going on?"
Al shook his head. "Nothing really. There is no new information at the moment," he said and then added, 'more or less' to himself. "Just wanted get you to stop bouncing the ball."
"How's the Toby of this time?" Sam asked as he leaned back in his chair.
Al glanced at the handlink before answering. "Still out of it," he answered. "But I'm sure he'll be awake soon." He stopped for a moment and then went on. "What do I do if Toby wants to speak with his younger self."
Sam contemplated that for a moment and then shrugged. "I guess it won't really hurt anything if he does want to talk to him. I know you probably aren't going to be able to keep him from going in there. I don't guess it will be a problem."
Al nodded "Ok," he said as he looked down at the handlink.
"Something new?" Sam asked hopefully. He was actually already getting slightly bored sitting here.
Al shook his head. "Nah. Ziggy just was telling me that there's nothing new. I have no idea why, but she did." he shrugged
Sam sighed. "Well if Toby said that nothing really happens until two days from now, then it might be a bit boring until then.
Al snorted. "Probably." he said. "But we have to keep on our toes. You never know."
Sam shot his friend a dirty look. "No, really." he said sarcastically and looked thoughtfull for a moment. "You know what you could do."
Al raised an eyebrow. "Go follow the women around?" he asked jokingly
Sam sighed. Even though his friends history had changed, it didn't stop Al from looking around occasionly. Its not like he acted on it or anything, he just did. Al seemed to do it more when they were on a leap and Sam suspected that his friend did it just to annoy him for whatever reason. "No." he stated finally. "Why don't you go keep an eye on the Vice President, if he's even here. I'll just do whatever comes up."
Al nodded "That might be a good idea." he said and brought up the handlink. He looked at Sam as the door opened. "I'll let you know if I find out anything." he said and then grinned at his friend. "Now don't get into any trouble."
"Get out of here would you." Sam told him with a shooing motion
Al just smiled sweetly and after a moment, was gone.
Sam just sighed, leaned further back in the chair, and started bouncing Toby's ball again.
The rest of the day passed rather slowly. Sam had managed to find something to do, mostly going next door and occassionly pestering Toby's deputy. About the fifth time he did it, Sam S. had started getting a little huffy and almost threw his boss out the door. Toby/Sam just figured that he just wanted to make sure the kid was still there and safe, but he wasn't about to tell the younger man that. He also had a sneaking suspicion that it was residual effects from Toby that were just left over. At any rate he was getting pretty antsy about what was coming up and just hoped that he would be able to fulfill the duties that had been placed on him. He had to keep reminding himself that he had always managed to do it in the past, but this was a just a little bit bigger of a problem.
Al popped in a couple of times during the day to tell him that nothing was going on with the Vice President. Hoynes was indeed in the White House but he wasn't doing anything that merited attention or at least from what Al could tell, he wasn't. One of the times Al popped in was when Sam had been in the Oval Office with the other senior staffers after the President had called afrernoon meeting. Sam had mostly sat there and only spoke when he was spoken to and he managed to sound intelligable when he was spoken to. He had to keep himself from laughing though when his friend had popped in and started wondering around the Oval Office. It was funny because the rest of the people in the office could not see him at all and Al made the occasional comments he was always made while on leaps. Sam wondered what the rest of the senior staff, not to mention Bartlet for that matter, would think if they found out that a holograph was wondering the room and a time traveler was actually one of their friends. He suspected that since all were pretty bright people that they would accept it. Hopefully at least. The time in the oval office did give him a chance to look over those present and get some idea of what these people were like. He immediatly began to like them all and could understand why Toby had come to him.
Day passed into night. Around nine that evening, Toby/Sam, Josh and Sam all left and went out to a nearby bar. Al, after confering with Sam in the bathroom, decided to call it a night and go back to the project. Their current guest was awake, had been for awhile, and wanting to talk to someone. He promised Sam that if any new projections came in then he would come back and tell him. Sam had nodded and after telling him he wasn't going to let Toby's deputy out of his sight, he walked back out and sat down with Josh and Sam. Al had hung around for a couple more minutes and after satisfying himself that Sam had everything under control, he opened the door and went back to the project.
As he stepped out of the imiaging chamber, he ran a hand over his eyes and sighed. He wanted to catch a couple of zzz's before he had to go back in the morning, but he knew that wasn't going to be possible for awhile. He yawned as he made his way to the control room and was met halfway there by the Toby of his time.
"Admiral." Toby greeted "Everything ok?"
Al sighed. "Yeah, Sam has it under control. He, Josh and your deputy are at a bar and Sam is planning on keeping an eye on the boy." he stopped and smiled a little. "He's been doing a pretty good job of it so far, so I wouldn't worry. Actually its becoming quite annoying. At least for your deputy"
Toby raised an eyebrow and a small smile graced his lips. "Does part of this involve rubber balls?"
Al rolled his eyes and grunted "Yeah, he's found out that its pretty fun to play with." he shook his head. "And he told me he went over and annoyed Sam a couple of times. He just wanted to keep an eye on him I guess. Sam apparently nearly threw him out after the last time."
Toby chuckled briefly at that. "At least Sam's ok for the time being." he said somewhat softly after a moment.
Al nodded "Well, we have every intention of keeping it that way." he said "You'll have to excuse me, but I need to see our visitor."
Toby nodded "I hear he's been pretty vocal about wanting to talk to someone." he stopped and shook his head. "But of course he's me and knowing me, I would would defiantly want to be talking to someone right about now."
Al smiled at that and both men started walking. "Listen." Al said, before Toby could voice what he was going to ask next. "I'm going to go in there first, but if it looks like i'll need you, then you can come in. Sam seems to think it will be ok."
Toby nodded. "You know." he said quietly "I was watching him earlier and all I see is Dr. Beckett. It makes me wonder if he even leaped." he stopped and shrugged. "Yet I know its not him, because he's got some of the same mannerisims that I do."
Al nodded, understanding the problem. "Yeah its a bit weird I know."
Their conversation had taken them to the waiting room. Both men looked in and watched the visitor, who was very much awake at the moment, for a couple of seconds.
Al sighed. "While you see Sam, I see you." he explained. "And its a bit strange at the moment as well." he quirked a small smile and went on with his explanation. "If you or anyone else were to look in right now, all you would see is Sam, but I won't because Sam and I are connected." he tapped his head
Toby raised an eyebrow at that, but he decided not to ask the next question. Which was good because Al didn't want to get into the discussion of explaining neurons and measons and whatever else he would have to tell him about.
Al sighed as he looked into the waiting room. He turned back to Toby and looked at him briefly "I'm going to go talk to him, you can listen." he gestured towards the intercom. "I'll let you know if you need to come in."
Al stepped to the door, but was stopped when Toby spoke to him.
"I won't bite...much." Toby said the last word with a slight quirk in his lips
Al just threw him a dirty look and walked into the waiting room, the door sliding closed behind him. He stood just inside the room for a moment, looking over at the visitor. Sam/Toby was not looking at him, but he could tell by how he was sitting that their visitor was quite alert.
"Mr. Ziegler." Al spoke as he started walking towards the table.
Sam/Toby turned to look at him and watched as the Admiral walked over towards him. He narrowed his eyes and didn't speak for a moment. Finally he said. "Who are you and what is going on?"
Al quirked an eyebrow and raised a hand. "One question at a time there." he said as he stopped in front of the table. "My name is Al Calavicci and you are safe right now."
Sam/Toby narrowed his eyes. "That doesn't tell me much." he snapped "Where am I?"
Al sighed and gave a brief glance back at where he knew Toby was standing. He looked again at Sam/Toby and gave a silent prayer that he didn't change time with anything that was said next. Al had talked to visitors before and it hadn't caused problems. "Ok. You are at what is called Project Quantum Leap. Quantum Leap was started several years back to study history through time travel." he stopped for a second to gauge Sam/Toby's reaction, who was looking back at him with disbelief written across his features. Al sighed and went on. "My partner has leaped into you and will write a wrong that will happen in your time, two nights from now. When he does, you will go back."
"I don't believe this." Sam/Toby growled
"I would." a new voice said from the doorway.
Both Al and Toby/Sam turned to find that Toby had entered the room. Al gave him a disapproving look, which Toby just shrugged off. Toby/Sam however had a very shocked look on his face.
"What is going on here?" he demanded.
Toby slowly approached the table. It was a little weird to be talking to his three year younger self, but he figured he had to since if anyone was going to get him to calm down it would have to be him and Toby/Sam needed to be told the entire story.
"What's going on here." Toby started, looking over at Al, who just nodded and stepped back a little. "Is that Al's partner, Dr. Sam Beckett, is going to try and right a wrong that will happen two nights from now in your time." Toby stopped for just a second and held his younger self's gaze. "Do you remember what you and the rest of the staff will be doing two nights from now.
Sam/Toby furrowed his brows a moment, trying to think about what was going to happen. Al figured that Toby's brain was just swiss cheesed. It took him a minute, but he managed to come up with an answer. "The President is supposed to speak at a local Washington Hotel." he said and then looked from Toby to Al and back again. "What happens?"
Toby looked away for a second, this was going to be hard he knew and started wishing he maybe should not have come in here. No, his younger self needed to know.
"There will be an assassination attempt." Toby told him. "However, since the President isn't outside at the time when they start shooting, they get two other people instead."
"Who?" Sam/Toby asked simply.
"Andi and Sam." Toby told him looking him straight in the eyes.
Sam/Toby's eyes went wide, but he didn't say anything. "What happens?" he finally asked after a moment of dead quiet.
Toby sighed. "What happens is while the entire senior staff is listening to the President's speech, Sam is steadily getting more nervous about his upcoming grand jury interview. So you and Andi, who came with you in support, take him outside. While you are outside someone starts shooting at you." Toby stopped for a moment, trying to collect his emotions that seemed to be wanting to run away with him. He managed to get them back under control and he went on. "You come out of it without a scratch, but when you find Andi, she's already dead and Sam will die in your arms. The medics will try their best to get him back, but they can't." Toby stopped to let that sink in. He noticed that Sam/Toby had gone somewhat pale. "Neither you or anyone else, not to mention this country, will be the same after that."
"What do you mean?"
"The President will not be reelected and Hoynes is now the new President. You will be in and out of rehab because of alcohole abuse and Josh never really gets over Sam's death and has been in and out of the hospital for the last three years. CJ will suffer from bouts of depression and Leo and the President aren't doing that well themselves."
"So you think that by changing the fact that Andi and Sam die then maybe none of this will happen?" Sam/Toby asked.
Toby nodded "Yes. I came to Dr. Beckett and Al to see if they couldn't help. They agree that if we keep Andi and Sam from dieing two nights from now, and anyone else for that matter, then history will right itself out and we won't be heading towards WWIII like we are now."
"There is a 98% chance that it will work." Al said, speaking for the first time in the last couple of minutes.
Nobody spoke for a long moment. Finally Al decided to it was best to leave so he could let Sam/Toby and Toby talk. The three year younger version of Toby seemed to believe what had been said and was trying to digest it all and he figured Toby could handle it.
"I'll see you guys later. I'm going to go get some sleep." Al said as he started to leave. "Let someone know if you need anything." he said
Toby gave him a gratefull look and Al gave him a small smile as he left the room.

Washington DC --- Toby's apartment
June 23, 2001 1 day before
5am
Al appeared in the bedroom of Toby's apartment, just as Sam stepped out of the bathroom.
"Morning." Al said and raised an eyebrow. "Shall I come back in a couple minutes after you've dressed?"
Sam sighed and shook his head. He grabbed a suit out of the closet and went back to the bathroom. "No, i'll just get dressed in here." he said and closed the door partially. "So what's going on?"
"Well, I talked with our visitor last night and so did Toby." Al told him, wandering around the room. He stopped to look at several of the pictures that were on the walls and sitting on the dresser.
"Really." Sam's voice drifted back through the door. "How did that go?"
"Ok. Toby did most of the talking" Al said, as he produced a cigar and lit it. "He managed to convince his earlier self that it was imperiative that we change history. I checked on them before I came here and both are asleep. Ziggy says they talked for a couple of hours and that no history has been changed because of their talk."
"That's good." Sam said as he stepped out of the bathroom. He crossed to the bed and sat down on and started looking for his shoes. "So anything new from Ziggy."
Al consulted the handlink for a moment, hit it when it didn't want to cooperate and then consulted it again. "Well, Ziggy seems to be thinking that something might occur today that might lead up to tomorrow night."
Sam looked up. "Like a meeting of some kind?" he asked
Al nodded. "Yeah, that's what she is projecting." he said and then added. "She can't tell yet who is having the meeting or when it occurs."
Sam looked thoughtful for a moment. "Ok. Well I'll keep my ears open and you do so as well." he stated and pulled on a shoe. "You should keep a close eye on the VP, he may be the key."
"He's a nozzle." Al commented, waving his cigar around. "But if you insist."
"I do." Sam said as he finished putting his shoes on. "Ok. I think i'm ready."
Al smirked at him. "You look rather alert for someone who went out drinking last night."
Sam flashed him a smile as he stood up and went looking for his car keys. "Well, unlike a certain two other people I was with, I decided to keep a level head. I quite before it got to that point." he said and added. "Besides, someone had to make sure those two got home."
"Ah." Al said in response "Do you have to pick them up?"
Sam shook his head. "No. Although I kind of would like to, just to keep my eyes on them."
Al nodded and waved his cigar around some more. "Well don't do it to much. We don't need them getting suspicious or something." he shrugged.
Sam got his point anyway. "Yeah." he commented and opened the apartment door. He stood aside and gestured with his hand. "After you."
"Oh, why thank you." Al said and walked out, followed by Sam.

The White House --- Toby's Office
7am
Sam was reading the mornings newspaper when there was a knock on the door. He looked up to find Sam S. standing in the doorway. He couldn't help but smirk when he got a good look at him. Sam looked rather rumpled and hung over and he figured that Josh probably looked just as bad.
"Well, well, well." Sam said leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "If it isn't Robin the boy wonder. Out to late fighting crime were we?" Sam smiled and shook his head. "Ok, where the hell did that come from?" he wondered to himself.
Sam Seaborn for his part brought a finger to his lips. "Shh, that's supposed to be a secret." he said and then glared at his boss. "How come your so chipper this morning? To much coffee?"
Sam/Toby couldn't help but grin. "No my friend. Its called not getting drunk. I'm assuming Josh looks just as bad as you."
"I heard my name." Josh said, poking his head into Toby's office "Why are you talking about me."
Sam/Toby just shook his head. "I was just saying that you must look as bad as Sam here and I can tell I was right."
Josh just grinned and looked at Sam, "Can I talk to you for a second?"
Sam/Toby nodded "Yes do take him. He was becoming rather annoying." he stopped and gave a slight shake of his head and then spoke to Sam's retreating back. "Sam, I want to see that finished speech on my desk by this afternoon."
Sam turned back. "Yes sir." he said and was gone.
Sam sighed and shook his head. "Ok, that was just a little weird. I must really be channeling Toby or something." he said quietly to noone in particular.
"Hey, Toby." Ginger said sticking her head in his office and interrupting Sam's mushings.
"Yeah Ginger." Sam answered the woman.
"Remember you have staff at 9." she told him
"Right. Thanks." Sam said
Ginger smiled and left the office.
"Yea," Sam thought to himself as he went back to the newspaper.

The White House --- Vice President Hoynes Office
9am
While the senior staff was having their daily meeting with the President, the Vice President was having a meeting of his own and it was almost over. Al was pacing around the room, only half listening to what was being said and paying more attention to the handlink.
The meeting broke up just shortly after 9 and one staff member held back. It was young man in his early thirties. Hoynes nodded to him and he approached his desk.
"Sir, I have those numbers you wanted." he said.
Hoynes nodded and the young man opened the notebook and placed it in front of the Vice President.
The movement caught Al's attention and he quickly manuvered himself so he could look over Hoynes shoulder. On a white page with a bunch of polling numbers was a note that clearly said:
Its planned. Tomorrow night after speech.
The Vice President nodded and closed the book. He looked back up at the young man, holding the book out to him. "Excellent Chris. Those numbers look good."
"Thank you sir." The man said and left.
Al watched as the boy left and looked back at Hoynes, who had gone back to working on something. "You sneaky bastard." he said and then started punching the handlink. "Gooshie." he yelled into the air as he disappeared.

Toby's office
10am
Al was pacing back and forth in Toby's office while he waited for Sam to get back from the meeting in the oval office. As he paced, he read the information coming out of the handlink. He sighed heavily and wished that Bartlet would shut up and let his staff go.
Finally, about 10 minutes later, Sam cam back to the office. He said a few words to the other Sam and then walked in.
"Al." Sam said
"Close the door." Al said without preamble
Sam nodded and after looking out into the bulpin, he closed the door. Getting an idea, he crossed to his desk, sat down and picked up the phone. He looked up at Al who nodded in appreciation. Sam figured that if anyone looked in then it would look like he was on the phone.
"Ok Al." Sam told the agitated man. "Whats up?"
Al stopped his pacing and looked at Sam. "I was in the Vice President's Office a few moments ago and after his meeting broke up, one of his staffers approached him a notebook that had number in it."
"Yeah, so." Sam said, not completely understanding what was upsetting Al so much.
"So." Al said, gesturing with his cigar. "A note was stuck in there that said that something is planned for tomorrow night after the speech."
Sam shrugged. "So, it could mean that they are going out for dinner or something afterwards."
"SSAAMM!" Al whined
Sam held up a hand. "Ok, sorry about that." he said "What does Ziggy say?"
Al started pacing again. "Ziggy says that the note is clearly in reference to the assassination attempt that is planned for tomorrow night and that Hoynes is in fact behind the whole thing." Al was waving his arms by this time. "And she thinks that the reason he's doing this is because he's pissed about Bartlet running again."
"Well he doesn't get the president, but instead kills two other people and is still the president." Sam said.
"Exactly." Al told him and came to stand in front of Sam. "You have to do something."
Sam looked at Al sharply. "Like what. Go barge into the Oval Office and tell the president that oh by the way, I'm not Toby Ziegler, that I am in fact Dr. Sam Beckett, a time traveler, from your future." Sam started, his voice raising. "Maybe I should also tell him that I've come back to right a wrong that will occur tomorrow night, one that will utimatly take the life of his Deputy Communications Director and a Congresswoman and send this country down a very dark road. And oh by the way, your Vice President is behind the whole thing."
"Are you through with your rant?" Al broke in
Sam glared at him. "No, not yet." he said and sighed. "Look, Al. If I go tell him that, then I will mostly likely be laughed out of the office and god knows what will happen after that. I believe we've tried this strategy before and it's never worked. I don't think it will work this time."
"So what do we do?" Al asked
"Do what we always do. Wait for it to happen and keep both Andi and Sam from getting killed." Sam said and sighed. "I don't like that anymore than you do, but its going to have to be that way at least until I come up with some other plan." he stopped for a moment. "We'll just have to keep a close eye on the Vice President and everyone else."
Al nodded "Yeah." he said and opened his mouth to say more, but couldn't because there was a knock on the door.
Sam looked from Al to the door and put the phone down. "Come in." he said
Ginger popped her head in the door, just as Sam put the phone down. "Toby, Congresswoman Wyatt is here to see you."
"Well." Al commented, taking a drag on his cigar. "Speak of the other person and they will appear."
Sam ignored the comment and nodded at Ginger. "Send her in."
Ginger stepped aside, allowing Toby's ex wife to enter the office. Andi was dressed in a blue suit that went with her hair perfectly and she smiled at her ex. "Hey Toby."
Sam nodded "Andi." he greeted "What brings you here?"
Andi opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by a whistling noise, followed by a kissing noise. He looked up to find Sam standing in the doorway.
Toby/Sam glared at the younger man. "Sam." he said "Don't you have something to do." he said
"Hi Andi." Sam greeted, ignoring Toby "How are you this morning."
"I'm fine Sam, thanks." she said, grinning at the look on Toby/Sam's face.
"Sam, go finish your speech would you." Toby/Sam told him with a stern look.
Sam rolled his eyes, but did as he was told. Toby/Sam watched him walk back to his office, before he looked back at Andi. "What can I do for you?"
"Well." she said. "I was up here for a meeting and I was wondering if you wanted to go get some lunch after I was out." she asked.
Sam nodded "Sure. Just come get me when your done."
Andi nodded and smiled. "Ok. I'll talk to later then." she said and was gone.
Al watched her leave. "I wonder why Toby ever let her get away." he mushed.
"I don't know." Sam said as he leaned back in the chair. "You can go ask him though."
Al turned to look at his friend and raised an eyebrow. "You know, I do hope this leap is over with soon. You are starting to sound like Toby."
Sam grimaced. "I know, its weird." he said
Al smirked and hit the handlink, causing the door to open. "Well. I'm going to go back to the project for a couple of minutes and talk to Ziggy. I will check back in a little while."
Sam nodded
"And don't do anything I wouldn't do." he said as the door claimed him and was gone.
"Why me?" Sam asked to no one in particular for the second time in as many days.

part 3

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