Two Sides, One Coin (3)

Two Sides, One Coin
Part 3

SongStar

Stallions Gate, New Mexico
Project Quantum Leap
April 15, 2004

Al walked out of the imiaging chamber and headed over towards where Gooshie was working at the table.
"Admiral." he greeted. "How is Dr. Beckett?"
"He's fine." Al said rather crisply and handed the handlink to Gooshie. "I'm going to go find something to eat. Do you know where Toby is?" he asked
"I'm here." Toby said coming into the room. "What's up?"
"I'll tell you over lunch." Al told him and glanced back at Gooshie. "Keep working."
"Yes sir." Gooshie answered as he bent back over the control panel.
Both Al and Toby walked out of the room. They walked to the mess and didn't say anything until Al had sat down with a sandwich and some coffee. Toby had eaten an hour ealier but drank some coffee anyway.
"So whats going on?" Toby asked.
"Well." Al said around his chewing. "We know now that it is in fact the Vice President who ordered the attempt. I saw an Aid slip him a note a little while ago."
Toby's eyebrows went up. "Really?" he said. "So what are you going to do about it?"
Al shook his head. "Well, i would give you the same rant Sam just gave me, but I won't." he said and took another bite of his sandwhich "In short, we really can't do anything. I don't think you particularly want to be taken out of the Oval by the secret service and placed in a mental institute."
Toby nodded his head. "Yeah, I don't think so either." he said. "So your just going to have to wait until the actual event."
Al nodded "Yeah." he said and sipped his coffee. "I'm going to go back in a couple of minutes and keep an eye on things as well. Sam's going to go to lunch with your ex wife in a little while."
Toby nodded. "I remember that. Its when she asks if she can come to the speech." he said and then added. "See if Dr. Beckett can't get her not to come."
Al quirked an eyebrow at him. "I'll try, but I don't think it will work."
Toby sighed and nodded "Most likely it wont. Andi always had a mind of her own." he said
Al nodded and neither of them said anything for a moment. Finally Al cleared his throat and spoke. "Do you mind if I ask you a question."
Toby shrugged his shoulders "I guess."
Al gestured at Toby's wedding ring. "Do you still wear that for her or are you remarried."
Toby sighed softly, he supposed he should tell Al that it wasn't any of his buisness, but he decided to answer the question anyway. He figured that Al would probably understand. "I'm not remmarried no." he said quietly. "I wore this ring even after we divorced because I thought that we might one day possibly get back together." he stopped and fingered it and then looked at Al "I continue to wear it now to honor her memory." he shrugged "Are you married Admiral." it was a change of subject sort of.
Al nodded and smiled. "Her name is Beth and we have four girls. All of them including Sam's wife are on vacation at the moment, otherwise I'd have you meet them." he said.
Toby nodded. "Have you and Beth been married for a long time?"
Al nodded. "Almost 30 years. Not all of them good, but wonderful years none the less."Al stopped speaking for a moment, remembering.
"Nam?" Toby asked suddenly.
Al looked up. "Yes. How did you know?"
Toby shrugged. "I can usually tell if someone else was over there, its in the eyes." he said by way of explanation.
"I was a POW for five years." Al supplied. "When I came back, I had some problems and my marriage almost broke up over them. If it hadn't been for Sam..." he trailed off
Toby understood what he hadn't said and nodded his head. "It must be a natural trait for them or something." he said, laughing softly. "Sam was always there even if I was mean to him, he'd still be there and would help out if I needed anything." he looked away. "I miss the kid."
Al nodded. "Well we are going to do everything to get him and Andi back and get history back on track." he said and started to stand up. Toby stood as well. "I swear."
Toby looked at Al for a moment and then nodded. Silently, both of them left the mess and walked towards

Washington DC
June 23, 2001
2pm
Sam went to lunch with Andi about 12:45 and only now had just gotten back. He had tried to convince her that she didn't really need to come to the speech, but she insisted and Sam decided not to press the issue further. He had a very good convesation with her however and seriously hoped that once the time line was corrected that Andi and Toby would find a way to get back together. He took the initiative to plant a kiss on her check when they parted ways and told her he would see her the next night.
Sam went back to the office and found both the draft for the speech and Al waiting in his office.
"Have a good lunch?" Al asked as he came in. "Were you able to convince her not to come?"
Sam shook his head as he sat down. "Yes I had a good lunch, thanks for asking." he shook his head "And no, I wasn't able to convince her not to come. I did however kiss her on the check in the hopes that I can somehow get both her and Toby to get back together."
Al rolled his eyes. "Well." he said, giving his friend a sly grin. "I can tell you what else you could do."
Sam held up his hand. "I don't think so. Best let Toby handle that one."
Al chuckled softly and shook his head. "I think you've spent to much time around me." He said and gestured towards the speech on the desk. "Ziggy found a copy of the final so you can compare it to the one there."
Sam nodded "Tell Ziggy thanks." he said and picked up the draft. "Lets' see."
He had the draft read an hour later. Sam didn't have to make very many changes to it, the draft was pretty much like the final with only a few minor corrections. Al had commented more than once that the kid was a pretty good writer and Sam had to agree, but he wondered if Toby had told the young man that very often.
Sam stretched and yawned briefly. Al chuckled. "Getting tired there."
Sam nodded. "Yeah a little." he said and got up to go over to the window that looked into Sam's office. He had raised the blinds earlier and Sam had his half raised. He looked in, saw Sam at his desk and taped on the window. Sam Seaborn looked up and Toby/Sam motioned for him to come over.
Sam Seaborn appeared in Toby's office a minute later "How is it?" he asked
Toby/Sam had already sat back down in the time it took for Sam to walk over. He picked up the draft and handed it to the young man. "Its good. I made a few corrections, but not many." he said and then added "I like it and I'm sure the President will to.
Sam smiled and looked over the copy in his hands. Toby had been right, there were very few correction there. He looked back up at Toby/Sam and smiled "Thanks." he said and got an implish glint in his eyes. "By the way. How did your lunch go?"
"None of your business. " Toby/Sam said with a slight grin "Go make the corrections and show it to the President." he added with a shooing motion.
"Yes sir." Sam said with another grin and was gone back to his office.
"He's really a good kid." Sam said to Al once Sam Seaborn had left.
"Yeah." Al agreed "Lets keep it that way."
Day passed into night again and Sam decided around 9:30pm that he would call it quits for the night and go back to his apartment. He figured since there was hardly anyone else around that it would really be ok to leave.
Al popped in from wherever he had been just as Sam was about to leave. "Your deputy is still in his office. You might want to check on him."
Sam raised an eyebrow and nodded and finished getting his things together. He walked next door and knocked on the door. Sam Seaborn, who was currently focusing on something on his labtop, jumped slightly at the sound. He looked up and noticed Toby standing at the door.
"Toby." Sam said. "What can I do for you?"
Toby/Sam shrugged. "I was about to leave, noticed you were still here and wanted to see if everything was ok."
Sam shrugged and gave his boss a fake smile. "Sure. I'm fine." he lied. "I'm just writing an email."
Sam/Toby opened his mouth to ask when Al beat him to it. "Your next question should be who is he writing it to.."
If Sam could have said anything at that moment it would have been rather sarcastic. "To who?"
"My father." Sam answered him, looking back down at his labtop. He just wished Toby would leave.
"Is everything ok?"
Sam nodded his head. "Yeah."
Toby/Sam looked doubtful "Sam." he said
Sam sighed. "Actually no its not." he told his boss "We had a fight two nights ago when I called him, hence the reason I got drunk last night."
"Why didn't you tell me." Sam/Toby asked gruffly "Uh oh. Starting to sound like Toby again." he said to himself.
Sam shrugged. "I told Josh." he said "You seemed distracted lately so I decided not to tell you."
"Sam. No matter how distracted I seem to have been lately, it doesn't mean you couldn't come tell me about what is going on."
Sam looked away from Toby briefly. "Yeah." he said quietly and then added after clearing his throat. "Listen, if your going home, could you possibly give me a lift. I took a cab this morning."
Toby/Sam hadn't been prepared for the quick change in subject and paused in the process of saying something. He closed his mouth and nodded. "Yeah. Get your stuff and come on."
They were in the car and driving towards Sam's apartment 10 minutes later, with Sam giving the directons. Al sat in the back giving the occasional comment and helping Sam find the apartment.
"What was the fight about?"
"Huh?" Sam asked, "Oh. I don't really remember." he said and fell quiet. "It was something stupid that started it." he shrugged. "I really can't remember. I was writing him an email when you came in or at least trying to." he looked over briefly at Toby telling him silently with his eyes that he didn't want to talk about it anymore.
Sam/Toby saw the glance and just nodded. Silence filled the car for a moment, only the occassional sqwak from the handlink could be heard, or at least by Sam and Al
"Anything else going on?" Toby/Sam prompted. "You have to go before the grand jury day after tomorrow."
"Provided he's alive that is." Al pipped up from the back.
Sam shot him a dirty look in the rear view mirror
Sam Seaborn gave Toby a dirty look. "Thanks for reminding me. I was trying to forget about that." he said
Sam/Toby shrugged "Sure, no problem." he said "It won't be that bad."
"We'll see." Sam said and then gestured to an apartment complex "That's it."
Toby/Sam pulled up in front of the complex and let Sam out.
"Thanks." Sam said "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Sure." Sam/Toby told him "Listen, let me know if you want me to fly out to California and knock your father up side the head."
Sam couldn't help but smile at that. "Yeah. I'll think about it." he said. "Thanks Toby."
"Sure kid. Go get some sleep." Sam/Toby said as Sam closed the door.
Sam sighed and glanced back at all. "Is he going to be ok?"
Al nodded. "Yeah, he will be tonight." The rest of whatever might have been said, was left unsaid.
"Yeah." Sam said silently and drove away.

Stallions Gate, New Mexico
Project Quantum Leap
April 15, 2004
Al walked out into the control room yawning. He was going to go to bed soon, but he wanted to go tell Toby something before he did so. He dropped the handlink off, gave Gooshie some instructions and then walked off towards the waiting room. He found both Toby the visitor and Toby of this time there and they were talking about something.
"Gentlemen." Al said as he entered the room
Both men looked up at him, but it was Toby of the current time who talked first. "Everything ok?"
Al nodded "Yeah." he said and focused on the visitor. "I need you to remember something when you go back. You aren't going to remember what happend here, but I do want you to try and remember what I'm going to tell you."
Sam/Toby raised an eyebrow. "Sure."
Al nodded and turned towards the Toby of this time. "If you can remember." he started and took a breath, trying to figure out how he was going to ask this. "Do you remember that the day before the incident, Sam came in hung over that morning."
Toby looked thoughfull for a long moment and then finally nodded. "Yeah, I do actually. He and Josh had gone out after work the night before and had a few to many. I didn't go, but I do remember him coming in hung over. I also remember asking him about it, but he never really gave me an answer."
Al nodded. "Well. Sam went with them, but nothing was said. He just had a talk with your deputy a little while ago and found out that Sam had a fight with his father."
Toby's features clouded over with anger and Al could hear the other one growling. "What happened."
Al shruged. "All your deputy said was that it started over something stupid. What, we didn't find out, but he was clearly upset about it. He was trying to write an email to him before he and Sam left the White House."
Toby shook his head. "Dammit." he growled. "I wish Sam would just stop talking to his father all together." he stopped and sighed and then looked up at Al. "You know his father divorced his mother only one month after Sam died. Its like he wasn't going to do that while Sam was alive or something." Toby stopped and shrugged. He was clearly unhappy about the whole situation and it was also bringing back memories.
"I agree." Sam/Toby growled "Sam nor his mother ever diserved that happening to them." he looked at Al. "What would you like me to do about it."
"Well." Al said. "I just want you to remember that Sam had a fight with his father and you need to talk to him more about it. If all goes well and Sam's survives tomorrow night, just remember to talk to him about it."
"I will." Sam./Toby said "That probably won't be the only thing on his mind by then though."
Al only nodded.

Washington DC -- Toby's Apartment
June 24, 2001
5am
Sam awoke with a start as the alarm started blaring. He sleepily reached out to shut it off and rolled back over. Just as he was about to go back to sleep, he heard a familiar sound and then a familiar voice.
"Rise and shine Sam." Al said "You have a busy day ahead."
"Just a few more minutes mom." Sam mumbled
"I'm not your mother and no you can't have a few more minutes." Al told him.
Sam groaned and opened one eye. "I don't like you." he said
Al shrugged and grinned. "Whatever." he said. "Come on, get up."
Sam sighed and sat up. "Has history changed any?" he asked as he yawned and ran a hand through his hair.
Al shook his head. "No. Unfortunatly, even after your conversation with Sam last night it has not changed at all." he said
"Damn." Sam muttered and stood up. "I'm going to go take a shower." he added and walked towards the bathroom.
"Good. Maybe it will put in a better mood." Al quipped
Sam shot him a dirty look as he disappered inside the bathroom.
He emerged about 20 minutes later and started getting dressed. As Al walked around the apartment, Sam made a cup of coffee and glanced at the morning paper as he drank it. After he finished it and put it in the sink, he was finally ready to face the day.
"Okay. I'm ready. Lets get this show on the road." Sam said
Sam arrived at the White House around 6:30 and ran into Josh as he made his way into the Communications Bullpin.
"Morning Toby." Josh said as he fell into step behind the Communications Director.
"Josh." Sam/Toby responded.
"Have you seen Sam?"
Sam shook his head and frowned a little. "I haven't seen him since last night. Why?"
Josh shrugged nonchalantly "I was just looking for him."
Sam raised an eyebrow
Al piped in after checking the handlink. "He's fine Sam. He's just now coming into the building." he said and studied Josh for a minute. "I think he's just worried about him is all and doesn't know you know what's going on."
Sam nodded slightly and looked at Josh with a critical eye. "I know about his father."
"Oh." Josh said.
He would have said more, but Sam walked into the bullpen just then. "Morning guys." he said
"Morning Sam." Josh said quickly
"Sam." Sam/Toby greeted giving him a critical eye. The boy looked like he didn't sleep very well.. "Great, this is going to complicate matters some." Sam thought to himself. "Maybe."
"What are you two doing?"
Sam/Toby opened his mouth, but Josh cut him off. "I just needed to talk to you about something."
"Ok." Sam said and looked at Toby "Talk to you later."
Sam/Toby grunted and watched both men walk out of the bullpen. Sam sighed and walked into Toby's office, followed closly by Al. He went over and sat down at his desk and didn't say anything for a long moment.
"What should I do Al?" Sam asked "I mean about the situation with Sam's father."
Al shrugged. "Well if you keep him from dying, you let Toby of this time handle that. I've talked to him already about it. He's going to try and remember the problem and help Sam." he shrugged again and looked at the handlink "Its a good bet that even if we right the timeline, his parents are still going to get divorced and his father will get married to that woman of his."
Al's features had darkend as he spoke, remember his own childhood with his mother leaving his father when Al and his sister had been young.
Sam nodded. "I guess your right." he said.
Al sighed. "You can't change everything." he said quietly
Sam nodded again. "Yeah."
The Senior Staff were called into a meeting with the President around nine that morning. Sam had been keeping a pretty close eye on Toby's deputy since he had gotten back to office, even going over there once to see if he wanted to talk. The other Sam had not and Sam/Toby went back to his office and tried to look like he might be doing something. He also occasionally would bounce a ball off of the wall that connected the two offices just to see if Sam came over to tell him to knock it off or something. However he didn't and Toby/Sam figured that the younger man knew what he was up to and wasn't going to fall for it.
When the senior staff got called into the meeting, Sam kept a pretty close eye on everyone while trying to come up with some sort of plan in his head. Al was also pacing the room like a caged tiger, thinking as well. He had left shortly after Sam came in that morning and had only popped in just a few minutes ago. Al had told Sam that he was going to go keep an eye on the Vice President's office to see if anything else had come up. When he had popped in, he caught Sam's eye and shook his head.
"Ok, what's next?" asked Bartlet, pulling Sam out of his thoughts.
"That's it sir." Leo told him.
Bartlet nodded. "Alright then, we're all set for tonight. Well will be leaving here around 7:30 so be ready."
The statement was met by various acknolwedgements and everyone got up to leave the room.
"Oh Sam, just a moment." Bartlet called out.
Both Sam's stopped and turned back. However Toby/Sam realized a split second after that that the President meant Sam Seaborn.
"Yes sir?" Sam asked
"I want to talk to you for a second." Bartlet told him and then looked at Toby "Yes Toby?"
"Uh, nothing sir." Toby/Sam said and turned to leave.
"I'm just need to talk to Sam for a minute, i'm not going to bite him or anything." Bartlet told Toby
"Yes sir." Sam said and left the room. He caught Al's gaze for a moment as he left and Al indicated that he was going to stay in the oval office.
Al met up with Sam in Toby's office a few minutes later, popping in just in time to have a ball bounced right through his image.
"Sorry." Sam said and then nodded in the general direction of the oval office. "We're they talking about me in there?"
"You were brought up yes." Al told him, pulling out a cigar and lighting it. "However Sam told the President that you were probably acting weird because Andi has been hanging around."
Sam nodded. "Well, as long as i'm not about to get visited by several secret service guys." he said
Al nodded. "Yeah." and took several puffs on his cigar. "So you have a plan worked out just yet?"
Sam sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Refresh my mind on what is exactly supposed to happen."
Al looked at the handlink and poked it a couple of times. "Well all the staff and the president are going to the speech tonight. At around 9:30, Toby, Andi and Sam will go outside and that is when its supposed to happen." Al looked closer at the handlink for a second, seeming as to just notice something. "Uh oh." he said
Sam sat up. "What?"
Al shrugged and looked at Sam. "I dunno how, but history has changed a little and its about a 60% chance now that Josh is outside at the time as well and is also killed.
"Josh?" Sam asked. "How did that happen?"
Al looked at the handlink for a moment. "She isn't sure just yet. She says this projection only came up a few minutes ago."
"Damn." Sam quietly cursed.

part 4

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