June 18, 1988

City of Angels Hospital

Los Angeles, CA

7:30 pm PST

Kyle had been rushed into surgery practically as soon as they had arrived here that afternoon. Sam, as Shawn, had had to spend most of that time telling the police as much as he could about what had happened earlier. Then they'd told him he could stay here until they knew how Kyle was going to come through this.

So he sat in the hospital's waiting room, just trying to pass the time until either Kyle woke up or he leaped out, whichever happened first. He wasn't sure why he hadn't leaped out yet, but in a way he was glad, he was hoping the next leap would hold off until Kyle woke up, so he'd get another chance to talk to him.

"Ziggy said Kyle's going to be okay," Al said, "I told you that earlier."

"I know, Al, but why else am I still here? Maybe I'm supposed to talk to him again." Sam said.

Al nodded. That was possible, he guessed. "Could be." he shrugged. There wasn't anything either of them could really do at this point except wait for what was to happen next.

That was when a man that neither Sam nor Al recognized hurried into the room. He wasn't wearing a hospital ID so didn't look like a doctor or other staff member. When he caught sight of 'Shawn' he came over to Sam. "They said you were in here. You're Shawn, right?"

Sam nodded.

"I'm Kyle's uncle." the man said. "What the hell's been going on? The police called me this afternoon and I've been going nuts trying to get here as soon as I could." he shook his head. "I know what the police told me but...damn it how did this happen? Kyle said he was doing all right!" He let out a sigh and sank into a chair. "How didn't I see it?" he asked, more to himself than anyone else.

"That's what he wanted everyone to think." Sam said. "He told me you were only around once every week or so, maybe that's why you didn't realize anything was wrong?" He didn't want to be judgmental, but maybe he could get Steven Jennings to think and that would help Kyle later on.

Steven Jennings' face fell. "I know..." he whispered, not even stopping to wonder at the boy barely the same age as Kyle talking to a grown man like this. He did really care about Kyle, Sam could see, even if he had left him alone too much of the time. "We..we had to eat, I had to keep a roof over his head. I thought...this was the best job I could get at the time, as far as the money it brought in." He looked down at the floor.

Sam nodded. It did sound like he'd gotten the uncle to start thinking, and Sam knew that that would be good for Kyle once he got through this. "Well, maybe it's you he needs, more than the money." he said quietly, wanting to encourage the man without seeming judgmental.

Steven Jennings only shook his head again and sat down, his head in his hands. Sam moved off, feeling like he'd said as much as he needed to, and found another seat in a recessed alcove on the far end of the room. What he figured Kyle's uncle needed most now was time to let all this sink in.

About ten or fifteen minutes later, the door opened again. Sam and Steven both looked up, expecting to see one of the doctors or nurses. However, this new arrival was clearly not a member of the staff. It was a woman who Sam guessed might be in her thirties, or maybe forties, with dark hair streaked with gray and a face streaked with tears. On seeing only Steven Jennings, her face fell.

"They...they said Shawn was in here...oh god..." the woman sobbed. Steven Jennings quickly got up and helped her to a seat. "Th-thank you," she whispered.

"Steven Jennings. Kyle's my nephew," he said to her, by way of introducing himself.

“I' Catlin."

Sam realized that she hadn't immediately seen Shawn because the alcove he was sitting in was not directly in view of the entrance. He'd heard her give her name, and that made him do a double take and look questioningly at Al.

"That's Shawn's mother, pal. You'd better get over there." Al realized that that might be one reason Sam was still in this leap, too. Shawn had to get back with his mother, just as much as Kyle needed his uncle around.

Sam nodded and stood up to do just that. He'd noticed how slowly she moved, and the cane, and wished he was in a position to do something about that, medically. There had to be a way to help her physically; he'd have to remember to ask Al about that later on, when the crisis with Kyle had passed.

Al, however, was wondering. He knew Shirlee Catlin, in 2007 anyway, and she was not a cripple like the woman who was now crying and hugging 'Shawn' as hard as she could. "What's wrong with her?" he asked Ziggy.

Ziggy quickly sent back the answer, the same thing the thirteen year old Shawn had told Verbena Beeks earlier in this leap.

Al couldn't keep from muttering another 'damn it!' on hearing that Shirlee's condition in 1988 was yet another thing the late Nathan Tompkins had been responsible for. What Al wouldn't give to be able to confront that bastard just once; he'd have taught him a thing or two.

Sam, meanwhile, was doing the only thing he could think of to get Shirlee Catlin calmed down, and that was letting her hug him and hugging her back.

Al murmured that he'd leave them alone for a while and slipped through the Door back to the Project, figuring he'd come back when Kyle woke up, which from Ziggy's latest update wouldn't be until sometime the next morning, assuming Sam didn't leap before then. Though given that he hadn't leaped out yet, even now that 'Shawn' was reunited with Shirlee, increased the chances that Sam wouldn't leap until after he'd seen Kyle.

The hospital waiting room

June 19, 1988

9:30 AM PST

Shirlee had wanted to take 'Shawn' home, but Sam had managed to talk her into staying, at least until 'Shawn' had had a chance to talk to Kyle. She was just too glad Shawn was all right to refuse, though it'd been a while before she'd finally stopped hanging on to Shawn as if afraid he'd vanish if she wasn't clutching at him.

So the two of them, plus Steven Jennings, had spent the entire night in here. The nurses had brought pillows and blankets for all three, which had made things as comfortable as they could be in here.

Around eight o clock or so, a nurse had brought in breakfast, figuring they'd all need something more substantial than what they could get out of the vending machines in the lobby. She'd also said that someone would come and get them when Kyle was able to have visitors.

Steven Jennings had picked up the copy of the local paper that the nurse had brought in along with their breakfasts, and he was flipping through the pages, though without really paying much attention to the contents. He wasn't reading, it was more in the line of something to do to keep busy while he waited to be allowed to visit his nephew.

Shirlee Catlin was doing much the same with a magazine, though she would frequently reach over and touch 'Shawn's' hand, as if trying to reassure herself he was still here. She seemed to be really afraid Shawn would run off again, disappear, and this time she wouldn't find him again.

Sam, meanwhile, wished the real Shawn were here, because that, he could tell, was what the woman sitting beside him really needed right now, more than anything else. All he could do was improvise what he thought Shawn would do in this situation, and how long he could keep up the act enough to fool her, Shawn's mother, he wasn't sure. If only this leap were over; but it was becoming obvious to him and Al both that that was not going to happen until after he'd talked to Kyle one more time. Hopefully the doctors would allow him in to visit Kyle soon, at least he hoped they would.

All three of them looked up as a nurse entered. "Mr. Jennings?" she asked.

Steven Jennings stood up and went over to her. A brief whispered conversation followed, then Steven turned back to face Shirlee and 'Shawn'. "I'm going to see Kyle now, they say it's okay. But they're only allowing him to have one visitor at a time." He swallowed. "I'll tell him you're here, Shawn. I think he'll want to talk to you."

Sam nodded. "I think so too, Mr. Jennings. Thanks. I'll wait here until you come back."

With that, Steven Jennings followed the nurse out, and Sam settled back to waiting beside Shawn's mother.

The Waiting Room

Project Quantum Leap

November 5, 2007

0900 hours/9:00 AM MST

Verbena Beeks walked in to see Shawn strumming the guitar. On the table next to him was a tray with the remains of the breakfast that he had apparently already finished. "Good morning," she said as she walked over to sit beside him.

"Good morning to you, too. But how do you really know when it's morning in here, it doesn't feel like it when you can't see outside." he said. "Reading it off a clock somewhere, or having that computer tell you what time it is," he sighed. "It's just not the same thing at all, know what I mean?"

"I know, but that's just the way it is here. I suppose we're used to it by now, we've all worked here for quite a long time. There aren't any windows because most of this complex is underground, for security reasons. But we do get to go topside when we're off duty." Verbena smiled. "Anyway, keep playing, you're really good, you know."

Shawn blushed slightly. "Well, I'm trying. I told you I just started learning to play, that's why I wanted that one in the store; but you know what happened with that." he shook his head.

"Yes, I remember, you told me all about that." she replied. "What I came in here for, though, was to tell you some good news. Sam's saved Kyle, just like I told you he would. Kyle's going to be all right, so I don't think it's going to be too much longer now before you'll be going back home." In fact, she wasn't sure why Sam hadn't leaped out of teenaged Shawn already, but that wasn't a question she could answer.

Shawn looked away as she said that. "I'm glad to hear that Kyle's going to be okay, and I do want to get out of here. But that means I'll have to go home, and see my mother again. I want to, but..." he shook his head. "What about the magic, I'll still have that, won't I?"

"I think you really do need to give her a chance, Shawn." Verbena said gently. "I can tell by your voice you really miss her, and I'm sure she's missing you terribly, too. I know that you're trying not to hurt her, that that's the last thing you would want to do, but don't you see that staying away from her would only hurt her more?"

Shawn let out a sigh. "I just don't know. When I think about everything that's happened...it just makes it all hurt more." he put down the guitar and put his head in his hands, trying not to start crying again.

"You do need to talk to her, Shawn. I think that if you do, you'll both be able to get past this whole thing, together, and that includes your magic, too. Remember, she's hurting as much as you are, if not more, and she needs you as much as you need her." Verbena encouraged.

"All right," Shawn said after a moment. He did want to go home, to see his mother again. Even with everything that he now knew about...he didn't know how he was going to deal with it yet, but he also knew this doctor was right, he and his mother would have to figure out how to handle all of it.

"That's good," she said with a smile. "Now," she said, taking a deep breath, seeing she'd taken this subject as far as she needed to, "I was thinking that while you're still here, how about you let me hear you singing some more, do you feel like doing that?"

Shawn took a sip of water, then picked up the guitar again, and a few minutes later the strains of yet another 1980s pop song filled the small room.

Verbena sat back and let herself relax for a little while, just enjoying the music that Shawn was playing, and his singing along with it.

Shawn and Tina Catlin's quarters

Project Quantum Leap

November 5, 2007

0915 hours/9:15 am MST

When Ziggy informed them that Sam had managed to save Kyle after all, Tina breathed a sigh of relief. Some impulse she didn't quite know where it came from, though, made her want to go check on her family. Leaving Gooshie to handle things in the Control Room, she took a brief break and hurried back to their quarters. She figured it would be all right; with any luck, Sam would leap out of teenaged Shawn soon and they wouldn't have to worry about another leap for at least a few days.

With history having changed yet again, Tina no longer remembered the timeline where Shawn hadn't existed, or where she'd still been in danger from Lord Ravenclaw. Now things were back to the way they had been originally.

But all Tina knew as she entered her quarters was that she had to see Shawn and the children, if only for a few minutes.

She walked into the living room to find Shawn strumming on his guitar, and AJ playing along with him on his smaller, child-sized one. She smiled; AJ so loved making music like his 'daddy'. Shawn was daddy to him, in every way that really mattered. Watching him, Tina, as she often found herself doing, once again murmured a silent prayer that AJ would never have to know where he'd actually come from. In the meanwhile, Jeffrey was in his playpen in one corner of the living room, and the twins were playing with their toys in another part of the room.

Tina rushed over to Shawn and hugged him first, a hug which he returned eagerly. Then AJ wanted some attention, and then it was the twins. Tina then went over and picking up Jeffrey, sat with him on her lap and simply let herself enjoy this family time.

"So what are you doing home so early?" Shawn asked, when they'd all settled back down in their seats. "Not that I'm not thrilled to see you," he grinned mischieviously, "but aren't you supposed to be at work? What will the Admiral say?" he asked teasingly, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh, Shawn!" Tina laughed, knowing he was just having fun with her. She leaned over and kissed him. "I..I don't know, really. I just had to rush home and see all of you, I couldn't wait till I'd gotten off work for some reason."

Shawn's reply was another kiss, then he snuggled her close.

Tina smiled and closed her eyes for a few minutes, just enjoying being that close to him and surrounded by the children. She was glad Shawn had been able to be home this morning, so it gave them all a little extra time to be together while she was on this break.

There was still one thing that Tina couldn't keep from wondering about, it still piqued her curiosity, and she just had to ask Shawn about it. The only question was how she was to do that, without breaking her promise to Al. She thought for a moment, then remembered the other night. "Shawn, I know it's a strange time to mention this, but I keep thinking back to that old friend of yours, the one you were telling me about a couple of nights ago, after you'd seen something in a movie that reminded you of him." She took a deep breath. "The one you said was messed up on," she lowered her voice and glanced briefly towards AJ, to make sure that he wasn't paying attention to this conversation. "d-r-u-g-s." She spelled the word out, as an extra precaution,to keep AJ from catching on to what was being said, in case he did overhear. She really didn't want to have to try and explain about illegal drugs to a six year old, he was way too young to hear about that sort of thing.

Shawn paused to think back. "Oh, you mean Kyle Jennings." he said. "I...I'm not sure, really. After he got out of the hospital, they sent him to rehab. His uncle quit his job, so he could spend more time with Kyle. They moved out of the neighborhood and I never saw him again."

Tina nodded.

"But I've always wondered what became of him. He got shot trying to save me, you know." Shawn said with a sigh at the memory.

"It shouldn't be hard finding out," she suggested. "We could always get Ziggy to run a trace on him."

Shawn agreed and a short conversation with Ziggy later turned up that Dr. Kyle Jennings, MD, was now an intern at a drug rehab center, which was located in the very building where he'd once lived with his uncle back in 1988.

That discovery led to Shawn and Tina's making plans to drop by there the next time they went to LA, which they did frequently as Tina's mother and stepfather lived there.

June 19, 1988

City of Angels Hospital

waiting room

Los Angeles, CA

11:45 AM PST

Sam had continued to sit with Shawn's mother, passing the time as best he could by just letting her talk and making what he hoped were the appropriate responses. There wasn't much more he could do until Steven Jennings came back.

Which he finally did. On entering the room, he walked over to Shawn. "I, well, just wanted to thank you for trying to help him," he said slowly. "We, we've been talking, and it's a start anyway. He's made mistakes, but he's not the only one, I know I've made a mess of things, too," he shook his head. "But now we both have a chance to fix it. For right now, though..." he took a deep breath. "Kyle wants to talk to you."

Sam nodded to the man. This was what he'd been waiting for. Pausing only long enough to give Shirlee a hug, and reassure her he'd be back as soon as he could, he left the room and made his way past the nurses' station, to the room that the nurse had indicated Kyle was in. "Don't be too long," the nurse said as Sam passed her. "He does need to get some rest."

"I won't be long, thanks." he said as he entered the room, pausing to look at Kyle lying in the bed, hooked up to an IV and a couple of monitors.

Kyle was awake, as his uncle had said, and he turned his head to look as "Shawn' entered.

"Hi." Kyle said as 'Shawn' took a seat beside the bed, careful as he did so not to bump into any of the equipment.

"Hi to you too," Sam said, managing a smile in the hope that it'd help Kyle feel better, as much as he could under the circumstances. "I'd ask how you're feeling, but that's probably a dumb question right now."

Kyle gave a weak chuckle. "Actually, it doesn't hurt that much, not right now, anyway." he replied. "Look, I asked Uncle Steve to tell you to come in here because I..." he paused, looked away from 'Shawn' for a moment, then let out a deep sigh and turned his head back towards 'Shawn'. "I wanted to say, I'm sorry for having been such a jerk, okay?"

"Don't worry about it," Sam said, patting Kyle's hand, the one that was not connected to the arm with the IV, that is. "You were just a bit mixed up, but you came through on the right side when it mattered."

"If I could get out of this bed and stand up, I'd be kicking myself right now," Kyle muttered. "for ever believing those guys. I feel like such an idiot."

"They told you what they wanted you to hear. The important thing. though, is that you did finally see them for what they really were." Sam replied. "It's times like that you find out who your friends really are, I think you know what I mean."

Kyle nodded at that. "The doctors are saying I've got a long way to go. Even after I get out of this," he used his free hand to indicate their surroundings. "I'll have to go to another hospital, for..."

Sam shook his head. That, he'd expected. If he'd been a doctor on the case himself, that would have been his recommendation. Kyle had to get off the drugs and a rehab program was the only way he'd have a real chance of doing that. "I'm not going to tell you rehab will be easy. If I did that, I'd be lying, because it won't be. But I'm sure you'll make it." he smiled and gave Kyle's hand another squeeze by way of encouragement. "I believe in you, and I think your uncle does, too."

"Thanks, pal." Kyle said, and he meant it.

Unseen by Kyle, there had been a third person in the room; Al. He reached up and wiped away a tear as he listened to Sam and Kyle's conversation.

Sam looked up and saw Al standing there. He nodded and turned back to Kyle, "Look, I've got to go, my...my mother's waiting outside. And you need to rest, too, that's what the nurse said. But I'll be back as soon as they let me, okay?" He figured Shawn would probably be back soon, and that he would do just that, so he figured that it was a reasonable thing for him to say.

Kyle nodded again. "All right...I'll see you later." he managed another weak smile. "I'm not going anywhere." he chuckled. "not for a while anyway."

"No, I guess not." Sam said, chuckling in response, and turned to leave the room, pausing in the door to wave at Kyle one more time.

Sam stepped out into the corridor, and Al followed. They paused and looked at each other. "Al, one other question. What about Shawn's mother; you saw how bad off she is, the woman can barely walk. Can't anything be done about that? What happens to her?" he asked

Al shook his head. "She'll get help eventually, Sam, that's all I can tell you. You know the rules. Don't worry about her, she'll be fine." he said firmly.

Sam nodded. "Well, then...is there anything else you can think of that I should be doing?" he asked, wondering once again why he hadn't leaped out yet.

Al shrugged. "No idea..." But just then the blue haze enveloped Sam, and he was gone. A moment later, Al found himself back in the Imaging Chamber at the Project.

That was it, then. Until Sam leaped again. And everything had come out right this time. Al smiled and left to head for his quarters for a reunion with his family and a much needed rest.