Forum Discussion
emorrill
8 years agoHero
Alrighty everyone...I think I got this down. As good as I'm going to get it. ;)
I don't think I have ever spent this much time on a single chapter in Sam's story. It had to sound just right, while I worked in everything else I wanted to have happen. I dunno if that makes sense and I don't know how to explain it any better, but enough of my babbling. :p
Enjoy! <3 (I especially hope you Quantum Leap fans really do... :) )
When You Need A Friend
Part 2
Before hearing the doorbell ring, Sam stood in the entryway of his home, nearly biting on his nails with nervousness. It had been a while since he opened up to a woman, or any friend besides Al, in the way that he was needing to. He would surely blurt out some of his deepest, innermost feelings and anger and in the process he didn't want to concern or turn Emma away. She's your friend. She'll understand, he kept telling himself, but their friendship was still new and his faith in everything was faltering. However he desperately needed to talk things out or he'd find himself never feeling better. Drawing in a breath he casually opened the door.
When he saw Emma standing there, with a light smile on her face, he noticed something very different about her. He stared at her delightfully as he asked, "Emma?"
"Yes?" Emma questioned back. "It's me Sam. Are you ok?"
Squeezing his eyes shut and then reopening them, Sam answered, "Yeah, I uh," he stammered, but couldn't help saying, "You look beautiful!" He couldn't ever remember seeing her so done up before.
https://s20.postimg.cc/opz26jvbh/SB_update_add_ins_1.jpg
Emma blushed for a moment, while brushing a bit of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I did my hair up a little differently since I have a date tonight," she responded.
That got Sam's attention. "A date?" he asked in a tone of disbelief.
"Yeah," Emma answered, feeling slightly insulted. "Is that a surprise to you?"
Realizing how he came off, Sam quickly answered, "No, no, it's," he let out a breath, trying to compose himself, "that's wonderful Emma. Really." He sincerely meant it.
Smiling, Emma stepped forward a bit and asked, "May I come in?"
"Yes of course!" Sam responded, stepping out of the way.
Once inside while removing her jacket, Emma's eyes lit up as she noticed Sam's new Grand Piano. "Oh wow Sam!" she exclaimed, heading toward it. "Your new piano is gorgeous!"
Hearing her excitement brought a grin on Sam's face as he watched her. "Thank you," he said, "you can play around on it if you'd like."
"Oh no, I'm fine," Emma expressed, caressing the keys. Then she turned toward Sam. "Besides my playing has been a bit rusty since I haven't had my teacher around for over a month." She winked.
"What? You haven't been practicing?" Sam lectured with a wink in return.
"Honestly," Emma admitted, "not really. I've been focusing more on my singing lately. Plus," she had to add, "it was a little depressing there with you being gone for so long." Her head lowered, "I thought maybe...you leaped again somewhere else and...you wouldn't be coming back here."
The sadness in her voice caused Sam's face to fall and with that he threw himself down onto the nearest couch. He rested his arm over his forehead for a moment and sighed. "Speaking of which," he began, "you have NO idea how many times I had to explain my disappearance today!"
"I can imagine."
https://s20.postimg.cc/6xy4d0vrh/Emma_comforts_Sam_4.jpg
"Of course I didn't reveal the truth to anyone," Sam went on to say, "but honestly...I really wanted to with a couple of people."
Emma nodded, understanding. "I know Sam. I can't imagine how hard it is to keep a secret like yours, especially from those you care so much about." She sat herself down on the couch across from him.
Feeling uncomfortable trying to fit his whole body onto the sofa, Sam leapt up from it and then began pacing in front of Emma. "See that's the thing," he began, "I've never had to cover up anything about my disappearances because I never really leaped back to anywhere I'd been to before. And the one or two times that I did, I wasn't interacting with the same people I had previously you know?"
Emma nodded.
"So this lying about my whereabouts to goodness knows how many people today," he paused, "made me feel awful Emma!" He stopped to face her. "I'm an honest guy and don't like the way I feel when I tell a lie. I felt like it was lying enough trying to pretend to be the people I leaped into, but of course after a while I had to get used to that so that I could right the wrong and leap again, holding out hope that the next one would be my trip back home!"
"Right," Emma expressed. "So you can't beat yourself up over that Sam. You're just doing what you have to do."
https://s20.postimg.cc/g8a8gk6h9/Emma_comforts_Sam_11.jpg
Palms in the air Sam asked, "Why can't I just tell everyone here the truth huh? This bracelet," he reminded her, pointing to it, "will bring me back here after each random leap. Hidden Springs is my home now. You and all my other friends have a right to know who I really am." His shoulders slumped as he frowned. "I don't want to lie anymore Emma."
"I know you don't Sam," Emma understood, admiring his good nature, "but it's not so much lying as it is protecting yourself and...your destiny."
"What do you mean?"
Emma didn't want to be brutally honest, but she could see that her friend was faltering and he needed to be reminded of a few things. And for some odd reason she felt all these words suddenly coming into her mind. "Sam," she started, sitting forward a bit, "you know that not everyone is going to believe where you really came from."
"She's right Sam," Sam heard Al's voice say from behind him, but he ignored it and kept on listening to Emma.
"You don't need anymore pain than you've already experienced," she continued, "and if someone did believe you, who's to say they wouldn't want to try out your 'String Theory' to make time travel a possibility in this world when," she paused, thinking, "I don't think our world is really ready for that kind of technology!"
"How do you know your world is not ready?" Sam countered. "What if that's the ultimate reason why I was sent here?"
"Sam...your experiment was a failure was it not?"
Sam froze. "Well...not exactly."
"It went a little ca*ca*," Al added.
Yes Al...
"Which means it was never meant to be a success because you've been stuck in time unable to return home since that very first leap," Emma stated. "Do you really want someone else to experience the same time travelling mishap?"
"Well now you make it sound like what happened to me is a bad thing!"
"No, no that's not what I'm saying at all," Emma assured, "what I'm meaning to say is...," she paused for a breath, "Your theory is yours and yours alone. It's not something to be shared. That's not your purpose in all this. Quantum leap's setback happened because of fate. Your fate! Time travel in the way you theorized was never meant to happen because let's face it: God is really the only one who can control time. But you came just close enough to controlling it for God to intervene. Using the laws of physics within your theory He used it and YOU as a means to exercise the greater good. You became His servant, travelling through divine appointed places in time to right the wrongs that were never meant to happen. To make the world, apparently the universe, a better place."
Al and Sam just stared at her, awestruck.
"Wow Sam," Al breathed, "She certainly shed some light upon this whole thing didn't she?"
Sam nodded, agreeing. Amazing...
Emma continued. "Your destiny is sacred Sam...and therefore is not to be shared with everyone, but only to those who you truly feel inspired to tell about it."
In that moment Sam sat himself down next to Emma and admired, "Wow Emma. I never thought about it in that way. How did you come up with all that?"
Blushing, Emma replied, "I might've thought a little too much on it when you leaped. I sorta tend to over analyze, sometimes over exaggerate, certain things."
https://s20.postimg.cc/zc3jwwjbh/Emma_comforts_Sam_6.jpg
"No," Sam corrected, "you have the gift of insight. I mean, you about blew me and Al away there!"
"Oh Al is here?" Emma asked glancing around, even though she knew she'd never see him.
"Yup. He's right over there," Sam said, pointing.
"Hey Emma!" Al greeted with a bright grin.
"He says 'Hi,'" Sam told her.
As Emma said "Hello" back, Al informed Sam, "I hate to break up this delightful chat Sam, but I have some very important information to share with you from Ziggy."
"Al," Sam addressed, "can't it wait?"
"No it can't wait!"
He felt a little embarrassed saying it in front of Emma, but, "Al I just need some time to chat with a friend right now ok? Give me until morning. It can wait until morning right?"
Al huffed, "Perhaps it can."
"Thank you," Sam expressed, "now if you'll excuse us?"
Shaking his head, Al pushed the usual buttons on the Handlink, opening the chamber door, getting himself inside and closing it.
Sam chuckled a bit as he sat deeper into the sofa and said to Emma, "I'm sorry about that."
"It's ok," Emma said, studying him. "What else did you want to talk about?"
https://s20.postimg.cc/k9rbm7yrx/Emma_comforts_Sam_5.jpg
Sam threw his head up toward the ceiling, eyes closed, as he replied, "Everything!"
Emma held her gaze upon him.
"I honestly don't even know where to start," Sam said, pressing his fingers on the bridge of his nose. "There's just so many things I need to get out."
"Then shoot," Emma encouraged with a grin. "I'm listening."
Sam returned a smile in thankfulness.
He proceeded to tell her all about his last leap and then what happened between him and Donna, lamenting about the mistakes he made in their relationship.
"If only she'd known how faithful I'd been to her," he said, "every time I had to kiss Morgana I'd immediately think of her, imagining it was her I was kissing. That made it easier to do."
Emma cracked a smile.
"She never even gave me the chance to tell her all that."
https://s20.postimg.cc/tufjmudhp/Emma_comforts_Sam_8.jpg
Caressing his shoulder, Emma admired, "That was very sweet of you Sam. There's never been a doubt in my mind that you're a faithful man."
"Thanks but...it's kind of hard to be faithful when I remember my life here in Hidden Springs every time I leap. I mean," he turned to face her, "there are things I have to do in a leap that many would consider...unfaithful. Why can't I just forget again and then once I'm back here I'll remember everything about my life!? Ugh!" He buried his face in his hands.
Rubbing his back, Emma asked, "Who's to say you won't forget everything during this next leap? It could happen."
"I dunno," Sam wavered, standing up from the couch. "Maybe it's better that I stay single," he frowned, "so I never have to worry about being unfaithful. That's what made it all so easy in the beginning when I really didn't remember much, but now..." he sighed.
Emma wasn't sure what to say to that.
"Being single forever is not what I really want," Sam admitted, his back still turned toward Emma. "But you see Emma, it's never been about what I want."
"Oh I dunno about that Sam."
"It's true though!" Sam declared. "I mean, what about what I want in my life? What about my dreams? Am I doomed to sacrifice it all for the greater good?"
"No Sam," Emma rebutted, "you and I both know God doesn't work that way. He is not heartless and He's clearly been very much aware of you!"
He did know that, but Sam shook his lowered head anyway. "Then if He's aware of what I want then why is it that I seem to lose every woman I get close to?"
Emma looked down at her hands, not sure how to answer that one either.
"Why is it that I can make things right in other people's lives," Sam went on, "but not in my own?"
https://s20.postimg.cc/jyegn77pp/Emma_comforts_Sam_9.jpg
Emma leaned forward a bit, thinking. "Sam," she started, "You just haven't met the right person!" There were so many things she wanted to say in this moment, but she had to hold them back. "The woman you're meant to be with is out there somewhere and you'll find her! Don't ever lose faith in that."
Little did Emma know that tears were streaming down Sam's cheeks. "Even so Emma Donna is right," he sniffed, "it's too much of a burden to place on someone."
"Not for the right person!" Emma retorted. "They will endure it with you because they love you!"
Wiping at his eyes trying desperately to hold himself together, but failing Sam went on. "Eight long years I've been leaping, putting right what once went wrong, and never once have I regretted doing all that I've done, but I am tired Emma. I'm not getting any younger. I want to settle down and raise a family." Mentioning that, he could no longer control the emotions and tears. "To have children," he cried, "but it feels like that's never going to happen because no woman in this entire world is ever going to want to endure this with me! I just can't do it anymore!" He buried his face in his hands and sobbed uncontrollably.
https://s20.postimg.cc/qfxd6pi31/Emma_comforts_Sam_10.jpg
In that moment Emma realized that the great physicist Doctor Sam Beckett was broken to the core. She jumped up from the couch and enveloped him in her arms. Gently she hushed him as his shoulders shook from the crying. It had been many years since Sam cried like this and no longer did he have the strength to hold his deep rooted emotions back. Every single one of them came flooding out with each and every tear.
Emma could feel the tears seeping through her shirt onto her skin and rubbed Sam's back while saying, "It's going to be alright Sam. It's going to be ok."
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"I want to believe that," Sam spluttered.
"It will," Emma assured. "You're just hurting right now and everything seems hopeless, but I promise you it's not Sam! This will pass...things will work out for you."
As Emma held him tightly with such compassion, Sam found himself being able to regain control of his emotions from the strength he was receiving from her. It made him never want to let go.
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"I'm sorry," he said.
"About what?" Emma asked.
"For throwing all my burdens on you like that."
Emma couldn't help holding him tightly again. "You didn't Sam," she assured, "I'm happy to help. I appreciate you calling me over to be a listening ear."
"I'm thankful to you Emma," Sam expressed, "your words gave me strength. They were exactly what I needed to hear and I couldn't have gotten through this without you."
Smiling, Emma said, "You're welcome Sam."
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As they let go of each other, Emma placed her hands on Sam's cheeks and had to say one more thing. "You are doing great things Sam Beckett," she began, "they will not go unrewarded. Your dreams will surely come true! Don't ever allow anyone or anything to cause you to believe otherwise."
Sam smiled. "Thank you Emma," he said, "You really are a great friend."
Emma blushed while still keeping her hands on his cheeks. "And Sam," she added, "don't ever be afraid to allow me to carry you through your trials. That's what friends are for and friends...are never a burden."
"I won't." Sam promised. It amazed him how he never fully realized just how amazing of a person Emma is.
https://s20.postimg.cc/lqwqx6b7x/SB_update_add_ins_7.jpg
****************
After suggesting they watch some TV together to help himself relax and get his mind off everything, Sam soon found himself passed out on Emma's lap from emotional exhaustion.
https://s20.postimg.cc/pwnojp1al/Emma_comforts_Sam_3.jpg
Emma's heart raced upon seeing the time on Sam's wall clock when she threw a glance at it. It was five minutes until seven o'clock when she was supposed to be meeting up with her date. Sam lightly snored, evidently sleeping soundly. She hated to wake him, especially when he very much needed the rest. Carefully she pulled out her cell phone, dialed her date's number and held it to her ear.
"Hey, it's me," she said when he answered, "Something came up and," she stopped to glance down at Sam's peaceful face. She wanted so badly to stay with him until morning, but she didn't want to stand up her date either. "I can't make it at seven," she continued, "I'm so sorry! But I could be there at...eight thirty? Is that alright?"
Her date agreed.
"Great! I'll see you then. Bye."
Tucking her phone away she allowed Sam to continue sleeping as she flipped through a few channels, secretly enjoying the closeness to him.
****************
Around 8:15 Sam awoke with a start, startling Emma. He sat up and immediately apologized for falling asleep on her, but Emma insisted it was fine. Then there came a bit of awkward silence between them until Emma spoke up. "Well, I guess that worked out well because I'm supposed to be meeting up with my date at eight-thirty," she said.
"Oh yeah!" Sam expressed, smacking a palm to his forehead. "You mentioned that."
Emma stood up and went to grab her jacket by the door. Sam carefully stood up as well. His eyes still ached, but his headache was gone. "Thanks again for tonight Emma," he told her, "I really feel much better."
"I'm glad," Emma smiled. "I'm sorry to rush out like this..."
"No no, I wouldn't want you to miss your date," Sam said, shoving his hands into his pockets. A strange feeling came over him, thinking about her going on this date. "You two have fun," he concluded with smile.
"Thanks Sam!" Emma parted. "Bye!" The door closed.
Sam turned and rested his hands upon the back of the TV stand sighing. Next thing he knew his front door was opening again as Emma voiced, "Gee it would help if I grabbed my purse!"
"Oh, right," Sam chuckled as he looked away again, anticipating the sound of the door shutting again.
Instead he felt Emma throw her arms around him from behind, squeezing him while saying, "Have a good night buddy and don't you worry...everything is going to be alright."
https://s20.postimg.cc/mi5i3k5vx/Emma_comforts_Sam_2.jpg
For a second, Sam's heart skipped a beat. "Yeah...I know," he managed to say, turning his head toward her. "Thanks again Emma."
And with that Emma left for her date and once the door closed, Sam stood in the middle of the room staring at nothing. He expected to get a sudden feeling of loneliness, but instead he found the confidence to retire to bed early and face the brand new day tomorrow. That was one of the greatest comforts he found in life: tomorrow was always a chance to start anew.
:mrgreen:
Parting song:
I don't think I have ever spent this much time on a single chapter in Sam's story. It had to sound just right, while I worked in everything else I wanted to have happen. I dunno if that makes sense and I don't know how to explain it any better, but enough of my babbling. :p
Enjoy! <3 (I especially hope you Quantum Leap fans really do... :) )
When You Need A Friend
Part 2
Before hearing the doorbell ring, Sam stood in the entryway of his home, nearly biting on his nails with nervousness. It had been a while since he opened up to a woman, or any friend besides Al, in the way that he was needing to. He would surely blurt out some of his deepest, innermost feelings and anger and in the process he didn't want to concern or turn Emma away. She's your friend. She'll understand, he kept telling himself, but their friendship was still new and his faith in everything was faltering. However he desperately needed to talk things out or he'd find himself never feeling better. Drawing in a breath he casually opened the door.
When he saw Emma standing there, with a light smile on her face, he noticed something very different about her. He stared at her delightfully as he asked, "Emma?"
"Yes?" Emma questioned back. "It's me Sam. Are you ok?"
Squeezing his eyes shut and then reopening them, Sam answered, "Yeah, I uh," he stammered, but couldn't help saying, "You look beautiful!" He couldn't ever remember seeing her so done up before.
https://s20.postimg.cc/opz26jvbh/SB_update_add_ins_1.jpg
Emma blushed for a moment, while brushing a bit of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I did my hair up a little differently since I have a date tonight," she responded.
That got Sam's attention. "A date?" he asked in a tone of disbelief.
"Yeah," Emma answered, feeling slightly insulted. "Is that a surprise to you?"
Realizing how he came off, Sam quickly answered, "No, no, it's," he let out a breath, trying to compose himself, "that's wonderful Emma. Really." He sincerely meant it.
Smiling, Emma stepped forward a bit and asked, "May I come in?"
"Yes of course!" Sam responded, stepping out of the way.
Once inside while removing her jacket, Emma's eyes lit up as she noticed Sam's new Grand Piano. "Oh wow Sam!" she exclaimed, heading toward it. "Your new piano is gorgeous!"
Hearing her excitement brought a grin on Sam's face as he watched her. "Thank you," he said, "you can play around on it if you'd like."
"Oh no, I'm fine," Emma expressed, caressing the keys. Then she turned toward Sam. "Besides my playing has been a bit rusty since I haven't had my teacher around for over a month." She winked.
"What? You haven't been practicing?" Sam lectured with a wink in return.
"Honestly," Emma admitted, "not really. I've been focusing more on my singing lately. Plus," she had to add, "it was a little depressing there with you being gone for so long." Her head lowered, "I thought maybe...you leaped again somewhere else and...you wouldn't be coming back here."
The sadness in her voice caused Sam's face to fall and with that he threw himself down onto the nearest couch. He rested his arm over his forehead for a moment and sighed. "Speaking of which," he began, "you have NO idea how many times I had to explain my disappearance today!"
"I can imagine."
https://s20.postimg.cc/6xy4d0vrh/Emma_comforts_Sam_4.jpg
"Of course I didn't reveal the truth to anyone," Sam went on to say, "but honestly...I really wanted to with a couple of people."
Emma nodded, understanding. "I know Sam. I can't imagine how hard it is to keep a secret like yours, especially from those you care so much about." She sat herself down on the couch across from him.
Feeling uncomfortable trying to fit his whole body onto the sofa, Sam leapt up from it and then began pacing in front of Emma. "See that's the thing," he began, "I've never had to cover up anything about my disappearances because I never really leaped back to anywhere I'd been to before. And the one or two times that I did, I wasn't interacting with the same people I had previously you know?"
Emma nodded.
"So this lying about my whereabouts to goodness knows how many people today," he paused, "made me feel awful Emma!" He stopped to face her. "I'm an honest guy and don't like the way I feel when I tell a lie. I felt like it was lying enough trying to pretend to be the people I leaped into, but of course after a while I had to get used to that so that I could right the wrong and leap again, holding out hope that the next one would be my trip back home!"
"Right," Emma expressed. "So you can't beat yourself up over that Sam. You're just doing what you have to do."
https://s20.postimg.cc/g8a8gk6h9/Emma_comforts_Sam_11.jpg
Palms in the air Sam asked, "Why can't I just tell everyone here the truth huh? This bracelet," he reminded her, pointing to it, "will bring me back here after each random leap. Hidden Springs is my home now. You and all my other friends have a right to know who I really am." His shoulders slumped as he frowned. "I don't want to lie anymore Emma."
"I know you don't Sam," Emma understood, admiring his good nature, "but it's not so much lying as it is protecting yourself and...your destiny."
"What do you mean?"
Emma didn't want to be brutally honest, but she could see that her friend was faltering and he needed to be reminded of a few things. And for some odd reason she felt all these words suddenly coming into her mind. "Sam," she started, sitting forward a bit, "you know that not everyone is going to believe where you really came from."
"She's right Sam," Sam heard Al's voice say from behind him, but he ignored it and kept on listening to Emma.
"You don't need anymore pain than you've already experienced," she continued, "and if someone did believe you, who's to say they wouldn't want to try out your 'String Theory' to make time travel a possibility in this world when," she paused, thinking, "I don't think our world is really ready for that kind of technology!"
"How do you know your world is not ready?" Sam countered. "What if that's the ultimate reason why I was sent here?"
"Sam...your experiment was a failure was it not?"
Sam froze. "Well...not exactly."
"It went a little ca*ca*," Al added.
Yes Al...
"Which means it was never meant to be a success because you've been stuck in time unable to return home since that very first leap," Emma stated. "Do you really want someone else to experience the same time travelling mishap?"
"Well now you make it sound like what happened to me is a bad thing!"
"No, no that's not what I'm saying at all," Emma assured, "what I'm meaning to say is...," she paused for a breath, "Your theory is yours and yours alone. It's not something to be shared. That's not your purpose in all this. Quantum leap's setback happened because of fate. Your fate! Time travel in the way you theorized was never meant to happen because let's face it: God is really the only one who can control time. But you came just close enough to controlling it for God to intervene. Using the laws of physics within your theory He used it and YOU as a means to exercise the greater good. You became His servant, travelling through divine appointed places in time to right the wrongs that were never meant to happen. To make the world, apparently the universe, a better place."
Al and Sam just stared at her, awestruck.
Spoiler
Example pic here because we need one :p
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7a/0e/7c/7a0e7cf81a4dfa5100863ae9695c323d.jpg
Shirtless Sam is a plus! :love:
AHEM! Back to the story...
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7a/0e/7c/7a0e7cf81a4dfa5100863ae9695c323d.jpg
Shirtless Sam is a plus! :love:
AHEM! Back to the story...
"Wow Sam," Al breathed, "She certainly shed some light upon this whole thing didn't she?"
Sam nodded, agreeing. Amazing...
Emma continued. "Your destiny is sacred Sam...and therefore is not to be shared with everyone, but only to those who you truly feel inspired to tell about it."
In that moment Sam sat himself down next to Emma and admired, "Wow Emma. I never thought about it in that way. How did you come up with all that?"
Blushing, Emma replied, "I might've thought a little too much on it when you leaped. I sorta tend to over analyze, sometimes over exaggerate, certain things."
https://s20.postimg.cc/zc3jwwjbh/Emma_comforts_Sam_6.jpg
"No," Sam corrected, "you have the gift of insight. I mean, you about blew me and Al away there!"
"Oh Al is here?" Emma asked glancing around, even though she knew she'd never see him.
"Yup. He's right over there," Sam said, pointing.
"Hey Emma!" Al greeted with a bright grin.
"He says 'Hi,'" Sam told her.
As Emma said "Hello" back, Al informed Sam, "I hate to break up this delightful chat Sam, but I have some very important information to share with you from Ziggy."
"Al," Sam addressed, "can't it wait?"
"No it can't wait!"
He felt a little embarrassed saying it in front of Emma, but, "Al I just need some time to chat with a friend right now ok? Give me until morning. It can wait until morning right?"
Al huffed, "Perhaps it can."
"Thank you," Sam expressed, "now if you'll excuse us?"
Shaking his head, Al pushed the usual buttons on the Handlink, opening the chamber door, getting himself inside and closing it.
Sam chuckled a bit as he sat deeper into the sofa and said to Emma, "I'm sorry about that."
"It's ok," Emma said, studying him. "What else did you want to talk about?"
https://s20.postimg.cc/k9rbm7yrx/Emma_comforts_Sam_5.jpg
Sam threw his head up toward the ceiling, eyes closed, as he replied, "Everything!"
Emma held her gaze upon him.
"I honestly don't even know where to start," Sam said, pressing his fingers on the bridge of his nose. "There's just so many things I need to get out."
"Then shoot," Emma encouraged with a grin. "I'm listening."
Sam returned a smile in thankfulness.
He proceeded to tell her all about his last leap and then what happened between him and Donna, lamenting about the mistakes he made in their relationship.
"If only she'd known how faithful I'd been to her," he said, "every time I had to kiss Morgana I'd immediately think of her, imagining it was her I was kissing. That made it easier to do."
Emma cracked a smile.
"She never even gave me the chance to tell her all that."
https://s20.postimg.cc/tufjmudhp/Emma_comforts_Sam_8.jpg
Caressing his shoulder, Emma admired, "That was very sweet of you Sam. There's never been a doubt in my mind that you're a faithful man."
"Thanks but...it's kind of hard to be faithful when I remember my life here in Hidden Springs every time I leap. I mean," he turned to face her, "there are things I have to do in a leap that many would consider...unfaithful. Why can't I just forget again and then once I'm back here I'll remember everything about my life!? Ugh!" He buried his face in his hands.
Rubbing his back, Emma asked, "Who's to say you won't forget everything during this next leap? It could happen."
"I dunno," Sam wavered, standing up from the couch. "Maybe it's better that I stay single," he frowned, "so I never have to worry about being unfaithful. That's what made it all so easy in the beginning when I really didn't remember much, but now..." he sighed.
Emma wasn't sure what to say to that.
"Being single forever is not what I really want," Sam admitted, his back still turned toward Emma. "But you see Emma, it's never been about what I want."
"Oh I dunno about that Sam."
"It's true though!" Sam declared. "I mean, what about what I want in my life? What about my dreams? Am I doomed to sacrifice it all for the greater good?"
"No Sam," Emma rebutted, "you and I both know God doesn't work that way. He is not heartless and He's clearly been very much aware of you!"
He did know that, but Sam shook his lowered head anyway. "Then if He's aware of what I want then why is it that I seem to lose every woman I get close to?"
Emma looked down at her hands, not sure how to answer that one either.
"Why is it that I can make things right in other people's lives," Sam went on, "but not in my own?"
https://s20.postimg.cc/jyegn77pp/Emma_comforts_Sam_9.jpg
Emma leaned forward a bit, thinking. "Sam," she started, "You just haven't met the right person!" There were so many things she wanted to say in this moment, but she had to hold them back. "The woman you're meant to be with is out there somewhere and you'll find her! Don't ever lose faith in that."
Little did Emma know that tears were streaming down Sam's cheeks. "Even so Emma Donna is right," he sniffed, "it's too much of a burden to place on someone."
"Not for the right person!" Emma retorted. "They will endure it with you because they love you!"
Wiping at his eyes trying desperately to hold himself together, but failing Sam went on. "Eight long years I've been leaping, putting right what once went wrong, and never once have I regretted doing all that I've done, but I am tired Emma. I'm not getting any younger. I want to settle down and raise a family." Mentioning that, he could no longer control the emotions and tears. "To have children," he cried, "but it feels like that's never going to happen because no woman in this entire world is ever going to want to endure this with me! I just can't do it anymore!" He buried his face in his hands and sobbed uncontrollably.
https://s20.postimg.cc/qfxd6pi31/Emma_comforts_Sam_10.jpg
In that moment Emma realized that the great physicist Doctor Sam Beckett was broken to the core. She jumped up from the couch and enveloped him in her arms. Gently she hushed him as his shoulders shook from the crying. It had been many years since Sam cried like this and no longer did he have the strength to hold his deep rooted emotions back. Every single one of them came flooding out with each and every tear.
Emma could feel the tears seeping through her shirt onto her skin and rubbed Sam's back while saying, "It's going to be alright Sam. It's going to be ok."
https://s20.postimg.cc/dewei6ogd/SB_update_add_ins_3.jpg
"I want to believe that," Sam spluttered.
"It will," Emma assured. "You're just hurting right now and everything seems hopeless, but I promise you it's not Sam! This will pass...things will work out for you."
As Emma held him tightly with such compassion, Sam found himself being able to regain control of his emotions from the strength he was receiving from her. It made him never want to let go.
https://s20.postimg.cc/d4thckz7x/SB_update_add_ins_4.jpg
"I'm sorry," he said.
"About what?" Emma asked.
"For throwing all my burdens on you like that."
Emma couldn't help holding him tightly again. "You didn't Sam," she assured, "I'm happy to help. I appreciate you calling me over to be a listening ear."
"I'm thankful to you Emma," Sam expressed, "your words gave me strength. They were exactly what I needed to hear and I couldn't have gotten through this without you."
Smiling, Emma said, "You're welcome Sam."
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As they let go of each other, Emma placed her hands on Sam's cheeks and had to say one more thing. "You are doing great things Sam Beckett," she began, "they will not go unrewarded. Your dreams will surely come true! Don't ever allow anyone or anything to cause you to believe otherwise."
Sam smiled. "Thank you Emma," he said, "You really are a great friend."
Emma blushed while still keeping her hands on his cheeks. "And Sam," she added, "don't ever be afraid to allow me to carry you through your trials. That's what friends are for and friends...are never a burden."
"I won't." Sam promised. It amazed him how he never fully realized just how amazing of a person Emma is.
https://s20.postimg.cc/lqwqx6b7x/SB_update_add_ins_7.jpg
****************
After suggesting they watch some TV together to help himself relax and get his mind off everything, Sam soon found himself passed out on Emma's lap from emotional exhaustion.
https://s20.postimg.cc/pwnojp1al/Emma_comforts_Sam_3.jpg
Emma's heart raced upon seeing the time on Sam's wall clock when she threw a glance at it. It was five minutes until seven o'clock when she was supposed to be meeting up with her date. Sam lightly snored, evidently sleeping soundly. She hated to wake him, especially when he very much needed the rest. Carefully she pulled out her cell phone, dialed her date's number and held it to her ear.
"Hey, it's me," she said when he answered, "Something came up and," she stopped to glance down at Sam's peaceful face. She wanted so badly to stay with him until morning, but she didn't want to stand up her date either. "I can't make it at seven," she continued, "I'm so sorry! But I could be there at...eight thirty? Is that alright?"
Her date agreed.
"Great! I'll see you then. Bye."
Tucking her phone away she allowed Sam to continue sleeping as she flipped through a few channels, secretly enjoying the closeness to him.
****************
Around 8:15 Sam awoke with a start, startling Emma. He sat up and immediately apologized for falling asleep on her, but Emma insisted it was fine. Then there came a bit of awkward silence between them until Emma spoke up. "Well, I guess that worked out well because I'm supposed to be meeting up with my date at eight-thirty," she said.
"Oh yeah!" Sam expressed, smacking a palm to his forehead. "You mentioned that."
Emma stood up and went to grab her jacket by the door. Sam carefully stood up as well. His eyes still ached, but his headache was gone. "Thanks again for tonight Emma," he told her, "I really feel much better."
"I'm glad," Emma smiled. "I'm sorry to rush out like this..."
"No no, I wouldn't want you to miss your date," Sam said, shoving his hands into his pockets. A strange feeling came over him, thinking about her going on this date. "You two have fun," he concluded with smile.
"Thanks Sam!" Emma parted. "Bye!" The door closed.
Sam turned and rested his hands upon the back of the TV stand sighing. Next thing he knew his front door was opening again as Emma voiced, "Gee it would help if I grabbed my purse!"
"Oh, right," Sam chuckled as he looked away again, anticipating the sound of the door shutting again.
Instead he felt Emma throw her arms around him from behind, squeezing him while saying, "Have a good night buddy and don't you worry...everything is going to be alright."
https://s20.postimg.cc/mi5i3k5vx/Emma_comforts_Sam_2.jpg
For a second, Sam's heart skipped a beat. "Yeah...I know," he managed to say, turning his head toward her. "Thanks again Emma."
And with that Emma left for her date and once the door closed, Sam stood in the middle of the room staring at nothing. He expected to get a sudden feeling of loneliness, but instead he found the confidence to retire to bed early and face the brand new day tomorrow. That was one of the greatest comforts he found in life: tomorrow was always a chance to start anew.
:mrgreen:
Parting song:
Spoiler
It's beautiful! Take a moment to listen. <3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQl61DfzGlk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQl61DfzGlk
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