"Give or take a few times zones, yeah," Al replied. "I know what you're thinking, Sam. You're thinking there must be a way to reverse the leap to get you back home. Gooshie and I already ran that through Ziggy and..."
"Let me guess. Since the possibility of this happening was previously unforseen, you and Gooshie never came up with a retrieval program," Sam said with disappointment.
"Sorry, kid," Al added. "I guess you'll just have to fall for that cutie instead."
Sam asked, "Why didn't you know the correct date until now?"
"Um, Ziggy didn't feed me the year when I was giving you the initial run-down," Al said. "It was just an oversight. Gooshie says it will never happen again."
"All right, Al. What does Ziggy say I have to do exactly?"
"Well, James and Rachael are to start a relationship..."
Sam said, "More than just a friendship, I'm assuming. Does James have a girlfriend?"
"Ah, no. According to Ziggy's data files, James was recently seen in public with actress Heather McComb, but Ziggy says they are not dating at this moment. Ziggy also says the tabloids report that James is actually dating that other cutie Katie Holmes. I'm sure you've figured out by now that the two are definitely NOT seeing each other."
"Is Rachael seeing anyone?"
"Not at this time," Al said. "She had dated a few of the guys she liked in Hollywood, but she doesn't have a boyfriend at this time. So now you won't feel guilty about making a pass at her."
"Good," Sam said. "What else can Ziggy tell me?"
"This is not so good," Al said as he raised the hand-link. "There is a ninety-six percent chance that Rachael cannot be saved by you from an accident that will take her life before filming is complete. And there is more bad news," Al added. "If James and Rachael do not start a relationship, there is a ninety-nine percent chance that Joshua Jackson dies during filming."
"So I am damned if I do and damned if I don't," Sam concluded.
"It looks that way," Al said.
After taking a moment to absorb the information, Sam said, "Then... Josh is the key to this whole thing."
"I don't know. Maybe," Al said.
Sam said, "I'll find out from Josh what practical joke he had planned for Rachael and then convince him not to do it. Hopefully, that'll work."
"It might work, Sam, if it is a practical joke that kills her," Al said. "Gooshie and I will see what we can do on this end. you better get back to where you belong. You still have a full day's worth of filming to go through."
"Oh yeah," Sam said, almost forgetting where he was. "Let me know what you can find out in a couple of hours. I'll talk to Josh and try to stop him. I'll also try to keep a close eye on Rachael."
"Good luck," Al said as he opened the Imaging Chamber door.
"To both of us," Sam added before Al disappeared behind the door.
Imaging Chamber
<< door
Joshua Jackson >>
"Hey man," Josh said.
"How are you doing, Josh?"
"Good," Joshua replied as Sam stepped into the trailer. "I still have not thought of anything to do to Rachael yet. Eddie was just in here and he's the next one we have to get. Have you seen Rachael today?"
"Yes. I saw her come in. Maybe you should try the same practical joke on her again. Maybe it would work twice," Sam said, trying to get Josh to reveal exactly what practical joke he had pulled on Rachael the day before. To Sam's surprise, Josh did.
"The old 'spring-loaded mouse in the box' trick again? I think not. You know me. I never play the same trick on the same person twice," Josh said. "It was funny how high she jumped, wasn't it?"
"Oh yeah," Sam said, getting a clearer picture in his mind as to what had happened. "I gave it a bit of thought, Jackson, and maybe you shouldn't do anything else to Rachael. She seemed a bit upset about it last night."
"Only if I can't think of anything else to do. Why are you suddenly so concerned about her anyway, James?"
"No reason," Sam said unconvincingly.
"Come on, man," Josh said. "She's your type."
"You never know," Sam replied, trying to drop the subject.
"And a gentleman never tells. You've told me that before, buddy," Josh replied, actually dropping the subject.
Sam and Joshua had their make-up done and both were finished at the same time. They went over to the wardrobe trailer together. There, they saw Meredith Monroe standing alone outside the trailer. She was smiling as usual and drinking her morning coffee.
"Hey, you two," Meredith greeted.
Joshua asked, "How are you doing on this fine morning, 'McPhee'?"
"Fine, 'Pacey'," she answered. "It looks like a long day today, huh?"
Joshua agreed. "Is your boyfriend Steve stopping by today?"
"I'm not sure, Josh," Meredith replies. "He said he might if he can take an early lunch."
Both Josh and Sam nodded.