Chocolate

 

Lisa Martin

 

 

"Sam?"

Al peeked into their office, squinting his eyes to get them accustomed to the darkness. When he received no answer, he called out again. "Sam, you there?"

This time a mumbling sound came from behind a computer terminal, a sound that Al identified as 'Over here'. He moved forward cautiously, not wanting to bump into a desk or something.

"Why are you sitting in the dark like that?" he demanded as he neared the desk where Sam was sitting.

"Felt like it," Sam replied. Alarmbells went off in Al's mind, but only for a second. Sam didn't sound depressed or sad, he sounded…giddy?

"Sam, what's going on here?" Al reached for the desk lamp, but his hand was grabbed before he could switch it on.

"Don't." Sam's voice was rushed, but didn't loose that giddy tone.

Al yanked his hand away from Sam's grip. There was something strange happening here. Very strange. "Sam, what is this??"

"Nothing." Sam's voice sounded muffled again, like was eating something.

"Well, 'nothing' sounds very strange to me. Whatcha eating?"

A deep sigh. A moment of silence. Then, "Chocolate."

"You have chocolate??" Again Al made a move to switch on the light and this time he beat Sam to it. The vision that appeared before him made him burst out in laughter. Sam was sitting at his desk, elbows resting on the desktop with a face that was smeared with chocolate. He looked like a five-year-old. A five year old that was grinning from ear to ear. "Sam, you look ridiculous!!" Al gasped, surrendering to another bout of laughter.

Sam grabbed a tissue and wiped his face. "Better?"

"Yeah," Al grinned. "Tell me Sam, why are you hiding in here eating chocolate?"

Sam grinned again, throwing the tissue in the thrash can beside his desk. "I think I'm addicted to the stuff, Al." It was said with a great sense of melodrama, eyes rolling upwards.

Al face became very serious. "How bad is it, Sam?"

"Bad Al, very bad. I can't get enough of it." Sam's voice matched Al's expression in seriousness. "Want a piece?" he added, offering Al a large piece of dark chocolate.

            "And follow the same disastrous route you're on? No thanks," Al replied, but took the offered piece anyway.

            Their eyes met, held for a moment, then the sound of loud laughter echoed through the room.

            "Oh boy!!" Sam gasped, wiping his eyes. "God Al, it feels good to laugh like this."

            "Ain't it just?" Al chuckled. "Been far too long, kid."

            "Yeah…" It came out as a sigh, a very happy sigh. "But I am addicted to it. Ever since I came home, I can't stop eating it."

            "No wonder you put on so much weight."

            "I did not!!" Sam cried out. "Have I?"

            "Oh yeah. Those jeans fit even tighter then they used to."

            Sam looked at his jeans, then his gaze returned to Al. "They still fit. I would have noticed if they…" he trailed off, understanding dawning.

            "Oh Sam, you're still not too quick!!" Al laughed.

            "Give me back that piece of chocolate!" Sam demanded sternly. "You don't deserve it!"

            "Get it if you can!" Al jumped from his chair, slipping the chunk of chocolate in his pocket.

            "I'm faster than you!" Sam dashed after his friend, knocking over his chair in the process.

            "Not anymore.." Al ran to the door. He turned quickly and began tapping in the code that would open it, but Sam was faster. His hand grabbed Al's and drew it away from the lock.

            "Oh no, you don't!"

            "Oh yes, I do!" Al tried to free his hand and when that didn't work, he reached out with his other hand. Again Sam was quicker. "Sam!" Al yelped, "Let me go!"

            "No. Not until you give it back!"

            "I won't! You gave it to me and I'm keeping it!"

            A struggle followed, Sam trying to grab the chocolate out of Al's jacket pocket, Al resisting as hard as he could. Realizing that this wasn't going to work, Sam changed tactics. One hand crept underneath Al's jacket and began a merciless tickle attack. Soon the older man was squirming and begging Sam to stop.

            "Give it back!"

            "No!"

            "Give it back now!!"

            "No….Sam please stop…Pleaaassssee…." Al was plastered against the wall, panting and begging. His head was thrown back, his face flushed. Sam froze and stared. Then suddenly he bent forward and covered Al's mouth with his.

            Al felt like everything around him froze, time included, the only thing remaining was the touch from those lips on his. Slowly he became aware of the taste of chocolate and realized that this was Sam. Kissing him! He jerked away, only to be hauled back. With force. And conviction.

            "Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about this?" Sam’s voice was very close to his ear, the warm breath tickling his neck.

            "No," he answered in all honesty.

            Sam drew back a little. "No?"

            "No, no, n-o." Al’s chin lifted, looking at his friend with ‘challenge’ written all over his face.

            "Oh….oh boy." Sam looked confused. Al went in for the kill.

            "The thought has never crossed my mind, ever."

            Confused became embarrassed, horrified, then resigned. "Oh. Okay." Sam stepped away from Al, releasing him.

            "Why do you never let me finish my sentences?" Al inquired, trying to sound pissed and, by the look of Sam’s face, succeeding.

            "I shouldn’t have done this, I’m so…what did you say??"

            "He’s not even listening!" Al said to thin air. A low chuckle was heard. Al struggled to keep the remark inside, no use arguing with Ziggy now.

            "I was listening! And so was Ziggy," Sam added, almost as an afterthought.

            "You ‘start’ to listen, then your mind wanders off. No big deal Sam, I’m used to it." Al watched Sam flinch with just a hint of satisfaction, then decided it was enough. "What I said was that the thought never crossed my mind, but I didn’t tell you what that thought was."

            "I thought…"

            "That’s your problem, you think too much. Now just listen." Al closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around Sam’s waist. "I never thought you liked guys."  "Well….never really considered…." Sam fell silent and Al could see the storm coming. Eyes that changed color from hazel to bright green, narrowing to slits, mouth set, jaw locked. "You devil!!"

            "Got you there, didn’t I?" Al said calmly.

            Sam drew in a deep breath, letting it out noisily. He stared at Al, and for once Al couldn’t read him. It made him slightly uncomfortable. A hand sneaked under his jacket, pulling him even closer. Just when Al’s mind decided it was time to relax, Sam took a swift step back.

            "Didn’t think you get away with that, now didn’t you?" A wide grin split Sam’s face. With a quick move he opened the door and stepped out, leaving an utterly stunned Admiral behind. A second later, Sam’s head poked around the door. "Oh, if you want your chocolate back, I’m in my quarters." The head disappeared. Vaguely Al could hear his laughter down the corridor. His hand went into the pocket of his jacket. Empty.

            "Damn!"

The end.

 

Back to Quantum Leap fanfiction