DISCLAIMER: Quantum Leap and characters are owned by Bellisarius Productions. Scarecrow and Mrs King and characters are owned by Shoot the Moon Productions. Scenes and lines are borrowed liberally for plot and setting purposes. Please insert here any other appropriate disclaimers.

SUMMARY: Dr Sam Beckett again leaps into Amanda's life.

RATING: PG

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story takes place for Sam after the two previous leaps into SMK, 'Scarecrow Leap' and 'A Leap for Byron'. It's important to note that when Sam leaps, his body leaps. The people around him see an 'aura' of the person he's supposed to be, the viewers at home see Sam.

NEVER HAPPENED

Part One

Sam Beckett was just beginning to look around the room when Al arrived. It was surprising to say the least to see Al so early on in a leap. Sometimes it would take him hours to show up. Sam hadn't even begun to gather clues to his identity.

"That was quick! I just got here myself." Sam exclaimed.

Al shrugged, he had no control over these things. Often he felt lucky to find Sam at all, and he wasn't going to complain about the times he found him quickly. Rather than responding to Sam's statement, he began to punch buttons on his handlink.

"Ziggy thinks you're here to save Lee Stetson from being murdered at the train station," Al began filling Sam in on the information he was receiving from the project computer.

"Lee Stetson! That's Amanda's partner," Sam was excited at the prospect of again working with Amanda King. "I'll just give her a call."

He picked up the phone and began to punch in the number that Amanda had given him when he was Byron Jordan. Sam had a photographic memory, and felt fortunate that the part holding Amanda's number was not 'Swiss cheesed'. 'Swiss cheese' was the term they used for the missing gaps in Sam's memory which occurred during the process of leaping.

"Sam," Al tried to get his attention. There was more information of which he felt Sam should be aware.

The doorbell rang. Sam peeked through the peephole, then threw the door open enthusiastically. Al understood when he glimpsed the tall brunette standing there.

"Good morning, sweetheart!" Amanda placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a quick kiss.

"Amanda!" Sam put an arm around her waist and drew her into the room, shutting the door behind her. "I was just about to call you."

"Sam…" Al knew Sam wasn't listening to him.

"Really? I'm not late," Amanda started to defend herself. She became aware that he was behaving oddly.

Sam untied the sash of Amanda's coat. Wrapping his arms around her waist, inside the coat, he pulled her close and resumed the kiss she had initiated on the doorstep. What better way was there to start a leap then with a kiss from a beautiful woman like Amanda?

"Sam, she doesn't know you…" Al tried to interrupt, although he always felt his friend didn't 'get enough'.

"Ummm, we're going to be late." Amanda tried to protest, but was beginning to feel a little light-headed. When had he learned to kiss like this? Why did his arms suddenly feel so strong and safe?

"Sam, you haven't met Amanda yet!" Al insisted.

Al's words penetrated Sam's ardor fogged mind. "What?" He stared over Amanda's shoulder in confusion at the hologram.

"It's only October 3, 1983," Al informed him. "Amanda didn't meet you until January 7, 1985."

"She kissed me!" Sam objected.

"Unh-uh," Al disagreed, pointing with his cigar for emphasis. "She kissed 'him'."

Amanda wondered if she was coming down with something. First those kisses, like none before. And now he seemed to be * talking * to somebody else… and there was nobody else in the room.

"Dean!" Amanda drew Sam's attention back to herself. The unfamiliar name was like a bucket of cold water on his fervor. He reluctantly released her, and she readjusted and fastened her coat over the nightgown she was wearing.

"Dean," She repeated, "We have to go, you'll miss your train."

"Um, sure… sorry," Sam muttered. He couldn't believe it, Amanda didn't know him. How could he enjoy kissing her when she thought he was somebody else? "Amanda, I just need a minute." He made a subtle motion to Al, and headed for the bedroom.

"OK, Al, I'm listening." Sam sat heavily on the bed, his head hanging in disappointment.

"Sorry, Sam," Al started regretfully, "I tried to tell you…"

Sam waved off his apologies. "It's not your fault. I was excited to see her again, I didn't listen to you."

Al nodded, "Anyway, your name is Dean McGuire, Amanda is apparently your girlfriend. And she hasn't met Lee Stetson yet either, and isn't going to if you don't get to the train station in a half hour! Ziggy says he's going to be killed at 6:35."

"Amanda! What time is my train?" Sam called back to the other room.

"6:30" was her response. An odd question, she reflected, maybe Dean was coming down with something!

"OK, we better get going, then!" Sam came back into the living room and reached into the closet for a coat.

"Ugh! Sam, you're not going to wear that, are you? You'll look like the front seat of a DeSoto." Al made a disgusted face. He realized Sam didn't have the same fashion sense as himself, but that coat was just too much.

Sam shook his head and exchanged the offensive coat for a neutral colored overcoat. As they walked down the front sidewalk to the station wagon, Amanda held out the keys to him.

"Do you want to drive?"

"No," Sam responded, gazing into her eyes, wishing she would recognize him. "Then I'd have to keep my eyes on the road."

Amanda blushed. Dean didn't usually sound so romantic when he made mushy remarks like that. She wondered how long this 'new Dean' was going to stick around.

Sam walked her around the car to the driver's side, and made sure she was securely seated before he walked back around to the passenger side. He smiled at her obvious agitation. It was apparent to him that Dean didn't pay her enough attention.

Amanda felt a little flustered as she started the car. As she pulled away from the curb, she threw Dean a curious glance. It wasn't that attention from him was unusual, it just felt so different today.

Sam looped an arm around Amanda's waist and allowed her to lead him across the platform. When he started to pass the open door of a train, she placed a hand on his chest to halt his progress.

"Whoa, Dean! Here's your train, you almost walked right past. What is with you this morning?" she questioned.

He smiled meaningfully at her. "I can't imagine." He whispered, pulling her back into his arms. "I'm going to miss you, Amanda." Sam murmured before claiming her lips for another toe-curling kiss.

'Me, too!' Amanda agreed mentally, with some surprise. She waved good-bye and turned away as he climbed aboard.

Sam hopped back off the train on the other side. He glanced over his shoulder, hoping that Amanda didn't see him. A man in a waiter's uniform, carrying a package, brushed past him. Sam caught a quick glimpse of Lee's face before he turned his own attention back on the two goons in pursuit. A swift kick to the jaw felled the first one.

Lee ducked under the train and across the tracks, his eyes frantically scanning the area, looking for a way out of this predicament. There was a tall, brunette walking towards him. He noted that she was quite attractive, in a suburban way. The important thing was that she appeared to be alone and not in a hurry like all the people around her who were racing to catch trains. He made his decision in a split second, grabbing Amanda and spinning her around so that she was walking with him, in the opposite direction.

"Whoa, excuse me!" She tried to pull away from him.

"Just walk with me." He asked.

"I certainly will not!" She refused.

"Please. I'm in trouble." He begged.

"Oh! No. I've got to go!" She resisted.

Amanda pulled away and started to leave. Lee caught her and held her in his arms. The instant their eyes met, he knew that he had made the right decision in choosing her from the crowd.

"Just one moment. Please!" It was suddenly very important to him that this woman, with the deep, dark brown eyes help him out.

"No!"

"I'm in trouble. Please. . . . Please!" He sensed that she was beginning to relent.

"What do you want me to do?" Amanda closed her eyes, briefly shutting out his warm hazel ones. What a day she was having. First, Dean's odd behavior. Now this strange man with the compelling gaze. As soon as she had looked into his eyes, she knew she wouldn't refuse to help him.

Lee shoved the package into her hands. "Just take this. Get on the train. It's a matter of life and death!"

"Life and death?" Amanda was skeptical. What was she getting herself into?

"Hand it to a man in a red hat."

"Is this for real?" Amanda asked, 'Maybe I'm still asleep. Home in my bed, sleeping…'

"Just get on the train, hand it to the man in a red hat. You can get off at the next stop and forget all about this, just do it!" Lee rushed off.

Amanda stepped aboard the train, she turned and leaned back out through the open doorway. She gasped as she saw Lee tackled into a luggage cart by two men. If she had turned her head, she would have seen Dean/Sam across the platform, also watching the men catch up to Lee.

Sam was a little bruised and battered. He'd worn the men down and disarmed them. Their guns and knives littered the tracks two rows over. Lee Stetson should be able to hold his own against the goons now. Turning his head, he smiled as he saw Amanda duck back aboard the train. The important thing was he'd kept them distracted until she was safely away from Stetson. As he started in her direction, the blue lightning enveloped him.

When the room re-formed around him, Sam realized he was back in the living room where he'd been this morning. "Oh, boy," he muttered.