Between One Step and the Next, Part 3
Here is part 3, everybody. I'm hoping it hasn't been so long you guys cant remember what's gone on before ...

“I’m sorry Sam. You know how that sounds.”

“It … doesn’t matter. I guess I might as well go home with you.”

Tina stepped forward to help Sam up, and stumbled, She reached out, and grabbed one of the poles of the arch for support. and her eyes went wide. She started to fade from view, and Sam shouted “No!” and grabbed her hand.

The two of them hung between worlds for what seemed to Sam like an eternity.

A moment later she was laying on the ground with Sam holding her hand.

“Oh .. wow. Okay, I believe you.” Tina said.

“You okay?’ Sam asked.

“When I touched the Arch I... “

“I know.”

“I think I better sit down.” Tina said, and eased herself to the concrete.

“You’ll be okay, Tina. I have to try again.”

“Wait, Sam. Don’t!”

“Why not, Tina. I need to get your Sam back for you.”

“I didn’t just see two choices, Sam. I saw …. I dont know how many. There’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get back to your reality. We need a plan.”

“Like what Tina?”

“What about the University? There has to be someone there who might have some insight.”

“Then lets take Sam’s car and go.”

“Sam.... I … “

“Don’t worry. I know you’re worried about your Sam. We’ll get her back for you.”

“Thanks.”

Sam and Tina walked over to where Sam had parked the car, and got in. Driving to the University, Sam asked, “Who can we see, and what can we tell them?”

“One of my of old profs is married to a physics specialist.. He might know who might have some ideas, and he might be willing to at least listen to us without considering us a couple of kooks.”

“Worth a shot, anyway.”

They drove along in silence, and Sam kept peeking at Tina, and seeing her look back at her. <”God. she’s so beautiful.... The Sam of this word is a lucky woman. But this situation must be just killing her. I have to fix this, I just have to.”>

They parked at the University, and made their way to the Political Science department.

“You took Poli-Sci?” Sam asked.

“Oh, right. You wouldn’t know. I work in the Intergovernmental affairs office. I help coordinate efforts between the levels of government.”

“Cool.”

Tina smiled.

They went in the building, and found their way to the office of Tina’s former prof.

Her prof turned out to be a slim, tall woman with a wide smile she shared with them when she saw Tina.

“Good to see you, Tina. You too, Sam.”

“Lilith, we … need your help, and we have an unbelievable story to tell you.”

Lilith listened carefully, and then said, “Tina, if you were anybody else, I would think you were pulling some kind of a prank. But let me talk to my husband, and see what he thinks, okay?”

“What... what do we do in the meantime?” Tina asked.

“Just go home. I’ll call you tonight, no matter what.” Lilith said.

As they walked back to the car, Sam said to Tina, “I’m sorry for running off like that. I... I couldn’t bear being responsible “

“I understand. I .. I’m sure my Sam would have done the same. She’s so .. “ Tina began to tear up.

“We’ll get her back, Tina..”

“I am trying to have faith, but its hard.”

“If faith was easy, maybe it wouldn’t be faith.”

“Maybe it wouldn’t be.” Tina said, and then focused on the road.

They got back to Tina’s home, and ate the takeout Tina had brought home. After they ate, Tina said, “Do … you want the bedroom? I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“No. I’m … the guest. I’ll take the couch.”

“Okay. I’ll.... get you a blanket and a pillow.”

Shortly, Tina returned with a blanket, a pillow, and a nightie. “Here” She said, “This one is … one of Sam’s favorites. I’m sure she’d want you to borrow it.”

“Th... thanks.”

Sam slipped into the bathroom, and examined her body. She saw that she was no supermodel, that she had flaws and signs of her transition, but overall...”I don’t make a bad woman. Nice to know, if I ever get back home.”

San saw Tina fighting not to look to hard at her as she came from the bathroom. She made her way quickly to the couch, wrapped the sheet around herself, and laid down.

Much later, she finally fell asleep.

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