Between One Step and the Next, Part 4
 

Well folks, here is the conclusion of this story. Sorry it took so long, and sorry if its not up to my usual standards. As always, comments are appreciated.
 

When Sam woke, she had an inexplicable feeling of joy coursing through her heart. She floated into the bedroom, grabbed some clothes, and went to have a shower and get changed. After she was dressed, she came out and started making breakfast.

Tina came out of the bedroom, and said, “Something smells good …. Sam?”

Sam blinked, and said, “I’m …. I’m sorry. I …. it was like I was sleepwalking. I’m … sorry.”

“Its okay, Sam. But you made my favorite breakfast. And you obviously knew where my Sam’s work clothes were.”

“I.... I can’t explain it, Tina. It was like your Sam …. walked me through her morning routine.”

“Oh wow, Sam. You don’t think she’s . in you, somewhere?”

“I .. I don’t know. I just felt …. happy, and like I said, I knew what to do, without knowing how I knew.”

“That’s a little freaky. What do you want to do today?”

“I... I think I should go to Sam’s job. I... I think I can do okay at it.”

“All right. But if it gets too much, I want you to come home.”

“Th... thank you. I’ll … try not to let your Sam down.”

“I have a feeling you wont.”

Shortly, the two women went to their respective jobs, and Sam found the same thing she had at home. When she relaxed, she instinctively “knew” where things were kept and what the right procedures she was supposed to follow were. Plus, the inexplicable good feeling grew stronger as the day went along. A number of co-workers commented on her good mood, and teased her about getting lucky the night before, which made Sam blush.

She met up with Tina, and told her how her day went as they drove home, and Tina smiled, and said, “I’ve noticed. You’ve were … glowing this morning, and you look the same now. I .. I’m hoping that means good news for my Sam.”

“Me too, Tina.”

They went home, and ate a simple meal that Tina made.

“You are a good cook, Tina.”

“Thanks.”

As they were cleaning up, the phone rang, and Tina answered.

Sam heard her saying “Oh hello! Really? We’ll be right down.”

“What is it, Tina?” Sam asked

“That was Lilith. She wants us to come downtown to the Arch, right away.”

“Okay. You think she’s found a way for us to get your Sam back?”

“We can only go and find out.”

The two of them got in their car, and went down to the Arch. Lilith and an older man stood with her.

“Hello, Lilith. This must be your husband?” Sam asked when they got out of the car.

“Tobias is one of the countries experts in … unusual physics.”

“You are the young lady who came through from an alternate world?” He said.

“I’m surprised you believe me. I don't have any way to prove it.”

“Let’s just say I’ve been waiting for this.”

“I don’t understand. You’ve been expecting this?”

“Not this exactly, but the thing is, nobody built the Arch. No one can find a record of an artist, or approval for it being built. It … just showed up, less than 3 months before you did.”

“And nobody noticed?” Sam said.

“Did you, in your universe?”

“Point taken. I just assumed someone had commissioned it.”

“Most people here did too. I was the only one to guess there was more than met the eye when some instruments in my lab went haywire. A scan with a portable unit led me here, and some questions at City Hall led to the discovery that no one had authorized it.”

“Did you tell the authorities? Maybe it should be roped off, or something.”

“I tried. But with my only evidence being some readings in a system that no one but another expert would even understand, I didn’t have much luck. But nothing seemed to happen, and the readings went back to normal, until yesterday.”

“When I came through.”

“Exactly.”

“Okay. So, how do I get back? “

“Well, first, I need to know when you came through.”

“It was about lunchtime. About twelve-thirty.”

The older man opened a suitcase, revealing a large portable computer. it had a strange attachment, that looked like a Geiger counter.

“Awfully big, isn't that?” Sam said.

“It does a little more than most.” He said, and began working the keyboard. He then took the attachment and ran it over Sam, and then A few moments later, he said, “I believe the ‘doorway’ as it were, that leads back to your world will open back up at noon tomorrow.”

“I’ll be here, and I’ll try to go through then. I hope your Sam will come back at that time, Tina.”

“Thanks. I’ll be there too.” Tina said.

“I would like to be here as well, to witness it.” Said Tobias.

“I don’t mind.” Sam said.

“All right then. See you at noon.”

Tina and Sam waved, and then went back to their car.

“You really think it will work, Tina?” Sam asked as they drove home.

“Worth a shot.”

They got to their house, and Tina said, “Do you … want the couch again? You could … share the bed with me.”

“Wouldn’t that feel like you were cheating your Sam?” Sam asked.

“I … wasn’t thinking about sex. I was just .. I miss her. I miss her body next to mine. I miss the way she smells. I... “

“Okay, Tina. I understand.”

They got ready for bed, and Sam shyly eased herself in, trying not to stare at Tina’s beautiful body exposed in her nightie. Tina smiled, and said, “I can’t really understand what you are feeling. But all I want is to hold you. Can you handle that?”

“I... can, and will.”

The two women held each other tight until they both fell asleep.

****

Sam got up first, and followed the same routine as the day before. Tina then got up, and they shared breakfast before driving to work together.

“I’ll see you at noon, Tina. I mean, if you’re sure you want to be there for this.”

“I’ll be there.”

The morning crawled by for Sam. She still possessed the strange ability to remember this Sam’s routine, but as the day went on, she had more trouble keeping her spirits up.

“I guess its like dying.” she thought, “Whatever happens, I wont be in this world any more. I wish I could stay, but that wouldn’t be fair to this Sam, or to Tina. I … have to give up everything I’ve found here. I … hope I don’t funk this at the last minute. “

The next time Sam looked at the clock, it was time for her to go, and she made her way down to the street, and to the Arch. Tina arrived just after she did, and gave her a big hug.

“You worried?” Tina asked.

Sam was about to reply when she saw Tobias come up. He quickly set up his equipment, and then said, “If my calculations are correct, the surge should hit in two minutes. Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’m going to be. Tina I...I’m glad I met you. Your Sam is a lucky woman, and you can tell her I told you so.”

“Thanks, Sam. Don’t worry. you’ll be okay. I have to believe this all happened for a reason, so you’ll be okay.” Tina said.

“Thanks” Sam said. “I... I ..”

“No time! You must go, now!” Shouted Tobias.

“Here goes nothing.... “ Sam said, and jumped between the poles of the Arch.

She vanished.

Tina watched the Arch tensely. “Do you think my Sam will come back?” She asked.

Tobias looked at his machine and said, “I cannot guarantee she will, Tina. We have no idea what she has been through the last couple of days, or if she figures out when to come through.”

Tina opened her mouth to reply, but before she could a figure came through the Arch. It solidified, and Tina said, “Sam?”

Samantha smiled, and ran to Tina. She grabbed her, swung her around, and kissed her fiercely.

“Tina, I am so glad to see you ….” she said.

“Me too, Sam, me too.” They kissed again.

In his own world, in his own body, Samuel watched the reunion through the Arch, and then the Arch clouded. A moment later, there was no sign of a doorway at all, and Samuel turned away. He sighed, and made his way to his small apartment. When he got there, he went in, and opened the door to his bedroom. On his bed, he found a letter, and it read;

“Dear Sam, this is Sam. Yeh, I know how that sounds, but we no longer can disbelieve in the impossible, can we? I’m leaving this note for you, so you can know grateful I am, hat you’re doing, coming back here, and letting me go back to my home. Having walked in your shoes the last two days, I can really appreciate how tempted you must be to stay there. I wish I could do more to help you in this world, but the best I could do was leave you the numbers of some support groups. I’m hoping seeing how happy I am will make it possible for you to seek happiness for yourself. Its up to you, though, so good luck.”

At the bottom of the letter was a group of numbers starting with one for a local group dedicated to helping people with gender issues. Samuel looked at the number, and then went to the phone. He dialed the number, and said, “Hi. I need your help...”

*******

In another place, a woman sighed, and pushed away from a table. On the table were small figures. One was male, another female, but they looked remarkably alike despite that. The other figure in the room said to the woman, “I don’t understand that move, at all.”

“You are familiar with chess?”

“I don’t tend to play human games.”

“There is a special move, called castling. Its the only time you move two pieces at the same time. I did something similar with this switch. Both versions of Sam will benefit from their time in each other’s shoes, and each will have a greater impact on the game thanks to the experience.

“If you say so. But your opponent will not be idle, surely. He almost caused the loss of this … Tina person.”

“Indeed. But its a long game, and a lot of other pieces yet to be played. I have to believe this move will make a difference in time. ”

“You have more faith in these humans than I do.”

“Perhaps I see their … potential better. In any case, shall we retire and wait to see what my opponent does?”

“As you wish.”

Fin