First off, locoexclaimer—don’t read this. It's grimdark as fuck. I'll be cutting myself in the corner right after posting this, I promise. And then I'll try to write something happier.
( Oh God why do I do this to myself...? )-.-.-.-
Title: Out of Sight, Far From Out of Mind
Author: TheCrazyAlaskan
Fandom / Setting: Quantum Leap (pre-series: New York, 1943)
Characters / Pairings: Al Calavicci, Theresa "Trudy" Calavicci
Rating: K+
Genre: Angst, family
Relevant Quote:
[Y]our family's love is unreasoning; you were born into it and are of its flesh and blood…. – André Maurois
Warnings / Notes: Suicide inducer; c.f. "Jimmy" (02 x 08)
Prompt from locoexclaimer:
Quantum Leap, no limit on length or rating. Prompt: "from the outside."Summary: Even back then it stung leaving her behind.
The episode where Al mentions his sister is amazing. It made me cry twice. For your reference, Al's monologue (which is the background for this fic):
There was a girl named Trudy. She was retarded, Sam! Her IQ was lower than Jimmy's. And all the kids in the neighborhood, they used to tease her. Kids can be cruel. They'd call her names, like "dummy" and "monkey face." And I hated it. And I used to get in fights all the time over this. But that's what big brothers are for, right? My mother couldn’t handle it. That's probably why she ran off with this stupid encyclopedia salesman. But my dad tried to keep us all together. He was a construction worker. He went from job to job, and then when it took him to the Middle East, I wound up in an orphanage and she wound up in an institution. When I was old enough, I went back there for her, but it was too late—she was gone, Sam. Pneumonia, they said… How does a sixteen year old girl die from pneumonia in 1953, Sam?
That being said… My God, this is such a suicide inducer. I should not be writing this kind of fic, given my line of work. Why couldn't write my other, happier coda for this episode first?
Oh wait, because this was the prompt. Hey, it invited Al; the suicidal bunny just came up and started working. God I wanted to keep this dark shit outta my QL.
Okay, time to go scrounge up a happier fic. Sorry for the grimdark.
Al, Trudy,
Quantum Leap © Donald Bellisario