Child of Destiny
by Andi Charleville
I wrote this many years ago and posted it to a Highlander website, but am now uploading it to . I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Standard disclaimers apply. These characters (except Jess) aren't mine, I'm just borrowing them.
Part 1:The Teenage Years
The two men walked away from the theater, into the darkness of the night. Both were wearing long trenchcoats, and, unknown to the casual observer, both were carrying swords.
"Oh, come on, MacLeod, the movie wasn't that bad. It did have some good action scenes."
"Please. The only good action I saw was the credits rolling, because it meant the thing was finally over."
"Oh, MacLeod, lighten up. No one ever said that this was Oscar material. Besides, it got us out of the hotel for awhile. I hate these damn layovers. I can't believe they couldn't have gotten us on another flight out tonight."
The man called MacLeod just rolled his eyes at his companion. "So you've said ten times already today, Methos. We'll be leaving in the morning, so knock it off." He was just about to continue, when Methos held up a hand and cocked his head. MacLeod did the same. Nothing.
"Methos, wh..."
"Shh. Listen." Then Methos took off running. MacLeod groaned, but followed him. He caught up with his friend at the mouth of an alley. When MacLeod followed Methos' gaze, he could feel the anger welling up inside him. Further down the alley was a young girl, maybe 13 or 14 years old, screaming in fright, and lashing out with her hands. But
MacLeod's anger was directed at the man straddling her legs, attempting to rip her clothes off. Finally, the man had enough, and punched the girl on the side of the head. Dazed, she lay still, her resistance gone.
The man was so intent on his young victim that he didn't even realize anyone was in the alley until he felt the sword at his neck. As he swallowed, the edge of the blade cut slightly into his throat, and he felt a small trickle of blood run down to his chest. Suddenly, the hard-on he had disappeared as abruptly as his courage.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you to pick on someone your own size?" Methos said to him in a low, dangerous voice, "Now, get up."
The man slowly got up off the ground, Methos' blade still at his neck. Methos heard the girl moving behind him, but didn't take his eyes off the man. The man backed up about ten feet. When he was far enough away from the sword, he suddenly reached into the small of his back and pulled out a knife. Waving it back and forth in front of him, he tried to act tough.
Methos just smiled, and chills went down the man's spine. "I think my blade is a bit longer than yours. Why don't you go now, before I have to kill you."
"Maybe I will, and maybe I won't. Ben," he said to the surrounding darkness. "Shoot this stupid fucker."
Methos tensed, but nothing happened. The guy started to get nervous. "Ben, where the hell are you?"
There was movement in the shadows, and the man smiled, until he got a close look at the figure coming out of the darkness. This wasn't Ben. And this one had a sword, too. Fuck. His smile died.
MacLeod held up the empty gun for the man's inspection. "I don't think Ben's gonna be able to help you this time. Sorry." The man eyes darted back and forth between the two men, and to the girl on the ground behind them. Deciding retreat was preferable to dealing with these two, he took off running down the alley, and disappeared into the night.
Methos and Duncan both made sure that he was gone before they put away their swords, and turned towards the young girl. She was dirty, disheveled and thin. It looked as though she'd been living on the streets for awhile. She was backed up against the wall, and was staring at the two of them warily. But neither man was prepared for the words that came from her mouth.
"Are you angels?" she asked softly.
Methos and MacLeod looked at each other and smiled. MacLeod crouched down several feet away from the girl, so he wouldn't scare her. "No," he said gently. "We're not angels, lass. But we would like to try and help you. Will you let us?"
The girl just stared at them, then slowly put her hand out towards Duncan. He very gently squeezed it. "My name is Duncan, and this is my friend, Adam. What's your name?"
"J..Jessica." Tears started running down her face, and she wiped them away with her free hand. Then, with the greatest dignity, she looked up and them, and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you." Then she fainted.
If MacLeod hadn't been holding on to her hand, she'd have fallen and hit her head. As he lowered her to the ground, his hand brushed her side, and came away covered with blood. Lifting her shirt, MacLeod swore under his breath. "Damn, she's been stabbed, Methos. We need to get her to a hospital."
Duncan picked her up, and they walked until they got to the street. They hailed a cab, and instructed him to take them to the nearest hospital. The cabbie was nervous. "Listen, I don't want any trouble."
Methos growled. "Take us to the hospital and drop us off, and you won't have any. Argue with me, and you'll have more than you can handle. Now, GO!"
The cab driver drove as fast as he dared, and took every shortcut he knew. He wanted to get these two out of his cab. When they got to the hospital emergency entrance, Methos paid the driver, while Duncan carried her into the hospital. The nurse on duty spied them and yelled for someone to bring a gurney. MacLeod turned her over to the medical
attendants, and he and Methos headed towards the waiting room.
The nurse came in for some papers for them to sign, and they admitted that they didn't know the girl, except for what little she had told them. She sighed, and went to inform Dr. Brevard.
Dr. Brevard came in a few minutes later, and introduced herself, then asked them to explain how the girl had come to be in their company. They explained the encounter in the alley, and how they hadn't know the girl was hurt until she passed out. Dr. Brevard smiled gently. "Well, that explains it."
Duncan tensed slightly. Uh-oh. "Explains what?"
"She's been asking where her angels went. I guess after saving her from an attack, you must have seemed like a pair of guardian angels to her." She sighed. "You do realize that I'll have to call social services. She looks like she's been out on the streets for a few weeks. She'll have to be placed in a home." She was about to go on, when they heard screams coming from the cubicle where Jessica had been taken. Dr. Brevard hurried in, with MacLeod and Methos hot on her heels.
There was a nurse near the head of the bed with a needle, trying to get Jessica to lie still for an injection. Another nurse was near the foot of the bed, trying to grab onto Jessica's legs, but she kept thrashing them around, and the nurse couldn't get ahold of them. Suddenly spying Duncan and Methos in the doorway, Jessica yanked her arm forcibly from one nurse's hold, pushed the other nurse away with her leg, hopped off the bed and ran behind Duncan and Methos. She then eyed the medical personnel from behind the safety of her two saviours. Both men where startled when she grabbed each of them by the hand, and smiled up at them shyly. Duncan and Methos exchanged resigned looks. She had both of them by the heart, this little waif they'd stumbled across.
Methos looked at the doctor. "What's in the needle?"
"It's a sedative. It'll help her sleep, while we stitch up her wound."
Methos nodded, then knelt down in front of the girl. "You need to let these people help you. They won't hurt you, I promise." She still looked scared. Methos tried again. "Will you let them give you the injection if I hold you in my lap?"
The girl looked at him, with eyes older than anyone her age should have to have. "Will you be here when I wake up?"
Methos looked at Dr. Brevard. She nodded slightly, giving her approval. Methos turned back to Jessica. "I'll be here, I promise. And I don't break my promises. Okay?" When Jessica nodded, Methos picked her up and walked over to the bed. Instead of laying her on it, he sat down, and held her. The nurse took one arm, and cleaned the area. Duncan enfolded Jessica's other hand in his, as the nurse stuck in the needle, and injected the drug into the girl. Jessica flinched, but didn't make any other sound. Once it was done, Duncan squeezed her hand. "There, that wasn't so bad, now, lass, was it?"
Still in the safety of Methos' arms, she looked at Duncan. "What's a lass?"
Duncan smiled. "That's what people in Scotland call a young lady, a lass."
"Are you from Scotland?"
"Aye, lass, that I am."
"Do you miss it?"
"Aye, very much sometimes."
"Tell me about it," she said, her eyes starting to droop as the sedative took effect. So Duncan started to tell her about some of the wonders of Scotland, the beauty of the land and the people who called it home. Once she was asleep, Methos got up and gently lay her on the bed. Dr. Brevard asked them to return to the waiting room.
"We'll get her stitched up and moved into a room, then you can join her. I assume you did mean what you said, about being here when she woke up?"
"Of course," Methos said. "I promised." So they returned to the waiting room. Once they had Jessica moved to a room, Duncan and Methos made themselves as comfortable as possible in the chairs, thankful that there wasn't another patient in the room. Duncan looked at the girl, her face now scrubbed of the dirt, her hair clean and falling on the pillow in shining black waves.
When she started to wake, both men pulled their chairs a little closer, so she could see them when she opened her eyes. When she looked at them, her face lit up, and tears came to her eyes. "You stayed."
"We promised, didn't we?"
Her face grew sad. "Not everyone keeps their promises. At least, not anyone I've ever met." Then she hugged her arms around her waist, as if to keep some dark part of her soul from escaping. Methos watched her, knowing that there was something wrong. But before he could ask her about it, she wiped her eyes, then stared at them. "I didn't tell anyone, you know," she whispered to them.
They were perplexed. "Tell anyone about what, lass?" Duncan asked her.
"About the swords. I didn't tell anyone, not even the doctor." She looked so proud of herself, like she had to protect her heroes. Methos pushed her hair back from her face.
"We're very grateful for that. It would have been...complicated, trying to explain that."
She nodded, seeming more grown-up and less like a little girl. "I figured as much, that's why I didn't say anything. And I won't, ever. I promise."
Just then, Dr. Brevard came into the room, followed by two women, whose very attitude screamed of social services. Jessica tensed, sensing that these women were here to take her away from her heroes.
"Jessica," Dr. Brevard asked, "how are you feeling this morning?"
"Sore, but okay. Who are they?" But she already knew, somehow.
"This is Mrs. Andrews and Miss Hathaway, from Social Services. They're here to take you back to your foster parents."
Jessica shook her head. "I don't want to go back, he hurts me. I don't like it there."
Mrs. Andrews stepped forward, her face a set in a grim-faced mask. "Now, Jessica, we investigated, and found nothing wrong. You have to stop making up these stories. You're going back, and that's final."
"Wait a minute," Methos broke in. "Jessica, what do you mean, he hurts you? What's he been doing?"
"This is ridiculous, sir. Who are you, and what gives you the right to question my authority?"
"I'm not questioning anything, but I would think you would take her complaints seriously, if she says her foster father is hurting her."
"We did take them seriously, sir, I can assure you, but we found no basis for her accusations. The girl's file says she's incorrigible. Now, Jessica, the doctor has released you into our care, so get dressed and come along."
The girl, very near to tears, silently grabbed the bag Miss Hathaway held out to her, and went into the bathroom and changed. When she came out, both Duncan and Methos could see that she looked more scared now then she had in the alley several hours earlier. Trying to hold her tears back, she went up to Duncan, who crouched down, and accepted a hug. "Thank you for saving me," she whispered.
Duncan kissed her on the cheek. "You're welcome, lass."
Turning to Methos, she found him on his knees, arms held out. She rushed into them, and held on tightly to his neck. In his ear, she whispered, "I'll keep my promise, always."
Setting her back down, Methos grabbed her hand and kissed her cheek. She looked back at both of them as she was led from the room. Dr. Brevard looked uncomfortable, but it was out of her hands. Silently, not willing to look either man in the eye, she turned and walked out.
Once her footsteps had faded away, Duncan turned to Methos. "Okay, what was on that slip of paper you slipped Jessica?"
Shrugging into his coat, Methos looked at MacLeod blankly. "I don't know what you mean." And he walked out of the room. Duncan followed him, but didn't ask anything else. Methos would tell him when he was ready, and not a moment before. It was his way.
When they returned to their hotel, Duncan tried to call the airlines, to set up another flight, since they'd missed theirs by staying at the hospital with Jessica. Methos was holed up in his room, and ordered breakfast from room service. Duncan didn't see him all day.
It was getting close to dinner when Methos finally rang Duncan's room. "MacLeod, I've ordered room service to be sent to my room. Could you come over here? We need to talk."
"Sure, I'll be there in a few minutes."
Duncan arrived at the same time room service did. He didn't say anything about there being three covered plates on the tray until the hotel employee was gone. He eyed the cart, then lifted an eyebrow at Methos.
Locking the door and putting on the security chain, Methos went to the bathroom door and knocked. The door opened, and Jessica came into the room. Seeing Duncan, she came up and gave him a hug. Over the girl's head, Duncan looked at Methos, and said, "I figured you were up to something, old man. That slip of paper had the hotel and room number, didn't it?"
Methos shrugged. "Just in case she needed it."
Duncan didn't say anything more until dinner was over. He also couldn't resist when Jessica asked him to tell her more about Scotland. But once it started getting late, Methos declared it was time for her to hit the sack.
"Adam, I need to talk to you."
"In a few minutes, okay, MacLeod. Let me get her situated first." So Jessica got ready for bed and even seemed to enjoy having "Uncle Adam" tuck her in. Duncan looked on indulgently, glad to see her acting as a girl her age should act, not as someone who's already seen the worst life has to offer. He was startled out of his musings when Methos grabbed a folder and told Jessica he'd be back in just a little while. "Don't open the door for anyone, and don't answer the phone, okay?" The girl nodded solemnly, then closed her eyes. Methos followed Duncan down to his room, and before Duncan could ask him what the hell he was up to, Methos held out the folder to him.
"What's this?" he asked Methos.
"Just some interesting reading material I got off the computer."
"Methos, what did you hack into this time?"
"The files at Social Services."
"WHAT? Methos, what is going on here? Why is Jessica here, and just what are you planning to do?"
Methos started pacing, his anger growing more and more pronounced. "I looked into the files of her foster parents, Mac. Do you know, Jessica is the fourth child to make complaints against this man? Two other girls and a boy that were placed with them made the same accusations. All were investigated and found to be 'stories' made up by the children. All the children were labeled incorrigible. One of those girls is now working the streets to support a cocaine habit. The other was found raped and murdered after she ran away for the third time. And the boy disappeared some two years ago, and hasn't been seen since. The department even sent a letter to this son of a bitch thanking him for being willing to continue to allow these children into his home afterwards."
Duncan looked at the folder with wide eyes. "Four children, and they're still placing kids with him? How is that possible? Not even social services could overlook something like this."
"They could if one of the directors just happens to be this guy's ex-brother-in-law. MacLeod, please, just read the file. Everything's in there."
The room was silent while Duncan read over everything that Methos had been able to gather. He thought back to that young, sweet-faced girl in the room down the hall. He looked at Methos. "What are you planning to do? Take this to the authorities and force them to remove her from his home?"
"What guarantee is there that her next foster home would be any different? I know, I know, a lot of people become foster parents because they genuinely love kids and want to help. But there are too many others that only do it for the money the state gives them, or because they want victims that they can be in control of. This guy started back in on Jessica the moment the social services people dropped her off this morning. He took her into her room, and started groping her. Then he told her that she better get used to it, because she belonged to him. I am not going to let her go back to the system, just so they can send her back to this bastard."
Duncan didn't like where this conversation was going. "Methos, what are you going to do?"
"I'm taking her with me."
"You can't be serious! You can't just take her like she's a stray puppy, Methos. She's a little girl, one that the state has jurisdiction over. You can't honestly think that they're going to let you adopt her, or anything."
"I don't plan to ask. I have a friend who happens to have a talent for forgery. I'm going to get him to make up some papers giving me guardianship of Jessica. Who's going to know? We'll be in a different state, and as long as she's taken care of, who's going to check the papers? They don't have time to check on everyone who has a child."
"Methos, this is illegal.
"It's also right, MacLeod, and you know it."
MacLeod just looked at Methos, then started laughing. "When you think about this, Methos, this is all pretty ironic. Normally, you're the one trying to talk me out something, and chiding my 'boyscout' ethics. Someone must have switched our brains when we weren't looking."
Methos smiled, the humor of the situation dawning on him, but then his expression sobered. "Look, Mac, I understand if you don't want any part of this. I'll do it on my own. Just promise me that if something happens to me, that Jessica gets a good education, and that she has a good teacher, when her time comes, to show her how to keep her head."
Duncan wasn't surprised at this last request, having felt the faint buzz that signaled a pre-immortal. "Is that what this is all about, Methos? Because she's a pre-immortal? Would you be doing this if she weren't?"
Methos was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes, I think I would. Even if she weren't destined to become one of us, I'd still do this."
Duncan sighed, then gave in, as he had known he would from the moment she had slid her hand into his with all the trust shining in her eyes for her 'angels.' "All right, old man, make sure my name is on the guardianship papers your friend makes. If anything happens, I don't want anyone questioning the validity of my claim."
Methos smiled. "Thanks, Mac, you won't regret this."
"When are you going to tell Jessica, or have you already?"
"No, I haven't told her yet. I wanted to see what you would say. I figured I'd tell her tomorrow."
Duncan headed towards the phone. "I'd better get another plane ticket for her, then. Good thing it's summer, so no one back home will question why she's not in school." He stopped. "Speaking of which, what do you plan to do about school for her?"
"Figured the three of us would talk that over tomorrow." Duncan shook his head, and nodded goodnight to Methos as the man headed out the
door.
The next morning, Duncan knocked on the door to Methos room. When Methos opened the door, Duncan picked up his suitcase and a shopping bag, and walked inside. After closing and locking the door, he turned and had to drop his things as Jessica threw herself into his arms. Looking up at Methos, he said, "I guess this means you told her?"
"Is it true, are you and Adam going to take care of me?" Her eyes were uncertain, like a kid seeing a mound of presents under the tree on Christmas morning, and not believing they were all for her.
"Aye, lass, it's true." Picking up the shopping bag, he handed it to Jessica. "Here, I thought you might like some clothes that were yours, and not someone else's."
Taking the bag over to the bed, Jessica pulled out a brand new pair of jeans, a dark blue shirt, and a pair of Nike tennis shoes. All the clothes still had the tags on them from the store. Lifting her eyes to Duncan, she said, "For me?"
"Well, I don't think they'll fit Adam. Of course, they're for you. I had to buy my new girl something special." When the tears started to well up in her eyes, Duncan felt pole-axed. "C'mon on now, lass, don't do that. I meant to make you happy, not make you cry."
Hugging him around the waist, she said, "You did make me happy. No one's ever bought anything just for me before. I love them, Uncle Duncan. Thank you." She scampered off the bed and ran to change into her new clothes. Duncan looked up to see Methos grinning at him in amusement.
"You're an old softy, Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod."
Duncan refused to rise to the bait. "Like that little girl doesn't already have your heart tied around her finger. All she has to do is look at you with those big, blue eyes of hers, and you melt into a puddle at her feet." Methos cocked his head to one side, a sign of agreement, then shrugged and nodded happily.
Over breakfast, again compliments of room service, the three talked about how they planned to do this.
"It's summer, now, Jessica," Methos said, "so you'll come home with us to Seacouver. We'll get to know each other, and Duncan and I can show you the sights. Come fall, though, you'll need to go back to school."
Duncan jumped in at this point. "Now, we have some things that will need to be worked out. Where you're going to live, for one thing, either with me, or with Adam. But one thing that is very important is that you get an education. Good grades are a must."
"And it's imperative that you never tell anyone about how you came to be our ward. We'll be telling people that your father, our brother, died, and that Duncan and I were named your guardians." Methos added. "There will be a few people that will be told the truth. Trusted friends of ours. But other than that, the truth stays between us."
They returned to Seacouver on the afternoon flight. Needless to say, Richie Ryan was surprised when Methos and Duncan got off the plane with a young girl in tow. Especially when she asked "Uncle Adam" who Richie was. Richie just accepted the introduction, and turned questioning eyes to Mac, but didn't say anything else until after their luggage was collected and they were in the car.
The minute Duncan started the car, Richie leaned forward and said, "Okay, what's going on here, 'Uncle Adam?' I know this is not your niece." So Methos explained what had happened. Richie leaned back as he took this all in. "So, you and Duncan are going to raise her? Together?"
Duncan looked at him in the rearview mirror. "What, you don't think we're capable of it?" Duncan asked, mildly insulted. So was Methos, for that matter.
"No, it's not that, Mac. It's just...well...hell, I don't know what I mean. It's just a surprise, that's all. It's not that you wouldn't be a great dad, Duncan. Hell, you've been like a father to me. I just never figured you for raising a kid full-time, that's all."
Duncan and Methos were about to defend their decision, when Jessica turned her blue eyes towards Richie. "So, if Duncan is like a father to you, and he's my uncle, that means you're my cousin. I always wanted a cousin." Methos and Duncan both had trouble containing their grins as Richie, too, fell under the charmer's spell. Turning back to the two men in the front seat, he gave his approval to this 'adoption.'
"Oh, heck, it'll be fun having her around. Makes me feel like a big brother."
Duncan drove straight to Joe's. Jessica's eyes got big as she surveyed the outside of the bar. "Where are we, Uncle Duncan?"
"There's someone else we want you to meet, Jessica. C'mon, it'll be alright. Joe's a real good friend of ours, sort of like a father to me."
Jessica accepted this with glee. "Then he'll be sort of like my grandpa."
Methos couldn't contain his mirth. "Tell you what, Jessica, when Duncan introduces you to Joe, you tell him that, okay?"
Her trust in her 'uncle' absolute, she nodded. "Okay." She completely ignored the fact that Methos and Richie were both snorting with laughter, or that Duncan was rolling his eyes at the two men, and giving them a stern look over his shoulder. She just entered the bar, like she had full run of the place. Knowing how she wrapped people around her finger, Duncan had no doubt that Joe, too, would succumb, and that he would be doting on her just like a grandpa would.
"Joe, you in here?" he called out.
Rising up from under the bar, Joe smiled. "Mac, good to see you back." Seeing Jessica standing next to Duncan, he asked, "And just who is this little beauty?"
"Hi, Grandpa." she said with an impish smile at the man behind the bar.
All three immortals broke into laughter at the stunned look on Joe's face. By the time it subsided enough for either Mac or Methos to answer Joe's questions, tears were streaming down their faces from the laughter.
Methos and Duncan explained the whole story from the top, and explained what they planned to do. Duncan could see that Joe had a lot of questions that he couldn't voice in front of Jessica. Pulling out his billfold, he handed some money to Richie. "Richie, take Jessica over to the ice cream parlor, and let her have a treat, okay. Come back in a half hour or so." Richie nodded, understanding Duncan's request.
Once they had left, Joe turned to the two men. "Are you two sure you know what you're doing? You could be placing her life in danger, if someone wants to use her to get to either one of you. I understand why you wanted to get her away from her foster father, but what happens now? And what if she finds out about you?"
"She already knows we carry swords, Joe, and she didn't tell anyone." Methos said. "She's an intelligent kid." He paused, knowing Joe would need to know this. "She's also a pre-immortal, Joe."
Joe sighed. "So, one day she'll be like you. And you two are going to teach her how to handle herself." At least the girl would be able to defend herself in The Game, with these men teaching her.
"Eventually, yes." Duncan said. "Probably even start her on some training this summer. But I want to take her places, let her have fun, let her be a kid. I want to show her that not everyone is like her foster father. I want her to feel like part of a family."
Joe's eyes lit up in a devilish manner. Duncan and Methos looked at each other, then back at Joe. "Joe," Duncan asked slowly, "what is going on in that mind of yours?"
"Well, I was just wondering, Mac, if you and Methos are going to be her 'uncles', does that mean Amanda is going to become an 'aunt?'"
"Amanda? What made you think of her, Joe?"
"Nothing, unless it's the fact that she's at your loft right now, waiting for you to get home."
"Amanda's in town?"
"Got in last night. How are you going to explain your new-found unclehood to her, Mac?" Joe was laughing, thinking about all the reactions Amanda might have to this news.
Duncan and Methos exchanged glances, then Duncan pulled the phone closer to him. Calling the loft, he told Amanda where they were, and asked her to come down. They had a favor to ask her.
When Amanda arrived an hour later, the four men where gathered around the table, getting trounced at poker by a thirteen-year-old girl. Amanda couldn't believe her eyes. "Well, well, well, how the mighty have fallen. Who's your friend, Duncan? Do I have competition?" But the smile she bestowed upon the girl was soft and sincere.
Duncan introduced Amanda and Jessica. Jessica looked at her, then asked Duncan, "Is she your girlfriend, Uncle Duncan?" Amanda was taken aback at the title, but just looked at Duncan, waiting for him to answer. The poor man looked so uncomfortable, that Amanda finally let him off the hook. "Sometimes, sweetie, I let him think so. Now, what's this favor, Duncan?"
"Oh, I think you'll enjoy this one, Amanda. See, Jessica needs some things, woman-things, ya know?" The blush was creeping up Mac's face slowly, as Amanda continued to stare at him. "We, Adam and I, that is, wondered if you would be willing to take her shopping."
Patting his cheek, Amanda smiled. "I'd be happy to, Duncan, if that's alright with Jessica?" She turned to the girl, and received an enthusiastic nod. Duncan reached into his wallet for his credit card, but Methos handed his to Amanda first. "Take mine, Amanda, and have fun. By the way, make sure you pick out something dressy for both of you. I'm treating everyone to dinner tonight at La Petite."
Amanda looked at Methos in shock. "Well, I must say, this young lady is certainly bringing out the best qualities in you, Adam. That's a good thing to know. Come on, Jessica, let me show you one of my favorite hobbies, spending money. Ta-ta, boys. See you later."
By the time Amanda and Jessica returned, they were talking like the best of friends. Amanda had taken to calling her 'Jess', and the others had followed suit. Dinner that night was a celebration, and Jess beamed like a princess being paid homage by her subjects.
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Over the next several weeks, the girl bloomed under the loving she received from her new 'family.' Her nightmares had diminished, and her face started to fill out as she slowly gained much-needed weight onto her thin frame. And although the others came close to spoiling her with the things they bought, she never let them go too far, showing a maturity beyond her years. She seemed content with simple things, and both Duncan and Methos knew that she needed their affection, more than their gifts. And this, they gave unconditionally.
All four immortals took to showing her the ropes when it came to sword-fighting. She learned fast, and had a speed and agility that would serve her well. Then something happened to shattered the young girl's happiness.
Running into the dojo where Duncan and Richie were sparring, she yelled, "Uncle Duncan, Uncle Duncan." Tears were running down her face, and she was breathing hard, holding her side, having gotten a stitch in it from running so hard.
Duncan picked her up in his arms, and looked to see who was after her. Richie already had his sword up. But no one appeared. Looking down at the girl, he tried to get her to stop sobbing, and tell him what was going on. "Shh, lass, calm down. What's wrong?"
"A-a-amanda. She's dead!" She grabbed his neck and hugged him tight.
"Jess, what do you mean? Where is Amanda, what happened?"
Still sniffling, she told him that she and Amanda had been coming home through the park, when a man approached, pulled out a gun, and demanded money. Amanda had pushed Jess behind her, and pulled out her wallet. She handed it to the man, and he pointed the gun and shot her!
"He just shot her, Uncle Duncan. And he tried to shoot me, but Amanda told me to run as fast as I could, so I did. I didn't know what else to do, so I just ran home. I'm sorry, Uncle Duncan. I was so scared. I just left her there. She's dead, and it's all my fault!" She burst into tears, sobbing into Duncan's neck.
Duncan handed the girl to Richie, telling him he'd be back soon. Richie headed towards the lift to take Jess up into the loft.
Duncan returned twenty minutes later, with Amanda's lifeless body in his arms. Putting her down gently on the bed in his loft, he called Methos and Joe, and told them what happened. Jess needed to be told about immortals tonight, and Duncan wanted all of them there to answer her questions. Jess had finally fallen asleep in Richie's arms, exhausted from the events that had taken place. Amanda still hadn't recovered, and Duncan figured that Jess needed to be told before that happened.
Richie gently shook Jess until she woke up. Seeing Methos, she held out her arms to him, and he gathered her into a hug. Sitting down on the couch with her still in his lap, he brushed the tears away from her face. "There, there, Jess, it's okay. It's allright. Stop the tears now, we have something we need to tell you."
Although it was difficult to form the words to tell Jess about immortals, and about the Game, she understood what they were trying to say with easy acceptance. Looking up at Duncan, her eyes still bright with unshed tears, she asked, "Does that mean Amanda's not dead?"
He nodded. "That's right, lass. She'll be awake in no time. She's going to be just fine." This started Jess' tears all over again, but this time from relief. Once they had answered all her questions as best they could, without telling her about her own future, she quietly drifted off to sleep, this time in Methos' arms. It wasn't long after that when Amanda recovered. Richie, Methos and Duncan felt the stirring of her quickening, and knew she had come back. With her return to life, her first thoughts were of Jess.
"Duncan," she yelled from the bedroom, "Oh, God, Duncan." She ran into the living room, where the men where gathered, and spied Jess stirring in Methos' arms. When Jess saw her, she held out her arms to Amanda. Rushing over to the couch, Amanda grabbed the girl and hugged her close. "Thank God, you're all right. I wasn't sure you had gotten away. Thank God." Still hugging the girl, she started to rock her. "I am so glad you're all right. I was so scared."
The four men watching this were amazed. They'd never seen Amanda act like this. She was normally as far from maternal as a person could get. But she kept running her gaze over Jess' face, checking her over, and asking her if she was hurt. It took several minutes before she thought about the fact the Jess wasn't acting afraid to have seen her come back from the 'dead.' Lifting her eyes to Duncan, she saw him nod, and knew that the men had told Jess about immortals and the Game.
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Over the next few months, things settled into a routine for the group. At least, as routine as can be for two males trying to raise one teenage girl. Even with more than 5,000 years of experience between them, neither Methos or Mac was quite prepared to discuss sex with Jess. Even after living on the streets, she still had questions. Both men stammered and stuttered, trying to explain. It was Amanda that finally took pity on them, and gave Jess "The Talk." Neither man was sure exactly what Amanda said, but it was two days before Jess stopped laughing. Duncan could only hope Amanda had given her the PG-rated version, and hadn't used him as an example.
Methos' forger friend, Benny, hand-delivered guardianship papers and school transcripts for one Jessica Pierson MacLeod. It was decided that Jess would live with "Uncle Adam", since Duncan seemed to be attracting so many headhunters lately. But she spent equal amounts of her time between both Methos and Duncan, as well as with Joe, and,
when they were in town, Richie and Amanda. Jess settled into high school with ease, having for the first time, a safe, secure family to rely on. She made friends easily, and the smiles that graced her face more and more often lifted the spirits of everyone around her.
The next few years saw changes in everyone's life as Jess grew from a high-spirited adolescent, into a high-spirited young woman. When Jess turned 15, there was a great debate on whose duty it was to teach her to drive. Duncan wouldn't risk his precious Thunderbird, and Methos claimed he was not a good enough driver to teach anyone. So the honor fell to Joe, in an old klunker that Richie had picked up to work on in his spare time. By the time Joe was finished, not only did Jess know how to handle a car, but also how to handle any guy that got ideas about going into the backseat of one.
Still, everyone seemed content with the way things were. Jess kept up her grades, excelling in History and Science, although some arguments occurred about who should get credit for that. She developed a fondness for both opera music, and Queen's greatest hits, making both her uncles shake their heads in wonder. Thanks to Richie, she could strip a carburetor and tune-up an engine. Joe taught her how to play guitar, and to make a mean margarita. Amanda, being Amanda, taught her all about gems, although Jess did seem content with looking, not stealing. Duncan breathed a small sigh of relief at that. And Methos taught her a few phrases in several dead languages, although he didn't bother to let either Jess or Duncan know the phrases were actually curses bad enough to make an ancient sailor blush.
They saw Jess through her first day of high school, her first crush, her first traffic ticket, a broken arm, and several illnesses, including a bout with chicken pox that made them all itch just looking at her. They cheered her on when she was inducted into the National Honor Society, had the lead in the fall play, and won the District Championship in fencing. But there was one milestone in Jess' life that NOBODY wanted to miss-her first date.
The captain of the football team, Danny Ruther, had asked Jess out to the Fall Dance. Amanda helped her shop for a dress, and was helping her get ready before her date arrived. But the moment the bell rang, Amanda headed for the living room. She didn't want to miss one second of this scene.
Joe opened the door, and Danny came in, brash and confident as only a high school star athlete can be. He held out his hand to Joe, practically yanking his arm out of the socket when he shook his hand. But his smile faltered slightly when he turned to the other men, each of whom had a sword he was either sharpening or polishing. Danny swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.
"Good evening" he squeaked. He coughed, and tried again. "Good evening, sirs. I'm Danny, uh, Danny..."
"Ruther." Amanda chimed in.
"Yeah, Ruther." He smiled brilliantly at Amanda, clearly feeling much more at ease at having a woman around to charm. She graced him with a smile, and waited for Duncan and Methos to begin. Amanda had a feeling that they were going to make the Spanish Inquisition look like a cakewalk.
"I'm Jess' uncle, Duncan MacLeod. This is Richie, her cousin, and her Uncle Adam." Both men looked up from the swords in front of them, and nodded, but neither man smiled. Duncan continued, his own sword in his hand. "The man at the door is Joe Dawson, and this," he pulled Amanda close and tucked an arm around her waist, "is Amanda." His look clearly stated what he thought of Danny's charms.
"So," Richie started, "are you going straight to the dance?"
"No, we're meeting a few other couples at the pizza parlor first."
"Which pizza parlor would that be?" Methos inquired.
"The one on 17th St. Tony's Pizzeria."
"And how long do you plan to be there, before you head for the dance?" Joe asked.
"Um, about an hour, I guess. Then we'll head straight to the dance."
"You do have a full tank of gas, right? And you're car is in working order?" Richie knew all the moves, and this guy wasn't getting away with anything.
"Yeah, filled it up myself. And the car is brand new, a gift from my parents. It won't break down." Danny felt like he was in one of stupid police shows, where the cops fired questions at the bad guy to trip him up. Sheesh, these guys were protective.
Unsure of what other questions to ask, things got silent for a few minutes. Everyone figeted around. Finally, Amanda went to do a quick check on Jess, to see if she was ready yet. She came down a minute later, and said, "Five more minutes." Again it got quiet. Finally, Methos couldn't stand it anymore. Besides, he had a warning to deliver, and wanted to make sure Danny understood it.
"So, Danny, Jess says you play football. Is that right?" Methos asked, still polishing the blade of the sword. Richie just glared at the boy. He hadn't liked the football players when he was in school, and nothing he'd seen of this guy had altered his feelings.
"Yeah. I'm the quarterback on the varsity team. You ever play?"
"No," Methos said, "I've never been very athletic."
"Not everyone is," Danny said, his confidence returning when talk turned to his true love, football. "I've been playing ever since I can remember. Got my first football for my third birthday. Dad says you gotta start early, if you want to get anywhere. But, I guess some people just don't have the skills, no matter how hard they try." He knew he was babbling, but he was nervous. Usually, his date's fathers were overjoyed that he was taking their daughters out. They always wanted to talk football, treating him like a conquering hero. These guys didn't seem like they even understood the game, much less enjoyed it.
"I don't believe it was lack of skill, more a lack of ambition. I always had my nose stuck in some book." He looked down at the sword in his hands, seeming to concentrate on a smudge he'd neglected. "As a matter of fact, I came across an ancient text recently that was very fascinating. Would you like to hear about it?"
"Uh, sure, why not." Danny said, not really caring what some dusty old book said, but willing to humor a guy with a sword. He didn't see Amanda put her hand over her mouth, or see Joe grinning behind his back. Even Richie looked like he might crack a smile. Only Danny was ignorant of where this was leading.
"Do you know that the people that first populated the North American continent were very tight-knit? What clan you belonged to was one of the first questions asked of a stranger. Nothing was more important than family."
"Is that so?" Danny asked, his voice sounding like he'd heard this in a thousand history classes.
"Yes, that's so. Most clans were matriarcal. Everything was inherited through the women. Even the leadership was passed down from mother to daughter. The women were respected as the leaders of their families." He looked up. Danny nodded, trying to look interested, and failing. Methos smiled evilly. "Well, then you can guess how angry the clan would get if some man fooled around with a woman who wasn't his wife."
"I guess so."
Methos went back to polishing the gleaming blade of his sword. "Well, the text I found mentioned that a man from a neighboring village got a little too friendly with the leader's granddaughter during a celebration for the summer solstice. Put his hands where they shouldn't have been, if you know what I mean. Anyway, when the grandmother found out, she sent her warriors after the man. A trial was held, and he was found guilty by the village elders. As leader, the grandmother had to impose a sentence, one strong enough to remind everyone how terrible his crime was." Methos paused. "So you know what she did?"
Danny was silent, the look on his face reminiscent of someone who bit into an apple and found half a worm. Richie glanced at Methos, waiting for him to finish the "story" he was relating.
"She had him set out naked in the center of the village, for all to see. And her War Chief would take his war club, and with a mighty blow, he would..." Methos trailed off. In the silence, the immortals and Joe could hear Danny swallow in nervousness. Methos bowed to Amanda, his face expressionless, but she could see his eyes dancing with a mixture of humor and determination. "Forgive me," he continued, "I forgot there was a lady present. I really don't want to go into graphic detail and offend her. Let's just say that once it was over, everyone was certain the man wouldn't repeat his crime. After all, he was missing a few...essential...body parts." With this, Methos sprawled back onto the couch, laying the sword across his lap, and stared right at Danny, his mouth set into a grim line. Danny ran a finger nervously along his collar, pulling at it in an effort to get oxygen to his lungs.
They all seemed startled when the door to Jess' bedroom opened, and she stepped out, looking more grown-up than they'd ever seen her before. It took all of Duncan's willpower not to punch Danny in the nose, and lock Jess in her room for the next 10 years. He was torn between pride that she was turning into such a lovely young lady, and helplessness that his "little girl" was growing up. Methos was wearing a similar expression.
In an emerald green dress that flared around her legs when she walked, Jess moved into the room. Her gaze took in Danny's panicked expression, and the swords laid out, as if in preparation for a battle. Jess caught Amanda's eyes, and fought to stifle a grin. Looked like her uncles where going to demand that her date behave himself. If Joe and Amanda hadn't warned her about this beforehand, she'd have been mad as a wet hornet. But she couldn't find it in her heart to be mad at the two men who had given her nothing but a safe, secure home, filled with joy and laughter.
When Danny presented her corsage to her, it dawned on him that he would need to pin it to her dress. His gaze bounced back and forth from the corsage, to Jess, to the swords still in plain sight. Amanda finally had to take matters into her own hands, and took the corsage out of his hand, and pinned it to Jess' dress herself. She whispered in Jess' ear, and the girl chuckled softly.
Once the corsage was on, Danny and Jess moved towards the door, when Richie's voice stopped them. "What time does the dance end, Jess?"
"About 11."
Duncan and Methos exchanged a glance. "Be back here by 11:30.." Duncan trailed off when Amanda squeezed his arm warningly. He glanced down at her and she just raised her eyebrows. "Okay, maybe time for a soda afterwards. Say 12:30? Does that sound good to you, Adam?"
Methos didn't look happy, but he grudgingly gave in. "All right, 12:30. But be on time."
As soon as the door closed behind the pair, and Joe was certain they were a reasonable distance away, he busted out laughing, unable to contain himself any longer. Tears were rolling down his face, as he thought about the scare Methos had put into the boy with his story. Amanda was laughing, too, thinking how glad she was for waterproof mascara. But neither Duncan or Methos found the situation humorous. Duncan could be heard murmuring under his breath about removing a few body parts himself, if the boy even thought about trying anything. Richie just glared at the door the pair walked through, as if he could see if Danny were to get out of line. This only made Joe and Amanda laugh harder.
It was a long night for both Methos and Duncan, although Joe and Amanda did their best to distract the men. But when the phone range at midnight, everyone seemed reluctant to answer it. Finally, Duncan
picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Uncle Duncan, it's me. I need you to come get me."
Duncan's hand tightened on the receiver. "Jess, where are you? What's happened?"
"I'm at the hospital. I'M FINE, so don't worry. Just come down and pick me up, please."
"We'll be right there." Duncan hung up the phone. "Jess is at the hospital, she's fine, but wants us to pick her up. Let's go." They all trouped out the door.
When they arrived at the hospital, they found Jess easily, as she was standing just inside the doors to the emergency room. Methos rushed over, followed closely by the others. Methos hugged her, then felt Duncan pull her out of his arms and into his own. "What's happened?" "What's going on?" "Are you allright?" The questions were coming at
Jess so quick, she didn't have time to answer any of them. Finally she held up her hands, and the group was instantly quiet.
She took a deep breath. "I'm okay. We're not here because of me. Danny is the one the doctors are checking." The disgusted look on her face was proof that Danny had done something to upset her.
"I knew it!" Richie exclaimed, "I knew that guy was trouble. What did he do? Where's he at? I'm gonna kill him."
Jess restrained him. "You'll do no such thing. Now, calm down."
"What happened, lass?" Duncan asked, in as close to a normal tone of voice as he could manage.
"Danny decided to try out for the wrestling team. I wasn't in the mood to 'practice', and I let him know it."
Joe snorted, as he remembered Richie's boxing lessons. "How bad's he hurt, sweetie?"
"A busted nose, a fat lip, and from what the doctors say, he'll be sporting one hell of a black eye by tomorrow." Jess stated matter-of-factly, her smile one of self-satisfaction.
"I'm gonna kill him." Richie repeated.
"You're not going to touch him, do you hear me?"
Methos couldn't believe his ears. "Jess, why are you defending him?"
Jess crossed her arms over her chest, indignant. "Defending him, hell! Several people saw me punch the idiot. I don't want him to have the excuse that my uncles beat him up. I want to make sure everyone knows that I'm the one that bruised that pretty face of his. Understand?"
Methos and Duncan grinned for the first time that night. They looked at each other and shrugged, then exclaimed, "That's our girl."