The Heiress
Methos lazily awoke to the feeling of a cool breeze coming into the bedroom. By now the sun was up, and MacLeod was still gone he noted. Methos looked over at the clock, 9 in the morning, and he felt like he'd woken up fresh from a hundred year sleep. He heard the lift and felt the presence of an Immortal come up. MacLeod no doubt, Methos figured, but he was wrong.
"Mac?"
Methos looked and saw Richie push the lift's door up and enter the loft.
"He's not here, Richie, what do you want?" Methos asked.
"Hey Methos, I didn't know you'd gotten back to town," Richie said.
"Funny, that seems to be the story of the week, now what do you want?"
"Ah forget it, I'll come back later."
Methos saw Richie turn back to the elevator and realized he'd come off sounding bitter when he wasn't, and he said, "Oh come back here. You didn't deserve that, you're a good kid."
"Hey," Richie warned, he didn't like anybody calling him that.
"Sorry."
Now Methos was trying to figure out why he was being nice to Richie. He tried to think, all he could come up with was a vague memory from his dream that somehow had involved Richie, but he couldn't quite figure out what it was.
"You look pretty bad, Methos," Richie noted, "Are you allright?"
"I'm feeling much better now, but I had a rough night."
"Where's Mac?"
Methos shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine, I last saw him when he went out on his run."
"Well, I think I'll wait for him, I gotta talk to him about something."
"What is it?" Methos asked as he got himself out of the bed and started pulling the covers into place.
Richie started to answer but decided against it, "So when'd you get back to town?"
"About a month ago."
"Where've you been all this time?"
"In mourning…I trust MacLeod told you all about what happened."
"Part of it, not much."
Methos straightened out the pillows and put them back in place, "What did he tell you about Kronos?"
"I don't know, he didn't talk much about the whole thing at all."
"And I suppose you want all the dreary details from me."
"You don't have to."
"No, I don't…and I'm sick of it. I've had to keep that part of my life secret from everybody I've known since I left them 2,000 years ago."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Richie asked.
"No," Methos responded, then said, "Yes…I don't know, I'd like to try to explain it for what it was before we became what history remembers us as. I don't know that it's a matter of want anymore, I need to talk to somebody about it or I think I'll go crazy…and you," he turned to Richie, "You're not like MacLeod."
"I try not to be too much."
"He's trying but he can't understand it no matter what he might say," Methos said, "You, you're still young enough that you haven't become judgmental and holier than thou…I admire that."
"I knew somebody else who did too," Richie said.
"Who?"
"Somebody I knew before I moved in with Mac and Tessa, he was a lot like you now that I think of it."
Methos looked at Richie. Those words seem to strike a bell somewhere in him but he couldn't make the connection.
"So do you?" Methos asked.
"Do I what?"
"Want to hear about Kronos?"
"If you want to…"
"You better start growing a backbone Richie or you won't last long," Methos said, "Have you eaten already?"
"Yeah."
"Well I'm going to the kitchen, I feel like I haven't eaten in a month."
"You look the part too."
"I said grow a backbone, not sarcasm."
Richie followed Methos to the kitchen where Methos decided to finally tell the sordid story of his past, at least so much as he was willing to tell.
"I'm so old I can't remember how long I've walked this earth, I certainly can't tell where to begin this, other than where Kronos first came about…I don't trust you know much about ancient history, Richie…truth be told they can't tell it right anymore anyway. Well, when Kronos found me, I was a slave who was treated worse than a dog, tied up in the middle of the ground, frozen by winter, burnt by summer and starved all through the years."
"If you were tied up all that time, what'd he keep you for?" Richie asked.
Methos turned to stare Richie in the eyes, "I don't really have to answer that one, do I?"
A realization came over Richie, "I guess not, so what happened?"
"Kronos and Silas came one day, I thought they were just a couple more customers, but instead, they gave me my freedom, in so I went with them and lived again, I became stronger through time, and I lived to fight another day. I've tried to explain it to MacLeod, I've tried to explain it to Joe…I can't explain it to them though, they can't understand."
"Understand what?" Richie asked.
Methos looked at Richie and had to laugh, youth was always amusing, especially with their naïveness and curiosity. "Understand that we were not always the demons and monsters that Cassandra made us out to be. In the beginning things were different. After being a slave for as long as I had been, I was a mess, and Kronos was the only one who could put up with me long enough to bring me out of it. That part of him I never forgot…the self proclaimed end of time that I saw at the submarine base could never have put up with me as long as he did and as patiently as he did without killing me to end both our misery."
He groaned and seated himself at the table across from Richie, "I don't know what changed him, Richie. I don't even know what changed myself…but two thousand years come and go and I changed again, I changed, I hope, for the better. I couldn't stand what we were anymore, so I left…Kronos came after me, he would've killed me, but I got away. I hoped I'd never see him again because I doubted he could change or he would even want to. He didn't, and when he showed up a few months ago, the nightmare continued, only this time when I saw him, he was even worse than before and I never thought that possible. I don't know what was the final turning point in him. I've spent a better part of my life trying to figure it out. I've never been able to determine if it was because of something I did or something I didn't do or if it was because I left him…and this morning I decided it doesn't matter anymore because it's over. I finally decided that I've wanted my own life for two thousand years, and now that I've buried my brothers, I can really get around to it, without having to worry about Kronos finding me again."
Richie listened to every word Methos said and didn't so much as breathe loudly until Methos had finished talking. "Oh man, Methos, I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it, it's over…finally it's over. Now it's time to move on in life and that's just what I intend to do. I'm just glad I'm still welcome here after what's gone on."
"Well we're sure glad to see you again," Richie said, "We were worried about you for the longest time."
"So I've heard, and I have to say, after everything I've been through, it's good to be back."
It was near noon and Methos was starting to wonder if he ought to worry about MacLeod being gone so long. He thought back to early this morning, it was sometime after 5 o' clock when he had left, and this was nearly seven hours later…of course he had to remind himself he'd been gone three months, during which time it was possible for anything to happen in MacLeod's life that was different from before.
He'd gotten up himself about three hours ago, after which he ate, and after his stomach finished cramping, he took an hour long bath and let all the dirt and grime soak off of his skin and it gave him a heightened feeling of being alive again. Really alive, not like the zombie he had been for the last few months.
Now while Methos tried to decide what to do while he waited for MacLeod to return, he looked over at Richie, who sometime during the day had also gotten tired of waiting for MacLeod to return, and had fallen asleep on the couch. Methos had to laugh, Richie was curled into a ball on the couch and looked almost cute. That made him start to wonder what Richie looked like as a child, and then he wondered where the hell that thought came from. Oddly enough though, he thought he could picture what Richie looked like when he was little, and the image that came into his mind was a funny one, a little boy with big blue eyes and a mop of frizzy red curls. Now he was really wondering where the hell that idea was coming from.
Suddenly he became aware of the two blue eyes looking up at him, "What is it?" Richie asked.
Methos smiled and took a step back, "Nothing."
Richie looked over at the clock, "Mac's been gone a long time hasn't he?"
"Yes he has."
"You think he's okay?"
"Yes."
A moment later they heard the lift start and they felt another Immortal coming. A minute later, Duncan MacLeod emerged into the loft, looking surprised to see the two of them there. "Methos, Richie…"
"And just where have you been?" Methos asked.
"I stopped to talk to Joe and tell him what happened," Duncan explained.
"What did happen?" Methos asked.
"You came back," Duncan answered, "And you're allright now."
"As well as I can be anyway."
"Mac," Richie said as he got up from the couch, "I gotta talk to you about something."
"What is it?"
"It's…kind of private, Methos, do you mind?"
With a coy look, Methos moved to get his coat, "Not at all, I should be going anyway."
"What about your sword?" Richie asked.
"That's part of why I must be going, I left it at my apartment if my memory serves."
"What?"
"Don't sound so surprised, the way I was feeling last night I'm surprised I managed to get out of the apartment at all," Methos said.
"But Methos…" Richie started.
"Don't worry about me, I'll leave you two to whatever it is you need to discuss."
"Take care of yourself," Duncan said.
"I always do," Methos replied as he headed out the door and down the stairs.
"I'm worried about him, Mac," Richie said.
"So am I," Duncan admitted, "Joe told me that Cassandra's Watcher has spotted her back in town."
"Yeah, that's what I need to talk to you about," Richie told him, "Joe told me about that too, and earlier today I went over to Methos' apartment to see if he was there to warn him, but somebody was already there. It was an Immortal, a woman…I don't know if she'd be Cassandra but I didn't know…Methos wasn't there and his apartment was locked so I came here."
"You saw this woman?"
"Yes."
"What'd she look like?" Duncan asked.
"I…I didn't get too good a look at her, she was…I don't know I guess regular height, she had long dark hair…"
Now Duncan was really worried. "Do you think she'd still be there?"
"I don't think so, when she found out he wasn't there, she left…I followed her for a bit but I lost her when she went into a crowd."
"Do you think she was looking for a challenge?"
"I don't know…she's obviously not a headhunter, I mean she saw me and didn't try anything."
"She didn't say anything to you?"
"No, nothing," Richie replied, "I was going to tell Methos but I thought with him here with us, and with him just getting back to normal, we wouldn't have to tell him right away. I didn't think he'd leave like that, Mac, and when he did I just froze, I couldn't think."
"He can't have gotten too far already," Duncan said.
"You want me to follow Methos?" Richie asked.
"That might be a good idea," Duncan said, "He's not in the best position right now if somebody is after him."
"I'm on it," Richie grabbed his jacket and ran to the lift, "Later, Mac."
"Watch yourself," Duncan told him.
"Always."
After Richie left, Duncan felt a pins and needles sensation in the back of his neck and head. For the time being there wasn't anything he could do, and the suspense would kill him before he found out anything.
Half an hour later, he jumped when the phone rang. He answered, "Hello?"
"Really, MacLeod," Methos said in a tone most not amused, "I appreciate your concern for me but if there's one thing I don't need, it's the kid following me home like a lost puppy."
"Are you okay?"
"I'd be better if a certain Scottish baby would take a hint when to leave me alone."
"Okay, I'm sorry, but..."
"Well you should be, I'm over 5000 years old, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I'll talk to you later, goodbye."
He was alive, he was still a royal pain in the ass, but he was allright, thank God, he was allright. By now Richie had to have told him what was going on, so now he knew. Duncan hung up the phone and tried to breathe.
A couple hours later, Duncan headed downstairs and fate seemed to have it in for him today because he felt another Immortal nearby. He turned and saw somebody enter, it was a woman. At first glance he thought it was Cassandra, but as she stepped further into the building he saw she was not Cassandra at all, but a woman he had never seen before. She stood at an irregular height, not tall but not short either; her hair was long and dark but tended more towards the reddish-brown shade of color. She was dressed irregularly as well, in a light gray jacket, a white T-shirt and a long and wide pink skirt and white sneakers.
"Are you Adam Pierson?" she asked.
So this was the woman Richie had seen earlier, and what was to happen now?
"No I'm not," he replied, "May I help you?"
"I'm looking for Adam Pierson," she said, "Do you know where I might find him?"
"What do you want with him?" Duncan asked.
"He's the attorney handling my late husband's estate," she reached into a small brown bag she had with her and took out some papers, "I have the legal papers right here, and Adam Pierson's name is on them as the attorney appointed."
Duncan took the papers and looked them over, they looked authentic and they did have Adam's name on them, but something was the matter. An attorney was supposed to have these papers originally, not the heir, so where did they come from that she got them and didn't know who the lawyer was? What did it all mean?
"Do you know him, Mister…"
"Duncan MacLeod," he answered, "Yes I do know him. How did you get these papers?"
"They were mailed to me by an anonymous source, so I looked up where an Adam Pierson was living in this town. I went to his apartment earlier but his landlord told me he was out. Then he told me of a blues bar that he often frequented, so I went there and couldn't find him again. The bartender told me that he sometimes comes here, do you know where I could find him?"
Duncan didn't know what to say, he looked over the papers again and was at a loss. "I'll see if I can get him, you might take a seat," he said.
He went over to the phone and dialed Methos' number, it rang once, twice, three times…
"Pierson."
With a sigh of relief, MacLeod answered low enough so the woman wouldn't hear, "There's a woman here for you."
"What?"
"She just walked in asking for Adam Pierson…she's one of us."
"Not Cassandra, I trust."
"I've never seen her before," Duncan replied, "But she says you're the attorney handling the estate of her late husband, she has legal papers including the will saying they were mailed to her, your name's on them as the attorney."
There was a momentary silence, "I haven't been an attorney for…never mind, do you think you can keep her there for a while?"
"She's been going all over town today looking for you," Duncan answered, "I don't think she's going anywhere soon."
"Allright, keep her occupied and I'll come over when I can and find out what this is all about."
"Okay, goodbye."
Duncan hung up and went back to his guest, "Adam says he'll be over in a little while. Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime, Miss?"
"My name is Jewell Zamora."
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise I'm sure, has this Adam Pierson been a friend of yours for long?"
"A few years."
"I never knew him."
"Oh, were you and your husband separated?" Duncan asked.
"You could say that."
"How long ago did he…pass?"
"About…three months ago I believe it was," she replied, "To be honest, I didn't know he was dead until I got this in the mail."
"I'm terribly sorry."
"Don't be…I find it hard myself to be in mourning since I hadn't seen him for a long time."
"How long were you two married?" he asked.
"Oh…" she giggled, "Longer than you've been alive I'm willing to bet."
Well this was amusing but Duncan hoped Methos got there soon to settle whatever was going on.
One hour passed into two, and two into three, so on until it was after 6 o' clock in the evening and Methos still hadn't shown. Duncan looked out the window to see if he was anywhere in sight. His guest had fallen asleep on the couch waiting for him, and he hoped she didn't wake up until Methos got there. During the four hours they waited, they had very little to talk about, through it all Duncan hadn't even been able to figure out how old she was.
Finally, the answer to a prayer, the buzz of an oncoming Immortal, that was enough to wake his guest.
"Is that Adam Pierson?" she asked as she got up.
Duncan watched Methos come up the stairs to the loft, "Yes it is."
"Sorry I'm late, MacLeod, I was held up for a while, so what's going on here?" Methos asked as he entered the room.
The woman turned around and looked as Duncan tried to explain the best he could, "Adam, this is…"
"Methos!" the woman exclaimed, "Oh my God, Methos, is that really you?"
The woman jumped off the couch and ran over to Methos, she jumped into his arms and grabbed him around the neck.
"Jezebel, I don't believe it," Methos replied.
"You cut your hair," she observed.
"You grew yours back," he replied.
"It's great to see you again, Methos," she said.
"I haven't seen you for the longest time," he said. Then a sudden realization hit him, "Oh no, you're…"
"What just happened here?" Duncan asked.
Awkwardly, Methos put Jezebel back on the ground and tried to figure out how to explain this mess. "Duncan MacLeod, this is a very old and good friend of mine, Jezebel…" he turned to her, "I trust you've met Duncan MacLeod already."
"Does he know?" Jezebel asked.
"Some."
"Enough?"
"Not quite," Methos replied.
He turned back to Duncan and tried to explain what was happening here, but Jezebel did it for him.
She took a step forward from Methos, looked MacLeod straight in the eyes and explained, "Kronos was my husband, Mister MacLeod…and, it would seem he appointed Methos as his attorney."
"Oh well that makes a lot of…what!?"
And with that, Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod, 400 year old warrior from Scotland, fainted.
"Does he do that often?" Jezebel asked Methos.
"Oh Jezebel," Methos said, "This one is going to take a lot of explaining on both our parts, you realize that don't you?"
"Yes, but Methos…"
"Hmm?" he turned to face her.
"I am glad to see you again, it's been so long."
"Yes," he agreed as he wrapped his arm around her, "So long, so unbelievably long."
"Well I'm glad that you are the attorney appointed for this whole mess, saves me the trouble of tracking you down to tell you what you already know," Jezebel said, "How long have you known Kronos was dead?"
Methos looked her in the eyes and answered with every ounce of honesty in him, "I was with Kronos the night he died."
"How horrible it must've been for you…I miss him, Methos."
"So do I," he replied. He just didn't have the heart to tell Jezebel the rest of the truth which was that he was responsible for her husband's murder.