AN- OK, so I admit it. I didn't feel like I was quite finished with Richie's punishment and I had some ideas about what might happen if Richie broke one of the rules, but no real direction until Southern Chickie and I got to talking about it and all at once things fell into place. So, thanks for the input SC! I know, I said I wasn't gonna write it yet, but its been bugging me all day!

This is set just after Richie's Birthday. Before they move to France in Rite of Passage.

***

Richie pushed his bike quietly into the alley. Glancing up at the windows, he saw, with no small measure of relief that all the windows were dark. Maybe, the patron saint of terminally stupid teenagers had smiled on him and the couple had gone to bed early and not noticed that he was almost four hours past curfew.

Yeah, right.

But at least he wouldn't have to endure any lectures until he'd had a few hours sleep.

Still, better not to take any chances.

Using all of his skills, Richie moved silently through the apartment, slipping into his bedroom, he closed the door behind him and leant back against it, to expel an audible sigh of relief.

Only then did he turn on the light.

And jumped two feet in the air, at the sight of Tessa sleeping on his bed.

Even as she stirred, Richie's panic increased, he could only think of one reason that Tessa was sleeping on his bed.

Mac wasn't there.

And he could only think of one reason that Mac wasn't there at this time in the morning.

"Richie .." Tessa sat up.

"Tess, What happened? Who was it? Did they come here? How long has Mac been gone?" he fired questions at her, without giving her change to answer.

"Richie! Enough!" she protested, still groggy from sleep.

"Sorry, Tess .." Richie apologised. He decided to start with the simplest first. "How long has Mac been gone?"

"About two hours ..," Tessa cocked her head. "That will be him now."

"We hope." Richie edged back from the door, determined to protect Tessa if need be.

It was.

"Mac!" Richie rushed towards him. "Are you OK? Did you get the guy? Are you OK? What am I talking about, of course, you're OK."

"Oh, I'm far from OK." Duncan vowed.

"You are? Did he get you?" Richie worried. He started searching the Immortals for cuts and slashes. "How bad is it?"

"Easy, Rich," Duncan caught both his hands and gently held him in place. "I'm fine."

"But you said .." Richie looked at him wide eyed. "I thought the guy had got you .."

"There was no challenge, Richie." Duncan eyed him steadily.

"Jeez Mac, give a guy a heart attack why don't you?" Richie sagged. "You had me worried, there."

"Good." Duncan said flatly.

Richie did a double-take, surely he had mis-heard? "Good?" he choked out. "What's good about me worrying that you might be lying somewhere out there, sliced up into little itty bitty bits?"

"It might help you understand what we have been going through." Duncan glanced meaningfully at the clock.

Richie froze.

In his worry about the Immortal he had completely forgotten about his own, little spot of bother.

"Oh." He managed.

"Oh, indeed," Tessa scolded. "I have been phoning the Hospitals in case you were hurt, do you know this?"

Richie pressed his lips together. He hadn't meant to worry them.

"And, Duncan could not rest, he has been out looking for you." Tessa put her hands on her hips.

Richie looked from one to the other. They did not look pleased.

They also looked tired, and worried, and upset.

He thought about all the arguments and excuses that he could muster. And he couldn't bring himself to use any of them.

"I'm sorry," he began. "I meant to be home on time .."

"Meant to?" Tessa scolded. "This is not good enough."

"Not when you're almost four hours late." Duncan murmured.

"I guess .. I was just having too good a time .." he apologised.

"You couldn't have looked at your watch?" Duncan nodded at his wrist.

"Or at least called us, to let us know that you were safe?" Tessa asked.

"I'm sorry." Richie didn't know what else to say. He sighed.

Duncan's nose twitched, and Richie's heart stilled.

"Have you been drinking?"

"Just a couple of beers. It was Gary's birthday." Richie protested.

"It's against the law." Duncan countered.

"Its not like I haven't done it before." Richie tried.

"You really want to go there?" Duncan arched a brow.

Richie swallowed. He wasn't sure he wanted to imagine all the things that the Scot might have done in his lifetime that were presently against the law. He was sure it wasn't pretty.

"I guess not." He shook his head. Only to bring it up sharply again. "But you never said I couldn't drink. It wasn't on the list." He pointed out.

Duncan gave him a long, level stare.

"Alright," Richie caved. "I shoulda known better."

There was a small silence in the room.

Richie hunched his shoulders and looked at his feet. He knew that he had disappointed them. Again. Twice in two weeks wasn't exactly a record for him. Far from it in fact. But the hard part was, this time he genuinely hadn't meant to break the couple's rules. It had just happened. Miserably he sank down next to Tessa on his bed.

"You guys are pretty mad at me, huh?" he managed in a small voice..

"You screwed up Rich." Duncan shook his head.

"We trusted you to keep your part of the bargain and you abused that trust." Tessa put in.

"I didn't mean to." Richie assured her earnestly, feeling close to tears.

"We know you didn't mean to Tough Guy," Duncan's warm hand on his shoulder surprised him. "You just made a few mistakes. Its all part of growing up."

"It is to be expected." Tessa agreed softly, taking his hand.

"I'm sorry," Richie said, again. "I just didn't think .."

He bit his lip and decided the only thing he could do to win back the couple's approval was to take responsibility for his actions.

"So, what's my punishment, huh?"

"You want us to punish you?" Richie didn't miss the faint surprise in Tessa's voice.

"I deserve it." Richie looked up, but it was Mac's eyes he sought.

Duncan's stern expression didn't waver, but Richie thought he caught a hint of pride in his eyes.

"And what do you think would be a suitable punishment?" he asked.

"Oh Mac, please don't make me choose my own punishment again," Richie begged. "That totally sucked. You guys decide."

Duncan looked over at Tessa,. They had both felt that Richie's attempt to be the worlds most perfect child had been more of an ordeal for the lad than anything they would have inflicted on him.

"And you're OK with that?" Duncan asked carefully.

"Yes." Richie nodded seriously. "You guys have been great .. more than great. I know you won't like .. really hurt me or anything."

Duncan looked over at Tessa and said something in rapid, fluent, French. Her eyes widened and she made some response, obviously seeking clarification, Duncan shrugged and said something that was clearly acceptable, because Tessa nodded.

Richie hoped he wasn't going to like to regret this.

 "Alright," Duncan declared "You've proved that you're not responsible enough to be let out of my sight. You don't get to be out of my sight."

"What?" Richie blinked.

"You heard me," Duncan shrugged. "Wherever I go, you come too. And you don't get to go anywhere without me. Period."

"For how long?" Richie managed.

"Until you prove that you can be responsible." Duncan stated.

"How am I supposed to prove that I can be responsible, if all I am doing is follow you around all day?" Richie argued.

"Because," Duncan reasoned. "You'll be doing as you are told."

"What if I need to go to the bathroom?" Richie demanded. Then another thought occurred to him. "What if you need to go to the bathroom?"

"Richie."

The tone of the Immortal's voice suggested that he was testing the limits of his patience.

"OK. OK." Richie held up his hands. "We'll do it you way."

"You better believe it, Tough Guy." Duncan said with a tight grin as he reached over and pulled Tessa to her feet.

"You're not gonna wake me at the crack of dawn are you?" Richie asked nervously.

"Night Rich." Duncan slipped a hand around his head and pulled him in to kiss the top of his head.

"Tessa?" Richie appealed.

"Good Night Richie." She kissed his cheek. "See you in the morning."

"Guys .." Richie wailed, sinking down on the bed.

"Get to bed Richie," Duncan's voice floated back. "You've got a long day tomorrow."