written by: C.J. Davis cnddavis@yahoo.com
thanks to my beta readers: Daisy, Anita, Sarah, Robert; You folks are wonderful!! Therefore any erros left in this manuscript are purely the fault of the author (and maybe a muse or two)
This is of course a fan fic so all disclaimers apply.
Methos, Joe, Amanda, and Duncan are the Highlander Characters, Elissa and Evan come from my own twisted imagination. This fic contains some refrences to abuse; nothing graphic mostly implied.


Summary: A friend of Joe's finds herself being stalked by her abusive ex-husband; who also is a fellow watcher. Can she find the courage to face him?
And without further adieu:



Slivers of the Past


Elissa opened her cell phone and started dialing. She just as quickly shut it and proceeded to pound the plastic device against the steering wheel."This IS NOT happening to me!" She growled through clenched teeth as she watched the passing cars through the rain-splattered windshield of her vehicle. Once again she searched through her small dufflebag in the hope of finding her spare umbrella. "I am such a blonde!" She exclaimed at her reflection in the rear view mirror. Seacouver in January was normally wet but she had packed her umbrella and coat into her checked baggage. At the time she thought it was a good idea assuming if she needed either of them she'd just get it out of the side pocket of her garment bag and voila instant protection from the elements."But noo, the airport had to lose my luggage!" She told herlself for the umpteenth time. "And of course, now I have a flat tire and no spare. Isn't this convenient!"
Once again she checked her cell phone. According to the phone everything should be in working order. She stepped out of the car as a last resort to see if the signal would be any better. It was. She shook her head as she dialed the rental car company's number. Of course it would take her getting wet for her cell phone to work. Murphy's Law was definitely in working order in her life.
A few minutes later she was sitting in the car once again. This time she was riffling through her purse looking for the address book. Finally in frustration she dumped her purse and found the book at the very bottom. Once again she stepped outside into the Seacover night and dialed a number. After the third ring the phone was answered. A voice she didn't recognize with some sort of an accent answered.
"May I please speak with Joseph Dawson?" She asked in her best professional voice.
With in Seconds the gruff voice she remembered was on the line.
"Uncle Joe, it's me, Elissa."
"Lisey, long time no hear! How's it going?"
"Wet." she stated matter of factly.
"Really? Well it's raining here too." he commented conversationally.
"I know." She responded quietly.
"Oh, been watching the weather again have we?"
"No, I'm here, Uncle Joe."
"You're what?" He questioned, suprise lacing his gruff voice.
"I'm here!" she exclaimed barely able to suppress the satisfied smile at suprising him.
"When did you get here?"
"About an hour ago." She took a breath, "Look, I'll be happy to tell you all about it when I see you, but right now I need a favor."
"Sure! Name it!"
"My rental car broke down on me and I'm stranded. They're sending out a tow truck for me but they don't have another car for me 'til tomorrow due to all the conventions in town.
"Sure, I can send someone to come get you."
"You can't come and get me yourself?"
"Lisey, it's eight o'clock on a Friday night and my band plays first."
"Oh, okay." she mumbled.
"I'll send a good friend of mine okay? You won't have anything to worry about."
"Okay as long as you vouch for him. I'm at the ten-mile marker on the 510. When your friend gets here tell him to either look for the royal blue Ford Taurus and the marker or the woman who's soaked to the bone."
"Will do."
"Thanks Uncle Joe."
"Hey the least I can do!"With that they hung up.


Elissa sat in the car and waited. She was cold and once again was admonishing herself for wearing a silk blouse and skirt and NOT carrying her trench coat onto the plane when the tow truck arrived. She grabbed her duffle bag and briefcase out of the car and stood beside the guardrail. The kindly looking bearded man studied her drenched figure.
"Anyplace I can take you?" he asked, concern evident in his tenor voice.
"I have someone coming to pick me up." Elissa replied, her grip tightening on her briefcase and duffle bag.
"You're going to catch yourself a cold."
She smiled stiffly, "Trust me I'll be fine."
"Why don't you sit in the truck and we'll wait for your ride? My wife would skin me alive if she found out I had left a tourist standing outside in this weather. Especially since it's supposed to start freezing here soon."
Elissa replied nervously, "Oh you needn't trouble yourself."
"What are you doing out in the elements without your coat or umbrella anyway?"
"The airport lost my luggage."
"Oh. Looks like you have been having quite a day."
"Oh yes, quite."
Just then a black or maybe very dark blue older model ford pulled off to the side of the freeway,a few feet in back of the tow truck. Elissa couldn't be exact on the coloring due to the night sky and the orange glow from the lights overhead. A tall dark haired man emerged from the vehicle and walked towards them.
"Elissa McAllister?" he asked a strong accent lacing his voice.
Elissa smiled, "Yes, you must be Joe's friend." She held out her hand. He took it and gently kissed the knuckles.
"I'm Duncan MacLeod."
She blushed in spite of herself. She turned to the tow truck driver."Thank you for your kindness." She reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. "How much do I owe you?"
"The rental company is paying for it, Miss. Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"I'll be fine. Thank you." She hurriedly placed her bag in the trunk of Duncan's car and stood awkwardly aside as he opened the door for her. "Thank you," she mumbled.
Duncan pulled out into traffic. "So I take it you are new to Seacouver?" he remarked.
She smiled, "No I went to school here."
"So you know about the weather." he smiled as he said it.
She rolled her eyes, "My coat and umbrella were packed in my checked baggage which the airlines so kindly lost." She saw him open his mouth to say something, "Look," she cut in before a sound escaped his lips, "I was trying to lighten my carry on load and thought if I just folded everything up and put it away if I needed it I could get it once I got my bags. "
Duncan turned up the heater in the T-Bird. "You're going to catch a cold, you know this."
"A cold never hurt anyone. Besides, I'm more upset over the rental."
"Why?" he asked curiously.
"Because I was going to suprise Uncle Joe. But alas the best laid plans of mice and men--"
Duncan smiled, "He was suprised enough as it is."
"Yes but I wanted to see his face when he saw me not suprise him by a phone call!" She chuckled.
"Well at least you weren't in an accident."
"Very true."
He turned off the freeway and headed down a street littered with bars and warehouses, "How do you know Joe?"
" I met him when I was going to college here."
"I see."
"It was when he was running a book store, before he bought the bar. He saw me there an awful lot buying books and researching."
"Researching?" he asked, his thick black eyebrown knitting together.
"I was a history and English major. I was usually at the bookstore every weekend."
"A double major? How long did it take for you to get through college?"
"Six years." she drawled.
"I guess you like to read."
"Actually I love to read and write." she responded passionantly.

Duncan parked the car in a parking lot across the street from a bar with a neon sign that proudly proclaimed, "JOE'S"
"We're here." he commented.
Duncan went around to open Elissa's door and found her standing in the rain beside the trunk waiting on him, "I was going to get your door for you."
"I can get my own door, thank you." she commented a bit cooly.
He grabbed the duffle and placed the strap over his shoulder.
"I can get that you know," she replied, a might picqued.
"I know. " He smirked and started to walk across the street.
Elissa caught up to him and they walked into the bar together. Smoke assaulted Elissa's eyes and noise and music assaulted her ears. She looked over to see Joe standing at the far end of the bar and talking to a dark haired man and a woman with glossy brown hair. The two turned around and looked at her and Duncan and smiled. Joe's face cracked into a big grin. Elissa made her way through the crowd to the bar.
"Duncan, looks like you found a drowned rat," the older looking man commented as Duncan placed the bag at Elissa's feet.
"Gee thanks, Uncle Joe. You haven't seen me in eight years and that's all you've got to say for yourself?" Elissa grinned.
"Hey it's not my fault someone didn't wear their coat." Joe commented nonchalantly.
"Yeah well let's just say that if I had it I'd be wearing it."
He chuckled. "Let me introduce you to my friends. Duncan you've met, this is Amanda," he gestured to the dark haired woman. Elissa smiled and clasped the proffered hand., "And this is Adam Pierson," Elissa shook his hand as well and noticed he returned her smile with a smirk. "Now that we have that out of the way, would you like your usual?"
"Well first let me get changed. Let's just say silk leaves little to the imagination when it's wet. Then I'll be more conversational."
"You can change in the office, it's the first door on the right."
She nodded affirmation as she grabbed her duffle bag and walked off.

Amanda wrapped an arm around Duncan's waist. "I'm sure you were admiring the view." She chided with a grin.
"I'm a gentleman, --" Adam who had just taken a drink of beer spluttered. Amanda laughed, slugging Duncan on the arm. Duncan feigned innocence.
Adam smiled, "Look, MacLeod a gentleman you may be but I have never seen you look away from a beautiful woman."
"Oh and you didn't notice her at all?" Duncan countered.
"I never said that. But I'm not the one that claims to be a gentleman either." He countered in his clipped British accent.
The Amanda cleared her throat and tilted her head toward the hall. Everyone stared as the woman in question sidled up to the bar.
"Okay, I feel much better." She commented as she finished rolling up the cuffs of her teal green shirt.
"So you want your usual?" Joe asked.
She smiled, "Actually, just a cup of coffee."
"Cream and sugar?"
"Black."
He stared at her a moment. "Times have changed," he commented.
Adam rose from the stool dug in a pocket and flipped some coins onto the counter, "Nice meeting you, Elissa, if your a friend of Joe's I'm sure I'll be seeing you." With that he sauntered out the door. Amanda and Duncan exchanged a look. Joe came back with Elissa's coffee and noticed the change by the beer mug.
"Well that's odd." He commented.
Elissa took a sip of her coffee, "What's odd?"
"He never pays." Joe put the change in his change jar, "Oh well, So Elissa, what brings you to town?"
"Actually I'm moving here."
"Really?"
She smiled self-consciously, "Yes really." After yet another sip of coffee she met Joes twinkling eyes, "I got a job at the university if you can believe that."
"I work there, so does Adam." Duncan interjected.
"What do you teach?" she asked, raising an inquiring eyebrow.
"I teach a self defense course up there twice a week."
"Sounds like fun."
"Alot of the girls take it for the physical ed credit."
"I can imagine why." She commented under her breath sharing a conspirital glance with Amanda. The other woman smiled her eyes twinkling.
"So what will you be teaching?" Joe asked.
"Creative writing."
Joe smiled, "You never were one to like the main stream courses."
"Well they wanted me to teach English too but I told them it was Creative writing or nothing. I want some leeway. I hate guidelinesmuch less being confined to rules. I like some leeway."
"Boy do I remember!" Joe said with a far off look in his eye and a grin on his face. " you and deadlines didn't mix!"
"Hey not my fault I was born under the sign of procrastination!" Elissa said with a chuckle. She reached into her briefcase and pulled out a book, which she laid reverently on the bar, "Speaking of procrastination, this is for you."
Joe took it and looked at the cover it had a mirror with three people looking in but instead of their reflections the mirror showed a mountain meadow with a full moon being reflected on a lake. Joe looked up at her, "Is this what I think it is?"
Elissa was biting her lower lip and holding her coffee mug in between her two slightly trembling hands, "Yeah, I finally did it."
Joe clasped her hand, "When did this happen?"
A shy smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, "It's been out about three weeks. I hope you like it."
Amanda reached over and turned the book towards her, "Wait a minute! Duncan, this is the book I bought last week!"
Duncan gave her a blank look.
"You know the book!"
Duncan started to nod his head as if he knew what she was talking about but realized he really and truly had no clue.
Amanda looked at him, "Duncan come on the one I said you could have been Quintan?"
"Oh. Oh that book!" Duncan exclaimed as the light dawned. "Amanda read me parts of it, you have talent with words."
Elissa smiled, "Thank you."
Amanda eyed her a moment, "You know you could have used Duncan for the spitting image of Quintan. Grant it the personality is different but the physical characteristics were identical. Joe didn't happen to give you some hints did he?"
Elissa blushed, "Mr. MacLeod,--"
"Duncan. Please."
Her blush deepened, "Okay, Duncan, no offense to you but Quintan is from my own imagination."
"I like your imagination! I think you and I need to go shopping tomorrow with Duncan's credit card so I can pick your imagination some more!" Amanda commented.
"I don't know about that."
"Oh he doesn't mind I do it all the time!"
"Maybe." Elissa mumbled.
Joe rescued her, "Elissa really doesn't like to go shopping Amanda, but I'm sure she'll think about it so maybe you could show her the sights."
"Oh yes we could go for coffee and gossip the afternoon away."
"Well I do need to do a bit of shopping, but I have my own money."
"Fine, fine, more for me that way!" Amanda smiled mischeviously.

Elissa chit chatted for a bit more and looked at her watch it was ten o'clock. "Uncle Joe, mind if I borrow your phone?"
"Go right ahead, but if you want peace and quiet you might try the one in the office."
"Thanks." she said as she hurried down the hall.

Joe watched her go into the office then turned to Duncan and Amanda, "So what do you think?"
"She seems very nice, Joe."
"I hear a but coming."
"She seems skittish." Duncan replied.
Joe looked down the hall, making sure the door was still closed, "It's not my story to tell, okay? I will say this, she's a good person; would bend over backward for you if you're a friend. But she's had supposed friends really screw with her so she's a hermit. She tried to cut herself off from the world. I'm actually pretty shocked to find out she's moving here but, as I said, not my story to tell. Just give her a chance, she'll thaw out."
Amanda looked like she was about to interrogate Joe when Elissa came and sat down again. Her jaw was clenched and there was a tension to her posture. Joe looked at her, "Something wrong?"
She rolled her eyes and sighed, slouching forward over her coffee, "I swear!" She muttered. "First I lose my luggage, then the rental car blows a tire and there's no spare now the hotel has lost my reservation and because the Mormons and the Baptists have decided to converge on Seacouver at the same time there are no flippin hotel rooms in the city!" She took a gulp of coffee realizing that she had been speaking quite loudly.
"Lisey, you know I have a fold out couch at my place."
"But I don't want to be an inconvenience."
"Are you ever an inconvenience?'
"Everyday of my life." She muttered.
"Lisey, it's okay. Besides I'd like the company."
"You're sure it's okay?"
"Positive!"
"Because I have an appointment tomorrow to go apartment hunting, it should only be over the weekend, Uncle Joe."
"I told you, it's not a problem!"
"Thank you. Uncle Joe." She said patting his hand.

It was two in the morning and the bar had just closed. Amanda and Duncan had taken their leave and Elissa was helping Joe tidy things up before they too left. Joe finished tying up the last of the trash bags and he took one and Elissa took the other as they left the bar for the night.
"So you and Amanda are leaving at eleven?"
"Yeah." Elissa mumbled as she hefted the bag into the dumpster and reached for Joe's.
"You don't sound thrilled."
She half smiled at him. After she threw that bag into the dumpster she walked along side him to his car, "It's not that, I just don't know what we could possibly have in common."
"You'd be surprised I'm sure." Joe said with a smirk.
"I just hate being the new kid in town."
"Well why did you move here?" He asked stopping to open her car door.
Elissa rolled her eyes, "I can open my own doors you know."
"Yes, but some of us still believe in Chivalry."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyway," she paused as she got in and leaned over the seat to open Joe's door. Once he was in she began again, "I just felt it was high time for me to leave the safety of the Midwest and venture out into the real world. That is if you call a college campus the real world."
"In other words something happened and you no longer wanted to stay in your hometown."
"Fine you know me too well. I had a decent job, it paid the bills, when a friend of mine who works at the University asked where exactly I had gone to school. I told her and she said well they're looking for a creative writing teacher. They were looking for a published Author that wasn't well known. I fit the criteria perfectly. And well here I am."
"So besides the fact that you are putting your hard earned degree to use why are you here?"
"I was tired of running." she said as she looked out the window at the city lights going by.
Joe parked the car in front of a small town house. "This isn't much but it's home."
"It's fine Uncle Joe." Elissa said smiling as she surveyed the older home.
"It was built in the early twenties before you ask." Joe commented as they walked up the three steps to the front porch, which had since been enclosed. "It was once all one house but they remolded the interior into a duplex. It just looks old on the outside."
"Nothing wrong with old Uncle Joe." Elissa replied as she followed him through the screen door and into a small yet comfortable living room.
"Tell my joints that." he commented. He shut the door behind them. "Well here's the living room, obviously, and down the hall is the kitchen to the right with a half bath across from it. The two bedrooms are at the end of the hall with a full bath in between them. So you need to knock before you go into the bathroom."
"Like I said it's nice Uncle Joe, now where do you want my bags?"
"Put them in the spare room. It's also my office so don't mind the paperwork."
She went down the hall and dropped her bags off. She found Joe sitting at the small dinette table in the kitchen and sat down with him.
"So what do you mean you were tired of running?"
"You haven't changed, have you? Still ask all sorts of questions." she commented, a soft southern drawl underscoring the words.
"Hey you know me."
"Yeah I do. So anyway, the only reason why I left Seacouver was because of him. I liked it here. When I got the divorce I had no choice but to move back home. I was up to my ears in bills and I just didn't want to be in the same town as Evan."
"I would have hired you Lisey."
"You tried remember?" she forced a smile, "It was easier to just get my associate degree and leave town. I didn't lie to you, I did have a job waiting for me."
"I'm not talking about that, I'm talking at the book store. Besides there's more to it then that," He stated studying her over the rim of his glass of water.
She looked down at her hands, "You know me too well."
"It's part of being a bartender, you can read people."
She looked up at him, "Well, you knew the marriage was bad right?"
"Yes. Remember I'm the one that ran you to the hostpital."
"Well I couldn't get a divorce in the State of Washington as quickly as I could in Oklahoma. So I went back home, I mean heck I hadn't even had my license changed yet to Washington State the marriage only lasted six months. Well it would have been six months," Her accent became more evident the more aggitated she became, "if the checks he'd written to my attorney hadn't bounced! Anyway I filed for a no fault divorce. I didn't even try to get him on grounds of adultery or abuse. I just wanted out. I also did it that way because I knew he'd sign the papers stating he didn't have to be in court if I got the divorce out of Oklahoma. So finally after a total of nine months I was officially divorced. I went back to school and got my BA and worked two jobs. The one I had waiting for me when I left here and another one on the weekends as a hostess which later turned into a waitstaff position."
"Okay so why are you back here?" he asked studying her intently.
"Because he isn't." came the simple retort.
"Sounds to me like your running again."
"You're probably right but what else am I supposed to do?" she finished, looking at her hands spread on the table.
He sipped his water, "What did you do?"
"What do you mean what did I do?" she snapped.
"You obviously ran into him again or you wouldn't be running."
"You're right, I did." she took a deep breathe, "It happened about three months ago. I was driving home from work. I pulled into my parking space, got out of the car, locked my door and headed up the enclosed walkway to the building where my apartment was. I heard someone call my name. I swear, Uncle Joe, I felt the hair on my neck stand up. I knew that voice. I remember taking a deep breathe and turning around and there he was. All seven feet of him smiling at me in that condescending way of his. Then he says, 'Well aren't you going to say hello? It's been almost eight years. Don't you think you at least owe me a hello kiss?' I just turned back around and walked as fast as I could toward the secured door of my building. You would think I would have learned. The next thing I know he has grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to face him. I thought he was going to hit me. Instead he gets nose to nose with me and sneers saying, 'You are my wife. I have left you alone for eight years so you could see the error of your ways. Now it is time for you to come back. ' I tell him that he has left me alone for eight years because the good old U.S. Army didn't give him much of a choice. He backhanded me for not showing him the respect he was do and I punched him in the nose and ran. I had my card out for the security lock on the door and managed to get it opened and closed before he had a chance to get me. I knew after that though that I couldn't stay there." Her normally soft rolling voice reached a fevered pitch. She then took a quieting breathe and looked beseechingly at Joe, "What was I thinking?" she asked quietly, "I hit him, Uncle Joe, do you know what he's going to do to me for that?"
He looked at her grimly, "I'm proud of you for hitting him, you should have done that a long time ago. But you're right, he's going to make you pay for standing up to him."
"Well you know what happened last time I stood up to him."
"Yeah, I know." a thoughtful look crossed his face, "Do you have a restraining order?'
"Oh yeah I left out the best detail, " sarcasm dripped from her voice, "The next day I was served with a restraining order. I am not supposed to be within fifty feet of Mr. Dewpuey."
"But he's the one that abused you for almost a year!" Joe exclaimed incrediously.
"The Oklahoma courts didn't see it that way."
"What about your shoulder?"
"What about it? I'm into kinky sex, sometimes the participants get hurt."
"The judge bought that?"
"Lock stock and barrel. Besides we were married, I did have wifely duties to perform."
"So he came out smelling like a rose and you were made to look like the whore of Babylon?"
"To a degree yes."
"Does he know you're here?"
"Damned if I know. If he does track me here I figure it will take awhile. If anything I'll just be sure and keep my eyes and ears opened. He doesn't know I have a cell phone and that number is unlisted. Once I get settled I'll be sure to keep everything else unlisted. But he worked in communications when he was in the Army, if he wants to find me he can hack into the system and find me. So sooner or later I will have to stop running and face him. Hopefully the law will be on my side this time."
"So do you know what kind of job he has at the moment?"
She reached into her purse that was on the counter and pulled out a card, "Looks like he's a lawyer."
Joe took the card and read it. "He is an attorney? I find that hard to believe."
"You and me both. He's into business law. Come to find out he's the lawyer for the bank I used to do business with. For all I know he found out where I lived through the records there because I had just moved and I still had documents getting forwarded."
"Why is he so hell bent on getting you back?" Joe asked sitting backin his chair.
"He's always been this way, Uncle Joe. He told me if I ever left him that he'd hunt me down."
"Yet you still had the courage to leave."
"It was either leave or become another statistic." She stated as she folded her hands on the table in front of her.
"So what are you going to do now?"
"I'll be damned if I'm going to let him run my life."
"But isn't that what you're doing?"
"You mean running here?", she asked raising her eyebrows, " Yes and no. Yes I ran but this is where I'm staying. I have a good job, and I'm someplace I've wanted to be. When and if he comes after me, then I'll cross that bridge. But for now I'm safe."
"But for how long?" He implored.
"That I don't know," she sighed.
"And when he does find you what are you going to do?"
"Call the police and try to keep safe til they get there."
"Keep safe?"
"If I have to I'll fight him," she replied with a grim look of determination.
"You're already worried about what you're going to do since you punched him. Now you're talking about fighting him?" he asked skeptically.
"Actually. I broke his nose. I have to live with the fact that I drew blood. You know he's going to see that as a threat to his masculinity. Now I have to follow through and do whatever it takes to survive."
"This doesn't sound like the old Lisey at all."he commented shaking his head.
"Well the old Lisey got tired of being a victim and took self defense courses. Now she has to decide if she has the guts to follow through with what she started."
"You're scared."
"Terrified."
"Why?"
"You saw what he did."
"Yes, I did." he stated matter of factly.
She stared at the graying man across from her. Not knowing what to say. She dropped her gaze, "He told me the next time he got his hands on me he was going to brand me. That way everyone would know who's property I was."
"And you believe he'll do that?" he asked gently.
"I know he'll do that and much much worse." she responded cryptically.
"And yet you went back to him for two months why?"
"I was nineteen and stupid, Uncle Joe. That and I had to get everything in order so I could leave."
"You weren't stupid, you got out."
"Yes I got out but trust me there was a lot of guilt involved."
"You felt guilty?" he asked incredulously
"I thought it was my fault. If I had been a better wife he wouldn't have cheated on me. If I was better in bed he wouldn't have cheated on me. If I didn't piss him off he wouldn't hit me. If I would know my place I could have been very well taken care of. I wouldn't have had to worry about being hit or cower whenever I said something I shouldn't have."
"Lisey, he tried to break you, surely you know that. It was his short comings not yours."
She smiled weakly, "Uncle Joe, I know that now. But at the time I was a very naive school girl who thought you only got married once. And a part of me started to believe him."
"So he almost broke you." Joe was careful to keep his tone even.
"Yes. In fact in a deep dark part of me, that naive girl believes him." She held his gaze for a moment then looked at her watch. " Anyway, Uncle Joe, my body is still on Central time and it's four in the morning. Point me to the linen closet and I'll make up my bed."
"It's already made. Adam used to do a lot of back and forth from Europe until he finally stayed put in one area he either crashed at Duncan's place or here. I just never got out of the habit of making it."
"What was Adam doing in Europe?" why would anyone want to leave Europe? she thought to herself.
"He was grad student at the University of Paris."
"And you met him how?"
"He's a researcher."
"You mean he's a Watcher?"
"Yes, he's a Watcher."
" And he likes Seacouver over Paris?"
"Actually the weather is very similar. He got a job and permanently settled here."
"Oh."
Joe looked at her a smirk evident on his face, "Why do you ask anyway?"
"Just curious."
"Uhhuh."
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing, Lisey, nothing at all. Sleep well." Joe commented shaking his head.
"I will." She turned at the doorway and glanced back at him, "You can wipe the grin off your face, Joe, I was just asking."
"You didn't ask about Duncan or Amanda." Joe's grinned widened.
"I already know Duncan also works at the University. I'll bite, what does Amanda do?"
"Well honestly I don't know what she is doing right now, she used to be in the circus, then she was an art appraiser and last I heard she was an owner of a club but now I don't know what she does. She's just in town visiting Duncan but no one knows for how long."
"Now are you happy?" she retorted.
"No. But that's okay, I'm used to knowing you better then you know yourself."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked defensively.
"Nothing bad, Lisey, I just know that look. I know when a woman is interested in a man."
"Yeah right. Come on he was there all of five minutes and left."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyway I thought you were going to bed."
"Night Uncle Joe."
"Good night."

She and Amanda were sitting at a table in a cozy Italian restaurant in the mall, "So, Elissa, what's your story?" Amanda asked as she dabbed a bit of her bread in the olive oil.
Elissa about choked on her water, "What story?"
"Oh don't play innocent with me." Amanda chided.
"Okay," Elissa sat back from the table and folded her hands in her lap, " I'm going to be teaching at the university, I'm a writer and I moved here from Oklahoma."
"Okay, and a boyfriend?" Amanda pressed.
"None." Elissa replied in a monotone.
"Husband?"
"Divorced." was the curt reply.
"Ahha!" Amanda exclaimed with a twinkle to her eyes, "I feel a story here."
Elissa regarded her a moment, locked gazes and cooly replied, "There is none. I got married it didn't work out and I got divorced."
"And that's all there is to it?" amanda asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes." was the crisp response.
"Or is that all you're willing to admit to at the moment?" Amanda studied her, "Come on, Elissa, I wasn't born yesterday."
Elissa pursed her lips leveling her gaze with Amanda's. "Fine that's all you need to know, is that better?" Her southern accent fringeing her words.
"I hit a nerve." Amanda sat back looking nonplussed, "I'm sorry I just want to find out where you come up with ideas for your stories. I just assumed it came from your own back ground."
Elissa had to smile, "It's okay, just something I don't like to talk about after all it is in the past."
"How far in the past?" Amanda asked, trying a different angle.
"Eight years." she said simply, all traces of her accent gone.
They both looked up as their waiter placed their food in front of them "Do you go out much?" Amanda asked.
"I'm more of a homebody." was the reply.
"Do you even like to go out?" Amanda inquired.
Elissa smiled a distant look in her eye; "I haven't been out just for the fun of it in ages. I usually went out either for a company dinner or Christmas party not just because."
Amanda grinned, "Well Duncan and I are going to see the opera Madame Butterfly at the civic center. We have an extra ticket if you would like to go."
Elissa felt her eyes light up, "I don't know I mean I don't want to be a fifth wheel."
"Oh you wouldn't be. Adam, Duncan and I are going we just have the one extra ticket and as much as Joe would like to go his band is playing that night."
"Adam is going?" Elissa asked before she could stop herself; a warmth spread through out her body at the mention of his name.woman, what is the matter with you? she scolded herself, you're acting like a school girl with a crush.
Amanda smirked, "Yes, why?"
"Oh nothing. He just seemed well, not the type to like opera."
"Well our Adam is just a bundle of surprises."
"Are you ready to go back to shopping?" Elissa asked hoping a change of scenery would get Amanda's mind off of the subject of Adam.
"Yes. We're going to need to pick out something for you to wear next Friday." was Amanda's gleeful reply.
"I have a skirt and blouse."
"Silly, live a little, how many times do you get to go to an opera?"
"Well---"
"Precisely! Besides it'll be fun!"

Elissa and Amanda were at Joes five hours later. Amanda had gone with Elissa apartment hunting once they were done at the mall. Elissa carried two large bags and Amanda carried five. They walked in to find Adam, Duncan, and Joe conversing at the bar.
Duncan looked at Amanda with a pained expression, "Amanda--"
"Before you start I didn't max out the card, Duncan. Besides, I used the platinum."
Adam eyed Elissa's bags, "I think Amanda could learn a few pointers from you."
"Well, I needed to get a couple of things while I waited for my luggage. Speaking of which, Uncle Joe did the airport call by chance?"
"Sure did. You're luggage won't be here 'til Monday. It ended up in Anchorage and the plane is snowed in."
"Great! Thank God the Semester doesn't start 'til next Monday otherwise I'd be showing up to class in a t-shirt and jeans. Grant it I'd be a hell of a lot more comfortable but I don't think the other professors would appreciate the business attire."
"You're teaching at the University?" Adam inquired.
"Yes, I'm the new creative writing teacher." she answered cautiously.
"You're right across the hall from me then."
"Oh really?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm in the history department."
"And what do you teach?"
"Roman civilization."
"Professor Hendricks finally retired?" she asked incrediously.
"You knew old man Hendricks?" Adam asked in astonishement.
"Yes, he was putting me to sleep eight years ago. Had his 7:40 class. I was the one he constantly called on. I think he knew I had mastered the art of sleeping with my eyes open."
"I heard he was tough."
"Very, but interesting. Nothing against him I'm just not a morning person. But the only time I could get in was at that time so the coffee pot and I became very good friends."
Adam smiled. It was the first time he had actually smiled since Elissa had met him. It made him look younger and almost boyish. But it also was a smile that hinted at sarcasm.
"Duncan, "Amanda asked, "Do you still have the extra ticket for the opera on Friday?"
"Yes why?" He asked guardedly.
"Well I asked Elissa to go with us. She's new in town and thought it would be nice for her to get out for the evening."
Duncan looked over at Elissa; smiling, "That would be great! Meet at my place at about five thirty so we can all get a bite to eat?"
"Sure, but where is your place?"
"Adam knows. Adam why don't you pick up Elissa?" Duncan asked, looking over in Adam's direction.
"Oh no, that's okay I'll have a car by then." Elissa quickly replied.
Adam eyed her, "It wouldn't be a problem. Why take separate cars? There isn't that much parking at Duncan's."
"Once you get to my place we'll all go in the T-Bird anyway." Duncan stated.
"Well I don't even know where I'll be for sure, I won't hear back from the realtor 'til Monday." she haltingly replied.
"So you did go apartment hunting?" Joe queried.
"Yes, Amanda went with me. I found a place close to the University. It's just been built and has two bedrooms and two baths, and not that expensive."
"You should see the master bath, Duncan, it's to die for! Has a sunken tub and a 3/4 shower!" Amanda gushed.
"Eh, and I bet you have such wonderful ideas about what to do in that tub!"
Elissa laughed and blushed at the same time, "I won't say anything if you two disappear for a couple of hours at my place. All I ask is please keep as much of the water in the tub as possible."
"See Duncan she doesn't mind." Amanda positioned herself on his lap and Duncan laughed right along with her.
"So who is the realtor going to call to tell you if you have the place?" Joe asked.
"I gave her my cell number. I should know Tuesday at the latest. Then I can call the moving company and get the times set up to deliver my stuff."
"Your stuff is already up here?" Joe asked in disbelief.
"Yes, has been. It got packed up two and a half weeks ago."
"You've been living out of a suitcase ever since?" Joe asked raising an eyebrow.
"At my girlfriends, on her couch, along with her cat." She added smiling.
Joe shook his head, "Getting tired of your clothes yet?"
"Well I was but now I'd like to have them."
"Well, Joe," Duncan interrupted, "we'll see you later, Amanda and I have reservations for dinner and she's complaining about having to change clothes." Duncan rolled his eyes yet grinned.
"Okay you two behave."
Elissa pulled Amanda aside as Joe mentioned something to Duncan, "Thanks Amanda, I had fun today. Thanks for not prying."
Amanda looked seriously at her, "Hey what are friends for. Us girls have to stick together. Just remember if you need to talk call. I don't bite. Well only when asked!"
Elissa chuckled. Amanda gave her a quick hug.

Elissa sat down at the bar and Joe grinned at her, "What?"
"Nothing." He mumbled as he refilled Adam's mug, "Just thought you two had nothing in common."
"Fine, you told me so, you happy?"
"Yes." Joe smiled, "It's not like you are the type to dish out hugs to just anyone."
"I didn't, she hugged me." Joe shook his head. Elissa rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue.
"Is that anyway to treat your elders?" Joe asked
"Oh please! I respect my elders if they deserve it!" She said with an impish grin.
Joe reached over and tagged her with the rolled up towel he had been cleaning glasses with.
"Hey now!" she exclaimed rubbing her arm laughing.
"There." he said with great satisfaction.
"There what?" Elissa asked cautiously, scrutinizing the smiling older man.
"I haven't seen a real smile out of you since you got here."
She blushed looking down at the napkin sitting in front of her.
In an effort to change the mood Joe asked, "Would you like something to drink?"
"Kahlua and cream please?" she asked hesitently.
"Coming right up."
Elissa looked over at Adam, "So you're not in any hurry to get out of here today hmm?"
"What? Oh yesterday. Sorry bout that but I had some pressing business. Normally if Joe's opened I'm here drinking as many beers as he'll let me get away with."
"I see." she muttered, toying with the napkin in front of her.
He took a drink of his beer. She took a drink of her Kahlua and cream, which Joe had just placed in front of her.
"So what were you doing in Roman Civilization, besides sleeping? It is not a general level course." Adam asked, watching Elissa's fidgeting curiously. what is she so nervous about he thought to himself.
She smiled, "I have a double major; English and history."
"I see. So you like antiques?" he quipped.
"Oh I like antiques but that's not why I chose history. I'm just one of those people that believe people who don't know their history are bound to repeat it."
Joe was wiping a glass and interjected, "But just because you know it doesn't mean that if you do the same thing it will be repeated."
Elissa took a sip of her drink, "Yes Uncle Joe."
Joe smirked and continued wiping off glasses. "Oh by the way, Elissa, I started reading your book."
"And?" she asked as she braced her hands against her glass, waiting for his answer.
"I like it." Joe stated simply, " I can also see why Amanda likes it. She likes double entendres and strong sexual tension. And your book definitly has sexual tension and romance."
"It's just they way it wrote itself." Ellisa replied a bit shyly.
"You wrote a book?" Adam questioned. as he turned to face her.
Joe reached under the bar and pulled the book out, "She sure did. Pretty good too."
"What's the book classified as?"
"I call it science fiction fantasy. I have seen it under the sci-fi category along with romance so take your pick."
"So what's it about?" Adam inquired.
"Just a woman who has a magical mirror." Elissa remarked.
"Yeah right, a magical mirror, a guy from her dreams that's actually from another realm and a High school sweetheart that shows up. Not to mention a lost staff and a jerk of an ex husband." Joe explained.
"Sounds like it might be interesting."
"Well I've only read the first chapter but then had to get here. I'm hoping when Mike gets here I can take a dinner break and read some more."
"Uncle Joe, you're just biased." Elissa commented feeling warmed by the praise.
"Maybe so, but Amanda liked it too."
"Yes, Uncle Joe but as you know there is romance in it. With characters like Quintan and Allister most women will probably like it." was her guarded comment.
"Well then I'll read it and give you an unbiased opinion!" Adam stated as he stood.
"Oh well, yes I guess that would be possible." Elissa stammered.
"Very well, I'll be back I'm going to the Barnes and noble down the street. See you two later."
Joe watched him leave shaking his head, "He will give you his opinion too."
"I know." Elissa mumbled, "I wonder if I really want to know what he thinks."
Joe smiled shaking his head. Elissa turned from staring at the now closed doors, "What?"
"Oh nothing." He grinned even more.
"You and Amanda I swear!" she commented in exasperation.
"Oh she thinks you like our Adam too?" He asked smugly.
"She didn't say so much she just gets the same look in her eyes that you do in yours!"