Just what the Doctor Ordered.

Joe looked over the bar in between glancing at the clock; the place was humming for a Friday night. One particular customer had his attention though, other than his late employee.

The person was Adam Pierson… aka Methos. The world's oldest immortal. He'd come in an hour ago, had said hello, got a beer and sat down at a table alone; that wasn't like Methos at all. Something was definitely up.

Seeing his wayward waitress rush in, Joe sighed a little. At least one thing was going right. "You're late."

"Sorry Uncle Joe," she apologized and handed over her books and bag. "My class went over…" She slipped off her coat and hung it up.

"It's all right." He put her stuff under the bar and held out her apron with a smile. He'd know the young woman since she was a baby. When her parents had been killed, he'd been named her guardian. She was his goddaughter and he loved her as much as he did his own daughter. "You're here now, Karlin."

Karlin finished tying her apron on and took the order book and pen from the pocket. "So where do you want me?"

Joe hesitated; Karlin was good at ascertaining information. If anyone could find out what was going on with Methos, she could. She'd learned that talent from her mother. "How about you go and see if Adam wants another beer."

Karlin tucked a wisp of mousy brown hair behind her ear; the rest was pulled back into a ponytail. "Sure, Uncle Joe." She happily walked over to the table where Adam sat. Despite the fact they flirted with each other, she really didn't know much about Adam Pierson other than he was cute. He had such interesting eyes, she felt one could get lost in those eyes of his.

Smiling she stood before his table. "Hi Adam, can I get you another beer?"

Methos looked up from staring at his empty glass, into Karlin's beautiful emerald green eyes. "Hey Karlin…um no, I'm good thank you."

She didn't really believe him so she pulled out a chair and sat down. She could get a lecture from Joe about fraternizing with costumers later. "How about some company?"

"Has anyone told you it's impolite to just sit down?" he remarked, a little sarcastically.

Karlin blushed, making her cheeks a soft crimson. "It's a bad habit, I know. But you look like you could use someone to talk too."

Methos ran a finger around the top of the glass. "Not really, just been one of those days."

She nodded. "I know how that is," she remarked. "I'll be so glad when I'm finished studying, I'm tired of being looked down at by stuffy professors."

"Joe mentioned you were doing a doctorate in philology," he noted, smirking inward over her comment.

"I am, I have two other's and a Masters. I speak over twenty different languages," she revealed.

"So what are you doing working here?" he questioned, amazed by that fact.

"I like it here," Karlin revealed, smiling and lent forward and kept her voice down. "And I really don't need the money. I'm rather wealthy; Uncle Joe doesn't even pay me."

That surprised him and he wasn't easily surprised. "You're kidding?"

"No," she smiled. "I don't usually say anything, after all how would I know if I was wanted for me and not for my money if I did."

Methos smiled warmly. "Well I don't care if you have money."

"You don't?" It was her turn to be surprised.

"No," he lent forward and said in the same quiet tone, "Because I'm quite wealthy myself."

Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "So we're even then."

Methos doubted that, but he wasn't going say anything. "We are," he agreed with a smug grin.

Karlin laughed softly. "You're a man of mystery, Adam."

"I like to keep people intrigued," he retorted teasing her, noting, "As do you."

"Me?" she looked innocently at him. "Why Mr. Pierson, whatever do you mean?"

He laughed heartily at her smug innocent act. "You know exactly what I mean, Doctor." When she smiled, Methos felt his heart race a little. His mouth went dry when she blushed and looked down, breaking his gaze. He caught himself reaching across, to tuck a wisp of hair that had fallen forward back behind her ear again. Gesturing to the empty glass instead, covering up his actions. "I've changed my mind, I'll have another beer."

Karlin looked up; her eyes meet his making her pulse race. Her mouth went dry and she licked her lips subconsciously. "I'll get you one," she managed to say as she got to her feet and started to walk away. Stopping she turned back while she had the courage to ask. "Adam?"

He looked. "Yes?"

"Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?" she inquired trying not to sound too eager.

Methos knew he should say no, but he couldn't. She was enchanting. "I'd love to," he told her grinning.

She did too, grin that is. "Great." She scribbled her address down, along with her phone and cell phone number, ripping the page out of the order book she gave it to him. "Seven?"

He took it. "I'll be there,"

His fingers brushed against hers and she felt as if a jolt had run up her arm. She blushed harder. "I'll, um get your beer," she uttered and hurried to the bar feeling his eyes on her.

Joe was all smiles. "I can see you cheered Adam up."

Karlin blushed. "It wasn't that hard, Uncle Joe. He'd like another beer."

Joe knew better than that but he poured the beer for her and put it on a tray.

"There you go."

"Thanks Uncle Joe," she smiled and took the tray, manoeuvring her way back through the crowd she put the beer on the table in front of Methos and took the empty glass. "One beer."

"Thank you, Karlin."

"You're welcome," she smiled and went back to work.

Methos watched her as she moved between the tables; she definitely made quite an impact in those black jeans. He was still ogling when he felt the buzz of another immortal. Looking towards the door, he groaned when he saw Duncan MacLeod wonder in. He sat back, took a mouth full of his beer and went back to watching Karlin. The view was definitely better.

Duncan waved to Joe as he walked in, going over to Methos. "Still brooding?" he asked as he sat down.

"Shut up, MacLeod," Methos snapped back, without looking.

This had Duncan seeing what had the old man's attention, astounded. "You're ogling Joe's goddaughter?"

He looked back. "So? We're having dinner tomorrow night." He finished his beer. "Got a problem with that?"

"No, but Joe might, you know how protective he is of Karlin," the Scot said.

Methos rolled his eyes. "We're having dinner, MacLeod, that's it."

"And if she wants more? How do you think Joe's going to handle seeing Karlin all gooey eyed over you."

The older Immortal laughed. "Gooey eyed. She's a grown woman, MacLeod. I think she can look after herself and Joe will get use to it. I'm just a guy."

Duncan snorted; he dug into his coat and pulled out his wallet. He took a bill from it. "Hundred dollars says you won't kiss her in front of Joe. And I don't mean a peck, I mean a kiss."

Methos grinned, he liked a challenge, and kissing Karlin would be no hardship. "You're on," he got up and strolled over to the bar where Karlin was waiting.

Joe had finished putting the last glass on the tray, when the immortal walked over to them. "Hey Adam, need a refill?"

"Actually, no," Methos announced and tapped Karlin on the shoulder. "Excuse me." When she turned, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. A little pressure on her lips had them parting and he deepened the kiss.

Karlin quickly got over the shock and wrapped her arms around him, moving closer as he drew her into his arms. She sighed against his mouth as the kiss continued, melting against him.

Methos hadn't meant for the kiss to go on, but once he started, he couldn't stop himself. Her lips were soft and she responded with passion. So much so, he poured just as much passion into the kiss, holding her body against his.

Joe glared at the immortal, even more when his patrons clapped and cheered them both on. "All right cut it out or I'll hose you both down."

The kiss was broken, Methos letting out a content sigh. "You might have to anyway, Joe," he said with a grin, his eyes locked with Karlin's.

Her cheeks turned a deep crimson, but she knew what he meant. Her heart was pounding wildly against her chest and her pulse was racing. "I think I might need to take the rest of the night off, Uncle Joe. I'm feeling a little flushed."

Duncan appeared at Methos' side, the hundred-dollar bill in his hand. "I can't believe you did that."

"But I did," Methos said with a cheeky grin. He plucked the hundred from the Scot's hand and tucked it into his own shirt pocket. "And I'm going to do this." He swung Karlin up into his arms. "Excuse us; I'm taking this lovely lady to dinner on MacLeod."

Joe and Duncan looked at him bewildered as he walked out, carrying Karlin. The patrons in the bar continued their loud cheering and hooting, as the couple left.

"I can't believe he did that," the Scot repeated stunned, "All for a bet."

Joe frowned. "You bet him?" He saw Duncan nod his head slowly. "MacLeod, when are you going to learn?"

Duncan looked weakly at him. "Sorry Joe."

"Well MacLeod. At least Karlin was just what the doctor ordered," the Watcher retorted.