CHAPTER 2

Duncan parked the car in its usual spot. After ordering Amber to remain in the car, he went to investigate the identity of their unexpected guest. He pulled his katana from the inside of his ankle-length duster and carefully approached the cabin. The front door swung open at his touch. Holding the centuries-old sword in a defensive position in front of his body he entered the front room. Once inside, he came to an abrupt halt. Sitting before the hearth in Duncan's favorite rocking chair was the world's oldest living Immortal.

"Methos," he said with a note of exasperation in his voice as he lowered his sword to his side. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Methos sat his beer bottle aside and rose to greet the Highlander. "What ever happened to 'Methos, it's good to see you?' "

The sudden sensation of the presence of another immortal and a noise in the doorway drew the attention of both men. They turned as one and saw Amber standing in the doorway. She was leaning against the doorjamb. The heel of one hand was pressed against her temple and the other was grasping the door in an effort to hold herself upright. She looked like she was going to become sick at any moment. The sensation soon eased to a bearable level, and she entered the room.

Duncan moved to stand in front of her, blocking her path with his body. "I thought I told you to stay in the car."

Over the years, Amber had learned when to be really concerned about Duncan's mood. Right now, he was only slightly miffed. She really didn't have anything to worry about. "Yes, you did. But I didn't hear any clashing swords, so I thought it was safe enough for me to come inside."

Duncan just glared at her for a moment before relenting. "We're not going to start this again, especially now. You're going to have to do what I tell you."

Amber saluted Duncan. "Yes, sir. I understand, sir. Will do, sir."

Duncan's glare deepened. He obviously did not appreciate her humor at the moment. However, now was not a good time to call her on it, so he moved aside to allow her to enter the room.

Methos came forward to be introduced. It wasn't until then that Duncan had realized that it had been several years since they'd seen each other, and Duncan had no idea what name Methos was using.

"Amber Miller, this is..."

Methos stepped around Duncan and held his hand out to Amber. "I'm Adam Richards. Duncan and I are old friends."

Amber glanced curiously at Duncan. She hadn't missed his hesitation in introducing his friend. Something was going on, and she wasn't sure she really wanted to know what it was.

"Hi, Adam, it's nice to meet you." As soon as Amber shook hands with Methos, she knew he was immortal as well, and that he was the source of the discomfort she had felt when they had neared the cabin. She tucked that little bit of information away for future reference. She would definitely need to ask Duncan about that later.

Duncan could see a question burning in Methos's eyes, so he suggested that Amber make use of the shower to get cleaned up. "Help yourself to some clean clothes out of my closet. You'll have to make due until I can take you shopping or until the police release your things. Although, I doubt anything you had packed will be fit to wear. You'll also need to have your roommate

ship the rest of your stuff down here." Amber's protest that she fully intended to return to school was quickly quashed with Duncan's brusque command that they would talk about it later.

Amber had no sooner left the room than Duncan turned to Methos. "Well?"

Methos, who had returned to his bottle of beer, just glanced up at the Highlander. "Well, what?"

Duncan was in no mood for Methos's games. "You know damn well what I'm talking about. You're dying to ask me something. Out with it."

Methos swallowed the last of his beer in one gulp and placed the empty bottle on the hearth. "All right, if you insist. I'm just a little surprised that after what happened with Richie you'd take on another student. How long have you known her?"

Duncan retreated into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. He took advantage of the brief respite from Methos' knowing gaze to gather his thoughts.

Returning to the living room, he took a long pull from the bottle before continuing. "I met her when I settled down near Chicago a few years after the incident with O'Rourke. She was sixteen and living on the streets. She tried to steal my wallet. Instead of pressing charges, I took her in, gave her a job and made sure she finished school. Right now she's a student at the University of Chicago. Apparently, she decided to pay me a surprise visit, but she was involved in an automobile accident before she got here." He left the fact that she had become immortal as the result of that accident unsaid.

"Bloody, stubborn Scot You'll never learn, will you." Methos' words were said so quietly that Duncan nearly missed them. His defenses immediately went up. He moved to stand over Methos, who was still seated in the rocking chair. His grip on the beer bottle tightened until his knuckles turned white.

"Just what the hell did you mean by that?"

Methos stood and shoved Duncan out of the way. He knew from vast experience that when dealing with an increasingly angry Highlander, it was much better to be on his feet and at eye level than sitting down where the Scotsman could use his intimidating presence to his advantage. That was the only concession he made to MacLeod's ire.

"I was just wondering if you were doing this for Amber, or if you were doing this for yourself?"

Duncan was momentarily stunned. He'd asked himself the same question numerous times over the last several years, but to have someone else actually ask it out loud was a totally different matter. Worse yet, he really wasn't sure what the answer was. Was his helping Amber really a subconscious effort at making up for taking Richie's head, or was he doing it for the sole purpose of ensuring that a new immortal had a chance in the Game?

He moved to stare out the front window into the surrounding forest as if hoping to find the answers to his questions in the trees. "I really don't know. Does it really matter now? Amber is immortal. She has to be taught what that means."

Methos moved to stand beside his friend. "You're right, she does need to be taught what being an Immortal is all about. But, I also think you need to examine your motives as to whether or not you're doing this for the right reasons. I also think you need to consider whether or not you're too close to the situation to be an effective teacher."

MacLeod turned to glare at Methos. "I'm going to be her teacher. I actually started her training years ago." Duncan merely sighed at Methos' skeptical look. "Maybe I am too close to the situation, but personally, I prefer to be her teacher. Besides, I really don't think Amber will want it any other way."

Both men stopped and turned toward the doorway when they felt the presence of another Immortal. "Amber won't want what any other way?"

Methos found his voice first. "Duncan here thinks you won't be willing to accept anyone but him as your teacher."

Amber came into the room. She was dressed in a pair of old blue jeans and a nearly threadbare sweatshirt. She indicated her clothing with a wave of her hand. "I discovered a few things I'd left behind during my last visit. Now, Duncan, what is Adam talking about?"

Duncan crossed the floor and took Amber by the arm to guide her to a chair by the window. "You need someone to teach you about your immortality. I think I should do it, but Adam thinks I may be too close to the situation to be effective."

Amber just stared at Duncan for several tense seconds. "What makes you think I'd want someone else. After all, you saved my life, Duncan. I don't want to even imagine what would have happened to me if you hadn't taken me in. If I could trust you then, I think I can definitely trust you to protect me and teach me what I need to know now. Don't you?"

She moved forward to wrap her arms around his torso in a hug. It had taken her a while, but she'd learned to cherish the comfort of his hug. Amber really needed one now. Everything was starting to be a bit overwhelming. "Besides," she said as she stepped back a moment later, "I have a feeling you started teaching me this stuff years ago."

Duncan nodded in response. He was secretly relieved that she trusted him enough to become his student. Methos had been right about one thing. He still doubted himself at times like these. Until Amber had stated that she wanted him to be her teacher, Duncan hadn't really been sure that he was prepared for such an undertaking. Now he didn't want to have it any other way. "Now that we have that settled, let's get dinner started. I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

After the three Immortals had eaten dinner, the table was cleared and the dishes were washed, it was time to get down to business. They continued to sit around the kitchen table, engaging in small talk.

Amber it was now or never. "Okay, guys, I've waited long enough. When are you going to reveal all the secrets about immortality? Or do I have to wait until I'm challenged before you tell me I'm doing something wrong?"

"Yeah, Teach, when are you going to impart all the wisdom of immortality?" Methos's comment earned one of Duncan's most intimidating glares. But, over the years, the world's oldest living Immortal had learned that a glaring Duncan MacLeod was really nothing to be concerned about. It was when Duncan was deadly calm and no expression showed on his usually expressive face that one had to be wary. Methos shrugged his shoulders and settled back in his chair. "Just thought I'd ask," he said, amusement clear in his voice. "After all, I can give the Immortality 101 lesson if you're not up to it."

Duncan leaned back in his chair and made himself comfortable. Turning to Amber, he said, "you already know quite a bit about immortality. After you found out what I am, I didn't attempt to hide anything about my life from you. You know about the ability to sense the presence of another Immortal. Pay attention to that, it can save your life. You also know that Immortals battle each other in combat to the death, with the winner taking the loser's head."

Amber nodded. She remembered all too well learning about that rule. Seeing a man being decapitated wasn't something one was bound to forget.

Duncan nodded and continued, "the main rule that we live by is that there can be only one." Duncan paused for a moment to gather his thoughts and to give Amber time to digest what he had just said. "What I haven't told you is that once a challenge has been issued, no one can interfere. The battle must be one on one and without witnesses. You may come across Immortals that don't strictly adhere to these rules. They may cheat in order to win, so you must always be prepared. More importantly, we can never fight another Immortal on holy ground. Holy ground is any place that has ever been held as sacred by any group of people. No Immortal anywhere will ever break that rule."

"Okay, I understand the rules. I also understand that I'll be learning more about how to use a sword than I ever wanted to know. But earlier you said something about having my roommate ship my stuff down here. Why?"

Duncan glanced at Methos for help, but only received a questioning look from his friend. "Until I'm satisfied that you can take care of yourself against any threat that might come along, you will be staying here with me."

Amber was definitely not happy with that answer. "What about school? Nobody there knows that I was killed in that car wreck. I could return to classes like nothing's happened. I have a month or so before I have to be back, you can teach me what I need to know in that time."

Duncan reached across the table and took Amber's hand in his own. "I'm sorry, but a month isn't enough time. It may take several months, or even years, until you're proficient enough with a sword to go off on your own, depending on how well you kept up with the martial arts and sword lessons I gave you when you were younger. Until then, you are staying here, where I can protect you. If you're worried about finishing school, you can enroll here. Morehead has an excellent psychology program."

Amber pulled her hand from Duncan's and rose to look out of the bank of windows that made up the back wall of the kitchen. She could see the waters of Cave Run Lake glittering in the setting sun. "I don't want to have to give up my life. Nobody in Chicago knows I've died. If anything, I'd need to be more careful here. After all, this is where the accident happened.

This town is so small, I don't see how I could keep from running into people who think I'm dead."

Methos had been quietly sitting back, observing the conversation. "I think I might have a solution." Both heads turned in his direction. "Amber's right. This town is too small. She's very likely to run into someone who saw her dead." When Duncan stepped forward, Methos raised a hand to forestall his argument. "At the same time, Duncan also has a point. Amber, you can't learn what you'll need to survive on your own in just a few weeks."

"So, what's your solution?"

"Me."

Amber turned around to look at him. "What do you mean?"

Methos sat back, a Cheshire Cat grin on his face. "Duncan, Amber can stay here as your student until school starts again in a month. Then Amber can return to school as if nothing had happened, and I will pick up where you left off."

He laughed at the confused expressions worn by both Duncan and Amber. "Duncan, you never asked what I've been up to recently. Apparently, I've taken a page from your book. I've taught ancient languages at the University of Chicago for the last two years."

Duncan laughed, enjoying the humor of the situation. "It's perfect."

Amber sat back down at the table. "I guess I don't have a choice. If I want to return to school, I'm going to have to do it your way." She pinned Duncan with a look she had perfected after being on the receiving end of his piercing glares for the last several years. "Why is it, Duncan, that I'm now an adult, supposedly living on my own, but you still manage to control my life?"

TWACK! The flat of Duncan's sword landed heavily against Amber's right shoulder. "I told you to keep your sword up. You can't expect to be able to block your opponent's moves if your sword is hanging down at your knees."

Amber backed off and rubbed her sore shoulder. It wasn't the first time that day that Duncan had slapped her with his sword to prove a point. It was a good thing she healed rather quickly, or she would be one large walking bruise. She was also exhausted. They had been training with the swords for over an hour. Before that, they'd taken a jog around the lake and had done some martial arts exercises. She was ready to drop. Amber couldn't quite understand why Duncan was being so ruthless about her training.

"That's it, I've had enough. Maybe I wouldn't have a problem keeping my sword up if I weren't so exhausted. I'm finished for the day." She started to walk past Duncan and into the cabin.

Duncan grabbed her arm as she passed. He swung her around to face him and held the sharp edge of his katana against her neck. "When you face another Immortal in the Game they're not going to care that you're too exhausted to hold your sword up. They'll take advantage of it, and you'll lose your head." A trickle of blood moved slowly down her neck from where the sharp blade nicked her skin.

Wary of the sword pressed up against her neck, Amber unsuccessfully attempted to pull away from Duncan's grasp. "Yeah, but I won't be expected to be able to engage in an all out sword battle after being put through a marathon work out session. Give me a break already."

Methos had been sitting on the deck watching student and teacher work out in the yard between the cabin and the lake. He thought Duncan was pushing Amber too hard. It was almost as if Duncan hoped to teach the girl several months' worth of lessons in only a few weeks. He admitted that he had tended to be rough on his students, but what Duncan was putting Amber through was a little much.

As he watched Duncan hold his sword against Amber's neck, Methos decided enough was enough. He left the deck and went to stand beside the two Immortals. He carefully pushed the katana away from Amber's neck. "I think you've proved your point, don't you? Amber, why don't you go take a shower or something? I need to talk to Duncan alone for a minute."

Methos remained silent until Amber had entered the house. Then he turned to Duncan, his face tense with anger. "What the hell do you think you're trying to accomplish here? Besides beating her into the ground, that is? She's not going to learn anything by you pushing her until she drops from sheer exhaustion."

Duncan moved to grab a towel from a nearby tree branch and wiped the sweat from his face. Even though the day was cool, he had pushed himself just as hard as Amber and had worked up quite a sweat. "I just want her ready. We have to fit months worth of lessons into weeks."

"Why? I thought we agreed that I would take over as her teacher when she returned to school. It's not as if she is going to be left totally defenseless and on her own. All you're going to succeed in doing is push her away. Is that what you want?"

Duncan tossed the towel in the direction of the deck. He hated it when Methos was right. Maybe at one time he would have wanted it that way, but time had a way of healing wounds. The last thing he wanted to do now was alienate Amber. Secretly he thought of her as the daughter he'd never had. He would have to ease up on her training and trust Methos to look after her in Chicago. "No, I don't want to push her away. I just want her ready."

Methos watched as Duncan walked toward the stairs leading to the deck. As the Scotsman mounted the steps, Methos stopped him with a single question. "Or is it that you don't trust me to keep her safe and teach her properly?"

Duncan just stared at his friend. Yes, they had had their ups and downs over the years, and he may not have liked what Methos had done in the past. But Methos was one of the few Immortals that Duncan would actually trust with his life, and the life of his student. He slowly turned to look at the world's oldest Immortal. They stared at each other for several seconds before Duncan turned away and continued up the stairs. "What do you think?"

Methos didn't get a chance to answer Duncan's question. Amber interrupted them. With a sudden burst of energy she came bouncing out onto the deck. Joe Dawson was following behind at a more sedate pace. "Look who I found wondering around the front of the house, someone to save me from you two."

It had been over a year since Duncan had seen his friend. He couldn't believe the changes that had taken place during that time. Joe's salt and pepper hair was now almost completely white. There were more lines on his face, and he was leaning heavier on his cane. Duncan wasn't sure how many of the changes to attribute to the rigors of the trip down and how many to attribute to the passage of time. There was no doubt about it, though. Joe was starting to get old.

Duncan rushed up the stairs and carefully pulled his friend into his embrace. "Joe, it's great to see you." He guided Joe to a seat on the deck and indicated to Amber to fetch drinks for everyone.

Joe couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "What's going on here? I thought Amber was in Chicago."

"She was until about two weeks ago, when she decided to pay me a surprise visit. Apparently, Methos, here, had the same idea."

Amber delivered the drinks and retreated into the cabin to get cleaned up. Joe watched as she retrieved her sword from where it lay against the wall near the door. "And what's going on with the swords? Is she...?"

Methos looked toward Duncan with a questioning look on his face. He was interested in how the Scot was going to answer that.

"Yes, she's immortal. She was killed in an automobile accident on her way here. I'm starting her training, and then Methos is going to take over when they return to Chicago in a few weeks."

Joe, the ex-Watcher, was intrigued by this notion. Try as he might, he just couldn't keep out of Immortal business. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, wouldn't interrupting training in the middle create problems. I'm sure you and Methos have different teaching styles. You certainly have different fighting styles."

Duncan patiently explained their arrangement and the reasoning behind it to his friend. "So, you can see, it's probably the best scenario for all involved. Amber really can't stay here. The area is too small. She's bound to be spotted and recognized by someone from the hospital. And, I don't want to leave my teaching post here to take her somewhere else. No one in Chicago knows about the accident, so there's really no reason why she can't return there. Especially since Methos will be there to finish her training. Besides, he's been around for over 5000 years, surely he's picked up a few teaching skills during that time."

TBC