part 4-Prophecy Fulfilled

Jess pulled into the parking lot of the old chapel and checked the clock. Right on time. She reached for her purse and opened the door. Spying her coat on the passenger seat, she debated taking it along, knowing her weapon was hidden within its folds. Better safe than sorry, she thought to herself, picking it up. "I need to get used to carrying the thing, anyway." The mild September day could turn cold soon anyway, if the clouds gathering

on the horizon were any indication.

She walked up the stone walkway and climbed the four steps into the church. As she put a hand on the door handle, she felt the sensation of another immortal. Damn, but that was gonna take some getting used to. She still got slightly queasy from the effect of the buzz. Opening the door, she walked into the dimly lit sanctuary, and spied her target sitting in one of the pews. Walking up the aisle, she approached the woman sitting there.

"Cassandra," she said. "Thanks for meeting me." She held out her hand. "We didn't get properly introduced last time. I'm Jessica. Jessica MacLeod."

Cassandra gripped Jess' hand hesitantly, like someone afraid of getting bit. Nevertheless, the woman shook Jess' hand graciously, sorrow in her eyes. Jess laid her purse and coat aside, and took a seat in the pew in front of Cassandra.

"Before we get started," the other woman said, "I want to apologize for what happened. I never meant for anyone else to be hurt. It happened so quick..."

Jess waved a hand in dismissal. "It was an accident, we both know that. It was going to happen one day. Better that it happened while I was young. At least I'll always be young and fit enough to defend myself."

Both women were silent for a minute. Then Jess blew out a breath, lifting the bangs that feathered over her forehead. "I'm not sure where to start. This isn't as easy as I had envisioned it would be. I'm not sure how to say what I want to say."

"Straight out is usually best."

"You're right. So here goes. Cassandra, can't you try to find a way to forgive Methos? He's not the same man he was back then. Whatever happened all those centuries ago, I know it still hurts him, still haunts him. He pays for it every day, he relives it every night in his dreams. Can't you try to let it go? Let it rest?"

"Do you really believe it's that easy? That I can just forget what happened, what he did?"

"I'm not asking you to forget, Cassandra. I'm just asking you to try to find it in your heart to forgive him, to go on with both your lives. I don't expect that it'll be easy. Even if you can't forgive him, can't you at least drop this fight, both of you go your separate ways?"

Cassandra stood up, and began pacing the aisle. "I've tried. But it doesn't help. The wound is there, and it won't heal. He raped me, enslaved me. But more than that, because of him, my world was destroyed. I lost my people, my family. Can't you understand that?"

Jess nodded. "Yes, I understand that. Can you understand that because of that same man, I gained mine? Because of him, the hopeless life that I was living was replaced by a life where I was loved and safe and secure. In some way, Cassandra, I think you and I are two sides of the same coin that is Methos."

Cassandra had stopped pacing and resumed her seat. Jess could sense Cassandra's stare, and met her gaze unflinchingly. "Methos destroyed your world and made you a victim. He saved me from becoming a victim, and gave me a world to thrive in. He and Duncan raised me, loved me, became the parents that I never had."

"Duncan is a good man."

"Yes, he is. But, Cassandra, so is Methos. Now, anyway. Would you..." she trailed off, not sure it was right to ask.

"Would I what?"

"Forget it."

"Please, what were you going to ask?"

"Well, I've heard what Duncan says you told him, and Methos told me what happened between the two of you, both in Bordeaux and when he first met you. But I'd really like to hear your side of things. Would you mind?"

Cassandra took a deep breath, and hugged her arms around her, fighting off a chill. "It was so long ago. I had been found as a babe by the tribe's healer, Hajid. He raised me and taught me the healing arts, knowing that one day I would take over the tribe's care. Then the Horsemen came, with no regard for anyone but themselves. They slaughtered my entire tribe. When I came to, I was wrapped up in a blanket on the back of a horse. Then Methos released me, told me that I was his, that I would serve him. The days after

that all blurred together. I was raped, beaten, starved. When I stopped fighting him, then I was given a little more freedom. I tried to please him. And then..." She had to fight back tears. Suddenly, Jess' fingers wrapped themselves around hers, silently giving comfort. Cassandra continued.

"Then Kronos decided that it was his turn. And Methos didn't stop him, didn't say a word, just let him take me off. I hated him then. I still do. If you could have seen them when they rode into a village, Jessica, their faces masked, swords drawn. Death on horseback. And immortals, besides. Nothing scared them, nothing hurt them. They were inhuman."

"And all but Methos are dead. Two by Duncan's hand. And Methos killed the last one, didn't he?"

Cassandra nodded, wiping her eyes. "Yes, Methos killed Silas. I could have killed him then, when he was down. He couldn't have fought me. But Duncan stopped me, said he wanted him to live. For Duncan's sake, I walked away. I've tried to go on, but I can't forget it. Can't forget that he is still out there, still alive and free. I can't walk away again."

"If you had killed him in Bordeaux, then he and Duncan wouldn't have been there to save me."

"Tell me, how did you come to live here with them?" Cassandra asked.

"I was thirteen and living on the streets. I'd run away from my foster father, because he was trying to molest me. It didn't take long to realize that I wasn't any safer on the streets than I had been with him. The first time I met Methos and Duncan, they saved me from being raped. They took me to the hospital, stayed with me all night, and made me feel safe. Something I hadn't felt in a very long time. When social services took me away the

next morning, Methos pressed a slip of paper in my hands that contained his motel and room number. When I was given back to my foster father, he made it clear that things weren't going to change. So I ran again, except this time, I had someone to run to. Methos and Duncan decided to take me with them. We left the next day. And I've never regretted it."

"So they both raised you?"

"Yes, although I lived with Methos. I didn't know at the time that they were both immortals, or that Duncan was constantly being challenged. I know now that that's why I lived with Methos. Duncan had too many people coming after him."

"Did you have a good childhood? Were you happy?"

"Yes. It wasn't easy, though. Especially after I found out that they were immortals, and that they played this 'Game'. I'm not sure I like being a part of it, but if I want to survive, I suppose I don't have a lot of choice."

"I'm sor..."

"Don't Cassandra. It was an accident. It had to happen sooner or later. And giving my mortality to save Methos is a sacrifice that I'd make again without hesitation. Even now, my life, my head, is worth sacrificing for him."

"You love him that much?"

"Yes. I wish I could prove to you how much he's changed, but you have no reason to trust me, to take my word for it. I just...I shudder to think what my life would have been like if he and Duncan hadn't come into it."

"What are some of your fondest memories, if you don't mind my asking."

"Not at all. I guess one would be my first Christmas with them. I think everyone was trying to make up for all the lousy ones I'd had. We did everything you could think of. Shopped, went caroling, trimmed the tree, decorated the apartment and the dojo. I even got to help decorate Joe's bar. Some nights, I would wake up and go into the living room, just to stare at the lights on the tree. I'd sit there in the dark, and pinch myself to be sure that I wasn't dreaming. Methos always seemed to know. He would come and just sit next to me. He wouldn't say anything; he would just sit there. Eventually, I'd fall asleep and wake up the next morning back in my own bed."

"And you never felt afraid of him?"

"No, never. I'm not sure if he could say the same, though." She smiled.

Cassandra frowned. "I'm not sure I understand."

"You said that the Horsemen seemed unafraid, that nothing scared them."

"Right."

"You should have seen Methos the night I had my first slumber party. The look on his face while trying to handle ten teenage girls by himself would have given you immense satisfaction. I think he was under the impression that the Roman army had invaded Seacouver, and his apartment in particular."

Cassandra laughed, then stopped, surprised at herself. The sound seemed so foreign to her. She couldn't remember the last time she had found something worth laughing at. "Go on, I'd like to hear this."

"Well, to give him credit, he was actually doing okay. He was faithfully writing down the instructions for each girl, as the mothers dropped them off. Who took what medication, who couldn't eat what food. Everything was going fine. Until the fire department showed up." Jess laughed softly.

Cassandra's eyebrows raised at that. She could feel herself being pulled into this story that Jess was weaving. "The fire department? What happened?"

"Well, we had been making marshmallow treats. We put the marshmallows and butter in a pan to melt. Unfortunately, we got distracted. We ended up back in my room. Anyway, Methos must have noticed the pan on the stove, and he tried to pick it up. But he forgot to use the potholders, and burned himself. He dropped the pan, and the stuff went everywhere. The walls, the stovetop, and him. He had it in his hair, on his face and down the front of his clothes. Some of it even landed on his bare feet."

"Oh, yuck." Cassandra remarked, grinning.

"It gets better. Before he could think, he heard the shrieks and cries coming from my room, and came running. Right into the middle of a pillow fight."

"I hope someone socked him good."

"Better than that. The pillow burst its seams, and rained feathers down on him. Marshmallow coating and all. He looked like a mangy chicken! Oh, if you could have seen his face."

Cassandra laughed out loud. "He got tarred and feathered! Too bad you didn't have a camera. I would like to have seen that photo. But what about the fire department?"

"Well, the burner was still on, so when the marshmallow goo landed on it, it started to burn. It set off the smoke detector, which was REALLY loud, and one of our neighbors called the fire department. In the meantime, Methos grabbed a fire extinguisher, and tried to put out the smoldering mass, but got the damned nozzle turned around, and sprayed himself instead." Jess was holding her sides from laughing so hard. "By the time the fireman had left, poor Methos was already exhausted, and it wasn't even 8 o'clock yet! His night wasn't anywhere near being over."

"Did you and your friends torment him like that the whole night?"

"Pretty much, although we didn't mean to. We actually had good intentions, but somehow managed to do the wrong thing at the wrong time."

"Such as?" Cassandra wanted to know, getting into the spirit of things.

"Well, he went off to take a shower. We tried to be helpful by washing his clothes, especially his sweater, because I knew it was one of his favorites. But we kind of forgot to check and see if he was done in the shower before we started the washer. When we turned it on, the water in the shower got ice cold in about two seconds. The yell he let out when it hit was so loud, one of our neighbors came over to check on us. She thought maybe we were skinning a cat, or something. Methos' lips were still blue when he came

back into the living room."

Cassandra's face hurt from grinning so much, but this was too funny for her to want to stop now. "Go on, please."

"About the only thing that night that we did on purpose was the joke with the shaving cream."

"Shaving cream?"

Jess was just about to elaborate, when she and Cassandra both felt the buzz of another immortal. They glanced at the door, wearing matching expressions of trepidation. When Methos walked into the chapel, Cassandra's gaze became shuttered and wary. Jess' became stormy.

"I'm gonna kill Joe," she muttered under her breath. Gazing at Methos, a stubborn tilt to her chin. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, good morning to you, too. I came to see what you were up to."

"I'm talking, privately with Cassandra. You came, you saw, now go."

"No, stay," Cassandra surprised herself by saying. Both Methos and Jess looked at her, one expression hopeful, the other cautious. "I mean...uh, Jess was just telling me about growing up with you and Duncan."

He turned to Jess. "Telling her all my secrets, you little urchin?" he said, his voice gruff, but his expression tender as he gazed at Jess. He smiled and ruffled her hair. Cassandra didn't take her eyes off him, watching his manner with Jess.

"Yep," Jess said smugly. "I was about to spill the beans about the shaving cream incident."

Methos looked puzzled. "Shaving cream incident? What shaving cream incident?"

"The one that took place after the pillow fight at my slumber party."

Cassandra watched avidly as the tide of red swept up Methos' face, and couldn't help laughing out loud.

"You told her about that?" he asked Jess in a hoarse whisper.

"If by 'that', you mean your losing battle with the marshmallow and feathers, then yes, I did."

"Wait a minute, wait a minute," Cassandra said. "I want to know what happened with the shaving cream?" Her eyes were sparkling with amusement.

"Jess and her band of teenage felons tried to asphyxiate me," Methos growled, although his expression was anything but fearful.

Jess put on an offended expression. "You weren't supposed to inhale it. Besides, that's what you get for being the first one to fall asleep at a slumber party." She turned to Cassandra. "See, he rented these scary movies for us to watch. We were having a horror marathon. He fell asleep in the middle of it. So, we went and got his shaving cream." Jess had to stop several times and chuckle.

"We sprayed it in his hands, taking care not to wake him up. Then we started tickling his face with a feather. He reached up to scratch his face, and got shaving cream up his nose. He started choking, and the shaving cream started coming out his mouth. He looked like a rabid dog." Jess laughed as she looked at Methos' stern expression, knowing he wasn't

really mad.

"Mfph," Methos grunted. "It wasn't enough that I had to take out a loan to pay off the pizza delivery guy, or that my favorite sweater was bleached AND shrunk, or that I took more baths that day than I did in the entire fifteenth century. No, you had to try and smother me with shaving cream."

"Well, look on the bright side, Methos," Jess said, "at least you didn't have to get your hair cut the next day to make the ends even." She laughed.

Methos grinned. "There is that. I suppose I really should have warned Duncan to hide the sharp objects, but what fun would that have been? Besides, he got what he deserved, letting your little group of terrorists anywhere near his hair."

"Oh, come on, Stacy didn't mean to actually cut it. It was an accident."

Methos raised his eyebrows. "One inch is an accident, Jess. Five inches is scalping."

Cassandra interrupted. "When did this happen?"

"At Jess' second and last slumber party. I made Duncan host it. And I turned off my phone." Methos chuckled in remembrance, forgetting for the moment that Cassandra was there. He just looked at Jess fondly, his green-gold eyes soft. Cassandra was stunned at the look in his eyes, not quite sure if it was real, or a trick of the light streaming in through the stained-glass windows.

Methos cleared his throat, then glanced at Cassandra. Turning his gaze back to Jess, he said, "So everything's okay here?"

Jess sighed. "Yes, 'Dad', everything is fine. Don't worry."

Methos' gaze went back and forth between Jess and Cassandra. He almost smiled at the twin expressions on their faces, both with eyebrows raised, as if to say 'why are you still here?' But his sense of survival told him that laughing at the two of them would not be a good way to keep his head. He held up his hands in mock surrender. "All right, all right, I'm going. Dinner tonight, Jess?"

"Can't, I have a date tonight."

"Tomorrow, then?" He looked at her with his lost-puppy-dog expression. Jess wasn't fooled.

"Are you buying?"

"Don't I always?"

"No, you don't."

"Then why ask a silly question?"

Jess let out an exasperated breath. "Oh, get out of here. Go, go on, and leave us alone. We haven't finished talking yet."

Methos smiled. "Yes, ma'am." He gave Jess a soft kiss on the cheek. "See you tomorrow." With that, he walked out of the church. Both women were silent until they heard a car start up, then drive away.

Jess' attention returned to Cassandra, a smile on her face. Cassandra expression was one of contemplation.

"He really has changed, Cassandra."

"It seems like it, I know, Jess. But I just don't trust it. Methos is a very patient man. It wouldn't be unheard of for him to put on an act for years, if it meant achieving his main objective. For your sake, I'm glad. I'm glad he and Duncan were there for you. But it doesn't change how I feel. The game goes on. And I can't, I won't forget that."

Jess looked down at the floor, then stood and gathered her coat and purse. "Well, I had to try. But keep something in mind, Cassandra. I'm in this game now. And Methos is important to me. You fight and defeat him; there won't be anyplace you can hide from me. I'll track you down, and you will face me."

Cassandra's expression hardened. "If that's the way it has to be, so be it."

"Then think on this. If you and I face each other, no matter the outcome, Duncan is the big loser. You know he wouldn't be able to let it go. I kill you-I've killed a friend, a lover. You kill me-you've killed his child. He shouldn't have to suffer for something that happened thousands of years before he was even born. Think about that." Jess turned and quickly walked away. Cassandra bowed her head, as the door slammed shut behind Jess.

Seacouver-3 months later

Duncan was behind the bar at Joe's place, fixing a leaky beer tap for the Watcher. He suddenly felt the unmistakable presence of another immortal. His head came up, narrowly missing the edge of the bar. He moved closer to the chair where he had draped his coat. He let out a sigh of relief as he saw Cassandra come through the door, her coat covered with snow.

"Cassandra, this is a surprise. You left so suddenly last time, I thought something must have happened."

"I just had a lot of thinking to do, Duncan." She removed her coat and brushed the snow off, before hanging it over a nearby stool.

Duncan looked at her in concern. "Are you okay, Cassandra?"

Cassandra was about to answer Duncan, when Joe came out of the back room. He stopped when he saw the bar's latest customer. "Cassandra, welcome back to Seacouver." His tone was cordial enough, but his expression was wary, and his gaze flicked over to the door of the bar.

"Is something wrong, Joe?" Duncan asked.

"Wrong? No, no, nothing. Why should anything be wrong?" Joe said quickly.

"Joe, spit it out. What is it?"

Joe looked towards Cassandra. "It's just that, well, uh…" He took a deep breath, then continued. "Methosisduehereanyminute." He mumbled hurriedly, in one unbroken sentence.

Duncan grimaced, then glanced at Cassandra. He didn't know what to say, and if he had, there wouldn't have been a chance to say it anyway, as both he and Cassandra felt the buzz of an approaching Immortal. Methos came into the bar, with the cold December wind at his back. The wind slammed the door closed behind him with a sharp finality.

"Damn, I haven't been this cold since I joined Robert Peary in his trek to the North Pole." He rubbed his hands together, trying to get warm, then glanced towards the bar. His gaze met Cassandra's. "Shit," he muttered under his breath. This was just not turning out to be his day.

Both Joe and Duncan were silent, trying to find a way to separate the two Immortals before someone lost their head, literally. But Methos could see by the look in Cassandra's eyes that it wasn't going to happen. The frost in her eyes made the weather outdoors seem like a heatwave. Methos sighed, tired of the cat and mouse game.

"All right, Cassandra, let's go. We may as well finish this once and for all." He turned to go outside, while Cassandra gathered her coat, and the sword hidden inside it. Joe grabbed Methos, while Duncan pleaded with Cassandra.

"Please, don't. This doesn't have to happen." Duncan gazed into Cassandra 's eyes, seeing only the determination to finish the fight.

"I walked away from this once, Duncan, for you. I've listened to you and Jess both swear he's changed, but I just don't believe it. I won't walk away. Not again, not ever again." She shrugged off his hand, and Duncan leaned against the stool in defeat, knowing that in the next few minutes he would lose a friend, no matter who won.

Suddenly, the door opened again, and admitted a person whose news would change all their lives forever.

"Mr. Pierson, Mr. MacLeod." The young girl was breathless from her run, and tears were streaming down her face, almost frozen from the weather outside.

"Stacy?" Methos said, recognizing one of Jess' oldest and closest friends. He caught the girl before she collapsed on the floor, and helped her to a chair. She was breathing hard, and shaking. Methos turned to Joe. "Get her something warm to drink, would you?" Cassandra was forgotten for the moment as all three men hurried to help Stacy. Duncan came and draped a coat around her, as Methos tried to calm her down enough to talk.

Joe went around the bar and poured a cup of coffee, putting in a splash of brandy. Cassandra grabbed the cup, and took it to the table, handing it to Methos. He put the cup in Stacy's hand, and he coaxed her to drink. "Come one, just a few sips. Come on, now." The young girl took a few sips, wincing at the taste of the brandy. But it was warm, and she caught her breath. She looked up at the men surrounding her, and the tears started falling again.

"It's…it's Jess. She's been kidnapped, Mr. Pierson. Right in front of me. I…I," She buried her face in her hands, trying to get a grip on her emotions so that she could help her friend. She took a deep breath, unaware that all four of the bar's occupants had gone still. "Jess made me promise years ago that if anything ever happened to her, I was to contact you first, even before the police. I don't know why, but I promised…"

Duncan knelt down beside Stacy's chair, and gripped her hands. "It's all right, you did the right thing. Now, tell us what happened."

"We…we had gone to do some Christmas shopping at the mall. We had our hands full of packages and were heading back to the car, when this man stepped in front of Jess. She turned white as a sheet, and dropped the packages she was carrying. Then this guy, he just…he punched her. I couldn 't believe it! Then, before she fell, he grabbed her, put her in a car and drove off. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't think of what to do. I'm

sorry, Mr. Pierson, so sorry. I should have done something, said something." She started crying again. Duncan and Methos looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. Someone was using Jess to get at them.

"No, honey," Duncan said softly. "You did the right thing."

Suddenly, Methos remembered something. "Stacy," he said to the sobbing girl. He grabbed her shoulders. "Stacy, listen to me." He shook her gently, until he was sure he had her attention. "Stacy, did you get a good look at him?" She nodded. "Good girl. Do you think you could draw him for us?" Methos knew that Stacy was an artist, having seen much of her work over the years that she and Jess had been friends. "Could you do that for me?"

Stacy's eyes got big, and then she nodded. Joe fetched a pencil and some paper from his office. Stacy quickly began sketching, focused on doing something to help her friend. Cassandra stayed near her, as the three men walked over to the bar, talking in hushed tones.

"Joe," Duncan asked, "who is Jess' Watcher?"

"Travis Manning. He's a friend of mine. We go way back. Let me give him a call, see if he was with her today." The Watcher disappeared into his office, and the two Immortals continued their conversation.

"Who do you think it could be, Methos?" Duncan asked softly, so Stacy wouldn't overhear him use the other immortal's true name.

"I'm not sure, MacLeod. We both have so many enemies. It could be anyone of them. But from Stacy's story, it had to be someone Jess knew, someone she recognized."

Duncan brought up another point. "Stacy didn't mention that Jess reacted before he appeared, so it couldn't have been one of us that actually grabbed her. Whoever has done this has a mortal helping them."

Cassandra approached them, the sketch in her hand. Stacy was still sitting at the table, sipping the last of the coffee, trying to think of anything else she could do to help.

Cassandra handed the sketch to Duncan. "Does he look familiar?" she asked, after Duncan had glanced at it.

Duncan shook his head. "Not to me." He passed it to Methos. "How about you?"

Methos studied the picture carefully. The man Stacy had drawn seemed familiar, but he couldn't figure out why. He was still gazing at the drawing when Cassandra murmured something to Duncan about getting a cab to take the young girl home.

Duncan reentered the bar a little while later, after escorting Stacy to the cab, and assuring her that she had done everything she could for her friend. Joe called Adam's name from his office, and Duncan and Cassandra followed the man back into the room where Joe's office was. Joe was just hanging up the phone.

"Well, Travis was following her today. He got the license number of the car that was being driven." He handed a slip of paper to Methos. "Think you can hack into the system for the Department of Licensing, old man?"

"Not a problem." Methos said as he sat down in front of the terminal and started to boot up the system. Joe turned to Duncan. "Travis followed them out of the city, then lost them. He's backtracking right now to see if he can find out where they turned off. He'll call back as soon as he knows anything."

Duncan nodded. The office was silent for a few minutes, except for Methos' fingers tapping on the keys of the computer's keyboard. Methos started muttering under his breath, and Duncan leaned over him as he continued typing. "What is it, Methos?"

Methos didn't even look up from the computer. "The car is registered to a rental agency. I'm trying to get into their system right now to find out who rented the car."

"Do you think you can get into their system."

Methos grunted. "I got into the DOL's, didn't I? This will be a piece of cake." After a few more minutes, he smiled. "Pay dirt. The car was rented yesterday morning by a William Standish out of Philadelphia."

"Standish? Doesn't sound familiar, but I guess that's not unusual, as often as some of us change names." Duncan said. Methos' brow was furrowed in concentration.

"MacLeod, where's the sketch Stacy drew?" Duncan walked out of the office and retrieved it from the bar, taking it back to Methos. The elder immortal looked at it closely, his eyes glancing back and forth from the sketch to the computer screen. Suddenly, he paled and slumped back in his chair. "Fuck. How the hell did he find her?"

Who?" Duncan asked. "Methos, who is it?"

Methos looked at Duncan, the worry in his eyes clear to Duncan. "It's Jess ' foster father, MacLeod. The one she was running from when we found her." Duncan was mute for several moments, as this information registered.

Cassandra jumped into the conversation. "Wait a minute, this is the guy that was trying to molest her when she was a child?"

Methos nodded grimly, while Duncan glanced at Cassandra. "How did you know about that?"

"Jess mentioned him a couple of months ago, when she told me how she came to be raised by the two of you."

"When did this happen? I never knew this. I didn't even realize you two knew each other."

"We talked a couple of months ago, Duncan. After I 'killed' her."

Duncan glanced at Methos and Joe, neither of whom seemed surprised at this news. "Am I the only one who didn't know what was going on?"

Joe looked sheepish. "She asked for my help in locating Cassandra, Duncan. She said she just wanted to talk. I didn't see any harm in it."

Duncan looked ready to argue, but Methos interrupted. "Could we forget about what happened back then, and concentrate on now. We need to find her, Highlander, before this son of a bitch does anything more to her. Joe, did Travis say which direction? We may as well start heading that way."

"They headed towards the mountains. He lost them about a half hour outside the city limits, somewhere near the Columbia River."

"Okay, we'll head that way. Call us when he calls you, and we'll find his position." They all headed out of the office, and Methos and Duncan grabbed their coats. Cassandra gave Duncan a hug, then stepped back. "I'll stay here with Joe," she said.

"No!" Methos said, and continued before Duncan could interfere. "Please, Cassandra, come with us." Joe, Duncan and Cassandra all looked surprised, but Methos wasn't paying attention. His gaze was focused on his feet. Then he looked up at Cassandra, and she saw the tears in his eyes. "Please. If he…if we don't get there in time, and he has already…" his voice cracked with emotion. "If he's already raped her, it'll be easier if there's another woman around to help. Please."

Cassandra silently gazed at Methos, then nodded. She gathered up her coat and followed him out the door. Throwing a last, helpless glance at Joe, Duncan was right behind them. Joe bowed his head in a quick prayer, then grabbed his phone and a beer and sat down at a table to wait.

They met up with Travis, Jess' watcher, about a half mile down the road from the old farmhouse where Standish had gone. Methos only hoped that Jess was still with him. It had taken Harry almost an hour to find the car. Standish could have done anything to Jess during that time and dumped her somewhere. Methos clenched his hands in rage as he thought about what Jess could have, or could be, going through. By the gods, that bastard would pay. Methos promised himself that after tonight, Jess would never have to worry about Standish again.

Methos was so engrossed with worry for Jess, that he didn't even wonder why Travis made no comment about one of their own being with the two immortals. He couldn't know that Joe had chosen Travis as Jess' Watcher for a reason. Travis knew that 'Adam Pierson', ex-Watcher was really an immortal. Travis had known for several years, and had never said anything to anyone other than Joe. Joe had known that Travis would keep Adam's secret.

Methos glanced over toward Duncan and Cassandra. Duncan looked as furious as Methos felt. But Cassandra's eyes held only contempt, and not just for Standish. Methos knew that in Cassandra's eyes, he was no different from Jess' foster father. Methos broke eye contact, and heard a snort from Cassandra, but ignored it. He couldn't worry about her right now. He had to get to Jess.

They headed the half-mile to the farmhouse on foot. No sense in letting the man know he was about to have unwanted company. Once there, there was a brief discussion among them. Then the three immortals headed forward, each trying to find a way into the house. If they came from three directions, maybe they could distract him enough for one of them to find Jess and get her out.

Duncan headed to the east side of the house, trying to find a door or window he could get into. There was one room that had a faint light on. He silently made his way to the window, trying to see through the frosted glass. When that didn't work, he tried to wipe some of the frost away. What he saw made his blood chill.

Jess was bound to the bed in a spread-eagle position. Her shirt had been ripped open, and her face was a mass of bruises, which Duncan could see were healing, even as he watched. There was a gash on her head that was slowly starting to repair itself. Duncan was close enough to feel her, but she didn't move, didn't give any indication that she felt the presence of another immortal. Duncan guessed she was unconscious. He looked around, trying to see where Standish might be, but didn't see the man. He was just about to try and open the window when he saw movement coming from the doorway. His breath caught in his throat until he felt the 'buzz' and realized it was Cassandra. She had found a way in! He quietly tapped on the window, seeing her look around at the sound. She finally saw his face in the spot he had cleared off. She hurried over and opened the window. When Duncan made an attempt to climb in, she stopped him.

"Stay there." She whispered. "Let me untie her, and hand her out to you. Maybe we can get away before he realizes she's gone." Duncan nodded, and Cassandra moved to the bed. Using her sword, she quickly cut through the ropes holding Jess. Laying down her sword, she started to drag the unconscious woman over to the window. Once Jess' head and shoulders where through the opening, Duncan pulled her the rest of the way out.

Cassandra was reaching back for her sword when she felt her hair being yanked back painfully. Tears stung her eyes at the pain, and she cried out. She could hear Duncan calling her name. She reached behind her, and tried to claw at her attacker's face, yelling at Duncan, "Go! Get her out of here. I'll be all right."

Turning around to face her enemy, Cassandra noticed that he was already sporting a black eye and various scratches and cuts. Apparently, Jess hadn' t gone down without one hell of a fight. Neither would Cassandra. She tried to kick him in the groin, but the man quickly blocked her attempt with his leg.

Already bleeding and in pain, Standish was in no mood to deal with another hellcat. Swinging as hard as he could, his fist caught Cassandra on the jaw, knocking her onto the bed. She was dazed, and shook her head, trying to keep the blackness hovering at the edge of her vision at bay. She couldn 't pass out! But her momentary lapse was all Standish needed. His anger at the injuries Jess had inflicted, and now her escape, made him even more vicious. Using the same ropes that Cassandra had cut off of Jess, he

quickly bound Cassandra's hands to the bed frame.

Cassandra struggled, but his furious strength was too much. Climbing on to the bed, Standish straddled Cassandra's legs. She looked up at him, and for one brief second saw the faces of the Horsemen superimposed over his. This angered her even more, and she spit in his face. She didn't even feel the stinging backhand he delivered. She just gazed at him, all the contempt she felt for Kronos, Caspian, Silas and Methos directed at this man.

"You've lost." she told him. "No matter what, you'll never get near her again. The next time, they'll be prepared. You'll die before you can lay a hand on her."

Standish laughed. "I got her once, I can get her again. Until then, I'll have to find a replacement for my evening's 'entertainment.' Since you've so kindly decided to join the party, you'll have to do." Moving her coat out of the way, Standish grabbed the edges of Cassandra's shirt and ripped it open, buttons flying off into the shadowed corners of the room. He gazed down at her with a lustful leer, licking his lips in anticipation. He

roughly grabbed her breasts and started to fondle them painfully. Cassandra bit her lip, determined not to cry out.

His hands moved down to his belt buckle, so occupied with this task, that he didn't hear the soft footfalls behind him, or see the woman underneath him freeze. He didn't notice her gaze dart over his shoulder. But he did notice when he was abruptly yanked off the bed. He landed hard on the floor, his breath leaving his lungs with a 'whoosh'. He found himself on his back, staring up to find a very long blade poised at his throat. His gaze moved up the length of the sword, and he stared into the furious green-gold eyes of its owner. If that wasn't enough to convince him that he was in very deep shit, the tone of the man's voice should have. But William Standish had never been known for his intelligence.

"Where is she, you bastard?" the intruder growled.

Standish just stared up at him, not saying a word. It was Cassandra who answered Methos. "Duncan's got her. She's okay. He didn't have time to finish…" She trailed off, not sure why she was so anxious to ease his mind.

Methos nodded, not taking his eyes off Standish. "Your life would have been a whole lot longer, and a lot less painful if you had stayed far away from Jess. Mistakes like that have a way of coming back to bite you in the ass."

Standish just smirked, still unaware of the danger he was in. "You can't protect her forever. Sooner or later, you'll let your guard down. Then she 's mine."

Cassandra would have recognized the expression on Methos' face. It had haunted her nightmares for centuries. But Methos' back was to her, and the face of Death was fastened on Standish. It wasn't until the final seconds of his life that William Standish realized his danger.

"Kind of hard to do anything from hell." Methos said in an even tone, then moved slightly. The tip of the sword poised at Standish's throat suddenly became embedded in it, severing his windpipe. The elder immortal turned away indifferently as the man started to choke on his own blood, his thrashing only speeding up his death.

Methos turned and raised his sword above the bed. Cassandra cried out, fearing that Methos was going to use this chance to take her head. The sword flashed down and…cut the ropes binding Cassandra to the bed. Cassandra yanked her hands free, and gazed warily up at Methos. He stepped over the body on the floor and moved towards the door. Looking back at the motionless woman on the bed, he said, "Are you coming?"

Cassandra leaped up from the bed, grabbing the edges of her coat together to cover her semi-naked form. Leaning down to pick up her sword from the floor, she gazed down into the eyes of the rapist. Shaking her head at the pitiful creature, she spit on him once more, then stepped over him and followed Methos out the door. William Standish died, discarded and forgotten on the floor, like the piece of garbage that he was.

Methos was walking quickly to where they had left the car. Cassandra was practically running in order to keep up with him. Neither of them said anything for several minutes, but Cassandra's curiosity got the better of her.

"Why did you do it, Methos?"

Methos sighed and stopped walking. He didn't turn around, but stared off into the distance. "Do what, Cassandra? Kill Standish, or not kill you?"

The cold night made the harsh breath she let out visible. "I know why you killed Standish. And it was the right thing to do."

"So glad you approve." Methos said sarcastically.

"You should have killed me when you had the chance. I would have, if our

positions had been reversed."

Methos turned around to look at her then. Cassandra took a step back seeing the anger in his eyes. She gripped her sword tightly, preparing to bring it up. Methos saw this and shook his head with disgust.

"You still don't get it, do you? When I asked you to come along and help Jess, I didn't just mean help get her away from Standish." Methos ran his hands through his hair, frustrated at having to explain himself. "I realize that she is going to have problems with this. It'll probably bring back a lot of the nightmares she used to have when she first came to live with us. I was hoping that you'd be available for her to talk to, if she needed it. Another woman, an immortal." He took a deep breath. Softly, so softly that Cassandra almost missed it, he said, "Someone who knows what she's going through."

"I'll do anything for Jess, Methos. For her sake, not for yours."

Methos laughed humorlessly. "Oh, hell, I wouldn't expect you to cross the street to spit on my grave, Cassandra. Too much effort for you. Let's just get Jess through this. Then we can worry about killing each other." He turned and resumed his trek to the car, Cassandra trailing behind him.

Duncan glanced up when he felt their presence. He smiled with relief when he saw them. "Thank the gods. Cassandra, are you all right? I heard you cry out, but…" He glanced at Jess' still form in the back seat of Methos' Range Rover.

"I know, Duncan. You had to get her away. I yelled for you to, but I wasn't sure you heard me."

"How is she, MacLeod?" Methos asked.

"Unconscious. I think he may have drugged her. We need to get her someplace warm."

"Someplace familiar to her." Cassandra said. Both men stared at her. "If she wakes up in familiar surroundings, she'll feel safer."

Duncan nodded, gazing at Jess. "Yeah, I guess you're right." His gaze moved back and forth between Methos and Cassandra. "So, where's Standish?"

"In hell, MacLeod. In hell." Methos braced himself, expecting a lecture.

"Good." was Duncan's only response. He helped Cassandra into the back seat. The woman moved Jess' head, until it was lying in her lap. Then Duncan climbed in front next to Methos. While Methos drove to Jess' apartment, Duncan called Joe on the cell phone.

"Joe, yeah, we got her. No, I don't think so. Yeah, we're taking her to her apartment. Cassandra thinks being in familiar surroundings will help once she wakes up. No, she hasn't. I think he may have drugged her. Standish?" He looked at Methos before answering Joe's question. "He's gone, Joe. No, Methos did. Yeah, I'll tell him. Listen, Joe, before you head out to meet us, can you do me a favor? Call Jess' friend, Stacy and let her know that Jess is okay. And…and tell Travis thanks. I owe him. We all do. Yeah, okay. See you in a little while." He disconnected and put the phone away. "Joe says he's glad you killed Standish. Saves him the trouble of having to do it himself."

Methos didn't say anything, and the car grew quite. The only sound that was heard on the remainder of the trip was Cassandra as she crooned softly to Jess.

Once they reached Jess' place, Duncan carried her inside and laid her on the bed. Methos grabbed Jess' favorite sweats and a sweater she had 'borrowed' from him before she moved out. The two men helped Cassandra get Jess comfortable, then left the women alone, heading out into the living room.

It was more than an hour later before Jess finally came to. Joe had arrived, and joined Duncan and Methos in their silent vigil. The three men in the living room could all hear Jess' cries. They rushed to the bedroom door, but stopped short, not wanting to overwhelm Jess. Cassandra was sitting on the bed, stroking Jess' forehead with a cool cloth, crooning softly.

"Shh, it's okay, Jess. You're safe. It's all right. Open your eyes, Jess, and look around. See, you're home. You're safe. He's not here, Jess. He can't hurt you anymore." Cassandra's tone stayed soft and reassuring, waiting while Jess' gaze frantically moved around the room, seeing for herself that Cassandra was telling the truth. Jess' gaze finally came to a rest on Cassandra, and with a cry, she threw herself at the older woman. Cassandra's arms came around Jess, rocking her back and forth, voice low and soothing. "That's right, Jess. Let it go. It's all right now. You're gonna be fine. You're safe now. Shh."

The men framed in the doorway silently pulled back, tears in their eyes. They all wanted to rush to Jess, to be the one comforting her. But they were afraid to frighten her. Better to let Cassandra deal with it. When Jess was ready, they'd be waiting to help. In whatever way they could.

They eventually heard Jess' sobs taper off, only the occasional sniffle sounded from the bedroom. Finally, Cassandra came out, closing the door softly behind her.

"She's asleep for now. I'll stay here tonight, though. She'll probably have nightmares."

"I'm staying, too," Methos said. He held up a hand to stop Cassandra when she opened her mouth to argue. "I'll sleep on the couch, and I won't go into her room. I just…I need to be close."

Duncan agreed. "I feel the same way, Cassandra. I can't leave. Not now, not yet."

"I understand, just please be careful. She's still afraid. She will be for quite some time." Cassandra turned to return to the bedroom when Methos ' voice stopped her.

"Cassandra."

She turned back to him, waiting.

"For what it's worth, thank you. I know that you're only doing this because of Jess, but…I appreciate it anyway."

Cassandra stared at him for several moments, then sighed heavily. "Look, I don't pretend to understand you, Methos. And I'll never like you. But Jess seems to think you're worth keeping around. She's a very special young woman, who happens to adore you. I still don't believe you've changed, but she does. For her sake, I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt."

Duncan could feel the little ray of hope blooming in his heart. "What exactly does that mean, Cassandra?"

Cassandra looked tired, and rubbed her forehead before answering. "It means that I won't keep trying for his head, Duncan. I won't hurt either you or Jess by continuing this vendetta, no matter how much I think he deserves it." She looked at Methos. "What happened between us is in the past, and I'll try my best to leave it there. I'll even try to be civil when I visit. And I will be visiting. So, unless you give me a reason to in the future, I won't come after you again." She didn't wait for a response from anyone, just returned to Jess' room, closing the door behind her.

The three men left in the living room were stunned. The only sounds in the apartment were the soft ticking of the clock in the corner, and Joe's soft "I'll be damned" murmured under his breath.

Over the next several weeks, Jess made steady progress as she tried to come to terms with everything that had happened. She was still jumpy, and would be for some time, but little by little, she seemed to be returning to a more normal state of mind.

Cassandra was a big help, and Jess felt good having someone to talk to about her fears. She came to appreciate the woman's wisdom and friendship. She began to feel about Cassandra as she did about Amanda. Like she had another big sister. Jess was overjoyed that Cassandra and Methos had declared a truce of sorts, even if it was a strained one. They had actually been civil to each other the night before. Methos had been waiting at Jess' door when the two women had returned from a run in the park.

Jess stood in front of her mirror, eyeing the new outfit she was wearing. A calf-length maroon skirt was paired with a soft sweater in a dusky rose shade. It complemented Jess' black hair, and brought a sparkle to her blue eyes. The outfit was a gift from Cassandra. They had picked it out together this afternoon, when both women had been looking for something to wear tonight. It was Jess' birthday, and they were heading to Joe's after

dinner to celebrate.

Dinner was a small, quiet affair at Duncan's loft. Amanda and Richie had flown in from London and Los Angeles, respectively. Stacy had shown up, and been praised for her part in helping to find Jess that night. Even Jess ' Watcher had been invited, although he declined. He told Joe that he didn't think he'd be able to do his job properly if he got to know his assignment too well. Joe could understand that, and passed on Travis' birthday wishes to Jess.

It was late in the evening before things started to wind down at Joe's. Jess felt safe and happy, surrounded by the people who loved her best. Stacy had left right after dinner, since she had to work early the next morning. Jess tried to hide a yawn behind her hand, knowing that it was getting to be time to head for home, but not wanting to end this evening just yet. She was having such a good time. Amanda and Cassandra were

actually getting along, teasing Duncan unmercifully. Richie was regaling everyone with tales about the races he'd been participating in down in LA. Jess looked around and couldn't think of anywhere she'd rather be right now.

She was surprised when Joe came out from behind the bar with a package in his hand, laid it on the table in front of her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I don't understand, Joe. You already gave me a birthday present."

"This isn't a birthday gift, it's a gift just for being you. Go on, open it."

Jess tore off the outside wrapping, uncovering a box. Lifting the lid, she pulled out the gift. It was a hinged set of picture frames. Each side had a sheet of parchment paper, the writing on it done in beautiful, flowing calligraphy. On one side was what appeared to be some form of Gaelic. The other was in English. It read:

i àil thig as an dorchadas she will come from the darkness

àm leanabh de dàn this child of fate

beir de dithis chaoidh òg athair born of two ageless sires

aon de an sean dòigh one of the ancient ways

aon de Gaidhealach fuil one of Highland blood

a bàs àil thoir beatha nuadh her death will bring life anew

a cridhe àil cum sìth ann a saoghal her heart will keep peace in her world

Jess looked up at Joe, tears in her eyes. "It's beautiful, Joe. Thank you."

"They found that Gaelic prophecy in Skye several years ago. Methos managed to decipher it."

"Without butchering the language too badly." Duncan interjecting with a laugh, earning a glare from the old man.

"Ha, ha, MacLeod. Very funny. But, Joe, I thought we decided not to tell Jess about the prophecy. You felt it would 'put pressure on her to fulfill it.'"

Joe just shook his head. "I think she already has fulfilled it, Methos." This brought curious looks from everyone, as Jess handed the frames around for the others to read. Duncan and Methos both looked confused.

"Care to explain that remark, Joe?" Duncan asked.

"Well, I got to thinking about it. That prophecy reads 'her heart will keep peace in her world.' Maybe it doesn't mean the entire world as a planet, but just Jess' corner of it. Six months ago, I wouldn't have thought that Amanda and Cassandra could sit in the same room without sniping at each other. And I never would have guessed that you and Cassandra could declare a truce. But yet, we're all here tonight, celebrating Jess'

birthday. Together. Her world is at peace."

Everyone was quiet for several minutes, allowing this to sink in. It was Richie that broke the silence. Raising his glass, he said, "Here's to Jess. May we all be around to celebrate her birthday for many years to come." Everyone raised their glasses and toasted Jess.

Meeting Methos' eyes, Cassandra could feel the last remnants of anger toward him drop away. She and Methos met each other halfway and clinked glasses, drinking to Jess.

THE END