Chapter Four: Vanished:

"You were supposed to stay with her!" Mac yelled at Amanda as they made their way towards Joe's. The Watcher had called them and told them what happened. Mac wasted no time in getting there. Amanda was with him.

"You didn't say to stay with her!" retorted Amanda angrily. "I thought she would be fine there, which she is there remember?"

"This time." Mac reminded her. "Lori!" he called out when the two entered the bar.

"Mac!" Lori was happy to see the Highlander. Michelle had freaked her out a little. There was something about her. Lori wrapped her arms around him.

"Are you okay?" Mac asked her.

"I am now." She answered.

"Joe, do you mind if I take her home?" Mac asked.

"But Mac, I'll be fine." Said Lori.

"I would feel better if you were home." Mac told her. "Joe?" he asked again.

"Its okay Mac. Take her home. She could probably use a day off anyway." Joe smiled at Lori.

"Thanks Joe." Lori said and Mac ushered her out of the bar and back home.

"You couldn't have warned us?" Amanda demanded of Joe when the Highlander and Lori were gone.

"She's not mine." Joe answered her.

"Who's her watcher?"

"Miley Bolton." He informed her.

"Well, couldn't you talk to her?" Amanda suggested.

"I can't."

"Why not."

"She's dead. Michelle killed her."

"Mac, whats going on?" Lori asked when they got home. "How do you know Michelle and what did she mean by you're not like other men?"

The Highlander sighed. It looked like this would be the time he had to tell her. He went into the kitchen and pulled out a sharp knife. This concerned Lori. "What are you doing?"

"I'm answering your question." He replied and he cut his hand. Blood leaked but when he wiped the crimson liquid away there was no cut.

Lori took his hand into hers so she could examine it better. "There is no wound here. Why?"

He gave her small smile. "I'm Immortal."

"What?"

"I'm Immortal, I can't die." He explained slowly. "I was born in the Highlands of Scotland 400 hundred years ago…"

Lori let go of his hand. "You're serious are you?" she asked him.

"Yes, and there is nothing I can do to change it. This is me."

"This is like a real life fairytale…" she said. "This would explain so much I guess… That Michelle girl, she's one too isn't she?"

"Yes. We have to fight each other for us to survive. In the end there can be only one…"

"And Amanda?" questioned Lori. Mac nodded his head yes. "This is really hard to take in Mac. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want you to get hurt, and I didn't want you to be scared of me."

Lori hesitantly put her arms around him. "I could never be scared of you… No matter what you are…"

"But…"

"I need time to think about this okay…" she parted from him.

"I see."

"I can't leave though can I?" she asked. "That Michelle girl wants me to get to you…"

"I can't force you to stay." Replied Mac. "I don't want ever want you to think wrongly of me."

Lori smiled at him. "I'll be careful." She assured him. "Will you wait for me?"

Mac returned her smile. "As long as it takes." Then he watched her leave. The Highlander was once again alone.

Lori found herself in the park. She could sort out her thoughts here. She knew there was something about Duncan but she never knew it could be something like this… "Immortal…" she whispered to herself.

"Yeah, it really bites." Michelle came out of nowhere. "Hello pretty."

Before Lori could make a run for it Michelle grabbed her. Then they were gone.

TBC…