Disclaimer: Highlander is the property of Davis-Panzer Productions. Gwen MacQueen and her assorted bunch of sidekicks are mine.

I want to thank my beta reader R.J. Bingham. Please go and read R.J.'s Fan-fiction, his stories are both well written and enjoyable. You can find him under my favorite Authors.

Chapter 11

Methos - Old and Wise One or Full of Bullshit?

With plans in place Gwen was picked up in Barney's limo for the ride up to Mills Lake. Methos and Connor followed them in Methos's Jimmy at a comfortable distance. Connor was glad to get Methos and Gwen separated; now he finally had time to speak to the 5,000 year man alone. Their first order of business was to discuss just how they were going to separate the immortal Simon Willis from the renegade watchers, and kill him.

Methos told Connor "It makes no difference to me if Simon Willis finds out whether I am an immortal or not, because he will not live through the night anyway. We need to use his quickening as a cover so that the watchers will think it's really Gwennie's quickening, and think she is dead. That is the only way she can get out of Dodge safely. Then she can go off to New Zealand to start her new life without a watcher trailing along behind her. Don't you agree Connor?"

"Methos you even pick a place for her to go? Gwen is very pig headed how do you know she will follow your plans to the letter?" Connor asked curiously trying to find out just how old and wise Methos really or was he just really just good at slinging bullshit.

"It's not hard Connor, I do have a plan. I know her almost better than she knows herself and there's only one way to get Gwennie to do what I want her to do; manipulate her." Methos gave Connor a big smile and laughed.

"Really? Well I have tried to do that and failed, the woman's got an iron will and mystic powers, even Darius tried to do that and she manipulate him instead, I don't suppose you want to hear the story?" Connor said.

"No, please don't, that whole thing between Darius and her and me is still a bit raw." Methos answered.

"Wasn't that around the time of Christ, you seem to hold a grudge a long time." Connor smirked back at Methos. "But really I have never seen anyone being able to manipulate Gwen, she's a rock, so what is this great plan of yours, oh old and wise one?"

Methos shook his head "Highlander, I am just a guy, I never claimed to be old and wise, but I do know Gwennie, to her very core, so it's really not that difficult to manipulate her. First, you have to confuse her. Second, you have to dump her so hard she will not know which end is up. Third, you have to lie to her, and finally I will tell her that I have never loved her and she means nothing to me. Those will pretty much do the job and after that she will do anything I tell her to." Methos smiled in an elfish way at Connor.

"Did anyone tell you that you're crazy?" Connor yelled at Methos. "Well as for me I think you're a mean and sadistic old bastard? So you're telling me she's only going to follow through on this plan of yours, treating her like a piece of shit? I don't think that's playing fair, she's one of the nicest, kindest, sweetest and most honest immortals I have ever met." Connor replied with a sick look on his face.

"Oh I agree she had a heart of Gold, I guess that's why I kept coming back to her again and again and again over the centuries. But that same heart of Gold is her greatest weakness. Look at me Connor, It's not like I want to drive her away, but let's be serious Gwen MacQueen has two murder charges hanging over her head and no way to avoid prison? Prison is not any place for an immortal. How many times have you had to leave a life you didn't want to? I guess we both are men and try not to get tied up with this emotional stuff, but Gwennie's not only leaving a life she loved but a son she raised. If I know her, she will be fighting to stay as Gwen MacQueen for as long as she can." Methos shook his head and took in a deep ragged breath, the pace of his words slowed, Connor could see the look of concern on his face. "It's not logical, but it's Gwennie and we can't allow it to happen, sometimes she doesn't know when to quit."

"Well I guess you're right she has a heart of gold and sometimes the woman acts like a tiger who hasn't been fed for two weeks, she keeps coming at you until she gets whatever she wants. I never saw anyone as small as her with her resolve. Sometimes Gwen doesn't think logically at all, especially if it involves someone she cares about. I don't think she ever knew what the word fear meant; I have never seen her like in a man or women. Methos there's still got to be a better way to get her to move away rather than tearing her down. And don't tell me you don't love her, I can see it just by the way you look at her. Any fool can tell that you love her, are you going to be lying to her or are you really just lying to yourself Methos? " Connor asked.

Methos was quiet as he drove down the highway, darkness was falling and they were nearing Mills Lake. "Connor, I am not going to answer that question. It's none of your business anyway. Whatever is between Gwennie and me has always stayed just between the two of us and I will not speak about it, especially with one of her past lovers. OH You didn't think I knew?" Methos glanced at the Highlander for just a moment with an icy glare in his eyes.

"Well I do love her Methos, and because of you she would never let me in all the way, when we were together it felt like there was always a third person in the room with us; and that third person was you. So I think I deserve an answer." The Highlander looked at the 5000 year old man with anger in his eyes.

"Highlander, it's very complicated. There is no way you can be involved with the same women for over 2000 years and not have a lot of issues in the relationship. I am sure your feelings about Gwennie are genuine, but as for myself and Gwennie to tell you the truth, I do not even dare admit to myself how I really feel about her. I can't because then I would have to face too many things about myself I don't want to deal with at this time. How long have you lived Highlander, five hundred years? Maybe after you lived a few more thousand years you will begin to get a grasp of what I am really talking about." Methos pulled over the SUV off the road and paused again, relaxed and gripping his hands together in a fist and was quiet for a few moments. Then without any reason he completely changed his demeanor, and smiled as he began saying, "Anyway we are here, let's get in place we have a job to finish. Now it's time to save the girl, keep the watchers alive, kill the renegades, and save our own skins, ready Highlander?" Methos then reached over and lightly punched the Highlander in his shoulder and then he jumped out of the SUV and began scanning the land where they were parked for the other participants in the night's drama.

Connor was perplexed with Methos answers, Duncan had told him once that Methos was a sly son of a bitch, who often said one thing but acted another way. Duncan couldn't explain his friendship with the 5000 year old man, and said he could never tell for sure when Methos was telling a lie or telling the truth. Duncan did say that sometimes Methos had seemed to be very annoyed about helping Duncan, and complained the whole time, but when push came to shove Duncan couldn't find anyone better to have his back than Methos. Connor had to laugh at the relationship his kinsman and Methos had, but had trouble seeing how this double talking Immortal has endeared himself so much to Duncan since his kinsman who was all about right and wrong and Methos seemed to walk in the greys of life. Right now Connor was more worried about Gwen than he was in understanding Methos's motives. The Highlander was still willing to take Methos's head if it meant saving Gwen. The only problem with this strategy was that Connor felt Methos was highly aware were Connor's allegiances lay, and was on constant alert even if he never flinched or twitched a muscle in Connor's direction. The two immortals always watched each other; Connor had to admit he was a bit over his head this time matching moves with a master of the game, he was glad they were supposed to be on the same side.

"OK Methos so just how are we going to get Mr. Simon Willis separated from the renegade watchers, since you're the guy with all the plans supposedly?" Connor asked for the second time tonight.

"I am not sure yet, as far as Joe and I have been able to determine, Carol is the only watcher who knows Simon Willis is immortal. At least I hope so; I have to meet up with the other watchers that are our side. Can you stay hidden and look out for Gwennie and Barney? Try not to let anyone know you are here. Your watchers should be with Joe, and their last report was, you were still in the vicinity but they were unable to locate your position. Try to keep it that way if you can Highlander." Methos barked out orders like a general.

"I have more than one watcher? And both are so inept that neither one of them can find me? What kind of operation are you guys running here it's not like I've been hiding, I've been staying at Duncan's Loft! This watcher thing doesn't seem like a terribly efficient organization if you ask me." Connor complained.

"You haven't been their first priority, this whole renegade watchers killing immortals has been more important than locating a missing immortal who usually, for all intents and purpose, act as a good guy in their Chronicles." Methos informed Connor. "But do not let it go to your head Highlander, they took an oath not to interfere so if our Mr. Simon Willis gets the jump on you don't expect any help from the watchers. One more thing my name is Adam Pierson in this life, and I would ask you kindly to forget about Methos, at least for now." Methos said just as he left Connor standing near the SUV and then walked in to the wood heading towards the beach.

Connor shook his head in disbelief then looked for higher ground and climbed up a small hill so he could get a look at the players of tonight's drama gathering on the beach. There was a bright sky and a full moon that reflected off the water and someone had started a bon-fire down on the beach. Connor went back to the SUV and got a pair of binoculars that way he could get a closer look at the beach, where he could see a crowd gathering.

Barney and Gwen started the bon-fire, not only to help keep them warm but to light up the beach, it wasn't long before Carol and her men appeared. Gwen quickly noticed the approach of an immortal among Carol's men. Gwen had her sword in one of her hands and a magnum forty five in the other; she was taking no chances this time.

Barney spoke first, "Carol, this is madness you have to listen to me, maybe I do not know everything about watchers, but you have Gwen and my relationship completely wrong. Gwen is not in competition with you for my love. She raised me; she is my Mother."

Carol looked at him in shock, "You mean she's gone from being your lover to my mother in-law? Barney you should have told me before the wedding."

Barney responded back with. "Carol you should have told me you were a watcher! I didn't think you even knew that immortals existed; much less that Gwen was one. Is the stuff true about you sending all those other bad immortals after her, to kill her? How could you Carol? I never loved any other women but you, so why did you do this? Michelle is dead now too and Gwen said that was because of you too. I really don't understand why you hate Gwen; she was always good to you."

Carol came close to Barney, and looked into his eyes, "I didn't know she raised you, but you don't really know her, you have only seen what she wanted you to see Barney, Gwen is evil, she's a witch, and uses dark magic, I've seen her do it many times."

"Hey do I get a vote in this or are you judge jury and executioner Carol?" Gwen chimed in. "If you want Barney, he's not going to want you after you kill me. Think about it Carol, you could clear my name and we could be one big sort of happy family, I'm not really so bad."

"Gwen put you're gun down and your sword away, you're an abomination even among immortals, I am sorry Barney, you will get over it someday, I don't care what she is to you, Gwen must die tonight." Carol said with hate in her voice.

Two of the men with Carol took out their automatic weapons and fired them at Gwen, Barney stepped in the line of fire and was grazed in the shoulder, but Gwen body was riddled with bullets and she fell on the beach bleeding onto sand. All Connor on the hill could hear was Barney cry's of pain and weeping and cursing at watching the women who raised him die in front of his eyes. Barney had never seen Gwen die right in front of him before and then Carol and her partners came over and tied up Gwen's broken and bloody body, and told him to stop whining she wasn't really dead, but Barney couldn't stop cursing Carol's name.

The Highlander had seen quite enough and decided to take some action for himself seeing that the watchers still weren't there and Methos had disappeared in to the woods, somebody had to do something, so it appeared to him he was the only one around to help.

End chapter 11

Chapter 12 - It's a Kind of Magic

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