Disclaimer: Methos, Joe, Richie, and Duncan Macleod are the property of Davis-Panzer Productions. Gwen MacQueen is mine. Hey I just write it this stuff and hope you enjoy the ride.
I want to thank my beta reader R.J. Bingham without his help I would never been able to post this story.
Chapter 12
THE PASSION OF BATTLE
Quentin Smith is back and this time he has Joe and Adam (Methos) as his hostages! Its time for the Big Battle! Is Gwen ready to fight to win when the two men she loves will be killed if she doesn't give up and let Quentin Smith take her head? Can Gwen survive even with her mystic powers? What will Macleod do? Read on and discover which of our heroes will survive the Passion of Battle!
Duncan MacLeod pulled his Thunderbird convertible around to the back of the Dojo. Gwen and Richie grabbed their swords, jumped in and they were off to the 59th Street pier. The ride to the pier was quiet, except for the wind in their faces. You could cut the tension with a knife, and everyone was worried about their friends.
"Gwen, do you think this Quentin Smith hates you enough to kill hostages in order to get your head?" Duncan asked breaking the silence. "Do you think your watcher is associated with Horton, she sounds like she wants you dead too?"
"No, I do not think Carol is involved with Horton, she seemed to just act on her own. As of Quentin Smith, well, he would do anything to get me at a disadvantage. I'm sorry guys, until today I didn't know that Carol was my watcher I had no idea she hated me so much. Quentin is out trying to collect the quickening of any well-seasoned old Immortal he can. Smith doesn't know that Methos is an immortal with the watchers, but I am still worried."
"Methos was right! He said you are more trouble than you are worth." Richie shot at Gwen. He was worried about his friends and wanted someone to blame.
"Richie, getting angry at Gwen isn't going to do us any good. We will be at the dock in a few minutes, so cool down people." Duncan ordered.
Mac pulled the Thunderbird up to the pier; they couldn't see Joe or Methos only a few sea gulls screeching and the sound of the waves beating on the shore. After walking up to the pier, they saw Luke Denton, who had lost consciousness and was being cradled in Carol's lap. They could smell the salt in the sea air mixed with the blood that covered Carol's dress and heard her crying. Luke was wounded in the shoulder, and still bleeding out. The trio moved closer, they realized Luke was alive but needed a doctor's care fast.
Carol looked into Gwen's eyes and saw the two other Immortals coming to their aid. She spoke wiping away tears from her eyes, "Gwen! I never thought I'd say this but I'm glad you're here. Quentin Smith shot Luke, took Joe hostage and then he shot Adam, I do not know how badly Adam is hurt. I think Adam lost consciousness when I last saw him. Smith took Joe and Adam to the warehouse over there. He didn't harm me because he wanted me to deliver you a message."
"And what was that message Carol" Gwennie said as darkness was descending on the pier. There was a full moon out which reflected off the water and seemed to light up the faces of the group gathered there.
"Smith said he wants to trade Joe and Adam for you. Gwen, he wants you to meet him alone inside the warehouse at the end of the pier. I'm sure he will kill both of them if you don't do it. I'm sorry, Gwen I'm so sorry. I never meant for Joe, Luke, or Adam to get hurt. I didn't think he would use mortals as bait just to get you at a disadvantage!"
"Yea," Gwen paused "I bet you are sorry, hindsight is 20/20, you have to live with the fact that your interference may have cost your friends their lives! All you ever wanted was to see me dead! Now you're sorry because you might have gotten your watcher buddies killed!" Gwen screamed. "You were pretended to be my friend and you set me up! These past few months it's been you who was sending all those Immortals to kill me. I'm surprised you haven't tried to cut off my head yourself when I was sleeping in one of the hotel room we stayed in!" Gwen slapped Carol's face with a whack that echoed down the pier.
Carol just stared at Gwen and proclaimed "I should have killed you myself; you are an abomination, a freak even among Immortals. The mystic powers you posses are evil and a danger to all mankind. Joe or Adam told you I was your watcher, didn't they? Gwen, what is that power you have that makes every man that comes within two feet of you instantly enamored of you? You're a Sorceress who has cast a spell on Barney, and any other man you get near. Now, Joe and Adam have fallen under your hex too."
MacLeod stepped in-between the two women, grabbed Gwen around the waist, and pulled her away from Carol. "Ladies we have other more urgent matters here, this isn't the time or place to do this. Both of you can talk about this later; let's get your friend Luke there to the hospital"
Gwen shot back at Carol, still being held back by Macleod, "We wouldn't be in this mess if Carol had just followed her own watcher rules. I thought you were to observe record and never interfere. We immortals fight our own fight, and don't need mortals interfering!"
Carol was still holding Luke's bleeding body but was more interested in getting a verbal jab in at Gwen, said, "Talk about interfering! I can't stand by knowing that you will always be there interfering in my life, always young and always beautiful. As long as you live, Barney will always love you more than me, and you don't even want him." The rage in Carol's voice even shocked Gwen.
Duncan turned Gwen around to face him then looking into her big brown eyes he said, "Gwen you have to let it go, the two of you have to stop it, this will not help Joe or Adam and Luke needs a doctor fast. We need to get back to business, and deal with Quentin Smith now and help the hostages before some one else becomes a casualty."
Gwen returned his gaze and nodded her head in agreement, "Your right Duncan." Then stepped behind the Highlander and turned her back to Carol and Luke Denton. She started to walked down the pier. Gwen just stared out at the ocean and listened to the sea birds, preparing herself for the battle which she knew was to come and tried to blocking out the rest of the world for at least a few moments.
Duncan McLeod snapped in to action and began giving orders like a general commanding an army "Richie, take Luke to the hospital and hurry. Carol, go with Richie, we have work to do, and you have already caused enough trouble tonight. Gwen and I will go to the warehouse and find Joe and Adam. Let's move it people." McLeod helped Richie put his passengers in the Thunderbird and watched them speed off. Then Mac's thoughts turned toward the small women he had left out on the pier, he walked up to her and spoke "Gwen your awful quite, don't blame yourself for Joe and Methos being taken hostage, I'm sure this Smith guy hasn't hurt them we just need a plan" Mac reached out to touch her shoulder and felt Gwen was shaking.
She looked up at him and said "I'm sure Quentin knows Methos is Immortal by now, it's my fault that both he and Joe are in danger. If Quentin takes his head it will be all my fault. Duncan Methos tried to tell me that being himself in these modern time wasn't safe and I didn't believe him! Look what might happen because of me."
"I have been involved with similar situation to this before, I don't think this Smith guy will take Methos's head until he has yours. Methos and Joe are probably safe for now. Plus Smith has no idea who Adam Pierson really is so calm down. I think this guy wants you a lot more than a nameless immortal or Joe for that matter," Mac said as he folded Gwen in to his big arms. "Please Gwen let me challenge him, I have a better chance of beating this guy anyway, then you can go free Joe and Methos." Mac pleaded with her. "He's not expecting me and surprise will be on my side."
Gwen Broke free of their embrace, "Duncan this is my fight, I will challenge Quentin, and you can go free Joe and Methos out the back door while I am fighting him. I would never send anyone to die for me; it's my battle, not yours." Gwen said as she reached up and touched his cheek and smiled at him. "Mac I have beaten him several times before, I just did not take his head, and I can do it again!"
"Well it looks like I can't talk you out of it so promise me you will be careful and watch that pretty head of yours." Duncan said as he gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek and one last hug. Mac somehow understood what Methos saw in Gwen, her vulnerability, mixed with her intense inner strength was a combination few immortal women had and fewer men could resist.
"Duncan thanks for sending Carol away. I don't know what I would do if you weren't here." Gwen smiled a brave smile even though her insides felt like jello. Just thinking about the fact that Carol had betrayed her made her blood run cold. Joe might be murdered and it would be her fault, (Why did I break my no mortal lovers rule? Mortals they are so fragile and seem to always end up dead around me. I am so very selfish; I should have protected Joe and not let him be used as bait. Oh Great Goddess Ovesevea help me keep both Joe and Methos alive.) Gwen thought, and then pushing the anguish out of her mind. The two immortals tried to clear their thoughts of all but the task ahead, then breathing in the cool night air she and Mac ran to the warehouse were Joe and Methos were held hostage.
Gwen walked into the main door calling Quentin's name and other various obscenities that referred to him. There was no answer; she could only feel the Buzz of Methos who was held hostages. Gwen began to worry that this meant Quentin may have anticipated what she would do, then Mac could be in real trouble! "You son of a Bitch, come out and fight me, or are you a coward!" Gwen paused as she heard a gun shot and a cry of pain. "QUENTIN, IT'S ME YOU WANT NOT THEM" she yelled
MacLeod had indeed come in the back way and seen Joe and Methos sitting on crates Bound and Gagged with their hands tied behind their backs. MacLeod was quiet as a cat, but Quentin was waiting for him. As soon as Mac reached his friends, Quentin shot a bullet into Mac sending him into the unconsciousness of temporary death. Then, as quickly as he could, he tied-up Mac, as he had the others, and left him with Joe and Adam. Gwen's heart sank when she heard the gunshot. It could only mean that Duncan was captured. She continued walking toward the source of another buzz until she saw a sight that filled her heart with horror. Quentin stood with his sword in position to sever Joe's head off. On Quentin's face a smile ran from ear to ear and he laughed a merciless laugh of victory.
"So Gwen, I win, you are going to die tonight!" Quentin said still laughing like a kid at Christmas who got all the toys that he asked for. "This is too good to be true, not only do I get your Quickening but that of your friends too! Gwen, come out to play, and you'd better hurry, or this mortal will lose his life"
"I'm not dead yet Quentin, fight me, you son of a bitch, fight me, our game is not fought like this with human shields!" Gwen said as she showed herself. "Let the mortal go, he has nothing to do with the game." Gwen pleaded with her adversary. All the anger Gwen felt for Carol was nothing compared with the horror she would feel if she saw Joe executed. Even Quentin could read her face like a book. Gwen had some deep feelings for the mortal he was about to kill.
"Gwen seems to me you have some kind of attachment to this mortal cripple, don't deny it. Mortals are so frail. He is even one of those disgusting watchers like that Carol is. Now you drop your weapons or this mortal is dead, stone cold dead, and he will never come back to life again. I'm not bluffing." Smith took the gag out of Joe's mouth, than cut him slightly with the tip of his sword.
"Ugh, you bastard, don't listen to him Gwen, don't drop your sword." Joe cried out in pain and Gwen's heart began to break. The thought of Joe's death was more than she could bear. Methos and Duncan both knew the chances they took, but Joe wasn't supposed to be part of this. With a tear in her eye, Gwen threw her sword on the floor near to where Methos and MacLeod were.
"Good girl, now that damn stiletto of yours, along with your gun and knives. Drop all your weapons or this old watcher is dead. Gwen you know me, I am not anything but a man of my word" Quentin Smith taunted Gwen.
Gwen thought to herself, (I have to get the others out of this, but how?) Then looking at Methos, his eyes met hers and a plan took shape. (If I can only nudge Methos with my quickening and get my stiletto to him, Methos can free himself and the others. Come on girl concentrate, you can do It.) Gwen tried to block out all the anger she was feeling so when she did toss the stiletto away from her it could land on the floor near Methos. After that she would distract Smith and use her mystical powers to move the stiletto in to Methos hands. Then he could cut the ropes and free himself and the other hostages.
"Good girl Gwen, I will not have any knife flying at me tonight, now hurry up these mortals bleed so fast and die so quickly." Quentin cut Joe again.
Joe tried not to cry out in pain, but it was too much and a deep moan left his lips. Then Joe said, "Gwen don't do it, he's going to kill me anyway. You have to save MacLeod and Adam. He won't take their heads until after he has yours. Gwen just kill this evil son of a bitch!" Joe was silenced when Quentin slapped his face and put the gag back in his mouth and tossed him on the floor.
"OK Quentin, you win, just let the mortal go, his death will gain you nothing." Gwen tossed the dagger and stiletto in the direction of where Methos and the other hostages were. They fell only a few feet from Methos.
"You're wrong, his death will bring you pain." Quentin shouted, "But it's your Quickening I really want, I'll kill this mortal later, I have become sickened by these watchers."
"Come and get me then." Still trying to distract Quentin, she continued to engage Quentin in conversation. Gwen used all her psychic abilities to move the stiletto towards Methos' hands. She continued to Nudge Methos quickening with her own and move the stiletto to float up in to Methos's fingers. (Methos please notice; the stiletto is right next to your right hand, use it to free yourself.) Finally Gwen turned her gaze to Methos and his eyes met hers and he felt a spark of her quickening and looked as the stiletto practically dropped into his hand. A smile came to her lips, if only for a moment when Gwen realized her plan had a chance of working and her whole demeanor changed.
"Quentin, so are you going to cut my head off in this century or are we waiting for the year 2000 to begin. We both know we can't die of old age, but I might die of boredom." Her wit was beginning to return now that she knew Methos had the stiletto, and maybe now he, Duncan, and Joe would be able to escape.
"Don't worry; this will be anything but boring. I thought I would make you suffer and beg to die" Quentin laughed back at her. "I want to repay you for all those trips you sent me on, to the Morgue."
"Sorry Quentin, I don't beg, I sing a bit, dance, and do gymnastics but I don't beg." Gwen replied to Quentin. Then Gwen saw the Gun in Quentin's hand. Somehow she had to get him to put the gun down, and the best way to do that was to have him use his sword instead. Granted that was a lot riskier for her, but it could give Methos a better chance to free himself and maybe even retrieve the sword she had thrown only a few feet from him. Her only fear was that Methos had been out of the game for so long that he had lost his sword arm, but Gwen had no choice. Duncan was just beginning to stir from his most recent death.
"Gwen, let me see you dance now." Quentin said as he shot her in the leg then pumped three more bullets into her body. The force knocked Gwen to the floor but she knew she had to fight to stay conscious. To keep Quentin busy until Methos was free.
It had only been a few minutes since Methos had gotten the stiletto but it seemed like hours to Gwen. Duncan awoke and began to struggle until he noticed Methos staring at him and he saw the old Immortal using the stiletto to cut the ropes. The blood ran down Methos' wrist as the sharp knife cut his hands as much as it cut the ropes. Methos knew he would have to wait until Quentin Smith put the gun down. Or all his grief would be for nothing if he was shot before he could get the sword. There, at last his hands were free and the cuts were beginning to heal already. Methos stayed still not able to play his trump card so he played possum. In Methos' heart, he had felt every bullet Quentin Smith had shot into Gwen's body. He saw the suffering in her face but remained still, waiting for the right opportunity to strike.
"Quentin, you're a terrible shot, you just scratched me I don't think you even hit a vital organ. Give me a sword I can still beat you with four bullets in me." Gwen egged him on, hoping he would pick up the sword and put that gun down. "You think you are so powerful with that gun, but that is a weapon of mortals and cowards, now the sword is the true weapon of an Immortal. Ok I know as we have discussed before. That was a correspondence course you took on wining the Game right? Well it must not have covered situations like this one." Gwen blocked the pain to pull herself to her feet and faced Quentin her body broken and bleeding. A smile came over Gwen's face as she knew by infuriating Quentin she would buy time for Methos, and get Quentin to put that damn gun down.
Finally Quentin put the gun down, his face was full of rage as he picked up his sword and stepped towards Gwen. A few seconds later Quentin had run Gwen thorough with his blade. As Quentin withdrew his sword Gwen fell landing on her hands and knees in terrible agony. Fighting to stay conscious, Gwen looked up at her enemy and incensed him one more time. "Quentin, are you going to take my head or stand there all day staring. You could try sending me to the morgue and give me a taste of my own medicine?" If she could only distract Quentin a little longer and give Methos enough time to free the others and maybe get her sword the others might at least live. Gwen prepared herself for death.
"Gwen, sending you to the morgue a few times is a temping idea but I think not. I think I'd rather have your quickening. Then I can have your friends quickening too. If you're a real good girl I'll let your watcher friend live. That way he can go record everything I have done. Why not? I want others to fear me knowing I have the quickening of an ancient immortal!" Quentin bragged.
Gwen felt the sting of cold steel against her skin as Quentin took a practice swing. (OK Methos this is a good time to get free and be the hero) Gwen thought as she closed her eyes and waited for the hot slice of cold steel on her neck.
Just as Quentin brought down his blade for the lethal blow Gwen heard the clang of tempered steel above her. Methos was up and with Gwen's sword in hand had stopped Quentin's blade from severing her head just in the nick of time. She gave a sigh of relief as she let her body fall flat on the floor and said, "Methos, my superman."
"It's OK Gwennie go ahead and let yourself slip away. No one will take your precious head today. I will take care of Mr. Smith for you." Methos smiled as he spoke. Gwen moaned softly, and drifted off into the unconsciousness of a temporary death.
Quentin stepped back in shock to see the tall thin man standing before him swinging Gwen's sword in the air. "Who are you?" Quentin demanded. "Besides you can't do this! The battle has been engaged" Quentin Smith yelled at Methos. "It's against the rules!"
A large smirk came to Methos' face.
"Go ahead and take her head and when you're vulnerable after the quickening I will just take yours!" He paused for a moment then said, "Or you can fight me, and maybe you will live. Smith, your odds, there are better in a clean fight with me. As for the other question, who am I? Well I've had many names, at the moment I am know as Adam Pierson but in truth I am Methos. You have just tried to kill my friends and the woman I love, so prepare yourself to die, slowly and very painfully."
"Methos is a Myth, a story bored Immortals tell each other when they are sitting around a campfire. Who are you really?" Quentin shouted back at the tall thin stranger.
"I have had many names in over 5,000 years. Gilgamesh the Sumerian, he was one of the first great kings of Mesopotamia. The legend is that no army could kill Gilgamesh for he was Immortal." Methos said as his sword took a swipe at Quentin's left arm. Quentin screamed in pain as his shirt sleeve ran red with blood. Methos didn't stop his battle even for a second. "OK, never heard of him, well maybe you've heard of Hummurabi the Babylonian. He was a general who defeated the armies of the Sumerians back in 1800 BC. No, never studied history?" Methos then cut a deep gash down Quentin's side, he screamed and began to try to retreat, and anxiously looked around for an escape route.
"NO! I never heard of those Immortals! Can't we talk about this?" Quentin pleaded with his attacker.
"We are talking, I know everyone's heard of Lancelot of the Lake one of King Arthur's Knights Of The Round Table?" Methos said as he chased Quentin around the rows of boxes that were stored in the warehouse. Methos suddenly disappeared and Quentin rested for a moment trying to catch his breath. As soon as Quentin had regained some strength back, he ran for the hostages, but when he reached the spot he had left them, Dawson and MacLeod were gone!
"You wage combat like a demon, and fight better than Gwen, you must be the Methos she always spoke of. Who else could fight like this? Are we going to finish this battle or with a little luck I can still gain the quickening of two old Immortals!" Quentin's face was pale from the loss of blood but his wounds were beginning to heal and he readied himself for the next attack.
"Yes, we will finish this tonight, but first I want you to beg me for a swift clean cut to end your agony and suffering." Methos spoke as he reappeared holding his blade high.
"Methos, I don't beg." Quentin shouted in a voice already filled with fear.
"Oh you will, before I am done with you." Methos said as he advanced for his final attack. He was more like a butcher cutting up an animal for slaughter, than a warrior fighting a battle. In the end Quentin did beg for that quick clean cut and Methos took his head.
MacLeod and Joe had to run from the warehouse just after Methos cut their bonds. They did have the opportunity to hear Methos announce his other names in that trip down memory lane. That was just before the fight began in earnest. Then Mac quickly took Joe to the relative safety of Joe's car. In the meantime Mac field dressed Joe's wounds and went back to just outside the warehouse to wait until the challenge had taken its course and was over.
The quickening was spectacular! The warehouse lay in darkness because all the lights within were all blown out but there were many holes in the roof. Mac entered the dark warehouse calling Methos' name but having his sword ready just in case Smith won. In the moonlight that shone through holes in the roof Mac could see Methos kneeling over Gwen's lifeless body.
"Don't look so sad Methos. She will be herself again soon, thanks to you. I always wondered what it would be like if you ever fought me full out but I was field dressing Joe's wounds and miss seeing you in action." Mac said with a smile.
"Highlander, that is a shame, because you'll never know if I have been keeping up with my practice sections you suggested. At least Smith is dead." Methos smiled back at his friend. "Is Joe going to be OK?"
"I think so, but he should see a doctor as soon as possible, he needs stitches, I put him in his car and told him to wait for us there," Mac answered.
"I'll take him to the hospital and check on Luke. Someone has to deal with Carol since she's a watcher and I think I should be the one. I'll carry Gwennie to the car. Duncan, I need someone to protect Gwennie; she might be out of it for a while. When she uses her magic it drains her. If it's OK with you I'll drop you and Gwennie at your place, will you watch over her for me?" Methos asked as he tenderly picked up Gwennie's broken body and cradled her in his arms.
"No problem, old man. Remember to give me a call from the hospital and let me know how every one is. Please send Richie to my place, I'll fill him in on what happened here tonight." MacLeod said.
"Duncan, I need you and Joe to be the only people who know what really happened here tonight. This is very important, let's get the story strait on tonight's events. Just in case anyone asks, Gwen MacQueen killed Quentin Smith. Please remember this; Adam Pierson is just a mild mannered watcher who was an innocent bystander held hostage. Methos is still only a myth and I want him to stay that way for as long as I can." The five thousand year old man said as he walked out into the cool night air tenderly carrying Gwen's limp body.
"That probably is a sensible idea; I don't think the world is ready for the return of Gilgamesh the Sumerian, Hummurabi the Babylonian, or definitely not Lancelot of the Lake one of King Arthur's Knights Of The Round Table" MacLeod laughed as he joined his friend.
Methos gave MacLeod a somber look. "Oh you heard that, now you're never going to let me live this down, are you?"
"No Methos of course not, it wouldn't be any fun if I didn't remind you about it from time to time." The two friends smiled as they walked to Joe car.
End chapter 12
Next - Chapter 13
Gwennie you have no comprehension of what the word love means, you are still a child holding on to a dream that was smashed thousands of years ago.
Please send in reviews!
Bonnie
