Chapter Fourteen

Driving through Paris on the way to Joe's place, Duncan kept looking around hoping to see her. He said quietly, "Please let me see her."

Finally, curiosity got the better of him and Methos asked, "Who are you looking for?"

He answered casually, "Beth, she was gone this morning when I woke up."

Methos remarked, "What is it with you and women. Well I say you're better off."

Mac requested, "Methos I don't give you my opinions so don't try it with me."

"You seem rather intent on this girl," observed Methos suspiciously.

MacLeod shook his head before answering, "I don't want to discuss it with you."

"If you are really determined," suggested Methos, "then go find her. But if she is really gone, you should forget about her."

Mac replied, "She left a note," then handing it over to prove his point.

"It's even worse than I thought," said Methos after reading it and giving it back.

"Methos just keep quiet about this please?" He asked in an effort to maintain control.

However, he could not help teasing MacLeod. Methos shrugged as he looked out the window at the traffic saying, "She said not to worry about her so I'd take that advice."

Parking in the alley behind the bar, they went in the back door together and found Joe and Amanda waiting. Joe had some breakfast sent over from a restaurant so they sat down to eat.

He began telling them the latest news as everyone dished up the hot cakes and scrambled eggs. Amanda poured juice for everyone making an effort to be pleasant.

Joe said, "Methos I did some checking on some of the information you gave me yesterday. Egan was able to take everything away from Harris Wayne before he could assume his new identity."

"That's what I was telling you about." He shot back, "It started quietly enough but I'm afraid they are going for bigger gains."

Everyone nodded in silence as they ate each wondering about the Watcher and Immortal agreement. Every day it was being broken a little more.

Joe continued, "That's about six months now Egan Lasco has been planning this secretly and slowly so no one would question it until it was too late."

"Now it is too late," said Methos darkly.

MacLeod wondered aloud, "What will happen if this Gathering moves closer?"

Joe remarked, "I'm sure something big and unpleasant."

"What Gathering? I haven't heard anything," said Amanda throwing her hands up. "You should have told me. I don't like being the last to know these things."

"Think about it," said Methos, "If she hasn't heard it yet and you and I have," he pointed to MacLeod, "That must mean that a quickening directs the call to you faster." He concluded.

"Good deduction Methos," said Joe, "Nice work."

Duncan MacLeod had other thoughts on his mind and right now, he needed to follow up on one of them. He asked Joe, "I need to do a little checking on your computer is that all right?"

Giving up on keeping MacLeod or even Methos out of his files long ago he answered, "Only if you make it short. I don't want anything traced back to me."

"I'll do that. Ten minutes is all I need." Duncan replied getting up and taking his plate with him.

Methos waited long enough then commented, "I think MacLeod is a fool of all times to become obsessed with a girl."

"Oh that," said Amanda, "Yes I know about it and where were you last night?"

Methos looked perturbed, "I was in the middle of a battle for my life and a quickening that left my ears ringing. What about you what danger were you in?" He asked her.

Amanda shot back with, "I'm trying to stay away from Egan's men and a blade with my name on it. So don't try and make yourself the only victim here."

"In case you don't know yet but MacLeod is in the most danger," said Joe finishing off his breakfast.

The he asked Methos, "What about those secret passages?"

Methos shook his head saying, "They might be a dead end so no one can sneak in for an attack it will have to be through the front or back door."

Amanda asked in shock, "An all out war?"

Joe nodded and replied, "If it comes to that I would vote yes."

In Joe's private study, Duncan looked into some old Watcher files on the Grand Immortal. He was two thousand five hundred years old and chosen for the position by some process of elimination.

He found the information he wanted and skimmed through reports that included everything that went on the past three years ever since he signed the Watcher and Immortal Agreement.

Duncan started to sign off but saw the mail icon lit and opened the in-box. His heart skipped a beat as he read the message, "Joe Dawson, have Duncan MacLeod to see me today. Sign, Frank McFadden."

This was too important to pass up and looking for Beth would have to wait. Going back to the room with his friends he finally put into words what had been bothering him.

Sitting down he looked at each one in turn before he spoke, "I didn't want to say anything until I was sure." He looked harder at them and said, "If the Gathering is here then there must be a connection between Egan Lasco and Ahriman."

"That's a pretty big leap Mac. What makes you so sure?" Joe asked.

"There is no other explanation," he answered. "The same time Egan began his vendetta was the same time I started having the dreams with Ahriman posing as Horton again."

Clearing his throat Joe asked him, "What else have you found out?"

"I wanted to find out where the Grand Immortal lived and hopefully to see him. As it turns out, I saw a message from him on your computer asking to see me," Duncan answered.

Amanda said, "You have to go and talk to him."

With an air of nonchalance, Methos told MacLeod, "Tell him I said hello."

Then he announced, "I'm going back into the Watchers."

"What!" all three said simultaneously.

"You can't," insisted Joe, "They'll be looking for you because Jonas was killed."

Methos had a look of tolerance on his face saying, "Don't be so dramatic they won't do anything to me."

He stood up refusing to deal with anyone further. Taking his coat off he went over to the bar to pour himself a drink.

Everyone saw that Methos was without his sword. A sure sign that what he had planed did not appear to be fighting.

Amanda went to hug Methos from behind and whispered in his ear. "I wish you would reconsider staying with me." It made him smile briefly.

She looked at Joe and said, "I need to talk to you in the back room."

Next Joe went over to him and gripped his shoulder to say, "I will see you again." He then slowly walked past MacLeod into the room beyond.

Methos nodded his head not meeting his gaze. He watched Joe leave with a look of regret that he could not tell him everything.

Going over to stand next to him, Duncan's eyes questioned him for a moment trying to fathom why Methos wanted it this way. He finally asked, "How can you put yourself into their hands?"

Methos shot back, "Do I question everything you do?"

Duncan nodded his head yes, "Occasionally you do question me and for good reasons."

Methos insisted, "I don't want your questions because right now I don't have any answers."

"You better have an answer for this one." MacLeod asked him, "Why did you leave your sword behind?"

"You're smart so figure it out for yourself," answered Methos staring at him with annoyance.

"Is it a martyr's death you want at least wait until I talk to Frank McFadden," said Duncan.

Now Methos looked angry. He warned him, "I'll forgive you this time because you don't see the broad picture." He put his hands together trying to explain, "The Watchers have to be turned around. I can't stand by and let this trust be destroyed."

"What if this gathering is real?" asked Macleod. "What will happen if you're not there?"

"Then if you are the last you can come and find me." Methos replied, "My death will mean something."

"It doesn't have to be like this!" Duncan shouted with emotion.

Methos turned his back on him, "Leave me alone MacLeod." He said with obvious disagreement, "You have better things to do and places to go."

The two stood as still as statues with tension between them until he slowly turned away.

Opening the door to leave, Duncan Macleod looked back and for all he knew it might be the last moment they would speak. It was a fight over what it meant to go back into the Watcher organization without the protection of anonymity.

Egan rubbed his face with weariness and anger, "How dare they do this to me!"

He sat in contemplation undisturbed for hours. By midmorning, Egan Lasco made his decision. He signed the orders charging Joe Dawson for lying to the Watchers and Duncan MacLeod for carrying out the fiasco.

A quick tapping on the door brought his attention away from the papers. "Come in!" he commanded.

The door opened and Joshua came in and stood before the giant antique desk awaiting acknowledgment.

Egan asked quietly, "What do you have for me?" noticing papers in his hand.

Joshua laid the transcript on the desk. He cleared his throat and said, "Your orders were carried out. Adam Pierson is with MacLeod and this is what they talked about."

Egan picked it up and smiled as his eyes scanned it. His thoughts remained silent. "So there will be a Gathering after all. It seems Horton was right about Immortals. They will rule over us eventually."

Taking out another paper Egan filled out the name and orders. He signed it and said, "I want an example made of Amanda Montrose."

Looking at it Joshua questioned the order, "Why this immortal? She is no danger to us."

"Because by all watcher accounts she is close to MacLeod and she can't be trusted." He held up his hand adding, "Whatever arrangement we made with her before I'm going to void it today."

Egan wanted to hurt them and punish them. The Watchers they betrayed and all the lies those two propagated. "It is time." He said to Joshua signaling an end to their meeting.

.