A/N: Hi everybody. I know it's been a while…I just can't get inspired for some

reason…but I'm trying to wrap things up in the next few chapters, so hang in

there for a little longer! The following is from Duncan's pov. Not to be obvious

or anything, but just so everyone's clear and doesn't have to ask questions I

could've answered beforehand.

MP: Yes, there are going to be more stories. Because of that, not quite

*everything* is going to be wrapped up at the end here...but this chapter isn't

the end. Hehe, yes, I like the unexpected...and there will be more here. Is

Alex dead? See for yourself. (I don't answer questions that will give away the

story for my readers! At least not here, at the beginning of a chapter...)

~ ~ ~

I continued to stare at the sky, not moving, watching the storm clouds roll in

over the tops of the trees, listening to the crackle of the burning warehouse a

scant thousand yards away. The fire department would undoubtedly not take

long enough to show up – someone on the nearby highway would see the smoke

and put in a call. We needed to leave, but not everyone was together yet. I still

didn't know where Kat – or Millie, for that matter – had got to.

I waited restlessly until I heard noises from the direction of the two girls

behind me. Dreading it more with every step, but knowing I had to, I turned

around and walked over to them. Amy's eyes were open, and she was sitting up

and looking around her with a shocked expression – eyes wide, she looked

slightly dazed. Well, more than slightly.

She looked over, caught sight of me, and raised an eyebrow.

"You again," she commented. "Duncan MacLeod, right?" I frowned. How did

she know who I was? Had Kat told her? I had warned her not to repeat anything

I said…

"Don't blame Kat," Amy told me. "I've seen your face before. But what're

you doing here?"

"Where have you seen me?" I asked, ignoring her question for the moment,

somewhat startled that she had guessed what I was thinking.

I realized where as soon as she answered, "Highlander. People on TV tend to

be seen, you know?"

Damn show, I thought, shaking my head, then turned my attention back to the

issues immediately at hand. Highlander wasn't worth get annoyed over at the

moment.

I nodded.

"I guess so," I replied, but I'm not sure Amy heard me – her gaze was now on

the curly-haired girl lying stretched out on the forest floor a few feet away.

"Alex?" she asked the prostrate figure uncertainly. "Alex?" Getting no answer,

Amy reached out and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, shaking her gently.

"Alex!" she said a little more urgently, then looked up at me. "What's wrong

with her?" she asked anxiously. "What happened?"

I heaved a sigh and fixed a blank expression on my face.

"She got involved in your Quickening," I explained, wishing I could hold off

this moment just a little longer – at least until Amy could learn what she had

become – but I was too far in and couldn't back out. "I believe she was trying to

rescue you, because she didn't know what was going on. She ran into the power

circle before I could stop her, and got hit…I'm sorry," I added softly, taking a

deep breath. "I could've stopped her, and I didn't…"

Amy looked alarmed.

"So, what – how – is she going to be ok? She's not dead is she?" she gasped. I

nodded slowly – this was it, the moment when I had to say what I wanted least

in the world to say at that moment.

"I'm afraid so."

Amy sat frozen in shock for several moments, staring at nothing, as that sank

in. Then she stared down at the limp form beside her in disbelief, reaching out

to put her hand on Alex's back.

"Alex?" she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "Alex! No," she muttered to

herself. "You can't be…you're not…" But Alex didn't answer, and Amy slowly

put her head in her hands and started to cry over her friend's body.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, unsure quite what to do. I walked slowly over and

kneeled on the ground beside Amy, who ignored me. Swallowing the lump that

had begun to form in my own throat, I tried to think what to do. We really

needed to get out of there, but not only was it a really bad time to inform Amy

of that, but somebody would have to carry Alex's body, and I still had to find

Kat, along with Millie, if possible. I bit my lip, reluctant to leave Amy alone,

but deciding it had to be done for the sake of speed. "I'm going to go find Kat,"

I said. I hadn't expected Amy to answer, but she raised her head and glared at

me.

"You better not find her like this," she said angrily, gesturing at Alex's body. I

nodded sadly.

"I'll do the best I can," I promised. "And if anybody shows up…no, never

mind. I'll be back by then." Amy went back to staring at Alex as I reluctantly

turned and walked away, heading through the woods closer to the flaming

building.