Part 36 Absolution

Time passed, and none of the Watchers' fears were realized. No new immortals were born but the last two were so powerful that it was inconceivable some accident could claim one and possibly leave the Prize to the other. It seemed the worst threat from the Gathering had been avoided.

There were other . . . issues. Methos kept his promise and the Watcher chronicles benefited greatly, naturally triggering arguments over what to do with them. Elements began to be gradually leaked to the outside world, with Methos of course insisting that he be entirely omitted. It made sense to omit Duncan, too, and the world learned of immortals only in the past tense, the Watchers claiming to have killed the last one, the Kurgan, before he could claim the Prize.

What Methos was doing beyond phoning in outlandish stories was unclear. The Watchers knew where he was, he had stayed in the Middle East. The team assigned to him could not make heads or tales of what he was up to, but there was a purpose. Methos went to and fro specific, if puzzling, locations, as if he were looking for something. But he wouldn't answer when asked and, left to their own devices, the Watchers were baffled.

What MacLeod was doing was all too clear. Methos, in fact, was the easier of the two to handle. He was long used to knowing far more and being more powerful than everyone around him, the change was only one of degree. The Highlander was at times seemingly intoxicated by his new abilities.

After a rough first night and a near-insane day with the Kurgan's quickening, where Joe had to quarantine him by force, Duncan recovered quickly. He found he recovered from everything quickly now – even exhaustion lasted only a few moments. Every once in a while, his watchers would catch him glancing around to see that no one was nearby, then running straight up the side of a multi-story building.

The problem was that he had immediately returned to his noble knight persona, only now the knight was supercharged. Joe would plead with him, warn him, threaten him, and more than a few times, have his team shoot to prevent Duncan from righting every single wrong that reached his ears. It was clear to Joe that Duncan was working off some of his grief, but the Watchers were profoundly unhappy about how often and how blatantly the one-man immortal cavalry came charging to someone's rescue, especially since he didn't always rescue the right someone.

After several hectic years, and a dozen deaths at the hands of the team "observing" him, Duncan began to calm. His sense of honor, the knowledge gained from the Kurgan, Connor, Amanda, and others, the Watchers' presence, plus the occasional consultation with Methos argued more clearly against abusing his abilities in the name of justice. He still did his bit to make the world a little better, but less frantically. Methos still wandered. And the Watchers still tracked the two, but in smaller and less heavily armed numbers as time went by.

The last two communicated with each other fairly frequently but mostly stayed well apart. At first it was to reassure the Watchers that no last battle would occur, then there just seemed little need to go beyond ever-improving video communication. Duncan did try repeatedly to sound Methos out about his memories but was always put off. Since Methos was otherwise more helpful and engaged than he had been before the Gathering, Duncan decided to let him have time. There was, after all, all the time in the world.

Almost exactly a decade after they had separated, Methos left a message, "Meet me for the anniversary. Here's the location. It's not Jerusalem; I have something important to show you. It will take you a couple of days to reach it and please be timely for a change."

Duncan smirked. He made his travel plans and was unsurprised to find Methos waiting in the early morning hour in which he finally arrived. He had sensed him thousands of meters up, dozens of kilometers away.

"Umm, interesting choice of habitat?"

"I don't live at the airstrip, MacLeod. I have a car, Land Rover actually."

"How quaint. Where are we going?"

"The beach. First, though, we have to lose our respective shadows."

It didn't take long. Methos had obviously planned for a way to quickly lose both groups of watchers and he was one of the great planners in history.

As they drove, Methos was quietly staggered at the power he felt from MacLeod. It felt like the man could leap a tall building at a single bound, in the recent vernacular, or perhaps knock one down.

Inevitably, Duncan asked the question, "Does this mean you're going to tell me what's been going on for the last 10 years?"

Inevitably, Methos ignored him, "How's Joe?"

"Fine, or at least he was fine until you told him he couldn't come along. Then he about split a gut."

"This isn't something for Watchers, MacLeod. Not even Joe."

"He told me that the last time he saw you, it seemed like you were saying goodbye."

Methos was again evasive. "It's not like I don't call."

"Yes, you call. And you even drop in, when you know I'm not going to be there."

"It would have been awkward, MacLeod. I know you forgive me for the Horsemen, but you don't understand the old ways. Could you have helped me grieve for Silas? What about Kronos? And I barely even knew Connor."

"You knew Amanda. And Richie. And I knew Cassandra."

At this Methos visibly gathered himself. "Alright, I'm sorry. After Cassandra's and Kane's quickening, I had a number of realizations. About the Prize, about you, about me. I know my rushing off felt wrong but I needed to bury Kronos alone, and then figure out the rest of what I needed to know. I realize I should have been more patient and spent some time with you, but the compulsion was strong. The idea of the Watchers fretting also put me off. I'm explaining, not making excuses – I was wrong but there were reasons."

Duncan was silently impressed – Methos had been changed by the events in Jerusalem. He kept his tone friendly to make sure there was no misunderstanding, "That sounds like what you said about the Horsemen."

"Yes, it does." There was a very long pause, "You know I haven't just made mistakes, MacLeod, I've made terrible, terrible mistakes. The kind that require real and powerful absolution. Too bad most of the people who need to give it are dead."

Methos stopped the car, "I could hardly do this 10 years ago with the Watchers everywhere." He turned to face Duncan, "You're the last one Highlander, I need you to absolve me on behalf of all of us."

Duncan was sharply taken aback, "Methos, I . . ."

"I'm not asking you because I think you're perfectly pure, you idiot, I'm asking because who you are means it would mean something if you did it."

"And who absolves me?"

"The Watchers already have, on behalf of all humanity."

"Come on, Methos."

"I'm entirely serious, MacLeod. They didn't even fully trust your kinsmen, not considering the stakes. You were the only one that they were willing to let have the Prize, or at least the only one who had a chance to claim it. If it hadn't been for you, they would have slaughtered us all the moment we were in the same place." Duncan was startled – Methos was very probably right. "Why do you think they keep rehabilitating you no matter how many times you rush in where angels fear to tread?"

Duncan practically threw himself back in his car seat. After a while, he began to rub his forehead. "Even if you're right, Methos, that doesn't make me the one to forgive you."

"Who else can? Who else can possibly understand? In the Watchers' minds, you're the good one and I'm the bad one. And they're right. But it's the bad one who requires the forgiveness, who needs it as well as punishment in order to move beyond his past."

"Do you really feel you need absolution?"

"Yes, without question."

"How . . . is there something special you'd want me to do?"

"Whatever you feel is right, but in any case wait a bit until we get to where we're going."

"OK." Duncan was quiet for a time, "Not to be selfish, but are you going to share with me some of what you've remembered?"

"Absolutely, even if you choose not to forgive me."

Silence fell on the two for the remainder of the trip. They drove for some hours, as Methos took pains to avoid their undoubtedly miffed pursuers. It was mid-afternoon when the real old guy finally stopped the car, "We're here."

Note: Next chapter is the end, an oddball one but powerful (I hope). As noted, I thought of it when they first introduced Methos. I again invite all to elaborate on any part or character they like or end the story in a different manner as a "Better Thee Than Me" AU. All closing comments on this version welcome.