Chapter 5
Duncan had just got to the deck when he could see the other Immortal was coming up the gangplank "MacLeod when are you going to get rid of this old bucket and live somewhere normal"
"Fitzcarn?" Duncan exclaimed as he walked over to greet his friend.
"In the flesh dear boy" Fitzcarn said taking his smouldering pipe from his lips.
"It's good to see you but what are you doing here?" Duncan said as he moved out of the way to let Fitz walk towards the door but before he could open the door Duncan grabbed his arm "Fitz.I'm not alone"
Fitz patted him on the shoulder "my dear boy I don't mean to intrude.I'll come back in the morning" as Fitz went to leave Duncan stopped him "It's not like that.we're just friends, well we only met yesterday she's staying with me for a few days I'll explain it all later and she doesn't know about us.so no stories" Duncan said as he put his head on one side and raised his eyebrows. "Not a tale shall pass my lips, laddie" Fitz said as Duncan held the door open for him.
"Duncan is everything all right?" Alex ask as she walked towards the steps "Oh.Err"
"Alex.this is an old friend of mine Hugh Fitzcairn.Fitz this is Alex Rogan" Duncan said as he hung up his and Fitzcairn's coat. "Ah my dear lady it is a pleasure" Fitz said as he took Alex's hand and kissing the back, Alex blushed slightly before sitting on the couch. Duncan collected three glasses and a bottle of brandy from the side. "So what brings you to town?" Duncan said as he poured them all a drink.
"Just passing through laddie.I need a few things from my apartment" Fitz said as he took the glass Duncan offered him and sat back into the couch. "Ive come into a little money.Oh a modest sum," Fitz said with a large grin on his face. Duncan had handed one of the other glasses to Alex before sitting back with his. "So what are you going to do with your modest sum?" Duncan asked as he took a sip of the brandy. Fitz took out a piece of folded up paper from out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Duncan.
Duncan took the piece of paper that Fitz offered to him and shook it open with one hand while he took another sip of the brandy; Duncan spluttered, "You bought a Ranch! But you don't know the first thing about it" Duncan exclaimed nearly choking on his brandy.
"How hard can it be I mean looking after a few cows" Alex watched as Duncan's face lit up with amusement as he started to laugh, "What are you laughing at laddie?"
Duncan managed to contain his amusement to answer, "Manual labour and Hugh Fitzcairn don't usually go in the same sentence" Fitzcairn's eyes betrayed the hurt Duncan's words had caused him.
"I'll have you know that Hugh Fitzcairn is no stranger to working with his hands" but this statement only made Duncan laugh harder "when.when was the last time?" Duncan asked. Fitz thought as he drank some of his drink and his face lit up as he said "That yacht.1886.sailed from England to the United States.what a voyage that was". Alex had heard what Fitz had said and was about to make a comment when Duncan beat her to it "I think you mean 1986" he said gesturing towards Alex with his eyes "Ah yes 1986 what a wonderful year"
"and it was a ship.and if I remember correctly you seduced the lady owner, who was onboard and the only thing you did all voyage was steer the boat once.the rest I wouldn't call manual labour and remember I was there.I had the calluses to prove it" Duncan refilled their glasses "I give it 6 months tops"
"Care to have a wager on it?" Fitz asked as he sat back on the couch after Duncan had topped up his glass. "Ok.1000 but your not allowed to hire anyone to help you in that time" Duncan replied, Fitz sat forward with his hand outstretched "make it 5 and you have yourself a bet" Duncan nodded. Alex drank the last drop of her drink and yawned as she put the glass down, both Duncan and Fitz could see that she was tired "I could do with a smoke of my pipe laddie and I think the lady would like to get some sleep.care to join me outside"
"You don't have to do that.I'm fine" Alex replied, but she knew she could do with some more sleep "I think it's a good idea" replied Duncan as he got to his feet "need to have you rested, as we're going to the British Embassy tomorrow.you never know it might bring your memory back" Alex decided not to argue, she really was tired and she watched as they both got their coats and walked up the steps to the outside. Alex had just started to make the couch up when Fitz came rushing back in; he grabbed the open bottle of brandy and thier glasses "MacLeod forgot the brandy.it's a touch cold out there.for medicinal purposes of course"
"Of course" Alex replied smiling at Fitz as he rushed back up the steps. Alex finished making up the couch, changed and turned Duncan's bedside lamp on before turning out the main lights and climbing under the blankets, settling down to sleep.
Duncan and Fitz sat in the two chairs by the small wrought iron table, the sky was clear of clouds and the stars shone down. They both had their coats on and their collars pulled up against the cold night air. "So laddie where did you met Alex?" Duncan filled Fitz in about their meeting, Alex's memory lost and the café and the incident in the alley, he also told him about the other Immortal in tunnel by the barge.
"He didn't say who he was?" Fitz asked as he relit his pipe "No he just laughed and ran off.I can't help feeling that it's connected to Alex in some way" Fitz took a long draw on his pipe "You may have been a surprise to him laddie if it was Alex he was looking for.well I'm in town for a few more days if I can be of any assistance you only have to ask" Duncan was about to reply when there was shouting from inside the barge, both Immortals were quickly on their feet "What the?" Fitz exclaimed as he followed Duncan inside.
As the night before Alex was alone, from her actions it seemed to them that she was fighting someone or something off, as Duncan reached her side Alex called out "PHIL.Hang in there.Do you hear me Phil", Duncan turned and exchanged confused looks with Fitz. Duncan then knelt down his hand had only just touched the skin on her arm when her eyes shot open both Fitz and Duncan could see the hatred contained in them. "It's all right Alex it's just a dream" Duncan said as he saw tears in her eyes "I'll just get a glass of water" Fitz said as he disappeared into the kitchen "Do you have any idea who Phil is? You were calling his name" Alex shook her head as she wiped away the tears before they had a chance to fall "All I remember is the blood and watching as he closed his eyes.Duncan it was so real.do you think it really happened?" Alex asked as she took hold of the glass of water Fitz had handed to her "I don't know.it could just be a nightmare or maybe you did lose someone called Phil.give it time your memory will return" Duncan said as he stood up, Fitz tapped him on the arm and motioned to the door with his eyes "We're just be outside if you need us.try and rest" Duncan followed Fitz back out onto the deck, Fitz was relighting his pipe that had gone cold since they had rushed inside, he then turned to Duncan "Did you see the look in her eyes?" Duncan nodded as he sat down on the raised part of the roof "Yeah.it was the same last night too.I'm beginning to wonder if her mind has found a way to hided from her something she would rather forget"
"Could be laddie but the nightmares could be her mind trying to break through the block.you know shock her out of it.anyway it's getting late I'd had better be off.I'll drop by tomorrow evening if that's all right"
Duncan stood up "That'll be fine, we might have some more answers after we've been to the Embassy.don't forget the strange Immortal.take care my friend" they shook hands and Duncan watched as Fitz walked down the gang plank his lit pipe sending a trail of smoke to follow him.
Duncan had just got to the deck when he could see the other Immortal was coming up the gangplank "MacLeod when are you going to get rid of this old bucket and live somewhere normal"
"Fitzcarn?" Duncan exclaimed as he walked over to greet his friend.
"In the flesh dear boy" Fitzcarn said taking his smouldering pipe from his lips.
"It's good to see you but what are you doing here?" Duncan said as he moved out of the way to let Fitz walk towards the door but before he could open the door Duncan grabbed his arm "Fitz.I'm not alone"
Fitz patted him on the shoulder "my dear boy I don't mean to intrude.I'll come back in the morning" as Fitz went to leave Duncan stopped him "It's not like that.we're just friends, well we only met yesterday she's staying with me for a few days I'll explain it all later and she doesn't know about us.so no stories" Duncan said as he put his head on one side and raised his eyebrows. "Not a tale shall pass my lips, laddie" Fitz said as Duncan held the door open for him.
"Duncan is everything all right?" Alex ask as she walked towards the steps "Oh.Err"
"Alex.this is an old friend of mine Hugh Fitzcairn.Fitz this is Alex Rogan" Duncan said as he hung up his and Fitzcairn's coat. "Ah my dear lady it is a pleasure" Fitz said as he took Alex's hand and kissing the back, Alex blushed slightly before sitting on the couch. Duncan collected three glasses and a bottle of brandy from the side. "So what brings you to town?" Duncan said as he poured them all a drink.
"Just passing through laddie.I need a few things from my apartment" Fitz said as he took the glass Duncan offered him and sat back into the couch. "Ive come into a little money.Oh a modest sum," Fitz said with a large grin on his face. Duncan had handed one of the other glasses to Alex before sitting back with his. "So what are you going to do with your modest sum?" Duncan asked as he took a sip of the brandy. Fitz took out a piece of folded up paper from out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Duncan.
Duncan took the piece of paper that Fitz offered to him and shook it open with one hand while he took another sip of the brandy; Duncan spluttered, "You bought a Ranch! But you don't know the first thing about it" Duncan exclaimed nearly choking on his brandy.
"How hard can it be I mean looking after a few cows" Alex watched as Duncan's face lit up with amusement as he started to laugh, "What are you laughing at laddie?"
Duncan managed to contain his amusement to answer, "Manual labour and Hugh Fitzcairn don't usually go in the same sentence" Fitzcairn's eyes betrayed the hurt Duncan's words had caused him.
"I'll have you know that Hugh Fitzcairn is no stranger to working with his hands" but this statement only made Duncan laugh harder "when.when was the last time?" Duncan asked. Fitz thought as he drank some of his drink and his face lit up as he said "That yacht.1886.sailed from England to the United States.what a voyage that was". Alex had heard what Fitz had said and was about to make a comment when Duncan beat her to it "I think you mean 1986" he said gesturing towards Alex with his eyes "Ah yes 1986 what a wonderful year"
"and it was a ship.and if I remember correctly you seduced the lady owner, who was onboard and the only thing you did all voyage was steer the boat once.the rest I wouldn't call manual labour and remember I was there.I had the calluses to prove it" Duncan refilled their glasses "I give it 6 months tops"
"Care to have a wager on it?" Fitz asked as he sat back on the couch after Duncan had topped up his glass. "Ok.1000 but your not allowed to hire anyone to help you in that time" Duncan replied, Fitz sat forward with his hand outstretched "make it 5 and you have yourself a bet" Duncan nodded. Alex drank the last drop of her drink and yawned as she put the glass down, both Duncan and Fitz could see that she was tired "I could do with a smoke of my pipe laddie and I think the lady would like to get some sleep.care to join me outside"
"You don't have to do that.I'm fine" Alex replied, but she knew she could do with some more sleep "I think it's a good idea" replied Duncan as he got to his feet "need to have you rested, as we're going to the British Embassy tomorrow.you never know it might bring your memory back" Alex decided not to argue, she really was tired and she watched as they both got their coats and walked up the steps to the outside. Alex had just started to make the couch up when Fitz came rushing back in; he grabbed the open bottle of brandy and thier glasses "MacLeod forgot the brandy.it's a touch cold out there.for medicinal purposes of course"
"Of course" Alex replied smiling at Fitz as he rushed back up the steps. Alex finished making up the couch, changed and turned Duncan's bedside lamp on before turning out the main lights and climbing under the blankets, settling down to sleep.
Duncan and Fitz sat in the two chairs by the small wrought iron table, the sky was clear of clouds and the stars shone down. They both had their coats on and their collars pulled up against the cold night air. "So laddie where did you met Alex?" Duncan filled Fitz in about their meeting, Alex's memory lost and the café and the incident in the alley, he also told him about the other Immortal in tunnel by the barge.
"He didn't say who he was?" Fitz asked as he relit his pipe "No he just laughed and ran off.I can't help feeling that it's connected to Alex in some way" Fitz took a long draw on his pipe "You may have been a surprise to him laddie if it was Alex he was looking for.well I'm in town for a few more days if I can be of any assistance you only have to ask" Duncan was about to reply when there was shouting from inside the barge, both Immortals were quickly on their feet "What the?" Fitz exclaimed as he followed Duncan inside.
As the night before Alex was alone, from her actions it seemed to them that she was fighting someone or something off, as Duncan reached her side Alex called out "PHIL.Hang in there.Do you hear me Phil", Duncan turned and exchanged confused looks with Fitz. Duncan then knelt down his hand had only just touched the skin on her arm when her eyes shot open both Fitz and Duncan could see the hatred contained in them. "It's all right Alex it's just a dream" Duncan said as he saw tears in her eyes "I'll just get a glass of water" Fitz said as he disappeared into the kitchen "Do you have any idea who Phil is? You were calling his name" Alex shook her head as she wiped away the tears before they had a chance to fall "All I remember is the blood and watching as he closed his eyes.Duncan it was so real.do you think it really happened?" Alex asked as she took hold of the glass of water Fitz had handed to her "I don't know.it could just be a nightmare or maybe you did lose someone called Phil.give it time your memory will return" Duncan said as he stood up, Fitz tapped him on the arm and motioned to the door with his eyes "We're just be outside if you need us.try and rest" Duncan followed Fitz back out onto the deck, Fitz was relighting his pipe that had gone cold since they had rushed inside, he then turned to Duncan "Did you see the look in her eyes?" Duncan nodded as he sat down on the raised part of the roof "Yeah.it was the same last night too.I'm beginning to wonder if her mind has found a way to hided from her something she would rather forget"
"Could be laddie but the nightmares could be her mind trying to break through the block.you know shock her out of it.anyway it's getting late I'd had better be off.I'll drop by tomorrow evening if that's all right"
Duncan stood up "That'll be fine, we might have some more answers after we've been to the Embassy.don't forget the strange Immortal.take care my friend" they shook hands and Duncan watched as Fitz walked down the gang plank his lit pipe sending a trail of smoke to follow him.