Chapter 12
All that Duncan had just learned raced through his mind, without a word he got to his feet and headed for the door, Methos moved quickly and got to the door first barring Duncan's exit "What are you going to do Mac?" Duncan shook his head and looked his friend in the eyes "I don't know.if Alex is here because of Lazarski, she'll go after him again when her memory return and she has no idea what he is.I have to stop her before she gets herself killed" Methos shifted his weight from one foot to the other "and then?"
"And then I guess I'll have to stop Lazarski myself" Duncan said as he went to walk forward, Methos put both his hands onto Duncan's chest barring his path "You just don't get it do you.with someone like Lazarski if you see him coming the best thing you can do is get the Hell out of his way" Duncan looked down at the hands on his chest and then up into his friends cold eyes, he raised his eyebrows and tilted his head to one side "sounds to me you're the one with the experience of doing that" Methos held Duncan's gaze for a few seconds before dropping his hands, he then looked over at Joe before looking back at Duncan "Yes and that's why I'm still alive to tell you to do the same" but the look in Duncan's eyes told him that his words were wasted.
Duncan walked to the door as his hand took hold of the door handle he turned to look at Joe "Thanks, Joe", Joe smiled "The only Thanks I need is for you to keep that head on your shoulders" he replied as he pointed to Duncan's head, Duncan nodded and then left without saying another word.
"Do you think he'll go after Lazarski?" Joe asked as Methos flopped into the other chair "You know him as well as I do.what do you think?" Methos replied Joe ran his hand over his unshaven chin "Well, let's hope that when she gets her memory back the part about Lazarski is forgotten; then maybe Mac will do the same" Methos smiled as he reached for the bottle on the table and poured them both another drink "and you really think that would happen?" Joe reached forward and took the glass Methos offered him "I can hope can't I".
As Duncan walked out of the hotel he fastened his jacket and turned up the collar against the cold night air. A dark cloud had descended over his heart ever since he had first laid eyes on that sword at the auction house, he had hoped that there was another explanation but now he knew that Akira was gone and who had taken his head. As he walked along the sidewalk to where he had parked his car his thoughts were filled with memories of his time high in the mountains with Akira. Duncan unlocked the car and climbed into the driver's seat, he put both hands on the top of the steering wheel and then laid his forehead on his hands, he sat there trying to collect his thoughts and control the emotion he was feeling. He had lost many friends in his 400 years and he knew that any of his Immortal friends could met their match at anytime but to lose Akira in this way, for his life to be ended by someone who obviously had no honour. He thought about all that Akira had taught him about honour, about himself, Akira had been a warrior before he became a monk, if he had to die it should have been in a fair fight defeated by someone with great skill not to be cheated out of his life.
Duncan thumped the steering wheel as he sat back Akira would want him to protect the innocent, the mortal before any thoughts of revenge, so he would leave Lazarski alone until he could get Alex safely away.
Duncan thought about Alex safe at Fitz's apartment he was in no mood for company but he needed to know she was all right so he took out his phone and dialled Fitz's number. A sleepy Fitz answered the phone, he told Duncan that he had checked on Alex about 20 minutes ago and she was sleeping. He asked when Duncan would return, "I need some time alone.you understand.I'm going back to the barge"
"Do you think that's wise, Laddie?" Fitz asked.
"The men went after Alex not me.anyway I can look after myself.you just concentrate on looking after her and I'll be round first thing in the morning" Duncan replied. "You can always count on me MacLeod" Fitz said as he reached for the nearly empty glass on the table beside him "Thanks Fitz.anyone strange turns up just get her away.no heroics, understood?"
"Understood" Fitz replied.
Duncan closed his phone and tossed it onto the passenger seat before putting the car into gear.
Thomas was laid on the bed when Ray came out of the bathroom a towel wrapped round his waist "So have you phoned the old man?" he asked as he crossed the room to the wardrobe Thomas sat up "I thought I would leave that for you.he likes you better than me" Ray shook his head "I'm not calling him" Thomas sat up and swung his legs off the bed "So what do we do now?" Ray pulled on the clean shirt he had just taken out of the wardrobe "The only thing I can think of is we try talking to that fella, you know MacLeod, try to get him to understand we are only trying to help Alex" Thomas laughed as he got to his feet pulling on his shoulder holster "you think he will listen.he didn't look the listening type last night".
Ray pulled on his trousers that had been laid on the bed before picking up the towel he had just dropped on the bed and threw it at Thomas "you've got a better idea.I'm listening" Thomas grabbed his jacket from the chair next to his bed "Well we had better get to that barge then" Thomas waited as Ray put on his shoulder holster and jacket, Ray opened the door "I think it would be best if you let me do the talking.you can be a little abrupt sometimes" Thomas was about to protest when the phone in their room started ringing they both looked at each other "Nar!" they both said together shaking their heads. Ray pulled the door closed on the still ringing phone they both knew who would be on the other end and neither of them wanted to talk to McCormack, at least not yet.
It was only just getting light when Alex awoke her dreams had been filled with disjointed images, some of which were now starting to fit into place, she sat up wiping the sleep from her eyes. Then she remembered a locker from her dream, suddenly she was overwhelmed with the need to get the answers she knew the locker held, she also knew that she had to find this out for herself. Quickly and quietly she dressed excepted for her shoes which she carried in her left hand, her door was ajar so there was no sound as she pulled it open, a light still burned in the living room, Alex crept down the hallway there stretched out on the couch his pipe still in the corner of his mouth was Fitz, Alex knew that she would have to get past him without him waking if she was to reach the door. Slowly Alex moved pass the couch she was nearly on the other side when Fitz stirred, Alex held her breath as he swiped at what looked like an invisible insect buzzing around his face before settling down again.
As Alex started again towards the door she noticed Fitz's car keys on a small table by the door 'getting to the locker will be a lot easier with wheels' she thought as she reached out for them, slowly she lifted them from the table so that they would not make too much noise. Her hand shook slightly as she reached for the door handle, one last look over her shoulder at the sleeping Fitz to make sure she hadn't been seen, and then she opened the door and closed it quietly behind her.
Duncan had only managed a few hours of sleep his troubled mind had not allowed much rest to come. When the day light had come his first impulse was to go to Fitz's apartment but decided it was better that he let Alex sleep, so he had breakfast and decided to finish the repairs to the barge he had been distracted from finishing the other day.
He must have been working for about an hour when a voice from the riverside made him look up "MacLeod.Duncan MacLeod?" the voice called out, Duncan stood up, there stood by the barge was the two men that had attacked Alex the night before. Duncan picked up the rag and wiped his hands as he walked to the gang plank "What can I do for you Gentlemen?" both Thomas and Ray had seen the defensive stance Duncan had taken as he stood at the top of the gang plank waiting for their answer "Sorry about the other night.Look we want to talk.I think we have something in common".
Duncan looked puzzled "this would be the same talking you did last night?" Ray walked forward putting his foot on the gang plank but Duncan moved to block the top so he stopped "We're not what you think.we work for the British Government" it was clear from Duncan's face that he was unimpressed by Ray's words, so Ray opened his jacket and slowly pulled out a small leather wallet and threw it to Duncan, who caught it with one hand, he flicked it open, inside was an ID. Duncan rolled his eyes "I think you had better come onboard.I don't think we want to discuss this out here" Duncan said as he stepped aside and allowed Thomas and Ray onboard.
Duncan followed the two men down into the barge, as he came down the steps he saw one of the men standing still waiting for him, while the other moved around the room "I guess the best place to start is to introduce yourselves.I'm Ray Muir and this is Thomas Bishop we work for Criminal Intelligence in London.we're here to take Alex back with us" Duncan wiped his hand across his mouth "What's her crime?" Ray smiled at Duncan's question "There is no crime.not in the technical term.she works with us"
It hadn't been difficult for Alex to find which of the cars parked in the garage belonged to Fitz, all she had done was walk the rows of cars pressing the unlock button on the key until one of the cars eventually unlocked. Alex climbed into the driver's seat she wasn't sure exactly where she was going but that didn't worry her as she drove Fitz's car out onto the Paris streets. There was little traffic at the start of her journey as it had been so early but the traffic started to get heavier as Paris awoke, Alex had been driving around for nearly an hour before she realised she was heading for the airport "that's it!" she said out loud, she remembered getting of the plane with two bags her backpack and a small leather bag, she had left the small bag at the airport as her emergency reserve and now it would fill in the blanks still left in her memory.
Alex drove past the car parks heading for Arrivals she managed to find a space between two cars she paid little attention to the people milling around them as she headed into the building. Even though it was still early morning the Arrivals lounge was quite crowded with travellers and those who had come to meet them. Alex's eyes scanned the room looking for the area with lockers, she walked slowly further into the building and then she saw the sign in the far corner, Alex quickened her steps her heart started to beat faster in her chest as she dodged round people with trolleys and bags heading in the other direction. Soon she was stood looking at the rows of lockers she closed her eyes trying to find a number, then '136' floated into her mind, she walked the lockers looking for 136.
It didn't take long to find it Alex found herself staring at the red metal of the door to her relief it was a combination lock and not a key but she still had to remember the combination. Alex reached up and put her hand on the cool red metal and closed her eyes, Alex thought this must look strange to anyone that was watching she opened her eyes and looked around everyone was to busy with their own lives to have paid any attention to her, she then slid her hand over to the number pad. This style of locker allowed you to choose your own code once you had place your money in it, so she knew that it had to be something she would have thought she wouldn't forget, 'a date' she thought.
Slowly her fingers moved over the keypad she pressed the 2, then 7 and then 1 twice and to her relief the door opened and inside was a small black leather bag. Alex reached in and pulled the bag out, she closed the locker door and lent back as she pulled the zip open. Alex put one hand under the bag and used the other one to pull it open. As Alex stared into the dark interior of the bag the missing pieces of her memory slammed into place, her legs couldn't hold her so she slid down the lockers until she was sat on the floor, the bag now resting on the floor. As realization of who, what and why she was in Paris filled her mind Alex let go of the bag, she pulled her knees up, her hands covering her face, as if she was trying to hide from the truth, she then leaned forward until her hands touched her knees and there she sat trying to come to terms with what she now knew she must do.
All that Duncan had just learned raced through his mind, without a word he got to his feet and headed for the door, Methos moved quickly and got to the door first barring Duncan's exit "What are you going to do Mac?" Duncan shook his head and looked his friend in the eyes "I don't know.if Alex is here because of Lazarski, she'll go after him again when her memory return and she has no idea what he is.I have to stop her before she gets herself killed" Methos shifted his weight from one foot to the other "and then?"
"And then I guess I'll have to stop Lazarski myself" Duncan said as he went to walk forward, Methos put both his hands onto Duncan's chest barring his path "You just don't get it do you.with someone like Lazarski if you see him coming the best thing you can do is get the Hell out of his way" Duncan looked down at the hands on his chest and then up into his friends cold eyes, he raised his eyebrows and tilted his head to one side "sounds to me you're the one with the experience of doing that" Methos held Duncan's gaze for a few seconds before dropping his hands, he then looked over at Joe before looking back at Duncan "Yes and that's why I'm still alive to tell you to do the same" but the look in Duncan's eyes told him that his words were wasted.
Duncan walked to the door as his hand took hold of the door handle he turned to look at Joe "Thanks, Joe", Joe smiled "The only Thanks I need is for you to keep that head on your shoulders" he replied as he pointed to Duncan's head, Duncan nodded and then left without saying another word.
"Do you think he'll go after Lazarski?" Joe asked as Methos flopped into the other chair "You know him as well as I do.what do you think?" Methos replied Joe ran his hand over his unshaven chin "Well, let's hope that when she gets her memory back the part about Lazarski is forgotten; then maybe Mac will do the same" Methos smiled as he reached for the bottle on the table and poured them both another drink "and you really think that would happen?" Joe reached forward and took the glass Methos offered him "I can hope can't I".
As Duncan walked out of the hotel he fastened his jacket and turned up the collar against the cold night air. A dark cloud had descended over his heart ever since he had first laid eyes on that sword at the auction house, he had hoped that there was another explanation but now he knew that Akira was gone and who had taken his head. As he walked along the sidewalk to where he had parked his car his thoughts were filled with memories of his time high in the mountains with Akira. Duncan unlocked the car and climbed into the driver's seat, he put both hands on the top of the steering wheel and then laid his forehead on his hands, he sat there trying to collect his thoughts and control the emotion he was feeling. He had lost many friends in his 400 years and he knew that any of his Immortal friends could met their match at anytime but to lose Akira in this way, for his life to be ended by someone who obviously had no honour. He thought about all that Akira had taught him about honour, about himself, Akira had been a warrior before he became a monk, if he had to die it should have been in a fair fight defeated by someone with great skill not to be cheated out of his life.
Duncan thumped the steering wheel as he sat back Akira would want him to protect the innocent, the mortal before any thoughts of revenge, so he would leave Lazarski alone until he could get Alex safely away.
Duncan thought about Alex safe at Fitz's apartment he was in no mood for company but he needed to know she was all right so he took out his phone and dialled Fitz's number. A sleepy Fitz answered the phone, he told Duncan that he had checked on Alex about 20 minutes ago and she was sleeping. He asked when Duncan would return, "I need some time alone.you understand.I'm going back to the barge"
"Do you think that's wise, Laddie?" Fitz asked.
"The men went after Alex not me.anyway I can look after myself.you just concentrate on looking after her and I'll be round first thing in the morning" Duncan replied. "You can always count on me MacLeod" Fitz said as he reached for the nearly empty glass on the table beside him "Thanks Fitz.anyone strange turns up just get her away.no heroics, understood?"
"Understood" Fitz replied.
Duncan closed his phone and tossed it onto the passenger seat before putting the car into gear.
Thomas was laid on the bed when Ray came out of the bathroom a towel wrapped round his waist "So have you phoned the old man?" he asked as he crossed the room to the wardrobe Thomas sat up "I thought I would leave that for you.he likes you better than me" Ray shook his head "I'm not calling him" Thomas sat up and swung his legs off the bed "So what do we do now?" Ray pulled on the clean shirt he had just taken out of the wardrobe "The only thing I can think of is we try talking to that fella, you know MacLeod, try to get him to understand we are only trying to help Alex" Thomas laughed as he got to his feet pulling on his shoulder holster "you think he will listen.he didn't look the listening type last night".
Ray pulled on his trousers that had been laid on the bed before picking up the towel he had just dropped on the bed and threw it at Thomas "you've got a better idea.I'm listening" Thomas grabbed his jacket from the chair next to his bed "Well we had better get to that barge then" Thomas waited as Ray put on his shoulder holster and jacket, Ray opened the door "I think it would be best if you let me do the talking.you can be a little abrupt sometimes" Thomas was about to protest when the phone in their room started ringing they both looked at each other "Nar!" they both said together shaking their heads. Ray pulled the door closed on the still ringing phone they both knew who would be on the other end and neither of them wanted to talk to McCormack, at least not yet.
It was only just getting light when Alex awoke her dreams had been filled with disjointed images, some of which were now starting to fit into place, she sat up wiping the sleep from her eyes. Then she remembered a locker from her dream, suddenly she was overwhelmed with the need to get the answers she knew the locker held, she also knew that she had to find this out for herself. Quickly and quietly she dressed excepted for her shoes which she carried in her left hand, her door was ajar so there was no sound as she pulled it open, a light still burned in the living room, Alex crept down the hallway there stretched out on the couch his pipe still in the corner of his mouth was Fitz, Alex knew that she would have to get past him without him waking if she was to reach the door. Slowly Alex moved pass the couch she was nearly on the other side when Fitz stirred, Alex held her breath as he swiped at what looked like an invisible insect buzzing around his face before settling down again.
As Alex started again towards the door she noticed Fitz's car keys on a small table by the door 'getting to the locker will be a lot easier with wheels' she thought as she reached out for them, slowly she lifted them from the table so that they would not make too much noise. Her hand shook slightly as she reached for the door handle, one last look over her shoulder at the sleeping Fitz to make sure she hadn't been seen, and then she opened the door and closed it quietly behind her.
Duncan had only managed a few hours of sleep his troubled mind had not allowed much rest to come. When the day light had come his first impulse was to go to Fitz's apartment but decided it was better that he let Alex sleep, so he had breakfast and decided to finish the repairs to the barge he had been distracted from finishing the other day.
He must have been working for about an hour when a voice from the riverside made him look up "MacLeod.Duncan MacLeod?" the voice called out, Duncan stood up, there stood by the barge was the two men that had attacked Alex the night before. Duncan picked up the rag and wiped his hands as he walked to the gang plank "What can I do for you Gentlemen?" both Thomas and Ray had seen the defensive stance Duncan had taken as he stood at the top of the gang plank waiting for their answer "Sorry about the other night.Look we want to talk.I think we have something in common".
Duncan looked puzzled "this would be the same talking you did last night?" Ray walked forward putting his foot on the gang plank but Duncan moved to block the top so he stopped "We're not what you think.we work for the British Government" it was clear from Duncan's face that he was unimpressed by Ray's words, so Ray opened his jacket and slowly pulled out a small leather wallet and threw it to Duncan, who caught it with one hand, he flicked it open, inside was an ID. Duncan rolled his eyes "I think you had better come onboard.I don't think we want to discuss this out here" Duncan said as he stepped aside and allowed Thomas and Ray onboard.
Duncan followed the two men down into the barge, as he came down the steps he saw one of the men standing still waiting for him, while the other moved around the room "I guess the best place to start is to introduce yourselves.I'm Ray Muir and this is Thomas Bishop we work for Criminal Intelligence in London.we're here to take Alex back with us" Duncan wiped his hand across his mouth "What's her crime?" Ray smiled at Duncan's question "There is no crime.not in the technical term.she works with us"
It hadn't been difficult for Alex to find which of the cars parked in the garage belonged to Fitz, all she had done was walk the rows of cars pressing the unlock button on the key until one of the cars eventually unlocked. Alex climbed into the driver's seat she wasn't sure exactly where she was going but that didn't worry her as she drove Fitz's car out onto the Paris streets. There was little traffic at the start of her journey as it had been so early but the traffic started to get heavier as Paris awoke, Alex had been driving around for nearly an hour before she realised she was heading for the airport "that's it!" she said out loud, she remembered getting of the plane with two bags her backpack and a small leather bag, she had left the small bag at the airport as her emergency reserve and now it would fill in the blanks still left in her memory.
Alex drove past the car parks heading for Arrivals she managed to find a space between two cars she paid little attention to the people milling around them as she headed into the building. Even though it was still early morning the Arrivals lounge was quite crowded with travellers and those who had come to meet them. Alex's eyes scanned the room looking for the area with lockers, she walked slowly further into the building and then she saw the sign in the far corner, Alex quickened her steps her heart started to beat faster in her chest as she dodged round people with trolleys and bags heading in the other direction. Soon she was stood looking at the rows of lockers she closed her eyes trying to find a number, then '136' floated into her mind, she walked the lockers looking for 136.
It didn't take long to find it Alex found herself staring at the red metal of the door to her relief it was a combination lock and not a key but she still had to remember the combination. Alex reached up and put her hand on the cool red metal and closed her eyes, Alex thought this must look strange to anyone that was watching she opened her eyes and looked around everyone was to busy with their own lives to have paid any attention to her, she then slid her hand over to the number pad. This style of locker allowed you to choose your own code once you had place your money in it, so she knew that it had to be something she would have thought she wouldn't forget, 'a date' she thought.
Slowly her fingers moved over the keypad she pressed the 2, then 7 and then 1 twice and to her relief the door opened and inside was a small black leather bag. Alex reached in and pulled the bag out, she closed the locker door and lent back as she pulled the zip open. Alex put one hand under the bag and used the other one to pull it open. As Alex stared into the dark interior of the bag the missing pieces of her memory slammed into place, her legs couldn't hold her so she slid down the lockers until she was sat on the floor, the bag now resting on the floor. As realization of who, what and why she was in Paris filled her mind Alex let go of the bag, she pulled her knees up, her hands covering her face, as if she was trying to hide from the truth, she then leaned forward until her hands touched her knees and there she sat trying to come to terms with what she now knew she must do.