The Friday Series Chapter 3: Diabolic, a highlander fanfic

THE FRIDAY SERIES 3

DIABOLIC

RATING: PG

CHARACTERS: DM M J A R Cassandra OCs Friday, Diabol, Han

SUMMARY: I promise Richie uses up his last two wishes here.

DOJO

Richie and Duncan had a session, not with swords, or even a plan. They were just using the day to talk, and Richie wanted to strength train. He worked the bench press, while Duncan meditated. Duncan saw that Richie's muscle tone was much the same as before he lost his head. He seemed just like his student in every physical aspect, but the kid couldn't remember himself, his teacher, old friends, and his taste in clothes and favored mode of transportation was the polar opposite of the Richie he knew. Richie's quickening inside Duncan's soul had seemed to quiet down after the immediate shock of their first meeting at the barge, just a little over a week before. The only time Duncan heard Richie in stereo, from both the inside and Richie himself, was when he was upset.

Duncan knew it wasn't a possibility, but if he could wish for anything to come true, it would be to give Richie back his memories. It saddened Duncan that he lost everything in his mind that had to do with his progress in life, who he met, what he did, lessons learned. The last thing Duncan would want was to never again remember Sean Burns, Hugh Fitzcairn, Tessa, any of the magnificent people he had come across in his life.

Richie put the pole on the stand and looked over at Duncan in a lotus position on the floor, "Can you put another couple pounds on for me?"

"Sure," Duncan leaned over him to fasten the weights. "Just don't stress yourself."

"If I pull a muscle, it'll heal, Mac." Richie laughed as he lifted the bar again. "I lost my head and it healed."

"That's nothing to joke about, Rich."

Richie said, "I'm not making light of it, Mac. I just can't get over how happy I am. I don't think I've ever felt this... free." After a few more presses, he set the pole back on the stand and sat up. "I don't remember what I was, so I don't know my mistakes, and I'm sure there were many."

Duncan just shrugged and let the comment pass. The kid did have a habit of not taking his bits of wisdom, then later admit he was wrong. That was the past. Richie noticed Duncan's lack of eye contact and said, "Maybe that's a good thing. Having mistakes grating on you must be tough."

"You can say that again," Duncan muttered, finishing up his meditation.

"I don't have to think about it," Richie happily commented. "I know I made one good decision, and that was my freebie."

"I couldn't agree more," Duncan joined Richie's smile of serenity that he was actually alive, and they were able to start over again.

Richie looked around and that feeling of being cooped up overcame him again, "Where's Amanda?"

"She had a thing. I don't know."

Richie said, "Candy's got class this afternoon, then has to go right to work. I should ask Methos to give her a paid vacation."

"I'm sure he's a silent partner in the Quest."

"Let's do something," Richie stood. "Let's get out. I need air."

Duncan stood and nodded, "I guess we did enough for the day. What do you have in mind?"

Richie decided, "I want a car."

Duncan chuckled, "Do you have that much cash? Do you need a loan?"

"A loan?" Richie laughed. "No. I don't need a loan. I got Friday. Friday!"

"You want to waste a wish on a car?"

"It's not wasting a wish. I don't like having to rely on someone else to bring me anywhere. I gotta get out. Friday!"

HOTEL ROOF

Friday laid curled up in the middle of the cage, so Diabol couldn't touch her from the outside. If he wanted to fool with her again, he'd have to come inside, and she could figure a way to get past him and out the door. After he healed the snake bite, she once again scolded herself for trying to commit suicide, for the second time in her life. She couldn't fly off the handle anymore! She needed to think things through, turn off her emotions as they would probably be her undoing. Diabol always had brought out the worst in her and he always will.

Friday gripped the golden brace he had magically fastened around her neck. The hopelessness of the situation made her want to once again cry like a damn baby, but she had to think. Diabol was not going to get the satisfaction of seeing her cry, or kill her, or any of her new-found friends.

Richie called. Friday knew she still had the power to return her master, but she stayed put. That brace around her neck and Diabol's relaxed manner toward her only brought home the point that whatever she would encounter, whatever magic she would manufacture, would only be for the betterment of Diabol and his dastardly plans, the latest one was to rid the planet of immortals.

Diabol wrapped his long fingers around two bars of the cage and thrust his face through. "Laminae, you are being called, my dear."

"I did not hear anything."

The smile that creased Diabol's face made her want to rip it off. Not by magic, but good old fashioned scratching her fingernails into his flesh. "Go see what he wants. Gather information for me. I will bring you back when I am satisfied."

"I can not," Friday firmly stated, surprising Diabol. "With this brace, I am not going within ten miles of him. Besides, I can not serve two masters at the same time. You know that."

"Master...," Diabol savored the word. "I believe I have waited 2000 years for you to acknowledge my power over you."

"That was never the argument, Diabol," Friday finally looked at the monster. "I know perfectly well that you are more powerful than I."

Richie called for her again, making Friday cringe and cower her head into her lap.

DOJO

Duncan and Richie both looked around the gym for her appearance. It was strange Friday hadn't come to him at all since he left the Quest with Candy. In fact, Richie hadn't seen her since they walked into the club. Methos told him that morning over coffee that her absence at Joe's performance was because he banished her from all his properties and no amount of arguing on Richie's part would ever make him rescind it.

Richie touched some furniture and weapons for warmth, to see if she was fooling with him, spying on him. "Where is she? She can't be jealous of last night. Could she?"

Duncan shrugged, "You'd know more than me. What was your relationship?"

Richie shrugged. "I don't know. I think of her as an aunt, actually. Sometimes, more. Like a sister. Mother." Then Richie nodded and acknowledged, "My best friend."

Methos walked in to see the immortals not going through the motions of a training session and was glad. "Good, Mac, I need to talk to you. Privately, kid."

"Fine. Friday! Come on," Richie pleaded to the thin air.

Methos, who had been on his way into the office for that private conversation, looked around the dojo for the nuisance, then smiled at Richie when he didn't see her. When Richie accusingly stared at him, he put up his hands in defense, "Hey, it wasn't me. I let her in here." He sauntered to the office door saying, "Take it as a good sign, kid. If she's not around, you don't have to put up with her."

"Methos," Richie whined. "She's my friend."

"To each his own," Methos shrugged and waited in the office for Duncan to join him. As soon as the Highlander finally joined him, Methos shut the door behind them.

Amanda waltzed into the dojo, in a very good mood. "Where's Mac?"

Richie nodded to the office, "Confidential older immortal talk. I'm not allowed, I guess."

She waved her hand, "It's probably boring anyway." She set her leather tote bag on the bench press and noticed Richie looked a little down. She rubbed her hands together in glee and pulled out a folded paper out of her bag, "Hey, Rich. What do you know about Norway?"

He shrugged, "I know how to spell it. Why?"

"I just had lunch with an old friend," she unfolded the large paper, which was a map. "It seems to me, a trip to Bergen is on my itinerary."

"Why?"

"The Eye of Odin," Amanda announced as Richie looked at the handmade map drawn on sienna colored parchment.

"The Eye of a Norse God? Amanda, I may not remember much, but those Gods didn't really exist, or have eyes."

"I know that. Besides, Odin only had one eye. But, to get back to what's important, The Eye of Odin is an ancient jewel, a blue diamond. I had it in my hand about 800 years ago." She spread the parchment map out on the floor and knelt down to study it. "Then I lost it."

"Lost it?" Richie squatted down and looked at the confusing map that didn't look like the outline of Norway at all. "You had too many diamonds laying around and misplaced it?"

"No," she sat on the floor, putting her ankles under her. "There's an old legend that the thief of the Eye of Odin would have nothing but bad luck. And by everything I know, it's true. That stupid stone couldn't possibly have known I was only returning it to its rightful owner."

"Sort of like the Hope Diamond?"

"Exactly like the Hope Diamond, only this jewel is cursed from 'the Gods', not by an jeweler with an imagination who wanted to sell an overpriced necklace to a rich Frenchman."

"If you had the Eye of Odin once, why did you lose it?"

"There was an avalanche. I guess I dropped it. It was days before Rebecca dug me out."

"Rebecca was a good friend?" Richie said, "It's nice to have friends to dig you out of avalanches."

"She was my teacher, Richie," Amanda solemnly stated. "I owe everything to Rebecca."

"Where is she? I'd like to meet her."

"She was taken," Amanda said, taking a moment to give a silent prayer to her memory. She had to return that jewel for her. They spent a hundred years looking for it after it was stolen by Vikings, only to lose it in an avalanche. It's return was important for Rebecca. "The Eye of Odin isn't it's true name," Amanda told Richie. "Those bastards renamed it after they snatched it. It's actually the "Star of the North", and is British. And I want it."

"You want to forage through snow and glaciers to find a colored rock?"

"I don't think they have glaciers any more," Amanda pause. "Do they?"

"How come you've waited 800 years to get it back?" Richie then realized the woman was actually over a thousand years old and looked at her for the first time, again. He smiled as it hit him again that immortality was so cool. He couldn't believe he was one of them and had many years, centuries ahead of him. "And why do you need a map? The same mountain's there, right?"

Amanda paused, "Yes," she said, "but after the avalanche, Rebecca and I went south, thinking it was a lost cause. Then, over the centuries, I forgot which mountain it was. There are a lot of mountains in Scandinavia." She touched Han's map and got excited again, "Rebecca told the story to Han Ritcher, who I just had lunch with. He's been doing some investigating and zeroed in to where we must have been. They've commercialized the area he traced the mountain to, so... it might not be that hard to dig it up, if someone else hasn't already found it. If Han did find the right area, I'll be able to sniff it out."

"How old is this Han?"

"I don't know. I usually don't ask immortals. He's around my age, I guess." Amanda grinned, "Han's such a sweetheart, you'll like him. Maybe you want to come with me."

"I don't know. That sounds out of my league. Maybe I can ask Friday and it would make it easier for you." Richie offered, "My second wish?"

Amanda was touched he'd give up a wish for her and kissed him on the cheek, then said, "No, you keep them for yourself. But thanks, that's very sweet. I know you and Han'll get along." Amanda thought that Friday's help with the search was very intriguing, indeed. They had been getting a little closer during their shopping spree, maybe she'd be willing to help.

OFFICE

"You don't understand." Methos sighed, sitting on Duncan's desk. "I saw her."

"Did you talk to her?"

"Are you crazy?"

"No, I'm not crazy, Methos," Duncan spouted. "Maybe you are. I'm sure it's all in the past. I've talked to Cassandra since Paris, and she hasn't mentioned you."

"Good! I'm steering clear of her."

"Fine, then why do you feel the need to tell me?"

"I was wondering why she's in town." Methos looked through the glass that formed the wall between the office and the dojo to see Amanda and Richie talking. "Did you invite her?"

"No, and she hasn't looked me up."

"It could be that she's planning something and knew you wouldn't help her, so--."

"Planning to get you? Don't you think she would have done something by now if she was? In fact, she had an axe to..." Duncan didn't want to bring up that part of the man's history again, it wouldn't get them anywhere. Duncan saw Amanda and knew Richie wanted to do something, and really wanted to get out of the conversation with Methos, so he just shook his head and said, "You're just being paranoid. Seacouver's a big city. See ya."

Meanwhile, Richie was trying to summon that bundle of magic herself, but to no avail, even Amanda got worried. Friday had been Richie's shadow, she should have appeared when called the first time. "Friday!" Richie's voice was almost soprano as he called once again when Mac and Methos walked back into the dojo.

"I'm not paranoid," Methos firmly stated.

The eighth time Richie summoned his jinniyah seemed to be the charm as that's when Friday appeared on the banister of steps to the locker rooms. She didn't make a sound. Before the others noticed her, she went back and forth about leaving. She hoped Richie hadn't called because he was in danger. Checking out the surroundings, she didn't see any for him. Except Methos. Methos! Friday glared at him in a new light, checked out his body language. It was too much of a coincidence that both Methos and Diabol re-entered her life at the same time, when they were tied to what happened to her back in Egypt.

While Duncan, Amanda and Methos debated how suspicious Methos was, or wasn't, depending on who you listened to, Friday's mind was racing. Methos could been the reason Diabol found her! They could have been working together! He'd done nothing but sneer at her since he walked into Duncan's barge in Paris. Friday was happy to blame everything on Methos, that Diabol found her. She'd covered her tracks very well over the years, and Diabol still found her, just after she met up with Methos again. It was a very big coincidence.

Friday was ready to turn Methos into that toad she'd been salivating to do, but then remembered that his snotty behavior could have been because she had turned him into an ass, broke his shoulder blade, knocked him over and made his mouth disappear all in the span of a week. Methos was the one who bought her freedom and made her come to her senses the other time she was ready to end it all. For that, she was grateful to him for making her see the stupidity of her 'sacrificial' bent. But since they didn't part on good terms, Friday had to wonder if Methos could have kept up his acquaintance with Diabol all those years, and invited him to get rid of her.

Duncan spotted Friday and bonked Richie on the arm, "She's here." Then he called to her, "Hey, how long have you been there?"

Richie spun around, "Where have you been? I've been calling you all day. I thought you were supposed to come when I call."

"I am not a dog and do not fetch. I am banished, remember?" She looked Methos over for any indication that he was indeed behind Diabol's return.

"Don't go blaming me for slipping up in your jinniyah duties," Methos warned. He didn't need to get blamed for anything more. "I rescinded the banishment on this place."

Amanda cooed, "Friday! I love your necklace." It was best to butter up the jinniyah before asking about a favor to find the Star of the North. "Is that real gold? Gold jewelry never goes out of style," she said, even though she thought a big chunky gold choker was a little on the gaudy side. She walked up the steps to examine the brace, but before she could reach her, Friday disappeared. Amanda slapped her leg and moaned, "Come on. I didn't mean to scare you. Come back."

"I am right here," Friday said from the other side of the dojo.

"Quit that," Methos said.

"Why?"

"It's annoying." Methos shook his head and waved goodbye, "I'm off."

"To where?" Friday wondered if she would follow him to see if he had a meeting arranged with Diabol.

"What do you care?"

"Do you have people to see?"

"Yeah, and other things."

"Who?"

"Huh?"

Richie's head stopped bouncing back and forth from Friday to Methos like he was watching a tennis match and told Friday, "Let's go car shopping. I'll pick out the classic I want and I'll make that second wish."

Friday tore her eyes off Methos to look at her master. "You want to waste your second wish on a material object?"

Duncan said, "That's what I told him."

Methos turned back from the door to scrutinize the jinniyah. There hadn't been a sour comment, no magic aimed at his direction, he still had all his body parts, there had to be something wrong, or she was lying in wait to do something when he least expected it.

Friday thought it over. If Richie got through his wishes, she wouldn't have anymore ties to him, or the others. She could be free of Methos, and by extension, Diabol, and Richie would be safe. "Fine, Master. Let us go."

"Wait," Amanda caught her arm. "I'll go with you."

"Why?" Friday and Richie both asked.

"I'm the shopping expert here," Amanda pointed out the obvious. "Then I can have a nice little chat, Friday."

"Wait, wait, wait," Methos said. "What's going on?"

Amanda said, "I've become taken with Richie's friend, and I hope to make Friday my friend."

"I am your..." Friday began, but stopped, knowing Diabol could hear every word that was said. He couldn't know how she felt about any of them.

"My what? Friend?" Amanda looked hopefully at Friday. She really needed her help, make it easier to get that jewel. She put the map back into her tote and slung it over her shoulder, ready to leave.

"Acquaintance," Friday corrected. "I do not have friends."

Richie muttered, "What about me?"

Friday faced him to say the words she needed to at the moment for Diabol's ears, "You are only my master. Let me get you a car and finish your second wish and then the third and then I can get out of here."

"Okay," Richie said, bummed. She was tired of him already. The thought that he wouldn't have her anymore was what Richie guessed would be like leaving your mother for the first time, like when a person went off to college. "Mac? Did I ever go to college?"

"No."

"When did my mother die?"

"When you were a kid."

"Let us go," Friday told Richie, taking his hand, not wanting to relive old home week, with a set of ears eavesdropping.

"Wait," Methos pulled Richie away. "What are you up to?"

"I am fulfilling my jinniyah duty. Do you have a problem with that? Am I to do something else for you, perhaps?"

Methos held up his hands, "No. No thank you. It's just that... you're so calm today."

Friday ignored him and told Duncan, "Mr. MacLeod, I will have Master back by dinnertime."

"Hey, I'm not a kid," Richie interrupted. "I'll drive home by dinnertime. Have something good ready."

"I'm not your servant," Duncan said. "Bring back take-out for dinner."

"Do you want to come with, Mac?"

"No," Duncan looked at Friday and had enough magic in his life. "I have things to do around here."

Friday took Richie's hand again and waved her own. "Don't forget me," Amanda clamped onto Friday's frizzy hair, and she disappeared along with them.

Methos and Mac looked at each other, shrugged. "There's something up, my friend. I hope you can take care of it."

"Going someplace?"

"Yes. Friday and Cassandra are two people I've decided to stay away from. I'm going far away."

As Methos walked out, Mac whispered, "Chicken."

"Sticks and stones, MacLeod," Methos said, taking the stairs down to the ground level and out to his SUV.

COUNTRY ROAD

Richie whooped as he sped a Camaro down the road. Amanda had fastened the seat belt as she saw the speedometer creep over 90. Before she could suggest he slow down, he did on his own, "I don't know. This doesn't seem to be my style, either. Try again, Friday."

Friday sighed in the back seat, looking out the side window. Kids, they really did have a tough time making up their mind. She hoped Richie would have come up with something better than a car for his second wish, but to each his own. She just wanted him to quickly choose and she could stay away from him, negating the danger from Diabol.

She tapped the seat and they were suddenly inside a Mustang Fastback. Richie had to adjust to driving a different car, then said, "This is better, but not quite right."

Friday turned the vehicle turn into a GTO, bored, and nervous. "Will you make up your mind?"

Amanda asked her, "Can you get something from this decade?"

Richie said, "No. I like the 70's classics. But then again, since I'm test driving, how about a brand new Ferrari?"

Friday asked, "Testarosa?"

"Sure!"

Friday knew that as soon as Richie drove one, he'd want it, so she asked, "What color?"

"Red, of course."

Richie was driving one before he comprehended that he was driving a Ferrari. "Hey! A convertible! This is great!" He looked at the dash, "How do you take the top down?"

Amanda laughed, having always loved Ferraris herself. "You can ask her to do it."

Friday made the top disappear and moped. She liked her master, maybe even loved him, but she would have to leave before Diabol could use him to his advantage, or kill him, just because he could. She was suspicious of Methos, but why would an immortal help someone wipe the planet of his own kind? He was too smart for that. Joe had explained the rules of immortality to her and Richie, so she got the thought that Methos wanted to be 'The One', and Diabol taking out his opponents would make it easier for him.

Richie said, "I want something better, faster. You have any suggestions, Friday?"

She couldn't get the name Diabol out of her mind. "What would you think of a Lamborghini Diablo?"

"Sounds cool, yes!"

"Fine," Friday waved her hand and made it so.

The red Testarosa turned into a silver Diablo. "Now this is just about perfect!" Richie adjusted his posture and fingered all the controls. He pressed down on the accelerator and the motor spoke to him. His butt sat perfectly in the seat and truly felt like the car was manufactured just for him. "What kind of insurance does it take? And licenses? That could be really, really out of my league."

Amanda suggested, "Why not make license and insurance part of your wish?"

"Can I do that?"

Friday said, "Not really, but I will throw it in. Is this what you want?"

"Yes."

"Say it."

Richie looked at her in the rear view mirror, "You're not going to talk me out of it? It's not stupid?"

"If it is what you want, it is not stupid."

Richie smiled to Amanda and thought about the wording of the wish. He cleared his throat and stated, "I wish I had this car, and a lifetime supply of gas, oil, maintenance, continually up to date insurance and license tabs." He kept driving, looking back at Friday in the rear view mirror. "It happened?"

"Yes, what is your third wish?"

Richie laughed. "I don't know. Let me enjoy this one." He revved the engine and they zipped down the road.

Amanda told Friday. "I was watching you. You didn't bat an eye or anything when you gave that wish."

"The wishes are already his," Friday said. "He just needs to say the words in my presence."

Friday looked back out the side window and wondered if she could just disappear, get away from them until Richie made his third wish. Amanda saw her disinterest and knew it wasn't normal. Friday's exuberance, every quirk the jinniyah had since meeting her, was nonexistent. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing." Friday couldn't even begin to tell them the truth of the matter, Diabol could hear, and would probably kill them both on the spot.

Amanda shook her head and repositioned herself to look forward. Richie said, "This is a great car. You should get one like this."

"It is a nice car, but it's not my style."

Richie looked at her, "Let me guess.... BMW, Mercedes, Rolls Royce."

"They sound nice." Amanda looked around the brand new car, then smelled the fresh, clean, factory smell new cars have. Maybe it was time to trade in her Benz. If she did anything, it would have to be after she returned from finding the Star of the North. "I wonder if Mac would want to come with me," she mused.

"To Bergen?"

Friday looked at them both and studied every word they said, as she knew she was Diabol's eyes and ears. She hoped they wouldn't say too much about their plans so Diabol would be able to find them.

"Yeah," Amanda patted her totebag. Han was wonderful for narrowing the area down for them. He always liked doing his homework, even though it had taken him centuries. "Han's even made airline reservations. We should be in Bergen by the weekend."

Friday moaned from the back seat, "Do not talk."

Amanda turned around, "Why not?"

Any information of their whereabouts shouldn't be stated in her presence. Friday got even more uncomfortable, and realized it was because the brace was tightening for disobeying Diabol. "I am leaving."

Richie said, "No."

"Why not?"

"I said so?"

"Then quit talking. Drive back to the dojo."

Richie stopped the car and looked back at her. He was tired of her attitude, and thought she was jealous about Candy. "Friday, I'm going to see who I want. You're going to have to deal with it."

"I do not care," she quickly stated, not sounding the least persuasive.

"Yeah, right." He turned back to drive and peeled out. Friday went back and forth about leaving, but also wanted to make sure her master and friend weren't in danger. The brace got even more tight around her neck. She was ready to wave her hand and leave, but didn't have anywhere to go. The only other place she could go was back in that cage.

Amanda started in on her plans and the map and Friday cut her off. "Do not talk about specifics! And yes, you should go as soon as possible. Just do not tell me where you are going!" Maybe she could get them all to scatter to the winds and someone would be able to stop Diabol before he accomplished killing them. The brace choked her more for her thoughts. "I am sorry," she cried out.

Amanda said, "No problem."

"Not you."

"Huh?"

Friday yelled, "Just drive, Richie!"

He did. Since the brace suddenly loosened, she didn't think it was because she had apologized to Diabol. Friday realized that Diabol was satisfied they were returning to Duncan, and maybe Methos.

Friday said, "Drive anywhere but the dojo."

"Why?"

"Because I said so!"

"Methos isn't there," Richie said as he looked at her in the rear view window.

Suddenly, Friday appeared in miniature sitting on the steering wheel. "Go somewhere else! Anywhere! Make a third wish so I can get away from you!"

Richie veered from surprise of having her right in front of him, then said, "I'm going back to the dojo for dinner and show Mac my new car. Just settle down. It's all right."

"No, it is not !"

Little Friday tried to make the car turn onto another road at an intersection, but it wouldn't. It wasn't because of Richie, it was because Diabol wanted them to go back to the dojo, and the other immortals. "Please," Friday told them, clutching at the brace on her neck while sitting on the steering wheel. She kicked Richie's finger to make sure she had his attention. "I have to tell you something. Richie, I do not want you to ever go back to Mr. MacLeod again. Or Methos. Or Amanda. Or any immortal until it is safe. Please."

Richie said he didn't understand, but by her tears, there had to be a good reason. "Okay," he said, then turned onto a different road. Friday sat in the back seat, felt the brace loosen and took a deep, cleansing breath.

Amanda turned on the radio and they talked about nothing in particular. Friday could hear Diabol rumble in her ear, but the brace was loose, wasn't tightening. She couldn't understand why he wasn't doing anything physical to her for disobeying him. That could only mean Diabol was going to do something to them! "No," she screamed.

A tree appeared in the middle of the road and they crashed right into it. Instantly, Friday was hovering over the top of the crash with Diabol holding Friday up by the brace. He laughed in her ear, "Now, look at what you made me do."

There was blood on the right side of the smashed windshield and sparks flew. "NO!" Friday cried out. Joe had explained quickenings to her and Richie in Paris. Those sparks had to be coming from Amanda! The crash must have severed her neck! "NO!"

Friday was dumped on the concrete floor of the cage and Diabol kicked her, making her smash into the bars on the other side. She jumped up and actually thought she could attack Diabol, spewing fire and clawing at him. "You are a complete bastard!"

With a blink of his eye that released a gale force wind, Friday was plastered back against the bars. "Fool!"

Friday promptly yelled back, "What did Amanda ever do to you?"

Diabol stopped the wind and slammed the door of the cage. He looked at her through the bars, then quietly, but firmly stated, "Because she existed."

"She was a good woman," Friday whimpered.

Diabol smiled, "Amanda is only the first. I am going to pick them off one by one. And you, Laminae, are going to have a front row seat."

She collapsed, knowing Amanda's death was on her hands. Just like the rest of their deaths would be, and there was nothing she could do about it. She couldn't warn them without Diabol knowing. She collapsed to the floor and cried for Amanda, remembering their one shopping excursion and how the threads of their budding friendship had made her feel like she belonged in their group.

COUNTY ROAD

Richie revived behind the wheel of his destroyed second wish. It took him a minute to realize what happened and that he was actually looking at the bark of a massive oak tree just outside the Lamborghini's windshield. Sparks crackled from the crumpled hood and he knew they had to get out of there. He saw Amanda's body laying against the dashboard, facing away from him, but the backseat was empty. Where was Friday? Was she thrown free, or intentionally disappeared? Why would she leave when there was an accident?

He shook Amanda, but didn't feel her buzz. He leaned her back on her arm. Blood was all over her head, and had dripped down her face. Amanda looked like she went through a blender from smashing into the windshield, but thankfully, her head was still attached. A fire ignited under the hood. Smoke instantly filled the car. He opened the door and fell out, pulling Amanda from under her arms.

Richie slid them across the road away from the blaze and laid Amanda down just as she revived. She sat up and brushed at the blood on her head, then saw the burning car. "My map!" She bolted up and looked around the ground. "Did you get my bag out of there?"

"No, I barely got us out."

"The map was in there! Han is going to kill me!"

"The map is in my second wish! No fair! Why didn't you tell me!?" He stood at screamed at the skies, "Friday!"

Amanda hesitantly got to her feet and wobbled, "What happened?"

He tilted his head to the car, "Take a guess. She made a tree appear out of nowhere!"

Amanda held her hand away from her face as the healing took over the cuts and bruises. "God damn," she realized. "That was close. I could have gone right through the windshield. I could have lost my head! Why would she do that?"

"I don't know?! But how else could a tree root itself in the middle of a paved road if it wasn't magic?!"

"That bitch!" Amanda paced. "She was awfully anxious to make you make a second wish. She must have had that planned all along."

Richie yelled again, "Friday!"

"Now I know how Methos feels. That bitch!" She joined Richie in yelling, "Friday!"

After they were both hoarse and she hadn't reappeared to explain herself, they looked at each other. Amanda asked, "Where are we?"

"In the middle of nowhere. That must have also been her plan. I hope she's having a great laugh right now." Richie paced a bit, then stared at the long, desolate road that lead back to the city. "I guess we're walking."

Amanda grumbled, "I'll have you know, I'm wearing high heels."

"I'm not carrying you," Richie muttered, walking backward so he could see for one last time, his great second wish he owned for only a moment. "Why didn't she say she didn't want to give me that wish instead of coyly asking, 'You want to waste your second wish on a material object?' Man!"

"Just keep walking, Rich, maybe someone will drive by, or we can get to a phone." Amanda took her shoes off. "You know, I had my cell phone in that bag, too."

"I thought you were more important to get out! Okay? I made a mistake."

Amanda patted his shoulder, "No, you didn't. Thanks for getting me out. Healing from burns really hurts."

"When were you burned?"

Figuring they had many miles to travel, Amanda told him all about the first, and only, time she ever fiddled with chemicals.

MIDNIGHT

Duncan had been worried since dinnertime and didn't know where to even start to look for Amanda and Richie. Friday could have taken them to car showrooms in Europe for all he knew, to manufacturing plants anywhere in the world. His mind was in a whirl. When he reached the point of desperation, he called Methos to see if they had ended up there, or Friday had fun with him at all since they left the dojo. He got his answering machine. Boy, when Methos said he was leaving town, he didn't mess around.

Duncan looked out the window at the street below and didn't see any trace of them. He called Joe. "I was just about to turn in, Mac," Joe said, thinking it was just a social call. "Thanks for seeing us play last night. How were we?"

"Great, just great," Duncan said. "Say, have you seen hide or hair of Amanda or Richie today?"

"No. Not since last night. Why?"

All of a sudden, Friday fell through the office door and landed on the floor, as if kicked, which was exactly what happened. Diabol sent her to spy, and since she wasn't willing, he forced her.

Duncan just laughed at the suddenness of her entry, and how she had trouble picking herself up from the floor. Joe asked, "What?"

"She's here."

"Who?"

"Friday," Duncan said with relief. "She has to know where they are. Sorry to bother you, Joe."

"No problem."

"Good night." When Duncan replaced the receiver, it felt hot. He kept his hand on it, and it cooled off just as suddenly. Strange. So was the woman who was straightening up, adjusting her clothes, and once again, she had an ostrich feather pinned in her hair. He asked, "Where's Richie? Did he get a car?"

"Yes." Friday quietly said, stepped out into the dojo to stay away from him. Distance would probably be a good thing when he found out what happened.

"Where is he and Amanda?"

"Amanda..." Friday couldn't help herself from crying once again, as her heart was broken.

Duncan put his hand on her back and asked, "What's the matter?"

She quickly stepped away from what she knew would be his coming wrath, "It was not my fault, Mr. MacLeod. I know you are not going to believe me, but I did not do it. I swear."

"Do what?"

"K...," Friday's hand flew to her mouth, then admitted, "Kill Amanda."

"What?!"

She jumped back from his yell and hurriedly explained, "There was a car accident. I did not do it." Her hand clung to the brace, as it tightened because she was telling him it wasn't her fault. Diabol didn't want anyone to know there was another Jinn controlling things. "She... she lost her head. I am sorry."

"Oh, my God," Duncan fell back. "A car accident? Lost her head?"

"I can not be here, but I can not go anywhere," Friday cried out, lost and alone. "Please tell Richie to forfeit his last wish and free himself from me. Please. I have to leave."

"Wait a minute!" Duncan grabbed her. "You can't tell me Amanda was killed and not explain! You're not going anywhere." She could hear Diabol in her head, laughing. Duncan shook her, "What did you do?"

"Nothing! Lately..." Friday pulled herself away from him. "It was all too long ago for you to understand. Methos might, but you couldn't."

Duncan felt a buzz. Because he dropped his hold on Friday's arm, she instantly disappeared. He saw through the office window that Richie and Amanda walked in. Duncan ran to her, grabbed her face and deeply kissed her, after having expected to never see her again. Amanda was confused, but rolled with it. Duncan checked her over as she wiped a tear from his cheek. "God Mac, I should come home more often."

"She said you were dead!" The only remnant of an accident he could see was some torn clothes, ruined high heels and a little dried blood on her head that she missed when she tried to clean it off in a convenience store bathroom.

"Who? Friday? She's here? Where?" She surveyed the dojo. "I'm going to kill her."

"What happened?"

"Richie crashed the car. Where is she? Friday!"

Richie joined in. "Come on, Friday!" After the long walk and hitchhiking, he came to his senses that his best friend wouldn't have done something so awful to him. Friday had to be one he could trust, and did.

Friday appeared by the rack of sticks, "There is big trouble. I am sorry. He did it. You have to hurry!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Joe Dawson. Diabol heard you talking to him on the phone, Mr. MacLeod, and he took him!"

Amanda lunged at Friday, ready to rip her head off for pulling that stunt with the car and making them walk for miles. Friday's eyes grew wide, ecstatic, "Amanda! You are alive!"

"You bet your ass I am!" Amanda grabbed her, but Friday slipped through her fingers and reappeared on the other side of the dojo.

Duncan pulled Amanda back, "What about Joe? Who's Diabol?"

Friday collapsed to the floor clutching at the necklace that was once again getting smaller. She had gotten away just for the moment as Diabol was settling Joe in the cage. He knew she had disobeyed him. "Be careful. I can not help you. Please," the brace was closing off her air supply. "Save him... magic... hotel..."

Friday brought herself back to the hotel, not wanting to leave Joe alone with Diabol. Joe was sitting on an elaborate rocking chair in the cage. Friday's brace loosened as Diabol turned to her, "I do not want any harm to come to the mortal. My guest will be comfortable, as long as he gives me what I want and you behave. You try that trick again, and I will not bother choking you," Diabol was right in front of her face when he said, "Joseph Dawson will die in your absence."

Diabol shoved Friday into the cage with Joe and slammed the door. Joe was at a loss at how and why he even ended up there, and by who the jerk was. Friday's sudden disappearance and reappearance made him know he wasn't dreaming. One minute he was talking on the phone with Duncan, and the next he was sitting in a rocking chair in a cage on the roof of a multi-story building. The air was crisp and he didn't have a coat, so he rubbed at his arms. Most of all, he knew to keep quiet.

DOJO

Richie and Amanda had filled Duncan in on their day and slowly, they all calmed down. Once again, when Richie called for Friday, she didn't come. Richie commented, "Jeez, she's been weird today. What happened? Did Methos do something to her?"

"I don't see how he could have," Duncan shook his head, knew there was something wrong. "Who's Diabol?"

Both Richie and Amanda shrugged, shook their head. Richie said, "She never mentioned him."

Duncan stared at Amanda, that was a close call. He thought she was dead and he wouldn't see her again, touch her. He had to hug her one more time, just because he could. "She told me before that I wouldn't understand, that Methos could."

"He did do something to her," Richie accused, getting riled up again.

Duncan calmed him down, then said, "I'll see if he left town yet."

"Left town?" Amanda asked, "Why would Methos have to leave town? He told me he was settled here for a while."

"Because he did something to Friday, that's why," Richie yelled, "and he's running scared."

Amanda shook her head, "I don't even know who the villain is anymore."

Duncan said, "No one is... that we know of. If Friday won't talk, maybe Methos will."

Amanda laughed, "Good luck getting anything out of him!"

Duncan went into the office and tried Methos' apartment number again, as he rummaged through the desk for his cell number. Methos had the habit of switching them every other month and Duncan didn't even bother to remember them anymore. Methos answered the phone, sounding groggy, "This better be good."

Duncan had been ready to hang up if he got the answering machine again, then put the receiver back to his ear. "Adam?" Duncan knew not to call him Methos over the phone lines.

Methos rubbed his face and wondered what time it was. "Who else would I be?"

"Why didn't you answer the phone before?"

"Was that you who called? You didn't leave a message. I'm trying to get some shut eye, I have an early morning flight. What do you want?"

"Friday--."

"Not interested." Methos was about to hang up.

Duncan hurriedly said, "Someone has Joe!"

"Huh?"

"Get over here."

Methos leaned on his elbow, "What's that about Joe?"

"He's been kidnaped."

"By Friday?"

"No!"

After a slight pause, Methos firmly stated, "I'll be right over."

ROOF

Diabol sat on his throne eating a plate of truffles as Joe tried to stay warm and Friday sat in the corner of the cage. She noticed Joe rubbing his arms and Diabol busy enjoying his meal. She waved her hand and instantly, Joe was wearing a fur coat. He closed it around himself and smiled at her, "Thanks."

She nodded and kept an eye on Diabol. A scroll was at his feet. He had been scribbling on it for a couple of hours and it was sitting there like a prize. It would be nice to know what his plans were, but he wouldn't lay it all out for her. He just wanted her to do something he could get upset about. She did make out the name Duncan MacLeod scrawled in his handwriting, but decided not to take the bait. She was surprised he didn't kick it closer to her with his slippered foot, so she couldn't resist reading it.

Instead, she moved closer to Joe and asked, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," Joe said. "Tired, confused, but I'm okay. How about you? You don't look so good."

"I have been better," she weakly admitted.

"What's going on?"

"He is planning the destruction of immortals," Friday quietly said, although she knew he could hear, even if she used mental telepathy. "Do not say anything, or even think anything. Diabol can hear and will use everything to his advantage."

"Clear my mind, huh? Should I think of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man?" Joe started laughing at the craziness of the situation, but saw the fiery eyes of Diabol staring at him. Joe cleared his throat and his mind.

DOJO

Amanda and Duncan paced and waited. Friday's last visit only confused them more, and figured Joe could be held anywhere in the world, if this Diabol was a genie like Friday. Amanda said, "She brought us all over the world, in one afternoon, he could be anywhere."

Richie tried one more time and called in vain for Friday when Methos stalked in. "What's this about Joe? He's not at his apartment."

"Great job, Sherlock," Duncan said. "You wasted time going by his place when I told you over the phone that he's been kidnaped?"

"I thought they might have left a clue when they took him." He looked at the others sitting around. "What have you been doing, Watson?"

"Worrying," Duncan had to admit that it was the only thing they'd accomplished. "We don't even know who took him."

"Who told you he had been taken?"

"Friday."

"Now there's a reliable source," Methos smirked. "She's the trickster, in case you haven't guessed by now. Are you sure Joe's not just on the road with his band, and she just wants to keep you on your toes, or spite you for not getting in the club last night?"

"It was you who barred her from the club, not us," Duncan shook his head, "I talked to Joe tonight and he was going to go to bed. He was taken, Methos, and we have to find him."

"Well, what do you know so far?"

"Friday appeared to say it wasn't her fault--."

"Right," Methos grumbled.

"No," Duncan argued. "I don't think it was. She was scared. Someone named Diabol has Joe, and told us we couldn't know what that meant, but you might." Duncan thought more about what they had to go on, and added, "And something about a magic hotel."

Amanda snapped her fingers and said, "Oh! I thought she was talking about her magic. A magical hotel! You think she means those weirdos over at the Ritz? There's a magic convention going on. At lunch with Han this afternoon, the people at the next table kept making their food disappear."

Methos smiled, "By putting it in their mouth, chewing, and swallowing?" Then he looked back at Duncan. "Why would I know about Diabol? Unless she means Diabolic, in which case, I don't want to get into it. There hasn't been a ransom note, or a call with instructions from the kidnapers or anything?"

"No," Duncan said. Then all three immortals stared at the oldest one and asked, "How did you know her before?"

Since Friday was their only link to Joe's whereabouts, he remembered back to when he was a foot soldier for the last Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra. Walking through the marketplace, he heard shouts. Perfect, he groaned to himself. Shouts were a great way to lose crowd control. A young woman, who he found out was named Laminae, one day to be known as Friday, was caught stealing a plain, wooden box from a vendor's table. The vendor wanted her hand cut off right there and then to teach her a lesson, and the man wanted Methos to do it.

Methos just shook his head and clamped onto her arm so she couldn't flee. "She'll pay for her deed," Methos assured the man with all the authority he held.

"I need that box!" Laminae screamed as Methos lead her away. The vendor grabbed the box and protectively brought it through the crowd back to his stand.

Methos pulled Laminae through the streets as she tried to jerk her arm away. "I need what is in the box," she said. That wasn't getting her anywhere, so she looked at the handsome guard and softened, plead with him, making sure her eyes were as big and innocent as possible. "Please, help me get it back."

"I am not the one to be trying any tricks on," he laughed, motioned to his uniform, steered her threw the chanting crowd. She wasn't a cooperative captive, so he asked, "Do you own that box?"

"No," she had to admit.

"Then you don't own what it contains."

"But it is mine," she defiantly stood her ground. "I know you can not possibly understand, but my teacher is in there." She became more frantic as she rattled off, "I need him! He just trapped him in the box so I can not get him and learn more and become more powerful. He is playing tricks with me and he is going to kill me!"

"Who?"

"Dia--," Laminae started to say, but was grabbed by other soldiers who pulled her toward the jail.

Methos let them take her away, knowing she would just be put into a cell until they decided what to do with her. Words of a 'teacher' gave him pause. She wasn't immortal, she had no buzz, not even a pre-immortal hum. In a box??

He walked back to the vendor's stand and asked the man which box she tried to steal. The vendor held up the simple wood, banged up box, which Methos held and scrutinized. It was locked. "Where is the key?"

The vendor shook his head, "I lost it long ago."

He shook the box, put it to his ear, and couldn't phantom that anything was inside it. "Then what use is this box to anyone? You don't have a hope to sell it." Methos tossed it back on the table and walked away wondering just how far gone in the head that woman was. Or, she could be a watcher and knew about immortals. But to say a teacher was stuck in a box... that was a little more than odd.

It was later that night that Laminae was to be executed for her attempted robbery. Usually things were handled quietly, in the privacy of the jail, but the soldiers decided there had been too much thievery going on and a beautiful woman's execution in front of the citizens they needed to control would be a symbol that such behavior would no longer be tolerated from anyone. When the Pharaoh herself was told of their plans, she decided to attend.

Methos knew it was all quite overboard, since the object of the crime was a piece of junk. There were more fitting criminals that deserved such a display, such symbolism to the masses. The woman's words were strange. She admitted the attempted theft, didn't apologize for it, like they usually tried to do when caught. All she did was come up with a crazy excuse.

LOFT

They had gone upstairs to formulate a plan as Methos brought himself back to the present and mused, "You know, she was ready to say someone's name, just as she was taken away. It could have been 'Diabol'. "

"So, Joe is a pawn in a game she's been playing for 2000 years?" Duncan spewed. He hated when people were used for another's gain.

Richie stated clearly, "Friday isn't using anyone as a pawn. I trust her." He sat by the chessboard and thought, "Pawn..." He looked at the chess pieces and saw that the white queen looked a little different from the black one, in fact, a lot different. It had a female form. He picked it up and felt it's warmth, it wiggled, "Friday!"

She was in the form of Laminae, long silky black hair, wearing a crisp white toga, cinched at the waist with a red sash. Methos gasped as she looked exactly as she did the day he met her. Did she know what he was thinking? The figure stated in a deep voice while Richie held her in his hand, "You have no hope of seeing Joseph Dawson alive again." She moved her head to see the rest of them. She laughed, a deep, hearty laugh, "Amanda, you will be dead in no time. That was just a practice round." She looked at Richie, leaning forward to take a good look at him, "You... you, I am going to savor killing, because she likes you so."

Her grotesque sneer made Richie toss her back on the chessboard, and jump back. Laminae's figure turned into a miniature Joe, standing on his own, without the use of his cane. He said, "Your immortality will be your downfall. Prepare for the end!"

Flames flew out of Joe's three inch form. He disappeared as the chessboard caught fire. Duncan put it out with a wet towel. "That wasn't Friday," Richie said.

"Quick, Rich," Methos spouted, pissed that Joe was brought into this, and that maybe even their thoughts weren't their own anymore.

ROOF

As the sun slowly appeared on the horizon, Diabol was in a trance on the throne. Whenever he transmigrated into another living, person, his normal body had to fall into a sleep state. Friday was too busy trying to get a plan formulated to free Joe to notice what he was doing. There was one thing she was sure of, she couldn't leave Joe alone with Diabol. Friday couldn't beat Diabol alone, so the three immortals had to help her. If something happened and they died, they would revive. She just had to protect their heads, their necks.

While Diabol was still in his trance, Friday rubbed her hand against the golden brace around her neck and thought of a great idea. She could put neck braces on all of them for protection! Then quickly vetoed it, her magic was Diabol's and he could squeeze them to death, snapping their necks. Oh! She had to clear her head in case Diabol heard and got any ideas. She looked at the concrete and made a line with her finger. Because she was focused on Richie, the invisible line she drew sparkled from magic. Yes, that would work.

LOFT

It was early morning and none of them had slept. There hadn't been a phone call for ransom, Friday hadn't returned, they were all tired from being up all night, and were at a loss as to where to even begin to search for Joe. After vetoing sticking a pin in the map, Amanda said, "We've got to get the watchers involved."

"No way," Methos said, not wanting anything to do with them since leaving the organization.

Duncan thought about it, "This Diabol wants to wipe out Immortals, and Joe is a retired watcher, but a watcher nonetheless. They'd probably help us."

Amanda asked, "What about Amy?"

"Leave her out of it," Methos said. "And no watchers. We'll take care of this... prima donna, ourselves."

Richie paced and looked at the stone wall. Letters appeared on it. R - I - ... "Hey!"

He ran to it as letters appeared, expecting his name to be written out. But the next letter was T, not C. They all watched as the letters were drawn by an invisible hand. Her note read: RITZ JOE IS FINE SO FAR HELP ME DEFEA

They waited for more letters, but none came. Amanda said, "Yep, the Ritz Carlton. That's where I had lunch."

"That's where Cassandra's staying, too," Methos darkly said, wondering if Cassandra had anything to do with it. They all looked at him, he shrugged. "So I followed her for a while."

Amanda looked at Duncan, "Cassandra's in town?"

Duncan pointed at Methos, "He told me. I haven't seen her."

She looked at Methos, "You and Cassandra are pals now?"

"No," Methos stated positively.

Richie interrupted before Methos could go off on a harangue like it looked he would, "Guys? Joe? Friday? Ritz Carlton? It's our only lead. Let's go."

Methos blocked their way to the elevator. "It's a trap. It's got to be. We have to think this through."

ROOF

Diabol yanked Friday off the floor and waved his hand. The letters she traced became visible to him. "You want some help because you still have delusions you can defeat me," he chastised her. He laughed. "Bring them on!"

He leaned down and grabbed Friday around the neck and pulled her closer. He kissed her on the mouth and then said, "Thank you, my lovely. You can not even comprehend how much you have helped me. I was going to go to them with Mr. Dawson, but now because of you, they are going to come to me. On my turf."

RITZ CARLTON

When the immortals arrived, the Bartolomeo Bosco Appreciation Society Convention was in full swing. They walked through the busy lobby as a man in a black cape appeared in front of Methos, "Pick a card."

Methos looked at the cards inches from his nose, and pushed the man away. "No, thank you."

The magician moved to Amanda, "Pick a card," he demanded. "It's an astounding trick."

Amanda told him, "Why don't you make yourself disappear?"

They could see through open doors to meeting rooms while in a hallway off the lobby where each held a magician in the midst of an illusion. Diabol manifested himself as a security camera in the upper corner of the hallway, focusing the lens of the immortals. He smiled to see that they all came, just like trained pigs. On the roof, Friday and Joe were able on a monitor that appeared that their friends had come. Each had very different reactions. Friday was glad she'd have help and they got her note. Joe didn't want them to get killed because they came to rescue him. Damn! He hated to have to be rescued.

Back in the hallway, Diabol, as camera captured Amanda saying, "I'm sure Diabol is somewhere near Joe and Friday."

Richie said, "He'd have them tied up somewhere."

Duncan asked, "Friday wouldn't get free?"

Richie shrugged, out of opinions, "I'm at a loss."

Duncan suggested, "When we find Joe, we'll find Diabol and Friday. Let's spread out."

"This is a huge hotel, Mac," Amanda said. "It's not like we can zero in on an immortal sensation or anything." Then she remembered, "Oh! Han is registered here. He'll help us look for them."

Duncan added, "And Cassandra." He asked Methos, "You don't happen to know which room she's in?"

Methos only stared at him. Of course he didn't know! He didn't think he'd be seeing her again. He was a little trepidatious that Duncan suggested on the way over that she could help them. Amanda wasn't thrilled with having Duncan's ex-lover involved, either.

Richie said, "Let's just take floors, how many are in this place?"

"At least twenty."

"I'll take the basement and first three. Mac, take the next, you guys, the next..."

They spread out after finding out which rooms Cassandra and Han were in. Duncan took Cassandra's area, Amanda took Han's and that left Methos with the top floors. Richie went back to all the meeting rooms to see if any of the 'magicians' were in fact the Jinn they were looking for. He watched everyone to pick out anything out of the ordinary, which was difficult considering the careers of the conventioneers.

~~~~~

Methos got off the elevator and looked at the listing of what was on the floor. Along with guest rooms, there was an expensive restaurant, but figured Diabol wouldn't treat Joe to a nice meal. He wondered if Joe had even been fed, hurt, dead. He formulated a plan on how to rip that Diabol, whoever he was, limb from limb, even though he had to admit, it would be a bit tricky to do anything to a Jinn. The visions of his undoing in Methos' head was pleasant, though. It was better than visualizing themselves being drawn and quartered.

There were a couple of open doors to rooms as maids went in and out and Methos looked in them, not expecting to see the object of his search as Diabol certainly wouldn't put out a 'Clean Room' sign if he had a hostage in there, but as a study of human nature. The way the women went about the drudgery of their work, what kind of mess people left for others to clean, what kind of clothes were hung on the clothes bar by the doors, it was all interesting to catalog in his head. When he neared the restaurant, he felt the tightening as a buzz invaded his space. He slid his hand into his coat to grip his Ivanhoe's hilt and looked both ways down the corridor. Just then, the door to the restaurant opened and Cassandra slowly moved through. She was just as cautious about the buzz as Methos.

When they spotted each other, she let the door handle go and the door quietly shut. She curiously looked him over, not knowing what in the world to say. Methos finally spoke, "Hi."

Cassandra just switched her stance and nodded. They felt another buzz and saw Duncan step off the elevator. Duncan saw the both of them and waited for fireworks. None came, they weren't even looking at each other. Duncan walked to Cassandra, giving her a hug. "You weren't in your room, so I took a chance you were up here having breakfast."

"It's good to see you, Duncan," she smiled, then looked at Methos, "I see you two are still friends."

Duncan said, "Joe's in trouble and we need all the help we can get."

"What happened?"

"Someone named Diabol kidnaped him, and we're taking a chance that he's here."

"Here? Why?"

"This Diabol wants to..." he stopped talking when an older couple walked passed them to the restaurant. He looked back to see if Methos would join them, and true to form, the old man had disappeared. Duncan directed Cassandra to a quiet corner and explained it all to her.

Cassandra said, "I can help. I have power you don't have."

Duncan smiled, "This enemy is a Jinn. He's not going to bend because you talk in his ear. You have to be careful and just can't rely on your voice. But, we need all the help we can get. You have your sword?" She wasn't wearing a coat, and wore a tight dress.

"It's in my room."

"Let's go get it."

~~~~~

Amanda knocked on Han's door and was glad he was in. She had to admit to him that she lost the map, and he was such a nice guy, he wasn't mad. In fact, he expected it, "It's not like it was your fault," he said after hearing about the car accident. "And I know you, Amanda. I have another copy in a safe deposit box."

"Oh, thank God," she smiled at him. He stepped back and told her to come into his room. He brushed back the few hairs left on his head and pushed up his glasses as he and Amanda went to the chairs in the sitting area for a private conversation. After she explained everything they were dealing with, and that Joe was a dear friend of theirs, Han said he would certainly help all he could, but no, he hadn't seen anything unusual going on. "Well," he shrugged. "No more unusual than the magicians walking around wanting to do tricks for anyone who'll stand still long enough."

Just then, Diabol appeared in front of them in Han's room. "Amanda," he said in his deep voice. "You and your friends are all roaming around like chickens with their head cut off. You have no plan of attack. You have no destination in mind. Let me help you." He cupped his hands around his mouth at announce, "The roof. It is all happening on the roof." He smiled, "I do not have all day."

Diabol looked at Han, who meekly sat in his chair, awestruck. Diabol asked, "Who is your little friend, Amanda?" He raised his eyebrow and asked with amused interest, "Another immortal?"

Han cleared his throat and said, "Yes. I am," still overcome that Amanda's talk of Jinn was really true. There was no way that man could have snuck into his room without them noticing.

Diabol smiled and raised his hand, a metal disc flew out of his hand like a boomerang, and slit Han's throat. Amanda bolted out of her chair and rushed to Diabol in attack. He laughed as he disappeared, verbalizing his glee, "It is going to be so easy!"

Diabol disappeared as Amanda fell when Han's quickening overcame her. The mirrors broke, the windows shattered in the small room. Streaks of lightening burned the walls. All the power went out in the hotel, leaving everyone in complete darkness, until the generators kicked in. Amanda fell to the floor trying to get her breath from the unexpected quickening and crying for her dear life-long friend's soul.

LOBBY

A still dazed Amanda stepped off the elevator and looked around for anyone she knew. The lobby was abuzz by the power outage and one magician was screaming at the front desk about his trick being ruined because of it. Amanda wasn't going anywhere near the roof until she found them all. Strength in numbers was the only way they could defeat him. Richie spotted her as he came out of the bar with no leads.

He said as he walked toward her, "A guy was trying to levitate a woman when the power went out. She's all right, though. She only fell a couple of feet."

Amanda, still dazed and confused, clothes in disarray, hugged him as soon as he reached her. Richie asked, "What happened? You look like you went through a wringer."

Amanda seethed in a quiet voice, "That bastard killed Han, right in front of me! He appeared in Han's room as we were talking and... I couldn't do anything about it. That bastard," she laid her head on Richie's shoulder and cried once more.

"God," Richie moaned, holding her. "That's why the power went out? You got a quickening?" She nodded against his shoulder. "What did Diabol look like?"

"He's an ugly little thing. Chubby. Shorter than me. Dark hair. He killed Han... with a... thing... that came out of his... thing," she cried waving her hand in the air.

"I'm sorry, Amanda." He waited for her to collect herself. "I was just in the basement, and Joe's not down there."

"Diabol told me to go to the roof."

He asked, "Would he be telling you the truth?"

"Why wouldn't he? He wants to kill us, he might as well lead us to where he wants to do it." She pulled away from Richie and straightened her clothes. She felt like she was going to throw up, but they had work to do. "Let's find Mac and Methos and get him!"

Richie held her back from charging back to the elevator, "Methos said it was a trap, he's right. We can't just go up there without a plan." They moved to a hallway leading to rooms and leaned against the wall while Amanda composed herself.

Richie brushed his hand against her neck and said, "I'm so sorry, Amanda. Were you and Han good friends?"

"I've known him almost my entire life." Amanda was ready to get it over with, "Let's find the others."

"Then what?"

"We'll take out our swords and throw them in Diabol's direction," she tossed off. "Maybe one of them will hit the mark. Friday can keep him still, if she isn't in it with him."

"She's not ," Richie said. "She couldn't be." He wondered what kind of shape Friday was in. How Joe was. Who that maniac was and why he zeroed in on them. He had the thought to call for her once again, but figured she wouldn't appear anyway. She couldn't be plotting with Diabol and help kill Amanda's friend, but this whole situation was so perplexing, he didn't know what to believe. He nodded, "Let's find the others."

~~~~~

The first one they found was Methos when they felt a buzz on their way up in the elevator. Richie pushed the button for the next floor and they ran down the stairs. Methos was lying in wait against the wall with his hand tightly gripped on his hilt inside his coat, hoping it was friend, but ready if it was foe.

They found Duncan and Cassandra as they were coming out of her room. Before Amanda could jump to any conclusions, Duncan told her, "She had to get her sword."

"You know to use it, right," Amanda asked Cassandra.

"Yes. I'm well trained, Amanda. It's nice to see again," Cassandra was polite.

"Likewise."

Duncan put his hand on Amanda's shoulder and asked, "Are you all right?"

"No, Mac," she spouted out. "I'm not!"

Methos actually thought he felt more comfortable around Cassandra at the moment than Duncan did and pushed the up button to the top floor. Then Amanda told them what happened in Han's room. Cassandra said, "I thought we heard something, and the power went out."

Duncan hugged Amanda, "I'm sorry, honey. I heard a lot about Han. I wish I could have met him."

"Don't say 'I wish' ever again," Methos said. But no one appreciated his interrupting Amanda's sorrow. "We have to get our heads together if we're going to conquer this thing."

Richie agreed, "Let's go make him pay."

~~~~~

They gathered on the steps before the door leading to the roof to finalize their plan of watching each other's necks and devise back up contingencies for anything they could think of that could possibly happen once they went through that door. Methos made sure he didn't have to look after Cassandra's neck, or count on her to protect his.

Deal was, Diabol knew they were there, from Friday reacting to Richie's voice so near. He made sure Joe was secure in the cage and pulled Friday out. The door between him and the immortals flipped open with a wave of Diabol's hand and instantly, all their swords disappeared from their coats. They laid neatly on a table that one could perceive as an altar. Candles and jars of oil aflame were placed alongside the swords.

"Come in, come in," Diabol welcomed them in a pleasant voice. The immortals stepped back, except Richie, who was concerned about Friday standing along side of Diabol. It was eery for them as she was in her Laminae form, not the plump, happy go lucky jinniyah they all knew.

Richie stepped through the door, "Are you all right, Friday?"

"Of course she is all right, my young friend," Diabol pleasantly said.

Richie sneered, "I'm not your friend!"

"All of you," Diabol ignored him. "Come in." Duncan rushed to the cage. Joe acknowledged with an easy shrug and nod of his head that he had been treated well, but was more than ready to go home. Since Amanda, Methos and Cassandra lingered on the stairs, Diabol raised his hand, clenched his fist, and pulled it toward his chest, making them walk out onto the roof against their will.

The door slammed behind them and Methos reached back to test the lock. Secure, just as he suspected. Duncan pulled Richie behind him by the cage and the others soon joined them. They had to stick together and keep an eye on everything that could be used as a weapon.

Duncan said to the Jinn, "Diabol, I presume?"

"Of course, but do not call me by name. It is not respectful. Let me guess who my guests are," he sauntered closer to them, making them press themselves against the cage. "Duncan MacLeod, or Mac, as people are apt to call you... the leader." He smiled at Amanda, "Ah, yes, Miss Amanda. I have had fun with you. Richie Ryan, of course."

He focused on Methos, and smiled because he had read all about the man. "You have to be Methos. There was not a picture on the database, but my... have you been a bad boy. If circumstances were different, we might have made a great team."

Methos stared down the short Jinn, then had to glance at Joe, who promised him that when he retired, there wasn't anything in the database about Methos that was even remotely true. Joe returned the old guy's stare, and shrugged. The watchers didn't know Methos was Adam Pierson, that was what was most important, right?

Diabol moved on to Cassandra, and had no idea what she was doing there, "I do not know you."

"That's alright," Cassandra replied. "We don't need to be introduced."

Methos smiled, having always liked her. She hadn't acknowledged Diabol's mention of Methos' past, and certainly didn't attack him. Some day, not then, but some day, he hoped they could make a amends in some way. He knew it would be an impossible endeavor, but to hope made life worth living.

"You are right," Diabol agreed with Cassandra. "I do not need to know the name of who I am soon to destroy. Since you had a sword, and are in the company of the others, I can only assume that you too are immortal."

Amanda tightened, fully expecting Diabol to take her out, right there and then, just as he did to Han and turned away as there was nothing they could do to stop him. Duncan, who was to look after Cassandra's neck stepped between her and Diabol, but Cassandra moved him aside and calmly stated to the odd little man, "You don't need to harm anyone here."

"Why not?"

"Immortals aren't your enemy," she added, as Diabol studied her mouth and every word she spoke. Duncan took her arm wondering if relying on her voice was wise. He saw Methos slowly make his way from behind Amanda and Cassandra and out of Diabol's line of vision. Cassandra chanted, "There is no reason why immortal and Jinn can't live together in peace. We have for thousands of years. You have nothing to fear from us, and we have nothing to fear from you."

Diabol laughed. "You are one of those! My mind can not be swayed, madam, but it was delightful that you tried."

Richie couldn't understand why Friday wasn't even looking at him, or in her 'favored form' as she described her normal, plain look. She still had the guise of the woman she appeared as on the chessboard in the loft. He looked at Diabol and realized it was his wish that she appeared as she did. Friday wasn't in a trance, or the actual statue he first thought, as her legs moved and she blinked her eyes. He started toward her again. Duncan pulled him back to his side as Diabol smiled at the immortal's protection of the young one. Interesting. That could be used to his advantage. Diabol made Friday return to his side and said to Duncan, "I can do that also, Mr. MacLeod. We both have our students, don't we?"

Methos was confused. He had been under the impression that Diabol did something to Friday's teacher, wasn't her actual teacher. Or he was using the term in a derogatory manner, in which case, Methos was even more repulsed by him. Diabol slid his finger under the brace on Friday's neck and paced backward, until he was standing atop a life-sized chessboard he had prepared. "Mr. MacLeod loves chess, and so do I," he told them, then motioned for them to come closer. "I do not want to kill you all outright. What is the fun in that? Survive me, and you live." He didn't tell them that it wasn't a possibility, but let them keep their hopes up. "This is a game of life and death. You will all play against me. I take your piece, you die. I must warn you..." he gleefully smiled. "I am very good at games."

Methos looked over at Joe, and that there wasn't any means of entry into that cage. Duncan told Diabol, "We're not going to play games. We came to collect our friends and leave. If you refuse to let that happen, then we'll fight, but only if it's fair."

Diabol extended his finger, outfitted with silver fingernails which made Amanda tense up, and counted heads. "One, two, three, four, five... against me, and Laminae. And you are worried it will not be a fair fight. Thank you for your respect, Mr. MacLeod." Diabol paced around them and glared at Methos, who was testing the solidness of the bars that surrounded Joe. Methos stood still.

"It really is too bad," Diabol shook his head. "For you. I have read so much about you all on Watcher Database." They all looked to Friday for an explanation of how he could have possibly had known about the watchers, and that they had a database. Joe would never have revealed it. "For all you have been in your lives, all you come down to... are pawns on the board."

Instantly, the immortals were lined up on the board along with life sized chess pieces behind them, pawns pieces filling up the rest of their front row. Try as they might, they couldn't move off their square. Diabol tisked, "You can not move until it is your turn."

On the other side of the board, life sized black pieces filled up the spaces, only Diabol's pieces were alive. The bishops were sorcerers, the knights were large distinguished stallions, just ready to trample them the rooks had men with sniper rifles. Methos shook his head at the situation. He'd been alive for more years than the other immortals put together, and he was a pawn. He verbalized a thought, "At least make me the king." Suddenly he was the White King.

"Release Joe," Cassandra murmured in a soothing voice. "Let us have our swords..." she whispered to Diabol as he neared her, listening intently. When his back was turned away from Duncan, he used the opportunity to chop at the back of Diabol's neck. Diabol caught his hand and turned to glare at him. Fire emitted from his eyes, making Duncan duck in time from being toasted.

"You know how to play the game, Mr. MacLeod," Diabol calmly said. "You be the leader and make the moves for your team."

"We are your friends... Diabol," Cassandra continued. He dropped Duncan's arm and moved closer to her, drawn in to what she said. Then he looked in her eyes, and smiled. He put his hand upon Cassandra's mouth and wiped her lips away.

"I warned you that your tricks do not work on me. You will get your chance when it is your move." Diabol looked at the other immortals, "Does anyone else want to hold off the game with anymore tricks, or shall we just begin?"

Friday moved through Diabol's pieces, petted one of the stallions, attracting Richie's attention. He wondered why she hadn't done a thing to help them. He knew she couldn't be Diabol's partner, but her apathy was beginning to grate on him. Friday knew of his agitation and put her finger to her lips for him to remain quiet. She wanted them all to just go with the flow until she could think of something without Diabol making the connections as soon as she did. She had to be quicker than him. She had to watch for any opportunity. To see the immortals lined up as if in front of a firing squad scared her to death, but there was nothing she could do at the moment. She continued rubbing her hand along the stallion's snout, hoping to make some sort of peaceful alliance with the beast to not harm his opponents.

Diabol screamed, "Laminae!" He used his magic to clasp the brace and pull her across the chessboard to him. "That is my horse, and you can not warp his temperament to serve you." Each of the immortals tried again to move out of their squares, but couldn't. Their swords were innocently laying on that altar, so close, and yet so far away.

It was time to begin. Diabol hooked onto Friday's brace and made her the queen on his black side of the board. He toyed with them, "Remember, it is me you are trying to take, not my Laminae."

He motioned for Duncan to make his move. He stood as a pawn two spaces to the left of Methos, the white king, and just next to Cassandra. There were only two options he as pawn could make, so he moved his foot forward, letting it hover over the line between spaces, ready for anything to happen. When nothing did, only Diabol waiting for him to finish, Duncan moved forward two spaces.

Diabol laughed at his decision. He shook his head, "Are you in that space because you want to be in front of your comrades? Protect them? Or are you making sure you are as close to my pieces as possible? Are you going to charge, Mr. MacLeod?"

Duncan only glared at him. It was different playing the game from that angle, on the board, and only then realized that he had the habit of using his pawns as sacrifices for his other pieces. He'd never thought of them as being important, as life and death. Diabol motioned to the stallion on his right to move forward, and to the left. "Are you going to play the entire game yourself, Mr. MacLeod? And die, so needlessly soon, in front of your friends?" Duncan actually was the one he wanted to start with, then the legendary Methos, who Diabol had read all about in the database. Then the women, didn't matter which, and save precious little Richie Ryan for last.

Duncan had to move out of that square, or he would be taken by the stallion, who reared up and sounded like he hadn't eaten in years. He looked back at Methos for another opinion, who chuckled to himself. He would have let the pawn be taken, and use the current move to position the bishop on the edge, to take the knight the turn after he took the pawn. Since Duncan was that sacrificial pawn, he nodded for Duncan to take a step forward. He did.

Diabol had to move the stallion, as Duncan could take it. But then again, if Duncan took the stallion, Diabol had two pawns fully capable of taking him diagonally. That would be too soon to kill is true target. Instead, he moved the pawn in front of the bishop on Friday's left side one space. Friday shivered. That move could only mean Diabol made an opening for her to move diagonally and 'take' them as Queen.

Duncan looked back at the others. Cassandra was placed diagonally to Methos' left, Richie was diagonally to his right. Amanda, to Richie's right, would allow Duncan to move out their queen as needed to defend against Friday, as they still couldn't tell which side she was on. He told Amanda, "Move forward one."

Amanda wasn't too thrilled to be in the game, but did as he suggested.

Diabol smiled as he told Friday, "Laminae, move out to the edge."

Friday lowered her head and shook it. "I can not be a part of this."

Diabol laughed, "You are the reason I found them in the first place!" He paused to see how that tidbit played on the immortals. Just as he hoped, they all gaped at her. "If you hadn't filled me in on the concept of immortality, and told me their names and where they live, and all about Watcher Database, I would still be in the dark about it."

"That is not true," she said, looking right at Richie, not wanting to make eye contact with the rest of them.

"How in the world could I have found out about Joe Dawson's existence if you were not so angry about being left out of going to see him perform at the club?" Diabol looked at the immortals to see how that sunk in. If there wasn't barriers making it impossible for them to leave their squares unless they were making a move, Duncan, Richie, and Methos would all be on their way to them. Diabol only wondered if they would have attacked himself, or Friday. They seemed to believe it.

Friday shook her head that it wasn't true. Before she could state her case, Amanda yelled out, "So it wasn't poor Miss I Didn't Have Anything To Do With the Car Accident! You tried to kill me!"

"I did not ! He is lying!" Friday finally looked at Amanda and said, "He surprised me as I stood outside the Quest. He kidnaped me." She put her hand to the brace. "He put--."

Suddenly, she was jerked over to the space on the edge diagonally to her left where he demanded her to go in the first place by Diabol's magic. Friday couldn't move, she couldn't speak. Richie looked at her and saw the creases of her neck as the gold necklace around her neck tightened. It couldn't be true that she was behind Diabol finding them. It just couldn't be true.

Joe immediately stood at the bars and yelled out, "It's not true! She's been--."

Diabol flicked a finger at him, stunning Joe for an instant, "I told you very clearly, Joseph Dawson, that if you disobeyed me, you were dead." Joe fell on his back and shut his eyes.

Duncan screamed out, "Leave him out of this!"

Diabol told him, "Joseph Dawson is only taking a nap. I have nothing against mortals."

Methos groaned, "So you do have some principles." He saw Joe turn his head, and didn't seem to be in pain.

Richie continued to focus on Friday, and it tickled Diabol. The young man's expression wasn't apparent. "Friday," he plead with his jinniyah. "Come on, do something!"

Just to drive them to the brink of wanting revenge on her, he spoke the absolute truth he and Friday had been keeping from them all. He said, "My wife can never betray me, Richie. She's been my pawn all along."

"No way!" Richie tried to get out of his square. "There's no way she's married to you!"

Friday knew she was in deep doodoo. She might have been able to convince them she didn't have anything to do with Diabol finding her, gaining information on them both on his own and through her, against her will, but she couldn't deny the one really big mistake she made when she was young. 'Til death do us part' was the only thing she could hope for, that is if she lived through the wrath of the immortals. Joe wasn't able to back her up. She fruitlessly said, "I didn't..."

Duncan yelled, "Marry that monster? Spy on us? Almost kill Amanda? Help him kidnap Joe? Stand there and let all this happen? Just what was it that you didn't do?!"

Friday's fragile heart was at the breaking point. She had a hand in all those things, even though they were all beyond her control. She didn't know how to explain it, she only was able to say, "He is more powerful than I," as tears fell down her cheeks.

Diabol stated the obvious, "Now... I suggest Miss Amanda move forward quickly, for she is in Laminae's line. And if Miss Amanda does move out of her way... well then, my wife has a clear shot to her little master, Richard Ryan." Diabol smiled, "I am going to enjoy his death."

Methos saw that right after Richie in Friday's line, was him. Friday in Richie's spot, if she does indeed take his head, would be easy pickings for his turn to come. He would savor killing her, just as practice for when they could possibly get the better of Diabol. That was, if she was the turncoat. Even Methos had a tough time believing that.

It was Duncan's turn. Diabol sweetly inquired, "What is your next move, Mr. MacLeod?"

Duncan glared at him, "I thought it was disrespect to call people by name?"

"It is," Diabol agreed. "Make a move, Mr. MacLeod."

Amanda reported, "I'm not budging. She's going to have to take me, or not. It's up to her." Friday slowly shook her head that it wouldn't be a possibility, but Amanda had a tough time digesting it. That close call in the car accident made her extremely suspicious.

Duncan scanned the set up of their places. Methos said, "Move the second pawn forward two spaces."

They all saw that it would land in the diagonal space between Amanda and Friday. In Methos' thinking, if Friday took the insignificant pawn, Amanda could take her on the next move. That would be interesting to see, as Amanda had been chomping at the bit to attack her ever since the accident.

Richie saw it too, "No. I'll move."

Methos groaned, "What purpose would that serve?"

"I want in this game, too."

"Richie," Duncan warned, "stay where you are. I'll move the second pawn from the right forward two spaces."

The pawn instantly moved forward to the space diagonally between Amanda and Friday. Diabol studied the board. It would be interesting to get right to Richie Ryan, as he was the one that Laminae had to most affection for. He told his knight, that could have taken Duncan, to go forward and to the left. On it's next move, he would take Richie to the left, or Cassandra to the right. Decisions, decisions. He'd deal with that on his next move, or maybe didn't have to if Duncan MacLeod didn't spot the obvious.

Methos was fine with the knight's move, as it would be in the adjacent space that he could take, or leave alone as it couldn't take him, the king. He wondered to himself why the others didn't speak up to be something more powerful than pawns.

Richie saw the stallion move into place. Even though he didn't know a lot about chess, he knew by the stallion's movements, he was to be taken by it on the next move. He was a pawn, damn! Then he realized he was a pawn, who could move one space forward. He did without clearing it with the others. As he looked up at the roaring stallion just diagonally from him, he smiled a cocky smile. He could be taken on the next move! Then Richie thought, how? He wasn't going to walk onto that stallion's square!

Diabol flexed his fingers and smiled at the young pup's audacity, and could no longer hide his glee that no one had brought up the fact that his Queen also had another clear target. "Laminae," Diabol took pleasure in saying, "Take Mr. MacLeod."

Duncan looked across the board at her, on his line, with no pieces in between them. The immortals all gasped. Richie yelled, "You can't do that, Friday!"

"She will!" Diabol instantly moved her to Duncan's spot. He fell to the board, as she had taken him. The others tried to move from their squares, but couldn't. A sword, Duncan's katana, appeared in Friday's hand and Diabol made her lift it into the air.

Friday screamed, "I will not!"

"You will! Now!" Diabol walked to her. "Laminae, this is the game. You must do exactly what I say."

Friday looked down at Duncan, who couldn't stand up, or move his hands. He was adhered to the chessboard, Diabol made it so. Duncan looked up at her, and her face gave away nothing. Until she dropped the sword and said, "I will not harm any of them. I can not! Do with me what you need to do."

She waited for the brace to tighten, but it didn't. Diabol stood on her square and whispered in her ear, "Yes-s-s-s-s, you will." A snake appeared in his hand and he moved it closer to her face. She coldly regarded it, then Diabol made it disappear and took a deep breath. "That's right. You do not care if you live or die."

"What?" Richie had to ask.

Friday knew Diabol wouldn't say it, but she would, "When he took me from outside the club," she glared at Methos, "because I couldn't get in. He used a snake against me to gather information. For the second time, I would have rather ended my life than continue it under his control. He found out about you all because of me, yes. He put this brace around my neck so he was privy to anything I saw or heard. I am sorry for that, and for not being able to stay away from you all. Beyond that, I told him nothing." She kicked the katana away and told Diabol, "I can not do anything against my master. You know that. These are his friends. I can not kill them, even if I wanted to."

Diabol grabbed the brace and pulled her toward to him. Friday spat in his face. Fire flashed out of his eyes, scorching her hair. Fire emerged from her wrists, charring his face. Diabol yelled, "You will kill them, if I have merge with you and do it! You will see them dead, by your hands!"

He pulled Friday closer to him, then into him. She fell into a trance and remained visible to the others inside his body. Diabol had united their magic into one form. He walked to pick up the katana, as Diabol really wanted to use Duncan MacLeod's own weapon against him, and stood before his squat, vulnerable body, and neck. Duncan tried to move as Diabol, with Friday inside him, moved back onto his square.

"Watch closely, Laminae," Diabol proudly said. "While I take his head!"

Just as Diabol was theatrically raising the katana over Duncan's head, Richie had a thought. It had to work! Diabol had united their magic, Friday was a part of him, and he of her. Richie yelled, "For my last wish... I wish Friday to be mortal!"

Her sleeping form awoke with a jerk and Friday and Diabol both gasped at Richie, horrified. They both screamed from the pain that was like fire was going through them both. Diabol lost his grip on the katana's hilt and it fell with a clatter to the chessboard. Friday separated from Diabol and fell in a comatose state out of him as her body reconstructed itself into mortal form. Diabol howled with anger and shot fire bolts from his fingers to the pipsqueak who dared fool with him. Only sparks came out, vanishing harmlessly in the air. Diabol looked at his hands, at himself, at Friday in her Laminae form, her true form and whimpered like a lost puppy.

Suddenly, the cage holding Joe disappeared, Joe woke up, the chessboard and pieces Diabol created through magic vanished, the brace around Friday's neck disintegrated, Cassandra's lips reappeared. Duncan crawled to his katana and stood as he gripped the hilt securely in his hand. Without needing to look at the target, he spun around, swinging in the monster's direction, cutting Diabol in half at the waist.

Diabol's eyes flared at Duncan MacLeod, who smiled and enjoyed declaring, "Checkmate, you son of a bitch."

The top half of Diabol slipped to the floor, then his bottom half fell on top of it. Amanda jumped up and cheered, ran to Duncan and kissed him.

Richie had rushed right to Friday and turned her over onto his lap. She was still out cold, but her body was going through light convulsions. He tapped her face. "Friday! Oh, God, I didn't kill her, did I?"

Duncan knelt down and felt for a pulse on her wrist. "It seems strong."

Friday came to with a jerk and stared up at her master. A burning sensation crept up her back. Pain. She was laying at an impossible angle, wrenching her back. She straightened and sat up, panting. She couldn't get enough air, but the brace was gone. All the new sensations of her body hit her at once. She felt so strange, lightheaded and her body pulled down at the same time. That must be what gravity did to a body.

Methos rushed to Joe, helping him onto his legs and grabbed his cane. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," Joe muttered, getting his balance with the cane. "It's just my pride."

Amanda and Cassandra regarded each other, then smiled, and both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Diabol's dead body. Methos and Cassandra regarded each other. He smiled and pointed to her face, "You look better with a mouth."

"Gee, thank you," she sneered, then softened. They continued to look at each other, not thinking of any words to say to each other.

Finally, Methos raised his hand to offer a shake. "Truce?"

Cassandra looked at his hand, thought about the repercussions anything she said would have. She didn't take his hand, but nodded, "Maybe one day."

Methos put his hand in his pocket. "That's better than no."

"That's just a little bit better than no," Cassandra corrected him.

"Friday," Richie asked as he put his arm around her. "Talk to me."

Friday took a lock of her hair in her hand and saw that it was long and silky. Her clothes were ones she wore centuries before. Her hands and fingers were long and thin. She was in the form that Diabol preferred, as Laminae. She looked up at the immortals and Joe standing around her, then at Richie, right next to her.

Richie couldn't get over what she looked like, but could still see Friday in her eyes. He solemnly said, "I'm sorry."

Friday asked, "What for?"

"I did the last thing you wanted, I made you human."

Friday started crying and hugged Richie, "You sacrificed your last wish. You lost two of your wishes. I can not offer you the fourth to negate the others."

"The only one I'd want back is the second one," Richie said, returning her hug. "What else could I wish for, but that we were all safe and he was dead?"

"It was a good wish," Friday agreed with him.

"But you're mortal now."

She pulled away and looked at her body again, her hands, her skin that no longer had the same elasticity they had before. "I see that." She put her hands to her head. "I feel that. My head hurts. This must be what is called a headache. What do you do for a headache?"

Amanda smiled, "You're asking us? We're immortal."

Joe said, "Take an aspirin, or pinch the top of your ears real hard as long as you can stand it."

Friday looked up at him, "But then my ears will hurt."

Joe shrugged and smiled, "At least you won't be worried about your headache."

Duncan asked him, "How did Diabol treat you?"

"Just fine, Mac," Joe said. "I had to sit in that chair," he pointed over to where the rocking chair and cage was.

They all took a deep breath and were all glad everything was over with. They could see the sun starting it's downward descent. Methos remembered, "I missed my plane."

Amanda mentioned, "There's always a plane taking off."

Methos cocked his head, "Maybe I'll stick around here for a while." He looked at Cassandra, who didn't want to slice him through with a sword, Diabol was dead, Friday couldn't do anything more to him. Things were suddenly just fine in Seacouver.

Friday had moved to Diabol's body and sat next to it. She folded one leg over the other and put her head down, hands palms up on her knees. They gave her a moment, as they thought she was praying for his soul or something, which was confusing for them. If one thing was to be believed that Diabol said, she was his wife, but he didn't deserve any sort of respect. Richie was going to stop her, but Duncan pulled him back. There had to be a reason for it.

Friday took a deep breath and lifted her head, opened her eyes, to see them all staring at her. She stood up, and wobbled. Richie instantly was at her side, to make sure she didn't fall down. "Thank you, Richie. That gravity is a bitch." She told them all, "When a Jinn dies, whoever is near will say a prayer to the Marid for them to be gentle and fair in their judgement of their life. Their decision will determine what the afterlife will be."

Friday looked down at Diabol one last time and bitterly stated, "He has caused nothing but misery for other Jinn from day one. I do not know if they were able to hear me as I no longer have magic..." she paused as that was a new concept for her. "But I asked them to make sure he did nothing but toil and suffer until the end of the world." She looked at the faces of the others. "That was not too harsh, was it?"

"Not by me,"they said. "Not at all."

For the first time since she wasn't able to get into the Quest because of the banishment, Friday smiled with relief. They all welcomed her back into the fold, even Amanda gave her a hug and called her friend. She saw Methos and remembered, "The pen."

Methos squinted at her as he tried to figure out what she meant, then got it, "Ah, my present. What was it? A Bic Retractable? A Space Pen?"

Cassandra looked at Methos, he was getting gifts? Maybe he had changed. Or was a very good manipulator. "Neither," Friday said. "But it lost it. It's out there somewhere," she waved her hand at the sky.

Amanda said, "It was a great pen, Methos."

Friday said, "It was a quill pen, actually, used by William Shakespeare."

Methos raised his eyes, that would be a nice artifact, indeed. But he had to throw in, "Let me guess, he was writing the Tempest when he knew you."

"Much Ado About Nothing," Friday corrected him. She took a deep breath and looked at her mortal body and fought off depression that her life was irrevocably changed. "I have no money. I have no place to live."

Before she could get all worked up, as Richie expected when she looked like that, he said, "We're in the same boat, but we have each other."

That surprised her, she asked, "Really? What about Candy?" She said the name oozing with jealousy.

Richie said, "She works for Methos."

Cassandra was surprised again. "In what capacity?"

Methos told her, "I'm only a silent partner."

"And she needs a raise," Duncan added.

"Is that all she is to you," Friday asked Richie, only focusing on Richie.

"As far as I can tell." Richie looked down into Friday's eyes and then hugged her. "You and I just need a place to stay. I'm not spending one more night on Methos' couch."

Cassandra once again looked at Methos, who shrugged. "So the kid doesn't like Louis XIV furniture."

Methos looked at Richie and Friday still hugging and tapped Richie on the shoulder, and held out his apartment keys. "It's up to you who sleeps on the couch, or if anyone does. I've been thinking of getting a new place anyway, and I'm sure there's a nice suite in this hotel I can stay in until then."

Richie was shocked, "Thanks, Methos."

"You got three months free rent on the apartment." He focused on Friday, even pointed his finger in her face, "Don't disparage my things anymore, don't play tricks on me, and..." he was at a loss of what the third thing was, but was on a roll. The first two were what were important. He said, "And get jobs to pay your own rent or I'm kicking you out."

"We should find jobs by then," Richie said. "Friday should be able to get a great job. She has lots of experience."

Methos muttered, "Yeah, as a pain in the ass."

Friday said, "There is one thing, Methos. You banished me."

"You're no longer Jinn, does that still go?"

She never thought of that before, "You may have a point there."

"See," Methos said, with an irritated smile, "You just can't help making things difficult. Don't annoy me and we'll be fine." He moved to the door, then turned to Joe, "Hey, you need a lift home?"

Joe nodded and walked to the door. "I was wondering when someone would ask. I need something to eat, too."

"You got it, buddy," Methos patted his back. "Anything you want."

Joe said to them, "Thanks guys, and Friday, thank you for everything."

"I am sorry you were brought into it, Mr. Dawson."

"It wasn't your fault." Joe turned to the door, then back again, with a smile, "Hey, Friday. If you need pointers on being mortal, just give me a call."

Friday laughed, then asked, "Can I call for any reason?"

"Yes, I'd like that. And my name's Joe. My father was Mr. Dawson."

Methos opened the door for Joe and looked at Friday, shook his head, "I really would have liked to have that pen." He shrugged, "Maybe some day..."

EPILOGUE

In the early morning, before the sun came up, Richie found himself once again on Methos' couch. He would have to take Duncan up on getting a new one in the morning. When they were dropped off at the apartment, they were both exhausted and Friday didn't need any persuasion to go ahead and take the bed. He had been hoping she would have offered to share it, but that was okay. For a while. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow. On a soft, fluffy pillow. Richie just covered her up and grimaced at the couch he would really like to cut in half with a chainsaw.

He thought once again of how Friday looked in her mortal form, gorgeous. She told them all in T-Bird after leaving the hotel that it was how she originally looked when she first found out she was a jinniyah, and met and married Diabol. Over the years, she had taken other guises, mostly to hide from him.

Duncan, Amanda, and certainly Richie were silent about her marriage, and all Friday offered was, "Everyone is entitled to one mistake in their youth, correct? I am free of him now." It felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. In only the metaphorical sense. Gravity was pulling her down since she turned mortal. Then announced she was really hungry. They swung by McDonald's because it looked like she was ready to start eating the seats.

As Richie laid on the couch and stared at the ceiling, he smiled at her appetite, and how she savored every bite of food. "I didn't know food could taste like this," she said between chewing and swallowing. He hoped Friday wouldn't eat herself back to the 200 pound woman he fell in love with... "Fell in love with," he said aloud. He smiled as he came the realization that she was much more than his friend, then cursed that damn bar across his back.

A sniffle was heard from the bed, and he sat up to take a look. Another sniffle. Friday was lying on her side away from him. Richie figured she had to be devastated to be mortal and having a tough time coming to terms with it. The first day he met her, she said it was the worst thing that could happen to her and she forbad him from wishing it. He sat on the edge of the bed and tapped her shoulder. She curled into a fetal position when she felt his leg against her back. "Friday, I'm sorry."

"Why?"

When he didn't answer, she turned her head to look at him. He saw the tears staining her cheeks. "You're mortal," he simply said.

"It was the only way to defeat Diabol, Richie," she said. "You made a good wish."

"Is that why you're crying?"

"Sure it is." Friday sat up and curled her knees under her chin, a bit embarrassed about the selfish reason she woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. "I have to deal with it, and I will. It is just... I do not know how to do anything. I can not cook. I was looking at my hair and I do not know how to clean it. I will not ever see my friends again, my Jinn friends. They do not know where I am. They all probably think I died. Which I will, in about 50 years of old age. I do not have any of my things, or my houses I live in. All I have is this scratchy cloth on my back."

Ritchie rubbed her arm, to let her know she wasn't in it alone. "You're alive, Friday," he offered as a way to think about the bright side.

"I know. It is silly, I know. We are all alive and Diabol is dead, that is wonderful." Friday paused and started to tear up once again. "The future is awfully scary all of a sudden."

"You sound a little like I did when I got out of that grave. All I really have now are the clothes from my first wish, and Mac gave me a sword. I don't know what friends I lost, so I can't mourn not having them, but we both have four solid friends we can count on. We have each other." Ritchie smiled, "We can learn how to cook together and I wouldn't mind washing your hair for you. I have a feeling you're a quick learner."

Friday ironically smiled at Richie, and shook her head in the sudden juxtaposition of their relationship. "You are young and have centuries ahead of you. I am old and I am going to die soon."

"You're not going to die soon," Richie lightly corrected her. "Take care of your body and don't get into any trouble and you could have a century to live yourself. They're making advances in life expectancy all the time."

"Who is?"

Ritchie shrugged, "Scientists. People who do that sort of thing." Friday laughed. Richie told her, "You can either feel sorry for yourself, or you can enjoy life, like you always have."

She nodded that he was absolutely right. She did start to feel better, knowing that she had people in her life, most importantly, Richie. Deciding to have that drink in that dingy bar in New York was a wonderful quirk of fate. She realized, "I am hungry."

Richie said, "Get a couple more hours of shut eye and we'll see what Methos has in the fridge. I just want to make sure you don't eat another three Big Macs, two orders of fries, a chocolate shake, topped off with a diet coke. You gotta pace yourself."

"I suppose," she acknowledged that she was stuffed after that meal. Only a few hours later, though, she was famished. Pace herself. That was what she would have to do. She laid back down on the bed and Richie got up to return to that damn couch. She watched him cringe before lying down on it, before offering, "Would you like to sleep here?"

"Yes," he said, immediately sliding between the sheets. "I thought you'd never ask."

Richie fluffed the pillow and laid back, completely comfortable. Friday took his hand in hers and they both looked up at the water stain on the ceiling. "Methos was awfully nice to let us have his place," Friday said. "I will have to do something nice for him."

He laughed and said, "Well, remind him that you never did turn him into a toad."

"That's true," she laughed along with him. "That is about all I can afford now."

Her change in attitude got to him, Richie squeezed her hand, "What happened to your exuberance for life? You're still alive, you have air flowing through your lungs. We're going to be okay."

She smiled, nodded, but didn't know if they would be. What skills did they have for good jobs? She'd never be able to afford to visit her favorite Jamaican beach again. Or stay at the Plaza. Or go on shopping sprees with Amanda. Or maybe she could, if circumstances, a good job, or a lottery win was in her future. Her mind was in a whirl, but she fell into a light sleep alongside Richie.

CONTINUED in Part Four