The Friday Series Chapter 4: Cleopatra's Lover, a highlander fanfic

THE FRIDAY SERIES 4

CLEOPATRA'S LOVER

RATING: G

CHARACTERS: M, DM, A, RR, OFC Friday, OCs Diabol, Wen, Malik, HC Cleopatra

SUMMARY: Friday tells them about her past with Methos.

SEACOUVER 1998

Friday and Richie peacefully slept together on Methos' big, comfy bed until way past daybreak. The heavy pounding at the door made them both jump, then Richie crawled out of bed to answer it. A very chipper Duncan and Amanda greeted them with breakfast. Amanda unpacked the bagels, muffins and fruit on the counter as Duncan started the coffee. "I know Methos doesn't have anything in the fridge, so we came to the rescue," she told them .

Friday pulled herself out of bed, again not expecting the gravitational pull on her newly mortal body, and sat back down to get her bearings. She smoothed her toga down and grabbed the red sash that hadn't fallen off the bed during the night and wrapped it around her waist. She only had one outfit to wear, she might as well wear it. She searched the night stand for her rings, and put them on her fingers, but was missing her silver thumb ring. Still sitting on the bed, she leaned over to look on the floor, and under the bed. Getting dizzy being upside down, Friday tumbled to the floor.

"Oh, Friday," Amanda went to her, bringing a buttered bagel, as the former jinniyah must be famished. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Friday sat up, shaking off the lightheadedness. "I just lost my dignity." She pulled the toga over her legs as it was twisted up around her waist.

"The first thing we're going to do is get you some clothes."

Friday hungrily grabbed the bagel from Amanda and shoved it in her mouth. "I need some. Thank you!"

"I brought a few things over for you to wear today, but we'll go shopping for things that are you."

Friday finished the rest of the bagel walked to the counter for a banana nut muffin. Amanda showed her some tops and pants to choose from for their shopping excursion. "They are all very nice, Amanda," she smiled, then the bursting of her heart made her pull Amanda into a hug.

"Whoa," Amanda reacted with surprise. "Pick something and... finish eating and I can show you the better stores in town."

"I can not afford clothes, Amanda," Friday again felt like crying. "I need a job."

"You can't get a job without clothes."

"And I can not get clothes without money. It is a vicious circle."

"It's my treat," Amanda said, hoping Friday wouldn't bust out crying again. Boy, when Friday mentioned that Jinn had big hearts, she wasn't just whistling Dixie. She patted the woman on the shoulder and said, "For all that free travel you gave me on our last shopping spree, and for friendship, it's my treat. We are friends, aren't we?" She remembered Friday adamantly denying it, when she knew Diabol could hear all that was said to use to his advantage.

Friday burst into a big smile and said, "I am honored to be your friend," then pulled Amanda into another bear hug.

Duncan and Richie were by the coffee pot having their own little discussion. Duncan looked at the bed and commented, "So, no one slept on the couch last night, huh?"

"I did for a while, then she offered me half the bed," Richie was happy to report, then shrugged, "But it wasn't... you know."

"No need for information, Rich," Duncan quickly said. "I just asked to see if I got out of having to buy you a couch."

"No, don't buy a couch," Richie was adamant. "I don't want there to be an option. I'm sleeping on that bed from now on. In fact, you can take that couch with you if you want. Please, take the couch with you and dump it somewhere."

"Nah," Duncan smiled. "It won't fit in your new car, which I just drove over."

"What?" Richie excitedly ran to the window, "You bought me a car?" He looked out at the curb. The T-bird was parked amidst a long line of cars lining both sides of the street. "Which one?"

"The Volkswagen," he pointed down at the white Rabbit a couple of cars ahead of the T-bird. "It's a starter car. It's no Lamborghini, but it will get you around town, since you don't have magical help anymore."

"It's great, Mac," Richie croaked, really affected by his teacher's gesture. "Thanks. Thanks a lot for everything."

Duncan handed over the keys and asked, "When do we start training again?"

Richie paused and flipped the keys over in his hand, "What I would like..." He looked over at Friday and Amanda cooing over clothes they took out of a leather bag Amanda brought with her. "I want to remember."

Duncan looked his student over, wondering if that was at all possible. The only way he could think of was for Richie to take his head. Richie said, "Could you just tell me everything you know about me, take the day or two to show me around town and point out places that I knew. Friday said that they wouldn't be my memories, but I'd still like to know... something."

"That sounds like a great idea," Duncan said, "Sure I will. Granted, I don't know everything about you, or what some things in your quickening meant, but I'll do everything I can to help you remember."

The three immortals felt a buzz and watched the door open. Methos stepped into his own place to see it filled with people. "Hey," Methos nonchalantly said. "My quiet little bachelor pad has turned into Grand Central Station?"

"Our three months aren't up yet," Friday said.

"I just came to pick up a few things. Is that all right for the Highness?"

Methos saw the head print on the other pillow on his bed, and only hoped they would wash the sheets before giving them back to him. Friday caught the sarcastic tone to his voice and pompously replied, "Sure, it is your place. Just leave the dog," she patted the porcelain head of the dalmatian Methos won on Wheel of Fortune. "I am quite fond of it."

Methos stared at her, "Well, you're in a better mood." He opened a dresser and shrugged, "Ah..." he looked at Richie and Friday. "You guys can have what I don't take with me."

"Great," Richie beamed. "What are you taking with you?"

"Clothes, books, stuff."

"That couch?"

"No," Methos smiled. "I know how you love it so."

"It's the worst couch I've ever come across," Richie said.

"How do you know what couches you've come across?"

They both lightly laughed, then Richie said, "It has to be."

"I won it in a poker game." Methos took some boxes and mix-matched luggage that consisted of a Samsonite and various dufflebags out of the closet and started to pack his things. He put a couple of books in a box and looked at the others, watching him work. Well, Friday was on her third muffin, but she was watching him too, between bites. Methos suggested, "Maybe you all want to help and I'll get done faster?"

"What do you want packed up?" Duncan plunged right in, as Methos gave orders of what he needed to take with him. But, very firmly stated, don't look through anything, just pack it up.

Friday looked at the other two bagels and really wanted them, but noticed she was the only one who had eaten. Better leave something for Richie. While the others were taking clothes out of the closet and things off the shelves, she looked at the crumpled bed. Neatness had always been important to her, but she didn't know the process needed to make the bed look nice. She hoped they didn't see her absent-mindedly wave her hand before she remembered she no longer had the power.

Friday yanked at the blanket, the sheet fell out and flopped to the floor. She crumpled it under the blanket and that made an unsightly bulge. She stood, tapped her foot, hands on her hips, wondering how it could be so difficult. Trying again, she made it worse, pillows fell to the floor. She put them at the head of the bed, and the blanket was kitty wompus. After straightening the blanket, the sheet was again bunched down, hanging off the side of the bed. There had to be a trick to it, but she couldn't figure it out.

Richie had enough as she once again moved blankets and pillows to no effect. Before she could completely tear the bed apart, he took her arms and moved her out of the way. "Watch and learn," he sort of enjoyed saying to someone. He made the bed from scratch making sure she saw every step of the process. When finished, he plumped the pillows, tossed them at the head of the bed and covered them with the bed spread. He stepped back, proud. "See? Nothing to it."

"You did a nice job," she commented.

"Can you remember how to do it from now on?"

She glance at Richie, a little taken that he expected her to make the bed from now on. "No. I did not retain it all. I guess you will have to make the bed from now on, Richie."

Methos laughed as shook his head at the two of them as he put his books in the boxes. "Good luck, you two."

Amanda said, "You go, girl!"

Duncan poured over what seemed to be a diary he pulled from the shelves. He spotted Methos out the corner of his eye busy with other books, so he turned his body as he couldn't be seen reading it. Methos had written it in Latin, a form of Latin Duncan couldn't thoroughly translate, but got the gist of it.

Richie told Friday, "We're going to do just fine. We'll share in the housework."

Methos scrutinized the former jinniyah and said, "I think she's going to make it possible for you to do the housework, Richie."

Friday hid her grin from them all, as she was in total agreement with Methos. She opened the fridge to scrounge for something more to eat. Disappointing, to say the least. Methos didn't have anything in there but mustard, a jar of pig's feet and beer. She grabbed a brew and looked at it. She couldn't flip the cap or make it disappear, even tried turning upside down thinking it would pour out. The writing on the cap caught her attention, "Ah. Directions," she mused and twisted the cap off, and took a swig.

Amanda folded Methos' clothes neatly in a dufflebag as Richie slid a heavy box of books toward the door as Methos was getting toiletries out of the bathroom and Duncan was still immersed in Methos' side of their first meeting in the journal when they heard a crash and a thud. They dashed behind the counter in the kitchen area to see Friday on her butt, the broken bottle and beer flowing across the floor. "Wow!" she shook her head, dazed.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Friday groggily lifted her head, "I guess I can not hold my liquor any more." In trying to get up, she accidently brushed her hand against a shard of the bottle and blood poured out of her hand. "Ow!" She lifted her shaking hand up to see blood dripping down her arm, on her toga, mixing with the foamy beer spreading across the kitchen. That never happened before!

Richie lifted under Friday arm to help her off the floor. She was dizzy from the beer, gravity, and slipped on the liquid. "How much did you drink?" He picked her up and carried her to the couch.

"I don't know," she mumbled, worried about the blood, and how light headed she was from just a little beer. All that blood that flowed out of her hand, stung like needles in her skin and made her nauseous, two very foreign sensations for her. "What is that I feel?"

Methos saw blood had dripped on the couch, and knew it was at that moment, a goner. For that couch to begin it's travels in the palace Louis XIV, through the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars, be present at Appomattox Courthouse when Lee surrendered the Grant, to have Methos win it from Marcos in the Phillippines in a poker game, only to have it ruined by blood from a newly-mortal jinniyah. He shook his head and grabbed a towel, had to move Duncan aside to take a look at it. He put the towel over her lap, and the couch. "Get a wet rag," he asked Amanda.

He took her hand and she immediately snatched it back. "No. It hurts."

"I was a doctor," he told her, almost out of patience. "Do you want me to take care of it, or do you just want to stare at it? That's not going to make it stop bleeding."

She gave him her hand and watched him closely as he gently wiped off the blood with the wet washcloth Amanda gave him. Only when it was soiled did he realize it was one of the few good ones. Methos asked, "Can you get a small towel and cut it into strips, Richie? There's a scissor in the junk drawer, and rags under the sink."

There was a little piece of glass still in her hand, which he gently pulled out. She slapped his arm as it hurt and about levitated off the couch. "Hey!" Methos snapped. "Quit that."

He shook his head as he remembered how much work she'd been. He cleaned off the cut and took the strips from Richie. "It's not deep enough to need stitches," he commented.

"Stitches? What are stitches? That does not sound good," Friday hysterically said. Amanda patted her shoulder and took Friday's other hand to comfort her when it was thrust into her face.

Methos bundled one strip atop the cut to soak up the last of the blood, then wrapped the others around her hand. As he tied the ends, he said, "I don't have any bandages, this should handle it until it stops bleeding. Get yourself to a drug store for some antibiotic cream." He sat back on his ankles to scan his handiwork. It was patched up pretty good, he hadn't lost his touch.

She held her hand to her chest and moaned from the pain, then softly said, "Thank you."

Methos was unsettled by the sudden gratefulness after she whacked him just for helping clean her wound, and said, "You're welcome," then went back to packing.

Richie had watched their interplay and couldn't hold back any longer, he just had to ask, "How did you two first meet?"

Friday groaned, "It was one of the worst days of my life."

"Gee, thanks," Methos retorted.

"Not because of you," she told him, then fell silent.

Richie sat next to her, interested. "Tell me about it." He wanted to know all about her and the life she lead. All the months of being with her since he got out of his grave, he'd ask, but she wouldn't let him in on any of it. He especially wanted to know how she got involved in such a bastard like Diabol in the first place, but how she met Methos would be a start.

Amanda sat on the other side of the couch and said, "I've been dying to hear about that, too."

Methos stayed out of the way, but kept an ear out for her side of the story. Duncan went back to reading Methos' take on the Kalas situation, as he would never hear it straight from the horse's mouth.

EGYPT BCE

"Try it again, Laminae," Malik gently said to her. "The bird on the tree... move him up a branch."

Laminae, Friday's true name, stood alongside her teacher on the tallest building in the great city of Alexandria, having a session to hone her magic. She had all the basics down, some of the advances spells, what she needed to do was refine. They could see the people of the city, going about their business, the slaves in the palace, the farmers in the field. What she had to focus on was the tiny yellow bird on the fruit tree. Laminae rose her hand, pointed her fingers to the yellow bird to lift him up a branch. When the magic hit the bird, he squawked and fell to the ground. After some wobbling around, he flew away.

Wen, a Shaitan, and Laminae's best friend, appeared to laugh at her inaptitude in calibrating her magic. Laminae groused to her teacher, "Why do I have to move a bird? They can move themselves. I can make my own bird."

Malik stated his mantra again, "It is not the magic itself, it is how you use the magic."

Wen laughed, "You will never get it right."

Laminae instantly turned her old friend into an ass, making Malik shake his head. His student was so impetuous, it was a wonder she'd made any progress at all. The ass whinnied with delight, as she knew it was just in fun and she'd get her back. "How about that?" Laminae proudly boasted.

Malik scolded, "Magic is not to be used for tricks. But, since you did it, try to make Wen move with your magic."

Laminae kicked the ass in the butt, moving her, and laughed. "You do not need magic for everything."

Wen, in the form of the ass, head butted Laminae in return, who fell off the building, and floated in mid air, laughing with her friend.

Malik grabbed Laminae's arm and stood her beside him. "It is a good thing I think ahead and made us appear invisible to the masses. Turn her back," Malik demanded. "We will go back to working with the birds."

Wen was turned back into her normal form, then fell off the edge. They could hear her laugh on the ground, so she was fine. Laminae and Malik looked down at her, one smiling as she was having a blast, the other one almost out of patience with the both of them. They saw Wen's eyes grow wide and point behind them up on the roof, then instantly disappear. Malik and Laminae slowly turned to see that Diabol had appeared. "My sweet," his voice oozed with artificial sugar. "I wondered where you were."

"My world!" Laminae put herself between her teacher and her husband. "I thought you were dead!"

Malik didn't appreciate being 'protected' from his former student, and shifted her to stand behind him. "You should be dead," Malik seethed to Diabol.

Diabol appreciated that they both remembered him so well, it had been over a two hundred years since they were face to face. "Come, Malik," he happily said. "I was the best student you ever had."

"You are a devil ," Malik spouted. "The Marid were to take care of you."

"But, I am quicker than they are."

Malik immediately sat in a lotus position and called for the Marid to come and take their prisoner away. Diabol knew his teacher was steadfast and true, which was exceptionally annoying, the man would never appreciate the true value of magic, to bend the world to suit yourself. The Marid Council, that was another matter all together, and couldn't have any part of those entities again.

When Diabol stepped forward to stop Malik's chant to the higher ups, Laminae thrust herself between them again. Wen appeared on the roof a safe distance away, watching closely. She couldn't do a thing about what Diabol or Malik would do, they were both higher up, Afrit. But she was a Shaitan and could protect her jinniyah friend, Laminae.

"You do not interfere with Marid Council," Laminae asserted, making Diabol once again admire her spunk. He had been Malik's student when Laminae turned 18 and came into her own in the world of Jinn. Malik agreed to take her on as a student, and she fell immediately, and hopelessly, in love with his prize student at the time, Diabol, from that first meeting. Diabol smiled again as jinniyah were so easily swayed. He might have actually fallen in love with her if she wasn't so feisty.

Diabol told her, "You could pay for interfering with me, dear." Malik had made contact with the Council. Even though Diabol would loved to have killed the Afrit on the spot, one couldn't do any harm to their teacher. Ever. But, Laminae didn't know that. Even if she did, she could easily conceive of Diabol doing anything he wanted, as he usually did. That was why he was in trouble with the Council in the first place. There could be an interesting way to get rid of them both, as he was still bitter about her leaving him. Diabol looked at the town square and zeroed in on a simple wooden box that clearly had seen better days, on the back of a vendor's table. Diabol waved his hand, and Malik instantly disappeared. Laminae screamed out, "Where is he?"

Diabol gleefully shrugged. Whistled to the sky, not a care in the world. Wen and Laminae both rushed to him, just as a Marid appeared, wondering why the connection was lost with Malik. "He did it," Laminae accused Diabol to the robed figure who floated above them.

The Marid glared at Diabol, who suddenly knew he had gone too far. It was best to make his leave before he could be taken back to the Council. Diabol grabbed Laminae and disappeared. Wen tried to hold her back, but they vanished before she could get a solid grip on her hair. The Marid evaporated and she frantically looked down to the people in the square for Diabol and Laminae. She spotted her long black hair across the way and moved herself down to her.

Wen arrived by her side as Diabol was whispering in Laminae's ear, "Look to the box," then laugh as he disappeared. He had to beat it before the Marid could catch up with him. Laminae looked all over for a box, any box. Picked up ones she'd see, then drop them as soon as she knew Malik wasn't in it. Wen followed, then helped search. When Laminae reached the vendor table with Malik's box, she picked it up, breathed a sigh of relief. She was so happy, she forgot to pay for it, before walking away with it clutched to her chest.

A burly man grabbed Laminae from behind after the vendor screamed, "She is stealing my property!" Laminae, clutching the box, realized what she did and was perfectly willing to pay for it. Trouble was, the crowd had gathered anticipating a good show, the vendor shouted that he wanted her hand cut off! Before Laminae could explain, another guard grabbed her arm, making her drop the box. The crowd was ablaze with the prospect of bloodshed and chanted for her hand.

Laminae, who wasn't used to being the focus of people, and was easy to scare, fell into stunned silence. The guard, Methos, yelled out to the crowd, "She'll pay for her deed! Mind your duties."

As he lead her away, she couldn't leave her teacher! "I need that box!" Laminae screamed at him. 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. She looked around for Wen or a Marid to help her. Needing to explain what happened, but knowing it wouldn't work to lay out Jinn history to a man with a sword and armor, she said, "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 end up killing me!"

"Who?"

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

She was thrown into a cell in the dungeon on the palace and landed in a heap in the corner. She picked herself up, brushed the dinge off that her clothes collected from the floor, and calmed herself down. She had put herself in a precarious position that she didn't need to. The guards were laughing at her and it only made her mad. Laminae waved her hand, and she disappeared.

Because they saw her disappear in front of his eyes, a guard went into her cell and searched it. Looked up at the ceiling and under the bench. She wasn't there. The guards lost their folly, and gaped at each other, astonished.

Laminae materialized on the outskirts of the city. She had to make contact with Malik, to tell him she would get him free, and to see if he was okay after being tousled around in that box. She sat with legs crossed and put her palms up on her lap to call to him. Just as she was hearing her teacher's soft, comforting voice telling her it was all right and that he will wait for her, Diabol appeared in her lap.

She threw him off. He was joyous as he told her, "If you make one move to free Malik, I will kill him."

"You can not do that."

"Of course I can."

She knew he 'could', but said, "It would be against every rule ever written. Malik is your teacher."

Diabol simply reminded her, "Since when do I play by the rules? He is a simp! It is almost embarrassing to have such a sympathetic teacher in my past. As long as that meddler stays within that box, he will live. If you free him, it will be because of you that he is dead. Or, you could kill yourself." He leaned in close to her as he said, "That is what I have wanted all along, you know that. Just think, Laminae. Do the deed, and Malik will be free, and live. You make the choice, dear."

The young jinniyah saw his menacing, sneering face, smelled his foul breath, knew all the devious deeds he'd done during their time together and knew he was not kidding. She felt like crumpling into a million pieces, but asked him, "Because you hate me, you will kill our teacher?"

"Of course," he snarled. "Malik introduced me to the scourge of my life. No one leaves me and lives. I have visualized all the ways I could kill you, but it would be so much sweeter if you did it yourself. It is your choice, Laminae. Our dear teacher, or you. And who do you really think will be missed more?"

The Marid appeared, "Diabol!"

Diabol quickly disappeared from having been found. Damn Marid! Before he left the scene all together, he spoke again to Laminae. She clearly heard him her mind. "Free him, and Malik is dead." The Marid vanished to go after him before she could tell him what Diabol had done, and the choice he made her have to make. Laminae was crushed and didn't know what to do. It was all her fault. In her mind, Diabol started acting out, leaving Malik and using black magic after she left him.

She materialized in the square to get the box, but the crowd recognized her. She ran into an alley and disappeared, afraid. Not knowing where else to go, and couldn't leave Malik behind, she went back to the cell. A guard spotted her and was puzzled by her absence, and sudden reappearance. He only had one explanation, she was a sorceress! The other guards gathered around her cell, chanting that she must be killed. The only argument between them was who would get the honor.

Laminae crouched in the corner, listening to them berate her, knowing Diabol would kill Malik if she set him free, and she wouldn't ever be able to hone her magic, and couldn't live with herself if she let it happen. She called out for Wen for advice, but her friend didn't come. Diabol probably killed her already. Laminae was all alone and cried, completely fragile.

That night, a decision was handed down that Laminae would be executed at sunrise for 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, Cleopatra decided to attend.

Methos scrutinized the woman, and heard the other guards labeling her, cat calling her, reducing her to mere dust, just for being different from them. It happened to immortals all the time. Even though Methos didn't believe the others when they told him she did indeed disappear for a while, he knew the woman wasn't a sorceress. The woman was crazy. The object of the crime was a piece of junk. There were more fitting criminals that deserved to be made a symbol for the good citizens of Alexandria. The woman's words were strange. She admitted to the attempted theft, didn't apologize for it, like the guilty usually did when caught, fruitlessly thinking it would help save parts of their anatomy, including their heads. All she did was come up with a crazy excuse.

Laminae was crushed, having that very fragile heart, which had broke so suddenly. She thought she would never again see her teacher and didn't want him dead because of her. Her best friend was gone, her husband was an ass that she would never be free of. Malik was locked away in a box the couldn't get out of unless she agreed to Diabol's choice. If she chose her own life, that box would probably be burned one day because it was worthless and no one would listen to her that it contained everything she had in the world, or if he ever escaped, Diabol would kill him. Diabol never once in the time she'd known him, ever broke his solemn vows.

Methos and the guards were gambling in their area of the prison when they heard her loud weeping. He yelled at her to shut up. When she didn't, he walked to her cell and banged his hilt against the door. "It would be better if you were seen, not heard."

He had scared her and she darted to the other side of the cell. Looked up at the black night and could make out stars through a hole in the roof and didn't know what to do. A hawk flew over, which she knew was Diabol. She wasn't high enough on the chain to call for Marid herself. Diabol had probably already killed her best friend, her only true friend in the world. She was utterly alone, she could just as well be dead. If she did die, maybe Diabol would free Malik. It was her only hope.

THE NEXT MORNING

Laminae was brought out to the square in chains. Cleopatra herself sat on an ornate throne atop a pedestal so the subjects could see her. The crowd was blood thirsty. Laminae stared at the Pharaoh for the first time in her life, not realizing she was so beautiful. Regal. There to see her lose her life. That was definitely a strike against her in Laminae's book. She looked around for any sign of Diabol, and didn't see him or any of his forms. A fat man with a sword walked onto the platform with her while a scrawny man said a prayer for the Pharaoh's reign as Laminae was chained to the stone used only for the purpose of cutting off criminal's heads.

Wen had been having a terrible time. Whenever she would get anywhere near Alexandria to counsel her friend, knowing that Laminae was quick to give up, Diabol would appear and throw flames at her, so she would take off. The last thing she needed was to die by his hand. She remembered trying to talk Laminae out of marrying him, but young girls in love were worse than lazy mules. Wen took the form of a bird, much like the one Laminae tried to move before Diabol made his appearance, hoping she would notice her.

Wen about had a heart attack when she saw Laminae actually chained in front of the mass of Alexandria, about to lose her head! That girl! Wen herself couldn't stop the inevitable as Laminae was allowing it to happen, but she could try to make someone do it. She squawked and put out a spell on the guards, who she figured had the power to stop such an act. Suddenly, Methos stepped forward, confused as to why he had. Before he could step back in line with the rest of the guards, Wen focused on him and vexed him into helping her dear friend.

He cleared his throat and loudly stated, "I wish to buy the woman's freedom."

Needless to say, there was a great murmur of the crowd, fellow guards, and Cleopatra herself stood in rapt attention. At that moment, Laminae perceived friendship and kindness in the world, and for the first time, saw the bird and knew it was Wen. She decided then that if the wonderful man wasn't able to convince them to set her free, she would disappear, and find a way to save Malik when she was thinking clearly. The bird chirped and Laminae burst with happiness that her friend was still alive.

Suddenly, Cleopatra stood and slowly moved forward, "Why would I allow such a thing?" Since she said it so forcefully, almost as if she was spitting out rancid food, Wen flew toward and above her, and put out one more spell.

Methos, still under the influence, stated to the crowd, and the Pharaoh, "It was only attempted robbery, Your Highness. The box is worthless. Her crime doesn't fit the punishment."

Cleopatra looked at the crowd, and wondered how they'd accept the decision she suddenly, unbelievably, formulated in her mind. "I will allow it," she said, as the crowd rose up in anger. "Quiet!" The guards stood around their Pharaoh, ready to pounce on whoever dared defy her word. After they submissively silenced, Cleopatra looked at the guard, Methos, and ordered, "I will allow it. You will compensate the vendor. If she is ever in trouble again, it would be your head on that block."

That gave Methos pause, and rethought the gesture. He was still close to his horsemen days and thought he had offered it quickly, astonishingly, to save her as a need to cleanse his own soul. That had to be why he did it, he couldn't think of any other reason, but didn't want his head on the block for it. Methos looked up at the woman at the chopping block and wondered just how crazy she was, and if he could trust her.

Laminae smiled and nodded to Methos, to let him know she wouldn't be a problem, he could trust her. A bothersome bird warbled above him, making him think that what was done was done. How it was done, he still wasn't sure, but he turned to the Pharaoh and declared, "Agreed." Cleopatra waved her head, and instantly, the devoted guards unchained Laminae. She stood and faced the man who sacrificed his own freedom for hers if she again committed a crime, which would never happen.

The guards freed Laminae and the sun seemed brighter, the air was crisper, she saw that bird and knew her friend was still with her. She was suddenly so happy, Laminae decided to give that sweet guard a freebie. As she walked through the crowd to Methos, Laminae tried to think of the best thing a man could wish for, and decided it was a night of love... and who better than the ravishing Pharaoh? Laminae waved her hand and made it so.

Cleopatra had, at first, been a little put off by one of her guards suggesting her law was wrong, but when she glared at him, she couldn't find it in her heart to reprimand him. In fact, she was enamored with the man and looked at him twice for the first time since he'd been in her service.

Cleopatra regally stated across the crowd from her throne, "Soldier, what is your name?"

"Methos," he stated, bowed, "Your Highness."

She whispered to a hand maiden and walked out of the square with her entourage.

Laminae smiled as she knew what was ahead of the wonderful soldier. A freebie... that wasn't enough to show how much she appreciated his humanity. She was handed over to him by the guards. "Thank you, Master," she proudly stated, ready to be his jinniyah.

Methos had enough slaves in his life, and didn't take that term well, and spewed, "Don't call me that." The crowd was disbursed but were let down that they wouldn't see blood. A few stragglers followed Methos and Laminae to see what would happen, but the other guards broke it up. After the tension of the morning, and the matter was settled down, Methos didn't know what to do with the woman. He didn't actually have to take care of her, did he? That wasn't at all acceptable. "Just stay out of trouble," he told her as he walked away.

As he strolled along through the square, he noticed that she was his shadow, as if stapled to his hip. "Go away," he stopped to tell her.

"I can not."

"Yes, you can," he turned her around and nudged her to start walking. "Just start walking and don't stop."

She turned around. "There is nothing but desert out there. I live here. With you, Master."

"Don't call me that."

He walked off and she followed, waving at Wen, who was flying above them and insisted, "I can give you three wishes, Master."

Methos laughed. He was right, the woman was insane. "I wish you'd quit calling me master."

"Done," Laminae said, and never did again. "Next?"

He shook his head, and played along with her. "I wish you would leave." He walked on. Then realized she was in fact, gone. He shrugged and hoped it would be the last he saw of her, and she didn't get into trouble. Then, figured she probably was going to get into trouble. And he'd lose his head! Why did he do that?! He stalked through the streets to find her.

Laminae hadn't gone far, and Methos knew exactly where she had to be. He found her as she was walking back to the vendor's table. Perfect! She was going to get them both killed. He ran to them.

Laminae looked all over for Diabol in any form, as she walked to the table, and saw the box front and center. It was marked up in price because it was such a curiosity as a woman's freedom was bought and the crowd was thrilled by it all. The talk was brisk and she caught snippets of their conversations that consisted of thinking it was a wonderful gesture by the Great Pharaoh, even though they didn't see a head flying, and that soldier, what was his name? Laminae smiled, again thanking Wen for having everything work out.

She stood in front of the vendor's stand to ask the price of the box. When she grabbed it before, she was distraught. She didn't make that mistake again. The only thing that could go wrong was if Diabol showed up.

The vendor pointed to the sign. She smiled and shook her head at the overcharge of the piece of junk, to other's eyes, recognizing entrepreneurial spirit when she saw it, "May I lift it?"

"Why?"

"I want to purchase it and I want to make sure it is indeed the box I want."

The vendor let her. Just as she lifted it in her hands, Methos ran up to her. "What are you thinking? Put that back. Now!"

She dropped the box on the table and pushed Methos back. "Sorry," she told Malik as she picked it up again, bringing it to her ear.

Malik spoke to her. "I wish you would quit doing that!"

She breathed a sigh of relief having heard his voice, although it was almost to the breaking point of his patience. She stuck her hand in her clothing and pulled out a pouch, full of coins, that she magically conjured up and handed it over to the vendor. "This is three times what you are now asking. This box is mine ."

The vendor snatched the pouch and about fainted when he saw all the coins. Methos was more than ticked. After all that, she had money!

Laminae walked away with the box watching everything, every one and every animal around her to keep a look out for Diabol in any form. Methos grabbed her arm, making her drop the box once again. "Why did you let me pay for your freedom, when you could afford that garbage in the first place?!"

"That was sweet of you, and I appreciate it very much." She picked up the box and told it, "I am sorry."

Methos laid his head back, she was insane. "Please, pack your things, and that box, and go away."

"Is that your last wish?"

"Sure."

"Say it."

"Huh?"

She moved him to a quiet area and said, "You do not believe me, but I am a jinniyah, and you have already wasted two wishes. Think carefully and say the words... I wish... and it will come true. Okay?"

What did he get himself into? How could the woman be so far gone from reality? He closed his eyes and rued the day he decided to go to Alexandria in the first place. "Just... go... away."

Laminae was a little put off by that, but she extended her hand. Shook his. "Thank you for everything what you have done. I guess you want to forfeit your last wish."

"Sure."

"I will not negate it. One day you might come to your senses and you will want it. That is my gift to you. You have one more wish."

"Wonderful," he grimaced, and watched her twirl on her heel and walk away. He went back to his home to pack up his things. Time had run out for him in the city and it was time to move on.

As he was packing, a guard burst through the door, "Methos!"

Methos jumped and was ready to run. She had to have gotten into trouble already! All exits were blocked by his fellow guards.

Laminae appeared in an oasis in the desert and sat beside her teacher's box as she gingerly set it on the sand. The only problem now was to open it. Diabol's magic manufactured the lock, but there had to be a way to open it. She made a dagger appear in her hand and started sawing on edges. An Afrit appeared before her, startling her. She crawled back, with the box in her arm, and asked, "Who are you?!"

Wen appeared in her familiar form and said, "This is my friend I have been meaning to introduce to you. Laminae," Wen excitedly added, "You should have seen it! The Marid got a hold of Diabol and took him back to Council! It was so great, you should have seen his face."

The Afrit calmly held out his hands, "May I see the box?"

The box suddenly appeared in his hands. "Be careful with it," Laminae said. Then asked Wen, "What is going on?"

"He is strong enough to negate the magic of Diabol and free Malik," Wen explained, then grabbed her friend, who still had her head, and almost squeezed the life out of her. "What in all that is magical were you thinking? How could you put yourself in that position?"

"I am sorry!" Laminae pulled herself free, "I took Diabol for his word that he would kill Malik."

Wen hugged her again, "Do not ever do that again. I was scared to death. You have to think , Laminae. Diabol could never kill his own teacher."

The Afrit got the lock open and Malik swirled out of the box. Before he was in human form, he marched right to Laminae to say, "Promise me, Laminae, do not do that ever again. What happens to me is not your responsibility. Remember that!"

Laminae was so sorry and started crying. Malik didn't want that, the girl was so fragile! He hugged her to comfort her, "I know you love me. I know you want to protect me, but you can not do that." He looked to the Afrit and Wen, "What is your name?"

The Afrit replied, "Acetabullar."

Malik laughed, "You are the one who taught the mortals how to gamble! They lose all sorts of money playing cups and balls. That was you?"

The Afrit shrugged with a sly smile, "It keeps them occupied." He regarded Laminae and said, "Keep out of trouble, young one. Your friends may not be able to back you up next time."

"I will," she promised and thanked him for freeing Malik. He disappeared before she was finished.

Wen said, "He is a great guy. Do you like him? He is the one I have been telling you about."

"I like him, but no thank you. No more arranged meetings for me," Laminae firmly stated, then caught Malik looking guilty. That was a bad decision on his part to think his two students would hit it off, and he never partook in match making again.

~~~~~~

Two guards took each of Methos' arms and pulled him outside. Methos' mind whirled with what trouble that woman could have gotten into, that he would have to pay for. Damn it all! He felt his dagger at his side and tried to reach it before they could throw him on that stone, still waiting to get a head. He knew the crowd was blood thirsty and he stupidly walked into trouble. "Wait!" Methos yelled at the men who he thought was his friends. "I can explain."

"I would like to know how you managed it," one said, smiling. "We're just following orders."

"Who's orders?"

"The Pharaoh's," the other said.

Methos jerked himself free and grabbed his dagger, ready to slash out at them all surrounding them. "Methos," another asked, "how did you make Her Highness want to see you?"

"In her bed chamber," another slyly added.

Methos slashed out to him, then paused, heard their words, "Her what?"

"That's our orders, Methos," a guard said, taking his arm again. "We're to take you to the palace. I heard she's bathing in milk as we speak."

Methos was stunned as they led him to the palace, through the halls, to the Pharaoh's door. They opened it and threw Methos in. He rolled across the floor and jumped to his feet, ready for anything. He took out his dagger again, looked at the exits, then heard a soft voice call to him.

He turned around to see the Pharaoh sprawled on her bed. "Come closer, Methos," she said, laying back.

That, he wasn't ready for. It had to be a trick. He looked around to see they were completely alone. Cleopatra's hand maidens had even made themselves scarce. Cleopatra seductively said, "Are you going to stand there, are you going to come to service your Queen?"

Since those were his choices, Methos chose the latter.

SEACOUVER

Methos shrugged, "So, it wasn't my magnetic personality, huh?"

"Nope, not at all," Friday firmly stated. She got up from the couch and saw the blood stain on it. It was an ugly couch and she wasn't sorry for soiling it. She asked Amanda, "I can choose any outfit I want?"

"Sure," Amanda pointed at the totes on the bed. "Anything." While Friday perused the options, Amanda bonked Methos on the arm, "You had three wishes and you wasted them!?"

"I didn't know she was telling the truth," Methos defended himself. "How could I know? She was a lunatic."

"Excuse me?" Friday had been on her way to the bathroom to change and twirled around in anger. "You know, you gave me the business about being a pain in the rear, but you were not a picnic, either!"

Amanda rubbed her hands together in euphoria, "Oooo, do tell!"

Richie looked over at Duncan, not appreciating old home week between who he wanted as his girlfriend and the man who knew her a heck of a lot longer than he did. Duncan wasn't paying attention to any of it, he was still immersed in the journal. When Methos noticed what the Highlander was up to, he stalked over to him and snatched the book out of Duncan's hand. "Would you please ?"

Duncan told him, "You know, you have an interesting way of documenting facts."

"It's my journal, I can say what I want."

Duncan helped Methos close up the last of the book boxes and said, "Thanks for how you depicted Fitz. He was good friend."

"Yes, he was, MacLeod," Methos agreed. "Hugh Fitzcairn touched many lives."

Before they could segue into talking about someone he didn't know, Richie said, "Can we go revisit more recent history, like my life?"

Friday again backed out of the bathroom again, "What do you mean?"

"Mac told me he'd take me around town to tell me stuff about my upbringing and where I lived, and worked, and knew."

"That is not a good idea."

"Why not?"

"He could skew you."

"Like you couldn't?" Methos thought that was a good line, but Friday's glare wasn't good. Then he remembered she couldn't do a thing to him anymore and stood tall. There were no toads or asses in his future.

Richie said, "He can show me my last apartment, wherever I've worked or what I've done since I met him. I can form my own opinion."

"Of course you can form your own opinion," Friday was adamant. "But it is dangerous. I have seen it."

"I don't see how," Richie stated. "Mac? Do you want to go?"

Amanda said, "I'm taking the T-bird. I'm not to be seen in a Rabbit."

Duncan tossed the T-bird keys to her and the men walked out the door. Richie saying, "See ya later."

Amanda stood outside the bathroom while Friday changed and scrutinized Methos zipping up a back pack. "So, tell me about the third wish."

Methos stood and slung the strap over his shoulder, "I didn't have one."

"Your loss!" Friday yelled from the bathroom.

"What was all that trickster stuff?"

"I just got the better of her about 1500 years ago."

Methos saw that he had been there all day. He wrangled Amanda to help carry the last of his stuff out to the Land Rover. Friday came down to the street, dressed in Amanda's clothes, that were a little tight. Methos shook his head, wished them luck, and drove away.

CONTINUED in Part Five