Chapter Sixteen: Return of the Prodigal Son?
"Where is he? He should be back by now. They both should be!" demanded Methos. In the past seven hours since Connor had left he'd finally managed to convince himself that Connor would have gotten through to Mac and that both Highlanders would burst through the door of the bar, ready and willing to fight Ahriman, then things would go back to normal and everything would be great.
'Yeah, right, Old Man, and next you'll see flying pigs and learn that the Hunters were really framed in their attempts to kill all Immortals!' his age-old cynical side told him. But still the voice of hope remained and grew stronger and stronger.
He finished his sixth double scotch - neat - and gestured to Joe to pour him another.
"Don't you think you've had enough, Old Man?" Joe asked gently. After the bombshell yesterday, they had all decided that the only thing to do for the evening was to get completely and utterly drunk. Of course, Methos out-drank them all, and they never quite forgot why they were there, but for a few hours a resemblance of normality returned. Methos and Connor caught up on old times and Connor seemed to easily accept the fact that the man who he had thought of as dead had really been alive longer than anyone else. Joe enjoyed the snippets of
yet another life lived by his *very old* friend! They talked of old times, and distinctly tried (not altogether successfully) to avoid the topics of Duncan, Richie, or evil demons.
Connor left early the next morning and the remaining three friends were left to wait. Methos had soon taken to drinking again.
"Joe, there is no such thing as too much alcohol! I'm fine. It's not like I can die from it!"
But his words were slurred, and Joe began to worry. Methos was really suffering. He didn't show it much, being used to hiding, but Joe could tell that this thing really had his friend scared to death - if that was even possible. Hmm, he'd have to ask Methos...
God knew Joe was scared too. Demons, total evil, the end of the world! How could anyone not be scared silly?! But he knew that they had to stick together, and he also knew that if anyone could get them out of this, it was the people currently in his bar and on an island not a million miles away from them.
"Well I'm running low on stock and seeing as you don't pay for your drinks, I'm gonna have to stop pouring", Joe remarked casually.
"Fine, man won't even let his friend have a drink when his whole world is about to collapse..." Methos muttered, half to himself.
Joe felt for his friend, but if Methos couldn't keep a clear head...
"Methos, when this is all over, I promise you the whole bar's stock for free, but please keep a clear head for now. We need you," he told his friend, not unkindly.
Methos smiled, knowing Joe was right, but still wishing he could take escape into alcohol-induced oblivion. It would only be temporary, though, he told himself and getting stinking drunk had never done him any favours when it came to trying to keep his head.
"Gods, I wish they'd hurry up", he remarked for the hundredth time. The next second he looked up in startle-ment as it seemed his wishes may have came true. His eyes met Amanda's, on the alert if need-be, as they both turned towards the bar entrance, the source of the 'buzz' just outside. Joe, whose long career as a Watcher had honed his senses to recognise an Immortal almost as well as a fellow immortal, recognised the signs and just prayed it was Connor and Duncan.
When the door opened slowly and the outline of Connor MacLeod could be seen, the collective relief and release of tension was almost audible. The older Highlander walked wearily into the room and it took a moment for the others to realise that he was alone.
"Where's Duncan? Is he out at the car?" Amanda asked, not wanting to think that Duncan hadn't come back with Connor.
"He's in the cabin", Connor shrugged, "He refused to come."
"What?!" Methos yelled.
"How could you just leave him there? How hard did you try?!" Methos exploded, grabbing Connor by his coat and yelling into his face. Connor just stared at him.
"Methos, let him go!" Joe shouted.
"I'm sure he tried his best, didn't you Connor?" Joe continued.
Connor nodded. Methos reluctantly let him go.
"'Course I did, he wouldn't listen. Maybe someone else should try..." Connor replied, sitting down.
"Sure, you tried your best. I was just so sure you could get through to him", Methos apologised.
"Yeah, well, don't lose it, Old Man", Connor remarked, not unkindly.
Methos gave Connor a strange look and nodded.
"Say Joe, any chance of a drink? I'm pretty exhausted after the long journey back".
"Sure", Joe replied pouring Connor a Scotch.
Amanda, quiet so far, now came over to the others sitting at the bar.
"What did he say, Connor?" she asked quietly.
"Ah, Amanda, lovely Amanda. He thinks he's a danger to you all. He's lost sense of who he is and what he stands for".
"Did you tell him about Ahriman?"
"A little. He just said he was better off where he was. Like I said, he didn't listen to me. So, did you guys find out anything else we could use?" Connor asked, swiftly changing the subject.
Methos, slightly surprised by the lack of concern in Connor's voice, just shook his head. "We really need Duncan. He's the Champion. Unless someone else fights him, Ahriman will just hang around, getting stronger and stronger, gradually taking over. As the time comes to exactly 1000 years since his last fight, he'll get stronger and stronger and will be able to control more people with more precision. If someone else fights, and looses, his power will immediately increase 1000-fold..."
With all their attention focused on Methos, no-one noticed Connor's eyes turn red for a second at the mention of power, before returning the their usual brown.
"When is the 1000 years up?" Amanda asked.
"What's today, Monday, 5pm? In about three months time", Methos replied, bluntly.
"Three months? Damn, why do these things always have to be so close? It could take a while to get Duncan ready", Amanda commented.
"Don't worry your pretty head, Amanda. Three months is a long time", replied Connor.
This time it was Amanda's turn to give Connor a strange look. Was it their imagination, or was Connor acting a bit different since he'd come back?
"Connor, are you alright? You know three months will go quickly and who knows what Ahriman will attempt in that time. The sooner we can get rid of him, before he gets even stronger, the better. We still need to get Duncan to even talk to us, let alone help us. Don't you agree?"
"Of course. I guess it's just the stress talking", Connor agreed, just a little too quickly.
"So, what do you plan to do next?" he continued casually, taking a large drink if his second scotch.
"I don't really know", Methos had to admit.
"Maybe we should wait a couple more days and go and talk to Duncan again", Joe suggested.
"You think he'll want to listen any more? He was pretty angry. I don't know if we could persuade him yet", Connor remarked.
"We haven't got much choice, there's not much time left, remember?!" snapped Methos.
"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you", Connor replied.
Methos just laughed humourlessly and got up.
"I'm just going to get some air. Amanda, why don't you join me?"
"Um, sure."
"You OK, Methos?"
"Sure, Joe, it's just, you know, a bit stuffy in here. Connor, why don't you have another drink then when we get back we'll quiz you some more about Duncan".
Methos left the bar without waiting for Connor's reply, leaving Amanda to rush to catch up with him.
"What's up with him?" Connor asked.
"Oh, he's just worried. He was so sure you would bring Duncan back, I guess he's just disappointed", Joe replied, but he knew that Methos never did anything without a good reason. It was obvious that he wanted to talk to Amanda alone. The question was, 'why?'
"They're good friends, aren't they? Methos cares for Duncan a lot, doesn't he?" Connor continued.
"What? Oh, sure, they're close. Well, they were. Now, who knows. They've been friends for about three years, and like we said, Mac recognised him immediately. I think Methos cares for him more than he'd like to admit, sometimes. He's been through a lot for Mac. I just hope he doesn't end up loosing him through all this".
"You don't think Duncan appreciates his friendship?"
"He does, I just think that Mac didn't know how deeply Methos cared, until the other month. I think it kinda took him by surprise, and Methos didn't actually pick his moment carefully, if you know what I mean."
Amanda had told Jow what had happened between Methos and Duncan - or, rather, what else had happened. Joe had been a bit shocked at first, but then had to admit that it actually had a lot of sense, in a slightly warped kind of way. No wonder that Methos hadn't disappeared to Bora Bora at the first moment of all this.
"You mean Methos...?"
"He showed Mac how he felt, but Mac couldn't take it. He was, still is, messed up over Richie's death".
"Yeah, that must have been hard".
"Well, of course. You know how Richie was the son Mac never had. And, even though he wasn't there, even though he couldn't have known, Mac still blames himself for not saving him. But, hey, that's Mac all over".
Connor just nodded thoughtfully, and Joe's thoughts turned back to the two older Immortals.
"Where is he? He should be back by now. They both should be!" demanded Methos. In the past seven hours since Connor had left he'd finally managed to convince himself that Connor would have gotten through to Mac and that both Highlanders would burst through the door of the bar, ready and willing to fight Ahriman, then things would go back to normal and everything would be great.
'Yeah, right, Old Man, and next you'll see flying pigs and learn that the Hunters were really framed in their attempts to kill all Immortals!' his age-old cynical side told him. But still the voice of hope remained and grew stronger and stronger.
He finished his sixth double scotch - neat - and gestured to Joe to pour him another.
"Don't you think you've had enough, Old Man?" Joe asked gently. After the bombshell yesterday, they had all decided that the only thing to do for the evening was to get completely and utterly drunk. Of course, Methos out-drank them all, and they never quite forgot why they were there, but for a few hours a resemblance of normality returned. Methos and Connor caught up on old times and Connor seemed to easily accept the fact that the man who he had thought of as dead had really been alive longer than anyone else. Joe enjoyed the snippets of
yet another life lived by his *very old* friend! They talked of old times, and distinctly tried (not altogether successfully) to avoid the topics of Duncan, Richie, or evil demons.
Connor left early the next morning and the remaining three friends were left to wait. Methos had soon taken to drinking again.
"Joe, there is no such thing as too much alcohol! I'm fine. It's not like I can die from it!"
But his words were slurred, and Joe began to worry. Methos was really suffering. He didn't show it much, being used to hiding, but Joe could tell that this thing really had his friend scared to death - if that was even possible. Hmm, he'd have to ask Methos...
God knew Joe was scared too. Demons, total evil, the end of the world! How could anyone not be scared silly?! But he knew that they had to stick together, and he also knew that if anyone could get them out of this, it was the people currently in his bar and on an island not a million miles away from them.
"Well I'm running low on stock and seeing as you don't pay for your drinks, I'm gonna have to stop pouring", Joe remarked casually.
"Fine, man won't even let his friend have a drink when his whole world is about to collapse..." Methos muttered, half to himself.
Joe felt for his friend, but if Methos couldn't keep a clear head...
"Methos, when this is all over, I promise you the whole bar's stock for free, but please keep a clear head for now. We need you," he told his friend, not unkindly.
Methos smiled, knowing Joe was right, but still wishing he could take escape into alcohol-induced oblivion. It would only be temporary, though, he told himself and getting stinking drunk had never done him any favours when it came to trying to keep his head.
"Gods, I wish they'd hurry up", he remarked for the hundredth time. The next second he looked up in startle-ment as it seemed his wishes may have came true. His eyes met Amanda's, on the alert if need-be, as they both turned towards the bar entrance, the source of the 'buzz' just outside. Joe, whose long career as a Watcher had honed his senses to recognise an Immortal almost as well as a fellow immortal, recognised the signs and just prayed it was Connor and Duncan.
When the door opened slowly and the outline of Connor MacLeod could be seen, the collective relief and release of tension was almost audible. The older Highlander walked wearily into the room and it took a moment for the others to realise that he was alone.
"Where's Duncan? Is he out at the car?" Amanda asked, not wanting to think that Duncan hadn't come back with Connor.
"He's in the cabin", Connor shrugged, "He refused to come."
"What?!" Methos yelled.
"How could you just leave him there? How hard did you try?!" Methos exploded, grabbing Connor by his coat and yelling into his face. Connor just stared at him.
"Methos, let him go!" Joe shouted.
"I'm sure he tried his best, didn't you Connor?" Joe continued.
Connor nodded. Methos reluctantly let him go.
"'Course I did, he wouldn't listen. Maybe someone else should try..." Connor replied, sitting down.
"Sure, you tried your best. I was just so sure you could get through to him", Methos apologised.
"Yeah, well, don't lose it, Old Man", Connor remarked, not unkindly.
Methos gave Connor a strange look and nodded.
"Say Joe, any chance of a drink? I'm pretty exhausted after the long journey back".
"Sure", Joe replied pouring Connor a Scotch.
Amanda, quiet so far, now came over to the others sitting at the bar.
"What did he say, Connor?" she asked quietly.
"Ah, Amanda, lovely Amanda. He thinks he's a danger to you all. He's lost sense of who he is and what he stands for".
"Did you tell him about Ahriman?"
"A little. He just said he was better off where he was. Like I said, he didn't listen to me. So, did you guys find out anything else we could use?" Connor asked, swiftly changing the subject.
Methos, slightly surprised by the lack of concern in Connor's voice, just shook his head. "We really need Duncan. He's the Champion. Unless someone else fights him, Ahriman will just hang around, getting stronger and stronger, gradually taking over. As the time comes to exactly 1000 years since his last fight, he'll get stronger and stronger and will be able to control more people with more precision. If someone else fights, and looses, his power will immediately increase 1000-fold..."
With all their attention focused on Methos, no-one noticed Connor's eyes turn red for a second at the mention of power, before returning the their usual brown.
"When is the 1000 years up?" Amanda asked.
"What's today, Monday, 5pm? In about three months time", Methos replied, bluntly.
"Three months? Damn, why do these things always have to be so close? It could take a while to get Duncan ready", Amanda commented.
"Don't worry your pretty head, Amanda. Three months is a long time", replied Connor.
This time it was Amanda's turn to give Connor a strange look. Was it their imagination, or was Connor acting a bit different since he'd come back?
"Connor, are you alright? You know three months will go quickly and who knows what Ahriman will attempt in that time. The sooner we can get rid of him, before he gets even stronger, the better. We still need to get Duncan to even talk to us, let alone help us. Don't you agree?"
"Of course. I guess it's just the stress talking", Connor agreed, just a little too quickly.
"So, what do you plan to do next?" he continued casually, taking a large drink if his second scotch.
"I don't really know", Methos had to admit.
"Maybe we should wait a couple more days and go and talk to Duncan again", Joe suggested.
"You think he'll want to listen any more? He was pretty angry. I don't know if we could persuade him yet", Connor remarked.
"We haven't got much choice, there's not much time left, remember?!" snapped Methos.
"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you", Connor replied.
Methos just laughed humourlessly and got up.
"I'm just going to get some air. Amanda, why don't you join me?"
"Um, sure."
"You OK, Methos?"
"Sure, Joe, it's just, you know, a bit stuffy in here. Connor, why don't you have another drink then when we get back we'll quiz you some more about Duncan".
Methos left the bar without waiting for Connor's reply, leaving Amanda to rush to catch up with him.
"What's up with him?" Connor asked.
"Oh, he's just worried. He was so sure you would bring Duncan back, I guess he's just disappointed", Joe replied, but he knew that Methos never did anything without a good reason. It was obvious that he wanted to talk to Amanda alone. The question was, 'why?'
"They're good friends, aren't they? Methos cares for Duncan a lot, doesn't he?" Connor continued.
"What? Oh, sure, they're close. Well, they were. Now, who knows. They've been friends for about three years, and like we said, Mac recognised him immediately. I think Methos cares for him more than he'd like to admit, sometimes. He's been through a lot for Mac. I just hope he doesn't end up loosing him through all this".
"You don't think Duncan appreciates his friendship?"
"He does, I just think that Mac didn't know how deeply Methos cared, until the other month. I think it kinda took him by surprise, and Methos didn't actually pick his moment carefully, if you know what I mean."
Amanda had told Jow what had happened between Methos and Duncan - or, rather, what else had happened. Joe had been a bit shocked at first, but then had to admit that it actually had a lot of sense, in a slightly warped kind of way. No wonder that Methos hadn't disappeared to Bora Bora at the first moment of all this.
"You mean Methos...?"
"He showed Mac how he felt, but Mac couldn't take it. He was, still is, messed up over Richie's death".
"Yeah, that must have been hard".
"Well, of course. You know how Richie was the son Mac never had. And, even though he wasn't there, even though he couldn't have known, Mac still blames himself for not saving him. But, hey, that's Mac all over".
Connor just nodded thoughtfully, and Joe's thoughts turned back to the two older Immortals.