Chapter Seventeen: A Bonding Session
Methos had finally slowed down enough for Amanda to catch up, a couple of blocks away from the bar.
"Methos, what the hell is going on? Where are you going?"
"No where, 'Manda. Like I said I needed some air. I couldn't take it in there any longer".
"Why, because Connor returned alone? Come on, I'm sure he tried his best. You know how stubborn Duncan is. It's not Connor's fault".
"I'm sure Connor did try his best. He may still be trying".
"What? What do you mean?"
"I mean, 'Manda, that that, in the bar, is not Connor MacLeod."
"Of course it is. Who else would it be?"
"Oh, wake up, Amanda! Doesn't he seem to be acting just the slightest bit strange, different? Asking a bit too many questions? A little bit too unconcerned with his failure and that fact that the clock is ticking on this little adventure of ours?!"
"You mean...?"
"Yes, it has to be!"
"How can you be so sure?"
"Trust me on this one. I didn't survive 5000 years without learning how to trust my instincts".
"But if that's Ahriman in the bar, how come his eyes aren't red? How come he hasn't attacked us yet?!"
"He's gotten stronger, and either that's actually Arhiman in there, with the power to disguise himself, or he's taken over Connor, like he did Duncan, and has left a bit of control with Connor so that we wouldn't realise what was going on. As for why he hasn't attacked us, he's playing with us, biding his time and getting information."
"So, what finally gave it away?"
"The Scotch".
"The Scotch?!"
"Yep. Connor always saviours his scotch. This 'Connor' swallowed it quickly, like bad medicine".
"And that confined your suspicions?!"
"Well, without actually coming out and asking him, yeah".
"God, you know Connor so well? I thought some of his behaviour was a little strange, but I put it down to the stress and the worry."
"Yeah I know Connor well, I've always been a student of human nature, it's helped me to survive on many occasions. And, since when did he call you lovely and pretty?"
"Well..."
"I thought Connor disliked you almost as much as I used to".
"Yeah, he thought I corrupted his little Duncan! Although, he was civil last night".
"You, corrupting, never?! I'm sure it was Duncan who really planned all those robberies".
"Funny, Methos, very funny".
"Why thank-you, Milady. I aim to please. You can book me for weddings,
birthdays, funerals", Methos replied with a grin. It was good to get a bit of comic relief.
Amanda laughed, but knew he was right.
"You know, oh old-and-wise-one, if things were different, you and I could so easily..."
"Perhaps", Methos, replied thoughtfully, "But you know how I feel about Duncan".
"Yeah, I also know, that somehow, you two were meant to be together. So, are you gonna talk to him about it?"
"Hmm, maybe, when we're all safe, and when I can sure he won't cut my head off just to shut me up" he laughed, "I think I'll just wait a couple of centuries".
Amanda just groaned.
"You really do have a one-track mind, don't you?" Amanda commented, not
unkindly.
"Hey, I'm a creature of habit, and I've had a long time to perfect them", Methos replied, almost apologetically.
"I also know Arhiman well. Dreams are wonderful things sometimes", he continued.
"Dreams, or nightmares?"
Methos' look just confirmed her guess.
"I think Arhiman's underestimated you this time", Amanda said, smiling, as she took Methos arm.
"Come on, Old Man, let's go back. We've left Joe there with him".
Methos nodded wearily and let Amanda lead him back to the bar, his mind racing with how they could get away from Arhiman and save Connor. He felt sure that Ahriman was just playing with them this time. He was stronger, but still not completely at full strength. He couldn't beat them all, yet, now they knew what they were fighting. Besides he wanted to make them, to make him, suffer. And, he wanted Duncan. He couldn't kill Duncan on holy ground, anyway, so maybe Mac was save enough there. For now. That didn't disguise the fact that Methos wanted him, no, needed him, back home save and well.
"Hey guys, feeling better?" asked Joe as Amanda and Methos returned to the bar, looking very friendly.
"Yep, we, er, just needed some quality time, ya know", Methos replied with a grin, raising his eyebrows at Joe. Amanda giggled. Joe still shook his head, confused. Methos and Amanda? Well, it wasn't outside the realm of possibility. He'd just thought that Methos was cut up over Mac. Maybe Methos had given Duncan up as a lost cause and was happy to be just friends with the Highlander. If he ever returned.
"Oh," commented 'Connor', "you two?"
"Well, you know...", giggled Amanda.
"Right", replied 'Connor', looking nearly as baffled as Joe, but not nearly as worried.
What neither of them knew was that Methos was scheming and Amanda, besides being terrified of being back in the bar, was trying to think of a way to distract 'Connor' so that they could get Joe away from him. They'd decided on a tentative cover of wanting to be alone together for the reason why they were outside together alone for so long. They didn't want 'Connor' to realise that they knew what was going on.
Methos had finally slowed down enough for Amanda to catch up, a couple of blocks away from the bar.
"Methos, what the hell is going on? Where are you going?"
"No where, 'Manda. Like I said I needed some air. I couldn't take it in there any longer".
"Why, because Connor returned alone? Come on, I'm sure he tried his best. You know how stubborn Duncan is. It's not Connor's fault".
"I'm sure Connor did try his best. He may still be trying".
"What? What do you mean?"
"I mean, 'Manda, that that, in the bar, is not Connor MacLeod."
"Of course it is. Who else would it be?"
"Oh, wake up, Amanda! Doesn't he seem to be acting just the slightest bit strange, different? Asking a bit too many questions? A little bit too unconcerned with his failure and that fact that the clock is ticking on this little adventure of ours?!"
"You mean...?"
"Yes, it has to be!"
"How can you be so sure?"
"Trust me on this one. I didn't survive 5000 years without learning how to trust my instincts".
"But if that's Ahriman in the bar, how come his eyes aren't red? How come he hasn't attacked us yet?!"
"He's gotten stronger, and either that's actually Arhiman in there, with the power to disguise himself, or he's taken over Connor, like he did Duncan, and has left a bit of control with Connor so that we wouldn't realise what was going on. As for why he hasn't attacked us, he's playing with us, biding his time and getting information."
"So, what finally gave it away?"
"The Scotch".
"The Scotch?!"
"Yep. Connor always saviours his scotch. This 'Connor' swallowed it quickly, like bad medicine".
"And that confined your suspicions?!"
"Well, without actually coming out and asking him, yeah".
"God, you know Connor so well? I thought some of his behaviour was a little strange, but I put it down to the stress and the worry."
"Yeah I know Connor well, I've always been a student of human nature, it's helped me to survive on many occasions. And, since when did he call you lovely and pretty?"
"Well..."
"I thought Connor disliked you almost as much as I used to".
"Yeah, he thought I corrupted his little Duncan! Although, he was civil last night".
"You, corrupting, never?! I'm sure it was Duncan who really planned all those robberies".
"Funny, Methos, very funny".
"Why thank-you, Milady. I aim to please. You can book me for weddings,
birthdays, funerals", Methos replied with a grin. It was good to get a bit of comic relief.
Amanda laughed, but knew he was right.
"You know, oh old-and-wise-one, if things were different, you and I could so easily..."
"Perhaps", Methos, replied thoughtfully, "But you know how I feel about Duncan".
"Yeah, I also know, that somehow, you two were meant to be together. So, are you gonna talk to him about it?"
"Hmm, maybe, when we're all safe, and when I can sure he won't cut my head off just to shut me up" he laughed, "I think I'll just wait a couple of centuries".
Amanda just groaned.
"You really do have a one-track mind, don't you?" Amanda commented, not
unkindly.
"Hey, I'm a creature of habit, and I've had a long time to perfect them", Methos replied, almost apologetically.
"I also know Arhiman well. Dreams are wonderful things sometimes", he continued.
"Dreams, or nightmares?"
Methos' look just confirmed her guess.
"I think Arhiman's underestimated you this time", Amanda said, smiling, as she took Methos arm.
"Come on, Old Man, let's go back. We've left Joe there with him".
Methos nodded wearily and let Amanda lead him back to the bar, his mind racing with how they could get away from Arhiman and save Connor. He felt sure that Ahriman was just playing with them this time. He was stronger, but still not completely at full strength. He couldn't beat them all, yet, now they knew what they were fighting. Besides he wanted to make them, to make him, suffer. And, he wanted Duncan. He couldn't kill Duncan on holy ground, anyway, so maybe Mac was save enough there. For now. That didn't disguise the fact that Methos wanted him, no, needed him, back home save and well.
"Hey guys, feeling better?" asked Joe as Amanda and Methos returned to the bar, looking very friendly.
"Yep, we, er, just needed some quality time, ya know", Methos replied with a grin, raising his eyebrows at Joe. Amanda giggled. Joe still shook his head, confused. Methos and Amanda? Well, it wasn't outside the realm of possibility. He'd just thought that Methos was cut up over Mac. Maybe Methos had given Duncan up as a lost cause and was happy to be just friends with the Highlander. If he ever returned.
"Oh," commented 'Connor', "you two?"
"Well, you know...", giggled Amanda.
"Right", replied 'Connor', looking nearly as baffled as Joe, but not nearly as worried.
What neither of them knew was that Methos was scheming and Amanda, besides being terrified of being back in the bar, was trying to think of a way to distract 'Connor' so that they could get Joe away from him. They'd decided on a tentative cover of wanting to be alone together for the reason why they were outside together alone for so long. They didn't want 'Connor' to realise that they knew what was going on.