Chapter Twenty-One: Alas Poor Joe...
For a time all was well, and it was easy to begin to settle back into an old life. Methos stayed at Joe's and Amanda and Connor stayed with Duncan, with them all at 'Joe's' most nights anyway. Methos and Duncan were friends again, and Duncan certainly appreciated the honesty and trust that had been shared between them, but Amanda still noticed the whistfulness in the older Immortal's eyes and the way he would look at Duncan when he thought no one noticed. Duncan, seemingly having forgiven his friend, still seemed distanced from him sometimes
and would not talk to Amanda about him whenever she tried to point out the old man's virtues. He buried himself in trying to prepare for the battle as Champion, as they had no idea when it would take place. Methos had warned that it would be at least as mentally and emotionally challenging as physically, but could not know exactly what form it would take. They did not have too wait long until the next test, though. A disturbing phone call from Joe and Methos woke Duncan and Amanda early one morning about a fortnight later.
"Mac, it's Joe", the voice was heavy.
"Joe? Something's happened?"
"It's the Watchers. They think I've crossed the line too often and are going to put me on trial for being a traitor!"
"Joe, that's crazy. Can't they see that that's not treachery?!"
"It is crazy, Mac, exactly. I don't know what to do! The Watchers are my life, to have them turn against me..."
"Joe, you always have us, besides it may not be just the Watchers, you know that."
"I know, but how can I tell. Oh God, if they find me guilty..."
"Joe, Joe...listen".
"Mac, it's Adrian", came Methos' voice.
' 'Adrian'?' thought Duncan.
"Um, Adrian, hi".
"We need to do something. This is really getting to him. I've never seen him like this, even after..."
"Yeah. You want us to come over?"
"Yeah."
"Do you...is this...you think this is Ahriman's work?"
"I think so. Joe's being tested again. He's tried once to use Joe against us and when he found he couldn't, he's using the rest of the Watchers against Joe and trying to break the group, our strength in unity."
"You mean like 'united we stand, divided we fall?'"
"Exactly."
"You told Joe this?"
"Of course I have, but he won't listen!"
"Ok, we're on our way".
Methos hung up without wasting time to say goodbye and Mac went to wake Connor and tell him and Amanda the latest news.
"Mac, Amanda, Connor, come in", greeted Methos. They could see the worried, haunted look in his eyes. In some ways, the Oldest Immortal was the most protective of the older-looking mortal, as the only one who really didn't have to keep getting himself mixed up in these things, but kept doing so anyway, for friendship's sake.
"Thanks, Adrian", grinned Amanda. Methos smiled, faintly, and realised that he'd missed her and the easy word play they had achieved between them. They had become good friends, bound by a common interest, and neither of them perfect, they had finally seen beneath the bad images each of them had of the other and found caring friendship underneath. Since Mac had got back to town Methos' thoughts had been mostly on the Scot. They were friends now, perhaps better friends than ever, having finally found some honesty and trust, and gotten through one crisis, but... And, now what with Joe. Methos took the opportunity to hug Amanda tightly.
"Thank you", he whispered, "If I forgot to say it before..."
"Anytime, Old Man...", she replied, whilst Duncan and Connor looked on in bemusement.
"Methos, where's Joe", Duncan asked gently. Methos wasn't the only one
dreadfully worried about the mortal.
"He's upstairs. It's not good, Mac". They quietly followed Methos upstairs. Joe was locked in his bedroom.
"Joe...", Methos called softly.
"I told you, Methos, go away." The voice was weak and lethargic.
"Joe, we're all here", called Duncan.
"Joe, please let us in."
"No. Leave me alone. Why are you here, anyway?"
"Because we care for you."
"No you don't. I'm just your Watcher, and now they don't want me either."
"It doesn't matter, Joe. You don't need them. You have us, we couldn't have gotten through the last few weeks without you", replied Amanda.
"I didn't do anything. You don't need me. You're Immortals. The Watchers were my family".
This sickened three of the four Immortals, and saddened Connor as well, for although he'd only known Joe a short time, he'd come to like and respect him.
"Don't let it get to you Joe. You are part of our family. We need you", replied Duncan.
"No, you don't. Just leave me alone."
"It's no good", Methos concluded, "give him a bit more time".
"Was I that bad...?" asked Duncan, as they made there way downstairs for a drink.
"Yep", grinned Methos and Amanda.
Duncan sighed.
"Mac, its Ahriman. He uses your fears and regrets against you without you even knowing it. Now he knows we care for Joe, he's hurting him, and to hurt us."
"Well, he's succeeding."
"There must be something we can do. We can't let Joe suffer like this."
"Just talk to him".
Suddenly the sound of a gunshot came from the bedroom, closely followed by a crash. The four Immortals froze.
"Joe!" Duncan cried.
"Oh, god, no!" seconded Methos.
"You let him have a gun", asked Connor, in disbelief as all four started running upstairs.
"I didn't know", Methos replied.
With both Duncan's and Methos' weight against the door, it soon broke, but it was too late. Joe was lying on the floor, a gun in his hand, and a bullet hole in his head.
"No!!", Duncan cried again.
"Oh, Joe, why?! Why didn't you let us help?" asked Methos as he knelt next to the almost-dead mortal.
"My...decision...", Joe gasped, "Get...Ahriman...", he finished, his voice fading off.
Joe Dawson was dead. From somewhere, came a faint echo of laughter in the air.
"No, not Joe, not yet!", cried Amanda, as Duncan held her, his own tears running down his face. Connor just shook his head, and mumbled something in Gaelic, grief in his eyes. Methos still hadn't moved from Joe's side.
"It's my fault. It's me he wants now", the oldest Immortal declared gravely, as Duncan forcibly moved him from the floor. Facing them, they could see pain and determination set in their friend's eyes.
"Methos...?" cautioned Duncan.
"It's Ok, Mac, I know what I'm doing. No more games, no more bidding for time..."
"Show yourself Ahriman! I know you're there! No more hiding. You want me, you've got me. Let's finish this now, you and me! No more games! Let's see how strong you really are!"
"Methos, stop!" Duncan cried, shocked.
"No, let me do this."
"Let me help. You said I was the Champion".
"Maybe so, but this is my fight".
Duncan reached out to grab his friend's arm.
"No, it's not just your fight. It's our fight. I..."
But, Duncan forgot his words mid-sentence as Methos suddenly collapsed and fell into his arms, his eyes glazed over.
"Methos!" he called, still holding his friend. Now what? Shuddering, Duncan noticed a cold draft in the air. Amanda and Connor were no-where to be seen, and Duncan watched in amazement as the room around him seemed to swim and fade, blurring and finally solidifying into something completely different.
Duncan's vision cleared, and he found himself on the ground next to Methos. They were sitting in a desert, the air hot and dusty. Everything was very still and quiet. Duncan realised that he couldn't even 'hear' Methos' buzz, something that was always in the back of his mind however hard he would try to ignore it.
Somewhere, somewhen. In the real world, Connor and Amanda watched as Duncan sagged and fell against the still-unconscious Methos. Both fell to the ground, but still neither moved. Alarmed, after trying successfully to rouse them, they made their friends comfortable and could do nothing else but watch...and wait.
Looking up, Duncan saw that Methos was dressed in what could have passed for bronze age wear. Standing up, he noticed that he himself wore his traditional MacLeod tartan kilt.
"Duncan? What are you doing here?" asked Methos, as if noticing him for the first time.
"I could ask you the same question..."
"Really? Hmmm. Oh, no, wait, I think I know why you're here. It's just
typical..." he finished, half to himself.
"You do? Care to enlighten me?"
"Not really. I'll tell you later..." he replied, in a voice that posed no arguments. Duncan already knew he wasn't about to get a straight answer on this one.
"Can you at least tell me where we are? How we got here...? The last thing I remember is being at Joe's, you shouting at Ahriman, then suddenly collapsing..."
"Shit! Joe. That was real, wasn't it?!"
"Well...Yeah...". But Methos was already half ignoring him, looking around expectantly. He sighed.
"This is the Horseman's camp, during the bronze age. I think I just got my wish, Mac...And, if I'm not mistaken, any minute now..."
At his words, a horse and rider appeared a few yards away from them. The rider jumped off, drawing his sword and grinned evilly. It came as no surprise that his eyes glowed bright red.
"Kronos...!?" Duncan gasped.
"That's not Kronos", Methos replied, his voice hard and emotionless.
"We meet again...Brother", the rider greeted, snarling.
"I'm not your brother..."
"Oh but you were. You were my favourite brother. And I see you bought a little friend with you this time." He turned to Duncan with a gleam in his eye, looking him up and down.
"Don't worry boy, I promise you a quick death." He smiled. It was ugly.
"You leave him out of this. This is between you and me!" Methos yelled.
"Not any more. You brought him into this, and now it's too late. Besides, this is just too good. I can dispose of this year's Champion, and make you suffer, all at the same time".
"No!" Methos cried, drawing his sword.
'Kronos' just laughed, and attacked.
For a time all was well, and it was easy to begin to settle back into an old life. Methos stayed at Joe's and Amanda and Connor stayed with Duncan, with them all at 'Joe's' most nights anyway. Methos and Duncan were friends again, and Duncan certainly appreciated the honesty and trust that had been shared between them, but Amanda still noticed the whistfulness in the older Immortal's eyes and the way he would look at Duncan when he thought no one noticed. Duncan, seemingly having forgiven his friend, still seemed distanced from him sometimes
and would not talk to Amanda about him whenever she tried to point out the old man's virtues. He buried himself in trying to prepare for the battle as Champion, as they had no idea when it would take place. Methos had warned that it would be at least as mentally and emotionally challenging as physically, but could not know exactly what form it would take. They did not have too wait long until the next test, though. A disturbing phone call from Joe and Methos woke Duncan and Amanda early one morning about a fortnight later.
"Mac, it's Joe", the voice was heavy.
"Joe? Something's happened?"
"It's the Watchers. They think I've crossed the line too often and are going to put me on trial for being a traitor!"
"Joe, that's crazy. Can't they see that that's not treachery?!"
"It is crazy, Mac, exactly. I don't know what to do! The Watchers are my life, to have them turn against me..."
"Joe, you always have us, besides it may not be just the Watchers, you know that."
"I know, but how can I tell. Oh God, if they find me guilty..."
"Joe, Joe...listen".
"Mac, it's Adrian", came Methos' voice.
' 'Adrian'?' thought Duncan.
"Um, Adrian, hi".
"We need to do something. This is really getting to him. I've never seen him like this, even after..."
"Yeah. You want us to come over?"
"Yeah."
"Do you...is this...you think this is Ahriman's work?"
"I think so. Joe's being tested again. He's tried once to use Joe against us and when he found he couldn't, he's using the rest of the Watchers against Joe and trying to break the group, our strength in unity."
"You mean like 'united we stand, divided we fall?'"
"Exactly."
"You told Joe this?"
"Of course I have, but he won't listen!"
"Ok, we're on our way".
Methos hung up without wasting time to say goodbye and Mac went to wake Connor and tell him and Amanda the latest news.
"Mac, Amanda, Connor, come in", greeted Methos. They could see the worried, haunted look in his eyes. In some ways, the Oldest Immortal was the most protective of the older-looking mortal, as the only one who really didn't have to keep getting himself mixed up in these things, but kept doing so anyway, for friendship's sake.
"Thanks, Adrian", grinned Amanda. Methos smiled, faintly, and realised that he'd missed her and the easy word play they had achieved between them. They had become good friends, bound by a common interest, and neither of them perfect, they had finally seen beneath the bad images each of them had of the other and found caring friendship underneath. Since Mac had got back to town Methos' thoughts had been mostly on the Scot. They were friends now, perhaps better friends than ever, having finally found some honesty and trust, and gotten through one crisis, but... And, now what with Joe. Methos took the opportunity to hug Amanda tightly.
"Thank you", he whispered, "If I forgot to say it before..."
"Anytime, Old Man...", she replied, whilst Duncan and Connor looked on in bemusement.
"Methos, where's Joe", Duncan asked gently. Methos wasn't the only one
dreadfully worried about the mortal.
"He's upstairs. It's not good, Mac". They quietly followed Methos upstairs. Joe was locked in his bedroom.
"Joe...", Methos called softly.
"I told you, Methos, go away." The voice was weak and lethargic.
"Joe, we're all here", called Duncan.
"Joe, please let us in."
"No. Leave me alone. Why are you here, anyway?"
"Because we care for you."
"No you don't. I'm just your Watcher, and now they don't want me either."
"It doesn't matter, Joe. You don't need them. You have us, we couldn't have gotten through the last few weeks without you", replied Amanda.
"I didn't do anything. You don't need me. You're Immortals. The Watchers were my family".
This sickened three of the four Immortals, and saddened Connor as well, for although he'd only known Joe a short time, he'd come to like and respect him.
"Don't let it get to you Joe. You are part of our family. We need you", replied Duncan.
"No, you don't. Just leave me alone."
"It's no good", Methos concluded, "give him a bit more time".
"Was I that bad...?" asked Duncan, as they made there way downstairs for a drink.
"Yep", grinned Methos and Amanda.
Duncan sighed.
"Mac, its Ahriman. He uses your fears and regrets against you without you even knowing it. Now he knows we care for Joe, he's hurting him, and to hurt us."
"Well, he's succeeding."
"There must be something we can do. We can't let Joe suffer like this."
"Just talk to him".
Suddenly the sound of a gunshot came from the bedroom, closely followed by a crash. The four Immortals froze.
"Joe!" Duncan cried.
"Oh, god, no!" seconded Methos.
"You let him have a gun", asked Connor, in disbelief as all four started running upstairs.
"I didn't know", Methos replied.
With both Duncan's and Methos' weight against the door, it soon broke, but it was too late. Joe was lying on the floor, a gun in his hand, and a bullet hole in his head.
"No!!", Duncan cried again.
"Oh, Joe, why?! Why didn't you let us help?" asked Methos as he knelt next to the almost-dead mortal.
"My...decision...", Joe gasped, "Get...Ahriman...", he finished, his voice fading off.
Joe Dawson was dead. From somewhere, came a faint echo of laughter in the air.
"No, not Joe, not yet!", cried Amanda, as Duncan held her, his own tears running down his face. Connor just shook his head, and mumbled something in Gaelic, grief in his eyes. Methos still hadn't moved from Joe's side.
"It's my fault. It's me he wants now", the oldest Immortal declared gravely, as Duncan forcibly moved him from the floor. Facing them, they could see pain and determination set in their friend's eyes.
"Methos...?" cautioned Duncan.
"It's Ok, Mac, I know what I'm doing. No more games, no more bidding for time..."
"Show yourself Ahriman! I know you're there! No more hiding. You want me, you've got me. Let's finish this now, you and me! No more games! Let's see how strong you really are!"
"Methos, stop!" Duncan cried, shocked.
"No, let me do this."
"Let me help. You said I was the Champion".
"Maybe so, but this is my fight".
Duncan reached out to grab his friend's arm.
"No, it's not just your fight. It's our fight. I..."
But, Duncan forgot his words mid-sentence as Methos suddenly collapsed and fell into his arms, his eyes glazed over.
"Methos!" he called, still holding his friend. Now what? Shuddering, Duncan noticed a cold draft in the air. Amanda and Connor were no-where to be seen, and Duncan watched in amazement as the room around him seemed to swim and fade, blurring and finally solidifying into something completely different.
Duncan's vision cleared, and he found himself on the ground next to Methos. They were sitting in a desert, the air hot and dusty. Everything was very still and quiet. Duncan realised that he couldn't even 'hear' Methos' buzz, something that was always in the back of his mind however hard he would try to ignore it.
Somewhere, somewhen. In the real world, Connor and Amanda watched as Duncan sagged and fell against the still-unconscious Methos. Both fell to the ground, but still neither moved. Alarmed, after trying successfully to rouse them, they made their friends comfortable and could do nothing else but watch...and wait.
Looking up, Duncan saw that Methos was dressed in what could have passed for bronze age wear. Standing up, he noticed that he himself wore his traditional MacLeod tartan kilt.
"Duncan? What are you doing here?" asked Methos, as if noticing him for the first time.
"I could ask you the same question..."
"Really? Hmmm. Oh, no, wait, I think I know why you're here. It's just
typical..." he finished, half to himself.
"You do? Care to enlighten me?"
"Not really. I'll tell you later..." he replied, in a voice that posed no arguments. Duncan already knew he wasn't about to get a straight answer on this one.
"Can you at least tell me where we are? How we got here...? The last thing I remember is being at Joe's, you shouting at Ahriman, then suddenly collapsing..."
"Shit! Joe. That was real, wasn't it?!"
"Well...Yeah...". But Methos was already half ignoring him, looking around expectantly. He sighed.
"This is the Horseman's camp, during the bronze age. I think I just got my wish, Mac...And, if I'm not mistaken, any minute now..."
At his words, a horse and rider appeared a few yards away from them. The rider jumped off, drawing his sword and grinned evilly. It came as no surprise that his eyes glowed bright red.
"Kronos...!?" Duncan gasped.
"That's not Kronos", Methos replied, his voice hard and emotionless.
"We meet again...Brother", the rider greeted, snarling.
"I'm not your brother..."
"Oh but you were. You were my favourite brother. And I see you bought a little friend with you this time." He turned to Duncan with a gleam in his eye, looking him up and down.
"Don't worry boy, I promise you a quick death." He smiled. It was ugly.
"You leave him out of this. This is between you and me!" Methos yelled.
"Not any more. You brought him into this, and now it's too late. Besides, this is just too good. I can dispose of this year's Champion, and make you suffer, all at the same time".
"No!" Methos cried, drawing his sword.
'Kronos' just laughed, and attacked.