Chapter Twenty-Three: An Ending, And A New Beginning
Elsewhere, elsewhen, Amanda and Connor still stood watch over their friends. It had been several, worrying hours. It was clear that something was happening. Neither were dead, or injured, or even asleep. The nearest Connor could think of it was a coma.
Suddenly, so quiet that for a second he thought he may have imagined it, there came an intake gasp of breath from Methos. His was followed a minute later by a similar one from Duncan. Connor breathed a sigh of relief. Then, both bodies went into spasm. Still neither was awake.
"Connor, we have to do something! Wake them!" pleaded Amanda, noticing what was happening.
"We tried that, remember. Wherever they are, whatever's happening, it looks like they weren't ready to come back..."
"And now...?"
"Who knows?" Connor shrugged, watching the two men closely. Was that a flicking eyelid from Methos? The spasms continued.
Blinking in the sudden light that seemed to have surrounded them, Duncan watched again as the surroundings drifted in and out of focus. He closed his eyes and waited it out, feeling Methos' presence next to him, comforting and familiar. Was it really over? Had they survived, or was worse to come?
Shuddering, Duncan sat up with start, and found himself on the floor of Joe's living room, Connor and Amanda watching him. Had it all been a dream? It had been so real!
"Duncan...!" Amanda cried. He turned towards her.
"Mac, I...thank you!" came another voice, and Duncan looked around.
"Methos...?" he asked, for it had indeed been his voice.
Methos was lying next him, but didn't seem to have quite yet fully returned to the land of the living.
"Right here, Mac", came the reply. Then Duncan realised that, somehow, Methos' voice was talking in his head!
"What...?"
"We're linked Duncan. Mind to mind..."
"But how?"
"I don't really know", Methos replied, speaking, as he finally sat up, a huge grin on his face.
"Telepathy?" Duncan asked.
"Looks like it. You got dragged in, Mac. I dragged you in..."
"In where?"
"Where we've just returned from. You wanted to know where we were and why you were there, well, it was my mind, Duncan..."
"Your mind?! You mean it wasn't real. We didn't really defeat Ahriman?!"
"Defeat Ahriman?" questioned Connor.
"No, it was deadly real. It just took place on a mental plane instead of a physical one. Sometimes the hardest battles are those you have with yourself. Ahriman knew that and so picked that playing ground. We were fighting mentally, as well as using physical skills. That's how he could use our pasts against us. Or try to, anyway!"
"That's...wow...that's...incredible!"
"I couldn't have done it without you, Mac. I guess I needed - wanted your strength. You got dragged in because of me. If I hadn't taken you with me, he would probably have found another playing field for your fight. And I would be dead!"
"You're welcome Methos", Duncan replied with a smile. He knew that Methos would probably have managed to survive perfectly well on his own, but he was glad he had been there. Methos was almost like one of his clan, and despite him being 5000 years old, Duncan still had the occasional urge to want to help protect him.
"So, now, we're linked. We only use about a tenth of our brains, you know. After 5000 years, I guess I've learnt to use a little more!"
"I'd say so. It's amazing. But Ahriman's gone?"
"He's gone, for another 1000 years. You did it Mac!"
"You did it?! It's over?! You mean, it was all in your minds?!"
"Somehow, yes. I guess we did do it, Connor..."
"I knew you would, Duncan!"
"Thanks Amanda. And you Connor. If it hadn't been for you..."
"Shh. Don't spoil it. You've defeated the bad guy so don't brood, for Goodness sake! Enjoy being the hero. You know you love it!" a voice in Duncan's head told him.
Squashing a grin - trust Methos! - Duncan turned to his friend. Methos, however, was listening intently to Amanda, looking as innocent as ever.
Duncan decided to have a go at this telepathy thing:
"Hey, Old Man, I think Amanda's looking for something more seasoned than Scottish this time. You'd make a lovely couple you know!"
He had to squash another grin as Methos suddenly went very wide-eyed.
"Hmm, this could be more trouble than it's worth! Fancy having a damned
boy-scout interrupting your thoughts every second!"
"Nah, you love it really, Old Man!"
"Only 'cos it's you Mac", Methos replied, with half a serious note in his 'voice'. This time it was Duncan's turn to go wide-eyed. Methos sighed to himself. Maybe it was high time he had a certain conversation with his Scottish friend.
"You two have gone awfully quiet", Amanda commented, concerned.
At that, both Duncan and Methos burst out laughing.
"What? Was it something I said?" she asked Connor, with a hint of indignation in her voice.
Conner just shrugged, before he too couldn't help but break into a wide grin. Finally Amanda had no choice but to join in. It seemed everything really was back to normal. The danger had passed.
"We really did it! I can't believe it's over!" Methos 'said' to Duncan, through gasps of breath.
"Believe it Old Man! You survived again!" There was a grin in his 'voice'.
"There's more to life than surviving Duncan. I actually feel alive! I couldn't have done it without you, you know."
"I...It wasn't me, you know. Without you, I wouldn't even have known I was supposed to be a Champion".
"You would have managed, Mac..."
Mac let it go, but wondered whether he really would have. As always, the oldest Immortal had surprised them all once again.
A week later and the day of Joe's funeral dawned bright and sunny. Not the sort of day in which to bury a dear friend. Duncan had always thought that funeral's should be on cold, damp days, days reflecting the mourners' state of mind, days when you could remember the loss of a friend or loved one, not be reminded of happier times and how nice it was to be alive. As always, Duncan couldn't help but reflect on whatever it was that allowed him to continue standing there, breathing, whilst the body of someone close to him was no longer allowed that
luxury. Methos would say he was just brooding again, but if you couldn't brood at a funeral, when could you? Never mind the fact that Joe probably wouldn't have wanted him to. He tried to remember Joe at his happiest, playing some new tune to him, Methos, and Richie, or performing for an appreciative crowd. Or with that glint in his eye when he heard about some insight in an Immortal's past - especially Methos'. Yep, Joe Dawson would be sorely missed. If anyone deserved to life forever, it was probably him.
"Why him? It's just not fair", he wondered.
"Leave it, Mac. It was his choice. Don't dishonour him by regretting it for him...", gave the soft, not unsympathetic, 'voice' in his mind. Duncan turned to Methos, who was staring hard at the coffin and blinking away tears. In some ways, Methos would miss Joe more than any of them. They had worked together for ten years before Joe, thanks to Duncan, had found out who he really was. He'd then tried to get to know the real Methos, as much as Methos had let him, anyway, and had almost always accepted him for who he was. He had always been there for all of them.
"I know, but...I'll miss him. He was a good friend."
"One of the best..."
"He would be pleased that we defeated Ahriman..."
"Of course, and that he helped..."
"Yeah..." Duncan replied, softly, walking away from the grave, having said his goodbyes to Joe. He hoped he would rest in peace. A moment later he felt Methos behind him.
"You alright, Mac...?" he asked softly.
"Yeah...I...I will be. Truly", he affirmed, seeing Methos' face. Seeing the slight smile, Methos relaxed slightly.
"It's part of their lives, Mac. Doesn't make it any easier, I know, but just remember the good times, and you'll make sure their memories live on. Joe's death wasn't in vain, you know..."
"I know, Methos, I know".
"He wasn't the only one who made it possible..." Methos continued.
"What?"
"I meant what I said. I wouldn't be alive now if it wasn't for you."
"You would have survived Methos".
"Maybe, but I wouldn't be alive. You make me alive Mac. Your friendship. You're important to me, Duncan, that's why you got sucked into that minefield of a place I call my mind with me".
"I...I..."
"Don't say anything, it's Ok..."
"No. No, it's not OK. You are important in my life as well. I realise that I take you for granted. I shouldn't have treated you like I did after...after Richie's death..."
"It's OK Mac, that doesn't matter. I...I...I just need you in my life, Mac, don't shut me out again. Please..."
"I...I'll try Methos. I can't promise anything. I don't know if I can promise anything more than friendship, either. Not right now. I know how you feel. You have to give me time."
"That's all I ask, Duncan. I'm not going anywhere. It'll be alright..."
Duncan smiled. He really was lucky to have a friend like Methos, he realised. How many times had he been there for him, saved his life even, and how many times had Duncan pushed him away? Well, that would change, he told himself. He'd already lost two friends. With that, he pulled the older man into a hug, as they comforted each other in the wake of Joe's death.
Methos smiled to himself. Maybe the Highland brat was starting to grow up. He didn't know what would happen now between them, but he wasn't worried. He knew that they were closer now than they'd ever been and he thrived on that. If that was the closest they got, it was worth every second. And as for anything more, well he had waited long enough, he could wait a while longer. Something told him he might not have to wait very long, though. Holding on to his friend, he knew that here, by Duncan's side, was where he belonged. They'd even saved the world,
together, again! It was time to stop running, time to stop hiding. Here he was safe.
Elsewhere, elsewhen, Amanda and Connor still stood watch over their friends. It had been several, worrying hours. It was clear that something was happening. Neither were dead, or injured, or even asleep. The nearest Connor could think of it was a coma.
Suddenly, so quiet that for a second he thought he may have imagined it, there came an intake gasp of breath from Methos. His was followed a minute later by a similar one from Duncan. Connor breathed a sigh of relief. Then, both bodies went into spasm. Still neither was awake.
"Connor, we have to do something! Wake them!" pleaded Amanda, noticing what was happening.
"We tried that, remember. Wherever they are, whatever's happening, it looks like they weren't ready to come back..."
"And now...?"
"Who knows?" Connor shrugged, watching the two men closely. Was that a flicking eyelid from Methos? The spasms continued.
Blinking in the sudden light that seemed to have surrounded them, Duncan watched again as the surroundings drifted in and out of focus. He closed his eyes and waited it out, feeling Methos' presence next to him, comforting and familiar. Was it really over? Had they survived, or was worse to come?
Shuddering, Duncan sat up with start, and found himself on the floor of Joe's living room, Connor and Amanda watching him. Had it all been a dream? It had been so real!
"Duncan...!" Amanda cried. He turned towards her.
"Mac, I...thank you!" came another voice, and Duncan looked around.
"Methos...?" he asked, for it had indeed been his voice.
Methos was lying next him, but didn't seem to have quite yet fully returned to the land of the living.
"Right here, Mac", came the reply. Then Duncan realised that, somehow, Methos' voice was talking in his head!
"What...?"
"We're linked Duncan. Mind to mind..."
"But how?"
"I don't really know", Methos replied, speaking, as he finally sat up, a huge grin on his face.
"Telepathy?" Duncan asked.
"Looks like it. You got dragged in, Mac. I dragged you in..."
"In where?"
"Where we've just returned from. You wanted to know where we were and why you were there, well, it was my mind, Duncan..."
"Your mind?! You mean it wasn't real. We didn't really defeat Ahriman?!"
"Defeat Ahriman?" questioned Connor.
"No, it was deadly real. It just took place on a mental plane instead of a physical one. Sometimes the hardest battles are those you have with yourself. Ahriman knew that and so picked that playing ground. We were fighting mentally, as well as using physical skills. That's how he could use our pasts against us. Or try to, anyway!"
"That's...wow...that's...incredible!"
"I couldn't have done it without you, Mac. I guess I needed - wanted your strength. You got dragged in because of me. If I hadn't taken you with me, he would probably have found another playing field for your fight. And I would be dead!"
"You're welcome Methos", Duncan replied with a smile. He knew that Methos would probably have managed to survive perfectly well on his own, but he was glad he had been there. Methos was almost like one of his clan, and despite him being 5000 years old, Duncan still had the occasional urge to want to help protect him.
"So, now, we're linked. We only use about a tenth of our brains, you know. After 5000 years, I guess I've learnt to use a little more!"
"I'd say so. It's amazing. But Ahriman's gone?"
"He's gone, for another 1000 years. You did it Mac!"
"You did it?! It's over?! You mean, it was all in your minds?!"
"Somehow, yes. I guess we did do it, Connor..."
"I knew you would, Duncan!"
"Thanks Amanda. And you Connor. If it hadn't been for you..."
"Shh. Don't spoil it. You've defeated the bad guy so don't brood, for Goodness sake! Enjoy being the hero. You know you love it!" a voice in Duncan's head told him.
Squashing a grin - trust Methos! - Duncan turned to his friend. Methos, however, was listening intently to Amanda, looking as innocent as ever.
Duncan decided to have a go at this telepathy thing:
"Hey, Old Man, I think Amanda's looking for something more seasoned than Scottish this time. You'd make a lovely couple you know!"
He had to squash another grin as Methos suddenly went very wide-eyed.
"Hmm, this could be more trouble than it's worth! Fancy having a damned
boy-scout interrupting your thoughts every second!"
"Nah, you love it really, Old Man!"
"Only 'cos it's you Mac", Methos replied, with half a serious note in his 'voice'. This time it was Duncan's turn to go wide-eyed. Methos sighed to himself. Maybe it was high time he had a certain conversation with his Scottish friend.
"You two have gone awfully quiet", Amanda commented, concerned.
At that, both Duncan and Methos burst out laughing.
"What? Was it something I said?" she asked Connor, with a hint of indignation in her voice.
Conner just shrugged, before he too couldn't help but break into a wide grin. Finally Amanda had no choice but to join in. It seemed everything really was back to normal. The danger had passed.
"We really did it! I can't believe it's over!" Methos 'said' to Duncan, through gasps of breath.
"Believe it Old Man! You survived again!" There was a grin in his 'voice'.
"There's more to life than surviving Duncan. I actually feel alive! I couldn't have done it without you, you know."
"I...It wasn't me, you know. Without you, I wouldn't even have known I was supposed to be a Champion".
"You would have managed, Mac..."
Mac let it go, but wondered whether he really would have. As always, the oldest Immortal had surprised them all once again.
A week later and the day of Joe's funeral dawned bright and sunny. Not the sort of day in which to bury a dear friend. Duncan had always thought that funeral's should be on cold, damp days, days reflecting the mourners' state of mind, days when you could remember the loss of a friend or loved one, not be reminded of happier times and how nice it was to be alive. As always, Duncan couldn't help but reflect on whatever it was that allowed him to continue standing there, breathing, whilst the body of someone close to him was no longer allowed that
luxury. Methos would say he was just brooding again, but if you couldn't brood at a funeral, when could you? Never mind the fact that Joe probably wouldn't have wanted him to. He tried to remember Joe at his happiest, playing some new tune to him, Methos, and Richie, or performing for an appreciative crowd. Or with that glint in his eye when he heard about some insight in an Immortal's past - especially Methos'. Yep, Joe Dawson would be sorely missed. If anyone deserved to life forever, it was probably him.
"Why him? It's just not fair", he wondered.
"Leave it, Mac. It was his choice. Don't dishonour him by regretting it for him...", gave the soft, not unsympathetic, 'voice' in his mind. Duncan turned to Methos, who was staring hard at the coffin and blinking away tears. In some ways, Methos would miss Joe more than any of them. They had worked together for ten years before Joe, thanks to Duncan, had found out who he really was. He'd then tried to get to know the real Methos, as much as Methos had let him, anyway, and had almost always accepted him for who he was. He had always been there for all of them.
"I know, but...I'll miss him. He was a good friend."
"One of the best..."
"He would be pleased that we defeated Ahriman..."
"Of course, and that he helped..."
"Yeah..." Duncan replied, softly, walking away from the grave, having said his goodbyes to Joe. He hoped he would rest in peace. A moment later he felt Methos behind him.
"You alright, Mac...?" he asked softly.
"Yeah...I...I will be. Truly", he affirmed, seeing Methos' face. Seeing the slight smile, Methos relaxed slightly.
"It's part of their lives, Mac. Doesn't make it any easier, I know, but just remember the good times, and you'll make sure their memories live on. Joe's death wasn't in vain, you know..."
"I know, Methos, I know".
"He wasn't the only one who made it possible..." Methos continued.
"What?"
"I meant what I said. I wouldn't be alive now if it wasn't for you."
"You would have survived Methos".
"Maybe, but I wouldn't be alive. You make me alive Mac. Your friendship. You're important to me, Duncan, that's why you got sucked into that minefield of a place I call my mind with me".
"I...I..."
"Don't say anything, it's Ok..."
"No. No, it's not OK. You are important in my life as well. I realise that I take you for granted. I shouldn't have treated you like I did after...after Richie's death..."
"It's OK Mac, that doesn't matter. I...I...I just need you in my life, Mac, don't shut me out again. Please..."
"I...I'll try Methos. I can't promise anything. I don't know if I can promise anything more than friendship, either. Not right now. I know how you feel. You have to give me time."
"That's all I ask, Duncan. I'm not going anywhere. It'll be alright..."
Duncan smiled. He really was lucky to have a friend like Methos, he realised. How many times had he been there for him, saved his life even, and how many times had Duncan pushed him away? Well, that would change, he told himself. He'd already lost two friends. With that, he pulled the older man into a hug, as they comforted each other in the wake of Joe's death.
Methos smiled to himself. Maybe the Highland brat was starting to grow up. He didn't know what would happen now between them, but he wasn't worried. He knew that they were closer now than they'd ever been and he thrived on that. If that was the closest they got, it was worth every second. And as for anything more, well he had waited long enough, he could wait a while longer. Something told him he might not have to wait very long, though. Holding on to his friend, he knew that here, by Duncan's side, was where he belonged. They'd even saved the world,
together, again! It was time to stop running, time to stop hiding. Here he was safe.