See disclaimer, etc in Part One
"What's wrong?"
"Another immortal." He walks over to Tim's coat and pulls a sword out of the lining. "If someone is threatening you or Bayliss, try and stab them with this." Adam storms out of the room grabbing a long package from the closet on his way out. just as Bayliss is waking up.
"What's wrong Frank?"
"Your friend just muttered something about a fellow immortal, handed me this from your coat and stormed out the door. What's wrong, you don't look good."
"Another immortal huh, I can feel him. Well, lets go see what this is about." By this point all the mortal patrons had left the bar, and that was a good thing considering what might happen when Methos and MacLeod confronted each other.
"MacLeod, why the hell aren't you carrying your sword??"
"Well, *Adam*, amazing seeing you here. I thought that you had just run on Joe and myself."
"I didn't run out, I got a student for your information."
"The great Adam Pierson got a student, huh. Amazing, fucking amazing that you could care for someone other than yourself."
"What the fuck are you talking about MacLeod???"
"You running off after Ahriman. After my killing Richie."
"And what the hell are you doing running around without a sword?"
"I don't deserve to live. After all, I killed Richie." With this statement,
Methos loses patience with MacLeod, he grabs MacLeod by the front of his shirt and rams him against the closest wall.
Bayliss and Frank enter the room at this point, "Well, this isn't going well." Remarks Bayliss.
"What the hell are they doing?" Asks Frank, shocked at what he is seeing.
"Long story, listen and you will probably get it.
"MacLeod, take your fucking sword."
"No."
With one fluid motion, Methos pulls out his sword and has it at MacLeod's neck.
"Take your sword or I swear I will take your head."
"No, I don't deserve to live."
"So you are just walking around with no sword, have you ever considered that maybe a head hunter would get your head. You have a powerful quickening, imagine what that might do to a head hunter. Maybe I should just take your head and be done with it."
"Maybe I should have taken your head when you offered it to me."
"Well, maybe I should have taken your head when you offered it to me after the Dark Quickening. When I left Alexa on her deathbed to see to your sorry ass."
"Maybe you should have, then Richie would be alive." There is blood trickling down Mac's neck now.
"Oh shit Frank, this is not good."
"No kidding."
"No, who just walked in." Bayliss takes his sword out and runs to where another immortal is taking a swing at Methos' head. He blocks her sword mid-stroke.
"Sorry, can't let you do that."
"Why the hell not? Methos is evil, Cassandra said so. I should take both of your heads, after all, you are his student."
"So the rules don't matter to you?"
"No."
Amanda is running towards Joe's bar trying to get there in time. 'Please Gods, let me get there in time. Cassandra and her student are going to take Methos' head. Front door is not a good idea, I'll just use the back door. Ok, I have my tools in my hand, come on lock, open. Thank god.' Amanda rushes into the bar just in time to stop Cassandra from taking Methos' head. "Sorry Cassandra, can't let you do that."
"He is going to take Mac's head! And Mac doesn't even have a sword." Spits Cassandra.
"Has it occurred to you that MacLeod has been running around *WITHOUT* a sword for the past year? Did it also occur that Methos might JUST be trying to make Mac take back his sword? No, because Methos is evil no matter what he does, even if it is for the good."
"Joe, what the hell is going on? Who is Methos, why are there two people trying to take his head?"
"Joe, go ahead and tell him why." Methos calls to Joe.
"Methos is his real name, he is the oldest known immortal."
"How old?"
"5000 give or take a couple centuries."
"Wow."
"Ever heard of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?"
"Yes, but they are just a myth."
"No they are not, Methos was Death. The other three are dead." Joe goes on to explain the story and why Cassandra wants Methos dead.
"That's intense. I understand why Cassandra would want him dead, but still, this is unfair."
"I agree with that thought."
"But why won't Mac carry a sword?"
"Do you believe in demons?"
"No, They are farie tales made up to scare ignorant people into line by the Church."
"Oh, they are very real. Richie Ryan was Mac's student, about a year ago Mac was possessed by Ahriman. Under Ahriman's influence he took Richie's head, he hasn't forgiven himself yet. That's why he won't carry a sword."
"Shit."
"Mac, Richie is dead. Nothing can change that. Take your fucking sword."
"Not until you answer a question for me."
"And what would that be?"
"Why did you run after I had killed Richie?"
"Did it ever occur to you that MAYBE I ran because of my past I would be more susepetible to Ahriman's influences?"
"That doesn't explain anything."
"Mac, look at how easy it took over you, and you are a *GOOD* person, with a much less bloody past than me. Think of how easy it could have gotten to me. The demon might have offered me the power that I had with the Horsemen. *I* don't want that power again. In Bordeaux, it was damned hard for me to resist the lure of power that the Horsemen held. It was for the good of humanity that I ran from you for. So PLEASE take your sword Mac."
"Fine." With that one word, Mac takes his sword from Methos' grip and Methos takes his sword from Mac's neck.
"Now that you have heard me out, can we at least try to be friends again?"
"I suppose. What the hell is going on behind you?"
"It would appear that my student is stopping Cassandra's student from taking my head and Amanda is doing the same with Cassandra."
"Cassandra, put your sword away. And make your student do the same."
"How can you forgive that bastard?" Cassandra asks.
"Probably because he was making me face some hard realities about not carrying my sword. He convinced me to carry it again."
"So, he still deserves to die."
"Cassandra, he was probably the only person who could have convinced me to take my sword again. Leave now."
"I want to make sure that bastard won't kill you."
"Cassandra, if you don't leave, I may just take your head. So GO."
"Fine, Kristine, lets leave these bastards. " With those words, Cassandra and her student drop their weapons and leave.
"Amanda, I didn't know you were coming."
"I've been keeping an eye on Cassandra lately. It seems her student and her have been doing a bit of hunting lately." She turns to Methos, "Thank you Adam for making Mac carry a sword again."
Frank looks on disbelieving that no serious harm had come to anyone. Though he got the impression that everyone with swords was an immortal, so if they just died it wouldn't matter.
Methos walks back to the bar, "So Frank, confused?"
"Just a bit."
"Hey Joe, can I get a beer?" Methos asks.
"I suppose. Anyone else want something to drink?"
Amanda requests a red wine, Tim gets a beer, Mac gets a whiskey, and Frank just gets a 7-up.
"Can I get you something harder Frank?"
"Can't because of my blood pressure. Found that one out the hard way. Three years ago I stroked out in the interrogation room."
"That sucks." Remarks Joe.
"I think that Cassandra was hanging by one mental thread when she came in here tonight, and has been since Bordeaux. Tonight's events just broke that last thread." MacLeod puts in, not liking its implications for his old friend.
"I for one, plan on doing nothing about it for now. I will however do something about it if she does something about it." Remarks Methos, startling MacLeod.
"Such as?" Questions Mac.
"Starts running around and telling people what my real name is."
At this point the four immortals in the bar tense up, as another immortal approaches.
"Who in here is Adam Pierson?" The strange man asks.
"I am, why?"
"Your real name is Methos, and if I take your head, I will be all powerful."
"How did you find that out?"
"Cassandra told me."
"Wonderful, abso-fucking-lutly wonderful. Who are you?"
"Jason Nelson. Say goodbye to your friends. I challenge you Methos."
"I'd say goodbye to your friends as well, except that I don't think that you have any. I accept your challenge only I want my friends with me."
"Why, do you not trust me?"
"No."
They all move to the alleyway by Joe's bar, Nelson lunges first, a move that is easily parried by Methos. Methos stays on the defensive, reading Nelson's attack strategy. Nelson is good, very good, but Methos is better. After about five minutes of Nelson being on the offensive, Methos thrusts. Nelson tries to parry, but fails and gets a deep wound on his left shoulder. Methos feints to Nelson's left with a lunge, but finishes with a stroke that slashes across Nelson's knees and continues upwards and cleanly takes Nelson's head off.
Frank is in awe of what he has just seen, two men fighting with swords to the death. Part of him was in shock that two people could kill each other without so much as a thought, but the other part knew that logically, if Adam had not fought, he would be dead. And despite Adam's past, he seemed to be a much nicer guy than Nelson seemed to be. Frank watches with horror as Nelson's body lifts off of the ground, a white mist coming from where his head used to be. This white mist envelopes Adam's body. Blue lightening bolts shoot out of Nelson's body, arching over to Adam's body, some of the lightening bolts bounce off of Adam's body and crash into windows, glass is shattering everywhere. Adam lets out a primal scream before collapsing to the ground, exhausted.
Dammit, I really hate quickenings. The sensation that Adam felt during the quickening was akin to something in between an orgasm and torturous pain.
Frank moves toward Adam's body, but is stopped by MacLeod. "No, Frank. He cannot be touched by a mortal right now." Mac moves over to Adam, "Adam, I am going to pick you up now." Mac picks him up and moves him inside the bar to the couch in Joe's office where he lays him down.
By this time Methos has recovered enough to speak, "You know Mac, if we keep doing this, people will talk."
"Let them talk, admit it, you'd love it."
"Nelson was quite powerful, I am pretty sure that he was a hunter. He seemed rather new to me, Don't say anything about that MacLeod, what I mean by new is no older than a few centuries. I know that you are not going to like what I have to say Mac, but Cassandra needs to be stopped."
"It hurts me to agree with you, but I agree, she does need to be stopped."
"Okay, I will go with Erik and Frank and search half the city with them. You take Amanda and search the other half with her. Joe, you can stay back here and maybe use some of your Watcher resources to see what she has been up to lately."
"No Methos."
"Why not?"
"You saved my life today already, let me repay the favor. Stay here with Joe, I will search with Erik and Amanda can search with Frank."
"I don't know if that is a good idea, after all, Frank used to be a cop."
"Well, I will just have to tell her to be on her best behavior."
"What will I do then?"
"Methos, you are the best hacker among us, try and hack into different airline ticket databases."
"Fine."
Mac gets up and tells the others of the plan. A few hours later they meet back at Joe's.
"Erik and I found no sign of her or her student anywhere." States Mac.
"Frank I and didn't either." Adds Amanda.
"Well, I had better luck than any of you."
"What did you find Adam?" Asks Mac.
"Well she purchased two plane tickets."
"Where to?"
"Somewhere familiar to at least two people in the room. Sorry Erik, but you can't go with. She went to Baltimore."
"We should get another immortal to come along then. Don't get me wrong, I think that Methos, Duncan and myself could do it. The odds would be better with more of us." States Amanda.
"I think that I may know just the person for the job."
"And who might that be Duncan?" Asks Amanda, curious about who Duncan trusts enough.
"Connor MacLeod. He's honorable and a good fighter."
"Do you think that he might go for it?"
"I think so, I will leave certain parts about Methos' life out of it."
"And my name until I meet him?"
"Okay. Let me just make a call." Duncan picks up a phone and dials Connor's number. "Hello, may I please speak to Russell Nash, tell him that Duncan MacLeod is calling."
"What do you need?"
"Why do you always assume that I need something when I call?"
"Maybe its because whenever you call you need something."
"Good point. I do need something. A friend of mine is being hunted by an insane immortal and her student."
"Why does your friend need help?"
'Please forgive me for this Methos.' Duncan thinks before telling Connor. "She is convinced that my friend is the legendary Methos."
"Is he?"
"No, he just looks a lot like the descriptions of Methos."
"What is your friend's name?"
"Adam Pierson."
"Oh, the immortal that was a Watcher but turned out to be an immortal."
"That would be him."
"He seems like a decent guy, I will help you. Where are you?"
"We are in Seacouver right now, but Cassandra is heading towards Baltimore right now."
"Since Baltimore is closer to here, lets meet there. Where do you want to meet?"
"Well, a friend of Adam's was 'killed' there and inherited a bar. So lets meet there."
"Killed as in first death killed?"
"Yep. How about we meet there at midnight tomorrow."
"See you then Duncan."
"See you then Russell." Mac hangs up the phone and turns to the group. "Well, Connor agreed to help us. Sorry Methos, I didn't mean to almost blow your cover."
"Don't worry Mac, you can make it up to me by buying me another beer."
"Adam, you are a cheap man."
"So?"
"Mac, honey, lets go now. I have *really* missed you." Amanda states to Mac, who is getting a little bit red in the cheeks.
"There is a plane leaving at noon tomorrow and I booked 5 seats on it. So lets meet back here at 10."
"See you then." Mac and Amanda leave the bar.
"Well, I had better be getting back to my hotel room now. See you all tomorrow." States Frank as he moves to leave.
"Frank, stay at my place. The couch is really quite comfortable." Offers Methos.
"And where will Tim stay?"
"I have a two bedroom place, he is currently using the guest bedroom."
"Isn't someone coming after your head? Wouldn't I be safer in a hotel room?"
"No, there are two of us there. If it would make you feel better, take my room. New sheets put on just this morning."
"And leave you to sleep on the couch. I saw what you went through this evening."
"I have gone through that hundreds, if not thousands of times. That is not even close to being the worst. I have died from a quickening before."
"Fine."
With that, Methos, Erik and Frank leave the bar and go back to Methos' place.
"Nice place Adam, how do manage to have this place and pull off the starving young immortal thing?"
"Don't you know, my rich uncle owns it. He is just never around. The bedroom is through there. There is a extra toothbrush in the middle drawer. Goodnight." With that, Adam lays down on the couch and falls asleep."
The next morning dawns much too soon for everyone. Methos gets up and looks at the fridge, then the coffee maker.
"Morning Adam."
"Morning Frank."
"Why are you looking at the fridge and the coffee maker?"
"I am trying to decide if I want a beer or if I want coffee."
"Isn't it a bit early to start drinking?"
"No, I have such a tolerance that I could probably match any mortal drink for drink until the mortal passed out, and I wouldn't even have a buzz."
"Ah, so which is winning?"
"The beer. Though I do have brandy. Hmmm, brandy and coffee sounds good."
"Morning Adam, Frank."
"Morning Erik."
"So, its going to be that kind of day, huh?" Remarks Erik.
"What do you mean by that Tim?"
"He always drinks in the morning when he feels its going to be a long day."
"Well that's comforting."
A little bit later at the airport...
"First class Adam, you are spoiling us." Remarks Amanda.
"There weren't five seats together in coach. Stop flattering yourself."
"Well, aren't we in a good mood this morning."
"Shut up Amanda."
Just then, the boarding call was made for their flight. It was an uneventful flight. Once in Baltimore, they check into a hotel. They drive around Baltimore looking for places that Cassandra might be. They were also looking for places where a fight might be possible. At around 11 they all go to the Waterfront to eat.
"Well I'll be, if it isn't Frank Pembleton. What happened that made you grace us with your appearance?" Munch asks sarcastically.
"Shut up Munch. You might want to know that the guy who Tim left his shares in the bar is here with me."
"And who are all of these people?"
"This is Duncan MacLeod, Joe Dawson, Amanda Montrose and Adam Pierson."
"So Mr. Pierson, you own part of this bar?"
"Yes I do, beer please."
Just then, the four immortals tense as they feel another immortal draw near. A female immortal with longish blond hair and grey blue eyes walks in and turns to Methos. "Adam! How are you? It's me, Elenore Petersen." She goes over to Methos and gives him a big hug. She whispers in his ear, in ancient Greek,
"It's me Methos, Alexandra, my teacher." He whispers back in her ear, "My God, it is you. I haven't seen you in what, 2000 years?"
"Somewhere around there."
Breaking their embrace, Methos turns to the rest of the group and says, "This is a friend. She has changed a lot since I last saw her 20 years ago. Is there an office I could use? I have to discuss something with her and Amanda."
"Sure, there is one down the hall and to the right."
Still holding Elenore's hand, Methos leads her and Amanda down to the office. Upon entering, Amanda is the first to talk, "Adam, I don't believe that it has only been 20 years."
"And you would be right. It has been more like 2000 years. She knows by the way, about the Horsemen and my real name."
"Good, no need to go through that again. So when did you meet Methos Elenore?"
"5500 years ago."
"But Methos is 5000."
"Amanda, that is how far back I remember, I could be older than that."
"How the hell do you forget 500 or more years?"
"I don't know."
"I remember. Methos, when you were a thousand you took a Dark Quickening. That was 5000 years ago. You were cured when I took you to a Holy Spring in France."
At this realization, Methos knows why he thought that that Holy Spring would work for MacLeod, because it already had worked for someone, himself.
"So who taught you? How old are you?" Amanda asks, very curious at what the answer might be.
"Methos taught me, he was already at least 500, I am 5500. I am here today because Cassandra approached me and asked me to trick you into coming with me tomorrow to meet her. She wants your head Methos. I was mad at what you told me what you did over 2000 years ago. I could see that you hated what you had done, and this was 2000 years ago. So, how do we take her out?"
"We are waiting for a friend of Mac's to get here."
"Russell, how are you doing?" Mac greets his kinsman.
"Good, can I talk to Adam now?"
"Sure, right this way." Mac leads the way to the office, leaving behind two confused mortals and one knowing mortal.
"Frank, what the hell is going on?" Asks a befuddled John Munch.
"Yeah Frank, what is going on?" Meldrick Lewis asks, quite curious as to why Mr. Nosy himself wasn't asking questions.
"Nothing that matters to either of you."
"Touche, touche Frank. Does this have to do with Timmy's death?" Asks Munch. 'How incredibly ironic that last statement was,' thinks Frank, 'after all, I just saw him this morning.' "No it doesn't."
"You aren't gonna tell us, are you Frank?" Asks Meldrick.
"Nope." With this last word, two men enter the bar. One man appears to be in his early thirties, the other man looks to be in his twenties. The younger man speaks first. "Hello, I am Xavier Jorden and this is Phil Jorden. I was wondering where I could find Adam Pierson?" The older looking man during the introductions had taken his coat and lay it on a near by table.
"Sure they are down the hall, I'll show you where." Says Frank, and he leads the way down the hall.
End Part Two