Part Six:

Methos stood staring Joe's bar, the sign flickering in a steady pulse, comforting. It was a nice sign; it was a nice bar. Damn, but he'd miss Joe, he realised. What was it about this lifetime that had suddenly made everything so hard? Things he'd done a thousand times before. When had self-survival began losing its appeal, he wondered.
"Hi Adam. You want a beer, or is it too early even for you?"
"Thanks, Joe. Joe, I…"
"What's up?" The watcher turned to study his friend more closely.
"Man, you look awful!"
"Gee, thanks!"
"I thought you looked bad last night, but…Oh, God, this is all my fault, isn't it? I shouldn't have forced you and Mac to talk."
"It wasn't your fault, Joe. I know you were trying to help."
"So, what? You two had another fight?"
"You could say…"
"I thought, after that stunt outside the bookstore…Didn't Mac help you home?"
"You were watching?!"
"Um, yeah."
"Great. Just great! So, you wanna lecture me too?"
"No, Methos, I just…I'm your friend. And Mac's friend. And I'm still caught in the middle. What the hell happened after the fight? And why did you pull that stunt? You don't really want Mac's head?"
"You sure about that Joe?"
"Damn sure I'm sure. I know you, Methos!"
"Yeah. You, Mac, you'll all such experts on the great Methos. Wish I knew me as well as you do. I might actually be able to figure out why I'm doing the best thing to do, the complete opposite to want I want to do, and I'm still not happy."
"You're leaving?"
"General plan, Joe, yeah."
"And that's the sensible, logical plan, is it?"
"Yeah".
"Sounds damn boring if you ask me."
"Well, I'm not asking you, Joe!"
"Tough, I'm still tellin' you!"
"Oh, Gods, Joe, maybe you're right. How long can I run from the inevitable, after all?"
"Damn right! So what is the inevitable?"
"Me, Mac…"
"I won't watch you two fight again!"
"Well, there might be some fighting involved…" The smirk was back in full force.
"Ohhhh. Ok, I'm not even going to go there."
"No, Joe. Still, I've probably pushed Mac even further away now. It's never gonna happen."
"He told you that, did he? Not what he told me."
"Everyone tells their barman everything, don't they?"
"Damn right", Joe laughed again.
"Ok, so, let's say, for the sake of argument, that Duncan does fancy the pants off me..."
Mehos laughed as Joe half-choked, half-snorted the finger of scotch he'd just started drinking.
"Well, that's one way of putting it", he replied, when he'd recovered.
"Look, seriously Joe. Duncan…kissed me, and I…I panicked."
"You? You panicked? At getting what you always wanted?"
"Who said I- Damn, am I that transparent?"
"Only to me, my friend."
"So, Joe, tell me. Why do I deserve to get what I've always wanted?"
"Why not?" Joe shrugged as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
"It's not that easy."
"What is? But isn't it worth the risk?"
"Joe, I just can't…"
"Can't what? Let yourself be happy? Let Mac be happy? Cos that just sounds selfish to me."
"What if I loose him? Nothing good in my life has lasted."
"And what if you don't lose him? You deserve to be happy. You're not a monster."
"I wish I could believe that as well as you and Mac do."
"Give it time."
"When did you get so wise, youngster?"
"Must be when I started hanging around wise old men! So, am I forgiven for interfering?"
"It's what you do best, Joe!" Methos laughed, but then grew serious again.
"I still don't know…"

Joe's reply was cut off by Methos' mumbled swearing.
"Shit!"
He jumped up and grabbed his coat, making for the back exit of the bar.
"Methos - "
"Sorry, Joe."
But it was too late. As Joe expected the door opened to reveal a very angry looking Duncan.
"Mac!" Methos almost yelped. He really hadn't expected Duncan to come after him. Not so soon. That's what he got for sitting chatting to barkeepers.
"Shouldn't you be half way to Bora Bora by now, old man?"
"I left a note."
"Big of you."
"What do you want me to say, Mac. You know I can't do this."
"I believe you. You're just scared, and there's no need."
Methos closed his eyes against the temping words and image. But the mental image was even stronger.
"What happens when you find out about more of my past?"
"As long as you're the one to tell me, I'm sure I'd cope. Everyone has skeletons in their closet."
" 'Everyone has…'? Ok, who are you and what have you done with Duncan MacLeod."
Duncan just smiled and moved closer to Methos.
"Aren't you supposed to be too angry to want me to stay?"
"Methos, don't you know that it would take more than a note to get rid of me?"
"And I ask again - what have you done with the real MacLeod?"
"I haven't done anything. This is all your fault." He moved closer still to Methos, a predatory look in his eyes. Methos gulped and stumbled back against the bar. Maybe he really had the Highlander too far this time. It didn't help that he couldn't read the younger man at all at that moment. His own emotions were engulfing him too much. The look in Duncan's eyes was dark and dangerous. And sexy as hell. Methos licked his dry lips and felt his legs start to wobble. Surely he was too old to become weak at the knees at the sight of an attractive body.
"J- Joe, some help here?"
"Methos, I gave you all the help you're getting before Mac got here. Now why don't you act on it."
"Sounds like good advice to me," Duncan purred, his body inches from Methos, who felt like his feet were glued to the floor. And his eyes glued to Mac's face.
"Mac, what part of 'I don't want this' don't you understand?"
"Oh I understood. But I realised something."
"What now? You figured out the origins of Immortals?"
"Nothing that amazing. Just that I didn't believe you, and your emotions betrayed you."
" 'My-?" Oh, well that's just great. Good to know my emotions can screw me over as well." He welcomed the flash of annoyance, it helped to steady him again. Once again, Duncan MacLeod proclaimed to know him better than he knew himself. Once again, Duncan was probably right.
"Now, now, Methos, they were only trying to help."
"Huh, sounds like you, Highlander."
"Maybe we have more in common than you think."
"Yeah, right."
"Right," Duncan repeated in a whisper. He reached out to take Methos' hands in his.
"Mac, I said-"
"You know what, old man? You talk too much." Duncan leaned over and captured Methos' mouth with his own. This time Methos was too far gone to resist, and after a minute began to take control of the kiss, pulling Duncan to him and communicating his passion the only way he could. This time it was only the need for breath that stopped him. It looked like he'd made his decision without even realising it. He couldn't just go off and leave this.
"Wow."
Methos just smirked and tried to decide whether Duncan looked more irresistible half-stunned, like he did now, or with that predatory look on his face.
"You- You had something to say?"
"You know what, Mac? Actions speak louder than words." Methos kissed him again, only slightly less desperately. Was it possible to get addicted to the taste of someone, he wondered.
"So, you'll stay?"
"I really don't think I have any choice."
"There's always choice, but it wasn't so hard to make the right one, was it?"
"Mac, it's not that simple! How many times do I have to tell you that it's more than right or wrong? You-"
Then he saw the grin on Duncan's face.
"I think I get that now."
"No more expecting me to be perfect…"
"I know, I know. You're just a guy. But you're a guy I can't live without."
"Oh, geez, Mac. Please don't get all soppy on me."
"Tell me you don't feel the same?" Duncan asked, serious again.
"I do feel the same. But-"
"No more too-high expectations. I'll try. And you? No more running when things get tough?"
"I'll try."
"That's all I ask."
"Mac?"
"Hmmm?"
"Let's go home. I have a sudden need to do more than kiss you."
And after that, there was nothing else to say.