To Catch an Immortal

Chapter One

It was 8pm when Josephine and Shadow finally arrived back at the hotel and she was shattered for the first time in a long while, she collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep and soothing sleep. Little did she know she was once again being watched he was standing too far away for her to know that though, Methos had made a promise to his friend that he would watch out for her and he wasn't going to break that promise. He needed someone to persuade her to see sense and he knew just who to ask…he just had to get her to meet with him.

He felt the familiar buzz he got when another immortal was near, he slipped into the shadows and watched and waited, it didn't take long for him to see the immortal. He was taller than Methos by a few inches, dark red hair and intense blue eyes, he wore his sword openly but it was dark so no one would see the weapon as it hung around his waist. If Methos could sense him, then he could sense Methos and he'd be on the look out, he would expect a fight.

Shadow jumped off the bed at the same time as Josephine woke up, she knew someone had come from her and she was trapped in a hotel room, on the third floor. She quickly felt around for her clothes, which she'd folded neatly and placed on the end of the bed, and put them on, then she'd gripped Shadow's collar tightly, he was her only protection.

She was still by the side of the bed when she heard someone fiddle around with the lock, she grabbed the lamp and moved back. As soon as she heard the door open she swung the lamp wildly and she heard someone shout "bloody hell! For someone who can't see you've got a good aim."

"Adam? What the hell are you doing here?" she didn't even bother hiding the fact that he'd scared her.

"Whoever's following you is here and you have to leave, now."

When he didn't say anything else she realised he was waiting for her to argue, but she didn't, if she'd learned anything, it was when to back down and let someone else take over "okay."

He sounded mildly surprised "okay, then lets go."

They made it to the second floor when the immortal got in their way, he was waiting for them by the next flight of stairs "I've been looking for you" he said as he watched Methos "you're a very hard man to track down."

"I thought he was looking for me" Josephine said, confused.

The immortal laughed "Oh, I am, now I get to take two heads at the same time."

"Answer me one thing first…why? You're purposely hunting Josephine and me as well, it seems."

The immortal nodded like it was already common knowledge why he was following them "well I'm eliminating everyone who isn't participating in the game…if you're not taking heads then there's really no reason for you to be walking around" he shrugged, smiling "that's life my immortal friend, sorry."
"Can we please get a couple of things straight…firstly, I am not your friend and secondly, you are not taking our heads, sorry" Methos added cockily.

He sighed as if Methos was taking up his precious time, he unsheathed his sword "Sam didn't put up this much of an argument…come to think of it, he really didn't put up much of a fight either." He was goading Methos into a fight but it wasn't working…and that was annoying him. Methos' phone rang, causing them all to jump "can you please answer that and say you're goodbye's so we can start this…I have heads to take you know" he said it in a joking tone, but he was deadly serious.

"I found out who it was that killed Sam" the voice on the other end of the line said "he's been travelling all over the place taking heads, right now he's calling himself Aaron Jackson."

"Well, thanks for that Joe, but right now I'm in a position where I could find out that information first hand."

"Are you armed? Can you fight?" Joe was immediately worried.

"Well I have a pretty good right hook, does that count?"

"I'm not kidding!"

Methos laughed "neither am I" he said through gritted teeth "I have to go, I'm in the middle of something…" he put the phone down on Joe while he was in mid sentence. "Would you really take the head of an unarmed immortal?"

Aaron though about that for a moment, he looked agitated "well…if you're not in the game we shouldn't have to play by the rules."
"I'm talking about fair play, not the game…it would be a bit easy for you, wouldn't it? You wouldn't exactly make a name for yourself…well not a name that would make you're father proud."

"My fathers dead…"

"Well he'd be turning in his grave then…"

Aaron rolled his eyes "…I won't tell you when I'm going to come, just keep a sword close-by" he sheathed his sword and backed away "the same goes for you, Josephine…no exceptions, I will come back for you." He turned away from them and ran down the stairs and into the moonless night.

"Do you always make up as many excuses as you can not to fight?" Josephine asked.

"Think of any excuse and chances are I made half of them."

"Damn you must be old then, who are you the legendary Methos?" she joked "how old are you anyway?"

"Oh, I've been around a while…I'm going to take you to a friend of mine, you'll be safe with him" he said, quickly changing the subject.

"I should never have come to Paris."

"He would've found you anyway no matter where you went, though you coming to Paris made it easier for me to find you" they walked outside, Aaron had gone "my cars down the road." Methos, Josephine and Shadow walked slowly down the road to the car, then they got in and Methos drove away.

TBC…