Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Highlander characters.

Duncan MacLeod slowly made his way into the bar where his watcher friend, Joe Dawson, was always to be found. He pushed open the door and went in. Other watchers greeted him as he walked past their tables.

Ritchie looked up when he felt the presence of another Immortal. He smiled when he saw it was Duncan. He watched as Duncan slowly threaded his way through the tables to where he and Duncan's girlfriend, Sabrina, were sitting.

Sabrina got up and kissed Duncan. They both sat back down and a few minutes later, Joe made his way over to the group and sat down. They ordered their food and drinks and began talking about different things.

Only Joe didn't say anything but sat there and looked preoccupied. With a start, Joe realized Duncan had been trying to get his attention.

"Joe?" Duncan's Scottish burr could be heard as he looked at Joe in concern.

"You look like you've got something on your mind," Ritchie remarked.

"Why don't you tell us about it?" Sabrina suggested gently.

"It's nothing. Really. Well maybe it is something. You see I hired a new girl to help me with the bar and she's been punctual all week. Only today she's two hours late," Joe said frowning.

Duncan started to say something when he felt the almost familiar feeling of an Immortal nearby. Only, it didn't feel quite right. Ritchie looked at Duncan in puzzlement. They both scanned the room and watched Joe tense.

"What is it Duncan?"

"I'm not sure," Duncan replied, starting to stand up just as the bar door opened and Luisa walked in, with her head down.

"Luisa!" Joe said and got up, a smile on his face. It wasn't until she reluctantly made her way over to him and he was right next to her that he saw the bruises on her face. Joe was speechless and it was Sabrina's gasp of horror that brought him back to himself.

Duncan and Ritchie stared at the young girl. My god, it looks like someone used her for a punching bag, Duncan thought suddenly feeling overwhelmingly protective of Luisa.

Ritchie was seeing red. He hated the whipped look that hung about Luisa. He came around the table at the same time Duncan did.

Joe stared at Luisa for a moment and she tried to give him a defiant glare before dropping her head down in shame. Joe took his hand and gently lifted her face up so she could look at him.

"Luisa?" he said her name with enough question to it to make her blush and mumble.

"It's alright, Joe. I just got into a lil scuffle. I'll heal. I apologize for being late. It won't happen again," she whispered this time looking down at her feet.

Joe sighed. "Luisa, you know I don't care if you're late but I want to know who did this to you," Joe said sternly.

None of them were prepared for the terrified, panicked expression she gave Joe. "No Joe, leave be, I beg you. Please just leave be," she whispered frantically before sidestepping Joe and fleeing to the kitchen.

"That went well," Sabrina said dryly.

Joe glared at her. "Damn, I didn't mean to upset her but I'd like to get a hold of the man who hit her," he said angrily.

"What makes you think it's a man? It could be a woman," Sabrina said reasonably.

Duncan, Ritchie and Joe all turned to stare at her in surprise. Sabrina snorted in disgust. "Men."

"Now, Sabrina," Duncan started to say when she cut him off.

"Don't "now, Sabrina" me, Duncan. I think you should keep the possibility open that it's a woman. That's all I'm saying."

"She's got a point, Mac," Ritchie said, siding with Sabrina.

Duncan glared at him. Joe shook his head. He wasn't getting into this discussion.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll go check on Luisa," he said quietly as he made his way back to the kitchen.

Luisa had made her escape to the kitchen where she helped Derrick wash the dishes. He had taken one look at her face, opened his mouth to say something and then changed his mind. Luisa was relieved. Bad enough Joe was mad at her. She didn't want to upset anyone. It was her fault. If she'd only done like Roger said, he wouldn't have hit her.

She had just started on the vegetables when the door opened and Joe walked in. He walked over to her, picked up a knife and started cutting. They said nothing for a few minutes and it was Luisa who broke the silence.

"Joe, you can't help me. Please, you'll only make things worse. Besides, it's my fault. I should've listened and followed directions and none of this would have happened. I'm sorry about being late, it won't happen again," she said sincerely.

Joe sighed and, reaching over, placed his hand over Luisa's hand that held the knife. She stilled.

"Luisa, I'm not angry that you are late. I'm angry that someone hurt you. This," Joe said, lifting her chin with his free hand and exposing her face to the light, "is unacceptable. No man or woman has the right to hit another. Especially, not a child."

Luisa let out a huff. "I'm not a child!" she retorted indignantly.

Joe hid a smile. "No, you're not. But it still holds true. No one should hurt you like this, Luisa. Look, at least let me give you a number where you can reach me if you ever need to talk," he said writing Duncan's number down on a piece of paper and stuffing it in Luisa's pocket. He looked at Luisa. "Please let me help you," he implored.

Luisa shook her head vehemently. "No, Joe, I can't let you. I won't let anyone else get hurt because of me," she said, her eyes tearing up as she thought of the British guy who Roger had murdered.

"Luisa," Joe started to say when a loud commotion was heard coming from the bar. Frowning, Joe made his way from the kitchen and into the bar area, followed by Derrick and Luisa who was bringing up the rear. She was shivering. She knew who was outside.

Roger had swung by the high school to pick up Luisa after spying on the new Immortal in town, only to find out that she had left hours ago. Roger had berated the school officials for letting her go but they said she had a note from her mother. Roger had stormed angrily away, shouting curses at the principal.

He got in his car and began driving around town, waiting until he felt the familiar tug on his senses that helped him locate Luisa. He stopped in front of a bar and frowned. What was she doing in here?

He got out the car and walked into the bar. The moment he entered, he felt the sensation that told him there were Immortals in the room. He froze and looked about swiftly. When no one glanced his way he stalked on in the room.