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

Duncan and Ritchie arrived at the bar and were meet by Joe and Methos. Duncan was surprised. Methos never came out unless absolutely necessary.

"What's up?" he said casually, gesturing for everyone to go back in.

"Duncan, the woman that Luisa was calling mother was actually an Immortal. She died earlier tonight," Joe said by way of explanation.

Duncan and Ritchie both looked at Joe in shock. "Run that by me again," Duncan said.

It was Methos who answered him. "Luisa's adopted mother is dead. Although many of us live long, only the oldest of us know of the prophecy. It was prophesied after the first Immortal came into being that one day a girl would be born who would be both mortal and Immortal. She would have special powers that had not been seen before. She has the power to destroy all of us or aid one of us in becoming the one."

Ritchie looked at Methos. "So you think Luisa is this child?"

Methos nodded. "Yes, she can sense us you know and, if you noticed, when she enters the room, you think an Immortal has come in although the feeling is slightly off."

Duncan nodded thoughtfully. "I remember but I thought maybe I was just jumpy. Interesting."

"We felt you should know that Roger, the man who has her, has always been violent toward women, especially young girls. I think you have already seen his handiwork. The only time I've ever seen him be kind to was his wife, Martha, They were married while she was still a mortal and who he has been with since she became Immortal. Now that she is dead, I fear the outcome for Luisa," Methos said sadly.

"Have you met Luisa before?" Duncan asked, curiosity eating at him.

"Yes, I posed as a priest and christened her at her baptism. I knew then what she was but I kept silent. I thought that she was their child. It wasn't until later that I found out they had killed her true mother and taken her as their own. They also sought to kill her uncle, but he eluded them. He is in the city even as we speak. He doesn't know that Luisa is his niece. The knowledge was kept from him to protect her, in case he went rogue," Methos explained.

"Why didn't you guys take her when she got older? She didn't deserve to have parents like that," Ritchie said angrily.

Methos gave Ritchie a look. Joe interrupted. "Up until recently he's not done any harm to her. But ever since she turned fourteen, he's been getting rougher. First it was a couple of slaps here and there, a few punches and it has only recently escalated into full blown beatings. I had no idea of what or who she was until a couple of hours ago when Methos showed up and I got a call telling me to extract her and place her with you, Duncan."

Duncan ignored Ritchie's growl. "Joe, I know nothing about raising a girl."

Joe shook his head. "It doesn't matter. It's been decided. We would place her with Methos but he is in the house of god. Luisa wouldn't thrive there. So with you it is."

Duncan frowned. "You mean there is no woman you can give her to?"

"No. Trust me we looked. None are stable enough to care for her."

Duncan sighed. "Fine, we'll figure out something," he said in defeat.

Suddenly the phone rang startling them. Joe picked up the phone. "Joe here." He listened for a long moment and nodded. "Thank you. We'll take care of it now." Joe hung up the phone and looked at Methos. "That was Jase."

Methos sucked in a breath. "And?" he asked.

"He said that he's meeting Roger nearby and gave me the location. He wants us there early because as he put it, he wants the truth."

Methos sighed. "Then let's go. He deserves to know."

Joe and Methos started to leave when Duncan stopped them. "You're not going without me," he said forcibly. "We can take my car."

Methos looked at Joe who shrugged. "Alright, Mac."

The four men got in Duncan's car and headed toward the abandoned meat packaging building.