Chapter Four
Dani awoke to the smell of fresh coffee, she blinked as she opened her eyes the sunlight hurt and her head was pounding; she sat up very slowly looking around 'So it hadn't been a dream' she thought. As her eyes scanned the room they met the brown eyes that last night had held such dark painful images. But now those images had been replaced with a mischievous glint and a warm smile.
"Good Morning, you don't look to good" said Duncan smiling at her from the kitchen area "Are you hungry?"
"Well, I don't feel to good. I don't usually drink brandy.and I think I had a few last night." Dani said reaching for the robe, which lay on the bed where she left it last night "I.I think I'm a little hungry". She slipped on the robe and walked slowly towards where Duncan was standing, her hand trying to shield her eyes from the sunlight.
"Will croissants do?" Duncan said half laughing he saw a warm smile came across Dani's face which seemed to light up her whole face.
"My favourite breakfast but.what I really could do with is a cup of coffee"
"I think I can manage that" Duncan replied picking up a tray and walking over to the table by the sofa. Dani sat down carefully making sure that she didn't face the windows, she took hold of the cup of hot coffee Duncan was offering her. She cradled it in her hands letting the warmth flow from the cup into her hands; she then slowly sipped the steaming coffee trying to clear her head.
Duncan sat on the edge of the sofa and laid out two plates, he then took the plate of croissants and offered it to Dani "I think we need to talk a little more about what happened last night"
Dani put down her cup and took one of the warm croissants breaking it in half, "I told you all I knew last night. I didn't know anyone. including you." Dani pulled a piece out of the centre of the croissant putting it in her mouth, as it melted in her mouth she looked down at her hands "When I woke up.I didn't realise where I was.last night seemed to be a dream.but it wasn't was is it?"
"Would it be easier if you could think it was just a dream?"
"No. I might start believing I've gone mad. But you've got to admit it's a lot to take in all in one night.Being chased by two men, threaten by a madman with a sword. being rescued by a handsome stranger, who was shot and dies in your arms..then makes you breakfast" as she stopped speaking she looked up and found Duncan smiling at her. "What?" Duncan broke into a broad grin and raising his eyebrows "Well, at least you couldn't say your night out was boring"
Dani gave a little laugh "Yeah.boring isn't a word I'd used for last night." She then moved to the edge of the sofa. "Can I ask you a question? You.don't have to answer if you don't want to"
Duncan swallowed hard he had never found it easy to talk about his life but after everything she had seen he knew that he had to let her in further to his life. After taking a drink of his coffee Duncan said, "OK, what do you want to know?"
"Well, Do you get lonely. I mean you've live a long time.and you must have known a lot people. but it does it get easier to let them go?" Duncan looked a down at his coffee. As Duncan looked at her she could see clearly in his eyes the pain and she regretted asking the question.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry," She said putting her hand on his arm.
"No. it's alright. It doesn't get easier but. its part of my life.part of who I am" Duncan replied, placing his hand on hers.
Duncan didn't know why but he had the feeling that she knew more than she was saying but what and how she knew he wasn't sure.
He didn't want the dark feeling back so quickly he changed the subject, this wasn't lost on Dani but she couldn't bring herself to ask any of the other questions that had be crowding her mind since last night, so she just let it go. Duncan got up and put the plates onto the tray "You know. I've been thinking about last night. I think you could still be in danger, the attack seemed to be co-ordinated.and the Immortal in the alley was looking directly at you the whole time"
Dani picked up the coffee cups and followed Duncan to the kitchen "Why would he be interested in either of us?" Dani asked
"If he was coming for me I could understand.I'm an Immortal.it's part of the game but you?" Duncan said
"OK, so what is the game?" A silence fell for some minutes "It's OK.if you don't want to tell me.you don't have to" Dani smiled warmly.
Duncan turned to her "It's not that I. don't want to tell you.it's just not easy to talk about this with someone I've just met." He turned away placing the plates in the sink.
Dani walked over to the window and looked out at rain, she sighed, "Look. I've imposed on your hospitality long enough.It's obvious that you're not comfortable talking about any of this." She watched the raindrops run down the window "Don't worry. I promise I won't tell anyone about what happen here last night.After all I owe you my life"
Duncan turned and watched as her finger traced the run of a raindrop down the windowpane "You remember that I said that I can't die.well that is not entirely true. I can die if my head comes away from my body.. some Immortals hunt other Immortals." He lent back on the counter "If you hadn't shot the Immortal in the alley last night. he could have killed me. I was in no condition to fight him. So you see you saved my life as well," Duncan said walking towards her, putting his hands on her shoulders he turned to face him, looking into her eyes he stroked her cheek "I really think that you could still be in danger.stay here at least for today.at least till I've had a chance to check around and to make up for being cooped up here all day I'll take you out this evening."
Dani smiled up at him her eyes shinning. He couldn't explain it but the warmth he could see in her eyes seemed to find it's way into the cold parts of his soul. "I can't really believe that someone is after me. I'm not that important. But I suppose that staying here for the day can't hurt" Dani rubbed her forehead "And I'm not feely to great and if you really think it's necessary.but I'll need to ring the shelter and tell them I won't be in this afternoon.Is it OK if I use your phone?"
"Of course but don't tell them where you are.Well not for the moment," Duncan said picking up his coat. "I'm going to see a friend who maybe able to help.If you need anything just go downstairs and ask for Richie, he'll know how to find me." Duncan gesturing around the room as he lifted the gate on the elevator "Make yourself at home".
The Dojo
As the elevator came down to the ground floor Duncan sensed the presence of another Immortal. Richie was waiting by the elevator as he raised the gate.
"Hey, Mac, You look a lot brighter. Did you have good night?" Richie said patting Duncan on the shoulder.
"Richie. I'm sorry about the last few weeks.I was out of order the other day" Richie smiled at him "Heh, Mac.No problem.It's forgotten already.but there's something else isn't there?"
Duncan turned to face Richie and raising his eyebrows he said "I ran into some trouble last night. but I'll tell you about it later.I need you to do me a favour.there's someone upstairs and no one is to know she's there. I want to know straight away if anyone comes around asking any questions. Only you and I know she's there and I want to keep it that way." Duncan said as they walked across the Dojo.
"So, you had an eventful night at the theatre then?" Richie said putting his arm around Duncan's shoulder "And it's good to see the old Mac back"
Duncan laughed "Eventful is one word for it. We'll talk later, I have to talk to Joe, call me if there are any problems".
Dani awoke to the smell of fresh coffee, she blinked as she opened her eyes the sunlight hurt and her head was pounding; she sat up very slowly looking around 'So it hadn't been a dream' she thought. As her eyes scanned the room they met the brown eyes that last night had held such dark painful images. But now those images had been replaced with a mischievous glint and a warm smile.
"Good Morning, you don't look to good" said Duncan smiling at her from the kitchen area "Are you hungry?"
"Well, I don't feel to good. I don't usually drink brandy.and I think I had a few last night." Dani said reaching for the robe, which lay on the bed where she left it last night "I.I think I'm a little hungry". She slipped on the robe and walked slowly towards where Duncan was standing, her hand trying to shield her eyes from the sunlight.
"Will croissants do?" Duncan said half laughing he saw a warm smile came across Dani's face which seemed to light up her whole face.
"My favourite breakfast but.what I really could do with is a cup of coffee"
"I think I can manage that" Duncan replied picking up a tray and walking over to the table by the sofa. Dani sat down carefully making sure that she didn't face the windows, she took hold of the cup of hot coffee Duncan was offering her. She cradled it in her hands letting the warmth flow from the cup into her hands; she then slowly sipped the steaming coffee trying to clear her head.
Duncan sat on the edge of the sofa and laid out two plates, he then took the plate of croissants and offered it to Dani "I think we need to talk a little more about what happened last night"
Dani put down her cup and took one of the warm croissants breaking it in half, "I told you all I knew last night. I didn't know anyone. including you." Dani pulled a piece out of the centre of the croissant putting it in her mouth, as it melted in her mouth she looked down at her hands "When I woke up.I didn't realise where I was.last night seemed to be a dream.but it wasn't was is it?"
"Would it be easier if you could think it was just a dream?"
"No. I might start believing I've gone mad. But you've got to admit it's a lot to take in all in one night.Being chased by two men, threaten by a madman with a sword. being rescued by a handsome stranger, who was shot and dies in your arms..then makes you breakfast" as she stopped speaking she looked up and found Duncan smiling at her. "What?" Duncan broke into a broad grin and raising his eyebrows "Well, at least you couldn't say your night out was boring"
Dani gave a little laugh "Yeah.boring isn't a word I'd used for last night." She then moved to the edge of the sofa. "Can I ask you a question? You.don't have to answer if you don't want to"
Duncan swallowed hard he had never found it easy to talk about his life but after everything she had seen he knew that he had to let her in further to his life. After taking a drink of his coffee Duncan said, "OK, what do you want to know?"
"Well, Do you get lonely. I mean you've live a long time.and you must have known a lot people. but it does it get easier to let them go?" Duncan looked a down at his coffee. As Duncan looked at her she could see clearly in his eyes the pain and she regretted asking the question.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry," She said putting her hand on his arm.
"No. it's alright. It doesn't get easier but. its part of my life.part of who I am" Duncan replied, placing his hand on hers.
Duncan didn't know why but he had the feeling that she knew more than she was saying but what and how she knew he wasn't sure.
He didn't want the dark feeling back so quickly he changed the subject, this wasn't lost on Dani but she couldn't bring herself to ask any of the other questions that had be crowding her mind since last night, so she just let it go. Duncan got up and put the plates onto the tray "You know. I've been thinking about last night. I think you could still be in danger, the attack seemed to be co-ordinated.and the Immortal in the alley was looking directly at you the whole time"
Dani picked up the coffee cups and followed Duncan to the kitchen "Why would he be interested in either of us?" Dani asked
"If he was coming for me I could understand.I'm an Immortal.it's part of the game but you?" Duncan said
"OK, so what is the game?" A silence fell for some minutes "It's OK.if you don't want to tell me.you don't have to" Dani smiled warmly.
Duncan turned to her "It's not that I. don't want to tell you.it's just not easy to talk about this with someone I've just met." He turned away placing the plates in the sink.
Dani walked over to the window and looked out at rain, she sighed, "Look. I've imposed on your hospitality long enough.It's obvious that you're not comfortable talking about any of this." She watched the raindrops run down the window "Don't worry. I promise I won't tell anyone about what happen here last night.After all I owe you my life"
Duncan turned and watched as her finger traced the run of a raindrop down the windowpane "You remember that I said that I can't die.well that is not entirely true. I can die if my head comes away from my body.. some Immortals hunt other Immortals." He lent back on the counter "If you hadn't shot the Immortal in the alley last night. he could have killed me. I was in no condition to fight him. So you see you saved my life as well," Duncan said walking towards her, putting his hands on her shoulders he turned to face him, looking into her eyes he stroked her cheek "I really think that you could still be in danger.stay here at least for today.at least till I've had a chance to check around and to make up for being cooped up here all day I'll take you out this evening."
Dani smiled up at him her eyes shinning. He couldn't explain it but the warmth he could see in her eyes seemed to find it's way into the cold parts of his soul. "I can't really believe that someone is after me. I'm not that important. But I suppose that staying here for the day can't hurt" Dani rubbed her forehead "And I'm not feely to great and if you really think it's necessary.but I'll need to ring the shelter and tell them I won't be in this afternoon.Is it OK if I use your phone?"
"Of course but don't tell them where you are.Well not for the moment," Duncan said picking up his coat. "I'm going to see a friend who maybe able to help.If you need anything just go downstairs and ask for Richie, he'll know how to find me." Duncan gesturing around the room as he lifted the gate on the elevator "Make yourself at home".
The Dojo
As the elevator came down to the ground floor Duncan sensed the presence of another Immortal. Richie was waiting by the elevator as he raised the gate.
"Hey, Mac, You look a lot brighter. Did you have good night?" Richie said patting Duncan on the shoulder.
"Richie. I'm sorry about the last few weeks.I was out of order the other day" Richie smiled at him "Heh, Mac.No problem.It's forgotten already.but there's something else isn't there?"
Duncan turned to face Richie and raising his eyebrows he said "I ran into some trouble last night. but I'll tell you about it later.I need you to do me a favour.there's someone upstairs and no one is to know she's there. I want to know straight away if anyone comes around asking any questions. Only you and I know she's there and I want to keep it that way." Duncan said as they walked across the Dojo.
"So, you had an eventful night at the theatre then?" Richie said putting his arm around Duncan's shoulder "And it's good to see the old Mac back"
Duncan laughed "Eventful is one word for it. We'll talk later, I have to talk to Joe, call me if there are any problems".