Chapter Five
While he drove to Joe's Duncan ran through the events of the previous evening in his mind but they still didn't make much sense. It was late morning when Duncan finally drove into the parking lot; it was deserted except for Joe's car. Duncan parked the TBird in the slot next to Joe's car.
Duncan opened the door to the bar it was in darkness except for the light coming from around the bar he could see Joe sitting on a stool in front of the bar writing in a small book, the sound of the door opening made Joe look up.
"Hi Mac.so you do remember how to get here" Joe said as he got up from the stool to greet Duncan.
"I'm Sorry Joe.. that I haven't been around much lately. I just need some time to think" Duncan walked up to where Joe was standing "Did you find anything?"
Joe turned back to the bar and closed the small book. "You know.It's been nearly two months MacLeod.but hey whose counting.. take a seat, I'll grab us some coffee" Joe pointed to the nearest table as he went round the back of the bar to where the coffee pot was. As he poured the coffee into two cups he looked over at Duncan, who smiled at him but Joe could still see that Duncan was troubled by something and from what Duncan had told him on the phone it had something to do with last nights events.
Duncan pulled out the chair nearest to him and sat down. Joe came over with the two cups and sat in the chair opposite. Leaning forward he looked Duncan in the eye "You know MacLeod . I shouldn't be doing this."
Duncan rubbed his hand over his chin "Joe, I.I'm not asking you to tell me where he is . just who"
Joe shook his head and took a piece of paper out of his pocket "Well, you didn't give me much to work with Mac.but I've come up with a .couple of names" Joe slid the piece of paper over to Duncan.
Duncan took the paper off the table and sat back in the chair while he opened it. There in Joe's handwriting were two names Ralph Travis and Benjamin Cristo. Duncan then lent forward putting his elbows on the table "I don't know either of these.are they both in the area?" Joe hesitated he wasn't about to tell Duncan exactly where they were but he had come this far "They've both been in the area in the last two weeks and they both use jewelled rapiers"
"Did you find anything on.who this Louisa is?" Joe lent back in his chair and drank some of his coffee "I'd have to got to the Chronicles.for that sort of information, Mac" Duncan raised his eyebrows and Joe had seen that look on his face before "Joe.I'm not asking for me..Dani.she was the lady in the alley.he pointed at her.I think she's in danger" Joe shook his head as he put his cup on the table. "OK, Mac.I'll do some checking but it's going to take a little time" Joe saw a distant look come over Duncan, who got to his feet his hand going inside his coat, grasping his sword, Joe knew that another Immortal was close. Just then the door to the bar swung open Duncan squinted he could just make out a figure in the doorway silhouetted by the light from outside "Methos?" Duncan said letting go of the sword and bringing his hand out from under his coat.
"A little jumpy today MacLeod aren't we" Methos replied walking over to the bar "Hi Joe any chance of a coffee?"
"Yeah, but you'll have to get it yourself.When did you get back" Joe said nodding towards the bar he then turned back to Duncan.
"No problem, do either of you want another?" Methos walked around the back of the bar, taking the coffee pot from its stand.
Both men shook their heads. "Well, MacLeod what brings you to Dawson's? You haven't been exactly very social these past few weeks. I take it this isn't a social call," Methos said pouring himself a coffee.
"I'm sorry I haven't been around lately but I had a few things on my mind" Duncan took a sip of coffee.
"So what's been the problem.my friend?" Methos came round the bar and walked over to join them at the table.
"Just images from the past.I just needed some space to collect my thoughts." Duncan said.
"We all have times like that now and again MacLeod.especially when we have lost someone close to us like Tessa was to you.but shutting yourself away isn't the answer." Methos could see that Duncan was becoming uncomfortable "We're always more troubled when we remember when they died.It's better to remember something good you shared together.not when you lost them."
"Thanks, Methos.but I'm alright now" Duncan smiled weakly at Methos.
A rye smile crossed Methos's face, tilted his head to one side. "There's a glint in your eye MacLeod.it's got to be either a new crusade or a lady"
Duncan leaned back on his chair remembering the warmth of Dani's smile as he left the loft "It might be a bit of both" he said as a smile broke on his face.
"I'm intrigued.what's her name? And where did you meet her?" Methos lent forward towards Duncan.
Duncan thought of last night's events and carefully explained them to Methos who listened quietly while drinking his coffee.
After Duncan had finished Methos said, "So to chase away your demons.Duncan MacLeod has found himself a new crusade"
"It's not a crusade.I just happen to think that she's in danger"
Methos threw his hands in the air and sat back in his chair "And you're going to protect her, aren't you? Even against someone you don't know.You don't even really know her, MacLeod.She may have done something to get this Immortal's attention." Methos looked into Duncan's eyes shaking his head "When are you going to learn MacLeod.not all women are innocent.Have you considered that she could be working with this Immortal to take your head or..or haven't you thought of that?"
The smile on Duncan's face faded and he glared at Methos "If that was the case she could have left me for dead in the alley last night". An uneasy silence descended between the two Immortals.
Joe decided to break the silence "Well, from what Mac told me last night, I've come up with two names.Ralph Travis and Benjamin Cristo," Joe looked at both Immortals to see if there was any recognition there wasn't from Duncan but Methos's face darken.
Both Joe and Duncan saw the darkness come over Methos who suddenly stood up and went over to the bar. Duncan and Joe exchanged confused looks, Duncan followed him over to the bar, Methos had now gone round the other side and was taking down a bottle of brandy. Duncan leaned on the bar "Methos.what is it? Do you know either of them?"
Methos poured himself a large brandy, glaring at Duncan he drank all of the brandy in one swallow "Methos!"
Methos put the glass down on the bar and went to refill it but Duncan's hand on the bottle prevented him. Methos looked Duncan in eye; Duncan could see the coldness in his grey eyes "Cristo.I know Cristo"
While he drove to Joe's Duncan ran through the events of the previous evening in his mind but they still didn't make much sense. It was late morning when Duncan finally drove into the parking lot; it was deserted except for Joe's car. Duncan parked the TBird in the slot next to Joe's car.
Duncan opened the door to the bar it was in darkness except for the light coming from around the bar he could see Joe sitting on a stool in front of the bar writing in a small book, the sound of the door opening made Joe look up.
"Hi Mac.so you do remember how to get here" Joe said as he got up from the stool to greet Duncan.
"I'm Sorry Joe.. that I haven't been around much lately. I just need some time to think" Duncan walked up to where Joe was standing "Did you find anything?"
Joe turned back to the bar and closed the small book. "You know.It's been nearly two months MacLeod.but hey whose counting.. take a seat, I'll grab us some coffee" Joe pointed to the nearest table as he went round the back of the bar to where the coffee pot was. As he poured the coffee into two cups he looked over at Duncan, who smiled at him but Joe could still see that Duncan was troubled by something and from what Duncan had told him on the phone it had something to do with last nights events.
Duncan pulled out the chair nearest to him and sat down. Joe came over with the two cups and sat in the chair opposite. Leaning forward he looked Duncan in the eye "You know MacLeod . I shouldn't be doing this."
Duncan rubbed his hand over his chin "Joe, I.I'm not asking you to tell me where he is . just who"
Joe shook his head and took a piece of paper out of his pocket "Well, you didn't give me much to work with Mac.but I've come up with a .couple of names" Joe slid the piece of paper over to Duncan.
Duncan took the paper off the table and sat back in the chair while he opened it. There in Joe's handwriting were two names Ralph Travis and Benjamin Cristo. Duncan then lent forward putting his elbows on the table "I don't know either of these.are they both in the area?" Joe hesitated he wasn't about to tell Duncan exactly where they were but he had come this far "They've both been in the area in the last two weeks and they both use jewelled rapiers"
"Did you find anything on.who this Louisa is?" Joe lent back in his chair and drank some of his coffee "I'd have to got to the Chronicles.for that sort of information, Mac" Duncan raised his eyebrows and Joe had seen that look on his face before "Joe.I'm not asking for me..Dani.she was the lady in the alley.he pointed at her.I think she's in danger" Joe shook his head as he put his cup on the table. "OK, Mac.I'll do some checking but it's going to take a little time" Joe saw a distant look come over Duncan, who got to his feet his hand going inside his coat, grasping his sword, Joe knew that another Immortal was close. Just then the door to the bar swung open Duncan squinted he could just make out a figure in the doorway silhouetted by the light from outside "Methos?" Duncan said letting go of the sword and bringing his hand out from under his coat.
"A little jumpy today MacLeod aren't we" Methos replied walking over to the bar "Hi Joe any chance of a coffee?"
"Yeah, but you'll have to get it yourself.When did you get back" Joe said nodding towards the bar he then turned back to Duncan.
"No problem, do either of you want another?" Methos walked around the back of the bar, taking the coffee pot from its stand.
Both men shook their heads. "Well, MacLeod what brings you to Dawson's? You haven't been exactly very social these past few weeks. I take it this isn't a social call," Methos said pouring himself a coffee.
"I'm sorry I haven't been around lately but I had a few things on my mind" Duncan took a sip of coffee.
"So what's been the problem.my friend?" Methos came round the bar and walked over to join them at the table.
"Just images from the past.I just needed some space to collect my thoughts." Duncan said.
"We all have times like that now and again MacLeod.especially when we have lost someone close to us like Tessa was to you.but shutting yourself away isn't the answer." Methos could see that Duncan was becoming uncomfortable "We're always more troubled when we remember when they died.It's better to remember something good you shared together.not when you lost them."
"Thanks, Methos.but I'm alright now" Duncan smiled weakly at Methos.
A rye smile crossed Methos's face, tilted his head to one side. "There's a glint in your eye MacLeod.it's got to be either a new crusade or a lady"
Duncan leaned back on his chair remembering the warmth of Dani's smile as he left the loft "It might be a bit of both" he said as a smile broke on his face.
"I'm intrigued.what's her name? And where did you meet her?" Methos lent forward towards Duncan.
Duncan thought of last night's events and carefully explained them to Methos who listened quietly while drinking his coffee.
After Duncan had finished Methos said, "So to chase away your demons.Duncan MacLeod has found himself a new crusade"
"It's not a crusade.I just happen to think that she's in danger"
Methos threw his hands in the air and sat back in his chair "And you're going to protect her, aren't you? Even against someone you don't know.You don't even really know her, MacLeod.She may have done something to get this Immortal's attention." Methos looked into Duncan's eyes shaking his head "When are you going to learn MacLeod.not all women are innocent.Have you considered that she could be working with this Immortal to take your head or..or haven't you thought of that?"
The smile on Duncan's face faded and he glared at Methos "If that was the case she could have left me for dead in the alley last night". An uneasy silence descended between the two Immortals.
Joe decided to break the silence "Well, from what Mac told me last night, I've come up with two names.Ralph Travis and Benjamin Cristo," Joe looked at both Immortals to see if there was any recognition there wasn't from Duncan but Methos's face darken.
Both Joe and Duncan saw the darkness come over Methos who suddenly stood up and went over to the bar. Duncan and Joe exchanged confused looks, Duncan followed him over to the bar, Methos had now gone round the other side and was taking down a bottle of brandy. Duncan leaned on the bar "Methos.what is it? Do you know either of them?"
Methos poured himself a large brandy, glaring at Duncan he drank all of the brandy in one swallow "Methos!"
Methos put the glass down on the bar and went to refill it but Duncan's hand on the bottle prevented him. Methos looked Duncan in eye; Duncan could see the coldness in his grey eyes "Cristo.I know Cristo"