Chapter 20
Duncan's Loft
Joe and Richie had returned to the loft after getting Joe checked out at the hospital and were waiting for Duncan and Methos. Richie stopped in mid sentence as he sensed another Immortal and Joe followed Richie's gaze towards the elevator, as the gate lifted Joe moved towards the elevator but he stopped in his tracks as Duncan's coat fell to the ground as he walked into the loft, it was then that he saw the blood on Dani's chest "She doesn't look so good Mac.hadn't you better take her to the hospital," Joe exclaimed. Duncan didn't acknowledge Joe's presences; he just walked passed staring straight ahead, Joe moved closer but when he saw the tears in Duncan's eyes, he stopped.
Joe then went to follow him but he felt a restraining hand as Methos took hold of his arm "It's too late for that Joe" Methos said quietly. They both watched as Duncan laid Dani gently on the sofa brushing away the hair that had fallen across her face. "Then you should've left her for the cops MacLeod" Joe said. Methos sighed and put his arm around Joe steering him towards the kitchen "Duncan didn't want to leave her, Joe".
Joe ran his hand through his hair and gave Methos a confused look "But she's dead.he can't do anything for her now."
Methos smiled back "Well, Joe.Technically that's true."
"Technically?" Joe questioned.
Methos glanced round to see if Richie or Duncan were going to come to his assistance but he could see that Richie was having a tough enough time trying to talk to Duncan, who was sat on the coffee table staring at Dani. Richie's reward for his effort was one word answers or silence. 'I could do with your help on this one MacLeod' Methos thought trying to find a way not to tell Joe the whole truth but one look at Joe's face he realised he had no choice.
Methos picked up the empty coffee pot that was on the counter and started to walk to the sink but Joe moved front of him "Well?" Methos put down the coffee pot "Okay.Okay.She's not going to stay dead Joe." Methos stepped around Joe and started to fill the coffee pot with water. "She an Immortal? But how do you know?" Joe asked.
Methos stared at the wall as the coffee pot filled with water "Well.sometimes Joe.we can sense those with the potential"
"The potential to be an Immortal? Do all you guy's have this ability?" Methos crossed to the coffee machine filling it and switching it on "Yes.well most of us can recognise it".
"So why did Cristo believe Dani was Louisa?" Joe asked following Methos as he walked over to where Duncan and Richie were. "He was mad Joe.he believed that she was Louisa reborn and I suppose.because he could probably sense her Immortality. he thought that they could have eternity together." Methos then explained the rest of the night's events to Joe and Richie.
Joe listened quietly until Methos had finished "Did she know?" he asked sitting down in the nearest chair.
"No, Mac hoped that he could protect her from it.that her immortality would never be triggered"
Duncan lent forward and gently stroked Dani's face. "I wanted to give her a chance to live a normal life.but I failed"
"So this is her first awakening?" Joe asked.
Methos smiled "Nothing gets past you Joe.does it"
"I'm so sorry Mac.but from the sound of it you did all you could" Ritchie said patting Duncan on the shoulder.
Duncan looked round at Joe "But it wasn't enough was it.Cristo nearly killed both of us, if it hadn't been for Methos"
"Hey.I didn't do much.just evened the odds.Anyway I owed him.Coffee anyone?"
"I'll get it, I need to do something" Duncan said getting to his feet.
"How long before she revives?" asked Joe.
"The first time is always the longest.but soon." Methos said perching on the arm of the sofa. Duncan handed round the cups of coffee "what do you think Cristo meant about sparing her the pain?" Duncan said as he handed the last cup to Methos "I don't know.but I don't think he was talking about her Immortality".
They all fell silent as Dani's body shuddered as she took her first breath as an Immortal. Duncan rushed over to her, kneeing down on the floor beside the sofa, when her eyes shot open the first thing she saw was him. "It's all right don't be frightened" he said softly as he smooth her hair. Dani sat up wide-eyed looking around the room it was obvious that she was confused "How.How did I get here? What's that noise?" Dani said as she grimmest with pain gasping her hands to her head "Don't worry the pain should easy in a moment" Duncan said as he ran his hand down her cheek. He then looked over to where Methos was standing and gestured with his eyes for them all to leave.
Methos knew that it was never easy explaining things to a new Immortal and an audience would only make it more difficult, he nodded his agreement to Duncan. He then walked over to Joe patting his arm "Come on Joe.we better be going.I'll take you home".
"But I." Joe broke off the sentence as he realised from Methos's face, that he was trying to give Duncan some privacy. He then turned to Richie "I need to stop by the bar.I'll buy you both a beer.if you help with the delivery" Richie and Joe followed Methos into the elevator "Call you tomorrow Mac" said Richie as Methos lowered the gate. As the elevator disappeared down to the dojo, Duncan and Dani were alone in the loft. "Duncan, what's happening? How did I get here?" Dani searched his eyes for answers.
He could see the terror in her eyes "Calm down it's all right.I brought you here," Duncan lent forward to put his arms around her but she pulled away. Dani looked down at her chest, she could see that it was covered in blood, the memory of the sword in her chest came flooding back; she ripped open her blouse franticly searching for the wound. Duncan grabbed her hands "Dani, look at me.Look at me" he said sternly, Dani looked up at him.
Duncan stroked her face and looked deep into her eyes "You're Immortal, Dani" she just kept staring at him. Then she spoke her voice trembling "How...How did this happen?" tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Nobody knows why it happens.but when some people die.a violent death they become Immortal.You're one of them.one of Us" He gestured to himself. Dani's body began to shake; Duncan put his arms around her, she didn't resist and he pulled her closer to him. Their embrace lasted until Dani couldn't cry anymore; Duncan felt her body relax as sleep overtook her. He picked her up gently and carried her over to the bed placing her down; he removed her bloodstained blouse and shoes and pulled the cover over her.
Duncan left her sleeping 'your life has changed forever.but I'll be here for you.through all the changes you must make' he thought as he poured himself a brandy. He walked back to the bed and stood watching her sleep, sipping the brandy he enjoyed the warmth it gave to him 'you look so peaceful.I wish you never had to go through this. I wish you never had to know about the Game' he thought. He bent forward and kissed her lightly on her lips; she stirred slightly from the warmth of his touch but didn't wake.
Duncan went over to the sofa stretching out he let his mind wander back through the events of the last few days, he watched the sky lighten as dawn approached, sleep hadn't come and he'd stopped trying. The events of the past few days had played over and over again in his mind, there was nothing he could've done to prevent any of it, so why did he feel that he had failed. But what of Dani, she needed to learn how to survive as part of the Game. Cristo's words came back to him "you have no idea what she is.do you Highlander.or how to help her now.you should have let me take her head and spared her the pain of what is to come" what had Cristo meant.
Duncan's Loft
Joe and Richie had returned to the loft after getting Joe checked out at the hospital and were waiting for Duncan and Methos. Richie stopped in mid sentence as he sensed another Immortal and Joe followed Richie's gaze towards the elevator, as the gate lifted Joe moved towards the elevator but he stopped in his tracks as Duncan's coat fell to the ground as he walked into the loft, it was then that he saw the blood on Dani's chest "She doesn't look so good Mac.hadn't you better take her to the hospital," Joe exclaimed. Duncan didn't acknowledge Joe's presences; he just walked passed staring straight ahead, Joe moved closer but when he saw the tears in Duncan's eyes, he stopped.
Joe then went to follow him but he felt a restraining hand as Methos took hold of his arm "It's too late for that Joe" Methos said quietly. They both watched as Duncan laid Dani gently on the sofa brushing away the hair that had fallen across her face. "Then you should've left her for the cops MacLeod" Joe said. Methos sighed and put his arm around Joe steering him towards the kitchen "Duncan didn't want to leave her, Joe".
Joe ran his hand through his hair and gave Methos a confused look "But she's dead.he can't do anything for her now."
Methos smiled back "Well, Joe.Technically that's true."
"Technically?" Joe questioned.
Methos glanced round to see if Richie or Duncan were going to come to his assistance but he could see that Richie was having a tough enough time trying to talk to Duncan, who was sat on the coffee table staring at Dani. Richie's reward for his effort was one word answers or silence. 'I could do with your help on this one MacLeod' Methos thought trying to find a way not to tell Joe the whole truth but one look at Joe's face he realised he had no choice.
Methos picked up the empty coffee pot that was on the counter and started to walk to the sink but Joe moved front of him "Well?" Methos put down the coffee pot "Okay.Okay.She's not going to stay dead Joe." Methos stepped around Joe and started to fill the coffee pot with water. "She an Immortal? But how do you know?" Joe asked.
Methos stared at the wall as the coffee pot filled with water "Well.sometimes Joe.we can sense those with the potential"
"The potential to be an Immortal? Do all you guy's have this ability?" Methos crossed to the coffee machine filling it and switching it on "Yes.well most of us can recognise it".
"So why did Cristo believe Dani was Louisa?" Joe asked following Methos as he walked over to where Duncan and Richie were. "He was mad Joe.he believed that she was Louisa reborn and I suppose.because he could probably sense her Immortality. he thought that they could have eternity together." Methos then explained the rest of the night's events to Joe and Richie.
Joe listened quietly until Methos had finished "Did she know?" he asked sitting down in the nearest chair.
"No, Mac hoped that he could protect her from it.that her immortality would never be triggered"
Duncan lent forward and gently stroked Dani's face. "I wanted to give her a chance to live a normal life.but I failed"
"So this is her first awakening?" Joe asked.
Methos smiled "Nothing gets past you Joe.does it"
"I'm so sorry Mac.but from the sound of it you did all you could" Ritchie said patting Duncan on the shoulder.
Duncan looked round at Joe "But it wasn't enough was it.Cristo nearly killed both of us, if it hadn't been for Methos"
"Hey.I didn't do much.just evened the odds.Anyway I owed him.Coffee anyone?"
"I'll get it, I need to do something" Duncan said getting to his feet.
"How long before she revives?" asked Joe.
"The first time is always the longest.but soon." Methos said perching on the arm of the sofa. Duncan handed round the cups of coffee "what do you think Cristo meant about sparing her the pain?" Duncan said as he handed the last cup to Methos "I don't know.but I don't think he was talking about her Immortality".
They all fell silent as Dani's body shuddered as she took her first breath as an Immortal. Duncan rushed over to her, kneeing down on the floor beside the sofa, when her eyes shot open the first thing she saw was him. "It's all right don't be frightened" he said softly as he smooth her hair. Dani sat up wide-eyed looking around the room it was obvious that she was confused "How.How did I get here? What's that noise?" Dani said as she grimmest with pain gasping her hands to her head "Don't worry the pain should easy in a moment" Duncan said as he ran his hand down her cheek. He then looked over to where Methos was standing and gestured with his eyes for them all to leave.
Methos knew that it was never easy explaining things to a new Immortal and an audience would only make it more difficult, he nodded his agreement to Duncan. He then walked over to Joe patting his arm "Come on Joe.we better be going.I'll take you home".
"But I." Joe broke off the sentence as he realised from Methos's face, that he was trying to give Duncan some privacy. He then turned to Richie "I need to stop by the bar.I'll buy you both a beer.if you help with the delivery" Richie and Joe followed Methos into the elevator "Call you tomorrow Mac" said Richie as Methos lowered the gate. As the elevator disappeared down to the dojo, Duncan and Dani were alone in the loft. "Duncan, what's happening? How did I get here?" Dani searched his eyes for answers.
He could see the terror in her eyes "Calm down it's all right.I brought you here," Duncan lent forward to put his arms around her but she pulled away. Dani looked down at her chest, she could see that it was covered in blood, the memory of the sword in her chest came flooding back; she ripped open her blouse franticly searching for the wound. Duncan grabbed her hands "Dani, look at me.Look at me" he said sternly, Dani looked up at him.
Duncan stroked her face and looked deep into her eyes "You're Immortal, Dani" she just kept staring at him. Then she spoke her voice trembling "How...How did this happen?" tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Nobody knows why it happens.but when some people die.a violent death they become Immortal.You're one of them.one of Us" He gestured to himself. Dani's body began to shake; Duncan put his arms around her, she didn't resist and he pulled her closer to him. Their embrace lasted until Dani couldn't cry anymore; Duncan felt her body relax as sleep overtook her. He picked her up gently and carried her over to the bed placing her down; he removed her bloodstained blouse and shoes and pulled the cover over her.
Duncan left her sleeping 'your life has changed forever.but I'll be here for you.through all the changes you must make' he thought as he poured himself a brandy. He walked back to the bed and stood watching her sleep, sipping the brandy he enjoyed the warmth it gave to him 'you look so peaceful.I wish you never had to go through this. I wish you never had to know about the Game' he thought. He bent forward and kissed her lightly on her lips; she stirred slightly from the warmth of his touch but didn't wake.
Duncan went over to the sofa stretching out he let his mind wander back through the events of the last few days, he watched the sky lighten as dawn approached, sleep hadn't come and he'd stopped trying. The events of the past few days had played over and over again in his mind, there was nothing he could've done to prevent any of it, so why did he feel that he had failed. But what of Dani, she needed to learn how to survive as part of the Game. Cristo's words came back to him "you have no idea what she is.do you Highlander.or how to help her now.you should have let me take her head and spared her the pain of what is to come" what had Cristo meant.