Chapter Four:
Joe's new place was called Observations, a play on his job as a Watcher. It had a bar on one side with a dozen or so tables set up in the middle of the floor. On the other half of the room there was a stage and an empty space intended for dancing. Joe Dawson was not a man to come into a situation without first doing the necessary research and he had found that Sunnydale sorely lacked a decent nightlife. He intended to fill that gap.
Observations was mainly aimed towards adults, since the only place in town was a teenage club. But he also realized that a lot of teenagers would probably check out this new alternative to the Bronze, previously their only possible hangout. Therefore, Joe had impressed upon the bartenders, three people besides himself and Duncan, and on the wait staff, five people who switched off the night and day shifts, the importance of both carding customers and simply observing them to make sure the bar didn't serve anyone underage. MacLeod especially had been talked to about this, much to the older man's amusement. Not that Duncan would knowingly break the law, but he had grown up in a time when teenagers were treated as adults, including being allowed to drink, and the new, to him, laws about minority were at times confusing to the Immortal and Joe realized this.
Dawson was on the bar by himself and had sent his single waitress home since the busy time of the night was over, though he hoped that as people got used to the place, they'd stay later. So he was the one to Duncan MacLeod walk in with three teenagers in tow, as well as a man who appeared to be an academic. They all headed to one of the bigger tables. Dawson started over to them, moving slowly on his leg prosthetics.
"MacLeod! You got off work already. What are you doing back here?"
Duncan smiled at his approaching friend. "Hey Joe. I just couldn't stay away. Everyone, this is my friend, Joe Dawson. He owns the place. Joe, this is Buffy Summers, Willow Rosenburg, Xander Harris, and Rupert Giles." He indicated each person as he introduced them. Joe, who prided himself on knowing his Immortal, noticed that Duncan's gaze lingered slightly on the scholar, Giles.
"Pleased to meet you folks. What can I get you?"
"We can in for a late snack, Joe."
"I've got some wings in the back I can cook up for you in a few minutes."
The teens, who, true to the laws of nature, were the hungriest, eagerly agreed. Then they went around the table with drink orders. Buffy and Willow both opted for sodas, Duncan asked for a Guiness and Giles followed suit, apparently surprising the teens, if their expressions were any indication. Then Xander asked for a Guiness as well and the girls hid their giggles behind their hands as Joe stared intently at him.
"Kid, who do you think you're fooling? You've got a few years left before you can start destroying your liver. How about a coke?"
Xander agreed, grumbling good-naturedly, but he obviously hadn't actually waned the beer and had just intended to be funny. Joe went off to get the drinks and Duncan excused himself for a few minutes to help carry them over. The table erupted in whispers; the teens had noticed Joe's legs, or lack of, and were speculating on how it had happened.
Theories ranged from a flesh-eating zombie to another bug-woman who had been interrupted before she could finish consuming her mate. This continued until Giles mildly pointed out that Joe had only just moved to Sunnydale and that in other places mundane explanations were much more prominent than supernatural ones. The discussion died down as Duncan brought the drinks over and placed them in front of people. He had noticed the three's interest and leaned forward conspiratorially. "It happened in Vietnam and you'll have to ask Joe for more details."
Giles smiled to himself at the children's expressions. While they themselves fought a kind of war against the forces of darkness, it was more a series of unrelated skirmishes and this was the first exposure they'd had to the consequences of actual human warfare. He sipped at his pint and watched as Duncan interacted with the teens. He noticed how Duncan allowed him to sit and observe without trying to draw him into the conversation as many people often did. He appreciated the courtesy as it allowed him to think about his reactions to the man.
The librarian admitted that he would be lying to himself if he said that Duncan didn't affect him. The man had incredible presence and Giles felt himself drawn to the friendly Scot. He had indeed noticed the frequent looks Duncan directed his way and the smiles that appeared to be meant for him alone. Giles certainly hoped he was interpreting correctly, but even if he wasn't, Duncan MacLeod was well worth having a few wishful thoughts about.
Giles' musings were interrupted by the arrival of a large plate of buffalo wings. The three teenagers jumped in. Duncan grabbed one for himself, ate it rather quickly, and then sat back and watched the melee with amusement. He turned to Giles with a smile and cocked his eyebrow to ask if he wanted a wing. Giles shook his head and smiled back. So, in silence they both watched the three friends devour the food and Giles was quite pleased when he felt a large hand rest on his knee. He made no attempt to remove it and so it stayed until the group was ready to leave.
