CHAPTER 11
"Have you learned any more about this immortal, Adam Pierson?" the voice on the other end of the line asked.
"No . nothing. Leandra's brother said that somehow Pierson saved her life, but if he knows anything else, he's not saying." Garrett told his teacher. "And I don't think Pierson has completely bought the idea that I don't know what I am. He doesn't trust me."
"That really doesn't concern me. If he realizes how new you are to the game then he won't be expecting the depth of your preparation even if he does guess that you know." The voice continued. "But don't admit to anything. We spoke many times about keeping your true understanding and training a secret. It is the key to catching your opponent off guard when the time comes. "
"Why won't you let me take him out now? You know I'm ready." Garrett argued. He'd only had one taste of a Quickening and he was hungry to feel the power rushing through his body again. Not to mention the fact that he didn't like this stranger moving in on what had belonged to his best friend. It wasn't right. Craig's daughter shouldn't be raised by a man who didn't even know him.
"I don't know anything until we know exactly who this Adam Pierson is." The voice replied impatiently. "Do as you are told and I will decide when or if you are ready."
"I will be there as soon as I can, and you can reach me when you have more to report."
Garrett closed the phone as the line went dead. He knew his teacher had his reasons for making him do things the way he did, but he still didn't like it. He didn't like the way Adam Pierson had just strolled into Leandra's life or how he was going to raise Craig's child as his own. And he didn't like the way the man seemed to be sizing him up and casting a suspicious eye in his direction. He had known Leandra almost all his life. He shouldn't be the one having to prove himself.
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Back at the house Adam watched Beth bathe the baby. She was being unusually quiet during what should have been an enjoyable task since Cassie loved the water so much. They'd already said everything there was to say about the house, so there was only one thing he could think of that would have her mentally weighing her words before she said them. As much as he didn't want to discuss this, he knew it was coming.
Finally after she'd wrapped Cassie in a warm, soft towel and started to walk across the hall to the bedroom to dress her, Beth decided to take advantage of the fact that they were alone in the house.
"Can you tell me now why you don't like Garrett?" she asked.
Adam let out a long breath and moved to sit on Rayna's bed across from her. "I don't have any particular like or dislike for him." He replied, waiting until she was seated in the rocker with Cassie securely bundled in her arms.
"You don't trust him." She stated flatly. "And even though you knew he was my friend, you made sure he knew you didn't trust him with the way you glared at him today."
"Guilty as charged." He didn't even try to deny it.
"Are you going to tell me why? Or do I have to keep guessing?"
"I needed time to process this and to learn more if I could before I told you why. " He began, his face becoming even more serious. "But I was going to tell you. It isn't something I'd keep from you. I promise."
"Adam you're scaring me. What is going on?" It wasn't his words, but his expression that had her so worried.
He knew it would be worse for her if he drug out his explanation. "You said that three years ago he went over a ridge in his pickup and that the vehicle was reduced to nothing more than twisted steel and ash . so much so that they thought the body had been completely consumed."
Beth nodded, not knowing what this had to do with anything. Garrett explained what happened, that he had been thrown clear.
"And yet here he is ." Adam continued, looking at her directly.
Beth listened to what he was saying, and more importantly . what he was not saying. It only took a few long seconds for her hand to come to her throat as she gasped. "Are you saying he is . like you?" she asked and Adam nodded.
Beth couldn't sit and simply rock Cassie. She got up from the chair, her mind spinning with the news as she felt the need to pace the floor. Adam saw how upset she was. "Why don't I take her?" he asked, moving so he could take the baby and let Beth collect her thoughts.
Beth didn't say anything for a few minutes, but stared out the window. "Do you think he was afraid of you? Afraid you might take his head?" she said, remembering how uncomfortable Garrett seemed to be whenever Adam was around.
"If he knows what he is then he might." Adam replied.
"You mean he might not know?" she asked, not knowing how all of this worked.
"The headaches he claims to experience are a symptom of a new immortal's reaction to the presence of another. It causes a sense of anxiety that can translate into physical discomfort until they recognize it for what it is."
"Are you saying he has no idea about what he is, or the danger he is in if he meets another immortal?" Beth was shocked at the thought.
"If he hasn't had any meaningful contact with another immortal, then no . he would have no idea." Adam replied.
"Then you have to tell him." She said.
"No I'm not . and neither are you." Adam put a sleeping Cassie in the crib and came to stand directly in front of her.
"You can't expect me to just stand by and let someone I've cared about my entire life walk around not knowing what is happening to him. I won't do it." Beth argued.
Putting his hands firmly on her shoulders, Adam stooped until he was looking eye to eye with Beth. "You can and you will. This isn't up for debate."
She started to protest, but Adam cut her off. "MacLeod and the others will be here in two days. You know Garrett is not in danger from any of us . unless he really does know what he is and does something unwise."
Beth didn't like how any of this sounded. "Adam . he has to be told."
"Yes . he has to be told, and yes . he has to be trained. But not by me and you are to stay out of it." He had never been this direct or commanding with her, and it was a little unnerving.
"I don't understand. Why not you? You agreed to train Claudia. Why not someone I care about?" she was literally shaking with frustration at this point.
"That is exactly why it can't be me. Even if I wanted to take on another student, which I don't, and even if I knew he was someone I could trust, which as much as I know you do ... I don't, you are too close to him and too involved. I won't take on the training of someone you love. And yes I know that is how deeply you feel about him, I saw it the first time you laid eyes on him at the stable. He matters to you." Adam explained. "He needs to be trained by someone else because I won't risk having you wonder if I did my best by him if something were to go wrong."
"I don't like being told what to do." Beth replied. "And yes I love Garrett, but I love him like a brother . it's not like how I feel for you if that is what you are worried about."
Adam let out an exasperated breath. That was not what he worried about. He understood her feelings for Garrett, and if he turned out to be exactly what he seemed then he wouldn't stand in the way of their friendship as long as Beth was safe with him.
"You knew if you became a part of my world, that there would be times when I'd have to ask you to trust me and respect my decisions if we were going to be together." He reminded her, not backing down. "This is one of those times Beth."
Beth did remember, and a part of her understood why he didn't want to get into this with Garrett. But it didn't make it any easier to sit back and wait, knowing her friend was about to get the shock of his hopefully long life.
"Do you promise me that he will be told? That Duncan or Amanda will let him know what is happening?" she asked.
Adam nodded, relieved that she appeared to understand what he was asking. "He will be told, but not until after the wedding. The others will only be here a day and a half before the ceremony and a few more days won't make a difference to Garrett if he really doesn't know."
Beth frowned, but nodded her agreement.
Adam cupped her chin in his hand. "Are you going to be ok with this?"
"Yeah." Beth still looked troubled, but he could see that she wasn't fighting him any more. "I understand why you want . I mean why you NEED to handle it this way." She began. "But it's still a shock. The last thing I expected to hear was that someone I'd known all my life was immortal."
"Then until you can at least get used to the idea, can you do something else for me?" he asked and Beth waited to hear his request. "Could you stay away from Garrett? I know you wouldn't mean to ." he lifted her face a little higher "But it would be way too easy to slip. And if he really doesn't know, it could compromise our being here if he were to let the secret out before he understood why it needs to be kept."
Beth knew he was right. It would be hard for her to keep something so big from Garrett now that she knew the truth. He knew her well enough to know she was hiding something. "I'm going to be a little busy getting ready for the wedding, so yes I can do that." She replied. "There's so much to do. We've got to rearrange the downstairs to make room for everyone and I need to make sure that the other house is ready when Duncan and the others arrive ."
"Would it help if you didn't have to worry about rearranging this house?" Adam asked, wanting to do something to let her know that he would do what he could to make her happy.
"Adam . there will be at least fifty people here for the wedding, plus family. They won't fit with the sofas." She argued, not letting the smile on his face register.
"If we married at the church like I know you wanted, then you wouldn't have to rearrange the house." He replied. "I know I wasn't keen on a religious service, but after meeting your family, I want to make their acceptance of us as easy as I can for you. Is it too late to make the change?"
Beth threw her arms around his neck. "No . it's not too late. You don't know how happy this will make me . and my father." She told him.
"If the lack of circulation in my neck is anything ." he laughed. "Then I have a pretty good idea."
Beth pulled back and gave him a mischievous look. "Of course you tell me this AFTER I picked out my dress."
Adam was completely oblivious to what she was talking about. "What? Were you hoping to wear a train or something?"
"No . nothing like that. Let's just say my dress is . unconventional." She replied, piquing his curiosity.
"Oh really?" he was intrigued, remembering the dress she'd worn to the gala.
"You'll see." She replied, reaching for the phone so she could call and change all the arrangements.
"Have you learned any more about this immortal, Adam Pierson?" the voice on the other end of the line asked.
"No . nothing. Leandra's brother said that somehow Pierson saved her life, but if he knows anything else, he's not saying." Garrett told his teacher. "And I don't think Pierson has completely bought the idea that I don't know what I am. He doesn't trust me."
"That really doesn't concern me. If he realizes how new you are to the game then he won't be expecting the depth of your preparation even if he does guess that you know." The voice continued. "But don't admit to anything. We spoke many times about keeping your true understanding and training a secret. It is the key to catching your opponent off guard when the time comes. "
"Why won't you let me take him out now? You know I'm ready." Garrett argued. He'd only had one taste of a Quickening and he was hungry to feel the power rushing through his body again. Not to mention the fact that he didn't like this stranger moving in on what had belonged to his best friend. It wasn't right. Craig's daughter shouldn't be raised by a man who didn't even know him.
"I don't know anything until we know exactly who this Adam Pierson is." The voice replied impatiently. "Do as you are told and I will decide when or if you are ready."
"I will be there as soon as I can, and you can reach me when you have more to report."
Garrett closed the phone as the line went dead. He knew his teacher had his reasons for making him do things the way he did, but he still didn't like it. He didn't like the way Adam Pierson had just strolled into Leandra's life or how he was going to raise Craig's child as his own. And he didn't like the way the man seemed to be sizing him up and casting a suspicious eye in his direction. He had known Leandra almost all his life. He shouldn't be the one having to prove himself.
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Back at the house Adam watched Beth bathe the baby. She was being unusually quiet during what should have been an enjoyable task since Cassie loved the water so much. They'd already said everything there was to say about the house, so there was only one thing he could think of that would have her mentally weighing her words before she said them. As much as he didn't want to discuss this, he knew it was coming.
Finally after she'd wrapped Cassie in a warm, soft towel and started to walk across the hall to the bedroom to dress her, Beth decided to take advantage of the fact that they were alone in the house.
"Can you tell me now why you don't like Garrett?" she asked.
Adam let out a long breath and moved to sit on Rayna's bed across from her. "I don't have any particular like or dislike for him." He replied, waiting until she was seated in the rocker with Cassie securely bundled in her arms.
"You don't trust him." She stated flatly. "And even though you knew he was my friend, you made sure he knew you didn't trust him with the way you glared at him today."
"Guilty as charged." He didn't even try to deny it.
"Are you going to tell me why? Or do I have to keep guessing?"
"I needed time to process this and to learn more if I could before I told you why. " He began, his face becoming even more serious. "But I was going to tell you. It isn't something I'd keep from you. I promise."
"Adam you're scaring me. What is going on?" It wasn't his words, but his expression that had her so worried.
He knew it would be worse for her if he drug out his explanation. "You said that three years ago he went over a ridge in his pickup and that the vehicle was reduced to nothing more than twisted steel and ash . so much so that they thought the body had been completely consumed."
Beth nodded, not knowing what this had to do with anything. Garrett explained what happened, that he had been thrown clear.
"And yet here he is ." Adam continued, looking at her directly.
Beth listened to what he was saying, and more importantly . what he was not saying. It only took a few long seconds for her hand to come to her throat as she gasped. "Are you saying he is . like you?" she asked and Adam nodded.
Beth couldn't sit and simply rock Cassie. She got up from the chair, her mind spinning with the news as she felt the need to pace the floor. Adam saw how upset she was. "Why don't I take her?" he asked, moving so he could take the baby and let Beth collect her thoughts.
Beth didn't say anything for a few minutes, but stared out the window. "Do you think he was afraid of you? Afraid you might take his head?" she said, remembering how uncomfortable Garrett seemed to be whenever Adam was around.
"If he knows what he is then he might." Adam replied.
"You mean he might not know?" she asked, not knowing how all of this worked.
"The headaches he claims to experience are a symptom of a new immortal's reaction to the presence of another. It causes a sense of anxiety that can translate into physical discomfort until they recognize it for what it is."
"Are you saying he has no idea about what he is, or the danger he is in if he meets another immortal?" Beth was shocked at the thought.
"If he hasn't had any meaningful contact with another immortal, then no . he would have no idea." Adam replied.
"Then you have to tell him." She said.
"No I'm not . and neither are you." Adam put a sleeping Cassie in the crib and came to stand directly in front of her.
"You can't expect me to just stand by and let someone I've cared about my entire life walk around not knowing what is happening to him. I won't do it." Beth argued.
Putting his hands firmly on her shoulders, Adam stooped until he was looking eye to eye with Beth. "You can and you will. This isn't up for debate."
She started to protest, but Adam cut her off. "MacLeod and the others will be here in two days. You know Garrett is not in danger from any of us . unless he really does know what he is and does something unwise."
Beth didn't like how any of this sounded. "Adam . he has to be told."
"Yes . he has to be told, and yes . he has to be trained. But not by me and you are to stay out of it." He had never been this direct or commanding with her, and it was a little unnerving.
"I don't understand. Why not you? You agreed to train Claudia. Why not someone I care about?" she was literally shaking with frustration at this point.
"That is exactly why it can't be me. Even if I wanted to take on another student, which I don't, and even if I knew he was someone I could trust, which as much as I know you do ... I don't, you are too close to him and too involved. I won't take on the training of someone you love. And yes I know that is how deeply you feel about him, I saw it the first time you laid eyes on him at the stable. He matters to you." Adam explained. "He needs to be trained by someone else because I won't risk having you wonder if I did my best by him if something were to go wrong."
"I don't like being told what to do." Beth replied. "And yes I love Garrett, but I love him like a brother . it's not like how I feel for you if that is what you are worried about."
Adam let out an exasperated breath. That was not what he worried about. He understood her feelings for Garrett, and if he turned out to be exactly what he seemed then he wouldn't stand in the way of their friendship as long as Beth was safe with him.
"You knew if you became a part of my world, that there would be times when I'd have to ask you to trust me and respect my decisions if we were going to be together." He reminded her, not backing down. "This is one of those times Beth."
Beth did remember, and a part of her understood why he didn't want to get into this with Garrett. But it didn't make it any easier to sit back and wait, knowing her friend was about to get the shock of his hopefully long life.
"Do you promise me that he will be told? That Duncan or Amanda will let him know what is happening?" she asked.
Adam nodded, relieved that she appeared to understand what he was asking. "He will be told, but not until after the wedding. The others will only be here a day and a half before the ceremony and a few more days won't make a difference to Garrett if he really doesn't know."
Beth frowned, but nodded her agreement.
Adam cupped her chin in his hand. "Are you going to be ok with this?"
"Yeah." Beth still looked troubled, but he could see that she wasn't fighting him any more. "I understand why you want . I mean why you NEED to handle it this way." She began. "But it's still a shock. The last thing I expected to hear was that someone I'd known all my life was immortal."
"Then until you can at least get used to the idea, can you do something else for me?" he asked and Beth waited to hear his request. "Could you stay away from Garrett? I know you wouldn't mean to ." he lifted her face a little higher "But it would be way too easy to slip. And if he really doesn't know, it could compromise our being here if he were to let the secret out before he understood why it needs to be kept."
Beth knew he was right. It would be hard for her to keep something so big from Garrett now that she knew the truth. He knew her well enough to know she was hiding something. "I'm going to be a little busy getting ready for the wedding, so yes I can do that." She replied. "There's so much to do. We've got to rearrange the downstairs to make room for everyone and I need to make sure that the other house is ready when Duncan and the others arrive ."
"Would it help if you didn't have to worry about rearranging this house?" Adam asked, wanting to do something to let her know that he would do what he could to make her happy.
"Adam . there will be at least fifty people here for the wedding, plus family. They won't fit with the sofas." She argued, not letting the smile on his face register.
"If we married at the church like I know you wanted, then you wouldn't have to rearrange the house." He replied. "I know I wasn't keen on a religious service, but after meeting your family, I want to make their acceptance of us as easy as I can for you. Is it too late to make the change?"
Beth threw her arms around his neck. "No . it's not too late. You don't know how happy this will make me . and my father." She told him.
"If the lack of circulation in my neck is anything ." he laughed. "Then I have a pretty good idea."
Beth pulled back and gave him a mischievous look. "Of course you tell me this AFTER I picked out my dress."
Adam was completely oblivious to what she was talking about. "What? Were you hoping to wear a train or something?"
"No . nothing like that. Let's just say my dress is . unconventional." She replied, piquing his curiosity.
"Oh really?" he was intrigued, remembering the dress she'd worn to the gala.
"You'll see." She replied, reaching for the phone so she could call and change all the arrangements.