CHAPTER 73
At the pub, both Duncan and Methos could see that the Asian immortal was agitated by their
presence. But as the man walked closer to their table, it became evident that it was MacLeod's
presence that was the problem.
"A friend of yours?" Methos asked as he tossed some bills on the table.
"Not that I recall." Duncan replied, not really wanting to deal with this right now.
"You!" the man glared at MacLeod as he stood beside the table, blocking the way.
"I am Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod and I have no quarrel with you, now let me pass."
"I will let you pass." The man replied, "but only to let you pass to that doorway and out into the
alley. I do have a quarrel with you."
This man was not backing down.
"Just what problem do you have with my friend?" Methos asked in a nonchalant manner as he
slipped from his side of the booth to stand over the man.
"You will stay out of this or I will have both of your heads." The man gritted, his words loud
enough to be heard by the table across the aisle.
"I'm not fighting you or anyone else tonight." Duncan replied as he tried to leave, but the man
again blocked his way. "You will fight me or you will die." The man held a revolver under his coat
lining and was insistent.
Duncan didn't see he had any choice, the man was drawing attention. He nodded to Methos and
then turned toward the exit the man indicated, being careful not to turn his back completely on the
man.
Once they were out into the alley, Duncan tossed his coat to Methos. "I'm afraid you must have
me confused with someone else." He said as he prepared to defend himself.
"I have no one confused!" the man insisted, as he too pulled out his sword and then laid the
revolver on a box in the alley out of reach to show he intended to fight fairly. "You killed my
student, Chu Lin, and now you will die."
"Chu Lin?" It took Duncan a few seconds to realize who the man was talking about. But then the
recognition dawned in his eyes. "Your student was taking advantage of immortals, drugging them
for his own gain and then leaving them to die in agony." MacLeod tried to explain, but this
immortal would not listen.
"I am Tang Sui of the Royal House of Sui." He declared. It was then Methos' realized what
MacLeod did not. The house of Sui ruled China over 1,500 years ago.
There was something about MacLeod's demeanor that told Methos he was not prepared for this
battle. On any other day his money would be on the Highlander, but tonight the Scotsman was
distracted by all that they were facing.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do this." Methos said as he pulled his sword and stepped between the
two men.
"You can not interfere!" Tang Sui stated.
"I'm not interfering." Methos replied. "I'm challenging you."
"This is my fight." Duncan said as he tried to move Methos out of the way, but the ancient one
was too stubborn.
"I've been looking for a fight all day." Methos replied. "This one will do."
Tang Sui was annoyed but undeterred. "I will take on both of you."
Duncan shook his head, he would have none of that. But if Methos was so determined to do this,
then he was going to let him. Usually he would demand to fight his own battles, but he found
himself more than curious as to why Methos was so insistent. He also wondered just how
powerful he had become in the months since they'd been together. This was a good way to find
out.
Tang Sui began to circle, watching MacLeod and realizing he wasn't going to try and take him
from behind when he holstered his sword.
He waved his sword in a circle above his head and then paused before striding quickly toward
Methos and battling him back. Methos was a little surprised at the power in the smaller man, but
didn't take long to return the blows and force the man to give ground.
For several minutes the sound of steel rang out as they alternated position. Each took the
offensive with great skill and each managed to defend with equal dexterity.
"You have the power of many ages." Tang Sui commented as they parted for a few seconds and
stalked one another in a circle.
"And soon I will have your power." Methos replied as he pushed his way forward, forcing Sui
against the wall. He was just about to strike his most powerful blow yet, when Sui's wrist flipped
and flung a 5 pronged steel star into Methos' chest.
Knowing he was about to die, and hearing MacLeod's gasp from behind him, Methos had to
make this final swing count. The pain in his chest was excruciating and he could feel his life
pouring out of his body, but he wouldn't let himself fall. Catching Sui off guard when the over
confident immortal let down his guard in the belief he had already won, Methos swiped his blade
up the man's body and then across his neck, severing it from his head.
The added exertion caused Methos' heart to stop before his body hit the pavement. For several
long seconds, MacLeod watched as a strange stillness fell over the alley. He'd never seen a
Quickening take the dead body of another immortal before, and wondered how it would happen.
After a long pause, a bolt of energy shot from Tang Sui's body and into the gaping wound in
Methos' chest. The force of it caused his arms and legs to be thrown straight out as he was lifted
into the air. His body was receiving the power even though it had not yet revived. For several long
minutes the alley shook and spikes of light shot back and forth from both of the fallen immortals.
And then just as MacLeod thought it was over, Methos' eyes opened wide and he let out a terrible
sound. Reviving was never pleasant, but to do so under the power of a Quickening was
agonizing.
Methos was only barely aware of what was happening when he felt the familiar soft hand
grasping his own. Too caught up in the effects of the death, the reviving and the quickening to
want to fight it, he clasped her presence tightly and welcomed the feeling of her warmth that
radiated into his hand. And then he did something he had never done before. At the height of
Beth's presence, he called out her name.
Duncan stood back out of the way, confused by what he saw and heard. He could swear that in
the haze around Methos, that he saw the misty figure of a woman … a woman he knew. "What
the . . . ?" he whispered aloud as the image faded as the quickening ended.
Picking up both swords and the revolver, Duncan tucked them into his coat and then moved to
help Methos to his feet. He could hear the sound of people coming from one end of the alley and
knew they had to get out of there.
----------------
Back at the villa, Beth was sitting in the near darkness on the edge of the bed in Garrett's room
when she felt a pain in her chest. Garrett heard her gasp just as he opened the door to the
bedroom.
"What's wrong?" he called out as she clasped her hand to her chest and stared through him. Her
body went limp and slipped to the floor before he could reach her.
"Someone call an ambulance!" Garrett yelled as he knelt beside her body, rolling her flat on her
back and checking for a pulse.
Rick Shafer took the steps two at a time, wondering what was going on. When he made it to the
doorway Garrett was performing CPR on Beth's lifeless body.
"She's not . . . breathing." Garrett told him between compressions.
"What do you mean she's not breathing?" Shafer knelt on the other side of the young woman and
felt the vein at her neck. There was no pulse. This was not good. She was the key to keeping
Garrett's cooperation. He cursed under his breath as he yelled for one of the guards to pull the
car around. Her only chance was for them to continue CPR and rush her to the hospital in the
town below.
Garrett was just about to lift her in his arms when a rush of air filled Beth's lungs. Her eyes
opened wide, but couldn't focus on the face that loomed over her. "Adam?" she choked as her
body began to awaken.
Garrett felt as if he'd been punched in the gut and Rick just glared at Beth, but she was unaware
of both of them.
Lifting her into his arms, Garrett laid her on the bed. "It's Garrett." He told her when she still didn't
seem to recognize him. Taking her hand, he looked down into her face. "Try not to talk."
Shafer told one of the guards who had come inside to call a doctor. She would need to be
checked out.
A doctor arrived a few minutes later.
"I don't understand it." He told Garrett and Shafer out in the hall way. "You say she had no pulse
and was not breathing, yet I can't find anything wrong with her."
"There's got to be something." Garrett replied, not satisfied with the answer.
"I'll have to admit her to the hospital for tests to be sure." The doctor told him.
"That's not possible." Shafer interrupted. No way was he going to let her out of the protection of
the Villa, not when he was so close to his goal and needed Garrett.
"But Rick . . ." Garrett interrupted, but nothing would sway his teacher's mind. In fact Shafer was
ordering a guard to show the doctor out.
"Our plane leaves in two hours and you will be on it." Rick said to him directly. "I don't know what
kind of game she is playing, but there is nothing wrong with her."
Garrett didn't agree, but he didn't have an answer either. Going back into the room, he tried to
forget what Beth had said when she first awakened.
Beth lay curled on her side, the covers pulled up over her shoulders as she tried to figure out
what had happened. All she remembered was the sharp pain in her chest and then all went black.
She came to when she heard Adam calling her name. That is why she thought it was him leaning
over her. It had been so dark in the room she couldn't make out the face until it was too late to
take back the words. Now she could only do damage control.
"I'm sorry." She whispered as Garrett sat down next to her. She tried to caress his face, but he
pulled away. His face showed he was worried about her, but it also showed that his trust in her
had faded.
"Garrett, I'm sorry. I don't know what happened and I got confused. I thought I was back in
Seacouver and Asher Devan had me. That's why I thought you were Adam." She tried to think
quickly in her still dazed state.
Garrett wasn't sure what to believe.
"Do you have any idea what happened? Has anything like this happened before?" he asked,
ignoring her explanation.
"No, nothing." She replied. "I thought I was having a heart attack."
Garrett thought so too. But the doctor said her heart was strong and there was no abnormal
rhythm. He wished Shafer would let him send her to the hospital.
"I'm going to have Helen come and sit with you." He told Beth.
"Helen?" Beth replied, not understanding.
"Yes. I'm sorry to have to do this, but I need to go out of town for a few days. I have to leave
tonight."
"He's making you isn't he?" Beth accused Shafer. "He's trying to pull you into one of his
schemes."
Garrett shook his head. "I have business that can't wait."
"Don't leave me." Beth sat up and threw her arms around him, trying to undo the damage she
knew had been done.
Garrett was shocked by her reaction, and held her close. "I won't be gone more than a few days."
He said as he stroked her hair.
"I'll be waiting." She promised as he pulled away from her to throw some things in a bag.
"I'll have Helen bring Cassie's crib in here while I'm gone. That way she can watch both of you."
He said before leaning down to kiss her goodbye.
"Be careful." She told him as he turned to walk out the door. He nodded and then shut it behind
him.
Beth wiped her mouth on the back of her hand before pulling her pillow into her lap and burying
her face in it. Her mind was reeling with the images she'd seen just before she blacked out. It was
as if she'd been looking through someone else's eyes, and instinctively she knew they had been
Adam's.
"I felt you die." She whispered as she hugged the pillow tighter. "and then I died alongside you."
It was then she realized just how deep their connection went. Her life was tied to his, literally.
Something must have happened to Adam, but his Quickening had not been taken, she was sure
of that much. Something told her that if it had been taken, then she knew she would never have
awakened. The knowledge sent a shiver down her spine. "Be careful my love." She said softly.
"You hold both of our lives in your hands."
A second shiver went through her when she realized how close Cassie had come to losing both
her parents. Tears streamed down her face at the thought of her daughter being left alone and at
the whim of Garrett and Shafer.
At the pub, both Duncan and Methos could see that the Asian immortal was agitated by their
presence. But as the man walked closer to their table, it became evident that it was MacLeod's
presence that was the problem.
"A friend of yours?" Methos asked as he tossed some bills on the table.
"Not that I recall." Duncan replied, not really wanting to deal with this right now.
"You!" the man glared at MacLeod as he stood beside the table, blocking the way.
"I am Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod and I have no quarrel with you, now let me pass."
"I will let you pass." The man replied, "but only to let you pass to that doorway and out into the
alley. I do have a quarrel with you."
This man was not backing down.
"Just what problem do you have with my friend?" Methos asked in a nonchalant manner as he
slipped from his side of the booth to stand over the man.
"You will stay out of this or I will have both of your heads." The man gritted, his words loud
enough to be heard by the table across the aisle.
"I'm not fighting you or anyone else tonight." Duncan replied as he tried to leave, but the man
again blocked his way. "You will fight me or you will die." The man held a revolver under his coat
lining and was insistent.
Duncan didn't see he had any choice, the man was drawing attention. He nodded to Methos and
then turned toward the exit the man indicated, being careful not to turn his back completely on the
man.
Once they were out into the alley, Duncan tossed his coat to Methos. "I'm afraid you must have
me confused with someone else." He said as he prepared to defend himself.
"I have no one confused!" the man insisted, as he too pulled out his sword and then laid the
revolver on a box in the alley out of reach to show he intended to fight fairly. "You killed my
student, Chu Lin, and now you will die."
"Chu Lin?" It took Duncan a few seconds to realize who the man was talking about. But then the
recognition dawned in his eyes. "Your student was taking advantage of immortals, drugging them
for his own gain and then leaving them to die in agony." MacLeod tried to explain, but this
immortal would not listen.
"I am Tang Sui of the Royal House of Sui." He declared. It was then Methos' realized what
MacLeod did not. The house of Sui ruled China over 1,500 years ago.
There was something about MacLeod's demeanor that told Methos he was not prepared for this
battle. On any other day his money would be on the Highlander, but tonight the Scotsman was
distracted by all that they were facing.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do this." Methos said as he pulled his sword and stepped between the
two men.
"You can not interfere!" Tang Sui stated.
"I'm not interfering." Methos replied. "I'm challenging you."
"This is my fight." Duncan said as he tried to move Methos out of the way, but the ancient one
was too stubborn.
"I've been looking for a fight all day." Methos replied. "This one will do."
Tang Sui was annoyed but undeterred. "I will take on both of you."
Duncan shook his head, he would have none of that. But if Methos was so determined to do this,
then he was going to let him. Usually he would demand to fight his own battles, but he found
himself more than curious as to why Methos was so insistent. He also wondered just how
powerful he had become in the months since they'd been together. This was a good way to find
out.
Tang Sui began to circle, watching MacLeod and realizing he wasn't going to try and take him
from behind when he holstered his sword.
He waved his sword in a circle above his head and then paused before striding quickly toward
Methos and battling him back. Methos was a little surprised at the power in the smaller man, but
didn't take long to return the blows and force the man to give ground.
For several minutes the sound of steel rang out as they alternated position. Each took the
offensive with great skill and each managed to defend with equal dexterity.
"You have the power of many ages." Tang Sui commented as they parted for a few seconds and
stalked one another in a circle.
"And soon I will have your power." Methos replied as he pushed his way forward, forcing Sui
against the wall. He was just about to strike his most powerful blow yet, when Sui's wrist flipped
and flung a 5 pronged steel star into Methos' chest.
Knowing he was about to die, and hearing MacLeod's gasp from behind him, Methos had to
make this final swing count. The pain in his chest was excruciating and he could feel his life
pouring out of his body, but he wouldn't let himself fall. Catching Sui off guard when the over
confident immortal let down his guard in the belief he had already won, Methos swiped his blade
up the man's body and then across his neck, severing it from his head.
The added exertion caused Methos' heart to stop before his body hit the pavement. For several
long seconds, MacLeod watched as a strange stillness fell over the alley. He'd never seen a
Quickening take the dead body of another immortal before, and wondered how it would happen.
After a long pause, a bolt of energy shot from Tang Sui's body and into the gaping wound in
Methos' chest. The force of it caused his arms and legs to be thrown straight out as he was lifted
into the air. His body was receiving the power even though it had not yet revived. For several long
minutes the alley shook and spikes of light shot back and forth from both of the fallen immortals.
And then just as MacLeod thought it was over, Methos' eyes opened wide and he let out a terrible
sound. Reviving was never pleasant, but to do so under the power of a Quickening was
agonizing.
Methos was only barely aware of what was happening when he felt the familiar soft hand
grasping his own. Too caught up in the effects of the death, the reviving and the quickening to
want to fight it, he clasped her presence tightly and welcomed the feeling of her warmth that
radiated into his hand. And then he did something he had never done before. At the height of
Beth's presence, he called out her name.
Duncan stood back out of the way, confused by what he saw and heard. He could swear that in
the haze around Methos, that he saw the misty figure of a woman … a woman he knew. "What
the . . . ?" he whispered aloud as the image faded as the quickening ended.
Picking up both swords and the revolver, Duncan tucked them into his coat and then moved to
help Methos to his feet. He could hear the sound of people coming from one end of the alley and
knew they had to get out of there.
----------------
Back at the villa, Beth was sitting in the near darkness on the edge of the bed in Garrett's room
when she felt a pain in her chest. Garrett heard her gasp just as he opened the door to the
bedroom.
"What's wrong?" he called out as she clasped her hand to her chest and stared through him. Her
body went limp and slipped to the floor before he could reach her.
"Someone call an ambulance!" Garrett yelled as he knelt beside her body, rolling her flat on her
back and checking for a pulse.
Rick Shafer took the steps two at a time, wondering what was going on. When he made it to the
doorway Garrett was performing CPR on Beth's lifeless body.
"She's not . . . breathing." Garrett told him between compressions.
"What do you mean she's not breathing?" Shafer knelt on the other side of the young woman and
felt the vein at her neck. There was no pulse. This was not good. She was the key to keeping
Garrett's cooperation. He cursed under his breath as he yelled for one of the guards to pull the
car around. Her only chance was for them to continue CPR and rush her to the hospital in the
town below.
Garrett was just about to lift her in his arms when a rush of air filled Beth's lungs. Her eyes
opened wide, but couldn't focus on the face that loomed over her. "Adam?" she choked as her
body began to awaken.
Garrett felt as if he'd been punched in the gut and Rick just glared at Beth, but she was unaware
of both of them.
Lifting her into his arms, Garrett laid her on the bed. "It's Garrett." He told her when she still didn't
seem to recognize him. Taking her hand, he looked down into her face. "Try not to talk."
Shafer told one of the guards who had come inside to call a doctor. She would need to be
checked out.
A doctor arrived a few minutes later.
"I don't understand it." He told Garrett and Shafer out in the hall way. "You say she had no pulse
and was not breathing, yet I can't find anything wrong with her."
"There's got to be something." Garrett replied, not satisfied with the answer.
"I'll have to admit her to the hospital for tests to be sure." The doctor told him.
"That's not possible." Shafer interrupted. No way was he going to let her out of the protection of
the Villa, not when he was so close to his goal and needed Garrett.
"But Rick . . ." Garrett interrupted, but nothing would sway his teacher's mind. In fact Shafer was
ordering a guard to show the doctor out.
"Our plane leaves in two hours and you will be on it." Rick said to him directly. "I don't know what
kind of game she is playing, but there is nothing wrong with her."
Garrett didn't agree, but he didn't have an answer either. Going back into the room, he tried to
forget what Beth had said when she first awakened.
Beth lay curled on her side, the covers pulled up over her shoulders as she tried to figure out
what had happened. All she remembered was the sharp pain in her chest and then all went black.
She came to when she heard Adam calling her name. That is why she thought it was him leaning
over her. It had been so dark in the room she couldn't make out the face until it was too late to
take back the words. Now she could only do damage control.
"I'm sorry." She whispered as Garrett sat down next to her. She tried to caress his face, but he
pulled away. His face showed he was worried about her, but it also showed that his trust in her
had faded.
"Garrett, I'm sorry. I don't know what happened and I got confused. I thought I was back in
Seacouver and Asher Devan had me. That's why I thought you were Adam." She tried to think
quickly in her still dazed state.
Garrett wasn't sure what to believe.
"Do you have any idea what happened? Has anything like this happened before?" he asked,
ignoring her explanation.
"No, nothing." She replied. "I thought I was having a heart attack."
Garrett thought so too. But the doctor said her heart was strong and there was no abnormal
rhythm. He wished Shafer would let him send her to the hospital.
"I'm going to have Helen come and sit with you." He told Beth.
"Helen?" Beth replied, not understanding.
"Yes. I'm sorry to have to do this, but I need to go out of town for a few days. I have to leave
tonight."
"He's making you isn't he?" Beth accused Shafer. "He's trying to pull you into one of his
schemes."
Garrett shook his head. "I have business that can't wait."
"Don't leave me." Beth sat up and threw her arms around him, trying to undo the damage she
knew had been done.
Garrett was shocked by her reaction, and held her close. "I won't be gone more than a few days."
He said as he stroked her hair.
"I'll be waiting." She promised as he pulled away from her to throw some things in a bag.
"I'll have Helen bring Cassie's crib in here while I'm gone. That way she can watch both of you."
He said before leaning down to kiss her goodbye.
"Be careful." She told him as he turned to walk out the door. He nodded and then shut it behind
him.
Beth wiped her mouth on the back of her hand before pulling her pillow into her lap and burying
her face in it. Her mind was reeling with the images she'd seen just before she blacked out. It was
as if she'd been looking through someone else's eyes, and instinctively she knew they had been
Adam's.
"I felt you die." She whispered as she hugged the pillow tighter. "and then I died alongside you."
It was then she realized just how deep their connection went. Her life was tied to his, literally.
Something must have happened to Adam, but his Quickening had not been taken, she was sure
of that much. Something told her that if it had been taken, then she knew she would never have
awakened. The knowledge sent a shiver down her spine. "Be careful my love." She said softly.
"You hold both of our lives in your hands."
A second shiver went through her when she realized how close Cassie had come to losing both
her parents. Tears streamed down her face at the thought of her daughter being left alone and at
the whim of Garrett and Shafer.