AN – See – writing as fast as I can.
French – Le pauvre! – Poor thing! Non? In this context – Isn't he?
***
"He thought we would abandon him because he was sick?" Tessa looked horrified.
"Apparently, it happened once or twice." Duncan opened a draw. "He got sick and the foster parents either couldn't, or wouldn't, look after him and he got sent back to the Orphanage."
"Le pauvre!" Tessa exclaimed. "How could people be so cruel to a child?"
"Well." Duncan looked on the shelf above the microwave. "If they couldn't be bothered to spend time with him when he wasn't sick .."
"But they were his parents!" Tessa protested. "He needed them."
"I think that's the problem sweetheart." Duncan rummaged in the basket on the counter. "None of those families ever needed him as much as he needed them."
Tessa smiled.
"What?" Duncan looked over his shoulder at her, as he felt through the pockets of his coat.
"He has been good for you." She walked over and put her hand on his face. "You needed a son, my love."
"You know how much I wish .." Duncan began.
"Shh.." Tessa put a finger to his lips. "It is not the same. Many of my girlfriends don't yet have children. I have had my education, my career, you, and now I will have Richie .. it is enough."
"I'm glad." He kissed her.
"But you .." Tessa shook her head. "All these centuries .. you have ached for a son."
"Tess .." Duncan took a ragged breath. She knew him too well.
"You have a big heart Duncan Macleod." Tessa told him. "You have touched many children's lives. But Richie is the first to touch your soul, non?"
Duncan knew she was right. He had cared greatly for Little Deer's son Kahani, but the boy had known and loved his own father and Duncan had never been able to look at the child without seeing the ghost of his dead friend. He had provided for Claudia, when her foster parents had been unable to finance the education she deserved, but like Michelle, she had her own family who loved her. His actions with the girls were driven by duty .. not love.
Richie was different.
"Have you seen the keys to the T-Bird?" he asked.
In answer, Tessa's eyes slid to the little wooden key rack beside the door.
"Oh." Duncan said sheepishly.
"Where are you going?" Tess inquired.
"I'm gonna take my kid to the park." Duncan grinned.
***
Or maybe not.
"You want to do what?" Richie looked at him as if he had lost his senses.
"The park. You know .. big green place. With trees. And a basketball court."
"Basketball?" Richie repeated.
"Yeah." Duncan smiled. "We could play a little one on one, work up a bit of an appetite, maybe have some lunch at that Seafood place you like by the pier."
"One on one?" Richie clarified. "You and me?"
"Uh huh." Duncan agreed. "You coming?"
"What about the Store?" Richie protested.
"Richie. Don't tell me you've never played hooky before. Cos I won't believe you." Duncan teased.
"But you've got Mr Fredericks coming to pick up that Mayan statue." Richie pointed out.
"Already called him. Arranged to deliver it first thing tomorrow."
"But you can't just close!" Richie exclaimed. "Loyal customers expect regular opening hours."
Duncan quirked a brow. "Tessa caught you sneaking off early to meet your date didn't she?"
"You know about that?" Richie looked faintly worried.
"The cute blonde in the shipping agency? Yeah, I know about that." Duncan smirked.
"Tess yelled." Richie winced.
"Then I guess I don't have to. C'mon." Duncan encouraged. "I promise I'll write you a note for Tess."
"How come you're not mad at me?" Richie fell reluctantly into step beside him.
"I have kinda a thing for cute blondes myself." Duncan allowed.
***
Still something wasn't right.
The closer they got to the park, the edgier Richie became. First he drummed his fingers, then he tapped his foot, by the time Duncan pulled into the parking lot by the basketball courts, he had a full percussion session going on, on the dashboard. Almost before Duncan had stopped, he was out of the car.
"Um. I need a soda .." he threw over his shoulder, as he sprinted towards the concession stand.
"He thinks he needs more sugar?" Duncan muttered.
Then Richie insisted that they went for a walk before they hit the courts.
"I thought you said City boys like you didn't like green things?"
Richie started slightly, as if he hadn't expected Duncan to remember that. "Um. Yeah.." he stuttered. "But I like watching girls." The cocky grin was back in place.
Anyone else might have been convinced. Not Duncan Macleod.
By the time they got to the look out point he knew something was wrong.
"OK Rich. Spill." He instructed.
"What?" Richie glanced over at him. "You want to explain to Tessa why I have soda all over the front of my new shirt?"
"Funny." Duncan made a face at him. "You know what I mean. What's bothering you Tough Guy?"
"I'm fine." Richie hopped up onto the wall and began pacing.
"Sure you are." Duncan wasn't agreeing.
"C'mon Mac. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the grass is .. growing." He threw out an arm to indicate the expansive view. "What could be wrong?"
"Um. Rich." Duncan looked over the wall at the sheer drop. "You think you could come down from there?"
"What's the matter Mac?" Richie grinned. "Don't like heights?"
"I don't like you and heights." Duncan pointed out. "Now will you please come down?"
"Aw. C'mon Mac. I've done this kinda thing thousands of times." Richie demonstrated, by turning on his heel.
As he did so a look of absolute horror flashed across his face and his arms began to pin wheel in a desperate attempt to keep his balance as he fell backwards.
"Richie!"
Duncan's hand flashed out and seized Richie by the wrist, pulling him down off the wall and into his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around the shaking shoulders. Duncan had no idea how long they stood like that.
"You're alright." He spoke gruffly, dropping a soft kiss on the blond curls. "You're safe."
"Mac?" Richie looked up, his eyes wide with surprise.
Duncan swiped impatiently at the tears rolling down his face. Too close. Much too close. Again.
***
"There was nothing I could do.." Duncan finished raggedly. "I was too far away. She fell to her death."
"What was her name?" Richie asked carefully.
"Deborah." Duncan managed thickly. "Ach, she was a bonny lass."
"I'm sorry." Richie said sincerely. "If I'd known .."
"You didn't." Duncan reassured him. "Just humour me and stay away from steep drops from now on. OK?"
"I didn't think you were scared of anything." Richie admitted frankly.
"Richie. Just because you become Immortal, doesn't mean you're inviolate." Duncan instructed. "Even if you're not scared for yourself, you worry about those you love. And just because you know you can't die permanently .. doesn't mean that you're not afraid."
"Really?" Richie asked almost plaintively.
"Its hard to let go of that natural instinct that mortal injury is so not a good thing." Duncan managed a smile. "And, besides, it still hurts."
"Oh." Richie said softly.
"So." Duncan draped an arm around his shoulder. "I've shown you mine .. are you ready to show me yours?"
"I guess that's fair." Richie managed a smile. "Only .." he hesitated.
"Go on." Duncan encouraged.
"You have to promise not to get all Medieval on me."
"The 16th Century is not medieval." Duncan pointed out.
"Promise me." Richie insisted.
"I promise not to impale anyone on my sword if that's what you're worried about."
"After I was taken away from Teresa's." Richie spoke quietly. "Man, I was so mad. One minute it seemed like all my dreams had come true. The next .. I was outta there."
"I can't imagine how difficult that was for you." Duncan said sincerely.
"Yeah." Richie swallowed. "So. Anyway. They put me in this new foster home." He shook his head. "I was so angry. I wasn't about to make it easy for them. But they were .. fantastic."
"Really?" Duncan sat up a bit straighter. This wasn't what he had expected at all.
"Oh yeah." Richie smiled fondly. "It was like an episode of the Waltons or something. She baked cakes, he took me to ball games. I felt like a real kid, you know?"
"You look pretty real to me." Duncan couldn't resist.
"Well. It didn't last." Richie sighed.
Every warrior instinct that Duncan Macleod had ever acquired over his four centuries suddenly sat up and took notice.
"Did he harm ye?"
"Not like you mean." Richie shook his head. "I don't think I'd ever loved any guy, like I loved him. He was my hero."