AN- Thanks for the reviews. You do realise that the only reason I'm allowing Duncan and Richie to be so sugary sweet, is that something really bad is going to happen, don't you? (grins) And a note to Spike's Girl - I haven't forgotten about "The Quickening" – its just easier to do one story at a time!

Only one French bit – Petit – little one.

***

"Isn't it obvious?" Conner's voice drifted down the line.

Duncan was gratified that his teacher had picked up his messages so quickly. He just wished he didn't sound so blessedly smug.

"Enlighten me." He spoke dryly.

"If the lad could not earn the good opinion of a mere mortal, how can he ever live up to the expectations of Duncan Macleod of the Clan Macleod?"

"Richie knows me better than that." Duncan protested.

"As his employer." Conner allowed. "Not as his father. You are a good man Duncan. But a demanding one.  Its only natural that the lad is afeared that he'll be a disappointment to you."

"Do you think he's afraid that I'll go all Medieval on him?" Duncan asked worriedly.

Conner winced. "Duncan. You're supposed to rub off on the little thief. Not the other way around."

"Uh huh." Duncan smiled. "As I recall it was Rachel who bought you your first single. Doris Day wasn't it?"

"Was there a reason you called?" Conner asked testily.

"Yes. Actually."

Briefly Duncan outlined his plan.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Conner asked seriously.

"You don't approve?" Duncan worried.

"As it happens my business here is concluded." Conner evaded the question. "I'll catch the next available flight."

***

"Look. I just don't see why we can't go on as we are .." Richie returned to the old argument.

"Because." Duncan told him with a grin, juggling the pizza boxes and the video.

"Funny Mac." Richie scowled. "Four hundred years of culture and you fall back on the logic of  a seventeen year old."

"Sixteen." Duncan corrected.

"Force of habit." Richie shrugged.

"How long have you been doing this?" Duncan asked curiously.

"Since, I was fourteen. I mean actual fourteen – so that I made myself fifteen. I'd have gone older but I didn't think I could cut it." Richie said sinking back onto the couch.

"You change your records straight after you ..?" Duncan hesitated.

"Got kicked out?" Richie finished for him. "Yeah. Pretty much."

Duncan joined him on the couch and put his feet on the coffee table.

"I wouldn't want to be you if Tess catches you doing that." Richie smirked.

"I'll be OK." Duncan looked smug. "I know how to use the washing machine."

"Tessa has other weapons." Richie pointed out.

Duncan put his feet on the floor.

"How's the arm?" he asked.

Richie peeled back his sleeve to show the healing scab on his right arm.

"Its almost gone." He observed. "I think there's gonna be a scar though."

"You're lucky there's still gonna be an arm." Duncan pointed out.

***

"No." Richie said stubbornly. "No way."

"Son. That arm is badly inflected." Dr Saunders pointed out. "It needs more than an aspirin and some antiseptic. Trust me. The Hospital is the best place for you." He looked over at Duncan. "I'll go direct the Paramedics."

"I don't care how bad it is .." Richie struggled to sit up. "I'm not going to the Hospital."

 "Richie. Be still." Duncan put a hand on his shoulder.

"Please." Richie searched his face anxiously. "I can't. Please don't make me."

"Why don't you want to go to the Hospital petit?" Tessa asked gently.

"I don't have anyone to sign for me." Richie looked down. "They'll put me in Juvie."

"I'll take care of it." Duncan assured him.

"Sure you will." Richie turned his head away.

"Trust me." Duncan patted his shoulder gently.

"Yeah. Right." Richie muttered.

"What will you do?" Tessa asked anxiously in French.

"Whatever it takes sweetheart." Duncan answered firmly. "Whatever it takes."

***

"What did you do?" Richie eyed him curiously. "You never did tell me."

"I told them you followed me home and I asked if I could keep you." Duncan smirked.

"No. Really." Richie insisted.

"Every problem has a solution." Duncan shrugged. "You just have to know where to look."

"Or whose palm to grease?" Richie fished.

"Like I'm giving you any more ideas." Duncan scoffed. "Your life of crime is over. Remember?"

"Yeah. Sure." Richie nodded. "No illegal activities whatsoever, except in cases of near death experience."

"And you'd better believe that your life is in danger." Duncan warned him. "Or else."

"I'm guessing I won't like "else" much?" Richie grinned.

"You're learning." Duncan smiled.

"I'm learning that Duncan Macleod keeps his word." Richie told him softly.

Duncan gave him a sharp look. This was progress indeed.

"I was so sure that you guys would just dump me in the Hospital." Richie studied his scar intently. "But you stuck by me .."

He looked up. "Even when it looked like .."

***

"How much longer are they going to be?" Tessa paced nervously across the Hospital Room. "They said noon. Its almost one!"

Duncan barely looked up from his vigil by Riche's bedside.

"I'm sure they'll tell us as soon as they know." He murmured.

She pulled out a pack of cigarettes and searched for a lighter.

"I don't think you can smoke in here." Duncan pointed out.

"Argh!" Tessa crushed the entire pack in her hand. "How can you be so calm?" she shouted.

"Because …" Duncan hissed.

"Because?" Tessa scoffed. "This is a reason? Because?"

"Works for me .." Richie slurred softly.

"Because I was trying not to wake him." Duncan finished.

"Oh/" Tessa put her hand over her mouth.

"Hey." Duncan rested a hand on Richie's forehead to check for fever.

"Maac." Richie rolled his eyes. "They have electronic stuff to do that now."

"Humour me." Duncan smiled at him.

"No news huh?" Richie asked lightly.

As if in response the door opened and the Doctor came in with an apologetic smile and a sheaf of papers.

At once Duncan felt Richie tense under his hand. The lad wasn't as unconcerned as he was trying to make out. He moved his hand down to the boy's shoulder and left it there.

"I'm sorry about the delay." The Doctor looked around at the three concerned faces. "But its good news. He won't loose the arm."

"Oh thank God!" Tessa breathed, swiping at the tears on her face.

"That's great news Doctor." Duncan shook his hand warmly.

Richie said nothing.

***

"Most people would have been pleased." Duncan teased gently.

Lord knows, he'd been more relieved than he could say. He'd known seasoned Immortals who had successfully adapted their fighting style to compensate for the loss of an arm, but he'd worried that he wasn't equal to the task of teaching the skill to an utter novice.

"I was. I am." Richie assured him.

"But .." Duncan nudged.

"But .. you know me too well." Richie scowled.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Duncan observed.

"I'm not used to people paying that much attention." Richie admitted.

"I'll always be there for you Rich." Duncan vowed. "I may not always tell you what you want to hear .." he shrugged. "But you can always count on me."

"Yeah." Richie picked at the Afghan. "I'm learning that too."

***

"You don't gotta do this." Richie sat forlornly, looking rather small and lost, on the King Sized double bed.

"I know." Duncan said kindly.

"I can take care of myself." Richie insisted.

"And look how well that turned out." Duncan nodded at the bright white bandage on his arm.

Pride was one thing, but being so damn foolhardy was going to get the lad killed.

"I'm sorry." Richie ducked his head. "I'll pay you back for the medicine and stuff."

"We'll talk about it." Duncan sighed, not wanting an argument. "For now, you're staying with us. No argument. OK?"

"Kay." Richie smiled.

"Alright. What do you say we get you out of those things and into bed?" Duncan offered.

Richie flushed and looked at the floor.

"Unless, you'd rather I called Tess to come in and help you?" Duncan teased, hoping to lighten the mood. 

Richie had already made it clear that he found it difficult to ask for help. At the Hospital he had insisted that the nurses did everything for him. Refusing to let Mac or Tessa lend a hand.

"I .. um I don't have any .. that is .. I'm not wearing any .." Richie was bright red.

"Oh." Duncan realised. "Well let's see."

Tessa had spent a joyful afternoon shopping for the needs of their teenage patient. Blessedly she had thought of everything.

***

"I didn't expect you to be such a good nurse." Richie glanced sideways at him.

"In four hundred years I have had some practise." Duncan pointed out.

"Yeah, but you're Immortal." Richie shook his head. "You don't even get sick."

Duncan stilled.

Surely Conner wasn't right after all.

"Rich. Just because I can't get sick anymore doesn't mean I don't care when those I love .."

"L love ..?" Richie spluttered. "You can't love me."