AN –OK – I'm gonna stop saying that this is finished until it really, really, is. (One more chapter – again!) Thanks to ShadyLady and Southern Chickie for the practically instantaneous reviews!! To everyone else maybe I should hold the final Chapter to ransom? (Truly evil grin!)
Scottish notes - I know they do Haggis in Safeway – because I've eaten it!
***
"I'm guessing he hasn't come to buy an Antique?" Richie quipped nervously.
"No. He is one." Conner said coolly.
He flicked a quick glance at the lad.
"Leave. Go to a public place. Call Duncan. Have him come and pick you up. Don't come back without him."
"You gonna fight him?" Richie asked.
"I don't think he's going to give me a choice." Conner observed.
"Isn't being someone's student like family?" Richie gave him an odd look. "Like you and Mac?"
"Sometimes." Conner admitted. "But his student was a sick, twisted, pervert, who liked to target children."
Pre-immortal children, in fact. Not a piece of information he wanted to share with present company.
Richie looked warily at the angry Immortal.
"I guess love really is blind huh?" he whispered.
"Will you just go?" Conner hissed.
"I'm going." Richie held up his hands. "Leaving already. Completely out of here."
Conner waited until the pre-Immortal buzz had faded, before drawing his Katana.
"There's a warehouse." He instructed. "Not far from here."
Robbins simply nodded.
***
Conner grunted as he parried the blow. Good. But not as good as him.
He stepped back, assessing his opponent. Noting the small signs of weakness that would allow him to win the fight.
And the dark, sleek, gun, in the others hand.
"You canna." He protested, shocked beyond words. "Tis against the rules."
"You killed my student, Highlander. You think I care about the rules?"
"Your blue eyed boy was an evil monster who preyed on innocent children." Conner pointed out.
"My student was but a child." Robbins protested. "Not one quarter of your age. What does that make you?"
"Its not the same and you know it." Conner wondered if he could take out the gun, before the bullet hit.
He didn't think so.
Then it was too late. The bullet pierced his chest. Robbins tossed the gun aside, his face a mask of triumph.
Desperately holding onto the last vestiges of his consciousness Conner saw Robbins coming towards him. A hard kick in his side forced bitter, coopery, blood, into his mouth.
"We all get the death we deserve Highlander." Robbins gloated.
Then he smiled, a particularly evil smile.
"In fact, I think it only fitting that you should die by the same sword that took my student."
Deftly, he plucked the Katana from Conner's now lifeless hand.
"A pretty blade." He admired, turning it into the light. "Perhaps I shall take it as my own? Hmm?" His expression, shifted, hardened. "You won't be needing it any more."
Almost the last thing Conner remembered was the look of shocked surprise on Robbins' face as his chest exploded.
The last thing he remembered was Duncan's little thief, holding the discarded gun, in both hands, looking pale as a ghost.
Then everything went black.
***
"Oh my God. Oh my God. Please don't me dead. Please don't be dead." Richie scooted over to Conner's side.
He was dead.
"Some help you are." Richie scowled at the unresponsive corpse.
He risked a quick glance at Robbins.
"Yep. Definitely dead. I killed him." Richie nodded in satisfaction. Then paused. "Oh man, I killed him." Richie felt sick. He'd never killed anyone before.
Funny, it didn't really seem to matter that he knew he would come back.
"Oh shit. He's gonna come back." Richie realised.
The gun was all out of bullets.
Looking frantically around he saw nothing but an empty warehouse and the discarded swords.
"Sword."
Richie shied away from using the ancient Katana, Robbins sword would do well enough. Standing over the body he grasped the hilt in both hands and, taking a deep breath, plunged it as hard into his chest as he could.
The corpse shifted slightly and dark blood bubbled up around the sword.
Richie needed to throw up after that.
Then he picked up the empty gun, its cool, dark, strength, providing him some comfort.
"Do the bullets pop out when he heals?" he wondered aloud. If so, he wanted to be the one holding the gun.
He gripped it a bit tighter. And rocked gently.
After that he didn't remember anything else until Mac found him.
***
"Rich? You OK?" The soft, rich, voice, asked. "You with me?"
He was sure he answered. But maybe he didn't. Because Duncan kept on talking.
"Why don't you let me take that?" Strong hands gently eased the gun from numb fingers.
Richie blinked. "Mac?"
"Yeah. Its me." Duncan assured him.
Richie tried to get up but his legs had turned to water and he felt himself falling as everything began to spin.
"Easy Rich." Duncan caught him before he could hit the ground and pulled him in close, cradling him close against his chest. "Its alright. Its all over."
"He shot Conner." Richie faltered. "He was gonna take his head."
"I know." Duncan stroked his hair gently.
"Oh man." Richie curled his fingers in Duncan's shirt, as if to assure himself that the Immortal was really there. "I killed him .." his voice cracked.
"Its alright." Duncan rested his chin in the teen's blonde curls. "Everything's alright now."
As Duncan hugged him tightly, Richie struggled to choke back his sobs.
"Let it out Richie." Duncan's voice was gentle with understanding. "Lord knows, you've been through enough these past few weeks."
When he was finally finished, Richie sniffed, swiping an arm across his eyes.
"I don't usually cry."
"I noticed, Tough Guy." Duncan teased gently.
"Yeah." Richie managed a grin. "My face gets all blotchy and red and that is so not a good look."
Duncan laughed. This lad was a constant source of amazement.
"Come on." Duncan helped him up. "Let's go and see how Conner is doing."
***
Conner was hauling himself to his feet with as much dignity as he could muster, stopping a moment to peer at his blood splattered chest.
"That was a $300 shirt." He muttered disgustedly.
"Be grateful that is all you lost today." Duncan looked darkly at Robbins lifeless corpse.
"Duncan." Conner warned. "Robbins is my problem."
"My family. My problem." Duncan growled.
"Your family is my family." Conner said quietly.
Duncan gave him a sharp look. "Does this mean you've changed your mind?" he asked carefully.
"What can I say?" Conner shrugged.
"You could say you were wrong." Duncan pointed out.
"The lad can think on his feet." Conner smiled. "Lord knows, I don't think he'd fit in with a normal family."
"Hey, I'm normal." Richie protested. "I'm not the one with the big hole where my chest used to be."
"Its all healed." Conner soothed. "See?"
He pulled open his shirt. Tentatively, Richie put his hand on the now smooth flesh.
Conner covered his hand with his own.
"Thank you." He said simply.
"Does this mean I'm responsible for you for the rest of your life?" Richie joked. " Because I gotta tell you, in your case, that's a pretty scary concept."
"I think we can spare you that Risteard." Conner smiled.
"Risteard?" Richie looked at Duncan.
"Its Gaelic." Duncan looked absurdly pleased. "Its your name."
"Oh. Cool." Richie grinned.
"C'mon." Duncan nodded towards the T-Bird. "Tessa will be worried."
"Can I drive?" Richie looked hopeful.
"Sure." Duncan smiled. The lad was still a little shaky. "Just as soon as you've had eight hours sleep."
"Funny Mac." Richie set off towards the car.
***
Duncan hung back and eyed his teacher with concern.
"Are you sure you don't have need a of kinsman to stand second?" he asked.
"Oh, I think I can manage Robbins." Conner smiled thinly. "Forewarned is forearmed as they say."
"I don't think I want to know." Duncan shook his head.
"You need to teach the lad the rules." Conner observed wryly. "He's not supposed to interfere."
"Does that count whilst he's still mortal?" Duncan wondered.
Conner paused. "You know .. I don't know. Although he's not exactly mortal."
"There is that." Duncan agreed.
"Go kill the fatted calf Duncan." Conner slapped his shoulder. "There's much to do before we can truly welcome the lad into our clan."
"More than you think." Duncan muttered.
"What? They do Haggis at Safeway you know." Then he frowned. "The boy has agreed, hasn't he?"
"Not in so many words." Duncan hedged.