Disclaimer: As before, Highlander and any ideas associated with the show do not belong to me. Any character you don't recognize is most likely mine. Enjoy!

Author's notes: Wow, I can't believe it's been a year since I've started this fic. And I'm still not done with it! Gotta do something about that. Hopefully I can wrap it up by the end of this summer now that I'll have some free time. Anyways, thanks you all for waiting for this update. Thanks to: MorganaPendragon: Yeah, about the cliffhangers .. I really should stop doing that. But thanks for another review! And about he whole e-mail thing … totally up to you. I respect your wishes, but yes my e-mail address is posted if you decide to send me yours. DumbOldDork: Thanks, happy to always oblige you! Well, here's the next two chapters. Hope it meets your approval ^_^. Okay readers, on with the story. Happy reading!

Chapter Ten

Joshua leaned against the wall of the abandoned building. At least to passersby it was just another run downed warehouse, but Joshua knew that at least one person resides inside the building. He watched the last ray of sunlight disappear from the sky and waited. He did not have to wait long before a figure emerged from the darkened structure.

"What are you planning to do about Richie?" he quietly asked.

Sarah stopped right next to him, not a bit surprised with his presence. "I don't know," she answered truthfully.

He had waited a few days before approaching the vampire and discussing with her, her choice of action. "Well, avoiding him is certainly not getting either of you anywhere," he said with annoyance. "It just leaves me to deal with one very depressed man. Not to mention distracted. He almost got himself killed yesterday."

Sarah tensed and worried over the possibility of Richie fighting with another Immortal. She was envisioning a sword slicing through his neck when she heard the rest of Joshua's story.

"… if I hadn't been there to pull him out of the way, that truck would have made a pancake out of him."

The dark-haired vampire relaxed a little. (A/N: I don't think I've given Sarah a hair color early on in the story, but I've always imagined her with black hair. So that's that I guess.) Trucks, she was not worried about, the Immortal could easily recover from that. Though, that would be a little difficult to explain to their friend, she thought with a small smile.

"Where is he now?"

Joshua rolled his eyes and pushed away from the wall. "Where he's been the last few days - out on the streets, hoping to see you around."

She gave him a thoughtful nod then began walking out into the night. The man followed suit. Both were silent for a while before Joshua spoke again.

"Listen, Sarah, I've never seen Richie like this before. I feel sorry for the guy."

Sarah stayed quiet as she discreetly scanned the streets for her next meal. Hmm, not a lot of people out tonight, she thought as she kept half an ear to what the man was saying.

"Look, I know you're not completely unaffected by this whole thing," continued Joshua. "Richie does look like Nathan. Plus if you believe in all those reincarnation stuff, you could say he was Nathan in a different lifetime. I mean, every time he mentions you all he can say is that there's this connection between you two, like you've been together before and were meant to be together forever."

Joshua briefly glanced at his silent companion, before continuing with his one-sided conversation. "I don't really know how this reincarnation stuff works, maybe you two are soul mates and will continue to keep on meeting until you both finally get things right. I know you can live forever. But Richie… well… think about how many times the poor guy will have to get reborn before he finally-"

Joshua was forced to stopped short when a hand suddenly clamped over his mouth. He turned his eyes towards the hand's owner and found himself staring at a scowling Sarah.

"Sometimes I forget how that mouth of yours can keep on going up to the point of becoming a nuisance."

Joshua swatted at her hand in mock anger. "I'll not try to get offended by that remark, considering that this mouth managed to talk its way into becoming your friend when we first met in the library."

"Get to the point, will you?"

"I think you should tell Richie the truth."

Well, that's something I did not see coming, Sarah thought in mild surprise. "You want me to tell him everything?" she asked dubiously.

"I know it sounds like a bad idea. But look, if you tell him about Nathan, I'm sure he won't freak out as much about you being a vampire. It's a chance for the two of you to be together again."

Sarah bit back a sigh of frustration and simply said, "It's not as simple as that."

She turned away from Joshua and continued to walk. If she had meet Richie sooner, she might have done as Joshua suggested. But thanks to Nicholas Ferrington, half the Immortals on Earth might already want her dead and that may include Richie.

"Why?" asked Joshua. "Why isn't it simple? What could he possibly do to you?"
"Put a stake through my chest, cut off my head, burn me to ashes. Take your pick."

Joshua frowned at his friend's impassive remark. "You know he wouldn't do that."

Sarah did not say anything and in the silence the unmistakenable twang of a crossbow was warning enough for her body to instinctively push Joshua and herself out of the way.

Joshua grunted when he hit the pavement and then gasped when he saw a wooden arrow protruding from the vampire's right shoulder. He looked around and saw that Sarah had safely pushed them into an alley. Whoever shot at them will not be able to see them for now.

"Sarah are you okay?" he asked in concern. He watched his friend groan painfully as she placed a hand over the wound.

"What the hell is going on?" he demanded. "Who would shoot arrows at us?"

"Well, Sarah, my dear," a voice called out. "What do you plan to do now? You can't hide there forever."

Both of them tensed at the sound. Sarah cursed when she recognized the voice of their attacker.

"Nicholas," she hissed out in anger.

"How does it feel to be the hunted instead of the hunter," Nicholas continued. "I'm quite surprise you failed to detect me right away. I figured the arrow would catch your attention."

Joshua turned questioning eyes towards Sarah. "Who's Nicholas? Is he a vampire hunter?"

"No," came the soft reply. Sarah came to stand as close to the opening as she can without being seen.

She reached out her senses and try to pinpoint the Immortal's location, but frowned when it took more effort than needed. The poisonous effects of the wood was beginning to run through her blood. Sarah look at the arrow, grabbed a hold of the shaft and braced herself as she pulled. She couldn't prevent a low moan from escaping her lips when pain rippled from her shoulder.

"Sarah!" Joshua cried out in alarm. He quickly went over to her and inspected the would. Satisfied that no splinters were left, he took the arrow and examined it.

"This guy really knows what he's doing. If he's not a hunter, then what is he? Another vampire you have a grudge with?"

"Worse. An Immortal."

The vampire's voice was so low, he was not sure if the heard right. "Immortal? Is that what you said? What the hell is that?"

Sarah lifted her head, eyes glazed with pain. "Someone who'll probably won't let you live once he finds out you know what he is. You better leave Joshua. I'll take care of this. I should be able to distract him long enough for you to-"

"No," her friend cut in. "Are you crazy?! You can't fight in your condition."

"Don't worry. It may hurt now, but the wound will heal."

"Not without proper rest. Look we both need to-"

"I said go!" Sarah commanded with a shove. Then in a blink of an eye Sarah disappeared in a swirl of dark mist.

Nicholas Ferrington slowly made his way towards the vampire's hiding place. He dare not take his eyes off of the only escape route she has, knowing that his prey can move quite fast.

"You didn't think I'd go down that easily, did you?" asked a voice behind him.

Nicholas froze. Before he can completely turn around to face his opponent, Sarah kicked the crossbow out of his hands. He was berating himself for not anticipating Sarah's move when she delivered a spinning kick to his head.

The Immortal hit the side of a car with a groan, but quickly got up. He pulled out his sword and grin with evil satisfaction. Sarah had a hand over one shoulder as she staggered to keep her balance. It won't take long now, Nicholas smugly told himself.

"I almost feel a bit sad that out little chase will soon come to an end," he told Sarah with a sneer. "Tell you what. I'll give you the honor of dying like us Immortals. Yours is one head I wouldn't mind adding to my collection."

Sarah quickly dodged as Nicholas swiftly advanced on her, sword slicing near her neck. When he swung his weapon straight down, she slipped to her right and with her left arm grabbed the lowered wrist to keep the sword down. She elbowed him right on the nose with her other arm before planting another kick on his chest. She bit back a scream as her body protested at her actions. However, she couldn't help a weak smile from forming on her lips as she saw the Immortal stumble backwards, a hand cupping his bloody nose.

The black-haired woman saw movement from the corner of her eyes and felt some relief when she saw that Joshua had taken advantage of the fight and ran as he retreated to safety. She turned her attention back to Nicholas, but was too late. In the few seconds she had looked away, the other man managed to reached the crossbow that lay close to him. With a wooden arrow in place, the Immortal aimed the weapon at Sarah's chest and fired.