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!
Chapter Eleven
Richie turned the corner frustrated, but kept his bike at a slow pace. His eyes continued to search the streets for Sarah behind the helmet. He had spent the last three days looking for Sarah. When Joshua refused to tell him where she lived, claiming he was not sure if Sarah would want him to know that, the young Immortal had taken to the streets, hoping he would be able to spot the girl somewhere.
He would not have been as frustrated as he was right now if this feeling of urgency inside him had not been eating at him. His morning began normal enough, but as the day wore on, for unknown reasons, Richie began to feel anxious and he had a distinct impression that it had something to do with Sarah. The need to find her was so great that it was starting to drive him crazy. I have to find her, he kept telling himself. Before it's too late.
His last thought took him off guard. Where did that come from. But deep inside he trusted the validity of that subconscious thought. Richie did not know what he will be too late for, but it felt as if his soul was screaming for him to hurry for Sarah's sake. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he almost did not see the figure that dashed right in front of him.
The blond managed to turn the bike in time and screech to a halt. He turned to see the man stumble in his surprise and grab his leg when he fell down awkwardly. Richie removed his helmet, got off the motorcycle and hurried over to the injured pedestrian.
"Josh!" he exclaimed in surprise when he recognized the man on the ground. "Jeez man, I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention to the road. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," his friend said heavily. "I think ..[pant] ..I ..[pant].. twisted my ..[pant].. ankle though."
Richie examined the ankle and saw that it was starting to swell. "You're right, it looks pretty bad." He took a closer look at the other man and saw that his friend was really out of breath. "What are you doing running around like that anyway?"
"Had too ..[pant].. Sarah told me to-" Joshua realized his mistake and quickly clamped his mouth shut, but it was too late.
"Sarah?" Richie quickly asked. "You were with Sarah? Where is she?"
"Look, Richie, I don't think -"
"Dammit Josh!" Richie cut in. "Where is she?!" The anxious feeling he had all day has just seized his heart and he felt the cold seep deep into his bones.
Joshua saw the panic in his friends eyes and something else he could not quite describe. Somehow he knew that there was no deterring his friend from finding Sarah.
"A few blocks down the old Mesa drive," conceded Joshua. "Near the old warehouse."
Richie stood up to leave, but stopped when Joshua held him back for a while.
"She's hurt Richie," the other man said quietly. He hesitated for a few more seconds before continuing. "There's someone after her. She was distracting the guy so I can get away. Help her if you can… she's a good person, Richie. Remember that, no matter what."
Richie frowned at his friend's odd comment, but quickly assured him that he will take care of Sarah. The Immortal looked around and saw some teenagers standing close by, curiously watching them. He hurriedly told them to call for help for his friend and then immediately took off on his bike. When he got closer to the warehouse, Richie cursed and sped up even faster. He had just sensed the presence of another Immortal.
********
Sarah fell on one knee, her right hand automatically covering the gash that the arrow left on her left arm as it graze by.
"What the …" she heard Nicholas exclaim in surprise.
She looked up and squinted through watery eyes to see what made the Immortal miss his target. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw Nicholas struggling with Edmund. She realized that the other vampire must have appeared just in time to attack the Immortal before the weapon was fired, making him miss.
Edmund had one arm around Nicholas's neck while the other restrained the arms holding the crossbow. The vampire was just about to sink his teeth on the Immortal's neck when the latter managed to elbow the other man and throw him over his shoulder. Edmund tucked and rolled away in one fluid motion, rapier at a ready as he stood up. Seeing his opponents choice of weapon, Nicholas threw the crossbow aside and quickly picked up his sword. Sarah saw the Immortal tense for an attack, but suddenly pause and look around as if he had heard or sensed something. She instantly recognized the reaction and warmed Edmund.
"Edmund, another one's coming!"
The other vampire did not need the warning, he too recognized Nicholas's action. He quickly attacked his opponent, intent on killing him before anymore of his friends decide to join the fight. The two were soon engaged in an arduous battle. Sarah looked around for a weapon and found and old steel rod near by. After finding it good enough to go against a sword, she took a position a few yards away from the combatants. She kept a close eye on the fight, but at the same time scanned the area for the other Immortal.
Sarah's ears picked up the low rumble of a motorcycle and her eyes darted in the direction it was coming from. She drew her weapon in front of her, wincing slightly as her wounds stretched at the defensive stance. The vampire warily watched the rider stop and get off the bike. When the man removed his helmet, Sarah did not know whether to panic and be angry or feel happy and relieved to see Richie.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. Sarah lowered the rod, feeling very tired suddenly. "You have to leave now."
"No, I won't! Josh said someone was trying to kill you." Richie saw the blood covering her and cursed. The clash of metals caught his attention and he turned to look behind Sarah. His face showed his surprise when he saw who were fighting.
"You!" he said to both men.
Edmund and Nicholas untangled their weapons and cautiously circled each other. The latter gave Richie a dark look. "The vampire's mine, Ryan," he warned threateningly. "Stay out of this."
Richie glanced at the Immortal's opponent and assumed Nicholas was talking about the vampire he fought with a few nights before. Well, he sure did not have any problems with that.
Edmund gave Richie a brief glance. "Get Sarah to safety, Boy," he told the young man quietly, his eyes staying trained on his opponent.
Richie gave a start when the vampire called Sarah by her name. How does he know her, he silently wondered. He was doubly surprised when the woman beside him responded in kind.
"No, Edmund!. I can't leave-"
"Sarah, stop being so bloody stubborn and leave with the boy!" he cut her off. "Stanton," Edmund called out to the younger man, not knowing what other name to call him. "Get her out of here now. She needs to rest."
"No!" roared Nicholas. "I haven't finished with her yet. Nobody's taking her away!"
The Immortal charged towards Sarah and Richie, but found his path quickly blocked by a determined vampire. Edmund swung his rapier down at Nicholas then followed the action with a thrust. Nicholas had no choice, but to continue his duel with the other man.
"Come on," Richie told Sarah. "I'm taking you to the hospital." He did not know if she can ride the back of his motorcycle in her condition, but he had to get her somewhere fast.
"No," she said, grabbing his arm. "No hospitals."
"But you're seriously hurt." He saw her expression and gave up. "Fine, is your place close by?" he asked instead.
She nodded, but quickly shook her head. "No, he knows where I live."
He helped Sarah get on the bike then hopped on himself. "We'll go to Josh's then. You think you can make it until we get there?" Sarah gave him a weak nod.
"Hold on tight then," he said as they drove off.
Sarah tightly wound her arms around Richie's waist and laid her head on his back. She was so tired and hungry. Right now, however, rest seemed to be more of a priority. She did not know how she managed to stay on the bike, but moments later, she found herself being led into Joshua's guest room.
Richie helped Sarah lay down on the bed and told her that he'll be back with the first aid kit. He turned to leave, but stopped when he felt her gently take hold of his hand.
"Don't bother with it," she said, fatigue evident in her voice. "They'll heal."
"What are you talking about? We have to stop the bleeding and clean the wounds."
No sooner had he said the words, when he noticed that the skin around the wounds were starting to seal off under the torn fabric.
"What the…" he said in surprise.
He instinctively pulled away, but Sarah firmly kept a hold of his hand.
"Please… don't," Sarah pleaded. "Don't go. Just stay. Stay with me."
Her eyes began to close and soon she was fast asleep. Richie stood still. Just before her eyes closed, he saw the desperation and fear behind those lids. A strong sense of déjà vu hit him. He had seen those eyes hold the same emotions before. But he was not looking down at them. He was looking up at Sarah as she desperately cried for him not to go.
…I love you…
The words seemed to echo in his head. Richie did not think, he just acted, compelled to do what seemed natural. He drew closer to the bed and laid down next to Sarah. Her body unconsciously moved nearer to him as he pulled her in his arms. He closed his eyes and slept. He did not know what happened tonight, and he had so many questions he wanted to ask Sarah. But right now, all he cares about was the completeness of it all - having Sarah back in his arms.
Author's notes: Alright people, time to tell me what you think. I'll be tying everything up in the next chapters. Don't know yet how many more I want to make, but I will definitely not drag this out any longer than it is. I finished my other fic at seventeen chapters and I'm guessing this story will finish with chapters around that number. Thanks, till next time!
