Meeting
Later that evening, Methos, Dawson, Duncan, Amanda, and Nick Wolfe gathered for dinner. Dawson made sure that Methos was sitting between both him and Amanda to keep Duncan and Nick at bay. Amanda held Nick's hand under the table, while Duncan glared noticeably at Methos. "You mind explaining to me why I got the crap beat out of me?" he asked. Methos glared back at him with an unapologetic look glued to his face.
"I'm sure Methos is willing to explain," interjected Amanda who, like always, was trying to be the peacekeeper.
"If he is, he better do it quickly," said Nick. Amanda squeezed Nick's hand to shut him up.
Everyone looked to Methos for answers. Methos just rolled his eyes and grit his teeth. "Fine," he said at last. "I'll talk. She was once a student of mine."
"You trained her?" Nick said almost shouting.
"Yes, I trained her, you twit," Methos replied. "I didn't have to show her much. She was a natural. Even early on she was capable of defeating Immortals centuries older than herself. She's even taken heads that I would never have been able to."
"Can she be beaten?" asked Dawson.
"Not in a duel," said Methos. "However, if the Watchers meddle the way they have before, she might lose. Though I wouldn't bet my head on it."
"I thought Watchers didn't get involved," said Nick.
"Oh, grow up," said Methos. "The Watchers have always been involved. They look at the lives of all the Immortals and see who THEY want to win the Prize. When an Immortal they really don't want to see get the Prize gains a foothold in the Game and risks being able to go the distance, the Watchers are notorious for doing away with said Immortal. They aren't bound by the rules of the Game as we are. The safety of holy ground means nothing to them."
Dawson lowered his head. Nick gave Dawson a glare. "You son of a bitch!" he yelled at the Watcher. "All that bullshit you fed me about not being allowed to get involved was a crock."
"Sit down, newborn," said Methos. "Welcome to the world as it really is."
Nick looked like he was ready to leap over the table an attack Methos and Dawson. He began to stand and Duncan put an arm on his shoulder. "Stay calm," he said. "They're not the enemy."
"Let's get back to the subject of the Spectre," said Amanda, once again trying to be the diplomatic one.
"Don't call her that," said Methos angrily. "That gives her power and makes you afraid of her."
"I still don't believe this Legend of the Spectre thing," said Dawson. Then he noticed that none of them were paying him any attention. "What?"
"There's another Immortal in here," said Duncan. Nick looked around, as did Amanda. Methos closed his eyes and concentrated. The warning sense of the Quickening faded and the four Immortals looked at one another.
"Whoever it was is gone," said Amanda.
"It was her," said Nick.
"You don't know that, Nick," said Amanda.
The waitress walked over with Methos's coat over her arm. Everyone at the table looked at her. "A woman walked in and asked me to give this to you with the message that you had left it at her place last night," said the waitress.
"Is she still in here?" asked Nick.
"No, she left," answered the waitress.
Nick sprung to his feet and ran for the door. "Nick, don't!" shouted Amanda after him. Duncan and Amanda got up to go after Nick, while Methos and Dawson stayed at the table.
"Pass the salt," said Methos to Dawson.
Nick saw Kiar in the distance and gave chase. As he was running, he pulled a pistol from his holster. "Kiar, stop!" he ordered her.
Kiar ignored Nick and kept walking. Nick leveled his pistol and took aim at her. Before he could pull the trigger, Duncan grabbed the slide. "What are you doing?" demanded Nick. "You're letting her get away."
"You don't shoot a woman in the back," said Duncan.
"Especially that woman," said Amanda as she caught up with the others. "You'd only make her mad."
Nick glared at the both of them. "Why are you both protecting her?" he asked.
"We're protecting YOU, idiot," said Duncan. "You can't defeat her that way."
"Then how are we supposed to defeat her?" demanded Nick.
"Let's just go back to the restaurant and try and sort all this out," said Amanda.
The three of them went back to the restaurant and found Methos and Dawson about halfway through their meal. "You didn't wait for us?" asked Amanda.
"I was hungry," said Methos. "Besides, I didn't know when the rest of you would get back."
Duncan sat Nick down before looking back at Methos. "So what's the plan?" he asked the ancient Immortal.
"I'm going to face her by myself," said Methos. Then he turned his head to look at Dawson. "No Watchers."
"That won't be easy," said Dawson.
"Do it anyway," said Methos. "Tell them that you have Adam Pierson following Kiar. I'll even submit a report."
"Really big of you," said Dawson.
"Thank you," said Methos with an amused smile.
"And just what are the rest of us supposed to do?" asked Nick more than just a little annoyed.
"Eat your dinner," replied Methos, still a bit amused.
Nick frowned. "I'm tired of the rest of you treating me like an idiot," he said.
"Then stop acting like an idiot," said Methos. "In this life and the next you'll find that you're only given the respect that you've earned."
Methos raised his glass to his mouth to take a drink and Nick slapped it out of his hand. "After dinner, you and me," said Nick as he stood and pointed a finger at Methos.
Methos looked over at his broken glass. Then he turned his head and looked up at Nick. There was fire in his eyes. Amanda and Duncan both noticed and instinctively slide their chairs back. Dawson edged away noticeably. Methos steeled himself. "No," he finally said to Nick. "I do not accept your challenge. Then he picked up a forkful of food from his plate and brought it to his lips. Nick would not accept his reply and slapped Methos's dish off of the table and onto the floor as well.
"I said you and me," Nick repeated himself.
Methos just calmly put the forkful of food in his mouth, chewed and swallowed calmly, set the fork down, and then wiped his mouth before looking at Nick again. "Very well," he said. "If that is how you really want it, then I will oblige. The park across the river. Midnight." With that he stood, walked over to the waitress to pay for dinner, and walked out into the night.
Nick sat down again and Dawson and Duncan stood. "Amanda," Duncan said with a nod of his head. Amanda just put up her hand to give a half-hearted wave goodbye. When they were gone, Amanda finally turned to face Nick.
"What is your problem?" she asked. "Why can't you get along with any of my friends?"
"Because your FRIENDS are all assholes that's why," replied Nick.
"You're going to die tonight, Nick," said Amanda.
"Not a chance," said Nick. "I know what I'm doing, Amanda. You should learn to trust me."
Amanda sucked in a breath and closed her eyes. "Not a chance," she said finally. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a FRIEND to try and convince not to kill you."
To be continued…
