Chapter 31
Duncan dropped Fitz off at his apartment as he asked when he realised that they would be going right passed, he didn't want to spend anymore time in the clothes he was wearing as there was a large blood stain on them from his encounter with one of the guards, it would take some explaining if anyone saw him. Nothing much was said on the rest of the journey, Methos had joined Duncan in the front and Alex still had her eyes closed trying to give the impression she was sleeping, that way she hoped she could avoid any questions either of them might have.
Duncan parked the car by the barge and they all went inside "Anyone hungry?" Duncan asked, "Yeah.all this excitement has given me an appetite" Methos said as he flopped down onto the couch. Duncan turned to Alex "Yeah.but I'll just grab a quick shower if you don't mind".
"Sure.I'll see what I can find" Duncan said as he went into the kitchen, Methos had noticed that Alex avoided looking at him as she went passed him to the take her shower, he wondered just what Lazarski had said to her. Duncan came back a few minutes later carrying a tray with a plate of sandwiches and a pot of coffee. "can't you do better than coffee.I think after the night we've had we deserved a proper drink" Methos said as he got up and wandered over to the decanters on the unit by the wall. He poured 3 glasses of brandy, which he carried over to the couch placing two of them on the table next to the plate of sandwiches. Methos took a sip of his brandy as he sat down; he then reached for one of the sandwiches. "Do you think it was Lazarski in the warehouse?" Duncan asked as he handed a plate to Methos. "Most definitely" Methos replied before taking the plate, putting it on the arm of the couch as he took bite from his sandwich, "So why do you think he didn't make a challenge?" Duncan asked as he reached for his glass of brandy.
"Because he likes to control when and where and he would have sensed there was more than one of us and he likes to be the one with the advantage" Duncan nodded "Guess I'll just have to wait and see if he comes after Alex".
"Oh he will.he doesn't like anyone getting the better of him.but it might not be an in your face attack he will wait until he has something he could use against you or her", Duncan was about to reply when Alex entered the room, dressed in Duncan's white robe her hair wrapped in a towel "feeling better?" he asked as she walked over to the couch "yes thanks" Alex said as she sat down, Methos handed her the last glass of brandy, Duncan and Methos exchanged glances as they both saw her hand shake, Alex quickly put the glass down on the arm of the couch, she hoped she had been quick enough for the others not to have noticed. Methos yawned overly dramatically "I think I had better be going" he said getting to his feet "its really late mate.we can pick up your car in the morning.why don't you stay here tonight?" Duncan asked as he got up, he could see that Methos was uncomfortable with the idea of sleeping on the couch and the truth was so was he "Ritchie's old room is free if you don't mind making up the bed?"
"Thanks.I suppose it won't be easy getting a cab this late.I'm sure I can manage to make a bed" Methos said as he moved nearer the door, Duncan when up to the chest by the bed to get the extra bedding "there you go" Duncan said as he walked over and handed the bedding to Methos, who put the bedding under one arm while he reached down and took another sandwich "You kids be good now" Methos said smiling before disappearing up the steps out onto the deck as he made his way to the room at the stern of the barge.
Duncan came back to the couch and sat down beside Alex, who had unwrapped her hair and was running her fingers through it. He sat so he could face her and reached out running his hand down her face "They're going to be all right" Duncan said thinking she was worried about the children "I know the bruises will heal Duncan but the last girl I think she has more to heal than bruises.I could see it in her eyes".
"They're home now with their families where they belong.soon all of this will be a distant memory.children are tougher than they look" Duncan could see the tears in Alex's eyes "Hey.it's going to be all right" Duncan said as he moved closer gently pulling her into his embrace. Alex didn't let the tears fall she fought them back trying to distance herself from her feelings, she wanted to be remote from all around her, it was her only defence but the warmth of his body, the sound of his breath in her ear seemed to prevent her losing herself. A single tear rolled down her cheek, she quickly brushed it aside before looking into his eyes, she wanted to stay lost in them forever but she knew Lazarski would be coming for her soon, but for tonight she would pretend that there was nothing and no one else but them. She turned kneeling up looking deep into his eyes as she ran her hands round the side of his face she then leant forward pressing her lips to his. Duncan hesitated before Alex's passion overwhelmed him and he was lost as well.
Alex awoke her body covered in perspiration; her heart pounding as she remembered the nightmare and Lazarski's face that had loomed at her out of the darkness. She looked across at Duncan who was sleeping peacefully she slowly moved his arm from around her waist before slipping out of bed, she put on the white robe, she picked up her sneakers and walked barefoot to the door as she went outside into the cool air of the early hours of the morning she slipped her feet into her sneakers. Alex walked to the stern of the barge; she leant against the storage box looking out at river the before pulling herself up onto the box.
The sound of footfalls above him woke Methos he turned over reaching for his sword with Lazarski around Methos had been sleeping lightly. He dressed and pulled on his coat placing his sword inside, he then quietly made his way onto the deck. Methos edged round the wheelhouse, relaxing when he realised it was Alex. She looked so small sat there huddled in Duncan's robe in the faint light of dawn, he couldn't just leave her there so he walked up and leant against the box beside her, she didn't look round "couldn't you sleep either?" Methos asked as he looked at her face, he had seen that look before she was trying to build the wall back around her feelings so they couldn't hurt her or be used against her. "Do you want to talk?" he asked as he pulled himself onto the storage box beside her "Adam this Game your all in.is it a fight between good and evil?" Methos smiled "Partly.but it's a little more complicated than that".
"So how important a player is Duncan?" Alex asked her eyes still focused on the water. Methos had an idea why she was asking and thought it was best to answer the question first before asking his own "he is one of the best I've seen and I've seen a few in my time.Alex what did Lazarski say to you?" Alex turned to face him, he could she the pain in her eyes that she was trying so hard to hide "I don't know what you mean, I just wanted to know what's at risk by me staying here" Methos was alarmed by what Alex was saying and by what she wasn't "Alex I know you spoke to Lazarski the little girl told me"
Alex jumped down from the box and walked to the edge of the barge "This isn't just about what I have anymore.it's become personal.he never did like not being the one in control" before Methos could reply Alex started speaking again "The man Duncan killed when we rescued Joe, he worked for Lazarski right.so why would an Immortal do that?" Methos walked over to her standing looking out over the water "some of us take students.new Immortals who we train in the Game.Claude was Lazarski's student". Alex pulled her arms tighter round her body "so what Claude did he learned from Lazarski?" Methos nodded "I would think so.it was just like him." The image of Duncan being gunned down filled her mind.
"So someone taught Lazarski to be the way he is" Alex replied, "No, most of who he is he didn't learn from anyone.some people are just evil Alex and he's one of them".
"I can't risk him hurting anyone else Adam.to many have been hurt because of my actions already". A look of horror came over Methos's face as he realised she was talking about handing herself over to Lazarski, he turned her to face him "Alex this isn't just about you anymore.you can't protect Duncan from the Game.you can't protect any of us.and if your thinking of leaving Mac will only follow you, that's who he is" Methos realised that his grip on Alex's arms was hurting her, so he dropped his hands away, he sighed and rubbed his hands over his eyes. "you sacrificing yourself won't stop Duncan facing Lazarski.I've known Mac a long time and he's already decided.nothing you or I say or do will change that.I've tried already".
Alex breathed in deeply as she put her right hand over her mouth before looking Methos in the eyes "How did this get so complicated.when I came here I only had one thing on my mind, to get Lazarski.nothing could touch me I was totally free of him.but then.."
" But then you started to feel and the wall around you crumbled.all the memories and feeling you thought you had buried long ago came to haunt you.you'll never be truly free of Lazarski until you can deal with what happened to you" Methos placed a hand on her shoulder "you've just started living Alex.don't throw it all away.facing challenges like this is part of our lives.we face death all the time but we don't forget to live" Alex looked away at the black waters of the Seine, Methos lifted her chin so he could see her eyes "If you want to do something for Mac.you'll stay out of this and stay alive.if Lazarski gets you he'll kill you and there won't be any coming back.promise me you won't give up you life because if you do and even if Duncan takes his head..Lazarski would have won and you can't let that happen"
Alex looked up at the sky the warm fingers of dawn slowly pushing away the darkness "Ok.Adam you've convinced me.I won't run and I won't try to protect any of you but it's hard I just don't want to lose anyone else" Methos put his arm around her "no one does.come on let's go inside it getting cold out here.I think I deserve a coffee for all that wisdom" Alex laughed as she followed Methos into the barge.
Duncan dropped Fitz off at his apartment as he asked when he realised that they would be going right passed, he didn't want to spend anymore time in the clothes he was wearing as there was a large blood stain on them from his encounter with one of the guards, it would take some explaining if anyone saw him. Nothing much was said on the rest of the journey, Methos had joined Duncan in the front and Alex still had her eyes closed trying to give the impression she was sleeping, that way she hoped she could avoid any questions either of them might have.
Duncan parked the car by the barge and they all went inside "Anyone hungry?" Duncan asked, "Yeah.all this excitement has given me an appetite" Methos said as he flopped down onto the couch. Duncan turned to Alex "Yeah.but I'll just grab a quick shower if you don't mind".
"Sure.I'll see what I can find" Duncan said as he went into the kitchen, Methos had noticed that Alex avoided looking at him as she went passed him to the take her shower, he wondered just what Lazarski had said to her. Duncan came back a few minutes later carrying a tray with a plate of sandwiches and a pot of coffee. "can't you do better than coffee.I think after the night we've had we deserved a proper drink" Methos said as he got up and wandered over to the decanters on the unit by the wall. He poured 3 glasses of brandy, which he carried over to the couch placing two of them on the table next to the plate of sandwiches. Methos took a sip of his brandy as he sat down; he then reached for one of the sandwiches. "Do you think it was Lazarski in the warehouse?" Duncan asked as he handed a plate to Methos. "Most definitely" Methos replied before taking the plate, putting it on the arm of the couch as he took bite from his sandwich, "So why do you think he didn't make a challenge?" Duncan asked as he reached for his glass of brandy.
"Because he likes to control when and where and he would have sensed there was more than one of us and he likes to be the one with the advantage" Duncan nodded "Guess I'll just have to wait and see if he comes after Alex".
"Oh he will.he doesn't like anyone getting the better of him.but it might not be an in your face attack he will wait until he has something he could use against you or her", Duncan was about to reply when Alex entered the room, dressed in Duncan's white robe her hair wrapped in a towel "feeling better?" he asked as she walked over to the couch "yes thanks" Alex said as she sat down, Methos handed her the last glass of brandy, Duncan and Methos exchanged glances as they both saw her hand shake, Alex quickly put the glass down on the arm of the couch, she hoped she had been quick enough for the others not to have noticed. Methos yawned overly dramatically "I think I had better be going" he said getting to his feet "its really late mate.we can pick up your car in the morning.why don't you stay here tonight?" Duncan asked as he got up, he could see that Methos was uncomfortable with the idea of sleeping on the couch and the truth was so was he "Ritchie's old room is free if you don't mind making up the bed?"
"Thanks.I suppose it won't be easy getting a cab this late.I'm sure I can manage to make a bed" Methos said as he moved nearer the door, Duncan when up to the chest by the bed to get the extra bedding "there you go" Duncan said as he walked over and handed the bedding to Methos, who put the bedding under one arm while he reached down and took another sandwich "You kids be good now" Methos said smiling before disappearing up the steps out onto the deck as he made his way to the room at the stern of the barge.
Duncan came back to the couch and sat down beside Alex, who had unwrapped her hair and was running her fingers through it. He sat so he could face her and reached out running his hand down her face "They're going to be all right" Duncan said thinking she was worried about the children "I know the bruises will heal Duncan but the last girl I think she has more to heal than bruises.I could see it in her eyes".
"They're home now with their families where they belong.soon all of this will be a distant memory.children are tougher than they look" Duncan could see the tears in Alex's eyes "Hey.it's going to be all right" Duncan said as he moved closer gently pulling her into his embrace. Alex didn't let the tears fall she fought them back trying to distance herself from her feelings, she wanted to be remote from all around her, it was her only defence but the warmth of his body, the sound of his breath in her ear seemed to prevent her losing herself. A single tear rolled down her cheek, she quickly brushed it aside before looking into his eyes, she wanted to stay lost in them forever but she knew Lazarski would be coming for her soon, but for tonight she would pretend that there was nothing and no one else but them. She turned kneeling up looking deep into his eyes as she ran her hands round the side of his face she then leant forward pressing her lips to his. Duncan hesitated before Alex's passion overwhelmed him and he was lost as well.
Alex awoke her body covered in perspiration; her heart pounding as she remembered the nightmare and Lazarski's face that had loomed at her out of the darkness. She looked across at Duncan who was sleeping peacefully she slowly moved his arm from around her waist before slipping out of bed, she put on the white robe, she picked up her sneakers and walked barefoot to the door as she went outside into the cool air of the early hours of the morning she slipped her feet into her sneakers. Alex walked to the stern of the barge; she leant against the storage box looking out at river the before pulling herself up onto the box.
The sound of footfalls above him woke Methos he turned over reaching for his sword with Lazarski around Methos had been sleeping lightly. He dressed and pulled on his coat placing his sword inside, he then quietly made his way onto the deck. Methos edged round the wheelhouse, relaxing when he realised it was Alex. She looked so small sat there huddled in Duncan's robe in the faint light of dawn, he couldn't just leave her there so he walked up and leant against the box beside her, she didn't look round "couldn't you sleep either?" Methos asked as he looked at her face, he had seen that look before she was trying to build the wall back around her feelings so they couldn't hurt her or be used against her. "Do you want to talk?" he asked as he pulled himself onto the storage box beside her "Adam this Game your all in.is it a fight between good and evil?" Methos smiled "Partly.but it's a little more complicated than that".
"So how important a player is Duncan?" Alex asked her eyes still focused on the water. Methos had an idea why she was asking and thought it was best to answer the question first before asking his own "he is one of the best I've seen and I've seen a few in my time.Alex what did Lazarski say to you?" Alex turned to face him, he could she the pain in her eyes that she was trying so hard to hide "I don't know what you mean, I just wanted to know what's at risk by me staying here" Methos was alarmed by what Alex was saying and by what she wasn't "Alex I know you spoke to Lazarski the little girl told me"
Alex jumped down from the box and walked to the edge of the barge "This isn't just about what I have anymore.it's become personal.he never did like not being the one in control" before Methos could reply Alex started speaking again "The man Duncan killed when we rescued Joe, he worked for Lazarski right.so why would an Immortal do that?" Methos walked over to her standing looking out over the water "some of us take students.new Immortals who we train in the Game.Claude was Lazarski's student". Alex pulled her arms tighter round her body "so what Claude did he learned from Lazarski?" Methos nodded "I would think so.it was just like him." The image of Duncan being gunned down filled her mind.
"So someone taught Lazarski to be the way he is" Alex replied, "No, most of who he is he didn't learn from anyone.some people are just evil Alex and he's one of them".
"I can't risk him hurting anyone else Adam.to many have been hurt because of my actions already". A look of horror came over Methos's face as he realised she was talking about handing herself over to Lazarski, he turned her to face him "Alex this isn't just about you anymore.you can't protect Duncan from the Game.you can't protect any of us.and if your thinking of leaving Mac will only follow you, that's who he is" Methos realised that his grip on Alex's arms was hurting her, so he dropped his hands away, he sighed and rubbed his hands over his eyes. "you sacrificing yourself won't stop Duncan facing Lazarski.I've known Mac a long time and he's already decided.nothing you or I say or do will change that.I've tried already".
Alex breathed in deeply as she put her right hand over her mouth before looking Methos in the eyes "How did this get so complicated.when I came here I only had one thing on my mind, to get Lazarski.nothing could touch me I was totally free of him.but then.."
" But then you started to feel and the wall around you crumbled.all the memories and feeling you thought you had buried long ago came to haunt you.you'll never be truly free of Lazarski until you can deal with what happened to you" Methos placed a hand on her shoulder "you've just started living Alex.don't throw it all away.facing challenges like this is part of our lives.we face death all the time but we don't forget to live" Alex looked away at the black waters of the Seine, Methos lifted her chin so he could see her eyes "If you want to do something for Mac.you'll stay out of this and stay alive.if Lazarski gets you he'll kill you and there won't be any coming back.promise me you won't give up you life because if you do and even if Duncan takes his head..Lazarski would have won and you can't let that happen"
Alex looked up at the sky the warm fingers of dawn slowly pushing away the darkness "Ok.Adam you've convinced me.I won't run and I won't try to protect any of you but it's hard I just don't want to lose anyone else" Methos put his arm around her "no one does.come on let's go inside it getting cold out here.I think I deserve a coffee for all that wisdom" Alex laughed as she followed Methos into the barge.