Chapter 37
Duncan pushed the door to the Intensive care unit open, there were 6 beds, Duncan noticed as he looked around the room; it wasn't much different to any of the other rooms in the hospital except for the amount of machines that were beeping and flashing by the beds. Two of the patients were also on ventilators, which had a distinctive sound of their own. Only 5 beds were occupied, the one nearest the window had a nurse straightening the bed covers, Duncan walked over to her, as she stepped back he saw Alex, her face was nearly as white as the sheets that surrounded her. Duncan stood at the end of the bed, his hands clasped together. The nurse saw the worried look on his face as she turned round after finishing checking the drip that was giving Alex back the blood she had lost. The nurse walked up and stood beside him "Is she a relative Monsieur?"
Duncan shook his head "No, She a friend.a close friend" the nurse put her hand on his arm "Normally, only relatives are allow in here". Duncan swallowed as he fought back the tears that were blurring his vision "She doesn't have any relatives and I promised her that I would be here when she woke up". The nurse could see the effort he was going through to control his feelings and she didn't want to add to his distress "I understand Monsieur.she is a very lucky lady in more ways than one I think" Duncan smiled weakly "How is she?"
"She is very sick but she seems to be very strong inside.I'm sure she will be fine" she could see that her words weren't having the effect she had hope, she tightened her grip on Duncan's arm "Monsieur.I have been a nurse for over 15 years and I have been on this ward for over 5 of them.I have seen many come through here and I have a feel for who has the inner strength to fight and she has" the nurse said as she looked down at the figure in the bed. "I hope your right" Duncan replied as he looked down at Alex "I will be back to check on your friend through the night.I know these chairs aren't the most comfortable.but try and get some rest." Duncan nodded before he walked round to the winged, high back chair that was by the bed. Duncan took hold of Alex's hand "Come on Alex you can beat this.you can't let him win".
Ray and Thomas had been given a room in the Embassy to check through the disc Alex had given them. It was small with only a desk and two chairs and unlike the main parts of the embassy it was plainly decorated. Ray pulled out the chair that was in front of the desk and had just pushed the disc in the computer when the phone rang; Thomas was sat on the edge of the desk and he picked it up "Yes?"
"McCormack here what the hell is going on?" Thomas looked over to Ray and mouthed 'It's the old man what do I tell him'.
"How about the truth?" Ray said as he turned back to the screen. "It's got a little more complicated than we first thought" Thomas said into the phone "I should say so I've had the French Authorities bending my ear for over an hour about gun fights and civilians being involved and which one of you got shot?"
Thomas knew how McCormack felt about Alex and they weren't supposed to involve her, he wasn't going to like this "Neither of us.it was Alex she got in the way of a bullet meant for me" the was a silence at the end of the phone as Thomas's words sank in "How bad is it?" McCormack asked.
"She took a bullet in the stomach but she is alive.she got a disc from Lazarski's Ray's checking through it now".
"Holy shit!" Ray exclaimed as he realised what Alex had found "Give me the phone" Ray said holding out his hand to Thomas, who handed him the phone as he got up to see what Ray had found "Sir.I know you want to know all that has happened but I think we have something that needs us to deal with it first.Alex found some information"
"But she wasn't supposed to be active on this one.I thought I made that clear" McCormack replied "you did Sir.to us anyway but she was more involved in this than any of us knew and frankly Sir without her help we wouldn't know where and when Lazarski's deal was going down"
"What deal?"
"He's made a deal with the Viper group.they're supplying him with enough of a new virus they have developed to make the black death look like a case of the measles" Ray said as he looked across at Thomas who was just reading the same information he had "and what do they get?" McCormack asked
"Let's just say they wouldn't have any funding issues for a long time.but I got the feeling that Alex has some how got hold of something that is going to stop the deal if he can't get it back.They're bring it in on a yacht into Calais tomorrow night" Ray explained "Get to Calais I'll join you there.I'll talk to the French.have you any idea what she has?" McCormack asked as he got up from his desk, taking down his jacket from coat rack "No, but when I was being held"
"Sorry you where held by whom?" McCormack asked he hadn't heard anything about this. "It's a long story but Lazarski had me and Alex exchanged herself for me but I don't think he got what he wanted from her.when we at his house he was real angry with her just before he shot her the first time"
"She was shot more than once.save it tell me when I get to Calais" McCormack said before putting the phone down without giving Ray a chance to say anymore. Ray put down the phone and turned to Thomas "The old man is on his way.he's going to meet us in Calais and he's not happy" Ray said as he got up "When is he?" answered Thomas as he walked over to the door "who's driving you or me?" he asked as he held the door for Ray "you.I'm still a little sore".
Methos parked Duncan's car and he reached into the back for Duncan's blood stained coat as he pulled it into the front the computer disc Alex had given him fell out onto the passenger seat, Methos picked it up and turned it over in his fingers "Let's see what you've been up to" he said out loud before getting out of the car and walking onto the barge. It didn't take Methos long to find Duncan's portable computer, he put it onto the desk as he pulled out the chair, Methos turned on the computer as he sat down. He pushed the disc into the drive; he selected the drive and waited as the information was displayed. "Well.you're planning to be busy" he said as he read through, unlike Ray, Methos didn't stop looking through the information after he found out about the virus, there was a lot more to read he couldn't believe that Lazarski had been so careless, Methos accessed the financial records "Wow you have been really busy" he said as he read the accounts but it was then that he realized that there was no account numbers nothing, it didn't take him long to realise that what Alex had must be the accounts, possibly the access codes and Lazarski would still need them. Methos looked up as he heard footsteps on the outside of the barge, quickly he shut the computer down remembering to pull the disc out quietly he went out the door by the bed, he hadn't sensed an Immortal but then Lazarski wasn't above using mortals for his own ends. He closed the door as quietly as he could and keeping low he made his way to the main door. There was only a single figure in the darkness of the steps, Methos jumped down slamming the figure against the door. "What the Hell?" came the words and Methos recognised the voice "Joe?"
"Methos what the hell are you doing here.Where's MacLeod?" Joe asked as he rubbed his head where it had made contact with the door. Methos opened the door and they both went inside "It's a little late to be out visiting isn't it Joe?" Methos said as he walked passed him towards the bed and Duncan's clothes trunk. "Well when you guys didn't come back or call I got a little worried.I've lost count of the number of times I've call here, your place and Mac's cell phone but no answer.where is MacLeod?" Joe said as he walked towards Methos, he watched as Methos put some clothes into a bag "He's at the hospital.Alex got shot, Mac won't leave her so he sent me back for a change of clothes" Methos then filled Joe in on what had happened at the house and that Lazarski had managed to escape. "I'm coming with you" Joe said as Methos walked back to the desk putting away Duncan's portable computer. Methos then took Duncan's brown coat down from the rack and place Duncan's sword from the blood stained black coat, into the folds of the material of the brown coat, he was about to argue but he saw that there was no point when he looked at Joe's face and he knew that if he didn't take him with him, Joe would only follow. "Ok let's go" Methos said as he leapt up the steps to the door, he waited holding the door for Joe as he made his way up the steps.
It was really late when they arrived at the hospital, there was a Stoney face nurse on duty at reception and it took all of Methos's charm to get passed her and get into the intensive care unit but he smiled to himself that he still had what it took after all these years. He peered around the dimly lit room Duncan was already on his feet when he sensed the approach of an Immortal, he only relaxed when he saw that it was Methos. Duncan motioned for him to go back outside as he walked across to the door. "Joe.what are you doing here?" Duncan asked as he stepped out into the corridor "As you won't tell me what is going on I thought I'd see for myself" Joe replied as Methos handed the bag and coat to Duncan "I think I got what you need.how is she?" he asked
"Thanks.no change" Duncan said as he wiped his hand over his tired eyes, Methos didn't want to add to Duncan's worries but he had to tell him what he had found "Mac.do you remember the disc Alex gave you at the house?" Duncan put the bag down "Yes.what about it?"
"I was just taking your coat into the barge when it fell out.I had a look, it must have taken her quite a while to download all that information onto 2 discs.Mac, Alex must have had enough time to get out of that house on her own but instead she stayed to get this" Methos said as he handed Duncan the disc, he then told them all about the Viper group, the virus and the yacht coming into Calais "I found his finance records but there aren't any details about the accounts they seem to be controlled by a third party.Mac I think Alex has the account codes, .If she has, he's going to be coming for her" Duncan listened before walking up to the door and looking through the glass panel checking that Alex was still asleep "I know Methos" Methos blinked, the surprise obvious on his face "You know about it? So where is it?"
"That's what I don't know.it was on the barge but she must have moved it or they would have found it when they snatched her" Duncan replied Methos took hold of Duncan's arm "Mac, he isn't going to let this go.he wants this deal to go through.you know he'll be coming for her don't you" Duncan looked up at the ceiling and walked a little way down the corridor before turning back to Methos "I know.it must be on the barge somewhere. I need you to back to the barge take it apart if you have to.just find that dis.." Duncan didn't get to finish before Joe stepped forward " Mac I forgot, this came for you at the bar" Joe said as he handed Duncan a brown envelope, Duncan tore it open and tipped the contents into his hand, a single computer disc and a note came out. Duncan unfolded the note.
Duncan
I'm sorry about all that has happened; when I came to Paris I had no intention of involving anyone else in this, but I could not have seen what would happen and that I would meet someone like you. You brought light into my life where I had shut myself away in darkness and for that I am eternally grateful. You showed me that there is more to life than trying to avenge my past that I should live even if it is briefly in the moment and I thank you for that.
One of my gifts, I've been told, is recognising trouble before it arrives, probably why I'm good at what I do and I know that Lazarski is planning something, something big, that is why I am entrusting this disc to you. If Lazarski manages to take me I want to know that no matter what happens he won't win. Adam made me see that I can't protect you from your life and you can't protect me from mine but Lazarski exists in both and one of us has to stop him.
I know this is a big thing for me to ask after all I've only known you a short while but if I fail, for whatever reason, I hope that you will finish it. If this is too much to ask I will understand, just get the disc to McCormack of British Criminal Intelligence, no one else; he will know what to do with it.
Thank you, again for showing me what I have missed.
Yours
Alex Rogan.
Duncan handed the note to Methos, who quickly scanned it before handing it to Joe "So she knew he was coming for her?" Methos said as looked at Duncan for his reaction "She wasn't going to give this to him no matter what he did to her" Duncan said as he tapped the disc with his fingers "She was willing to die before she'd give him that disc?" Joe said as he finished reading "Looks like it" Methos replied as he walked up to the door looking through the window at the nurse who was checking on each patient in turn "You know Mac, he could come while she's in there.all the others could be at risk" Duncan followed Methos's gaze through the glass panel "we have to move her" Duncan said as he took hold of the door handle, Joe moved forward "You can't just move her she's in intensive care for god's sake" Joe exclaimed, Duncan held onto the door but turned to face Joe "Everyone in there is having a tough enough time just surviving, they don't need Lazarski and his goons making it harder" Duncan looked over to Alex's bed "and Alex wouldn't want anyone else being hurt because of this" Joe knew that he was on to a loser and decided not to push the issue further. Methos followed Duncan into the intensive care unit and they both walked up to the nurse "Excuse me" Duncan whispered the nurse finished checking the patient's drip before turning to face him.
"What can I do for you Monsieur? She asked as she smiled warmly at him "Is there a private room my friend can be moved to?" Duncan asked as he smiled back "But why do you want to move her?" the nurse enquired, Duncan took hold of her arm gently and moved her away from the beds "you know that my friend was shot?" the nurse nodded "there is a chance that the person who shot her might try to get at her here.the last thing any of these other patients need is to be caught in the middle" Duncan explained as he kept looking over to Alex. The nurse put her hand on his arm "All right Monsieur I will request it in the morning" Methos stepped forward "I think it would be better to move her now".
"You really think they would try something don't you?" the nurse replied they both noticed the tremble in her voice "I'll have to prepare the room.give me half an hour and if you don't mind could you help me move your friend"
"Of course" Duncan replied before the nurse headed out to the room across the corridor. It didn't take them long to complete the transfer, Duncan wished that Alex would wake up so she would know what was going on. He left Joe and Methos in the room with Alex as he went over to nurse; she was just checking the ventilator on one of the other patients when she noticed Duncan waiting by the door "Is something wrong, Monsieur?" she asked as she walked up to him, Duncan shook his head "No.I just want to make sure your all right". She smiled at him the same warm smile she had the first time he had seen her "I'm fine.but there seems to be something bothering you?" Duncan smiled back; some people still amazed him after all these years "Look if anyone comes in asking for my friend Alex Rogan, don't try anything just send them to the room" Duncan said gesturing to the private room where Alex was now laying "but Monsieur.." Duncan moved to stand in front of her, he put his hands onto her arms "I don't want you to play the hero.just let me handle it please?" he said raising his eyebrows as he waited for a reply "Ok I'll send them across but there is a telephone in there I'll let you know you have company.is that all right?" Duncan smiled and knew that she would even if he asked her not too. He raised his hands "All right but don't take any risks" the nurse just smiled as she watched Duncan walk back to the private room.
Duncan pushed the door to the Intensive care unit open, there were 6 beds, Duncan noticed as he looked around the room; it wasn't much different to any of the other rooms in the hospital except for the amount of machines that were beeping and flashing by the beds. Two of the patients were also on ventilators, which had a distinctive sound of their own. Only 5 beds were occupied, the one nearest the window had a nurse straightening the bed covers, Duncan walked over to her, as she stepped back he saw Alex, her face was nearly as white as the sheets that surrounded her. Duncan stood at the end of the bed, his hands clasped together. The nurse saw the worried look on his face as she turned round after finishing checking the drip that was giving Alex back the blood she had lost. The nurse walked up and stood beside him "Is she a relative Monsieur?"
Duncan shook his head "No, She a friend.a close friend" the nurse put her hand on his arm "Normally, only relatives are allow in here". Duncan swallowed as he fought back the tears that were blurring his vision "She doesn't have any relatives and I promised her that I would be here when she woke up". The nurse could see the effort he was going through to control his feelings and she didn't want to add to his distress "I understand Monsieur.she is a very lucky lady in more ways than one I think" Duncan smiled weakly "How is she?"
"She is very sick but she seems to be very strong inside.I'm sure she will be fine" she could see that her words weren't having the effect she had hope, she tightened her grip on Duncan's arm "Monsieur.I have been a nurse for over 15 years and I have been on this ward for over 5 of them.I have seen many come through here and I have a feel for who has the inner strength to fight and she has" the nurse said as she looked down at the figure in the bed. "I hope your right" Duncan replied as he looked down at Alex "I will be back to check on your friend through the night.I know these chairs aren't the most comfortable.but try and get some rest." Duncan nodded before he walked round to the winged, high back chair that was by the bed. Duncan took hold of Alex's hand "Come on Alex you can beat this.you can't let him win".
Ray and Thomas had been given a room in the Embassy to check through the disc Alex had given them. It was small with only a desk and two chairs and unlike the main parts of the embassy it was plainly decorated. Ray pulled out the chair that was in front of the desk and had just pushed the disc in the computer when the phone rang; Thomas was sat on the edge of the desk and he picked it up "Yes?"
"McCormack here what the hell is going on?" Thomas looked over to Ray and mouthed 'It's the old man what do I tell him'.
"How about the truth?" Ray said as he turned back to the screen. "It's got a little more complicated than we first thought" Thomas said into the phone "I should say so I've had the French Authorities bending my ear for over an hour about gun fights and civilians being involved and which one of you got shot?"
Thomas knew how McCormack felt about Alex and they weren't supposed to involve her, he wasn't going to like this "Neither of us.it was Alex she got in the way of a bullet meant for me" the was a silence at the end of the phone as Thomas's words sank in "How bad is it?" McCormack asked.
"She took a bullet in the stomach but she is alive.she got a disc from Lazarski's Ray's checking through it now".
"Holy shit!" Ray exclaimed as he realised what Alex had found "Give me the phone" Ray said holding out his hand to Thomas, who handed him the phone as he got up to see what Ray had found "Sir.I know you want to know all that has happened but I think we have something that needs us to deal with it first.Alex found some information"
"But she wasn't supposed to be active on this one.I thought I made that clear" McCormack replied "you did Sir.to us anyway but she was more involved in this than any of us knew and frankly Sir without her help we wouldn't know where and when Lazarski's deal was going down"
"What deal?"
"He's made a deal with the Viper group.they're supplying him with enough of a new virus they have developed to make the black death look like a case of the measles" Ray said as he looked across at Thomas who was just reading the same information he had "and what do they get?" McCormack asked
"Let's just say they wouldn't have any funding issues for a long time.but I got the feeling that Alex has some how got hold of something that is going to stop the deal if he can't get it back.They're bring it in on a yacht into Calais tomorrow night" Ray explained "Get to Calais I'll join you there.I'll talk to the French.have you any idea what she has?" McCormack asked as he got up from his desk, taking down his jacket from coat rack "No, but when I was being held"
"Sorry you where held by whom?" McCormack asked he hadn't heard anything about this. "It's a long story but Lazarski had me and Alex exchanged herself for me but I don't think he got what he wanted from her.when we at his house he was real angry with her just before he shot her the first time"
"She was shot more than once.save it tell me when I get to Calais" McCormack said before putting the phone down without giving Ray a chance to say anymore. Ray put down the phone and turned to Thomas "The old man is on his way.he's going to meet us in Calais and he's not happy" Ray said as he got up "When is he?" answered Thomas as he walked over to the door "who's driving you or me?" he asked as he held the door for Ray "you.I'm still a little sore".
Methos parked Duncan's car and he reached into the back for Duncan's blood stained coat as he pulled it into the front the computer disc Alex had given him fell out onto the passenger seat, Methos picked it up and turned it over in his fingers "Let's see what you've been up to" he said out loud before getting out of the car and walking onto the barge. It didn't take Methos long to find Duncan's portable computer, he put it onto the desk as he pulled out the chair, Methos turned on the computer as he sat down. He pushed the disc into the drive; he selected the drive and waited as the information was displayed. "Well.you're planning to be busy" he said as he read through, unlike Ray, Methos didn't stop looking through the information after he found out about the virus, there was a lot more to read he couldn't believe that Lazarski had been so careless, Methos accessed the financial records "Wow you have been really busy" he said as he read the accounts but it was then that he realized that there was no account numbers nothing, it didn't take him long to realise that what Alex had must be the accounts, possibly the access codes and Lazarski would still need them. Methos looked up as he heard footsteps on the outside of the barge, quickly he shut the computer down remembering to pull the disc out quietly he went out the door by the bed, he hadn't sensed an Immortal but then Lazarski wasn't above using mortals for his own ends. He closed the door as quietly as he could and keeping low he made his way to the main door. There was only a single figure in the darkness of the steps, Methos jumped down slamming the figure against the door. "What the Hell?" came the words and Methos recognised the voice "Joe?"
"Methos what the hell are you doing here.Where's MacLeod?" Joe asked as he rubbed his head where it had made contact with the door. Methos opened the door and they both went inside "It's a little late to be out visiting isn't it Joe?" Methos said as he walked passed him towards the bed and Duncan's clothes trunk. "Well when you guys didn't come back or call I got a little worried.I've lost count of the number of times I've call here, your place and Mac's cell phone but no answer.where is MacLeod?" Joe said as he walked towards Methos, he watched as Methos put some clothes into a bag "He's at the hospital.Alex got shot, Mac won't leave her so he sent me back for a change of clothes" Methos then filled Joe in on what had happened at the house and that Lazarski had managed to escape. "I'm coming with you" Joe said as Methos walked back to the desk putting away Duncan's portable computer. Methos then took Duncan's brown coat down from the rack and place Duncan's sword from the blood stained black coat, into the folds of the material of the brown coat, he was about to argue but he saw that there was no point when he looked at Joe's face and he knew that if he didn't take him with him, Joe would only follow. "Ok let's go" Methos said as he leapt up the steps to the door, he waited holding the door for Joe as he made his way up the steps.
It was really late when they arrived at the hospital, there was a Stoney face nurse on duty at reception and it took all of Methos's charm to get passed her and get into the intensive care unit but he smiled to himself that he still had what it took after all these years. He peered around the dimly lit room Duncan was already on his feet when he sensed the approach of an Immortal, he only relaxed when he saw that it was Methos. Duncan motioned for him to go back outside as he walked across to the door. "Joe.what are you doing here?" Duncan asked as he stepped out into the corridor "As you won't tell me what is going on I thought I'd see for myself" Joe replied as Methos handed the bag and coat to Duncan "I think I got what you need.how is she?" he asked
"Thanks.no change" Duncan said as he wiped his hand over his tired eyes, Methos didn't want to add to Duncan's worries but he had to tell him what he had found "Mac.do you remember the disc Alex gave you at the house?" Duncan put the bag down "Yes.what about it?"
"I was just taking your coat into the barge when it fell out.I had a look, it must have taken her quite a while to download all that information onto 2 discs.Mac, Alex must have had enough time to get out of that house on her own but instead she stayed to get this" Methos said as he handed Duncan the disc, he then told them all about the Viper group, the virus and the yacht coming into Calais "I found his finance records but there aren't any details about the accounts they seem to be controlled by a third party.Mac I think Alex has the account codes, .If she has, he's going to be coming for her" Duncan listened before walking up to the door and looking through the glass panel checking that Alex was still asleep "I know Methos" Methos blinked, the surprise obvious on his face "You know about it? So where is it?"
"That's what I don't know.it was on the barge but she must have moved it or they would have found it when they snatched her" Duncan replied Methos took hold of Duncan's arm "Mac, he isn't going to let this go.he wants this deal to go through.you know he'll be coming for her don't you" Duncan looked up at the ceiling and walked a little way down the corridor before turning back to Methos "I know.it must be on the barge somewhere. I need you to back to the barge take it apart if you have to.just find that dis.." Duncan didn't get to finish before Joe stepped forward " Mac I forgot, this came for you at the bar" Joe said as he handed Duncan a brown envelope, Duncan tore it open and tipped the contents into his hand, a single computer disc and a note came out. Duncan unfolded the note.
Duncan
I'm sorry about all that has happened; when I came to Paris I had no intention of involving anyone else in this, but I could not have seen what would happen and that I would meet someone like you. You brought light into my life where I had shut myself away in darkness and for that I am eternally grateful. You showed me that there is more to life than trying to avenge my past that I should live even if it is briefly in the moment and I thank you for that.
One of my gifts, I've been told, is recognising trouble before it arrives, probably why I'm good at what I do and I know that Lazarski is planning something, something big, that is why I am entrusting this disc to you. If Lazarski manages to take me I want to know that no matter what happens he won't win. Adam made me see that I can't protect you from your life and you can't protect me from mine but Lazarski exists in both and one of us has to stop him.
I know this is a big thing for me to ask after all I've only known you a short while but if I fail, for whatever reason, I hope that you will finish it. If this is too much to ask I will understand, just get the disc to McCormack of British Criminal Intelligence, no one else; he will know what to do with it.
Thank you, again for showing me what I have missed.
Yours
Alex Rogan.
Duncan handed the note to Methos, who quickly scanned it before handing it to Joe "So she knew he was coming for her?" Methos said as looked at Duncan for his reaction "She wasn't going to give this to him no matter what he did to her" Duncan said as he tapped the disc with his fingers "She was willing to die before she'd give him that disc?" Joe said as he finished reading "Looks like it" Methos replied as he walked up to the door looking through the window at the nurse who was checking on each patient in turn "You know Mac, he could come while she's in there.all the others could be at risk" Duncan followed Methos's gaze through the glass panel "we have to move her" Duncan said as he took hold of the door handle, Joe moved forward "You can't just move her she's in intensive care for god's sake" Joe exclaimed, Duncan held onto the door but turned to face Joe "Everyone in there is having a tough enough time just surviving, they don't need Lazarski and his goons making it harder" Duncan looked over to Alex's bed "and Alex wouldn't want anyone else being hurt because of this" Joe knew that he was on to a loser and decided not to push the issue further. Methos followed Duncan into the intensive care unit and they both walked up to the nurse "Excuse me" Duncan whispered the nurse finished checking the patient's drip before turning to face him.
"What can I do for you Monsieur? She asked as she smiled warmly at him "Is there a private room my friend can be moved to?" Duncan asked as he smiled back "But why do you want to move her?" the nurse enquired, Duncan took hold of her arm gently and moved her away from the beds "you know that my friend was shot?" the nurse nodded "there is a chance that the person who shot her might try to get at her here.the last thing any of these other patients need is to be caught in the middle" Duncan explained as he kept looking over to Alex. The nurse put her hand on his arm "All right Monsieur I will request it in the morning" Methos stepped forward "I think it would be better to move her now".
"You really think they would try something don't you?" the nurse replied they both noticed the tremble in her voice "I'll have to prepare the room.give me half an hour and if you don't mind could you help me move your friend"
"Of course" Duncan replied before the nurse headed out to the room across the corridor. It didn't take them long to complete the transfer, Duncan wished that Alex would wake up so she would know what was going on. He left Joe and Methos in the room with Alex as he went over to nurse; she was just checking the ventilator on one of the other patients when she noticed Duncan waiting by the door "Is something wrong, Monsieur?" she asked as she walked up to him, Duncan shook his head "No.I just want to make sure your all right". She smiled at him the same warm smile she had the first time he had seen her "I'm fine.but there seems to be something bothering you?" Duncan smiled back; some people still amazed him after all these years "Look if anyone comes in asking for my friend Alex Rogan, don't try anything just send them to the room" Duncan said gesturing to the private room where Alex was now laying "but Monsieur.." Duncan moved to stand in front of her, he put his hands onto her arms "I don't want you to play the hero.just let me handle it please?" he said raising his eyebrows as he waited for a reply "Ok I'll send them across but there is a telephone in there I'll let you know you have company.is that all right?" Duncan smiled and knew that she would even if he asked her not too. He raised his hands "All right but don't take any risks" the nurse just smiled as she watched Duncan walk back to the private room.