Chapter 58
As she drove closer to the barge Alex switched off the lights. As the car reached the slope on the other side of the tunnel created by the bridge Alex killed the engine allowing the car to coast down the slope into the darkness. She sat watching until movement in the shadows by the wall a little way from the tunnel nearly opposite the barge gave away where Du Pont's man was hiding. Alex kept her eyes trained on the position as she quietly opened the car door slipping out into the darkness. Moving slowly keeping the man in view her heart bounding in her ears as she inched closer. Alex held her breath as the flame from a lighter briefly lit the shadows; Alex saw a face he was no more than a boy. Du Pont obviously didn't want to put his main resources in a place he didn't expect to get a return from. Alex knew even though he was not more than a boy he still had a gun.
Alex reached into her pocket her fingers curling around her gun, as she pulled it free Ray's words echoed around her head. The young man wasn't experienced that was obvious or he would've lit a cigarette and he would've looked around him more often instead of staring at the barge. It wasn't long before she was stood just behind him, her hands just visible in the dim light from the street above. Alex looked down at the gun she could take this young life without much effort or just give him the biggest headache of his life it was her choice. The decision didn't take her long and she turned the gun around lifting it over her head bringing down on the young man's skull. He let out an involuntary yell as he crashed to the ground, Alex quickly checked around in case she had missed a partner but there was no one, so she headed straight for the barge.
Methos had left his car on the street above; he waited until Alex went into the barge before walking down the ramp. As he walked closer to the crumpled form of the young man on the ground Methos could see a faint red glow. He smiled to himself as he stepped over the youth to see the cigarette still burning in his fingers. Bending down he took the cigarette from the young man's hand and as he did so the young man started to stir. Crushing the cigarette under foot Methos leaned closer to the young man's ear "you know these things are bad for your health".
The young man looked up at him blinking as he tried to focus, Methos smiled before his punch landed sending the young man back into the darkness "See".
No light had come on in the barge but he knew Alex was in there so he wandered across his hands in the pockets of his raincoat. As he opened the door he could just make Alex out in the dim light pushing some clothes into a holdall. He leaned against wall watching for a few moments, when he was sure she didn't know he was there he flicked on the lights.
Alex turned towards the door "A..Adam you gave me quite a start"
"Going some where?" Methos said as he came down the steps into the main part of the barge. Alex zipped up the holdall as Methos walked towards her, she couldn't bring herself to look at him.
"It's better if I leave now" Alex said picking up her jacket.
"You can't run away from this. Don't you think Mac deserves something more than to come back to an empty barge and spend days wondering where and what you're going through?" As Methos got closer he could see how pale her skin had become.
"I'll send him a post card" the choice of her words was cold. Methos hadn't taken his eyes from her and he knew that she was feeling more than she was showing. Alex grimaced as she threw the holdall over her shoulder and went to walk around Methos but he grasped her arm. "Before you go I think I should check your wound"
"I'm fine"
"And where did you get your medical degree from?" Methos said his hand still firmly grasping her arm. For the first time she looked up into his eyes "Ok but do it quick"
Alex sat down on the couch pulling up her jumper; Methos sat next to her and started to remove the dressing. As he worked Alex just stared at his face she felt the unasked question as he looked up. "Alright, I'm frightened to face Duncan is that what you want to know. I don't think I could bear to see disappointment or pity in his eyes. That's why I have to leave. You can understand that can't you?"
Methos put the dressing back in place "Yes, I do but you're not responsible for what happened to you. You were only a child and as for what you did to Maxwell that was understandable too".
"Was it?" Alex said as she pulled her jumper down and got to her feet. Methos stood up and turned her to face him "Yes, it was revenge it's a natural reaction to what had happened. The only way to learn that it changes nothing is to go through it. I've been through it and so has MacLeod"
This was something Alex hadn't thought about maybe he would understand but then she made the choice to not take the chance. Picking up her holdall she turned back to Methos "Tell Duncan thanks for all he's done"
"Tell him yourself," Methos said as he turned to the door to find Duncan standing at the top of the steps.
"Tell me what?" Duncan asked as his eyes were drawn to the holdall in Alex's hand as he moved down the steps "Your leaving?"
Alex swallowed hard this was the conversation she had hoped to avoid. Alex tried to avoid his gaze but something drew her eyes to his. "I didn't think you'd want me around now".
"Why would you think that?"
"Because of what I've done.what I am" Alex's voice started to tremble as she spoke. Duncan walked over to her, he stood in front of her gently cupping her face in his hands "I told you we would see this through together and I meant it".
"But it is over isn't it, he's dead isn't he?" the pleading edge in her voice wasn't missed by either Duncan or Methos. As his eyes searched her face he watched as her eyes started to mist with tears and then he watched as she pushed the emotion away.
"Yes, he's dead but that's not what I mean. You've still got to deal with what's in here" Duncan dropped his hands, his right hand on her heart "Stay and I'll do anything I can to help you".
Alex's mind raced this reaction from Duncan wasn't what she had been expecting, "You really want me to stay even though you know what I've done?"
Duncan smiled warmly as his hand wrapped around the handle of the holdall but Alex didn't release her grip. Duncan looked into her eyes "Adam's right we've all done things we're not proud of I know I have. I've had to learn to live with it and you'll learn too."
Alex turned her head away as her eyes started to mist again and she realised her grip on the holdall. Duncan looked across at Methos "Thanks for everything Adam. Do you need a lift home?"
"No, I'm fine I expect Joe's still outside you now how he likes hanging around" as Methos spoke he noticed what remaining colour there was in Alex's face had started to drain away "Err Mac" Methos said nodding towards Alex, Duncan span around just in time to drop the holdall and catch Alex as she fainted. He started to carry her towards the bed but halfway he turned to Methos "Adam can you just have a look?"
"I've already done that Mac. She's still weak she's kept going this long because of adrenalin; my guess is she's just run out. All she needs is to rest I'll call you tomorrow. " Methos said before taking the steps two at a time and disappearing outside. He made his way out to where Joe was watching just as he had expected.
As Methos approached the car Joe rolled down the window "Is everything OK?"
Methos looked back at the barge "Given time I think it might just be".
Duncan laid Alex onto the bed her face was nearly the same shade of white as the pillow her head was laid on. Duncan took off Alex's shoes and jacket he then turned down the other side of the bed. He lifted Alex gently over placing her onto the crisp white sheet; he then pulled the covers over her.
He sat on the edge of the bed watching her sleep in the faint light. The only sounds were their breathing and the water of the Seine lapping against the barge. Duncan knew that it had taken years for Alex to build her wall placing everything she didn't want to deal with behind it. Duncan knew that if she was every to live she had to free all the memories good and bad and learn how to deal with them. "You don't have to be afraid I'll be there with you" Duncan whispered as he ran the back of his hand down her cheek as he got to his feet. Alex's eyes flickered open "where are you going?"
"I was going to take the couch I didn't want to disturb you"
"Please Duncan I don't want to be alone" Alex said as she reached out for his hand.
"All right, I'll stay".
Light had just started to push back the darkness as Duncan started to wake up. He stretched his arm out across the bed; his eyes opened wide as his hand found only and empty cold space beside him. Sitting up he looked down the barge straining his eyes to see in the dim light but Alex wasn't there. Quickly, he swung his legs out of bed pulling on his clothes as he made his way out onto the deck. At first he couldn't see anyone but as he walked around the wheelhouse he saw her sat on the deck with her legs dangling over the side. She looked so small with her arms wrapped tightly around her body silhouetted against the dawn.
Duncan slipped off his jacket placing it around her shoulders as he sat down besides her putting his arm around her. They sat watching the sunrise as it burned away the early morning mist, Duncan didn't say anything he wanted Alex to talk in her own time.
As she leant her head against his shoulder Alex whispered "I'm sorry"
"You've nothing to be sorry about" Duncan replied as he rested his head against hers.
"I meant for all the trouble I've caused you and for thinking of leaving without a word of thanks" as she spoke Duncan pulled her tighter into his embrace.
"You're still here. That's what matters".
They stayed there until the sun had risen into the sky, when Duncan lifted his head as he felt the presence of another Immortal.
"I think it's time we went inside" Duncan said as he got to his feet holding out his hand to help Alex up, his eyes scanning around the bank. "Duncan, is everything all right?"
Duncan smiled at Alex "Everything's fine I could just do with a coffee".
As he let Alex go inside first he took the opportunity to take another look around but he couldn't see anyone. "Duncan are you coming in?"
"Yeah, I'll be right in" Duncan didn't like sensing an Immortal and not being able to see them but as the sensation fade he knew they must be moving away. As he closed the door behind him he couldn't help but wonder who was out there.
As she drove closer to the barge Alex switched off the lights. As the car reached the slope on the other side of the tunnel created by the bridge Alex killed the engine allowing the car to coast down the slope into the darkness. She sat watching until movement in the shadows by the wall a little way from the tunnel nearly opposite the barge gave away where Du Pont's man was hiding. Alex kept her eyes trained on the position as she quietly opened the car door slipping out into the darkness. Moving slowly keeping the man in view her heart bounding in her ears as she inched closer. Alex held her breath as the flame from a lighter briefly lit the shadows; Alex saw a face he was no more than a boy. Du Pont obviously didn't want to put his main resources in a place he didn't expect to get a return from. Alex knew even though he was not more than a boy he still had a gun.
Alex reached into her pocket her fingers curling around her gun, as she pulled it free Ray's words echoed around her head. The young man wasn't experienced that was obvious or he would've lit a cigarette and he would've looked around him more often instead of staring at the barge. It wasn't long before she was stood just behind him, her hands just visible in the dim light from the street above. Alex looked down at the gun she could take this young life without much effort or just give him the biggest headache of his life it was her choice. The decision didn't take her long and she turned the gun around lifting it over her head bringing down on the young man's skull. He let out an involuntary yell as he crashed to the ground, Alex quickly checked around in case she had missed a partner but there was no one, so she headed straight for the barge.
Methos had left his car on the street above; he waited until Alex went into the barge before walking down the ramp. As he walked closer to the crumpled form of the young man on the ground Methos could see a faint red glow. He smiled to himself as he stepped over the youth to see the cigarette still burning in his fingers. Bending down he took the cigarette from the young man's hand and as he did so the young man started to stir. Crushing the cigarette under foot Methos leaned closer to the young man's ear "you know these things are bad for your health".
The young man looked up at him blinking as he tried to focus, Methos smiled before his punch landed sending the young man back into the darkness "See".
No light had come on in the barge but he knew Alex was in there so he wandered across his hands in the pockets of his raincoat. As he opened the door he could just make Alex out in the dim light pushing some clothes into a holdall. He leaned against wall watching for a few moments, when he was sure she didn't know he was there he flicked on the lights.
Alex turned towards the door "A..Adam you gave me quite a start"
"Going some where?" Methos said as he came down the steps into the main part of the barge. Alex zipped up the holdall as Methos walked towards her, she couldn't bring herself to look at him.
"It's better if I leave now" Alex said picking up her jacket.
"You can't run away from this. Don't you think Mac deserves something more than to come back to an empty barge and spend days wondering where and what you're going through?" As Methos got closer he could see how pale her skin had become.
"I'll send him a post card" the choice of her words was cold. Methos hadn't taken his eyes from her and he knew that she was feeling more than she was showing. Alex grimaced as she threw the holdall over her shoulder and went to walk around Methos but he grasped her arm. "Before you go I think I should check your wound"
"I'm fine"
"And where did you get your medical degree from?" Methos said his hand still firmly grasping her arm. For the first time she looked up into his eyes "Ok but do it quick"
Alex sat down on the couch pulling up her jumper; Methos sat next to her and started to remove the dressing. As he worked Alex just stared at his face she felt the unasked question as he looked up. "Alright, I'm frightened to face Duncan is that what you want to know. I don't think I could bear to see disappointment or pity in his eyes. That's why I have to leave. You can understand that can't you?"
Methos put the dressing back in place "Yes, I do but you're not responsible for what happened to you. You were only a child and as for what you did to Maxwell that was understandable too".
"Was it?" Alex said as she pulled her jumper down and got to her feet. Methos stood up and turned her to face him "Yes, it was revenge it's a natural reaction to what had happened. The only way to learn that it changes nothing is to go through it. I've been through it and so has MacLeod"
This was something Alex hadn't thought about maybe he would understand but then she made the choice to not take the chance. Picking up her holdall she turned back to Methos "Tell Duncan thanks for all he's done"
"Tell him yourself," Methos said as he turned to the door to find Duncan standing at the top of the steps.
"Tell me what?" Duncan asked as his eyes were drawn to the holdall in Alex's hand as he moved down the steps "Your leaving?"
Alex swallowed hard this was the conversation she had hoped to avoid. Alex tried to avoid his gaze but something drew her eyes to his. "I didn't think you'd want me around now".
"Why would you think that?"
"Because of what I've done.what I am" Alex's voice started to tremble as she spoke. Duncan walked over to her, he stood in front of her gently cupping her face in his hands "I told you we would see this through together and I meant it".
"But it is over isn't it, he's dead isn't he?" the pleading edge in her voice wasn't missed by either Duncan or Methos. As his eyes searched her face he watched as her eyes started to mist with tears and then he watched as she pushed the emotion away.
"Yes, he's dead but that's not what I mean. You've still got to deal with what's in here" Duncan dropped his hands, his right hand on her heart "Stay and I'll do anything I can to help you".
Alex's mind raced this reaction from Duncan wasn't what she had been expecting, "You really want me to stay even though you know what I've done?"
Duncan smiled warmly as his hand wrapped around the handle of the holdall but Alex didn't release her grip. Duncan looked into her eyes "Adam's right we've all done things we're not proud of I know I have. I've had to learn to live with it and you'll learn too."
Alex turned her head away as her eyes started to mist again and she realised her grip on the holdall. Duncan looked across at Methos "Thanks for everything Adam. Do you need a lift home?"
"No, I'm fine I expect Joe's still outside you now how he likes hanging around" as Methos spoke he noticed what remaining colour there was in Alex's face had started to drain away "Err Mac" Methos said nodding towards Alex, Duncan span around just in time to drop the holdall and catch Alex as she fainted. He started to carry her towards the bed but halfway he turned to Methos "Adam can you just have a look?"
"I've already done that Mac. She's still weak she's kept going this long because of adrenalin; my guess is she's just run out. All she needs is to rest I'll call you tomorrow. " Methos said before taking the steps two at a time and disappearing outside. He made his way out to where Joe was watching just as he had expected.
As Methos approached the car Joe rolled down the window "Is everything OK?"
Methos looked back at the barge "Given time I think it might just be".
Duncan laid Alex onto the bed her face was nearly the same shade of white as the pillow her head was laid on. Duncan took off Alex's shoes and jacket he then turned down the other side of the bed. He lifted Alex gently over placing her onto the crisp white sheet; he then pulled the covers over her.
He sat on the edge of the bed watching her sleep in the faint light. The only sounds were their breathing and the water of the Seine lapping against the barge. Duncan knew that it had taken years for Alex to build her wall placing everything she didn't want to deal with behind it. Duncan knew that if she was every to live she had to free all the memories good and bad and learn how to deal with them. "You don't have to be afraid I'll be there with you" Duncan whispered as he ran the back of his hand down her cheek as he got to his feet. Alex's eyes flickered open "where are you going?"
"I was going to take the couch I didn't want to disturb you"
"Please Duncan I don't want to be alone" Alex said as she reached out for his hand.
"All right, I'll stay".
Light had just started to push back the darkness as Duncan started to wake up. He stretched his arm out across the bed; his eyes opened wide as his hand found only and empty cold space beside him. Sitting up he looked down the barge straining his eyes to see in the dim light but Alex wasn't there. Quickly, he swung his legs out of bed pulling on his clothes as he made his way out onto the deck. At first he couldn't see anyone but as he walked around the wheelhouse he saw her sat on the deck with her legs dangling over the side. She looked so small with her arms wrapped tightly around her body silhouetted against the dawn.
Duncan slipped off his jacket placing it around her shoulders as he sat down besides her putting his arm around her. They sat watching the sunrise as it burned away the early morning mist, Duncan didn't say anything he wanted Alex to talk in her own time.
As she leant her head against his shoulder Alex whispered "I'm sorry"
"You've nothing to be sorry about" Duncan replied as he rested his head against hers.
"I meant for all the trouble I've caused you and for thinking of leaving without a word of thanks" as she spoke Duncan pulled her tighter into his embrace.
"You're still here. That's what matters".
They stayed there until the sun had risen into the sky, when Duncan lifted his head as he felt the presence of another Immortal.
"I think it's time we went inside" Duncan said as he got to his feet holding out his hand to help Alex up, his eyes scanning around the bank. "Duncan, is everything all right?"
Duncan smiled at Alex "Everything's fine I could just do with a coffee".
As he let Alex go inside first he took the opportunity to take another look around but he couldn't see anyone. "Duncan are you coming in?"
"Yeah, I'll be right in" Duncan didn't like sensing an Immortal and not being able to see them but as the sensation fade he knew they must be moving away. As he closed the door behind him he couldn't help but wonder who was out there.