"I hate Hospitals." Methos muttered, looking around the crowded ER. There was no sign of Richie.

"And you became a Doctor .. because?" Duncan started to head towards the Nurses Station.

"There are fringe benefits," Methos shrugged. "Do you know how many times in history the Temples have been the only places with any decent plumbing?"

"Not to mention a never ending supply of vestal virgins." Duncan muttered sourly.

Methos stopped.

"This is about Amanda, isn't it." He sighed.

"Amanda's a grown woman," Duncan spoke tightly. "Who she chooses to .. spend time with .. is entirely her business."

"Oh, well," Methos said. "That's alright then."

He turned and headed off again towards the nurses station, looking back to see Duncan still standing there with his mouth hanging open.

"Aren't you coming?" he asked innocently.

***

Instead of directing them to a room, the Nurse nodded towards a waiting area, where a middle aged man, juggling notes and coffee, stood up to greet them. "You're here for Mr Ryan? I'm Detective Davies." He introduced himself.

Duncan and Methos exchanged a quick look.

"Duncan Macleod. And this is Adam Pierson. Something we can help you with Officer?" Duncan said mildly.

"Um. Which one of you did I speak to on the phone?" Davies frowned.

"That would be my cousin, Russell Nash," Duncan told him. "He said there had been some sort of accident?"

"That's one way of putting it," Davies agreed wryly.

"Is Richie in some sort of trouble?" Methos asked.

"No, nothing like that," Davies hastened to reassure. "A couple of kids were out joyriding. Unfortunately, their driving was as bad as their judgement. Seems they had been drinking. Drove the car straight through a store window into a concrete pillar. As soon as they realised the car was totalled the kids made a run for it .. didn't get far .. we caught 'em before they'd gone two blocks .. but the car went up like a firecracker on the fourth of July. According to the witnesses, Mr Ryan was at the back of the Store. The Store Owner particularly remembered him, because.. well .." Davies looked embarrassed.

"Not everyone who wears a leather jacket is a criminal." Methos observed mildly.

Davies coughed, looking at Methos black leather coat.

"Of course not. My daughter, Sophia, she's fifteen. She wants a leather jacket for her birthday, one of those designer labels. I told her my first car didn't cost that much." Davies joked. He looked down at his notes. "Actually, that jacket probably saved your friend's life."

"Oh?" Duncan enquired.

"It seems the Store owner had been downright negligent about the regulations for storing flammable materials, .. he's already facing charges .. there were secondary explosions going off all over the place. The fire crews did a great job getting everyone out safely, or so they thought. Turns out there was a little girl, trapped out of sight under some fallen shelving, by the time her cries were heard, the fire was pretty fierce .. and the smoke .. well .."

"Richie went back in for the girl." Duncan realised.

"Reckless type is he?" Davies asked, not without a certain respect.

"Only when there is a R in the month." Methos said lightly.

"Well, he was damn lucky," Davies shut his notebook and put it back in his pocket. "I don't mind telling you now, I thought the kid had bought it at one point, this big explosion went off right next to him, but he must have a whole hoard of guardian angels, cos after a minute or two, he just picked himself up and got himself over to the little girl and got them both out of there. His jacket was toast though."

He looked Duncan straight in the eye. "He saved her life. The Paramedics said just a little longer and the smoke inhalation alone .. well .. Her parents are here. They'd like to speak to him if he's up to it."

"I'll have to ask Richie." Duncan said. "Can we see him now?"

"Yeah, sure," Davies nodded. "Down the hallway. 233."

***

"237, 235," Duncan counted off the room numbers as he made his way down the hallway. "233."

As if in confirmation, the presence of an Immortal washed over him. He pushed open the door to the examining room, and looked around. It appeared to be empty. But the thin cold steel suddenly pressed up against his neck said otherwise.

He held very still.

"Mac." Richie stepped back, shock all over his face.

"Expecting someone else?"

"I asked them to call Connor's place. I wasn't sure which one of you guys would come." Richie looked away.

"Rich .." Duncan was slightly taken aback at the lad's attitude.

"I lost your sword," Richie said abruptly, looking up to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry."

Duncan felt almost relieved. Of course, the lad would feel awkward about that.

"Richie. That's your sword. I gave it to you. And you didn't exactly mislay it. A building fell on you." Duncan corrected, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"I tried to find it. I mean, I know its real valuable .."

"Not half as valuable to me as you are." Duncan spoke softly, hoping to reassure.

Richie didn't answer.

"And we know where it is. We can always send Methos, to dig it out for you." He joked, hoping to raise a smile.

"Methos?" Richie blinked.

"He'll be here in a minute. He just went to settle your bill."

"Methos is paying the bill?" Richie asked hollowly.

Apparently, the Hospital were having a little trouble finding your medical insurances with those details you gave them." Duncan grinned.

"Oh." Richie toyed with the blind.

Duncan took a moment to study his former student. His hair damp and slightly mussed had clearly been recently washed, although it was decidedly singed in places, dressed in a regulation Hospital Gown, the tattered remains of his leather jacket hung over a nearby chair. He'd had a bad time of it. A very bad time of it recently, all things considered.

 "I brought you some clothes."

"Thanks." Richie didn't move.

"Of course, you could go home like that, but from where I'm standing, it looks a mite draughty."

"Home? You mean back to Connor's right?" Richie asked.

***
"Seacouver?" Methos protested, "You want to take him back to Seacouver? Are you completely insane?"

"Will you keep your voice down?"  Duncan glanced at the closed bathroom door, where Richie was changing. "Not to live. Just for a few weeks. Like a vacation."

"Oh well, that's alright then," Methos scoffed. "For God's sake, Macleod. don't you remember why we left? He's nineteen going on twenty five People are going to notice he's not aging."

"So, we'll keep him away from the old neighbourhoods." Duncan assured him.

"That should leave you with about four or five blocks over on the South side of the city." Methos said wryly.

"Oh come on. Even Rich didn't move around that much."

"Exactly," Methos seized on that. "There's a whole world out there that he has never even seen yet. What he needs to see some of that. Take him to see the Pyramids. The Great Wall of China. Take him to Scotland and show him why you are so bloody stubborn if you must. Not Seacouver."

"Look, you don't have to come." Duncan allowed. "But .."

"No. Do you need me to say it in Gaelic?" Methos queried. "I thought your English was becoming quite fluent now."

"But .."

"But nothing, Macleod," Methos snapped. "Did you or did you not agree that Richie was my student now?"

Duncan's eyes went hard and flat. For a moment, Methos thought his only answer might be being knocked flat on his bum. Again.

"Yes, he's your student." Duncan agreed, finally. "But ..."

"And you gave me your word that you would not interfere." Methos reminded him.

Duncan clenched his jaw. "I know."

"So, Richie's welfare is my responsibility now?"

"You are his Teacher .." Duncan agreed.

Whatever else he might have said was cut off by the sound of the bathroom door opening. Richie looked from one to the other.

"So, I guess, I won't need to pack my Seacouver Sonics shirt, huh?"

"Richie," Duncan began.

"So, where are we going?" Richie looked at Methos.

"I was thinking ..Tibet." Methos shrugged.

"Tibet?" Duncan sputtered.

"Its nice and quiet and the sunshine will do him good."

"It's the other side of the world." Duncan protested.

"We won't be gone that long," Methos assured him. "Not more than a couple of decades."

"Decades?" Duncan's jaw dropped.

"Of course, we'll probably be out of touch for most of that time, some of the places are pretty remote."

"Have you told Amanda about this?" Duncan played his trump card.

"Amanda?" Richie echoed.

"Actually," Methos smirked. "It seems she had a little trouble with the authorities when she was in Boston. What is the statute of limitations for burglary?"

"Methos," Duncan hissed. "You can't just .. take off like this."

"Oh?" Methos raised a brow. "Give me one good reason why not?"