PART EIGHT


"So, what do you think?" Chloe waved her hands to take in their surroundings.

As he took a seat at a corner table, MacLeod studied the coffee house. The Talon was filled with customers. The colors were rich and vibrant, the music energetic.

"It's nice," Duncan said. "if a bit young for my tastes. You said your roommate owns it."

"She has a partner, but he's mostly of the silent variety. Lana takes care of the day-to-day running of things."

Duncan was impressed. The young woman he met a few days ago didn't seem the type who'd take on the demanding task of running a small business. Then again, after four hundred years, he knew better than to judge a book by it's cover.

A waitress came to their table to take there orders. Once she'd left, Duncan asked, "So, where's Clark?" When Chloe called and asked him to meet her here, he'd assumed the young man would be there as well. After all, he'd been there for every meeting and training session, ever watchful and suspicious. After Chloe's experience with Merrick, Duncan could understand her friend's protectiveness.


"Clark's probably still at the library," Chloe said. "He has a huge project due in a few days, and he hasn't even scratched the surface. Which is not a pretty spot to be in, let me tell you."

"I know," Duncan smiled. "You can always tell which students are behind on an assignment. There's this look of panic on their faces when you mention when it's due."

"Hey, that's right!" Chloe exclaimed. "You've taught a few college courses."

MacLeod's eyebrow peaked in surprise. "I have," he admitted. "And how did you know that?"

"Uh, did I say that out loud?" she asked. A look of chagrin crossed her expressive face. When Duncan nodded, Chloe squirmed in her seat for a moment. "Well, I-I, uh, sort of…Googled you."

"You what?!" Duncan asked with a bark of startled laughter. He wasn't up on the latest teen slang. Things changed so fast that, just as he got used to one slang word or phrase, another came along to replace it. And, right now, he was almost afraid to find out what this new word meant.

"I Googled you," Chloe repeated. "You know, looked your name up on the Internet?"

"Oh," Duncan said with a relieved chuckle.

Chloe held up her hands in supplication. "Now, don't get upset. I know some people don't like having their pasts looked into. But, I promise, I didn't do anything too obtrusive. Or illegal. I mean, anyone with Internet access could do what I did. A five year-old child could do it if they know how to spell." She paused to take a breath. "So, really, it isn't…"

"Chloe," Duncan interrupted. "It's alright. I'm not upset."

Chloe gave him a suspicious look. "You're not?"

"No. In fact, under the circumstances, I can't blame you for trying to find out more about me." Besides, a few years back, he'd learned he'd been under the close scrutiny of various Watchers for much of his Immortal life. The fact that Chloe decided to 'look him up' seemed mild by comparison.

Also, Duncan had known several reporters in his lifetime. And the great ones had three things in common. Ambition, talent, and insatiable curiosity. They had a need to know, even if their search for the truth put them in danger. That spirit lead one reporter to remain on the rooftop of a hotel in the heart of London while Nazi planes attacked the city. She stayed, even after everyone else but Duncan had fled, determined to make the radio transmission that told the rest of the world what was happening.

"Huh." Chloe seemed lost now that she didn't have to defend herself. "I've had people completely go off on me for doing a harmless little background check on them. But, you're really not upset?"

"No," Duncan assured her. "Although, I am wondering why you asked me to meet you here. Is there something you want to talk about?"

"Not really. I just realized all we've done since we've met is train. Or talk about training, and the Game, and being Immortal. And I think it's past time we, you know, hang out. Get to know each other better. Shoot the breeze."

"Okay." Amused, Duncan held up his hand up in surrender. He was sure she could go on forever. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Welllll…" Chloe's eyes sparkled with curiosity. She planted her elbow on the table, and rested her chin in the palm of her hand. "Let's start simple. I grew up in Metropolis. How about you?"

So he told her what it was like to grow up in the Highlands of Scotland in the 16th century. And watching Chloe listen was its own entertainment. Her eyes widened when she learned he was a chieftain's son. Her mouth formed into an O when he described his first death, and 'waking up' in a field of bodies. She gasped when he told her he was cast out of his village because they thought he was a demon. After all, only a demon could return from the dead. And, not knowing what an Immortal was, he'd been half-convinced they were right.

That was the worst part. Not knowing. As much as Duncan despised Merrick in retrospect, at least Chloe had someone to tell her what she was. But Merrick hadn't told her everything. Some were things she had a right to know. But others…

She was just so young. And in spite of that, in spite of what Merrick did to her, she'd adjusted to her Immortality in ways that took some of their kind years, even decades. But there were some things about her knew life Duncan didn't feel she needed to know. Not yet. Because those things could shake her young world apart.

"Duncan?" Chloe's asked, her voice interrupting his reverie. "Are you okay? You kind of drifted off for a second."

"Sorry. I'm fine," Duncan said. "Where was I?"

"You were about to tell me how you met you're teacher. I think you said his name was…Connor?"

*****

"Chloe?"

The young woman started in her seat. Hand pressed to her chest, she looked up at him.

"Oh, Lex," she gasped. "Hi."

"Hello yourself." Lex took the seat across from her. "Didn't mean to startle you."

"That's okay. My mind was a million miles away."

And still is, Lex realized. She looked like she'd just been told something astonishing, and it hadn't quite sunk in yet. But while she seemed overwhelmed, there was a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.

As he leaned back in his seat, he noticed there were two coffee mugs on the table. "Is Clark here, too?"

Chloe, a keen observer herself, followed his gaze to the cups. "Actually, I'm here with another friend. He went outside, where it's not so loud, to take a phone call."

"Hmm. Anyone I know?"

"Well, he doesn't live here in Smallville but, considering all the people he probably knows, it's not impossible."

Lex's curiosity was piqued. He wondered if this new friend of Chloe's was as interesting as William Merrick.

"By the way," she continued, "thanks again for the tickets. And I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the game."

"You're welcome. And you didn't miss much."

"Oh, come on! I heard you were the star of the show."

"Which, considering my teammates and the opposition, isn't saying much."

Chloe studied him for one long moment. Then, a slow grin lit up her face. "You know, modesty doesn't really work on you."

Lex returned the smile. "So I've been told."

Chloe was about to say something else when she suddenly stiffened in her seat. Tension that hadn't been there before radiated off of her body. Her smile vanished replaced by a wince of pain.

Before he could ask what was wrong, she turned to look towards the door. And, in an instant, she relaxed.

When she turned back to Lex, her smile had returned. "Introduction time."

Lex was still puzzling over Chloe's behavior when his gaze settled on the stranger. Blue eyes sharp with interest, he studied the new arrival. Like William Merrick, he seemed out of place in small town Smallville. He had the look of a man who had seen the world several times over. He walked with the grace of a fighter. And Lex had no doubt that challenging him could be bad for your health.

As the man reached the table, Lex realized he was under the same piercing scrutiny. Only years of being examined like a specimen under a microscope by reporters, and his father, kept Lex from feeling uneasy.

"Hey, Duncan," Chloe said. "I want you to meet someone. Duncan MacLeod, this is Lex Luthor. Lex Luthor, Duncan MacLeod."

Lex stood and held out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Lex could tell by the man's expression that MacLeod was familiar with the name. He'd no doubt heard all the stories about the evil Lionel Luthor, and thought the apple hadn't fallen far from the tree.

Only, he didn't act the way strangers usually did when meeting Lex. Instead, MacLeod returned his handshake with a friendly smile.

"Nice meeting you, too," the man said, the hint of an accent coloring his voice. "Would you care to join us?"

Lex supposed the fact that a stranger's friendliness could throw him off guard said something about him. "Um, I'm afraid I can't stay. I have a conference call in half an hour."

"Really?" Chloe expression was a tad too innocent. "What about? Anything interesting?"

"Not really. In fact, I'm sure you'd find it extremely boring." As she rolled her eyes, Lex smiled. "I'll see you later, Chloe." With a nod in Duncan MacLeod's direction, Lex left the Talon.

*****

He watched, a face lost in a sea of faces, oblivious to the music, the laughter, the throng of teen-agers that milled around him. His entire focus was on one man, one face.

Seeing Lex Luthor smile caused a ball of rage to tighten, like a fist, in his chest. He didn't deserve that smile, or whatever happiness had caused it. Didn't deserve the air of satisfaction, of confidence, that surrounded him.

Didn't deserve anything but pain.

Lex Luthor left the Talon. Mouth set in a hard, grim line, his unseen observer rose to follow.



(TO BE CONTINUED)