Chapter 20

New York

Derrick was excited by the thought of an airplane ride. The three of them were at JFK to catch their flight to Europe. He gazed through the giant plate glass windows starry-eyed at the thought of being on one of those great silver birds.

His heart fluttered in anticipation as Ellie told him what it would be like. How when the plane gathered speed he would be thrust back in the seat and then feel it rise beneath him. Later his ears would pop from the change of altitude... then the world would look like mounds of whipped cream or cotton candy from above the low clouds. Above would be a sky so blue it would seem impossible. Already she and Phillip had purchased some puzzle books and magazines to occupy their thoughts. Derrick nearly laughed aloud... how could anyone do anything but want to stare out the window at the passing clouds and maybe... glimpses of the far-away ocean beneath them.

When their row was called he took Ellie's hand and quietly... as she had instructed... boarded the plane. As he passed a mirrored surface... he got a brief glimpse of his now-black hair. This morning... Ellie had washed some dye into his hair... and carefully re-cut it. Then she'd tucked her own dark hair up under a blonde wig and hidden her green eyes behind brown contacts... "Just in case..." she'd whispered.

Phillip had allowed her to trim his own hair... but had refused to shave off his entire beard. "It itches when it grows back..." he'd said... So he'd trimmed it to a goatee and then he'd used the same black dye on his hair and beard. Derrick thought he looked rather like a pirate now...

A change of clothing style for all of them... a couple of changes of clothing neatly folded in new bags... and they'd been ready. Ellie's laptop was in her carry-on... along with Derrick's Game-Boy. Ellie's extra wigs and some other things went into a crate Phillip had shipped separately. That big sword had been one of the items Phillip had shipped.

Derrick still had little interest in the thing... He'd rather work on the computer game that he and Adam had been working on before they'd left. But without Adam... Derrick couldn't seem to get anywhere. In his mind... he could still see the shifting patterns... but each time he thought of something... a new move... he seemed to forget it before he could get to the computer. Ellie had promised him that on the long flight... he could work on it... and she'd play with him... even though she didn't seem to have any sense of the game.

They found their seats... Derrick was ecstatic to have a window seat. Ellie was next to him and Phillip was on the aisle. Ellie's brother always seemed to be on guard... as if someone would come for Derrick again, even though both adults had told him that would not happen. As long as Derrick was with them... he was safe.

A few hours into the flight... the boy fell asleep. The steady drone of the plane and the smoothness of the flight... and the monotony of the white cloudscapes outside his window... gradually lulled the excited boy into dreams. And in dreams... the images of a past buried deep within his mind... shifted and pulled. Voices whispered... in languages he did not know. When he woke he glanced at Ellie... seemingly asleep beside him. He touched her hand softly and laced his fingers with hers.

Eleanor started and glanced down at Derrick with a smile.

"I've been on a plane before," the boy said evenly. "I was very small. I sat on a woman's lap. It was like this... "

The boy looked out the window once more. "The ocean was below... and the sky was black as ink... I don't remember stars. I slept some... but the flight was very long."

Eleanor nodded with wonder. "Then perhaps when we land... we'll see something else... You'll remember other things. We'll take you about the cities of Europe... maybe something will come back to you." She'd argued quietly with Phillip this morning when he indicated they were flying into Paris.

"Why there? Wouldn't Athens or even Rome make more sense?"

"Paris..." Phillip had said. "That's where we need to go." And he'd said nothing else. He'd offered no reasons... no rationale for the sudden change.

In her heart, she understood that Paris might finally open Derrick's memories to the past that was buried even further in his mind. But was she ready for the answers? "Methos!" she thought... "If only you were here!" Eleanor feared the answers would only be found when the three of them were together. And part of her did not want to find the answers. Her left palm tingled and she rubbed it absently... it was as though her thought of him might be making Methos think of her. Where was he now? Still behind them in Seacouver? In London? In Paris? She had no idea... she hadn't asked... it was probably better not to know... He was with MacLeod... that she knew... and they were searching for answers on their own.

She stroked Derrick's dyed hair and smiled at him softly when he looked over at her. Beside her... Phillip snorted in his light doze. They'd be fine... they had to be fine... even in Paris. After all... despite everything... Derrick was not Darius... even if something of her friend was in him... he was himself... a little boy who needed love and guidance... and a chance to grow up.

***

Paris

David Maillot packed his epee' within its custom case and gathered up his things. This was his last day here this term. Now that Alisaunne would graduate... he doubted he'd continue with his classes here. There really was no reason... no purpose in it... and yet... he had to admit he had enjoyed teaching these girls. Perhaps he would continue... for another year or so... there was no harm in it... no none at all.

He looked up as Alisaunne knocked quietly at the door.

"Aren't you supposed to still be on kitchen duty this week?" he asked her genially. Their class earlier this day had been much the same as the previous one. Today he'd paired the girls by ability... and then paired the winners... Once more... Alisaunne had completely outmatched her classmates. David had been pleased with the girl's progress and abilities.

"Yes, Monsieur Maillot." Alisaunne was dressed once more in her school uniform... except that she had on the burgundy sweater instead of the heavier jacket that the girls usually wore when on outings. She'd shoved the sweater's sleeves up on her arms and looked ill-at-ease... as if something were bothering her. She looked down and fiddled with a ring on her finger and moved one foot back and forth. "I have a question, Monsieur..."

"Ask!" David was amused at the girl's sudden shyness. Eighteen she might be... but she still was so young... so innocent.

"I was wondering... when I go to universite' if I... that is... if you... that is... " She suddenly seemed at a loss for words.

David smiled warmly, "Continue with your lessons?"

The girl let out a sigh as she smiled and nodded. "I do enjoy them... and you really meant it the other day when you said that I might be good enough to get on a real team?"

David nodded genially... then glanced up... his breath catching in his throat. Someone was very close. "Perhaps you should get to your duties in the kitchen now... I will discuss this matter with you later..." David's voice trailed off as he realized... the girl might not get a chance to leave before whoever it was made his challenge. David tossed his coat to the floor and pulled out his much stouter "game" rapier... Although deceptively thin... it was titanium over steel and very strong. Besides... he was very skilled... He had fought many times and had emerged victorious over stronger opponents... this would be no different. "Get out of here!" he yelled at Alisaunne just before his opponent was upon him.

***

Somewhere in Italy

Amanda had had enough!

She had packed a few belongings into her small sportscar and given Bella a nice bonus for all her trouble. Then she'd climbed into the car and had taken off at breakneck speed along the winding narrow roads. She had no idea where she was going... only that it would be away from here... away from the empty house and the empty life that she did not want. She'd had enough soul-searching... she'd had enough of being on her own.

Amanda wanted lights... and champagne... and music... wild pulsing rhythms she could dance to with abandon... and she wanted to forget about consciences... and self-improvement... and atoning for a wasted life. She wanted to live again... she wanted to party... she wanted to be who she had been... Rome perhaps... or maybe Vienna... but not Paris... no... not Paris.

Hours later... she crossed the border into France... and wondered why she was doing this to herself. Well... she could go to France... but only so she could go to London... She was not going to Paris. And even if she did go to Paris... she most certainly would not look up MacLeod... or Joe... or Liam... or Methos... or even Nick. No... she would pass through... and they would never know she was there.

She'd put the top down on the small red Ferrari and tied a long scarf about her once more short dark hair. Behind her dark glasses... she smiled... She most certainly was not going to look up old friends... and she laughed... letting the sound of her laughter vanish behind her in the breeze.

It was good to be alive once more!