Author's Note: This second movement contains lots of flashbacks. I sincerely hope that the flashback story will not confuse the casual reader... and will make sense. Thanks for all the feedback. I love hearing from all of you and hope you continue to respond and critique. Without feedback... no writer can improve or know if their writing is read and appreciated. ~thanks, elle-nora'

Part Two: Dreams and Visions

Embedded in your body deep

Lie answers to the questions

Like a garden hidden from the keep

How long I've waited

~from Dead End Moon by Kevin Max

Chapter 22

Paris

Derrick plastered his face to the taxi window. Paris was a feast for the eyes. He could not recall ever seeing such a place! Not even New York had held the fascination for him that this ancient city seemed to. "Can we go sight-seeing?" he asked.

"We'll see..." Eleanor's eyes met the back of Phillip's head. She was still trying to figure out why he'd thought Paris was the best place for them to land in. She would have preferred anyplace else. But Phillip... sitting beside the driver in the front seat... said nothing.

Derrick's infectious enthusiasm continued. "I want to see everything!" Eleanor sighed and managed a smile.

Their flight had been uneventful and they'd had no problems clearing customs... or in reacquiring their precious weapons from cargo. Now their taxi was weaving through the early morning streets of Paris on its way to their hotel. So far... they'd not even sensed another immortal or seen a Watcher. Still... this was not a safe place for them... and no one knew that better than Eleanor. The emptiness of Paris still haunted her.

The driver pulled to a stop outside the Hotel de Montcalm... an older and very exclusive five star accommodation on the Rue St. Dominique. As Phillip paid the driver and motioned for an attendant to collect their luggage... Eleanor's eyes automatically scanned for cameras and security guards. Once satisfied as to their location... she shook the hair of the wig over her face and pulled Derrick's ball-cap over his eyes. "Be quiet now... remember last time," she whispered. Since leaving Seacouver... they'd stayed out of the better hotels... because of security systems... Eleanor was still wondering what this was about.

She and Derrick stood back out of the way while Phillip was at the front desk. Soon he had their keys and motioned for them and the bellcap to follow. He said nothing in the elevator... nor did they. As they approached the entrance to the suite... Eleanor paused slightly... there was someone here.

"Phillip...?" she began as he opened the door and stood back to allow the bellcap to enter with their things... He winked at her.

Eleanor cautiously entered the darkened suite and glanced around. No one in sight. Behind her Phillip tipped the bellcap then closed the door. Then... from the shadows stepped Methos. She let out a great sigh, smiled and walked slowly toward him, her hands clasped behind her back.

"I should have known."

Methos leaned down to kiss her murmuring, "I believe we have unfinished business." Methos likewise held his hands behind his back.

"Adam!" cried Derrick starting eagerly toward them. He felt Phillip's restraining hand on his shoulder.

"Lad... let's you and I go sight-seeing!" Phillip chuckled. "Those two have some grown-up stuff to do right now. See you two later." Phillip winked as he maneuvered Derrick out the door of the suite and down the hall. First the two would have breakfast downstairs... then they'd see the sights. Methos' email had told Phillip he'd have to keep Derrick occupied at least until evening.

***

Within the darkened suite... the heavy drapes pulled against the growing daylight... Eleanor's breath caught in her throat as she returned Methos' kiss.

"Surprised?"

"Mmm..." she murmured.

"Can't read my mind, yet?" His teasing tone only served to arouse her further.

"No... can you read mine?"

"Right now?" Methos winked. Then he lifted one hand and slowly pulled the blonde wig from her head, tossing it onto a nearby chair. With his fingers... he pulled loose one lock of her black hair until it lay softly against her face. Then he ran his fingers down the side of her face and back and forth across her neck... stopping at the small notch at the base of her throat. His smile widened as his hand continued downward to the top button of her blouse. He unbuttoned it. "I missed you!"

Eleanor suddenly stepped back... He could see tears sparkling in her eyes. She bit her lip.

"Second thoughts?" he asked... hesitating.

She smiled at him... the sad smile he'd seen so often. "No... no second thoughts." She raised her arms to his face and held it between both her hands. "I love you... I always have!"

With that... he swept her tiny frame up into his arms... and into the adjoining bedroom. Time for explanations later... right now... he had other things on his mind.

***

London

Nathan Barlow sat up in his chair. His eyes scanned once more the obscure passage that held a clue as to the reality of the so-called Lord Edward Gray, and his holdings. Quickly he wrote down the location of the Gray manor as it had been in the fifteenth century. He'd have to transfer the information on that location to a modern map... but maybe... just maybe... his perseverance was paying off.

Barlow grinned. If he played his cards right... perhaps he'd earn more than just his fee from the Lady Cassandra. Perhaps he'd earn her gratitude. He licked his lips at the thought of her. The thought of possessing her even once had made him lend his talents to this search of hers. For eight years he had been working on this problem... now... finally... his work was showing results. Surely she would be grateful.

But... first things first. He had to locate just where this manor house had once stood... and then determine if it were still there. Then... perhaps he'd do a little personal recognizance. If he had this crystal Cassandra so desperately wanted in his possession... what would she offer to get it.

Swiftly Barlow closed the ledger of deliveries and rose to find a period map of London.

***

Cassandra's eyes observed the passing scenery of London. She had no idea what she was searching for... or how she would know it when she found it. She had simply told her driver to drive... all about London... she wanted to see the sights.

After landing yesterday... she'd checked into a hotel and let her hair flow freely once more on her shoulders. She'd studied a directory... and made notations of anyone named Gray or Grey or some form of the name... such as Greymoor or Grayson... and had begun checking for immortal presences at the location of their homes. So far nothing. If Edward Gray had been an immortal... he must now be using a completely different name. Cassandra decided to expand her search for anyone with the surname Edwards. If this didn't work, she'd give Barlow a call tomorrow and see if he'd learned anything new in his research.

Barlow... she'd found him almost one hundred years ago... newly immortal... newly lost... a librarian with no concept of the immortal life that lay before him. He would never be a great swordsman... but he had passion. She'd encouraged him to explore what his immortality offered... and had used her own sexuality to keep him interested in her... always holding out the possibility of something more... but never quite delivering.

Cassandra did not know how much longer she could keep this game up. Already she could see he was becoming desperate in his need to please her. Soon... she'd have to take his head... or let him have her... at least once. But she'd try to drag this out as much as she could... he was a good researcher... and an excellent tool. But as with all tools... Cassandra knew... their time passes... and they have no more use.

"'Round the square again, miss?" the cabbie asked, eyeing his passenger appreciatively in his rear view mirror.

Cassandra met his gaze and smiled seductively, "Once more, if you please." She pitched her voice to achieve the effect she wanted. The cabbie nodded and continued his slow drive about the north London neighborhood.