Chapter 28

London

Nathan Barlow shifted uncomfortably in the park bench. He disliked meetings in such public places. He always felt handicapped. But Cassandra had insisted. He'd been surprised that she was already in London... wondered if she were trying to cut him out. But she'd seemed pleased with his findings. Now all he had to do was deliver the map he'd made and she'd know just where this Lord Gray had once lived. What she did with the information was up to her. But Barlow hoped she'd be truly pleased... pleased enough to reward him properly.

Since Cassandra had found him, he'd served her faithfully. He was not such a fool as to think he would ever be the great love of her life... but they were immortal... why shouldn't they just relax occasionally and indulge themselves. Not for the last time, Barlow wished he were more muscular, more good-looking, more... something. He knew he was thin and he'd always been bookish. Not even his immortality had changed that. He supposed if he lifted weights and worked out he'd gain muscle... but he really would rather just curl up with a good book.

Barlow sighed... then started... realizing Cassandra must be nearby. He looked about for her.

"Stop that," the hatted and sun-glassed woman who'd sat down on the adjoining bench said sharply, as she shifted her bulky packages.

Barlow stared. Yes... beneath that broad-brimmed hat and behind those sunglasses it was Cassandra... now why was she dressed like that? Did she think someone was following her for some reason? "Why are you...?"

"Just being cautious Nathan... just being cautious," Cassandra smiled benevolently. She'd never bothered to tell Barlow about the Watchers she'd learned of from MacLeod and his friend Dawson. That kind of knowledge was best kept to a few they had said. If all immortals knew... they might react violently... Cassandra recalled some business several years ago that might have been a Watcher/Immortal confrontation. Besides... knowing and not revealing might give her an edge someday. "Now what do you have for me?"

Barlow held out an envelope, then left it on the bench beside him when she so indicated. "I thought I might help you with this... I've already scouted the house... I couldn't get in as it seemed to be watched by some people... but it appeared deserted."

"You have done your part well... and you will be paid." Then Cassandra re-pitched her voice, hoping it would work on Barlow one more time. Over the centuries she had learned it was best not to use it too often on people... they tended to build up a resistance to it if she did so. "Leave now..."

Barlow stared at her for a long moment... as if struggling with her words and something he wanted... finally he nodded, rose and left.

Cassandra let out a sigh. She shifted her packages and stood up. She seemed to struggle with them a moment and set them down on the bench Barlow had just vacated. In doing so... as she re-gripped them and lifted them once more... she grabbed hold of the large envelope he'd left for her. She shifted the packages once more and deposited the letter in one of the open shopping bags she carried. Slowly... as if elderly and greatly weary... she walked up the street. If she was lucky... the Watcher who had to be on Barlow had not noticed her.

***

Seacouver

Joe stirred awake... suddenly aware someone was in his room. He peered between his half-lidded eyes at the sound of gentle breathing... then grinned. "Amy!"

Amy Brennan-Thomas smiled gently at the man she knew was her biological father... but who was for her more a friend and mentor. "I heard you were out earlier chasing the nurses."

"Yeah... up and down the halls as fast as I could," Joe's voice broke up in a cough and a pain spasm. He hit the morphine pump and waited while the drug took effect once more.

Amy's face regarded him solemnly. "How much of that are you using?"

Joe was touched by her concern. They'd had some rough moments over the years since he'd learned she knew he was her father... but they'd somehow managed to remain civil and even on friendly terms. Joe had used his influence to get her off field assignments since she'd been kidnapped and almost killed by Morgan Walker... and... since she'd had the pleasure of meeting "the doctor" he'd talked to Dr. Zoll about letting Amy work on the Methos Chronicle with her. Amy seemed quite happy in London with Dr. Zoll and she and Joe had gone to lunch a few times over the years... but he seriously doubted they'd ever have that father-daughter relationship he wanted.

"Not too much... Just now and then... Besides... it's prescribed." Joe grinned. The morphine had hit his system and relaxed him a bit.

"I understand you tried to fight an immortal... Why?"

Joe sighed... so far he'd said little about the reasons... just that he'd been in the middle of a confrontation between Methos, MacLeod and Daniel M'Benga... and had inadvertently been shot. He'd not mentioned the reason... the boy Derrick... and he wouldn't. "Chalk it up to bein' in the wrong spot at the right time. I was Watchin' and was just in the wrong spot."

"Well you shouldn't have been so close. Field people are supposed to stay far enough away that they are not noticed."

"We weren't expecting trouble... we were at the park for... a picnic."

Amy smirked. "Now why do I think you are lying?"

Joe shrugged and instantly regretted the movement... but he didn't hit the pump... it was too soon and he knew no additional medication would be forthcoming for another half-hour. He closed his eyes... suddenly very tired.

"Joe."

He opened them once more.

"I need to check on some things for you... the sale of the bar... your house..." She spread her hands and smiled, "You know... Are your keys in your coat?"

"Yeah... I think so... right hand pocket." Joe watched while Amy opened the small cabinet closet and rummaged through his coat pockets. She smiled as she held up the keys. "Yeah... that's them." He was suspicious. What could she possibly want with his keys?

Amy crossed to the bed and sorted through them... trying figure out what was what. "And this one?" She held one up.

"You won't need that one. It's to MacLeod's place."

Amy nodded and let it drop... seemingly more interested in the others. Once she had them all identified, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I'll let you rest now, Joe. I'll be back later... maybe I'll bring you some CD's or a book or some magazines or something."

"That'd be nice, Amy."

Joe watched her gather her things and leave... He couldn't help but wonder if she'd truly be back... or if she'd gotten what she came for.

***

Amy flagged down a taxi and gave the address to the driver. She hated deceiving Joe... hated deceiving Dr. Zoll and the rest of the Watchers... but she owed "the doctor." She knew who he was... but she still found herself using that epithet for him when she thought about him "The doctor" was the immortal who had saved her life. "The doctor" was the immortal who was her father's friend. Methos was the five-thousand-year old immortal she happened to be researching. If she kept that clear within her mind... then what she was doing wasn't really betraying anyone... she was just helping a friend.

"The doctor" had asked her to help pull the field Watcher off an immortal in Paris for a few days... Nick Wolfe. Amy had managed that with some slight of hand with some computerized assignment entries. That had been the easy part of what he asked. Nor was it difficult to request time off to see Joe. Dr. Zoll knew of Amy's and Joe's relationship... although most of the Watchers did not... She and Dr. Zoll had discussed that relationship privately over the past few years and Dr. Zoll always suggested that Amy spend time with Joe.

"Even if you don't think of him as your father... he is. My parents are dead Amy... and what I wouldn't give for one more afternoon with either of them."

So when "the doctor" had asked her to come to Seacouver... she had come. Now she would retrieve the item he wanted from MacLeod's apartment... and Fed Ex it to the Paris office. Was this how Joe had gone down the slippery slope to friendship with an immortal? Such a little thing... of no consequence... how could it hurt? But Amy knew how all the little things... all the choices and small decisions... could add up. She knew the Watchers of several years ago had actually considered killing Joe for his friendship with MacLeod... but that had been then... and that had been wrong.

The new policy was to keep an open mind if such situations happened again. Each case was to be considered carefully and without malice. Amy hoped so... she owed Joe's life to "the doctor" now too if the reports were to be believed... how he'd been working on Joe... CPR or something when the ambulance had gotten there. She owed "the doctor" and she was grateful... grateful she'd have at least one more afternoon with the father she barely knew.

The taxi pulled to a stop at MacLeod's apartment building. Amy paid the driver and exited the cab. She stood for a moment staring up at the building... fingering the keys in her pocket. Then she entered seeking the elevator to take her to the fourth floor.