Chapter 32
Seacouver
Anne Lindsey noted the young dark-haired woman in Joe's room. Anne tended to run by to check on Joe whenever she was due to get off work. Her main priority was getting home to Mary, but Joe was almost like family.
"Hi..." Anne said holding out a hand to shake. "I'm Anne Lindsey... a friend of Joe's."
The young woman smiled as she coolly clasped Anne's hand with a smile, "I'm Amy Brennan-Thomas... I work with Joe."
"I see." Anne said nothing more. Privately she wondered if this woman knew Anne's own knowledge of the Watchers or of her connection to Joe's assignment... Duncan MacLeod. "Has he... been asleep long?"
"Since I returned. I really didn't want to wake him before I left... but I didn't want to just leave either." There was wistfulness in the young woman's voice.
"Amy..." Anne said in realization. "Joe has a daughter named Amy."
The young woman's eyes narrowed a moment and then she smiled and nodded. "That's me... I didn't realize he'd told anyone."
"Oh... he didn't... Someone else did." Anne wasn't certain if she should mention the mysterious Adam Pierson or not. And she wasn't certain if Duncan had known... though he likely had. "Someone else he worked with who was here the first day... I helped collect the next of kin information when he was admitted since I knew him" Anne knew she was babbling.
The young woman nodded but said nothing.
From the hospital bed Joe moved slightly and opened his eyes. "I must be seein' double! Two pretty ladies!" He grinned at them both and winked.
"Just checking on my number one patient," remarked Anne.
"Hi Joe... brought those magazines and things." Amy's voice was soft and gentle.
Joe focused his attention on his daughter and tried to share a warm smile. She glanced down, biting her lip.
Realizing the father and daughter needed to be alone, Anne took the opportunity to leave. "I'll just be going now." Anne motioned to the door. "I'll stop in tomorrow."
"You better!" Joe called out.
After she left... the silence in the hospital room was almost unbearable.
Finally Amy brushed her hair back from her eyes and smiled. "So... books... magazines... CD's... or the TV for right now?"
"How about a conversation?" Joe's voice was not insistent... but it betrayed how he felt.
Amy nodded and pulled her chair up closer. "All right... What shall we talk about?"
"How 'bout why you're really here?"
Amy laughed as she shook her head. "Never could get one past you, could I." She sobered. "I'm here because I do care, Joe. Maybe what we have isn't normal or close... but I am your friend... as I hope you are mine."
"Always."
Amy took a deep breath, "Tell me something... before I explain... Why did you keep Methos' identity secret for so long? I have to know!"
"For the Chronicle?"
"No... for me."
"You met him... why do you think?"
Amy sat back, closed her eyes and seemed to consider his words. "Truthfully... I don't know. He's rather endearing in his way."
"He is that!" Joe had closed his eyes again... but he was still listening to her.
"But he is also tricky and he lies and he can't be trusted! It seems sometimes that he has plans within plans within plans and sometimes I wonder if even he knows what he's doing."
"That's our Methos!"
"And he saved your life. But tell me, Joe... did he also endanger it?"
Joe thought about his answer. His eyes were still closed but he nodded slightly. "I don't think he meant to... there were... extenuating... circumstances."
"Like what?" Amy leaned forward once more... her hand clasped his carefully being certain not to disturb the IV.
Joe sighed, "Like saving another life... one that meant a lot to him."
"MacLeod?"
Joe said nothing. With his other hand he reached for the television controls. "Why are you here, Amy?"
Amy was silent. Joe turned on the television and flipped through the eight channels on the hospital closed circuit. Four of the stations broadcast in-house documentaries on procedures and new-baby care. The other four were all local stations.
"He asked me to come... he wanted a book from MacLeod's apartment."
"And you got it for him."
Amy nodded silently.
"Why?"
"Because I owe him your life and my life. Because I want to be a better Watcher... I want to know him... I want him to talk to me the way he talks to you."
Joe chuckled slightly, "Everyone thinks he talks to me... Now why is that?"
"It's not true?"
"Oh... we talk sometimes. Sometimes he tells me old stories... but as to what goes on in that ancient head of his? No way!"
"Still," Amy was almost breathless. "To talk to someone who was alive when Julius Caesar walked the Earth... or Jesus Christ... or Buddha... What I wouldn't give!"
"Did you sell your soul for the chance, Amy?"
"Maybe I would... maybe I have."
"Then you understand the temptation. For the chance to listen to his tales... even if I know he's pulling my leg... so to speak... half the time... for that chance... Damn right I'd keep his secret!"
Amy nodded. "Then we are more alike than even I could ever have foreseen."
Joe smiled... but his smile was even broader when Amy leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Now then... what music did you bring me?" He was about to turn the TV off when the news bulletin banner came on telling of ... Massive Paris Explosion... Joe shushed his daughter and turned up the volume. He had a bad feeling about this... a very bad feeling.
***
Paris
The explosion on the far side of Paris lit up the night.
Amanda, exiting the Ferrari parked before the apartment building she still held a lease in, paused. Her eyes widened. From here she could see and feel little.
She shook her head, "With the way the world is today... it's no surprise, I suppose." But some part of her wept for the death of innocents caught in the blast and hoped the effects would be minor. She pulled her overnight bag out of the trunk and was just slamming it shut when she sensed someone near her.
Amanda dropped the bag at her feet and fingered her sword strapped to her back as she turned in the direction of the feeling. "MacLeod? Are you following me?" she called out.
But there was no one there. Only a cold wind that blew trash up the street and the reflection of neon on pools of water were evident.
Amanda relaxed. She bent to retrieve her bag. "Next thing I'll be talking to myself!" Then she smiled and entered the building using her key.
Her top floor apartment was as she had left it... dark... and quiet. Dust-covers over her furniture appeared ghost-like in the darkness. Swiftly she flipped on a light... banishing the eeriness of the moment.
She was alone... She was in Paris... But it was only for one night. Amanda had no intention of remaining here. She dropped her bag in the main room as she slowly entered the bedroom. The linens might need refreshing... It had been years after all since she'd last been here. Swiftly she set about setting her rooms to rights. An hour or two before dawn... all was as she wished... and Amanda slipped into her wide bed alone.
***
Below on the street... just out of range... he loitered... smiling. A wicked laugh rose in his throat but he quickly stifled it. It had been too long since he'd had a plaything. One not for killing... but for other... more interesting pleasures. Far too long! Perhaps... if he could not find the one he wanted... Amanda would suffice. She might serve a purpose for the time being. He moved back into the shadows and watched... and waited. He could be patient... oh yes... so very patient... His enemies had taught him patience. Perhaps he'd just tease about her for awhile... there and not there. After all... he still hoped to find the other one. Yes... it would unnerve her perhaps... and then he could strike. Thoughtfully he reached into his coat pocket for a snack, smiling as he did so. "I wonder how she'll taste?" he thought as he nibbled away.
