Chapter 80
Duncan arrived the following day. Methos had given him clear instructions and the Highlander had not wanted to wait. He'd returned Alisaunne to her school where she'd learned three nuns and one of her school friends had died... and horribly. She'd shuddered... understanding full well what Nestor had done to them, but she'd promised to say nothing about what had happened to her, at least not to them.
If she needed to talk... if she needed anything... Duncan would be there to help. Or he would arrange for whatever she needed.
Alisaunne's immediate plans were to graduate and move on over to the universite'. Already she was begging Ian to join her there. "Surely your classes and grades would get you in?" she'd insisted. Ian had looked at MacLeod and shrugged. Perhaps he could manage it he had said softly. "And we could be on the fencing team together." Ian had raised his eyebrows and shrugged. His arm was still a little numb... but it was mending. Perhaps with time he'd get full feeling and control back. Meanwhile... he'd be practicing left-handed.
After saying goodbye, Duncan and Ian had gone to the barge where they'd had several long talks. Evidently the boy hadn't known there was anything special about her... other than the way she made him feel. "I never really loved a girl before MacLeod. What do I do now?"
"Love her for now. Be there for her when she needs you. Help her when she finally remembers all that happened to her."
"And when she grows older and notices I'm still a young man... what do I tell her then?"
"Face that day when it comes Ian Daffyd... Meanwhile she needs someone to keep an eye on her while she's at school. You can do that. Tell her only what she needs to know... and I won't be far. We'll watch her together. The doctor or I can produce whatever records you need to get in. I sometimes teach classes there... I have some pull. We'll manage."
In talking to Joe... Duncan had managed to keep a lot of what happened from him... at least about the girl. As always, the Highlander thought it was far more important for pre-immortals to have a chance at a normal life without Watchers hanging around. True... the girl was unusual... but other than her healing abilities... Duncan hadn't a clue as to what made her unusual. Phillip hadn't seemed to know for certain... and Methos had said nothing. But Duncan intended on getting some answers from him this time. Had he sensed something when they'd first met the girl? Duncan hadn't... at least nothing beyond her pre-immortal status.
"Thanks for all your help, Joe. Now take it easy and get better. I'll see you soon," he'd said in saying goodbye to his friend. He missed having the old Watcher around to talk to. Joe planned to return to Paris when he was able. Duncan hoped he'd see him then.
"If you see Ellie," Joe had said before ringing off, "Tell her to call me when she can." MacLeod had promised.
Alighting from Amanda's Ferrari in the driveway of the French estate house Duncan waved at Derrick racing about the yard after some kittens. Eleanor sat on the steps, dressed in jeans, turtleneck, and flannel shirt. About her neck was the runestone on its gold chain. Duncan chuckled. She still seemed a ragamuffin child sometimes, but she seemed far better than she had yesterday. He hadn't told Joe about her being there when they'd killed Nestor. He hadn't wanted to worry Joe with the details of what Nestor had done to her. Duncan was glad to see that the bite had healed finally and that the bruise had already faded. Strange to think of an immortal who healed so slowly. He'd heard of a few over the centuries who were like that... and wondered if it had to do with living for long periods without taking a quickening. He had some questions for her as well.
As he opened his arms to give her a friendly hug... he thought he felt someone else. Looking around, Duncan asked, "Where's Methos?"
"Inside doing some research. Did you bring the other laptop and our bags?" Duncan opened the trunk and handed her the computer.
"Everything that was there is here. Even Phillip's stuff." He looked around.
"Phillip's gone." Ellie looked at him soberly. "He needed time by himself to think. We'll go through his stuff and send him what he needs. As for the rest..." she shrugged. "We can donate it or store it."
Duncan nodded as he closed the trunk lid. Derrick approached with a grin.
"I have a kitten..."
Duncan tousled the boy's hair. "I've missed our chess games." He was glad to see the boy's enthusiastic nod. "Maybe we'll play later... I brought a set."
Inside Derrick set the kitten down and went running for Adam.
"How much does he know?" Duncan said, setting the bags down.
"He knows we are immortal. He thinks he's not. I don't think he's really figured it all out yet. The three of us shared a vision in an old seeing stone we can show you, but he says he didn't learn anything."
"And those old memories?"
Eleanor shrugged, "I haven't really seen anything else recently." Her face lit up as Methos entered the hallway.
"Nice place," Duncan said looking around appreciatively.
Ellie had stepped toward Methos who was hugging her. Duncan smiled, Those two must have some history together. "Joe says 'Hello' by the way."
Eleanor grinned back at him, "How is he?"
"Healing slowly, but healing. He'd appreciate a phone call," Duncan said pointedly and winked.
Ellie nodded. "I'll see what I can do. I just couldn't while we were traveling, while he was still in the hospital, and then things got so crazy so fast... there hasn't really been time."
"Make time. Mortals die all too soon. Don't go too long without talking to him" Duncan said.
"Right..." interjected Methos with a smirk. "Now then... let's see what we have."
The two men went to work sorting through the information they did have. For once, Methos was fairly open about the questions MacLeod had, and filled him in on several points. But, Duncan still felt he was keeping many secrets.
As for the girl? Methos had shrugged. "I sensed a strong potential in her... I had once heard a legend about a child who would be born immortal to immortals... but until Phillip called... I hadn't even considered that's what she was.... nor what that might mean. MacLeod I have no idea who she is or where she came from or that Darius knew of her. Unless there is something in the original research that isn't on the computer disc... or in the letters we still need to get... or in these other papers he sent me shortly before he died... I don't know that we'll ever know."
MacLeod looked at the papers. "Looks a little like a map," he finally said.
"Yes, but a map to what?" I've been trying to get a location for it for years... with no luck. I don't even know what I'm supposed to be looking for."
"Why the Les Miserables?" Duncan held it up.
Methos reached for it and thumbed through it. "I'm not certain. But he was always reading this. I thought perhaps he might have marked something or left something in it."
Duncan shook his head. "I've read it three times since he died. I never noticed anything."
"A dead end then perhaps."
"Or just a book." Duncan grinned, "Sometimes a good book is just a good book!" He arched his eyebrows and bulged his eyes out in a smirk.
Methos groaned. "Remind me to give you humor lessons someday. Your delivery is atrocious." He tossed the book to one side and the two men returned to collating the information they did have.
***
Derrick watched them covertly from the doorway for a moment and then smiled to himself as he quietly sought out Eleanor. He wasn't certain about a lot of things as yet, his memory still had some huge gaps, but he did know that if Duncan and Methos worked together... they could solve the puzzles. He could leave it in their hands for the moment. He headed into the kitchen where Eleanor was attempting to make some soup. His job right now was to keep an eye on her... or the soup would be inedible.
He climbed up on the counter near the stove to watch her. When she picked up the salt he stopped her. "Nope... Adam said to let you put the vegetables in the broth but not to let you add anything else."
"But soup needs salt," she said insistently.
"Yeah... but he'll add the salt after while."
Ellie stirred the pot, and then walked away in a huff. Behind her, Derrick lowered the heat and covered the pot. He'd have to be certain she didn't let it burn either. Meals around here were going to have to be a collaboration. Derrick shook his head. Life was going to be interesting for a while. Very interesting!
***
Outside on the hillside, far beyond the immortals' sensing range, Cassandra watched and waited surprised that they remained here. She had assumed that once Methos knew she had been here they would vanish. It was the house she wanted to burn right now. Should she move on and burn others? No... that had been her original plan... but the voice was keeping her here. "Justice!" it whispered in the darkness. "Justice for your people! Justice for you!" With Duncan here as well, perhaps things would move along. What she needed was to get Methos alone somehow. If Duncan spent time with the boy tomorrow... perhaps she'd have her chance.
Cassandra would have her justice.
