Author's notes:

I guess I should have said this in the last chapter, but this is an AU of both Highlander (some what) and Sentinel (duh) and set a couple of years after the end of Sentinel's run on TV. I made some changes partially because I wanted Blair to be less nebbish, and partially because it fit what was bouncing around in my head for so long.

Disclaimer:

I own nothing (except for any original characters you may find), am making no money off this (kind of like my real life career), and am doing this purely for my personal pleasure (which is the only reason I attempt to write).

Chapter Two

(Flashback)

France's preparations for the coming war left France in a state that was not prepared for the coming war. Germany employed blitzkrieg, or lightning war. They had relied on diplomatic maneuvering, the appeasement of Hitler's territory greed, and had prepared for the kind of war that had been fought in the "war to end all wars," hence the Maginot line was built to counter the Seigfried line built by Germany.

Other than the "miracle of Dunkirk," there was not much hope for France to rally around, and was forced to surrender to Nazi Germany at Compiegne in the same railway car that Germany had been forced to sign the armistice, the Treaty of Versailles, to end World War One.

Despite the darkness that cloaked France, a few brave individuals tried to resist the Nazis. They did this by conducting guerrilla warfare throughout the countryside, spied for the Allies and Free France, rescuing downed Allied pilots, and saving potential victims of the Nazi's death camps. While this effort was not as widespread as some romantics would like people to believe, their efforts were tremendous for those who's lives were spared.

One of those people was Blair Sandberg, then known as Etienne Pascal, along with his mortal wife, Marie-Francois.

They had been working with the French Underground, helping sabotage the Nazis efforts to control France. While not actually French himself, he understood that the Nazis had to be stopped. His friend, Methos, had warned him the week before to be cautious. He had heard some dire rumors about some of the near-by sections of the Underground had been infiltrated and destroyed by the Nazis.

The local cell had been asked by the regional commander of the French Underground to blow up a certain bridge at a certain time, and had even sent an explosives expert to help them. The commander did not want this mission to fail. He declared this to be an imperative operation that had to come off – do or die, he had said.

Unfortunately, it was the later and not the former that occurred. The expert that had been sent to help them turned out to be a Nazi sympathizer and betrayed the entire cell.

Etienne, along with Marie-Francois and the five other members of their cell – all neighbors and close friends, were marched out to the near- by woods. Etienne and the others knew what was coming. They were not stupid. Etienne and two other men had been clubbed when they attempted to over power the squad of S.S. troops. The two mortals had not survived the beatings, but Etienne, thanks to his Immortality, had.

Marie-Francois held tightly on to her husband's hand, entwining their fingers together. She was so scared that she could not stop whimpering. Etienne attempted to reassure his wife that it was going to be okay, that she would survive to see the next day.

He looked over at his wife, as they marched along an old deer run half overgrown with brambles and new growth. She was stunning in his eyes. Her hair, golden blonde, framed her heart-shaped face, dominated by twin blue eyes and creamy white skin. She was as beautiful as they day they met, ten years before.

He had told her about his immortality a year after they had met. At first she had been frightened by his lifestyle, the constant battle for the mythical 'Prize,' but eventually she came around and found that she could accept him and all of his 'baggage.' She had even seen him fight another immortal, taking his opponent's head and quickening. Marie-Francois, Etienne believed, was the most accepting and gentle soul in the world. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her. Even now he was thinking about how he could save her from a senseless death.

Finally, after marching for what seemed like hours, but probably no more that a half hour, they came to a slight clearing between the trees, the Nazis backed them up towards a long trench. Etienne looked all around him, looking for any possibility that would save Marie-Francois.

Suddenly, a familiar, yet faint, buzz started in the back of his head alerted him to the presence of a pre-Immortal.

Arriving from the opposite way they had been marched, a colonel in the S.S., flanked by two privates, appeared. He was tall, arrogant, and blond, the perfect example of Hitler's insane idea of the 'master race.' Also, he had no clue that he would become an Immortal some day.

Etienne looked the Nazi commander over carefully, memorizing every detail in the man's face. He wanted to make sure that he would remember him, to help him later hunt the bastard down and kill him.

Ever so subtly, he moved Marie-Francois behind him, closer to the open trench. He figured that he could shield her from the bullets with his body and push her into the trench, thus saving her.

Gerhardt, the colonel, ordered his men to line everyone up. As soon as that was complete, he gave the order to fire. Bullets ripped through living flesh, tossing their bodies into the gaping maw that would become their graves.

Etienne, despite feeling a burning sensation spread across his chest, pushed Marie-Francois back into the trench, hoping that it would be enough to protect her. Then, he knew no more.

An hour later, with a gasping breath, he came back to life. Immediately he felt the presence of another Immortal, strong and familiar.

"Edward – Etienne," called out a voice from the past.

Etienne pushed the dead body of a former comrade – Jean-Paul, he remembered, off his form. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Marie- Francois, her blue eyes open and vacant. Several bullet holes peppered her chest. After the Nazis had shot everyone, they must have shot everyone again while in the trench, just to make sure.

He climbed out of the pit and sat on the ground. He could not cry, but could only sit and stare. Methos found his friend like this, unresponsive to the world.

"Come on," he urged, helping his friend to his feet.

"I'm going to kill him. He's going to pay for what he did to Marie- Francois," Etienne said, as they walked through the woods.

"Who?"

"Gerhardt. I swear to God, I'll find him and take his head."

**********

"Tell me," Blair whispered, a hard look in his eyes. He had been looking for Martin Gerhardt for close to sixty years with not much luck and now the murdering, Nazi bastard was here in Cascade.

"According to his Watcher, Gerhardt, still using his real name, is operating a neo-Nazi camp south of town. He certainly hasn't changed his stripes. Supposedly, he has been linked over the years to several white- supremacy groups over the years. He has been involved with the groups, directing and teaching, but never directly linked to any sort of violence," Methos replied.

"Anything else?" Blair asked, mentally preparing himself to go after his long sought prey.

"Yeah," Methos said, knowing his friend. "You can't just go charging in. The compound he's in is well guarded and on Holy Ground."

"You're kidding? Holy Ground?"

"No. According to the files, the land used to be an old convent. The nuns sold it to someone and they in turn, sold it to someone else, that someone else being Gerhardt's group. You can't get him there."

Blair took a deep breath and weighed his options. He knew that Methos was correct. Holy Ground was Hold Ground, even for a piece of worthless crap like Gerhardt. He did, however, have a few resources at his disposal.

**********

The next day, he arrived at police head quarters early wanting to talk to Simon. He had called Jim earlier and asked him to meet him there.

"Blair, I thought I told you to take the next few days off," the captain barked. He had paperwork piling up in front of him and did not have time to spare, yelling at a subordinate that desperately needed time off.

"I know Captain, but I really need to talk to you. A friend last night told me about a neo-Nazi camp in the area and I was wondering if there is some sort of investigation going. I would really like to help with the investigation if possible," Blair said.

"Why?" Captain Banks asked his eyes narrowed behind his gold-rimmed glasses.

"I have my reasons," he muttered.

"What reasons?" Jim asked, having heard Blair's comments.

Blair sighed. "I knew the leader of the group a long time ago. He's dangerous."

"Do you have any proof? Illegal activities?" Banks asked.

"Nothing that would ever stand up in court," Blair said bitterly. "Simon, please. I asked Jim to come along to help me convince you that this is important to me. He doesn't have to get involved, but I do."

Simon sat back and looked at his subordinate. The academic was rigid with intensity, the likes of which he had never seen in Blair before. It was easy to tell that this was important to the man.

"Fine," Simon said, "but Jim will go along with you. There is an investigation being run right now with the organized crime division. Report to Sergeant Dobbson and he'll fit you into his crew. Report back to me everyday and let me know that you two are still alive please."

"Captain, I don't know," Blair began, but Simon interrupted him.

"I can see that it's important to you. Just don't get yourselves killed in the process."

They left the office and Jim let out a big sign and leaned against the wall with his arms folded. "I had made plans to go fishing," he said.

"I am so sorry Jim. I'll make it up to you somehow," Blair promised.

"Don't worry Chief. You will make it up somehow. I'll make sure of it," Jim said tiredly.