Second of two chapters going up today. --elle

Chapter 49

Paris

Duncan made his way through the rain-slick Paris streets, keeping an eye on anyone following him. He noted two early on… right after leaving Joe's bar… but thankfully had lost them… or it was a false alarm.

Ducking in and out of shadows and backtracking, he wandered over Paris. He'd pulled the collar of his trench-coat up against the chill of the rain… and ignored the damp. It was far more important, he felt, that he not lead anyone back to Alisaunne and Ian.

As he walked, Duncan thought of Amanda… and that last time he'd seen her. He'd gone to Ste. Genevieve about three months before Alisaunne's death, and the visit had not ended pleasantly. Perhaps if it had… he would have tried harder to contact Amanda in the last three years. Joe's comment that she'd been there and vanished… worried him. He'd heard nothing from Phillip since the Greek had arrived at the convent last year. Was Amanda still there? Or had she moved on… and truly vanished?

Duncan looked up as he crossed the Rue Dauphine on his way toward the Seine. He wanted to check on the barge before heading back to the hotel. Through the mist rising from the river… he could see several barges parked alongside the quai. He had a ways to go before he got to his. Duncan hugged the shadows near the retaining wall and proceeded carefully. Some hundred feet from his barge, he noticed the car parked near the wall… and the glow from a radio dial illuminating two faces. He stopped and watched them. They were definitely watching his barge.

"Well… that let's that out," he murmured to the rain. "I guess I backtrack again and try something else."

There should have been nothing left at the barge that was important, anyway. Still… it was his place… and he wondered if it had been ransacked, booby-trapped, or otherwise trashed in the intervening years. He'd arranged for a caretaker to keep an eye on it… but nothing more. As he circled around, Duncan considered just knocking the two Watchers out… but realized that if they didn't know for certain he'd returned to Paris… that was one way to be certain they did. From the nearby Pont St. Louis, Duncan tried to see if anyone else was about. The rain came harder. Finally he pitched the idea… and retreated to the hotel. Time for a hot bath… and a hot meal. He'd worry about getting to the barge… tomorrow if he had the chance.

Once back at the hotel, and soaking in the heat from the rising steam of the shower… Duncan finally let some of the tension he'd been feeling since his aborted meeting with Joe to wash away. Leaning with his arms outstretched against the tile, he ducked his head under the showering water and drank in the warmth through his skin. With his eyes closed… he thought of Amanda.

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Ste. Genevieve, Nov. 2007

"Then it's past time to leave here," Duncan snuggled closer to Amanda in the double bed… one of the few even at the convent.

"I know… but I worry so about what might happen to all of them… to any of them… if I leave. Someone truly capable needs to be here… and right now that's me… or you."

"Remind me to give Methos a piece of my mind next time I see him. Just like him to set things in motion and then vanish. Leaving the dirty work up to us."

"Oh… but that's part of his charm." Amanda snuggled back against him and sighed. "Besides… I know Nick Wolfe better than any of us. I know when it's him and not Nestor."

Duncan rolled onto his back and sighed, letting one hand trail across his forehead thoughtfully. "Are you certain it's not guilt keeping you here."

Amanda sat up and looked at him sharply. He loved the way the moonlight played across her skin. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just that you were feeling guilty for so long about killing him…"

"I didn't kill him… not really… I just made certain his immortality was triggered."

"And that's why I ask if this is guilt?"

Amanda shrugged off his hand. "It's not guilt. I really feel like I'm making a difference here. These children need a strong teacher."

"And you did so well with Kenny," smirked Duncan.

"That's not fair!" Amanda's voice rose in pitch… then she lay down beside him to continue in a whisper. "I was killed… Kenny ran… I couldn't find him."

"And if you had… would he be any different?"

Amanda punched him in the arm. "There are times MacLeod I really don't like you."

Duncan smirked, "Only times?"

The next morning he'd eaten breakfast with the children and observed their training in the schoolhouse, noting that they'd learned to work together against a bigger opponent. As he watched… his anger at their tactics had grown… but he'd held his tongue and said nothing.

That night, he'd stretched in their bed and discussed it with her. "That's not playing by the rules, Amanda,"

"Screw the rules MacLeod. These kids need a real chance at survival."

"But they can't go three on one or even two on one… you know that," he argued.

"You know MacLeod… you just don't get it! Not everyone plays by these rules of yours. Not everyone is as honorable as you."

"If we don't play by the rules… then everything devolves into chaos." He recalled Kell and his posse. What if they'd been more serious when they'd attacked him? What chance would he have had? Duncan shuddered.

"I'm not discussing chaos theory with you MacLeod. I'm talking survival. If for some reason this place becomes known and the children have to go… I want to be certain they know how to survive." She rose, grabbing a robe and tying it firmly about her lean figure.

"Fine!" He rolled over and faced the wall. It was easier than facing her at the moment. He heard the door slam on her way out.

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Paris

He'd left early the next morning… determined not to return to see her… not even if she called. Had that been the reason he'd let himself be distracted by Meaghann in Cannes? Why he hadn't returned immediately to Paris? Why had he assumed, rightly or wrongly, that her call had been more a plea for him to come back to her… than a real plea for help?

Duncan turned off the hot water, grabbed one of the fluffy white hotel towels and dried himself off. He ran hands through his dark hair… and over his face… stopping to consider his mustache. Was it time to lose that as well?

Later, in sweats, he stepped into the main room of the suite and chuckled lightly at Alisaunne and Ian… sitting on the floor playing cards.

"I got your book," Duncan said. He reached into his coat pocket and held it out for her. He was rewarded by her warm smile and whispered "thank you!" She curled into the couch as Ian settled next to her.

As Duncan pulled up his email on his PPC he could hear her soft voice reading aloud to Ian. Just hearing the warmth in her tone made him wish for Amanda.

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Athens

Amanda drifted slowly through the airport. She'd arrived in plenty of time… checked her luggage… with her sword carefully hidden in the false bottom… and was anxiously awaiting the time of her flight to Paris. She did not want to sit exposed in a seat in the loading area… so she did the next best thing… she shopped.

The airport gift shops were filled with over-priced bric-a-brac… and cheap knock-offs of classical antiques. Amanda was amused. Money for nothing… she shook her head.

The buzz of an immortal made her look up warily. She smiled and sauntered over, "Cory… it's been ages." She mock kissed his cheeks, then stood back, to take stock of her old friend. "You look terrible… what's been going on."

"Not here," he murmured and steered her out of the gift shop and toward a dark service corridor. He backed her against the wall and smiled. "Miss me?"

"Not particularly," Amanda smirked.

"Not even a little bit? Or are you still a serial monogamist?"

Amanda stoked the side of his face and sighed. "I suppose so. Pity… maybe another time." She made to leave. Cory pushed back against the wall again.

"What if I told you there might never be another time."

Amanda sobered. "What?"

"Someone is hunting us."

"I know that," she nodded, actually relieved that he was aware of it too. Suddenly the bulls-eye she'd felt was painted on her didn't seem so big.

"Then for heaven's sake why are you strolling about the airport as if nothing is wrong?"

Amanda laughed. "What safer place is there these days?"

"From one of us… I agree. But these are mortals… and they seem to know a lot about us." Cory leaned in close to her… letting his body press against hers… for a moment Amanda's wanted to respond… it had just been too long.

She closed her eyes and focused on Duncan. Phillip's email message had indicated Duncan was heading back to Paris. Amanda planned on surprising him there. She opened her eyes and let out a ragged breath. "They're called Watchers. I've known about them for years. Most of them are harmless. A few… quite charming… but there have been some who are… deadly."

"Why am I just now hearing about them?" Cory began to pace.

"I don't know, Cory… maybe because you're self-centered and focused on having a good time?"

"So are you!" he snapped back.

Amanda bit her lip, "Yeah… well not lately. Now if you excuse me… I have a plane to catch."

"Where are you headed?"

"Paris," Amanda snapped and then wished she hadn't. "Cory… you're sweet. But I'm joining Duncan there."

"You two are still an item then."

Amanda smiled, hoping the lie was true, "Always dear boy… always."

Cory followed her out of the corridor and slipped his arm into hers. "Then it's a good thing I'm headed the same place… if only to keep you safe." He chuckled.

Amanda smiled at him… all the while searching the crowd for faces who were Watching.