Chapter 97

Paris, the grove

"I'm going!" snapped Duncan and threw off Amanda's and Cory's arms as they attempted to restrain him.

"You can't Duncan," Amanda was attempting to explain. "They'll be looking for you! All you'll do is get yourself captured or killed. Then what'll we do?"

Still Duncan struggled. Grace lay one hand on his arm and gazed deeply into his eyes. "Duncan… please… I need you to help rescue John."

Duncan paused in his struggle and looked at Grace… the question in his eyes. "John?"

Grace nodded and pulled her hand back. She smiled. "John Kirin," she said softly.

"Kage? You and Kage?" he sputtered and then was silent. Although he'd met the new Kage… the man transformed into a man of peace… he'd still had misgivings about him. Duncan still felt the man's change of attitude might be for show only… He still harbored hatred for Kage's past actions. And… as always… he felt protective of Grace.

Grace smiled warmly as she nodded again.

Duncan found himself speechless. The idea that someone he'd once loved and been with could be associated with someone like Kage galled him. But then, he smiled, Grace had always had a tendency to associate with the wrong men most of the time… as if she could somehow remake them all into some image she carried in her mind about heroic knights in armor.

"He's not the man you knew, Duncan… and I do know all about it."

Duncan shook his head. "I doubt he's told you everything."

"You're wrong. Nevertheless… John has turned himself in to the Watchers. With his help… we may be able to find them all." Tears sparkled in her dark eyes.

Derrick, who'd gone up the stairs after Grace had explained what had happened to Joe, returned with a half-filled jar of water and his backpack. He'd donned a long coat while upstairs. He handed the jar to Ellie who refilled it from the spring and screwed on a lid.

She rose unsteadily and handed Derrick the jar to put in the backpack. "All of you should remain here and attempt to figure out our next move. I'll go… The Watchers don't know about me. I won't be long." She reached for the backpack.

Derrick shook his head. "Look at you… you can barely stand. You're not going by yourself. They don't know me either." He slipped the backpack over one shoulder and leaned to collect the great sword that Duncan had earlier noticed was leaning against the rocks about the spring.

The boy adjusted the sword within his coat. Duncan eyed him thoughtfully. Derrick was still pre-immortal. Did he know? If he did… how would that impact on his chances of returning from first death?

Ellie nodded and reached out one hand to give Derrick's a squeeze.

"But Joe's my friend… I should be there," Duncan insisted.

Ellie turned to the Highlander with a sad smile. "I know… and he knows. The best thing you can do for him right now… is to figure out a plan by which we can rescue Methos and the others."

"And Ian," Alisaunne added. She was sitting now on the rocks. About her was still an eerie and somehow unsettling calm.

"And John," Grace said. "Saving immortal lives was important to your friend, Duncan. Honor his wishes… and save them all. Duncan… you have always been the one who could bring us together and help us get along. You draw immortals to you in friendship like flowers draw the honeybees. Over the centuries, you have forged relationships with many of us. If anyone can coordinate so many disparate immortals into working together… it is you. You are our champion… our leader. You are the chieftain of the clan."

Her words made an impact. Duncan drew back and gazed around at the immortals present. It was true. They were all his friends, even Cory. These new Watchers had captured so many because they'd been picked off one by one. He still didn't know how many were victims… but he knew… if they worked together… if they presented a united front… no matter their differences… they would triumph. "Did ya not know," he seemed to hear the boy that he'd once been say, "that good must always triumph over evil."

Gently Amanda's hands slid lightly up his arm. "We need you too, Duncan." She smiled and stepped closer… tenderly laying her cheek against his chest. Duncan MacLeod hugged her and closed his eyes. He nodded. He felt torn in two… but they were right. There was nothing he could do for Joe… his friend was in the hands of mortal doctors… and he… Duncan MacLeod… was needed here.

Opening his eyes he saw Ellie's warm smile. She turned and leaned to embrace Alisaunne. He still wanted to know what that was about. Alisaunne's arms went about the tiny immortal's waist and she buried her head in Ellie's embrace. Ellie gasped and drew in a startled breath, then bent to kiss the girl's head, murmuring a whispered "Thank you!" When she turned, Duncan saw that some color had returned to her otherwise pale cheeks.

"I won't be long. But this is something I have to do. Something only I can do."

Derrick took her hand and the two of them vanished through an opening that closed behind them, in one of the stone walls.

Cory scratched his head, "Where does that lead?"

Grace smiled. "It's just another passage," she said. "Now then… come upstairs and let me see if I can fix you something to eat. I think I saw some maps up there… and there might be some better clothes."

"Upstairs?" Duncan looked up the stone stairs to the wooden door and regarded it thoughtfully. He reached for the backpack that contained the old laptop. His PPC was still in his pocket. He'd need to check his email and get in touch with Phillip, Reagan, and Katya. He'd have to find out where they were and what had been happening… and he'd have to coordinate their efforts. He clasped Amanda's hand, brought it to his mouth in a brief kiss, and followed Grace up the stairs. A thousand questions flew through his mind about this place and what it meant… questions that would have to wait until Ellie returned.

Behind them, Cory shook his head and regarded Alisaunne. "Can you tell me about that Nestor fellow the others mentioned?"

Alisaunne stared at him, then at the ground. "He's darkness. The worst of us."

"Duncan said you could hear him in your dreams… feel his presence. Is he gone now?"

Alisaunne shook her head. "No… he's only withdrawn for the moment. He is a part of me… and I know he will never cease until I am fully his. The Ancient's quickening has given me the strength to fight Nestor's for a while. But only for a while." She dipped one hand into the spring's waters and watched the water drip from her fingers.

Cory backed away… and then climbed the stairs. He had many questions… and he wanted some answers.

-----

Paris, Joe's hospital room

Amy stirred in her sleep. She had not intended to sleep at all, but after everything that had happened last night and this morning… once she'd sat down in the chair by Joe's bed… listening to the sounds of the monitors beeping rhythmically… she'd suddenly realized how absolutely exhausted she was. Gradually her eyelids had gotten heavy… her head had nodded… and against her best intentions… she'd fallen into a light doze.

She was not certain what had awakened her at first. Perhaps it was the strange journal of the immortal Aella, which she'd been glancing through, falling to the floor… or perhaps it was the entrance of a nurse.

Amy reached down to retrieve the journal and glanced up… swiftly realizing that it was no nurse standing by Joe's bedside and leaning over him. The raggedly dressed figure was female, and of short stature, around five feet.

Amy sat back, startled. Hearing a foot shift against the floor, she glanced up at the doorway. Leaning against the wall was the tall young man she'd seen earlier… the one who'd come to Joe for help… and left with Grace at Joe's urging.

He met Amy's gaze evenly.

The woman by the bedside murmured softly to Joe, and dipped her fingers into a jar of liquid, which she spread across Joe's lips.

Strangely, Amy was not concerned. "You're her… aren't you… Aella."

The woman glanced at Amy and nodded, then returned her attention to Joe. A few moments later he seemed to rally. The beeps of the monitors did not change… but he seemed to breathe more easily and moved his head.

Aella lifted his head, holding the jar of fluid to his lips. "Drink Joseph, please."

At first there was no sense of his understanding… then he swallowed and seemed to sip. Once he appeared to have swallowed some. Aella set the jar down and lowered Joe's head gently. She sat beside him and gently leaned to kiss his brow. Amy could see tears in her eyes.

"I think this is yours," Amy said and offered the Chronicle.

Aella looked at it with confusion… and then smiled and took it into her hand and thumbed through it. "He wrote it down. He said he was going to." She closed the book and handed it back. "It belongs to you now." She laughed lightly as Joe's eyes opened.

"There you are, darlin'," he whispered.

Aella leaned to kiss him. And then bit her lips as the tears fell. She reached for the fluid and gave him another sip.

"It's spring water Joseph… from the grove. It may help."

Joe closed his eyes and nodded almost imperceptibly. One hand fumbled for the immortal's hand and squeezed it lightly.

"Just remember, Joseph… you still owe me a tour of Chicago."

Amy saw her father smile, as he seemed to drift off into sleep again. Aella sat for a moment more… then removed Joe's hand from hers and gently lay it on the bed. She rose and faced Amy. "It's only water… but it's pure. It won't hurt him… and it may help."

Amy nodded… she had a thousand questions. She considered where to begin.

Just then Joe's doctor entered hurriedly, "Ms. Meyers… I need to discuss your father's test results." He paused seeing Aella. "Who?"

The immortal smiled and crossed to him.

He stared at her.

She raised one hand and tapped the end of his nose with one finger. "I was never here." She smiled at Amy. "Give Joe the water." Then she passed the doctor whose expression was of thoughtful confusion.

Amy fumbled in her pocket and pulled out two cell phones. She glanced at both of them. One was hers; one was Joe's. She held Joe's out. "Please, take this. Stay in touch. Or give it to Grace so I can contact her about John."

The boy reached forward and took the phone. He nodded his thanks and put the phone in his coat pocket. Aella took the boy's hand and the two of them left.

The doctor shook his head. "What? Was someone just here?"

Amy smiled and shrugged as she replaced her cell phone in her pocket. If Joe had found it important to keep this immortal's existence a secret… she would too. "You said something about Joe's test results?"

The doctor nodded as he looked around the room. Finally he shrugged and explained the results.

-----

Derrick and Eleanor exited the hospital and stood for a moment at the main entrance as they stared out into the front grounds.

"He's dying, isn't he?" Derrick said softly.

"All mortals are dying, Derrick. It's their gift… rest at the end of the road." Eleanor rubbed her arms and sighed. Derrick could see the tears were back. She sniffed.

"That's why the water. It doesn't heal… but it eases the passing."

Eleanor's shoulders shook and she closed her eyes as the tears fell. She let a small, strangled sob escape and then she shook her head, took a deep breath and looked at Derrick.

She held out a hand. He pulled her into an embrace and hugged her to comfort her. "You loved him."

Eleanor nodded. "I've let myself really love so few in my life. I loved my grandfather. I loved King Kenneth who became my guardian. I loved Edward… Methos," she laughed, "Phillip… Darius," she glanced at Derrick. "… and you. And I once dared love Joseph a lifetime ago. I only wish… we'd had a chance."

"But if you'd taken that chance," Derrick said sadly, "What would have happened to me… to Methos?"

Eleanor smiled as she backed away and turned. "Methos would have waited. We'd have still had a chance. Immortals always have another chance."

"And me?"

Eleanor looked at him shaking her head. "Perhaps I would have found you anyway." She reached for his hand again. "It's time to go back."

She did not say home. The grove was no longer her home, Derrick knew. Her home was wherever Methos was. Derrick also knew something else. The grove was not his home. Nor would it ever be. His destiny lay elsewhere… just as she'd always told him.