"It's Amanda," Duncan said, seeing the questioning looks on the faces of his friends. He sat down again. "Uh...she's gearing up for this, I guess. Wants to go shopping for baby clothes, maternity clothes, that kind of thing. Frankly, she's taking to this better than I am."
"Wow. A game ref," Ritchie wondered. "What was she...it...you know, like?"
"I didn't see her," Duncan said. "And frankly, Amanda's description was a little hazy. But there it is. And there's the proof."
"So what are you going to do, Mac?" Ritchie asked, pouring a shot of the bourbon Joe had brought out for Duncan.
"Think I'm going to go home. Get some sleep. Meet Amanda tomorrow. Maybe make some more sense of this...hopefully."
As Duncan got up to leave, the Immortals felt the presence of yet another Quickening. The door of Le Blues opened to admit yet another Immortal.
"Fitz!" all three Immortals said in unison.
"Hugh Fitzcairn. Four Immortals in my bar at once. That has to be some kind of record," Joe commented.
"Hello, lads," Fitz said, his face friendly, but his manner grave. He strode over to the table and helped himself to the bottle that Ritchie had just finished with. He took a swig and looked at the assembled, who waited.
"There is something in the air," his rough voice intoned, absent of its usual jocularity. "Something is drawing Immortals to this city, like insects to a light. You lads need to watch yourselves as you go about your business," he added meaningfully, eyeing Duncan, Methos and Richie in turn.
When Duncan revealed to him what that may be, Fitz nodded, lighting up his pipe. He took a few puffs, and then pointed the stem at Duncan, saying, "Best keep that knowledge under your hat then, my friend. Oh, the others will figure it out soon enough, and Amanda will need you, need us to protect her, I'll wager. There are those among us who will do unspeakable things to try to get all that power for themselves, once they do."
He then turned to Joe, "And I imagine there are some among your set that won't care for this, either."
Joe looked at his drink sadly. "No, I imagine not. They won't find out from me, but if what you say is true, Immortals are coming in unusual numbers to Paris; they are going to ask why. And they'll get answers soon enough. Between yours and mine, this could get messy."
Duncan stood up, "Yeah. But in the meantime, I've got a baby to shop for." When Ritchie and Fitz made moves to stand with him, Duncan shook his head. "It'll be alright tonight. Just let me know if you hear anything."
Ritchie looked agitated, Methos' expression was carefully neutral, Joe and Fitz looked concerned, "Don't try to handle this all alone, MacLeod," he warned
"With what may be coming down, it would be smart to have your friends watching your back," Joe added.
"Sure. Okay. Ritchie, come back with me to my place. Fitz, try to keep an eye on Amanda tonight. Call me at any time if you see or hear of anything. Goodnight, fellas."
He walked out the door, Ritchie fast on his heels.
The three remaining men sat, Methos leaning back, Fitz puffing absently, Joe staring at his glass, lost in thought.
As Duncan and Ritchie made their way to the barge, several times, they caught the feeling of Quickening. Immortals in the area. None appeared to them, however. And in the background, they could feel the constant buzz of the new Presence, like a beacon upon their souls...