The last three days had gone by in a daze. With Mike out with the flu, Joe
had pulled every trick in the book to strong arm both Adam and his new
friend Severus into helping at the bar. While Joe groused loudly about Adam
skimming his profits in beer and Severus scaring customers away with his
patented scowl, he could not have asked for two better helpers. Adam's
cheerful sarcasm kept most of his regulars in stitches and Severus...well
he was possibly best mixer he had ever met. Once the man learned the
basics there didn't seem to be a drink that he couldn't make. News had
spread about Joe's gorgeous new goth bartender and his magical martinis,
people had come in droves. Men drank; ladies ogled; business had been good.
Joe watched as Adam and Severus cleaned up the bar. Working as a team they efficiently stacked the chairs on to the table and readied the floor for a good sweep. Joe's heart warmed at the sight of Adam smiling indulgently at one of Severus' off colour remarks. The old man had not been this relaxed in ages. After that fiasco in Paris with MacLeod and O'Roarke, Methos withdrew from the world. For all of MacLeod's heroics, Joe understood deep down that Methos was humanities hope. Joe had worried that he might disappear altogether. He silently thanked the powers that be for bringing Severus into their lives. He had missed the world's oldest pain in the ass.
An English chemistry teacher on a winter holiday my ass thought Joe. The dark man was a mystery. Joe loved mysteries. While Methos had claimed that Severus was not immortal, even without the wierd "Albus Dumbledore" connection, Joe was certain that there was more to Severus than meets the eye. Tall, whipcord lean and death-pale with fathomless black eyes, Severus looked like no teacher Joe had ever known. Dressed perpetually in black, there was an edge to Severus that sent shivers down Joe's spine. The man was creepy in a good sort of way. Joe laughed at a bizarre image created by his overactive imagination of a lank haired Severus standing before a bubbling cauldron surrounded by prepubescent students shaking with fear.
But for all his dark personality, biting sarcasm and taciturn attitude, Severus Snape was a good man. Joe knew this with a certainty just as he knew life that had not been kind to Severus. And for some reason that knowledge broke Joe's heart. Last night Joe had watched as MacLeod and Amanda monopolized Adam's time. Severus looked so alone. Joe had the odd feeling that Severus had been an only child that never had anyone to play with growing up. He had the air of a man who expected to live his life on society's fringes. Severus never complained but Joe did not miss the wistful longing that flashed across the dark man's face. Joe smiled as he remembered the look of pure wonder on Severus' face when Adam finally turned and pulled him into the fray.
At times Severus seemed to fade into the surrounding darkness, yet there was an aura of power around him that made Joe's watcher senses twitch. Not immortal perhaps but not entirely human thought Joe. He was going to have to corner Methos soon. Because Joe needed answers; he needed to be prepared because whether he liked it or not change was coming.
Joe watched as Adam and Severus cleaned up the bar. Working as a team they efficiently stacked the chairs on to the table and readied the floor for a good sweep. Joe's heart warmed at the sight of Adam smiling indulgently at one of Severus' off colour remarks. The old man had not been this relaxed in ages. After that fiasco in Paris with MacLeod and O'Roarke, Methos withdrew from the world. For all of MacLeod's heroics, Joe understood deep down that Methos was humanities hope. Joe had worried that he might disappear altogether. He silently thanked the powers that be for bringing Severus into their lives. He had missed the world's oldest pain in the ass.
An English chemistry teacher on a winter holiday my ass thought Joe. The dark man was a mystery. Joe loved mysteries. While Methos had claimed that Severus was not immortal, even without the wierd "Albus Dumbledore" connection, Joe was certain that there was more to Severus than meets the eye. Tall, whipcord lean and death-pale with fathomless black eyes, Severus looked like no teacher Joe had ever known. Dressed perpetually in black, there was an edge to Severus that sent shivers down Joe's spine. The man was creepy in a good sort of way. Joe laughed at a bizarre image created by his overactive imagination of a lank haired Severus standing before a bubbling cauldron surrounded by prepubescent students shaking with fear.
But for all his dark personality, biting sarcasm and taciturn attitude, Severus Snape was a good man. Joe knew this with a certainty just as he knew life that had not been kind to Severus. And for some reason that knowledge broke Joe's heart. Last night Joe had watched as MacLeod and Amanda monopolized Adam's time. Severus looked so alone. Joe had the odd feeling that Severus had been an only child that never had anyone to play with growing up. He had the air of a man who expected to live his life on society's fringes. Severus never complained but Joe did not miss the wistful longing that flashed across the dark man's face. Joe smiled as he remembered the look of pure wonder on Severus' face when Adam finally turned and pulled him into the fray.
At times Severus seemed to fade into the surrounding darkness, yet there was an aura of power around him that made Joe's watcher senses twitch. Not immortal perhaps but not entirely human thought Joe. He was going to have to corner Methos soon. Because Joe needed answers; he needed to be prepared because whether he liked it or not change was coming.