The day had been even busier than they first thought, so just as they were about to leave the mountain Jack decided he'd give Louise two days to process all the information. He left the choice for her to come back and have another look around up to her, which would give her a better frame of mind to help her to decide whether to take the job or not.
It was going on 2000 hours when Sam finally dropped Louise off at the door of the cabin not stopping to chat before she headed home as she was also tired from the day's events.
Opening the door she was surprised to see all the lights turned off. Not bothering to turn on the lights she slowly walked through the house keeping all her senses open which would give her warning of the threat of danger, but there was nothing. The house was silent.
As she entered the living room she found it once again in darkness but this time she did notice something, a dark figure was moving around in the back garden in the dying light.
She consciously walked towards the back door and silently opened it finding Richie mid way through some kind of work out, but what didn't shock her as much as it should have done was the fact that he was doing it with a sword.
She stood there watching him silently for a few minutes while he moved through the dance like moves. She had to admit to herself that she found his movements were far more graceful then she'd first expected from him.
"Oh… hey Louise, I didn't notice you there… how was your day?" Richie said finally noticing Louise for the first time as he stretched a few of his muscles.
"Busy… a hell of a lot more busier than I was expecting… What was that you were doing?"
"Oh… that… it was just a kind of work out that Mac taught me…"
"But with a sword?…"
Richie had to do a double take there… 'Why was she asking about him using swords when she knows full well about him being immortal'. Then he noticed something in her eyes… Fear… 'Why was she so afraid of him having a sword. "Yeah… I've always used one for training… it's the way Mac taught me… guess I'm just used to it that's all…"
Louise was now looking around into the trees feeling intently uncomfortable at being at the Cabin alone with a sword wielding, so called protector. "Oh… Ok…"
"Do you want me to show you a few moves?" Richie had an idea… but would it work and would it help him work out what was going on…
"Oh… I don't know… it doesn't seem like my type of thing…"
"Oh come on I'm sure Adam will have a spare sword around the cabin somewhere. I'll just go find it and I'll show you… it'll be fun and it may come in handy if you're caught alone by the guys that are after you…" Without waiting for an answer Richie walked past Louise and into the cabin to where he knew Adam would more than likely keep a spare sword, that was if he was correct about that assumption after all.
Louise looked out towards the trees hoping above all that Kenver was out there watching in case Richie was up to no good. There was a flash of light and she breathed a sigh of relief knowing that he was out there keeping an eye on her just in case.
Richie reappeared just then with another sword, this time it was a Katana, which he handed over to Louise. Louise looked at the sword and shifted it in her hand weighing it up. She knew it wasn't the sword she'd been taught with but it was close enough, it was more or less the same weight so she though she could work with it if Richie got out of hand.
Richie watched as she inspected the sword in near enough the same way he'd been taught to and knew there and then that she'd had some training in fencing. "You know how to use a sword I see…"
Louise looked up and noticed Richie was watching her intensely. She smiled shyly… "Well… I've got a friend who knows how to use them and he showed me a few things… but nothing too intense…"
Richie smiled then another idea struck him… "Well then… as you know how to use a sword a bit how about we have small fight… don't worry I won't hurt you… I'd have too much to explain to Mac and Adam if I did…"
Louise smiled uncertainly but nodded all the same… All she had to do now was to try and make out she wasn't as good as she was.
They moved in position a few paces away from each other but still facing. Richie noticed that Louise glanced in the direction of the trees, more than likely hoping that her friend was out there to keep an eye out for her.
Once Richie was confident that her attention was solely on him he began with a simple attack, which she easily blocked, but what did take him by surprise was that she managed to turn tide on him making him turn his offensive move in to a defensive move which he managed to do without much difficulty.
Realising that she knew more than he originally thought she would Richie decided that he didn't have to be as gentle with her as he was going to be. He stepped in to make his next attack when before he realised what was happening his feet were flying from under him. He barely registered his feet coming into contact with Louise as he fell. His breath was knocked out of him as he landed on his back and almost as soon as he was there he lost his breath once again, this time as Louise fell face down on top of him.
They both lay there trying to get their bearings back as they were both fairly stunned. Richie noticed something then for the first time, he'd been so preoccupied before with his thoughts that Louise wasn't who she said she was that he didn't realise one thing. At this present moment in time she looked scared and extremely vulnerable.
There eyes locked for a moment, both of them staring deep into the others soul. Louise only seeing the kindness of spirit and Richie seeing a strong minded but still very kind and gentle soul. What happened next took both of them by surprise. If you asked either of them about it later, neither would be able to tell you who initiated it. The kiss was gentle but passionate at the same time and seemed to last forever but at the same time not long enough.
Louise was the first to realise what was happening and she couldn't believe what she was doing. Breaking the kiss she quickly scrambled to her feet and rushed into the cabin leaving a shell shocked Richie still lying there on the floor, a sword on either side of him.
Adam sat on the sofa staring at the phone knowing that he should contact Joe to inform him of Richie's fears, but at the same time afraid of what his response would be. He didn't know whether he should call him now or wait until he arrived later on the next day.
Sam had arrived home and gone straight to bed, as she'd been tired from the day of showing Louise around the base. Adam was glad though as it gave him time to think about what he was going to say to Joe.
Adam sighed knowing he'd have to call as it was the only chance he'd have at getting information about the immortal with Louise. He reached out and picked up the receiver and punched in Joe's bar number, which he knew off by heart.
"Joe's" the voice at the other end of the phone answered and Adam smile grateful that it was Joe who'd picked up and not someone else.
"Hey Joe, its Adam… we need to talk"
"Adam what's wrong… is Louise ok?"
"Louise is fine Joe… it's just Richie noticed something yesterday and we though it best if I contact you now so you can do a bit of research before you come down, that's all…"
"Is that all… God damn it Adam you almost gave me a heart attack there… I thought you were calling to tell me something had happened… So what do you need researching?"
"Have you ever heard of an immortal called Kenver?"
"Umm… yeah I think I read something about him one time or another… If my memory is correct he likes to keep to himself… very rarely takes on students but when he does they tend to turn out as good willed as he is… He never goes out of his way for fights… but if I remember correctly he's one hell of a fighter and I think even Mac would have a hard time fighting him if he came up against him… Why?"
"Well you not may believe this but… Guess who Richie saw Louise talking to in the woods behind the cabin yesterday… and they looked awfully friendly according to Richie as well…"
"You're kidding right… does she know… you know about… what he is?"
"Oh yeah she knows… but that's not the only thing Joe… she also knows that me, Richie and Mac are all immortals too… also about the watchers"
"You mean he told her about you guys and the watchers… didn't you sense him at all during the whole time you've been with Louise?…"
"Joe that not what I meant… he didn't tell her… she knew already… and that's not the only thing… I didn't want to tell you this before hand but now I think you need to know…"
"What is it now Adam…"
"She pre-immortal Joe… she's going to be immortal herself more than likely some day…"
"But… Oh god… you don't think she's in any danger from Kenver?"
"Like you said Joe he doesn't seem the type… maybe he's sticking close in case she dies and becomes immortal… from what Richie said it sounds like he's found his next student… It could be something as simple as that… we don't know and we won't until we confront her about it… and I really do think we should confront her Joe… We need to know what she knows about immortals and all…"
"Yeah I agree… I'm going to catch an earlier flight out there so we can speak to her as soon as I arrive… the sooner we find out what's going on the better in my opinion."
"Ok then Joe… just let me know when you're flight's due in and I'll make sure I'm at the airport to pick you up so we can go straight out to the cabin."
"Will do… I'll call you back in a bit when I change my flight."
"Ok…"
With that Adam hung up the phone and sighed in relief, at least Joe didn't take it as badly as he originally thought he was going to.
A/N: - Yay i got more reviews today... :D
Sophiedb: - Mores on it's way so keep reading and keep reviewing.
King Henry the V: - Ok you've reviewed twice in one day (not that i'm complaining or anything). You had me wondering what you were talking about for the Sam Adams thing had to run a search for it before i worked out that you were talking about beer, (they don't have Sam Adams in England). And as for the grammer blame my friend who's been my beta (sorry Claire, he made me say it) :D... But you must be liking it as you keep reviewing...
Kahless21: - Glad you managed to review again... at least your reading it and you do review when you remember (you had me thinking you didn't like my story there for a bit :(... )
Village Mystic: - Glad your liking it... I liked the storyline with Louise... although i have to admit it did take away from Methos and SG1 for a bit (I agree with you any Highlander fics with Methos in it worth reading :D)... I needed to do it though as you'll find out in later chapters and when i get round to writing it Secrets 3 (Oh yeah theres gonna be a Secrets 3 :D)
Lauren: - Glad your still liking it and you think i'm getting better at comingup with good story lines lets hope my muse keeps them coming... (Whatever will i do not going through a day without a idea for a story popping into my head... More then likely get more work done thats what) :D
