Methos thought it fortunate that Duncan had hit upon the idea to include Amanda and McCleod new protégé, Nick, in their caper. It was, as Mac had put it, right up their alley. Because of his recent "death" Nick couldn't use any of his former contacts, but using his information Methos had acquired the flash-bangs they would use to, hopefully, avoid permanently injuring any of the Watchers. With so many watching Daniel's "trial" it had been simple enough for the five of them to storm Watcher's headquarters without raising the alarm, at least so far.
"Sorry," Nick told the captive Watcher who had led them to the cellar courtroom, "but you need to take a nap now." He then used the butt of his pistol to tap the man at the base of his skull dropping him instantly into unconsciousness.
"Nicely done, darling" Amanda purred.
"Let's concentrate on keeping Joe and Daniel alive shall we?" Methos suggested grimly before the two could begin squabbling yet again. Nick still hadn't forgiven Amanda completely for helping him become Immortal though he had relented enough to let her introduce him to a potential teacher, Duncan McCleod. "Damned boy scouts," he murmured to himself earning him a glare from Duncan. The oldest of Immortals was fairly certain that part of Mac's anger was worry over their Watcher friend. He wasn't the only one. Methos had originally planned to be the one to confront the Watcher tribunal, but Joe had argued that even with his Immortal healing, the concussion from the flash-bang would stun whoever set it off. Methos could help carry Daniel and the stunned rescuer. Joe, however, could not. Methos and Amanda had quickly conceded Joe's logic, but the two boy scouts had vociferously objected. Joe had won the argument and entered the basement "courtroom." Now the four Immortals waited anxiously outside for Joe's signal to enter.
BOOM!
Methos shouldered the door open charging into the room. Through the lingering smoke, his eyes immediately found Joe's familiar form on the floor slumped atop another figure tied to a chair. Methos pulled Joe off of Daniel then checked both men's vital signs. Amanda had followed him over to the two men while Duncan divested the various watchers of their weapons. Nick stood near the door covering all of them with a powerful sub-machine gun. Amanda made quick work of the handcuffs holding Daniel to the chair. Daniel struggled to roll over. "It's alright," Amanda soothed as she helped him roll onto his back. "We're here to help you."
"Stephen," Daniel said pointing in the general direction of where his former colleague had been sitting. "We've got to take Stephen with us."
"Adam?" Amanda called. "Who's he talking about?"
Methos surveyed the area of the room Daniel had indicated and easily picked out the one man he didn't recognize from his own tenure at Watcher headquarters. "Duncan, carry Daniel" Methos commanded as he helped Joe to his feet then passed him over to Amanda. "You help Joe," he said then moved quickly to the group of three stunned men. A quick glance confirmed the one in the middle had no telltale tattoo on his wrist. Methos pulled the wrist he held bringing the man up over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. "Let's go," he said leading the way back out of the room followed by Duncan carrying Daniel. Amanda came next helping Joe to walk followed by Nick. As soon as they were through, Nick shut the door behind them then knocked over a stack of boxes to slow any pursuit.
"Trade me," Nick commanded handing Amanda the gun while he lifted Joe into a fireman's carry of his own which the elder man wisely didn't protest.
After putting Joe in the passenger's seat, Nick ran around the front of the van Methos had rented under a false name while the others piled into the back. Even before they'd taken off, Adam had begun assessing the damage done to Daniel. Knowing what the Watcher's were capable of, they'd come prepared with as many medical supplies as they could manage.
"He needs a hospital," Duncan declared even though he knew it wasn't possible. The Watchers were too well connected to chance taking Daniel to the hospital just like they hadn't been able to take Joe to one before. Even if that weren't the case there would be too many questions asked about Daniel's injuries.
"You doubt my skills, McCleod?" Methos asked.
"You haven't been a doctor in over a century," Mac reminded his friend.
"I've kept up with the literature," Methos argued.
"That's supposed to be comforting?" Nick demanded whipping his head around for a quick glance at the activity in the back of the van.
"He kept me alive, junior" Joe told the youngest member of the rescue party.
"What about the other one?" Amanda demanded in a hiss as she glanced quickly at their unexpected rescuee.
Methos spared a glance at the still dazed man. "Leave him for now," he decided before turning back to cutting away Daniel's ruined shirt. "Just keep an eye on him." Methos pulled apart the two halves of the shirt to reveal a kaleidoscope of bruises and a number of serious burns. Methos worked his way down both sides of Daniel's rib cage searching for broken ribs then turned his attention to inspecting Daniel's other injuries.
