Chapter 14
Duncan threw down the 9-month-old magazine he had been flicking through. He sat forward on the chair wiping his hands over his face; he then looked at his watch it had been nearly 2 ½ hours since Sandi arrived at the emergency room. He got to his feet and walked over to the water cooler, filling one of the paper cones and drinking the cool water.
The door to the waiting room opened and Doctor Anne Lindsey walked in "Duncan".
At the sound of Anne's voice Duncan turned round "How is she?"
Anne walked towards him "There was a lot of internal bleeding but the surgery was successful, the break of her right left leg was clean and the head injury wasn't as bad as we first thought. They're just moving her to a room on the 1st floor."
"Can I see her?" Duncan asked as he threw the paper cone into the trashcan. "She's been sedated. She'll probably be unconscious until tomorrow. Why don't you go home and get some rest?"
"Thanks Anne, but I really want to be with her when she wakes up." Duncan replied Anne smiled "I see I'm not going to persuade you so, come on, I'll take you to her".
Duncan followed Anne to room 125, which was on the first floor over looking the hospital gardens. As Duncan started to slowly walk towards the figure in the bed that was surrounded by bleeping machines, Anne caught hold of his arm "Listen, I'm on duty tonight so I'll look in when I can but you try and get some rest."
Duncan nodded as he gently rested his hand onto hers "I'm glad you were here".
Anne smiled "and why is that?"
"Because then I know she had the best."
Anne looked into Duncan's eyes as she softly placed her hand on his cheek and part of her regretted the choice she had made. She was just about to speak when her pager started beeping "Sorry Duncan but I have to go. Thanks for the complement though. Now try and rest."
Duncan smiled as he watched the door close behind Anne before turning his attention to Sandi. He picked up the chair moving it closer to the bed; he looked down at her bruised face and picked up the strand of hair that was resting across her eyes. He then lent forward kissing her gently on the forehead.
"Why didn't you just trust me?" He said quietly as he settled down in the chair to wait.
Duncan dosed in the chair only waking when the nurses came into the room to check on Sandi. It was about 5 am when Anne made her way back to room 125, she peered in through the glass panel in the door, in the dim light that surrounded Sandi's bed she could just see Duncan was asleep with his head resting on the mattress. Not wanting to wake him she decided to come back after her shift.
It was a few hours later that the sound of two nurses chatting loudly as they entered the room made Duncan lift his head from the mattress. He rubbed his neck, it was a little sore from the position he had fallen to sleep in. "I'm sorry but I have to ask you to move out of the way Sir. We need to see to your friend".
"Here let me get this chair out of your way" Duncan said as he moved the chair away from the bed. From the way the two women were talking Duncan realised that one must be the day shift and the other the night shift because at first the conversation was all to do with Sandi's condition and her needs for the coming day. They then moved on to talk about what they were going to do at the weekend.
Duncan moved over to the window and looked down at the gardens below the early morning light was just starting to give the garden life. He took out his watch it was just after 7am, he leant back against the window frame as he tried to wipe the sleep from his eyes. As his hands ran over the roughest of his chin Duncan hoped that Richie would bring him a change of clothes and his razor. He knew that in the confusion he hadn't asked but he hoped that Richie would think about it.
It must have been 10 or 15 minutes later when he felt the presences of another Immortal. He knew it was too early for Richie and when no one came through the door he turned and looked out of the window. There in the garden leaning against one of the wooden benches was Helena.
As he looked down at her the anger inside him grew, when she raised her hand towards him, his anger got the better of him. Duncan grabbed up his coat from the back of the chair and made for the door.
"You don't have to leave we'll be finished shortly" one of the nurses called after him but he didn't seem to hear her. As Duncan pulled the door open he bumped into Anne, she was no longer in her scrubs and doctors coat "Hey, what's the rush?"
"Arr, Anne. I...I've got to meet someone. Can you stay with Sandi until I get back".
"Sure Duncan but where are you going?" Anne had said the words but she recognised the look in Duncan's eyes. He put his hand onto her arm "and if anyone you don't know comes in this door hit the alarm. Ok?"
"Ok" Anne replied as she held the door open, Duncan then nodded and strode off down the hall.
"Be careful" Anne called after him but either he didn't hear her or decided not to respond. As she entered the room the two nurses stopped talking "Oh, Doctor we've just finished".
Anne smiled "Good but I'm not on duty now and neither should you be Amy. Haven't you got a home to go to? I'm just here visiting a friend".
The two nurses then quickly finished what they were doing and left the room, with Amy commenting that she would see Anne tonight. Anne then walked over to the window and she watched as Duncan strode through the garden towards the woman dressed all in black by the bench.
As Duncan strode towards her, his sword drawn Helena could see the anger evident in his face but she didn't move other than to place her hand around the hilt of her sword.
"I told you that this is nothing personal, it's just business but I wanted to assure you that I had nothing to do with what happened to your friend"
"You expect me to believe that? Why Sandi?" Duncan growled back as he strode forward his sword pointing at Helena's heart. Helena was about to bring her sword out when she saw over Duncan's shoulder that an elderly couple had entered the garden. She motioned with her head and Duncan glanced over his shoulder before quickly hiding his sword back in his coat. Helena took a step forward "Because they were paid to."
"Then who wants her dead and why?" Duncan said, as he looked her in the eyes.
"You know I can't tell you that. Professional ethics and all that. I just wanted to let you know that the men that did this are dead, so you don't have to look for them".
"Killing is so easy for you, isn't it?"
Helena looked Duncan directly in the eyes and smiled "You might not like it but we aren't that different MacLeod. How many mortals have you killed in battle?"
Duncan looked away "That's different".
"Is it? Weren't you paid for your services?" Helena said as she stepped into his vision again.
Duncan wiped his hand over his eyes as the images of all the battles he had fought fill his mind "Yes, but it's not the same".
"Mortals are still dead by your hand and you were paid to do it, just like me".
Duncan eyes flare with anger "IT'S NOT THE SAME, IT WAS WAR".
At the sound of Duncan's shouting the couple looked around, the woman shook her head and complained to her husband at the peace of the garden being disturbed.
Helena tilted her head to one side, her voice still soft "That is just details MacLeod. Is a battle any more important because a country is involved? Didn't both sides believe their cause to be just and how many innocent mortals, women and children were killed in the process?"
Duncan took a couple of steps towards her but Helena stood firm "You're just clouding the issue"
Helena moved back and sat on the arm of a wooden bench first looking down at the ground and then back at Duncan "Am I? I can say that I have only killed those that deserved it and those I was paid too. Can you say the same?"
Duncan looked away for a moment he just couldn't believe what this woman was saying "What about today? I know you were there."
"Yes, I was there I wanted to see how those fools would handle things without me. They were very sloppy and I have only two rules and they broke both of them. Rule 1 is only to kill the person you are hired to and rule 2 is you never kill children. They broke the rules and they have already paid the price".
Duncan wasn't sure but he thought he saw the formation of a tear in her eyes but it only lasted a moment. "Is killing your only answer to everything?"
"It is what we do best. We were born to kill MacLeod" Helena said as she slowly got to her feet.
"You can't keep killing, I can't let you" Duncan said as his hand went inside his coat.
"It's the only thing I know, MacLeod and remember we are not alone here," Helena, said as she looked over to the elderly couple walking around the flowerbeds.
"Then we'll take it elsewhere" Duncan replied.
"I don't think so" Helena said as she started to walk away but Duncan's hand on her arm restrained her. She turned to face him as she pried his hand from her arm "If you want to challenge me that is your right but I think your friend should be your priority now don't you? And I have other things to attend to"
"We'll meet again, this isn't over" Duncan called out as Helena walked away from him.
"I know that's what I'm counting on," she said softly to herself.
Duncan looked around the garden and found that he was under the watchful eye of the elderly couple again.
"Good morning" he said smiling awkwardly before heading back into the hospital.
When he reached the room he found Anne still looking out of the window "So who was she?"
Duncan took off his coat and draped it over the back of the chair before walking across the room to join Anne at the window. "She's an Immortal".
Anne smiled "I think figured that much out when you drew your sword but who is she?"
Duncan looked across at Sandi "Her name is Helena."
Anne reached out and touched Duncan's arm bring his attention back to her "Has she anything to do with your friend?"
Duncan shrugged "She said not".
"And you don't believe her but why would she risk coming here?" Anne replied.
Duncan walked over to the bed he looked down at Sandi "She came to tell me that the men that did are dead."
"She killed them?" Anne exclaimed in horror. Duncan smiled weakly "It seems her only answer to everything, she said they broke her rules".
"What rules?"
"You only kill those you're paid to and you never kill children." Duncan replied before he sighed "Look Anne I thank you for all you did for her but I don't want to get you anymore involved in this. You look tired maybe you should go home and get some rest."
Anne nodded "If that's what you want."
Duncan smiled "It is. Give Mary a kiss from me".
Anne picked up her bag "Ok, I guess I'll see you tonight when I come on shift"
She then walked towards the door; only as she pulled it open she stopped and looked back at Duncan.
"Just one thing I don't get, if she is so cold and killing is her only answer, doesn't it seem strange to you that she would have any rules at all" Anne didn't give Duncan time to reply before she continued "I wonder what must have happened to her? In her past I mean, for her to be like this".
"Some people don't need a reason, they're just evil".
"Evil people don't worry about killing children do they?" Anne said before disappearing through the door.
Duncan threw down the 9-month-old magazine he had been flicking through. He sat forward on the chair wiping his hands over his face; he then looked at his watch it had been nearly 2 ½ hours since Sandi arrived at the emergency room. He got to his feet and walked over to the water cooler, filling one of the paper cones and drinking the cool water.
The door to the waiting room opened and Doctor Anne Lindsey walked in "Duncan".
At the sound of Anne's voice Duncan turned round "How is she?"
Anne walked towards him "There was a lot of internal bleeding but the surgery was successful, the break of her right left leg was clean and the head injury wasn't as bad as we first thought. They're just moving her to a room on the 1st floor."
"Can I see her?" Duncan asked as he threw the paper cone into the trashcan. "She's been sedated. She'll probably be unconscious until tomorrow. Why don't you go home and get some rest?"
"Thanks Anne, but I really want to be with her when she wakes up." Duncan replied Anne smiled "I see I'm not going to persuade you so, come on, I'll take you to her".
Duncan followed Anne to room 125, which was on the first floor over looking the hospital gardens. As Duncan started to slowly walk towards the figure in the bed that was surrounded by bleeping machines, Anne caught hold of his arm "Listen, I'm on duty tonight so I'll look in when I can but you try and get some rest."
Duncan nodded as he gently rested his hand onto hers "I'm glad you were here".
Anne smiled "and why is that?"
"Because then I know she had the best."
Anne looked into Duncan's eyes as she softly placed her hand on his cheek and part of her regretted the choice she had made. She was just about to speak when her pager started beeping "Sorry Duncan but I have to go. Thanks for the complement though. Now try and rest."
Duncan smiled as he watched the door close behind Anne before turning his attention to Sandi. He picked up the chair moving it closer to the bed; he looked down at her bruised face and picked up the strand of hair that was resting across her eyes. He then lent forward kissing her gently on the forehead.
"Why didn't you just trust me?" He said quietly as he settled down in the chair to wait.
Duncan dosed in the chair only waking when the nurses came into the room to check on Sandi. It was about 5 am when Anne made her way back to room 125, she peered in through the glass panel in the door, in the dim light that surrounded Sandi's bed she could just see Duncan was asleep with his head resting on the mattress. Not wanting to wake him she decided to come back after her shift.
It was a few hours later that the sound of two nurses chatting loudly as they entered the room made Duncan lift his head from the mattress. He rubbed his neck, it was a little sore from the position he had fallen to sleep in. "I'm sorry but I have to ask you to move out of the way Sir. We need to see to your friend".
"Here let me get this chair out of your way" Duncan said as he moved the chair away from the bed. From the way the two women were talking Duncan realised that one must be the day shift and the other the night shift because at first the conversation was all to do with Sandi's condition and her needs for the coming day. They then moved on to talk about what they were going to do at the weekend.
Duncan moved over to the window and looked down at the gardens below the early morning light was just starting to give the garden life. He took out his watch it was just after 7am, he leant back against the window frame as he tried to wipe the sleep from his eyes. As his hands ran over the roughest of his chin Duncan hoped that Richie would bring him a change of clothes and his razor. He knew that in the confusion he hadn't asked but he hoped that Richie would think about it.
It must have been 10 or 15 minutes later when he felt the presences of another Immortal. He knew it was too early for Richie and when no one came through the door he turned and looked out of the window. There in the garden leaning against one of the wooden benches was Helena.
As he looked down at her the anger inside him grew, when she raised her hand towards him, his anger got the better of him. Duncan grabbed up his coat from the back of the chair and made for the door.
"You don't have to leave we'll be finished shortly" one of the nurses called after him but he didn't seem to hear her. As Duncan pulled the door open he bumped into Anne, she was no longer in her scrubs and doctors coat "Hey, what's the rush?"
"Arr, Anne. I...I've got to meet someone. Can you stay with Sandi until I get back".
"Sure Duncan but where are you going?" Anne had said the words but she recognised the look in Duncan's eyes. He put his hand onto her arm "and if anyone you don't know comes in this door hit the alarm. Ok?"
"Ok" Anne replied as she held the door open, Duncan then nodded and strode off down the hall.
"Be careful" Anne called after him but either he didn't hear her or decided not to respond. As she entered the room the two nurses stopped talking "Oh, Doctor we've just finished".
Anne smiled "Good but I'm not on duty now and neither should you be Amy. Haven't you got a home to go to? I'm just here visiting a friend".
The two nurses then quickly finished what they were doing and left the room, with Amy commenting that she would see Anne tonight. Anne then walked over to the window and she watched as Duncan strode through the garden towards the woman dressed all in black by the bench.
As Duncan strode towards her, his sword drawn Helena could see the anger evident in his face but she didn't move other than to place her hand around the hilt of her sword.
"I told you that this is nothing personal, it's just business but I wanted to assure you that I had nothing to do with what happened to your friend"
"You expect me to believe that? Why Sandi?" Duncan growled back as he strode forward his sword pointing at Helena's heart. Helena was about to bring her sword out when she saw over Duncan's shoulder that an elderly couple had entered the garden. She motioned with her head and Duncan glanced over his shoulder before quickly hiding his sword back in his coat. Helena took a step forward "Because they were paid to."
"Then who wants her dead and why?" Duncan said, as he looked her in the eyes.
"You know I can't tell you that. Professional ethics and all that. I just wanted to let you know that the men that did this are dead, so you don't have to look for them".
"Killing is so easy for you, isn't it?"
Helena looked Duncan directly in the eyes and smiled "You might not like it but we aren't that different MacLeod. How many mortals have you killed in battle?"
Duncan looked away "That's different".
"Is it? Weren't you paid for your services?" Helena said as she stepped into his vision again.
Duncan wiped his hand over his eyes as the images of all the battles he had fought fill his mind "Yes, but it's not the same".
"Mortals are still dead by your hand and you were paid to do it, just like me".
Duncan eyes flare with anger "IT'S NOT THE SAME, IT WAS WAR".
At the sound of Duncan's shouting the couple looked around, the woman shook her head and complained to her husband at the peace of the garden being disturbed.
Helena tilted her head to one side, her voice still soft "That is just details MacLeod. Is a battle any more important because a country is involved? Didn't both sides believe their cause to be just and how many innocent mortals, women and children were killed in the process?"
Duncan took a couple of steps towards her but Helena stood firm "You're just clouding the issue"
Helena moved back and sat on the arm of a wooden bench first looking down at the ground and then back at Duncan "Am I? I can say that I have only killed those that deserved it and those I was paid too. Can you say the same?"
Duncan looked away for a moment he just couldn't believe what this woman was saying "What about today? I know you were there."
"Yes, I was there I wanted to see how those fools would handle things without me. They were very sloppy and I have only two rules and they broke both of them. Rule 1 is only to kill the person you are hired to and rule 2 is you never kill children. They broke the rules and they have already paid the price".
Duncan wasn't sure but he thought he saw the formation of a tear in her eyes but it only lasted a moment. "Is killing your only answer to everything?"
"It is what we do best. We were born to kill MacLeod" Helena said as she slowly got to her feet.
"You can't keep killing, I can't let you" Duncan said as his hand went inside his coat.
"It's the only thing I know, MacLeod and remember we are not alone here," Helena, said as she looked over to the elderly couple walking around the flowerbeds.
"Then we'll take it elsewhere" Duncan replied.
"I don't think so" Helena said as she started to walk away but Duncan's hand on her arm restrained her. She turned to face him as she pried his hand from her arm "If you want to challenge me that is your right but I think your friend should be your priority now don't you? And I have other things to attend to"
"We'll meet again, this isn't over" Duncan called out as Helena walked away from him.
"I know that's what I'm counting on," she said softly to herself.
Duncan looked around the garden and found that he was under the watchful eye of the elderly couple again.
"Good morning" he said smiling awkwardly before heading back into the hospital.
When he reached the room he found Anne still looking out of the window "So who was she?"
Duncan took off his coat and draped it over the back of the chair before walking across the room to join Anne at the window. "She's an Immortal".
Anne smiled "I think figured that much out when you drew your sword but who is she?"
Duncan looked across at Sandi "Her name is Helena."
Anne reached out and touched Duncan's arm bring his attention back to her "Has she anything to do with your friend?"
Duncan shrugged "She said not".
"And you don't believe her but why would she risk coming here?" Anne replied.
Duncan walked over to the bed he looked down at Sandi "She came to tell me that the men that did are dead."
"She killed them?" Anne exclaimed in horror. Duncan smiled weakly "It seems her only answer to everything, she said they broke her rules".
"What rules?"
"You only kill those you're paid to and you never kill children." Duncan replied before he sighed "Look Anne I thank you for all you did for her but I don't want to get you anymore involved in this. You look tired maybe you should go home and get some rest."
Anne nodded "If that's what you want."
Duncan smiled "It is. Give Mary a kiss from me".
Anne picked up her bag "Ok, I guess I'll see you tonight when I come on shift"
She then walked towards the door; only as she pulled it open she stopped and looked back at Duncan.
"Just one thing I don't get, if she is so cold and killing is her only answer, doesn't it seem strange to you that she would have any rules at all" Anne didn't give Duncan time to reply before she continued "I wonder what must have happened to her? In her past I mean, for her to be like this".
"Some people don't need a reason, they're just evil".
"Evil people don't worry about killing children do they?" Anne said before disappearing through the door.