Chapter 17

Nearly a week later

The hospital.

Duncan shifted in the chair; his back ached from the contortions he had put his body through trying to sleep by Sandi's bed for nearly a week now.

Sandi had only been conscious a handful of times in the last few days and even then it wasn't for long, so most of his questions remained unanswered but she had told him about her father's death, although it was only a brief outline. There seemed to be a great deal of interest in Sandi's condition, the doctors hadn't said anything to him but he knew something wasn't quite right.

Anne hadn't been around the last four days, as she had taken Mary to visit her Grandparents. He had left messages on her home phone to call him as soon as she got back into town; he knew she would be straight with him.

As the door opened he didn't open his eyes, as his body had seemed to become in tune with the rhythm of the hospital and his body clock told him that one of the nurses was coming in for a routine check. He half listened as he let his mind drift towards sleep.

It was a few hours later that the door opened again and Duncan went from half asleep to full awake in an instance, he knew it wasn't time for another check.

"Joe?" Duncan said as he got to his feet wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"Man you look awful" Joe said as he walked into the room, he was carrying a small black leather bag in one hand and his cane in the other.

"Thanks" Duncan said as he reached out taking the bag from Joe. Duncan placed the bag on the end of the bed sliding the zipper open. Joe walked around the bed to stand at the top looking down at Sandi. "She's not looking so good either. What have the doctor's said".

Duncan looked up at him as he pulled out the clean clothes Joe had just brought "Things seemed fine for the first couple of days, she slept a lot but that is normal when you've been through what she's been through and then her temperature started to rise. The doctors aren't saying much but she hasn't been conscious for nearly two days now. By the way have you seen Methos I've left at least a dozen messages on his machine but he hasn't been in touch".

Joe shook his head as he sat down in the chair. "Sorry Mac, I haven't seen him. He was supposed to bring Lopez's Chronicle back, but that was over three days ago and he hasn't called. Is it anything I can help with?"

Duncan smiled weakly "Thanks Joe but I think I need to speak to him on this. You've already done more than enough by bring my changes of clothes." Duncan paused "That's a point wasn't Richie supposed to bring this?"

"Yeah, but he dropped by the bar tonight seems that he met a young lady the other night and they had another date tonight, so he asked me to bring you this. Sorry it's so late but I was short handed in the bar, Carl called in sick" Joe replied as he watched Duncan walk towards the bathroom "Hey, Mac why don't you go home, get something decent to eat, take a shower and get a few hours proper sleep?"

Duncan stopped and looked around at his friend before looking over at Sandi, Joe followed his gaze. "I'll stay with her. I know what Lopez looks like."

Duncan rubbed his hand over the stubble on his chin "Thanks but he seems to prefer using others to do his dirty work for him."

"If it's Helena your worried about I know her face too".

"I know Joe but they could be any mortal for hire." Joe pushed himself to his feet and walked to the end of the bed.

"I'll have the alarm bell beside me and this little fellow in my pocket" Joe lifted his hand out of his pocket and a small revolver was laid in his hand. "And if you have many more nights in that chair you're not going to in an state to fight mortals, let alone Immortals. I'll call you if her condition changes."

Duncan hesitated he was torn between getting to sleep in his own bed and protecting Sandi. "You'll call me if anything happens?"

"Scouts honour," Joe said as he put the gun back in his pocket before raising his hand in a salute.

Duncan smiled and slowly shook his head "Ok you win but I want to know about anything out of the ordinary. Ok?"

"Ok" Joe said as he settled himself back in the chair "Now go".

Duncan placed the clean clothes back into the bag before picking up his coat and heading for the door. Just before it closed behind him he looked back at Joe "Thanks, Joe".

"Will you get out of here?" Joe said as he threw an empty plastic cup, which had been on the cabinet beside Sandi's bed, towards the door but it floated to the ground before it could reach it. At the door Duncan grinned before letting the door close slowly behind him.

The loft

Duncan dropped his keys onto the counter after hanging his coat on the coat stand before walking over to the bathroom. He turned on the taps to the shower as he undressed letting the water heat up before he stepped inside. Duncan leant forward placing his hands against the wall as he let the hot water run over his body; he felt his muscles start to unknot as they took in the warmth of the water.

It was quite a while before he stepped out; he used one of the large blue towels that were hanging on the rail by the shower to dry his body. He entered the loft with the towel wrapped around his waist; he took out a pair of clean pair of jeans from the cupboard and pulled them on before he crossed the loft to the fridge. He leaned on the open door as he peered in. After a short while he picked up a plate of cheese and cold meat, then a box of eggs that was sitting on the middle shelf.

Placing them on the counter he took down a frying pan from the shelf on the wall. He then set about whipping himself up an omelette. When he had finished he poured himself a glass of wine before he pulled out one of the stool and sitting down to eat.

It was half and hour later that he finally pushed away the plate, most of the omelette was still sitting there, he sipped his wine as he cleared up the kitchen. Afterwards he walked over to the bed, pulling the covers back he sat down on the edge of the bed and drain the remaining wine in his glass. He placed it down on the table by the bed before removing his jeans, folding them and laying them by the bed.

Wearily he climbed into bed leaning across he switched off the light before plumping the pillow before settling down.

The loft was bathed in sunlight when the sound of the phone raised Duncan from his sleep. His hand groped across the side table until it found the phone, he sat up as he wiped the sleep putting the receiver to his ear. "MacLeod".

"Mac, its Joe" the sound of Joe's voice brought Duncan fully awake.

"What's wrong?" Duncan said as he swung his legs out of the bed. "It's Sandi, her temperature has gone through the roof, and the doctor's aren't saying much but from the amount of time they're in here it doesn't look too good."

"I'm on my way. If anything else happens you can get me on my cell phone" Duncan said as he reached down with his free hand picking up his jeans.

"Ok Mac, see you shortly" Joe said before the phone line went dead, he looked at the receiver for a few moments before replacing it in it's cradle. He hadn't wanted to disturb his friend but he knew that Duncan wouldn't have thanked him if anything had happened to Sandi and he hadn't called.

Joe watched from by the window as the nurses and doctors worked around Sandi's bed as they tried to bring her temperature down. One of the nurses at last broke away from the group around the bed and walked over to talk to him.

"How's she doing?" Joe asked. The nurse looked over her shoulder, as the others started to leave the room, before turning back to answer him. "Her temperature was dangerously high but I think we've managed to bring it down."

"So is everything all right now?" The nurse smiled weakly at him "The doctors aren't sure what is causing her condition but we should know more in a few hours when the test results come back. Try not to worry."

"Thanks" Joe replied smiling back "I'll be back to check on her every 15 minutes but if you're worried about anything just press the call button."

The nurse then left the room and Joe moved back to the bed sitting back in the chair. He had just closed his eyes when the door opened again.

"Mac?" Joe said as he opened his eyes but it was Anne Lindsay that was standing on the other side of the bed.

"Anne, it's good to see you" Joe said as he pushed himself to his feet.

"Is Duncan not here?" she said as she picked up the chart from the end of Sandi's bed.

"I just called him. He's on his way" Joe said as he ran his hand over his beard.

"How did you get him to go home anyway?" Anne asked as she replaced the chart back in its holder before moving up to the head of the bed.

"Just my charm I guess" Joe said as he watched as Anne checked over the machines beside the bed and started to check Sandi over. They both looked up as the door opened again "Mac!"

"Joe, what's happening?" Duncan said before he realised that Anne was in the room "Anne, I'm glad you're here".

"It's good to see you too but give me a minute," Anne said as she turned her attention back to Sandi. Joe walked over to the window with Duncan "I'm sorry that I had to call"

"It's ok Joe I wanted to know it there was any change" but before he could continue Anne came over. "Well?"

"Her temperature isn't normal but it's much lower than it was, so she is stable for now" Anne replied.

"But what is causing this? She was recovering well from the surgery until the other day" Duncan said as he took off his coat. "I'll have to talk to the doctor in charge to get more detail but it looks like she has picked up some kind of infection and it hasn't responded to the normal treatments. I'll go and find the doctor now. I'll be back as soon as I can".

As Anne started to walk away Duncan reached out touching her arm causing her to turn around "Thanks for this Anne".

"It's nothing. I'm sure she will be fine" Anne smiled before leaving the room.

Duncan turned round looking out of the window at the garden below "has Methos been in contact?"

Joe shook his head "He hasn't called but I'll see if I can find him when I get back to the bar".

Another city in the state

Helena sat back in the armchair flipping a key in her hand as she waited for the phone to connect.

"Hello" said the voice on the other end. Helena sat forward in the chair "Lopez what are you playing at. Where is my money?"

There was a slight hesitation before Lopez answered, "You've got the key?"

"Yes, but it's of no use to me without the lock it fits" Helena's voice was calm but cold. "If you're thinking of double crossing me it would be a really bad idea, for you that is".

"Believe me that is the last thing on my mind. I just thought this would be a safer idea than taking the chance to meet. The key fits a locker 27 at the bus station, inside you will find a briefcase, your money is inside."

Helena sighed, "You know this is very cliché".

"I know but it works" Lopez answered, "I guess this is our last conversation. It was nice working with you".

Helena smiled to herself "For your health I hope this is our last conversation"

She didn't wait for an answer before her finger cut off the call; she then dialed reception "This is room 520, could you send up a porter for my bags? Ok five minutes".

Helena put her bags near the door before crossing over to the large picture window, she was gazing down at the street many floors below. Slowly she wrapped her arms around her body as if she felt a chill as her mind drifted back in time for a few moments to a small village on the plains of Russia many years ago. Helena wondered what would make any of those below to turn on those they cared about, money, love or just a few more moments of life.

The doorbell sounded a few times before it registered in her mind. She shook away the thoughts.

"Just a minute" she called out as she took a last look at the street below before walking over to the door.

Helena looked around the room as the porter walked over to the bags "Are these the bags?"

"Yes" Helena replied absent mindly but as the porter's hand reached for the small briefcase, she spun round.

"Not that one" she said "I'll take that".

The young man's hand quickly moved away from the briefcase. Something about the tone of her voice and the cold stare of her eyes made the young man nervous. "I…I…I'll meet you downstairs Madame"

Helena nodded as the door closed behind the porter, she sighed and rubbed her neck with her free hand.

'Another town, another hotel, another job, when will this ever end' she thought to herself as she picked up her coat and slipped the key into the pocket, before leaving the hotel room for the last time.

The Bus station

Helena wasn't used to coming to places like this, she preferred air travel to being stuck for hours, maybe days in a small space with sweaty bodies of people you don't know, this was her idea of hell. She preferred First Class travel much more her style she thought as she walked towards the room where the lockers stood.

As she entered the room a feeling ran up and down her spine and she spun round, it wasn't the feeling another Immortal gave her but something that she had developed over time it normally meant she was being watched. Her hand instinctively went to one of the guns in her pocket as she searched the rows of lockers until she found number 27. Casually she looked around to check that she was alone before she took the key out and inserted it into the lock. It was a little stiff but she soon had it open, inside was a black briefcase, she pulled it out, examined the case carefully for any possible devices before turning it so it laid flat, with one corner supported on the inside of the locker. She flipped the catches open. Helena lifted the lid just enough to ensure the contents was what she had expected to find.

Pushing the lid closed she checked her surroundings before making her way back to her car. There were lots of people milling around as 2 buses had just arrived at the station, the feeling in her spine didn't leave her and with so many people she couldn't see anyone taking more than a passing interest in her.

Cautiously she walked back to her car, she had parked it a couple of blocks away and the nearer she got the more her senses were telling her something wasn't right. Helena checked around the street before approaching her car, there were several children playing on the sidewalk just a few feet from her car. Helena stopped as her eyes were drawn to a small child on a tricycle; he was about 3 years old with blonde curly hair, he was giggling as a older child pushed the tricycle and for a moment he looked directly at her and her heart missed a beat.

With her eyes fixed on the child Helena hadn't noticed the man come up behind her until it was too late and she felt the barrel of a gun in the small of her back. Helena felt the warmth of the man's breath on her neck as he spoke quietly into her ear.

"Now do exactly as I say, move into the alley"

Helena turned her head slightly "Why would I do that?"

The man pushed the gun harder into her back "Because if you don't this gun might just go off and I might not be able to control who gets hurt".

Helena looked over at the children before she started to move slowly towards the alley "Do you think I'm stupid, I'll take the guns you have in your coat. Take them out slowly".

Helena did as the man asked and seemingly out of nowhere another man appeared to take her guns from her. "Now walk to the end".

As she walked towards the other end of the alley Helena could see a parked car and she cursed herself for being distracted by the child.

"Turn around"

Helena turned around, in the dim light of the alley she could see that both men were in their mid twenties, both were about the same height but the one with the gun pointed at her was heavier build than the other. "So what now?"

"Give the briefcase to him" the heavier set man motioned towards the other man with his gun. Helena sighed and held out the briefcase "I don't suppose that now you have the briefcase we could leave it at that?"

"You supposed right," the man said as he lifted his gun. The muffled sound of a bullet being fired through a silencer made a dull thud sound and it hardly echoed around the alley, the bullet striking Helena in the heart, she sank to the ground but just before the darkness came she heard the man with the gun shout to the other man to get the axe.

The slimmer man put the briefcase into the car and came back with the axe "I don't understand what are you going to do with this?"

The other man took the axe "I told you we get a big bonus if we bring him her head."

As he turned to make his way to where Helena's body lay on the ground the slim man caught hold of his arm making him turn back to face him. "I don't know this just doesn't feel right".

"You're a piece of work you don't mind killing her but the thought of cutting her head off and you go all squeamish."

"It just seems sick and I don't see the need for us to hang about we have the briefcase. Come on let's go".

"I want that bonus. If you don't want a share you can…." The heavyset man's words trailed away as he looked down at the blade of a sword that was protruding from his chest.

"Now I don't think either of you will be getting a bonus" Helena said as she pulled her sword free. The slim man started to back away but his legs seemed to be made of lead, Helena stepped over the body her sword coming up under the slim man's chin. "Where is my briefcase?"

"I…i…in the car"

"I think we should get it don't you?" the man nodded cautiously as the edge of Helena's sword bit into his throat. Helena kept her sword at the man's throat as he fumbled in the car until his hand found the briefcase, which he handed to Helena.

"P…P…Please don't kill me," the man pleaded. Helena smiled "Don't you think you deserve it? I mean you and your friend forced me in here, shot me and then you were going to hack my head off"

"I…I'm sorry. I…I…it was just"

"I know it was just a job, nothing personal" Helena finished the man's sentence. He nodded his eyes wide in fear. Helena moved closer keeping her sword pressed against the man's throat "No, I'm not going to kill you because you're going to take a message to your employer".

"Anything"

"Tell him that I will be coming, he won't know where or when but I will be coming. Now you tell him word for word" The man nodded as Helena dropped her sword away from his throat. As the man started to turn away Helena raised her sword again "Oh, I think you still have something of mine? My guns"

After Helena had placed the briefcase on the ground beside her the wide-eyed man handed first one gun then the other to her and she slipped them back into their hiding places in her coat.

"Just one last thing" Helena said.

"Y…yes" stammered the man. "If I see you again ever, I will kill you. Don't forget that".

"I won't" the man said before he ran out of the alley.