Chapter 19

Methos leant back against the desk "Joe sent me"

A confused look came across Ben's face "Dawson? Why would he send a research man here?"

Methos couldn't fault Ben's logic this wasn't going to be easy "He didn't get a report from you last month and he was worried, I was the only one in the area so I said I'd find out what happened."

Ben walked over to the computer "and you thought you would find me in there?"

"Yes…I mean no…when I saw the house in darkness I just thought that as Lopez obviously wasn't here, neither were you…So I thought I'd find out where he went and then I'd find you" Methos replied

Ben laughed "Well you won't find where he is in there".

Methos got to his feet "What do you mean?"

"He off to one of his tournaments, the only people who know where that is, is Lopez, his personal assistant and the contestants. Each contestant is given a number to call that is when they are told the venue. The number is for a cell phone and I have no idea what that is." Ben replied.

"Well, that's that then. I'll let Joe know you're ok" Methos said as he started towards the door "Oh just one thing, you don't happen to know who the contestants are?"

Ben had started to follow him but stopped "Why do you want to know that?"

Methos took a step towards him "Err…It's a little difficult to explain right now but it is very important that I find out. I'm not asking for Joe, I'm asking for me. I think someone I know is involved. Look, we've known each other for 5 years Ben I've never asked you for anything before; I need you to trust me this one time."

Ben turned away as he thought through his friend's request "Ok, there should be something on his computer" Ben replied as he walked across to the desk. Methos joined him and watched as Ben opened file after file.

"You know there shouldn't have been a tournament for at least another 20 years, he already had 1 early and now this makes 2." Ben said as he looked over his shoulder at Methos.

"Why do you think he changed his schedule?" Methos asked now curious about the change in Lopez's behaviour. Ben looked back at what he was doing before looking back to answer.

"I'm not really sure but things changed after the last Immortal he faced…then he was pursued by that an Englishman, I can't recall his name and this one because some young woman wouldn't leave him alone…followed him all over the place…I think she has goaded him into this one…you know hurt his pride…arr here it is…that's the young woman's name" Ben said as he pointed to the screen. There just above his finger tip was the name Alessandrine Knight.

"So all these people will have the number that will give the venue?" Methos asked. Ben straightened up shaking his head "I wouldn't say that, by now all but 5 of them will be dead. That's the way he works, just getting to call is a test in itself. Does it help at all?"

"Yes, thank you. I'll let Joe know everything is ok here" Methos said as he made for the door not waiting for Ben to reply.

Ben shook his head as he watched his friend disappear out the door and turned back to switch off the computer "The impatience of youth" he laughed.

It didn't take Methos long to get back to where he had parked his car, within minutes he was heading back to the city.

The Hospital

Duncan sat in the chair by the bed watching Sandi's inert body, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Where are you Methos?" he said under his breath. As the door started to open he laid his coat back over the sword as he stood up. "Anne! Any news?"

Anne walked over to him, her face was serious but she tried to force a smile "Duncan, please sit down".

"Just tell me what they've found" Duncan said as he put out his hand touching Anne on the arm. "I'm so sorry Duncan but the news isn't good. It appears she's contracted a virus they've called it MSA".

"What's that mean?" Duncan asked

"It appears to be some type of super bug, not a lot is known about it at the moment, how it is contracted or how to cure it. It is resistant to all known antibiotics" Anne said as she paced the room.

Duncan had moved back to the bed looking down at Sandi; she appeared to be sleeping "Is she going to die?"

Anne rubbed her forehead "I can't say Duncan, I wish I could. We can keep her comfortable but it's really is up to her now."

"How long…how long has she got?" Duncan asked as he lightly brushed Sandi's cheek with his hand. Anne walked over to him "I don't know but if she doesn't show signs of improving in the next day or so…it could be as little as a week".

Anne ran her hand over Duncan's arm "I'm not giving up on this and neither should you".

Before Anne could say any more her beeper started to sound, she took it from her belt and looked at the small display "I'm sorry Duncan I have to go but I will be back as soon as I can."

Anne patted Duncan on the arm "Try not to worry I'm sure there is a way to save her, we just have to have faith that we will find it".

Duncan smiled weakly as Anne walked out of the room. When the door closed behind her, he walked over to the window and looked down at the garden below "Where the Hell are you, Methos?"

Joe's Bar

Joe was busy behind the bar serving the waitresses as the rest of the band were on stage playing, the bar had been packed all night, he didn't even look up when he felt the draft from the door opening. It wasn't long before there was a cough from the end of the bar.

"I'll be with you in a minute…I'm a little short handed tonight" Joe said as he continued to pour drinks. "I really need to speak to you now Joe!"

At the sound of the familiar voice Joe stopped and looked across "Where the Hell have you been? Just give me a minute"

Methos started to play with one of the bar mats as he waited, impatiently tapping it on the bar, Joe shot an irritated look at him as he mouthed "I said I'll be there in a minute".

Methos dropped the mat onto the bar with a flourish; he then turned away to look around the room. It wasn't long before the sound of a bottle being put down on the bar behind him made him turn around.

"Ok, so where have you been?" Joe demanded as he took the top off the bottle of beer he had brought for Methos.

"I haven't got time to explain. Where is MacLeod? I've been to the dojo but he's not there" Methos asked as he wiped his hand over his face before picking up the beer bottle and taking a drink. Joe shook his head "If you had bothered to check your machine or take your cell phone with you, you would know he has been trying to get hold of you for days."

Methos looked a little confused "Why?"

Joe ran his hand over his head "I'm not sure exactly why, he wouldn't tell me but I think it has something to do with someone running Sandi down."

"Is she dead?" Methos exclaimed as put the bottle down a little hard onto the bar, she was the link he needed.

"No, she's in the hospital….s" Joe was about to explain it all but Methos was already heading for the door.

"How are you Joe?...Thank you for telling me where Mac is, Joe" Joe muttered to himself under his breath as he moved down the bar to where one of his waitresses was waiting.

The Hospital

Duncan was sat on the arm of the chair with his back to the door, in his hands he held his katana, every so often he would glance over at Sandi laying in the bed.

'What if I make the wrong choice' he thought as he looked down at his own reflection in the metal of the blade. His mind racing over all the possibilities, he needed to talk this over with someone, he couldn't talk to Anne, there was always Richie, no he was busy trying to live his own life, with Methos missing that just left Joe. Duncan sighed this wasn't a phone call he wanted to make, he put his sword back into the folds of his coat before he slowly stood up and walked over to the phone.

Duncan had only just punched in the first 3 numbers of Joe's bar's when he tensed as he sensed another of his kind, quickly he moved over to the chair pulling his katana from his coat before positioning himself between the Sandi and the door.

"Methos?" Duncan exclaimed as the door opened and a disheveled figure stepped into the room.

"Good to see you Mac and your new friend…Now that was something you failed to mention…So Joe said you've been looking for me?" Methos said as he walked into the room ignoring the sword in Duncan's hand.

"I have…Where have you been?" Duncan answered as he crossed the room putting his sword back into his coat.

"I had something to take care of…actually it might be something your friend here could help me with…any idea when she will wake up?" Methos said as he walked over to the bed looking down at Sandi. Duncan shook his head, he should know better than expect a straight answer from Methos.

"That's the problem they don't know if she will wake up…she was recovering from the injuries from the accident but now she has contracted some kind of super bug." Duncan replied as he walked over to the window.

"And the problem is?" Methos asked.

"I don't know if she will live…that is what the problem is" Duncan replied as he leant back against the window frame.

"There's one way to be certain but you know that" Methos replied as he looked down at Sandi. He checked over his shoulder that his hands couldn't be seen from where Duncan was standing. He carefully removed the monitor pads from Sandi's chest placing it on his own. He moved quickly so that there was hardly a break in the connection.

He took the time to check over his shoulder again and was relieved to find that Duncan hadn't noticed.

"I don't think I can play God…it's not my place to decide her fate" Duncan said as he wiped both his hands over his face, rubbing the sleep away from his tired eyes. Methos rolled his eyes as his hand went into one of the hidden pockets of his coat.

"I was wondering has she said anything about what brought her here?" Methos said as he turned back to the bed.

"No, not really but I think it has something to do with the sword she had with her…Wait a minute…Like what?

Methos shrugged his shoulders "I don't know...Something like a phone number she has to call?"

''Why are you suddenly so interested?" Duncan said as he tilted his head to one side narrowing his eyes. Methos didn't turn around when Duncan spoke.

"Methos?" Duncan said as he pushed himself away from the window frame.

"I haven't got time for this" Methos sighed as he raised up his hand plunging a dagger into Sandi's heart.

Duncan's eyes widened as he saw Sandi's legs jump slightly and he crossed the room in two strides "What have you done?"

Methos casually reached over to the box of tissues on the cabinet by the bed, he pulled 4 tissues from the box and calmly cleared the blood from his dagger. "I'm just saving me time and you from struggling with another of your dilemmas".

Duncan glared at him and Methos could see the anger building in his friend "Hey, you wanted to know if her immortality would be triggered if she died from a virus, right?"

Methos pushed the dagger back into its hidden pocket in his coat "and you wanted me to have the answer you wanted to hear. Well, I don't but I do know that this way it's a certainty. I don't know what the problem is?"

Duncan shook his head as he placed his hands on his hips. "Oh, I don't know. Even if I put aside the fact that we've forced Immortality on her. How are we going to explain all the blood, not to mention her miraculous recovery?"

It was only then that Methos looked down at the red patch that was spreading across the white sheet "Arr...Well I didn't say it was a fully thought out plan".

"How am I going to explain all of this to Anne?" Duncan said tilting his head to one side as if expecting an answer. As Methos looked up from the bed he could just make out two people walking towards the room through the small glass panel in the door. "I don't know but we'll have to come up with something pretty quickly as we are about to have company".

Duncan followed Methos's gaze towards the door.

"Great!" Duncan exclaimed as his eyes scanned the room, the only thing he could find to cover up the blood was his coat. Moving quickly he threw it over Sandi's chest just as the door opened.

As Anne walked into the room followed by a nurse she noticed the look on Duncan's face "Duncan what's wrong?"

"Err...nothings wrong. We were just discussing Sandi's condition " he said as he moved towards Anne.

Anne slowly looked round to the man stood at the head of the bed "And you are?"

Methos's mind raced as the nurse moved towards him. "I'm her brother...Adam...I only just found out what happened and I've had one hell of a journey to get here. I was wondering if I could have a few more moments with Sandi?"

Anne smiled "I don't see a problem with that. Emily you can do the checks later...say 15 minutes".

Both Duncan and Methos breathed a sigh of relief as the nurse nodded her agreement before walking out of the room. Anne then moved closer to Duncan so she could speak quietly to him "You didn't tell me Sandi had a brother?"

Duncan rolled his eyes "He's not really her brother. He just said that so we could get you on your own. You see we have a little problem".

Anne looked up at him "What sort of a problem?"

"This" Methos said as he pulled away Duncan's coat to reveal the blood stain on the sheet.

"How...I mean...what happened?" Anne stammered as she walked towards the bed, her eyes fixed on the blood. Instinctively she checked for a pulse but found none.

"But how did anyone get past you...you've been here the whole time?" she exclaimed as she turned to look at Duncan then back to the heart monitor that was still beeping. "But how is this still working?"

"Err...that's because of me" Methos said as he pointed to the pads on his chest.

"We have to call the police" Anne said her mind still trying to understand why they would want to pretend Sandi was still alive. As her hand reached for the phone she found Duncan's hand stopping her.

"But Duncan?" she exclaimed turning to look at him.

"It's not what it seems. You see Sandi is...or will be like me. I didn't know if dying from a virus would trigger it so!"

"So you killed her?"

"Well actually no, he didn't, I did" Methos answered. Anne's gaze flicked between the two Immortals. "But how can you be sure she's...she's one of you?"

Methos grinned knowingly "Trust me she is".

Just as he finished speaking Sandi gasped for air.

"See told you" Methos said triumphantly. Duncan looked quickly from Sandi's reviving body to Anne "Look I'll explain everything later, for now I need you to keep this between us".

"That's not going to be easy...or have you forgotten she has checks every few hours? How am I supposed to explain her miraculous recovery?" Anne replied she had forgotten all about the bloody sheet, as she had been unnerved by the sight of the birth of an Immortal. Duncan had taken a few steps towards the bed before looking back to Anne "Please try and give me at least a couple of hours, to explain all of this to her".

Anne looked at her watch "I can give you 2 hours, I'll reschedule her checks. I'll be back before then and then you can explain it to me".

Duncan nodded meekly before going to Sandi's side, just as her eyes opened. She looked from Duncan to Methos then her eyes widened in panic as she saw the blood."W...w...what happened to me?"

'It's all right...I explain everything but I need you to calm down and trust me" Duncan said as he looked down at her, his hand lightly touching her hair. His eyes momentarily left her to look accusingly at Methos, who tutted as he replaced the monitor pads on her chest before crossing the room to the window.

He impatiently tapped on the window sill, he wanted answers to his own questions but he knew the Highlander wouldn't stand for that now, so he would just have to be patient.