Chapter Six
Florence, Italy, early the next day:
Duncan MacLeod sat back in his chair as he tapped off the connection for the phone and the screen on the wall went blank.
Soon he heard the beep of his fax machine as the page from Joe and Amy came through. He waited for it… and then pulled it from the tray… staring at the photo… recognizing the face and seeing in that face… the boy he'd known too briefly… wearing the expression of an old friend. Derrick had evidently peered quietly at the camera when he'd sat for that license photo. His sandy hair was long about his head… his beard full and long… and his blue eyes met Duncan's as if seeing him there. The man in the photo seemed slightly amused… as if in on some secret only he knew.
Last Christmas, Duncan had found a postcard from Derrick amongst the mail he'd collected from his post office box. Over the years, he knew that Derrick had moved from job to job… as if attempting to experience the entire world in a single lifetime. He heard from him occasionally… more slight nods to the fact that he was still out there and alive… than any real attempt to stay in touch. He never included a return address. Although Duncan had several email accounts… to his knowledge… Derrick had never emailed him.
He'd set up a bank account for Derrick twelve years ago… pouring money into it periodically in case the young man ever needed funds. He'd felt that if he did die his first death… he might need cash to get on his feet again… create a new identity… fly to wherever he needed to be. Duncan had made Derrick promise to find one of them for proper training the last time he'd actually seen the young man.
"If it happens… don't just go off on your own or try to continue in a mortal life. Immortal challengers are stronger and more devious than you can imagine. You call me… or contact me. I'll come… No matter what… I'll come."
Derrick had shrugged with a chuckle. "But knowing what I know… it may never happen."
Part of Duncan had hoped that it wouldn't happen. Like Ellie, he'd wanted Derrick to truly have a life… one that would not force him to become other than what he was. He tended to wish that for all of them over the years… all the pre-immortals he'd ever met. Some of them had grown old and died… their immortal potential never realized. They'd been happy and secure in their ignorance. At least, Duncan hoped they'd been happy.
Evidently Derrick was one of them now… and Duncan wondered what that might mean… and why he'd heard nothing before now. Surely the young man knew how important it was for him to get in contact. He thoughtfully laid the faxfilm on his desk.
Hearing Amanda in the garden, Duncan rose and stood in the open doorway watching her. They'd been playing at this for several years… this domestic arrangement they'd crafted. Nothing permanent… nothing with strings. Ellie and Methos had warned both of them that they both needed to be absolutely certain of what they wanted and that it might take years… even centuries before they were certain. So for now… they were playing at this… trying to see how it went.
Amanda leaned back on her knees in the dirt and wiped one gloved hand across her brow… leaving a dirt smear. Glancing up at him she smiled teasingly and winked. To Duncan, she'd never looked lovelier. She wore a thin white blouse and red shorts… the blouse… buttoned up the front and slightly sheer… at least enough so that he could see her red bra through it… was entirely inappropriate for gardening. Leave it to Amanda to be more concerned with making a fashion statement than appropriate attire for the occasion.
Crossing his well-muscled arms before his chest, he leaned on the doorjamb and just watched her as she planted the summer annuals. As always… Amanda loved having her little projects. Right now it was this garden.
"What's up?" she said looking over at him.
Duncan shrugged. "What makes you ask that?"
"Oooooooh! Playing twenty questions are we?"
"If you say so," he grinned and straightened, walking out into the sunshine to crouch at her side.
"That's not a question," Amanda said leaning forward to pack moist earth around another small plant.
In the far reaches of the garden, Duncan could hear the dogs barking. He glanced at them, then assured they were merely tussling over a scrap of blanket… he returned his attention to Amanda and the way her dark hair fell free of her scarf and hung over her face.
As if trying to fathom his thoughts she looked at him with a smile… "What?"
For once… Duncan was glad the garden was walled, the servants had the day off… and that they had no children. He leaned forward and kissed her… pulling her upper lip slightly with his teeth as he pulled back.
"Mmmmmm! That was nice," Amanda cooed.
Duncan winked and pulled her scarf free of her head as he nuzzled her neck.
"Ooooh! Even better," she laughed.
Raising his hands to her blouse… he pulled her shirttail free and slipped his hands up under it… to squeeze one breast.
"Stop!" she said. "I'll never get this done if you keep this up."
"The garden can wait," he said insistently, and pushed her onto her back, lowering himself onto her and pulling at the waistband of her cotton shorts."
"Well… if you insist," Amanda whispered, urgently tearing off her garden gloves and tossing them away as she slid her fingers under his linen shirt and then began to fumble with his pants.
-----
Sometime later, he lay next to her and watched the clouds gather in the late afternoon sky. "It's going to rain tonight," Duncan finally said.
"I know," Amanda replied as she shifted her body next to his. "Why do you think I was working so hard out here?"
Duncan lifted one hand and trailed fingers along her bare back… pausing to trace softly the pattern for water.
She flinched slightly and then made a small contented grunt in her throat. "I love it when you do that."
He leaned forward to kiss the spot.
She turned over and trailed one finger over the dark hair on his bare chest until she traced earth. He felt the slight flicker of quickening and quickly kissed her again. When they'd talked with Ellie and Methos about the patterns… and had learned them… the others had made both of them promise to take it slowly.
"Trace them only when you make love… nothing permanent," Methos had warned.
"Permanent?" Duncan had asked.
"Let's just say… you don't want to attempt anything else for some time." The ancient immortal had lolled back on the sofa, one arm about Ellie's shoulders and a beer in his other hand. He'd raised the beer and taken a long gulp, then had met the Highlander's gaze. "Consider Alisaunne and Nestor… and the connection between them. Trust me… you don't want each other in your minds especially if you move on to other partners." The fingers of his hand about Ellie's shoulders absently traced something on her neck.
She'd grinned and arched her eyebrows. "Especially if you want to move on." She'd giggled as one of her small hands had inched under Methos' shirt.
A moment later, Methos had suddenly looked at her and said. "We're done here, right MacLeod?" He'd risen, pulling Ellie with him as they'd vanished into their room.
"Now what was that all about?" Amanda had asked.
"I think they were communicating," Duncan had chuckled.
"What are you thinking about?" Amanda asked as she stared deeply into his brown eyes.
"Joe called earlier."
"I heard the phone. So what's put you in this strange mood?"
"Evidently Derrick's become immortal."
"Oh," said Amanda sitting up suddenly and gazing over at him. "That could prove interesting." She arched her eyebrows, and then looked at him curiously. "Does Methos know yet?"
Duncan stretched on the earth and gazed at her somberly, as he let one hand trail up and down her spine. "Joe and Amy were going to contact him next."
-----
Chateau de Valicourt, the same day:
Gina de Valicourt brushed her dark hair, and then leaned forward to dab a bit of color onto her lips. She wanted to look perfect… absolutely perfect. She noted the gleam in her dark eyes and closed them as she mentally attempted to find Robert.
He was downstairs in his office speaking with their new Watcher. She sent a small vision of their recent activities to him and was rewarded with a return flash of another one. Then he refocused on Madeline LeSeur. The young woman was blonde… her hair that perfect color of sun-kissed yellow that men always found enticing. Gina saw her through Robert's eyes and smirked at his evident appreciation of the young mortal's trim form, and lovely face. He was especially admiring the almost view of her breasts at the V-neckline of her suit jacket. Gina had the distinct impression that the young woman wore nothing under that jacket… nothing at all.
"Honestly!" she hmmphed and withdrew, slamming her brush down. Rising, she swept elegantly from her dressing table, letting the long train of her gown flutter in the breeze as she descended the wide marble stairs to join him. He opened the door of the office even before she'd arrived.
"Darling… you really don't need to be here," he'd said quietly as he kissed her offered cheek.
"Oh… darling… but I do." Gina settled on the divan and crossed her legs as she watched the young Watcher coyly tuck a lock of hair behind one ear and blush slightly.
"I'm sorry if I'm creating a problem."
"No… no Madeline… no problem," Robert rolled his eyes at Gina and sent a "Please… behave!" toward her.
"I always behave," Gina said aloud.
LeSeur glanced at her curiously and shifted uncomfortably.
"Gina… please… it was just an innocent flirtation… I had no plans to act on it," Robert whispered to his wife as he leaned over her and kissed her cheek again.
"Then you won't mind my being here as we get to know Mademoiselle LeSeur… will you?" Gina directed her words directly at Robert quietly.
Robert smiled and shook his head… but she could see the little vein in his temple pounding furiously. This unity they were experiencing was still far too new to both of them… and they evidently still had a lot to get used to. Among the little problems were the random thoughts of one another about each other… and about others.
"Madeline… Please call me Madeline," the young woman said nervously and smiled at Robert with a little shake to her shoulders. "I'm so pleased to have you two as my assignment. This is my first field assignment… and I really hope to perform my duties well."
Gina's crossed leg began to pump up and down as she crossed her arms before her. Either this girl had no idea of what Robert had been thinking about her… or she did… and was playing coy. Gina wondered if it was too late to call and request a woman of suitable age… say seventy or eighty to be their new Watcher.
-----