Chapter Nineteen
Northern France:

Arriving first at Methos' manor house in Normandy, Duncan used his key to let himself in after letting the caretaker know he'd be using the place for a while. He wandered through the house, pulling off the dustsheets and opening windows for fresh air as he checked on things. While there were food supplies in the cupboards… and meat in the huge walk-in freezer… there was nothing fresh.

He decided to run to the market and get some things. He'd have a nice dinner prepared for the others by the time they arrived. Besides… Duncan wanted to stay busy. If he stopped too long… he began second guessing his course of action. Part of him wanted to contact Methos or Phillip and tell them what he was planning. But what if they told him to wait? Neither Kate nor Alistair knew about Niebos… and he rather doubted it would be approved for him to bring them there. No… this was best done here and now… and then he could tell the others. Once it was done… it was done.

After returning from the market, his arms laden with produce and some fresh meat for dinner, he stowed his purchases and then checked out the chapel.

Hidden deep within the house… on a sub-level… there was a small stone chapel that seemed to pre-date the seventeenth century manor house. It may well have been part of an earlier structure. Methos hadn't known. After all, he'd won the place in a card game centuries later. It was just one of many properties he'd acquired over his long lifetime. It was just another safe house where he could go when he needed to change identities. He'd never really lived here for any length of time.

Duncan moved the four prie dieux ranged about the stone altar away from the center of the small round room so that there would be space for the three of them. He laid a stack of blankets and pillows before the altar, feeling slightly uneasy about choosing an actual church for this. But he couldn't see doing it in a cemetery… nor… he thought with a chuckle… would Kate appreciate that. But holy ground would likely be necessary… for his safety… for Alistair's… and for Kate's.

He settled a basket with some foodstuffs off to one side, not knowing how long it would take, but wanting them to be safe here until it was accomplished. He'd added a bottle of wine, two glasses, and some chocolates to the bread, caviar and fruit. Then he checked the lock on the stout steel door that Methos had added in the last century. It could be locked from the inside… not the outside. Methos had planned it as a safe haven in the event of discovery by another immortal. It was a bolthole. They could lock themselves in, if they wished… and know that they would be safe.

Satisfied that he had made all the preliminary arrangements, he climbed the stairs to the main level to prepare dinner. Meanwhile, he kept going over the explanation he'd need to give them in his mind, mentally ticking off all the important points that he needed to cover. It was dark by the time the headlights from a vehicle flashed over the windows.

Duncan let out a long breath, wiped his damp hands on a towel, took a sip of his wine, and went to greet his guests.

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After taking their bags up to one of the bedrooms, and freshening up, Kate and Alistair joined Duncan in the formal dining room. He'd set three places gathered at one end of the long table and had lit some candles, as well as dimming the lights from the chandelier. He opened a bottle of wine and began pouring some into their glasses.

"Nice digs," Alistair said with a sniff.

"Yes… it's a lovely house. I take it Amanda is not joining us for dinner?" Kate added as she slid into one chair. Alistair held and then pushed in her chair before taking the one on the far side of the table.

Duncan settled into the one at the head of the table, and began to serve the stir-fry. "I hope you like Oriental," he said.

"It's fine," Kate said flatly. "But I doubt eating stir-fry is something that will give me what I want."

"No…" Duncan chuckled, "it won't. But a good meal will make what I have to explain to you go down a little easier."

Kate eyed him curiously. She lifted a fork and began to move the food around on her plate.

"Eat Kate," Duncan said softly.

She glared at him momentarily as if his urging her to eat was a jab at her thinness. It had been one of the arguments that had broken them up twenty years ago. He wanted her to eat… and she just couldn't bring herself to. One of the things she adored about Alistair… was that he didn't criticize her… her actions… or her appearance. She glanced at him. He winked as he sipped the wine. Beneath the table she felt his foot reach out for hers and nudge it. Then he smiled.

Kate nodded and began to eat… admitting to herself that it tasted quite good.

After dinner, the three adjourned to the parlor and Duncan poured them each a brandy before settling into an easy chair. He took a deep breath. "I told you earlier it takes three immortals to make it possible for there to be a child."

Kate nodded soberly. She was seated on the edge of the sofa, eagerly hanging on every word. One hand was clasped tightly into Alistair's. Unlike her, he was sitting back, relaxed, legs crossed as he darkly eyed Duncan.

After taking a sip, he continued. "The three we call the bearer… that's always a female, the sire… a male, and a quickener… the third."

Alistair snorted. "You make it sound like a breeding program for race-horses."

"Hush," Kate snapped. "Go on Duncan. What does the quickener do?"

"He or she makes it possible for the other two to become fertile for a limited time."

Kate smiled. "When can we get started?"

"Tonight if you like."

Alistair turned back sharply. "And the necessity of holy ground? You mentioned that earlier."

Duncan set his brandy down on the table with a slight shrug. "I'm not certain it is absolutely necessary… just that it might be safer for all of us. Kate will be vulnerable… I'd hate for anything to happen to her. Besides… let's just say immortals tend to get along a little better if they can't suddenly pick up a sharp object and take each other's heads."

"You're scaring me," Kate said.

"I'm trying to. This is not something you should go into lightly. There are dangers. A developing child requires quickening as it grows."

"Which I'm willing to give," Kate insisted. "Duncan. Having a child is the only thing that has ever mattered to me. I want this more than anything. And if it's possible… I'm ready."

"Kate I need to explain some things," Duncan insisted.

"Where is the holy ground on this place?" Alistair suddenly said. "Some family crypt?"

"No… there's a chapel."

"A church?"

"A family chapel… as I say… I'm not certain it needs to be done there… I just think it may be for the best."

"Like a wedding," Kate murmured softly and then stood. "Show me."

Duncan nodded as he rose, leading the way to the sub-level's chapel where Kate looked around, wide-eyed with enthusiasm. He smiled. She was taking this well.

"So? Do we disrobe?" she said almost giddy at the thought.

For a moment Duncan hesitated. This was going far too quickly. There were things he hadn't yet explained… such as the need for his continued involvement with the couple for the next year or so. And yet Kate's bright eyes… looking at him for the first time in a long time with something other than hate or hurt… made him smile. "You two will need to… but not until you're alone. I don't think I need to be."

"Good!" snapped Alistair, obviously uneasy. He put an arm possessively about Kate's shoulders as if to say "she's mine."

Duncan put his own hands behind his back as if to signify that he understood.

"What now?" Kate asked.

Duncan gazed at he for a moment and then nodded. He held out his hands to them. "We need to be touching."

Kate clasped one of his hands… but Alistair stared at the offered hand for a moment.

"All of us have to be touching… this has to be done in a circle… and we have to agree that this is what we want."

"Please Alistair," Kate pleaded. "Don't mess this up for me. It means so much."

Alistair's face softened and he touched her cheek. "For you my dear… anything." He held his free hand out toward Duncan.

Duncan closed his eyes and tried to recall what Phillip had told him… about being open and willing to help… about his desire that the three of them could manage… that they were in agreement. He dug deep within himself… offering a part of himself to them somehow. After some moments he opened an eye.

Nothing had happened. The others looked at him curiously. Holding their hands evidently wasn't enough. "Both of you have to be open and willing for this to happen. You have to declare mentally your desire for this… and your willingness to give of yourself for the sake of a child."

Kate nodded and closed her eyes… a smile played across her mouth. Alistair stared at Duncan and then glanced at Kate sadly. He seemed to know that if he failed her somehow… she'd leave him now. His hand dropped hers and reached around her back. "I'll do anything for you," he whispered as her hand reached around his back.

Taking his cue from them, Duncan dropped their hands and followed suit… embracing them both tightly. Their hands touched on his back as his touched their other hands on each other's back. His fingers laced with Kate's. On his back he could feel their hands clasped. His fingers reached for Alistair's on Kate's back and as soon as they touched… he felt it… a slight charge of quickening that seemed to crackle at each pair of hands. He focused on helping them… on giving them what was necessary. Suddenly he felt thrown back by a force of power. Quickening crackled over Kate and Alistair for a moment and then faded. Duncan felt drained.

But Kate had never looked lovelier. Despite himself he wanted her. He stepped closer. Alistair growled at him. Duncan froze. Each man looked at the other as if he was a deadly enemy. Slowly Duncan backed away. When he reached the chapel door, he paused for a moment, and then pulled the door shut. He leaned against it a moment… while he tried to clear his mind. "Amanda," he whispered… I wish you were here. This would be so much easier if you were." Slowly he turned and climbed the stairs. After pouring another brandy, he downed it quickly and then went upstairs to bed… being certain to lock the bedroom door… and to have his katana nearby.

It was only as he was drifting off to sleep that he realized he'd gotten ahead of himself and forgotten to mention his on-going contribution to this arrangement for a while. Well… he couldn't go down and interrupt them. They'd be busy for some time. He'd tell them in the morning. Duncan rolled over and fell into an exhausted sleep… a sleep where he dreamed of Amanda.

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It was still dark when he opened an eye… uncertain of what had disturbed him. Then he realized it was his phone. Pulling it from his pocket he stared at the LED display blearily. It was Amanda. "Hey! I was thinking about you," he said.

"Liar," Amanda replied. "Listen… I wouldn't have called… but we've got a problem."

"How so?"

"I think Robert and Gina have blood-bonded."

Duncan sat straight up in the bed. "You're there?"

"Yeah… and things are not going well."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh… I think they'll kill each other before the night is out. Where are you? Can you come? I can't do this alone."

"A couple of hours away. I'll leave right now. Have you called Ellie?"

"No. What can she do tonight? Right now I need help keeping these two apart. You're closest."

"I'm on my way." Duncan was on his feet, slipping into his boots and grabbing a jacket. He turned off the phone as he raced down the stairs. Pausing at the hallway to the back stairs he could still feel them in the chapel. Likely they'd be consumed with this for some time. He wished he could secure the door… but the lock was inside. He'd call them later after he got to the de Valicourt chateau. His mind made up… Duncan raced out to his car and drove off.

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Chateau de Valicourt:

As Amanda rang off, she sighed as she listened to the crashing of something breakable against the wall. What had started as a lovely day had gradually degenerated as the two lovebirds had begun sniping at one another. Robert kept making snide remarks about Duncan… and Gina made a few about men in general and their inability to keep it in their pants. Then Amanda's name had been added to the list of women Robert had evidently thought of.

He'd held Gina off of Amanda as she'd raced for her room. The Watcher, Madeline, had also decided to make herself scarce. Evidently Gina was threatening her as well. Things had quieted down for a bit so Amanda had tiptoed down to the kitchen to get something to eat.

She'd found Madeline there as well.

"They certainly are a volatile couple," the young Watcher said.

Amanda shivered slightly. Other than Joe, she still didn't feel comfortable around the Watchers. She wondered just why Robert and Gina had agreed to have one in the house.

Shortly after… raised voices and the sound of steel on steel had sounded from the de Valicourts' chambers. Madeline had sat back in her chair while Amanda had risen.

"Aren't you going to help me?"

Madeline shrugged. "I'm a Watcher. I'm not supposed to get involved." She crossed her arms and legs and remained where she was.

Amanda had huffed off to prevent Robert and Gina from killing one another. It was then that she'd figured out what they'd done as she began picking up on their thrown accusations and when they started finishing each other's sentences. She recalled that Eleanor had warned her that living in one another's mind could be disconcerting unless one already knew the other's mind.

Evidently Robert and Gina had decided that since they'd been "happily" married for over three hundred years… they already knew one another well enough. In their eagerness to achieve unity… they'd managed to have a selective memory about some of the bad times. Amanda realized she couldn't do this alone… as despite her close friendship with Gina… the woman now suspected her of coming here to catch Robert's eye.

Leaving and saving her own head had admittedly crossed Amanda's mind earlier. But these were friends. If this was the future for some immortals… this could also be a cautionary tale. "Fools rush in," Amanda quoted under her breath after she managed to lock Gina in a bathroom. That's when she'd called MacLeod. Someone had to work with Robert… and it couldn't be her. Gina might take any involvement as a threat. The same could be said of Robert feeling that MacLeod was a threat… according to some of the things said. But MacLeod was a big boy… he could deal with it.

Right now… Amanda just wished he'd get here.

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Fairfax County, VA:

Ten minutes after Sarah Manning checked into her room… she noticed that her PPC was missing. She screamed a torrent of curses in several languages as she tossed items against the wall and tried vainly to remember the last time she'd used it. It had to have been before she'd gone to the airport to catch her flight east. Thankfully everything on it was encrypted and any attempt to open the files would result in their immediate erasure. Still… it was a hassle. She'd have to hit an electronics store first thing in the morning to replace it. Thankfully she still had her access code to the government sites and could re-establish links into the system. She had wanted to keep an eye on the Adams/Pierson estate via satellite, but this would delay her plans. It couldn't be helped.

She sat up late flipping through channels and watching erotic films on pay per view until she finally calmed down enough to drop off to sleep.

At first she wasn't certain why she awoke when it was obviously still dark. Raising her head… she tried to get her mind to focus on what had awakened her. She finally realized it was her phonecard. She pulled it out of her bag and stared at it… trying to recall who had her number. She shook her head. No one should have it. She let the call go into the voice-mailbox and tossed the card onto the bedside table to settle back to sleep.

Ten minutes later… the call still on her mind, she turned on the light and pulled up her voice-mail to listen to the message.

"Hi… this is Daryl… from the plane… and the airport closet." He laughed nervously. "After you left… I found your PPC on the floor. The only thing that came up on it was this phone number so I'm assuming it's you." He laughed again. "Well… if it is you… you can contact me at…" and he gave a number. "I'd really like to see you again. You rock my world baby," he said lamely… and then… "Forget I said that. Anyway… call me and I'll get your computer to you. Bye."

Sarah scooted down in the covers with a smirk. Well… she could call him tomorrow… certainly not tonight… and meet him someplace public. After that… she'd see how it went. After replacing her phonecard on the nightstand, she turned off the light and rolled over to sleep… her mind much calmer about her missing computer… and the luscious young man she could play with while waiting for Ben or his family to return home.

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