Chapter Twenty
Niebos:

The lights in the village below were winking out one by one. In the distance, he could still hear music and laughter at the local village cantina. The revelers would be heading home soon. Out to sea, a ship's horn sounded as it passed the distant shoals. He could lights moving slowly across the thin line that differentiated between the black ocean and the black sky.

Greg Powers took a drag on his cigarette and then flicked it away into the night… watching the sparks shower from it as it fell among the leafy plants and onto the damp earth. He watched a moment longer to be certain that they all went out… that there was no chance of fire… and then he gazed again at the ship moving across the face of the water.

At a footstep, he glanced behind him. So accustomed was he to immortal presence here that it barely registered on him as it would in the outside world.

"I didn't mean to disturb you," Eleanor said. She leaned on the balustrade next to him and closed her eyes. "It's so beautiful out here at night."

Greg nodded with a chuckle. "I was thinking much the same thing. Where are the others?"

"Marianna's in bed sleeping. Denara quite wore her out today. Something about racing up and down the mountain."

"What about J. D.?"

"He and the other two trouble-makers are engrossed in a game of chess. I think Phillip's trying to teach them strategy."

"And chess never interested you," he teased.

"Nope… never did." She turned and leaned back, letting her hair drop behind her as she sighed audibly.

"What's his nibs up to?"

"He's on his way home. Should be here by morning."

"Here?"

Eleanor nodded. "He wants to talk with Phillip and me about what to do next."

"About finding this new immortal?" Greg shrugged when she stared at him. "I hear things. I listen. Who is he? I didn't think there were any more."

Eleanor stared back at the house for a moment and then leaned closer. "Someone who shouldn't exist… and yet does. Did you ever wonder what happened to the power of an immortal killed by mortals… when the quickening wasn't released?"

Greg nodded. "Sure! Who hasn't?"

"Darius… for instance."

Greg stared at her. He'd been around enough in the past few years to know that she'd been one of Darius' pupils at one time. One of the reasons her head count was so low, was the immortal priest's influence on her. He raised an eyebrow. "You think the boy is Darius returned to us?"

Eleanor shook her head. "No… not exactly. But I do think something of Darius' spirit lives in him… has always lived in him… even when he was a boy."

Greg contemplated the lights on the ocean. "And he may have the answers we seek… the rest of them?"

Eleanor nodded. "Or…" she chuckled, "… he may know nothing at all. But he shouldn't be out there… untrained. There are still those of us who hunt. The game goes on… despite MacLeod's efforts."

Greg shook his head. "Bad time to be born into the world. Bad time to be just starting out. The young are easy prey… always have been. Not everyone wanted to let them grow stronger… have a chance at life." His eyes glazed over a moment. "Did MacLeod ever tell you about Richie?"

Eleanor shook her head. "Methos did. He was MacLeod's student. MacLeod killed him."

"Hated himself for doing it. Then he worked through it and used it to focus his anger outward at the real culprit… that demon or whatever it was, who was testing him."

"Ahriman."

"That was it… Ahriman. A demon who rises every thousand years to test the strongest of us." Greg chuckled and shook his head.

Eleanor crossed her arms. "What of him?"

"I was just wondering who would be tested in a thousand years… providing some of us are still here."

Eleanor shook her head, whispering as she gazed toward the house, "I don't know."

Laughter arose from the garden as John and Grace approached the main house from their walk home from the hospital. Greg ran a hand through his hair and shifted uncomfortably.

"I thought you were seeing Diana, the nurse of the children's wing," Eleanor teased.

"I was," Greg replied. "I broke it off."

"Why? Surely it helped."

"She's mortal. After what I experienced with Grace and John… it just wasn't enough."

"No… I feel the same way whenever I contemplate ever being with anyone besides Methos. But you three didn't bond."

Greg shook his head. "No… but for one moment… we were in perfect agreement. For one moment my soul was laid bare and I loved them both."

"And you still do."

Greg nodded. "I didn't fully understand what Phillip warned me of when Grace first broached the subject."

"He told me. But it is necessary that I'm not the only one… that Methos and I aren't the only ones… as if we were somehow special or different. We were simply the ones who experienced it first… both the bonding… and the children."

"Now we know that even un-bonded immortals can breed… that one is not dependent upon the other."

"Yes," she murmured as she contemplated the ramifications of that.

"I just didn't realize how much it would change me… and my perceptions of life. I realize how grateful I am to MacLeod that he didn't take my head that day."

Eleanor stretched up to kiss his cheek. "We're all grateful for that. Good night Greg."

"G'night," he responded… but his thoughts were already on the approaching couple… and his anticipated time with them.

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Chateau de Valicourt:

Dawn was just beginning to make its appearance as Duncan pulled into the graveled courtyard of the estate. He spun slightly as he hit the brakes and was out of the car even before it had completely stopped moving.

He was still a good three yards from the front door when he paused as something heavy went flying out of an upper story window… followed by voices raised in anger. He ducked away from the falling glass and made certain that it was only furniture… in this case… a steamer trunk that had broken open spilling its contents of silk and lace on the gravel… before continuing his desperate approach.

Just as he reached the door… it was yanked open by an attractive young woman. "Duncan MacLeod?" she said breathlessly.

He nodded as she gestured him in.

"I'll kill him!" screamed Gina's voice from upstairs. There were sounds of a struggle. Duncan gave no further thought to the young woman and bounded up the stairs… three at a time… to reach the conflict.

Pausing only momentarily as he reached it, careening through the broken door to see Amanda desperately holding on to an enraged Gina, who was trying to reach Robert. She'd exhausted all the breakables as he could see shards of glassware and porcelain littered around Robert, and was trying to find something else to throw.

When Duncan entered, Gina looked at him with a sudden smile. Instantly her shrieking became a purr of delight. "Duncan!" she said.

"Now stop that!" Robert yelled closing in on her and pointing an accusatory finger at her. Gina stopped struggling and smirked at Robert. He turned with his hands over his face and groaned.

"Duncan! Duncan! Duncan" she kept repeating… not in greeting but as a taunt. Robert turned back red-faced and with hands outstretched toward his wife's neck. "That's enough!"

Duncan threw himself into this and pushed Robert to the far side of the room. The pirate suddenly focused on him. "You want her? You can't have her!" And tried to throttle Duncan while Gina kept saying Duncan's name.

The Highlander heard the sound of a well-delivered blow and a body fall to the floor. Instantly, Robert looked over Duncan's shoulder and wailed, "Gina! My love! What have you done to her?" he accused Amanda.

Duncan took the opportunity to cold-cock Robert.

Once both lovers were unconscious, Duncan looked over at Amanda. "You weren't kidding!"

"Of course not. Did you think I called just to say I missed you?" She began dragging Gina's body down the hall and locked it in another room.

Duncan tossed Robert over his shoulder and looked about until he found a small bathroom where he tumbled the body into the tub and locked the door. Already he could hear Robert stirring.

Amanda met him on the balcony between the two wings and raced into his arms. He hugged her tightly… he'd missed her last night… he'd missed her all day yesterday. Tipping her chin up… he told her so and kissed her passionately.

At first she responded and then struggled and pushed him away. "We don't have time for that!" she snapped.

"They're locked up," he protested. "Besides… I missed you."

"You don't understand," Amanda explained. "I keep locking them up and they keep breaking out. Sometimes they're all smoochy and then one of them apparently has a stray thought and they're at each other's necks again."

"Oh," Duncan nodded.

"I think they bonded. I can't call Methos because he's on the road and Eleanor has to stay with…" her voice trailed off as she stepped back and smiled at the young woman. Duncan turned when he saw her and smiled in appreciation.

"Madeline," Amanda was saying. "I really think you need to leave like the servants did."

Madeline shook her head. "I'm their Watcher. I'd heard they fought often by always made up… but is this normal?" She shifted slightly as she stopped so that Duncan got a good look at her trim form and well-developed assets. He rolled his eyes. "Let me guess… Robert appreciated her looks and Gina went wild."

"That pretty much sums it up," Amanda replied. "And now… Gina is obviously repaying the thoughts by fantasizing rather forcefully about you."

"We never… I mean… I wanted to… but so did Fitz… and it just wasn't proper in that day… and then she met Robert…" Duncan's protests dropped sputteringly from his mouth.

"I know," Amanda said touching his cheek. "You told me… Remember?"

"Aye."

"So what is going on with them?" Madeline asked.

"Just the usual," Amanda tried to explain, turning her attention from Duncan to the young Watcher. "Really. You should leave for a few days."

"I can't. This is a plum assignment to be asked into a home and to be able to interview subjects… immortals… about their past and fill in gaps. It's part of our new policy. If I blow this, I'll be stuck in research."

Amanda looked pleadingly at Duncan, who getting the gist of the problem, slipped an arm into Madeline's and escorted her down the stairs.

"No one is accusing you of falling down on the job. It's just… we need to get them settled down and your presence keeps stirring things up."

"Why?"

"You are an extremely attractive young woman, Madeline. Surely you're aware of that?" Duncan grasped one of her hands… lifted it to his lips and kissed it while gazing at her warmly.

Blushing, Madeline grinned and tossed her hair. Her lips parted briefly and she smiled at Duncan in invitation. "Really?"

Oh brother, he thought. No wonder Gina is after Robert! He glanced back at the amused Amanda leaning on the balcony rail and smirking at them both. "Just go into town for a while. We'll let you know when they've calmed down enough for you to return."

Madeline pouted. Her lower lip protruded. "But I'm supposed to watch and record."

"But not interfere. Yes… I know, Madeline. But right now your presence here is interfering. They just need time to calm down."

The Watcher sighed. "I'll gather my things."

Duncan grabbed her arm again and pushed her through the now open door. "I'll send whatever you need." He slammed the door and threw the bolt… collapsing against it with a loud "Whew!"

"I see you understand the problem perfectly," Amanda laughed. He glared at her and then looked up. He could hear Robert banging on the door rather heavily. "Gina! Gina! I'm coming my darling!"

"So what next?" Duncan asked.

"We have to stop her thinking of you and him thinking of Madeline or me… and get them to understand fleeting thoughts."

"They knew not to do this!" Duncan thundered.

"They've been married and together for three hundred years… I suppose they thought they knew what they were doing." Amanda threw up her hands as she descended the stairs.

Duncan met her halfway. "Do you suppose Eleanor or Methos told them what to do?"

"I doubt it. But they're both clever… they may have just figured it out."

Duncan looked up from one wing to the other and sighed. "Do you suppose something like this is what started the killing in the first place?"

"Maybe," Amanda laid her head on his chest. "I'm just glad you could come… that you and Kate hadn't begun your other little project. I don't think I can manage this alone."

Duncan's heart sank. "As a matter of fact…" he began.

"You didn't!" protested Amanda. "Already? Gods Duncan… you have to be with her!"

"I know. There's still time… but I have to get back."

Amanda broke free and paced. "I'll call Eleanor later. You head back to Kate and I'll catch some sleep while the lovebirds are separated."

"Amanda…" Duncan pleaded.

"No… go… I'm sorry I called you." She regally climbed the stairs. "I'm tired right now and I need to sleep."

"Kate's not a threat to you… or us," Duncan called after her.

"It's not Kate that's the threat Duncan," Amanda said pausing and looking down on him sadly. "You have other obligations now and I accept that." She shrugged. "But it doesn't mean I have to like it. It's my problem… and I'll deal with it."

From above, Gina's voice calling for Robert had joined his.

"And I will deal with them," Amanda said looking upward and smiling. "I just have to keep them apart. Now who else is in the area that I could call? I need someone who knows what's going on?" Amanda turned and thoughtfully continued ascending the stairs.

Duncan felt torn. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to help his friends… yet already he was feeling the need and the compulsion to be elsewhere. Kate would need him even more. Amanda could cope with this now that both were locked up. At least he hoped so. "Amanda!" he called out warmly. She turned and he gestured with a nod as he turned to leave. Never say goodbye, he thought as he left. Never say goodbye.

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