Exactly two hours later Richie felt the presence of Janet and Adam. They entered the cottage with Sam and Jack in tow. Richie was sitting in the front room while Louise was in their bedroom in the final stages of getting ready. Patty and Edward had retreated to the second bedroom to get ready themselves. It seemed that it was going to be a race who would finish first.
Richie was relieved to finally have the 'backup' he so desperately wanted. "It's about time you turned up!"
"What? We're here exactly when we said we were going to be. Don't tell me you couldn't deal less than two hours with the parents from hell?" Adam laughed not noticing Edward who had just entered the room.
"Well, I see you've been spreading good things about us all around!" Edward glared at Richie who lost the entire colour from his face in a matter of seconds.
Adam could tell Richie was trying to keep his temper under raps but Edward seemed to be able to wind him up completely without much effort. Whether it was intended or not, but Adam was positive he was going to be watching Edward very closely for any signs that it was intentional.
Edward held his hand out for Adam. "Edward Robinson, we didn't have any time this morning for introductions."
"Nice to meet you." Adam took his hand and had to restrain himself from squeezing it in a show of power.
Edward then turned to the rest of the group waiting for them to introduce themselves as well.
"Colonel Jack O'Neill" Jack held out his hand letting Edward shake it.
"Major Samantha Carter, but you can call me Sam." Sam smiled while Edward nodded his head.
"Doctor Janet Fraiser." Janet tried to hide her discomfort as she smiled at Edward. She noticed though that there was some kind of recognition in his eyes that made her think he knew she was immortal, although he didn't say anything.
"Dr., nice to meet you."
Patty came into the room just then giving her husband a stern look. "I hope you're behaving yourself, Edward!"
"Of course I am dear. Let me introduce you to these nice people, Jack O'Neill, Sam Carter, Janet Fraiser and Adam Pierson who we met this morning momentarily."
"Oh yes, nice to meet you again Mr. Pierson." Patty smiled sweetly at Adam.
"Adam, please! Getting called Mr. Pierson makes me feel old." Janet made a quick retreat to the kitchen trying to hide the fact that she was having a hard time trying not to laugh at Adam's remark about feeling old.
"We ready to go then?" Louise said coming into the room and slipping her arm around Richie's waist.
"Yep all set." Richie answers feeling slightly better with her giving him some strength.
"So has anyone decided where we're going?" Louise couldn't help but smile at the thought of her friends and family getting along although she knew it was more then likely just hopeful thinking.
Sam looked at Jack with a gleam in her eyes, "do you think they'll let us back into O'Malley's?"
"Well, we haven't got the T or Daniel with us; plus, you're not in the condition to start any fights at the moment. I don't see why they shouldn't."
"You started the fight at O'Malley's?" Janet asked Sam, shocked at Jack's comment.
"No, I didn't start the fight, Daniel did. I think he got sick of being called a geek, but hey, I couldn't just sit there and let my team mates get beat up." Sam struggled off the question.
"Ok, enough about your teams and how they entertain themselves. I'm hungry, let's get going. Who's in whose cars anyway?" Richie asked as his stomach protested about being neglected.
"Well, as we've driven up here in Adam's car, it'd be easier if you and Louise take Edward and Patty in your car then at least when we're ready to call it a day there won't be too many detours."
"Ok, that sounds good. Richie, I'll drive so you at least can have a drink." Louise volunteered.
"Are you sure, Louise, I don't mind driving."
"No, its fine, come on then let's go."
During the half hour drive to O'Malley's, silence reigned, except for the occasional conversation between Louise and her mother. No matter what she'd told him about how her father and her never getting along, Richie was sure she was pretty close to her mother.
Louise was soon pulling her car up behind Adam's in the parking lot. Her parking spot gave them a good view of the inside of O'Malley's main window. They could tell it was pretty quite within, which would mean less need to shout above the noise.
Richie was glad about Louise offering to drive, as he was ready for a strong drink or four. He couldn't believe someone could do that to him just from spending a short drive with him.
Richie had noticed on several occasions during the drive that Edward kept glancing at him with a look in his eyes which clearly said 'I don't' like you and I never will'.
They all met up outside the doors to O'Malley's. They quickly entered out of the cold and were quickly seated on a table in the far corner. Sam and Jack couldn't help but notice it was the furthest point from the pool table; maybe the staff at O'Malley's wasn't so sure about having them back after all.
Talking amongst themselves Louise couldn't help but notice that Richie kept physical contact with her at all times whether it was just a hand on her thigh or taking her hand in his under the table. She could tell he was trying to be as polite as possible to her parents but she also noticed the looks her father kept throwing at him and it made anger rise within her.
Janet seemed to be just as wary as Richie of Edward, although she seemed to be at least managing to have a good time. Adam didn't seem to be one hundred percent relaxed either as she noticed how he kept taking quick glances at Edward and then at Richie easily noticing the tension between the two.
The food arrived while they were all enjoying their second drinks, which were been consumed at a social pace while pleasant conversation continued; it seemed to be a relaxing environment. When the buzz of another immortal entered the heads of the immortals, that relaxing environment suddenly turned tense. Adam and Louise managed to stop themselves from turning their heads but Janet and Richie both looked towards the door just as an immortal all but Janet knew entered.
"What's Kenver still doing in town?" Richie leaned over and whispered into Louise's ear so her parents couldn't hear what he'd said.
Louise gave him a puzzled look and pleaded to him to let Kenver know what was happening. Richie nodded at her then squeezed her hand then rose from the table and walked towards Kenver before he had a chance to reach the table.
"Hey Kenver, starting to get the feeling you don't want to leave town or something!" Richie said with a small smile.
"Is Louise Ok?" Kenver asked as he glance over Richie's shoulder to catch a glance of Louise.
"She fine, Kenver. Her parents just came into town today. That's what she wanted me to come over to tell you about."
"I know about her parents, that's why I never got on the plane. I've been trying to get hold of her all day but she's not been answering her phone."
"We've been at the base most of the day. What's wrong Kenver?" Richie asked concern creeping in to his voice.
"Her parents know about her being immortal, they already know about me being her teacher. Malcolm told them. This must be some kind of trick if they haven't let on to the fact they know about her. I don't believe we can't trust them, I've had a funny feeling about them for a while and this just confirms it."
"Wait here!" Richie said annoyance taking over the concern as he left Kenver where he stood and went back to the table, shooting deadly looks at Edward.
"Louise, can you come over here a minute? Adam can you come too?"
"Sure" Adam and Louise replied together.
Once they were back with Kenver Louise couldn't hold in her curiosity any longer. "What's going on Kenver?"
"Your parents know about you been immortal Louise. Malcolm told them about your immortality not long after you left for the states."
"What? Then why are they acting like they don't know?"
"I believe it is some kind of trick."
"Wait a minute. Yeah Dad's annoying and everything but I can't see him doing anything to endanger me and Mum you can forget about it."
"Louise, listen to me I have not only been looking out for you over the past few years because you were my student I also kept an eye on the people you care about, including your parents. When Malcolm told them about you before he headed hear to confront you they didn't react normally. They were repulsed that they'd raised a daughter that turned out to be immortal. I'm not saying this to try and hurt your feelings Louise, you know me too well to think I'd do something like that. I'm telling you this because I believe you need to know to help you and Richie survive this meeting. I can sense something is not right."
"Are you trying to tell me that my own parents would consider hurting me and Richie just because we're immortal?" Louise couldn't help but hiss.
"No I'm telling you that they'll kill the both of you because of that fact." Kenver replied calmly. "When they got off the plane they went to collect something. Something other than normal luggage, they collected a sword Louise."
"But?" Louise didn't know how to react.
"Kenver, can you take Louise and Richie back to the cottage? I'll deal with Edward and Patty then meet you all back there. I won't risk putting them in any more danger." Adam said barely managing to keep his anger in track and Richie raised his eyebrow at the fact Adam was willing to trust Kenver.
"What about Janet?" Louise asked in concern.
"She hasn't lived this long without being able to look after herself, plus I don't think they'll try anything with us being in public I just don't want to take the chance with you two."
"Ok" Louise barely whispered in defeat then turned and let Kenver lead her to the door with Richie right behind them.
Adam turned back around to face the table and noticed the entire group we're looking in his direction. He let out a breath trying to alleviate some of the anger so he wouldn't do anything he'd regret later, or anything anyone else would regret later then made his way back over to the table.
"What's going on Adam? Where are Louise and Richie going?" Jack asked as Adam arrived back at the table.
"Kenver is taking them home. We've got to go and meet them because something's come up." Adam couldn't bring himself to look at Patty or Edward as he was trying to stop the already existing anger from boiling to the point of no return.
"Well let's get going then." Edwards said rising to his feet and was almost instantly pushed back down into the seat.
"You two are going nowhere with us and if I were you I'd get out of town before tonight's over with!" Adam's head snapped round and the look on his face showed that he was deadly serious.
"What the hell are you talking about? You've just let my daughter walk off with two immortals and now you're telling me to get out of town. What's going on?" Adam could tell that Edward was becoming irrational as any watcher would never talk about immortals in public let alone with a group of people he didn't realise knew about immortal.
"Don't pull the dumb act on me because I'm not buying it." Adam hissed standing dead in front of Edward only inches from his face. "Get out of town before I do something I may not regret."
With that Adam swiftly turned and walked towards the exit. Jack, Janet and Sam looked stunned for a second or two before they followed him out in silence. Their minds processing what had just happened with both Edward and Adam and the way Adam had instantly changed from Adam mild mannered man to Methos, Death of the Four Horsemen, although Janet wasn't as surprised as the others it still shook her slight and sent her mind reeling back to the past.
Patty sat while Edward stood and watched the group walk away wondering how it was possible they could've found out. Edward shivered involuntarily at the memory of the look of death in Adam's eyes and wondered how someone who had been part of the watcher and must understand what he and Patty were going through could posses that much anger against them.