Disclaimer: Same as before – blah, blah, blah.

Thanks again to readers and reviewers.

Gwen's classes that first day had gone fairly smoothly. Her big introduction to religion class turned out to be mostly full of underclassmen fulfilling criteria requirements or taking electives that fit the time slot. She had expected that. There were a couple of students, though who had come because they were actually interested in the subject matter and were thinking of Near Eastern Studies as a major. She offered them any help they might need in the their pursuits.

Unbeknownst to her, Adam had attended her lecture. He'd seen her in small social settings, performing with the band and just recently in the dojo, but he was seeing a completely different side of her here. She was in full professor mode – confident, professional, and erudite. She even looked a bit conservative in a simple long black skirt, black boots and a cream-colored turtleneck sweater with her hair pulled back at the nape of her neck.

Both of them were busy with classes and students all week. It was Friday afternoon at the dojo before they saw each other for more than a brief moment. Adam arrived first and was already sparring with Duncan. Richie sat off to the side watching. He got up when he saw Gwen come in, but she motioned for him to sit back down. "I want to watch for a bit," she said, sitting beside him.

Gwen was in awe. She had sparred with Duncan and knew that his skills were extraordinary, but it had never occurred to her that Adam could do anything like this. Both men fought as if they had been born with swords in their hands. Richie started to say something to her. He saw the look on her face and simply smiled and sat back to watch.

Adam and Duncan were working with real swords, not the wooden practice swords that she was used to. While they appeared to be evenly matched, their styles were very different. There was more force behind the Scot's blows where Adam's were more fluid, yet precise. Aware of the audience they now had, both men tried to disarm the other without drawing blood. Neither wanted the questions that might bring.   

Twenty minutes later, both men were covered in sweat and panting. They had been holding back so that they wouldn't cut each other and at the moment neither had an advantage. Finally, Adam decided to call it a draw. Duncan agreed and they both lowered their weapons.

Richie turned to Gwen to see if she was ready to work out, but she was still sitting there with a stunned look on her face. "Wow" was all she could manage to say. The younger man laughed heartily at this. He was so used to watching his older friends fight that he forgot how it might appear to someone else.

At last, Gwen found her voice, "How long have you guys been doing this? I have never seen anything like that before in my life!"

Duncan and Adam exchanged an amused glance before Adam replied, "I've been sword fighting for so long, I really can't remember a time when I didn't know how."

Richie desperately tried to keep a straight face as he looked to Duncan to see what his response would be.  In a surprisingly calm manner, he just shrugged and said, "Yes, that's pretty much how it is for me, too."

"Wow. That was really incredible," she said, still awestruck. Turning to Richie she commented, "No wonder you're such a good teacher if you've been training with these guys."

"Well, I really don't have any hope of being that good," he said, blushing. "But if you don't mind sparring with an inferior swordsman, I'll be happy to work out with you now."

Standing up, she said, "Let's go."

Gwen and Richie sparred for forty minutes or so with the practice swords. Suddenly, she stopped and asked what time it was. Duncan consulted the clock in the office and informed her that it was almost six o'clock.

"Oh, I've got to go. I didn't realize how late it was." She started gathering her things.

"Where are you off to," Richie wanted to know. "Are you guys playing tonight?"

"No," she said casually, "actually, I have a date."

"WHAT!!??!!???" all three men exclaimed at once.

She looked from one to the other in surprise, "Sorry," she said warily, "am I not allowed to go on a date? Am I grounded for some reason?"

Richie recovered first. "I think we are just surprised because you haven't ever mentioned dating anybody before."

Duncan was next. He swallowed hard before asking, "So, who are you going out with?

"Peter," she replied.

"Peter Harris?!?" Adam asked. "You're dating Peter Harris?"

"We're not exactly dating," she said. "I mean we hung out because of the band, but we've never been out before. He asked me to dinner and a play, so I'm going. It's no big deal."

"Cool," Richie said, "I think it's about time you went out and had some fun."

"Thanks, Richie," Gwen replied, "See you guys later." She waved at the two older men and headed out the door.

The redhead turned back to his two friends who were still staring at the door. "What's up with you guys?" he asked. "I think it's great that she going out with someone." When neither of the older men spoke, he shook his head. "Well, I'm going to take my girlfriend to the movies. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye."

When he was gone, Duncan looked at Adam, "Well, I guess I'm going to Joe's. Care to join me?"

Adam nodded absently, "Maybe later. I have a few things to do first. See you, MacLeod."

Duncan slowly walked around the dojo picking up the practice swords and other gear and placing them back on the wall. When everything was back in it's place, he locked the door and went up to the loft to shower and change.

Gwen was still confused by the reactions of her friends to her having a date. Richie seemed okay after the initial outburst, but the way Duncan and Adam had been almost shocked at the idea didn't make sense. Granted, Andrea had said that Duncan seemed interested in her, but she had dismissed that as her imagination. Maybe she was right, but how did that explain Adam's reaction?

Pushing the thoughts from her mind she finished dressing so she would be ready when Peter came to pick her up.

When Adam got home he immediately stripped and stepped into the hottest shower he could stand. He was disturbed by the way he had reacted to Gwen's announcement that she had a date. Maybe it was because she was going out with Peter Harris. She and Peter had a lot in common. They had spent quite a bit of time together both on campus and playing in the band and he had noticed that they enjoyed each other's company, but they seemed to be just friends. He hated that it bothered him so much that she was spending time with someone else.

Finally Adam realized that he was brooding. 'Damn, I'm starting to act like MacLeod!' he thought. 'I need a beer or twenty. I guess I am going to Joe's."

The people at Joe's were mostly there celebrating the birthday of a woman named Brigitte. Neither Joe nor Duncan knew her, but Joe felt obligated to send t hem a bottle of wine and play a song for her since she had brought so much business in that night. He worried a little about Duncan, though. The Scot had asked for a bottle of scotch and had barely said ten words in the hour and a half that he had been there.

When Adam strode in and growled at Joe to pour him a beer, he had to ask what was going on. Adam and Duncan barely glanced at each other before replying in unison, "Nothing."  The barman looked from one man to the other as they both scowled into their drinks. Since they obviously didn't want to talk, he didn't push it. He'd call Richie or Gwen in the morning and find out what had them in such horrible moods.