Sorry for the long delay. It seems that my muse took a vacation and now she's only back on a part time basis. I may have to increase her pay to get her to stick around for longer periods of time. Thanks to all those who read and review. I'll try to get the next installment out more quickly.

 

As the pair emerged from the library, Adam scanned the surrounding area for the now familiar Honda. He spotted it half a block back on the other side of the street, the same young man in the driver's seat. They neared Gwen's car the Honda's engine started.

"Where's your car?" she asked Adam. She didn't see the Land Rover parked anywhere on the street.

"I… uh… it's not running right now, so I have a rental," he stammered. "Do you want to follow me to the restaurant?"

"Sure," Gwen replied. "Which car are you in?"

He indicated the Taurus parked near her Jeep. Adam watched the man in the Honda as they got into their cars. He pulled out and passed Gwen so that she could follow him. He noted that the Honda also started moving behind them.

They drove a few miles to the Thai restaurant the Honda staying with them the whole way. Adam saw it parked to the side of the building as they went in to order their food. Gwen didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, so he didn't mention it.

The man watched the couple as they entered the building. His hands were balled into tight fists and he clenched his jaw waiting for them to come into view again. Twenty minutes later his face darkened as the college professors exited, laughing at a shared joke. He started his car and prepared to tail them again.

As Adam parked near his apartment building he watched the Honda pass him and circle the block. Gwen found a space close by and started pulling her laundry out of the Jeep. Adam grabbed the bag of food and moved to help her with the basket. He watched as the Honda made another pass when they got to the door of the building. Once inside, they headed down to the laundry room to start Gwen's wash, then head up to Adam's apartment for lunch. 

Half an hour later, the two immortals moved from the table to the sofa. Gwen had kicked off her shoes and was sitting cross-legged on one end while Adam lounged on the other. They had been discussing basic life in Ancient Sumer, as Adam remembered it – the houses, the food, the drink.

After a slight lull in the conversation, Gwen finally asked, "So, exactly how old are you?"

Adam's eyes widened and he swallowed mouthful of beer before he answered, "I don't know exactly. Everything before I took my first head is pretty hazy. That was about five thousand years ago, give or take a few hundred years."

Gwen's only reaction to this was a raised eyebrow. She studied him for a few more moments. "What did you do before you went to Ur? I mean… you said that was around twenty-one hundred B.C. Where were you before that?"

"I roamed around the desert mostly… lived with several nomadic tribes. …went to Egypt for a while… watched them build some pyramids," he replied casually.

It was Gwen's turn to show a bit of surprise. Both eyebrows went up, but she smiled, "You say that like it's no big deal. You saw the pyramids being built?"

"Well, I helped some, too," he said. "I've been a slave, a scribe… I've done a little bit of everything over the years, I guess."

She paused and considered her next question. "What was your name then? Or have you always gone by Adam?"

The oldest immortal paused an equal amount of time before answering her, "The earliest name I know that I used was Methos."

"Methos," she said, testing the name out. Nodding, she added, "It suits you… Methos."

"There are very few people who know me by that name," he explained. "I don't use it in public. MacLeod, Richie, and Joe all know. Most immortals believe that Methos is a myth. If it was commonly known that there was a five thousand year old quickening to be had…"

"You'd be hunted," Gwen interrupted. "You didn't have to tell me, you know. I understand that you have…  secrets."

"I wanted you to know," he told her softly. They looked at each other intently for several moments before Methos spoke again, "There are other things I want to tell you…about things that I've done… in my past…"

Before he could finish, they sensed the presence of another immortal nearby. Both of them rose and reached for their weapons. Adam took the position beside the door and motioned for Gwen to move to the other side of the room. A tense moment passed as they gripped the hilts of their swords.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and a voice called out, "You can't hide from me, Methos! I know you're in there!"

Adam sighed with relief and reached to open the door until he saw Gwen looking at him in confusion and fear. "It's just Amanda," he told her. "She basically harmless… to us anyway."

"Open this damned door right now, you big lout!" the female voice shouted through the door.

Gwen couldn't help but smile and she shrugged at Adam whose hand was still on the doorknob. Grinning he raised his sword again as he swung the door open. He yanked the tall woman into the apartment by the arm and held the blade to her throat.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he growled at her. "How did you know that it was really me in here? It could have been anybody! And what did I tell you about yelling my name in public?"

Amanda's brown eyes were wide as the ancient immortal berated her, "I… of course, I knew it was you… I mean…"

Methos lowered the sword and turned around to his guest, "Gwen, meet Amanda. Amanda, this is Gwen."

The young immortal had lowered her sword, but was still on guard. Her bright eyes were wide at meeting another woman immortal. The older woman regarded her for a moment then moved across the room, her hand extended. "Hi. Sorry about all that… I was just a little impatient. I'm Amanda Dareiux."

Taking the offered hand and shaking it firmly, Gwen replied, "Nice to meet you. I'm Gwen Ambrose."

"So, Amanda, why are you here?" asked Methos as he steered the two women toward the living area. "I thought you'd go straight to MacLeod's."

"Actually, I did go to Duncan's place first, but no one was there," she answered him. "I also drove by Joe's and since I didn't see either of their cars, I decided you might know where they were."

Methos shrugged and looked at Gwen, "I haven't talked to either of them today. Did Mac say what he was doing today?"

"We didn't really talk much this morning," she said. "I was in a hurry to get home, shower and get to the library. He didn't mention any plans for the day, though."

Amanda's eyebrows shot up at Gwen's statement about 'this morning.' Seeing the surprised look in the older woman's face, she quickly explained, "We met in the park to run at seven and I left as soon as we were finished. There just wasn't time for conversation."

"Oh, well, I wonder where he could be?" she mused, wandering around the apartment. Suddenly, she turned her attention back to the two immortals in the room. "So, what did interrupt?" she asked winking at Methos.

The oldest immortal blushed slightly and glanced at Gwen who still had her eyes fixed on Amanda. "You didn't interrupt anything except some conversation and laundry," he told her.

At the mention of laundry, Gwen jumped up, "Oh, crap! I've got to go get my stuff out of the dryer. I'll be right back."

As soon as she was out the door, Methos turned to Amanda, "I need your help!"

"Ha! I knew there was something going on!" she exclaimed, "Isn't she responding to your many charms?"

"No, Amanda, it's nothing like that," he sighed. "Just listen for a minute. Someone has been following Gwen for the past month or so. I got close enough to know that he's not one of us, but I can't find anything else out about him. I just need help keeping an eye on her, in case he decides to do something else."

"Are you sure it's not her watcher?" she wanted to know. "Have you asked Joe?"

"Yes, I did ask and he said that since we're around all the time that there was no need for her to have her own yet," explained Methos. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "I haven't told Joe, Richie or Duncan about this. I was afraid they would insist that you take her to that convent and I don't want that to happen."

Amanda's eyes narrowed as she regarded the man in front of her. "When MacLeod first called me about teaching Gwen, I got the impression that he had a thing for her," she said. "I was surprised to find her here with you. Are the two of you fighting over her?"

Shaking his head, Methos leaned back, "I know that Duncan has feelings for her, but Gwen seems to consider him a friend. At least, I don't think that she returns his feelings."

Amanda smiled, "And what about your feelings for her? Does she return those?"

Before he could answer, they sensed Gwen coming back to the apartment. Methos got up to open the door for her. Amanda watched Gwen smile at him as he took the basket from her. The electricity between them was almost palpable.

The taller woman smiled to herself. This young immortal may have turned Duncan's head, but her heart belonged to Methos. It looked like it would be up to her to keep the Scot otherwise occupied so he wouldn't mind so much.