Chapter 7
Things Left Unsaid
I
The house looked dark and empty as they came in the back door. Rhiannon looked up at the clock above the stove, it was 6:30. Little less than four hours to go to the bout. She thought to herself as she watched Duncan laid her gear on the kitchen table.
"I'm going on up to get ready for tonight…that is if you still wanting to go out before the match?" Rhiannon asked with a half of smile.
"Yes...I think it is just what we both need...some relaxation and fun." Duncan replied. Rhiannon shook her head in agreement. She reached up and kissed him on the cheek and smiled. Then she went up stairs.
Duncan watched her go up, then made his way into the living room where he finds Ross stretched out on the couch. Looking down at him, Duncan could see that the bruises on his face had turned a deep purple and most of the swelling was gone. As if on cue, Ross slowly sat up and reached out his hand to Duncan.
"How are you doing?" Duncan asked as he finished the handshake.
"Feeling much better, thank you...How is Rhiannon?" Ross inquired.
The question caused Duncan to pause for a minute because he really wasn't sure how she was.
"Doing better." Duncan answered. It was the best answer he could think of.
"You two were gone for such a long time…by any chance did you happened to talk any sense into her?" Ross wondered.
Walking over to the fireplace Duncan answered, "Rhiannon decided to go ahead and fight in the match tonight. "
"What the hell do you mean? Does she want to get hurt?" Ross asked. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"She feels as though Victor really hasn't left her much choice," Duncan answered.
"Yeah…he didn't leave her much choice. (sitting straight up) The choice was not to fight! Her stubbornness is going to get her killed." Ross blurts out.
"We will just have to keep a close eye on her and keep that from happening." Duncan said calmly as he walked over to the rocking chair he sat down. He could tell by the expression on Ross's face he wasn't happy.
Ross cradled his hands in his face, worried to death about Rhiannon. He figured if anyone could talk her out of fighting, it would be Duncan. So what happened? Staring at Duncan, he could tell that there was more to this than what meets the eye. The expression on his face told all. Ross started to wonder what his real motive was.
"I have to ask you something Duncan." Ross said
"Alright…what is it?" Duncan said a little puzzled.
"You're not in this with Victor are you?" Ross asked with no hesitation in his voice. Duncan on the other hand was taken back by the question.
"No, I'm not." Duncan answered as directly as he could.
"I didn't think you were...(looking relieved) but I had to ask. With Victor one never knows...I wouldn't have put it passed him where he was concerned? I wouldn't feel right if I didn't ask, if you know what I mean. (smiling) Besides I can tell she's crazy about you and I don't want to see her get hurt again." Ross said with relief. He was satisfied with the answer. With the look of indignation that came over Duncan's face, Ross was sure that there was no alternative motive.
"I understand." Duncan said nodding his head at Ross. He could tell by the way Ross was acting that he could tell that he loved Rhiannon. He has been her protector for so long. Duncan could see that he just wanted her safe and happy. However, what kept playing in his mind was hurt again. He wondered exactly what he meant about that. "Now it's my turn…what do you mean hurt again? (with a concern look) Has Victor hurt her before?"
Ross paused for a moment, wondering if he should tell him anymore. He doubted that Rhiannon had said anything yet, then again he wasn't too sure if he should be ether. But he also knew that in order to keep her safe, Duncan should know all the facts about her and Victor.
"She was involved with Victor some years ago. (taking a deep breath) It wasn't a good relationship... very abusive relationship in fact...He did things that no person should ever do to another and it took a lot for Rhiannon to get away from him. But she did and never looked back." Ross confided.
This all shocked Duncan. He slumped back into the rocking chair in a state of shock. It came at him out of left field. Rhiannon never once eluded that they had a relationship. He knew from Mrs. Taylor that she was in a bad relationship, but never thought in a million years it was Victor. Neither of them carried their selves in a way that showed there was any kind of relationship. Let alone an abusive one. Duncan wanted to know more and he wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"Ross...what do you mean Victor abused her?" Duncan questioned.
Ross paused for a moment, wondering if he should tell him anymore. He regretted in that moment that he even mentioned it. But he also knew that in order to keep her safe, Duncan should know all the facts about her and Victor. So he begins to tell Duncan everything about what he knew about when Rhiannon left Victor.
II
1989
The door hit hard up against the wall. Rhiannon was in the bedroom when she heard the crash. As she made her way out of the bedroom toward the sound, she felt someone grab her hair and pulled her back. Instantly she knew who it was.
"Victor !" Rhiannon screamed.
Victor swung her around with her hair so that he could see her face. Without warning, Victor punches Rhiannon as hard as he if would be a man. Then he tosses her across the room. She fell hard onto the coffee table, knocking the wind right out of her.
"Stop Victor...What the hell did I do?" Rhiannon pleaded.
Victor didn't respond. It actually made him angrier that she would even ask such a question. Rhiannon could see that it did. She tried to move away from him before he pounced on her again. But she didn't. Victor reaches down grabbing her hair once again pulling her up to her feet. Then he swings her around and lets her go. Rhiannon crashes into the TV stand. The glass in the TV breaks all around her.
It was at that moment that Rhiannon realized that she could not take it any more. If Victor wants to kill me, so be it. She manages to get away from him and runs into the bedroom. He didn't chase after her what he wanted was to do is torment her room to room, making her wait for the next lesson. Rhiannon hurries to the night stand and she pulls out a gun. It was at that moment Victor appeared in the doorway.
"Here...(thrusting the gun toward him) Lets put an end to this now...Kill me ! Put me out of my misery... Because I just can't take this it anymore !" Rhiannon yelled at him as thrusts the gun toward for him take it. Victor snatches it out of her hand. He points it at her and cocks the hammer.
"I could do it (taking aim at her) end it all now Rhiannon" Victor calmly said
"Go ahead Victor...Do it (walking passed him) Because you're going to have to kill me to keep me here. I'm through." Rhiannon said as she leaves the bedroom.
Victor takes aim as she walks away. Then lowers the gun down. Running up behind her, he grabs her arm. Swinging her around so that he could see her face. However, it was at the very moment he wished he hadn't.
"Go ahead Victor. I don't care anymore…about you, me or anything else. You won. (with a resentful voice) You have taken everything. My heart…my soul…I don't have anything left to give. So if you going to kill me then do it (pulling her arm away) But I promise you…this will be the last time you'll every beat me or hurt me." Rhiannon said staring him square in his eyes.
By the look that she gave, Victor knew it was through. There was no way he could make her stay, let alone trust her. She wasn't one to make threats lightly.
"Okay Rhiannon you're free. You're used up anyway…I can't stand to even look at you any more." Victor said as he tried hard to hurt Rhiannon's feelings. It didn't matter to her what he said. Not flinching an inch, she turned around and walking out the door.
Present day
After Ross finished the story, Duncan sat there stunned. It puzzled him that she never even mentioned it considering that Victor was the immediate cause of all her problems. Especially after what was said and done today. He was feeling betrayed.
"Why wouldn't she tell me Ross?" Duncan asked. Ross could see that he felt betrayed.
"It was a long time ago Macleod… She probably didn't really think it was important...To her it isn't important even with everything that has happened today. (breathing deeply) Knowing Rhiannon it probably hasn't even crossed her mind to tell you that she was involved with this mad man. Besides...they haven't been in contact with each other in years. Not until Victor wanted to buy their property. For her...it's in her pass. (with a voice of concern) I hope that this isn't going to change your feelings for Rhiannon. Because I don't believe she was trying to hide this from you" Ross pleaded to him. He hoped that he made the right decision in trusting Duncan. That he believed what he said was the truth.
"No Ross, it doesn't change the way I feel. I just wished she had said something to me. That's all. " Duncan replied, being as reassuring as he could be.
Everything was starting to make sense to Duncan. Why Rhiannon was the way she is, toward him and everything else. One thing for sure, he knew that she was going to be a real hand full especially after everything that he has told her hits home. Duncan knew one thing for sure, he wasn't going to go into this blind. He couldn't. Duncan had to find out more about Victor. There was one person he knew who could help.
"Well Ross, excuse me for a few minutes. There's a couple of calls I need to make before I get dressed for tonight." Duncan said as he got up and headed toward Mrs. Taylor's office.
III
Duncan sat down at Mrs. Taylor desk. Picking the phone, he hesitates for a moment then dials a number.
"Hello Joe's Place." Someone said.
"Is Joe there?" Duncan asked.
"Yeah, hold on...(in the background) Hey Joe... phone." The person said. Duncan could hear some shuffling of the phone, then his friendly voice.
"This is Joe...how can I help you?" Joe said
"Hello Dawson." Duncan simply said
"Mac is that you?" Joe asked excitedly. He motions for Methos to come over. As he sits down at the bar, Joe whispers to him that it was Duncan. Methos looked puzzled as he listens in.
"Yes…its me." Duncan answered
"How the hell are you?" Joe inquired.
"I'm doing good...Sounds like your doing good too." Duncan replied.
"Yea...business has been great." Joe answered.
"Last time I spoke you Methos was coming to visit. Did he make it" Duncan smiled to himself as he said it. Already knowing the answer to the question.
"Yeah... he made it. Like a bad penny, he keeps turning up...(Methos rolled his eyes) Actually he is sitting right here drinking a beer as always." Joe replied.
Duncan laughed at the thought. He could clearly picture Methos, sitting there with a beer and Joe ribbing him about it. They made some more small talk for a little while longer. Then he took a deep breath, Duncan was hesitating asking Joe for help. However, he knew that Joe would be the only one who could get the information he needed. The watchers were good at their job. Duncan knew this. But just for a small second, Duncan's pride wanted to get in the way. He didn't like asking anyone for help.
"I need you to do me a favor Joe." Duncan asked swallowing his pride.
"Sure Mac, what is it?" Joe wondered.
There was a moment of silence. Then Duncan took another deep breath asked, "I need you to find out all you can find out on an immortal."
"What's the name?" Joe questioned.
"Victor Robbins." Duncan said simply.
"Victor Robbins. (writing down on a piece of paper) What are you looking for?" Joe asked.
"Anything and everything. (with a sound of concern) He's bad news Joe... I need to know as much as I can about him and anything you might have on a Rhiannon McCleary." Duncan requested.
"Sure Mac…Let me see what I can do. Why don't you talk to Methos while I make some calls the other line?" Joe said as he passes the phone to Methos before Duncan could say anything.
"Hello Macleod... How is solitude treating you?" Methos asked in his normal derogatory way. Duncan could tell he had a few but it didn't lessen the blow of him being so sarcastic.
"Not so solitude." Duncan replied angrily.
Methos can sense he was pissed, "Ok..ok. Mac...I was just kidding. (half laughing and half serious) You really need to learn to lighten up... So what are you doing messing with the likes of Victor Robbins?"
"Do you know him?" Duncan was taken back by the question.
"No not personally...but I have read a lot about him in the chronicles on how ruthless he could be…Why?" Methos inquired. His curiosity was up.
Duncan told Methos about Rhiannon and her family. He told him about the land and it being holy ground and about Victor. Duncan went on explaining the little bit he knew about Victor, what he has done to her and her family. Then finally telling Methos about why and how he told Rhiannon about her immortality.
"Maybe you shouldn't have told her Macleod. There is a reason why we don't know what we are until we are." Methos said harshly.
"I had no choice Methos...He had already made her part of the game. (angrily) This was the only way I felt she could protect herself. He didn't leave me a choice. Victor is coming for her...immortal or not (taking a deep breath) This way she knows what she is and what he is."
"So how did she take it...learning what she is before she is." Methos questioned
"She took it hard at first (remembering) but I think she is handling it better now...considering how she found out."
" I bet…(Taking a swig off his beer for courage.) Has she decided how she is going to handle this and what she is going to do now that she knows what she is? ...Because you know and I know he's coming for her and from what I read...(swallowing hard) This man is dangerous ...he takes pretty much what he wants...No questions asked." Methos unmercifully said.
"Rhiannon decided to take her chances Methos...How she is going to do it I don't know. But she won't back down...Even knowing what she knows. Her land...its too precious to her." Duncan replied.
"Does she truly understand what this means? ...That she is part of the game if she takes him on. Whether she is immortal or not?" Methos asked with a voice of concern.
"I don't know Methos...she is still very much mortal." Duncan answered.
Methos was lost in a moment of thought. He knew that once a challenged has been made to Rhiannon no immortal can stop it. This would mean that Duncan would have to come back to the game and challenge Victor first. It would be the only way to protect her. He wondered if Duncan understood this or if it was his boy scout mentality coming to the surface.
Methos takes another drink then asks, "What are you going to do Macleod? If this Victor challenges her...you can't interfere."
"I know...but she isn't immortal yet. So no challenge can be made." Duncan replied simply.
"So does that mean you are going to join the game again? (Taking a deep breath.) Because once you take his head your back in." Methos posed.
There was a moment of silence before Duncan answered. He understood what Methos was saying but he knew what he had to do. He had already made his decision.
"I know. But I can't...I won't let him take her head. Not until she is ready to defend herself on that level." Duncan declared.
Before Methos could ask how he was going to keep her out of the game or keep her from becoming immortal Joe had came back into the room, motioning for the phone.
"Ok Macleod, Joe's back...Just be careful and remember what I said about him." He hands the phone back to Joe.
IV
When Joe came back onto the phone, he preceded to tell Duncan what he could about Victor. That he is more than 800 years and had been living in that part of the country for at lease 400 years. He was born in England, sailing here on a dying ship in about late 1400's.
"Mac this man kills for sport...whether it is an immortal or mortal...(shuffling his notes) But what is strange around 1982 he went into hiding...after that he only killed immortals when they have crossed his path. (his voice changed) There is something else." Joe said hesitantly.
"What Dawson?" Duncan asked with urgency.
"Robbins has one weakness...young immortal women." Joe said still hesitating.
"Go on Joe." Duncan demanded impatiently
"Mac...he takes them in...making them fall in love with them, once he does that (taking in a deep breath) He changes...Robbins becomes very violent and brutal to them. Once he beats them down to nothing and he knows that he has them under his control...(hesitating) He makes them immortal."
There was a moment of silence between them as Duncan goes over in his mind what Joe just had told him. It was making sense to him about why he was toying with Rhiannon. But he knew there was much more than Joe was telling him.
"What else?" Duncan choked on the words as he asked him.
"For Robbins it is the rush of watching their first death. Once that occurs, he tortures them...makes them submit to him. Then once the thrill is gone...he takes their quickening."
"Why did he let Rhiannon go?" Duncan asked.
"I don't know Mac...There isn't much in the Chronicles about her. Just that she was able to get away from him. It was thought because she did... she wasn't an immortal." Joe replied.
"She is Dawson..." Duncan said with a heavy heart.
"But why didn't he take..." Joe started to ask before Duncan interrupts him.
"(whispering) I don't know...Talk to Methos he will fill you in on Rhiannon...(hesitating) And Joe you might want to get a watcher assigned to her, especially after what he tells you."
"Okay...Do me a favor Mac?" Joe asked.
"What?" Duncan replied.
"Watch your head." Joe requested
Duncan didn't reply he just hung up the phone and retreated to his room. It was just what he needed. Someone to talk to that knew him and knew him best. There was just one problem. Rhiannon and Victor. At least now he had some idea what this man was about and how he played the game. It was making more sense to him whyVictor is the way he is with Rhiannon. The problem is if Joe was right why didn't he make her immortal when she was his. Why did he let her go? It puzzled him. As he began to change clothes for the evening events a thought came to him. Victor did love her. That was the only reason he could think of why Victor let her go. But it was clear to him that now those feelings were there anymore. That whatever he had felt for Rhiannon wasn't strong enough now to keep Victor from taking her head. At lease now had a better sense of what kind of danger she really is in and what he needed to do to protect her. The only way to do that was to get back into the game.