II

"How can it be?" Rachel asked, staring at the burns on her arms. Connor had brought her another sheet to cover her naked body a bit more.

"We are born with it, Rachel. A violent death triggers it." Duncan spoke calmly, trying not to startle her. "It can happen to you when you are a child, or..." he stopped, realising he had picked the wrong words.

"When you are an old and haggard woman like I am!" She spat up bitterly.

"Rachel..." Duncan wanted to comfort her, but he knew it was not his part to play. They had never been very close.

"You knew about this, Connor?" she called out to his adoptive father, who was mounting guard at the door, should any doctor turn up to perform the autopsy.

Connor stared guiltily at her. Duncan felt out of place.

"I... I wanted to keep you safe..." Connor mumbled after a long silence.

"But why you did not tell me?"

Connor plopped on a table, breathing heavily.

"Rach, our life is a hell. I didn't want you to endure what Duncan and I have endured. I wanted..."

"You wanted me to grow old and die bathed in my own fluids?" Rachel grunted. Connor looked away consumed by pain.

"Rachel..." Duncan interceded. "This is not getting us anywhere. We have to get you out of here."

"For what?" she replied. Connor realised Rachel was in denial, protesting against whatever he and Duncan suggested. During her childhood, after he had rescued her from the horrors of war, she had spent weeks like that, shying away from everyone and everything.

"What do you think a doctor will say when they come and find you talking and breathing..." Connor paused and carried on, his voice breaking "... when you were nothing but a corpse?"

"I can't go anywhere. Look at my skin!" she cried.

"These wounds will heal, Rachel. It will take some time, but they will wither."

Rachel had burst into tears. Connor approached and embraced her. She tried to push him away but eventually gave in to him. Duncan contemplated the scene with certain merriment. His awakening had been in the aftermath of a battle. His father had banished him. He had wandered around the Highlands, and even found an immortal that surrendered his head to him. Only after several deaths in those years, Connor had found him and explained him. He was glad Rachel would not have to undergo a period of uncertainty.

"You can come to my place in Seacouver. Tessa and Richie are still in Paris."

"It's a good idea," Connor agreed.

"But..." Rachel shivered. She wondered how she would sit in Duncan's convertible and stare blissfully at the streets as the wind blew her hair. She would have to bandage herself all over like a mummy, dress up in long coats and wear a hat. She would resemble the character of that film with that Irish actor, Liam Neeson. "I can't walk around like this, or be in your car."

"We'll use my Porsche. If Duncan doesn't mind driving alone."

"I could drive the Porsche, and Connor would drive my car alone."

"I won't let you alone with my daughter, James Bond rip-off!" Connor joked with a smile.

The two Highlanders looked at each other and burst into laughter. Rachel joined them, feeling slightly less nervous and edgy. But she could guess what was coming in the future and she silenced as the others continued.

-----

Duncan was behind the wheel of Connor's Porsche, parked in a dark alley. He heard a whistle and looked at a lateral door near the car. Connor appeared, and let Rachel move past him and towards the car. She wore a long doctor uniform that reached the floor. On her face he had fixed some bandages to cover the burns. Duncan pulled the second seat forward to let Rachel get inside the backseat. He pulled it back to let Connor sit, but he found his clansman beaming at him with his hand stretched forward. Duncan grinned and handed him the keys.

Rachel screamed in pain. She held her head as she twisted in the backseat. Connor drew out his Japanese katana. Duncan opened the car door and got off, producing another katana very similar to Connor's.

"Now's a fine time, darn it!" he commented.

"Can you see anyone?" Connor asked.

"I'll check. You should watch for her."

Connor moved to comfort his troubled daughter. In the meantime, Duncan walked into the street. He looked around and spotted in the very distance a, dark-haired man moving away. A newbie surely. He folded his sword and returned to get in the car. Rachel was feeling better, but her eyes gave away the panic she felt.

"Someone passing by."

"We have to get to your hotel, so you can pick your stuff."

"Fine then." Connor began to drive.

-----

Daylight broke when they were still on their way to Duncan's hotel. The younger Highlander packed everything, paid the bill, and went to the parking lot for his Ford Thunderbird. He threw the bags in the backseat and jumped inside. He started the engine and drove out. He stopped by Connor's and waved.

"Are we ready?" he asked.

"It's 8 AM. Do you think we will get there before dinner?" Connor asked.

"Perhaps, if you can drive over 40, old man."

"Heh-heh." Connor scowled at Duncan without true malice. "You'll have to pay lunch."

They began their way. The exit was via the speedway that headed west, but to get there they had to drive to the other corner of the city. Duncan showed the way, while Connor followed. Occasionally, the elder Highlander would push the horn and motion Duncan to move faster. The younger one would beam at him through the rear view mirror and put him a mock do-not-bug-me face. Rachel found the little game amusing. She only hoped they did not crash each other.

They were near the speedway when they heard a police siren. Connor noticed a police car behind him and pulled over. Duncan did likewise and he got off the car. He glared at the officer who was approaching Connor's car, the irreverent imbecile Garfield himself. He moved towards them.

"Leaving town, Nash?" he overheard.

"Yes, Garfield. My friend and I are leaving."

"You heard the news? The corpse of your secretary is missing."

Duncan wanted to punch the imbecile. The tone he had used was vile. This jerk had no respect for anyone. He remembered Connor had mentioned him, when they met in Seacouver: a punk in police clothes. Connor had made another comment about another policeman who was bad at following people, but Duncan could not remember to whom he was referring to. However, many cops at the department seemed acquainted with Connor... with Russell Nash.

"Bad news." Connor commented bitterly.

"You haven't stolen it?"

"Me? Why?"

"Just wondering. I assume you'll let me check your car."

Connor glanced at Duncan, seriousness and urgency in his face. It was only a split second, before the elder one's face became a mask of mildness. Duncan headed back to the car and turned the engine on. He checked the rear view again. Garfield was heading to check the trunk, so intent that he missed Rachel. She must have ducked, he thought. Connor was staring at him. He nodded and so did his clansman. They both stepped on the gas pedal and the two cars speeded away, leaving the puzzled cop behind.

They reached the speedway and drove away, heading to Seacouver. When they at a safe distance from New York, Duncan pulled over and got off. Connor did in like. They grinned at each other.

"That was stupid." Duncan commented seriously.

"I know."

"But it was fun, right?" His face relaxed and a smile broke.

"Like the old days." Connor laughed.

"Guys." Rachel called from inside the Porsche. "Can we get going? They might be coming behind us."

The two Highlanders bowed mockingly at the one-person audience before them. "We are yours to command, milady," they said in unison and Rachel smiled. They returned to their cars and began driving. Seacouver was ahead.