Swordbearer
By Vega

Standard Disclaimers Apply

Special Thanks to TVNerdGirl, who helped break me out of my writer's block on this one.

Chapter 13: "Dinner and a Dance"

October 21st, 2006 – late evening

Dinner was served.

It was slightly blackened, but otherwise mostly good. Adam had prepared a dish of simple chicken breasts in white wine and peach crème. It was absolutely divine and I wondered why I'd never thought of it myself. Or it would have been divine if the chicken was white instead of black.

He served it on a bed of fluffy egg noodles, which he admitted to buying at the supermarket, with caramelized peach-halves. With my Camembert and the baguette, it was a splendid if simple (and lacking a vegetable) meal.

The chicken was a little charred but... eh... carbon is good for you, right? There's no law saying that every 70 something year old man had to be a good cook.

The candles in very old and precious silver candlesticks on the table were lit, and I wondered again if they were a gift from his Teacher.

Then I wondered who his Teacher was.

Could it have been MacLeod? The two seemed close.

I sat and watched him scurry around, and let him serve out my portion of the meal and pour my wine. The glass was a little more full that was considered proper, but what the Hell, eh? We were Immortals and before the night was done, we would probably be bed buddies too.

The thought didn't really disturb me so much as the ease with which I accepted it.

Well, why not? I liked him; it was obvious he was trying to seduce me. I mean, it's not as if I could get pregnant or Aids or anything more acute than a broken heart. And even then, I wasn't betting on one of those, either.

"Cheers," I said gently and raised my glass to him.

Adam smiled and clinked my class with his. I picked up a knife and fork and stared at the meal before me. It smelled good but it was… black. He blushed a little as he watched my struggle with the blackened chicken.

"Err, I never said cooking was a specialty of mine," he finally admitted. He had been picking at his pasta and peaches, but had pretty much left the chicken to suffer all by its lonesome.

Well, if the chef wasn't eating it, I sure as heck didn't have to be polite and eat it either.

"Cooking isn't one of mine either," I admitted, waving the knife. "Three hundred years, you figure I'd know how to work a toaster"

Adam smirked. "Well I'm not that pathetic." He grinned to show he was teasing. He was watching my reactions closely, both verbal and physical. He was Slightly clumsy, but charming and definitely one hell of a ladies man. Not for the first time I wondered where and how he had died – why I saw such weight in his eyes when he thought I wasn't looking.

Adam had teased me about 'flashback land', but when I saw him there, he was utterly still, almost inhuman. Almost like a different person entirely. It was actually kind of scary. I was glad he was still light and teasing.

"So, how were the classes you sat in on?" I asked, trying to distract myself from my suddenly morbid thoughts.

He shrugged. "Not terribly boring, however I'm still getting used to people staring at me. I've always tried to blend in and not get noticed you know? I'm not much of a fighter. The idea that others know who I am...gives me the willies."

I nodded. "Totally understanding that one. It goes against all instincts, you know? I mean, my teacher said to never, ever let people know who or what I am and suddenly..." I gestured with no small amount of frustration at the swords on the coffee table. "I'm just waiting to get lynched."

"Instinct is hard to let go of," Adam murmured quietly. "To be fair though, the ones we really have to worry about are other immortals, and they can tell who we are no matter what. Humans are a nuisance, but they can't really hurt us...even lynching would be a temporary discomfort. I just don't like being... I don't know, looked at like some sort of celebrity, science experiment or Satan's spawn, and I've received all three reactions."

"Jumping up in front of the United Nations certainly cant've helped. Were you really that opposed to the VWL? I mean, so opposed that you ... I heard you actually threw a punch at THE Duncan MacLeod."

Adam laughed suddenly, a very warm, full laugh. I decided that I liked his Adam's apple very much. It was a very bouncy, jolly Adam's apple and made me want to lick it. I had more wine instead, which may or may not have been a good idea. "I've thrown many punches at Mac. Man can be an arrogant bastard at times." He grinned, but then grew serious. "But yes, I really was that opposed. I thought it meant that I would never have any privacy, always be on my guard, constantly inspected and scrutinized. Folly of youth I guess...I mean, I'm really not that desirable in terms of immortals to go after. I should have realized that."

I laughed, light and high. His modesty was amusing and refreshing after so much sexual arrogance. "Heads are heads. So tell me, how did you meet 'Mac'? Was he your teacher?"

"Yea, gods, no! I would have taken my own head."

I laughed again and waited until he'd finished sopping up the sauce on his plate with a bit of bread before asking, "I hear rumor that one of his clansmen, his uncle or sommat, had some strange floaty Quickening. He ever tell you about that?"

Adam smiled strangely. "There's a lot he tells me, but I expect that some of it he wants to keep secret - no offense." He paused, and I shrugged as if to say, 'none taken'. Really, there wasn't, just girlish curiosity, that's all. "As for how we met...well, I nearly got my butt handed to me while training at his dojo one day. I was feeling rather cocky and thought I could take him on. I was wrong." He smiled wryly.

I finished my own pasta and poked forlornly at the chicken. It had smelled so good, too. "Cocky youngsters. Like you on the bus with me. And that kiss in the hall. You are pretty cocksure for such a strappling youth." I grinned at him over the side of my wine glass, enjoying the mild flirting.

Adam grinned back, suddenly totally immersed in the game of 'young, cocky Immy'. "Well, I do have much to learn. Perhaps you could be the one to teach me the ropes...and the chains? That is, if you're up to it...grandma..." He winked.

I kicked him under the table, nailing his kneecap with my heel. My smile never wavered.

Adam pretended a wince, though we both knew it hadn't hurt him. "Like it rough then?" His voice was innocent and teasing as he took another sip of his wine. By now we had both forgotten his terrible dinner, though that was probably for the better.

I poked at the chicken on my plate one last time, considering what it would taste like if I just cut off the top layer, and opted instead for a piece of bread with the rich, creamy camembert spread on it. I took my time with preparing it and chewed lustily, purposefully not answering.

I swallowed and then said, "Are you sure you're old enough to be playing games like these?"

Adam laughed at my comment. His eyes twinkled secretively. "I dunno. You're older. You've been there and done that. You tell me."

"Well, I suppose I can chalk some of this up to beginner's luck..."

"Does that mean I'll be getting lucky?" He had begun to lean towards me, resting his elbows on the table, but he stopped himself and winced. "I am so sorry about that one. That was a terrible joke that escaped my mouth before my brain caught up with me."

I threw back my head and laughed outright. When I had sobered, I leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on the tip of his nose. "For that one, you get a reward."

Adam grinned ear to ear like a small child who had just gotten a finger puppet from the doctor after being good getting his booster shot. "Really? Most girls woulda slapped me for that one. I mean it was bad - even by my standards."

"But you apologized. That's what the reward was for," I explained, pushing aside me plate to lean on the table to imitate him. "Or, if you don't like it..." I smirked girlishly, "you could give it back."

Adam pretended to ponder that for a moment, then leaned in slowly (to give me the opportunity to back away if I chose) and kissed me softly on my nose as well. "I have to tell more bad jokes to apologize for in the future." His voice was husky as he pulled away, and I couldn't help but notice what fine eyelashes he had.

I sat back and toyed with the stem of my wine glass. I was slouching a little and it made me look even more like an exhausted university student. "Future, eh? You're planning on sticking around, then?" It was not a cruelly or crudely asked question, but it was straightforward and honest.

Adam saw the curiosity and realizes that I was conflicted by him. He frowned, not wanting to lie to me, but probably not wanting to let me go just yet. "I don't know. I mean, I like you, and I think you like me. I don't know where that will lead just yet, but I'm not thinking that far ahead, if you get my meaning." He fidgeted slightly and decided to tell me a little bit about his past to let me know where he was coming from. "I lost someone recently that I cared for. I'm still taking things slow with people."

I looked up at him, meeting his eyes slowly. Mine, I could only guess, were filled with a similar pain and understanding.

"Alexa?"

"How do you know her name?" he asked, drawing back from me a bit, obviously startled.

"You... said her name out loud when we were at the Double Olive."

Adam was genuinely surprised. "Did I?" I suppose he didn't normally let his thoughts or emotions slip so easily. "Yes, that was my name. I was...well, I was someone incredibly special. But mortal. And I guess it never gets any easier."

"No, I guess it doesn't. If I can ask… how long ago was this?"

He shrugged and slumped back in his own chair. "Almost eight years ago. I mean, I know that was a long time, as far as Immortals go, but--"

I cut him off by placing a hand on top of his. He stared at it like an alien thing for a second, then lifted his other hand and placed it on top of mine. "You're still young," I said, "And every lost person hurts. It's okay to still be grieving someone you loved very much."

"I… I guess age does make you wise."

I tried to smile and it fell flat. "You don't have to sound so damned amazed. And I'm not that old. I'm not Methos or anything."

He shook his head, a smile escaping that he just couldn't seem to contain. "No, you're definitely not Methos." There was a strange silence, and I couldn't tell if it was awkward or not. He broke it quickly by asking if I had lost anyone recently.

"No, not really. I've… well, you know, burn me once, shame on you, burn me twice. I've never let myself be burnt a second time."

"Totally opposed to love then?"

"No, just not confident that a decent man exists, and marrying Immortals just seems too…"

"Permanent?"

I looked up and met his eyes. "Actually, I was going to say 'fleeting'. You never know when one of you is going to be challenged."

He nodded. "So who burned you?"

I turned my eyes to the candle flames momentarily. "My husband... I didn't choose him. That was the way – Da told me which man to go with and I went. Well, he was a rude fucker and a terrible man, but he was mine, you know?" I shrugged. "It almost serves him right that I was Immortal and he wasn't. But I... I miss him. Sometimes. I couldn't imagine feeling that kind of ache times two."

Adam nodded in understanding. "It's been a while since my death, but I'm not that ready to be...somebody's you know? I mean, I'm ready enough to move on, but part of my heart is still hers. I don't know what that means in terms of me being here or not, but I'm living day to day. It's the only way I know how."

Almost sadly, I raised a gentle hand towards the ceiling. "Amen, brother. Preach it." Then I raised my half-full glass. "To living Day to Day."

Adam smiled and touched my glass once more, but this time seeing something else in my eyes. "You're not completely here either are you? Your friend... the Watcher. He means something."

Too quickly I answered, "no." I drank my glass to the dregs and refilled both his and mine. "No, that lying son of a bitch peeping tom means nothing to me."

Adam smiled in that annoyingly smug way that I had come to know so well already, not the least bit offended that he wasn't #1 in my eyes. It was easier this way. "If that were true, it wouldn't make you so angry that he lied to you."

I said nothing, glaring into my wine.

Then I drank all of it at once.

Adam watched me, and I could feel the worry radiating off him slightly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to touch a nerve. I just thought that if we were being honest with each other, it was a good time to get him out in the open."

"Yeah, yeah," I set down the glass. "I guess I went and spoiled the mood, eh? Sorry."

Adam let go of my hand and I folded them in my lap, suddenly self-conscious and feeling really really stoopid.

"I just... I just don't know what to do, you know?" I said, staring at my lap, "I thought we were friends. I mean, I don't know what I'm most angry about. Him being A watcher, him being my Watcher, or him being in love with me for the past three years and never telling me!"

"It's a lot to swallow," Adam agreed with an understanding nod. "Believe me I get it. I value privacy just as much as you do -- maybe more. The question you have to ask yourself is, if none of that were an issue...if you were both Immortal, or mortal, or whatever, and he confessed his feelings... what would that mean for you? Take away everything else -- strip it bare. How would you answer him?"

"I…" I said, "I… I can't… I mean, I don't…"

"I understand if you can't do that yet. In the meantime, I'd like to get to know you in whatever capacity you will allow. I know that's vague, but it's the best I can do."

I stopped stuttering like a moron and looked at him, gaping slightly in shock. "So you're willing to ... this..." gestures around vaguely, "even knowing that I may just up and leave you for him. Or just up and leave entirely?"

"I hope you don't take this as being uncaring or unfeeling, but yes. I like you. And if there's anything I've learned is that you shouldn't let someone you like stay out of the realm of possibility, even if it's only for a short while." He took a sip of his wine and paused before continuing. "I'm not ready for anything beyond this either. I still...at this point, forever would be too long for me…." He made a face. "Sounds weird coming from an Immortal, eh?"

I laughed lightly, although there was a note of sadness, which damped down on the freeness o that had burst out earlier. I leaned over again, moving aside the baguette so I could lean on the table, and kissed his forehead. "Another reward for more honesty."

Adam smiled, knowing that as much truth as he could give had been the right choice to make. Then, to lighten the mood, he let the mischievousness back into his tone. "Does this mean if I told you how incredibly alluring you look tonight, I'd get another...reward?"

He waggled his eyebrows hopefully

I giggled. Good, god, I actually giggled. He was making me act like a girl. "Maaaaaaaaaaaybe."

"In that case, I could give you a body part by body part inventory... what would that get me?"

"It depends, of course, on whether or not you have any EDIBLE food in your house. Or, will we have to call for Chinese?"

Adam laughed out loud at that and looked back at the ruined dinner we had both shoved away. "I really really shouldn't try seduction by home cooked meal again, should I?"

"You shouldn't invite a lady over for dinner when you're drunk and have forgotten that you can't cook."

He stood up and walked into his kitchen, calling over his shoulder, "I was not drunk!"

He the fridge, then the pantry, then cupboards, and eventually turned back to me with a frown. "Chinese sounds good. All I have here is beer and crackers."

"And bread and cheese," I corrected as he came back to the table and sat down. He had the cordless phone in his hand and a Chinese take-out menu in the other. I looked over my shoulder at the cheese. "Which is almost gone." I reached out and caught a gooey gob of creamy cheese on one fingertip, then brought it up to his lips.

He sucked it off my fingertip slowly, making sure I felt every nuance of it, before leaning back and smiling in contentment both with the action and the taste of the cheese. "Now that was tasty."

"Mmmm… maybe we won't get to the Chinese." I said in a low voice. "I could do with some... where are you from, anyway? Welsh?"

"Yep. Born and bred. And I'm up for whatever you have on the menu... I hear I'm quite the delicacy."

I laughed outright, the sadness gone. "Oh, my god, you're just too much!"

Adam seemed to resist the urge to bow.

I sat up on the table, folding my legs under me in the lotus position, and laced my fingers. I rested my chin on them and grinned. "Were you this bad when you were mortal?"

Adam grinned and played along. This was too much fun anyway. "Worse." He said with mock drama in his tone. "I was quite the cad back in my day!"

"Totally believing it. Bet you made out with the girls at the sock hop. And then you took them for burgers and malts and tried to get a hand under their poodle skirts."

Adam tried not to laugh until it bubbled over him and he sat back, his chest shaking with merriment at the image. "The fifties really were a stupid decade weren't they?" Then, he looked at my appraisingly. "Though I do think you would look VERY good in a poodle skirt--"

I held up a hand and stopped that musing. "No, never not ONCE. And I won't put one on just to fulfill your childhood fantasy either."

Adam pouted. His bottom lip jutted out and he was pouting, his greeny-brown eyes actually tearing up. I bet he used to use that face on his Mom.

"I am a pants girl and I will stay a pants girl. I'll have you know I was kicked out of a mall once for wearing denim trousers. BOY'S trousers."

Adam laughed again, picturing it. "You were quite the rabble rouser! Did you burn your bra in the sixties?"

"Yes. Gladly. They were torture devices and still are. Girdles, corsets, and bras. To Hell with all of them!" I leaned forward and licked the shell of his ear. "But you... hmmm... I wouldn't mind seeing you in something that reminds me of home…a pair of hose... maybe a kilt."

Adam shivered at the contact and looked me dead in the eye. "A kilt I can do... even the hose if I'm really drunk... just don't ask me to wear your bra... even I have standards."

I laughed gently into his ear. "So, are we going to play cat and mouse all night, or are you going to kiss me, Professor Pierson?"

Adam smiled slowly and leaned in until his lips are inches from mine. "I was merely waiting for your invitation, my lady. I'm nothing, if not a gentleman." And before I could answer, he captured my lips gently in his, kissing me softly and letting my set the pace.

I sighed. Yes, there was that fuzzy balloon head feeling.

Oh, this was nice.

I settled my arms around his neck and slid off the lip of the table into his lap. I pulled back slowly and smiled. "MUCH better. So, what were you saying earlier about ...chains?"

October 22nd, 2006 – Afternoon

I groaned and opened my eyes, glaring hatefully at the sunlight streaming in through the bedroom window. I turned my eyes to the clock and moaned.

Two in the afternoon.

Already.

And I had stuff to do.

I looked to my other side and smiled. Adam was stretched out, laying on his stomach with his face pressed into the pillow. He was in his starkers, and the line of his back was very pleasing, until the pooling of the soft cotton sheets just under his bum interrupted it. Feeling generous, I reached out and slid the sheets upwards to keep him warm.

Adam smiled in his sleep. I watched as slowly, consciousness returned to him and his eyes opened. He met my gaze and found me looking at him partly in amusement partly in appreciation.

He smiled lazily. It was a lovely, sexy smile.

"Good morning...afternoon," I corrected myself.

"Good indeed," he told me, letting his gaze roam over me freely. I fought back the blush – I was almost three hundred, for god's sake! – and snuggled back into the pillow. "We really slept the day away, didn't we?"

I turned and cuddled into his side, keeping the sheet between our bodies. "Yup."

Adam sighed in contentment.

I echoed it. It had been a while since I had been with a man that I had felt this comfortable with. I had no illusions that we would fall madly in love, but I did know there was a nice genuine friendship here and I liked that. Not to mention he had been fabulous in bed.

He smiled at me. "I don't mind. Do you need to go? Or could I attempt to redeem myself by making pancakes? I swear I won't screw them up."

I eyed him. "I don't know if I believe you."

He laughed softly and kissed me before sitting up and making a show of cracking his knuckles. "Well why don't we find out?"

"Sure - can I use the phone?"

Adam gestured over the night table where the base and the cordless phone rested before pulling on a pair of blue boxers and padding into the kitchen to attempt the pancakes.

I dialed the number of Prof. Martin and received confirmation of the guest lecture. I hesitated over the phone, debating whether or not to call Garrett, and decided not to.

It seemed uncouth to call from another man's bed.

Besides, I had really enjoyed the night before. Perhaps I would just hang on and see where this lead. As much as I agreed with a lot of what Adam had said the night before, I was willing to hang onto Adam and see what developed.

As I was staring at the phone, it rang.

"Uh... oh! ADAM!" I called, but he didn't answer me. "Um..." I hit the talk button. "Adam's pants."

A deep baritone man's voice came over the speaker, hesitant and unsure. "Um, yes, I'm looking for Adam the man... not his pants."

I lay back on the bed. "He's in the kitchen burning breakfast."

"Sounds about right. When will that man learn that cooking is just not his forte?" The man paused. "Well I wouldn't want to distract him...the fire department has enough on their hands. Would you tell him please that Duncan MacLeod called? Umm...I'm sorry miss, I don't know your name."

"Abby. Uh... Wait, the Duncan MacLeod? Oh, cool."

MacLeod's voice chuckled richly over the phone. "I wasn't aware I was a celebrity. Unless Adam has told you bad stories. Don't believe a word that man says... he's a blatant liar."

"No, I just pay attention to the news."

"Ahh." He paused again. "Well I wouldn't believe half of what's on that either. How do you know Adam?"

"Um. He teaches at my school. Oh… uh…wow, No, yes, wait, that sounded really really bad. Uh..."

MacLeod chuckled again. "It would if I wasn't assuming you're an immortal... and older than you appear." There was a pregnant pause. "You are immortal right? And over 18?"

"What?" I said, shocked by how annoyed MacLeod sounded. "Why? Has he done this before?"

Smoothly he answered "no, I'm just having fun at Adam's expense."

"Oh. Well I am. Immortal, I mean. And old. Well, no, not old but...erg. I am Immortal and Adam just got hired at my University and he um... what am I doing, we're all adults here. It's two in the afternoon and I answered 'Adam's Pants'. You can put two an two together, right?"

"Where Adam is concerned, I'm quite adept at the math, believe me." He then added thoughtfully, "Though the man has fantastic pants sometimes. Out of curiosity, how old are you?"

"Almost three hundred." I paused, completely disbelieving that I had just said that. "Erg... and now you're going to come for my head. God, I'm an idiot sometimes."

"Adam always did like older women." MacLeod replied, though his voice had the same irony to it that Adam's had when speaking of his age. I wondered what the joke was. "Believe me when I say that I have no interest in the head of an immortal who has done nothing to warrant it. Not to mention you're a friend of Adam's. Which makes you a friend of mine." His voice was warm and pleasant.

That made me pause. "...really?"

"Of course." MacLeod's voice was jovial. "Why would I want your head? The news didn't portray me as a headhunter did they? Well, you know what I mean."

"No, no, I just... Um, you know... it's a really nice thing to say. Erg, okay, now that I'm mortified, can I pass on a message to the Burnanator?"

Mac laughed again. "No, it's all right. I just wondered if he'd be up for a beer later, but if you two had plans I wouldn't want to impose on them." He paused for a moment. "Unless you wanted to join us, Abby?"

"A beer sounds good. Are you in town?"

"Only briefly." He answered. "I was just passing through on annoying official-type business. Thought I would see what the...Old ma--" he paused. "what Adam was up to."

"Sounds good to me - why don't I pass you over to the kid?"

Mac chuckled strangely again. "I'd appreciate that. It was a pleasure meeting you."

"Ta, then."

I wrapped myself in the sheet and popped my head out the door, waving the phone. "Aaaadaaam! Scot on the phone for you!"

Adam stalked back to the bedroom muttering something about how Duncan couldn't do without him, even for a little while. He picked up the phone and watched as I eyed him while he spoke to MacLeod.

"Missed me already eh Mac? Yeah? Huh? You spoke to... you didn't tell her any crazy stories about me did you? I know you, that's why. Yeah, a beer we can do. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll pay for my own this time. I have a job now and everything. All right. See you later. Bye."