Author's Note: Sorry that it took me so long to get this next chapter up. When I upload the next chapter, this story will be moved to the DC Superheros section. I'm doing this because this will become a series that will take place over the DC universe, more than in the Highlander's universe. So look there next time. Read, review, and enjoy. Thanks for your patience.

Chapter 5

They sat in silence. There was so much that they wanted to say to each other, but they couldn't. They arrived at an Italian restaurant that they visited in the past. He parked the car and opened Leslie's door. They got an outdoor table and sat there.

Michael was the first to speak. "What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" Before Michael could answer the waiter came to the table.

"Good evening. How can I help you?"

Michael smiled. "Hello. I'll take the spaghetti with meatballs and some garlic toast."

The waiter nodded and looked at Leslie. "And you, Miss?"

"I'll have the same."

He wrote the orders down on a notepad. "And what would you like to drink?"

Michael looked over the table at Leslie. "A bottle of red wine?"

She nodded.

The waiter nodded and left.

Michael turned back to Leslie. "At your office you said that a lot of crazy stuff was going on. What is going on?"

She gave a heavy sigh. "It just seems like that everything in this city is going to hell. We have gangs and mobsters fighting each other, robberies and murders." She then told him about the Neisha Dupris situation that happened a few days ago. She also told him what happened on the hill.

Michael gave a nod. "Sounds like something big is on the horizon."

Leslie gave him a confused look. "What do you mean?"

The waiter came and gave them their food. Michael took the bottle and poured their drinks.

"Over the course of history, there are signs right before a war that one is coming. If you look closely you can see them. The Boston Tea Party, the Stock Market Crash, the failure to make a League of Nations after World War I, the attack on Pearl Harbor, 9/11, and plenty of others. These events, some small some big, spark major conflicts that turn into war. The events that you described to me are perfect examples of that. These are the War Drums Leslie, a prelude of things to come."

He started to eat his food but he stopped when he saw Leslie. She had a worried look on her face. She believed every word he said. "I'm scared, Michael. I don't know if I can handle what happens next."

He put his fork down and took her hand. "I believe that you can. I mean, come on. You survived No Man's Land. You are one of the strongest women I know. Trust me, you can survive anything."

Leslie's face melted into a happy, smiling face. "Thanks Michael. I needed that." Michael nodded his head. No matter what her mood is Michael has always been able to lift her spirits up.

They continued to eat. After a few minutes, Leslie noticed that Michael had stopped eating. He was looking behind her, with a frown on his face. She turned her head to see what made Michael angry. Once she did she immediately saw why. It was a woman, one that she knew well.

She saw the waiter and waved her hand over. "Excuse me sir. Can we get our check please?"

"Yes ma'am."

Leslie turned back to see Michael with the same angry face on him. "Michael, are you okay?"

The question seemed to knockout of his stupor. He looked at her with a smile on her face. "Yes. It's just-."

"Here you go." The waiter dropped the check on their table. Leslie nodded her thanks and he walked off.

Michael smiled as he took out his wallet. "Thanks, Les." He dropped a few bills on the table. "Let's get out of here," he said as he sat up. Leslie got up and followed him to the car. As they walked down the street Michael gave one last look at the woman who caused him much pain.

"Thanks for getting me out of there," Michael said. They were riding in his car.

"It was no problem."

"Want me to take you back to the hospital?"

Leslie cocked an eye at him. "You want to get rid of me already?"

Michael chuckled and shook his head. "No no. It's just that there's someplace that I need to visit."

There was silence. Leslie could guess what this place is. "I could go with you. You don't have to go alone."

Michael didn't say anything for a moment. Then he reached over and grabbed her hand. "Thanks but I want to go solo this time." He looked over and saw that she was staring at him. "I'll come over when I'm done. I'm not deserting you. Okay?"

After a minute of silence she nodded her head. "Okay. Take me home."

"Is it the same place or did you move?"

She gave him directions to her place. They drove in silence the rest of the way. Soon they reached her apartment building.

He got out and walked her to the door. "It's apartment 4C." She reached into her purse and pulled out a key. She unlocked the door and walked in. "This key will get you into the building." She handed him the key. "Just knock on my door when you return."

"Thank you. I'll see you soon."

He gave her a quick kiss and headed for his car. He got in and drove off. Leslie stood there in the doorway of the apartment building.

"Bye, Michael. Be safe."

Michael drove to his destination in complete silence. He needed to gather his words. Soon he reached his destination. The East End. He stopped across the street and sat there for a few minutes. Finally he got out of the car and started walking.

He reached the ally and stopped once more. Even after all these years it was still painful to come here. He continued to put one foot in front of the other. Soon he reached a spot that was lit up by a single lamp light.

"Hello Thomas, Martha." He paused. "I had planned something to say when I first came here, but." He stopped. "You guys were some of the best friends I'd ever had. I'm sorry that I couldn't take care of Bruce. He would have noticed that I wasn't normal if I did. But Leslie and Alfred did a good job.

"I know that he is hiding something, though. It's the way he acts in public. Like a billionaire playboy, it's just not him. He's covering up something." He smiled and shook his head. "Not much I can do about it though."

He stopped again. He reached into his wallet and pulled out a picture of the four of them. He looked at it for a few minutes. He scoffed at himself and shook his head. He didn't take care of Bruce because he would see that he wasn't normal. It was because seeing Bruce everyday would remind him of Thomas and Martha. Maybe it wasn't too late.

"Screw that. Maybe I can still help," he said to himself. He looked back to the ground. "I don't know how, but I'll help Bruce. I promise."

He put the picture away. He put his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath. "I got to go. I have to figure out exactly how I'm going to help him. Goodbye."

He turned around and started back to his car. He wasn't halfway there when he felt the Buzz.

He groaned as he placed his hand on his katana. "Come on. Not now."

His eyes searched the area around him. Finally his eyes saw a figure in an off shot alley. "My name is Michael Macleod of the clan Macleod. I do not wish to fight."

The figure chuckled. "My name is Dillon Mace. And I do." He pulled out his own sword and started his way toward Michael.

Great. A Head Hunter. He really hates these guys. Michael also withdrew his sword and waited for the Immortal.

Dillon ran at Michael with his sword raised high. He swung it down, but Michael batted it aside with no effort. He spun around past Dillon and quickly slashed him across his back. The Immortal backed up, clutching his wound. He drew his hand away and looked at the blood. Dillon looked back at Michael with rage on his face and ran back into the fight.

He hacked and slashed at Michael but nothing was getting through his defenses. When Dillon tried a straight thrust Michael brought his sword upward, using the hilt guard to force Dillon's sword upward.

When it was high enough, Michael grabbed Dillon's hilt to keep it in place. He then drove his knee into his groin. As Dillon kneed over in pain, Michael quickly drew his sword back out of the block, still using his hand to keep Dillon's sword in the air, and drove the blade though Dillon's chest.

The Immortal gasped and let go of his sword as he dropped to the ground. Michael could see that the Immortal would soon 'die' so he dropped Dillon's sword, put his own away, and started to walk off. He wasn't in the mood to take any heads today. Besides, he believes that Dillon learned his lesson.

As he walked away though, Dillon's words made him stop dead in his tracks. "You better kill me because I'm going to find out where you live and make your life hell."

Standing there, listening to his words, Michael knew that he would have to kill him. He learned a long time ago not to take threats likely. After all, an Immortal has all the time in the world.

He started back toward the downed Immortal, drawing out his sword as he went. "If you say so."

Dillon's eyes grew wide as he saw that the Michael was going to kill him. He probably thought that Michael wouldn't take him seriously.

Michael raised his sword as he reached Dillon. "There can be only one," he said as he brought the blade downward.

When he finished he raised his arms in the air, waiting for the Quickening. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning stuck him. He let out a scream as more bombarded him. Wind was blowing trash around as more bolts were hitting lamps and shattering windows.

During it all he noticed a figure in the shadows about a dozen yards away from him. He couldn't see the person clearly but he recognized the form. Batman. When did he show up?

When the Quickening ended, he collapsed but didn't stay down to rest. He quickly stood up, put his sword away, and ran towards the street. For some reason Batman wasn't following him. At least not right away.

He heard that he used gadgets in his fight against crime, so the Quickening must have damaged a few that were on him. It must be enough to hinder him for a few moments.

'Good,' Michael thought. Maybe he could get to his car and get away, before he could catch up to him.

Michael reached the alley exit. All he had to do was cross the street and he would be home free. He stopped though when he heard sirens. Peaking out into the street, he saw two cop cars stop. The officers got out of the cars and headed for the alley.

Michael ducked back into the shadows of the alley. 'Great,' he thought. 'Now what?' Looking back the way he came, he could barely see Batman coming his way. Looking back at the exit he saw that the cops were coming. Talk about being stuck between a rock in a hard spot.

5