Over the next few weeks, John found himself training with Duncan on a daily basis, rushing home for a quick dinner, taking part in various Skynet-related operations and raids, and then-to top it all off-coming home to study and do his homework. Though he was grateful that almost all of it involved spending time with Cameron, it wasn't what he would call "quality time" alone with her. Plus, Immortal or not, he needed sleep.
One Thursday afternoon, John and Cameron were walking to Duncan's home for their regular training session when John felt that familiar spike of pain in his head that he had come to realize signified the nearby presence of another Immortal. From regular contact with Duncan, he had gotten used to the sensation, and because he assumed that it was just Duncan, he was surprised when his eyes fell on a tall, attractive woman glancing around anxiously, one hand slipping inside her coat.
As their eyes met, both John and the woman relaxed visibly. As an impish smile graced her face, the woman brought both hands out into the open to show that they were empty. John nodded politely. As he was taught, he introduced himself and his intentions. Or, rather, he started to: "I'm John. Just passing throu"
Before the word was completely out of his mouth, Cameron had drawn a gun and charged at the woman. "Shit! Cam!" he called as he scrambled after her, just barely able to reach her and pull her back before she could open fire. The stranger clearly had reflexes and drawn back in alarm. "Wait," he called. "I'm sorry about that! She didn't mean anything!" But the woman had retreated and turned the corner, the sensation of her presence fading as she moved away. Sighing, he let a little exasperation show in his voice.
"What was that, Cam?" he asked, irritated. She returned his stare blankly. "She might have been a threat. She could have challenged you," she said matter-of-factly before she looked away.
"Didn't seem like it to me," he said. "She was smiling, she had both her hands in the open, and her posture was relaxed. You saw it, Cam"
"She still might have been a threat," Cameron insisted.
"This isn't an op, Cameron. If she had issued a challenge, it was still my responsibility to answer it. Remember? Besides, I know I'm not there yet, but I'm not completely helpless, you know," he joked, nudging her lightly with his elbow affectionately.
She didn't react. "Uh oh," John said. "I get the feeling something's wrong. Everything OK with you?" he queried, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, John," Cameron replied. "When I realized that you were looking at another Immortal, even though I did not actually see a threat, I couldn't control myself. I just had to make sure you were safe. I will try to do better."
John looked at her. "Oh well. If we see that woman again, you can apologize to her. No harm done. But Cam, if I'm going to be fighting a war someday, you'll have to get used to me being in danger," he said seriously. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "S'OK, Cam, I know you meant well"
A bit later, they arrived at Duncan's. John immediately felt the familiar buzz/spike in his head of another Immortal, only this time, it was stronger. As they exited the elevator, John immediately saw why: Duncan had company.
"YOU!" exclaimed the woman they had seen earlier as she hurried stood behind Duncan. "These are the ones, Macleod! That one," she said, pointing at Cameron, "pulled a gun on me!"
Cameron cocked her head and regarded the woman passively as she stepped in front of John.
"Don't just stand there Macleod!" she whispered, theatrical urgency throbbing in her voice, as she peered over his shoulder. "Didn't you hear me? She has a gun"
Curiously, Duncan looked at the woman, then at Cameron, and then back at the woman. Cameron was clearly not going to do anything unless he was provoked. So, winking at John, Duncan said sternly, "Forget it, Amanda. I'm through getting you out of situations that are always entirely your fault in the first place. I don't know what you did to these people, and I don't care." Looking at John, he said, "You want her head? Be my guest. You'd be doing me a favor." And he deliberately stepped away.
"Duncan!" the woman he'd addressed as Amanda gasped, outraged. "I didn't do anything to these people. I don't even know who these two are! You're just going to let them ... them ..." she trailed off as John started snickering and Duncan, the effort of trying not to laugh getting the better of him, started snorting and shaking. "Oh, ha HA, very funny. Who is this?" she said, looking at Duncan as she pointed at John.
"Amanda, this is John. John, this is my very old friend Amanda," Duncan.
"I'm not that old," Amanda said wryly as she came forward and offered her hand.
"John," he replied, shaking her hand. Nodding his head to the right, he added, "And this is my ... this is Cameron."
Cameron walked straight up to Amanda, and standing slightly closer than was necessary, stuck her hand out. "I want to apologize for drawing my weapon prematurely before. I was concerned for John's safety and am sorry if I alarmed you"
Amanda nodded warily, shaking the proffered hand. "No problem!" she said brightly, though she noticed that Cameron was still staring at her. Noticing this, John subtly nudged Cameron as he searched for a way to make small talk. "So, how long have you known Duncan??" he asked.
The two older Immortals glanced at each other before Duncan shrugged apologetically. "Sorry. He's new to all this, I'm still training him." Turning to John, he said, "It's considered kind of rude to ask any questions about age or history around Immortals, John. It's kind of a private thing."
"Sorry," muttered John, blushing. "Awww, how cute, he's blushing!" Amanda gushed, stroking John's arm and beaming at him. Of the four people in the room, she was the only one who didn't notice Cameron's eyes narrow.
"Amanda!" Duncan called, the exasperation slipping in his voice with the ease of a habit that had endured for decades, if not longer. "Whhaaat?" Amanda said, a lilt in her voice, looking back, then noticing Cameron. "Oh!" she said, surprised. "Sorry, sometimes it's just a reflex. I didn't mean anything by this, scout's honor."
"I do not believe you are a scout," Cameron noted, confused. "You are far too old to be a girl scout and the wrong gender to be a boy scout"
At the subsequent awkward silence, Amanda said, "So. You're Duncan's student, huh? You're lucky, you know - he's one of the best in the Game, and he's ... well, let's just say that Duncan Macleod's sense of honor is becoming a kind of clich▌ among us. I hope I'm not interrupting," she said.
"Actually," Duncan said, "John and Cameron were here for a workout. You're just in time to help"
"Oh, no, I wouldn't want to get in the way," Amanda said, hurriedly. "I'll just go and meet up with you later, Duncan"
"I don't think so," Macleod said, smoothly gliding over to put himself between her path to the elevator. "I could really use your help, and it probably wouldn't hurt for you to review some basics too"
There was much whining and threatening and cajoling involved, but eventually Amanda agreed to join the other three in the training area. Going to a weapons rack, Duncan quickly selected four wooden practice swords-bokken-and distributed them.
"Today," Duncan announced professorially, "we'll work the same positioning drills, but with broken rhythms. Let's pair off. John, you're with Amanda, and I'll work with Cameron"
"Macleod?" Amanda asked curiously.
"Yes"
"Why are you teaching Cameron? She's not Immortal," she noted.
Cameron started to answer, only to fall silent at a gesture from Duncan. "John asked me to train her as well," he said simply. "She's around him a lot, and he wants her to learn how to defend herself, too."
"Huh," Amanda said, shrugging as she turned back to John as they began to work together.
As the hour wore on, they switched off, with John working with Cameron while Duncan worked with Amanda, and then one final rotation that paired Amanda with Cameron. Immediately, Amanda found herself fascinated. While John's technique had clearly advertised for anyone who knew what to look for that he was the student of Duncan Macleod, it was also clear that John had his own ideas of combat-a curious mix of cunning and strategy combined with an admirable, nearly successful effort to master his own fear. There was no doubt that John was already a highly competent combatant who would eventually become a master swordsman.
But Cameron boasted a technique that was clearly and uncannily a precise duplicate of Duncan's -- the same rhythms, timing and tiny idiosyncrasies. Not just this, but Cameron put precisely the same amount of power into her strokes as Duncan, which was surprising, as Duncan was a larger, heavier male who regularly engaged in intense workouts, while Cameron had the slender, willowy body of a classically trained dancer.
Amanda decided to test things out a little, swinging a little harder and putting more power and venom into the drill than was strictly warranted--and more than she could safely control. Cameron matched the extra power with no problems, allowing her blade to match precisely with the first and second stroke, before taking advantage of Amanda's overcommitment. The exchange ended with Amanda leaning forward trying not to fall over as Cameron stood to the side with the point of her simulated blade placed gently but precisely on Amanda's jugular.
As Cameron stepped back, Amanda straightened up, eyes narrowed. "Nobody gets that level of skill in that short a time," she said. "You're as good as Duncan is--and you're stronger, too." Glancing at Duncan and John, who both wore vaguely panicked expressions, she said, "Oh, come on. I can keep a secret. There's something different about her, and I want to know what it is."
John piped up. "Amanda, no offense, but ... we just met you. I'll admit that Cameron's a little different than the average girl on the street, but can we just leave it at that? She's gifted, and she can be trusted, and that's all we have to say on that right now"
"Sure!" Amanda replied cheerily. "I know how important secrets are to people, and you're right-you just met me. No worries," she said, waving them airily away.
"Thanks," John said, relieved. The training continued for another half hour before Duncan called a halt. "OK!" he called. "Time for some kettlebell work!" Amanda and John groaned simultaneously, then grinned at each other. Amanda spoke up. "Nope. Uh uh. No way, absolutely not," she declared adamantly. "You have your lines, Macleod, and I have mine, and this is it: the only Russian things I believe in lifting are bottles of vodka and spoonfuls of caviar. "And," she announced. "Cameron is clearly more than strong enough as it is, so she's not going to be joining you either"
"What?" Duncan asked.
"Cameron has a new priority. The girls," Amanda declared, "are going shopping"
"What?" Duncan repeated again, stupidly.
"Shopping," Amanda said. "No offense, darling, but your clothes are ... well ... completely inadequate."
"My clothes fit me perfectly and are fully functional," Cameron said, puzzled. "They allow freedom of movement, provide camouflage in urban environments and are reinforced to survive the rigors of combat. These," she added, pointing to her pants, "are made of the toughest ripstop fabric currently available."
Shaking her head mournfully, Amanda said, "Oh, that's just so sad. I absolutely insist you come with me. You need help and you need it now. Macleod, shut it," she added in response as Duncan began to object once again. "This is a girl thing. Butt out."
Duncan managed to utter, "But ..." before Amanda sidled over to him and draped herself around his form. "Don't worry," she promised liltingly. "I'll bring her back in one piece, I'll make a stop at the sexy underwear store, and then ... you and I will have some catching up time"
Duncan coughed and blushed a deep red. As he tried to recover, Amanda had walked up to Cameron, took her by the arm, and said, "Come on. I'll take a quick shower-you don't look like you need one-and we'll be off." And before John, Cameron, or Duncan could say anything else, Amanda had pulled Cameron into the elevator. "Enjoy your kettlebells, boys!" she called as the doors closed.
Duncan looked at John steadily, daring him to say something. John gave Duncan a disappointed look. "You completely lost control of that situation, didn't you."
"I always do when she's involved," Duncan replied, looking like he suddenly felt a headache coming on.