Title: Who wants to live forever (part 9)
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Rating: R
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money..
Wc: 1676
Sequel to: Expectations
AN.: A big THANK YOU to luvinmike for being such a great beta!

Part 9:

An hour later, after having been successfully convinced that a good breakfast wouldn't hurt before "meeting up with" (spying on) Vicki Nelson, Mike and Adam finally neared the address Mike had found in the phone book.

What they weren't expecting was the melee they nearly stumbled into.

Outside the building housing Vicki's office, two black vans with tinted windows waited, engines running, while inside, the sound of moving furniture and breaking glass could be heard.

Mike didn't think twice before he started running toward the building. But he didn't get far before an iron fist closed around his forearm and yanked him to a sudden stop before dragging him around the corner of the house and pushing him forcefully against the wall.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?!" Adam's angry voice hissed at him.

"Someone in there is in trouble and I think it's Vicki. I have to help her!" he responded urgently.

"We don't know that and even so, what do you think you could do against at least eight and possibly more men?"

"I won't let them take her without a fight!" he nearly bellowed back before wrenching himself free from the immortal's grip.

Adam groaned and cursed:

"The passion of youth! Gee, why don't you simply knock yourself unconscious to make it even easier for them to capture you, too!"

At that, Mike demanded with a murderous glare.

"So, what would you do?"

"Given the choice? Turn around and stay out of this situation."

Mike scowled at hearing this.

"But seeing how that doesn't seem to be an option, watch and learn."

With this the lean man took off around the corner, walking as if he belonged there. When he reached the rear of the closest car, he knelt as if picking something up from the ground. The only sign of his real mission was the brief glint of a blade in the man's hand. Smoothly, he straightened and walked to the driver's side of the next car and knocked politely on the window without bothering to look up.

The moment the door window was down far enough, his fist shot forward and knocked the man inside unconscious. The movement had been so quick, if Mike hadn't followed each of the other man's smallest movements, he wouldn't have seen it. He was impressed. Of course by now, Adam's presence had been noticed and the driver of the other car along with another lackey got out and made their way toward the dark-haired man.

Quickly Mike inched over to the now empty car and noted that Adam had sliced both tires on the right side. Keeping hidden from anyone looking out of the building, he kept watch.

The first of the duo was now nearly at Adam's back, but before he could so much as tap Adam on the shoulder, he suddenly froze. Mike couldn't really see what had happened, but in the next moment the big man dropped to the ground and the man behind him let out a warning yell before his throat was sliced with a familiar looking dagger.

The scream had unfortunately gotten the attention of the men inside the building and moments later, scrambling feet could be heard descending the stairs. Adam seemed to have anticipated this and already stood next to the exit, carrying what looked like the dead men's guns, waiting for the thugs to come out. A massacre followed. The door swung open and Adam opened fire. Screams and the sound of bodies falling filled the morning air. Then suddenly it was silent. Mike moved to the door and then went inside after checking that the coast was clear. On his way up, he grabbed a gun before quickly following after Adam.

Dead bodies lay everywhere. It was a bloody scene and Mike couldn't believe how efficiently the young man had massacred them without even seeming to bat an eye.

Then suddenly there was another commotion. He continued up the stairs, but was too late. There were six men left. One was holding an unconscious Vicki in his arms, another kneeling above a black-clad younger woman, and the four others were happily taking turns beating the life out of Adam. Mike didn't know how they had managed to disarm him, but before he could do anything, he felt the barrel of a gun pressed to the base of his skull and a feral voice growling:

"How nice of you to join us, Celluci. Drop the gun!" The last words were nearly spit in his ear.

Did he know this guy? Celluci? Was that his name? And hadn't he heard the name mentioned in the morgue before?

He had come here for information, but somehow he had imagined it ending differently.

With brutal pushes, he too was forced into the room.

"Funny. Word has it you are dead," the wild-looking man who clearly seemed to be the leader of the pack stated.

"Yeah, well, you shouldn't rely so much on gossip," Mike answered smugly.

"Oh, cheeky as always. Say, who's your new friend here?" the massive chin indicated to the now quite-battered Adam.

"Why? Wanna date him?"

That only earned him a punch in the face, but it had been exactly what he had aimed for. Quick as a cat, he grasped his opponent's arm and twisted it around, forcing the other to sink to his knees. But before he could do anything else, two of the quartet working on Adam had turned on him. Blows were traded before a brutal fist to his head ended the fight. Seeing stars for a moment, he sank to the ground.

It took a while before he could see clearly again, but when he was able to do so, he was held by two of them while the other guys made a game of using Adam's dagger and sword on the near lifeless figure. Mike struggled to free himself, but any time he moved too quickly, the world seemed to spin and he had to swallow to keep from throwing up.

"Stop!" he groaned.

"What was that? I didn't hear you," the leader asked innocently.

"Leave him alone."

"Sorry, but the boys want to have some fun. And you know how it is with all work and no play. Morale sinks. We can't have that now, can we?" the criminal replied, signaling the others to continue.

Mike grimaced and suddenly the pounding in his head seemed to take on a life of its own. Not unlike the first time he had met Adam, a pulse wave ran through his whole body and he was aware of a presence he couldn't see.

A dark laughter distracted him from the strange feeling, and before they knew what was happening, Adam had thrown himself on his torturers, impaling himself on his own dagger before somehow managing to regain his sword. After that, it was all a blur of motion and screams. Mike swayed and landed on his back as his captors released him to focus on the other man, but they were doomed. One after the other was taken down. Limbs fell and screams rang out until Adam was suddenly stopped by the leader emptying his clip into the battle-crazed man. With a groan, the young man fell in a heap and stopped moving, the dagger still protruding from his midriff and his sword by his side.

Seeing it, the wolfish-locking man picked up the beautiful weapon and walked over to Mike saying:

"This time you'll stay dead."

But before he could swing, a shiny tip suddenly appeared in his gut and a deep, faintly accented voice growled angrily:

"No, he won', but you will!" before the blade was twisted and then withdrawn. The body fell lifelessly, revealing a tall broad-shouldered man with long wavy dark-brown hair wielding a beautiful katana.

"I'm Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod."

Mike nodded and answered weakly.

"Mike Celluci. A-Adam-"

He indicated at his fallen companion.

MacLeod's eyes widened when he saw the man before immediately running to him. After removing the dagger, the newcomer cradled Adam in his lap, tenderly stroking the dead man's face.

"Och, since when do you play the hero, old man? No' caring about others indeed," he whispered, smiling sadly.

Somehow the scene seemed so intimate that Mike felt compelled to look away. Instead he focused on the two women lying unconscious on the ground. Dusting himself off, he went to check on them. Apart from a nasty bump on her head, the young Goth seemed unhurt. Vicki, however, had given them quite a fight. Her jaw was bruised with the bottom lip split and her knuckles were still oozing blood. He hoped that was the extent of her injuries, but couldn't be sure.

Seeing her like this hurt and made him ache in his heart, but surprisingly not as painfully as he had expected. His feelings were somehow more platonic than he had expected after the memory flashes he had experienced. It felt more like feelings you would have for a sibling, maybe.

Mike was just about to ask the stranger what they should do when sirens could be heard in the distance. Suddenly the man stood, heaving Adam over his shoulder and collecting the sword and dagger.

"We have to go," he declared shortly, the tone indicating that it wasn't up for discussion.

Mike tenderly stroked Vicki's cheek, then glanced back up, asking:

"What about them?"

"The police will be here in a few minutes. They will take care of them."

Seeing Mike's hesitate he added:

"I know it is hard, but we really have to go now. They won't go untreated for long."

Sighing, Mike nodded. Then he surprised himself by following his impulse and kneeling over Vicki to press a kiss on her forehead, whispering: "Get better, Vic."

With one last caress of her cheek, he stood and followed the stranger out of the room.

What he didn't notice was an unfocused pair of kohl-rimmed eyes fluttering open just as he walked out the door.

***

tbc