Disclaimer: I do not own Highlander Davis/Panzer does, this story is only written for fun and enjoyment not for profit. Rated M for language and mature situations.

I want to thank my Beta reader R.J. Bingham. Please go and read R.J. Bingham's Fan-fictions, they are all well written and very enjoyable.

Chapter 8

Watchers, Challenges and Secrets Revealed

Joe, Duncan, Connor and Cassandra all arrived at the cozy restaurant Gwen had picked out for the late lunch. Just as they reached the table and Duncan was about to introduce Cassandra to Gwen the two women ran into each other's arms with Gwen saying. "Zhandra, I can't believe you're here, it's been several millenniums since I saw you last, you look wonderful!"

"Gwenan, I thought you had died two thousand years ago! I am so glad to see you. This is unbelievable, Duncan this is my first teacher, she took me after I ran away from the horsemen and protected me when they came around again. I go by the name Cassandra now and have for the last thousand years, and since you're sitting with Connor's wife Mary I guess you're the lady that Joe is marrying." Cassandra hugged Gwen again and smiled at the group.

"Yes Zhandra, I mean Cassandra, that's a lovely name, I am just Gwen now, and I see you are accompanied by none other than Duncan MacLeod. Duncan and I have met once before, he's a good friend of Joe's." Then Gwen showed everyone her engagement ring and Cassandra smiled, happily to find her old mentor once again.

Joe was unusually quiet, he was just observing the student and teacher reunion, but that was not the reason for his silence, Joe was still thinking about Methos, Samuel McConnell, and the watcher Macdonald's wife being held hostage. He was thinking of who he could contact to help in the situation. Joe thought calling Amy Thomas would be his best bet, she was his daughter and he had gotten closer during the last few years. No one in the watcher knew they were really father and daughter and they had spent time together when Joe was in Paris the last few years and cared a great deal for each other. Amy had objected when Joe told her he was going to resign, from the watcher's to marry Gwen. Amy said it was too dangerous, that this would be the last straw and few other watchers would ever understand how he could become so involved with the immortals they were only supposed to watch. Amy informed her father that he was one of the only links the watcher's had to Methos, so him staying in the watcher's was of vital importance.

All this was unsettling to Joe but he decided as soon as he could he would call Amy and see if she would help him with Samuel McConnell, and the watcher Macdonald and his wife being held hostage.

On the other hand the two MacLeod men were doing what they could to get the story of how Cassandra became Gwen's student and what was the connection between the facts they both had Mystical powers. But the women both felt this was too public a place to tell such tales so promised they would talk about it back at Gwen's house. So the group ordered lunch and watched the two women chat like two long lost sisters. Joe thought that Gwen being Cassandra's teacher was more than pleasurable since Gwen herself was a witch with mystic powers, who else would be the one to teach another immortal mystic witchcraft. It was Cassandra who noticed how quiet Joe was, and asked him how he was.

"So Joe, what seems to be on your mind, you're very quiet today? Cassandra asked.

"Oh I am just taking this all in, I guess it's just the old watcher in me, but it makes perfect sense that Gwen would have been your teacher, there are few immortals, with the kind of powers you both share, and fewer who could teach another about how to manifest these powers. I was just surprised Gwen took you in especially after you ran away from Methos." Joe said.

"What does Gwen being my teacher and Methos have to do with anything Joe? If not for Duncan he would be dead like the rest of the horsemen." Cassandra angrily said.

Gwen intervened, "Joe can you go call for the car, while I pay the bill, and you and Cassandra can continue that conversation later like in ten years."

Joe smiled at her, "oh Gwen our first fight."

"No, we have hundreds of fights just we were not in the same room, or on the same side of the world for that matter. Why in the name of the Gods did you mention Methos to Cassandra for?" Gwen insisted.

"Because he is here, and I was talking to him earlier, and someone else is here too you need to know about, but I don't want to tell you about him right now I need to do some background checking first." Joe remarked back to Gwen.

"You are no longer a watcher Joe so you have to stop acting like one. Just tell me who is here?" Gwen sighed as Joe just nodded his head and turned away to go get the car brought around. Damn it that man was sometimes more stubborn that she was, and Methos is here, Great! Cassandra always wanted to just kill him on sight, part of Gwen didn't blame her, Methos should have protected her he would have protected Gwen, but why not Cassandra? That Boys being boy's thing had really gotten out of hand when Gwen found out about Cassandra, and heard her story.

Joe revealed to the group "I left my hat back at the office so I will just get a cab there and to the house, I have a few phone calls to make anyway, thanks for the lunch all," and he kissed Gwen on the cheek and walked away.

Gwen didn't try to stop Joe it would only lead to another argument, and she was sure he was going out to find Methos. Joe always reminded Gwen that although Methos and he were close friends Joe always had to remember just who he was dealing with and not always to take Methos at face value. Joe always had speculated that Methos was a man with layers to be peeled off before you found Methos's real intentions buried underneath his sarcasm. Joe told Gwen it was impossible to have lived for 5,000 years without building some sort of armor up around himself and even if it seemed that Methos was flippant, flamboyant, sarcastic, and said that he really didn't care about anything but staying alive, he really wasn't that man he appeared to be. Joe reminded Gwen she had really only lived in the real world for 2500 years and got to skip most of the modern world when things got really crazy, besides she was fighting her own demons. Joe just believed they were two very different people, and maybe Gwen had to agree with Joe on this one. Gwen also had to agree with Joe that he knew Methos better than she did, because the man Gwen had known had lived over 2000 years ago.

Gwen and her group of immortals headed back to the house in Woolleys Bay, while Joe went as his fiancée had suspected looking for Methos and calling Amy. Funny thing was when Amy answered the cell phone she was clear as a bell, not usual for overseas calls. He was sitting in a park on another bench and Joe swore he could hear her voice in the distance. Joe had been a watcher over 30 years, and knew all the tricks in the book he put the phone down and walked a short distance and there she was; Amy trying to hide behind some bushes. He said. "Amy I can see you, now why don't you just come out and talk to me?"

Slowly Amy did but after she reached him she suggested they find a more secluded place. Joe picked up his cell phone and they got in a cab and drove to the travel office, were the two got out and went in the building.

"Victoria, sorry to interrupt you again." Joe said. "This is my daughter Amy, and we have to talk so I'll be using the office OK, please could you keep this on the QT, Gwen doesn't know Amy is in the country. Sorry Victoria Its family and you know how difficult these situation can be?" Joe smiled one of his best smiles at the secretary.

Amy didn't look happy as she said just before they entered the office, "Dad this is a bad idea, and you know how I feel about this marriage, just come back to Paris right now and all will be forgiven."

Victoria sniggered to see she wasn't the only person with problems, the more she saw of Joe the more she liked this man as he closed the office door and locked it.

"Amy there is a problem I need your help with and if I don't get someone to help a watcher's wife will die, as for you what the hell are you doing in New Zealand? Unless you've changed your mind and decided to come to the wedding after all." Joe proclaimed to his daughter.

"Dad you know you can't marry this immortal! They are even talking about putting a watcher on you because you are Methos's friend and he sees you. The watchers do want me to offer you a deal. Come back as a double agent and watch Methos, just don't tell him what you're doing, but stay friends with him, write a chronicle about him, an accurate one." Amy said quietly.

"You guys have lost your minds! No! Have any of you tried looking up what the word friendship means in the dictionary? Besides I already quit, I should get a retirement after 30 years but I will forgo it because I don't want those bastards money. Now Amy hear what I am saying a watchers wife is going to die, if we do not help him get her released, she's been kidnapped for Christ sake."

"Mom says I get my stubbornness from you, and I guess she is right, so what is this thing about a watchers wife?"

"Ok his name is Donald MacDonald he saw Gwen whack a guy named Dean Morris at the Auckland International Airport two and one half days ago, his partner Samuel McConnell kidnapped Donald MacDonald wife and shook him down for info. I do not know how much this immortal knows about the watchers but unless I get Gwen to fight him McConnell will kill Mrs. MacDonald." Joe passionately said

"So what did Gwen say?" Amy asked.

"I didn't tell her yet, we had a lunch with…"

Amy interrupted. "I know Gwen, you and Connor and Mary MacLeod, Duncan MacLeod and Cassandra all just had lunch. Dad I have to tell you something, and don't get angry, because of you Gwen's back on the grid and I am her watcher. Right now all that is official is she was Gwen MacQueen noticed in 1915 with her first teachers Darius and Connor Macleod; but the rumors will not stop that she is still Methos's Gwennie and over 4000 years old. And since Adam Pierson was the one to declare her not to be the Gwennie and he turned out to really be Methos, well you can see why HQ doesn't believe his report and is opening up a new investigation. Now this is the women you are about to marry, right? Dad of all the immortals you could have picked why her?"

"Because I love her, and she loves me too. I'm getting old honey and I just want to spend the rest of my days being happy. Trust me this was not a snap decision for either of us, it took seven years, to work out, my only regret is I did do it sooner. But I am glad you're watching her because Gwen will never hurt you or put you in danger. I still have to help this MacDonald guy." Joe said worriedly.

"No you have to tell Gwen about her challenge, and let her handle it and stop interfering. That's what they do dad, they kill each other with swords and only one lives. It's the way it is and if you can't accept it then come home to Paris and please don't marry her." Amy reminded her father.

"I'm not a watcher any more, and Gwen is my bride, so I have an investment in this." Joe replied.

"That's why watchers don't ever interfere, or get involved in the lives of immortals, it's not too late dad to stop this madness." Amy pleaded with him.

"So that's a no. I guess about helping one of your own, save his wife's live. Amy this job can make us almost as cold as some of the monsters we watch. That's why I could never follow that damn rule book. They almost killed me once over that damned rule book. Hey we have to live with ourselves; and I know when I wake up in the morning my conscience is clean. You have to decide what will work for you." Joe pointed out to his daughter.

"Dad, you really should just call Gwen, you know she can handle herself, you can't fight her battles for her. You need to know a couple of other things too. Luke should not come back to Paris, they know he's an immortal too. Not when or how but we have photo's of him dying and coming back to life on Gwen's roof. So I would be safe to say Gwen is his first teacher?" Joe nodded . "Also when Amy Zoll found out she went ballistic, it was two in a row for her, first Adam then Luke. The good news is we are pretty sure Luke is a new immortal so there's no first death info on him and as far as anyone knows he could have had his first death just before he came here. Don't tell me anything different, so I don't have to report it." Amy said with a smile.

"Great I guess I have a Semi-permanent house guest now, well Gwen thinks he need at least two years training anyway before he should go out on his own." Joe said as there was a knock on the office door.

He opened it and saw Victoria ready to ask a question. "Joe its Gwen on the phone, and she wants to speak with you, sorry I told her you were here, I didn't say with who but she is my boss and I don't want to get fired."

"It's OK I can pick it up in here thanks Victoria," Joe picked up the phone in the office. "Hello Gwen my darling!"

"What is going on Joe, we are all home and you are not answering your cell and I was getting worried. There is a message on the home phone for you from a Mr. Samuel McConnell to see if you told me about your meeting? So fess up Joe what's going on. Who is McConnell and why are you interfering with immortal business again?"

Joe winced because he could tell Gwen was really angrily this time. "Is that why you were so quiet at lunch, that seeing Methos line was just to throw me off the path so I'd stay out of a challenge! Honestly Joe you have to let go I am big girl and I promise to come home to you. I fought thousands of immortals I am not about to start losing now when I finally have someone to come home too for the first time in my life. So give me the information. Step out of my way and stop worrying so damn much." Gwen concluded her speech.

Joe too a deep breath and took the card out of his pocket. Then he read the information on the card to Gwen and asked if she would call back to tell him where and when they were going to have this challenge, then with a faint I love you hung up the phone. Amy hugged her dad and said "I know its hard dad but now you're-signing up for a lot more than you ever did when you were a watcher."

"I only asked her to call back to were and when for your benefit Amy, I am going home or maybe to a bar. I can ask Victoria if there's one that plays Jazz somewhere around here. Then I can wait with a beer while both the women I love in my life go do their thing. Thanks for the updates but tell HQ to go to hell and stop putting a watcher on me, watching me is as boring as ice melting." Then Joe changed the subject. "Amy so are you watchers going to have a party after my wedding?" Amy gave her father a strange look. "Come on Amy we always did, anytime there was an immortal wedding or party where a bunch of immortals were gathered together for a special occasion. It was like our own watchers party, a chance to see old friends and make new ones, since you're watching Gwen you'd better get to know who's watching Luke, both the Clan MacLeod men, and a few others. Those immortals will all be regular visitors to our place, so you can expect their watchers will be here a lot also." Then Joe went out to ask Victoria about a jazz bar and get directions to it, and wait for Gwen's call.

It was closing time so he sent Victoria home and just after she left Gwen called back. "Joe are you coming home?"

"No, Victoria told me about a bar that play blues, the Seahorse Inn, I am going to be there waiting for you. Where are you meeting this bastard?" Joe asked Gwen

"Whangarel Quarry Gardens, at 6pm they close at five so no one should be there, I have been there before it's a lovely place. So I see you at the Seahorse Inn afterwards and we can listen to some jazz together. Joe just tell me you will always love me." Gwen said as she always did before she faced another immortal.

"I will always love you Gwen, see ya at the Seahorse Inn later," then Joe hung up the phone. Amy looked at her father and saw him in a new light, but she had a job to do and she gave her dad one last hug and went out the door so she would be at the Whangarel Quarry Gardens before 6pm.

Joe locked the door of the travel agency and turned to walk to the Seahorse Inn when a car pulled up alongside him, the passenger door opened, and a familiar voice came flowing out of the auto, "Hey buddy how about I buy you a beer and we can sit and wait together, but one thing, just where in this blessed town do they have a bar that plays blues?" Methos smiled up at Joe. Joe just shook his head and got in the car, just glad to see a friendly face to share his beer with as they waited for Gwen and Samuel McConnell to finish their immortal battle.

Once at the bar Methos smiled and said. "Hey Joe try not to worry even before I started to train her with the sword Gwen had already taken twenty two heads, if there's one women who can look after herself it's Gwennie." And the two men laughed and drank as Methos told Joe how Gwen had taken the heads of Jironos and Elijah before he even had taught her anything helpful to use in a sword fight. Methos never doubted for a minute his student could not only hold her own in any challenge but probably could defeat him someday. One reason to keep her as part of his friendly circle, knowing the fondness they shared for each other would ensure that they never came to swords.

End chapter 8

Chapter 9

Mystical Witchcraft and Amy Thomas