"Do you have any idea what is happening with Mac lately? It is not his normal brooding, and any moral dilemmas he usually argues out with you or me. I can't put my finger on it, but something is not right."

"I might."

"Well?" Joe said impatiently.

"If you give me another beer, I'll give you a short history lesson!" Methos lounged back against the bar and smiled.

Joe put a beer in front of Methos and asked "And would this history lesson actually have anything to do with the question?"

"It might."

"Helpful, aren't you. OK well shoot."

"Immortals are, by nature and circumstance, loners. The repeated and inevitable loss of mortal friends and lovers, causes them to withdraw, refusing to allow themselves to get too close to the mortals they live amongst. The rules of the Game tend to preclude getting too close to other Immortals, knowing that one day they might have to face one another in battle, or may lose a challenge and leave the other lost and alone. Any partnerships that develop are strategic, and tend to be based on mutual need."

"OK, Immortal Psychology 101. But ..."

"Yes, there is a but ... Duncan is the exception to this rule, as he is to many others. Before his first death he was the beloved and cherished son of a Highland chieftain. Bred to lead his clan, to protect and provide for them. Family and clan were all important, it was where you belonged, it was what defined you.

And even though he wandered millions of miles from the valley, over the hills his clansmen never ventured beyond, he has retained the values instilled centuries before.

Repeatedly, through the centuries, he has built and rebuilt a family for himself. A clan to protect and love, a family to belong to. And the more loss he suffers, the closer he draws his clan to him. Giving loyalty and protection to them, he receives loyalty that surprises those he draws to him, loyalty they would never have believed they could give."

With a touch of sarcasm he continued, "Just look at me, 5000 years of self preservation, and he can make me head towards the fight instead of away from it!"