Chapter 8

When Duncan returned to the loft, he was not surprised to find Richie there alone. "Did she get away from you, Rich?"

"Get away? No Mac, she wanted to go home. What the hell happened tonight?" Richie looked concerned.

"Didn't she tell you? I thought for sure that she would have told you the whole story."

"She told me bits and pieces, but there were a few things she left out. And I'm wondering why." Richie raised an eyebrow. "So, I want the whole story Mac. What happened?"

"You remember Caimen Mahar?"

"That freak that came after you in Paris? Yeah, what about him?"

"He came looking for me. Came crashing through the door. Celeste was behind the door and got hit in the head. He took a couple swings at me and I forced him through the window. Then he took off. He said he'd be back." Macleod looked serious.

"Oh man, so Celeste saw the whole thing?"

"Yeah, she did."

"Then why did she leave out the details when she told me about it?"

"Well, I think she is trying to keep my odd behavior a secret." Duncan looked amused. "In exchange for me keeping her secret."

"Oh, wow. So, what's her secret?" Richie moved in a little closer to hear the details.

"Richie, what else do you know about this woman?" MacLeod suddenly looked serious.

"She's my tutor. We haven't spent a lot of time together other than studying. I don't know much at all about her. That's why I asked her over for dinner. I was hoping we could get to know her better." Richie was hoping that MacLeod hadn't picked up on the we part of the last sentence. He would certainly never willingly let himself get set up with a woman, especially one Richie had picked.

"Have you noticed anything unusual about her?"

"Unusual? Other than the fact that she in unusually beautiful, friendly and kind? No, nothing unusual." Richie tried not to let his smile show. If Celeste had seen everything then it was only a matter of time before she would be asking more questions, and that meant she'd be hanging around the loft more.

"So you didn't know that she was an immortal?" Duncan asked already knowing the answer.

Richie's jaw dropped. "Mac, she can't be. Unless, something is wrong with me. I have never felt her presence when we're together."

"There's nothing wrong with you Richie. I can't feel her either."

"Then what makes you think…" Richie trailed off. "Oh my God. Did Caimen kill her? Was it her first time dying?"

"No Rich, let me finish." Duncan continued. "She got a cut on her forehead when the door hit her. After Caimen went out the window, I helped her, cleaned up her cut, and it healed right in front of me."

Richie stood there looking at his friend for a few moments, not sure what to say. "Then why can't we feel her when she's around?"

"I don't know. That's why I went to talk to Dawson. I was hoping the watchers would know something about her."

"And do they?" Richie asked curiously.

"No, but Joe is going to see what he can find out." MacLeod looked out the broken window and noticed for the first time that Richie had cleaned up the broken glass. "I don't think she knows that she's immortal or she doesn't know what being immortal is all about. Either that or she's playing us. Either way, we need to keep an eye on her. Do you know where she lives?"

"No, but I can find out. I can follow her after class tomorrow."

"Ok, good. Just be careful. If she does know how to play the game, she could be very dangerous since we can't feel her coming. For now, we have to assume that she can't be trusted."

"Mac, don't you think you're over-reacting a little bit? I mean, she's not much of a threat to us. There's not much to her."

"It wouldn't take much for someone to cut off your head when your back is turned, or when you're sleeping." Duncan was angry that Richie would take this so lightly. "I know you like her, but you need to consider that she may not be who she appears."

"Mac, if she wanted my head, she could have taken it by now." Annoyance played across the young man's face. "We've spent an hour together every day for the last week. Most of the time my eyes on my assignment. If she wanted to…"

The teen was cut off by Macleod's angry tone. "Richie, you're not thinking clearly. How do you know she's not looking for me? I've been playing this game a lot longer than you have. For once, do you think you could take my advice and play it safe? No woman is worth losing your head over because you want to play Mr. Chivalry."

"You don't like her do you?" Richie tried not to look disappointed.

Duncan let out a frustrated sigh, "That has nothing to do with it."

"So you don't?"

"I do Richie, I do like her. If she is who we think." MacLeod was practically in Richie's face now anger spilling out with every word. "Why does it matter anyway? Why is it so important that I like her. You have never cared so much about how I felt about your girlfriends. I told you before that I didn't like some of the women in your life, that never stopped you in the past. What's so different about this one? Do you love her? Are you in love with her Richie? Does it not matter what I say, are you going to trust her anyway?" Duncan couldn't remember ever being this angry with his apprentice. "Richie, I'm only saying this because I care about you and I don't want you to lose your head over your libido."

Richie took a few steps back. "I'm sorry Mac. I didn't mean to upset you this. I just wanted you to like her because… because…" The words were right there on the tip of his tongue, because she could love us like Tessa did, but he couldn't get them out. "I don't love her Mac. You mean more to me than she ever will, and I trust you."

Duncan stared hard at Richie. At that moment, they both knew things would be different between them. Duncan wasn't the father he never had, he was the father he needed. And as much as kids like to rebel against their parents, Richie knew he had lost this fight. But it was a good battle to lose. Richie's priority was making Mac happy. He thought he could do that by introducing him to a woman who could fill the hole in his heart. But now it seemed women were not what MacLeod needed. What he needed was to keep Richie safe. To teach Richie everything he had learned over the last 400 years. To keep him from making the same mistakes that he had as a young immortal. The kind of mistake that could cost him his life. So for now, Richie decided to let his father win and believe that Duncan was going to take care of him and keep him safe, and that was all that mattered, for now. "You're right Mac. You're right. I promise, I won't let my guard down."