Chapter Four
During the next few hours before sunrise appeared, Duncan worked on a kata to clear his mind and emotions. He battled with the turmoil the encounter had caused by bending it to his will until he felt refreshed and in control again. As he took a quick shower and put on fresh clothes, the promise he made to Joe came to mind and he wanted to keep it.
While slipping on his long coat he felt the familiar fit fall into place. Attaching the Katana to his side, he was complete.
On the way to see Joe, Duncan was still deep in thought as he drove carefully pondering his strange meeting with Beth. It was no coincidence.
Although his dark eyes looked ahead at the road, his mind did not register the details as he drove by habit.
His thoughts finally went back to her challenge as he parked his car at the rear of Le Blues Bar and went inside without knocking. Joe just finished reading the morning paper and looked up when Duncan entered the room.
Without any sign of surprise, Joe asked him, "How was your night? Have anymore dreams?"
"No I didn't sleep at all last night." He stated with a glint in his eye.
Joe commented, "It must be an immortal thing. You don't look tired."
Mac explained, "I met Beth on my way home after I had a run in with Kilgore who challenged me. I fought him off and managed to take his sword away."
Going behind the bar, Duncan picked out a glass and poured some juice from the pitcher kept in the small refrigerator.
Looking angry at him Joe said, "I told you not keeping your sword with you at all times is a mistake. Especially now." He added.
"I know and lesson learned." He replied and came back around to open his coat saying, "See its back." Sitting down he continued, "Beth was there watching and then went with me back to the barge." He became quiet as he recounted in his mind the late night hours.
"Well what happened?" asked Joe. He took out a pen and wrote down some notes.
Mac replied, "Nothing. We just sort of…talked," his voice trailed off.
While his pen kept writing, Joe asked, "All night about what?"
"Yes all night," he answered seriously, "About Richie and a few other things while she tried not to kill me."
"Are you kidding me?" asked Joe in disbelief.
"No and I am seeing her again tomorrow," he answered defiantly sipping the cold pineapple juice.
Joe remarked, "You think so? Tell me what does she want?"
He shrugged a little then answered, "She wants a combat."
"What!" Joe exclaimed, "You're asking for trouble if you fight a woman who wants revenge."
"Like I haven't done that before," said MacLeod in a somber tone. "Besides she has me intrigued in that she never takes a head."
Joe pointed out, "That doesn't mean she won't start with yours."
Holding up his fists in a boxing pose Mac replied, "An excellent point Watcher. I'll keep my guard up."
Changing the subject Joe asked, "When are you going to see Amy?"
"Right now I promise," said MacLeod setting the empty glass down and smiling to reassure Joe. Getting up to leave he waved good-bye. "I'll give you a report soon," he called back.
Joe waved back as the door closed. The empty room echoed briefly reminding him of the loneliness. Standing up and turning on the jukebox he wanted to fill the place with sound. Sitting down on the cushioned chair, Joe Dawson remembered all the loves he had known and lost. Putting his cane aside, he rubbed his eyes not feeling the tears. "I know I'll find love again..." His thoughts trailed off as he focused on the papers in front of him he began to read the latest intelligence results.
The strange tales about renegade watchers were just coming to his attention and it spelled trouble.
MODERNE SAINT GERMAIN HOTEL
Beth went to her hotel room and stayed the rest of the day. Struggling with what she had learned. "Duncan MacLeod killed him." Those words tore at her heart.
Taking out her sword she threw it across the bed ranting, "How could he kill Richie and receive his quickening!"
She took out the picture Richie had given her the one of him and MacLeod taken years ago and the last letter he wrote her.
"Dear Beth, I wish I could see you again. I hope you did not mean what you said in your last letter. Please don't be hurt that I couldn't stay there with you anymore. Come to Paris and I will treat you to the sights. Give me a chance to make it up to you. Love Richie"
She had to rethink her revenge and part of her hated MacLeod for that. She wanted to take his head but because of everything Richie told her about him stayed her blade for the moment.
Falling onto the bed she stared at the wall asking, "Richie would you want me to kill him?" Her question went unanswered. Repeating a promise in her mind, she allowed sleep to come.
Duncan MacLeod drove to the Watcher camp outside Paris where Amy was supposed to be staying. Parking a distance away, he took out his binoculars. He kept watch, noting who came and went.
He finally spotted her when she left alone in a car. He followed her until she stopped to fill up with gasoline. Duncan parked close by then he got out taking a small map with him.
Walking over to her, he opened up the map and asked, "Can you give me directions to the Louvre?"
She was startled as she turned around. Looking at him she said, "I recognize you. You're Duncan MacLeod."
"You got me," he said smiling and then told her, "I need to talk to you about Joe Dawson." Taking the pump nozzle from her, he put it away.
"I don't want to talk about Joe," she said with a hardened look.
"Don't be so negative towards him." Duncan said, "Do you think it's easy for him? He's had a difficult life."
"Don't lecture me I've read his bio. I know what Vietnam did to him!" She said becoming upset.
He asked her, "Then why can't you give him a chance?" Setting his hands on his hips, he looked at her determined to hear her explanation.
She answered, "He had almost twenty years to get in touch with me. I don't want him in my life." Her blue eyes pierced Duncan's resolve.
"If that's how you want it, then I'll tell him even if it breaks his heart." He said turning away to leave her there.
Amy faltered calling out, "Wait!" She went to stand in front of him. With a grave tone in her voice she said, "Tell him if things could be different. Then I'll give him a chance."
Duncan frowned asking her, "What do you want changed?"
"He has to give up being a Watcher. If he retires then I'll see him." Having said her ultimatum, she went to her car and got in. Starting the engine, she glanced at Duncan before driving off.
Stunned by her request he watched her leave asking aloud, "How can I tell Joe that?"
He went slowly back to his car and got in to sit there and contemplate next to the road.
He began to consider her statement thinking, "Maybe Joe should retire."
He started the engine and tore down the street feeling unsettled.
Going back to town, he drove past Le Blues Bar and did not stop. He decided to tell him tomorrow, choosing other errands to take care of.
Methos packed up his journals and boarded the plane leaving Greece in a hurry. He was so agitated he almost did not see the people following him. Therefore, he slid up behind a group of tourist and pretended to be with them.
"Just six more hours flight time and I'll be in Paris." He thought while sinking into his seat and positioned a sleep mask on his face. He hoped no one would disturb him, except the flight attendant.
The warm air shimmered across the desert sand like peasants scattering before the horses. Methos stopped his Roan and jumped off in time to grab the woman trying to escape.
"Come here!" he commanded, taking a rope from his horse to tie her hands together. "Behave yourself and I'll let you live." He told her.
Brushing the hair from her tear stained face he promised her, "You will please me."
Silas rode up and said, "Kronos ordered no more slaves. Just take the possessions and kill them."
Methos whipped around bringing his sword out and said, "I will keep as many slaves as I want!"
Silas grunted his disapproval and turned his horse away saying, "Kronos will have it out with you later."
Methos turned back to the girl and she screamed when he plunged the dagger into her heart. "Damn Kronos!"
Suddenly he felt hit from behind. He stumbled and looked around. He was now under the bridge in Paris and MacLeod was standing in front of him. His sword was ready and he challenged him.
Methos asked him, "What are you doing?"
"Killing you." The Highlanders feet shuffled forward as his sword whirled around and came down on Methos' head. He saw his body fall and his head roll away.
Methos gasped for air and woke up. The plane was in the process of descending when he realized he had slept the whole time. Wiping the perspiration from his face, realizing he never dreamt of anything so vivid or disturbing.
Getting back home late, MacLeod put his groceries away and looked through the over-due bills he just paid. Tossing them aside, he was feeling angry with his nagging conscience at not seeing Joe. After changing into some loose fitting clothes, he started doing a workout to clear his mind.
His finely chiseled body went through the moves that long since become second nature his mind drifted through time.
Remembering the many friends, he had loved and lost. Some lost their heads to the blades of other Immortals. Michael Moore and Tommy Sullivan had died by Duncan's own hand.
The mortals like Tessa, Charlie DeSalvo and Diane Terrin had only one life and one death.
He thought of Immortals like Darius, Fitzcairn, and Sean Burns as their faces flashed before Duncan as his kata intensified until sweat poured in streams off his long lean frame.
Muscles aching and the kata complete he collapsed in a heap on the floor struggling for control once again. It had been more than a year since he promised himself "no more tears" over Richie's death yet when the memories returned it felt like yesterday.
The emotions finally subsided and he slowly pulled himself to his feet physically drained.
Although he had the outward appearance of a man in his mid thirties, this immortal felt every minute of his four hundred plus years.
His bed was a welcome friend and as Duncan closed his eyes, his last thoughts were of Beth and tomorrow's combat.
Watcher camp
Five miles outside Paris Amy focused on the computer screen in front of her but her mind was elsewhere. She thought about what Duncan told her and how much she hurt Joe with her reproach.
The room was small almost claustrophobic and only a few other students were there. They were a handpicked for their quick thinking and abilities to study under a master programmer.
Clearing his throat her instructor Karl demanded, "Amy you appear distracted you must consternate on what's in front of you!" He was a short balding man in his fifties but a wizard with computers.
"I'm sorry sir, but I just remembered that yesterday was my mother's birthday and I forgot to call her," explained Amy hiding the true reason for her distraction.
"Do it when you have time." He tapped her shoulder and pointed at the screen challenging her, "Now for you to open those files I want you to show me how you break the access code."
Amy set to work trying all the variations on numbers that was possible to break the wall that was before her. It took hours to break it and she knew she must not fail.
Late into the night, the other students had already left hours ago. Egan Lasco came to see her. He stood behind her and began rubbing her shoulders. She gave a small sigh.
"Take a break, Amy," he commanded turning her chair around. Pulling her up to him, he kissed her with a light passion. "You are beautiful," He whispered in her ear.
"I'm glad you came to see me but you're always so busy." She said, putting her arms around his neck.
"Yes and I keep you busy too," He said smiling at her. His voice was triumphant telling her, "You broke the code Amy. And what you thought was just a test was really an important file I wanted."
"Is this something illegal?" She asked glancing at the computer screen seeing the information in a new light.
Egan laughed at her innocence, "You're still thinking like a child." He touched her face gently. "You broke into something Top Secret but I'll protect you from any retribution." He promised.
Amy looked afraid at first but as Egan kissed her, she began to see advantages in the authority that only he could give her. She kissed him back delighting in the power.
.
