Chapter Thirteen
Barge
Coming through a haze of emotions, Beth awakened to the morning light of reality. It was time to confront the past for the last time.
She slid carefully from under the warm covers next to MacLeod. She looked at him and smiled. His features softened and a tiny crease between his eyebrows gave him the look of concentration.
She quietly put her shoes on and wrote a note leaving it on the table. Looking around the barge she was amazed on how much calmer she felt. Only a few days ago she was ready to kill him but now that anger was gone.
Taking care not wake him, Beth tucked her sword under her arm and whispered good-bye. She left the barge without a sound to break the morning's stillness. It was a long walk from the barge to the hotel as profound thoughts occupied her mind.
Le Blues Bar
Joe awoke with a start from another dream about Vietnam. He still had them and still hated them. He decided that getting up early would give him the chance to finish all he wanted to do. Putting the word out to all the Watchers he could trust would be a delicate operation.
Slipping into a robe Joe pulled himself into his chair. He used it when he did not want to bother putting on his artificial legs to go to the next room.
He moved into position in front of his computer to begin composing more E-mail messages to send. He needed something that would not arouse suspicion. However, no matter how carefully he worded it he realized anything he sent out would arouse suspicion.
He tried to get information from his "mole" on the status of Amanda. Checking the secret chat room, his mole was not answering.
Next, he called Methos at his apartment to find out the status of the secret passages. It rang several times and when Methos finally answered the phone, he sounded terrible.
Joe asked, "What happened to you?"
It was a moment before Methos would answer and when he did Joe could barely hear him. "Jonas is dead."
Joe swore to himself then said, "I'm sorry my friend, tell me everything."
Methos complied with a recitation admirable for a man in pain. "We were coming back from The Watcher compound to my place. Keven Santiago followed behind and cornered us on the underground train. He killed Jonas before I killed him."
Methos wanted to hang up but there was more. "Joe," he said to the now silent man.
"The Gathering is here," he whispered.
Joe asked in a disbelieving tone, "How could you know that?"
"I heard it...no I felt it during the quickening." Beginning to lose it he gave maniacal laugh. "I fear the joke is on me."
"What do you mean?" the watcher asked trying to keep him talking.
Methos would say no more and not wanting to answer any more questions, he hung up and disconnected the phone.
Joe hung up but quickly dialed again. There was still no answer. Then he dialed another number.
Barge
Long after midnight, Mac heard her talking in her sleep. Resisting the impulse to wake her he finally fell asleep as dawn was nearing.
Later that morning he awoke in a rumpled bed twisted in the quilt. He realized he had no nightmares this time. He felt some relief knowing the power of Ahriman was beginning to weaken.
When he untangled himself to get up, he looked around and found a note on the table under a glass. While reading it as he felt her absence.
"Dear Duncan,
Thank you for last night and while I can never repay you for your patience and help right now, I need to be alone. Maybe I will make peace with my past and I will see you again so please do not worry about me. Beth"
He stilled the panic that was rising and read the note again. She told him last night she might be leaving today. Maybe there was still was time to catch her at the hotel.
While dashing about the barge and getting ready the phone rang.
Duncan answered it saying in a hurry, "Beth, I have to tell you..."
"Mac it's me Joe, hold on there I have news of my own."
He asked, "Joe what could be so important?"
Joe answered, "Methos is in trouble."
Hearing this news, he forgot about Beth for a moment. "Tell me what's happened," asked Duncan sitting on the bed half dressed.
Joe replied, "His friend Jonas was killed during a combat." Joe paused for a moment to say with hesitation, "Mac, Methos told me the Gathering is here."
"I know," replied Duncan pulling socks onto his feet, "I heard it too."
"Well you could have told me ASAP," said Joe in exasperation.
"I'm sorry Joe but there wasn't time," answered MacLeod.
"Methos hung up and unplugged his phone after dropping that bombshell on me. I need you to go over to his apartment and get him for me," instructed Joe.
"All right I'll go and get him if you call Amanda. We will all meet at your place," said Duncan while pulling on a clean shirt.
Joe asked, "What about Beth I take it she's not there. What happened?"
"She had to go out." He stated as he pocketed the note telling Joe, "I'll try and get a hold of her next." He promised to himself hanging up his phone.
Duncan grabbed his sword and tucked it inside his coat. He was about to leave when he spied her red ribbon lying on the floor.
He picked it up and put in his pocket. Grabbing up the keys he locked the door in a hurry. Duncan jumped off the side of the barge going to the car snatching the parking ticket off the windshield.
He unlocked the driver's side, got in to reeve up the engine and then sped off.
MacLeod did not stop for anything and the drive to Methos' townhouse was a blur accompanied by near misses and screeching tires.
His thoughts revolved around Beth, Methos and the gathering.
Arriving in front of the townhouse, he knew the old man was home. Parking quickly and charging up the steps, he stood before the door.
MacLeod began pounding on the door. "Methos open up!" He commanded.
He could feel someone inside but he heard no sounds. Finally, he got tired of waiting and kicked it in.
Methos was standing in the middle of the room with his Ivanhoe sword pointing at Duncan. He eyes looked glazed over and he was wearing only blue shorts as sweat poured down his face.
"Methos put down your sword unless you are challenging," said Mac in a warning tone.
Methos smiled a little, "Then I guess I'm challenging you."
"I'm not accepting you can wait for the gathering." He insisted taking a tentative step inside and closing the door behind him.
"I'm not going." Methos replied with conviction but his quivering lip betrayed the emotions at war within.
Mac said gently, "Can we talk about it then?"
Walking slowly towards him Mac reached out and took the sword from his grasp relived that Methos did not intend to carry out the threat.
Sounded a little irritated Methos stated, "I'm not talking about it so just turn around and leave."
"I can't leave because I promised Joe that I would bring you along. He needs to see us," said Mac leaning the Ivanhoe sword against the wall near the bedroom door.
"Well I don't want to see him." Methos said even more determined to be stubborn. He went to the little kitchen and poured a drink of cold water feeling it calm the fire he was feeling. Wiping his eyes he refused to look at MacLeod.
"Please get dressed Methos. Or I'll drag you outside with only your shorts on." He said, refusing to let Methos test his patience.
Methos looked thoughtful for a moment and nodded his head. "All right, it's the least I can do."
"Good." MacLeod joked, "Because those shorts are not in fashion."
Methos growled a little going to his bedroom, snatching up his sword as he entered and closed the door with a thud.
Mac went to the telephone and plugged it in. He dialed Joe's number.
Upon hearing Joe's voice Mac said, "I'm here with Methos now and we'll be leaving soon."
Joe replied, "Glad to hear it and Amanda isn't too happy either for that matter so we're going to be a real cheerful bunch I can tell you right now."
MacLeod sighed as he hung up the receiver saying, "Poor Joe he is really stretched thin between us three."
Methos had gone to the closet and picked out some clothes. Pulling denim pants on and picking out a sweater, he quickly stashed the sword inside and shut the wardrobe door.
Partially dressed he went back into the front room asking MacLeod, "You seem to be in a huff this morning. Something else happen that I should know about?" He sat on the couch watching him closely.
Mac told him, "Last night I had two immortals trying to kill me one right after the other. I believe it was under direct orders of the Watcher President." Standing in the doorway, he crossed his arms looking for Methos' reaction to these accusations of betrayal.
Then he continued, "One said I have a bounty on my head. This is proof that Egan is ordering the death of immortals. And you know this is more than just interfering in the Game." He added, "They were going to kill Beth too."
Methos looked at him with sadness saying, "This should have never happened. Everything I studied on the Watchers when I was with them showed me that they were an organization with honor and pride in their historical records."
MacLeod agreed, "They used to be but not anymore. At least not the France chapter and I want to find out how far it stretches. I'll tell you right now those two quickenings in one night were almost too much for me."
"Is that when you heard the call?" He asked tucking the white T-shirt inside his jeans.
MacLeod nodded, "Yes it was and it was very loud and unpleasant."
"Well I'm not going to the Gathering." Methos repeated with a look of defiance. "It's just a big lie."
"We have to go Methos. It's who we are immortals fighting evil." He insisted coming over to the couch where Methos was sitting.
"They will have us fighting each other until we're all dead." He tugged the sweater over his head making his hair in fact neater. "All but one Macleod, all but one." He then leaned back on the couch crossing his arms.
Mac began to reason with him, "You probably know more about the Game than I do. But I do know this when I heard the call I knew that I was going."
"I'm too old and I always thought it was fable never fact." He stared past Mac with his eyes looking lost.
Sitting down next to Methos he asked, "Did you ever meet the Grand Immortal?"
Methos answered quietly, "Yes, once about fifty years ago."
"Then he would be the one to see about this Gathering." Mac reasoned with hope.
"What could he know that I don't?" asked Methos angry with the suggestion.
Exasperated, Mac told him, "Methos, you may be old and somewhat wise but the Grand Immortal has an insight that we don't have. He can tell us more about a possible Gathering."
Methos put his head in his hands and thought about what Mac was saying. "Maybe you're right." Looking around his small apartment, he no longer felt safe. His eyes stopped on a painting he did a few years ago.
"Who painted it?" Mac asked him seeing where Methos was looking.
"I did of course," answered Methos then commenting, "Didn't you know I was an artist?"
Mac replied, "It's a very good painting of us but I have to question the Freudian significance of us dueling."
Sitting back Methos explained, "There is nothing Freudian about it. We've occasionally had our little fights and this just represents one of them."
Mac stood up and went to study the picture more closely then remarked, "You've captured the expressions quiet well. The storm in the background is very effective."
Methos sneered, "Aren't you the Art Critic. I painted it just to amuse myself nothing more."
"I'm just explaining why I think it's very good," replied Mac feeling irked by his friend's attitude.
Methos got up and went to the painting on the wall. Taking hold of it he yanked it off the hook saying, "Keep it then!"
Both men saw the small listening device that fell off the frame. Mac picked it up and shook his head. He put it on the table and smashed it with the end of his sword.
Methos intoned, "Well, now they know everything we talked about."
Sitting back down and slipping his feet into worn shoes, he glanced at MacLeod who was still inspecting the painting as he placed it back on the hook.
Methos picked up the summons he found slid under his door last night it read:
Adam Pierson report to Watcher headquarters tomorrow for debriefing and reassignment. Signed by Joshua Gibbons-Acting VP.
He wondered what they wanted from him and how he could turn this bloody mess around. Pocketing the paper and putting on his coat he said, "I guess I'm ready we should go."
Inspecting the door lock Mac observed, "It can't be fixed."
"Then you shouldn't have kicked it in." Methos pointed out bending down to look at it.
Standing up and glaring at him, Mac countered with, "Well you should have opened it."
"It doesn't matter anyway. Why do you always have to argue with me?" Replied Methos as he went out the door.
"I'm not arguing I'm stating the facts," said MacLeod following him and shutting the door. He failed to notice that Methos left the Ivanhoe behind, stashed in the wardrobe.
.
