Chapter Twenty two

As the barge came into sight, Joe told Beth to get ready as he parked in front as close as possible. She climbed over Mac to get out. Joe waited in the car while she went into the barge to pack.

Unlocking the door with Duncan's keys and turning on lights, she opened the closet and pulled out suitcases, bags, and anything to carry their belongings.

She then started packing clothes first then putting mixed items, making several trips to the car and packing the trunk.

She was so anxious to leave that she did not even take time to change her party clothes. Duncan finally came awake struggling to breath in air. Beth came running to the car.

She said quickly, "Duncan I'm almost done packing but we have to leave here."

He sat up looking at her and saw the shattered windows. He told her, "Beth we need to get the money."

She answered, "I don't know the combination."

Feeling strong enough, he climbed out of the car to go into the barge and helped get the rest of the things they would need.

Opening the cover of the hidden safe he took out money of all different currencies from different countries. Emptying out the safe, he put it all in a black bag along with several passports.

Noticing he was a little short he knew, "It was probably Amanda."

Beth continued to pack his clothes and some personal belongings. Duncan looked around to see if anything was valuable enough to take. Sadly, he turned to the door telling her, "Leave the rest Beth and let's go now."

She closed the suitcase she had filled and looked at him not moving. He came over to her asking, "What's wrong? Can you carry it?"

"It's not that Duncan I'm just upset about how we're being hunted like animals." She replied putting her head on his shoulder.

The car horn honked and Joe was telling them to hurry.

Giving a pledge Duncan said, "So am I, but I'll have my revenge another time."

He picked up the suitcase and handed her the black bag. They went outside and Duncan stopped to lock up. His feeling of loss passed quickly and he went down the small steps for all he knew the last time.

He put the last suitcase in the trunk and shutting it hard he came around to the driver's side and asked Joe, "Where are you going?"

Joe replied, "I'm driving you to the train. You can't keep a car full of bullet holes."

Afraid of retribution against his friend Duncan said, "I can drive myself to the train you shouldn't even be with us."

"I'm already in trouble and I plan on pushing this incident as far as I can." Smiling with a look of smugness he said, "I'm going to do my best to give Egan a lot of embarrassment."

Beth climbed in the back seat first waiting for Duncan. Giving in to Joe's decision, he followed her into the back of the car. He leaned back and said, "Okay then drive."

Watcher Compound

Late into the night Methos went to bed for a few more hours sleep. Worn down by fatigue he turned over in his sleep if he felt an Immortal pass by.

The afternoon was scorching hot as the horsemen came into view. Kronos pulled up his horse first and raised his hand to halt the others.

Methos asked, "Why are we stopping?"

Kronos answered, "Because I have a test for you, brother."

He jumped off his horse and signaled Silas to do the same. He took his sword and handed it to Methos commanding him, "Strike me down."

Methos laughed and threw it back to him. He said, "No, I won't do it."

Kronos grabbed Methos by the leg and pulled him from the horse. Silas came over to help hold him down. Kronos chocked him saying, "You will fight who I tell you to fight and kill who I tell you to kill."

Methos gave up struggling and both men let him go. Silas picked up Kronos sword and handed it to him.

Again, Kronos said, "Strike me down."

Methos got up slowly and said, "Why should I?"

Kronos said, "Because I command you."

With that, he struck Methos in the chest until his fist sunk in and he grabbed his heart.

Methos gasped and said, "Let it go, I'll do whatever you want."

Screaming as he sat up Methos held his head from the pain of a throbbing headache. "I wish I could stop having those dreams!" He said, "Every other night it's like I'm someone else."

He stood up as the dizziness passed and decided have an early start with breakfast and work on his papers for his role as general.

Although Methos went about eating his meal, he heard more gossip about the Gathering and MacLeod.
The last failed attempt on their lives concerned Methos, "I'll bet MacLeod is angry enough to personally take revenge and I don't want to be around when he does."

At a midnight meeting led by Egan Lasco it was announced, "I need someone who will follow orders and not question me. Joshua Gibbons will now stand as my Vice President."

Joshua smiled as he stood up to make his acceptance speech. Steven got up to leave.

Egan signaled to let him go but he whispered to his personal aide, "Watch him at all times."

Joshua spoke up, "I accept this honor and I will do the Watchers service to the best of my ability." He next turned to this discussion.

"The corporate takeover for Darken Enterprises is at this moment no longer a possibility but a reality. It will be renamed Watcher Enterprises." Joshua paused while there were cheers and congratulations given.

Egan was secretly glowing over this one. The Immortal owner of this company had been a thorn in Egan's side and the wealth he secretly coveted for the past year.

"The following Watchers are to be commended; Eddie Cortez for infiltrating, Amy Brennan for the entire computer works and last to Joseph Armando for the smear campaign against Bradford Darken."

He finished and sat down again. Only the inner core of the Watchers was at this meeting. No one would tell the sensitive information now revealed.

Egan stood up and looked gravely to those gathered there. He felt such power that it made his head swim. "We have a traitor that must be dealt with. I need a vote on punishment for Joe Dawson." He intoned to the members present.

All but one member raised their hand to show support. "Then it will be carried out." Egan said dismissing the meeting with a silent gesture of the hand drawn across the throat to show the price of talking.

Amy sat there in shock with a silent question, "How can I tell Egan what Joe means to me?" She felt her lip quiver as Egan glanced over to her and saw her expression, "I don't want to lose another father." She contemplated when she would tell him.

Steven decided to take all the files on Egan's assets and go out the secret tunnel. The files were on a disc hidden in his coat lining. He quickly made his way down the halls in the dark. Behind him out of sight, a pair of eyes watched him.

Before the corruption and revenge started Egan Lasco ran the most promising and organized corporation. Now it was out of control. He asked himself, "Will Immortals and Watchers have to die to satisfy one man's vengeance?"

Joe drove to the St-Lazare train station with a heavy heart. This was supposed to be a celebration. Instead it was a race for life. Duncan and Beth held each other in the back seat not talking.

She was more afraid for him then for herself. Duncan was silently cursing a demon's predictions.

The train station was coming into view so Joe asked Duncan where he wanted to park the car. Duncan told him, "Go to the back parking lot first I have to change my coat."

Beth spoke up, "I should change too."

Joe found a place away from too many lights and other cars. Stopping in a remote area, he pushed the button that popped the trunk open.

Duncan and Beth got out and looked through the clothes she packed to find something to wear. Duncan had to laugh a little at the odd assortment she brought.

He commented, "It's apparent you don't pack often."

She replied, "No I usually don't have much to pack." Finding a shirt she stripped off her dress right there in the dark parking lot with just a faint light to see by. Beth put on her shirt and a pair of pants and announced, "There I'm ready."

Duncan asked her, "What about your shoes?" as he changed his shirt and put on a coat. Beth found her boots under some canned food she had packed as well and put them on. Duncan found her a long coat. He asked. "Why did you bring so much?"

She said, "I always think ahead about survival." They both closed up the suitcases and shut the trunk. Getting back in the car Beth was glad to put her sword away next to her side. It was comforting after what they had experienced. Duncan felt the same way.

He said, "Thank you Joe. If you can take us to the front terminal and we'll get out there."

Joe did as instructed and finding an open spot near the entrance where they got out. Duncan unloaded everything onto the cart Beth had fetched.

They both had to say good-bye to Joe so he got out of the car long enough for Beth to kiss both his cheeks and hug him.

Duncan could not think of what to say to someone that he owed so much.

"I'm not saying good bye." He told Joe as he hugged him. "When we see each other again maybe we'll have something else to celebrate."

Joe nodded but he felt chocked up with emotion. Duncan nodded back and turned away. He looked at Beth and walked beside her as they went to buy their tickets.

Joe got back in the car to drive away. He decided, "Tonight I'm getting drunk."

The drive back was long and miserable. He wanted to get in contact with his mole and ask why the attack on Duncan at Le Blues. Joe's thoughts were racing by the time he got to a deserted road near the bar to ditch the car.

Duncan would not care what happened to it. When Joe was ready, he carefully rigged the car so it would burn. As Joe walked away, his belief in the Watches ended. Now he felt so bitter he could taste it.

The bar was now two blocks away and it would probably be empty. He had told Rick to close up by two AM and it was past that so Joe took out some keys to let himself inside.

Going to get a bottle from behind the bar, everything was dark as Joe made his way to the back rooms. He sat in the shadows filling his glass until he felt nothing.

Then Joe covered his face to cry. The quiet dark only served to make him feel worse but he couldn't stop the downward spiral that was now before him "To stop Egan or give up" He was leaning towards giving up as he sat there drinking.

Finally dragging himself up to his unsteady feet, Joe worked his way to the bedroom. Tearing off the first layer of clothes, he fell onto the bed. Un-strapping the legs, he rolled into his covers as the chill he felt went deeper than his skin.

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