Chapter Seven. Patching the Fence
Richie slowly opened his eyes. He fully came to as he found himself next to Tori. She had been crying. He looked at her confused, "T...Tori."
"Richie," Tori smiled, holding his hand with her own hands, "it's okay. I'm here."
"Tori," Richie gave out a small smile.
"Are you okay?" Tori asked.
"Yeah. What's the matter?" Richie gently touched her face, "I'm okay."
They kissed before Richie looked around, "What happened?"
"You had a seizure," Tori answered.
"What?" Richie sat up in shock. She nodded, trying to comfort him as she laid him back down.
-The-Magic-Within-
Duncan looked up as he overheard Richie and Tori talking. Holding the bag in his hands, he turned around, deciding to confront the pair with the Skull X drug.
He walked over to where the bed where Tori was comforting Richie. Richie sat up in surprise upon seeing the Highlander. Duncan only stared for a moment. Then, he pulled Richie into his arms in a crushing embrace, something he did back when he was a teenager.
"Hey, let go!" Richie exclaimed in disbelief.
Duncan was too worried to be angry. There was only one question, "Why?"
"What?!" Richie and Tori exclaimed simultaneously.
Duncan managed to get a hold of himself as he as the voice came out in a sob and he noticed the tears that came down from his eyes.
"The Skull X candy?" Tori asked, noticing the familiar bag in his hands.
"That's not candy," Duncan stressed, "it's a drug. I know about these Cult X sickos as they pulled a stunt like that back in 1969 and 1970."
"Cult X?" Tori shot up. He could tell she was mentally kicking herself for not paying attention to the details.
"What did they tell you about the Skull X?" Duncan asked as he managed to compose himself.
"The guy said that he was donating the money he was selling for his boss who was dying of cancer," Tori answered. She sighed and looked down, "How could I have been so stupid? Richie could have been..."
"Now, stop right there," Richie gently grasped his fiance's arm, "you had no way of knowing what was going to happen."
"I still should have paid attention and examined the Skull X before letting you try it," Tori stated.
"Tori," Duncan shook his head, "Immortals don't die from seizures, as it is a mortal cause of death, and besides, it wasn't as bad as it could have been."
Tori and Richie looked at each other, then back at Duncan.
"Even then," Richie looked down, "the guy also said that it would help get rid of the nightmares I was having."
He looked at Duncan, "I know I told you I've forgiven you, Mac, but I still have the nightmares about when you nearly took my head when you were under the influence of the Dark Quickening. The nightmares wouldn't go away."
Duncan sighed sadly. That was why Richie still wanted to remain distant from him. He was still haunted by nightmares for what he did. He wished so many times he could take back what he did that night, but he knew he couldn't. All he could do was make things right.
"I'm sorry for what I did to you," Duncan apologized, "to both of you."
Tori noticed that Richie was starting to tremble before she looked at him, "Mac."
"Joe told me what you said to him before you left," Duncan said with a small grin, "I need to be prepared in case I do pull a stunt like that again."
Last Year
Tori looked on as Richie was practicing with his sword. They both sensed the Buzz, and turned to see Duncan enter the dojo.
"Mac," Tori spoke up first.
"You okay?" Richie asked.
"Yeah," Duncan answered, "I'm fine."
"We were getting a little worried about you," Tori stated.
"You were?" Duncan asked, "Why?"
"Well, you found Coltec," Richie stated.
"Yeah," Duncan replied, "I found him."
"We know how much you like the guy," Tori stated.
"We're sorry," Richie added.
"You're sorry," Duncan glanced at the pair.
"Yeah, well," Richie said, "you did what you had to do, but I know how much you hated it."
"Hated it?" Duncan flashed an evil smile, "You're wrong."
He drawn out his katana and slashed Richie across the chest, "I loved it."
"Mac?" Tori glanced in shock.
Richie backed away, "What are you doing, Mac?"
"You're a smart little boy," Duncan stated, "Why don't you figure it out?"
He attacked again, prompting Richie to defend himself. Duncan gave Richie's leg a cut as he toyed with him. Tori gasped in shock and she prepared to get out her Tachi to fight.
"Aht! Aht! Aht!" Duncan glared at her, "You know the rules, girl. Not two against one. Besides, I'll have my fun with you after I'm done with your boyfriend."
"Tori, stay back!" Richie exclaimed, defending himself. Tori shook in a mix of anger and fear.
"Whatever happened, Mac," Richie insisted, "we can work it out."
"Sorry," Duncan replied, "wrong number."
He attacked again, gave Richie's shoulder a cut before bowing mockingly. Then the two men fought before Duncan cut Richie again, smacked a kiss on top of his head, and finally disarmed him.
"Just tell me why," Richie pleaded in worry and asked, "The teacher kills the pupil? Is that what this is all about? Is it because there can be only one? Is that it?"
Duncan laughed before answering, "That's as good a reason as any."
"No!" Tori yelled in worry, unable to contain her worry any longer.
"Yes," Duncan smirked before he raised his sword, preparing to behead Richie. Suddenly, Duncan was shot multiple times before he fell to the ground, dead.
Tori followed Richie's glance and they saw Joe, who pulled the trigger. Then, she hurried to Richie's side and helped him up as Joe walked over to them.
"Are you two all right?" he asked them.
"Yeah," Richie answered.
"Thanks to you," Tori added.
"Aw, Joe, what the hell," Richie stated in disbelief, "He tried to kill me, and there was no telling what he was going to do to Tori afterwards."
"Just get out of here," Joe insisted, "both of you."
"You saw what he did, Joe," Richie glanced over at Duncan's body.
"He's right," Tori added, following her boyfriend's glance, "we have to help him."
"Don't you get it?" Joe stressed, "This is not MacLeod. Not the one we knew. This man is not your friend."
"Joe?!" Tori exclaimed in shock.
"Oh, Joe," Richie added.
"Please, go," Joe insisted, "please!"
"Okay," Richie finally relented.
"Please."
"Damn it!" Richie exclaimed before he left.
Tori eyed Joe as she took a deep breath. She was relieved that Richie was okay, but she was now angry with Duncan, in fact she was shaking, but if this was this Dark Quickening they heard about, she wanted Joe to give the Highlander an important warning. She walked over to the Watcher.
"Tori?" Joe eyed her, slightly confused.
"If this happens to be the Dark Quickening you mentioned," Tori told him, "and he does come out of it somehow, you tell Duncan MacLeod if he ever pulls a stunt like that again, I won't hesitate next time. He goes. I won't hesitate to take him out, got it?"
Joe nodded, "Clear and loud, and don't worry, I'll tell him."
"Good," Tori nodded before turning to leave, joining Richie.
Present Day
Tori slightly blushed in embarrassment and took another deep breath, "It was at the heat of the moment and you were under the influence of the Dark Quickening."
"I still feel bad for what I did to you two," Duncan stated with remorse, "you know, if it wasn't for Joe, Richie, you would have been dead, and Tori, I would have...God knows what I would have done before taking your head."
"You don't have to hide the word rape from me, MacLeod," Tori stated, "because that's what happened to Richie a couple of years ago."
"Don't remind me," Richie replied. He looked down for a moment before he looked back at Tori, "I still can't believe you didn't walk out on me after the rape."
"Richie," Tori gave her fiance a comforting touch, "I told you already that it wasn't your fault, and besides, she's gone now and she won't be able to hurt you anymore."
Her. Yeah, Duncan could tell Tori didn't want to mention her name. Felicia was the one who did that to Richie almost two years ago, shortly after Tori and Richie officially became a couple. He sighed, and decided not to press the issue further.
"Do you guys need anything else?" Duncan asked.
"Yeah," Richie answered, "let me take on Haresh Clay."
"Richie, you can't win," Duncan replied.
"Besides," Tori added, "you need rest from your ordeal."
"Tori, I'll be okay," Richie stated, "and besides, everyone's entitled to their own opinion."
"Look," Duncan insisted, "the fight is mine."
"Mac, forget it," Richie stated, "The days of you protecting me are long gone."
"Richie," Tori quipped.
"Hey," Duncan replied, "this isn't about me protecting you. I have to finish this."
"Well then," Richie stated, "you'd better find him before I do."
-The-Magic-Within-
Constantine looked at Blood, annoyed as he had him magically bound and gagged. He reflected on the events leading to now. He and Zatanna entered the mind of one of the stricken victims before he literally exploded to death at the hospital. Then, they found Jason Blood as the shrouds were about to claim Simpson's soul, but Batman revived him before they could claim him. Constantine managed to restrain Blood for some answers before they took Simpson to the house to rest and Black Orchid healed him.
"We need to talk, you and I," Constantine stated, "but if you try and summon Etrigan, I'll fill your lungs with bile before the first verse is done. Savvy?"
Blood nodded before Constantine released the restraints off of him.
"The situation was not how it seemed," Blood said as he held his wrists, recovering, "The apartment was like that when I arrived. Richard as well."
"Come on!" Boston exclaimed, "You were all over him!"
"I was attempting to help," Blood stood up from his seat, "When you burst in, I knew I'd get blamed, so I ran."
"Do you believe him?" Amy asked.
"Jason's not the murdery type," Constantine answered before crossing his arms, "He's chock full of honor, loyalty, and rubbish of that sort."
"Then tell us why you were here," Batman told Blood.
Blood sighed before speaking up, "Richard is known as a collector of the arcane and supernatural. I wanted to see if he had something that could gain me access to this place."
"Why would you wanna break in here?" Lothar asked.
Jason walked over to the stone that was on the bookshelf, "For this. The single most conduit of evil in the history of the world. He named it the Dreamstone, but it's really the stuff of nightmares. I was a young knight, green as grass, with visions of battle won glory dancing in my head. Needless to say, these were dispelled thoroughly. He called himself Destiny, but Merlin told us he was a man of science at one time before he went insane. Destiny forged the dreamstone with black magic and his soul. He used it to subject people to their most terrifying nightmares, and then feed off their torment."
"And that was when you and the demon Etrigan were one and the same?" Amy asked.
"Yes," Blood nodded, "that would be the case. When Merlin merged me with the demon Etrigan. It was the beginning of my eternal life sentence with Etrigan. I didn't think Constantine would give it up willingly, and though this piece is useless without the other half, it's far from powerless."
"Safe enough where it is," Constantine stated.
"Displayed like a tourist trinket in a Karachi bazaar?" Blood asked. He tried to touch the stone, but it went through him.
"Neat, isn't it?" Constantine stated, "the House keeps my valuables out of phase, so they don't go wondering off."
"But still," Mandrake stated, "the timing's of the stone's appearance and its power indicates that it's somehow involved with these crimes."
"Exactly," Batman nodded in agreement.
"Which is why it stays here," Constantine stated, "where only I can get to it."
"I think me, them," Boston stated, "and everyone else who knows you might want to put it somewhere else."
"Orchid is here," Raven announced. The others glanced over at Orchid, who then announced, "Your friend is awake."
The group hurried to the room where Simpson was at. Constantine rushed to his side, "Ritchie, who was it? Who did this to you?"
"Faust," Simpson answered as he raised his hand up.
"Felix Faust," Constantine elaborated, "are you sure?"
Simpson nodded in response.
Constantine looked through the books to find information regarding Felix Faust. He threw each book down, but nothing was seen until he got into the big book and saw Felix Faust on the big book, "There you are, you old bastard. I give you wizard and asshole extraordinaire, Felix Faust."
The group saw the information of Felix Faust of the page.
"Hell," Constantine continued, "I should have put it together. Conjuring a whirlwind is just his style."
"The League has had a run in with Faust," Batman spoke up as he looked at his phone, "but his location isn't in our database."
"It seems that this wizard don't make a habit of signing up for credit cards or social media," Mandrake quipped.
"He's right," Constantine added in, "His grandly named Observatory of the Cosmos is hidden from the likes of you and Superman, but not from me."
He pulled a pin from the book and chanted, the energy in the pin and Constantine used his portal energy to find Faust's location.
"What's happening?" Amy asked.
"If this was a computer," Batman answered, "I'd say it's frozen."
"Cheers," Constantine spoke up, giving a peace sign.
"Felix Faust would take precautions against locator spells," Zatanna spoke up.
"There's another way," Constantine stated, "but involves a favor of someone that I don't have the best relationship with."
"Someone else dislikes you?" Blood replied with sarcasm, "Shocking."
"Your friend slips from the mortal plane," Orchid announced.
"Not even I can reach him," Raven added.
"John," Zatanna eyed her lover.
"Keep him alive and safe," Constantine told Raven and Orchid, "Understand?"
"Are you kidding me?!" Raven protested.
"That is not my purpose," Orchid chimed in.
"I don't give a flying shag what your bloody purpose is," Constantine replied, "I order you to help him any and every way you're able."
Orchid nodded. Raven crossed her arms, "Fine. I don't get why I need to sit out again, but whatever."
"Let's go," Constantine told the others.
-The-Magic-Within-
Duncan walked into the bar as Joe was about to open. He realized with everything that had happened to Richie in particular, it was time for him to patch things up with Joe now that he had fully patched things up with both Richie and Tori. He was going to need his Watcher's help.
"I was just opening up," Joe told him as he placed another chair down, "Now, you look like a man could use a drink."
"We both know why I'm here," Duncan stated.
"Yeah," Joe answered, "the world is going to hell, hallucinating over demons and some having seizures, and in the mix of all that, Richie is hunting Clay, and there's nothing you can do about it."
"He's gonna die," Duncan stated, "he'll leave Tori behind before they can get married."
"Nah, he might live," Joe replied before he saw his friend and said, "Hell of a thing, weighing ethics and honoring a friend's life."
"Where's Clay?" Duncan asked.
Joe sighed. Feeling he won't give him any answers, he turned to leave.
"MacLeod," Joe called out and held up a slip of paper, "Clay's address. Bartender gave it to me."
He handed Duncan the paper, "Sort of a professional courtesy."
"Thanks," Duncan accepted the paper.
"Mac," Joe called for his friend before rolling up his sleeve and revealing the gauze on his wrist as he was unwrapping it, revealing a scar where his tattoo was.
"You're out of the Watchers?" Duncan asked.
"Maybe it's too late," Joe answered, "or maybe it's about time. It's like Mrs. Wischnoff used to say in my old neighborhood, Meit ein tuchas can meir nisht danzen a tsvai hossannas."
"Yeah," Duncan replied before translating the last statement, "With one ass, a man can't dance at two weddings."
"You know," Joe stated, "you were right. I couldn't be both your Watcher and your friend."
"I'm sorry," Duncan apologized.
"For what? Making me choose?" Joe replied, "Look, when I joined the Watchers, I thought it was the most important thing in my life. Learning about the Immortals, keeping the chronicles. I thought it was work that had to be done. Well, somebody else can do it now."
"Before I go," Duncan looked at Joe, "I want to invite you to Richie and Tori's wedding."
"Really?" Joe glanced in surprise.
Duncan nodded, "They want you to be here. Tori is fond of you, and she'll be happy if you come, and Richie would be happy to see you there too."
Joe nodded and gave a small smile, "I'll make note of that."
"I have to go," Duncan stated, holding up the paper.
"I know," Joe replied as Duncan turned to leave, "See ya."