Disclaimer: Highlander belongs to Davis/Panzer Productions, I don't own anything, just my original characters.

I was born before 1600 in the Highlands of Scotland, and I am still alive. I am Immortal and I am not alone. For four hundred years, I have fought, loved, wondered, explored and avenged. Now, I have found the woman of my dreams, but we are always in danger. For centuries, I have battled the Dark Immortals, with Holy Ground my only refuge. Soon will be the time of the Gathering, when the stroke of a sword and the fall of a head, will release the power of the Quickening. I am Owen MacLeod, the Highlander. In the end, there can be only one.

(Cue Princes of the Universe)

Starring

Jack Turpin

Kehli O'Byrne

Adrian Paul

Alexandra Vandernoot

Stan Kirsch

Amanda Wyss as Randi

(Princes of the Universe ends)

Eyewitness

Guest Starring

Tom Butler as Andrew Ballin

Special Guest Appearance

by Tim Reid

1993 was proving a great start for her, and Lynn had to agree with her. Tessa's recent works had made it to a gallery and the place had many guests. Lynn came along to see it and spend girl time with Tessa while Owen was in New York helping Duncan with business.

At that moment, Richie entered and checked himself out in a mirror.

"Whoa," he said in cocky awe. "Damn, check me out. I am one sharp dude."

"Even if you do say so yourself," said Tessa sarcastically.

"Hey, Tess, I'm just calling 'em as I seem 'em."

"Well, see if you can pry yourself away from the mirror long enough to sign the guest book."

"Well, it would be my pleasure."

He took the pen and signed the guest book, while Tessa greeted several people. He then took a glass from the nearby server.

"Thank you. Just one," he said before offering it to Tessa. "Tess?"

She accepted it before bidding farewell to the people she was greeting. The two walked through the gallery together, meeting up with Lynn.

"Hey Rich," she greeted. "How you enjoying this?"

"Hm. I think I could get used to this," replied Richie.

"A little culture is good for the soul," encouraged Tessa.

"Oh yeah."

They greeted some more people and walked by the buffet table, when Richie caught sight of a hot-looking young woman with shoulder length blonde hair.

"Ab-so-lutely," he said in admiration.

Lynn looked at what he was looking at and chuckled to herself.

"Go on," she encouraged. "Talk to her."

"Lynn. You can dress me up, but I know what's out of my league. I wouldn't even know what to say."

"Uh, how about 'hello'?" Tessa chimed in.

"Nah, this is the kind of woman you've got to impress right off the bat."

"Just be yourself."

"I'll be myself later. Right now I want to be someone who knows a lot about art. What do I tell her about that painting?"

"Tell her that you either like it or you don't."

"Tessa, c'mon, please. You know what I mean."

"I didn't know much about antiques when I met Owen," explained Lynn, "But I did mention the parts of the armor he brought to campus stood out to me."

That actually made sense to Richie, putting him a little at ease.

"Tell her that you find the shapes provocative and the colors organic but strangely disturbing," Tessa suggested.

"Organic... strangely disturbing…" rehearsed Richie.

"Provocative."

"Provocative."

"Provocative," chuckled Lynn.

"Provocative. All right, thanks. I'll see you later."

He then made his way to the girl to give it his best shot. Just then, Martin Sorrel, the gallery manager, approached Tessa.

"Tessa!" he greeted warmly.

"Hi!" she answered.

"How wonderful you look tonight, and so does your friend."

"Thank you," said both girls.

"And Duncan, where is that man of yours?" asked Martin.

"He's still in New York with Owen," answered Tessa. "They'll be back tomorrow."

"Oh, shame. Do give him my regards, will you?"

"I will."

"I see your fans are beginning to gather. Shall we mingle a little?"

He moved off into the crowd to greet them. Just then, Richie came back.

"Girls. She's loving it," he reported. "All the organic, uh... stuff. But, uh, now she's talking about texture and comparing it to the Neoclassical school. Help me. I'm lost."

"Why don't you just tell her the truth?"

"Tessa, come on, she's beautiful. She's smart. She's... sexy. She's, uh…" he paused as the girls chuckled. "I dream about women like her."

"Okay. Tell her it's definitely not Neoclassical, but it does have some abstract notions," Tessa suggested.

"All right. Thank you."

And off he went again. Tessa and Lynn wandered through the crowd, past a man and woman measuring a statue with a tape measure. Then the couple walked away, past a stranger.

"Morons," she scoffed.

"Pardon me?" asked Tessa.

"The only thing they care about is if it fits their damn patio," the stranger explained. "They don't sense the depth... the intensity... the experience."

"I'm not always so sure it's there."

"It's there. You'd have to be blind not to see it. This is a work of life, of openness. It's wonderful."

"Thank you."

"I'm tempted to buy it just so some idiot won't use it to decorate his bathroom."

"You seem to know a lot about this," Lynn pointed out. "Are you an artist?"

"I was once," replied the stranger. "Things change."

"Will you join us for a drink?" asked Tessa.

"Oh, thank you, but I can't. I really have to go. You have talent; use it while you can. It won't last forever."

Tessa and Lynn got a little suspicious when they heard that sentence. The stranger began to walk away.

"What's your name?" asked Tessa.

The stranger turned back and replied, "Anne."

As Anne left, Richie returned once again.

"Well, I forgot what I was supposed to say," he explained. "So I told her that basically I didn't know Picasso from a piano, and she laughed. She said she doesn't care. She thinks I'm cute."

"Richard Hayden Ryan, you dawg!" Lynn congratulated.

Tessa chuckled before telling Richie, "Go on. Have a good time."

"You're sure?" he asked.

"Mm-hm."

"I'll see you later."

And off Richie went with his date.

Night came and Richie and his date were strolling through town, talking, laughing joking around and eventually kissing. Richie had a great time, but elsewhere, there was trouble.

At the gallery office, Tessa and Lynn were closing up for the night. The two had entered the office to receive their coats.

"Tess, look!" whispered Lynn.

Tessa glanced out the window Lynn was looking through and saw two people on a nearby bridge. One was Anne and the other was indistinguishable. The girls could not make out what they were saying, but they could tell they were arguing. As Tessa and Lynn watched, Anne slapped the man, then the man grabbed her and strangled her over the bridge railing.

"Tessa, have you got a moment?" called Martin, sticking his head into the office.

The girls jumped and turned at the same time.

"I'm coming," answered Tessa.

She looked back out the window and saw the mystery man, was alone, looking over the railing. Lynn turned and saw the same thing. The man brown hair with a hint of greying, a tan overcoat, and black gloves.

"Oh, my God," both girls whispered as the man got into his car and sped away.

The next morning, the police were patrolling the bridge near the art gallery. Bennett was speaking to Martin while warming his hands.

"If I have any more questions, I'll give you a call. Thank you."

He then walked up to Tessa and Lynn.

"Miss Noël, uh, I know you're not the type to make things up, and I hope Miss Horton's the same, but I was up on that bridge and, well, there's no blood, no sign of a struggle. You're sure you saw this?"

"How many times do we have to tell you?" asked an exasperated Tessa.

"Well, my men have been out here since daybreak. They've spoken to a lot of people, including the gallery manager here, and, uh, no one else saw anything."

"*WE* did," insisted Lynn.

"Uh, you said that you saw this woman while you were at a celebration, a cocktail party?"

"Yes," Tessa answered.

"Were you celebrating a little?"

"You mean, were we drinking, Lieutenant? And the answer is no. He had her against the railing, they fought, and he threw her off! I'm not making this up and neither is Lynn."

"Of course not."

"Don't patronize me."

"It boils down to one question. Did you or did you not actually SEE him push her over?"

"Neither of us saw him doing it, but we only looked away for a second before she disappeared," insisted Lynn. "Where do you think she went?"

"Maybe they made up," Bennett suggested. "Maybe she got back in his car."

"In one second? It's more likely that she's lying at the bottom of the fucking river."

"Miss Horton, all I've got here are a lot of "no"s. I've got no real witness, I've got no body, and I've got no crime! Now we have your name and number. If anything comes up, we'll call you. Do you two need a ride back home? I can have one of my men take you."

"We're quite capable, Lieutenant, thank you," Tessa answered.

"You're welcome."

And he walked away. The girls glanced back up at the bridge. They knew what they saw, but it was only their own word.

Back at the loft kitchen, the girls were venting to their boyfriends who had already returned. Richie was also there, making a sandwich.

"We reported a possible murder, not a flying saucer," complained Tessa. "They treated us like children. There was no place she could have gone but over that railing."

"Then they aren't doing a thro investigation," decided Owen.

"Bennett's a good cop," Duncan insisted. "If there's something to be found, he'll find it. If she doesn't come home tonight, someone will report her missing."

But Owen noticed the girls were remaining silent.

"Well, what do you know about her?" he asked.

"Only that her name was Anne," answered Lynn.

"That this isn't much. Richie?"

"Well, I signed the guest book," Richie replied. "I don't know, maybe she did too."

Then he noticed Duncan, Owen, Tessa and Lynn staring at him.

"What?"

"Of course," said Tessa, hurrying to the door with Lynn following.

"It was a good idea," said Duncan. "Go on, stick with her."

Richie had just taken a bite of his sandwich when he got the order.

"Now?" he asked, his mouth full.

"Now."

"Oh, man."

He put the sandwich down and follows the girls to the door.

"And chew with your mouth closed, stupid!" called Owen.

Inside the gallery, Richie was reading the names out of the guest book.

"Rockwell, Morgenthaler, Von Holst... hm," he read. "Why do I get the feeling I never went to college with these guys?"

"Probably because you never went to college," teased Tessa, causing Richie to glare at her.

"The name we're looking for is 'Anne'," reminded Lynn.

Richie whispered under his breath as he turned the pages, "Anne, Anne, Anne, Anne... Bingo. It's the last one. Hm, she must have come in at the end."

"Anne Wheeler," read Lynn.

"Perfect. Let's give it to the cops."

"Not just yet, Richie," objected Tessa. "I'd like to follow up on this myself."

"What about Duncan and Owen?" Lynn asked. "They'd love to help."

"That's not necessary."

"All right, I'm game. Let's go," said Richie, heading for the exit with the girls following. I'm just gonna wait in the car."

"You don't have to," Tessa said.

"I know. I want to."

The three exited the gallery and returned to their car.

After locating Anne's house, the girls went up to the porch. Richie sat in the car, listening to tunes. An older woman, possibly a maid, answered the door.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Um, does Anne Wheeler live here?" asked Tessa.

"Yes."

"Did she return home last night?"

"No, she didn't.

"We… we wonder if we might speak with you.

"Are you friends of Miss Wheeler's?"

"Yes... Yes, we are," Lynn answered before the girls entered as the maid stepped aside. "Thank you."

"Just come this way, please," said the maid as she led Tessa and Lynn into the living area. "We move many times, often every year. She likes being new places. She's adventurous, always going somewhere. We came here only three months ago."

"So, you're not worried that she didn't return home last night?" asked Tessa.

"Oh, she's frequently gone several days at a time."

To Lynn, the maid seemed used to it. Then, Tessa noticed a painting over the nearby mantle.

"This is her work?" she asked.

"Yes, almost all of them are," answered the maid. "She used to paint a great deal."

"Is she still painting?"

"Not like she used to. I'm sure she has her reasons."

When she returns, would you have her call me?"

She handed the maid a business card.

"Certainly," the maid replied before reading the card, "Miss Noël."

"Thank you."

Tessa turns, walked back to front door, nodded good-bye to the maid, while Lynn waved.

Inside the police station, the girls were speaking to Bennett at his desk.

"Thank you both for coming," he said.

"Now what, Lieutenant?" asked Lynn.

"Well, now the investigation of the disappearance of Miss Anne Wheeler will be dealt with in its proper order."

"Uh-huh," said Tessa sarcastically. "You mean it'll stay buried."

"Do you have any idea how many open murder cases I'm dealing with, Miss Noël? Cases with a motive, or evidence, or a BODY."

"Do you think we'd go to all this trouble if we didn't think something was very wrong? The woman is missing, maybe dead. I'm not hysterical, Lynn's not either, we don't see things, and we're not looking for attention. we just want something to be done."

"Of course. Just don't expect miracles."

"I just expect you to do your job."

She got up and walked away. Lynn followed but stopped briefly.

"I used to wonder why my boyfriend never trusted authoritative figures, now I know," she said, before following after Tessa.

Bennett groaned, "Where do those MacLeods find these girls?"

Back at the antique store, Duncan was working in his office, while Owen was enjoying a nice cup of water. Suddenly, they sensed a buzz.

"Stay here," Owen called to Duncan. "I'll check it out."

He picked up his katana and cautiously entered workshop.

"I am Owen MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod," he said loudly. "Come out."

Then the Immortal appeared from the back. Unbeknownst to him, it was the man from the bridge. He tried to casually walk away, but Owen blocks his path.

"Who are you?" demanded the Highlander.

Instead of answering, the Immortal grabbed a long pipe and swung at him. They exchanged blows and Owen kept blocking the Immortal's way as he attempted to escape.

"Who are you?!" Owen demanded again as he blocked the back door.

The Immortal lunged at Owen, but he sliced pipe in half with his katana. With his weapon shorter now, the Immortal threw the rest of it at Owen, who dodged. He then threw a storage stand at Owen, distracting him long enough to run out the back door. Owen got out and hurried to the door, just as Duncan ran in.

"Damn!" cursed Owen.

"Who was it?" Duncan asked.

"I don't know."

Later, outside the antique store, Randi parked her car and walked inside. Owen was sitting in the office, helping sort out paperwork, while Duncan was showing a shield to a customer.

"And the English lord, thinking that he was safe behind this shield, attacked the Scottish chieftain. But the Scot's sword was made out of the finest tempered steel, which pierced the shield, killed the English lord, and ended the battle. That, of course, is the legend behind this particular shield," concluded Duncan, as he noticed Randi waiting for him to finish. "Anyway, please, take your time, take a look around the store."

He walked over to Randi.

"Can I talk to you?" she asked.

"In my office," whispered Duncan, before turning to the customer. "I'll be back in a moment."

"That's fine," replied the customer.

Duncan and Randi entered office and Duncan closed door behind them. Owen looked up and grimaced at the sight of the reporter.

"The fuck do you want now?" he complained.

"Okay, call me crazy," began Randi to Duncan, "But you keep turning up at murder investigations. Coincidence? I think 'no'."

"I'm not following," replied Duncan.

"Tessa Noël and Lynn Horton are named on a police report for a missing person... Anne Wheeler."

"And you think it's murder."

"Tessa and Lynn do."

"Hm, well…"

"Don't play games with me, MacLeod. What gives?"

"First of all, read the report," Owen interrupted. "And second, my girl never lies and neither does my dad's."

"Oh, and I was hoping for your colorful narrative touch," said Randi sarcastically.

"Quit fucking with us. You're wasting your time and life.

Duncan then got up and opened the door as Tessa and Lynn arrived.

"Duncan, the man in the store likes the shield. He'll—" Tessa began but stopped when she saw Randi.

"I wanted to talk to you two," Randi told the girls.

"Really," replied Tessa coldly.

"I thought our business was concluded," Lynn added, equally cold.

"You're right, it's just a pretext…" she turned to Duncan. "We were deciding - you're place? Mine?"

"Don't let me interrupt," said Tessa before going back into the store.

"Keep your hands off my boyfriend," warned Lynn as she followed.

"Why don't they like me?" Randi complained to the MacLeods.

"It couldn't be your personality, could it?" asked Duncan. "Or tact?"

"Or maybe you nose around in people's businesses," Owen suggested rudely. "No wonder you're still single."

Duncan glared at him, but Owen did not care. He wanted to put Randi in her place anyway. Randi followed the girls out into the shop. She walked over to Tessa, who was examining some jewelry.

"You know I was kidding in there," she claimed.

"So, I guessed," snarked Tessa. "So, what do you want from us?"

"Was Anne Wheeler a friend of yours?"

"We just met her before she was killed," Lynn said from the stairs she was sitting at.

"Then why are you two so involved in trying—"

"If you saw someone murdered, you would feel involved, trust me!" snapped Tessa.

"You're certain she was killed?"

"One moment she was there, vibrant, alive, breathing the same air... and the next…"

"You describe her like you knew her well."

"Maybe I do... somehow."

"I don't see—"

Lynn slammed her hand on the stairway, getting Randi's attention and she stormed over.

"No, of course you don't!" she shouted. "You're here for the story! Well, this isn't a story, it's real, a woman's life... And it's been taken from her! And you can't do anything about it, can you?!"

"Maybe I could," replied Randi.

"Yeah, only if it buys you airtime."

Randi decided there was no way to get through to either of them and decided it would be best to take her leave.

"Well, it's been nice sparring with you," she complimented. "You know, you may be right about me... but I still think I could help. So, call me if you learn anything else."

She turned and walked out of the shop, just as Owen walked over to Lynn.

"Nosey bitch," Lynn mumbled.

"Damn right," agreed Owen.

Later at the police station, Bennett knocked on a glass door bearing the words, 'CHIEF DETECTIVE ANDREW BALLIN' in all caps.

"Yeah," acknowledged Ballin before Bennett entered the office.

"Chief, remember those women I told you about?" he asked. "The ones who think they saw a murder at the bridge?"

"Vaguely. What of them?"

"Well, I know we don't have much, but from what I know of them, they're not the kind of women who make things up, and they're very persistent."

"Well, there's always a first time. I wouldn't make it a big priority. It's probably nothing. Nothing at all."

Ballin patted Bennett's shoulder and put some files away at a nearby shelf. Bennett shrugged and exited the office. Ballin turned to watch him leave. Unknown to anyone, he was the man who killed Anne and attacked Owen at the antique store.

Next day at the antique store, Tessa got off a phone call, with no update.

"It's been two days," she said, frustrated. "She hasn't returned home and still the police have done nothing."

"Well, they probably have nothing to go on," suggested Duncan. "You know, people disappear every day."

"You sound like that detective!" Lynn accused. "She didn't just disappear. She was murdered."

"No," said Owen. "I believe you; he believes you, but believing and proving are two different things. I know, it sucks, but Bennett seems honest, unlike most authority figures I've met."

"So, what do we do?" asked Tessa.

"Well, let Bennett do his job," Duncan encouraged. "I mean, there's an auction in New York. I thought you and Richie could go…"

"New York?" asked Richie, with childish hype.

"Yeah."

"Yeah! Now we're talking."

"You want us to leave?" asked Lynn.

"Only for a couple of days, until this is over," said Owen. "And don't worry girl, we're still on for Paris."

"Wait a minute. Why?" Tessa interjected. "Duncan, the only time you want me gone is when there's an Immortal around."

"Whoa, hold on one second here. What's going on, guys?" asked Richie.

"There IS a fucking Immortal around!" Owen said, quickly. "He infiltrated the shop, but I scared him away."

"Besides," added Duncan, "We figured you both had enough on your mind without this to worry about. Owen and I just want you out of here until this is over."

"Absolutely not," Tessa refused.

"Tessa…"

"I'm an adult, Duncan. And so is Lynn. I know the risks I choose to take."

"Tessa, I feel the Gathering getting nearer," reminded Owen, firmly. "Immortals are everywhere."

"We've been through this before, Owen," replied Lynn. "Me and Tessa stay with you and Duncan because we want to. We won't run. We're not the little women, and we'll never be barefoot and pregnant. We all have things to face. This is ours. We have to see it through."

Tessa held Lynn's hand in agreement.

"Besides Owen, the stories you told of the antiques you were transporting inspired me to take self-defense classes and gun training, remember?"

Owen nodded in remembrance.

"All right. We'll do it together, then," Duncan said. "Where do you want to start?"

"With Anne's maid," answered Tessa. "I think she was holding something back."

"Okay, we'll start there."

"Richie, look after the place," ordered Owen, as he left with Duncan and the girls.

Back at the station, Bennett was in the police office, preparing to head out.

"Bennett," Ballin called from his office and motioned to enter.

Bennett told his partner to meet him at the car and he went over the the office.

"What's up?" he asked.

"I've been looking at your duty report. Now I thought we agreed to give the Wheeler disappearance a low priority."

"These Noël and Horton women just won't quit. Now I checked out Anne Wheeler. She still hasn't come home. Maybe there's something to it."

"How many cases have you got?"

"I've got a feeling about this, Chief. Now, do you want to talk to the eyewitness?"

"No. Just keep me posted."

"Will do."

Bennett walked out of the office as Ballin watched with an annoyed expression on his face. He was up to something.

At Anne Wheeler's house, the quartet spoke to the maid, Greta.

"Amazing work," complimented Duncan, looking at a painting. "I remember her now. It was years ago... and this is just as fresh as when I saw it in Paris."

"Paris?" asked Greta as she carried a tea tray into the room. But Miss Wheeler hasn't shown in Paris for twenty years. You're much too young to have seen it there."

"Of course. I must be thinking of someone else."

"I'm beginning to be frightened. She's never been gone this long without calling me. Maybe she's painting somewhere. You know how artists are."

"Maybe," said Tessa. "You... you said she hadn't painted much recently."

"That's right."

"Why?" asked Duncan.

"I really don't know," Greta said quickly.

"I think you do know."

"I don't know you. Anne Wheeler never mentioned either of you to me. You have no right asking these questions. I want you to leave."

"All we want to do is help," Owen finally spoke. "There's something wrong and I think you know that. Anne hasn't returned for two days. the police still have done nothing and she hasn't called you. Whatever the truth is, it's better than not knowing."

"Why did she stop painting?" asked Lynn.

"Don't tell me it was guy trouble."

"It was a man," sighed Greta. "He left her just after I came to work for her. They were together for years, and when he left, she was devastated. She never painted again. It was like the life was drained out of her. She spent years searching for him, which was why she was gone for days on end."

"Well, maybe he could tell us something," suggested Duncan. "Does he have a name?"

"Andrew Holt, but I think he changed it to avoid her."

"What about snapshots? An address?"

"No, I never saw any."

"What about paintings?" asked Lynn.

"Of course," said Tessa. "If she loved him, she might have done a portrait."

"I'll get it."

She quickly left the room to get the picture.

"Now we'll know who he is," said Tessa.

As Greta carried the painting in, Duncan's face looked a little angry.

"I don't think so," he said.

Greta turned the painting to them. It was of a man, but the face had been cut out and torn off. However, the hairdo and color were still there, and Owen recognized them. It was a curly brow hairdo, with a tint of greying near the sideburns.

"She found him, didn't she?" asked Duncan.

"That last night, I - I heard her on the phone," Greta explained/ "It must've been him. She sounded so upset. I came to her... She made me promise never to talk about him again."

"We understand," said Lynn.

"She's dead, isn't she?"

"We're not sure," said Owen. "But if she's been gone for two days, it's highly likely."

"You think he might've killed her?"

"Perhaps," said Duncan.

"But why? Why?"

The quartet exited the house, while Tessa spoke.

"Those paintings. I can close my eyes and see her. I can feel what she felt. It's like peering into someone's heart. She was so human... so real."

"I suppose she was," said Duncan as the girls got into the T-bird.

"I know why she kept looking for him. She felt everything... violently. Love. Loss."

"Or maybe she was obsessed," suggested Lynn.

"None of you are her," Duncan replied.

"I could be," said Tessa as the men entered.

"Tessa, you're stronger than she was. If something happened to me, you... you'd be fine."

"You only think so because it suits you."

Duncan started the car, and they drove out of the yard, onto the open road.

Duncan drove the T-bird down the street toward the antique shop.

"We've got to call Bennett and tell him about the phone call," said Tessa.

"What can we tell him?" Duncan asked. "That she spoke to someone? The man has no face, and a name he no longer uses."

"So, what do we do now?" asked Lynn as Duncan parked the T-Bird.

"I don't know."

"We can't give this up."

"Well, the guy's hair color and hair style in painting were still there, and they look just like the Immortal who attacked the shop," Owen said.

Suddenly, he and Duncan sensed a buzz, and caught the sight of a silent rifle pointing at them from a partially open window.

"Get down!" yelled Duncan.

He shoved Tessa flat on the seat as Ballin fires, hitting the passenger-side window and barely avoiding Lynn, who Owen jumped on top of. He then pulled her out of the car. Duncan helped Tessa out on the driver's side as Ballin fired again, hitting him in the shoulder.

"You're hurt!" cried Tessa.

"When I tell you, get inside, okay?" said Duncan.

They waited three seconds, before Duncan shouted again.

"GO!"

All four of them ran for the door, with the bullets still raining on them, but the men shielded the girls. As they crossed the threshold, one of the bullets hit Owen in the chest while closing the door, knocking him to the floor.

"What the hell…?" exclaimed a shocked Richie, rushing to Owen's aid. "What's going on here? An Immortal?"

"Ugh, yeah," groaned Owen. "And I just bought this shirt."

"Are you alright?" asked Lynn, helping her boyfriend up.

"I'll live. You know, I just love all this attention."

"No time for jokes."

"Why would an Immortal shoot you?" asked Tessa.

"She's right," Richie added. "Any Immortal would know a gun is useless to kill you. Why would he try?"

"Because he's not coming for me or Owen, Richie," replied Duncan, looking at the girls. "He's coming for you, girls."

The girls seemed panicked while Owen's blood boiled. For a moment, Richie could swear he saw Owen's eyes go bloodshot.

Later, the police arrived with Bennett and inspected the scene. Bennett looked at the seats of T-bird.

"Nosebleed my ass," he muttered under his breath.

"I heard that!" called Owen.

Ignoring him, Bennett turned to confront Duncan.

"What is it with you people?" he asked. "I know cop's been on the force twenty years, never been shot at or pulled their guns, and never involved in a murder. But with you this kind of thing seems like it's a regular occurrence."

Duncan shrugged in response. Owen did not say anything.

"So, you're telling me, all this blood came from you hitting the steering wheel."

"Well, it could have been a lot worse, Sergeant," explained Duncan. "But those seatbelts - they're a lifesaver. I mean, who knows what could have happened without them."

Unimpressed, Bennett turned to Tessa and Lynn.

"Look, I came here to put you both under protective custody," he said. "Looks to me like you need it."

"Why's that?" asked Owen.

"Anne Wheeler's body washed up on the shore a few hours ago."

"So now you believe us," Lynn drawled.

"You're sure it's Anne Wheeler?" asked Duncan.

"We do some things right, MacLeod." replied Bennett. "Forensics ID'd the body just a while ago. Miss Noël, Miss Horton, I'd like for you to come with us."

"Why?" Tessa asked.

"Because the chief thinks it's possible that the murder you witnessed was committed by someone connected to organized crime. He thinks you'd be safer under our protection. And now I agree with him."

"Is it really necessary?"

"There is a pro shooter around. He knows where you live. He's watching you. Next time, he may not miss."

"He has a point," agreed Owen. "It won't be forever."

"We can come back later and pick up your clothes," offered Bennett.

"Where are you taking them?" asked Duncan.

"To a safe house. That's all I can tell you."

"It's going to be okay," Duncan reassured Tessa.

"I know," she replied, kissing him goodbye.

"Be safe," Owen told Lynn.

"I will," she said, also kissing him goodbye.

As the girls were led away by the police, the MacLeods walked over to Richie.

"Does that bike of yours still 'haul ass'?" Duncan asked.

"Like Madonna's underwear. Why?" asked Richie as he followed Duncan's gaze to the departing police vehicles. "Gotcha."

Just then, Randi drove up in her own car. She went over over to Bennett's car Tessa and Lynn were in and knocked on window. Tessa rolled the window down to speak to her. Lynn just glared.

"I just heard about the shooting over my police scanner. Are you okay?" asked Randi.

"Yes," Tessa answered. "They found Anne Wheeler."

"I know. You were right."

"I wish I weren't. Funny, I just wanted to talk to her again."

"I know you won't believe this, but I'm sorry."

"I believe you."

"Lynn, you were right about something else."

"And what's that?" asked Lynn.

"She's dead and I really can't help. I wish I could."

Tessa rolled up the window and the car drove away.

On the open road, Bennett's unmarked car drove toward the safe house. Richie was carefully following on his motorcycle. However, he was not stealthy.

"I think we got a player," Bennett said, looking in the rear-view mirror. "Guy on a motorcycle."

"Try a hard left and hit the gas," suggested Detective Taylor, as the girls turned around to look. "Don't. It could be our shooter."

He pulled Tessa down onto the seat, while Lynn, who was in the shotgun seat, quickly faced forward.

"I'll call for some backup," reassured Bennett.

After going a little longer, he turned off the main road and screeched to a stop. Richie follows and was stopped by Bennett and several additional police cars that trapped him.

"Freeze!" ordered Bennett, drawing his revolver.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," said Richie as he pulled his helmet off. "Don't shoot. Don't shoot. Don't shoot. I'm one of the good guys."

"Talk to me, wise guy."

"I got a license. I was, uh, taking a joy ride."

"Look, pal, if we wanted people to know where these safe houses were, we'd put 'em in the phone book. Now somebody escort Mr. Indiana Jones here back to his place."

A fellow officer pulled Richie from his bike.

"Well, does that mean that this is gonna screw up my safety driver discount?" asked the boy.

"Bet your ass," replied Bennett.

"Oh, boy."

Bennett got back in his car and set off again, while the girls watched Richie. A short while later, the T-bird wheeled slowly up to the turn, took it, and follows the police cars.

By the time they reached the safe house, it was nighttime. As they waited, the girls were growing restless and bored. Just then, Bennett's phone rang.

"Bennett," he said, answering it.

"This is Ballin here,"said the chief."How's it looking?"

"Quiet so far, sir. What's up?"

"Just checking in. They identify anyone from the mug books yet?"

"Not yet. Uh, is all this necessary? I mean, the ladies are not very happy."

"Well, they'd be a lot more unhappy if they took a twenty-two behind the ear. Stay buttoned up. I'll check back later. No one in or out."

"Whatever you say, sir."

Unbeknownst to them, Ballin was parked by the safe house. He got out of his car, walks around the house to its side and looked at the gas meter tag. It said, "NATIONAL GAS CO INSPECT YEARLY." He took out a small metal box along with some wires and attached them to the gas pipes.

However, the MacLeods had been watching the house from the T-Bird, also parked nearby and in the shadows. Duncan saw Ballin's car and got out to investigate.

"Whose car is that?" Owen asked himself.

Getting close enough to the car, Duncan found a "police dept." envelope on the seat and police light on the dash. Owen got out of the T-Bird as well and came to look too.

"Something's not right," he observed.

The duo approached the house, when they suddenly felt a buzz. Looking at each other, they ran around the house. As they returned to the front, they spotted the Immortal walking toward Ballin's car. Duncan ran first with Owen right behind him. Upon reaching the car, both MacLeods were able to get a good look at the Immortal, but he was still able drive away.

"That's him!" said Owen. "He's the Immortal I encountered!"

"We'll worry about that later," Duncan replied. "Right now, let's find out what he was doing."

They went back to the house and went around to find anything. Suddenly, Duncan found the box and sees a timer counting down from 2:28.

"Shit," cursed Owen. "Disable it."

"I can't," Duncan replied, before grabbing his pocket watch.

"What are you doing?"

"Marking the time, come on!"

Duncan ran to the front door, with Owen following. The older Highlander ran up the porch and banged on the front door.

"Open up!" he yelled, banging again. "Open up!"

Bennett threw the door open, his gun at the ready.

"Freeze!" he yelled, before he realized who it was. "MacLeod, are you nuts?!"

"Now listen to me VERY carefully. There's a bomb on the outside of the house. You have exactly under TWO minutes to get everybody outside!"

"What?!"

"We marked the time, but we don't have enough to discuss this," said Owen, checking the watch. "Ninety seconds!"

"Is this another one of your tricks like that guy on the motorcycle?" demanded Bennett.

"No more time!" replied Duncan.

"Bennett, are you all right?!" Taylor called.

"Yeah…" was all Bennett could say before Owen elbowed him in the gut as he turned his attention away.

Owen pushed past him into the house, with Duncan holding Bennett. Owen quickly took Bennett's gun and pointed it at Taylor, who entered the hall.

"Freeze!" he demanded, sizing Taylor up. "Where are they? Where is they?!"

"Owen!" cried Lynn, having ran in, with Tessa behind her.

Owen grabbed the girls and pushed them to the door.

"Out! Now!" he ordered and took the girls ran outside.

He gave the gun to Duncan while following them out. Now Duncan sized up Taylor.

"Now I'm going to say it again. There's a bomb about to go off - take that!" he barked, thrusting Bennett's gun at Taylor. "Get Bennett and get outside. You've got... thirty seconds!"

He ran out the door, leaving Taylor behind. Acting quickly, he grabbed Bennett and pulled him out of the house.

"Who is doing this?" demanded Tessa.

"The Immortal I encountered," Owen answered. "It's a cop. He followed you here."

"You followed us, too," replied Lynn.

"Yeah, but we're obsessed with you."

The MacLeods pulled their girlfriends down behind the T-bird, then Duncan ran back to help Bennett and Taylor.

"Come on," he ordered as he got the cops behind the car.

"I don't know what the hell's going on, kid," Bennett began, holding his chest where Owen punched him, "But you're in deep—!"

But the house exploded into a huge fireball before he could finish his sentence. Duncan land Owen looked at Duncan's pocket watch.

"Cutting in awfully close, dude," sassed Owen.

"Thanks. I owe you both," Bennett replied. "How'd you know there was a bomb in there?"

"We saw someone leaving the side of the house," said Duncan.

"Can you identify him?"

"Didn't get that good a look."

"You expect me to believe that MacLeod? This wouldn't be the first time you've lied to me; you know."

"You can believe whatever you want. Who else knew you were bringing the girls here? Who else knew, huh?"

"Well, it was just me, uh, the chief, and a couple of my men. Wait a minute. Wait, you don't think my people had anything to do with this…"

"Corruption is everywhere," cut in Owen. "His long coat was beige and many of you guys were beige long coats."

"We have to go," Duncan interrupted.

"Yeah, right, downtown to talk this out," ordered Bennett.

"Tomorrow."

"No way, MacLeod."

"You said you owed us. Right?"

"Tomorrow. Early... or I'm coming to get you both."

Bennett walked away to speak with the arrived officers.

"You're going after him?" asked Tessa.

"We have to," replied Duncan.

"Maybe he'll run off now that he knows we know it's him," Lynn objected.

"And waste two Quickenings?" asked Owen. "Hell no, and I'll make sure he doesn't reject a challenge."

"Besides, what about Anne?" Duncan asked.

"I care about YOU," replied Lynn. "WE care about you BOTH."

"We have to stop him. This will happen again, and again, and again."

"I know. WE know," Tessa sighed.

She kissed Duncan, while Lynn desperately kissed Owen. She had gone through too much in one day.

At the police station, Bennett was in Ballin's office speaking to him.

"I guess you were right about it being a mob hit," said Bennett. "If it wasn't for the MacLeods, we'd all be dead."

"It's lucky they arrived," Ballin replied. "And neither mentioned who planted the bomb?"

"Well, they said they didn't see anybody, but I think they know. They're just not telling us. Tomorrow, I will get it out of them."

"Right."

Then the phone rang.

"I'll be in my office," Bennett said, taking his leave.

Bennett left the office, allowing Ballin to answer the phone in private.

"Andrew Ballin,"said Duncan.

"I've been waiting for you to call," Ballin replied.

"Meet me at the Science Dome."

"I'll be there."

He hung up and took a deep breath.

Duncan stood on the terrace of the Science Dome, as Ballin walked up. Owen stood in the shadows, where he would wait for a victor.

"Must be useful being a cop, Ballin," said Duncan, his blade resting on his right arm. "If you kill one of us, you can be the first on the scene. No questions, no suspicion - just good, solid police work."

"I wasn't coming for you yet, MacLeod," Ballin replied, drawing his shortsword.

"Of course it works just as well for mortals. Why Anne? She was your woman."

"She wouldn't let go. Everywhere I went, so did she. At the end, she threatened to expose what I was to the world if I didn't go back to her."

"How many others have you killed?"

"Does it matter? They never live forever. And neither will you."

Ballin lunged at Duncan, who intercepted the strike with his blade in a reverse grip. Turning his sword back into forward grip, Duncan countered with his own strikes. Ballin defended himself but became frustrated when Duncan used the nearby light polls as shields to get to a more open area of the terrace. Ballin followed after him but received the butt of Duncan's katana on his face. Dodging Duncan's beheading strike, Ballin reengaged, and they rallied blow after blow that each deflected and evaded. Soon, Duncan pushed back, forcing Ballin onto the nearby stairwell. The Highlander jabbed at the chief several times, before forcing him off the stairwell and jumping after him. The fall had seemingly weakened Ballin, as he was starting to get overwhelmed. He desperately struck out once more, as Owen emerged from the shadows, awaiting the inevitable. Blocking the final attack, Duncan struck Ballin upwards across his torso, before taking his head in a powerful right strike.

Owen nodded his head in satisfaction, knowing Lynn and Tessa were finally safe. He soon noticed fog appearing to surround Duncan. The lightning traveled across the surface of the giant geodesic dome, destroying many lightbulbs as Duncan took Ballin's Quickening. It did not last long and Duncan stayed standing, making Owen wonder if Ballin was not very powerful.

The next day. Bennett showed up at the antique store workshop with more news.

"This damn case gets weirder by the moment," he said.

"Why?" asked Tessa.

"Well, Chief Ballin turns up murdered last night. We find a rifle in the trunk of his car which ballistics match to a slug dug out of YOUR upholstery. We then matched the fibers dug from under Anne Wheeler's fingernails and they match Ballin's overcoat. You think you know somebody."

"Yeah, Anne Wheeler thought she knew him, too," Duncan replied.

"Yeah," agreed Bennett before turning to the girls. "Look, uh, I'm sorry I didn't believe you the first time."

"It's okay," Tessa said.

"It was only natural you didn't believe us the first time," added Lynn.

"I guess I'll be seeing you around."

Duncan and Owen nodded in agreement and Bennett departed the shop.

"Duncan…" Tessa began.

"What?" asked Duncan.

"When the time comes, if you ever have to leave me…"

Duncan groaned, cutting her off, much to Owen's laughter. Tessa continued as the quartet left the workshop to the living room.

"I won't be like Anne. I'll leave you first."

"We BOTH will," Lynn laughed.

"Will you now?" joined in Owen.

"You do that," Duncan replied.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. And I'll follow you. Wherever you go. As long as you live."

Tessa laughed as Duncan kissed her during his reply.

"We BOTH will," added Owen as he kissed Lynn.

"Then maybe... just maybe... we won't leave," Tessa finished.

"Ever," chimed in Lynn.

"You want some coffee?"

"Yeah, I'd love some coffee," replied Duncan.

"I'll make some."

She attempted to walk off, but Duncan pulled her back.

"Ah. I thought you wanted coffee."

"Oh, I do. I want some coffee," he replied, kissing her again.

"I have to make it."

"Well, okay, okay, you make it."

She attempted to walk off again, but he pulled her back AGAIN.

"Way to go," she said, laughing.

"Huh?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"Nothing, sweetheart."

"Yeah, you do," she said as they kissed again. "You want coffee?"

"I do, I love coffee."

"Duncan."

"Let's go make some coffee."

He pushed her jacket off her shoulders as they disappeared around the corner.

"Duncan!" she laughed with playful annoyance.

Owen and Lynn were left behind in the living room.

"Well, there they go," he said. "So, what do you wanna do?"

As he turned his head, Lynn shoved him backwards and he landed on the couch. Then, she reached to her waist and pulled her shirt off of her. Tossing the shirt aside, she ran her hand along her small bra, one she had intentionally for a tease.

"Like what you see?" she flirted.

"Oh yes," was Owen's answer.

Lynn smirked before she jumped onto the couch, on top of him.

(Cue Princes of the Universe)

Co-Starring

Sheila Paterson as Greta

Diana Barrington as Anne Wheeler

Christopher Gaze as Martin Sorrel

David Petersen as Detective Taylor

(Princes of the Universe ends)

I will only include scenes that do not have Owen or other new characters if they are at least mentioned. If those scenes do not show up in the chapter, then they remain the same as the original.

I have always seen Anne as the overarching antagonist because she was obsessed with Ballin and refused to let him go. When she did not get her way, she tried an appeal to fear, only to ring the bell for her death. Ballin and Anne were both bad in their own way, no wonder they were a perfect match.

I am pretty sure this was the introduction to the reoccurring Charles V shortsword.

I knew Richie's middle initial was H, but I never knew what his actual middle name was, so I gave him the middle name, "Hayden."

The exchange between Lynn and Bennett at the station was inspired by the verbal fight between Dr. Leonard Samson and Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross in The Incredible Hulk. Ironically, both Bennett and Ross have mustaches, that is until Ross transformed from William Hurt to Harrison Ford.

Speaking of which, Harrison Ford will also be appearing as a character here. Not in THIS book, but one of them. Just wait patiently.

I also remember Tom Butler as Dr. Campbell from Freddy vs. Jason, shocking right?

Anyway, thanks for reading, please review, your support helps my writing.

R&R, Roland Cain out!