Disclaimer: The Highlander franchise is owned by Davis/Panzer, in addition to Rysher Entertainment. So, that'll be part of the disclaimer from now on. For all other disclaimer, see chapter one.

Plot: Set after "For Tomorrow We Die"; Richie undergoes a transformation and Jack must assist Tori to save him before it's too late.

True Friends, True Spirits

"When did this happen?" Tori asked as she saw the scratch on Richie's arm.

"I don't know….." Richie sighed nervously, "I…..I started feeling a burning sensation after Jack attacked me and we got the demon out of him, but it really escalated since yesterday. Tori, what does this mean?"

"I don't know," Tori started pacing the area, "I really don't know, Richie."

Richie started to shake, unsure if he was scared or not. Either way, he was feeling strange. Tori saw this and her face softened. She pulled him into a hug, "You're gonna be fine, Richie. We'll talk to the IUA and fix this. I'll talk to my mom, to Jack."

Richie was trembling as he leaned his head on her shoulder, "Tori, I'm scared. I'm so scared. What's happening to me?"

"I promise," Tori assured her friend, "We'll get you help."

Suddenly, she flinched upon hearing Richie scream. It was startling. She looked up and saw that Richie was looking at his hand which was now a white demonic claw. Richie looked at her, tears falling down his face in fear, "Tori, get Mac."

"Hang on, Richie," Tori assured him again, "Hang on. We'll get you help."

She stepped back upon hearing Richie growling this time. Before she could react, Tori felt a swift punch to her face and she fell backwards off the cliff and landing into the water.

-DCH-Side-Stories-

Tessa ran towards Duncan, finding that he had finally returned home as he, Richie and Tori haven't been home since last night, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Duncan answered.

"Did you find him?" Tessa inquired.

"No, he's gone," Duncan answered, "I found some blood and tracks a few miles downriver."

"LeBrun has been calling you all morning," Tessa told her lover, "He wants to talk to you."

"Oh, I bet he does," Duncan replied, "but right now, I just want to get some sleep."

The couple entered the barge.

"Duncan….do you think he will….." Tessa started to ask.

"Probably. He won't forget what I did to him," Duncan answered as Tessa helped him with his coat before he sat down in the chair, holding a chess piece, "He's still out there somewhere. He'll be back."

"There's something else," Tessa spoke as Duncan was relaxing on the chair.

"What?" Duncan asked.

"Richie and Tori," Tessa answered, "They haven't reported here since last night."

"They might be at the gallery," Duncan suggested.

"No, I don't think so," Tessa replied, "I haven't seen either of them since before the gallery event. Usually, one of them would have called us, or called me."

Duncan considered this.

-DCH-Side-Stories-

"This is not good," Jack stated as he walked down the streets, "This is not good at all!"

"Jack, will you calm down for a minute?" Cassandra asked as she followed her boyfriend down the streets.

"How can I relax, Cass?" Jack faced his girlfriend, "Tell me, how can I relax? You have a vision where Richie becomes a demon and I have a nightmare about Richie being attacked by my demon form. That is nothing to relax about!"

"I know," Cassandra nodded, "I know. I'll do my part to track down Richie, you go and find Tori and let her know what is going on."

Jack and Cassandra suddenly sensed the Buzz.

"We might not have to look far for Tori," Jack declared, "Go and do your stuff, back at the headquarters."

"Right," Cassandra nodded before she left the area.

Moments later, Jack spotted Tori, who looked soaking wet and rushing towards him.

"You had a swim?" Jack asked.

"Not the swim I asked for," Tori answered, "Jack, I'm glad I found you. Richie….."

"I know," Jack replied, "Had a nightmare about him. I know Richie is in trouble. He's probably turned into a demon by now, yeah?"

"Yeah," Tori nodded, "and pushed me to my death off the cliff last night. Do you know where he is?"

"No," Jack shook his head, "but I'm getting his location as we speak."

"I hope we find him soon," Tori stated with worry in her voice.

"We will," Jack assured her. He knew that she was worried, blaming herself for what happened, but none of this was her fault. None of this was Richie's fault either. It was his. The whole thing, Richie being hurt, his demon form out of control, Richie's transformation into a demon, it was his fault. Jack had let it happen.

"We need to find MacLeod right away," Tori spoke up, "He and Tessa are probably worried about us, me and Richie that is."

"I know," Jack nodded, dreading having to face the wrath of Duncan MacLeod, "Let's go to where Duncan MacLeod lives."

"I'll take you to him," Tori nodded, leading Jack to the barge, "Maybe Richie might meet us there."

"Hopefully," Jack replied, "If not, MacLeod is going to take my head."

"What makes you say that?" Tori asked.

"Why…..what do you think?" Jack interjected, "I turned into a demon that day! I attacked Richie! MacLeod saw Richie being injured, and that was because of me!"

"Let's hurry," Tori stated, "Richie is counting on us."

-DCH-Side-Stories-

Duncan sensed the buzz and then he turned and saw Tori enter the barge, "Tori, where's Richie?"

Tori took a deep breath. She remembered what she told Jack after he attacked Richie, Don't run away from your friends, or your allies for that matter. You should turn to them if you ever need help. If you run from your problems, things only get worse.

"He's out for a bit," Tori answered.

"I can see that," Duncan frowned, "but where?"

"Um, I think I will have to answer that, Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod," Jack said as he entered the barge.

"What did you do this time?" Duncan asked, starting to get mad.

"Listen, we can take care of it," Jack answered, "IUA business."

Duncan walked up to him, fists clenching, "What the hell happened to Richie? Why are you brushing this off?"

"You might want to answer him," Tessa stepped forward, overhearing the conversation, "If you hurt someone that he cares for, it won't end well for you."

"I'm aware of that," Jack took a deep breath.

"Where is he? Tell me now!" Duncan was about to rush Jack, but Tessa held him back.

"Mac, calm down!" Tessa exclaimed, "We'll find Richie!"

"Richie's fine for the most part," Jack told the group.

"What do you mean?" Tessa asked, feeling worried.

The group suddenly heard a demonic growl. Tessa turned and screamed at the sight before her. Duncan, Jack and Tori also turned and they saw a white demon, glaring at them, growling.

"It's Richie's demon form," Jack spoke in surprise, "The mutations progressed on him quite quickly."

"Richie?" Duncan called out, worried. The demon advanced towards the Highlander and looked at him. He tried to lunge at him, but then stopped mid swipe. Duncan then saw something in the demon which wasn't the usual demonic rage that he would see. Instead he saw fear in the demon's eyes. Richie was scared, trapped in this demonic body.

The demon tried to attack, but Duncan kicked him in the abdomen, knocking him across the room.

"Richie, stop it!" Tori called out. The demon lunged towards Tessa, but Tori leapt in between her and the demon and pinned her to the wall, "Richie, it's us!"

Duncan made his way to attack the demon, but Tori stopped him, "Don't hurt him?"

"Hurt him?" Duncan replied, "Tori, are you insane? It doesn't matter who's under that demonic skin, he tried to hurt Tessa!"

"It's not his fault," Jack insisted, "He can't control it."

"Well, don't just stand there," Duncan called, "Fix it!"

Jack and Tori saw that the demon was gone. They hurried to track down the demon and save Richie.

"Are you okay?" Duncan hurried to his lover's side.

"I'm fine," Tessa answered, "Richie's demon side just scared me. He…..he looked scared too."

"I noticed too," Duncan nodded, comforting her, "I just hope Jack and Tori are able to undo what happened to him."

"Me too, Mac," Tessa whimpered, "Me too."

-DCH-Side-Stories-

"Richie!" Tori yelled.

"Richie!" Jack added in. He looked around the city for clues, something that would hopefully lead him to Richie. He couldn't believe this had happened. If anything happened to Richie, it would be his fault. If something had happened to Tessa back at the barge, it would have been because of him. If Richie was lost in that demonic form, it would have been because of him, "RICHIE! KID!"

He and Tori were calling out to him. If the authorities caught him, he was going to be in a lot of trouble. God knows what might have happened.

"Come on, Richie," Jack called out, "we're not going to hurt you!"

"The spell is ready," Cassandra's voice announced via Jack's communicator.

"Who's that?" Tori asked.

"My plan to save our friend," Jack answered, "She knows her stuff and about my curse, which has now affected Richie."

"Go for it!" Tori exclaimed in desperation, "Save Richie!"

"He's at the park," Cassandra's voice instructed, "Grab him and I will take matters from here, and Jack, the rest will be up to you."

"Of course," Jack nodded.

The two immortals found Richie trying to find a place to hide at the park as people were running in fear. Jack grabbed Richie, "Hang on, kid. It's okay to be scared."

The demon tried to snap at him, but Jack held on to him tightly, "It's okay. I won't hurt you, Richie."

Cassandra began chanting in French and within the minute, Jack and the demon were surrounded with blue energy.

"Good luck, Jack," Tori told her fellow agent.

"Thanks, Tori," Jack replied before the spell took full effect.

-DCH-Side-Stories-

Jack opened his eyes and found himself in a dark, smoky room, "Richie?"

"Help!" he heard Richie cry out in fear and pain, "No! No, please!"

"Richie?" Jack called out before he saw his gray demonic self trapping something in a corner.

"Somebody help me!" he heard Richie cried out, "Mac! Tori! Tessa!"

"Richie, can you hear me?" Jack called out. He pushed the demon out of the way and saw Richie, backing up in fear and he cried out, "Mac, help me!"

"Richie, I'm not gonna hurt you!" Jack assured his friend.

The demon returned and shoved Jack down and started attacking Richie again and Richie screamed in pain. The demon grabbed Richie by the arm, picking him up and throwing him around once more.

Jack watched as the boy helplessly went flying through the air and landed hard. He rolled onto his side, holding his stomach as blood dripped down his face and leaked through his fingers.

"You hurt the kid," Jack growled at his demonic self.

The demon growled as it lunged towards Richie, but Jack tackled it down.

"Leave him alone!" Jack yelled, grabbing the spot on the demon's chest where his heart was and ripping out its inner spirit, regaining control of the demon inside Richie.

The demon tried to pull away, but Jack was stronger. He got out his sword and beheaded the demon before taking a small quickening, "You hurt him! You hurt him! You hurt him. You hurt him."

He repeated the mantra until he was back to the real world. He then walked over to Richie and held him in his arms.

"I hurt you," Jack cried, holding the limp boy in his arms, "I'm so sorry, kid."

"Richie's back!" Tori exclaimed with relief, "I knew you could do it."

"Really now?" Jack gave a small grin.

"How is he now?" Tori asked.

"Badly hurt," Jack answered, "but he could have been a lot worse if we hadn't gotten to him in time."

"I can't thank you enough for this, for saving Richie," Tori stated with relief before asking, "What exactly happened in there?"

"When Jack attacked Richie," Darren explained as he arrived at the scene, "the essence of that demon must have gotten inside Richie and it was hurting him."

"So, it was me?" Jack inquired, "So, I was the one who hurt Richie?"

"Unfortunately," Darren answered.

"How did you know?" Tori asked.

"Jack's girlfriend filled the IUA in on everything," Darren answered, "Leader knew this was happen and she's glad you guys were taking care of it. Now, I can say this mission, this case is officially over."

-DCH-Side-Stories-

"You're damn right about that," Duncan stated, as he arrived at the area, overhearing the conversation.

Tori, Jack and the IUA agent all glanced at him.

Duncan glanced over at Jack, who was holding Richie. He was angry at Jack, yes, but seeing that Richie was back to normal, he knew that he had saved his life.

"If you ever put him in unnecessary danger like that again," Duncan warned Jack, "I will personally have your head. Is that understood?"

"Yes," Jack nodded, clearly intimidated by the Highlander, "Clear and loud."

"Good. Now, tell me what happened here?" Duncan's face and voice softened as he dropped to his side to look at Richie.

-DCH-Side-Stories-

Richie opened his eyes, and looked around to find himself back at the barge. The last thing he remembered, he was feeling strange as he was starting to turn into the demonic monster. Now, he was back at the barge. Confused and disoriented, he panicked, screamed and tried getting out from the couch.

"Easy," Tori laid him back on the couch, "Take it easy, Rich."

Richie looked to see Tori sitting next to him. Jack was right behind him.

"What is he doing here?" Richie asked, "What happened?"

"I'm sorry, kid," Jack told him, "I'm very sorry. The essence of my demon form…...it took over you."

"I know," Richie replied, "but why am I not a demon anymore?"

"I fought it," Jack answered.

"You fought your demon self?"

"I had to," Jack explained as he helped Tori place the cloth back on Richie's forehead, "you would have been stuck as a demon forever if I didn't."

Richie gulped, and looked down in fear.

"Richie, I'm so sorry, kid," Jack said with tears down his face, lowering his face to the cushion of the sofa.

"I'm okay now," Richie replied, "I'm not a demon anymore. You saved my life."

"But I put you in danger," Jack frowned, still hiding his face, "I don't want you to be in danger. I didn't want you to be in danger."

"It doesn't matter," Richie assured him, "In the end, if I get in danger, you save me, or MacLeod saves me, just like he does with Tessa."

Duncan cleared his throat. The three looked to see him and Tessa standing nearby.

"Welcome back," Tessa greeted him.

"Thanks, Tess," Richie replied.

Duncan placed a bottle of water and a plate with a sandwich on it before leaving the barge.

"Will he be okay?" Jack asked.

"He's not too fond of people who hurt those he loves," Tessa answered, "Give Mac some time, and he'll be forgiving, knowing the situation."

"I'm sorry about everything," Richie apologized, "You know, what I did when I was a demon."

"It's all right," Tessa replied, "You only scared me is all."

"You scared me too," Tori told her friend, "Richie, I was so worried. I thought I lost you when you became that demon."

"I should be the one saying sorry," Jack stated, "I put all of you in this situation in the first place."

"Jack, we already told you," Tori assured him, "it's over now. Richie is safe now and that's all that matters."

"Is there anything I can do for you guys?" Jack asked.

"We're good," Tessa declined, "Thank you though."

"Are you going to be okay?" Jack asked Richie.

"My wounds will heal," Richie answered.

"And a few days of rest," Tessa chimed in, "and he will be just fine."

Richie sighed, annoyed, thinking to himself, A few days of rest. Perfect. Just perfect.

Author's Note: My apologies for this chapter not being as long as the usual chapters. I think this would be a good pause on the story until after New Year for this story. When I return after New Years, I shall start "The Beast Below", and this is going to be quite fun! In the meantime, I got a chapter of "When Worlds and Dangers Collide" to update, then it'll be up to a New Years break ish.