Helpless

Richie sighed as he sat near the doorway of the barge as he was on deck. He decided to get a breath of fresh air as he was dealing with a headache.

He took a deep breath as he began to feel overwhelmed by his headache.

Suddenly, Richie started hearing strange voices. He looked around, thinking there was someone nearby. How could there be though? He was at the barge. Maybe there was someone at the streets talking that must have been really loud. How was that even possible?

Maybe if he got some rest, maybe the headache would go away. He hoped so.

Richie didn't have time to answer any questions in his mind, much less make it back to the barge as he felt himself black out.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Tessa looked out the window, feeling sadness for Allan. She was there when he got the news about his son's death. Sure Mark was a scumbag for what he did to that girl, but it had to be heartbreaking what Allan was going through right now.

"Tessa?"

She turned around to see Duncan looking over her with concern.

"Oh, Mac," Tessa walked over to her lover, "you should have been there. Allan was devastated when he found out his son was dead. I…...I know he was vile for what he did to that girl, but he was still hurt because Mark was his son."

"It's not easy," Duncan comforted her, holding her in a loving embrace, "It's never easy."

The couple both bolted upon hearing a startling scream from outside. They recognized where the scream was coming from and who it belonged to. Tessa felt her color drain.

"Richie?!" Duncan exclaimed in a panic.

The couple hurried outside the barge, on the deck and they found Richie convulsing on the ground, causing Tessa to scream in horror.

"Get an ambulance now!" Duncan shouted, his voice clearly panicking as Tessa started crying.

"Already done," Tori announced as she arrived at the deck, "an ambulance is on its way."

She and Duncan hurried to Richie and moved him to his side to help him as they noticed that Richie was biting his tongue during the seizure.

"Richie," Duncan tried his best to comfort his young ward, "Richie, it's going to be okay. You're going to be okay."

"You've got to be okay," Tori spoke through her tears.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

There was a flash of white light. Richie heard some voices in the background, and he didn't realize what was going on. Was he dead? Was he about to reunite with his parents? He found the thought scary but calming.

Richie found himself in a white hospital room. He looked around, confused and disoriented.

"Richie," he heard Duncan's voice call out.

A doctor walked over to him, "Richie, do you know where you are?"

Richie looked around the room, confused, not knowing what was going on.

"It's okay," he heard Tori reassure him, "It's okay, Richie."

He started to recognize Tori and Duncan, who were in the room with the doctor. They were looking at him with concern.

"This is normal when someone has a seizure," the doctor told the pair, "He'll be confused for awhile but he should be back to normal soon enough."

"I'll call Tessa to let her know," Duncan announced as he started to leave. Richie grabbed his arm and looked at him as if to say, "Don't leave."

"Richie, Tessa has to know," Duncan said.

"I'll call her," Tori walked towards the door, "I think Richie needs you right now."

She gently held Richie's hand and told him, "Don't worry, Rich. I'll be right back."

She walked out of the hospital room.

Richie held Duncan's hand, "Mac."

"It's all right, tough guy," Duncan comforted him, "I'm here."

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Tori walked over to the phone booth and made the call. She heard the phone ring, and Tessa finally answered after three rings, "Hello?"

"Hey, Tessa, it's Tori," Tori spoke on the phone, "Mac is with Richie. He has woken up just a minute ago."

"Oh, thank God," Tessa sighed with relief, "How is he?"

"He's confused," Tori answered, "He looked scared. Mac is with him right now."

"I'm on my way," Tessa told her, "Tell Duncan I will be there right away."

"Richie's gonna be glad to see you there," Tori replied before the call ended.

She stepped out of the phone booth.

"Tori?"

Startled, Tori turned around and saw Jack holding a bouquet of flowers.

"I heard what happened," Jack told his friend/fellow agent.

"How did you….." Tori started to ask.

"MacLeod informed us," Janet answered as she stepped forward, "and there's more to Richard's seizure than what you two have seen."

"What do you mean?" Tori asked, confused, "I mean, it was an epileptic seizure from what the doctor said."

"Let's check on Richie first," Jack answered, "and then we'll explain everything."

"Okay," Tori nodded. She heard footsteps and noticed Tessa arriving at the area.

"Hello, Tessa," Jack greeted the Frenchwoman.

"Good to see you again, Jack," Tessa replied.

"Here to see Richard?" Janet asked.

"Yes, Richie," Tessa answered, "You too?"

"Of course," Janet nodded.

"We should get going to the room," Tessa told the group.

Tori led her, Jack and her mother to the hospital room where they saw Richie drinking through a straw in a cup Duncan was holding, most likely water. Richie looked pale and confused.

"Is he all right?" Tessa asked Duncan.

"He's confused right now," Duncan answered, "The doctor said he will recover in due time."

"Thank God," Tessa walked over to Richie and hugged her tearfully, "Oh Richie."

Richie panicked, while not as confused as he was when he came to.

"Miss Noel," Janet spoke up, "I think you should take it easy on the kid. He's still out of it."

"You're right," Tessa broke from the hug, "I'm sorry."

"Ouch," Richie stated as he felt the pain from his tongue, "Tongue hurts."

"That's where you bit your tongue pretty hard," Duncan replied.

"I'm sorry," Richie said, "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Jack reassured him, "We'll nail the bastard responsible for what happened to you."

Richie nodded before he fell asleep.

"Jack, what's going on?" Tori asked, "What do you mean, you know who is responsible for Richie's seizure?"

"Exactly as I said it," Jack answered, "I know the immortal responsible for Richie's seizure."

"Is that right?" Duncan asked, "Who is it?"

Jack took a deep breath before he answered, "I believe that you know this guy. Someone you knew from China by the name of Kiem Sun."

Duncan took a couple of steps back in surprise, "Are you sure?"

"How do you know?" Tori added, confused. She was confused at not only what Jack was saying but at the fact that she had never met Kiem Sun before, but she heard about him through MacLeod and Richie, the latter when he was talking about his friend Gary's death.

"Because I was there when he caused Celeste's death," Jack answered, "We were in China. I promised Celeste I'd take her across the globe, and she took a blackberry serum that I was suspicious about, but I didn't want to make a fuss, something I wish I did because she was feeling sick the minute we approached England. There was something in the serum. It was the drugs similar to what he was using initially."

London, 1960

Jack looked up as a doctor walked over to him, "Mr. Banks?"

"Doctor, how is she?" Jack asked as he stood up from his seat.

"I'm very sorry," the doctor answered with sadness in his tone, "We've done everything we could. She didn't make it."

"Oh," Jack groaned sadly as he buried his head in his hands.

"The seizure was severe," the doctor explained, "and we found a strange drug in her system when she passed away."

Jack stood up from his seat, "What kind of drug?"

"We are not sure," the doctor answered before he asked, "Did she have any kind of drugs or anything suspicious?"

Jack thought about it for a moment before he spoke up, "There was something when we were in China. She drunk a strange blackberry serum."

He explained further about the encounter in China, which caused the doctor to decide to look into it.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Jack was crying, holding Celeste's body as she was still laying on the hospital bed. Through his grief, he overlooked the buzz that he was sensing.

"Jack?"

He turned to see his mentor Vlad standing nearby.

"Celeste was so beautiful," Jack told his teacher through his tears, "She was so smart, so caring. She was one of the best."

"I'm sorry," Vlad comforted his student the best he could.

The Present

"They tried everything they could to stop Sun," Jack explained further, "Yes, they tracked him, Kiem Sun as the person behind the drugs, but he was quick. He was clever. He managed to escape the authorities before he could be convicted."

"Then Richie and I would encounter him just months ago," Duncan spoke up.

"He's up to his old tricks once more," Jack stated, "but that's not going to last for much longer."

"What do you plan to do?" Tori asked.

"What should have been done a long time ago," Jack answered.

"Are you sure about this?" Janet asked.

"He's immortal, Leader," Duncan spoke up, "so, Sun is fair game, but Jack, you really should think about this."

"What is there to think about?" Jack interjected, "If you want to spare Sun, or if you want to duel with him, you better get to him before I do."

With that, he left the hospital room.

"Anything we can do?" Tessa asked.

"No," Duncan answered, "I want you and Tori to stay with Richie and take care of him. I need to help out with Kiem Sun."

"I'll be right behind you, MacLeod," Janet nodded.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Duncan walked over at the abandoned warehouse and found himself face to face with Kiem Sun. The IUA was able to track down Sun's location. He was unaware that Jack had secretly followed him to this location, determined to take down this immortal himself and avenge Celeste's death.

"So, you're still making drugs that bring destruction and death," Duncan stated.

"How did you guess it was me?" Sun asked.

"Just a hunch," Duncan answered, "What's this I hear about you distributing a strange blackberry drug? I heard it killed one Celeste Barnell and it landed my friend Richie Ryan in the hospital."

"Ah, yes, that blackberry serum," Sun stated, "I thought it was a sweet serum in which I consider to be more sneakier than my usual drug because the person who tries it isn't brainwashed to do what I say."

"That explains a lot," Duncan replied, "that explains why Richie tried it, not knowing it was actually a drug."

"Are you wanting to challenge me, Duncan MacLeod?" Sun then inquired.

"No time like the present to do so," Duncan answered, "it is the Gathering after all."

Jack watched as Duncan dueled with Sun.

The fight took them out into a nearby alley as Jack continued to watch the fight. Eventually, Duncan disarmed Sun and gained the upper hand.

"Remember, MacLeod," Sun told his victor, "Never let your opponent see all your skills."

"Go to hell! In fact, I'll take you there myself."

Before Duncan could make a move or say anything, Jack swung his sword and beheaded Sun. Duncan looked at him with surprise and a disapproving look.

"Whoops," Jack sarcastically replied as he shrugged his shoulders. Moments later, Jack took Sun's quickening as Duncan watched and he looked on until the quickening ended.

"What were you even thinking?!" Duncan exclaimed before he walked over to Jack.

"What was I even thinking?" Jack retorted, "What did you expect? I was giving the justice Celeste deserved. She can finally rest in peace."

He then stood up and looked at Duncan, "Look, Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod, things are changing, even for us immortals. This fight was not about the game. There are always loopholes in the rules. You of all people should know that. What if he had something like that to Tessa, or even Tori? What if Richie didn't survive his seizure? You surely wouldn't be on my case then, would you?"

Duncan opened his mouth, trying to say something, but he couldn't.

"Didn't think so," Jack replied to his response.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Duncan arrived at the barge. It had been a few days since the ordeal had begun and Richie had just been released from the hospital.

"How did it go?" Richie asked as Tori handed him a Popsicle.

"Jack got to avenge Celeste," Duncan answered, "and Kiem Sun is no more."

"Well, he might have violated the rules of the game," Tori replied, "but at least he was able to avenge the woman he loved."

"I'm sorry about everything," Richie apologized.

"Richie, I told you," Duncan reassured him, "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"But I drunk that stupid blackberry serum, not knowing where it came from," Richie interjected.

"Even then," Tori chimed in, "you had no way of knowing that it was a drug and not an actual soda."

"The doctor says for you to take it easy," Tessa instructed, "To refrain from lifting heavy objects, and no alcohol."

"No alcohol should be no problem," Tori told her, "as he's too young to be allowed alcohol in the first place."

"Good luck with that, other than that," Richie muttered.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Horton stepped out of his car after parking on the street by the chapel. As he and men gathered together, he knew there was an immortal who resided in that chapel.

They could hide all they wanted. Not even holy ground would be safe from the Hunters.

Horton knew that Darius would not stand a chance. He and his men walked into the chapel, prepared for their mission.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

In the chapel's rectory, Darius walked over to his desk and sat down. He hadn't slept well the night before and he felt drowsy. He lowered his head to his clasped hands to try to wake up. Then he looked up quickly. He had heard the sound of the chapel door opening.

That's funny, who could be here at this hour? Darius thought to himself.

Author's Note: And that should do it! The side stories of Earth N is essentially complete. That's right! The Earth N1 teasers that you have been reading from Roland Cain are what you can expect from at least Book One from the upcoming crossover. I need to think about a perfect title for the upcoming crossover.

As for what's going on in Season 2, onward, it will be revealed in the future books of the crossover, such as Richie and Tori's interactions with Gregor Powers, Michelle Webster, the incident with The Zone, meeting Carl Robinson, and the supposed unfinished business with Tessa's killer, among other things.

As for the last scene with Darius, I decided to end the tie in with "The Hunters" and this chapter with Darius at the rectory. Credit to Roland Cain for that little scene, showing Darius' POV.

I had to make sure this chapter was at least a thousand words to post it, including author's notes and the entire chapter here. I also made sure to show the important parts of this chapter, including the flashback with Jack, Celeste and Jack's teacher Vlad. Fan casting for Celeste would be Maria Canals – Barrera, who is known for her acting role in Wizards of Waverly Place, a show I disliked because I was forced to watch it a long time ago, as well as her voice over work such as Paulina in Danny Phantom and Hawkgirl in the DCAU such as Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, while the fan casting for Vlad would be Walter Koenig of Star Trek fame, like I mentioned back in "The Space Between".

I also wrote this chapter based on my most recent experience with having a seizure as it was my first seizure in 12 years and it was really scary. This however would be Richie's first and hopefully only seizure that he would have to endure. Unless you count what happens in Book Five in the future, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Catch you on the flip side!