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.

Nowhere to Run

Bellian noticed his stepdaughter walking slowly down the road, holding her sweater closed over her dress and also noticed leaves and bits a dried grass in her hair.

Bellian drove up and stopped on the opposite side of road, "Lori."

He got out and walked over to her, "Where have you been?"

"Daddy," Lori cried out.

Bellian hugged her, "Lori... What happened?"

"I told him no," Lori answered, clearly scared, "He wouldn't stop."

"Who did this to you?" Bellian asked.

"He hit me, and he kept….." Lori started telling him.

Bellian grimaced, reached out and grabbed her arms, "Tell me!"

"Let go," Lori told him.

"Who is he?" Bellian asked firmly.

"You're hurting me," Lori cried out.

"His name, Lori," Bellian told her in more quieter tone, "I want his name."

"Mark," Lori finally answered, "Mark Rothwood."

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"Open the gate, would you, Richie?" Duncan called out.

"Gotcha," Richie replied before he got out of back seat of car.

"This should be interesting to see here," Tori stated.

"Allan was the first man I ever loved," Tessa revealed.

"Should I be jealous?" Duncan asked.

"Very," Tessa answered, "I was seven. He was nineteen."

"Oooh," Duncan replied teasingly.

"Oooh indeed," Tori chimed in, "Please do tell us more."

"When he joined the diplomatic service after college and left the country, I was heartbroken," Tessa explained, "Even then I had a thing for older men. Maybe I should thank him."

Duncan laughed, "Maybe you should."

He drove through, waiting for Richie to close the gates.

"So how many people did you say were going to live here?" Tori asked.

"Just two. We would visit almost every Sunday," Tessa recalled, "Allan's mother and my mother were very old friends."

Richie got back into car, sitting next to Tori.

"It was magical. There were parties to dress up for and horses to ride," Tessa continued.

"Sounds just like my childhood, except for the parties, the magic, and the horses," Richie chimed in.

Tessa and Tori laughed as Duncan drove the car through fog to the chateau.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Allan opened the door as Tessa ran up the steps to hug him, "Tessa!"

"Allan!" Tessa greeted her childhood friend.

"Wow, would you look at you!" Allan stated and then noticed Duncan entering, "You must be Duncan."

"Right," Duncan replied.

"Please, go right in," Allan told the group.

"Thank you," Richie and Tori replied in unison.

The group entered and looked around.

"Allan Rothwood," Allan introduced himself to the younger duo.

"Nice to meet you," Tori shook Allan's hand, "My name is Victoria Gordon, but you may call me Tori."

"Hi. I'm Richard Ryan, but feel free to call me Richie," Richie followed suit.

"My son will be happy to have someone his own age to talk to," Allan stated, "and he might be interested in a nice young lady like you."

"Really?" Tori smirked, being respectful.

"Great," Richie added.

"Mark, where are you? Come down here," Allan called out.

Mark joined them before Allan introduced the group to him, "My son Mark."

"Hi," Tessa greeted the young man.

Richie shook Mark's hand, "Hi, Mark. I'm Richie. It's nice to meet you."

"And my name is Tori," Tori shook Mark's hand, following her friend's example, "Nice to meet you."

"Excuse me," Mark stated before he crossed to Tessa and reached for her hand, "Hi."

"Hi. Tessa," Tessa introduced herself.

"Mark," Mark introduced himself before stating, "My father said you were very beautiful. He's right."

"Your father's prejudiced," Tessa replied.

"Hardly," Mark replied before he motioned toward her hand, "and, uh, you're not married."

"But well spoken for," Tessa replied, indicating Duncan.

"And still as beautiful as ever," Allan stated before he told the group, "Come, let me show you around. I'm afraid time hasn't been too kind to the old place. It will be months before we can move in. Actually, I was hoping you might be able to help me put it back together."

"A little paint, a little polish – the place will be as good as new," Tessa told her friend.

"Nice harp," Richie told Mark as the others moved away. Mark just looked at him, then walked away.

Richie cleared his throat and followed, "This place is incredible."

"If you like drafty ruins in the middle of nowhere," Mark retorted.

"It's not that bad."

"Right, and for our afternoon's activity, we'll watch the grass grow," Mark stated, "and you can forget about the women around here – the cows have more style, and better legs."

"What's your problem?" Tori asked, "He's just trying to be nice."

"It's okay, Tori," Richie replied before he eyed the carved African statue, picking it up, "Tessa tells me that you've lived just about everywhere in the world."

"Diplomat brat. That's me," Mark told the two, "Look, I know you're trying to be friendly, but what's the point? I mean, I know we're both guys, but really... that's all we have in common."

"Maybe perhaps you," Mark then eyed Tori, noticing her features for the first time as he took the statue from Richie.

"Uh, no thanks," Tori politely declined, "Not really interested."

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"No one's lived here in years," Allan stated, "After Mother died, there seemed no point in staying on. I think I've stayed away too long."

"I remember my first Christmas in this room," Tessa stated in awe, "I couldn't believe anything could be so beautiful."

Duncan sensed the buzz.

"Mac?" Tessa noticed her lover's stare.

"I've just got to get something out of the car," Duncan replied.

Allan hugged Tessa again as Duncan left, "God, it's good to see you."

Duncan stepped out of the chateau and saw a bald man at the bridge.

"Who the hell are you?" the man asked.

"Duncan MacLeod, and you?"

"Everett Bellian."

"You're here for me?" Duncan asked.

"It's not my primary objective," Bellian answered.

"Then what can I do for you, General?"

"That's Colonel. I'm here for Mark Rothwood," Bellian announced.

"Why?" Duncan asked.

"Just bring him to me, MacLeod," Bellian answered.

"Maybe if you told me what this was about."

"He raped my step daughter. Where is he?"

Duncan didn't respond.

"Didn't you hear what I said?" Bellian demanded.

"I'm sorry. If there's proof, the police will….." Duncan started to say.

"Lori's word is my proof. I don't need the damn police," Bellian urged him.

"Mac!" Richie and Tori simultaneously called out from the distance.

"That's not him," Duncan quickly told Bellian.

"But you'll bring him to me. Now I can go around you or through you," Bellian told the Highlander, "Your choice. Don't keep me waiting too long, MacLeod."

He walked away, joining another man.

"Everything okay, Colonel?" the man asked.

"Let's go."

The two men departed, leaving Duncan with both Richie and Tori.

Richie came out of chateau with Tori in tow, "Anytime you want to leave..."

"What's up?" Duncan asked.

"That pompous jerk, Mark," Tori answered.

"We're with this jerk fifteen minutes," Richie added, "I'm ready to take him apart."

"We both are."

Duncan looked back at Bellian as he was walking off into the fog, "You'll both have to wait in line."

"He did something to make that man mad?" Tori asked.

"Apparently," Duncan answered.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"Rape her? I don't even know her," Mark immediately denied upon being asked.

"Of course he denies it," Tori quipped.

"Well, her father thinks you do," Duncan told him.

"Well, he's a liar... or she is. Take your pick," Mark countered.

"Why'd they lie?" Tori asked.

Mark laughed, "You've got to be kidding. These things happen all the time."

"Do they?" Duncan asked.

"Yeah. This girl goes at it hot and heavy with her boyfriend," Mark answered, "I don't know. Maybe... maybe she gets pregnant. Maybe her father just gets pissed she's too easy. So she's got to tell him something."

"Well, go on," Duncan urged him.

"She's got to blame somebody... so she tells him she was raped or something," Mark elaborated, "so then it's not her fault."

"But why does she blame you?" Tori asked.

"Ha! You don't know?" Mark exclaimed. Tori pursed her lips, trying her best to keep from saying something she would have later regretted.

"Enlighten me," Duncan urged him again.

"Okay. These things happen all the time to people with money."

"Oh."

"We always pay to avoid the scandal. Here, look, uh…" Mark proceeded to write something on piece of paper, "Just give him this. It's the number of my father's lawyers. They'll, uh... they'll work out something financially acceptable."

He handed the paper to Duncan. Tori rolled her eyes in response.

"Your father's money isn't going to get you out of this one," Duncan replied before he asked, "Did you rape her?"

"Come on."

"Did you rape her?" Duncan then asked loudly, "Did you?"

"I swear there's been some kind of mistake," Mark answered, "I didn't do it. He's got the wrong guy."

Duncan then reflected on a war during the French Countryside in 1815.

"Where is he?" Bellian demanded as he met up with Duncan again.

"I understand how you feel, but don't let your hatred make you do something that you will regret," Duncan told him, "We have time."

"I want him... now," Bellian demanded.

"I can't give him to you. Even if he is guilty, he has rights."

"He has nothing. Lori's mother... she was the gentlest, most beautiful woman," Bellian stated, "She was more than beautiful. She brought light back into my life. When she died, I promised to watch over her daughter."

"Everett... there are courts, laws," Duncan urged the immortal.

"MacLeod, look at this place!" Bellian exclaimed, "You've been around long enough to know that the rich aren't bound by the law. They own it!"

Duncan watched as several vehicles pulled up and a number of men got out of them.

"Let's move it out," a man ordered.

"Mercenaries?" Duncan asked.

"My staff. My brothers. We fought together on three continents," Bellian answered, "Then they retired with me. Lori is like a daughter to them. They won't leave without justice."

"This isn't justice. This is vengeance," Duncan insisted.

"If it were your woman he raped, what would you do?" Bellian asked, "Is this animal worth endangering everyone in the chateau?"

"Then let them go."

"I've no desire to harm the innocent, MacLeod."

"But you will!"

"Their safety doesn't depend on me. It depends on you."

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Richie quietly stated, "Mac, check it out."

He pointed out the back window.

"Is that your jeep outside?" Duncan asked Allan.

"Sure, it is. Why?" Allan answered.

"We're leaving," Duncan announced.

"You just arrived," Allan replied.

"Yes. You're coming with us."

"I am?"

"What's going on?" Tessa asked.

"Apparently, there's some lunatic outside who claims I raped his daughter," Mark answered.

"Did you?" Richie and Tori asked simultaneously.

"Of course he didn't," Allan answered, "The police will take care of this."

"There is no time," Duncan urged the group.

Allan picked up the phone, "It's dead."

"Yes. Let's go," Duncan insisted.

"Maybe if Mark and I talk to him…" Allan started to say.

"If you go outside with Mark, he dies," Duncan warned him.

"Ha! You're not serious," Mark exclaimed in disbelief, "You don't actually think this old guy's….."

"Allan, listen to Duncan. If he says we're in danger, we are," Tessa then insisted.

"Okay? Let's go. Let's go!" Duncan exclaimed.

"All over some crazy old man," Mark stated.

The group ran for the jeep, but Bellian's men shot artillery shells at them, forcing them to retreat.

"Fall back!" Duncan exclaimed.

"Come on, come on!" Richie added.

Tori then exclaimed in turn, "Get back!"

"Get back!" Duncan exclaimed.

"Come on! Everybody, come on, get out of here!" Richie exclaimed as he and the others returned inside.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"This is unbelievable," Allan stated, "Those crazy bastards could have killed us all."

Richie was looking out window, "I can't see them. Why aren't they coming?"

"They'll come," Tori answered.

"She's right," Duncan added, "We don't have much time."

"To do what? Pray?" Mark retorted.

"There any guns in the house?" Duncan asked.

"Uh, no, none," Allan answered.

"Then we have to make do with what we have," Tori told the group.

"But with what?" Mark asked.

"Like the movie Home Alone," Tori answered, "There has to be some stuff here that we can use against these guys."

"We need to seal off most of the house," Duncan told the group.

"The back door," Tessa stated.

"We can't defend this place," Mark retorted.

"Mark, be quiet," Allan told his son.

"All right. Barricade the windows," Duncan instructed.

"We'll do whatever you ask," Allan replied.

"The windows. Start with those," Tori chimed in.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"Boil as much oil as you can," Duncan told Tessa, who was collecting bottles of oils and other liquids on a rolling cart. He then inspected the boards nailed across window, "Allan, this one needs strengthening."

"Yes, of course," Allan replied before scooting another box, "This, too?"

"Yeah," Duncan answered before he asked Mark, "Are you finished yet?"

"Yeah," Mark answered.

"Okay, I need your help in the back room to barricade it," Duncan stated before he laid out the extension cord, stripped the wires at the free end, and wrapped them around handle of front door.

Duncan plugged the other end of extension cord into outlet.

"Start over there," Duncan told Mark before he called out, "Richie… Tori…."

"Yeah, I'm here," Richie replied.

"So am I," Tori added.

"We need a hand," Duncan told them.

Richie and Tori both helped lift the metal headboard.

"Where do you want it?" Richie asked.

"Uh…" Duncan helped Richie and Tori carry the headboard through rooms, "That back window."

Richie and Tori carried the headboard over while Duncan grabs a trunk.

"Pile as many boxes up against it as you can," Duncan instructed.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Duncan, Tori and Richie all set up the bear trap in the middle of another room.

Duncan held the steel jaws open as Richie set the trap, "All right. Perfect. Let's go."

Duncan then picked up the circular saw blade from table, "Sharp."

He sat the blade down and grabbed a roll of wire, and motioned for Allan to follow him into next room, "Okay, pull that end."

He gave Allan the free end of wire, "Tie it off to that leg there."

Allan wrapped the end of wire around table leg, "Do you know this guy?"

"Not personally, but I've known others like him," Duncan answered.

"Is he crazy?" Allan asked.

"No," Tori shook her head.

"If he gets Mark, would he….." Allan started to ask.

"He's not going to get Mark," Duncan assured him.

"My son didn't rape his daughter," Allan stated in denial. He paused before he asked, "You think he did, don't you?"

"What matters is that they think he did," Duncan answered.

"You don't have to stay. This isn't your fight," Allan insisted.

"Pull that a little tighter," Duncan instructed.

Allan tightened the wire, "I keep thinking I should ask you to leave. The truth is, I'm not really that brave. We don't have a chance without you."

"And I thought it was because you like my company," Duncan stated.

"Thank you."

Duncan sensed the buzz, "They're coming."

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Richie and Mark were standing in the downstairs room, waiting for the action to start.

"I can't believe all this is over that mousy blonde bitch," Mark stated to himself.

This caught Richie's attention, "What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"You did rape her."

"Now, you prove that."

"Well, first you said you didn't know her, and now you said she was blonde," Richie stated before he asked, "How'd you know she was blonde?"

"Well, I don't know, I guessed. Yeah?" Mark stated before he pushed Richie away. Richie came back at him and they scuffled, "What? Yeah?"

Duncan saw Bellian's man coming around corner, "Richie, down!"

Richie and Mark both dropped to floor as the man started shooting.

"Hey, soldier!" Duncan shouted before he threw a saw blade at man, hitting him in the chest & killing him, then goes over and checks for a pulse.

"That bastard could have killed me," Mark stated as Tori entered the room.

"Good," Richie replied.

"Well, what the hell does that mean?" Mark retorted.

"Do you two think you can keep from killing each other?" Duncan yelled at both boys, "Well, do you?"

"Yes," Richie answered.

"I'll check the rest of the chateau," Duncan stated before he left the two disgruntled young men behind. Tori then glanced over at them, mostly at Richie.

"Look, Rich," Tori told her friend, "I know Mark is a pompous ass. I can smell it from a mile away, but can we at least try to be civil with him….at least for Mr. Rothwood's sake?"

"I will try," Richie answered, "but based on what he's said, I can't promise anything."

"Thanks," Tori nodded, "and I don't blame you."

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"Congratulations, MacLeod," Bellian stated as Duncan heard him on the phone, "You're a hell of an opponent."

"What do you want?" Duncan asked.

"What I've always wanted. Last chance," Bellian answered.

"Go home, Everett," Duncan replied before he hung up phone.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Tessa balanced a pot of hot oil on top of slightly open kitchen door. She looped the twine around the door handle and unwinded the roll back toward the other side of room.

"Need anything?" Duncan asked as he came through a different door.

"Yes. How about a week on the Riviera?" Tessa asked in turn.

"It's a date. Remember, after you pull the cord, don't wait around," Duncan replied, "and step carefully through the doorways. It will be alright."

"Is this what war is like? I don't like it." Tessa asked.

"Neither do I, all right?" Duncan reassured her.

Tessa nodded.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Allan picked up a bug sprayer and slung the canister over his shoulder. Mark looked out the window. Tessa held the ball of twine attached to the kitchen doorknob. Allan's bug sprayer now had a small flame burning at tip of wand.

As Tessa watched the door to kitchen, one of Bellian's men crashed through the window behind her.

"Don't move!" the man shouted.

They circled around each other slowly. Suddenly, Tessa grabbed the spray bottle and squirted the man in the face. He stumbled back and hit the door, knocking a pot of oil down onto his head. He screamed and writhed on the floor as Tessa ran out.

Duncan tackled and fought with another man in a hallway. Richie and Tori waited in ambush with length of a pipe & struck another man as he entered the room, knocking him down. The man fell onto the bear trap set up in the middle of room and it closes around his head.

Duncan knocked down his opponent as a fourth man opened up with automatic gunfire at the front door. He stopped firing & reached for doorknob, only to be electrocuted by the extension cord wired to the knob on the other side.

The man Duncan had been fighting jumped him from behind and tries to strangle him with the length of the wire. Duncan fought him off and threw him out the front door.

Another man kicked in a set of French doors and found Allan, who blasted his homemade flame-thrower at him, setting him on fire. Allan watched as the man flailed around, screaming, covered in flames, the man ran back out the door.

The last intruder entered the room where Mark was waiting. He tripped on the wire strung across doorway earlier by Duncan and Allan. Mark raised his pipe to hit him but hesitated.

Richie and Tori both jumped at the man, but he pushed them away, grabbed his pipe from Richie and struck with it.

Tori kicked down the man, and he tried to make a move, when suddenly, a whistle from outside chateau was heard, sounding the retreat. The man and Tori exchanged a look before the man left.

"Just like the movie Home Alone," Tori stated, "Well, sort of."

"Is anyone hurt?" Duncan asked as Allan and Tessa entered the room.

"Uh! Only my pride," Richie answered.

"I'll live," Tori chimed in.

"I'm okay, I think," Allan answered in turn.

"I'm fine," Tessa added.

"Did we kick their asses or what? Did you see them running?" Mark asked with excitement.

"We got lucky," Duncan answered.

"What do you mean….lucky?" Mark asked.

"We surprised them," Duncan answered, "We won't get a second chance."

"At least we're safe... for now," Tessa replied.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"You don't belong here!" Bellian told his stepdaughter as she arrived at the area.

"So take me home," Lori replied.

"Lori..." Bellian replied before he called out, "damn! Brenner!"

"Not Brenner, you, Daddy," Lori urged her stepfather, "You take me home."

"Lori..."

"Let's go."

"You know I can't do that."

"Why? Are you too busy defending my honor?" Lori asked.

"Look, I don't want to discuss it!" Bellian exclaimed.

"If you're going to commit murder, let's at least be honest about why," Lori insisted.

"Lori…" Bellian replied.

"This isn't about me, and don't tell me it's about keeping some stupid promise to my mother," Lori argued.

"I loved your mother," Bellian replied.

"This isn't about love. It's about you and your damn vanity," Lori firmly told him, "The great warrior's ego couldn't stand it that his daughter was raped. He has to have his revenge. That's what this is about. Not love or justice, and it's not my revenge, it's yours."

"You don't understand," Bellian insisted.

"What don't I understand? That I was raped?" Lori interjected, "He's not worth it. If you kill him, they'll send you to prison. I'll lose you, too. Come home with me."

"I'm sorry."

"Then I'll get the police. They'll stop you," Lori warned her stepfather.

"Brenner. Lock her inside," Bellian instructed.

Brenner locked her in a nearby shed.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"You raped that girl," Richie spoke up before he told the others, "He admitted it."

That statement from Richie took Tori by surprise as she glared at Mark in disbelief. She knew he was pompous from the start but was he really that bad.

"You're a liar," Mark argued.

"I'm not so sure," Allan interjected as he walked over to his son and faced him.

"What?" Mark scoffed in disbelief, "Are you going to take his word over mine?"

"Did you rape her?" Allan asked, looking at him with a point blank interrogation mode.

Mark remained silent.

"Mark!" Allan exclaimed, trying to get an answer. Tori perked up, awaiting an answer as did Tessa and Richie as he laughed, turning away for a moment.

"She was asking for it," Mark finally answered, "What did she expect? She knew where we were going. You should have – you should have seen her jump in the car to impress her friends."

Allan's mouth slightly opened in shock as he was in disbelief over what his son had done.

"She changed her mind," Tori interjected.

"Oh, come on!" Mark retorted, "Please!"

"Did she ask you to stop?" Tessa asked.

"What world do you live in?" Mark asked in disbelief as he turned away from the others, "That's – that's just part of the game!"

"Like hell it is!" Tori exclaimed as she took a step forward, getting ready to hurt him, despite trying to be calm around him for the sakes of both Allan and Tessa, "You sick perverted ass! The audacity of you speaking about an innocent girl the way you are!"

"Easy," Tessa gently grasped her arms, "Take it easy."

"This is no game, Mark," Allan firmly told his son as he walked in front of him, "People are dead because of you."

"Look, what's the big deal?!" Mark replied, "She's – she's nobody. I wasn't even the first."

"You son of a bitch!" Tori snapped as she lunged towards Mark and finally punched him and knocked him to the ground. After a few more punches, Tessa stepped forward and pulled Tori away from Mark.

Richie silently cheered in his mind when Tori landed the punch on Mark. Allan could only stand there in disbelief, "How could I miss seeing what you've become?"

"I'm your son. You can take care of this. You can take care of everything. You're a diplomat. You have immunity," Mark told his father before he realized he wasn't going to get out of this so easily, "and you always... I'm sorry. Help me."

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"That guy's got everything – brains, money, looks. I don't get it," Richie stated as he, Tessa and Tori met up with Duncan at a hallway.

"Well, somewhere along the line, he figured he could get away with anything," Duncan replied.

"That's how most of them are," Tori replied. Then she glanced at Tessa for a moment before saying, "Not all of them though."

"I know what you meant," Tessa nodded, understanding.

"Still, that's no excuse. I keep thinking if I had a kid….." Richie stated.

"I couldn't imagine what that girl went through," Tori chimed in, looking at Richie, "If that had been me…...if it had been Tess…...if it had been you."

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"Come on. We'll do fine," Allan stated, encouraging his son, "Are you ready?"

Mark nodded.

Tessa walked up to the two men, "Duncan wants us to take our places."

"We have to leave now," Allan told his friend.

"You can't!" Tessa exclaimed.

"Everett just wants us," Allan insisted, "He has no reason to harm you if we're not here."

"What if he catches you?" Tessa asked.

"Listen, if we make it through, we'll send help," Allan answered.

"There are men with guns out there!" Tessa told her friend.

"Tessa! It's time we took responsibility for ourselves," Allan insisted before asking Mark, "Ready?"

"Allan! Don't!" Tessa called out as the two men walked toward the door.

Allan blew her a kiss and they left.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Duncan, Tori and Richie were fortifying a window when Tessa ran in, "Mark and Allan are making a run for it."

"They won't get past Everett's men. Take this," Duncan replied before he handed her a gun from one of Bellian's men, "Barricade yourselves inside this room and shoot anybody that comes through those doors."

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Allan and Mark ran across the lawn, through the fog.

"Come on. All right. Go, son," Allan urged his son.

Duncan ran after them, took out one of Bellian's men before he could shoot them.

"Go back!" Duncan exclaimed as he caught up with the men as they had came upon another one of Bellian's men.

Allan saw an armed man, jumped at Mark and pushed him down, "Mark!"

Allan was shot, causing Duncan to shout, "No!"

Duncan shot the man before he went to check on Allan, "Allan! Allan! He's still alive. Let's get him back to the house."

"He's okay," Mark stated.

"Come on. Get him up," Duncan instructed.

"You'll be okay," Mark told his father.

"Come on," Duncan then lifted Allan over his shoulder.

"Okay," Mark replied.

"Give me the gun. Come on. Go!" Duncan told him.

"What?"

"Go!"

They ran back to the house.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"He's not breathing well," Tessa said as she was looking over her friend, "I can hardly feel his pulse."

"He's gone into shock. We've got to get him to a hospital," Duncan replied before eyeing his young friends, "Richie, Tori…."

"No bullets in the gun," Richie replied.

"It's empty," Tori added.

"I should go get some help," Mark suggested.

"There's the door," Tori chimed in.

"Now's not the time to go playing hero," Duncan chastised.

"Look, my father's dying. I got to do something," Mark insisted.

"You want to do something for him? You stay alive," Duncan firmly told the younger Rothwood, "That is what all this is about. I'm not going to let you throw away a life that he's paid for. Do you understand?"

With that, Duncan left the room.

Allan looked over at Mark from his bed on the couch. Mark looked away. Allan continued to look in his direction.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Duncan walked into the next room, picked up the phone, hit the cradle lever repeatedly and finally spoke into the phone, "Everett. Come on, Everett. I know you can hear me."

"You killed a good man, MacLeod," Bellian stated over the phone.

"Five, Everett. Your man in the house is gone, too," Duncan countered, "and the boy's father will die without medical attention."

"Then give me the son."

"Haven't you had enough of death? Can't you stop this insanity? No one else has to die."

"It's too late," Bellian declared before he lowered his phone.

Duncan hung up phone.

"Duncan," Tessa entered the room.

"We stay here, Allan dies," Duncan answered before he instructed, "Tell Richie and Tori to keep an eye on Mark and if they get by me….."

"This is all absurd – Allan shot, Mark…" Tessa stated in disbelief.

"We'll have a good story to tell," Duncan replied.

"If we live to tell it. I'm scared, Duncan. I've got this feeling more people are going to die."

"It's all right," Duncan assured his lover before he kissed her, "Love you."

With that, he left the room.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Duncan snuck up on one of Bellian's remaining men through the fog and snapped his neck. Duncan then swung down from a tree and knocked another man out, then a third that materialized from the fog behind him.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"I want that gun. Give me the gun," Mark told the pair.

"Like hell we will," Tori retorted. She bit her lip, hating how much she swore in just one day.

"This gun? What are you going to do with it, big shot - take 'em all on?" Richie chimed in, "I nearly had my brains splattered all over the place because you're such a..."

"What?" Mark asked.

"Forget about it," Richie retorted.

"You think I'm afraid," Mark stated.

"I think you were right before. We have nothing in common. There's no point in talking," Richie replied.

"He's right," Tori added.

"I'm not a coward," Mark insisted.

Tori scoffed, "Yeah right."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever you say," Richie replied.

"I'm not a coward."

"Look, I heard you the first time, and I don't give a damn what you are," Richie stated.

"Do you hear that?" Mark suddenly asked.

"What?" Richie asked.

Mark stood nearby pointing at an area, "It came from in there."

"Wait here," Richie replied before he went to another room, and then as he moved into next room and looked cautiously around, Mark snuck up behind him and struck him with piece of pipe.

"Richie!" Tori exclaimed as Richie fell down and Mark grabbed the gun and left.

"Get back here you damned coward!" Tori shouted as Mark left.

Richie came to and got up.

"Are you okay?" Tori asked.

"Yeah," Richie nodded, "Let's find Mark."

They both went out to look for Mark.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Richie and Tori were outside, still looking for Mark, and heard someone calling out from inside a shed.

"Help! Help! Let me out!" a female voice called out as there was banging on door.

"We're coming! We're coming!" Richie replied.

"Let me out! Hurry, please!"

Richie and Tori opened door, and let the girl out of the shed.

"Who are you people?" the young lady asked.

"We need a doctor," Richie stated before he went to one of Bellian's vehicles, "Do you have the keys to this thing?"

"Where's my father?" the young lady asked.

"Wait a second," Tori stated as she and Richie realized who the person was, "You're her."

"You're the girl," Richie added.

"Where is he?" the young woman asked.

"I'll have to hot-wire it," Richie stated, looking at the vehicle and they then noticed Lori running off.

"Hey, you'd better stay with us," Tori called out.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

"I could shoot you, then take your head," Bellian told the Highlander.

"You could... but you won't," Duncan replied.

"I suppose it had to come to this eventually."

"No, it didn't."

"I told you not to interfere, MacLeod. Now I have to go through you."

The swordfight between Duncan and Bellian commenced. It lasted for a while, with both immortals playing hide & seek through the rolling fog.

Duncan held his sword at Bellian's neck, asking, "Will you let this madness be over?"

"No," Bellian answered.

Duncan raised his sword for the beheading stroke, but then lowers it again. Reluctant to take his head, thinking about his stepdaughter.

Suddenly, Mark appeared at the area at same time as Lori, from opposite directions and he urged him, "Do it."

Mark raised his gun, "Kill him."

"Put the gun down," Duncan told the younger Rothwood.

Bellian noticed Lori raising a gun also, "Lori! Don't! Don't!"

Lori and Mark both fired at the same time. Lori shot Mark, killing him.

Bellian went over to Lori and comforted her.

-DCH-Lost-Files-

Tessa looked on as Allan was in back seat of a car, still alive, but unconscious.

"I'll have to take him to the hospital right away," the doctor informed her.

"Okay. Thank you," Tessa replied before she went over to Duncan's car where Tori, Richie and Duncan were waiting.

"Is he going to be okay?" Tori asked.

"I think so. I want to be with him when he finds out about Mark," Tessa answered.

"I know how you feel, Tess," Tori replied, giving her a comforting touch, "I really do. I – I can't even imagine what he's going to be dealing with."

"We've got to get going," Duncan chimed in.

"What about Everett and his daughter?" Richie asked.

"They'll run, hide, try to forget," Duncan answered.

"Will they?" Richie asked.

"We never do," Duncan answered.

Author's Note: Where do I begin? This episode was a wild ride and quite interesting to write here. As I have written "The Hunters" in my main story, this is the last episode of Season one arc that's from the first season of the series, but there is going to be one more chapter that covers the Season one arc and it's going to be a slight tie in to "The Hunters", mainly at the end. You'll have to read that upcoming chapter to find out.

This episode was a treat because Anthony Head, who would later play Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, guest starred in this episode. Given that Allan was spelled with two L's, and the transcript spelled his name with one L, there was a lot of fixing things, but I trust things worked out just fine.

I felt sorry for Allan for what he had to endure in this episode. I hope that Tessa will be able to fill us in on what happened to him in the next chapter, as she will. As for Bellian and his stepdaughter, I hope to one day let you all know what happened to them.

Thanks again to Roland Cain and Harry2 for their tips and support as always! Catch you on the flip side!