THE ELIZABETH SERIES
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
THE TURNING OF DANIEL
By JoLayne
EnyaJo@aol.com
RATING: PG
CHARACTERS: M, DM, A, Amy, Elizabeth, Claire, Guy, Faye, Sofia,
various watchers
SUMMARY: A Watcher Tribunal for Amy and Guy and a visit to Paris.
One goes well, the other... happenstance.
~~~~~
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO
Amy's trepidation that morning was rooted in many things, but the most
prominent element of her discomfort was that she would be walking into
Watcher Tribunal. She learned that morning that Joey had a head cold, and
she felt like calling in sick, but knew that she would have to do this
eventually; she might as well get it over with. She had lost a heel on the
walk from her rental car into the bureau, so she was now walking in
stocking feet. Guy was late, or he just wasn't making his presence known
to her. She had hoped that her father would come for moral support, but
Joe told her on the phone the evening before that it would look like
favoritism. He didn't want any part of their decision. In fact, he would be
happy if they dismissed her, he was uncomfortable with her being a
watcher at all. Any kind of watcher, even a librarian. It was the path he
chose, but he wished for something more for her, more safe.
Amy was finally called into a dark wood paneled room that contained a
high desk which had four leather chairs behind it, and two smaller tables
with padded folding chairs. Amy was escorted to one of them and she sat
down. The place had a courtroom atmosphere to it, but there wasn't a
gallery. Just her table, another one like it, the judges' station, and the
Watcher symbol on a large plaque behind the high desk.
Amy pulled out some of the notes that she had taken, theoretically in order
to have a snappy comeback to anything that they would ask. But, as she sat
there, waiting for the others to join her, she was eerily calm. She knew that
she hadn't done anything wrong. If she couldn't sustain a friendship with
an immortal that had started before Amy knew that Elizabeth was
immortal, then there was a serious problem and Amy would have no
qualms about resigning.
It was Guy; that was another matter. The fact that she had gotten close to
her friend's watcher--very close--could be a sticky situation. It all
depended on how he handled it. She knew from their telephone
conversation the night before that he was nervous, a state she had never
seen him in before. The man always exuded confidence. They had only
talked on the phone since she left The Watering Hole because they were
worried that people may be tailing them. Watchers who were paranoid,
she thought to herself, shaking her head with amusement.
The panel walked soberly into the room and took their seats behind the
raised desk, they all sat forward with their hands together, staring at her.
"Ms. Randall," the head judge said. "You have requested a transfer to the
San Francisco Bureau, and we have looked over your paperwork.
Naturally, we have many questions. The first would be, why?"
Amy cleared her throat, mimicked their forward lean on her own desk and
said, "I finished my work on the Ikimoto possessions. My son is in first
grade and he's picking up all sorts of bad habits from the other kids, I do
want him to grow up in a city, just not one so large and overwhelming."
"Why did you settle on San Francisco?"
She smiled. Amy knew that the heart of the matter was coming to the
forefront right away. "Okay, I'll be straight with you. I chose San
Francisco because it's the nearest bureau to the best friend I have in this
world, Elizabeth Gordon. Living cross country from her has been hard,
especially when we both recently lost our husbands and our kids are the
same age."
One of the two women on the panel asked, "And of Elizabeth Gordon's
dead husband, Methos..."
Their bringing up Methos so soon confused Amy, she hadn't really
expected it. Had they found out that he was in fact alive? She asked,
"What about him?"
"He was being watched by your father, who lied to us with the Methos
Chronicle."
"My father came clean to you," Amy said, raising her hand for the woman
to stop. "He was only protecting his friend's head. After Methos was
regrettably taken, my father gave you all the real notes he had on him."
"And we only have his word that his notes were correct."
"My father does not lie."
"Yes, he did, unless you are, Ms. Randall."
"About what?"
"About the identity of David Sommers, Elizabeth Gordon's dead husband,
Methos."
Considering that the woman was still referring to Methos as dead made
her feel better, so Amy went on with her established mind set; that she
didn't know anything about the truth. "I didn't know that David was
Methos, not while he was alive. My father only told me after Methos was
taken."
"Why did he do that?"
"Because he was grieving and I'm his daughter, and it was all going to
come to light with the watchers. My father protected Methos' true identity
as long as he could, until Methos died. He wanted me to be prepared for
the news, and to understand why he had to lie to me."
"Are we to assume that Elizabeth had never once mentioned to you, her
good friend, who her husband really was?"
Amy almost felt like laughing. The one thing that she hadn't lied about,
knowing Methos' real identity, was seemingly the only thing that they
were interested in. "No. She didn't," Amy truthfully said.
"And you're still friends with such a person?" The woman snidely asked,
as if she were trying to break Amy or something.
Amy said, "Your Honors, Elizabeth and I are tremendous friends, but the
one thing that transcended that was Methos. I knew him as Adam Pierson,
then I knew him as David Sommers. I knew he was an immortal and that
he was paranoid, thus, he changed his name and moved around a lot.
Never in my wildest dreams did I assume that he was the mythical Methos,
and no, it was never mentioned." Amy's voice grew more strong, almost
as if she was chastising them when she stated, "During Methos' last years,
he had to be protective of his head and didn't trust anyone, except for a
select few. My father, Duncan MacLeod, Amanda Montrose, and
Elizabeth. I was in his circle of friends only because of who my father is,
and who my friend is. But then, he only told me what was necessary."
Amy fidgeted in her seat and then started again. "I knew that Elizabeth
was going through a terrible time six years ago, when my son was born. I
was so worried about my family that I didn't see her, or even want her
around. I had asked her before my son was born if she would be Joey's
godmother. Having an immortal watch over your child would be a pretty
cool thing," she said, chuckling. She was glad that the four faces in front
of her slightly smiled.
"But when Joey was baptized, she came to the church acting like a mad
woman. It was Duncan who explained to me that she had received a dark
quickening. Immortality is still not an everyday thing for me, and even
though I do consider Elizabeth my best friend, I didn't want anything to do
with her. We went almost a year without speaking." Amy was affected by
her words, the first time that she had uttered her fear to anyone. That she
had chosen that particular arena to do so made her even more affected.
Would they judge her pain also? Or her friendship with Elizabeth?
"It wasn't a subject that Liz and I talked about. We still haven't. I only
recently found out that the dark quickening she had received was that of a
man by the name of Pyrius, a victim of Methos' from the Bronze Age. I'm
sure you've read about it in the Methos Chronicles that my father wrote."
There were slight nods. "I haven't lied to the watchers about Elizabeth, nor
have I lied to Elizabeth about the watchers. I testified to the Tribunal in
New York that I wouldn't compromise the watchers to her, and I haven't.
We don't speak of you or my work or her immortality. Frankly, the
subjects have never come up with Elizabeth. We have more to talk about
than that. We're good friends, like sisters. We've known each other for a
dozen years. I need a quiet, well paying job so I can raise my child and I
love what I do."
~~~~~
Guy fidgeted in the hallway, rolling a wad of lint in his fingers that were
jammed into the pockets of his khakis. In his shirt pocket was the
subpoena, and it was almost burning a hole in his chest. His breathing was
labored and he thought he was going to faint. He'd never felt like this! It
was only after meeting Amy that things like this started happening to him.
Damn that woman! But, he couldn't even think of not having her in his
life. The things I do for dames, he thought as a man in a double breasted
suit and rigid gray hair motioned for him to follow.
Guy walked into the Tribunal room and saw only the four judges behind
an impressive desk. He had thought he would testify along with Amy, and
when he didn't see her, his heart went into his throat. He took a seat on the
padded folding chair that was indicated and situated it behind the desk so
that he was as comfortable as possible. The desk was low, and hit his
knees. He slid the chair back, and it made a ear splitting squeak that made
the judges flinch. Great. First impressions are killers.
"Mr. Barstow," the main judge started, but was cut off.
Guy stated, "Dr. Barstow." He wasn't going to give them any leeway and
wanted the respect he deserved. He spent his prime years in college, they
could at least call him by his title. Then, he wondered if that was too
forward, and if he had just gotten another strike against him.
The main judge slightly bowed and said, "Dr. Barstow, I apologize."
"No problem," Guy said, sitting back in the chair with his hands together
over his lap. He spotted his watcher tattoo on his left wrist and compared it
to the gold and black plaque behind the judges' heads. That was cool. He
wondered if he could get gold overlaying the blue on his tattoo.
"We have all gone over the Elizabeth Chronicle since you have taken over
her case," the main judge said.
Then silence reigned. Guy said, "Yeah." And?
"When you first took over as her watcher, your reports were quite detailed.
There was an abundance of information, for which we are grateful."
"Thank you."
"But in recent months," a woman judge said, taking over the reins of the
proceedings. "Your entries have been quite sparse."
"Not much to tell."
"We can't help but notice that you stopped being so detailed just after you
starting seeing Amy Randall."
"That's my business."
"Realize who you are talking to," the woman judge said, with all the
power she wielded.
"My relationship with Ms. Randall is my business. If you have questions
about the Elizabeth Chronicle or how I watch her, or what she's up to, or
what she's been eating for breakfast, I'll answer them. Although, I have no
idea what she had for breakfast this morning because I had to come here."
"Mr. Barstow," the other male judge started.
"Doctor!"
Guy was getting hot under the collar, but didn't want to show it to them.
He took a slow, deep breath, almost simmering as he sat there before them.
Then he said, "Look. If you read the Chronicle as you say, you'd know
why my entries have been 'sparse' lately. They may be 'sparse', but they
are not incomplete if that's what you're suggesting."
"Explain that to us," the main judge said, sitting back in his chair. The
other judges followed suit, mimicking him.
Guy almost laughed, but held his tongue. "If you'd notice, my chronicle of
Elizabeth started to taper off when there wasn't anything to report. The
gal's happy. She's living in an area which isn't Immortal Central. She's
married to a mortal, she's raising a child, she's boarding horses. The only
interesting thing that should be noted in her file is that an immortal and his
mortal wife recently moved from Portugal to work with Elizabeth and her
husband. I chronicled that. I waited for fireworks. I waited for challenges. I
talked with Antonio's watcher to find out why they made the move. I
wanted to see a challenge. I thought that Antonio had come to Elizabeth,
the immortal who told him who and what he was, for help with an
immortal problem. Nothing. They ride and feed horses all day long. I've
put in there everything of importance that they have done."
"How can we be sure of that?"
"You can take my word for it. Do I have a history of being a problem? Or
fudging on the facts? Or making false reports? Or compromising the
watchers at all? Ever?"
The judges stayed silent. Guy said, "I should probably be offended, but I
know that we have a secret society here and I have been an upstanding
member of it from day one. Now, what is this meeting really about?"
"It is about Ms. Randall."
"I will not talk to you about her. You hire her or you fire her. Whatever
you do, I'm still seeing her."
"Is she giving you inside information on Elizabeth?"
"No, ain't that a pisser?" Guy waited for their shocked faces to subside. "I
haven't asked her to either. She's an important lady in my life, and I know
what lies can do to a relationship and I don't want to screw this one up.
From the very beginning, when we realized who each other was, we made
rules. I don't talk to her about my work, and she doesn't talk to me about
Elizabeth."
"Have you been introduced to Elizabeth?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm not comfortable with that. I don't want to be Elizabeth's friend. I
don't want her to know that I'm watching her. With how free and easy
she's acting, I'm not even sure if she knows she has a watcher assigned to
her."
"You think that Ms. Randall hasn't told her?"
"I know Ms. Randall has not told her." Guy shuffled his foot a bit,
knowing that he had just bold-faced lied to them, he thought. He went
back over all of his and Amy's conversations; and he didn't really know if
Amy would have told Elizabeth about him, specifically, or not.
"What are your intentions with regard to Ms. Randall?"
Guy stared down the main judge who asked that question. "Gee, I don't
know, Dad." Guy looked at his hands, pompously folded in front of him,
and said, "I don't see a wedding ring. Are you dating? Who is it? Or,
should I deem to ask, are you gay?"
The judges erupted with indignation, while Guy stood up and yelled,
"That's just as appropriate a question as the one he asked me!"
The judge seethed and pointed his finger as he said, "I will have you know,
young man, that my beloved wife died five years ago."
"You didn't have to volunteer that information, sir. It was an inappropriate
question and you should have just kicked me out on my ass!"
"It is never too late!" the judge bellowed, and motioned for some guards
by the door that Guy hadn't seen because of the low lighting circling the
room. Two walked to Guy and each took one of his arms.
Guy yanked his arms free. "I can walk and I know where the door is. I'm
going back to work. If you want to have another hen party, do me a favor
and don't call me."
As he went to the door and pulled it open, Guy turned around and said, "I
want a transcript of this meeting and New York will hear about it."
As he walked out, fast, he fully expected men to try to stop him, or bullets
to fly. No one ever talked to Trib like that, he assumed. They had always
represented life or death situations, and he had heard the horror stories; if
you were called in, you were already judged guilty. Screw 'em! Just get me
out of here fast!
Guy almost ran outside and to his corvette, petrified about what could
happen. Only when he was inside and the engine was roaring did he look
toward the door. No one, that he saw, was after him. He peeled out and
roared down the street. He was somewhat disappointed that no one had
come after him. Pricks! He fumed as the whole meeting when through his
mind. And I work for them? There are a multitude of things I could do!
I'm a great watcher! They have to know that!
He got to the outskirts of the city and was going to seek out Amy, but
figured, "Screw 'em all."
By the time he was halfway to Redding, he had started to cool off. As soon
as he realized that he could now be out of work, with both the Elizabeth
Chronicles and The Watering Hole, he was uneasy. He liked his work. He
also wondered if his outburst could have harmed Amy's chances with the
watchers. He didn't want her to work for them, but far be it for him to
make that decision for her, or by his actions, destroy her life. She had just
moved to San Francisco with a little boy, to be closer to Elizabeth, and he
knew, to him.
Guy wavered back and forth about going back to try and explain, but then
what did he have to explain? He was mad and he had every right to be! He
got back to The Watering Hole in record time, not realizing that he had
probably sped, as his mind raced, the entire drive. He walked into the bar
from the back and saw Corky behind the bar reading a magazine.
"How did it go, boss?"
"I may not be for much longer," Guy said, grabbing the receiver of the
phone behind the bar. He dialed his old friend's number, and told Corky,
"Can I have some privacy, please?"
She was shocked. "Please?" She got off her stool and grabbed her
magazine. "Sure, boss. All it takes is a please."
He leaned heavily against the bar, he hoped that the number was still his
friend's, and hoped he would answer fast.
Randy Myers answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Randy!" Guy said, pleased to hear a friendly voice. Dr. Randy Myers was
the surgeon that had been in the OR with the immortal who was shot and
shoved out a window in Rochester. Randy had been taken into the watcher
system along with Guy and the two nurses, then they had lost track of each
other. Only when Randy had gotten a promotion to Head of the Atlanta
Bureau, and it was in the Watcher newsletter, did Guy know what
happened to him and called him up. They had been talking over the phone
and by email for the last six months. "I'm glad I got a hold of you."
Randy started laughing. "Guy, you always were a troublemaker."
"Huh?"
"Your grand exit is the talk of the watchers. Where are you?"
"What're you talking about?"
"It's all over the watcher system. Guy Barstow reams out Trib judges.
Man, you always did have balls of steel."
"How did you know that so fast? The judges actually told someone?"
"No, one of the guards leaked it over the memo system. You're the talk of
the watchers, my friend. It was about time someone got one over on Fred
Markus. What an asshole."
"So, what's the word?"
"What word?"
"Do I still have a job?"
"Sure you do. From the sound of it, Ms. Randall got her transfer also."
"Shit, that happened fast. I've only been away from the situation for the
drive back to Redding, about four hours."
"There's bureaucracy in the system, but we also work fast, Guy. You
should be getting an email announcement on it soon."
The smile that finally creased Guy's face sparkled and he cockily started
pacing behind the bar, telling Randy everything that had happened, of
course, embellishing in some areas.
~~~~~
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2007
PARIS
The air was crisp, with a hint of snow on the way, as Duncan and Methos
walked out of the caf‚. Methos jammed his hands in his pockets and
wrapped his coat tighter around him, and walked alongside Duncan with
his head down. The Highlander walked tall, almost as if neither the chill
nor anything else could faze him. Methos continued the conversation they
had over lunch. "I mean I'm surrounded by people I have to trust. Me. It's
not like I can pick up and move to another apartment, or country, for that
matter."
Duncan snickered and said, "So, you're normal."
"Normal," Methos murmured, seething at the lack of protection he'd set
up for himself. Then, he stopped at a corner and watched a painter add
some touches to his latest masterpiece. The man's thick hands were red
from the cold, his beret didn't quite cover his red ears. Yet the man's
entire focus was on the city street scene that he was painting. The paint
was cracking and globby from being cold. The painter used it for effect.
Duncan hit Methos on the arm and said, "We have to go."
They walked on, Methos again held his head down so his neck was
covered by his collar. "Just coming back to this city refills my soul, Mac."
"You know, you look younger than you have in years. You look happy."
"The only thing that would make me happier would be if Elizabeth loved
this city as much as I do."
"What's her problem?"
Methos shrugged. "Good and bad happen everywhere, but I gather she's
not had nice experiences here, and she can't speak the language. No matter
how hard Claire and I try, she can't pick it up. Or she's not trying. She can
be pretty stubborn when she wants to be."
Duncan laughed and said, "Sounds familiar."
"Amanda?"
"No. You."
They walked on in silence. Methos realized that Duncan had just slammed
him. He was going to argue the fact when Duncan turned around to scan
the neighborhood. "What's going on?"
"I thought I felt something," he said, Duncan's face was serious as he
continued to scrutinize everyone around them.
Methos sighed and leaned back against a pink building in the narrow
street. "It's your imagination. I would have felt it long before you did. It's
this Calliope bitch, isn't it? She's in town? And you invited me here."
Methos started walking, exasperated beyond belief. "I can't believe you!"
When Duncan rushed up to walk along with him, still looking over his
shoulder, Methos threw up his hands. "Great! What? Am I supposed to
protect you or something? Not going to happen."
"No," Duncan said as he pulled Methos' arm to stop him. "I want you to
take her head."
"What?"
"You handled Kristin... I was thinking that--."
"Don't think, MacLeod. Not when you add me to the equation."
Methos yanked his coat arm back and walked on. He then stopped and
whispered, "I'm mortal, remember? Liz's watcher has to be in Paris. I
can't go around taking heads. Even if I could, why should I?"
"Because you owe me," Duncan evenly stated.
Methos kept walking, but then realized that Duncan's footsteps weren't
keeping up. He slowly turned and said, "Excuse me?"
"You owe me, plenty. I'm calling in the debt."
Methos stared at Duncan, quickly piecing it all together. He had not only
helped take care of Kronos and the rest of his 'brothers', but he made sure
that Elizabeth was taken care of during her dark quickening. Methos hated
debts... that he owed others. But taking the head of a ... Why can't he do it
himself? What did that female have over him? Then Methos knew. He had
loved her once and there was a possibility that his past feelings could be a
liability during a fight. Duncan certainly faltered during his fight with
Kristin. Kristin! Duncan owed him! If Methos hadn't taken care of her, she
would have just kept on killing.
Duncan said, "We're friends, right? I don't want Amanda to know she's
back and I want her gone. I don't think I can do it and I can't ask anyone
else to do this for me."
"What?" Methos pushed his finger against Duncan's chest. "Is that the
Highlander in there?"
"Daniel," Duncan groaned.
Methos laughed. "I mean really. Have you actually learned something after
all? Finally? I know I've put years of work into you." He whispered, "It
would normally be my pleasure, but there's one problem. I'm mortal,
MacLeod.""
"Why don't you die already?" Duncan said, joining in the laughter.
~~~~~
Elizabeth, Amanda and Claire entered Methos and Elizabeth's suite at the
Ritz to drop off their shopping bags. Claire immediately started unloading
her bags and laying out the clothes all over the floor. Elizabeth hadn't
realized just how much Amanda had bought for her and said, "You didn't
have to buy her a whole new wardrobe."
"How often do I get to shop for a little girl?"
Amanda fumbled with the car keys in her hand as she called Duncan on
his cell to find out where they were. When he answered, she said, "Where
are we going for dinner?"
Elizabeth asked Claire to take her clothes into her room and to put on a
warmer coat for the evening. After a little more prodding, Claire did as she
was asked.
Amanda hung up and said, "We're going to meet them at the barge and
we'll figure out where to eat then."
"Or we can pick up food and cook."
Amanda smiled at how gently Claire was treating the new clothes and said,
"I'm going to want a fashion show, Claire."
A big smile erupted on Claire's face. "Now?"
"No, we have to go," Elizabeth said. "Aren't you hungry? I'm starving. Go
get your heavier coat and come on. We have to go get Dad and Duncan."
She came out with a winter coat on and Elizabeth buttoned it up and
helped her get her gloves on. They were just going out the door when
Claire ran back, then disappeared into her room. Elizabeth called out,
"You can try on your clothes later." She shook her head, with a proud
smile, to Amanda she said, "She really has a one track mind."
Claire came back with her backpack. "I forgot my homework," she said as
she walked by Amanda and Elizabeth.
Amanda looked at Elizabeth. "She has homework? She's only in
kindergarten."
"Ms. Cranston gave her things to do this week."
"Like what?"
"Color, fill in the pictures, draw the alphabet," Elizabeth said as she closed
the door behind them. "Last night on the plane I had to tell her that she
shouldn't toss in foreign letters. The teacher may not be able to speak
Spanish or French or German."
"You can tell she's Methos' daughter."
"No, she's Daniel's daughter," Elizabeth said, happy that Claire had run
down the hallway to push the elevator button, and was out of hearing
range. "I mean really, Amanda. If we can't trust you to keep quiet, who
can we?"
"Sorry." Amanda pointed at Claire. "She's just so... him."
Elizabeth proudly laughed. "I know. I love it." When they reached the
elevator, Elizabeth nestled Claire's head. "I just worry she isn't going to fit
in."
Claire looked up and said, "I can play dumb, Mom."
Amanda erupted into laughter. "She's his daughter, that's for sure!"
~~~~~
Amanda parked the car by the barge and they ran up the plank quickly as it
had started to snow. It was a gentle, Parisian snow, but it was also wet and
heavy, and they didn't want to ruin their hair since one of the stops on
their shopping excursion was to a high-class salon. Elizabeth had her hair
done in a French twist while Amanda had the works. Her black bobbed
hair was now red, striking red, and she had gotten a light root perm that
added volume to her new tousled look that had just come back into style.
Claire had enjoyed her moment in the sun; she not only got a little trim and
her hair braided, she also got a manicure and pedicure.
As soon as they were inside the barge, they stomped their feet to get the
snow off and shook off their coats. Claire turned on the TV as Amanda
asked, "Do you want a glass of wine?"
"Sure."
"Claire? How about some mango juice?"
"Just ice water, please," Claire said, already focused on a French soap
opera.
Elizabeth shook her head, knowing how erotic those could be and changed
the channel with the remote. Claire glared at her, but settled in watching
an episode of Seinfeld in French. Elizabeth went to the window to look
out. "Wonder when they'll get here. I'm starving."
Just then, she saw Methos and Duncan walking down the street toward the
barge. Both of their heads were down and their coats covered as much of
their heads as they could manage. Elizabeth laughed. "They're coming."
She pulled on her coat again and ran to the door to make sure they'd have
a clear entry out of the elements. Then she heard a car rev further down on
the canal. Elizabeth looked up to see an SUV racing stright down the
cobblestone canal bank, right toward Methos and Duncan. She couldn't
speak, she could only drop her hold on the door and walk to the plank and
watch. Duncan and Methos had obviously heard the car for they both
looked in that direction, dropping their hold on their coats. The car veered,
crashed into both of the men, and then drove into the canal.
Elizabeth ran down the plank screaming, "NO!"
Only the tailgate of the SUV was visible in the water as Elizabeth reached
the end of the plank and ran to it. Suddenly, the water started to bubble
and churn. Lightening shot up from underneath and swirled up, into the
air. Searching out, the lightening caught Elizabeth just as she was about to
jump into the water. She realized then, It's a quickening!
It flattened her to the ground and as the lightening swirled around her,
needling pricks of electricity seethed into her. She could see Amanda
coming out of the barge, and watched the SUV sink, but she was
immobilized as the visions of a dead immortal churned inside her head.
METHOS? She couldn't do anything but moan and cry. Is this Methos?
she asked herself, trying to pay attention to what was shown her, but the
visions weren't at all clear. She had the thought that she had wanted her
essence to be with him, not the other way around! Then the lightening
ebbed away, leaving her heaving as she tried to get up.
Elizabeth was on her hands and knees when she saw Amanda run to her,
then past her, and heard the water splash. She couldn't get strength in her
legs and was crying so hard, so Elizabeth rolled over and into the water.
She had to find Methos. The water was freezing cold and murky, but when
she opened her eyes after sinking to the bottom, she saw Amanda lifting
Duncan, who's head was still attached, to the surface. Elizabeth swam to
the wrecked car that was on its side and first spotted the broken
windshield. There was a short, brown haired head laying on the corner of
the hood. She freaked, knowing that it was Methos'. Her survival instincts
made her shoot to the surface and take a breath of air. She saw Amanda
and another man pulling Duncan out of the water and then another man
jump in.
He was going to rescue her, and she couldn't have that! She needed to get
to Methos. She went under the water again and cried out as she neared the
car. She needed to know for sure. As she neared the head, it waved as the
water moved it, but she could only see the back of it. Elizabeth nudged it
and it spun around, to reveal a woman's face. Elizabeth whooped with
glee, and then felt her body being carried to the surface. She tried to fight
against it, but the man's grip and legs were stronger than hers.
When they broke the surface, she kicked against him. The fear she felt in
her dream, when she was in the swimming pool with Logan and Roberts,
came back to her. She saw the man's face. A kind, concerned looking
blond man, who only wanted to help her.
She kicked off of him, and yelled, "He's still down there!"
Elizabeth took a deep breath and plunged again to the bottom. She used
her hands to crawl around the car, searching everywhere for Methos' body.
Then she saw the blond man and another one with dark hair down there
with her. They all looked around the car. Elizabeth saw the headless
corpse inside the vehicle, and then saw Methos' shoe, attached to his
ankle, but that was it. He was pinned under the car. She motioned for the
men to help her lift it up. They all lifted, but soon needed air. They went to
the surface and breathed heavily, but Elizabeth went back down.
She rubbed Methos' leg, and then hooked her hands under the car and
lifted. It didn't budge. Soon, there were four other hands there, and
together the three of them lifted. The car went up. Elizabeth grabbed
Methos' legs and pulled. She was still leery that he would be headless but
kept on pulling. She cried out with relief when she saw that he was still
intact. Dead, but intact. She grabbed him around the shoulders and kicked
off the bottom to the surface.
When she reached the surface, Elizabeth heard a distant siren as the other
two men came to the surface. They swam Methos to the edge, and Amanda
and another man had their hands out. Duncan was sitting up, pretending to
be dazed for the benefit of the onlookers. Elizabeth immediately thought
about how to get Methos' body away from them so that when he revived,
after being in the water for so long, they wouldn't all wonder how it
happened. She also wondered how long those onlookers and rescuers had
been there, if they had seen the quickening. Finally, all she thought about
was getting Methos out of that cold water.
An ambulance pulled up and EMTs ran out as she was lifted onto the side.
A police car was already parked, and another was racing to the scene.
Great, lots of witnesses. She repositioned her wet, heavy coat as they lifted
Methos up and pulled him into a laying position. Elizabeth turned him
over so he was prone and pushed water out of his lungs. She'd thought of
just keeping the water in him so he couldn't revive, but then Methos might
be taken to a morgue and it could be a mess. He wasn't leaving her sight.
Water drained out of his lungs, and she only stopped when it stopped.
Then she hurriedly pulled him into her arms. The cries and tears she shed
weren't all for show. She sat back with Methos in her arms and almost
collapsed with relief that he was all right, or was going to be. She looked
over to see Duncan sitting there, talking to a bent down policeman, but she
couldn't hear what he was saying. It was all in slow motion. A blanket
went around her and an EMT tried to get Methos out of her arms. She held
onto Methos tighter, wrapped the blanket around him, so they couldn't see
his face. She cried harder and louder, so when he revived, they may not
hear or see it. When hands tried to get her away from him, she yelled,
"Leave me alone! He'll be fine! He's a swimmer. He can hold his breath
for a long time."
Amanda came to the rescue and moved people away and crouched close to
them, knowing that what was going to happen couldn't be witnessed. In
fact, she hugged Elizabeth over Methos' body so he was completely
unseen. Elizabeth held her and they cried together, hard. Then she felt
Methos move, and his arm try to get his face free from the blanket.
Elizabeth pulled away from Amanda, but kept holding Methos' head up
and loudly said, "He's all right! He's a swimmer and can hold his breath
for a long time! Can't you?!"
She felt Methos go limp and opened the blanket. She knew the EMT and
police were watching them, and was so proud of Methos; he had figured it
all out, while he was healing and had come to. She never would have had
the presence of mind to start pretending so soon after a revival. She knew
that his lungs must feel like they were on fire, and the only indication of
his discomfort was the clenching of his mouth and the flickering of his
eyelids.
Then Elizabeth realized that Claire was right next to her, yanking Methos'
arm and yelling, "Papa! Papa!"
Elizabeth lifted Methos up and laid him on the ground and hugged Claire.
"It's okay." She had called Methos papa, and so she knew that Claire was
extremely shook up, thinking he was dead. She said, "It's okay. Papa is
fine."
Claire grabbed Methos' hand as he opened his eyes, then theatrically
coughed, which Elizabeth knew he had probably wanted to do since he
revived. The strength and constitution of that man never ceased to amaze
her. "See?" she happily said to Claire, and all of those around them. "He
was just passed out. He can hold his breath a long time."
Methos sat up, feigning delirium, and held Claire as she fell into his lap.
Elizabeth wrapped the blanket around them, and an EMT brought another
one. Another EMT worker whistled and said, "Here I thought I'd seen it
all," and then bent down to tell Methos. "Monsieur?! Lay back down."
Elizabeth took Claire and said, "They have to look Papa over. Give them
room."
Claire shivered from getting wet and the snow and fright. "Papa," she
moaned, wanting to keep eye contact with him as he laid back and workers
swarmed over him.
Amanda helped Elizabeth and Claire stand up and whispered, "I think
Mac's taking care of the police. There's only those two guys I'm worried
about. I think they saw the whole thing."
Suddenly, hands grabbed Elizabeth and laid her on a stretcher. "What are
you doing?"
"You've been electrocuted," one EMT said in broken English. "Have to
check you out."
Elizabeth sat up. "I'm fine!"
She was pushed back down and straps were placed over her. Before she
knew it she was in the back of an ambulance. "My daughter! My husband!
I can't go anywhere!"
Claire was lifted into the ambulance with her and laid over her. "Mama,
what's going on?"
An EMT entered and slammed the door behind him. "You're husband and
friend are in the next ambulance." He pulled a cord and set Claire into the
seat and buckled her in. The ambulance pulled out.
Elizabeth felt better in the heated ambulance, with the blanket over her,
but she looked at Claire shivering in her seat. She hadn't put on a coat. She
probably heard all the commotion and ran out. While the EMT opened
cabinets to get to his equipment, Elizabeth held her arms out to Claire.
"Come here."
Claire unbuckled herself and laid on Elizabeth, holding her. "Can she get a
blanket? She's cold. She's the one I'm worried about. Look at her, she's
all wet and cold. If she gets pneumonia, I'm suing your ass!"
~~~~~
Elizabeth set on a bench outside of the emergency rooms, after being told
three times that she couldn't go in there. Claire sat alongside her wrapped
in her own blanket and Elizabeth wrapped them both in another. She had
stopped shivering, but Elizabeth was worried that she would catch a cold.
She had also been quiet. Very quiet. Elizabeth told her, "Papa's fine,
Claire. They just have to do what they do. We'll go home soon."
"To California?" she weakly asked.
"Yes. Pretty soon, you'll be riding Santo and going to school and all of
this will be behind us."
"I want to go home now."
"Without papa?" Elizabeth asked and smiled. Claire shook her head, with
a matching smile. She hugged Claire tighter and kissed her head, then saw
Amanda walking down the hallway toward them. Amanda looked awful,
her makeup had run and her hair had dried after being pushed straight
back, so considering how great she always looked, Elizabeth figured that
she herself must look like death warmed over. She knew that some of her
braid had come undone, and cringed at the thought of looking in a mirror.
Amanda sat down next to Claire and Claire held out her hand to her.
Amanda put her arm around them both and said, "We're quite the trio.
What ever happened to the three hot chicks who walked out of the salon?"
Elizabeth giggled, but Claire said, "Papa got hurt."
She held Claire tighter for comfort, and asked Amanda, "How's Duncan?"
Amanda crossed her legs and said, "Still talking to the cops. He's telling
them that he didn't know the driver, that it was probably an accident, heart
attack or something, and I think they're believing it."
"It wasn't?"
"The driver was Calliope. I guess they're pulling the car out of the water
now."
The doors to the ER opened and a nurse came out. "You can see him
now."
Claire jumped up and ran into the room. Elizabeth said, "I'll be right
there." After the nurse left, she asked Amanda, "Who's Calliope?"
"Remember when I was poisoned during that week of Amy's wedding?
That was Calliope."
"What did you do to her?"
"I fell in love with Mac. She's the territorial type."
Elizabeth shook her head. The past always seemed to haunt the future. She
told Amanda, "At least now Daniel is turned so he doesn't have to pretend
that part anymore."
Duncan walked down the hallway alone, and Amanda went to hug him.
They kissed and held each other as Elizabeth asked, "Is everything straight
with the police?"
He said, "Yep." Then he told Amanda, "I think it's time I got out of Paris
again."
"I have a nice warm bed in my house in Tuscany," Amanda murmured,
kissing his neck, holding him around the waist tightly.
Elizabeth told them, "I'm going to see about my family."
Duncan said, "We'll wait for you. We're going to catch a cab back to the
barge."
"Sounds good, and get something to eat?" Elizabeth hopefully asked.
It was almost midnight and none of them had eaten since noon. They all
laughed, but then Duncan and Amanda held onto each other. Amanda
saying, "That was a close one. I'm sorry I didn't take care of her before for
you."
Elizabeth left them alone, and walked into the ER room. There was a
gunshot victim that the personnel were working on to the right, and a nurse
immediately pulled the curtain when she saw Elizabeth staring. Another
nurse came to her from behind and asked, "Mrs. Gordon?"
"Yes."
"Right this way," she said in French and escorted Elizabeth to where
Methos was. She walked around the curtain to see Methos propped up on a
bed with Claire sitting alongside him. He was hooked up to all kinds of
monitors, that took Elizabeth by surprise. "They think I have an irregular
heartbeat," Methos said, shaking his head. "But you can't tell doctors
anything. They don't listen to 'I'm fine'."
"Don't I know it," Elizabeth said, walking to him and kissing him. The
heart monitor beeped faster and she laughed. She caressed his cheek, so
glad to see him okay. The thought that he might have been beheaded and
she had gotten his quickening was too much to think about. The sight of
his feet poking out from under the SUV at the bottom of the canal was
something she would remember for the rest of her life. "How long do you
have to be here?"
"Another hour. They wanted to take blood, but I told them that was
infringing on my right to privacy. The doctor actually argued, saying that
wasn't the case in France, but I assured him that I was an American
citizen."
"See? Good thing I wanted to stay in America."
They laughed and Claire asked, "When can we go home?"
"Tonight, Little One," Methos lovingly said.
"After we get something to eat," Elizabeth said, but agreeing with him.
Claire said, "I have to go potty."
Suddenly, Amanda opened the curtain, she must have been eavesdropping,
and held out her hand to Claire. "Come on, honey. I'll take you." She
winked at Elizabeth and Methos as she escorted Claire to the bathroom,
knowing they probably wanted to be alone.
"God bless her," Elizabeth said as she took Claire's place on the bed and
held Methos around the waist. His arms covered her back and she started
to shiver from the thought that she could just as easily have lost him that
morning. She laid her head on his chest and thankfully heard his heartbeat
from the monitor. "If it would have been you," she started but teared up.
"I know. That was a close one. I slipped on the damn snow." Methos
chuckled. "Or I would have gotten out of the way. To think. Losing it all
just because there was snow under your feet."
She looked up at him. "Remember to plant your feet," she said, reminding
him of his instructions to her so long ago after he had dreamt that she lost
her head to Pyrius. "Always wear sensible shoes."
"I didn't know it was going to snow in Paris," Methos softly said, smiling
with love.
"No one's perfect," she goaded him.
"I will do that from now on, if you do the same."
"Absolutely." She kissed him, and he pulled her more onto the bed.
The heart monitor started registering rapid beats and a nurse burst in. She
blushed when she saw the reason for the monitor going off and said,
"Pardone, moi," and quickly left them alone.
~~~~~
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO
Amy was just getting Joey ready for school and would have to hurry to get
to the Watcher Library. It wouldn't do to be late for work two days in a
row, especially when this was only her second day there. "Come on!" Amy
called to Joey and slung her purse straps on her shoulder. She opened the
door to see Guy leaning against the doorjamb.
Amy jumped and held her chest. "Oh!" Then she slapped his arm. "Don't
do that to me!"
Joey ran out of his room and said, "Coming, coming." He nonchalantly
looked up at Guy as he walked past. "Hi, Guy, see you later, mom."
He was down the hall and to the stairs in no time. "Have a good day!"
Amy yelled after him, hoping he hadn't missed the bus. She looked at
Guy, who hadn't moved; the frown on his face hadn't lessened either.
"What?"
He pushed her back into the apartment and shut the door behind them. She
giggled and said, "Guy, I don't have time. I have to go to work."
"About work..." He was not in a good mood, and she wondered what
happened. Had Elizabeth been taken?
"What? Well? What are you doing here? I thought Liz was in Paris." She
fidgeted, wondering when the bomb was going to go off.
"No, she came back early," Guy slowly, angrily said, and then added,
"With her immortal husband! Why didn't you tell me the truth about
him?"
Amy froze up. He had found out that Daniel was Methos, but how? What
happened? She hadn't talked to Elizabeth since right before they left for
Paris. "What do you mean? Tell you what?
"He's immortal!"
Amy paused, not knowing what to say, or just how much he knew. Before
she could say anything, Guy said, "He just turned last weekend."
"What?"
"Oh come off it!" Guy paced the room, his tall body skittering around the
furniture in the small room. Her apartment was only going to be temporary
until she could find a nice condo or house for her and Joey to live it. "I
know the rules we set out for each other, but the fact that Daniel was pre-
immortal? You couldn't even tell me that?"
Well, Amy breathed easier. It's not as bad as all that... but he turned?
How? She reacted with surprise for his benefit, "He is?"
"Liz didn't tell you?"
"What are you so upset about?"
"You didn't tell me!" He angrily kicked her couch, making her angry.
"Guy! I told you before! You will only find out what you see when you
work! I will not do your work for you! I won't betray her confidence,
besides, I didn't know that Daniel was pre-immortal!" She hated lying, but
wasn't really. She hadn't been told that they were going to turn Daniel...
what was going on??
Guy folded his arms across his chest. "She didn't tell you," he spat out.
"I'm supposed to believe that? I thought that you were letting me in on
harmless stuff, like when you said I should brush up on my French before
their trip to Paris, but to not tell me something like that, which isn't
harmful in the grand scheme of things... you don't trust me!"
"No. I don't!" She said it before she realized that she said it. Guy could
make her melt with just a look and make her collapse with laughter by a
remark, but he could also make her madder than hell for being... a man!
"And you don't listen to me! I told you that I didn't know that Daniel was
pre-immortal."
"When?"
"Just now! Like, ten seconds ago, when you were kicking my furniture.
You've got quite the temper." She opened the door and motioned for him
to leave. "Get out, I have to go to work."
Guy took a deep, cleansing breath and stared at her. Then he relented. "It's
just the months of watching nothing happen, and the trib, and the surprise.
I mean, I had no idea... I wonder what else I'm missing." He slowly
walked to her and carefully put his arms around her. "Besides you."
He could make her melt. Amy hugged him back and said, "I'll ignore your
acting like Tarzan, if you promise not to do it again."
"I think you should come live in Redding. Work at the bar, do the books."
Amy laughed. "I'm a terrible bookkeeper! Ask Liz. I have enough trouble
just keeping my checking account balanced."
"Then work somewhere else, or don't work. I'll take care of you and
Joey."
Amy stepped back and looked at him in surprise. "What are you trying to
ask me?" She was suddenly giddy, thinking that he was actually going to
pop the question. But the instantaneous fright in his eyes made her laugh.
"That's okay. You're off the hook." She lovingly kissed him and then said,
"I'll think about it."
She now had a perfect idea. It would make everyone she knew happy,
except for maybe the Watchers. Amy decided that instead of going to the
library, she would go to see the big guy himself, the San Francisco Bureau
Chief, Wesley Brumaire.
~~~~~
TABARD PINES
Elizabeth dropped Claire off at school and returning home, she saw Faye's
car parked in front of the house. As she neared, she saw Faye and Sofia
laughing as they sat on the stone wall of the porch. Elizabeth got out of the
car and walked to them. "Hey, how's it going?"
Faye said, "We were going to go to an art fair in Chico. You want to come
along?"
As Elizabeth walked onto the porch, she could see that Faye and Sofia
were holding hands. She hadn't known that they knew each other all that
well. Maybe during the long weekend when she and Methos and Claire
had gone to Paris they had bonded while their husbands took care of the
stables.
Sofia said, "Faye says I should appreciate art, so I will give it a bullet."
Faye laughed and leaned against Sofia. "It's a shot, my dear. Give it a
shot."
Sofia's arm went around Faye as they collapsed with laughter, while
Elizabeth remained completely stunned with a fake smile on her face.
"What's going on?" she finally asked.
"We're going to Chico," Faye said, standing up and pulling Sofia behind
her. "Come on, Liz."
"That's a long drive there and back in one day," Elizabeth said, standing
on the porch, watching them both go to Faye's car. "I have to pick up
Claire at 2:30."
"Have Dan do it," Faye said motioning. "Come on. Ladies Day."
"Where's your car, Sofia?"
"I do not have one. Faye drives." She said nonchalantly, then she did
something that almost made Elizabeth fall on the porch. She wrapped her
arms around Faye and kissed her deeply. Faye wasn't at all shy about
responding. It wasn't that Elizabeth hadn't seen two women kiss before, in
fact at a one time when she had had it with men had tried it herself, but she
was stunned. She hadn't thought that they knew each other well, let alone,
had gotten together.
Faye continued to hug Sofia, but turned to Elizabeth. "Come on. We can
be back by two if we leave now."
Elizabeth had to find out how this happened and immediately got into the
back seat. In her haste, she hadn't told Methos that she was leaving and
called the stables from her cell phone. When he got on the line, she said,
"I'm on my way to Chico with Faye and Sofia. I'll call if I can't be home
in time to pick up Claire."
"Chico? Why are you going to Chico?"
"There's an art fair. See you later," she hurriedly said and hung up. Sofia
was sitting in the middle of the front seat of Faye's '67 Plymouth and
Elizabeth leaned forward to put her head between Faye and Sofia's. "So,
ladies. When did this happen?"
~~~~~
When Elizabeth arrived back at the house, too late to pick up Claire
hoping that Methos had, she bid the women goodbye. Faye had turned the
car around and was speeding down the drive before Elizabeth even hit the
porch. She trudged into the house, a little disappointed.
Methos and Claire were eating chili in the dining room, while Tinker was
sitting at attention by Claire in case any scraps fell her way. Elizabeth sat
down as Claire asked, "Can I be excused? I'm full."
"Can't you say hello?" Elizabeth asked.
"Hello, aloha, hola, bonjour, hallo, ciao."
"Smart ass," Elizabeth murmured superciliously, but with pride.
Methos said, "So you're where she gets words like that."
Elizabeth pointed her finger at Claire. "You never use that word, right?"
"Not until I'm over 18 and can't think of anything else to call someone,"
Claire replied, laughing. She hugged Elizabeth and said, "Was good chili,
Mom," as she went to her room with Tinker.
"How was your day," Elizabeth asked Methos, as she finished Claire's
chili.
"The Risens' stock is tainted."
"What?!"
"One of their horses has the fever. People are getting their horses out of
there fast. We may have a full house as soon as their horses have gone
through the appropriate precautions."
"Should we build on again? The Risens had a lot of horses stabled."
Methos shrugged, having had the same thought himself. Elizabeth gasped,
"Really? You're ready for that kind of commitment?"
"I'm here," he plainly stated. "We're popular with the horse set because
we 'pamper' the horses. I've been taking care of horses for 5000 years.
You have for 200, give or take the recent past. We took care of horses like
people do cars, because they were the only thing between you and walking
long distances. Of course we take care of them. Let's see what happens."
"How was your day?" he asked, as he shoved the rest of his chili towards
her also. She started goggling it up.
"Faye and Sofia are lovers. Did you know that?"
Methos chuckled. "Really?" He watched her eat, in a bad mood. "You
have problems with that?
I thought you had an open mind."
"I do. I don't care, but... they have their own shortcuts already. They've
only been together for a couple of days, and they're finishing each other's
sentences. Faye is actually cutting up Sofia's meat! I felt like a third wheel
all day long. I wonder if they have a secret handshake!"
"They do," Methos said, laughing, pulling his chair closer to her.
"I introduced them and now I feel like I'm in the way."
Methos patted her head and said, "You are."
"It's not fair." Elizabeth snorted and pushed him away. "They said that
after talking about drug problems and their lives, they realized that they
have a lot in common. How did Faye put it? They found a spark."
"It happens."
"What if it was just the beer? Sofia drinks even more beer than you. She
had three, just today." Elizabeth folded her arms across her chest and
muttered, "I just can't believe that she would be a lesbian."
"She's probably just experimenting because she left Antonio. Who
knows? Who cares?" He sidled up to her and kissed her neck and said, "I
missed you today."
Elizabeth pushed him off and gently said, "Daniel, new one, it's time for
training, big guy."
Methos mimicked Claire's whine as he said, "But I don't want to be an
immortal..."
Continued...
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