THE ELIZABETH SERIES

CHAPTER NINETY-TWO

THE PHONE CALLS

by JoLayne

RATING: PG

CHARACTERS: M, D, Joe, OC's Elizabeth, Guy

SUMMARY: A bit of back and forth between too alpha males.

NOTE: I can't thank Shirley enough for making this chapter possible. Also, a big thanks to Heather for all she's done for Liz.

DISCLAIMER: All characters and concepts you recognize from Highlander: The Series are owned by Panzer/Davis, and maybe Greg Widen. Just using them for fun, no profit is expected or pursued.

~~~~~

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2013
ORLY AIRPORT
6 pm

Elizabeth stole a great yawn before taking a hesitant sip of her Swiss mocha cappuccino after opening the slit and a waft of steam billowed up, then opened the latest edition of Elle magazine on her lap at Gate 29. Methos leaned close to her to whisper, "Not gotten enough rest lately, love?"

"Someone's been keeping me up late at night," she whispered back, then kissed him on the neck.

She offered her coffee to him, but he shook his head with a grimace. "Coffee should be strong and black, with no fancy flavorings. If you want chocolate, have a candy bar."

"You're no fun," Elizabeth said, turning back to the magazine.

Methos checked his watch. Upon their arrival at Orly, they checked the arrival boards to see that Duncan's plane had been delayed by a half hour. That was enough time to steal a beer at one of the many bars peppering the airport. He couldn't wait until he sunk his teeth into a nice, big steak, as they hadn't eaten since croissants and cantaloupe after waking close to ten that morning. Since Elizabeth was enthralled at an article, he wondered if he should go have another brew to pass the time. Tapping his foot, he sighed. Waiting was one of the worst things in life, especially in an airport. Because airports were unofficial holy ground, where no immortal went without their sword packed for travel, Methos and Elizabeth had left theirs at the hotel. He felt naked without his trusty Ivanhoe, especially since they had felt an immortal presence shortly after they arrived. Neither of them had been able to pinpoint who had aroused their senses, and Methos hoped it was someone late for their plane and was gone already. The last thing he wanted now was trouble.

After the disastrous journey to Kent, Elizabeth and he had been able to put it behind them and had been enjoying a magnificent honeymoon. Claire was happy and safe, even without Duncan's protection. Methos had joked with Duncan on the phone when he asked if they could fetch him from the airport, but Methos had called back to ask what his intention for Claire's safety had been. Duncan assured Methos that staying with Amanda and Celeste in New Orleans, in a compound, of which the manor had once been a church, was as safe as Claire could be, save locking her in a closet until Methos and Elizabeth decided to "act like parents again."

Methos appreciated Duncan's remark and wondered if Claire was doing as well as she voiced. When Elizabeth had asked her if she wanted her parents to come back to the states, Claire had told her, "Mom, just as long as you and Dad are together, I'm great." Methos also assumed that no schooling was a positive for his girl. He would have to devise a cram session to make sure Claire was on par with what Methos had decided what they would cover over the course of the year. Neither Methos or Elizabeth had mentioned going back home, and he was sure that Elizabeth had felt this vacation was as relaxing and needed to cement their love and devotion as he had.

Another kiss on his neck pulled Methos out of his abstraction, which made his insides melt, not expecting it. "You're lost in thought," Elizabeth murmured, having tossed the coffee and magazine and wrapping her arms around him.

Just then, his stomach grumbled, which made them both chuckle. "Only thinking about where MacLeod's buying us supper."

"How about that bistro we've kept saying we're going to try? I'd like to before we leave."

"Where are we going?"

Elizabeth smiled at him, with that spark of love in her eyes that usually got his pilot light stoked. "This has been delightful, but don't you think we should think about going back home? Now that I've got my stuff in the garage, I'm ready to start life again."

"Ah, you have been thinking about it."

"Unless you have something else in mind for us, something that doesn't involve reliving the past. That Celeste has me worried. I miss Amy and the kids. Of course, I can't wait to hug Claire again."

Methos' radar beeped. "She has you worried?"

"Well, wrong choice of words," Elizabeth covered, more than likely feeling his reaction of momentary fear. He had wondered about the old woman his daughter was in the care of, but had deemed her adequate with Duncan vouching for her. If Elizabeth had hesitation as well, there was only one recourse. They had to go get their girl as soon as possible. Elizabeth continued, "I'm curious about her. Aren't you? Amanda talks like Celeste is this old girlfriend of hers, but I've never heard Amanda talk about her before, and we've known Amanda for thirteen years. Well, I've known her that long, anyway."

Methos hadn't realized that the plane's arrival had been announced, not listening to each and every announcement over the PA, but now people at the gate were getting to their feet and collecting their belongings to greet their loved ones and friends. "I'll grill MacLeod about her and if we're not satisfied, we'll pack up and fly home tomorrow. MacLeod can bring us to the airport."

"One good turn deserves another."

Elizabeth grabbed her purse and stood up when Methos did. He had felt the approach of an immortal. He took her hand and guided her a bit to the right so he could see past two tall men in cowboys hats who took up residence right in front of him if it was MacLeod that signaled him or if it was that unknown immortal he had felt earlier. Suddenly, Elizabeth smiled and raised her hand in a wave. "Duncan!" she yelled and led Methos to the left around the cowpokes and greeted Duncan with a hug.

Methos was amazed by his reaction to see Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod. They talked almost daily and had gone through more than most people in a hundred lives together in the twenty years they had befriended each other. The sight of Duncan after a long absence of having him around in the flesh shouldn't give the sense of relief Methos suddenly felt as he watched his wife hug him. Methos smiled in greeting when Duncan turned to him. It seemed to Methos at that moment that life was just fine, the calming influence had truly arrived. How the four hundred year old immortal could give Methos that sense, he didn't know, but surprised Duncan and Elizabeth by giving Duncan a great big hug of his own. Maybe it was the fact that he still hadn't gotten over the events of Shiloh or the gnawing fear of the dream he experienced almost nightly made Methos realize he needed a formidable friend to cover his and Elizabeth's backs, or maybe Methos sensed looming danger. Regardless of why he hugged Duncan in welcome and was so glad to see him, Duncan slapped his back and said, "Good to see you too, Dan."

"How was your flight?" Elizabeth asked, taking Duncan's carry on from him, and then handing it to Methos.

"Uneventful. Airlines really should hire better chefs. You two hungry? My treat."

"Starving. Baggage claim, here we come," Methos said taking Elizabeth's hand and starting out in the direction of it.

"Did you get my Citroen from the garage?"

"Your car was in your garage, too?" Elizabeth asked.

Methos squeezed her hand to quiet her as Duncan didn't need to know that Methos had gone into his storage garage the other night.

"Got my own wheels, Mac."

Elizabeth asked, "So, how's Claire? Has she grown? Does she miss us as much as I miss her?"

"Is she doing the homework I left for her?" Methos added.

"How much as Amanda bought her?" Elizabeth asked.

Duncan said, "Fine, a little, of course, we got her to, and a ton. Having Claire around gives reason for Amanda to shop at a whole new set of stores. What will it be for dinner?" He glanced at the cowboys walking ahead of them and said, "How about a big, juicy steak? I know of a great American steakhouse right here in Paris. It's mostly for tourists who miss home, but it's what I'm hungry for."

"You're speaking my language," Methos said, then launched into a monologue of what was new in Paris, comfortable the topic of garages hadn't been investigated.

~~~~~

As Methos sunk into the driver's seat of his red Bizzarrini, which looked spanking new after a thorough washing and change of oil, he watched with a bit of amusement as Duncan tried to fold himself into the back seat. Having no luck, the Highlander gave a look to Elizabeth, and in no time she crawled into the back as Duncan took the passenger seat as Methos revved the engine, tickled at how it purred like a fat and sassy kitten. As soon as Duncan had his door closed, Methos shifted into gear and took off. He spied Elizabeth gripping both sides of the car as he wove his way through the airport parking lot.

"Is this the same car you had in Portugal?" Duncan asked, looking it over thoroughly.

"Yes, isn't it a beauty? This is still the best birthday gift I've ever received. Thank you again, my love," Methos said, winking at the rear view mirror to Elizabeth in the back, as he stopped at the parking attendant to pay for the hour, then sped off again. "Where to?"

Duncan held onto the door handle as Methos cruised around three turns and out onto the highway. "How about the barge, so I can change? A brat in the seat next to me spilled a 7-Up on my lap."

"Not traveling first class anymore, Mac?" Methos asked concerned.

"Even first class doesn't mean you get away from kids."

"Kids aren't all bad," Elizabeth said as she leaned in between the seats. "Claire hasn't been a problem, has she?"

"You kidding?" Duncan asked, then chuckled. "Amanda's been on cloud nine."

"Any thoughts of having a child of your own?"

Methos had to look at Duncan to see what he'd answer to Elizabeth's question. There was a bemused smile on his face, which meant he had to have been thinking about it. Claire had been a delight for him and Elizabeth, and even though he couldn't think about Amanda as being a full-time mother, rather than a very giving aunt or babysitter, he hoped they would find out for themselves how fulfilling parenthood could be. If they're lucky enough to find a good kid like Claire was, they could be great. The thought that Amanda was the one who found Claire and had the right idea of giving her to them as a baby, even though Methos hadn't been open to it in the beginning, made him think that if they did decide to be parents, luck would be on their side.

Methos careened around another curve. A thrill of adrenaline was rushing through him as he had so much horsepower in his control. The shriek from Elizabeth and Duncan's wail of "look out!" made him crash back to the fact that he had two passengers with him, who weren't as thrilled to go fast around turns as his daughter was. "You almost hit that car!" Duncan spouted as he turned to glare behind them at their wake.

"Oh, relax. It was a mile away," Methos muttered and slowed the car down to what he assumed was a more acceptable pace to the grannies he was chauffeuring. Giving Duncan a perfectly honed 'are you okay?' look, he asked, "Is that better?" when the speedometer crawled to under 20.

"Very funny. You're the grandpa in this car."

After a bit of silence as Methos crept the Bizzarrini along the street, Duncan said, "There's driving fast and then there's driving like a maniac."

Methos let that slide as they all were silent, more than likely listening to the music on the radio, but Methos was imagining Duncan's reaction when they arrived at where his barge had been moored for over twenty years.

"Then there's driving Miss Daisy," Duncan groaned. "What's the matter with you?"

"Nothing. I didn't want to scare you."

Duncan humphed. "It would take more than that."

Methos grinned. "Then I suggest you buckle up there, Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod," he said as he flipped the car into the next gear, then the next, and soon they were cruising around another short turn and through a street that was even narrower than Methos remembered it.

Pretty soon, there was a swat across the back of his head. "Will you slow down?" Elizabeth hollered. By the time Methos looked at the rear view mirror to yell, 'hey!' for the slap, all he saw was Elizabeth's long hair fly as she crashed against the left side of the car once again with another of his turns.

"Just having some fun..." Methos slowed and drove the rest of the way to Duncan's barge at a respectable speed. The decision of dropping them both off and take a joy ride on his own was overwhelming, but soon they were at the barge.

Or at least where the barge should be. Methos drove down the ramp and watched Duncan's reaction to what he obviously couldn't see either. The patch of water where the barge was usually moored was empty. Methos came to a stop and put on a face of intense shock as he looked to the Seine.

Duncan bolted forward and, mouth agape, yelled, "Where's my barge?"

"Oh, my God," Elizabeth said, as Duncan unglamourously got himself out of the car and stood mutely, staring at where his barge should be. She crawled out and stood beside him, then looked back and forth in bewilderment.

When Methos joined them, he asked calmly, "Where the hell is it?"

"That's what I'd like to know," Duncan growled as he paced back and forth by the water, looking for it, as if it was just misplaced.

"You didn't move it?" Methos asked, concerned.

"Of course not." Duncan was getting madder and madder by the minute, which almost broke Methos' facade and laughed.

"Didn't lend it to anyone?"

"Are you crazy?" Duncan asked as his constant pacing came to a stop in front of him.

Methos shrugged. "Many have thought so, but I'm crazy like a fox," he said, tapping his temple.

Elizabeth put her hand on Duncan's arm to stop him from maniacally pacing again and asked, "Should we call the police?"

"No," Methos said immediately.

"No, I have a better idea." Duncan flipped open his phone and turned it on.

"Who you gonna call?" Methos leaned against the car and folded his arms across his chest, drinking in the sight of a rattled MacLeod, which was usually fun.

"Ghostbusters?" Elizabeth asked with a weary stab at a joke. Methos put his arm around her in appreciation.

"No, Joe," was Duncan's curt response.

"Joe? Why? He's in the states, isn't he?" Elizabeth asked.

Methos chuckled. "I know Joe is a regular miracle worker at times, but what can he do in this situation?"

Duncan, with his phone at his ear, turned away from them, and it looked to Methos as if he had a smile on his face. Could the Highlander have an ace up his sleeve? Methos was going to play along with whatever crops up. The worried look on Elizabeth's face, and the fact that she walked to the water's edge to check both ways, as if they might have not seen the barge right in front of them, made Methos turn in case he accidently broke his stoic expression he was displaying.

"Joe!" Duncan's voice boomed into his cell phone. "Would you have any idea what the hell happened to my barge?" Pause as he listened. "Yes! My barge is gone!" Pause again as Elizabeth walked to him, taking in every word of Duncan's end of the conversation. "Dan and Liz brought me here to change and it's NOT HERE!... No, it didn't sink! It couldn't have... no, I'm not going to calm down! My barge is missing!"

"He has no idea," Duncan told them, but then said, "Yes, they're with me. Why?" Duncan looked stunned and held the phone out from his ear. He took a slow, confused turn and looked at Methos. "He wants to talk to you."

"Joe? Sure." Methos took the phone and put it to his ear. It had been a while since he talked to the old Watcher, and it would be good to chat. "Hey, Joe, how are you?"

Joe took a moment to talk, and when he did, it seemed his heart fell into his stomach. "Daniel, I have some news... it's not good."

"Not a good way to start a conversation, Joe. Is this something I want to hear?"

Elizabeth gripped Methos' arm. "More deaths? Abductions? Oh, God," she whispered as tense as he'd ever seen her, which made Methos feel even more out of sorts.

"Daniel, remember that thing I told you that time at that place?" Joe asked, as if the act of saying, confessing, those words cost him all he could afford.

Methos thought to the worst thing Joe had ever told him. "Amy's apartment before her wedding?" Gods! Methos tightened. His head rang. His heart skipped in his stomach. The Watchers had found out that newly turned Daniel Gordon was the real and very alive oldest immortal, Methos. When Joe hadn't answered, Methos yelled, "Well? Is that it?"

"Is what it?" Elizabeth asked with pure terror in her voice.

Joe sighed on the phone and said, "Sorry, buddy. I thought you had to know."

"Perfect," Methos snapped as he flipped the phone closed and tossed it to Duncan.

"What's perfect?" Elizabeth asked. "Perfect is good, right. No, when you say 'Perfect,' it usually means it isn't. What happened? What's wrong?"

"They know about me," Methos told her, and there was a moment of confusion by those words. She didn't get it right away, as he assumed she should have.

Duncan, on the other hand, did, and asked a very simple question, "How?"

"He didn't say," Methos retorted, sticking his hands in the pockets of his trenchcoat. "I have to go."

"Go? What?" Elizabeth grabbed his arm. "Where are we go-... oh my God!" She suddenly seemed to have gotten it. "They know who you are? They...," she said, then whispered, "Watchers?" Her hand flew to her mouth as her eyes misted over.

All their hard work keeping his real identity to themselves was again out in the open. Methos loved being the oldest immortal who walks the earth, but he certainly didn't want anyone else to know it, especially not the busy body Watchers who may still have Crusaders in their midst.

"You're not leaving me again," she said forcefully as she kept a good grip on his arm, even though he wanted to run and not stop until he felt safe. Then he wondered if he ever would again.

One thing Methos was certain of, he couldn't live peacefully without Elizabeth. He pulled Elizabeth into his arms and felt himself start to tear up. "There's no where I'm going without you." His heart felt back in its place when she hugged him tightly back and said, "I'll go wherever you will go."

Methos only had to say one word to make Elizabeth loosen her hold on him and peer up into his eyes, "Claire." He had no idea how they could make a clean getaway from anyone who's probably spying on them right that moment with a ten year old in tow.

Elizabeth seemed to be thinking the same thing, as she turned to Duncan. "You and Amanda will look after her until we find somewhere, new identities, and get settled?"

Methos looked to Duncan, who wore his heroic 'sure I'll take on your problem" look as if it was tailored for him. Just when Methos was going to take his hand for a shake, to thank him, Duncan's sniggered and started laughing.

"What in the bloody hell is so funny, might I ask?" Methos demanded. This wasn't at all a laughing matter!

"You should see your face," Duncan had a hard time getting out through his laughter. He was almost doubled over with glee. Methos felt like landing a punch on that perfectly proportioned face of his.

"Duncan? I don't see the humor," Elizabeth bit at him, still holding onto Methos. "Not at all."

"You will," Duncan said, wiping tears from his eyes and then clearing his throat in order to get control of himself. "At least, I hope you will. As much as I do. You will, I'm sure of it."

"What?!" Methos couldn't hold back. If he hadn't hollered, he knew his balled up fist would fly.

"It's not true," Duncan said, then started giggling again. "But it's really great that you two were making plans to skip town together, not apart, or start blaming Elizabeth for it happening. Joe and I went back and forth on what would be the best way to get you back, and decided this had the perfect punch to it."

"Speaking of punches," Methos said, making his way to Duncan, but Elizabeth stopped him.

"What are you talking about? They don't know who he is?"

"No. It was a joke."

Methos bristled. "Some joke!"

Duncan shrugged. "I thought it was funny." He jumped back when Methos broke free from Elizabeth and went after him. Methos was just about to draw his Ivanhoe when Duncan said, "Hey! About as funny as moving my barge!"

That stopped Methos in his tracks, his hand on the metal hilt of his sword. "You know about that?"

"Know about what? What about the barge?"

"Joe's had someone watching my barge for me, some grunt Watcher who owes him a favor, after it was broken into last summer."

"Your barge was broken into last summer?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yeah," Duncan said. "Nothing taken, just a broken window."

Methos didn't want this going off track. "Who the hell was watching and what all was he watching?"

"My barge. He saw you, or a... let's see... how was it he described you?" Duncan seemingly pretended to think. "Oh yeah, tall, thin, dark haired guy, driving an old red sports car, who must have had a key, drove off with it down the Seine."

"You don't 'drive' a barge," Methos said with a smile. "You sail it."

"I don't care what you do to a barge," Elizabeth snapped, and then swatted Methos' arm. "You stole his barge?"

"Just moved it. It's-" Methos started.

Duncan joined in, "It's about a mile down the Seine."

"You knew all along?" Methos asked incredulously at Duncan's ability to act perfectly mortified that his barge was missing.

Duncan flashed a toothy grin as Elizabeth started to snicker. Methos said, "Equating your dumb boat," as he held one hand palm up, "to my identity...," he held up the other and did a scales motion, with the second much higher, "well, they're not even close, MacLeod."

"Got your attention, though, didn't it? Don't mess with my stuff." Duncan moved toward the Bizzarrini. "Come on. Supper's on me."

"You bet your ass it is," Methos replied. "Breakfast too. We'll argue about who's buying lunch."

Elizabeth said, "Well, honey, he got one over on you. A pretty big one," as she was about to get into the back seat. "Oh, hey, you have a key to his barge?"

"No, he must have swiped it from my storage garage." Duncan peered over the car to him. "Am I right?"

"That's what you took?" Elizabeth straightened up to gape at him over the Bizzarrini's roof.

Methos shrugged. "There wasn't anything else in there I wanted."

Elizabeth looked at Duncan and tossed her head toward Methos. "I think he should buy supper."

"Two to one," Duncan said smiling. "We win."

"You put Joe up to this?" Methos asked before settling himself behind the wheel of his car.

"He owed me one."

"Bet you really had to twist his arm to put such a disgraceful big one over on me," Methos said, speeding out after Duncan slammed his door shut.

"No, not really," Duncan chuckled.

~~~~~

From the country music blaring to the sawdust on the floor, Elizabeth thought they could actually be in Texas. You haven't lived until you've heard a thoroughly French waiter try to use an American Southern accent. Elizabeth collapsed in a fit of giggles every time he opened his mouth, and Methos finally explained to the perplexed waiter that she already had too much wine. Before Elizabeth's Filet Mignon, Duncan's Prime Rib, and Methos' Rib Eye was served, Duncan went to use the phone, as his cell wasn't working, even though Methos had mentioned he saw more wood than metal surrounding them. Being alone, Methos and Elizabeth took a turn at the two step on the straw covered dance floor and ended up laughing when they almost slipped on the straw upon the waxed floor. Methos whispered, "I don't frequent establishes like this when I'm in Texas."

When they got back to their table with no broken limbs, Elizabeth asked, "When have you been in Texas?"

Methos intoned, "Only when I haven't had any choice. Maybe it's a place to explore for our new home?"

"Only if Amy is willing."

Duncan had come back to the table with a smile on his face, just as their meal came. While they each buttered their corn on the cob and bread and salted their meat, Elizabeth felt Methos' leg bouncing to the music.

"So, MacLeod," Methos croaked out between massive bites of medium rare rib eye. "What are you really doing here in Paris, besides getting your boat back?"

Duncan took a sip of his red wine and asked, "Have you spoken to Robert and Gina lately?"

"No," Elizabeth answered. "Are they here? Would be nice to see them again."

"No, but Gina told me some interesting news." Duncan asked Elizabeth, "Remember when you went to the auction and bought back Amanda's ruby?"

Methos about choked on his steak. "You bought back Amanda's ruby? The one she stole from James?"

"Yeah, I mentioned the missing money."

"No, you didn't."

Elizabeth shrugged. "Well, I meant to."

Methos asked, "Who did you have to call? Joe, to play another oh so funny practical joke on me?"

Duncan said, somewhat as if he was proud of something, "Nah. Gina. She saw it on the market in Rio last week. Still named the 'Starlet Star' and everything. She's been keeping her eye on it, and I wanted to know if it was still there."

"Because?" Methos asked.

"I want it back for Amanda," Duncan said simply before taking a bite of corn on the cob. He spit it out to ask, "They soaked this is balsamic vinegar or something?"

"It is Paris, after all," Methos commented.

"So, how did someone else get to ruby?" Elizabeth asked, putting down her fork, having eaten too much too fast. Of all the eating she and Methos had done in Paris, it was nothing this filling. In fact, it seemed like it was the first red meat she'd had in ages.

"I guess Amanda lost it in a bet in Tuscany while we were separated." Duncan chuckled. "I thought that would have been enough for her to do some caper to get it back. She's always loved it so."

"Why didn't she? She's good at it," Elizabeth commented.

"Good at it?" Methos almost choked. "Understatement if I ever heard one. She's wrote every book that should be written on the subject."

Duncan beamed when he said, "She didn't because she wanted to turn over a new leaf. She let it go. He won it fair and square."

"Let it go? I paid over a million for that rock!" Elizabeth grimaced.

Methos gulped. "How much?"

Elizabeth shook him off. "Be quiet."

"So, I'm going to get it back for her." Duncan flashed a friendly smile to Methos. "And I couldn't think of anyone else I'd rather plan this outing then you, my friend."

Methos looked at him, then behind him to see who he might be talking to. Elizabeth was a bit stumped why Duncan hadn't looked at her. She had, after all, pulled the caper with Amanda to steal the Spanish coins in exchange for James stealing Amanda's ruby in the first place. More than that, that ruby was the reason she was kidnaped three times, had electrodes in her body that had to be cut out twice, and brainwashed. "I'll go," Elizabeth said, hoping none of the bitterness she felt for not being asked crept through.

"No, you're not. You're a mother and wife now," Methos said. "It was foolishness then, and it's more so now."

"It's not foolish. Amanda had to put up the ruby because she was desperate. She had to pay the taxes on her villa and...," Duncan paused. "A lot of other things I'm not going to get into right now. She wants it back, and because she hadn't before because of her promise to me, I'm going to get it back for her. Come on, Dan, you're the best mastermind there is."

"Thank you, but-"

Duncan cut him off before he could conclude his 'but' thought. "With your propensity to get in and out fast, think of all the angles, years of not give a damn about other people's property, and-"

"Excuse me?" Methos boomed miffed.

"You know what I mean."

"No, I don't, actually."

"Well, you are a pretty good planner. And you plan good surprises," Elizabeth added, not realizing what Duncan's last mention was. "That guy won't even know what hit him with you at the helm of this adventure. Can I get in on this?"

"You'll have to," Duncan said, ignoring Methos' crotchety reaction. "Anything I can think of will takes three people."

"Goodie," Elizabeth beamed and held up her glass of wine to toast.

Methos snipped, "It's not 'goodie.' Regardless of your approximation of my ethics, MacLeod," Methos turned to Elizabeth, "Do we really want to do anything to make life dangerous?"

Duncan said, "What makes life interesting are the surprises."

"You know," Elizabeth said. "I can't believe Amanda didn't ask you for the money for her taxes, Daniel. She didn't ask me either."

Methos pointed out, "She wouldn't, of course. You were sleeping with her husband."

Side stepping this nugget of nostalgia and not looking at Duncan, Elizabeth said, "But she didn't ask you either."

"She wanted to be straight, not rely on me," Methos said with a smile directed at Duncan, "Because her husband would look down on her."

"Now things are going to be looking up for my dear, and terrible sexy, wife," Duncan said, "So, are we going to do this for her?"

Elizabeth looked expectantly at Methos, but he only grimaced and sipped his beer.

~~~~~

"Oh, come on, Methos," Elizabeth said as she crawled into bed alongside Methos, who had his nose in a book. "You haven't said more than three words since we left Texas."

Only hearing a grumble from him, Elizabeth picked up the Elle magazine and laid back to figure out where she had left off. "Didn't even give Duncan a ride back to the barge."

"I did," Methos countered. "Only where it was before I moved it. Let him find it."

"In the dark?"

"He's a big boy. He's fine."

"His asking us to help him out got you this upset?"

"Look, Mac didn't waste any time getting out of the car when I got to the water's edge, my dear. If he wanted to go where I parked his barge, I would have gladly taken him."

Methos turned a page of his book and took a gulp from his beer bottle. Then he turned to Elizabeth. "You don't want to do this only to get close to MacLeod, are you?"

"You're so cute when you're jealous." Elizabeth, thinking it had to have been a tease, only flipped the page of her magazine and wondered why on earth anyone wanted to wear paper clothes, which was the latest fashion to hit the runways. Looked cute, but couldn't imagine what would happen if you got wet in public.

Suddenly, the bed moved and then there was a heaviness on her legs. Pretty soon, her magazine was lifted by Methos' nose, who was now lying on top of her. "You don't want to do this just to get close to MacLeod, right?"

"Yes, Methos. That's my plan," Elizabeth said a bit testily. "After this past two weeks? After showing you, and feeling, more love for you than ever in my life, or yours? Admit it, you've never been so satisfied, have you?"

"I have to admit, no. I love you more than you know, that's why I don't want anything to happen."

Elizabeth tossed the magazine and wrapped her arms around him. "What's going to happen? You're going to plan it. I can't be more excited. I haven't pulled a scam with you."

"This will be the only time it will happen, and I have no idea why I'm doing this." Methos shook his head and laid it on Elizabeth's shoulder, snuggling in. "I could, you know, just go to the guy and pay him for it."

"What's the fun in that?"

"I'd keep my head."

"Oh, come on. Gloomy Gus. This is going to be fun. Come up with something good, we'll pull the caper, and then get Claire, put our heads together with Amy about where we're going to live, move there, and be happy."

"You got that all planned."

"Of course. My dream. The three of us, next to the four of them, all nice and safe." Planting a kiss on Methos and rubbing his head, she said, "I've done many things with you, and can't wait to do more, but I've never pulled a scam with you, that you planned. It'll be perfect, I know it. It's also a good way to pay back Amanda for being such a good friend. Maybe her and Duncan will want to move near us. It would be great to have us all together again like in Seacouver... how many years has it been?"

Methos sounded groggy when he murmured with a yawn, "Doesn't matter to me."

"Just this once. Let's do this. Just once. Get it out of my system. I'll plan life, you plan break ins. Deal?

"An uneventful life that's full of love, laughter, and raising Claire in a safe environment in on the horizon, right?"

"That's what we truly want."

Methos smiled and kissed her, and said without a lick of regret. "Deal."

~~~~~

Duncan trudged onto the deck of the barge about a mile from where he normally moored it, having gone in the wrong direction from its normal docking place and having to backtrack after walking about 3 miles. "Didn't even park it near concrete." He yelled at the sky, "Had to find the only sink hole in Paris to dock my barge near?"

Duncan took his key out of his trenchcoat and moved to the door, thinking a nice, long, hot shower and a phone call to Amanda would work out his tense shoulders. He almost butted his nose into the door when he realized that his key hadn't unlocked the door. He stepped back to get moonlight on the subject, and perused his five keys on the ring. The key had fitted into the lock, so it had to be the right one. He tried it again. It went in, but it didn't unlock the door. Grunting, Duncan stepped back and wondered why in the hell Methos changed the lock and didn't tell him. Thinking Methos probably didn't want an irate intruder at the hotel, Duncan knew the correct key had to be here somewhere. It was just a scavenger hunt. Where would Methos leave it, Duncan wondered as he stroked the stubble on his chin. Never having had a welcome mat before, the tufty tan one at the door called his attention. Lifting it, Duncan found not one, but two keys. A note read, "The other one is for Amanda, of course, although I'll let you choose who you give your key to."

"Gee, thanks," Duncan murmured, envisioning all the ways he'd punch Methos senseless next time he saw him. He used the key to enter his drifting abode, and fumbled for the light switch. Being pitch black inside and not finding the switch right off made Duncan wonder if Methos had by chance redecorated and did heavy construction to the barge. He realized his hand was hitting a piece of cloth, so he pulled it out from the wall and flipped on the light switch.

The cloth turned out to be a long, narrow piece of MacLeod tartan with scarlet felt lettering haphazardly stitched that spelled out, "Welcome home, Highlander."

Duncan did a quick look at his barge and let out a relieved sigh that everything seemed to be as he left it, although there were felt scraps on the table. To his surprise, though, he spotted a chilling bottle of vintage Chardonnay in an ice bucket, where most of the ice had melted, and one of his wineglasses on the kitchen counter. There was a note that read, "Glad you found home. Enjoy. Oh, had to make sure it wouldn't fall off the counter during the move."

Relieved that there wasn't anything seemingly wanky about this, Duncan pulled the wine bottle out of the bucket, jiggled it to allow the water to run off, and opened it with a corkscrew in the drawer under the counter. He grabbed the wineglass to pour himself a glass, but came away empty handed. Thinking he just wasn't paying attention to what he was ding, he tried again. The wineglass wouldn't move, as it was solidly glued to the counter. He tried the bucket. It too wouldn't move. Gnawing dread took over Duncan's mind as he tried to move the toaster, the wine rack, the blender, and a vase that Amanda usually had filled with fresh flowers, that were all on the back counter by the fridge. None of them moved. "METHOS!"

Everything sitting on coffee table, the night stand, and the shelves had his attention, and he almost didn't want to check to see if Methos had really been so thorough in this unfunny prank. Sure enough, Methos had been a busy little bee. Almost everything was glued down. Instead of letting anger take him over, Duncan sank down onto his leather couch and started to chuckle. It had been a long time since he and Methos had a light-hearted relationship. Too many things over the past year had made that almost impossible. This could be Methos' attempt at getting back to that type of friendship. He looked at his watch to see just how late it was. He'd wait for a bit. He wanted to make sure Methos would be fast asleep before he paid him a call.

After a hot shower and a call to his wife, Duncan made sure there was a bite in his voice as soon as Methos answered his call. "Very funny, old man." Duncan realized that his voice sounded as if he had made an immortal challenge, and grinned with pleasure.

Groggily, Methos cleared his throat and murmured, "Hm?"

"What did you use? Crazy glue? Wood glue? Contact cement? Elmer's?"

It seemed to Duncan that Methos was in the midst of waking up and it was dawning on him who had called. He made a lot of sound in the middle of the night as he approached consciousness. "Ah," Methos said finally, brightly. "Mac. How ya doing?"

Milking his awful night as best he could, Duncan pouted to make his tone of voice just whiny enough. "First of all, I have mud up to my knees, I spent an hour looking for a way into my barge without having to break a window-"

"The key was under the mat."

"Yes, the mat," Duncan continued snippily for Methos' benefit. He knew Methos just might be feeling bad about what he did. "Good look. Did you pick it out? Remind me never to hire you as decorator. Thanks for the warm wine. And oh! I sip from the glass as it was STUCK TO MY COUNTER!"

"Mac. Come on. It was a joke."

"Just like gluing all my CD's to the shelf? The bottom of the beer bottles in my fridge? My electric shaver to the sink?"

"Thoughtful of me, wasn't it?"

"Profoundly. All I have to say is just you wait, my friend."

Duncan hung up wondering what he could do in response. Ball was now in his court. Duncan kicked his leather slippers off, slunk into bed, and went to pick up the remote to watch a bit of TV for falling to sleep. Trouble was, the remote wouldn't move. "I think I like him better when we're arguing," Duncan grunted, turning up the plotting in his head to really get Methos back but good.

~~~~~

Elizabeth felt the moving of the bed as Methos hung up the phone and spooned her and muttered, half asleep, "Who was that?"

"Someone who needs a sense of humor. Don't give it a thought."

"Sometimes, my love, your humor is hard to comprehend."

It seemed like she had fallen asleep in Methos' arms for only a minute when the phone rang again. This time when she opened her eyes, she was on her side facing Methos, still asleep, and the golden glow of dawn was filtering through the drapes. Since the phone was on his side of the bed, she nudged Methos and closed her eyes again.

Methos grumbled as he flopped over to get the phone. "MacLeod, I'll take care of it. All right? I'll get someone to clean it up."

There was a pause, the Methos sounded surprised when he asked, "Joe? What the hell do you want?"

Soon, there was a chilly nudge at Elizabeth's shoulder. She opened her eyes to see he was tapping the receiver at her. "For me?"

"He wants to talk to you. Don't take anything he says seriously. I'm sure MacLeod was up all night coming up with something to top me. I'm surprised he got Joe into it."

"Joe?" she asked, sitting up in order to make herself wake up, ready for whatever he'd say and knew that it could be a plot against them. She wasn't too pleased when Methos told her what had taken him most of the day to Duncan, but from hearing Methos tell it, it was funny at the time.

"Hey Liz. Sorry to wake you up, but it's important," Joe said gravely.

"All right. Well, I'm awake now. What's up that couldn't wait another hour or so until breakfast?"

"Guy just called me. It's bad."

The thought that they could have brought her love for Amy into this macho cat fight made Elizabeth bristle. "Look, you fellas have fun. Leave me out of it."

She handed the receiver to Methos and was going to turn over and try to get back to sleep for a little while longer, but heard Joe say, "Liz, listen to me. This isn't a joke."

Putting the receiver back to her ear, Elizabeth listened to Joe say, "Sorry I was part of it yesterday. I really am. This is family and you have to listen."

"What is it?"

"Amy needs you. You and Methos have to go back to New York."

"Why?" Elizabeth asked guardedly.

Joe sighed and his voice cracked when he said, "Katie needs a transplant. A kidney. Amy's at the end of her rope. I'm leaving on the next plane. I'd like to be able to tell her you're coming with me."

Elizabeth's heart sunk, but was still on guard. "Very funny."

"This isn't a joke."

"Yeah, right. Like they know who my husband is."

"Liz, I'm not kidding. Amy needs you. Look, call Claire if you don't believe me."

"You got Claire into this?"

"Joey's been missing Claire and needs a friend too. My family needs all the help they can get."

"If this is a joke, not funny."

"A kidney? She's that sick?"

"Yes! I'm not joking! Claire and Amanda are on their way from the Big Easy and I'm going to pick up Mac in about five minutes to fly back to New York. Should we get two more tickets?"

"We'll be packed up and at Orly in..." Elizabeth caught Methos' grimace. This wasn't a joke, she just knew it. "An hour."

Joe said, "Thanks, Liz. See you then," and he hung up.

Elizabeth got out of bed as Methos groaned. "It's a-"

"That's what you're going to find out while I pack us up just in case it's true."

"Who am I to call?"

"Guy. Now. Joe said Katie needs a kidney and Amy's frantic. She needs me. If there's any chance this is true, I'm on that plane with Joe and Duncan."

Methos sat on the edge of the bed and dialed Guy Barstow's cell number, going through operators that tested his nerves. When Guy finally answered, he sounded tired. Methos asked right away, "What's Katie's condition?"

There was a strained sigh in response. Methos could tell that either Guy was a first class actor or he was tired after an extremely long day. "She's so weak. It's tough to watch your baby struggle."

"Where's Amy?"

"Finally getting some sleep. I'm not going to wake her."

"Why the hell didn't you let us know it was this serious?" Methos almost yelled. He could tell that Elizabeth read his face that this was no joke. She tensed up and looked like she was crying as she threw everything into suitcases and backpacks.

"Amy didn't want to ruin your trip. I tried to get her to call before, but it was just today we got word that she needs a transplant. That's when I called Joe. Is he on his way? Joey's been asking."

"We're all on our way. When Amy wakes up, tell her we're on a plane."

"Thanks, Dan. She's at St. Luke's."

Methos hung up and went to pull on his jeans, that were laying on the floor by the bathroom door, but Elizabeth swooped down and tossed them into a suitcase. "I gotta wear something."

"They're dirty. I'll worry about it in New York," Elizabeth voiced, still throwing whatever she found at the suitcase, missing most of the time.

Methos stopped her frenzy and pulled her into his arms. "It'll be all right," he whispered as he rubbed her head and shoulder to calm her.

"How? A transplant? The odds of finding..."

Elizabeth collapsed against him and cried, "Why didn't she tell me?!"

"No need to ask that now. We know and we're going back."

"We're not going to get anywhere until we pack, dress, and get our ass to the airport."

Methos smiled at her and kissed her, then brushed the tears from her cheeks. "It will be all right."

"How do you know?"

He shrugged. "I don't. I just think getting worked up before we get all the facts is prudent."

"That's why Katie's been so tired and listless. Probably why she's still so small. A kidney... God, Methos. I child has to die in order for Katie to live."

"That's not true. You can live with one kidney. It'll be all right."

Elizabeth turned on him. "If you say that one more time... Get dressed and let's haul ass!"

"Yes, ma'am," Methos said, with a bit of a chuckle. He had to make sure their mood stayed up for the long flight home or else they could all wallow in fear. Only for an instant, Methos allowed himself to wonder what shape he'd be in if Claire got such a prognosis. Before he could get worked up, he got his mind of finding something to wear that Elizabeth hadn't locked in the first filled suitcase.

To be continued