THE ELIZABETH SERIES

CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE

IMAGINE

by JoLayne

RATING: PG

CHARACTERS: M, D, A, Amy, Joe, W, OC's Elizabeth, Claire, Guy, Joey, Nick, Megan

SUMMARY: Joe has answers to get and give.

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.

~~~~~

APRIL 8, 2013

NEW YORK CITY

"Have another," Duncan said, when Methos was about to get up to leave.

"You buying?" Methos asked.

"I have all night. Why should now be any different?"

Methos sat back down on his stool he had been positioned at for the past three hours. From how Duncan had explained it over the course of their taste testing all the ales, lagers, and light beers Big Apple's Brewery and Grill had to offer, Elizabeth had every right to be a bit ticked at him, so Methos wasn't in the mood to get back to a harangue about how unfeeling he was to have almost knocked her over getting as far away as he could from the newly pre-immortal Katherine Rose Barstow. Methos did, however, have to take a leak. When Duncan flashed a peace sign, indicating two more of the same, to the bartender, Methos just had to step in.

"MacLeod," Methos said in a tone that indicated some sort of the lesson had to be taught. "I know you grew up with palatable... passable... ale in Scotland and had chose the road of wine connoisseur instead of investigating the nuances and degree of potency of various beers the world has to offer, but if you think I'm going to slug down another Chelsea Light, you are even more insane than I sometimes guess you are." Methos looked to the bartender and said, "Since he's paying," Methos indicated his companion with a toss of his head, "Let me try the big gun."

"Woodlawn Stout?" the bartender asked. "Not many have the stomach for it, it's quite rich."

"That sounds right up my alley." Methos winked at Duncan, then headed for the bathroom.

As he was waiting for two huge men at the urinals to finish, Methos leaned against the brick wall and couldn't shake the gnawing guilt that had infested his soul since feeling Katie's new hum. To think, all it took was a body part to make someone immortal. Alexa could still be alive and kicking today. Why hadn't he thought of that before!? When he had tossed that lapse of imagination from his mind, he thought again of Alexa. As Immortal. He grimaced to think she could have been beheaded by now even if he had found a way to make her immortal. One never knew what cards will be dealt to you. Methos could have taught her all he could. The tigress within her that fought so valiantly against the cancer that finally ravished her could have been an asset, or a hindrance. Now that he thought about it, Alexa didn't really take orders, which Methos saw in the mirror opposite him had brought a smile to his face. She didn't take any guff, but could she have met a challenge? Methos liked to think the fragile Alexa could surprise everyone and take care of her head, but could he have trusted his with her, like he could with Elizabeth? He had put his faith, and head, in Elizabeth's hands that very day, and it was still firmly attached to his shoulder casing. For that, he was grateful. The only thing was that he couldn't shake the thought that the overpowering dream that had gnawed at him for months seemingly meant nothing. There wasn't even a female doctor attending him and Katie during the operation. He had to think what it all meant and come to understand what his psyche was trying to tell him, but first he had to piss. When one of the seven foot tall, approximately 300 pound monster stepped back from the longest leak Methos had to listen to, Methos slipped past him to relieve himself.

"Hey, shortie," Methos heard a low growl behind him. Could that voice have been directed at him? He didn't ever recall being referred to as 'short.' For an instant, Methos was frozen, wondering what the ogre wanted to say, and not being able to go. It seemed that all sound stopped in the small bathroom, and Methos caught the glance of the other huge guy still at the other urinal. He didn't see him eye to eye, more like eye to mid forearm. Since there was only the three of them in there, Methos had a guess that the 'shortie' remark was made to him. Methos hesitantly looked back, zipping up slowly, ready for whatever the big guy was going to give him. Probably a snide remark about not being manly enough because he wasn't as big as a boat or some other macho bullshit. Methos was ready. He turned to the guy ready, balling his fist in preparedness. It was a wonder what a lot of beer under your belt could do with your courage.

"Yeah?" Methos grunted.

"Sorry I dibbled a little there. Careful so you don't slip," the man said in a low, what for him might actually be normal, tone of voice. He turned and walked out of the bathroom.

Methos, wondering if this was some sort of trick, gazed up at the other fellow, just zipping up. There was no meeting of the eyes, or even a hint of wanting to check Methos out for any reason. He just stepped to the mirror and fluffed his blond hair, then walked out.

When Methos was alone in the bathroom, he was grossed out. He turned back to do his business, making sure he didn't touch anything in the vicinity of those two morons who didn't even pretend to wash their hands. He wouldn't even touch the doorknob.

Methos finished and zipped up, only to turn his foot and slip. On the floor, he immediately felt liquid on his ass and his hands. "A little?!" Methos was surrounded. Flicking his hands, urine flying off them, Methos groaned in disgust, feeling like he had fallen into a sewer.

~~~~~

"Come on, one more dance," Elizabeth urged, grabbing Amanda's arm before she could leave the dance floor.

"I hate this song," Amanda said, taking Elizabeth's hand and maneuvering them between the masses dancing as the next song started up. "Why oh why did N*SYNC feel the need to get back together? I wonder if Mac's back."

When they got through the throng, Elizabeth shrugged. "So what? They left us at the hospital, Claire's fine upstairs, we can do what we like tonight."

Amanda wiped a pearl of sweat from her brow and looked in the direction of a whistle, with a bright smile. "It's been ages since I've been whistled at!" Amanda had to yell to be heard over the sirens that started blaring.

Elizabeth wondered if the cops arrived to break up the party, but realized with the emergence of flashing red, white, and blue lights that it was part of the discotheque's ambiance. She could never have guessed that when Amanda mentioned getting a glass of wine at the hotel before settling in, and waiting for their men to come home, Elizabeth would find a full-fledged party bar in a swanky hotel. Well, you see it all in the big city. She also realized that she might be feeling every one of her 181 years with how much she was suddenly getting a headache from being a bystander and not in the thick of it all on the dance floor. The sight of three sets of drinks on their table caught her attention. "Where did these come from? Did someone else take our table while we were dancing?"

Amanda leaned into her and pointed at two blonds at the bar, bopping their heads to the beat and smiling at them. "I think they're from them."

"Three vodka gimlets for each of us?"

"They're not vodka gimlets. They're Manhattans."

"Three?"

"I guess they want to get us drunk and have their way with us." Amanda sat down and sipped one, tossing a smile and nod to them. She took another sip and appeared to enjoy it.

"How much have you had?" Elizabeth asked her as she sat down next to her.

"Not enough. You know? You're right. I really feel the need to just... blast open. I'm in such a good mood. Katie's going to be okay. I'm going to adopt a child. Mac loves me. I have great friends, a lot of money. What could be better?"

Those were good reasons to celebrate. If she just gave it a chance, she could forget the fact that her husband ran away from her at the hospital without a word and have some fun. Elizabeth peered at the drinks and took a sip of one. "What's in a Manhattan, anyway?"

"Your fav," Amanda said, still smiling at the those guys. "Whiskey. They probably saw you order that whiskey-coke when we came in and thought you deserved something better."

"Nothing's better than good whiskey Coke."

"That's a man's drink."

Elizabeth laughed. "Well, I like men and I like whiskey-Cokes."

The two guys, who looked in their fifties trying to look in their twenties, put their heads together and then got off their stools. Elizabeth looked at Amanda, who was starting to giggle when they walked to their table.

"Amanda? Do not invite them to our table."

"Why on earth would I do that?"

Elizabeth, now not in the partying mood, slapped Amanda's leg lightly. "Don't do that."

"What?"

"Your smile an open invitation to them and they'll come over."

"I can't help how my smile is interpreted by schmucks. Look at them. They're so far into a mid-life crisis, it's almost sad. I was trying not to laugh at their ridiculously tight pants. Look, one of them popped a zipper." Amanda collapsed into a fit of giggles and leaned against Elizabeth as if to steady herself from falling over.

Elizabeth put down the Manhattan, which was too bitter for her taste, and wondered why she wasn't ever hit on by a Greek adonis type. Just these two fragile egos or that one guy at the bar when she met Methos that time. She couldn't even remember what he looked like, actually. All she saw was her husband.

"Hey, girls," the one that probably thought himself the leader of the two artificially blond middle aged mortals said with a goofy smile that reminded Elizabeth of Steve Martin's wild and crazy guy from SNL many decades ago.

"Hey yourself," Elizabeth immediately said when Amanda started a new eruption of laughter. "Why don't you give these Manhattans to someone as desperate as you are? Okay?"

Elizabeth got up and yanked Amanda off her chair, then tried to figure out where the exit was.

The other blond pouted and said, "That's not nice."

"Sorry. That's all I got, dude," she said, finding a sliver of lobby light to her left. "Best of luck," she said as she pulled Amanda to the left. They were thankfully in a throng, so the man couldn't follow. Before long, Elizabeth lost Amanda. She had started dancing with a tall black man, who was rubbing his hand down her leg as she was gyrating with her arms in the air.

"If Mac could see you now," Elizabeth whispered to her, and gave her a look that indicated, 'Yes, I'm a killjoy. I'm leaving and please follow me.'

When she reached the tranquil lighting of the lobby, Elizabeth was relieved that the only music in the air was the 'elevator' music on the PA. Amanda was right behind her. "I'm sorry if you were having fun and needed company, but I had to get out of there. Maybe I'm getting too old."

"What? You kidding? That wasn't my type of place either."

"Looked like you were having fun."

Amanda shrugged. "I try to find some fun wherever I am."

"Everyone in there was either 160 years younger than I am, or want to be. Both silly."

"Totally agree." Amanda started for the elevator. "Why don't we call down for a good bottle of bubbly and celebrate in private the success of the day."

"Really? You don't want to do anything else?"

"Like what?"

"Go dancing?"

"With you?" Amanda humphed and giggled. "You're not my type, Liz. I just thought we could have a drink and pass the time until," she said looking at her watch, "the guys get back. I bet they are. Why don't we get that bubbly and all four of us toast to Katie and Meth... Daniel?"

"Sounds like a plan."

As they got on the elevator, Amanda moaned. "I want my man... they have to back by now. It's been hours."

"They have to be."

They weren't. They arrived at Elizabeth's suite to find Claire asleep curled up on the sectional couch with a book in her lap and MTV on the boob tube. Amanda, under the pretense of not wanting to wake Claire, made a fast goodbye and said she'd wait for Duncan in their suite.

Elizabeth had to turn off the television, as the music was the same as what she left. When she did, Claire's head popped up and she said, "I was watching that."

"Right. Go to bed."

Claire yawned and looked around. "Where's Dad?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"Huh?"

"He and Duncan went to... do some errands and Amanda and I came back here."

"You said that before." Claire looked at her watch and yawned again. "That was hours ago."

"They're still doing them."

"You didn't fight, did you?" Claire asked in an almost 'please don't tell me you're fighting' look.

"No. Of course not. It's just that your dad and Duncan haven't really spent much time together for a while, and I'm sure they're talking, or something." The thought that they were at some sort of nightclub without her and Amanda made Elizabeth not want to go there. Before she could get upset about where they were and what they were doing and why they took off so fast, she hustled Claire off to bed with another stifling yawn from her daughter.

Now that it was totally quiet and she was totally alone, Elizabeth wondered if she should go out looking for Methos. Knowing it was a big city out there, she didn't have the foggiest about where to look, so she searched around the suite for a note or clue. When she couldn't find one, she made herself a whiskey-coke and stepped out onto the balcony hoping to find Methos and Duncan coming home at that moment.

Leaning over the brick balcony wall, she didn't realize just how far up they were. Twelve stories is a ways up, and she got a bit dizzy leaning over the edge. She stepped back and realized that she was cold. She went into the suite to get her coat, and thought that when Methos and Duncan came back, she'd feel their buzz. Gripping her coat around her and taking sips of her drink to warm her up, Elizabeth stepped back out onto the balcony to look out at the city she had always loved.

One hour and another whiskey-coke later, Elizabeth felt an immortal and got herself off the deck chair she was sitting in to look over the balcony. The suite door opened and Methos walked in. "Oh, you came that way."

Methos, looking curious, dropped the suite door keycard on the bureau and walked toward her. "How other way would I come?" He chuckled as he came out onto the balcony and said, "Do a Spiderman and climb up the side of the building?"

Elizabeth's head was foggy, and decided to just ignore what she said. She instantly fell against Methos and held him, thankful he was home. She felt even better when he wrapped his coat around them both and held her, gently swaying back and forth.

Elizabeth pulled back. "God. You smell like a sewer."

"Don't ask," Methos groaned. "Long, uninteresting story. Where's Claire?"

"In bed."

Methos looked around and shut the balcony door and turned to Elizabeth. "I have something pretty big to tell you."

"And you have to tell me out here?" Elizabeth realized she was chilly, now that she had experienced warmth in Methos' arms.

"I don't want Claire to hear."

A little bit scared at what he could possible have to say without Claire hearing, Elizabeth steadied herself and finished the last of her drink. Methos obviously didn't know how to say what he needed to say and paced a bit before blurting out, "Katie's pre-immortal."

It took a bit for that news to sink in, but when the cloud of a liquored buzz parted, Elizabeth gasped, "Oh, my God..."

"Yeah," Methos said with an ironic sigh. "All the gods..."

"How? Why? Was... Why did that make you push me away at the hospital?"

"I was thinking about something else. I'm sorry."

"Because you gave her a kidney, Katie's going to be immortal now?"

Methos shrugged. "Pretty good guess. Her hum is as strong as Claire's."

With the bizarre news, a chill shot through Elizabeth's body and suddenly felt free and happy. "I want to give Amy a kidney! My God! Why didn't we ever think of this before?"

"You can't do that," Methos said, taking her arm when she moved to the door. "It won't work."

"Why not? We'll be friends forever then. We're like sisters, family!"

"They don't even know what all is involved with this. Amy's a mortal. As much as she's around us, she has no idea what we do, why we do things, what we think..."

"I'll teach her."

"Lizzie, she's mortal. She... Katie didn't ask for this. She's been turned into something she wasn't supposed to be. You can't ask that for Amy, too."

"We're not insects, Methos."

"Of course not, but we're not mortal, either."

"I was for 32 years. I still remember it. I can help Amy and Katie through the transition."

"So Amy will gratefully take what you give her? Everlasting life to watch her husband and son die?"

"She might have to do that anyway. She's already seen one husband die." Elizabeth suddenly had a wonderful idea and declared, "We can give them-!"

"Give Guy and Joey body parts, too? How about Joe? And by the gods, who else? We only have so many kidneys to spare! Come back to earth, Lizzie." He laughed. He shook his head as he said, "It's a good dream, but..."

Elizabeth wouldn't be swayed. "I'm going to get that doctor. Maybe he hasn't left town yet."

"No, you're not!" Methos sat Elizabeth down on the deck chair and bent over to tell her, "Amy wouldn't stand a chance as an immortal. She's pushing forty years old, if she's not already there. Forty mortal years is a long time, especially for a female. She could be sought out by an immortal and lose her head faster than if she was hit by a bus as a mortal. You can't do that to her. Let her die an old woman in her sleep. That's what's supposed to happen to her."

Elizabeth was surprised. "Is that a premonition?"

"Best case scenario."

"I could offer it to her anyway."

"No, you can't! Then you'd have to tell them about Katie. They can't know Katie's a premmie."

"You're insane."

"No, I'm not!"

"Why on earth can't they know? She's their daughter! They have to raise her, safely."

"Besides, they're Watchers, they can't know. They might slip and tell her. Katie cannot know, just as Claire can't."

"Like Chuck Montgomery, you mean?" The thought of the horse hand they'd hired in California, who found out about immortality and is own pre-immortal status made him commit suicide to become one of them. He ended up going insane and taking Duncan hostage, burying him, after he was taken away from Elizabeth, who he had fixated on.

Methos shrugged with a grimace.

"Katie wouldn't kill herself to be immortal, neither would Claire."

"Think not? It's a powerful drug. Everlasting life. Be like mom and dad. How can we know for certain?"

They sat in silence as Elizabeth's mind whirled in awe of what is in store for that little girl. Amanda wanted a child, and here was a pre-immortal right in front of them. "Does Amanda and Duncan know?"

"I told MacLeod."

"How come you could tell him but I can't tell Amy? I think Amy's got more to do with this."

"Amy is a mortal. Completely different animal from us. Get that through your head."

"Fine. Okay. Okay."

Methos seemed to relax with the news that Elizabeth wasn't going to go rushing to this hospital to line up another kidney transplant or tell her that her two year old daughter was going to outlive her by centuries. A lingering question needed to be answered. "Why did you push me away earlier?"

"I said I was sorry."

"I know you're sorry. That wasn't what I asked. I want to know why."

Methos took in a great sigh and said, "Alexa."

"Who?" As soon as she asked it, she knew. Elizabeth was reminded of the woman Methos thought so much of that he indicated the date of her death in Pyrius' journal. "Oh. Alexa? What about her?"

"I had the strong reminder that I could have saved her if I gave her a kidney and it didn't sit right."

"So you pushed me away? What did I have to do with it?"

"I knew you might act like this and I didn't want to deal with it at the time."

"Like what?"

"Like you've been betrayed or something."

"Well... The mere thought of her was enough to carry you away from me on a day that we should be celebrating together! Katie's going to fine, more than fine, and you saved her and still have your head, the dream didn't happen! Thank GOD! Why didn't you feel the need to spend the day with me? Were you talking about how wonderful Alexa was with Duncan, because he knew her, and reliving the good old days?"

Methos spat at her, "Yeah, that's exactly what we were doing."

Even knowing now it was a stupid assumption, Elizabeth just had to ask, "Do you think about her often?"

"No. Another reason it hit me so hard."

"How hard did her memory hit you?"

"Liz..."

"I can't ask questions, I can't comfort you... Well, what can I do?"

"Nothing." Methos walked heavily to the balcony wall and leaned against it.

Elizabeth had never felt so left out in their marriage since Methos drove away with Claire in Kent. "I can do that well. I'm going to bed." She yanked at the doorknob of the balcony door, but it was stuck. She yanked harder to figure out it was locked. Sighing, she looked to Methos. "Do you have a keycard?"

After a beat, he muttered, "No."

"Well, good job, Sherlock. You locked us out of the suite!"

"It can't be locked. What kind of idiot establishment would put a lock on a balcony door!?"

Elizabeth stepped aside as Methos charged for the door to find it was as locked as she said it was. "Maybe an establishment that doesn't want a burglar to get in and rob, rape, or murder their guests?"

"I don't believe this," Methos moaned, looking up at the top and bottom of the door and yanking at the knob again. He pounded his fist on the wood of the glass door and yelled, "Claire! Come here and open the door!"

Elizabeth thought that was the best chance and joined him pounding at the door and yelling for Claire to wake up. After a few minutes, she slammed her fist at the glass, but only came away with bruised knuckles.

Methos said, "Break the glass. Good idea." He punched at the glass, but came away from it shaking his fist, which was as red as hers. He looked around and grabbed the deck chair, but slipped when he found it was bolted to the concrete and brick floor.

Elizabeth picked up the glass from her drink and threw it at the door as hard as she could. The drink glass shattered, but the glass on the door stood strong. Methos inspected the glass of the door and declared, "This must be bullet-proof glass." He stepped back from the door and yelled to the heavens, or gods of the hotel, "What kind of hotel would lock their guests on the balcony?!"

The ivy covering the edge of the door was knocked away by Methos to reveal a keycard swipe. He fumbled through his pockets, but Elizabeth remembered him putting his on the table. When he returned to pounding at the door for Claire, Elizabeth looked above them to the line of balconies above them. If they had rope, they might be able to get up and hope someone is staying in the room above them, but they didn't. She looked back over the balcony to the ground. It seemed like an even longer drop than it did earlier. Methos joined her at the balcony wall. "Any ideas?"

"I have one," Elizabeth said.

"Let me have it."

"One of us jumps. When you revive, you can tell the doorman we need a keycard for our balcony door."

"When I revive? It was your idea."

"I'm the brains of the operation. You're the monkey."

"I'm not a monkey."

"I thought you've been many things."

"I've never been a monkey."

"There's always the first time."

"Another idea, please?"

Before Elizabeth could even think of one, Methos was waving his arms and yelling to the ground. "Hey! Up here! We're stuck on the balcony!"

Elizabeth looked down to see a young couple walking on the sidewalk. She yelled as loud as she could too. "HEY! UP HERE!"

The couple seemed to pause, but then walked on. "We're too high up. They can't hear us," Elizabeth moaned, thinking they'd freeze to death inches away from heat.

Methos looked at her, then at her coat that she wrapped tighter around her as the shivers came from knowing she was out in the cold for good. "You have your coat."

"Yeah. So do you."

"But I put my keycard on the table over there," he motioned inside the suite. He started fumbling through her pockets.

Elizabeth let him go through the motions, but said, "It's in my purse, probably next to the table you put your keycard upon."

"Why do you keep it in your purse?"

"Where else would I keep it?"

"In your pocket."

"You don't."

Methos grunted and looked around for another way of rescue. Elizabeth suddenly remembered something and felt a bit warmer. She chuckled with the way out of there. Methos didn't take her chuckle well. He paced the balcony, trying to lift anything he could. The wrought iron table, the chairs, a pot with dirt in it, but they were all bolted down. He hollered down and waved his arms again to no avail. He glared at her. "Why aren't you helping?"

"I was just watching the master at work. Since you know best and lecture me about who I should or shouldn't tell what, I thought you'd come up with something."

Methos grunted again, his look boring holes in her.

Elizabeth smiled and pulled a cell phone from her back clip of her jeans and flipped it open. When she noticed the message indicator, she smiled, "Oh, I missed a call while I was at the nightclub."

"You were at a nightclub?"

"You weren't the only one out most of the day." She clicked some buttons and turned away from Methos to see a number she didn't recognize having called her. Wanting to milk Methos' frustration a bit longer, especially when he was goading her into calling Duncan to get his ass over there to get them out of there, she clicked the return call button and held it to her ear. After four rings, she got a computer voice telling her that the voicemail hadn't been set up yet.

When Methos started to light into her again, she yelled, "All right! I'll take care of rescuing us. Hold your shorts on," and then called Duncan's cell. "They might be in the middle of things, you know, and not answer the phone." Elizabeth didn't know why, but she felt a bit of glee telling Methos, "Two blonds at the club got Amanda pretty wound up and Duncan might be reaping the benefits."

"What two blonds?"

"Oh, the two who bought us drinks. Manhattans, I believe they were."

"You let some guy buy you drinks?"

"What could I do? I didn't have you there to tell me I shouldn't."

"Knock it off."

Amanda answered the phone with a cheery hello. "Amanda?" Elizabeth asked over the phone, turning away from Methos. "Superman over here got us locked on the balcony. Can you come over and rescue us?"

Elizabeth flipped shut the phone and said, "Mighty Mouse is coming to save the day."

Methos stepped forward. "Liz. I don't tell you what you should or shouldn't do, but you can't tell Amy."

"Knock it off," she said, stepping away from him to wait for Amanda. After silence and a lot of thought, Elizabeth told Methos, "I'll do what I want."

"Liz, don't do anything stupid."

"Oh yes! Keep reminding me that I shouldn't do something stupid, because I'm so apt to do just that at the drop of a hat!"

"You know what I mean."

"Stupid like what?"

"Like you know what."

The cell phone rang, giving Elizabeth a good excuse to not continue what could be a bad conversation with Methos. She looked at the incoming call number to see it's not Amanda, probably telling her she couldn't find the spare room keycard. It was the same number that she returned the call of. She answered it. "Hello?"

There was no response, so she repeated, "Hello?"

A surprised male voice asked, "Elizabeth?"

"Yes... who's this?"

Pause.

She asked again, "Hello?"

"It's Warren. How are you?"

"I'm..." Elizabeth could tell him a lot of what she was, with Methos standing with a stern teacher glance in her direction, but was surprised to hear from Warren, of all people, now. "Fine. How are you?"

"Is Duncan around?"

"Not at the moment."

"Oh."

Pause.

"Warren? How are you?"

Pause.

"Warren? Where are you?"

Click.

Methos asked, "Our Warren? Why is Warren calling you?"

"I don't know, but why not? He can't do that?"

Before Methos answered, the phone rang again. The same number was displayed. "Hello? Warren? We were cut off."

In a much stronger voice, Warren said, "I forgot to say thank you."

"Thank you?" Elizabeth chuckled. "For what?"

"For answering my question, I guess. I need to talk to Duncan. I already tried his cell and the dojo, but there's no answer.

"He sold the dojo. I'm surprised the number is still in use."

"I saw the list of phone numbers of everyone who... you know... and you were at the top of the list."

Elizabeth knew. After they escaped from Shiloh, they exchanged numbers so they could keep in touch about Watcher activity. This worried her. "What do you need to talk to him about? Has something happened?"

"Where are you, Elizabeth?"

"The city."

"Which city?"

"New York. Where are you, Warren? You sound strange."

"Phoenix."

"How are you doing?"

"I have to talk to Duncan. But... Thank you. Good bye."

Ignoring the approach of an immortal, and Methos moving to the door, Elizabeth called the number back. There was no answer. Elizabeth didn't get time to think about how strange that was. It had to be after midnight, even in Phoenix by that time. Why would Warren need to talk to Duncan at that time of night?

Amanda opened the door, and Elizabeth noticed she was wearing a teddy and short white silk robe and fluffy stiletto slippers.

"Were you in the middle of something?" Methos asked.

Amanda shivered as she stepped back from the door rubbing her arms. "How did you get out there?"

"Luck, I guess," Elizabeth said, walking past her and Methos. She went to the door to the hallway, but stopped. "We didn't really interrupt you and Duncan, did we? Is he indisposed at the moment?"

"Quite. Speaking of keys, I wondered where I put the key to those handcuffs."

Methos muttered, "I don't even want to know."

"I can tell Duncan about the phone call in the morning," Elizabeth said, smiling. At least someone was having fun this evening/early morning.

With a quick, "Okay," and a pointed, "You owe me another one," to Methos, Amanda bustled out of the suite.

Before Methos could start in on her about not telling Amy, which she knew he was about to do now that it was quiet and they were both warm inside the suite, Elizabeth grabbed Methos and pulled him into a long, deep kiss, one that she couldn't recall giving him since their second honeymoon. His eyes were glazed over and his face was flush when she pulled back. He looked dumbstruck, which at the moment was exactly how she wanted him. Elizabeth smiled sweetly and said, "I love you very, very much, Methos, love of my life, but I will tell Amy whatever, whenever I want. Good night." With that, she went to the bedroom, entered it, glanced back at him still standing mutely, and shut the door between them.

An hour later, Elizabeth still couldn't sleep. There was nothing to watch on TV, as she had gone through the 200 channels at least three times before giving up and switching to a satellite station. After going up the dial a couple of times, she came to a phone in show called Coast to Coast, where a caller was talking about being able to remote view. It was the process of seeing something that was happening even hundreds of miles away, and sometimes into the future.

The bedroom door opened and Methos walked in wearing only his boxer shorts. He moaned, "I know you probably want to be alone, but I'm not sleeping on the couch." As he pulled up the covers on his side of the bed, he said, "Besides, there's nothing on TV and I'm not tired."

Elizabeth moved over when Methos' knee connected with her calf. He scoffed, "What the hell happened to 'you're my hero', or was that just telling me what I wanted to hear?"

"Going to dream about her? Love those dreams you have."

"You're my dream on earth." Methos' voice did seem sweet, although it may have been because Elizabeth was comparing his tone of voice to the one he used right before. When she sneered, wishing she wasn't in the foul mood she was in, he groaned. "All right, I admit it. I thought about a wonderful woman during a shocking situation and remembered how I failed her and how I almost lost my head trying to save her. To top it all off, I was stupid enough to tell you. Weren't we supposed to have open communication in this marriage?"

"I never thought I'd have to compete with a perfect dead woman. But at least she's dead. That's half the battle."

"What battle? I can't believe you're this jealous."

"Was she stupid, too? Or did you just think she was?"

"She wasn't stupid at all."

"Oh, great. "

"And neither are you. Will you ever grow up?"

Elizabeth jerked her head in his direction behind her, as she had not moved from her placement in the bed facing away from him. "Now I'm a stupid kid. Anything else you want to throw in my direction?"

When Methos tried to spoon her, her knowing he wanted to just forget conversation and maybe she'd forget her anger in his arms, she said, "Think again, big guy."

"You love your compliments, don't you?"

She spat at him in wonder, "Those are compliments? God, I'd hate to hear your insults."

"You're acting like this because you want to hear me say I can't live without you."

Elizabeth had to admit that a compliment such as that would make her feel a bit better.

"Or, you're the best thing that ever happened to me."

Elizabeth didn't flinch when Methos spooned behind her, holding her hands at her chest.

He whispered, "Or, I couldn't think of anyone I'd rather raise a child with."

Elizabeth felt herself lean back against him, letting him hold her tighter and put his leg over her hips, and there wasn't one blessed thing she could do about it. Her body was acting on its own and Elizabeth had to admit to herself that in this mood of Methos', she wasn't the vengeful type at all. She was putty in his hands.

"Or, maybe the biggest one," Methos was no longer whispering, but talking as he peppered her cheek and temple with kisses, "that even if Alexa were alive today, I'd have to choose you over her because you're my soul mate and I'm only alive inside of you."

When his tongue traced the curve from her neck to behind her ear, Elizabeth shuddered and soon they were chest to chest in a passionate clench, kissing each other with ferocity that only sweet words given in the right manner could invoke. Methos slipped on top of her and pulled her hands up over her head. He stared down at her looking as serious as Elizabeth had ever seen him when he said, "I meant every word I said this evening. I love you with all my heart, but you are... a bit rash at times. I know you can do what you want and we may never agree, but Amy and Guy should be kept in the dark. Katie should have as normal life as possible. Mortals fearing every day for her safety, on top of normal parents worrying about their children, wouldn't work. I hope you can see that."

Never mind what she was seeing. What Methos was doing to her with his hips was almost unnerving. A rumble of heat was flowing from the pit of her stomach to her toes with each and every movement his hips and leg spreading hers was performing. To speak would be impossible, but in order to give him the notion that she wasn't going to just obey like a good little wife, she lifted her head and took a hard nibble at his nose. That produced a growl of laughter from him, but then he flinched in pain. His hand was holding his side, where his incision had been to extract his kidney.

"Methos? Are you all right?"

"I don't know," he said as he fell sideways onto the bed, still rubbing his side.

"What's the matter?"

Methos' look of pain stopped, but it was replaced by a look of confusion. "It's gone now. It felt like a searing knife in my side..." He rubbed the side of his back again. "Now nothing. Odd."

"Where you were operated on? Why?" She rubbed her hand over where the incision should have been, but only felt smooth, silky skin.

Methos shrugged. "No idea comes to mind."

"Are you all right now?"

Methos' eyes were wide and oh so innocent. "I think so. In fact..." Methos jumped on top of Elizabeth again and started kissing her ear and cheek. "I think I'm more than okay."

~~~~~

Marcus Wamre waited until it would be the middle of the night and make sure his patient was asleep before switching on the transceiver. The programming of the chip he placed in Daniel Gordon had been a nightmare, and he hoped it would all work. To think, he actually had a literal pulse on an immortal's inner workings... his eyes were closed as he said one more prayer for it all to work, then he turned on the monitor to the data from the transceiver. Wamre's eyes grew wide with the mass of information that flashed on the screen. Ever changing readouts, bits of information changing at record speed. It was like he had just tapped into Fort Knox or something. For all the immortals knew, he had taken a plane back to Europe. He was actually in an apartment across the street from the hotel he knew the Gordons were staying. As the information settled down and readouts of temperature, blood pressure, and heartbeat were displayed, Wamre wondered if it was normal for an immortal's readings to be so high when he had to be fast asleep.

~~~~~

When Methos, Elizabeth, and Claire arrived at the hospital, Amy held Katie gingerly in her arms while Joe was playing I Got Your Nose with his giggling little granddaughter. Joey was in a chair in the corner with a Gameboy. Claire immediately held Katie's foot and tiptoed up to kiss Katie on the temple. "She looks good," Claire commented with a broad smile, then joined Joey with his contraption, on which they seemed to spend hours on end. Methos watched Elizabeth's expression as he knew Katie's preimmortal hum must have hit her and heard her take in a breath.

"Look at my healthy, wide awake daughter," Amy said. She beamed proudly as Katie turned her head and held out her arms to Methos. "Look how strong she is. She's never been this strong." Amy looked to be about in tears as she looked straight at Methos and mouthed 'Thank you.' He nodded you're welcome, as they couldn't talk about such things in front of Claire and Joey. They had no idea that Methos was the one who had donated a kidney for Katie.

Very carefully as to not cause Katie pain, Methos took the little girl, who was now owner of his kidney, and looked into her eyes. It was really the first time he had totally taken her in. He only ever thought she was small for her age and slept a lot. Now he saw that she had beautiful strawberry blond hair, an easy smile, and a determination in her eyes that Methos decided was a great survival instinct. He also decided that the determination had to have come from him.

"The doctors are actually quite amazed by her recovery. She doesn't seem to even feel the scar, but still, be careful of her back," Amy warned, and Methos dutifully adjusted how he was holding her, but then gave her back to her mother after giving Katie a kiss on the forehead.

Methos noticed Joe staring at him, and smiled. Joe tilted his head toward the door of the waiting room, so Methos thought that meant he needed some privacy to tell him how much he appreciated what Methos had done for him and the family. Yes, Methos thought. I can lap up as much praise as they're willing to give. Doesn't come often enough.

Joe told Amy, "We'll just be outside for a minute. Holler if you need anything."

"I have all I need, Dad," Amy beamed at her daughter and hugged Elizabeth with her free arm.

Just as Methos left the waiting room, he felt an immortal signal tickle his neck and turned to see the elevator was about ready to reach their floor. Duncan and Amanda soon exited the elevator, and Amanda almost ran to the waiting room past Methos. He could hear her inside making a great deal about Katie and wanting to hold her. Duncan smiled at Methos, and then patted his shoulder. He looked to Joe and asked, "How's the proud granddad?"

"Couldn't be better," Joe beamed. "Thanks to this guy." Once again, Joe hugged Methos and said, "I don't know how to repay you."

"In the old days," Methos said, flattered with the attention. "Give me your first born was the method of atonement. I don't need that, so just a beer and kind word once in a while would suffice."

"When have I not used a kind word with you?"

"Oh, please."

"When I'm not mad as hell at you, I mean?"

"How about how you think of me in general?" Methos asked. He wasn't ever going to bring this up to Joe, but it just popped into his head and it seemed like the right time to bring it into the open.

Joe looked at him confused. Methos told him, "You probably forget, but I have had access to Watcher database over the years."

"And?"

"I don't care for you've written. While you were Mac's watcher."

"You think I've not written the truth? As best as I can, considering the circumstances?"

Methos chuckled. "I think you've written the absolute truth, Joe, which is what burns me. I wonder if you still feel the same."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Duncan MacLeod," Methos recited. "May he be The One."

"I do," Joe said, then countered, "I did. I mean..."

Methos watched as Joe's head bounced between Methos and Duncan, who looked pretty surprised, yet pleased.

"I do," Joe continued. "Of course I do, and you, Daniel."

As a couple of teenagers walked past them and then down the hall, Methos said, "There can't be two The Ones, Joe."

"That was early on in my reports about him," Joe said.

Methos wished Duncan could wipe that contented look off his face.

Joe continued, "I mean, I watched him. That's a powerful relationship."

Duncan asked, "It is? I mean it is, or was, with us, but is it normal?"

"A Watcher usually takes their assignment seriously. He might admire him, or what to kill him himself. Some marry. It's a close relationship, even though most of the time they may never even speak. A Watcher knows everything about his, or her, immortal. I know everything about Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod, and yes. I want him to survive."

"Be The One?" Methos asked.

"You know what I mean." Joe seemed to be fuming now, but not as much as Methos was.

"No, actually, I don't. I've survived, Joe. Yes, I've done some things I'm not proud of, gods," Methos intoned and thrust a finger towards Duncan. "He's done things he's not proud of. But I survived and I'm still here! If I wasn't, you'd be planning your granddaughter's funeral about now."

"I know that!" Joe was getting hot under the collar. "I wrote those words early on in my career with him."

"When you retired as well. I read your last entry on him, and you repeated that you want him to win it all."

"I didn't know you then. You were a myth, or a above it all grad student."

"This was your 'farewell' entry on him, Joe! You wrote that again after the horsemen, Walker, and MacLeod cutting off Richie's head!"

"Quiet down!" Duncan warned.

"Oh, not wanting to remember killing your student?"

"No. It's with me every single day." Duncan's eyes grew dark. "I can't believe you're this petty. Whatever Joe thinks, I may or may not be The One."

"I'm not talking about how it will all come out. Hell, Claire could be the one for all I know, or ever care. I care about how Joe thinks about me. After that grand hug and 'I don't know how to repay you,' he still doesn't think of me as a friend or even one to root for."

"I do too."

"Daniel," Joe said, again conscious of their surroundings. "I didn't know you then. That's true. Duncan MacLeod was the only one I could think would be the perfect winner of whatever prize the Game is. He's the only one with morals and fighting skills to deserve it. You've opened my eyes." He lowered his voice and zeroed in on Methos. "I'm sorry, Methos. I didn't know... and I haven't really thought about what I wrote in an entry to the database for a very long time."

"Or how you think now?"

Joe tossed out ironically, "The last couple of months, I've had to deal with a sick granddaughter, being kidnaped and almost killed with my best friends, and a renegade immortal. Forgive me for not investigating my feelings for you."

Duncan asked, "A renegade immortal? Who's this? You said you'd keep us informed."

"For what's important," Joe said. How he said it, Methos knew it was important and they should know now. However, this wasn't a matter to discuss in a hallway of a hospital.

"How can that not be important?" Duncan asked.

"See? Morality cop for the immortal world, Joe. Is that the quality that makes him The One?"

"Drop it."

It looked like Duncan didn't want to, and neither did Methos, but not here. He acted as if it wasn't a big deal and said, "Okay. Because you're about the best friend I have in the world, who would rather see someone else win what we've been playing at for thousands of years-"

"Come off it!" Joe wailed.

"I would like to buy you lunch," Methos continued.

Joe was edgy. "Why?"

"Because we're friends, aren't we?"

"Yes. Sure. Okay. It would be good to get out of this place for a while. But I'm buying."

"No problem," Methos said. He turned to Duncan. "Oh, the winner is invited, if you'd like to come."

"I wouldn't miss it." Duncan grinned, then turned when Elizabeth came into the hallway and said, "Oh, hey Duncan, you'll never guess who called me last night."

Duncan chuckled. "I have no idea, but I only know you called at a most inopportune moment."

"Sorry, but," Elizabeth looked at Methos. Methos steeled himself for her to tell them all about his locking them on the balcony, but thankfully, she just shook her head lightly. "Never mind. Warren of all people."

"Warren called?" Duncan asked confused. "Why? Everything all right?"

"I don't know. He just seemed to want to get a hold of you and couldn't. Didn't seem too thrilled to get me."

"Why not?" Joe asked.

Elizabeth paused. "I'm not Duncan? I don't know. Maybe you want to give him a call."

"I will. Thanks," Duncan smiled. "After Joe buys me lunch."

Elizabeth smiled at Joe. "Joe's buying us lunch?"

Methos corrected her, "Joe's buying us lunch," indicating him and Duncan.

"Oh, then you're taken care of. Amanda, Amy, and I were just thinking we'd go down to the cafeteria with the kids while Katie naps. Anyone know where Guy is? Amy hasn't seen him for hours and he might be hungry."

Joe said, "He's working. He'll be back later."

"Work doesn't let up when your daughter's in the hospital?" Elizabeth asked. "Isn't there something you can do about that, Joe? Pull some strings for your son-in-law or something?"

"It's his decision."

Duncan asked, "Is this about that immortal you were going to tell us about?"

"Nah, just... something."

"What?" Methos asked.

Joe seemed surrounded again. There was an uncomfortable silence as Joe was cornered for some reason, but then Joe spouted, "All right! Guy's... planning Methos' surprise party. Okay?"

"My what?" That was the last thing Methos expected to hear.

"For doing this for Katie... we were going to surprise you. Guy's working on it."

"He is?" Methos' mood suddenly became brighter.

Elizabeth asked, "Why didn't you let me in on this?"

"Or me," Amanda said as she came out of the waiting room. "I'm the best party planner there is."

"We wanted to do it. Amy, Guy, and I."

"Do what?" Amy asked as she too came out of the waiting room. "Katie's going to need her nap now. Do what, Dad?"

"That thing. You know."

Amy looked confused, but then said, "Oh that," not quite convincingly. "I'm going to get Katie to her room. I'll be back in a few minutes after she's asleep."

Elizabeth said, "I'll go with you and keep you company. See you guys later."

Amanda, however, didn't follow. "What can I do for the party, Joe? Where will it be? What food are you planning? Will there be entertainment?"

Joe paused a bit, then brightened. "You know, why don't you take over the planning process, Amanda. That way Guy can spend more time with his family."

Amanda whooped. "There's a lot to celebrate. Methos giving Katie-."

"Don't you dare bring me into this," Methos warned. "Claire and Joey don't know I was the donor and they won't."

"Oh yeah." Amanda frowned. "How am I supposed to throw a party for you that can't be a party for you?"

"You'll figure it out, sweetheart," Duncan said, kissing her temple and holding her. "We have faith in you."

"Well, it can be a party for Katie and me!" Amanda decided. "In honor of children. Katie is better and we're going to adopt."

"There's the spirit," Methos said.

Joe said, "Look, I gotta make a phone call and I'll meet you two... where do you want to eat?"

"How about my suite? We can order room service," Methos offered.

"Why your suite?" Duncan asked.

"Privacy, MacLeod." Methos wanted to needle Joe about this immortal and suddenly had an overpowering need to get away from the hospital. He hadn't spent a lot of time in one except when he was a doctor. Spending all that time in hospitals with Alexa was the last time before the mess with Claire getting injured by an immortal and Katie's transplant. It was time to stay away from them again, like normal.

"Ah, yes. That sounds great," Duncan said. "Since you're buying, I'm quite famished."

"I'm on a Watcher salary and my last CD didn't do well, Mac," Joe said with a twinkle in his eye. "Meet you there in an hour or so." After walking a bit down the hallway, he turned to say, "No lobster on that room service menu, is there?"

"No, but the prices for anything would be in that range," Methos said.

"Would it kill ya to stay in a Super 8?"

After Joe had entered the elevator, Methos chuckled and said, "More than likely."

Amanda asked, "Will anyone help me with the party?"

Elizabeth offered, but suddenly, Amanda barreled to the door saying, "Why don't you spend more time with Amy here? I have it in hand. It will be fun. In fact, I'm going to start now." She pecked Duncan on the cheek. "Amy? Liz? Just give me a list of who to invite and I'll take care of it. Any idea how many you'd like to invite? Oh, I'll just go with a hundred and we can always add more later." While Methos' head spun at the number she was going to invite, and how she was going to scrounge up that many people on their behalf, Amanda scurried to the elevator.

~~~~~

Joe arrived on Methos' floor before the others, so he leaned back against the wall of the hallway and tried Guy again. When Joe was still at the hospital, he had tried his son-in-law, but he must have still been on the flight or his cell was dead. That was a possibility, as Guy had to leave in a rush.

Guy answered with the fourth ring. "Joe? Is it Katie?"

"No, Guy. It's... she's just fine. Have you made contact yet?"

"I'm just getting into the rental. I saw you called a half hour ago. I was at the head of the very long line to get cars and didn't want to have to get out of line to talk to you. What's up?"

"Just checking in. You have to play this very carefully now. Remember that-"

"Dad," Guy interrupted. "If you tell me one more time I have to hold my temper and trigger finger, I'm going to use my itchy trigger finger on you next time I see ya."

"You just don't know how to joke." Joe stated evenly, "You have to bring him here alive. If anything happens, it could ruin everything. I've worked too long to repair the damage between me and Mac, you're not going to screw it up."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Since when am I considered violent? I'll bring him back slicker than snot. There's Nick's rental. Call you later."

The bell indicating the elevator's arrival chimed and Joe said, "I gotta go. Keep in touch." Joe closed his phone and acted as if nothing was happening. As the elevator opened and Methos and Duncan came out, Joe, for an instant, wondered what it would have been like to be an immortal and have the sensation of feeling their approach. He also wondered if he would be able to tell the difference between the two; if Methos' would be stronger than Duncan's because of age, or Duncan's might be more powerful according to how many immortals' heads he had taken in the past ten years. "What took you guys so long?"

"Couldn't get a cab, so we decided to walk," Methos said, getting out his key card. "Nice day for it."

"What did you want to talk about, Joe?" Duncan asked when they all entered Methos' suite. "We have things to discuss with you as well."

"And it's not about my bogus party, that was bogus until you got Amanda on the case to arrange it."

"Bogus? Don't know what you're talking about." Joe sat down at the table and started reading the room service menu. The prices were a bit steep, even for a muffin. He looked up at the stone-faced immortals and chuckled. "I'll have to use my bonus to pay for lunch, I'd imagine."

Duncan sat down beside Joe and said, "I'll pay. I want your mind on answering questions."

Methos grinned and looked at the menu. "If he's paying... what will I have?"

"What kind of questions?" Joe asked softly. He didn't want to think that they could actually read minds, and he thought he had covered well about where Guy was.

"Number one," Duncan said. "Where the hell is Guy? I could never believe he'd be planning a party for him while his daughter is recovering from major, life-threatening surgery. What's so important the Watchers made him leave?"

Damn it, Joe thought. He'd have to stall a little so he could get a good answer that didn't involve the truth, because he didn't want to open up that can of worms. Not now. Not when there's probably going to be a resolution and there was celebrating to be done. Joe decided to just get to the point of what he wanted to discuss with the immortals.

Methos said, "This crab apple saffron salad looks tasty and not too filling. Alaskan King Crab, Mac. Saffron. You know that stuff is about 50 bucks a vial? Yep, that looks like a winner."

"Will you knock it off?" Joe said, a bit too harshly when it came right down to it. Methos' eyes widened. It wasn't often Joe surprised Methos and he had a certain thrill when it happened, but that might mean Methos might as questions, which Joe only wanted to deal with one area.

"What's up, Joe?" Duncan asked, and Joe knew he didn't mean with what Joe wanted to bring up. He was concerned about Guy's whereabouts and that rampaging immortal.

Joe cleared his throat and asked, quite honestly, "How are we supposed to raise Katie right, so she'll live, survive, be happy?"

Joe could tell Methos and Duncan weren't too surprised by the question, but Methos, after glancing at Duncan, did ask, "How did you know?"

"That's she's preimmortal?" Joe asked, and then grunted with what he didn't know was pleasure at being right. "I didn't, until now. It was just a possibility that Amy, Guy, and I were talking about last night. It's happened before."

"What has?" Methos quickly asked. "An immortal has donated an organ to a mortal and they turned? Why didn't you ever tell us? When has it happened? How?"

"I don't, can't, tell you everything," Joe stated. "Hell, you had access to the database, you could have seen it. I didn't hide anything from you, if that's what you're getting at. I didn't even think about it until Guy mentioned it. I was worried about Katie to think of the overall."

"When Methos told me," Duncan said. "It never even crossed my mind."

"Obviously, I missed it too, or I could have helped Alexa." Methos seemed like a lost puppy at that point.

Joe knew how Alexa's fight for live and death took a toll on Methos, and Joe wondered if he had ever thanked Methos for making her last days as great as they were. "Methos," Joe started. "About Alexa-"

"Yeah," Methos interrupted. "What about her and her letters? She wrote to you and you never showed them to me?"

"Why should I? You were with her."

"Did she mention me in them?"

"Sure."

"In what way?"

"How grateful she was, how she loved you, what you guys did, stuff like that. Why? What does it matter now?"

"That's what I wanted to know," Duncan said. "You're not really over her yet?"

"Of course I am." Methos seemed to state that definitively, but Joe didn't think he was. How could he not be? His life had grown and changed 180 degrees since Alexa was alive. Before Joe could interrogate him on it, Methos continued, "It's just another failure. I could have saved her. Hell! You could have saved her if you knew and didn't tell me there was a precedent for this."

Joe protected himself, "I didn't know then. Guy found it in the database. He searched for an instance and found three."

"Only two?" Duncan asked. "In all of recorded immortal history, three?"

"Documented. One worked, the other two didn't."

"Why didn't they work?" Methos seemed eager to ask, maybe to find out that it might not have worked with Alexa?

"Rejection in one case, a kidney, so you see? There was a possibility that Katie might not survive and we were worried, but thank God that's not the case."

"The other one?" Methos needled.

"A heart transplant. After the beheading, they took the heart and tried to get it into the patient, but... rejection. Seemed the immortal wanted to donate his heart to a woman who he knew needed one so the clean up crew was on notice that if it happened... he stuck around Philly so in case it happened, they could put his heart into-"

"What worked?" Methos asked, seemingly needing to get these answers from Joe. He'd never seen Methos so determined, except when he promised he'd show Alexa a great time with the remaining time she had left.

Joe shook his head and wondered if he should really tell them. When it appeared that Methos and Duncan weren't going to be headed out of this conversation, Joe finally said, "Blood transfusion of all things."

Methos looked ready to explode. "A blood transfusion? That's it?!"

"With very exact circumstances."

"Such as?"

"An immortal who had his blood tested for his adopted preimmortal daughter and they were a perfect, 100% match."

Duncan asked, "Why did a preimmortal need a blood transfusion?"

"Preimmortals aren't immortal yet. They can still get diseases. Like Claire got the chicken pox."

"Yeah, yeah. What was the circumstances?" Methos asked.

"She had acquired hepatitis C. She would have died if not for the blood her father gave her. They were a perfect, 100% right down the line match. She got some of his blood and it was enough to fend off the disease. She lived, that is until she died in a car accident at the age of 23. She's still living." Joe looked at Methos, who was working this information through. "So, Methos. Chances are you could never have saved Alexa. But you did save Katie. That means the world to me."

Duncan smiled at Methos and patted his shoulder with a smile when Methos finally sat down, appearing somewhat satisfied.

Methos finally spoke, "Could Katie still reject the kidney I gave her?"

"I suppose she could, but the docs said she's looking great. I'm not worried or at least, I'm not thinking about it. She'll be fine."

"Okay," Duncan said. "Tell us about this immortal."

Joe sighed. He couldn't tell them the truth or Duncan for one would go on a crusade or something. He wondered what he could say. To Joe's relief, Duncan's attention shifted from Joe to Methos, who suddenly walked out of the suite, closing the door behind him.

~~~~~

The look in her eyes was something Methos didn't think he'd ever forget. After sweeping Alexa off her feet and making her an offer to see the world before she left it, falling in love with her, and promising her on his last trip to Paris before she succumbed that he would find a cure for her, Alexa looked at him with total acceptance that he had failed her. She hadn't had a speck of regret or blame in her eyes. Methos had provided those emotions. In order to live with himself, he had come to realize that there was acceptance of her mortality and the force of her cancer was too formidable to conquer in her eyes the last time he looked at her. The crisp blue of Alexa's eyes had changed to murky, foggy aqua during the ravishing course of the cancer taking over her body. He had wanted so much to make them clear again. He wanted so much to save her, to have her live with him forever, to conquer certain death. Hell, he had done it many times for himself. There were hopeless situations where certain death was the only answer and Methos had found a way to change the odds, make a quick, smart decision that saved his head. After Alexa passed on, Methos had told himself that he had done everything he possibly could do to save her. It must have been preordained that she would die. There had to be a reason for her death. He had decided after the initial period of grief swept through him and he took time to let that fact settle on his psyche that Alexa had to die. Just the fact that they had met and fell in love was enough. He would take Alexa's grace and gift to the world and pass it on. He had raised Claire hoping she would emulate Alexa. Until feeling Katie's preimmortal buzz, Methos had closed that chapter of his life and knew that he did all he could. Now, especially after hearing Joe say there had been other instances of it, at least attempts at saving a mortal's life, Methos again felt the ravaged rawness of having failed Alexa. She had deserved so much more than what he gave her. Even if giving her a kidney didn't work, at least he would have tried it. At least he would have thought about it. He didn't think! He hadn't covered all the bases. Even if donation of an organ wasn't her answer, maybe the way to have saved Alexa was still out there to be found!

"I just don't get it," Methos heard Duncan state softly. Methos hadn't even realized that he had come out into the hallway.

"I mean," Duncan said, just as softly, probably not to rile Methos, but Methos was rattled. First from not seeing the obvious with Alexa and then not realizing an immortal had approached him. It could have been Kronos, Ludmilla, Walker, any of them!

"I remember after Alexa died and you told me at the cemetery that you'd always remember her so she'd always live on, but I don't get it."

Methos looked at Duncan, who had that brotherly, let's bond, look on his face. Methos wanted to punch him like he never had before.

"I know you loved her and she loved you, and you did a really great thing for her, but life goes on. Your life went on. Look what you have. Why dwell on the past?"

"You cannot be serious," Methos grunted.

"I know we look at the past, we have to. I know that learning from the past helps us in the future," Duncan offered. "But you've got a wife now that you love probably more than you've ever loved anyone, and I can tell you no matter how much Alexa loved you, it pales compared to how much Liz loves you. Why is this so affecting you so much?"

"How did you survive all this time just thinking it's all about love? Look, I'll bring it down to your level and just say that not everything is about sex, MacLeod."

"Stop it."

"You're so simplistic."

Duncan countered, "You're just plain weird."

"The unknown, MacLeod. It's a scary thing."

With that, Methos walked to the stairs and banged the door open. He walked down a few flights slowly, but then he started taking two, then three at a time. When he was at the bottom, he bust out of the stairwell and ran to the lobby door. He had to wait for an old couple with suitcases at the revolving door, but as soon as he was outside, Methos started running down the sidewalk as fast as he could. He had to get away from the thought that he didn't think it all through. He had missed the obvious and something probably just as obvious as a way to save Alexa. It was the most important thing in the world to him at the moment. When he was going after Methuselah's Stone, there was nothing as important. When he could have lost his head, he was ready, willing. He had done all he could for Alexa so he might as well die. At least they'd be together again.

Three blocks later, Methos at full speed felt his face get cold and wet. He didn't want to cry. He sniffed back the tears, cleared his throat, and ran faster. He had almost lost his head when there were other ways to save her! How could he have been so stupid?

Methos' legs were starting to go numb at his fast pace, zigzagging through pedestrians in the most populous city on the continent, but he kept on running. He heard car horns and screeching of tires on the street he crossed against the light, but Methos just kept on running.

He leaped over a mother knelt by her baby's stroller and took off into Central Park. There were so many people out, why were there so many people outside? Methos just kept darting around them and kept on running on grass, pavement, and rock. He was starting to run out of steam as he slowed going down a slope in the grass. By the time he came to a circle of benches, all full of people eating sandwiches, pointing to maps, and looking up at the clear blue sky, Methos tripped when his foot didn't lift high enough to clear the rock walkway. He tumbled head over feet and shoulder over shoulder as he heard people gasp and saw some stand up from the iron benches to gawk at him. Methos came to a rest on his back in the middle of the circle, gasping for breath. Sweat covered his entire body and he was exhausted. For some reason, though, his mind seemed clear.

"Are you all right, dude?" a teenage boy wearing a leather jacket and Metallica shirt asked bent over him.

"Yeah... th... thanks," Methos croaked, and gasped for more breaths.

Behind the boy's head was the top of the Dakota. He was near Central Park West. Methos was amazed by how far he had ran. He realized that his knee was bleeding and bent to see if his pants were ripped. They were, and blood was spotted on the fabric. He pulled the rip closed when he felt the wound healing and looked around to see every set of eyes in the area on him. Methos grinned at them, but that didn't change their expressions of disbelief and awe.

Methos got into a crouching position in order to stand up after his knee healed, and it was only then he saw where he was. Methos looked at the single word in the mosaic he had landed upon. It was a simple word that meant everything. He had to remember it and use it as a mantra to himself not to ever forget there are always more possibilities than what seems obvious at the time. There are always possibilities. Again, Methos started to weep, and he wasn't sure why. In awe of the talent to put an entire life of meaning into one word caught him, and he assumed that was why he was so affected. The single word that now meant everything to Methos was John Lennon's word Imagine.

~~~~~

"Shit!" Nick gasped as the passenger door to his rental opened with a jerk and Guy Barstow plopped into the seat. "Why did you have to do that?"

"You should know your surroundings, Hartford," Guy drawled and flipped open his cell phone.

"I only looked down for a minute," Nick said. "Remind me why you're here."

"They're bringing out the big boys. Seems there are a couple of Watchers that can't handle the matter at hand."

Offended, Nick injected, "Excuse me?" Then he actually realized who was sitting next to him. "Hey, don't you have a kid in the hospital?"

"Yeah, which is why I'm not too thrilled to have to come and save your ass."

"My ass doesn't need saving? Your kid okay?"

"I hope so," Guy said, then said into his phone. "The cavalry has arrived."

Nick wondered who he was talking to and why Guy Barstow of all people had to come here at all. "Who are you talking to?"

"Joe," Guy told him. "Joe? You want to tell him that? I'm really sick of hearing it."

Guy passed the phone to Nick. "He wants to talk to you. Where's Megan?"

"She went inside to see which apartment he went into." Nick held the phone to his ear. "Joe? Joe Dawson? What's going on?"

"It's very important, Nick. Make sure you don't make contact with the guy. Just have Guy do it. He's been informed about how this should go down."

"What's going to go down and why can't you just tell me?"

Joe suddenly said, "Keep me informed." As if Joe had taken the phone away from his mouth, Nick distantly heard, "Mac, what's his problem?" and then the phone call ended.

"Mac? MacLeod? Duncan MacLeod?" Nick asked Guy. "What's going on? Is he contacting all the people that were held at Shiloh or something?"

"Nah, they're friends."

"He made contact with Elizabeth Gordon."

"He did?"

Guy scrutinized him. "How did you know that?"

Nick explained, "The idiot dropped his cell phone and Megan looked at his recent calls. He called her twice in fact."

"Speak of the devil," Guy said, looking straight ahead and seemingly reaching for something in his coat.

"What devil?"

"Megan."

Nick followed Guy's eye line that went from straight ahead to the left, but heard a rough rap on his window that made him jump and look behind him out the driver's side. To Nick's horror, the immortal had a gun trained on Megan's temple, who was shaking with fear and trying to get away. Before Nick could calculate what was going on, the snub of a Beretta was in his face.

Guy pointed his Watcher-issue gun straight at Warren Cochrane's face as he yelled, "Let her go! Now!"

To Be Continued