Setting Things Right-- Chapters 1 & 2

1~

“Mr. Pierson it was a pleasure to have you lecture for our class.” Professor Watson of PCU said.
“Please call me Adam. I didn’t know ancient Greek artifacts and culture would have such a big turnout.” He said, his English accent gave intelligence to his words.
“Well, you are a well known expert. You talk as though you were really there.”
Adam stifled a chuckle, “Maybe I was.”
Professor Watson laughed at his joke.

Adam Pierson walked out of the student union and out to the parking lot, grabbing a newspaper on the way. “The Port Charles Herald” he read as he climbed into his car.
“Teen killed in fire; Mob connection suspected.” He read the headline aloud.

“The fire destroying Jason Morgan’s motorcycle shop and killing 17 year old Lucky Spencer is suspected, by police, to be connected to the Corinthos/Morgan warehouse fire that occurred a month ago.”
Adam shook his head, ‘Poor kid’ he thought to himself. He flipped quickly through the paper, trying to find a place to stay for the night before he left for Seacouver in the morning to see his good friend Joe.
“Port Charles Hotel, the definition of Luxury” He read the advertisement.
“I would love to, but Adam Pierson can’t afford that” he said to himself. “Kelly’s dinner and boarding house. Perfect.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kelly’s
Elizabeth had no idea why she was here, she just knew that if she stood still for to long she would be flooded by memories of Lucky. She was taking orders and doing her job but she wasn’t really there. Tammy had already asked her five times if she wanted to go home. Elizabeth would just say “No that’s all right, I’m fine.”

As the door opened Liz looked up from behind the counter. She was almost thankful it was someone she had never seen before. The man was tall and thin, with short dark brown hair. He looked to be in his thirties but his eyes almost showed an older, wiser person. She managed a half-hearted smile as a greeting.
The man flashed her a charming smile as he walked to the counter.
“My name’s Adam Pierson, I was wondering if I could possibly rent a room for the night?”
“Sure, let me go get the manager.” Liz said flatly, with no emotion in her voice and left to go get Tammy.
Adam sat down on one of the stools. ‘Her eyes are so sad’ he thought to himself. He figured it was some stupid teenage problem like school anxieties or boy troubles. He winced at his own thoughts; he’d been told he had become quite cynical in his old age.
An older looking, tall, slender man came to sit next to him. Adam looked at the man closely; he seemed to be a walking ghost. The body was there, but the soul was someplace else or maybe just gone. He had the same look in his eyes that the young girl did.
Just then Liz came back out front; “Tammy will be out in a minute Mr. Pierson. Hi Mr. Spencer.” Adam just nodded his head.
Luke raised his head and gave Liz a scolding look, “Sorry, Luke.” She said with a weak smile.
“Better. I didn’t think I’d see you here today Elizabeth.”
“Well, you know, gotta stay busy.” Liz said nervously, and went to go fill someone’s cup with coffee.
Adam looked at this man…Luke Spencer he assumed, could it be the same Spencer, it could be the father or a family member. That would explain the absence of the soul.
A woman came from inside the kitchen, “Hi I’m Tammy, Liz said you need a room?”
“Yes, for the night if possible” Adam said as he smiled.
“Sure right this way.” And Tammy directed him upstairs.

When Adam returned downstairs he heard a loud voice say, “You aren’t welcome here Corinthos!”
‘Corinthos’ Adam thought, it could be the same Corinthos that he saw in the paper.
Adam went over to Tammy, who was standing at the counter.
“What’s that all about?” He asked quietly, his curiosity getting the better of him.
“Just a disagreement.”
Adam looked at her, trying to coax her into telling the whole story.
Tammy sighed in defeat, “That’s Luke Spencer.” She said pointing to him.
“Is he related to Lucky Spencer?” Adam interrupted.
Tammy nodded her head, “His father, and the other man is Sonny Corinthos.”
“The owner of the warehouse that was burned down last month?”
“Yeah, for someone who has only been in town for a few days, you sure know a lot about what’s going on.” Tammy looked at him skeptically.
“Well, I read the newspaper on the way over.” Adam said in explanation.
“Oh, well Luke blames Sonny and his partner for his son’s death.”
“That would explain the yelling.” Adam said ruefully.
Adam watched as Sonny Corinthos walked out of the dinner; he looked like he thought he deserved whatever punishment Luke saw fit to give.

Just then Adam’s cell phone rang and he walked outside to give himself a little privacy.
“Pierson here.” He answered.
“Methos, its Joe. Are you still using that Pierson persona?” The grizzled voice of Joe Dawson came through clearly.
Methos chuckled, “To you, Mac, and Amanda I may be Methos, oldest living immortal, but to the rest of the world I am still Adam Pierson, mild mannered history professor.” Methos said with a grin. He could hear Joe’s grumble at his bad joke.
“Joe why are you calling, and I know it’s not because you want to pick me up at the airport tomorrow. Is Mac OK? Is Amanda in trouble? ” Methos said starting to worry, Joe never seemed to call unless something was wrong.
“Well no, Mac is fine and Amanda is still in Paris with that cop. Actually I’m calling cause I want you to stay there.”
Methos let out a low groan, “Why?”
“I’m coming out there. I found something that I might need your help with. You know Port Charles is very interesting, you wouldn’t believe some of the sh* t that goes on in that town.”
“Why are you coming here Joe?” Methos said sounding very tired all of a sudden.
“I’ll tell you when I get there. I’ll be on the first plane out in the morning. Pick me up will ya.” And with that Joe hung up.
Methos looked at his phone and shook his head.
“Just wonderful.” He mumbled walking back into Kelly’s and putting his ‘Pierson persona’, as Joe called it, back on.


Adam walked over to a table and sat down. Liz walked over to his table and tried to smile.
“Mr. Pierson, would you like anything?”
“Just coffee, and call me Adam. It looks like I’ll be staying a couple more days than planned.” He said in a very exasperated tone.
“Well, I’m Liz. You’ll probably see me around.” She said her voice still flat.
Adam narrowed his eyes and gave her a very appraising look, like he was trying to figure her out. “You’re too young to be so sad.” He said quietly.
Liz looked at him skeptically; “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh come on, you look like you just lost your best friend.” He said lightly.
A shadow passed over Liz’s face and she lowered her eyes.
Adam winced at his obvious insensitivity. ‘I really need to work on that cynic thing’ he thought to himself. He could almost hear Mac’s voice in his head calling him a bitter old man.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked Liz.
“What are you, a psychiatrist or something?” she said sarcastically.
“No, just a good listener with a lot of experience and an objective opinion.” Adam said with a smile.
“You don’t look like you have a lot of experience. You can’t be much older than 30.” She said skeptically with a cold tone in her voice. She had gone back to the defense system of the old, sarcastic, Liz who had met Lucky one and a half years ago. Lucky had been the one who had gotten past those walls and now that he was gone the walls went back up. Only when Luke, Laura, or Sonny were around did the walls come down.
Adam let out a small laugh at that comment. “Really? Sometimes I feel like I’m 5,000 years old.” He smiled at her and gestured to the chair opposite him. “Come on, have a seat. Tell me why you’re walking around without your soul.”
Liz seemed to soften a bit at his words. She sat down and looked at him, still a little skeptical.
“Have you ever lost the love of your life?” She asked the question liked she expected him not to understand.
“ ‘Lost’, meaning one of you did something unforgivable. Or ‘lost’, meaning because of death.
“Which one has happened to you?” She seemed confused by his response.
“Both.” He said evenly.
Liz’s eyes drifted down to her hands, “Death” she whispered.
Adam let out a long sigh, “I’m sorry.”
Liz just nodded her head.
“But you’ve probably heard those words enough for one lifetime. Now you probably want answers to questions like ‘Why?’” He said quietly.
Liz only lifted her head, and looked at his eyes. She was surprised to find that there was no pity in them. Only the experience of someone who had gone through the same thing.
“There are no answers. And you’ll only drive yourself mad looking for them.” Adam guessed this was Lucky Spencer’s girlfriend. She had the same lost look that the Father had had.
“How am I supposed to do this?” She asked no one in particular.
“The only advice I can give you, is don’t push away those who care about you. And to remember that there is no one way to grieve, no matter how many psychiatrists preach about the stages of grief.”
“Thanks” She looked surprised that he had actually helped.
Sensing that the conversation was over, Adam changed the subject. “Well I am in desperate need of a good beer. Any recommendations as to where I could find one?”
“There’s a blues club near here called ‘Luke’s’. It’s just down the docks.” Liz said smiling a small, but genuine smile.
“Thank you, I will probably see you again. It was nice to meet you Liz.” Adam said getting up.
“It was nice to meet you too Adam.” And with that he walked out the door.

Once outside Methos shook his head. It was a policy of his to never get involved or help. He had just found himself doing both.
“Maybe I’m spending too much time with MacLeod.” he mumbled and walked down the docks towards Luke’s. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2~

Methos walked into Luke’s and stopped dead in his tracks. He almost went back outside, very sure that he was in the wrong place. But then a waitress walked by him wearing a T-shirt with the word “Luke’s” on it.
‘This must be the right place.” He thought to himself.
He looked thoughtfully around the room at the décor. He was so used to the dark and smoky atmosphere of “Joe’s” that the bright colors and interesting decorations caught him a little off guard. As he walked to the bar his eyes wandered to the large painting of a scantily clad women.
‘I wonder what the story is behind that one? For there’s always a story.’ He mused, smiling slightly.
Methos was about to sit down on a barstool when a young woman bumped into him, spilling her drink on his trench coat in the process.
“Oh goodness! I’m SO sorry. I’m such a klutz.” The beautiful auburn haired woman gushed. She grabbed a napkin from the bar and started wiping at his coat.
Methos smiled at the woman. She was so animated and energetic and so overly sorry that he couldn’t be mad at her.
“It’s quite all right.”
“Here, why don’t you let me get your coat cleaned. That’s the least I can do.” She said as she started to take his coat off of his shoulders.
“No, no, no. You don’t have to do that.” He said as he quickly stepped slightly away from her and readjusted his coat. “It’s almost all dry. See, no harm done.”
“Are you sure? I should do something.” She said with a helpless look on her face.
Methos smiled roguishly “Have a drink with me.”
“Excuse me.” She said obviously surprised and even seemed a bit nervous.
“Sit down, have a drink with me. You obviously don’t have your’s anymore. I’m new in town, and after spilling your drink on me, I think the least you could do is keep me company.” He said with a teasing grin.
She looked at him apprehensively.
“My name’s Adam Pierson.” He offered extending his hand.
“V. Ardanowski.” She said taking his hand and smiling.
V sat down and ordered them both a beer. Adam smiled.
“How did you know I wanted a beer.”
“I didn’t.”
Adam smiled. “Well it was a good guess.”
Then Luke Spencer walked up and set their beers on the counter.
“Mr. Spencer I wanted to ask you about Ned Ashton playing…”
“V. I’ve told you before that Ned’s music just doesn’t suit ‘Luke’s’. This is a blues bar, in case you haven’t noticed.” Luke interrupted her.
“Well this isn’t like any blues bar I’ve ever been to.” Adam said and Luke looked at him like he hadn’t noticed him before.
“Thank you, it’s my job to be original.” Luke said smiling triumphantly. Then he frowned slightly. “I saw you at Kelly’s earlier today right?”
“Yes I’m renting a room there for a few nights. I’m Adam Pierson.” He said extending his hand to Luke.
“Luke Spencer, nice to meet ya.” Luke said and walked away leaving Adam’s hand hanging in the air. Adam raised his eyebrows in an amused expression.
V chuckled under her breath. Adam looked at her and couldn’t help but laugh with her.
“He’s quite a character.” He said taking a pull from his beer.
“Well Luke’s kind of a legend around here. I think he was mayor once upon a time.”
“Really, him?” Adam said with a look of disbelief on his face.
V laughed. “Yeah, but now he owns this wonderful club and I’m trying to get him to let my client, Ned Ashton, play here. I’m his manger, I work at L&B records.”
“Ned Ashton…never heard of him.” Adam said thoughtfully.
“He toured under the name Eddy Maine for a while. But just because he doesn’t play the blues Luke won’t let him play here. Even though he’s played here before.” V said passionately, and full of energy.
“Oh, Eddy Maine, I remember him. This was a few years ago right?”
“Yep, but now I’m trying to start his career over again, but this time as Ned Ashton. But with Ned being CEO of ELQ he doesn’t have much time and I think I want this to happen more than he does! Ned says I’m too aggressive, but that might be because I used to be a cop.” She babbled, while Adam looked on smiling.
“Well, you are his manager. You’re supposed to be aggressive.” Adam pointed out. 
“Yeah but he’s also my boss. He owns the record label I work at.” V explained.
“Sounds like a tuff situation.” Adam said, still smiling at her enthusiasm. It was very refreshing.
“So what do you do?” V said sipping at her beer.
“Right now I’m a history professor.” He paused and laughed and winced slightly. “That isn’t very exciting is it?”
“Actually it sounds great. I would never be patient enough to teach. I admire that.” V said smiling.
“Well thank you but right now I’m just a touring lecturer. But I do get to travel a lot.”
“That sounds exciting. Where do you travel?” V said.
“Recently just around the US, but I usually get to Paris for a few months a year.”
“Paris sounds great.” Her eyes lighted up with excitement.
“Do you get to travel much?”
“No not really, but last fall I went to Monte Carlo.” She said smiling at the memory of the adventure.
“Sounds exotic.” Adam said taking another drink of his beer. “Did you get any gambling done?”
“Actually yes, I went to help out a friend with a baccarat tournament.”
“A boyfriend?” Adam asked innocently.
V laughed “No, not even close.”
“A beautiful person like you isn’t involved with anyone?” Adam said smiling.
V blushed and pushed her hair behind her ears in a nervous gesture. “No.”
“Well then, will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?” He asked looking very serious.
“I hardly know you.” V said laughing nervously.
“We can get to know each other more over dinner. I already like what I do know about you.”
“I don’t know.” V said skeptically.
“What’s the best place in town for dinner. I’ll meet you there at 8 o’clock.” He said hoping that if he met her someplace public it would assuage some of her fears.
V seemed to think about it for few moments and then nodded her head.“The Port Charles Grill, in the Port Charles Hotel. I’ll meet you in the bar at 8 o’clock.” 
“It’s a date.” Adam said smiling somewhat triumphantly.
V smiled back at him.
Just then two people came up behind V.
“V, we’re going to leave did you want a ride home?”
“Yes, Thanks Ned. That would be great.” V said smiling at Ned. Then she turned to Adam. “Ned, Alexis this is Adam Pierson.”
“It’s nice to meet you Adam.” Alexis said smiling brightly, giving V an approving look as if to say ‘He’s cute’
Adam nodded to Ned and Alexis and then said to V, “I’ll see you tomorrow V.”
“Tomorrow.” She said and then followed Ned and Alexis.
“Do you know him?” Ned asked.
“I just met him 15 minutes ago.” V said shaking her head at the weirdness of the situation.
“You just met him and you made a date with him? Isn’t that a bit dangerous?” Ned asked surprised.
V opened her mouth to defend herself when Alexis swatted Ned on the arm.
“Oh shut up Ned. I think it’s romantic. Anyway V can take care…”
And then they drifted out of earshot. Methos turned back to the bar and chuckled to himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning
Port Charles Airport

Methos picked up a ridiculously large bag from the conveyer-belt and hefted the strap onto his shoulder.
“What exactly did you put in here Joe?” Methos grumbled loudly.
“Oh stop complaining, Methos. Would you rather have me carry it? You’d have to hold my cane for me though.” Joe said sarcastically.
Methos shot a dirty look at the back of Joe’s head as he hobbled in front of him.
“So what are you doing here Joe?” Methos said walking up beside Joe.
“Well I got a call from a watcher and his immortal just came to Port Charles. He had some questions he wanted to ask me.” Joe explained. “It sounded pretty important, so I came as soon as I could.”
“You usually don’t make cross-country trips just to answer questions.” Methos pointed out.
“Well, he’s a good friend of mine.  I knew his father in the academy. His father died when he was 16 and he went into the academy at 17. He’s one of those few renegades that thinks we should be allowed to be involved with immortals. He’s young and a little reckless, but he’s a good kid.” Joe smiled a bit. “He’s one of the only people in the Watchers who knew about my complete involvement with MacLeod.”
“Okay so why do I need to be here?” Methos asked.
“Well he also knows that you’re an immortal.” Joe winced a little, knowing what Methos’ reaction would be.
“He WHAT??!!!” Methos screamed.
“He doesn’t know that you’re Methos, he just thinks that Adam Pierson is immortal.” Joe tried to reassure.
“Oh that’s comforting.” Methos said exasperated.
“He asked me if you could come to this meeting. He said you might be of some help and since you were already in Port Charles it was perfect.” Joe said, acting incredibly nonchalant about this.
“And why didn’t you tell me this over the phone?”
“Because you would have been halfway to Tibet or wherever it is you go! And you know it.” Joe said accusingly.
Methos considered this for a moment. Joe was, of course, right. “No, not Tibet, probably China though.” He said straight-faced.
Joe groaned loudly in exasperation. “We’re meeting Pete for lunch at some place called Kelly’s, you know it?”
“Yes actually, that is where I’m staying.” Still grumbling.
“See, perfect.” Joe said looking very smug. He loved annoying Methos.

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