Setting Things Right-- Chapters 11 & 12
~11
Methos walked up to V’s hotel room door and knocked. It was nearly noon but Methos had only woken up about 30 minutes ago. He couldn’t believe how long it took for him to convince Amanda to work with Anna. After a lot of convincing Amanda agreed to still try and rescue Lucky. After Lucky was safe Luke had agreed to go help Anna rescue Robert. They had asked him to come along, but Methos didn’t know if he wanted to take any more chances than he already had. But maybe if he could take care of Faison then they wouldn’t have any trouble getting Robert out.
His thoughts were interrupted by the beauty that stood before him.
Methos smiled roguishly.
“You would outshine Cleopatra.”
“And how would you know what Cleopatra looked like?” V said playfully.
“Didn’t I tell you I knew her?”
“What, like in a past life?” V said trying desperately to hold back her laughter.
“Something like that.” They both broke into fits of laughter.
“You do look beautiful.” Methos said seriously, after he had recovered.
“Thank you Adam.”
“Are you ready? That beautiful café downstairs serves the most delectable crème brule.”
“You sure know a lot about this stuff.” V said locking the door behind her.
“Well I told you that I travel a lot.” Methos said smiling.
“Yeah, how do you do that on a professor’s salary anyway?”
Methos shrugged, “I’m a very good professor?”
V laughed as they were seated at a small outside table at the café.
After a few moments of silence V looked at him nervously.
“Adam, I don’t usually do this.”
“Do what? Have lunch?” He teased.
V blushed slightly and laughed nervously. “No, I mean fly to Paris with a man I barley know. I just don’t do this sort of thing.” V dropped her eyes and rubbed at her collarbone nervously.
“Well, if it makes you feel any better V I don’t usually take women halfway across the world for adventure and danger on our second date.” He said smiling devilishly.
V laughed and then became serious and shy all of a sudden.
“Then why? I mean why me?” she said finally asking the question that had been rolling around in her head since she meant him. ‘He was obviously cultured and sophisticated, what was he doing with a clumsy ex-cop?’ her mind had been asking that question over and over since this whole thing had begun.
“V you might as well ask me to tell you the meaning of life, because I really don’t know specifically.” Methos’ voice dropped and he looked deep into her eyes. “All I know is that precious little in this world surprises me and when something throws me for a loop like you do, I hold on to it.”
V was so touched by his words that she was left speechless for a few moments.
“What about you? Why did you come with me if you don’t usually do this?” He said turning the tables on her.
“Well part of it was Lucky Spencer. I mean I’m an ex-cop I couldn’t just stand by while an innocent kid was being held against his will. But most of it was because of you.” She blushed slightly at her statement. “I don’t know how to explain it, but you can calm and excite me in the same moment. I don’t know what to expect from myself when I’m around you.”
Methos just smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amanda frowned at the sight on the other side of her front door.
“I said I’d help get Lucky out, but I don’t have to listen to your excuses.” Amanda spat out at Anna as she tried to slam the door in her face.
“Amanda, I came to ask you for your help…” Anna said sticking her foot in the door and pushing her way inside.
“My help? Why would I help you?”
“I can’t give you a good reason for that except, that my husband has been held by this madman for seven years. And I know I’ll need your help to free him.” Anna said on the verge of tears.
“I taught you everything I know, why would you think you would need my help?”
“You’re the best Amanda. You always were.” Anna said quietly.
There was a long silence, in which Amanda seemed to be trying to decide something.
“Why?” Amanda said suddenly. “Why did you do that to me?”
“From the very start all I was supposed to do was set you up. But then I began learning from you and befriending you. I told them I couldn’t do it. I made up some story about how you refused to trust me with vital information. But they saw through it and told me if I didn’t go through with the mission, they would leak the location of my daughter to my enemies. I had to keep her safe Amanda.” Anna said pleading.
Amanda gave a long sigh. “Are you still with the WSB?”
Anna shook her head. “They think I’m dead. Everyone, including my daughter, thinks I have been dead for seven years. It was the only way to keep them safe.”
“Look right now we need to concentrate on getting Lucky Spencer away from Faison.” Amanda said shortly. She needed time to think about this whole thing.
“Please at least think about helping me rescue my husband.” Anna pleaded.
“I’ll think about it, but I’m not promising you anything.” Amanda said after a long silence.
“Thank you Amanda.”
Amanda only nodded as Anna made her way out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luke finally knocked on the door and waited nervously. He had been standing outside this door for the last ten minutes to try and gather the courage to knock.
Finally the door opened and a very shocked Laura stood there.
“Luke, what are you doing here?”
“We haven’t had much time to talk since all this started. And I’m sorry about what I said on the plane.” He said very reluctantly.
“You should be.” Laura grumbled as she let Luke into the hotel room.
“You still shouldn’t have snuck onboard. It was dangerous.” Luke said still obviously a little angry.
“I wouldn’t have had to sneak onboard if you would have just told me!” She said taking a step towards him.
“So sue me if I want Lucky to have a mother when he gets back!” Luke took a step towards her.
“He’s my son too and if he was alive I had a right to know!” She yelled taking another step towards him.
“It’s not like I wouldn’t have ever told you! I just wanted to keep you safe!” Luke yelled back. He took another step toward Laura. Now they were practically nose to nose.
“I can take care of myself!”
“I never said you couldn’t!”
Laura’s eyes flashed with anger and also with something else.
Before they knew what had happened their lips met.
They kissed hungrily and passionately. Both had wanted this for so long but neither had had the courage to start it.
Suddenly the phone rang, breaking their spell.
They pulled apart and Laura walked to the phone, still dazed from the kiss.
“Oh hi Joe… no I haven’t seen Adam… did you try V’s room?… well then I don’t know where he is… OK I’ll see you tonight… bye.”
When Laura hung up the phone and turned around Luke was gone. Laura’s heart sank as she thought that Luke must be regretting that kiss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Methos and V had just finished their lunch and were about to leave the restaurant when they were both almost knocked down by two people running into the hotel. Methos reached out to steady the girl who ran into him.
“You might want to be more careful…” Methos started to say, but then he saw who the girl was. “Elizabeth?”
“Adam, V, what are you doing here?” Elizabeth asked shocked.
“I might ask you the same question.”
“We came here to find my mother.” Nikolas said stiffly. He didn’t know who this strange man was, but he had seen V around town a few times.
Methos and V shared a look that did not go unnoticed by Liz.
“Something’s going on and I want to know what it is.” Elizabeth demanded.
Methos gave out a long sigh. “Why don’t you start by telling me why you’re here.” Methos said avoiding the question.
“I already told you, we’re here to find my mother.” Nikolas said in exasperation. He hadn’t had much sleep in the last 10 hours and he was irritable.
“I was asking Elizabeth.”
“And who are you?” Nikolas asked hautily.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Nikolas Cassadine this is Adam Pierson.” Elizabeth said making introductions. Nikolas and Liz were both so focused on Methos that neither of them noticed that V had disappeared.
“Nice to meet you.” Methos said quickly and then turned back to Liz. “Elizabeth why on Earth are you here?”
The three sat down at a near by table and Elizabeth looked at Methos.
“Well Nikolas is right, we were looking for Laura, but we were also looking for Luke.” Elizabeth bit on her lip out of nervousness, “You see I had this dream and Lucky was in it. He was telling me that the fire was a setup and that he couldn’t escape because ‘they’ would hurt me. I know this sounds silly but I think he’s alive.”
Before Methos could tell Elizabeth that dreams didn’t mean anything and to go home Luke came out of the hotel and spotted them.
“Elizabeth!” Luke said coming up to them. Elizabeth jumped up and hugged Luke.
“I knew you’d be here. I knew I wasn’t crazy. Where’s Laura?” Elizabeth said in a rush.
Nikolas looked in amazement at Luke. He hadn’t really expected to find him here. His mother, maybe, but really he was just making this trip to put Liz at ease.
“Nikolas.” Luke said shortly.
Nikolas could only nod wordlessly.
Just then Laura came running out of the hotel followed closely by V.
“Elizabeth?” Laura said softly. Liz was the last person she expected to see, but in a way she was happy to see her. Laura and Liz’s eyes locked and Liz finally knew what her heart had always believed.
“He’s alive isn’t he.” She stated firmly. There was no question in her voice.
Luke and Laura shared a look that spoke volumes to each other. They still had that connection. A moment later Luke nodded.
“I think we should go upstairs.” Was all he said and then he lead them all back to Laura’s hotel room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A little while later
Joe, Pete, and Anna had joined them in Laura’s room.
Luke had told Elizabeth and Nikolas everything that they had found out. He introduced them to Anna and told them about her involvement with Faison. When the news about Lucky broke there had been choruses of hugs and tears shared by Elizabeth and Laura. And there were even a few tears shed by Luke and Nikolas.
Then Amanda burst through the door. “I got here as soon as I could, what’s up?”
Luke chuckled, he hadn’t told Amanda what had happened; only that she needed to get there fast. He had obviously shaken her a little and he liked that. She had seemed so unshakable till now.
“And this is our resident thief, Amanda. Amanda meet Elizabeth Webber, Lucky’s girlfriend, and Nikolas Cassadine, his brother.” Luke said the last part a bit stiffly.
Amanda looked puzzled and kept glancing back and forth between Luke and Nikolas.
“He’s Lucky’s half-brother, Laura’s son.” Luke said anticipating her question.
Amanda nodded acceptingly and then turned to Elizabeth and smiled.
“I want you to know that I will get Lucky out safely.”
Elizabeth smiled, suddenly instantly comforted by this woman. Kind of the same way she felt with Adam.
“Thank you.”
Amanda turned to Methos and they shared a quick look that no one else saw. Methos nodded slightly and Amanda turned back to the group.
“So, just a few more hours until we get Lucky back right?” Elizabeth said nervous and happy at the same time.
Methos smiled, “That’s the plan.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Faison’s Compound
Lucky looked up as the metal door hissed open and Faison slinked into the room.
“Well, well, well, Mr. Spencer. You’re parents are smarter than I expected. Either they are on a romantic getaway together or they have discovered the truth about you.” Lucky’s face brightened. “Oh don’t get your hopes up, either way I’m not taking the chance. We’re taking a little trip.”
Faison grinned as two burly men came into the room. Lucky’s eyes flashed with anger, he had not survived this much just to be taken away just when his parents were getting close.
“What are you doing!? Get away from me!” Lucky screamed as the two men tried to restrain him. He struggled and managed to knock one of them back onto the bed, only to have the other one stick a needle into his arm.
“No!!” Lucky cried as he slumped into the arms of the two men. Lucky’s last conscious thought was of the trap that could be awaiting his parents.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~12
Faison’s compound
They were all gathered within sight of the compound.
“All right, Elizabeth and Nikolas, you stay here with Joe and Laura and help with communication. Luke and V you two stay outside and make sure there aren’t any guards that we missed…”
“Now wait just a second!” Luke exclaimed interrupting Amanda’s orders.
Amanda rolled her eyes. “Now what Luke?”
“I’m going in. There is no way I’m going to sit outside watching for stray guards!”
“Luke this is already dangerous enough as it is, I don’t need you going off half cocked!” Amanda said exasperated.
“Who put you in charge anyway? I can do this on my own you know…” Methos stepped in between Luke and Amanda.
“Luke, Amanda knows what she’s doing. You are too close to this, I don’t even want to let Anna go inside for fear she’ll see Faison and go after him, but Amanda says she needs her help. And we need Pete’s help because he knows this place.”
“And why are you going in?” Luke’s nerves were frazzled. He had been snapping at everyone since Nikolas had shown up, but that wasn’t really the reason. Part of it was that he was so close to getting his son back and no one would let him take charge. He was not used to letting other people call the shots. And another part of it was the kiss he and Laura had shared earlier today. He thought they had been over. He knew he would always love her more than his own life, but he thought their relationship was over.
“I’m going in because I’m going to find Faison.” Methos exchanged a look with Amanda, Joe, and Pete; each of them knowing what he was going to do. V looked worried.
“I’m the one that’s going to take care of Faison!” Luke shouted angrily.
Methos had had enough of Luke. “No you are not! So sue me if I want Lucky to have both of his parents when he gets out of this, I’m not going to let you or Laura risk your lives!” Methos turned angrily and walked a few feet away. They all could here him muttering what sounded like curses in some weird language.
Amanda smiled slightly and followed him.
“It’s really nice of you to protect them like this.” She whispered.
Methos turned and glared at her. “Oh shut up!” he hissed.
Amanda giggled. “It’s so sweet of you to help like this.” She knew she was just annoying him and she loved it.
“In fact it borders on selfless.” She continued.
“Amanda.” He warned. “Faison would surely kill Luke if he went after that monster. And what would be the point of going through the trouble of saving Lucky just to have his father killed in the process.”
Amanda laughed, “Now that’s the Methos I know and love.”
Methos smiled innocently and lead Amanda back over to the group.
Elizabeth walked up to Methos and quickly hugged him.
“Thank you Adam.” She said, on the verge of tears.
Methos smiled in spite of himself.
“It’s nothing…”
“No don’t say that. You’re giving me back the love of my life. The second chance I never thought was possible. Thank you.”
Methos only nodded solemnly and then turned to the others.
“Are we ready?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Methos, Amanda, Pete, and Anna made their way through the entrance of the compound. Luke and V had successfully taken care of all the guards on the outside and according to Pete there weren’t many guards inside.
Methos turned to the group. “I’m going to find Faison, you find the boy.” And he was off, his trench coat swishing behind him.
Amanda switched on the high tech communication equipment she had brought. “You guys there?”
She was awarded with affirmatives from Luke and Joe. She turned to look at Anna and smiled. “Showtime.”
Methos opened a door that led to a wide courtyard. It had a beautiful fountain in the middle and trees and flowers everywhere. His body tensed as he felt the familiar buzz in the back of his mind. In one swift motion he turned around and drew his sword. In the corner he saw the same man he had seen on the docks in Port Charles. His face was shadowed and what light was on him gave him a very menacing presence. He looked to be quite stalky but Methos knew from experience not to judge an opponent by stature. His rapier glinted in the ground light that illuminated the courtyard.
The man tilted his head and gave Methos a questioning glance. He seemed to be sizing him up just as Methos had done to him.
“Caesar Faison.” He said taking a few steps toward Methos.
“Good for you.” Methos said fingering the hilt of the Ivanhoe in his hand, but never taking his eyes off of Faison.
“Your name, please. It’s only polite.” Faison said, as he would talk to a disobedient child.
Methos rolled his eyes. “Just call me the Dark Avenger.”
“Oh, aren’t you the clever one.” Faison said settling into a fighting stance.
Methos grinned sardonically; “There can be only one.”
Faison delivered the first blow and as Methos had guessed he was stronger and faster than his appearance allowed and Methos was quickly on the defensive. But as usual this was exactly what Methos wanted. The swords glinted and clanged in an unusual ballet. Just when Faison thought he had Methos cornered Methos pulled a small dagger out of his coat and shoved it onto Faison’s stomach. He gagged and knelt in pain as Methos positioned himself to take his head.
Faison’s face took on an erie smile. “I didn’t know Spencer had so many immortal friends. Is the woman immortal a friend of yours?”
Methos didn’t like the sound of his voice but said nothing, knowing that Faison would continue no matter what.
“It’s really a pity, I so wanted Spencer to get my welcome present.”
Methos quickly weighed his options, by the time the quickening was over the danger that Amanda and the others were in would probably already have befallen them. But if he let Faison get away he could disappear again. Faison had already taken Lucky somewhere else, that was obvious to Methos. But they could always track Faison.
Methos quickly brought the hilt of his sword down on Faison’s head and the body slumped to the ground unconscious. Methos quickly ran to find Amanda.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amanda stepped over the body of the second guard they had encountered and signaled to Anna and Pete that it was all clear.
“The boy should be in the room at the far end of the hall.” Pete said gesturing toward the room.
Amanda nodded and her and Anna made their way to the room. Pete stayed back to watch for other guards or Faison.
Suddenly the communication device in Amanda’s ear screeched and buzzed. She hissed in pain and took the device off.
“Damnit, I was afraid of that.” She said looking at Anna. “Faison must have put a dampening field around this room.”
Amanda studied the lock on the room and guessed that it opened from remote control but there was also a small card slot and a keypad to the left of the door.
Amanda smiled and took a small device out of the small pouch she had around her waist.
She inserted the small credit card into the slot and connected it to the computer she held in her hand and within seconds she had the correct code.
“Like taking candy from a baby.” She said triumphantly as she entered the numbers on the keypad. As she pushed enter she heard a shout from down the hall.
“No Amanda don’t!”
But it was too late; the door slid open as Methos skidded to a halt next to Amanda and Anna, with Pete right behind him.
They all saw the device on the table that couldn’t be anything else but a bomb. The timer read 15 seconds.
Methos, Amanda, Pete, and Anna burst out of the door to the compound and were instantly greeted by a very startled V and Luke. There wasn’t time for words and Amanda and Methos pushed everyone in front of them and they all started running toward the hill where Joe and the others were. Just as Luke was about to question why they were running a loud explosion boomed behind them and the force knocked them to the ground.
They all looked to where the compound had once stood and all there was, was a mound of rubble and flame.
As they stood up Luke looked at Methos, almost too scared to ask the question.
“Lucky wasn’t in there Luke. Faison must have gotten wind of what we were doing and moved him. I’m sorry.”
Before Luke could respond the sounds of bullets firing and whizzing past their ears interrupted them.
They all ducked and looked in the direction of the bullets; they could see a man about 50 yards away. Apparently they had missed one of the guards. Or maybe this one had orders to kill any survivors of the blast.
Luke, V, and Methos all fired their guns at him but the man got two more shots before he was killed. First Luke and then Methos hit the ground. In a flash Laura was at Luke’s side.
“Luke! Luke are you all right?”
Luke winced, “Oh yeah, you know me darlin’ I’m invincible.” Luke said trying to joke.
Amanda leaned over and examined the wound. It was only a superficial wound to the shoulder but Luke would still be in a lot of pain.
Methos looked down at the wound near his heart and knew that it was fatal. He’d had enough of them to know. He could hear V beside him and he could see Joe through his slightly blurred vision.
He grabbed Joe’s arm. “Get her out of here! Get them all out of here! They can’t see this!” He said frantically.
Joe nodded and tried to pull V away from Methos’ dying body.
V fought him off, and she put her hand on Methos cheek and as he took his last breath and his body went limp.
Joe looked frantically at Amanda to help him. Amanda quickly knelt next to V and tried to pull her away from Methos.
“Come on honey, we need to get out of here.” Amanda said in the most comforting voice she could muster.
“We can’t just leave him here!” She cried.
“The girl’s right Amanda, the least we could do is take him with us and give him a proper burial.” Luke said sadly. As much as he had annoyed him, Luke was going to miss Adam Pierson.
Amanda made an exasperated noise and once again tried to get everyone to leave. Just then they all heard someone gasping for air. They turned to see Methos sitting up.
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