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THE YOU'RE IN MY HEART SERIES HELTER SKELTER Part Two RATING: PG-15 CHARACTERS: Methos, Amanda, Duncan, Kate, Joe, Cassandra, various Watchers SUMMARY: A month after Won't Get Fooled Again, Geoffrey's watcher figures out that Methos is not a myth, and very much alive. Methos is kidnapped; his mind and body are studied. NOTE: Thanks MnD, you rock, girl! DISCLAIMER: The characters you've heard of are the property of Panzer/Davis and/or Greg Widen. We're deeply in their debt for creating this universe, characters and the concept of immortality. However, the muses are in overdrive so we're using them with no hope of profit, only to entertain Methos and Amanda fans.
WATCHER LOCATION Joe was brought into the room where the watchers were watching the proceedings in the exam room. He immediately demanded Adam's release, and was only met with blank stares. Ecklund said, "Mr. Dawson, you are in no position to demand anything. In fact, you are walking a very fine line being friends with immortals." "What am I supposed to do with them?" "Watch and record and never interfere," Dubois said actually meaning it. Joe laughed. "Watch and what? What about this interference? What about treating them like human beings for Christ's sake! You've got him strapped on that table like a Thanksgiving turkey, and you're carving into him too!" Ecklund calmly said, "Joe, if he straightens out his chronicle and cooperates, he wouldn't have to go through this. It is his own fault." "Why do you think he had to hide? Why do you think he had to change his name every ten years, hide from you? Because of this very thing you're doing!" Beth said, "I wouldn't stand so high and mighty, Dawson. You know exactly why this is happening." Joe squinted at the young woman. "So, you're Beth Merriweather. I recognize you from your file. Imagine what your friends would think if they knew about you?" Beth instinctively laughed. "I have nothing to hide." "When did sleeping with your assignment become standard Watcher behavior? That gives watching and recording a whole new meaning." "That's a lie!" Beth yelled, her eyes flitting from each of the watchers in the room to another. "You what?" Ecklund's voice boomed. Before she could try to make this easier for her, Ecklund was on the phone and asked for an escort. "Wait. Please. I can explain." Claire folded her arms before her and said, "Go ahead. Tell us how Mr. Dawson is making up such a lie." Ecklund hung up the phone and told her, "Yes. Explain. You have about two minutes before security will hold you until we get confirmation one way or another. It will only be a simple matter of asking questions to people who lived near Geoffrey." Joe enjoyed Beth's change in demeanor. All of a sudden, she was a caged animal, much like his friend in the other room. He looked through the glass at Methos and saw Lang leaning over his dead body, poking him. He was actually poking him! Joe didn't think that this behavior could possibly happen in the organization that he had belonged to for over thirty years. Even after the Galati matter, Joe knew that it was just a small faction that was in control then. He looked at the four in the room as Beth was being led out by two large security guards. One down, four more to go, Joe thought. Unless Mac and Amanda get here soon, I've got my hands full. Then, Joe's blood went cold when Ecklund turned to him. "Mr. Dawson. You will do your best to tell you friend to cooperate with us, or it could get extremely messy for you also. Being friends with immortals is not standard behavior. I have been tabulating your access time on the database, and imagine our surprise that you have been running searches just as you're visiting Amanda Montrose and Duncan MacLeod, your assignment." Claire, Joe's direct superior, as she controlled everything that happened in Seacouver, said, "If you do not get that man to talk, and speak the truth, you are in deep shit yourself." Joe had the feeling that he was in deep shit as soon as he was put into that black sedan. He looked her straight in the eye when he said, "If I am not taken back to my bar within the hour, with Adam, you, Ms. Bancroft, is the one in seriously deep shit." "Oh?" She quickly laughed, then stopped when Joe's expression didn't change. "After I was almost executed because of Galati, I decided that I needed a little bit of insurance and I'm not talking State Farm. That was bogus and over the top and you all know it. I told friends, friends you have no idea about, that if I happen to go missing for more than forty-eight hours, there's a certain safe in the city that contains information about this secret society. So, unless you don't want to be the starring attraction on every newscast within a day, you'd best let both us go." "Mr. Dawson, you must realize that if you break your silence about the Watchers, its only natural that the truth about immortals will come out as well," Ecklund pointed out. "What we're doing is on a small scale. Imagine what would happen if the world knew about them." "Sacrifice one to save the many?" Joe growled. "I don't believe you people. He's just a guy." "A guy that's lived for five thousand years," Gonzales reminded him. Joe took in a sobering breath. So this was what it was like to be between a rock and a hard place. Once that expression seemed funny, but the humor of it escaped him now. He looked around the room at the people staring at his friend. Their faces conveyed their resolve. He hoped that Mac and Amanda would get here soon and that Methos could keep it together long enough to escape. If they got out of this in one piece, Joe was through with these people. An angry shout broke through his thoughts. Methos had apparently revived and was regaling them with a tirade in several languages. Dr. Lang pushed the red button again, but Methos didn't stop his yelling. Two more jolts caused him to quiet. Methos panted against the pain and glared at the two-way mirror. A couple of the people in the room with Joe unconsciously stepped back under the fierceness of his stare. "You better hope he doesn't get loose," Joe taunted them. "He's one nasty son of a bitch when he's pissed off." Ecklund glared at Joe and hit the two-way intercom. "Dr. Lang, I think its time you quit fooling around and start showing us some results." Dr. Lang stalked over the intercom panel. "I've no choice but to do this the hard way, Ecklund." "Whatever it takes, Doctor," Ecklund assured him. He turned to Joe. "Your friend will regret his stubbornness." Joe gripped the handle of his cane until his knuckles were white. If everything up to this point had been easy, he shuddered to think what his friend was about to experience. He watched as the doctor injected a thick serum into Methos' arm. In a matter of moments Methos went from a severely agitated state to what appeared to be a trance. "What's going on?" Joe demanded to know, already certain what was about to take place. "We've pumped enough sodium Pentothal into him to make a dozen people tell everything they know, but your friend is more stubborn than most. The doctor has come up with a hybrid drug to suppress the central nervous system and make the other drug more effective. He should start talking anytime now." ~~~~~ Methos felt his heart rate and breathing slow as the serum worked its way through his bloodstream. Each time he was injected, it got harder and harder not to slip back into the memories. The last go around he'd almost started talking without even realizing it. He knew if his quickening just had a chance to heal his body he could fight off the subtle effects of the drug. However, due to the amount of deaths and injuries he'd suffered repeatedly over a short period of time, his normally fast recovery time had failed to kick in. He was cold. He was tired. He was out of ideas. Unable to do anything else, he closed his eyes and tried to block the rush of memories cascading over him like a waterfall. A rush of faces, some familiar and some not, mingled with a mix of times and places. Wearily, he let go of his control and simply followed the rush of memories. Over and over the heavy leather whip snaked its way across his bare back. Involuntarily, he jerked away from the strap. He would not scream; he would give them the satisfaction. His family was starving. If stealing some measly food meant a little suffering then so be it. The next lash tore deeper into his flesh, nearly exposing the bone. He bit his lower lip but couldn't help but yell in pain. Methos gripped the ropes that bound him to the wooden pole. Never in his twenty summers had he felt this kind of pain. His mother stood on the edge of the small crowd of villagers, tears streaming down her cheeks, while blood trickled down his back. ~~ Blood. Life sustenance. Every body was full of it. Methos' inquisitive mind liked to watch it pour from a human. It was even better if they were trying to stop its flow. Each time they would move, the blood could either ease to a mere dribble, or if they moved the right way, it could come out in spurts. Methos got down on all fours and leaned close to his last victim, a man who fruitlessly tried to protect his family. The man's wife been carried away by Kronos; the two children had been killed quickly with blows from Silas' axe to their heads. The man was Methos' domain. Methos had slashed him three times across the chest, not deep enough to kill him outright, but enough to allow Methos to see the blood. Blood spills weren't interesting in dead men. It was only when they were alive that the blood seemed to have a life of its own. As it made its way down the man's torso, curved and flowed to the side, while a dribble had continued on to the thigh. The man was still alive and moaned while he sat up against a pole that held up his tent. Methos' eyes had followed the small trail leading to the man's leg, willing it to continue on, but had stopped. Suddenly, a sword appeared to Methos' left and Methos got out of the way. Caspian's sword embedded into the victim's chest, the force of the thrust pushed the now dead body through the grass wall. Methos leapt to his feet. Before Caspian could get his sword blade extracted from the man, Methos grabbed the hilt and stabbed the sword into the wooden beam. "I was busy here!" he roared at Caspian. "So am I. We're ready to ride," Caspian said. "We never leave the living behind." "He would not have survived, you clod! I was watching him." Kronos put his head in the small hut and announced, "We're through here. Come." Caspian reached for his sword, but the blade broke in half. "You broke my blade!" Methos stalked out of the hut and toward his horse. There was no use fighting with Caspian, it would only lead to a couple of cuts. Blood letting was interesting, but not on himself. Silas had his hands full by the horses, as he was trying to keep hold of three women that Kronos had to have decided would work in their camp. Silas' low laugh boomed as he adeptly kept hold of two women and stopped the third from making her escape. "Brother!" he called to Methos. "Take your pick." Methos looked at the screaming women. As he stared at them, he could see them cower farther into Silas' hold. Methos grabbed the reins of his white steed, ignoring them all. Silas said, "Methos. I cannot handle them all." "Fine," Methos said, walking to them. He grabbed the nearest one by the hair and lead her to his horse. When her nails dug into his hand, he set his foot upon her stomach and yanked that fistful of hair out of her head. The blood curdling scream that erupted from her wasn't what he had intended, but the beads of blood at the roots of her hair did, but only for a moment. She was almost free when he tossed the hair aside and grabbed her around the waist. She was pleading for them to let her go. "You want to be free?" he hoarsely said in her ear. When she nodded frantically, Methos grabbed her neck and twisted. She fell like a limp rag. "There. You are free," he said in monotone as he stepped over her to his horse. "Caspian is not going to like that, Methos," Silas said. "That was the one he wanted." "He will live." Methos kicked his horse and rode off. As he departed the burned village, he heard Caspian scream with frustration. Methos couldn't help chuckling. Then he wondered why his face hurt so badly. He figured it was because he hadn't used the muscles that made a smile in a very long time. ~~ Methos stretched lazily on a nest of blankets. The raids were getting more tiresome and routine, yet harder to plan. Kronos insisted that he come up with more daring and vicious attacks. After almost a thousand years, though, there wasn't much that they hadn't done yet. Methos was at a crossroads. He could continue on raping and pillaging alongside his brothers, or he could abandon the bloodbath now. "METHOS!!!" Caspian yelled from his horse. "Show yourself, you coward!" Ah, Caspian wasn't happy. Methos shrugged his shoulders. Caspian was only happy when he was inflicting pain on someone. He rose to his feet and went out to greet his angry brother. They had started out as good friends, but after nearly a millennia together Methos could barely stand the cannibal. "Caspian, Caspian, you speak of what you know, eh?" Methos taunted. "Surely, you have grown timid in your old age." Caspian flung himself from his horse and stalked over to where Methos leaned against one of the heavy tent posts. The self-assured smirk that Methos displayed sent Caspian teetering over the edge. He raised his fist to wipe the irritating look of Methos' face, but the older immortal was quicker. Ducking, Methos reached out and grabbed Caspian around the neck and held his dagger threateningly against the heavier man's neck. "I have known you the longest, Caspian, if I have to lose one it will be you." Methos pushed his knife closer to the vulnerable flesh. Silas sauntered over. "Fighting again, brothers? You two do little else these days." He laughed loudly. "Let go of Caspian, Methos. He's face is turning as blue as yours." Methos relaxed his hold a bit. "Anything else you care to discuss?" "Nothing," he growled back at Methos. Methos pushed him down to the ground in dismissal. He clapped Silas heartily on the back. "Care for a drink, Silas?" "You know the answer to that," Silas grinned as he followed Methos back into his tent. "Girl, bring us something to drink," he ordered as he sprawled back on the blankets. The young girl hurried to do her master's bidding. Slaves in the Horseman's camp quickly learned obedience and efficiency were key to survival. Scurrying back into the tent, she handed each man a goblet. Methos nodded to her signaling she should leave their presence. Silas was the first to speak. "I see you have little tolerance for our brother." Methos was silent. "Kronos does not like it when you two discuss things." Methos laughed bitterly. "Kronos has many dislikes; one more won't hurt him." "He insists that we never raise a hand to each other and there you were with a knife to Caspian's neck," Silas returned. "Would you go against him in this?" Methos appreciated Silas' concern. The big man had a soft spot for him, much to Methos' amusement. "I can handle Kronos." Silas knew that there was no point arguing with Methos. Of the four of them, Methos wasn't the biggest or the best with a sword, but he was the one that always had plan upon plan. He also had the worst temper when he was backed into a corner. He would much rather go up against Caspian or even Kronos than deal with Methos in a rare fit of blind rage. "I'm sure you know best." Silas took a drink. "Kronos has mentioned moving south to find more bounty." Methos twisted his neck to relieve the tension that had settled there during his confrontation with Caspian. "The pickings have grown slim as of late. So we will move on to greener pastures." "Perhaps it will cool the tensions everyone has been feeling." "Perhaps." When they heard Caspian rage outside, Methos grimaced, and Silas saw it. Silas said, "Methos, what is the matter with you, brother? You seem to no longer even want to be near Caspian, unless it's to lay your blade at his neck. I thought you were friends before we became brothers." "That was over a thousand years ago, Silas. People change, except of course, Caspian." Silas' hardy laugh rang through the camp. "Change? Why change? Ever since you and Caspian came to my woods, I have never lived better or had more fun." Methos heard Silas' laugh booming through his head, and it wouldn't stop. "YOU'RE DEAD, YOU SICK BASTARD!" he screamed out, but the laughter didn't stop. Lang leaned over Methos, blood dripping from the circular saw that still revved in his hand. "Not quite, I'm afraid. But you will be... again... soon." Methos felt the gash on his arm, and struggled to see what that quack had done to him, but he couldn't as his neck was still braced. He drummed his fingers against the steel table and knew that he hadn't lost his hand. Lang wouldn't be able to get that saw through the steel bands that held Methos' wrist down, and it would lead to Lang's undoing. "Good things come to those who wait," Methos said in a long buried voice from his past. One he hadn't used in a couple thousand years. "That is what I believe too, Methos," Lang said with a twisted smile. "I'm pleased you have decided to get with the program. There is no use fighting it, the work needs to be done. Think of it this way, you are not only the oldest immortal; you will be the one who advanced our knowledge of immortality. Have you ever lost an appendage before? I have always wondered if an immortal could lose an arm, or a leg, or even something as insignificant as a finger, could regenerate one. Since you're being cooperative, maybe you can tell me, thereby negating the need for this test." Joe, with the three watchers in the secret room watching through the two way mirror, implored, "What does that bastard think he's going to do anyway? He can't cut off Methos' arm!" Ecklund reacted to Joe, mostly about Joe's use of Methos' name. Before he could smugly reply to Joe's lapse, Joe swatted him across the head. "Get your ass in there and stop him! Now! Or there'll be hell to pay!" "You aren't going to talk? Hm?" Lang smirked, then his face widened into a smile. "I wouldn't have believed a word you said anyway." He grunted. "Planet Zeist, my ass." Methos only stared at the bald man and waited. He knew that the simpleton would cover the fact that he was going to undo one wrist. Lang would have to make a diversion to get Methos concentrating on something else so when his wrist is unclasped, he wouldn't try to free himself. Lang was such an idiot. Dolt. Dunce. Methos kept waiting for what Lang would do, and knew that it would have something to do with that saw. If he was any kind of man, he would. Lang stared Methos down as he revved the saw, then slammed the whirring blade onto Methos' stomach. Yes! Methos used the pain as an energy rush. Do it! DO IT! Lang unlocked the clamp on Methos' wrist as the door burst open. Ecklund, Claire, Gonzales and Dubois rushed into the room just as Lang was about to set the circular saw on Methos wrist. The idiot! Thinking that I'd just leave my arm there? Lang used his full body weight to hold down Methos' hand, but got the surprise of his life when Methos pulled his hand and the saw blade imbedded into his own arm. Methos let go of Lang's hand as Ecklund pulled at Lang's shoulders. "You can't do that!" Ecklund yelled, too late. Methos grabbed hold of Lang's neck when the idiot had crouched over from the pain and didn't let go. The saw fell to the steel floor, still whirring. Lang was turning blue from the death hold Methos had on him. Ecklund and Dubois were trying to free Lang from Methos' grip. Claire was screaming into a phone for security. Joe had entered as Lang was slipping to the floor, Methos still holding onto his neck as if it were attached to his hand. Methos' breaths were deep grunts; he felt the blood seep on his body, sticky and warm. Ah, to be back again! He squeezed so hard on Lang's neck that he heard the snap of his vertebrae. The long dead howl from the thrill of the kill from his days as a horseman thundered through the room. The weight of Lang's body hanging from Methos' arm in an awkward manner made him finally let go. Ecklund grabbed Methos' hand, Gonzales rushed to help hold it down. Methos was convulsing from wanting more blood. With the two of them, Methos couldn't get hold of another victim. Even when Methos saw a gray haired man's face close, hollering at him, "Stop it! Methos! It's me, Joe!", Methos only glared at everyone in the room. They would all be his next victim. One by one. Joe was glad he had his cane to support him. The eyes brimming with rage and hatred did not belong to his friend. "See what you have done!" Joe shouted at the people in the room. Ignoring the stunned watchers, he tried to talk to Methos. "Come on, buddy. Just breath." A bitter laugh escaped from Methos. "You will all die by my sword!" "Methos, its me, Joe. Remember? You mooch my beer?" No sign of recognition greeted Joe, just cold silence. Genuine terror gripped the watcher. This was Death. Somehow the truth of what Methos had been had never seemed real until this moment. Now there was no denying the fact that at one point in his long life Methos had been the nightmare he claimed. Joe nearly wet his pants when Methos lunged against the restraints and growled at him. Where once the bindings seemed inhumane, Methos' behavior warranted them now. Methos raged against the restraints and cursed them at the top of his lungs. Ecklund dug into his pockets and grabbed the remote. No matter how many times he hit the button it failed to bring Methos under control. If anything it only caused his agitation to grow. Finally, Gonzales grabbed a knife from one of the many carts in the room and sank deep it within Methos' heart. "That was certainly interesting," Claire ventured calmly. "One concrete personality has emerged. There must be hundreds." "Interesting?" Joe challenged. "You're raping his mind!" "Those are such harsh words, Dawson," she replied. "We will have the truth." "At what cost? His sanity?" "If that's what it takes, then, yes." Ecklund joined in the conversation. "This will proceed despite the obvious setbacks." Ecklund pushed the intercom button and summoned a cleanup crew to dispose of Lang's dead body. Once the task was accomplished, he pulled the dagger out of Methos' chest and waited for him to revive. The hands on the clock drug by slowly. "Seems his recovery time keeps lengthening," Dubois noted as twenty minutes passed with no movement. "You bastards have killed him over and over again. His healing can't keep up with your experiments," Joe went to stand watch over his friend. "Why is this so important to you people?" "Because, Dawson, because," Ecklund said. "His story must be told and told truthfully." "That's it! You can't stand that he's lied to you," Joe realized. "This is about revenge and getting even for his lying to you. You try to pretend that it's all in the sake of history, but you're just a bunch of petty kids pissed off because you've been played by the master." "Enough, Dawson," Ecklund slammed the palm of his hand onto the table. "You're skating on very thin ice already." Never one to back down from a fight, Joe leaned in closer to Ecklund. "I figured out your little secret, didn't I? Man, I thought that this society was above this sort of bullshit. I guess I was wrong. You're willing to destroy him just because you're pissed? I hope you can live with yourselves." "Mr. Dawson," Ecklund slowly replied. "This is all in the name of science. In the beginning stages of the Watcher organization, men only remembered what they saw and passed information orally, or they related their tales on cave walls. When writing began, the chronicles consisted of heaps of paper that men kept in their pockets. When the Watchers became world wide, we started to house many watchers' reports in one place. When computers came along, we used them. When cell phones, email, and GPS technology came along, we started to utilize them. All this time, we've been able to chronicle them, but we still don't know who they really are. Are they human? Is there some gene in an immortal that is in us all, and a series of consequence steps must happen, and we would all have the opportunity to turn immortal? Where do they come from?" "Blah, blah, blah," Joe said, lifting his cane once again. "Meanwhile, a man is strapped to a table. If you have aspirations of finding some link between mortal and immortal, you have to realize that HE IS A MAN! He is just like you, and me! You're treating him like a lab rat!" Claire, who had been backed against a far wall away from the commotion, stepped forward to ask, "Are you suggesting that an immortal would volunteer for our experiments, Dawson?" "NO! This is insane. Just let them be. Watch and Record. That's what we do." Dubois laughed. "And be friends with them and give them information on others and allow one of them to infiltrate our system." "So sue me!" Joe yelled. "So kill me. I did a terrible, unjustifiable thing. I treat immortals as people and you know what? I like a few of them. I AM friends with some of them. I only open my access to the database when I think the playing field isn't fair, like when you kidnapped Methos, strapped him to a table, tortured and killed him repeatedly!" Joe took deep breaths to calm down and continued calmly, "Are you seeing the light yet?" Gonzales laughed. "Yes. Yes, indeed, senor." Joe glared at the Hispanic, who walked so close they were almost nose to nose. "You have just dug your own grave, Dawson. I don't care what kind of insurance policy you keep. You have just admitted many things. One, this is Methos," he said, pointing at the still dead immortal on the table. "Two, you are friends with them. Three, you have allowed an immortal to look at our database. All are hanging offenses." "Odd. Very odd," a weak voice was heard saying. They all turned to Methos lying on the table now very much alive. His eyes were focused only on Juan Gonzalez. Methos' low monotone continued, "Considering that you are one of us, you should probably shut the hell up. I know all about you, Perez." Methos grinned coyishly and said, "Oops, I mean Gonzales" Methos' mouth curled into a smile as his eyes remained cold with determination. Although he was strapped to the table, he held the room captive with the tone of his voice. "Quiet!" Gonzalez said, grabbing the knife from Ecklund's hand. Before he could rush to Methos and kill him once again, Joe tripped him with his cane and they both tumbled to the floor. Methos loudly declared, "You are all so ignorant! You didn't even know that he is one of us! But not for long. I will take his head. I will get loose. I will seek revenge. You will all pay." Claire rolled Gonzalez off of Joe. "You're immortal?" "Kill him and find out!" Methos giggled with low, evil glee. "But do it slowly. You people don't know how to kill," he said, shaking his head as if he was speaking to students who just did not get it. "Perpetrating death is an art not to be taken lightly!" Dubois and Ecklund grabbed hold of Gonzalez and slammed him back against a wall. A tray of Lang's instruments crashed to the floor. Gonzalez picked up a cleaver and held it before him waiting for any of them to pounce. "You wouldn't survive a slash from this! Get away from me!" Suddenly, the lights went out. The constant hum of the machinery stopped. The room was blanketed in darkness and silence, but just for a moment. After everyone realized what had happened, a spotlight in the upper corner turned on and they could hear a generator start up from the bowels of the building. Methos cackled with excitement. "Yes! Darkness, use it as an asset! Kill him! Kill me! It gives me strength!" Shots were heard outside and came closer to the door. The door burst open and the occupants in the room could only see the barrels of large guns. Three people entered as Claire, Ecklund, and Dubois immediately raised their hands and stepped back. Joe remained on the floor, not only because Gonzalez had fallen on him, but because his prosthetic leg was broken. "Joe?" Mac called out. "Right here," Joe said, but didn't know if MacLeod had heard it. Guns were fired and the bullets ricocheted through the room. Methos could be heard laughing happily. Claire groaned as one of the bullets had lodged her in the cheek while another found its way into her neck. Dubois had gone down without a sound after being shot in the back. Amanda walked into the room and felt the Hispanic man's buzz. She saw Joe under the table and asked, "Friend or foe?" "Foe," Joe replied. Kate MacLeod immediately grabbed a saw blade from a table and swung it at Gonzalez before he could hack Amanda from behind with his cleaver. Amanda ran to Methos and screamed when she saw the condition he was in. She kicked Dubois at her feet and then leaned in close to kiss her man who was strapped to the table. Gonzalez' quickening pounded into Kate as Duncan inspected the steel bars that covered Methos arms, legs, and neck. "We finally found you," Amanda said as she kissed Methos, ignoring everything else in the room. She got the surprise of his life when Methos bit her lip and held on. She tried to pull back, but he had a pitbull tight grip on her mouth. Duncan was confused by his friend's reaction, but could see the blood starting to drip from Amanda's chin. He held his gun's barrel tip to Methos' cheek. "Let her go!" Duncan demanded. Methos' grip remained tight. "Let her go, now, Methos!" Methos smiled. Amanda grabbed her mouth and stepped back. Her blood was pooled in and around his mouth and he swallowed, then and calmly licked his lips. "Ah. Sweet. You will all die." He looked at Amanda as if she was a stranger. A stranger who would be first on his list to kill, but he wanted to play with her first. Her screams had been music to his ears. Duncan held Kate after the quickening subsided. Shortly, their attentions focused on the only living kidnapper, Simon Ecklund, who cowered into the corner. "You can't do this," Ecklund said. Amanda stood in front of him. "Yes, we can. We just did." She pointed her gun at him and pulled the trigger. "We've got to get out of here quick," Duncan said as he looked around the room. "Kate, you and Amanda, get Methos free, while I help Joe." "No, MacLeod," Joe said from his spot on the floor. "He's not himself." "What are you talking about?" Duncan asked as he helped Joe get to his feet and balance against a nearby table. "We need to get out of here now." "He's retreated somewhere in his memories and he's not our Methos," Joe related. "They've done terrible things to him, Mac." Mac thought for a minute and looked to Amanda. "Ok, ok. I hate to do this, but we're going to have to kill him to get him out of here." Amanda nodded grimly. "You don't have a choice, Duncan. Just do it quickly and don't hurt him... too much. Be quick about it." Duncan just stared at her, so she shoved him toward Methos. "Go. Do it." "Sorry about this, Methos." Duncan plunged a dagger into Methos' heart. Methos growled and rattled off a string of vile sounding curses. "You can kill me later, my friend." Kate and Amanda stood on either side of Joe to help him up. Duncan stepped back from Methos' dead body and said, "Kate, you stay here with them while I create a diversion or two." "You have to destroy their information, Mac," Joe told him. "They know who he was." "Don't worry, Joe. By the time I'm finished they won't have any records left in this place," Duncan assured him. Between the two women and a lot of tools that Amanda had brought with her, they were able to get the restraints loose. Amanda smoothed Methos' hair. "I'm glad those bastards are dead." Mac burst through the doors. "Let's get going now. Ladies, you help Joe and I'll take Sleeping Beauty." "Did you create a diversion?" Joe asked. "You could say that." Explosions were heard out in the hallway. Amanda and Kate transported Methos down to the floor onto a blanket and rolled him up. Duncan hefted Methos' limp and very dead corpse over his shoulder with a grunt. Who'd have thought the old man would be so heavy? Another explosion went off and Duncan announced, "Hurry! We don't have a lot of time." Joe started for the door and said, "If I don't catch up with you, just go on without me. I'll be fine here." "No you won't," Kate said. "This whole place is going up in flames." She indicated a rolling cart against the wall and tipped it. The bloodied implements of torture clattered to the ground. She patted it and helped Joe sit on top. Amanda took out another grenade and pulled the pin when she saw that they were all safely down the hall toward the exit. She tossed it at the largest machine in the room, then ran away. The fire alarm shrilled as she ran to catch up to the rest of them. The van the three of them had arrived in was parked down the street. Duncan hadn't known whether Methos would be able to move for himself and as he was running with the old guy over his shoulder, he could feel the dagger sink deeper into his friend's chest. He looked back to see Kate pushing Joe on the metal cart and the building on fire. Amanda was nowhere to be seen. When he stopped to look closer for a sign of her, Kate rushed past him with Joe and stopped short at the back door of the panel van. Duncan deposited Methos in the back and grabbed his gun that was just hanging by the strap on his shoulder and ran back toward the exit door. There were more explosions in the building and no guards could be seen. He wondered if they were all inside trying to stop the inevitable, or worse case scenario, had gotten hold of Amanda. He yanked open the door, to come face to face with Amanda, and her gun. "Don't shoot!" he hollered, backing up. "It's me!" Amanda ran past him toward the van and looked back. "Come on!" "Yes, ma'am," Duncan said, smiling, and running after her. Gunfire rang out, and Duncan could feel a bullet landing in his side. He returned their fire, but he knew his aim was off having been taken by surprise. Amanda had turned and fired in the direction of two men near the side of the conflagration. They dropped to the ground, limp. She grabbed Duncan's arm and ran to the van. By the time they got to the van, Methos was in the back with Joe and Kate had the engine running. The passenger door was open and Amanda climbed in and rushed to the back. Before Duncan could slam the door shut, Kate was already driving. "Well," Kate said, not for a moment taking her eyes from the road. "Plan A and B are shot to hell, now what?" "What do you mean Plan B is shot?" Duncan asked out of breath from the gunshot wound and his all out run from the now burning building. Kate glared at her husband, and said, "We can't take a naked guy wrapped in a blanket with a dagger in his chest and a metal doohickey around his neck on a commercial flight, Duncan." Amanda tried not to crowd Joe in the back, but she had to see how Methos was. She unwrapped the blanket to see what condition he was in and saw her own blood still on his chin. Her lip had healed, and she couldn't believe that he had actually done that. She had her hand on the dagger to pull it out and talk to him, but Joe stopped her. "Don't do that," he somberly said. "He won't heal if the dagger is still in his--," she protested. "I know. We have to figure out what to do with him first. I'm telling you, this is not the Methos we know." "I can't allow him to just stay dead, Joe. He hates being dead." "I think that's the problem," Joe said, taking her hand off the dagger. "He died too much with them." Amanda caressed Methos' head. "What did they do to you?" "I'm not sure I want to know," Joe said. "Oh really?!" Amanda turned on Joe. "You're one of them! Did you see some of it? Did you see some of his blood being spilled?" "I tried to stop it, Amanda!" "And you did a very good job, didn't you!" Duncan's hand pulled Amanda toward him and said, "We aren't going to fight each other. Joe? Did they hurt you?" "Of course not," Amanda said bitterly. "He's one of the boys." "Amanda, I swear to God," Joe began, but Kate made a sudden turn jostling the three people in back against the side of the van. "Sorry, guys," Kate yelled back to them. "I'm not used to driving here in Seacouver." Joe braced himself against the side of the van. Life among these people was never dull. "So where are we heading, Mac?" Mac swivelled in the passenger's seat. "Originally, the plan was to head out of the country and lay low for a while, but seeing the shape he's in I think we'd better stick close." "Well, everyone that knew about Methos is dead so at least we don't have to worry about that, and because of the fire, there won't be any evidence left." Amanda was holding onto Methos' hand to reassure herself he was really here with her. "I hope the place burns to the ground," Joe said with determination. "Our safest bet would be to take him back to my cabin. It's isolated and there's plenty of room for all of us there." "Swing by my place so I can get a replacement for this," Joe tapped his broken leg. "Adam has some clothes there and maybe you can clean him up a little." "That can wait til we get to the island," Mac told him. "Tell me where you keep your spare leg and I'll run in and get it and grab some clothes for you and Methos. The sooner we get to the cabin, the safer we'll be." "I second that," Kate looked in the rear view mirror. "No one is following us that I can tell." They rode on in silence. Kate pulled the van into the alley behind Joe's house. Duncan ran in the shadows to the back door. The only sound that could be heard was their breathing. Sometime during their wild ride Amanda had pulled Methos over into her lap. The glow from the streetlights illuminated and emphasized the sharp angles of the old immortal's very pale face. Amanda's own head was bent over as she whispered encouraging words Methos couldn't hear. Joe considered her a lioness sitting watch over her wounded mate daring anyone to threaten or harm him in any way. "Amanda?" Joe was tentative. She looked up from her watch over Methos. "I am just as pissed about all of this as you are, I swear. Methos knows I wasn't involved in any of this." "He hates being dead, Joe." Amanda's words were filled with sadness. "The longer we're dead, the harder it is to recover." Joe scooted over next to her and put his arm around her. "We'll get the knife out as soon as we get to Mac's. He's gonna be alright." "What if he's not, Joe?" Amanda asked softly. "He's lived five thousand years and managed to keep his sanity but those bastards may have taken that from him." "Methos is a cagey bastard, you know that." Joe reassured her. "It may take some time, but he's got all of us to help him." "If he'll let us," Amanda reminded Joe of that distinct possibility. The van started up as the passenger door opened. Mac tossed a couple of bags into the back. "Kate, slide over. I'll drive." He looked in the back and saw Joe sitting next to Amanda and Methos. "Everything all right back there?" He'd been afraid that Amanda would tear into Joe. "Yes, Clan Chieftain. The only dead body is Methos," Amanda replied trying to find any humor in the situation. Joe coughed to hide his small laugh. "Bad joke, Amanda," Duncan grinned as he took over the driving duties. ~~~~~ DUNCAN'S CABIN As soon as Duncan, Kate and Amanda entered the yard of Duncan's cabin, they all felt a sense of peace. It wasn't happenstance that had made Duncan buy the property; it was survival. The land just to the north of where the cabin was situated was an Indian burial ground. The land under the cabin had been consecrated by the Snoqualmie tribe for it to be used as future resting places. Before it could be used, the government had zoned the area for a national park, and then dropped the matter before the paperwork could be continued. Duncan had felt the sanctity of the ground and looked up the land's history. After he had purchased it, he had asked the current chief, Flying Eagle, to visit, and had gotten the regal Indian's consent to build on the land that he owned. If there was anywhere that the other immortals could feel safe from Methos' wrath and mind set, this was the place. Duncan flipped Methos over his shoulder again and carried him from the van into the cabin, depositing him on the couch. Amanda had been in tow, acting like a mother hen for Duncan to not hurt Methos. "Give it a rest, Amanda. Nothing's hurting him right now," Duncan said. Joe had fastened his new leg on during the drive. He was a proud man, and didn't want his handicap to impede on being treated just like everyone else, but accepted Kate's help to exit the van and straighten his pant leg. When they had gotten into the cabin, they noticed that Methos was without dagger in his chest. Duncan had pulled Amanda back from Methos on the couch and were waiting for the old guy to revive. Kate whispered to Duncan, "Shouldn't we have taken that collar off and dressed him and cleaned him up first?" "Amanda was adamant that he doesn't like being dead." Amanda mused aloud, "Come on, Methos. Wake up." She moved back closer to him, but Duncan pulled her back again, placing her behind him. He told Joe and Kate, "Stay back." "Don't have to tell me twice," Joe said. "This is my only spare leg." "Explain again how different he was in there, Joe," Amanda said, looking at someone other than Methos for the first time. "Amanda," Joe said heavily, "they broke him, and the only part of his past that had absolute power emerged." "No. Not that." Duncan said, "Death." Joe sadly nodded. "I believe so. I saw him kill the doctor who was administering the torture in cold blood." "Well, he deserved it, that doesn't mean that Methos is ... that asshole again." Amanda looked back at Methos, who still had not revived. Kate asked, "What are you talking about?" "I don't want her to know if she doesn't already," Amanda said. "This is a private matter. Methos wouldn't like it." Duncan said, "Amanda, you weren't in Seacouver when Kronos returned. How do you know about it all?" "I've known for decades, Mac. Methos called to tell me not to return to Seacouver for a while after he got wind that Cassandra and Kronos were in the city." Duncan paced around the spacious living room. "I still can't believe you two lied to me about this." "What were we supposed to do? You were right in the middle of fighting Kalas and you wanted us to tell you we've been lovers on and off three times longer than you've been alive?" Amanda dismissed him. "Besides you don't have any right to be jealous." "I don't, huh?" "You were gallivanting with Cassandra, am I supposed to think that was a platonic relationship?" "It was. We were trying to put down the Horsemen," Duncan said with fury. "Don't turn this back on me." "Knock it off, you guys. We've got bigger fish to fry at the moment." Joe interrupted. "Let's get him cleaned up and in some clothes. He'll really be pissed if he comes to in this shape." Amanda struggled with Methos' still, dead body. He was too big for her to handle alone. She looked to Duncan. "Are you going to help me or not?" Duncan hefted Methos back onto his shoulder. Amanda stalked ahead of him and started the water running in the tub. Joe and Kate watched the trio make their way to the bathroom. "What the hell were you all talking about? Horsemen? Kronos? Cassandra?" Kate felt left out, but as soon as she verbalized her questions, she wondered if she really wanted to know. Joe rubbed his forehead. "It's long story, but I'm not the one to tell ya." ~~~~~~ After making sure the bath was hot enough, she gathered up his clothes and waited for Mac to lower him into the water. "You can leave us," Amanda told him. "I can handle this." "No, I'll stay. He might be dangerous." "He doesn't have a sword. Even so, he won't kill me." She was confident in that fact. "You heard me, Amanda." Amanda lathered up the rag and began to scrub away the blood and grime. "At least give us some privacy." Duncan muttered low under her breath, but went to stand by the door. He watched as Amanda tenderly bathed and caressed Methos' still unconscious frame. She whispered to him and massaged his muscles hoping to get the sluggish blood moving through his system. How had they managed to hide this from me? Amanda ran the rag over Methos' chest. She stopped for a minute and looked up at his face. She could swear she felt Methos' heart beat. Her hand abandoned the cloth as her palm rested over his heart. Sure enough, it had begun to beat and his presence began to register to them both very dully. A quick glance at his face revealed he was still out of it, but soon would be coming around. "Hurry up, Duncan, help me get him out of the tub." Duncan held the slippery immortal while Amanda toweled him dry. Together, they managed to get a pair of sweats and a t-shirt on him before the thumping bass of his presence and the subsequent shuddering first breath signaled his revival. Methos gave a couple of sobs as he fought to get his lungs filled with air. "It's okay, just breathe," Amanda encouraged as she rubbed his back. "Just breathe, honey." The door opened as Kate and Joe entered the room. Methos sat slumped between Duncan and Amanda as his healing powers surged through him restoring his body. Amanda continued to rub his back and encouraged him to relax. "Is he ok?" Joe asked. "Its too soon to tell. He's not completely back, yet." Amanda offered, "Not much longer now." Three or four minutes later, Methos' eyes snapped open. He looked around him and saw no one he recognized. He fought to get to his feet and closed his eyes against the dizziness. Hands tried to pull him back down onto the floor. He had to get away from these people. Amanda watched Methos sway as he struggled to his feet. He was still too weak from repeatedly dying and being tortured. She grabbed at his hand and tried to lower him back down next to her. Instead of complying he wrenched away from her grasp and backed away from her. She scrambled to her feet and went to him. "Methos, its me, Amanda." He looked up at the sound of his name. Who was this woman who knew his name? As he jerked his head to look around his unfamiliar surroundings, his chin hit against the collar still fastened to his neck. Automatically, he reached to investigate the metal band. Without hesitating, he dropped to his knees and bowed his head low to the ground in supplication. "What the hell!" Joe exclaimed. Amanda shrugged and knelt beside Methos. Her hand lifted his chin so he would look at her. He refused to meet her gaze. "Methos?" She looked at the others. "He acts like he doesn't know us." "From the looks of it, I think he thinks he's a slave," Kate observed. "It must be the collar, maybe he thinks it's a slave collar." "That has to be it," Duncan agreed. Amanda leaned down to Methos' hunched over, subservient body and asked, "Methos? Talk to me." "Mistress," he said with all due respect. "The horses escaped. I accept all the blame." "Oooo-kay," Amanda said with confusion. She sat up and looked to Duncan for an indication of how to handle this. Seeing that Duncan didn't have any idea, she stood up and demanded of Methos, "Up. Now." Methos jumped to his feet, keeping his head bent in homage. Amanda told the others. "I hate to admit it, but I kind of like him this way." Amanda moved past Duncan and Joe, and walked to the kitchen. Methos obediently followed. Joe walked after them and said to Amanda, "He is different now, but watch out. That other guy can come out at any time." "Look at him, Joe," Amanda said, indicating Methos, who was still hunched over in respect for his mistress. "He's the same one who bit your lip, remember?" Duncan had to remind her. "Be careful." "He won't hurt me. He loves me." Amanda stated that so confidently, Duncan and Joe could only watch Methos carefully to make sure she was right. Amanda told Methos, "Sit," and pulled a chair out from the table. Methos sat down, keeping his back straight. He kept looking at his hands. Amanda sat in another chair, which she had pulled so she was sitting in front of him and took his hands in hers. He reacted by jerking back, as if she was a snake. Amanda let him go, sitting back, giving him room. Methos seemed to relax and only stared at her feet. Duncan whispered to her, "Now might be a good time to get that collar off. Make sure he doesn't fight us." "Methos," she said. "I am going to remove my collar on you. You may have allowed the horses to escape, but I forgive you. You'll do better next time, won't you?" "Of course, mistress," Methos weakly said. Duncan took the hacksaw from the counter that he had retrieved after examining the collar. There wasn't any way to get it off besides cutting it away. He had a circular saw with a diamond bit, but wondered if Methos would allow such a thing. There was no telling what machinery had been used on Methos, and Duncan didn't want to spook him with any engine noise that would be focused on his neck. "Methos?" Duncan asked. Methos didn't respond to him at all. Duncan whispered to Amanda. Amanda said, "Methos. Are you immortal?" "Only kings are immortal, mistress," Methos firmly stated. Amanda told Duncan, "I don't think it would be a problem to tinker around his neck. Just be careful what you cut." When Duncan grabbed the collar with one hand, and held the hacksaw in the other, Methos punched his stomach and ducked to the floor. "Methos!" Amanda yelled. Methos stopped moving. "Get up, sit back in that chair. Now." It surprised them all to hear Methos weep, deep heart wrenching sobs escaping from the depths of his soul. This was very disconcerting to all who witnessed his emotional breakdown. Mac lowered the hacksaw and stepped away from his friend, unsure of how to react. Joe sadly shook his head. Amanda silently cursed herself for her actions. "Methos," her tone was soft and gentle. "Look at me, Methos." He slowly met her gaze; his apprehension clearly evident on his set features. "Tell me what's wrong, please." "I did not mean to anger you, mistress." Amanda caressed his cheek. "You didn't anger me, Methos. I just want you be still so Duncan can get the collar off of you." Methos gave Duncan a wary once over. Duncan gave him his best innocent look and moved slowly towards Methos. He carefully held the collar and began sawing to set him free. After considerable effort, Methos was finally liberated. "Is that better?" Amanda asked. Methos rubbed his neck. "Thank you, mistress." "I hope I didn't hurt you," Mac told him. Once again, Methos didn't answer. "I mean that." "Are you hungry or thirsty?" Amanda changed the subject. "It has been a while since you last ate." Methos nodded. "Mac, why don't you and I get our friend something to eat?" Joe pulled Duncan along to the fridge. Duncan watched Methos follow Amanda submissively back into the living room. "This is wrong, Joe." Joe layered meat and cheese onto two pieces of bread, followed by lettuce and tomato. "Hand me the Miracle Whip." The Scot retrieved the condiment from the door of the refrigerator. "I don't know what's worse seeing him as "Death" or like this." "Makes you realize how many lives he's lived, and how he isn't like either of them, doesn't it?" Joe took the jar and began to spread a thin layer on each piece of bread. Duncan was quiet. Joe, distracted with making the sandwiches, failed to notice Duncan's lack of response. "This should tie him over for a while. A couple of beers and he might be good as new." "You think that's all it's going to take?" Duncan asked, pulling open the old fridge door. "No, but one can hope." ~~~~~ Amanda was doing her best to coax Methos into explaining what he was feeling or who he even thought he was. Kate had tried to broach a conversation with him. However, he would reluctantly speak only to Amanda. His answers were brief and to the point. Joe limped into the room and sat the plate on the coffee table. "Here you go, Methos. Eat up." Methos eyed the sandwiches hungrily and looked to Amanda for permission to eat. At her nod, he quickly picked up one of the sandwiches and began to gobble up the food. Duncan had opened one of the beers and set it next to the plate. With some trepidation, Methos had picked up the bottle and sniffed it. Amanda nodded and gestured for him to take a drink. Methos tilted the bottle and took a sip. For the first time since his rescue he smiled a ghost of a smile. He ate the second sandwich a little slower and guzzled down the two bottles of beer. "Had enough?" Joe asked as he took the empty plate. Methos nodded. "Good." "You wait right here, Methos," Amanda signaled for the others to follow her. "I'm going to get him settled in bed and then we really need to discuss where we go from here." "Joe and I will clean up the kitchen," Kate offered. "If that's okay with you, Joe?" "Like I'd turn down a chance to help a beautiful woman," Joe grinned. "I may be a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them." Duncan rolled his eyes. "Lay off the charm, Dawson. I'm going to bring in some firewood for tonight and make sure everything is alright outside." "I really appreciate you guys helping with this," Amanda began. "It means a lot to me." "He's our friend, too," Duncan reminded her. "He has pulled all of our asses out of the fire before, now we can pay him back." "He should sleep well tonight," Joe noted. "At least, I hope he does." Amanda looked over at the couch. "I don't think it's going to be a problem." Methos had curled up into a small ball on the sofa. She nudged him before he could fall asleep. When she touched his arm, he focused all his attention back on her. Methos had even returned to his place kneeling at her feet. Amanda smiled to the others. "I can't help it. I have a power over him." She held out her hand to him. "Come on, big guy, time for bed. You'll feel better after a good night's sleep. And if not, well... we'll deal with it in the morning." Duncan followed and made sure that Methos got into bed and the violence he had exhibited under the Watcher's influence hadn't returned. Amanda had finally coaxed Duncan to just go get some sleep. It had been a long couple of days. Methos' faint snore indicated that he wouldn't be a threat of any kind, at least not for a little while. He took the dagger that had been effective to quiet Methos during his transfer out of his belt loop and handed it to her. "It doesn't go with my nightgown, Mac," Amanda said. "Don't worry. I know him. I know him better than you or Joe and certainly Kate, all put together. We'll be fine. We're going to sleep and tomorrow, we'll see if I'm still his mistress, or just his lover again. Or, I wonder if there's a way that I can be both." Amanda smiled. "I really think that a good night's rest is all he's going to need." Duncan put the dagger on the bedside table and told her, "Fine. At least you know where it is. Good night, but be careful." "Thank you, Duncan. I really appreciate this." "Quit saying that. I'd be helping him even if you weren't involved, or I knew... everything, but I still don't know everything. We have to talk. Later. When he's himself again." "I'll look forward to it," she said without sarcasm, but with understanding. After the years that she and Duncan had themselves drifted in and out of each other's lives, an explanation was appropriate. She smiled at Joe in the hallway. "Good night," she said as she quietly closed the door. Methos was lying on his side, his eyes closed, his face more relaxed than she had seen it since they had rescued him. She was convinced that getting that collar off, eating, drinking and cleaning up, wearing fresh clothes was the first step in his rehabilitation. She took off her clothes and slipped into her silk nightgown and got into bed beside him, careful not to disturb his slumber. For the first time since they had met while she was just days from turning immortal, Amanda was slightly uncomfortable being in bed with Methos. He had been a killer and a servant within a matter of hours; she didn't know what to expect next. He was completely safe with her, no one was going to hurt him, but she didn't know if he knew that. He wasn't the Methos that she knew and loved at the moment, and it gave her pause as if it was the first time with a stranger. She didn't know what would pop up next. When he laid face down in the pillows, limbs everywhere, Amanda chuckled. He was like a cat, draped everywhere when he was truly comfortable and about to settle in for a long rest. She laid on her side facing him and gently touched his cheek. She couldn't even begin to think of the horrible things he had been through with them, and in her deepest thoughts, wished she could have killed a couple of those watchers all over again. Homicide was not a customary emotion for her, killing mortals, never. But they deserved it, she thought to herself as she nestled into the pillow and closed her eyes. Continued in Part Three |