THE YOU'RE IN MY HEART SERIES HELTER SKELTER Part Three By Susan and JoLayne 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. Part Two DUNCAN'S CABIN Joe picked up his cane and turned off the bathroom light as he entered the hallway. The cabin was dark and all were asleep, except him. He had tried to sleep, but he was too concerned about his current employment and how he could ever go back to that organization. A faction of the Watchers had actually taken an Immortal and did testing like he was a specimen under glass. "Like," he said aloud. "Methos was a specimen under the damn glass." He had already scoured the Watcher Database for any indication of what the Watchers had done, and hadn't found anything. It was just like those assholes to keep things quiet, to think that they had the tiger by the tail and weren't going to share with anyone. Joe was on his way to the kitchen to see if there were any munchies and to write out a resignation letter when he heard the bed squeak in Methos and Amanda's bedroom. He paused a moment by their door to make sure things were fine. Just then, Amanda screamed out bloody murder. Joe opened the door to see Methos straddling Amanda, the dagger in his hand, slashing her chest. "Keep on screaming," he sneered at her as if she was nothing. "I like it when they struggle. Fight back!" Another slash ripped across her chest as her hands tried in vain to stop him. As Amanda screamed and Methos maniacally laughed, Joe could hear Duncan and Kate running down the steps. Joe fumbled for the gun in his pocket and aimed it at Methos. "STOP!" Methos turned to Joe and the cold smile on his face made Joe stagger back. He looked as if he had just eaten his young. Joe raised the gun at Methos and noticed that Amanda was dead. Joe calmly stated, "Back away from her or I'll cap your ass." Methos growled as he leaped off the bed toward Joe. The shot rang out just as Duncan reached the hall. Methos fell straight down from where his body was in mid flight and stayed still. Joe fired his gun again, crying out as he watched the bullet enter Methos' back. Duncan lowered Joe's firing arm and took the gun from him. Kate appeared at the door and gasped when she saw Amanda on the bed, the bed sheets soaked with her blood, her eyes blankly staring at them. "I am getting too old for this shit," Joe sighed. "Can't anything ever be simple with you guys?" Leaning over to retrieve the bloody dagger from Methos, Duncan said, "I warned her not to get too cozy with him. He's not the same person." "It's too late to do anything about it now, Duncan," Kate said. "At least he didn't take her head. Let's do what we can and worry about all that later, ok?" Methos revived with a great gasp of air. Joe raised his gun ready to fire if Death came knocking again. Methos rolled over on his hands and knees and coughed. Slowly, he got to his feet and looked around the room. His gaze fell on the bed where Amanda's bloody corpse lay. He rushed over to her. What the hell had happened to her? He sank onto the bed and gathered her into his arms. "Methos?" Duncan queried. "She'll be alright in a little bit." Methos looked over at Duncan and saw the dagger in his hand. "YOU BASTARD!" He shouted as he launched himself at the unsuspecting Scot. The two of them landed in a writhing heap of arms and legs. Methos' fury fueled him and soon he had Duncan pinned to the floor beneath him. Duncan's arms came up to protect his face from the furious blows Methos was raining down on him. Duncan was surprised by the forcefulness of Methos' attack; with considerable effort he pushed the lighter immortal off of him. Methos immediately scrambled to his feet and was ready to have another go with the burly Highlander when Amanda returned to life. "Amanda!" Methos kept one eye on Duncan as he backed up towards the woman on the bed. " Where is Rebecca?" He looked around the room at the concerned faces. "Who are these people? They know who I am, but I have never met them. Have you been talking about me to others?" All Amanda could do was shrink back from the man that had so savagely attacked her. Without wanting to, Amanda thought about the gut wrenching feeling that had come over her when she was ambushed by mortals with tattoos because they wanted Rebecca's crystal. She had been so sure that Methos had sent them, that Methos had wanted its magical properties. Because he had so quickly mentioned Rebecca, she fought him off when he tried to hold her. "What did you do with your hair?" he asked, touching her shoulder length bob. "I love your long curly hair--." Amanda couldn't take his hands on her and ran out of the bedroom. "Amanda!" Methos charged after her, but Duncan blocked his way. They stared each other down, and since Duncan didn't see any of the homicidal tendencies that had woken them all up, he asked, "What year is it, Methos?" Methos looked at him as if he had lost his mind. "Are you the court jester?" "What year is it?" Duncan forcefully asked. "900." Methos informed them all, not sure why they would bring up such a crazy thing. "Amanda and I are on our way to visit Rebecca at the abbey." "Rebecca?" Duncan was floored. Not only by the year that Methos had mentioned, knowing Amanda at that time, but also that Methos had also known Rebecca. He was going to ask more questions when Methos suddenly shoved him against the wall. "Where the blazes are we, and why did you kill her?!" Methos demanded. Methos looked at the contents of the room, and also the room's construction. Being forceful with Duncan and protective of Amanda had slipped his mind as his hand rubbed against the wallpaper of the bedroom wall. The mural of the paper would have taken many years to finish, and Methos had never seen such a pattern. Usually, wall coverings depicted great conferences, meetings, battles. But stripes and Fleur-de-lis? The symbols were all over the room. Whose regime does this man serve? As Methos was studying the wall, for some reason, Duncan looked to Joe, seeing that Kate had left the room, probably to see if Amanda was all right. He could hear the bathroom faucet running. How are we going to explain this? Duncan thought. A quick glance at Joe revealed that he didn't have a clue either. Duncan got Methos' attention and said, "It seems that you and Amanda were attacked by some bandits and Joe and I..." Duncan looked to Joe for help. "I capped their asses for you," Joe said, indicating the gun in his hand with a wicked smile. "They're gone now," Duncan said, wondering how Joe could joke in a situation such as this. Methos looked at the big man and crippled man skeptically, "Then you have my gratitude." "I am glad we could help," Duncan answered. "You're none the worse for wear." ~~~~~ Amanda pulled the soiled nightgown over her head and shut off the faucet at the sink. Instead, she figured that a full-fledged shower was in order. In the darkness of the bedroom, she hadn't realized that she had lost so much blood. There was a knock on the door, and Amanda jerked around to stare at it in surprise. She heard Kate say from the other side, "Amanda? Are you all right? Let me help you." "I'm just going to take a shower, Kate. Thanks. I'm fine." "Okay," Kate replied warily. "Take your time." "How is Methos?" Amanda just had to ask, now that she had gotten past the initial shock of being awakened so rudely. "I'm not sure. We'll make sure he doesn't hurt anyone or himself. You just take your time in there." "Thank you, Kate," Amanda said, not used to being civil to Duncan's new wife, still standing still in the middle of the small bedroom. She tried to hear what was going on with Methos and didn't hear any screams or grunts. She caught her reflection in the mirror and saw that blood tracks that were left from slashes to her chest. She had to get rid of them, now! ~~~~~ As soon as Amanda turned off the shower, there was a light knock on the door again. Kate said, "Here are some clothes, Amanda." Amanda wrapped the towel around her and opened the door. Kate handed her a pair of jeans and a ski sweater. "Are you all right?" "Yes. I'm fine. Thanks," Amanda said, taking the clothes and shutting the door. She quickly opened it again and asked, "How is Methos?" "He's fine." "Really?" "Yeah," Kate said, chuckling. "His mind is a wonder," she added with awe. Amanda shut the door again and said, "Don't I know it." As she dried off and dressed, she wondered how all the years of Methos' experience might be crashing together in his mind. If Duncan hadn't been so adamant about her having that dagger, she might have been able to talk her way out of Methos hurting her. She hoped, but then she realized that Methos might have been overhearing her and Duncan's conversation and only pretended to sleep. That thought scared her. She loved Methos with all her heart, but she would have to be careful also. Her first instinct of taking complete care of him herself wasn't a possibility. After all he was the one who had taught her the philosophy of protecting one's own head, he could have very well taken her head off with that dagger. Then where would she be? Amanda walked back to the bedroom on guard. No one was in there. The sheets had been stripped from the bed, and the mattress was soaked with her blood. She closed the door and went searching for Methos. She found him in the next bedroom on the ground floor. His hands were tied to the headboard while his feet were tied together. Joe sat in a chair, with his gun in his hand. "Is he dead?" Amanda quietly asked Joe. "Nah, sleeping, I think." "Why did you have to tie him up?" Joe stood, smiling, and shaking his head. "As long as I live, I'll never completely understand that old man, but I'll also not lose my respect for him." "That's nice to hear," Amanda said, hugging Joe when he was close enough. As much as she would have wanted to, she couldn't force herself farther into the room. "What brought that to your mind?" "He was confused, thinking that it was the year 900 and he was with you then. When we were able to explain that it's the year 2002 and that he, himself, had attacked you, I think I saw a flicker of the old Methos for just a minute. He told us to tie him up so he wouldn't hurt anyone again. He knows he's in bad shape, but then he'd start babbling in a foreign tongue and sweat and..." Joe just shook his head with confusion. "We don't know what's going on in that head of his." Amanda could smell bacon frying, and assumed that Duncan and Kate were making breakfast and the new day had begun. "Why don't you get yourself a cup of coffee and I'll stay with Methos." "No way. We decided that no one is alone with him until we know that he's himself again." Joe stared back at Methos, whose head was stuck between his raised and tied arms. His eyes closed. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Amanda walked to him and sat on the side of the bed so as not to wake him. She leaned down to kiss him and stared at his face. He opened his eyes and slightly smiled at her. "I'm sorry," Methos whispered as his eyes closed in exhaustion. ~~~~~ When Amanda and Joe joined Duncan and Kate in the kitchen, the table was set and two eggs, bacon and bagels were on each of the four plates. "How is he?" Duncan asked as he indicated chairs for Amanda and Joe to sit in. "Sleeping," Amanda said, taking a bite of bacon and sipping the coffee. Three expectant faces looked to her for an explanation. Since one didn't come, Duncan shook his head. "I know you told me before, but I still can't get over it. Methos knew Rebecca? You've really known each other that long?" Amanda sat back and let herself return to that desperate time late in her mortal life. ~~~~~ 850 AD Amanda was hungry, pure and simple. The plague had killed the only family she had known, the parents who had taken her into their home, as well as her younger brother and sister. Amanda was the last of the line, and she wondered why with all the effected people dropping like flies around her, she hadn't been taken ill. No matter now, she was hungry. Since her family had been taken away to be burned in one of those ever present carts that filled the town square, she had just tried to survive. If that meant taking apples when people's heads were turned, or picking a few pockets, or even walking into the homes of the dead scrounging for food, so be it. Her eye caught that of a tall man in a nice tunic down the narrow street of her neighborhood. He has to have many coins, Amanda decided. I can actually purchase food for once. He would be her next mark. She trailed behind him, careful not to get too close to him, so he wouldn't be aware of being followed. He would stop and case his surroundings once in a while, and she would stop short and make it look like she was busy or hid from him. When he would again move through the streets, or the marketplace when he reached it, she followed again, hoping she would have the opportunity to reach into the pouch that was strapped to his side. It was a small pouch, but it was bulging. She hoped the bulge meant coins and not something useless to her. The opportunity came when he stopped in front of a potter's stand and examined a large bowl. Amanda rushed up to him and reached her hand into the pouch, ready to move on quickly as soon as her hand clenched metal. What happened though was the man's hand grabbed her wrist and he twisted her arm behind her back. He stood behind her, with a tight hold on her arm, and his other arm folded in front of her, then said, "What do we have here..." "Please, Sire. Just a coin or two," she said through the pain. "Please?" He let go of her hand and she spun around, rubbing her elbow. She looked at him, and then knew that he would be calling for the authorities to capture her. Amanda took off, but he grabbed her arm again. "Please! It was a mistake," Amanda quickly explained. "I am just hungry." "It is a crime to steal," the man said. "But there is nothing wrong with asking." That stopped her, and she looked at him again, cautiously. "What?" His eyes were focused on her as he smiled. He flipped three coins from his pouch in the air and they fell to the ground. Amanda shoved a little boy who had knelt down to pick them up and took them for herself. She looked up at the man. "Thank you, Sire." The man tossed a coin at the boy, and without a word, walked away. Amanda stood and watched the man depart. He didn't even purchase that bowl he was looking over. He didn't even look at any other of the articles for barter at the stands. It was as if he knew she had been following him, and he waited for her to act. Amanda smiled and brushed her hand against her dirty face. ~~~~~ Amanda had finished her breakfast, and her story. "That was how we first met," she told them. "I didn't know his name. I turned a few days later and Rebecca found me. It wasn't until Methos had come to Rebecca for a tryst that I saw him again, about ten years later. That was when I found out his name." "And you had been together ever since?" Duncan asked, a little let down. Amanda shrugged. "Off and on over the years." Joe said, "You indicated yesterday that you knew about the Horsemen. When did you find out about Methos and Kronos, Amanda? Did he tell you about it all? Did he tell you how he and Kronos met and formed the Horsemen?" "Was that only yesterday? Seems like weeks," Amanda paused for a moment to finish her juice. "It wasn't when he met Kronos that the Horsemen were formed, Joe. It was when Methos met Caspian." "Caspian and Methos?" Duncan acted surprised. "I thought he and Kronos started the Horsemen." "Nope, he and Caspian knew each other, then met Kronos," Amanda related. "At least that's what he told me." "Very interesting," Joe thought out loud. "I got the feeling there was little love lost between those two." "Towards the end there wasn't; Methos never told me all the details and I never pushed for them." "Do you think we should get Methos to eat something?" Kate asked. "I'd say let him rest all he can. It'll go along way in helping him get everything settled," Joe advised. "It may take a while. I mean, he's got over five thousand years of memories to weed through." "Hopefully, he won't have to go through that many, Joe." Duncan helped Kate clear away the dishes. "My own memories can bog me down at times." "I could just kill those bastards for dredging this stuff up," Amanda huffed as she slammed her glass down harder than she meant intended. "He'll be ok, Amanda," Duncan reassured her. "He is Methos after all." "You don't get it, do you?" "I'm not sure what you mean." "Do you realize how hard it must have been for him to keep all of this in check? How hard he's worked to change who he was then?" Amanda glowered at him. "What if he has to do that all over again? He wasn't as lucky as Darius was by getting a Light Quickening. Methos had to do it all on his own." "You can't compare the two of them," Duncan protested. "Darius-" "Darius was a good man, yes, but from what I've heard, he could have given the Horsemen a run for their money, Duncan." Amanda pointed out. "You've never really accepted that fact, have you? Or the fact that Methos isn't that person anymore?" Duncan lowered his head. "I don't want to discuss this with you, Amanda." "Of course, you don't, you stubborn Scot," Amanda charged. "It must be nice living in that glass house." Joe cleared his throat. "I'm getting sick of refereeing you guys. Suck it up and grow up." "Amanda!!" came the shout from Methos' bedroom along with the sounds of struggling. "Here we go again," Amanda sighed and ran into the bedroom. Methos was jerking against the ropes that bound him to the bed. "Help me!! The Watchers know who I am!" His eyes darted around the room. "You've got to help me." "Methos, you're safe, you're safe," Amanda sat down on the bed. "One of them is an immortal," Methos informed her. "Take him out first, then untie me." "I can't, sweetie," she told him. "You're not yourself." Bewilderment and hurt crossed his face simultaneously. "You'd leave me here?" "I swear you are safe, Methos. They can't hurt you anymore. We killed them all," Amanda tried to reason with him. "Then untie me damn it!" "I can't, Methos," Amanda was near tears. "I'm sorry." Methos turned away from her. "If you won't help me, just leave." "Now, don't be like that," Amanda admonished him. "Get the hell out of here," Methos said, trying to break free of the confines while he was at it. Amanda backed away and stood in the doorway for a moment, watching Methos curse her in French and other languages she couldn't decipher. By the sound of them, one could have been German and she thought she heard absit, which she knew was Latin. But why was he talking about a 'God'. Methos didn't believe in any one God, or any of them, as far as she knew. Duncan directed her from the room, shutting the door, as Methos roared in frustration. "Nada do deus você!" She had no idea what he was saying, so she just allowed Duncan to steer her into a chair at the kitchen table once again and let Methos' tirade wash over her as he was loud enough to wake the dead in a tri-state area. Kate said, "We shouldn't worry about the neighbors, should we?" "You haven't been here long enough to know that MacLeod doesn't have neighbors, Kate," Amanda said, not at all caring that she sounded a bit snotty. "I will take that under advisement, Amanda," Kate brusquely replied. "Take what?" Duncan asked, confused. "She doesn't want me to tread on 'her territory', darling," Kate said, stressing the word darling. "I'm not going anywhere and have all the time in the world to know all there is to know about my husband." "Oh, please," Amanda yelled at her. "Do you really think that I'm concerned about you when the love of my life is in the other room? Go piss in the corners so I know for sure that this is your dominion, honey." Joe cleared his throat. "Can you two save it?" "She started it," Kate accused. "Really? I'm supposed to care that you're--," Amanda said, but stopped when Joe laid his gun on the table, loudly. Suddenly, they heard distinct yells coming from Methos' bedroom, one word repeated over and over was, "Antonio!" Amanda jumped out of her chair and beat the others to the door. Methos had broken the post his hands were tied to, but the sheets were twisted around him tightly. He finally fell off the bed, his hands and ankles tied. "Antonio! Come back to life so I can kill you again!" Joe asked, "Who might Antonio be?" when he appeared in the hall. Duncan shrugged and shook his head. They all looked to Amanda, who said, "Antonio wasn't immortal." Duncan was shook up. "Antonio wasn't immortal and he killed him?!" "Methos didn't kill him," Amanda explained. "So... he must be thinking of a different Antonio." Duncan said, "Well? What Antonio are you thinking about?" "I had it in my hand, MacLeod..." Amanda said, looking at Methos. Methos turned his body to see his observers and their eyes locked. "It was in your hand," he said, as if talking to a child, then accused, "You made me kill him!" "I had it in my hand," Amanda repeated, tears forming in her eyes. ~~~~~ ~~##1927 NEW YORK##~~ "I had it in my hand, Methos!" Amanda said, holding her empty hands out for him to see. Methos slapped her hands aside and strode to the door of her hotel room. She ran after him, slamming the door shut. "You don't understand. We had it, we were almost free." "But you don't have it now," Methos condescendingly said. He paced the room as he did whenever a lecture was in order. "Get over it. Besides, it's not yours." "When did that ever stop you?" Methos twisted around so quickly that she thought the sword attached to his side would knock over the vase that held the roses that he had surprised her with when he arrived for a tryst. "Watch it," Amanda said. "What do you mean?" Methos demanded of her. "What have you heard?" He took her arm so roughly that she cried out in pain. "Who have you been talking to?!" "No one! What are you talking about?" "I don't steal." "Yeah, right," she said, laughing, but stopped when she saw him act to strangely. It was like he was personally offended. "I'm sorry. I just meant that you do whatever is necessary to get what you want." Methos stood by the open window taking deep breaths. She walked behind him and wrapped her arms around him. "Will you help me? Marie Antoinette's tiara is just sitting there waiting for me to get it." He took her hands down and said, "It's just sitting there, on display, with a card alongside reading, 'Donated by...' some putz." "Who never owned it in the first place," Amanda was quick to add. "It wasn't his to give. That tiara was mine." "You never met Marie Antoinette, so don't give me anything like 'she gave it to me'. This isn't Alfred's chair." Amanda paused. "Hm. Alfred's chair. I haven't thought about that item of furniture for a while. How is it?" "It's in a safe place." Methos continued to look out the window. So far no familiar faces or buzzes had made themselves known to him. "I guess Geoffrey gave up his insane quest to get it back." "I'm hungry," Amanda pouted. "Let's get something to eat." "You are always hungry, Amanda, which is amazing considering your figure." Methos threw her jacket to her. "You're buying since it was your idea." Amanda slipped into the light silk jacket. "For Pete's sake, Methos, you're richer than God." He grinned cheekily, "And just how do you think I got that way?" "I don't know what's worse&ldots;you in a good mood or you in a bad mood," Amanda reached for the doorknob. "Why I continue to put up with you, I'll never understand?" Methos spun her around and pinned her to the door. "Shall I show you?" his mouth dipped down and captured hers in a lengthy kiss. "But being the delicate flower that you are, I can't have you passing out from starvation." Amanda melted against him. "Did I say I was hungry?" Methos nodded his head before he leaned in and nibbled her earlobe. "So I lied." "You lie? I'm shocked!" Methos laughed. "This hotel has room service doesn't it?" Amanda could only nod. "Fine, you order us up some food. Better make it pasta; I have a feeling we're going to need it." Methos released his hold on her. "You have five minutes." He walked towards the bathroom stripping off his clothes as he sauntered away. He was nude by the time he reached the door. Methos turned and grinned at her wide-open mouth. "Close your mouth, Amanda, I have better uses for it. As I said you have five minutes." The door to the bathroom closed behind him. Amanda practically ran to the telephone. She had to repeat her order twice; she was so flustered by his display. She stopped long enough at the door to slide the chain and turn the lock. Her high heels were discarded as she hurried into the bathroom. By the time she made it to the bathroom, Methos was up to his neck in bubbles. "Aren't you a little overdressed?" Methos nearly purred. "I so love modern facilities, although Rome did have marvelous bathhouses." Amanda unbuttoned each button on her blouse slowly. Methos' eyes gleamed. "I must say that none of my companions were as lovely as you, sweet Amanda." "You are a charmer," she laughed as she dodged the long bubble covered arm that reached out for her. "Patience is a virtue, Methos." "One of the many I don't live by," his arms rested along the edge of the large porcelain tub. "Hurry up." "Good things come to those who wait," Amanda assured him as her silk blouse fell to the floor. His chin was now resting on his arms. "I think you've missed me." "Come over here and I'll show just how much I've missed you," Methos promised. "Still not wearing undergarments?" Her long skirt pooled around her ankles revealing a garter belt and not much else. "Rebecca would be shocked." Amanda rolled her stockings down and tossed them aside. "Let's leave Rebecca out of this." "Sure," Methos licked his lips hungrily. "Anything you want." "You are so easy," Amanda's smile was feral. "Scoot over, Methos." The water sloshed as Methos settled back in the tub. Amanda eased down onto his lap. Methos sighed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Being with Amanda was like nothing else he'd experienced in this world. Her lips trailed kisses along his collarbone and down to his chest. Losing his self in the feel of her mouth on his skin, he let his head rest on the edge of the tub. "This is the way to spend the afternoon," Methos sighed. "You haven't lost your touch, Amanda." Amanda's hands ran down his chest and down his waist. He groaned as she massaged him. "Like?" "What do you think?" His voice had deepened. "I think you do," Amanda laughed huskily. "In fact I'm sure you do." Methos shifted underneath her causing her to slip further down in the bubbles. "Sorry," he apologized as he pulled her back against him. "Better?" Amanda nodded. Methos kissed her on the top of her head. Two sets of hands ran rampantly over bare flesh. Mouths and tongues tasted and teased familiar bodies. Amanda pushed Methos back against the tub and took over the seduction. From years of experience, she knew exactly what buttons to push and she expertly drove him to the brink. She reveled in the powerful and graceful movements of his lithe body under hers. She closed her eyes and threw her head back as she let her own release flow over her. She laid her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat loudly in his chest. His heavy breathing tickled her ear and she didn't try to suppress her giggle. "What is so amusing?" "No, I'm just glad you're here." The unwelcome sensation of another like them interrupted their dalliance. Before Amanda knew what happened, Methos was out of the tub and sloshed foamy water on the floor as he moved towards the locked and chained door in the other room. Amanda rose out of the tub. She watched him hold his sword and stand still by the door waiting for any noise that would trigger his fighting response. Methos turned to her and whispered, "Antonio?" Amanda shook her head and grabbed a towel. "He's mortal." Methos shushed her and hurriedly dressed while still wet. He grabbed his Ivanhoe once again and opened the window wider. "Pack your things." Amanda chuckled. "Are you serious? I don't even feel the immortal anymore." "That doesn't mean he doesn't know we're here." Methos threw clothes that were scattered around the room and in drawers into Amanda's suitcase and then looked at her only wearing a towel. He took out a dress and tossed it to her as he threw the suitcase out the window. "Hey!" "We're leaving," Methos said. He grabbed the towel from her and put the dress over her head, pulled it down, grabbed her hand and steered her to the window. Methos moved one of her feet to the sill and she said, "My shoes." "Just go, I'll get them." Amanda shook her head and climbed up on the sill. Her suitcase had opened on the ground and she was two floors up. She supposed she could jump and heal, or revive, as the case may be, but opted for the two inch wide ledge instead. Methos had tossed her shoes out each side of her and nudged her to move. She grabbed the top of the window frame. "Hey!" "Just go." She was glad she didn't have shoes as she was able to fit her narrow feet on the ledge. By using defects in the brick, she had acceptable handholds to keep her balance. She climbed onto the ivy-strewn trellis and easily climbed down to the ground. She looked up to see that Methos had followed close behind her and had to move out of the way of his jumping to the ground. She placed her hands on her hips and said, "Well, I'm at least going to check out. I like this hotel and don't want to be blacklisted from it." Methos gathered the clothes that had fallen out of her suitcase and closed it and plopped it into her arms. He placed her lace up shoes on top and turned her around to move down the walkway. "Methos, this is insane." "Do not call me that," he seethed, and kept her walking. "Ok, Ian, I'm sorry, won't happen again." "Why am I not sure of that?" "I really am sorry," she said, still being rushed down the block by Methos. "I know, it's the other thing. I don't know why I hang around you. You're going to be the death of me, I just know it." Amanda stopped, annoyed. "What a thing to say! If you would pick a normal name and stick with it, I can remember what you go by each time, but you're someone else every time I see you lately." Amanda darkened and felt her blood chill. "Is someone after you?" "When aren't they?" Methos moved her down the street once again, and she couldn't help but notice that he kept looking behind them frequently. Amanda stopped and let her things fall to the sidewalk. "Ian. Talk to me. What in hell is going on? Who do you think that immortal was?" "Fine," Methos yelled. "Stay here then." He walked away muttering, "What do I care? I try to divert a bullheaded woman from danger, and she doesn't appreciate it, fine!" Amanda hurriedly repacked her suitcase and closed it, then rushed after him with the strap of it in her hand. She walked alongside him for a couple of blocks, her bare feet aching, before she asked, "Do you even know where you're going?" "Doesn't really matter," he calmly said. "He's back there, so I'm going this way." "Okay, you know what? Antonio's staying at the Montpelier. Let's go and figure out a way to properly break into the Metropolitan. The three of us can't be stopped." "Amanda, for the last bloody time I'm not breaking into the Met! Get it through your head. You have to leave New York. Now." "Why?" "Are we going to play Twenty Questions? For once in your blessed life, listen to me! We need to get out of New York." "I want that tiara!" Amanda's resolve was steeled. "I will get it with or without your help." "Fine, stay here and lose your head." Methos stalked off down the sidewalk. "I know when it's time to get the hell out of Dodge." Amanda watched Methos' retreating back. The man had paranoia down to an art form, but she had a sinking feeling this was more than just paranoia. Getting a better grip on her suitcase, she hurried to catch up with him. It always seemed like she was running to catch up with him lately. "Stop, Ian," she shouted drawing the attention of passerby. "I believe you." Methos stopped and waited for her to catch up with him. "Must you always make a scene?" "You old grouch," Amanda sat down on a shop stoop to put on her shoes. After she finished tying her last shoe, she said, "Who is it?" "Trust me, you don't want to know," Methos assured her. "If we hurry we should be able to catch an afternoon train." He held out his hand to her. "A train to where?" "Anywhere but here, obviously." "I want an explanation, Ian," Amanda refused to get up. "I am not some mealy mouthed girl trailing behind you without one." Methos cursed under his breath. She had a knack for making him want to take his own head. "Fine, let's get on a train first." "You promise you'll tell me the truth?" "If you insist, but you may not like the truth, so be sure that's what you want to hear," he warned her cryptically. "Don't say I didn't warn you." Amanda felt Methos take her hand and suitcase from her. His words echoed over and over in her head. Is this how Pandora felt right before she opened that infernal box? If he didn't make her so angry, she wouldn't say things without thinking. The rest of the journey to the train station was uneventful and passed in mutually agreed upon silence. Methos stared up at the tote board of departing options and chose the one that would leave the earliest. "Two tickets to Niagara Falls, please," Methos said as he slid some money under the ticket agent's grate. "Niagara Falls?" Amanda told him, "I'm not going to marry you, then get on another unsinkable ship that sinks!" "We weren't married when we got on that ship, and I don't want to marry you. What I want, is for you to get your bum on that train." ~~~~~ Amanda's first mistake was that she had ordered Shrimp Flambe. When the waiter arrived with it, the flames almost licked the ceiling of the dining car. Methos jerked back from the extravaganza and sipped his beer, shaking his head. That was his mistake. Amanda chewed on her meal and tisked, "What is the matter with you?" She leaned into the table to whisper. "You know that I do certain things for a living, get over it. I'm going to get that tiara, with or without your help." That was her second mistake. "This doesn't have anything to do with your breaking into a fortified building, luv." "Well, it certainly wasn't because you weren't satisfied, luv," she countered. "I don't really care for you when you're in this sort of mood." "What mood is that?" Methos shoved his steak and house fries away, not being hungry anyway. He had been watching Amanda closely since they had gotten on the train and wondered if he could actually tell her what was actually the reason why he came to New York. While in Philadelphia last week, he had ran into one Jack Rooke, who Methos knew was a certain immortal's watcher. After a little conversation while waiting for an elevator, with quick, expert questioning masquerading as small talk, Methos was able to glean that Rooke was in town for a short while, and then was off to New York. Rooke wasn't the wiser about who Methos was, and hadn't even gotten Methos' current alias from him before Methos took off more knowledgeable. On a chance close encounter ten years before, Methos had spotted the man who had gone by the name of Michael Kane in a crowded amphitheater in Milan. The man who was scarred on half his face had no idea that Methos was so close to him, but Methos was able to trail him long enough to find the one who was trailing him also. After following Rooke into his hotel, Methos was able to get his name from a gullible clerk with long legs and a sweet smile. It was only last week that Methos had received the letter from Amanda telling him that if he wanted to meet in New York, she'd be at the Waldorf. He had a dilemma. He knew that Kronos was in New York, as well as Amanda. They were both immortal, so if they got into close proximity to each other, they would certainly meet. Methos wasn't about to let that happen. If Kronos got a hold of a nymph like Amanda, she was toast. Not even her sharp tongue or high heels could get her out of his hold. He had to warn her, to get her out of New York. Now they were doing just that. Methos realized that he hadn't been listening to her tirade and had no idea what she was so upset about. He had just saved her life! She should be grateful. "You aren't even listening to me!" Amanda threw her napkin from her lap on the table and stood. "Well, you can just ignore me while I get freshened up. I can't believe you made me go out a window while I was wet. I haven't even had time to do my hair!" Methos could only throw up his hands. "I wasn't listening," he said, grabbing her arm as she tried to stomp past him toward their car. "Besides, you're always beautiful in my eyes." "Stuff it, old man," Amanda brusquely said. "I want my makeup." Methos told her, "Sit down and eat that obscenely expensive meal you ordered." "Don't boss me around," Amanda countered, slapping him when he stood up to get a better hold on her to stop her. "Settle down and eat. Then we'll talk and I'll actually listen." "Men! First Antonio, now you." Amanda gasped, then banged her hand against the table. "Antonio! I forgot about him." "Forget about him." Amanda stalked out of the dining car and Methos left a couple of bills on the table as he stared down the other diners who had been privy to their conversation. "Hope you all enjoyed the show. I'm sure there'll be an encore if you want to drop by our room later." ~~~~~ As he had expected, Amanda had locked their door. Methos leaned back against the wall of windows lining the narrow hall and debated if the woman would actually listen to him if he did try to explain why she shouldn't make an appearance in New York in the foreseeable future. He had the thought when they had boarded the train that he could make something up. Because he had a surprise for her, that he would take her away on vacation, that Rebecca wanted to see her. Anything but the truth. His 'brother' could take her head. Sure, there was a chance that they would never cross paths in a city the size of New York, but why take the chance? He had almost married the woman a couple of decades ago. Methos had to admit that he loved Amanda. In small doses. His life would be empty without her in the world. Just when he was going to knock on the door to tell her a lie, she opened it. Tears had stained her cheeks and her entire face was red. "I hate fighting with you, you big jerk," she said. "Get in here and listen to me." She pulled the lapel of his jacket and slammed the door behind after he was in the center of their private car. She flipped the latch on the door and faced him. "This is important to me, Ian. Marie Antoinette never gave me that tiara. I never even met her, but she had lovely things." "It's just about the diamonds, isn't it?" "No. It's not even made of diamonds. It's pearls. And it doesn't belong in New York. The 'putz' as you so elegantly called him, Philippe Dupont should have gifted it to the Louvre, but since he is an expatriate, he gave it to the US. I'm not taking it for myself, I'm taking it for France." Methos shook his head, not believing a word of it. Amanda stomped her foot and said, "You always could see through me. YES! I want that tiara. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, Dupont won it in a poker game, I want it. It was in my hand, Methos." "Ian." Amanda took a deep breath and slumped on the sofa bed. Methos sat down next to her and asked, "How did you lose it if it was in your hand?" "One of Dupont's goons hit me on the head. When I woke up, I was in the middle of nowhere and without the tiara." "I don't want to know anymore." Methos didn't want to know the blow by blow of Amanda's latest trauma. He just wanted to know that she wasn't going to go back to New York. "If it's in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it will be there for years. Wait a while and then get it." "Why?" "Because?" That didn't work on her. He continued, "Because I asked you to?" "Do you know Philippe?" "No. And it sounds like I don't want to." "Then why?" Methos sat with his head in his hands, then rubbed his face. "Because there's someone in New York that I don't want you to meet up with. Okay? It's as simple as that. Wait until he tires of the city and then go steal the Statue of Liberty, I couldn't care less." "Who?" "Someone." "Who?" "Michael Kane." "Michael Kane? That spooky immortal with the slash over his right eye?" Methos about fell on the floor. Gods! Could the situation get any worse? Methos shuddered. When Kronos was involved, things could only be bad. How had those two managed to meet and more importantly how had Amanda kept her head? Kronos always took the head of any immortal he met, perhaps that's why Methos had felt an immortal signature so close to Amanda's hotel. Kronos more than likely was on the hunt. "Where did you meet him, Amanda?" "Last Saturday night I was at a club and I ran into him." Amanda remembered. "Antonio and I were out dancing. Kane kept staring at me, so I told him to bugger off. The guy must have the biggest ego out there; he went all psycho and the bouncers had to physically escort him out of the club." Methos let his head drop. Well, there it was. Things only went from bad to worse when Amanda was involved. Not only did Kronos know Amanda was immortal, but she had pissed him off. Why, why, why did he continue to hang around with Amanda? Trouble was sure to follow her wherever she went and that's just what he didn't need. He'd managed to avoid Kronos for the last two millennium, but thinks to Amanda he might just run into his brother. Wearily, he sat down in a chair and watched the landscape roll by. "Methos, what's the matter?" Amanda settled into his lap. "Did I do something wrong?" When he saw the concern written all over her face, he remembered why he chose to keep Amanda in his life. She kept him from feeling all alone in this crazy world. Most of the time he was content to float along the periphery of life; no one bothered him and he kept his head attached to his neck. Then Amanda would sweep into his life full of laughter and light and remind him just how much fun life could be. For a time he would soak up the feelings, but too much excitement could get you killed. Permanently. Besides pissing off one of the most dangerous immortals I know? Methos thought bitterly. "Not specifically, but you might want to steer clear of New York for a while." "Because of Kane?" "Yes," was the only thing he would say. "Care to tell me why?" Methos pushed her off his lap and he stood and stretched. "You're like a dog with a bone, Amanda. I told you earlier today, you better be sure you want to hear the truth." "How bad can it be?" Amanda asked. "Really." Methos looked straight at her. "You might be surprised." Amanda threw her arms around him. "I'm a big girl. I can handle it, I swear." "Kane is my brother." Amanda laughed. "What are you talking about? You know as well as I do, we don't have siblings." Methos eyes took on a faraway look. "We were brothers in everything but blood." He faced her. "Have you ever heard the legend of the Four Horsemen?" Amanda thought for a moment. "You mean, in the bible? Of course. Oh, Rebecca had a book of fairy tales and legends. I remember reading a story with four men on horses. From the sound of them, they could have been immortal. They were so fierce and powerful that they could even be killed and revive." "The Four Horsemen weren't a fairy tale by any stretch of the imagination. A nightmare, perhaps." "I couldn't finish reading the blasted thing, it scared me too much." "Try living it." "Methos, get over yourself. I know you're old, but to have written that book?" "I'm telling you something I haven't told many people, ever! Listen to me. I'm not talking about a bloody book!" Methos didn't like exploding at her, but she had to know that he was serious. From her reaction, she put all thoughts of dismissing it as a joke and sat down quietly. "Go on," she said. Now he wasn't too sure he wanted to go through with it. He did enjoy Amanda in his life. He didn't want to lose her. "Methos, tell me," Amanda prodded him. He made himself lose all feeling and plainly told her, "I rode with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." That wasn't too bad to get out. After taking a deep breath, he said, "All that you read or all that you heard about us is true. And more. There were some things that no one ever dared put to paper. The four of us were brothers in action and deed, we existed only for each other, and to annihilate the world. To conquer it. To control it. When people got in our way, we got rid of them. Mankind meant nothing to us. They were worse than animals. Animals didn't fight back. They didn't scratch you. They didn't-" Amanda got up, holding her stomach. She looked about ready to retch. He knew that the memories of the stories were going through her head. He had read the same stories. In fact, the book she mentioned that Rebecca had, he knew well. He was the one who had written every word of it as a desperate attempt to calm his demons. If he could write about them, make them grim stars of their own 'fiction', Methos could distance himself from what he was, what he strove to be, loved being. For a time. Amanda stared at the lights of a faraway New York town out the window of the train. The car's soft swaying on the tracks made her move with the motions. She took her hand down from her stomach, and them ran her hands through her hair. Clearing her throat, she started to speak, then didn't trust what she might say. She was certain this wasn't a joke, and to her mind, it had come out of the blue. She had needled Methos to tell her what was on his mind, but never in her wildest dreams did she expect anything like that. Kane? Kane and Methos? She had only that one run in with Michael Kane, but from that one meeting, Amanda knew that he and Methos were polar opposites. Brothers? He had to be joking. She looked at him for the first time. "You and Kane?" "Kronos," Methos deadly responded. "His real name is Kronos." "You and this Kronos found two other 'brothers' and went to town, huh?" "Kronos was the third member of our group. I formed an alliance with a man named Caspian. We accomplished petty thefts, killed a few people who didn't want to lose their stash." Methos grimaced at the memory. "It wasn't until we met Kronos that we had a mission, and became more formidable." For something to say, or do, Amanda asked, "And the fourth?" "What?" "There were Four Horsemen. Who was the fourth?" "Silas," Methos simply stated. Silence reigned in the room. Until Amanda broke it with, "Does Rebecca know?" "No," Methos said, darkly chuckling. "You, besides the other three, are the only persons who knows what I was." "How lucky of me," Amanda said lightly, but feeling as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. "They're still out there? The other three?" "Last I heard." "You've kept in touch with them?" "No. I haven't seen any of them since I left them," Methos said, a little testy. "But I have ways of keeping tabs on immortals." Amanda stood stiffly at the window, staring out. Methos was surprised that she had taken it so well. Even though he hadn't told more than three people what he was over time, all of them mortal, he expected more of a reaction from the news. He put his hands on her shoulders as he stood behind her and she jumped. He could see the gooseflesh on her arms. Her eyes skittered around the room, and settled on the door. She was scared of him, even though she knew he'd never hurt her. "Just stay out of New York City for a while. Please," Methos said as he unlatched the door. "I'll be in touch." With that, he was gone. When she was able to move, Amanda went out to the hallway to see the door at the end of the hall open. She walked to it and felt the breeze from outside air getting stronger as she neared it. The door opened to the outside, the train still going at top speed. Even so, Amanda was sure that Methos had taken that exit. She had so many questions. She had so many ghoulish images from the book in her head. One engraving in the book depicted a man on horseback stabbing a child with a long sword. Another was of an entire village on fire in the distance as four horsemen rode toward her, each one carrying a severed head in their hand. Barely aware of her surroundings, Amanda somehow made it back their cabin. She wished she had a stiff drink right about now. This made no sense to her. How could he be that man? Her mind reeled at the possibility. The same man she'd laughed with, schemed with, and loved with all her life had been the scourge of mankind. Methos was a survivor, of that she had no doubt. He could be a cold and calculating son of a bitch when he chose to be, but to be what he described? It just didn't add up. He was gone now and she couldn't ask him to explain this to her. Methos had been many things to her over the years: teacher, friend, lover, confidante, and tormentor. He had told her many times that you did what it took to survive. Survival was all that mattered in the end. Had survival played a part in his decision to ride with those barbarians? That had to be it, she thought, she hoped. Books and knowledge were the things he sought out, not challenges or killing. Avoiding fights and other immortals had been his pattern as long as she knew him. What had driven him to that madness? Amanda paced the small area over and over. Damn! Why had she insisted he tell her this? Because you think you have to know everything, she told herself. She remembered what he used to tell her when inquisitiveness got the better of her. He would smile that smug smile of his and pull himself out of his slouch, then he would drawl, "Curiosity killed the cat burglar." She'd always hated that. Pacing didn't make her feel any better. She threw herself in the chair and let out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She had to have some answers and Methos was the only one who could supply them. Maybe it was for the best that he had disappeared. It would give them both a chance to get some distance from this. Things always looked better with some time. Luckily, she had the perfect distraction, Marie Antoinette's tiara. With a little planning, it could be hers. If only Methos would've agreed to help me. It was a shame that he hid in libraries surrounded by books; he was an excellent thief. Every time they had worked together, the job was a raving success. No one could make better plans than Methos. C'est la vie! Antonio would have to do. You worked with what you had and hoped for the best. Amanda looked at her watch. She could be back in the city by tomorrow afternoon easily. All she had to do was get a hotel room for tonight and a ticket back to New York in the morning. Within three days she could be holding the tiara in her hands. Hopefully, Antonio hadn't cut and run when he couldn't find her and thanks to Methos' revelation she knew to give Kane or Kronos a wide berth. Then she would track Methos down and get this settled. Continued in Part Four