(Disclaimer: This story is purely fan fiction.  I don't know *NSYNC and they have no idea who I am, though I wish they did.  References to Highlander: The Series are owned by Rysher Entertainment and Gaumont Television.  Magazine titles are owned by their respective publishers.  Original story and characters by Krissi Strahl. Email: [email protected] Comments are welcome.)

 

*N MORTAL P2

 

Jackson Rawles grabbed a speaker cabinet off the trailer and lugged it into the warehouse.  He wiped his forehead, revealing a strange tattoo on the inside of his left wrist.  ^Better report to the Society after I'm done here.  They need to know about Amy's "coming out" to the guys,^ he thought.

 

***

 

Lance looked up at Amy.  She was staring at a sketch pad, drawing his portrait.  "So, why do want to know about the rest of the crew?  Is there another Immortal with us?"

 

"No, Lance.  I would've sensed him.  I'm looking for my Watcher."

 

"Watcher?  You mean there's somebody following you around?"

 

"For most of my life.  I only found out about them 2 years ago when Duncan introduced me to his.  From the way Duncan talked, he wasn't even supposed to know about them.  No Immortal is."

 

"How can you tell who he is?"

 

"All Watchers have this tattoo on the inside of their left wrist," said Amy as she flipped the page.  She drew a ritual circle-form and put near the top a thick-lined W that stretched out to the sides of the circle.  "Look familiar?"

 

"The new roadie Jackson has a tattoo like that.  We hired him two days after you," said Lance.

 

"Then he's my Watcher," said Amy.

 

"Cool.  Hey, since we have the month off, why don't we go to Disney World for the day sometime?  Just the two of us.  We both could use some R&R."

 

"I'd love to."  She leaned over and kissed Lance.

 

***

 

Lou looked up from his paperwork when he heard a knock at his door.  "Come in," he said.

 

"Lou, we gotta talk," said Johnny as he opened the door.  He had an armload of that month's teenie magazines.  "Have you seen the headlines?  ''N Syncer Lance Bass crushing over bodyguard'.  They're talking about Amy aren't they?"

 

"Yes, they are," said Lou, "but I can't fire her over this.  Amy's an Immortal, Johnny.  She's too strong.  I can't fight her and win."

 

"Immortal?  How?" asked Johnny.  "You haven't found any for years."

 

"We need to keep an eye on her.  She's way too dangerous to me," said Lou.  "I may be older, but I haven't fought in so long."

 

***

 

"Kelly, I'm going to take off now," yelled Jackson into the office.

 

"OK.  See ya next tour.  Hey, me and some of the crew are going to N.Y.P.D for a pizza later.  Wanna come?" said Kelly, watching his computer shut down.

 

Jackson shook his head.  "Nah, got other plans. I'm gonna visit an old buddy named Dixie.  Been ages since I saw her."

 

"OK, have fun," said Kelly winking.

 

Jackson turned around and left.  "I don't mean that!"

 

"Sure," said Kelly.

 

***

 

JC walked up to Lance and Amy.  "Hey, guys.  What's up?"

 

"Not much," said Lance.  "Amy's drawing my portrait."

 

"Cool," said JC.  He threw a copy of Tiger Beat® at Lance.  "You know you two made the cover?"

 

"Us?" asked Lance.  He looked at the cover.

 

"'Lance In Love?”  Where did they get that picture?" asked Amy.

 

"Chris says it looks like Miami, but he's not sure.  I think it's just doctored," said JC.

 

"Well, if it is, we need to talk to Lou about this," said Lance.

 

"What if Lou gave them the picture?" asked Amy. "I know he wants rid of me.  I'm too much of a threat to him."

 

"Lou wouldn't do that.  He knows we're all too close," said JC.

 

"JC, you don't know Lou like I do.  I called Duncan's Watcher, Joe Dawson, last night to get some information on him.  His real name is Louis Perot, a French nobleman.  He's about 600 years old," said Amy.

 

"Whoa!  Hold it!  Watchers?  Immortals?  This is getting to be too much!" yelled JC.

 

"Another spin on the Amy O'Brian saga?" asked Joey as he walked by.

 

"Yeah," said Lance.  "Amy says she's being followed by these guys called 'Watchers'."

 

"They watch us and record our actions, but they can't interfere.  I'm not even suppose to know they exist," said Amy.

 

"How did you find out about them, then?" asked Joey.

 

"My old teacher Duncan told me about them.  He even introduced me to his," said Amy.

 

"I never thought that Lou would stoop so low as to do this," said JC.

 

"Do what?" asked Joey.  He, Chris and Justin walked by at that moment.

 

"This," said Lance.  He held up the magazine.

 

Justin and Joey's jaws dropped when they read the cover.  "Lou did that?" asked Joey.

 

"As far as we know," said Lance.  "He might be trying to get Amy to quit.  Like she said, she's a threat to him since they're both Immortal.  Who knows how long it's been since Lou's even picked up a sword.”

 

"I practice everyday, twice a day.  Lou's stuck in his office most of the time filling out paperwork," said Amy solemnly.  Her chocolate brown eyes lit up.   "Can you guys help me?  I need to talk to Lou privately and need to get a hold of that roadie Jackson,"

 

"I can understand Lou, but why Jackson?  How'd he get dragged in?" asked Joey.

 

"Joey, Jackson is MY Watcher.  He has access to Lou's personal history.  Louis Pearlman is more than you see," said Amy.  She told Chris, Justin, and Joey what she knew about Lou.

 

***

 

Jackson walked up to the apartment building Dixie was living at.  It was a descent part of town, not a ghetto, but not middle-class either.  A couple of kids skated pass, jumping the cracks in the sidewalk.  He smiled as he watched.  ^Future Watchers,^  he thought when he hit the buzzer.

 

The speaker crackled to life.  "Yeah?  Is that you, Jack?" he heard through the static.

 

"It's me, Dix.  Could you let me up?" he asked.

 

"I'll be right down," said Dixie.  After a few minutes she opened the door.  Her long red hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her dark green eyes gazed through wire frame glasses.  "Took you long enough.”

 

“You unload all that equipment and try to be somewhere on time,” Jackson said with a smile.  He walked in and followed Dixie up to her apartment.  “Nice place.  Better than the one in New York.”

 

“Picky, picky!  Brooklyn didn’t leave me many choices,” said Dixie.  “Anything to report about Amy?”

 

“You don’t look at the magazine rack much, do you?”

 

“Not at the teen section, why?”

 

“Oh, no reason,” said Jackson as he handed her copies of Bop® and 14®.

 

Dixie read the covers to herself.  “Uh oh.  Houston we have a problem.  And you couldn’t call me about this?”

 

“Being a roadie doesn’t give much ‘alone’ time, if you know what I mean,” said Jackson, folding his arms.

 

“Yeah, yeah.  The Council’s not gonna like this. An Immortal in the spotlight?  How many people know about her?” asked Dixie.

 

“All 5 guys, Lou, and Johnny, the manager.  There could be more but I doubt it.  The group's taking a month break then back to the studio.  I heard rumors that Lance and Amy are going to Disney World some time soon.  Should I follow them?” said Jackson.

 

“Not yet.  I’m waiting for an email from Joe Dawson.  I want to know more about Amy before we take action,” said Dixie.

 

***

Chris knocked on Lou’s office door, feeling a little silly.  It’s life and death to Amy and Lou, but it’s still unbelievable to him.

 

“Come in,” said Lou.  Chris walked in and sat down in front of the desk.  “And what do I owe this pleasure?” said Lou, smiling.

 

“It’s about Amy.  All five of us know about her being an Immortal.  We know about you too.  She wants to talk to you about the magazines and the tabloids.   Lou, please talk to her,” said Chris.

 

“I’ll think about it.  Is she willing to come alone and unarmed?” Lou asked.  “I really don’t want to fight.”

 

“I can ask her, but it’s her call,” said Chris as got up and left.

 

***

 

Justin sat with his cell on the table in front of him.   He looked at Amy and Lance.  “I still can’t believe I said I’d do this.”

 

“I wouldn’t ask you if Jackson wasn’t your roadie, but he was.  Please Justin, call him,” said Amy.

 

“OK,” Justin said with a heavy sigh.  He picked up the phone and dialed the number.  “Jackson?  It’s Justin.  Listen, I need a favor.”  Amy waved her hand, trying to get his attention.  She fingerspelled “warehouse”.  “Could you meet me at the warehouse in the dance studio?  7:00?  Thanks,” he said before hanging up.

 

Just then Chris walked and let out a heavy sigh.  “Lou’s willing to meet. But he wants you to come alone and unarmed.  Personally, I’m to the point that I don’t trust him,” he said.

 

“Nor do I, Chris.  That’s why where ever we decide to meet, I’m going to cast a Witch’s Circle to keep him honest,” said Amy.

 

“Right,” said Lance, smiling.  “Holy ground is holy ground.”

 

Justin asked, “Has anybody ever broke the ‘holy ground’ rule?”

 

“Only once that I know of.  I heard rumors that a fight on holy ground lead to destruction of Pompeii,” said Amy.

 

“Whoa!  No wonder that rule stays unbroken,” said Lance.

 

“Told you this is serious.  I don’t want to fight him if I don’t have to,” said Amy.  “But first thing’s first.  I have to confront Jackson.

 

***

 

End Part 2