Complications

By Donna and Abby

The Dòchas slipped into her berth late in the afternoon. She had a full crew now with the addition of two cabin boys that they had found marooned on Coral Island and was carrying two passengers. Sarah Jo and Duncan had spent a leisurely honeymoon in what was now known as Kat's Cove in John's tree house.  

Methos was going to go meet the ship, but before he went there he had a place to go first.  It was a little bit out of his way, but he thought Doc Adams deserved to know they were back. 

He took the news with a dark brow and a shrug.  "She has a right to her own life," he said softly, putting some medicines away.  "I gave her enough cause." 

Methos shook his head. Neither Sarah Jo or Duncan had said that he could never be with her again. But that would have to be worked over between the three of them. Leaving Doc behind, he headed towards the pier, getting there just in time to see Duncan escort his pregnant wife down the plank from the ship. Behind him, two boys that Methos had not seen before were carrying their bags for them.  

"Stowaways?" he asked Connor.  "Or just a fortunate accidental meeting?" 

"We found these two monkeys on Coral Island. They came in handy when we harvested the fruit there. You should have seen the tow headed one standing on Samurai's shoulders so they could get the highest ones."  

"That is handy, then," Methos agreed, looking after the captain's cousin and his bride.  "They look happy." 

Connor grinned. "Yeah. Sarah is worried about Doc though. How did he take the news?"  

Methos shrugged.  "For once his life is more complicated than mine," he said.  "He doesn't blame her, surely. We had no way of knowing it would right itself almost immediately.  There isn't a trace of Cain left." 

Connor raised an eyebrow. "Really? Where did the bastard go?" he asked. When Methos told him, the elder Highlander sighed. "Hopefully he will stay where he is then!"  

The two newlyweds came up to greet Methos as well. "Where is Ben?" she asked him. "I have some things I want to give him."  

"Something tells me he'll be happy there.  I think I know from which I speak," he added dryly as they came up.  Turning around, he said, "He's at the clinic." 

"Thanks," she said, giving him a hug even though her rounded belly got in the way. "It's good to be back!" Duncan took her by the hand and helped her into a waiting buggy while their things were placed in the back. "Thank you, lads," Duncan said, giving each one of them a small jewel as a tip. "If you take that to the little jewelry shop that Coltec has in town, he can set them in some nice rings or something for you."  

Of course they were pleased with the gems, really being females, but they tried not to be too obvious about it.  Duncan and Sarah Jo got into the buggy and went back toward her home, to drop off their things.  Methos watched and wondered what they had to give Doc, but then shrugged, said goodbye to Connor, and began walking back to town. 

It didn't take them very long to get to town, but instead of going straight to their house, Duncan pulled up the buggy in front of the clinic, and then jumped down so he could assist Sarah Jo. "I'll get the basket," he said, reaching for it. Sarah Jo had made it herself out of some sea reeds she had found growing in the cove. Once the basket was in hand, he escorted her into the clinic.  Doc Adams was not expecting them.  In fact, he was not expecting anyone, having gone up to his room to brood a little.  And so Ancelin answered the door.  She and Shepherd also lived on the Clinic grounds. 

She gave Sarah Jo a happy hug, welcoming her back. "We had a lot of fun, but it's good to be back. Ben in his office?" the freckle faced nurse asked.  

Ancy frowned. "Up in his room.  He hasn't been himself lately." 

Duncan looked concerned. "I thought Methos said Cain wasn't part of him anymore?"  

"Oh not that," said the fae healer.  "Mosby's gone on some new girl in town, and of course Prudence is all upset about it, and even though Doc's been comforting her through it, he . . ."  She stopped and bit her lip.  "Well, even though you are married he still does not want to get too close." 

Sarah Jo exchanged glances with Duncan. "I want to see him alone," she said to her husband. He opened his mouth, as if to argue with her, but then shut it without saying a world.  

"I'll be outside the door," he said. "If you need me, just yell."  

She nodded, and after picking up the basket, she made her way up the stairs.  

Ben Adams was laying on his bed, on his back, hands under his head.  He was looking at the ceiling without really seeing it, trying to work some things out in his mind.  If he wanted, he could probably have Prudence all to himself.  But he could not take the step. Was it because he knew she also loved Mosby?  No, if push came to shove, she would be happy with him alone.  And Mosby, though he was very fond of Pru, was blinded right now by Hannah Peale.  He'd hardly object if Adams moved in.  In fact, he might even see it as the gentlemanly thing to do.  No, it was him. He was still too fond of Sarah Jo to become a monogamous couple with Prudence. 

He felt the buzz of her quickening before he heard Sarah Jo's soft knock on the door. "Ben?" she called out. "Can I come in?"  

Sitting up, he ran a few fingers through his hair and said, "Of course." 

Sarah Jo opened the door, a quizzical look on her face.  When she saw no sign of his alter ego in his eyes, she came over to his side, grunting a little as she sat down beside him. "I brought you some things I thought you would like," she said, reaching out to place her hand in his.  

"That was nice of you," he said.  "You shouldn't have bothered, on your honeymoon." 

"You are still a part of my life," she said quietly. "Neither Duncan or I have any intention of making you stay away. Just..." Her eyes misted, and she shuddered as she remembered the cruel, uncaring way he had treated her when Cain was in control.  

"He's gone, you know.  I've never felt so free of him, much good it has done me.  They tell me he is at Lovelace's, and has wormed his way into a partnership.  I suppose that makes some sense, though honestly I would not have expected any such ambition - any ambition at all!  But if he had a mind to go into business, that's the one he'd choose." 

Sarah Jo nodded, then reached down into the basket. The first thing she pulled out was a handmade reed hat with a floral lei-like necklace inside of it. "I made these for you," she said with a grin. "I remember the way you teased Tom Kirby about how good he looked in the one that Wy made him!" She slipped the lei around his neck, then placed the hat on his head.  

"I would never hear the end of it, if I wore these where Kirby could see me," he grinned lopsidedly. 

She giggled, adjusting the hat to get the best effect. "I have more," she said, reaching into the basket again. "I collected these for you," she said, pulling out several very large conch shells, giving one of them a test blow. "Aren't they pretty?"  

"Yes, very pretty.  Sarah Jo . . ."  He paused, a little uncomfortably.  "Why all these treats, when you went away hating me?" 

"I don't hate you, Ben," she said, reaching out to touch his face. "I was... I was just afraid. I didn't know you anymore." A tear ran down her cheek. "I though I had lost you!"  

"Instead I lost you." 

She moved into his arms, crying softly. "No," she whispered. "Not unless you don't want me anymore."  

"Of course I do, it's just . . . different with you married.  And you don't know the new complication." 

She sat up, looking down at her belly. Inside of it, her baby was doing somersaults. "What complication?" she asked.  

"Mosby and I had both agreed not to fight over Prudence's baby, and we would share her time equally.  But a new woman came to town, and Clay's smitten.  He did not mean to hurt Pru, but of course she is feeling rejected, and she's turned to me." 

Sarah Jo nodded. "I understand," she said. "Pru needs you right now. Maybe you two should go to the cove and spend some private time together there. There is something special about that place."  

He shook his head.  "The danger is that she needs me too much right now.  She's . . . vulnerable.  If I go with her now, we might end up being too close.  I might lose you completely." 

She looked down at her expanded lap again, not knowing what to say. Leaning up against his chest, she wrapped her arms around him. "I don't want to lose you," she sighed. "But if Pru needs you that much..."  

"I don't want to lose you," he said.  "But she is needy."  He stood and swore. "Damn Cain! I liked the way things were!  Now with you and MacLeod married, if Prudence and I should become closer, it would be doubly adulterous . . . and you once a cloistered girl," he reminded her, finally getting to the root of his own fears. 

She looked sad for a moment, then managed a smile. "No. Doubly blessed. I with you and Duncan, she with you and Mosby if he comes back to her. I don't know how, but things will work out in the end!"