Sarah Jo was walking on clouds as she made her way back to the guesthouse where she and Faia were staying. It had been a lovely kiss! But ever the gentleman, Doc Adams had ended it before either one of them had gotten carried away. Entering the house, she saw no lights at all. "Faia?" she called out as she lit a lamp.

There was absolutely no sound. And as she looked around, she realized the place was deserted!

Worried, she left the guesthouse and searched the grounds. But instead of finding Faia, she ran in Brother Cadfael, who was sitting at the base of a statue of a saint. "Brother, have you seen Faia?" she asked

He looked grave. "I saw her ride out not ten minutes ago. I do hope she is well! The forests of this land are not to be traveled lightly."

Sarah Jo's face went white. "Oh no!" she gasped. "I have to go after her!"

"Not alone, child, not alone!"

The noise of their raised voices caused Doc Adams to come and see what was going on. "She's gone!" Sarah Jo told him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "What if this is my fault? First Kat, and now Faia!"

"How is it your fault, child?" Cadfael was asking as Doc came out.

"If anything, it would be my fault," the doctor said sadly.

She turned, heading for the stables, but both men grabbed her arms and kept her from jumping on a horse and following after her friend in the darkness. Brother Cadfael, seeing how upset she was, offered to go to the chapel and pray for Faia's safety. "I'm sure if we ask him, the Good Lord will send her a guardian angel to keep her safe," he assured her.

"Sarah Jo, you didn't do this," Doc said. "Faia's a big girl. She was upset with me. I was hoping to talk to her more when she calmed down tomorrow, but she did not give me the time. It's just like her to be so headstrong."

Sarah Jo wiped her eyes and nodded, her common sense taking over. "Ah guess you are right," she said sadly.

"Why, what did you think happened?"

"Do you think she saw us kissing?" she asked. Behind her, Brother Cadfael ducked his head, hiding a smile.

Doc turned slightly pale. "Oh I hope not," he said. "That would have added insult to injury. But I think she would have said something. She doesn't keep her tongue well, if I remember her right."

"Come child," Brother Cadfael said gently. "There is nothing you can do now. Let us lift our voices to the heavens." As he led her away, he winked at Doc Adams. If he kept vigil with her in the chapel instead of sending her alone to the guesthouse, then the girl wouldn't get it through her head to go after Faia. He had a feeling she would if she was left alone to think about it.

Doc watched as she was led away. Did Faia see them? Had he made a total ass of himself? He hoped not. He had such faint memories of their time together - all of them wrapped around her stubbornness as a little Egyptian Princess. Was that because she was dressed as such when he saw her again? He did not know. He had a vague feeling of pride in her for this determination, but the feeling was more paternal than sexual.

Cadfael stayed up with Sarah Jo all through the night. By the time the sun was peeking over the horizon, she was more than willing to go to her bed to get some rest. It was a good thing, because around midday, Duncan MacLeod showed up at the gate, ready to take her home.

He was rather surprised to see Doc, and not Phoenix, waiting to go back to Edan with them.

"Methos?" he asked, not believing that there was yet another version of the ancient immortal on Edan.

"Benjamin Adams, please. I understand there is already one - or two - who go by that other name here."

"Ahh, ok," he said, shaking his head. "Where is Sarah Jo?" he was concerned that she wasn't out in the courtyard to greet him, asking for any news about Kat.

"She was up rather late last night. Apparently Phoenix was . . . upset by my arrival and left."

"Shite," Duncan sighed. "Not another one!"

Doc tipped his head to one side. "Another what?"

"I've been traipsing all over, hunting for another woman who took off. You might know her. Kat is her name. Katherine Dixon."

"I heard. And I take it from your face that you have not found her."

"No," he growled. "Damn girl is awfully good at hiding her tracks. If only Connor was here. If anyone can track her down when she doesn't want to be found, he could."

"If he were here she would not be running away," Doc said reasonably.

The look of pure guilt on the younger MacLeod’s face was unmistakable, and Doc could easily guess the reason why Connor was not around. Turning away, Duncan headed to the bathhouse. He wanted a hot bath and a good meal under his belt before he took Sarah Jo back to Edan.

Doc watched him go, then headed for the gardens himself, but only to sit and contemplate what had happened over the past 24 Hours. He felt a great desire to speak to his other self.

Sarah Jo was not her usual cheerful self when she did wake up, but seeing Duncan at the dinner table seemed to help. She sat in between him and Doc, both of them making polite conversation with her. She fidgeted, attracted to them both, but not having a clue what to do with them both there.

Doc seemed to sense that she had something with the Highlander, and did not push her. Instead he was a total gentleman, giving her time to make up her own mind.

So, after a filling meal and a good night’s sleep, the three of them made their way to Edan, Doc mounted on Alice, and Sarah Jo on Gideon's little gelding. Even with the rest, everyone was restless, including the horses. It was as if they sensed something in the trees, something not quite wholesome.

Duncan was on full alert, constantly scanning the trail both before and behind them. Without a word, Doc took up position of the other side of Sarah Jo. Just because he didn't like to fight, it didn't mean he was incapable of it, push come to shove. Even Sarah Jo was affected by the tension. She rode tight lipped, all her nerves on edge.

Doc looked around, wondering why the hair on the back of his neck was standing up. He'd given up head hunting, but he was still alert. If only he had a sword now!

"Let’s make for that rocky ledge," Duncan said quietly. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Doc nodded, and just as they pushed their horses into a fast trot, the Presence washed over them. They all kicked their horses into a run, and as they reached high ground, Duncan wheeled his around, his sword out and at the ready. "Guard the girl," he yelled at Doc.

"Damn it, MacLeod, if I had something to guard her with, I would!"

"Throw rocks if necessary," he growled, and then with a blood-curdling yell, straight from the Scottish moors, he charged at the man riding up the hill towards them. He was still very much of a Highland warrior at heart.

Doc smiled, but herded Sarah Jo to a sheltered spot he could defend - with a huge, pointed stick he'd found. "Fat lot of good this will do," he grumbled, wishing Sarah Jo had had a sword.

Sarah Jo didn’t have a sword, but she wasn’t completely unarmed. She reached into a pocket, drawing out a leather slingshot. "Never thought I would use this for anything except hunting rabbits," she said, scooping up a couple of rocks and putting them on it in position. A well-thrown stone right in the middle of the forehead would slow anyone down, even an Immortal.

"We just need to fend him off until MacLeod can take his head."

Sarah Jo swallowed hard, but did not turn her head. The two immortals had met, and with a tremendous clash of swords, MacLeod unhorsed the other man, sending him tumbling the ground.

Doc stood with his sharp stick ready, but he and Sarah Jo both hoped it wouldn't come to that. What if the hulking brute took MacLeod's head?

Leaping off his horse, MacLeod stepped up to the other, not letting him have time to get to his feet. With a deft underhand blow, he hooked the man's sword and sent it sailing away, and then with a quick turn, he took the man's head. In fact, this was the second time he had done so! He already carried this man’s Quickening inside of him.

Doc threw himself on Sarah Jo, hiding her from the Quickening he knew was about to shudder through the land.

Sarah Jo hid her face in Doc's chest, clinging to him tight and trying not to scream as bolts of lightning shattered the sky, lifting MacLeod completely off the ground. His screams of agony unnerved her more than the light show itself. When it was over, he collapsed in a heap, gasping for breath. Apparently Quickenings on this world were more intense than usual, just like sexual climaxes.

Doc stumbled out of their hiding place, pulling the young girl out with him. "Some things never change," he snorted as they righted themselves.

"Are you all right?" Sarah Jo asked Duncan, who was still doubled over, gasping for breath. He nodded, and told them to chase down the horses while he took care of the body.

Doc lifted his fingers to his mouth and whistled, and the animals returned. Duncan looked up with a sour expression on his face before wincing in pain again, and Doc just shrugged. "It's a talent."

But as he turned to take care of the defeated Immortal’s body, he froze. It was gone! There was still a large puddle of blood where it had laid, but the body and head were gone! The only thing left was the guy's sword and his horse!

"Meeethos," Duncan said, not used to calling him by his other name. Doc sighed and came over, and saw the puddle of blood.

"What happened to him?"

"Beats the hell out of me!" Duncan said in amazement. "Shite, this is the second time I've taken his head! What kind of crazy world is this?"

Doc shook his head. "Don't ask me, I just got here. Here, give me that sword. If any more come out of the bushes, I want to be armed. How far away is this Edan anyway?"

"Not far," Duncan said, cleaning his own sword with some grass. "We can push it a little, and get there a little faster." They mounted up, and hauling the extra horse behind them, they took off at a ground-covering trot towards the safety of Edan.