Alternatives

by Wesa

Series: War of the Worlds/Highlander crossover, with references to Due South, To Life Immortal, the Ladies of the Sith, and Forbidden Lust

AU: TLI

Spoilers: To Life Immortal part 7; WotWs The Next Wave

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: They're not mine. They belong to their various creators, all of whom I want to thank for hours of

entertainment. I'm not making any money; this was written just for fun.

Dedication: For Claudia: now look what you've made me do! Thanks, Kanetsidohi!

By Wesa.

"How can you do this to him?" Debi demanded. "He was your colonel!"

Kasey leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. "Debi, it's what we do here," she explained patiently. "Until Paul took Ray Vecchio under his wing, we were not even aware that he was immortal. I thought he had died at the Cottage. Believe me, I was delighted to learn that I was mistaken." She paused, then added deliberately, "He was the best lover I've ever had."

Debi paled, then flushed angrily. "You and Paul - were lovers?" she stammered.

"Oh, yes," Kasey said easily. "Of course, you were only a child; you couldn't be expected to notice, especially since we were careful to keep it secret. After all, he was my CO; we could both have gotten in a lot of trouble. I'm looking forward to finding a way to make him a part of my life again."

"But-" Debi protested faintly. "I only just found him. He saved my life that night, and I-" She broke off in confusion.

Kasey firmed her mouth in disapproval. "I know, you think you love him. You think you want him," she said. "You do realize that he's nearly fifty years old? And do you have any idea what he likes to do in bed?"

Debi paled again. "He's not old! And he's not perverted!" she objected, near tears.

"I never said he was," Kasey replied, leaving Debi unsure which description she was denying. "Look, kid, I'm not going to try to take him away from you."

"You're not?"

"No. I don't like to fail, and if I didn't fail, he would never forgive me for cheating him out of his time with you. I can be patient if I have to, and when you leave him, I'll be waiting," Kasey told her.

"I won't leave him, ever!" Debi said defiantly.

"If you don't, he'll die."

"What?"

"Debi, I know that you know he's immortal. I know that you know that there will be people trying to take his head and his quickening," Kasey told her. "If he doesn't die, eventually you will. You'll age and die, and I'll be there to console him."

Debi stared. "You-you're immortal, too," she realized.

"Hush," Kasey warned her quickly. She rose to her feet and went to the door of her office, checking to see who might be in earshot. Nobody but Adam. Good. She closed the door. "That isn't something you say about anyone you find within these walls, Debi. It could be fatal. Yes. I am. So, you see, I can afford to wait sixty or seventy years, to give Paul his chance with you. Don't get me wrong, I'm not doing this for you. I want Paul to be happy. I'd prefer that he was happy with me, but that will come later, maybe in a century or so."

"If you don't lose your head," Debi said softly.

"I won't," Kasey said self-assuredly. "Go now. Don't tell him that I had you brought here for our little talk. In fact, it would be better if you didn't mention me to him at all. I'll keep watch over him, you can be sure, but through others so that he never has to know that I'm even alive, not until after you're gone. But don't mistreat him. If you make him unhappy, little girl, I'll know about it, and I'll take him away from you in a heartbeat. He never said he loved me, but I know I gave him the best sex he's ever had. That's a powerful lure, and I won't hesitate to use it."

Kasey asked Adam to escort Debi out and see that she got into a cab to take her back to the museum, and watched them go. Behind her, one of her step-sisters came through a hidden door. "That wasn't exactly what I had in mind," Claudia told her, "but it will do."

"How can I ever wait?" Kasey asked her. "She might live such a long time..."

"Or she might die next week - not that I intend to encourage you to hurry her along, mind," she added quickly. "Meantime, have you considered Adam?"

"Adam?" Kasey repeated blankly. Then she smiled. "Kanetsidohi, do you mean to send me to the bed of our resident Methos expert?"

"I think you might find him expert on other subjects as well," Claudia said with a smile as she left the way she came in. "At least consider it, Kasey."

Kasey nodded as the mob-boss left, then went to the window and looked down at the young man in question. Adam and Claudia? And now she was recommending him? Well, he was no Paul Ironhorse, but he might be an interesting diversion while she waited. "Thanks, Boss," she murmured. "I will."

End.