Disclaimers:  Original characters and concept of Highlander and  Highlander: The Series are property of a host of people, none of whom, unfortunately, are  me.  The character of Rhea Larrabee and the story herein, however,  are exclusively mine and cannot be used or posted without my permission.  Thanks.
Author's Note:  This story takes place somewhere in the fourth season or so of  Highlander: The Series.
Rating:  A definite R (sorry, folks, that's as edited as this one can get) -- consider it one of the steamier "episodes."

Keeping Time
© 1996, Grace Macy

- One -

Rhea Larrabee irritatedly tossed a lock of brown hair over her shoulder as she entered the bar, her eyes slowly adjusting to the dimmer light.  Even before she could see clearly, though, she saw the man behind the bar.  It came from years of practice; there was just something about another Watcher that she recognized as surely as she recognized another New Yorker, a certain energy.

She smiled and advanced, stopping at the counter with a friendly gaze.  "Joe Dawson?" she guessed.

The older man nodded, the light striking interesting waves in his silvered dark hair and beard.  "That's me," he answered amiably, if a bit uncertainly, his voice pouring over her like honeyed whiskey.

Rhea extended a hand, making sure the tattoo was visible to him.  "Rhea Larrabee," she told him.  "I'm Claudia Jardine's Watcher."

The smile turned several degrees warmer, the hazel gaze assessing but welcome.  "Welcome to Seacouver," he said.  "I've been looking forward to meeting you."

Rhea laughed.  "Do I dare ask why?"

Joe grinned and leaned forward conspirationally.  "Rumor has it you're hell-on-wheels at poker."

Rhea laughed again, joy and amusement filling her.  "Well, far be it for me to refute rumor," she answered, taking the seat he motioned her to.  "It also says you play blues..?"

Joe smiled.  "Guilty."  He motioned at the range of bottles behind him.  "What can I get you?"

"Club soda's fine," she answered.  "I'm driving.  Maybe a twist of lime?" She smiled as he quickly poured the drink and placed the slice artistically.  "Thanks."

Joe smiled.  "So when did Claudia get in town? I don't think MacLeod is expecting her."

"Just a few hours ago.  And he isn't; he would have picked her up at the airport if he was - and his car was parked at the dojo when she got there."

Joe smiled at her.  "You are observant."

Rhea grinned at him, brown eyes sparkling mischievously.  "That is kinda part of the job description.  So," she continued, "do you play often?"

Joe grinned back, just as mischievously.  "Depends on the game," he said slyly.

Rhea choked on the sip she had taken, then laughed, shaking her head.  "You is a  bad boy!!" They laughed for a while, then she gave him a mock-wary glance as she said, "Do you play  blues often?"

Joe grinned, more than a bit surprised at himself at the effect this woman was having on him.  She looks barely over twenty-four for heaven's sake.  But there was something about her that invited him to relax, to laugh and talk and play, as he hadn't felt since he was a child.  "Occasionally," he said.  "When we don't have a band."

Rhea smiled.  "I'd like to hear it sometime.  Sounds like the acoustics in here are great."

"One of the reasons I picked it."  Joe gave her an appraising glance.  "Do you play?"

"Yes and no," she answered, smiling.  "Yes, I play, but no, not blues.  Violin isn't particularly suited for it."

Joe's eyebrows rose.  "Violin," he repeated.  "Then I guess you're -"

"Perfect to be Claudia's Watcher," Rhea completed the sentence with a resigned smile.  "Gee, I've never heard that before."

Joe chuckled.  "Of course not," he said sympathetically.  Then another aspect of it hit him.  "You must not get much chance to practice."

Rhea smiled.  "Finally," she said with a heavenward glance, "someone who gets it!" She shook her head.  "No, I don't.  There are only certain places you can practice without people complaining - Claudia goes to every one, so she'd recognize me if I went too."

Joe smiled sympathetically.  "Well, you can practice here while MacLeod keeps Claudia busy."

Rhea laughed.  "This is true," she agreed.  She looked at him a little closer.  "Are you serious?"

"Absolutely!" Joe exclaimed.  "I'd be happy to run some interference for you, too."

Rhea's eyes unfocused slightly as she considered it, wistfully envisioning being able to practice without worry.  "I'd love it," she sighed finally.  "Are you sure -"

"Very sure."  Joe smiled.  "In fact, Mac'll probably be busy for another hour or so if you want to try for some practice now..?"

Rhea beamed at him, like a child presented with a dreamed-for toy on her birthday, and Joe found himself smiling back.  "Oh, could I?" she asked.  "I have my violin in the car..."

Joe chuckled.  "It'll be a novelty to these folks."

Rhea smiled brilliantly and hopped off the stool.  "Be right back."

Joe watched her head for the door and didn't even wonder if she was any good; he knew she was.  He might not have been able to pick other Watchers out of a crowd, but he could definitely point out the true musicians.  He turned off the sound system as she came back inside, then stepped in front of the stage to explain to the few patrons gathered at this hour of the afternoon.  "We have something a little different for you," he said.  "This young lady is going to play some violin."

The assorted men and women exchanged curious looks, then settled back to watch and listen as the petite brunette got on stage; they had long ago learned to trust Joe's judgment.  Rhea surveyed them with an friendly gaze.  "Any requests?" she asked lightly.

The crowd laughed, and she plucked experimentally at the chords, tuning the sleek instrument carefully.  When she settled the violin below her chin, the patrons quieted.  Rhea smiled, closed her eyes, and played.

***

Joe leaned back against the bar and let the music carry him away.  She started off with Brahms' Lullaby, followed by Mozart, then segued, unexpectedly, into Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.  The crowd let out a little gasp of surprise as the tempo sped up, her hands flying over the slender neck of the violin with fingers and bow.

Joe smiled triumphantly; he had been right.  She was good, very good.  She had talent; not on the level of Claudia, but definitely higher than the average musician.  He wondered briefly if she had ever considered touring before becoming a Watcher, and at the same time was glad she hadn't, else he might never have gotten this chance to hear her play.

When the last note faded, there was a moment of silence, then wild applause.  Joe watched her eyes open slowly, as if she were awakening from a dream, and smiled as she met the applause with a startled, then pleased smile.  Like a kid at a recital, he thought, charmed by the innocent pleasure on her face as she sketched a bow.  Then her eyes lifted to the door of the bar and a look of alarm swept across her features.

Joe turned to see what had elicited such a reaction, and nearly swore out loud when he saw MacLeod and Claudia standing there, frozen.  Claudia's face had paled, and her mouth was set in a trembling line before she suddenly turned and ran out the door.  MacLeod said her name, alarmed, before he went after her.

Joe turned back to see Rhea staring after them, shock and dismay on her face.  That was the other reason she hasn't gone anywhere to practice that Claudia might have been, Joe realized; she didn't want to hurt her.

His respect for the young woman went up a notch.  Then his frown returned.  Now let's just hope MacLeod can help Claudia...

In the end, that job was taken out of the Highlander's hands.  With a determined set to her mouth, Rhea gently placed her violin on the bar and headed for the door.  "Where are you going?!" Joe asked, shocked.

Rhea cast a glance at him over her shoulder as she reached the door.  "To correct a mistake."

Joe stared after her.  His respect went even higher as he realized what she was going to do.  He just hoped she knew what she was getting herself into...and how to get herself out.

***

"Claudia, wait!" MacLeod cried again.  The young woman only slowed when she reached the T-Bird, her chest heaving with sobs and lost breath.  "Take me home," she sobbed.

"Claudia," Duncan said gently, reaching for her, but she jerked away.

"Please, Duncan," she begged.  "Just take me home...take me anywhere, please..."

He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, feeling her shake against him.  From the second they neared the doors, he had wondered what on earth Joe was doing playing classical music, then they had opened the doors and it hit him that the performance he was hearing was live.  Half of him had been knocked over by the music, then rest had followed at the sight of the player.  He hadn't even thought of Claudia's reaction until she had turned and ran as the music ended.  It had taken him a second to drag his eyes away from the woman on stage and follow the other Immortal, but now all his attention was fixed on Claudia.

"Hush," he said softly, into her hair.  "It's all right."

"No, it isn't!" Claudia cried.  "It's not all right.  I thought I could handle it, Duncan.  I thought I was handling it.  But that girl in there - even facing death I can't feel life like she can.  You could see it in her eyes, hear it in her music.  I don't have that fire anymore! I'll never have that fire again!"

"Yes, you will," he said, and turned at the sound of a footfall.

The young woman slowed her steps and came towards them at a walk.  Duncan was taken aback once more.  A wave of rich chestnut hair fell across her shoulders in a ponytail like a stoal, matching perfectly with the eyes that looked at Claudia in concern and dismay.  It wasn't until she said Claudia's name that MacLeod realized he had seen a very familiar tattoo on her wrist as she played.

Claudia looked at her and flinched, trying to back towards the car.  She didn't want to speak to someone who had the fire she no longer possessed.  "Go away," she begged.  "Please!"

The Watcher's eyes flicked to MacLeod, then back to Claudia, determined.  "No," she said softly.

Claudia sniffed and looked back at her incredulously.  "What?"

"I know what you're feeling," she said.  "And it's not true.  You do have that fire; it's just that you've hidden it so deep under self-pity that you can't see anything more than a spark."  MacLeod was staring at her too now; the mortal's hands twitched uneasily.

Claudia's mouth opened but no sound came out.  "How can you possibly know anything about me?" she exclaimed finally.  "How can you possibly know how I feel? To know that your gift is gone, that no one loves you..."  She turned to MacLeod.  "Except for those who pity you."

MacLeod had an instant to give Claudia a startled glance before the other woman spoke.  "You don't want to be loved, Claudia," the previously sweet voice snapped harshly.  "You want to be adored, worshipped, praised.  You want applause, not embraces.  That's what's been missing since your gift 'disappeared', and that's probably why it hasn't come back."

Claudia turned a stunned face towards her, but found no softening in the delicate features.  "What?!" she managed to gasp.

MacLeod started to speak in her defense but something stopped him.  An instant later, he was glad it had.  "When you first learned to play, why did you do it, Claudia?" the woman asked, coming closer.  Her eyes held Claudia's, equal shades of brown, but one with fire.  "Did you do it for applause? For adoration?" Claudia slowly shook her head, caught in the mortal's gaze.  "Why, then?"

"Because I loved it," Claudia answered.  "Because I loved the music, the way it made me feel, the way I could dream when I played..."

The other woman nodded, her focus so intently on Claudia that MacLeod stepped back, feeling like an intruder.  "What changed?"

Claudia started to tell her, about Immortality wiping away the dreams, but stopped herself in time.  She hadn't learned as much in the past eleven months as MacLeod would have wished, but she had at least learned discretion.  Her mouth snapped shut and she asked what she should have to begin with.  "Who are you? I don't know you..."

The woman took a deep breath, as if steeling herself, and MacLeod almost saw the fear chasing through her eyes.  She was going to tell Claudia about being her Watcher, he realized with a start.  Joe Dawson had revealed the secret of the Watchers because MacLeod had discovered them; this young woman was about to jeopardize her career, perhaps even her life, to help a woman she had "known" for less than a year.  MacLeod shook his head, trying to stop her, while at the same time admiring her greatly.  The only thing that eased his mind was that he had told Claudia only an hour ago.

"My name is Rhea Larrabee," she said.  "I'm your Watcher.  I have been for almost a year now."

Claudia stared and a visible mix of confusion and relief showed on Rhea's face as the Immortal nodded.  "I see."

Rhea cast an unreadable glance at MacLeod, then her lips twitched into a smile.  "I'm sure you do."

Continued

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