The dream was always the same:
//Somewhere in Europe c. 450 B.C.
The woman clutched onto her husband. The thunder of hooves echoed across the land. "Please, Raulf, please let's leave," she screamed at him.
"No, woman. I said for you to take the children and hide. Now, go!" he said, pulling his arm free.
Tears filled her eyes. Everyone knew the sound of the hooves signified the approach of the Horsemen. "Then, I will fight beside you, please," she begged. Being an immortal, she knew her prowess with a sword would be beneficial.
"No!" her husband said, "Please, Jade. I need for you to take care of the children. Someone has to protect them!" Desperately he started to push her aside, but instead he pulled her to him and kissed her. "I love you," he said.
Touching his face tenderly, and for the last time, she said, "I will love you always."
Knowing the full meaning behind those words, Raulf looked at his wife for the last time as she ran to protect his children.
The village was in total chaos. Women were running around, dragging scared children behind them. Still, other women, men, and boys were arming themselves in a futile attempt to protect their homes from the inevitable. It was hard for Jade to ignore the desperation and focus on the task of getting the children as far away from the village as possible. Running to her hut, she quickly gathered the four children close.
"Are they coming, Momma?" a fearful voice asked.
"Yes, Sethra. They're coming. We have to leave, now!"
"What about Daddy?"
Taking the youngest in her arms, she took another by the hand. "He'll find us later," she lied, "We have to move, children."
She led the children at a fast pace. Her sword and constant companion placed firmly at her side. They'd just reached the edge of the woods when she felt the tingle of another immortal. She stopped suddenly, holding back the panic. If it was Kronos or the one called Caspian, they were all dead for sure. She calmed herself and reached out. *No,* she thought, *the signature is as familiar as my own. We may still stand a chance, maybe.* To the children, she said, "We have to keep moving." Better to move than take a chance. Six hundred years ago, she'd known him like the back of her hand, but now...
The sound of hooves came closer. Knowing they could never outrun him, she hid the two oldest children. Her hope was to save at least half of her family if she could. She knew the two youngest would never be able to hide quietly. "Stay quiet," she warned, "No matter what you see or hear. Stay quiet."
She held the two youngest tightly as she watched the Horseman known as Death approach on his white steed. Half of his face was painted blue. The look in his eyes was unreadable. It had been six hundred years since she'd last seen him. Since he'd left her to pursue this life of hell, and he'd done it for so many reasons. She knew that. Most of which revolved around the fourth Horseman, Silas, her former student. She looked nowhere but in his eyes as he approached. He had been her teacher, friend, lover, and so much more. Now, she recognized him by his Quickening only. And even that was almost beyond her recognition. She knew in that instant that she would kill him if she had to. She hoped it wouldn't come to that.
He stopped his horse and dismounted. He was so confident, so arrogant. Yet, she sensed a tinge of guilt and despair within him. And, he had yet to unsheathe his sword. They still had a chance.
Speaking in a language the children would not understand, he said, "It has been so long, Jade."
Replying in kind, she said, "Yes, Methos, it has."
"I don't want to kill you or the children."
"Then, don't. Let me take them away from here." Saying that, she saw for the first time the exhaustion in his eyes. He was tired of this life. He was finally pulling away from Kronos. It was just a beginning, but maybe he could be saved.
"I can't do that, Jade. He will find you. It's unavoidable." He took two more steps closer, causing the youngest to cry.
"Sshh, Danni, it's okay." To him, she said, "Methos, I can't let you hurt these children. I won't let Kronos. He will NEVER kill another child of mine!" she yelled, pain in her voice.
Methos flinched. "These aren't your children!" he yelled in return, finally drawing his sword.
"You've killed their father, my husband! They are my children now!" she yelled, dropping the young boy and drawing her sword.
"I AM YOUR HUSBAND!" he shouted, but did not raise his sword.
Shaking her head in hopelessness, she said, "Methos, I did not marry this man standing before me. I do not know who you are anymore. The man I married, the man I love, is not this cold-blooded killer. Please, let us go."
Methos approached the youngest child and picked him up by his tunic. Her voice, her pleas, her cries filled his ears. No, he would not kill her children. He would not let Kronos or Caspian kill another one of her children. She was his wife still, therefore, these children were his now too. "I did not kill your husband. I will not kill any of you."
Tears of fear turned to tears of relief. "Come with us, Methos. Please."
"I cannot. You must go."
She closed the distance between them, no longer afraid of him. "You don't have to stay with him. Please come with us," she begged.
"I can't, Jade. Someone has to stay with Silas."
"Silas can take care of himself, Methos. I was wrong to think otherwise. I love you. I always have. The children and I need you. Please." She could tell her words were affecting him. He was torn between her and Kronos. And, Kronos' pull was so very strong. She knew he was not ready to leave Kronos yet. No matter what he would say. But, he was pulling away from Kronos. Of that, she was sure.
"Dear, Jade," he caressed her face. Gods above but he did love her. Six hundred years apart had done little to change that. The grief in her eyes was gone. The guilt in his heart assuaged. He wanted to believe that he could be with her again. The wheels in his mind began to turn. It was possible, but first he had to get rid of Kronos. He was beginning to feel that task would be a pleasure. He pulled her to him and kissed her fully on the lips. The immediacy of her response filled him with hope. "Okay, take the children to Antilla. I'll meet you there soon." He wasn't sure if he meant it, but the thought gave him hope.
She could tell by the look on his face that he may not be able to keep his word, but she knew in his heart that he wanted to believe it. She smiled broadly and said, "We'll wait for you." She took the other two children out of hiding and smiled. " I do love you, Methos."
"I know, Jade. Wait for me."
//The children hot on her heels, Jade ran off into the woods. After he could no longer feel her signature, Methos returned to help his brothers finish off the village...
Methos woke with a start. He had no idea what had set this off, his thinking about her. They hadn't seen one another in about a century. Yet now, here she was in his mind. He'd have to get control of that.
The dream always started out from her perspective. The story always filled with emotion. She'd told him about that day when the Horsemen raided her village on several occasions. Her love for Raulf was ever evident. Methos had never been the jealous type. Raulf had been a very lucky mortal. When Kronos killed him, Raulf had died with her name on his lips. Methos had never told Jade of the violence of Raulf's death, only that he died bravely, which was true.
Although they had exchanged words of marriage over 4600 years ago, they'd both realized that living as man and wife for eternity was an impossibility for both of them. They'd pursued other relationships equally, always respecting the other's current status. But, as always, the vows they had made all those millennia ago remained. They'd kept one another's existence a secret for protection. Jade was only a couple of centuries younger than Methos. She would be hunted vigorously for her age and because of the supposed vulnerability of her sex. However, it never took an opponent long to learn of his mistake. She was feminine in every sense of the word, but fierce and strong when engaged in battle. Methos smiled at the memory of some opponents' fear.
Getting out of bed, Methos went to his bathroom and showered. He needed a distraction to get his mind off of her. He knew right away where he would go, who his favorite target was. Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod.
Lifting the gate, Methos knew Mac was around. The sounds of the shower told him where. Making himself at home, Methos grabbed a beer and sat on the couch. He looked up when the Highlander exited the bathroom wrapped in a towel.
"You really don't believe in privacy, do you?" MacLeod asked.
"Why? You shy?" Methos teased.
"Hardly," Mac said as he grabbed his clothes and went back into the bathroom. The sounds of Methos' laughter followed him.
When Mac returned, Methos was just about to give him a lecture on the finer points of vanity when both immortals felt the signature. Methos didn't even bother to stand.
Richie lifted the gate. The smile he wore covered his entire face. "Mac, Methos, good morning."
"Rich, what's up?" MacLeod asked.
"Nothing," came Richie's reply, a devious smile on his face.
"Liar. That smile is so big it could crack your face. Give." Mac smiled. Richie's good mood was obviously contagious.
"I met someone. Now, don't look at me like that. It's nothing romantic. We clicked, but it's really just a friendship thing. She's the neatest person."
"What's her name?" Duncan asked, not really believing Richie could have a platonic relationship with a woman.
"Ja'lyn. Ja'lyn Benjamin. She's an immortal, Mac. An old one, I think."
"Woah, Rich," Mac said, full protector mode in gear. "What do you know about her exactly? How long have you known her? How old is she?"
"Jeez, Mac. Relax." Richie put up his hands. He looked at Methos for help.
"Sorry, kid. You know how he is," Methos said, moving to the breakfast nook to listen to the conversation.
"Thanks, Methos," the young immortal said sarcastically. To Mac, Richie said, "Okay, FYI, I don't know everything about her. I know she's the most beautiful woman I've ever met. She smiles easily. She's unassuming. And, even a little shy. She's so easy to talk to. And, she doesn't judge me."
"Give her time," Methos said.
Mac laughed. "How old is she, Rich?"
"I haven't asked. She hasn't said. I know she's at least 2000 years old."
MacLeod and Methos both took a step back then. "Say again," Mac said.
"At least 2000."
"How do you know?" Methos asked.
"She lived in Rome during the Roman Empire."
"She told you this," Methos said, more than a little involved in the story now. There were very few female immortals that old. Very few old immortals gave out their true age.
"She said that statue in the park of the Roman soldier reminded her of someone she knew." Richie smiled as he remembered the rest of the conversation.
"Really," the Highlander said. Thinking for a moment, he continued, "I wonder what Joe would know about her."
Richie stood and confronted his former teacher. "I don't need you to check up on everyone who comes into my life, Mac. Give me a break."
"What if she's up to something, Richie? What if she's after your head?"
"Then she would have challenged me days ago. Come on, Mac!" Richie was clearly exasperated.
"Have you ever heard of Ja'lyn Benjamin, Methos?" Mac continued, ignoring Richie's plea.
"Nope, but that's probably not her real name. If she's as old as that, she may not have a surname." Methos stood to get another beer. The whole situation wasn't sitting quite right with him. His dreams of Jade. This mysterious older female immortal popping into Richie's life. Too strange to be a coincidence. He and Jade had been together back when he was Dr. Benjamin Adams. It wasn't such a stretch to think that Jane Adams, as she had called herself then, had become Ja'lyn Benjamin. But, why was she here? If this was her, she obviously had tracked him down and needed him for something. Her contact with Richie had not been a coincidence. She was too intelligent to let slip information that could lead to her true identity. Methos' gut was telling him that Richie's Ja'lyn was his Jade.
Sipping his beer, Methos said, "Don't worry, Mac. I'm sure Richie will be fine." If indeed the woman was Jade, Richie would be as safe as a kitten.
"Thanks, Methos. I really just came here to invite you guys to meet her. Don't worry, Methos, I told her your name was Adam."
"Sure we'll meet her," MacLeod said, "You just say when and where."
"She agree to that, Rich?" Methos asked. He didn't want their first meeting to be with Richie and Mac around. He needed to talk to her alone. If the woman was Jade, that is.
"I haven't asked her yet. I'm meeting her this evening at the park. We're going to take a walk along the river."
"Sounds romantic," Mac teased, "I thought the relationship wasn't romantic."
Methos smiled. It was platonic all right. Ryan was not Jade's type. More like the type she would coddle, but never have a romantic interlude.
"It isn't," Richie smiled, "But, I wouldn't complain if it were." He rose to leave. "I'll see you guys later. Should we all meet at Joe's tomorrow for lunch?"
"Sure," Mac said and Methos nodded.
After Richie left, MacLeod looked at Methos and asked, "You think he's going to be okay."
Methos laughed, "Yes, worry-wort. He's going to be fine. Now if I'm not wrong, you have a dojo that needs to be opened, and I need to scam on your computer. So go!"
"Okay. See you later."
Methos sat in front of his computer but didn't turn it on. He stared into the blackness of the monitor and let his mind float back into time. Back to that terrible day almost 3000 years ago:
//Somewhere in Europe c. 1000 B.C.
'Arin. Have you completed your chores?'
'Yes, father. May I please go play by the creek?'
'Yes. Be home by dark, son.'
Jade came around the house wiping her hands on her skirt. 'Where are you heading, Arin?'
'Father says I can go to the creek and play with the other boys.' Arin ran to his mother and kissed her lightly on the cheek. 'I'll see you later.'
'Be careful.' She watched her son run off through the woods. Feeling her husband's arm come around her shoulder, she turned to him and smiled. 'He's growing so fast,' she said embracing him.
'I know. We'll have to tell him soon, you know.'
She sighed, 'I know, Methos. I know. It's just that I don't want to tell him that he isn't of our flesh.'
'Or that we are immortal.'
'I'd rather tell him that. Although he doesn't look like either of us. I'm sure he suspects that he is not ours.'
Methos laughed. 'Yes, it would definitely be hard for two black-haired, green-eyed people to have a red, curly-haired , blue-eyed boy.'
'True,' Jade sighed, 'Still he feels like my own. Gods, Methos, I love that boy like I've loved no other. For all intents and purposes, he is our son.'
Methos pulled his wife close. 'Yes, Jade, love. He is our son.' He led his wife inside to help her prepare the vegetables for their supper.
Several hours later, screams from outside their door accompanied the strong immortal signature. Methos and Jade ran out of the hut to find the cause of the commotion.
Methos barely had two seconds to react before his wife ran toward the strange immortals. All strange but one. The sight that greeted him was emblazoned forever in his memory. The sight as well as the screams of his wife. Dragged behind the horses of the immortals were the dead bodies of three young boys. One of which was his Arin.
'Silas, you bastard!' Jade was screaming through her tears. 'I'll kill you, you ungrateful, heartless, son of a bitch! Let me go, Methos. They killed our son. Damn you!' she screamed over and over.
Methos took one look at the leader of the group and knew he could not let his wife go. The leader would kill her as surely as he killed their son.
The three immortals stopped in front of their hut. The leader spoke, 'One of these boys yours?'
Methos met his eyes, controlling his anger and hatred, 'Yes, he was.'
'Pity,' the man said and laughed.
Jade's anger inflamed then. 'Let me go, Methos. I want to kill the bastard! Let me go!'
Methos brought his fist to Jade's jaw effectively knocking her cold. He hated to do it, but if he didn't, she would get herself killed.
'What do you want here?' Methos asked the leader.
'We want you,' he said, 'I am Kronos. This is Caspian. And, of course, you know Silas.'
Methos was losing control over his anger. 'What the hell do you want with me?'
Kronos smiled, 'Silas tells me you're very good at planning battles. Apparently, you've advised kings. I want you to help us.'
'You bastard. You've killed my son. Why would I help you?'
Kronos got off his horse and walked to Methos. Menacingly, he said, 'Because if you don't, this is only the beginning. I'll take your very beautiful wife and you'll watch as I rape her and kill her over and over. I'll also kill everyone in the village. Starting with the babies. They will all know it's because of you that they are dying slowly and painfully. But...'
'But, what?' Methos said through gritted teeth.
'If you come with us and follow me loyally, I won't hurt anyone else in this village. You have my word. As long as you help me and my brothers, they and your wife will live.'
His mind had become numb. His dead son lay tied to Kronos' horse. His wife lay passed out at his feet. The malicious evil that emanated from Kronos was undeniable. Methos felt torn. He knew he had no choice, but would Jade understand. Then, there was Silas, her former student. Jade loved him like a son. Why was he with this madman? Methos made up his mind. Kronos would follow through on his threat. Methos was positive of that. For Jade's safety and for Silas' salvation, Methos unwillingly agreed. 'I'll go,' he said, 'Let me talk to my wife.'
'NO!' Kronos said, 'We ride now or we kill now. Your choice.'
Methos looked at the crumpled form of the love of his life. She would understand, eventually. *I love you* he thought. To Kronos, he said, 'We ride.'
A horse was produced for Methos as the bodies of the young boys were finally untied from the horses. Methos rode off with the three men. Planning a way to kill the leader, he had no way of knowing how the power of Kronos' evil would take over his mind, body, and soul...//
The phone rang again, waking Methos from his thoughts. He wiped the tears from his eyes and picked up the phone. "Hello," he said.
"Adam, it's Richie."
"Rich, hello."
"Hey. I just wanted to call and say we're definitely on for lunch tomorrow at Joe's"
"Great, what time?"
"How about 12:30?"
"Fine. See you both then. Bye."
"Bye," Richie said and hung up.
Methos fought off the growing feeling of anxiety. This mystery woman may not be Jade. And even if she was, why was he worried? Methos began to puzzle it out in his mind. If this was Jade, she was here for a reason. What could it be? Why was she here? Then, he thought, 'Something's wrong.' He'd have to find out, which meant he had to find her before this lunch tomorrow.
Quickly grabbing his coat, he ran out the back door before Mac could sense he was gone.
Arriving at the park, Methos walked silently around, ever careful not to be seen or felt. He stopped as he saw a couple sitting on a park bench. It was almost nightfall, but he could tell the male form was Richie. The female stood and ran her hand through her hair, shaking it slightly when she reached her crown. Methos observed the action, took in the shape of that body he knew so well and knew in an instant that this woman was his Jade! Ah, yes! Now all he had to do was follow her back to her hotel then he could talk to her.
She embraced Richie quickly and kissed him on the cheek. Methos watched as the boy reluctantly turned and left. Jade stood by the bench for a few more seconds and watched Richie leave. Purposely, she turned and walked toward Methos' hiding place. He bowed his head. Caught.
Stopping directly in front of him, Jade smiled. "Thought you were out of my range, huh?"
Methos laughed. "Something like that, yes." He stood. "You've gotten better at finding Quickenings."
"The talent has saved my life more than once."
Methos closed the distance between them and embraced her. "How have you been, Ja'lyn?" He closed his eyes enjoying the feel of her.
Jade hugged him in return. "Fine. How about you, Adam?"
"I'm here, for now. Tomorrow, who knows? You know the life." Small talk didn't really become them, and neither did the use of these assumed names. He gazed at her intently and as he did, he caught a glimpse of something. What was it? Damn, she was almost as good at masking as he was.
"Are you okay?" He knew she wasn't, but he had to get her to talk.
"No," she said honestly. "I'm not okay, Methos."
Putting his arm around her naturally, he started to lead her back toward the bench. "Tell me."
"I killed Cassandra."
Methos closed his eyes. "I can't say I'm sorry. I'm not." Although, he thought Mac may take it personally. That thought caused him to pause but in typical Methos fashion, he'd worry about that when the time came. "What happened?"
"I ran into her last week in Houston. She challenged me openly. I had no choice. She was crazy, Methos. Saying things like Kronos was dead. You killed Silas. She was going to kill you and MacLeod for protecting you. Damn, Methos."
"It's all true, love. Every bit of it." Methos had to support her as the weight of what he said hit her.
"Kronos is dead?"
"Mac killed him."
She was fighting tears. "Good."
"I agree."
"Did you kill Silas?" she asked tentatively, praying it wasn't true even as she knew it was.
Methos sighed. This was the hardest part to admit. But he owed her the truth. "Yes," he whispered.
Quickly tears of grief overcame her. "I thought we'd saved him, Methos. What happened?"
"Kronos found him again."
"How? He was alone in the Ukraine. Only you and I knew..." It hit her then. "You led Kronos to him, didn't you?" She rose from the bench, angry. "Didn't you?! Why?"
Sometimes, a little white lie could save someone a lot of grief. This was one of those times. "Kronos had found him without my help. I thought if I was there, I could help Silas resist Kronos' magnetism. I was wrong."
Jade returned to her seat on the bench. She was tired. The weight of all this new information plus her current problem became bigger baggage than she could carry. Putting her face in her hands, she cried.
Methos put his arms around her. "Let's go back to my place, love. We can talk there." It was easy to see that Jade needed him. Whatever was going on went well beyond her killing Cassandra or him killing Silas.
He took her back to his apartment, but by the time he got her there, she was so exhausted, she didn't want to talk. Easy enough. He could tell her fatigue was emotional and mental more than physical. Since she was a child, she'd brought out the protector in him. The one he swore to Mac and Joe didn't exist. But with her, he didn't have to deny it. Slowly, he undressed her and gave her a pair of his sweats.
She put them on willingly. Never would she let anyone treat her the way she let Methos. Apparently, 4800 years made a difference. Quietly, she slipped into his bed, not surprised to feel him slip in beside her. Wrapped in the embrace that she hadn't felt for over 100 years, Jade fell into a completely restful sleep, knowing he'd take care of her.
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Part two of the Past Returns
