Leaning up against the wall, the eldest immortal clapped his hands loudly to remind them that he was there. "Fabulous display. I've never seen the like."
Breaking contact with the younger man, Jade said, "It's been a rough morning."
"How do you mean?"
Mac handed Methos the note. "This is how she means."
Reading the note, Methos said, "You're not going alone."
Jade sighed, "The note says I have to."
"Bull shit, woman. You've never done anything you've been told. Why start now?"
"Because Devin will die."
"There's always a way. Let me think."
Jade touched Methos' cheek softly. "That's my Methos. Always planning, always strategizing. I'll put our lives in your hands."
"I won't let you down."
Kissing his cheek quickly, she said, "You never have."
Methos closed his eyes and wished it were true. But, Silas' face quickly sprang to his mind. He'd let her down so many times. First losing Silas to Kronos, then killing Silas over 3000 years later. Oh, he'd let her down so many times.
Thumping him lightly on the chest, she said, "Forget about Silas. I told you, he made his own choices. I need you to help me. I'm going upstairs to shower." To Duncan, she said, "You better do something to lighten his mood or we'll all be sorry."
Duncan's laugh followed her up to the loft. He had to admit that he felt a large amount of jealousy as he watched the tender display. Those two had lived through more things than Duncan could imagine. And, they had done it together. To have a relationship like that himself would be wonderful.
Once she left, Methos teased, "She beat you good."
"So," Duncan said, feigning indifference.
"It doesn't bother you at all that she beat you."
"No," Duncan lied.
"A woman, the fairer sex, bested you in combat, MacLeod. That doesn't bother you at all." Methos was relentless in his teasing.
"Come on, Methos. She's almost 5000 years old. I would hope she would be good enough to take me."
Methos laughed out loud. "It bothers you though. Face it, Mac," Methos goaded again.
"Alright," Duncan said as he absently straightened his ponytail. "But, damn, she's good."
"Yes, she is. I'd never seen her match, until..."
"Until, what?" Duncan asked.
"Until I saw you," Methos finished.
Duncan smiled at the compliment. "Tell me about Silas, please," Duncan asked quickly changing topics.
Methos struggled inwardly to maintain a look of indifference. "What about him?"
"He was Jade's student."
"Yes."
"And you killed him?"
"You were there, MacLeod, don't you remember?"
Duncan definitely caught the sarcasm in his friend's voice and the impersonal use of his surname told Mac all he needed to know. The topic was off limits for whatever reason and he should leave it alone. Which, he would do, for now. "Well, I should shower." Duncan left to shower in the gym locker room knowing Jade was still using the bathroom in the loft.
Methos sat at Duncan's desk to plan their strategy. Jade would play a part alright, but she would play it unwillingly and probably hate Methos later. But, if it all worked out, she would live, and Methos would redeem himself.
The phone rang just as Jade was pulling her hair back. "Hello," she answered.
"Jade, it's Richie."
Jade smiled despite her mood. "Hello, Richie. I think Duncan is downstairs with Methos. You want me to go get him."
"No, actually, I wanted to talk to you."
"About?" Jade could hear the nervousness in his voice. It was so endearingly cute, she had to stifle a chuckle.
"I was wondering if I could interest you in lunch."
Jade's smile faded. "I'd love to, Richie. But now is not the best time."
"I think you're wrong."
"Young man," Jade couldn't help but tease, "respect your elders."
"I'm trying," Richie whined, "You've been under an enormous amount of stress lately, and I think you could use a break. Even if it's only for a few hours. What do you say?"
Jade shook her head. When would she ever learn not to give in to charming, extremely young immortals. "Okay, Ryan. But I can't stay out all day. Just a quick bite to eat."
"Great. I'll pick you up in an hour." Richie hung up the phone and looked at Methos. The old man had showed up at his apartment and asked for his help in diverting Jade. Methos' level of deception was phenomenal. "She's going to kill both of us when she finds out about this."
Methos shook his head. "No, she won't. She'll be mad as hell. That you can believe. But, she won't take our heads. I know her too well."
Somewhat subdued, Richie asked, "So, what's the plan?"
"Take her out for a picnic. Somewhere isolated. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy her. She's a lot of fun to be around and has a wonderfully funny sense of humor. As you start to leave, have problems with your bike. Something major that requires you to walk all the way back to town. I'm not kidding about this, Ryan. I don't want her stepping foot in Seacouver until well after 8:00."
The look in Methos' eyes was deadly. Richie had no choice but to agree. It was almost 1:00 anyway. He could keep her out of town easily. He hoped. "Methos," he couldn't help but ask, "these guys, why do they want to kill her?"
"I don't know," Methos replied, just as curious about it as Richie.
"She just doesn't seem like the type to make mortal enemies."
"Ah, young Ryan. One day you will learn that any immortal over 1500 has lived long enough to have dark secrets and dangerous enemies in their pasts."
"Even Jade," Richie didn't believe it. She seemed too wonderful to have enemies.
"Even her," Methos said.
"I can't fathom it."
"It's not my place to discuss her past with you, Ryan. You'll just have to believe me."
"What are you planning?" Richie asked in reference to Methos' plans for the kidnappers.
"Mac and I plan to clean house. They jumped her all at once, which is not playing fair. Now, I intend to show them what not playing fair is all about."
Richie couldn't help but shiver. Methos' tone was deadly. "Mac gonna go along with that?"
"Mac's mission is to save the boy. The kidnappers are mine," Methos vowed as he rose to leave. "I mean it, Ryan. I want her out of the picture."
"No problem."
Four hours later, Richie was eating those last few words to Methos. Jade was anything if not resourceful. The plan was working just as Methos had said it would. Richie had driven Jade about 45 minutes out of town. She was angry at the long drive, reminding him several times that the drive alone had used up the hour she allotted. Richie had apologized profusely, but promised to have her back in town by 4:00. Jade relaxed then, but only a little.
Lunch itself had been wonderful. Methos was right. Jade's sense of humor was contagious. Richie was actually shocked that she had relaxed enough to share some of the lighter events of her past.
At 3:00, they packed the bike to leave. Richie had tried to start the bike, but failed. Repeated tries only led to a flooded engine. Damn, he was good!
A half-hour of tinkering had produced the expected results. However, Jade's mood had turned dark. Richie was a little tense.
"What's wrong now, Ryan?" the anger in her voice undeniable.
"I'm not sure," Richie lied, "The son of a bitch just won't start."
"I thought you knew how to fix these damn things."
"I do. Just give me some time."
"I DON'T HAVE TIME!" Jade screeched. "I have to be back in town by 7:00."
"It's only 4:00 now. Why don't we walk it?"
"Better yet. Why don't we leave the bike here, hitch a ride back to town, you have Mac bring you back for the bike, and I'll take care of my business."
Richie didn't know if he could out wit her or not. But, he had to try. Methos would kill him for real if he failed. "No way. I'm not leaving the bike here for someone to steal."
"Fine. I'll hitch back and have Mac come get you."
Thinking fast, Richie lied, "You can't leave me alone."
"Why the hell not?"
"I didn't bring my sword."
"WHAT?!!! Richie are you a complete idiot?!! Didn't MacLeod teach you anything?!!"
"I knew I'd be okay because you had your sword."
"How did you even last one year as an immortal?" She thought for two seconds about just leaving him there in all his stupidity. Quickly realizing the futility of the situation, she gave in to Fate. "Let's go then, dammit."
Richie didn't like lying to her, which is why when he fell and broke his ankle an hour later, it was for real.
Falling down beside him, the despair was easy to read on her face.
"I'm sorry."
"It will heal in a few minutes. Give it time," Jade said off-handedly.
Richie glanced at his watch. It was only 6:30. He had to come up with another way to stall. His ankle was healing quickly as the break was not too serious to begin with. Reaching over, he gathered what courage he could. "There's something I need to tell you?"
"What?" She was trying to cover her impatience, and was doing a good job of succeeding.
"I know you said that we can only be friends..."
Jade looked at him incredulously. "Now is definitely not the time for this conversation."
"Why?"
"Because I have to get back to Seacouver and I'm not in my right mind enough to give you the answer you deserve. Trust me."
"Jade, please."
"Richie..." she started then changed tacts, "How's the ankle?"
"Better, I guess."
She stood. "Then, let's go."
"I want to talk about this."
Through clenched teeth, Jade said, "If you don't get up now, I will leave you here to take your own chances. Do you understand?"
Richie stood as well. "Fine," he said harshly.
Jade, at that point, didn't care what kind of mood Richie was in. She had warned him to save the conversation for another time. Right now, all she cared about was that he was finally moving.
When the bike's rear wheel locked up and became unable to push without both of them, Jade seriously thought about killing young Ryan.
Methos looked at this watch. It was shortly after 8:00 and no sign of Jade. Richie had done his job! Methos looked out to the dock. There was no sign of Jade's student, but he could sense people hiding and watching. 'Time for some stealth,' Methos thought.
Lurking in the shadows, becoming one with them, Methos set out to rid the world of some hired scum.
Mac had worked the perimeter of the area searching for the immortal signature. He found none. He did, however, find a small boat shack and decided to investigate.
What he found was too horrible to comprehend! Tied to a chair was the headless body of a man. One Mac could only assume had been Jade's student. The body was tied to a chair. The ropes cut into the flesh not only from the boy's struggles, but from the body's swelling. Duncan guessed the boy had been dead for about twenty-four hours. Damn!
Just then, Mac felt the tingle of an immortal, and it wasn't Jade.
"You're not Jade," the feminine voice said.
"Not hardly. Step out and face me."
Stepping out of the shadows, Mac came face-to-face with a beautiful woman. "I am Kya."
"Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod. Why have you done this?"
"I have no quarrel with you."
"Aye, but I have one with you. This kind of killing is monstrous."
Circling him, Kya said, "It was a mercy killing. He would have bled her dry."
"What do you mean?"
"She is mine. I won't share her."
Mac understood at that point. Kya was insane. When Kya found out about Jade taking on a new student, the girl had become insane with jealousy. The boy paid a dear price for his love. "But, Jade no longer teaches you."
The presence of another immortal filled the area. "Back off, MacLeod. I told you this is my fight," Jade's presence was undeniable.
In deference to her prior relationship to both the deceased and the killer, MacLeod bowed to her claim.
Jade stepped in, taking note that Devin was dead. She kept her heartache and despair in check. She was tired from the trip back into town, but the sight of her dead student gave her new strength. "I told you, Kya. I cannot teach someone with your lack of scruples anymore. But, it appears that you are going to have to learn the hard way."
"I need you," Kya begged to explain. "I did this for you."
"No, Kya. You did this for yourself. I could never care for someone who would do this. I told you that."
Kya attacked then. Mac watched in awe. Kya was good, but she was no match for Jade. In a very few seconds, the fight was over, and Kya lost her head.
Back at the loft, beers were served all around. Methos making very sure that when Jade came to her senses, it was he she attacked and no one else.
Richie rested his tired feet on the coffee table. Immortal or not, after all that walking, his feet hurt.
Mac was sitting quietly in the chair trying to digest the entire situation. Jade had just unwillingly taken her student's head. She had not wanted to do it, but she had. He wondered if he would ever have to face such a choice. Looking at Richie, he hoped not.
"You bloody bastards."
"Jade," Richie started.
Methos stared at him hotly to shut up. "I see you've come back to the land of the living."
Quick as lightning, Jade's fist struck Methos squarely in the jaw. "How dare you?"
Duncan rose, and Methos raised a hand to stop him. Richie was suddenly glad he was across the room.
"I had to," Methos explained.
Picking him up by his shirt, she asked again, "How dare you?"
"It was a trap."
"I KNOW IT WAS!!!"
"You would have walked right into it. I killed six of her henchmen. You couldn't have done it by yourself."
"We could have done it together. I almost didn't even get to avenge Devin's death. Your righteous friend almost stole even that from me."
Methos had no response, neither did anyone else. She was right. But, Mac also had every right to challenge Kya. Neither of them were wrong.
Jade fell to her knees and cried. The tears came from her in rivers.
Kneeling beside her, Methos could only offer her the comfort of his embrace. "It's okay, love. Let it out."
Mac looked on in concern. The sounds coming from Jade scared him. Methos had her wrapped tightly in his arms, but the woman was definitely not well.
"It's all too much, Methos. I can't do it anymore."
Methos soothed her hair. "Yes, you can."
Mac touched Richie on the shoulder and signaled that they should leave. Richie followed dutifully. Mac mouthed to Methos that they would be at Joe's.
"They all die, even the immortals ones," Jade continued. "I'm tired of them dying while I live on."
"You still have me," Methos offered.
"No, we haven't been together in centuries, Methos. We aren't at that stage right now. I'm alone, totally alone."
Methos closed his eyes. Jade was talking suicidal. He didn't know what he'd do if she went through with it. "Listen to me, love. You will forever be a part of me, of my life. I love you. And whether I'm your lover, your husband or just your friend, I love you. I wouldn't change it even if I could."
"You wouldn't," she asked, sounding so much like the child he saved from sacrifice all those millennia ago
"No," he responded softly, praying it helped.
"It's impossible." She began crying again. This grief over Devin's death was ripping her apart.
Methos pulled her closer. "You know, I thought the same thing myself. And I know you've gone through this before. But dammit, Jade, you are a survivor. I won't let you give up on me."
Jade let her self melt into him. "You know I love you, always have, always will. But I'm needing something right now, Methos. And I'm hopeless to find it."
Methos thought for a moment. It clicked in his head suddenly. He knew the perfect purpose for her. "How about this? I know a Highlander who has a certain rash and temperamental ex-student."
Reading his mind, Jade said, "No, I'm not taking on another student."
"I wasn't going to suggest it. I was thinking that he could use some taming though. His temper is a big problem, Jade."
Pulling as close to him as was humanly possible, Jade said, "I'm not up for it."
"He can help you. He's a good kid who has more fire for life than I've seen in a long time."
"I can't," Jade said stubbornly.
"Why?" Methos asked exasperated.
"I'm still mad at him."
Methos chuckled, "I thought he did rather well."
"I can't believe you corrupted the poor child."
Methos rubbed her back instinctively. "It was so easy."
They sat together for quite a while longer talking about everything and nothing in particular. Eventually, Jade relaxed in Methos' arms and fell asleep. Methos decided he didn't really want to move. She would be leaving soon enough, and he didn't know how long it would be before he saw her again. That revelation made him a little sad.
The sun was barely rising in the East when Methos stirred slightly. Sometime during the night, he and Jade had stretched out on the floor and fell into a deep sleep. It was not entirely uncomfortable.
The sound of the lift and the signature of two immortals made Jade stir as well. She burrowed closer to Methos and said, "The light of day is upon us."
He hugged her tightly as Mac and Richie lifted the grate to find them laying there. "Yes, sweetheart, and we must rise to meet it."
Standing and stretching, Jade smiled at the two men. "Good morning. Sorry about the scare last night. I hate taking Quickenings. They mess with my moods something fierce."
Mac smiled. He had just found Methos sleeping with his wife and all he could do was smile. He'd kinda hoped for something more with her, but it was clear that even after 4800 years, her heart was still very taken. He was glad that she was better. Her mood when he left had scared him terribly.
"So what now?" Methos asked.
"I think I'll travel."
"Let me guess, Bora Bora," Duncan laughed.
"That's Methos' spot. I prefer the mountains. I was thinking Colorado. It's very beautiful."
"You'll always be welcome here, you know," Duncan said as he gave into temptation and hugged her close.
"Thank you." She pulled him closer. "Take care of each other," she whispered for his ears only before she pulled away. To Richie, she said, "You'll come help me pack, won't you?"
Richie ducked his head slightly. "I was kind of hoping I could tag along for a while."
"What about your business?" she asked as she remembered Richie bragging about the business he and Mac shared.
"Richie is now a silent partner."
Jade looked at Methos who said nothing but lifted his brow in a 'Go for it' expression.
"Why not? But we're not taking that damn bike."
"But..."
"I hate the bike, Richie. I really, really hate it. I hate it with a passion."
Laughing Methos said, "I think she hates it."
"Okay," Richie gave in. "We'll find alternate means of transportation."
"Then you can come." She looked at Methos and said, "Happy now?"
"Completely. Every husband wants to see his wife happy." Methos pressed her to him. In a language only she would understand, he said, "Life is never the same without you in it. I will miss you more than you know. You will take care of yourself," he said over the lump in his throat. He didn't want to cry in front of her.
"Definitely. I'll see you soon."
"In sixty or seventy years."
She laughed before she could cry. "I love you."
"I love you too." He embraced her tightly before reluctantly letting her go. He hated these good-byes. A part of him was always afraid this would be the last.
She pulled away and without looking back, she ran down the back steps.
Methos swallowed thickly and to Richie, he said, "Take care of each other."
"We will." And with that, Richie followed her out the door.
Methos stared at the empty space and held his breath as the signatures faded away. Turning to Duncan, he said, "Well, I'm outta here."
"Where are you going? Want some company?"
"I don't know, and not really. Catch you around, MacLeod."
Left in the loft alone, Mac looked around at the empty space. He had no idea when he'd see the other three immortals again. Sitting on his leather couch, he sighed. Such was the life of an immortal. He sent out prayers to his friends, hoping that they would stay safe until they all met again.
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