***
Scotland, 1601
The morning mist lifted slowly from woods allowing the warming sunshine to stream down on the wet grass. The air was still and quiet as if to rest from the bloody activities of the night before. Blood seemed to cover the ground more and more as the clan wars escalated. Graves became a more common sight across the Highlands.
A rustling in the woods caught Kerin's attention, distracting her from her thoughts. She stood and listened. More rustling, then a voice. Too quiet to fully make out, Kerin picked up her custom Scottish sword and moved quietly towards the source. Though several heads shorter than most men, she was still a formidable opponent. She had, after all, lots of practice.
As she neared the source of the sound, she realized it was a young child. A boy, perhaps 9 or so. Kerin sensed something about the boy, something familiar, as she watched him swing a large stick around like a sword. He smacked nearby bushes, muttering curses. Kerin stepped into a clearing.
"Such big language for a small boy."
The young boy looked up and took several quick steps backwards.
"Do not fear. I am not here to hurt you."
He swallowed hard, wondering what to do next. The woman in front of him was dressed like a Scottish warrior but didn't sound Scottish. She didn't sound English either. Her voice, though strong and commanding, was not harsh.
"What makes you so angry?" Kerin sat slowly on the ground, hoping to make the boy feel more at ease.
"I always lose when I battle the older boys." He lowered his soft brown eyes to the ground and kicked at the dirt.
"Why?"
"They're bigger and stronger."
Kerin nodded. "I see." She lay her sword down on the ground in front of her. "Come, sit."
The boy slowly walked up and sat down next to Kerin. He eyed her sword with interest.
"You like that?"
"Aye... I'd like to have one like that."
"Someday you will."
The boy frowned. "Not if I keep losing my fights. Do you fight?"
"When I have to."
"Against men?"
"Aye, against men."
"But how? They are much stronger than you."
Kerin smiled. "Because it's not always the strength in here," she squeezed his arm gently, "that wins the fight. Often times it's the strength up here." She tapped his head.
The boy was about to reply when a voice called through the woods. "Duncan! Duncan!" He jumped up. "I have to go. I hope I see you again." He waved and ran off.
"You will, Duncan MacLeod. You will."
***
Seacouver, 1996
Kerin stepped off the small bi-plane into the morning mist. She slung her duffel bag over a shoulder and looked around. It had been a long time since she had been here and nothing looked the same. She walked into the small airport terminal and approached the lone clerk.
"Excuse me."
The clerk slowly looked up from his work, somewhat annoyed at this intrusion. "Yes?"
"I was wondering, is there a hotel nearby you can recommend?"
The clerk sighed. "What do I look like? A travel agent?" He paused. "If you head south for about 10 to 12 blocks and make a left, then go past the bar, there will be some hotels down there."
"Thanks," Kerin said and started to walk away. "I hope that didn't hurt you any." It had definitely been a long time since she'd been here. Last time, she had to arrive by stagecoach and the people really were much friendlier.
She made her way down the street and past the bar to a row of hotels. They weren't the finest she had seen but it'd do until the next day. Inside her room, she dropped the duffel on the floor and dug out clean jeans, shirt and other necessities. She was starving and while bar food wasn't always tasteful, it was, at least, filling. Shoving her money and ID into her pant pocket and throwing on her trench, Kerin made her way back down to the bar.
The atmosphere of Joe's pleasantly surprised Kerin. Nice music, friendly looking people, and not overly loud. Finding a small table in a corner, Kerin sat down. She pulled a small, leather bound diary from inside her trenchcoat as a waitress approached.
"What can I get for you?"
"I'd like an ale and something to eat. What do you recommend?"
"We've got a special on a burger and fries that's pretty good."
"I'll give it a try."
The waitress nodded and headed back towards the bar. A gray haired gentleman poured a beer from the tap and handed it to the waitress. He looked at Kerin, as if he knew who she was, but she couldn't remember having met him. She jotted a few notes in her diary to remind herself to check into this fellow a bit more.
The waitress returned with the beer. "The burger and fries will be ready in a few minutes. You're total is $6.22"
"Thank you," Kerin said tossing a ten dollar bill on her tray. "Keep the change." She took a sip of the beer and flipped through her diary still keeping a watchful eye on the bartender and her surroundings. She wrote in her diary detailing the day's events and of her journey from Japan to here. It had been quiet and uneventful. Which, for Kerin, was a pleasant change. She was nibbling on the fries and burger the waitress had brought when that familiar feeling came over her. A slight headache and queasiness came over her. Another was near. Luckily, in a public place, nothing would happen. But when she left, that would be a different story.
When the door opened and the reason for the Buzz entered, Kerin did not look up or make eye contact but did note who it was. A tall man, well built with long dark hair partially tied back and wearing jeans, a white turtleneck and a long coat entered followed by another who was just as tall though not as muscular and similarly dressed. The second wore a sweater instead of a turtleneck though. The pair approached the bar, glancing around looking for the other.
Kerin smiled to herself when she recognized the first man. It had been many, many years, more like centuries since she last saw him. But she knew it was him, Duncan MacLeod. His companion though, she did not know.
They approached the bar and the bartender greeted them. "Mac, Adam. It's good to see you."
"Hi, Joe. How are you?" Duncan sat on a stool with Adam to his right.
"I'm good. What can I get you two?"
Duncan was still glancing around the semi-crowded room, looking for the other Immortal. Adam however didn't seem quite as concerned.
"Draft beer," Adam replied.
Duncan turned back to Joe. "Who's here?"
Joe set a beer in front of Adam. "I'm not sure. There are several people I have never seen in here before." He set another beer in front of Duncan.
"Don't worry about it, MacLeod. This isn't exactly a place for a fight." Adam took a long sip of his beer.
Kerin glanced up as MacLeod turned his back and watched briefly as the trio engaged in conversation. She quickly flagged down her waitress. "I'd like to buy those two gentlemen that just came in a drink, please." She handed the waitress another 10 dollar bill.
The waitress looked back at the bar. "Oh, you mean Duncan and Adam." She grinned. "They are hot, aren't they?"
Kerin cocked her head to one side. "Uh, yeah... I guess." She had never really thought of Duncan in that light, but now. . . now, she could see that. He wasn't a child any more, though technically he was much younger than herself.
The waitress nodded and went back to the bar as Kerin watched. The waitress set her tray down on the bar. "How are you boys today?"
Duncan smiled. She always called them boys. "We're just fine Sarah."
"That young lady back in the corner would like to buy you two a drink. I think she likes ya." Sarah elbowed Duncan playfully in the ribs.
Duncan turned around and caught Kerin's eye. He nodded slowly in recognition.
***
Young Duncan MacLeod ran back to the woods the next afternoon hoping the mysterious lady would be there again. And she was. She was squatting on the ground next to a small fire.
"Good afternoon, young Duncan," she said without turning around.
"How did you know it was me?" He knelt next to her enjoying the warmth of the fire.
"Your footsteps." She glanced at him as he sat waiting for further explanation. "I heard running so I knew it was someone in a hurry. The footfalls were steady so I knew it was someone who knew just where they were going. And they were light, so I knew it wasn't a grown man."
"Teach me! Please!"
"Teach you what?"
"How to use this to win a fight." He pointed to his head.
Kerin smiled. "My young friend, it is not something you can learn in a day or a week or even a month. It takes years to learn and a lifetime to master." She saw the disappointment fall across Duncan's face. "But, I will teach you what I can for as long as I am here."
"How long will that be?"
"Until the next time the moon can't be seen in the sky. Or sooner if the clan wars begin again."
"What clan do you belong to?"
"I come from a very old clan that is not from these parts."
***
Duncan walked slowly over to Kerin and sat down at the table, staring and silent. He never knew she was Immortal.
"Such small words for a big boy."
A small smile crept across Duncan's face. "I had no idea. You knew though."
Kerin nodded. "Yes, much like you knew about your friend Richie."
"How do you know about Richie?"
"I've watched you, for a long time. Watched you grow and learn. Then I had to leave to attend business elsewhere. And it just so happens that business has brought me back here."
"Why now? Why, if you've been watching me for so long have you just now approached me?"
Kerin hung her head. When they parted so many years ago, it was not under the best of circumstances. Ian MacLeod had accused her of being a spawn of the devil. He had captured her and intended to kill her. Not wanting young Duncan to see it, she tried to escape. In the fighting that ensued, Kerin killed an older boy that had been a friend of Duncan's. "I wasn't sure you'd forgive me for what happened. And when I thought you might, I wasn't sure you'd remember me."
"That still doesn't explain why now. But I wouldn't have been mad. My father was wrong about you. Back then though, superstitions ruled the clan way of life. I wasn't in much of a position to argue. What happened to William wasn't your fault."
"The why now is because I need your help."
Duncan laughed lightly. "The teacher coming to the student for help?"
"Yes," Kerin chuckled. "There are times when you need more of this," she squeezed his arm. "And less of this to win a fight." She pointed to her head. "Some time ago, a friend of mine was killed. He was Immortal."
"And now you're after the one who did it?"
Kerin nodded. "It took me a long time to figure out who it was, but I finally know. I have an idea where this immortal is, but I don't want to go unprepared. If rumor has it, they are older than I am and probably more experienced."
"Who is he?"
"This isn't your fight, Duncan. I just want you to help train me physically, not fight it for me."
"Okay. We can start tomorrow."
Kerin glanced over to the two men at the bar still watching them intently. "Who are your friends?"
Duncan rose. "Come on, I'll introduce you." He led Kerin over to the bar. "Kerin, I'd like you to me Joe Dawson and Adam Pierson. Joe, Adam, this is Kerin, an. . . old friend." He smiled.
Kerin shook hands with them both. And found herself oddly intrigued by Adam. Soft eyes, quirky smile and nicely built. It had been quite sometime since she thought of a relationship. Her mind had been set on other things and now that they were getting completed, perhaps it was time she indulged again.
"You're not from around here are you?"
Adam's voice jolted Kerin out of her thoughts. "Umm, no. I just got in from Japan." She didn't elaborate further. She knew Adam was one of her kind but wasn't sure how much if anything Joe knew about their lives. And frankly, she didn't trust him and didn't know why.
"Where are you staying?" Duncan asked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence.
"At a little hotel down the street until morning. Hopefully I can find a. . . nicer place by then."
"You're more than welcome to stay at my place. Granted it's just a couch."
"But it's a comfortable one," Adam broke in.
Kerin laughed. "And you speak from experience I assume?"
Adam blushed. That didn't come out quite like he had wanted. "Umm. . . yeah, I've spent my share of nights on it."
"Okay, you've sold me."
"Great! Why don't we go get your things?" Duncan motioned for the door.
"Mind if I come along?" Adam gave Duncan a pleading look.
"Be my guest."
The trio gathered Kerin's things from the hotel and headed to Mac's. He opened the dojo door and let Kerin and Adam enter.
"Nice dojo, Duncan. But where do you sleep?"
He walked into the elevator. "There's a loft upstairs."
Kerin nodded and walked into the elevator, still surveying her surroundings. Adam brushed against her as he got in causing her to jump slightly and blush. She winked at him, letting him know it was nothing bad.
Kerin was surprised by Duncan's loft. She expected him to have something a bit larger. It was decorated tastefully though. "You're sure I'm not going to be in the way or anything?"
Duncan walked over to his armoire and cleaned out a couple drawers. "Not at all. You can put your things in there in the morning. I'm sure you must be tired."
Kerin set her things near the armoire. Sitting down on the leather couch, she yawned. "Yes, I guess I am. More than I realized."
Adam cleared his throat. "Well, then... I guess I'll be going. See you tomorrow for lunch perhaps, Kerin?"
"Certainly, I'd like that."
"Uhh. . . good. . . I'll. . . I'll see you then. Bye, MacLeod."
"Goodnight, Adam."
Kerin watched him leave. "Your friend seems really nice. A bit strange and quiet but nice. You must have met him in Paris, after I left."
"Is there anything you don't know about me?" He sounded slightly annoyed.
Kerin sighed. "I'm sorry Duncan. I know it must sound like I was spying on you. But that wasn't my intentions. I just wanted to keep up with how you were. You were one of my favorite students."
"I'm not mad." He walked over to the sink and started doing the dishes. "I just wish you would have approached me before. I thought about you, always wondered what happened to you."
"Really?"
"Yes. Why is that so surprising?"
Kerin shrugged and stretched out on the couch. "With all that's happened in your life, to remember me is surprising. But to actually think about me. I'm flattered." She watched as Duncan rinsed and dried the dishes. He really had grown up into a very handsome man. She couldn't really think of herself with him though. She still felt like teacher and student and even still thought of him as the little boy in the woods.
"I never got to tell you because of what my father did, but you were very special to me Kerin."
"Most first teachers do tend to stick in one's mind."
"That and first crushes." He smiled and lay the towel on the counter.
"Crush? On me?" Kerin laughed. "Yes, you were a foolish young boy."
"Hey!" He playfully tossed the towel at her. "Besides, I just wanted you for your sword."
"Which I still have, by the way."
Duncan went over to the bed and took off a pillow, then pulled a blanket from the armoire. He handed them to Kerin. "I'm glad to see you still have your head too."
Kerin settled herself on the couch. "Let's just hope I can keep it."
***
Kerin woke the next morning to the feeling of a Buzz. She jumped up off the couch.
"Relax. It's just Richie."
Kerin nodded. "Talk about a rude awakening." She sat back down and rubbed her eyes.
"Well, since you're up, why don't you get dressed so we can start. If you still want."
Kerin grabbed some sweatpants and a T-shirt from her duffel, changed and headed downstairs where Richie was working with a quarterstaff.
He looked up as Duncan and Kerin came down the stairs and smiled. "Hi there."
Duncan walked past Richie and whispered, "Don't even think about it." The louder he said, "Kerin, Richie Ryan. Richie, Kerin."
Richie took her hand and kissed it lightly on the back. "The pleasure is all mine."
Kerin stifled a laugh. "Why thank you."
Duncan grabbed Kerin by the arm and tugged her out the door. "We'll start with a run to warm up."
Their warm up run through the park lasted an hour with Kerin struggling to keep up after the first half hour. She had no clue she was this out of shape. She didn't exercise vigorously, but she did exercise regularly. She stopped by a bench to catch her breath.
"Come on, Kerin! Push yourself! It won't kill you."
Kerin glared at Duncan. "Oh, you're too funny." She trotted up to him. "I can see your sense of humor hasn't changed any." She turned and jogged off with Duncan laughing behind her.
By the time they got back to the dojo, Kerin thought her legs would give out on her and barely made it up the steps.
Richie looked from Kerin to Duncan as she plopped herself down on a bench. "What'd you do to piss him off?"
"Is this... what he does... to people he doesn't like?" she asked trying to catch her breath.
"No," Duncan replied walking past and dropping a towel in her lap, "this is what I do to people I do like."
"Oh good." Kerin wiped the sweat from her face. "So what next?"
Richie chuckled and went into the office to do some paperwork.
Duncan took Kerin through a two hour workout routine that consisted of weightlifting, mock fighting and a kata. They were just finishing up the kata when they felt another Immortal.
Adam Pierson peeked around the doorway. "Am I interrupting?"
"No, not at all," Kerin replied, picking up a towel.
"Good!" Adam walked into the dojo with a smile.
Duncan shot Adam an annoyed look. "What brings you here?"
Adam fumbled around a bit, looking for the right words. He knew what Duncan's annoyed look meant. He wondered if he hadn't misread Kerin's signals last night and that it was Duncan she was interested in, not him. "I uh... I just thought I'd stop in and say hi. I was in the area... sort of." He mumbled the last words.
"Good," Kerin replied, heading for the elevator. "You can join me for lunch as soon as I shower."
Both men stared at the steel gate as the elevator left. Duncan plopped down on a weight bench and laid his towel across his knee as Adam let out a long sigh.
"Sorry," Adam finally said.
Duncan just stared at him.
"I didn't realize. . . I mean, I didn't know you were. . . I thought she was. . ."
"Methos. . . shut up." He threw his wet towel at him and went upstairs.
Adam followed him, holding the towel at arm's length. He waited as Duncan pulled out some orange juice from the refrigerator and began pouring it. Then he dropped the towel on the counter in front of him. "I believe this is yours." Adam pulled out a beer and sat down on the couch.
"Don't you have some place to be?" Duncan took the towel and put it in the hamper.
"Mmm. . . yes, here as a matter of fact. After all, she did say I could join *her* for lunch." Methos took a drink of the beer and smiled as Duncan struggled for a response. Kerin did say her, and not us, in the lunch invitation. "So, where'd you meet her anyway?"
"The first time," Duncan recounted as he retrieved his orange juice and sat in the wooden chair across from Adam, "was in the woods near Glenfinnan when I was nine."
"When you where nine? Was she immortal then?"
Duncan nodded. "Of course I didn't know anything about it at the time. But she knew what I'd be. She was my first teacher. Until my father found her practicing some kind of magic and tried to have her killed."
Adam waited for Duncan to finish the story, but Duncan remained quiet. "And??"
"She escaped and in the process killed a good friend of mine. I hadn't seen her since."
"Ahh. . . and you've still got that crush," he grinned.
Duncan looked at him and shook his head. "Oh, shut up."
Adam smiled triumphantly. Nothing like a good bout of annoying Duncan to start the day.
Duncan leaned over and moved a chess piece on the board that always occupied the coffee table. "Your move."
Just then the door to the bathroom opened and Kerin stepped out. Dressed in black jeans, boots, and a purple mock turtleneck, she greeted the stares with a smile.
Adam stood up, whispering to Duncan, "Yes, it is." He turned to Kerin. "So where shall we go for lunch?"
"Don't you think we should wait for Duncan to shower?"
"Oh. . . yeah." Adam glanced down at Duncan's now grinning face.
***
Adam, Duncan, and Kerin settled on a quiet Italian restaurant a few miles away from the dojo. The sign said it was an authentic Italian restaurant, though Kerin never remembered seeing projection television sets in the restaurants in Italy.
They sat in a booth at a window overlooking the main street and ordered wine to start while they looked over the menus.
"Just how authentic is this food, Duncan?" Kerin wrinkled her nose at the menu choices.
Duncan shrugged. "How authentic is any food that's not made in it's original country? This places is pretty good though. Try the manicotti."
Kerin close her menu and set it down. "Okay."
When the waitress returned, Adam and Kerin ordered the manicotti and Duncan, the chicken parmesan.
Adam refilled their glasses with wine. "What were you doing in Japan, Kerin?"
"I guess you could say, I went on a shopping spree."
Duncan smiled. "Oh really? What'd you buy?"
"A laptop computer, a couple of silk kimonos, and a 18th century Katana and Wakizashi, silver and jade handles."
"That's a pretty expensive sword purchase," Duncan mused.
"Not when one's life is concerned it's not."
"She's got a point, Mac."
"You said you still have your custom sword. So why purchase a new one?"
Kerin shook her head. "How many swords do you own, Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod? Certainly not just one."
"But I only use one."
"And so will I. The Scottish sword I have now has served me well but it's a heavy sword. From a practical stand point, a Katana is much lighter and easier to wield when facing an opponent. The blade is made of the finest steel in Japan by one of the best sword makers. It holds an edge very well."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you are hunting someone." Adam glanced from Kerin to Duncan.
Kerin picked up her glass and smiled. "I am."
"And who is this unlucky person? You said last night it was someone who killed a friend."
"Their identity isn't important, at least where you're concerned. But I have tracked them to this area where I believe they have stayed."
Duncan couldn't think of any other immortals that had been around the area except himself, Adam, Richie, and Amanda, but Amanda was gone. He didn't want to pry into Kerin's affairs, but he was curious. And should she not return from her fight, he needed to know who to be looking for. Before he could inquire further the waitress returned with their meals.
They ate in relative silence, each one deep within their own thoughts. Kerin had an idea what Duncan was thinking. She had watched him enough on and off for the past four centuries to know his habits. She also knew what his reaction would be when he finally found out who she was after. She didn't like being deceptive but then again it wasn't like she was using Duncan to gain insight into this immortal's strengths and weaknesses, just to help her improve.
And then there was this Adam fellow. If Kerin wasn't careful, she would fall for him and that too could put her plans in jeopardy. She knew nothing of him or his past to warrant placing any trust in him. She wasn't even sure if he knew the immortal she was seeking. And if he did, he would probably back down from any further involvement with her. Which was all for the better. Once her plan was finished, she would have to vanish or end up facing Duncan in combat. Neither option really appealed to her.
As the bus boy cleared the table, Kerin broke the silence. "So what is there to do in this little town of yours?"
"Depends. What are you interested in?"
"A little American culture, I guess. It's been over a century since I've been here. I'd like to see how things have changed."
"Well, there are a couple of nice museums downtown and a theatre. I can't remember what play is running but it is usually one of the more popular ones. Unfortunately though, I can't take you. I have a meeting in an hour."
"I'd be more than happy to show you around," Adam volunteered.
"What do you know about the area? You've hardly ever been here."
Adam shrugged. "So? We'll explore it together."
Kerin struggled between saying yes and declining saying that she'd rather go alone. She knew Adam was interested. She was interested. There was just a lot at stake. Then, against her better judgment, she blurted out "That's fine with me."
Adam grinned. "There! It's settled."
"Great." Mac rolled his eyes. "Don't call me when you need to be bailed out of jail."
***
With the help of Mac's extremely sketchy directions, Adam and Kerin finally arrived at one of the local Natural History Museums. Though it wasn't about local culture and history, Kerin still found herself deeply interested. And also amazed at the so-called "facts" presented about various cultures she had lived among.
After reading a Gaelic scroll and the museums translation, Kerin shook her head and muttered, "If they only knew."
Adam glanced over to scroll. "You read ancient Gaelic?"
"Of course. I take it Duncan didn't say too much about me."
"No. He just said that you had met when he was 9."
"Mmm..." She ran her fingers down an ancient Gaelic statue. "That's about all he knows, really. I told him some of my past, but I never told him about immortals."
Adam moved to Kerin's right side and inspected another piece of history. "Just how much past is there?"
"If I answered that question, would you reciprocate?"
"I might."
"Then I might tell you." Kerin chuckled at the amused look on Adam's face and continued scanning the artifacts. Then one of them caught her eye.
***
Kerin had been with the MacLeod clan for almost a month now. Though she wasn't treated as a clan member, she was considered a guest. She spent many of the afternoons telling tales to the children and teaching them crafts. And that afternoon had been no exception.
The sun was beginning to set and she had decided it was time to return to her camp in the Glenfinnan woods. She was packing up her things when there was a tug at her cloak.
She glanced to her side. "Well, hello, young Duncan."
"This is for you." Duncan held out his hand.
Kerin looked at the object that rested in his hand then took it. "It's the bracelet you made today. It's supposed to go to someone you are close to and care about."
Duncan merely smiled and ran off to his hut as his mother called.
***
Kerin reached out and touched the glass case.
"What?"
Adam's words jolted her back to reality. She swallowed hard. "Duncan made it." She eyed what was left of the carefully inlaid stones that once spelt out "MacLeod". "He gave it to me and I lost it several years later in a battle."
"Funny, he never mentioned seeing it here."
"He probably doesn't even remember making it. He was only 9." Kerin looked at Adam out of the corner of her eye. "Go ahead, ask me."
Adam looked at her wide-eyed. "What?"
"There's something you want to know. So ask."
Adam took a deep breath. He couldn't make up his mind about her. One minute he was thoroughly intrigued by her and the next, he didn't trust her. "Why are you here? Why after all these years did you come back to him?" He paused. "And don't tell me what you told him, you need training. You've been around for a long time, Kerin. You've taken heads of men a lot more powerful than yourself."
Kerin whirled to face him. "How do you know?!"
Adam didn't know what to say. What could he say? Certainly not the truth, that her watcher had spilled his guts to him about what Kerin's life. She probably knew nothing of the Watchers and he wanted to keep it that way. "I've been around too."
"We never met before yesterday."
"Well, let's just say word travels fast on the Immortal grapevine when it comes to stuff like that." He shrugged. "Look, Duncan's a good friend. I'm. . . I'm just looking out for him."
Kerin laughed. "Something tells me that Duncan can look out for himself. If it puts your mind at ease, I am not after his head. Just what's inside. His knowledge of fighting. Nothing more."
"Good. Cause I'd hate to have to come looking for yours."
***
Duncan looked up from the pile of sliced vegetables he was preparing as he felt the buzz. It didn't feel very strong so he assumed Kerin had returned alone. Which was fine with him. He waited for the knock on the door. "Come in!"
Kerin stepped in and peeked around the corner. "What? No company?"
Duncan smiled. "I sent everyone home. How was the museum?"
Kerin sat down on the couch. "Interesting."
"That's it? Just, 'interesting'?"
"Sometimes, you learn more than you really want to in those places."
Duncan tossed the sliced vegetables in a wok and watched Kerin through the rising steam. "What happened?"
"Your friend Adam seems to know a bit more about me than he let on. And I'm not sure how he found some of it out."
"Like?" Duncan stirred some seasonings into the vegetables.
"Like who I've fought."
"Well that's not odd." He poured the vegetables onto a plate and pulled some baked chicken from the oven. "I'm sure you know a lot about me, who I've fought."
"But that's different. I made it my business to keep track because I knew you before. I have never met Adam and I don't know why he'd need or want to know unless he is planning on challenging me."
Duncan laughed. "Adam?? I don't think so."
"I hope you're right."
Duncan put a piece of chicken on the plate and took it over to Kerin. He set the plate down on the coffee table and sat next to her. "Look, I know Adam. He's not after your head. He's just a friend." He gazed into her eyes. She was beautiful. And he still had that crush. Just as he leaned forward to give her a kiss, that familiar feeling enveloped him. Another immortal had arrived. Duncan sighed and stood up. "If that's Richie. . ."
They heard the door open and a voice, that definitely did not belong to Richie said "Duncan, sweetie, I'm back."
Kerin looked wide eye at Duncan as Amanda came around the corner.
"Oh. Hi." Amanda looked from Duncan to the strange woman sitting on the couch. "Did I interrupt something?"
"No. Not at all." He gave Amanda a hug and kiss. "Welcome home." He motioned to the couch. "Amanda, this is Kerin. She's an old friend." He turned to Kerin. "Kerin, this is Amanda."
Kerin stood up and tried to stay calm. She held out a hand. "Nice to meet you."
***
Kerin got a hotel that night and spent the next three days trying to avoid the dojo and Duncan. And Amanda. Her sudden arrival in town pushed Kerin's plans unexpectedly ahead of schedule. She hadn't had time to prepare herself for what was to come. And she hadn't had time to prepare Duncan.
She was tossing bread crumbs to the pigeons in a park when her body tensed. She rose and looked around. A darkly clad figure stood near the edge of a wall of shrubs then turned and stepped behind them.
From the distance, Kerin couldn't tell who it was, but she knew what it meant. It was a challenge. She walked slowly, steadily towards the wall of shrubs. She stopped just before the corner and reached into her trench coat. Grasping the handle of her Scottish sword, she immediately wished she had brought her Katana.
In one swift and fluid movement, she rounded the corner, pulled out her sword and readied herself for an attack. She stopped short of taking a swing when she came face to face with Adam. She lowered her sword. "What was that all about? I almost took your head!"
"Why didn't you?" His words were more snarled than spoken.
"You're a friend of Duncan's."
"So is the person you're hunting."
Kerin took a quick step back. "What do you mean?"
"I know why you're here, who you're after. Do you think MacLeod will just let you take her head and not try to stop you? Did you think I wouldn't try?"
"I made a promise to Lucas that should anyone take his head, I would take theirs or die trying. And Amanda took his head!"
"Did you ever stop to find out why she took his head?! What he had done to her?!"
"Some of us don't need a reason, being Immortal is enough!"
"How about stopping to think what this would do to MacLeod? You've spied on him enough. You should know how he feels about her."
"I've thought about that! And I've thought about being hunted by him for the rest of my existence. Believe me, it's not a pleasant thought either!" She turned to walk away. "I have made my decision. I have no choice."
Suddenly Adam grabbed Kerin by the shoulder and flung her to the ground with his sword at her throat. "Well then maybe this added thought will help you change your mind. Not only will you have MacLeod hunting you, you will have me hunting you and I won't give up!" He whirled around and left Kerin in wet grass.
***
Duncan paced across the loft for what must have been the hundredth time.
"Would you please stop!" Adam sighed as Duncan shot him an icy stare. "At this rate you'll need a new floor in less than an hour."
"I'm worried about Kerin. She's been gone for nearly three days."
"She's a big girl. She can take care of herself."
"Well, I'm just worried it was something I did that scared her off. . ."
"I doubt that," Adam mumbled with a slight smirk.
"Cause she hasn't even come back for her things." He paused. "What do you mean by 'I doubt that'?"
Adam shrugged. "I mean. . . well, I just doubt you could do anything that would make her just disappear."
Duncan stepped towards Adam. "What did she say to you?"
"Nothing," Adam leaned back against the couch. "She. . . didn't say anything to me."
"Then what'd you say to her?"
"I. . . " The phone rang before Adam could finish his sentence.
Duncan stormed over to the phone and snatched it up. "Hello? Kerin! Where are you?" He paused. "Kerin, I don't understand. What's wrong? Where are you?" He nodded. "Okay, I'll be right there. Don't go anywhere!"
Duncan hung up the phone, grabbed his coat, and headed for the door.
"MacLeod," Adam called.
Duncan paused at the door and looked back. "I know, Methos. . . be careful."
***
Duncan made his way up the path of overgrown shrubs to the house where Kerin said to meet her. She had been frantic when she called. He could barely make out where she was much less what the problem was. He couldn't figure out what could do that to her. She always seemed so calm and in control. Even when she was fighting for her life back in Glenfinnan, she still had a strange calmness about her. Things change over time, so maybe she had too.
The front door to the run-down and abandoned house was partially open. Out of habit more than anything else, Duncan pulled out his Katana. Cautiously, he pushed the door all the way open. It was dark inside but Duncan could make out the walls of a small living room type area. Seeing no one there, he stepped inside. To his right was a hallway. At the end of the hallway he could see a flicker of light.
"Kerin?" He stepped slowly down the hallway to the opening of another, larger room. Candles lit up the room in an eerie light, flickering off the walls, the windows, and the blades of Kerin's sword.
Kerin never let her gaze wander from the candle flame in front of her. "I want you to have that when it's over Duncan." She motioned to her Scottish sword leaning against the crumbling fireplace.
"After what's over?"
"I made a promise to Lucas McFee almost centuries ago, after he saved my life, that should anyone take his head, I would take theirs. Or die trying."
Duncan thought back but the name was unfamiliar to him. "I don't remember anyone by that name."
Kerin shook her head. "Not you. Amanda."
"Amanda?"
"Four years ago. Right before she met you in Paris."
Suddenly Duncan remembered Amanda saying something about a McFee, about why they had fought. "Kerin, he was stealing from Amanda's friends. When she caught him, she asked him to leave but he chose to fight." He paused. "She had no choice."
"Aye. But in all my years, twelve hundred and nine of them, I have never broken a promise. And I can't start now." She got up off the floor and went over to the fireplace.
"McFee is dead and killing Amanda won't do anything to change that."
She turned around to look at Duncan. "But you're a man of honor, you should understand and respect the meaning of a promise."
"I do. And I also understand and respect the fact that there are times when not keeping a promise can mean more than keeping one." He held out his hand. "Just say this is one of those times and it can all be over."
"I can't. I didn't expect this to happen so soon. I thought Amanda wouldn't be back for another couple weeks."
"So that's the real reason you came here. To use me to get close to Amanda."
"No! It was never my intention to use you for that. I needed help with the physical aspect of training. Nothing more."
"Then what did you expect me to do when I found out what you were planning?"
"I had hoped you wouldn't find out until the challenge had been made. And if I had won, I would expect to be running from you for the rest of my life."
"If you know I'll hunt you, then why do this?"
Kerin picked up her sword and started for the door. "Because I have to."
Duncan swung his Katana down in her path. "And now that I know what you're planning, what do you expect me to do?"
Kerin fought back the tears. "What you have to."
***
Duncan carefully placed Kerin's Scottish sword in it's box and closed it. It was a beautiful sword but having it out on display would only bring back the memories of what he had done last night, what he wished he hadn't done. But there was no other option. If there was anyone more honor bound than himself, it was Kerin.
Duncan unconsciously rubbed the spot on his ribs where Kerin's sword had pierced him. She had fought extremely well, forcing Duncan to his knees several times. Each time he was barely able to escape. Then she made the one mistake that cost her her life. It wasn't a mistake really. She had tripped over the broken floorboards in the room and Duncan's blade went deep into her stomach. She fell to her knees.
"I'm sorry," Duncan had said.
Kerin had nodded. "Do what you must."
So he did. And after the Quickening, he cried. Cried as he had anytime this Game cost him the life of a friend.
*** The End ***
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