Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 17:22:12 -0500 Reply-To: KaiSteph@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Steph Lutz Subject: A Little Night Music (2/7) All praises, flames and virtual haggis to KaiSteph@aol.com A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (2/7) Joe had outdone himself for the party. The bar was decorated to the hilt, new streamers and stuff mingling with last week's Christmas decorations. Some space had been cleared in the center of the floor for dancing. The band he'd hired was playing away, and once the party was in full swing, he grabbed his guitar and joined them for a song. Halfway through, he spotted Duncan entering, Richie and Kate in tow. Kate smiled and gave him a wave. Unconsciously, he straightened up, and played harder, watching her out of the corner of his eye. Kate took the seat nearest the wall at the table Duncan steered them to. She carefully propped her violin case against the wall, and leaned forward resting her elbows on the table as Richie scampered off to get them drinks. The song finished, and Joe, waving away the band's pleas for him to stay with something about having to be the host, hurried over to join them. He sat next to Kate, smiling as his eyes took in her black velvet dress and bare shoulders. She smiled back. "That's a bonny instrument ye play," she observed. "Thank you ," he answered proudly. "It's a '69 Gibson Hummingbird." "Ah," she nodded wisely in a way that he could tell she hadn't a clue what a Hummingbird was. "Have you ever played a guitar?" he asked. "Not really,"she admitted. "All strings though. My first instrument was a harp, then I moved on to the lute. That," she nodded at the violin case,"is my newest. I've only been playing that about two hundred years or so." "Is that violin two hundred years old?" "Closer to three." Kate grinned at his expression. And he thought *his* instrument was a classic. "It's a Stradivarius," she added. "probably should be in a museum, but I dinna want to give it up." Now it was Joe's turn to nod wisely. He was rescued by Richie's arrival with a round of drinks. "Cool party Joe!" Richie said, handing Kate her drink and sliding into the seat across from her. "Like you think any party *isn't* cool," Duncan muttered, just loudly enough for them all to hear. "Thanks Rich," Joe stiffled a chuckle, then turned back to Kate. "Why don't you play something." _Kate raised an eyebrow in the direction of the band. "Ye dinna have enough up there already?" "They're about due for a break. Come on, give it a shot." Kate couldn't help but smile at the boyish grin he gave her. "It's not like you've never performed before," Duncan said, playfully flicking a peanut in her direction. He shrugged. "I mean, this may not be an Austrian concert hall..." "Damn straight," Joe muttered under his breath. Kate burst out laughing. "All right, allright!" She got up and picked up the case. Joe limped up to the band, who had just finished a set. "Time for a break boys," he said, and they headed gratefully to the bar. In a loud voice he introduced Kate as an old friend who was going to help them see in the new year. Kate tuned quickly, and warmed up with a short sedate piece. Joe stood leaning against the bar, watching her and twirling his cane slowly back and forth in his hands. She winked at him, then gave an innocent glance in Duncan's direction as she burst into the Highland fling. With a good-natured shrug, Duncan moved to the center of the floor and started to dance, difficult as that was in the tight pants he was wearing. Others joined him, laughing and doing their best to imitate him. The band finished their drinks and returned, picking up their instruments. Without stopping Kate leaned back and said something to the leader. He nodded, and the band joined in as Kate went off on a variation. Violin, guitars, and horns blended together in a strange rhythm that somehow made sense. The music reached a climax as the countdown began and came to a broad close as shouts of "Happy new Year!" rang around the bar. Kate stepped down and put away the violin, and the band continued as they had before. Joe still stood by the bar, transfixed, not having moved an inch the whole time Kate had played. Kate came whirling over to him, eyes sparkling, and face flushed. "Did you like it?" she cried. "Yes," he called back, raising his voice to make himself heard over the happy buzz of the party. "You're a very - versatile performer." As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he'd thought of something better to say. But Kate smiled at the compliment. She placed her hands over his where they rested on his cane, and squeezed tightly. Then she leaned forward and kissed him full on the lips. Joe felt his face flush, and as soon as he realized his mouth was hanging open he shut it. Kate laughed brightly at his confusion. "Watch where ye stand next time, laddie," she whispered in his ear, laying her burr on thick. Joe looked up and his blush deepened. He'd forgotten about the sprig of mistletoe he'd hung over the bar last week for the Christmas party. "Of course, that was always just a myth," she confided, squeezing his hands one more time, then she was gone. Across the room, Duncan saw their interaction and frowned. As soon as he could get across the room, he grabbed Kate by the arm, and pulled her aside. "What was that with you and Joe?" he asked sharply. "That," Kate told him firmly, "is between me and Joe." "And for all the world to see!" "Since when is the mistletoe hung in a closet?" she retorted, shrugging. "Sorry," Duncan released her arm. "It's just that- Joe - well, you shouldn't lead him on like that." "And what makes you think that I was leading him on?" Kate demanded. "Have ye ever known me to be insincere?" Not sure how to respond to that, Duncan stepped back and let her pass. He watched her go with a frown on his face, as the party continued all around them. To be continued.... =========================================================================