Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 21:10:31 -0500 Reply-To: KaiSteph@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Steph Lutz flames and virtual haggis to KaiSteph@aol.com A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (5/7) By Stephanie Lutz Duncan felt the buzz as soon as he entered the elevator of the dojo. Pulling up the grate, he saw Kate zipping up her duffel bag. "Where were you last night?" he demanded without preamble. "None of your business!" she answered, folding her arms. "Are ye my father now?" "You didn't have a father," he told her automatically, then sighed. "Sorry - when you didn't come back, I was just worried - I mean, your sword was here..." "Aye? And ye thought maybe Richie took my head while I wasna looking?" Anger made Kate's burr thicken. "I'm no a bairn, Duncan. I've been takin' care of meself longer then ye have." Duncan winced, and spread his hands in surrender. "If ye *must* know," Kate grabbed her sword, which was wrapped in a dark blanket, and thrust the bundle through the handles of the bag. "I was at Joe's. And that's where I'm going now. He offered me a place to stay..." she looked Duncan straight in the eye. "no need for anyone to sleep on the couch." she finished dryly. MacLeod dropped his hands and looked at her, swallowing hard. "So," he said slowly, 'You *are* serious." She let go of the bag. "Aye." "Kate," Duncan took her hand and led her to the couch. "Please, let's not fight - we've been friends for too long. It's just, well, Joe's my friend too, and I don't want him to get hurt." He held up his hand quickly to stall her protest. "No, I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt him - it's not you I'm concerned about...It's the other Watchers." "Joe doesn't seem too worried," Kate said. Duncan smiled faintly. "Joe spends too much time watching everyone else's back to think about his own." Kate's brow furrowed. "You really think he'll be in trouble." "Watchers are not supposed to interfere in the affairs of Immortals. Joe," he paused. "Well, let's just say he doesn't have too good a track record in that respect. And this, this might be the last straw." "What do you think they'll do?" Kate leaned forward anxiously. I really don't know," he said honestly. Kate was quiet for a moment. "I've been quite fortunate, ye know," she mused softly. "In my lifetime I've been married three times, to three wonderful men, and none for less than thirty years." She sighed and leaned back against the cushions. "Duncan, I havena been with anyone for over two hundred years...and I've never been with anyone quite like Joe. He's very - special." She looked directly at Duncan. "I'm in love with him, and I don't mean to be throwing that away because some disapprove." She got up and picked up her bag, walking slowly to the elevator. "I'll talk to him about it," she promised, pulling the grill down behind her. Kate walked into the bar, pausing a moment to let her eyes adjust as the door closed behind her, shutting out the bright afternoon sun. Joe was whistling as he roamed around, turning chairs upright and placing bowls of peanuts on tables. He looked up and gave her a broad smile, eyes shining. "Joe," she said abruptly, setting her bag down. "Sit down, talk with me a minute." His face fell at her serious expression as he slid into the chair across from her. "What's wrong?" he asked, a trace of tension coming into his voice. "I was talking to Duncan," Kate paused. "He's - concerned, about what the other Watchers will think." Joe relaxed a bit. "I've broken the rules before," he said as lightly as possible. "Aye, so I've heard," Kate said dryly. She reached across and took his hand tightly. "Joe, tell me the truth, lad. What's the worst that they can do?" His eyes met hers, reading the apprehension in them. "I don't know," he said slowly. "Probably kick me out, I guess." He touched her cheek. "Nothing to worry about," he said firmly. Her gaze did not let up. "Ye willna be in any danger?" "None at all," he told her. Finally she smiled. *I hope* he thought to himself as he leaned over to kiss her. To be continued.... =========================================================================