Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 20:42:00 PST Reply-To: Mike Goldman Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Mike Goldman Subject: Counterfeit Friends (1/22)-HL Story [OK, here's part one. Comments/suggestions can be sent to me (Lori) at: mgoldman@cts.com] Duncan and Richie walked in to the cool semi-darkness of Joe's, letting their eyes adjust to the "smoky" interior that seemed to characterize the best of blues clubs. "Joe? You here?" Richie yelled. "Upstairs." came the muffled reply. They crossed the floor to the back wall of the club and jogged up the stairs to Joe's office on the second floor. They found him sitting at his desk, running one hand through his salt and pepper hair while making notes on a legal pad. "Whatcha doin'?" Richie asked, neatly sidestepping Joe's cane and flopping down on the couch next to the desk. "Just hired a new house band." he explained, his attention still on the papers before him. He made a final note and turned to face the younger man. "What kind of music?" Joe looked at him. "You really need to ask that question?" "Just thought you might have suddenly gotten into grunge in your 'old age'." Richie teased. Joe sighed loudly, looking at the ceiling as if beseeching assistance from a higher power. "Old age, nothing. Might I remind you that you have yet to live *one* lifetime?". He turned the other way in his chair to face Duncan, who was leaning against the doorjamb. "Better teach this boy some respect for his elders." Duncan smiled. "We're still working on getting him to eat solid foods." Richie sat up to protest this undignified treatment. He opened his mouth and stopped as the familiar "buzz" came over him. He looked over at Duncan, who nodded that he too had felt another Immortal enter the building. "Joe," Duncan asked quietly, "Did you see anyone that you knew around here today?" "An Immortal?" Joe shook his head. "Nope, it's been pretty quiet lately." "Not anymore." Duncan moved cautiously to the top of the stairs and peered down. However, he couldn't check out the entire first floor as the landing blocked about a third of his view. He motioned to Joe and Richie who were now upright and edging slowly towards the door themselves. "See anything?" Richie breathed. Duncan shook his head. "I'll go down and take a look. If it's a Challenge, I'll try and get whoever it is to take it outside." "Thanks a lot." Joe muttered, as visions of a Quickening inside his place began to take hold. He began to mentally review his insurance policy. Duncan gave him a dirty look and edged his way down the stairs. Joe and Richie waited at the top of the stairs, barely breathing as they strained to hear any sound at all from down below. The next voice they heard was a female's voice shouting, "Duncan Macleod!" and his answering shout of "Rory!" Joe and Richie looked at each other, shrugging, then came downstairs to see Duncan hugging a young woman. "Well, nothing new here." Richie said. Seeing his friends, Duncan released the woman and turned her around to face them. Slender, she appeared to be in her late twenties with blue eyes and a mass of auburn hair tied back in a French braid. "Richie, Joe, this is a friend of mine, O'Riordan Malone" he said. The young woman winced. "Please - I never go by that name if I can help it. Call me Rory." she invited, holding out her hand. Richie, never one to let a pretty girl go by without introducing himself, grabbed her hand and shook it. "Richie Ryan." Duncan indicated Joe. "This is Joe Dawson." Joe held out his hand as if in a daze. "I just hired you," he said, "but you're dead." "Beggin' your pardon," said Rory, "I feel...fine." =========================================================================