Date: Sun, 11 Feb 1996 22:01:25 -0600 Reply-To: Ninianne Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Ninianne Subject: Daddy's Little Girl part 21/21 (the end... or is it???) Daddy's Little Girl Samantha Copeland copelasa@vuse.vanderbilt.edu ******Part 21****** The two of them, Chris and Andrew, entered Joe's. They were there for more than just a night on the town. Chris was always trying to see live performances, but this time there was a more pressing matter. Grace had requested that they that drop by so she could pass along some information she had found. As they entered, Andrew looked around, noting the interior, impressed by its simplicity. He also noted that the bartender, a tall man with a beard, changed his pace when he realized someone was looking right at him. * That must be Joe, there's no other reason for him to recognize me. * With that, he strode over to the bar and sat down. Chris went over to a table where Grace was sitting. "So, what have you got for me?" Chris asked. "I have been doing some digging. That guy who is after you is a real bad dude. Remember how I told you about him shooting intended victims?" "Yeah. So?" "You got away the first time. He didn't think you would be so prepared. He won't give you a second chance." "Well, I almost didn't get away." "I want you to be careful. He'll probably take a special pleasure in putting you out of the way. He's the type that wants blood and revenge." "I'll keep an eye out, but there's not a whole lot I can do if he shows up, now is there?" "You can run. If he can't catch you, he can't kill you." "I can't do that. I don't want to be running the rest of my life. Besides, what makes you so sure that the second time will come out any different than the first encounter I had with him?" "Chris...," Grace dragged her name out. "What?" "Don't you think you're getting just a little cocky?" "I'm not trying to be cocky, I'm just trying to think positively. If I let myself think I'll be defeated, I will be. You know, think positive." "O.K., I see your point... Now do you want to see that information that I said I would get, or do you want to sit here and listen to the band?" "I think what I want is beside the point. I _need_ to take a look at those files so I can get a better idea of what I am up against." "Come on then, we better look at them now, before Uncle Joe changes his mind." The two of them left the bar, and went into a back room where the files were set aside for them to view. Joe and Andrew's topic of conversation changed as they watched the two young women leave. "So, Andrew, what's on your mind?" Joe asked, as he saw a sad expression pass over Andrew's face. "What's on my mind? That's a good question... That I'm her father and if someone came for her, I can't help. Fathers are supposed to be there for their daughters, I won't be able to," Andrew said with a hint of bitterness. "I knew I should never have raised her, but I did anyway and that's the end of it." Joe spoke, low enough that stray ears wouldn't pick up on the conversation, but loud enough that Andrew could hear him clearly. "You _can_ help her. You understand what she's going through, the changes, what being an Immortal is about. She has an opportunity that not many Immortals get. You have one too Andrew, just as you know what she's going through, she knows what you're going through. You've known each other all her life, that's a lot of trust to build from. You might not be able to help in a fight, but you can be there as a father before and after. I think the both of you could use a little emotional support." It was almost amazing, the wisdom that Joe spoke, it was almost beyond his years, if one didn't know better, there could be confusion between who had lived longer. "I think you've been hanging around MacLeod too much. That sounds almost like something he would say." "Well he does tend to hang around here a bit." Andrew and Joe began to talk about other things while Andrew waited on Chris. Andrew sat back, listened to the band, and enjoyed his drink. In the back room, Chris and Grace were pouring over the records, looking for some lead on Alexander, where he was based, his weaknesses, anything to help Chris should she meet him. "Ah-ha! I thought I remembered reading this, take a look, Chris." "What have you got?" "Look." Grace handed her a folder with a few printouts in it. It appeared to be a report that was made over the weekend. In it, she learned that his base was in an old warehouse a few miles out of town, and he was living in a penthouse of one of the better hotels in town. In the report it also stated that he appeared to be preparing his next move which, if things seemed to continue in their current direction, would be to call out one of the Balfours. "Well, I think I've seen about enough. It's getting late, and I probably ought to get going." "Take care, just remember that he has a few tricks up his sleeve." "And who's to say I don't," Chris grinned impishly back at Grace. "I don't know that I like the direction this is turning." "Don't worry, I'm not going to try anything stupid, I'll just be well prepared. I know what to expect, so I can prepare for it." "O.K. I'll let you know if I hear anything." "Later." "Bye." Chris left the small office and collected her father. They drove back to their place, only a few words were exchanged en route, most of which were to relay the information that Chris had gathered. They returned to the apartment, both ready to turn in. They'd each had a lot more exertion in the last few days than they were accustomed to, and seeing the sights all day hadn't helped either recover from the weekend. As Andrew waited for Chris to clear the bathroom, he noticed the blinking light on the answering machine. From the blink rate he knew there to be only one message on there. He pressed the 'Play' button, figuring that Chris wouldn't mind his taking a message for her. He was unprepared for what he heard. "Hello, remember me? Well, I remember you. I normally don't do this, but you've managed to snarl my plans too many times for me to do things in my usual fashion. If you want to finish what you've started, come out to the old warehouse district near the airport, building five. Otherwise, you might want to warn your friends, the Dawsons, since they'll be next. Either of you will do. But for now, I'm more interested in little Christy, but Andy, me lad, you'll do just fine....Ha, Ha, Ha!... ." Andrew was mad. He knew that Alexander was likely to try something again before he left, but this soon? Andrew wanted this to be over, and he didn't want to involve Chris. He decided right then that he was going to finish it before Chris found out that anything else had happened. Luckily, he remembered passing though that area of town, otherwise, he would have had no idea where he was heading. He grabbed his coat and Chris's keys, and left with out even saying good-bye. *** When Chris emerged from the bathroom, she found Grace sitting on the couch, dressed and ready to go somewhere. It was then that she realized that her father was no longer in the apartment. "How'd you get in?" "I remembered where you kept the spare?" "O.K., So what are you doing here?" "Your dad's gone to fight Alexander, I thought you'd want to know." "When?" "About ten minutes ago. I passed your car on my in. When I saw your light still on, I guessed the rest and made a few calls." "Take me there." Chris was set on going after Alexander, either to fight him first, or to avenge her father should he fail in his task. "I figured you'd want as much. Get dressed, and well go. My car's ready outside. I just hope that you've thought this through, I don't want to loose any friends tonight." Chris looked at Grace and smiled, Grace was one of the few friends that she had, and it _would_ hurt her if something happened. She thought to herself, * Grace, if there is a way out of this, trust me I'l find it, but I can't just leave this be.* Chris went back into the room and pulled some clothes on. Since her hair was still damp from the shower, she just pulled it back with a pair of clips. She paused briefly as she picked up her sword. She had left on her desk when she'd gone out earlier, still not quite used to the whole idea of using swords in combat to the death. She partially drew the blade from the scabbard, taking a glimpse at the weapon that would either save or kill her. Before any realization could come to her, she slid the blade back in, and joined Grace. Outside, Grace had already started the car, waiting for Chris. Chris got in and tried to do her best to prepare herself for whatever might happen. She rested the tip of the scabbard on the floor, with her hands clasped around the guard. She gazed out the window, watching the lights of other cars and buildings as they passed them, in their race with fate. Grace noticed her friend's pensiveness. It was much out of character. even though Chris wasn't exactly social, she was talkative, and the silence concerned Grace. "Chris what are your thinking? I'm going to turn around unless you start to talk." "I'm just trying not to think too hard about what might happen tonight. just trying to 'clean house' right now. I don't want to talk about it right now, what little thinking I have already done, is beginning to unnerve me." she moved her right hand off the guard, it was shaking slightly. Almost as if a realization hit her, she snatched it back, and placed it back with her other hand. Grace tried a little more to try and draw Chris out a little, but only half heartedly. She decided that maybe Chris had a good idea, silence might be a good idea, let them each prepare them for that which was to come. They arrived at the warehouse with no sign of anyone. The two of them got out of the car, and looked around, trying to form a game plan and gauge the surroundings. As they were poking around one of the entrances, they heard the distinctive sound of the Mustang, and shortly after, Chris felt _it_. The car pulled up, parking near Grace's Neon. Andrew hopped out, slightly mad that Chris had attempted to follow him and that she had preceded him. He walked over to the slightly guilty looking pair. He cocked his head to the side, as if trying to get a better look at the situation, "What are the two of you doing here?" "Well I wasn't going to let you just go off by your self with out a single word of explanation. Besides I thought you might like a little backup." "Thanks for the offer, but I don't think I would be able to use it." "Well just in case then." "O.K., watch my back then." Andrew said as he opened the door. The two entered the looming warehouse, as they entered, they froze, not only had they heard the distinct sound of shoe heels on cement, but they had also sensed the presence of another Immortal. Grace was hanging back at the door, not wanting to get anymore involved than she already was. Andrew drew his sword, Chris made ready with hers, just in case somebody decided to play dirty. The lights came on and as a figure emerged from the shadows, a voice began, "This is more than I had hoped for, both the Balfours in one evening... I am twice blessed. So who is it to be; the father or the daughter?" The pair looked at each other, trying to decide who would be first. each wanted to fight Alexander, he'd given each of them grief, and each wanted to make him pay. But since neither wanted to loose, they were each willing to let the other. There was a bit of an "after you" argument that broke out. Alexander grew impatient with their indecision. He drew his gun and sent a few wild shots in their direction. Andrew jumped in front of Chris, to get both himself and Chris out of range. Unfortunately for Andrew, he took a few hits for his trouble. Behind a few lone boxes, Chris was recovering from the stun of hitting the floor at high velocity. Andrew was leaning against the stack of boxes, nursing an arm and shoulder wound, it wasn't bad enough to 'kill' him, but it was enough to put him out of commission for a while. When Chris saw what had happened, she made her way over to where he was. "Dad, are you going to be O.K.?" She asked it even though she knew that he would be, but it couldn't hurt to ask, it was the only way she could think to begin the conversation. "Yeah, give me a little time, I'll be fine. This wouldn't be the first time I took a few bullets... How are you though?" "Thanks to you, not even a scratch. I'm a little stunned though, but it's passing." "I'm glad to hear that. So, what are we going to do now?" "What, you're asking me?" "It's your call now, you can either take him on, or we can leave, it's up to you." "I don't know Dad, but I'm getting pretty sick of looking over my shoulder wondering what trick he's going to pull next." "So, that's your choice?" "I suppose it is... One of isn't going to leave here alive tonight. I just hope that I'm not the unlucky one." "Goes ditto for me..." Then his mood changed, "Well I suppose we're about to see if you learned something on the island now." He shifted his position, wincing slightly as his shoulder wound began to bleed again. "I've got faith in you, you'll come though." "I'll try Dad, I... I..." she couldn't finish. "I know, it's hard, but this time comes for all of us sooner or later. Just do your best, that's all any of us can do." "O.K." Chris stood, a bit unsteadily, but the longer she stood the more control she managed to get. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gain some center to her thoughts, emptying herself so her temper wouldn't take control. She began to walk out in the open part of the building, she proceeded cautiously, taking in as much detail of her surroundings she could. She held her sword in a ready position, while she and her dad were behind the boxes, Alexander had slipped into one of the many shadows in the building. As she neared the a far corner, she heard a shuffling just in time to turn and block Alexander's starting blow. She blocked it and added a stroke in return. He parried it and opened up the playing field, moving into the clear middle. "So your daddy's a coward, sending a girl to do a man's job." he grinned a malevolently at her, as he again pulled his gun. He shot at her, he didn't miss. Chris looked down, no blood, though it hurt like hell. She imagined a big bruise forming under there. She was glad that she had planned ahead. Fencing jackets had more than one use. And this was one use she was glad that she'd remembered. Weeks before her coach made an offhand comment about the new FIE kevlar jackets; that they were almost good enough to be bullet proof jackets. In disgust that his plan was falling apart, Alexander threw his gun away. He was going to have to fight this one on the up and up, his trick wasn't going to get him very far this time. He lashed out, more from anger than from strategy. At first Chris wondered if this had been such a good idea, maybe she should have waited, but as the fight drew on, she realized that Alexander, though much older, was very much out of practice due to his years of hunting the easy way. Who knew the last time that he'd actually fought another Immortal without his toy. He clearly began to loose ground after Chris was lucky enough to give him a nasty cut to his upper arm. Within a few strokes, Alexander's career was over. "Are you going to finish what you started this time, little girl?" Alexander sneered at her. In a quiet voice, Chris replied, "I think you know the answer to that." With that, she brought the sword down for the death blow. With a sickening thud the head fell to the ground and rolled across the floor. In her shock, Chris dropped her sword, sure she had watched her share of horror films, but now that it was up-close and personal, and it was real, she'd seen more than enough. She turned away, about to be sick, and to wait for what was to come next. She sagged to the floor with exhaustion, it hadn't been a long fight, but the intense concentration had taken a lot out of her. She looked over to where she'd left her dad, He was standing now, he looked a little drained, but otherwise, appeared fine. She noted a wry smile on his face. She'd finished off Alexander, but at what price? Her dad understood, she just hoped that one day she would too. He turned and left to join Grace outside. "I want to get out of here before the fireworks begin," he told Grace, "The show's over, there's nothing left to see." "What about..." "She'll be fine, give her a little time though." "I hope you're right." "Me too." As they drove off, the full effects of the Quickening were beginning to show from outside. They left Mustang unlocked with a set of keys under the floor mat. Grace took Andrew back to Chris's apartment where he proceeded with last minute flight arrangements. As much as he loved his daughter, they could never really go back to their old father daughter relationship, too much had happened between them, Chris's taking Alexander's head hadn't helped matters. She needed some time to adjust and so did he. Distance would be the best thing for them while they adjusted to the new circumstances. Besides, it was tradition and he felt sure that there would be time enough in the future for them. These were the worst circumstances that people had for parting, being victims of circumstance. He wrote a short note to Chris, gave her his love and wished her luck. He changed out of the still bloodied shirt that Alexander had so obligingly adorned. He stuffed it into the very bottom of the garbage, where hopefully no one who mattered would find it. He took one last look around at his daughter's apartment, closed the door, and left. As Grace and Andrew were driving off, Chris was in the midst of an ebbing Quickening. As it finished, she fell to the ground, hard onto her knees. She wondered how she ever came to be standing in the first place. She rolled over a bit, wondering why must it hurt so much, wondering if she would ever feel the same again, if things would ever be the same. She knew the answer deep down already, she wouldn't. After tonight's work, nothing would ever be the same. Even though she felt she was justified in killing Alexander, she almost couldn't conceive that she had actually done it herself. It would take her a long time to come to terms with that fact, she just hoped that she wouldn't have to be adding any more 'trophies' to her wall anytime soon. She finally got up and slowly made her way outside where she saw that only her car remained. She stopped briefly in the doorway to steady herself, she still a bit out of sorts and a bit woozy to boot. She wondered if she would be able to drive anytime soon she certainly didn't want to hang around for any sightseers. She got to the car and opened the door, for once, thankfully, it didn't give her a hard time. She sat in the seat for a few moments thinking about her next course of action. She figured that she would just take it one day at a time instead of trying to see into the future. She turned in the seat, pulling her feet into the car. She pumped the accelerator and started the car, after letting the engine warm, she put it into gear and hurriedly put as many miles as she could between herself and the gristly scene that she had just left. After several minutes of driving, she began to recollect a sense of normality. She began to become more aware of her environment rather than mindlessly speeding down the interstate. It was just too quiet in the car, only the loud 289 broke the silence. She didn't really want to be alone with her thoughts right then. She pressed the play button on the CD player, her father not appreciating the music, had turned off the stereo. She put into intro. mode, trying to find something to soothe her torn spirit. The CD in the player was still the Meat Loaf of her Saturday ride with Richie, and she didn't feel like hunting around for another CD just then. She put it back on normal play when it reached track four, she had probably heard it more than twenty times, but it never hit her like it did that night. For the first time she understood what the song meant, it perfectly described the tumult that her spirit was going through. "...Is this a blessing? Or is it a curse? Does it get any better? Can it get any worse? Will it go on forever? Or is it over tonight?..." The chorus haunted her thoughts even as the next track began to play. Her life was nothing but questions now, and hopefully, someday she would be able to answer a few of them... if she lived long enough. Before she realized she was back at her apartment, when she looked up to one of her windows and saw a light on, but didn't sense anyone, she wondered both who was there and where her father was. Those questions were soon answered. No one was there, just a desk lamp which illumined the note from her father. She understood why, but that didn't mean that she had to like it. She wadded up the note and threw it into the garbage. Right then she didn't really care about anything, she just wanted to rest, something that she wasn't going to be able to do for a while. The phone rang, though Chris felt like just letting the machine pick it up, she answered anyway. It was Grace, she was concerned and wanted to come over. Chris really wanted to be alone, but she acquiesced, thinking that maybe now would not be the time to be alone. She hoped though that Grace wasn't going to want to talk a lot because she just wasn't up to it, she had a lot of things to sort out in her head. For the first time since it had finished, she realized that there was more in her mind than there was before, things that she knew that she had never done, or would ever want to do. She had been to tense and nervous about getting caught to really notice before, but now she did. She went over to her stereo, trying to find something to soothe her raw nerves. She looked at the titles, trying to figure out what to listen to. Music always helped, she hoped it would this time. She really wasn't in the mood for a lot of it, Pini di Roma, Amadeus soundtrack, or even good old Wynton and his magic piccolo trumpet. As she was about to give up the search, she noticed one of her classical albums was out of order. It was the one with some Verdi, _La Forza Del Destino_ , it seemed so appropriate and it just fit her mood, she skipped over the tracks to it, letting it play the rest of the tracks in order. She sat in her chair, stretching out, trying to relax, trying to cope. She knew that this night would never be forgotten no matter how long she lived, it had changed her, forever. Grace arrived to find the door unlocked, let herself in. She could sense the mood that the music was creating, and could tell that Chris had probably picked it for those reasons. Even though she'd only known Chris a few months, she'd learned that the music selection was always based on a mood, and the dark and moody selection was a good indication of that she didn't really want to talk, just not to be alone. "So are you holding up?" "Yeah, I guess I'll manage. I suppose I'll have to. I just don't want to go through that again anytime soon." "Me neither. It was really hard seeing that. I'm just glad that you came out of it in one piece." "That makes two of us... I don't think I'm going to be able to get to sleep, even though I'm tired. You wanna stick around and watch a few movies?" "Sure. Tonight's been a big night for me too. We're both going to have to make a lot of adjustments now." They watched a few movies that Chris had filmed off cable over the summer, "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Far and Away". Both of them usually went in for action movies, but they needed to de-escalate the night. Around three, when the last of the credits had rolled, Grace got ready to leave. "Oh, man, I finally feel like I can sleep." "I feel like I could sleep all day tomorrow." "You do that, just make sure you're on time for dinner tomorrow night." Grace grinned with a secret knowledge. "Dinner???" she drifted off. "Didn't I tell you," she her smile grew a little larger, "Uncle Joe and I would like you to come over for dinner tomorrow night. We don't have any family in town anymore and since your dad left, we thought that you might like to come over." "Why not. I don't have any other plans." "OK, I'll swing by a little before six tomorrow. It's going to be over at the club since it's closer to Uncle Joe's part of town." "Sounds great." "Well O.K., I'll see you tomorrow then." "Sure, I'll see you tomorrow." Grace left. Chris was finally feeling back like herself, she even felt like she could even sleep. She made her way to her bed, curled up with her teddy bear, and went into a deep sleep. Nothing was going to disturb her sleep tonight, especially not and haunting memories of Robert Alexander, he was in the past, she had the future. =========================================================================