========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 12:33:56 -0500 Reply-To: JJSWBT@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Wendy Tillis Subject: Hidden Potenial 15/22 Hidden Potential By: Wendy Tillis March 1996 All standard disclaimers apply. Chapter 15 Maggie came up the steps to the door of the dojo. It was 9:00 pm and at first she thought the dojo was empty. It was dark and silent. Then, in the light that came through the windows, she saw Duncan. He was barefoot and wearing only his old sweatpants. In his hand, the katana flashed in the moonlight. Up, down, around - slowly Duncan moved through his kata. Moving silently through the dark, accelerating his movements just slightly with each repetition, he was hypnotic. She was careful to remain in the shadows just outside the door -afraid of making some sound and ruining the spell. Duncan was spinning now, the silver blade making patterns in the dark. He was beautiful - totally free, powerful, sensual. She realized that she had been holding her breath and let it out quietly as the kata came to an end. Duncan stood in a shaft of light, sweat glistening on his bare chest, his hair free about his shoulders. Maggie allowed herself another minute to appreciate the vision, then she pushed open the doors. Duncan whirled around at the sound of the door. He was unafraid - after all, he felt no Immortal presence and no one else could really hurt him. He was surprised, however, to see that the intruder was Maggie. After his fight with Richie yesterday, he hadn't expected Richie to allow her anywhere near him. "Can I come in? I hope you don't mind - I couldn't resist watching you work. You do that very well." "Thank you. I don't mind an appreciative audience now and then." "Oh - I appreciate it." She cocked an eyebrow in amusement "Both the sword work *and* the swordsman." " Do you know swords? Richie said you were interested in the one I gave him. Ever fenced?" "I used to, a bit. Part of my misspent youth." "How does someone so young have a misspent youth?" "What's the old saying - it's not the years, it's the mileage?" Duncan laughed. "Don't let them fool you, it's the years!" ""Yeah, you're right. It's the years." There was a comfortable pause. Then Duncan spoke up. "So? What brings you down here tonight? Where's Richie?" "He's off with his latest venture - I just couldn't take another night of Poached Salmon." "Poached salmon . . ?" "Not to eat" She laughed. "That's the name of his band. Well, they were his. He's introducing them to a new manager tonight. That's sort of why I needed to talk to you tonight. Ask a favor really" Duncan went over and sat on one of the benches by the wall. The bench was near a window and enough light came in to allow then to see each other clearly - if only in a black-and-white sort of way. Maggie followed him over but remained standing, pacing back and forth nervously. "Richie has asked me to go away with him." "Oh?" Duncan kept his voice strictly neutral. "Did Richie tell you about the race track he invested in? In California?" "Yes. Is that where you're going?" If Richie had not told her of their conversation at the church yesterday, Duncan wouldn't either. " Richie says. . . Richie feels that we need some time together - alone. And he and his buddies want to get the track fixed up and running by Fall. It could be interesting." From her tone, it appeared she thought it would be anything *but* interesting. "And you? Are you sure you want to go off into the desert with him? It's going to be hotter than Hades down there." "I'll be OK." "OK? That's all? You don't sound very enthusiastic. Look - I know this isn't any of my business but - Richie gets excited about things, he pushes hard, but then,. . he loses interest. . or things go bad. . or something new catches his eye. I wouldn't want you to get hurt" "Are you saying I'm just another new thing that Richie will get tired of? "No. I didn't mean that. If you two are happy together, that's great. Richie's very young" She looked at him curiously. " Oh - I know. You aren't any older than he is but Richie is immature in a lot of ways. The Mojave is a long way away from everyone you know if something goes wrong." "Are you warning me that I can't trust Richie? Don't worry. I can take care of myself. " "No! I don't think Richie would intentionally hurt you. But - he didn't have a storybook childhood and he doesn't always take failure or rejection well. . . ." He trailed off into silence. This wasn't any of his business and he felt unfaithful to a friend - undermining Richie in this way. Duncan was no longer sure of his own motives - was he really afraid Richie would let her get hurt or was he just hoping to convince Maggie to leave Richie for his own purposes? Maggie had been looking at him thoughtfully. She knew what Duncan was trying to say - that Richie was not a good bet for the long haul. She already knew that, but there was no way to explain to Duncan *why* she was with Richie without telling Duncan *what* she was. And that she would not do - not now - maybe not ever. "Duncan" She reached out and almost touched his hair but let her hand drop. "Don't worry. I know what you're trying to say. I know Richie thinks with his pants more than with his head - but I see such potential." Duncan couldn't believe what she was saying. He had said the same thing about Richie a hundred times. "I think I *have* to go with him, give it a chance . . . ." "If you think so." Duncan didn't know what else to say. He wanted - desperately wanted - to tell her to stay. That he loved her. But he said nothing. He kept reminding himself that she was Richie's woman. You don't mess with another man's woman. " You said something about a favor?" "Yes, and its a big one." "Who do you want me to kill?" They both laughed, the earlier tension defused. "Well, I have got a list but I left it at home. No, it's worse than that." "I'm sitting down. Give me the worst." "It's Angus. He doesn't really like Richie and he sure won't like the desert heat. He likes you - that's rare - and I know I can trust you to take good care of him." "How long are we talking about?" "Not forever, I promise. I told Richie I'd go and stay long enough to be a fair 'test'. So I figured I'd stay 4 to 6 weeks. Then, if things are going well, I'll fly up and bring Angus down. If things aren't going well. . ." " You'll have an excuse to leave." Duncan finished her thought. "You'll do it?" Duncan stood up. He though about it for a few minutes. He had owned dogs before -dozens over the years. In fact, as a boy, he had had several dogs much like Angus. But he hadn't had any recently. They died even faster than human partners and it was only slightly less painful to bury them. Angus was a good dog. He'd need a lot of exercise - Duncan supposed they could go jogging together. And, he thought selfishly - if he had Angus, Maggie would have to come back sooner or later. "All right. I'll dog-sit for you. But he sleeps on the floor - not in the bed!" "That's between the two of you - I told you, he likes you." She paused, thinking. "Richie wants to leave Saturday morning, so I'll bring Angus over here on Friday night. I'll bring his bowls, blanket, toys, food - everything. Thank you, Duncan, this means a lot to me." "Anytime Maggie. You can count on me for anything." Maggie was standing right in front of him, only a few inches away. He wanted her so badly that he clenched his hands to keep from reaching out and touching her. Instead, to his surprise, she reached out and put her hand on his bare chest. She looked him in the eye. He was always surprised at how tall she was - only a few inches shorter than himself. Her touch was very gentle, just her hand lying softly over his heart. But that touch seemed to transfer a wealth of information - that she wanted him, that she knew he wanted her. They stood that way for another minute - a minute that seemed to last an eternity. Both were afraid to move - until an ambulance screamed by outside the window and they both jumped at the sound. She let her hand drop. " I've got to go, Duncan. I'll see you Friday night." "Friday night. I'll be here." She turned on her heel and walked across the dojo and out the door. The serene mood that the kata had produced was utterly shattered. He picked up his sword and began again. Slowly, carefully, trying to achieve perfection in every movement. He pushed himself harder and harder but the peace did not return. It was hours later when he finally quit, exhausted, hardly able to lift his arms, but with his inner tranquillity gone for good.