Date: Thu, 6 Jul 1995 16:04:41 -0500 Reply-To: Julia Kosatka Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Julia Kosatka Subject: In the Dark, part 17/17 Duncan looked up from his workscreen, drawing himself out of the past he was putting into words and back to the present. The shrieks from outside had become a *bit* on the shrill side. He sighed and pushed his chair back, going to the door to look out. As he'd suspected, things were getting out of hand. He pushed open the door and strode out into the summer warmth, and managed to peel E'lan and Amber off Donal who lay on his back flailing feebly at his attackers. The boy scrambled to his feet and retreated a few steps to stand with Dhavi and Ewan. "I told you it's not nice to gang up on the boys, E'lan." "Donal started it!" Amber said, glaring at her brother who was now prudently shielded behind the other boys. "He said we were just *girls*!" Duncan chuckled, shaking his head. "Donal's too young to know that there is no *just* about girls. Don't mind him. He'll grow out of it." E'lan looked up at him, her dark face set in a frustrated scowl. "But how *long* will it take him? We've been trying to teach him for two *years*!" He laughed again. "Face it, love. Males are slow. I learned, but it took me several hundred years." E'lan stared at Donal in dismay. "But he's human! At that rate he'll be *dead* before he learns!" "No, he won't. Remember, they learn faster in recompense for their shorter lifespans." She nodded thoughtfully, and sighed. "Maybe soon, then." "If you keep teaching him, it should be. But next time, one-on-one. It's not fair to..." he broke off, feeling a powerful surge of Presence. E'lan and Dhavi looked around, curious. "What's that?" Dhavi asked, "It feels like you, but you're here." Duncan looked at the figure who stood between him and the house, frowning because the sun was in his eyes and he couldn't see them clearly. Whoever it was, they were *strong*. He hadn't felt a presence like that in a very long time. Dane hadn't even come close to this level. "I'm not sure who it is, Dhavi, but stay here while I find out." He strode back toward the figure, tensely realizing that his sword was in the house and he would have to pass them to get it, then stopped in his tracks as the shadow of the house blocked the sun and he could see who it was. "What the hell? Guinan?" He was confused. She'd never set off his `alarms' like this before. She put her hands on her hips and looked at him in mock offense. "That is *not* the kind of greeting I expect from you, Duncan." He covered the distance between them, and greeted her properly before speaking again. "I'm sorry, but..." he stopped, realizing the sensation wasn't coming from her, but from farther away, behind her. He looked from her, to the house, and back, noting her sly smile. "All right, what have you done?" he asked sternly. "I ran across someone I thought you might want to see." "Who?" She turned and waved to someone inside the house. A tall, slim, dark-haired man stepped out, looking as if he were a bit unsure of his welcome. Duncan stared, a slow smile spreading over his face as he realized who it was. "My God... Methos? Is it really you?" Methos nodded, looking oddly tentative. In all the years Duncan had known him, he'd never seen the man anything other than self-assured. He gestured at Guinan. "She said you wouldn't mind... that you'd want to see me..." "She was right. Welcome, friend. If it had been anyone else I'd have gone for my sword, but you're always welcome." "I wasn't sure, after what happened..." "Oh for god's sake, Methos! That was three hundred years ago! Live and let live, all right?" The other man smiled finally, the old, familiar, slightly irritating smile Duncan remembered all too well. He was about to say something about it when a sudden chorus of shrieks and yelps from behind him told him his earlier attempt to mediate the altercation hadn't taken. He sighed, looking from Guinan to Methos, who was looking rather puzzled. "Excuse me for just a minute," Duncan said as he turned and waded back into the fray. This time he grabbed the aggressors around their waists and stood with a squirming girl under each arm, waiting until Donal was again safely out of reach before he set them on their feet. "You two, go inside until you've cooled off," he said sternly. They protested loudly, but he held fast, and finally they turned and sulked off into the house. He turned to the boys. "You three, go down to the village and spend a couple of hours at the library reading up on gender equality. When you come back, I want essays." That set up howls of protest louder than those his other commandment had evoked, but the boys finally turned and headed off down the path. He turned to find Methos and Guinan grinning at him, and after a moment, found himself grinning back. "In fact, Methos, I'm glad you're here. I could use some help." Methos backed away, his hand spread. "I was just stopping by to say hi..." "Oh no you don't. You *owe* me. I said live and let live, not forgive and forget." Methos sighed. "All right, for a while anyway. But I don't owe you forever." "No, just long enough to get this bunch through puberty." Methos stared at him, appalled. "Oh my god..." Guinan chuckled. "I thought he might come in handy." "And you were right, as usual. Of course, we could use you around for the girls." "I've got to get back to the Enterprise..." she began, hastily. "One of these days you won't have that excuse." She smiled, her expression softening. "Actually, I'm looking forward to that." He smiled back. "So am I." The End *NOTE: Poetry used in sections 6 and 14 are from a wonderful work called "Hymns to the Night" by Novalis (Georg von Hardenberg, 1772-1801), translation by Dick Higgins, c. 1988, MacPherson ed., ISBN: 0-914232-90-8. Not used by permission. **NOTE: The reference to "Rena Taylor" and her sculpture "Prospero" in section 12 is from the ST:TNG fanfiction "A' la Q" by J. Kosatka and K. Matthews-Simmons. We don' need no steenkin' permission to use our own story! :-) ***NOTE: The flashback sequence in section 13 is from the third season Highlander episode "Mortal Sins" by Lawrence Shore. No copyright infringement is intended by its inclusion here. Not used by permission. =========================================================================