Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 16:25:38 +0000 Reply-To: MAtt Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: MAtt Subject: It Can't Rain All The Time part 3 Apologies for the delay, but I've been away for the hols, and what with the UK Gathering we had late last year, I've been pretty busy. Still not finished, but here's some more to whet your appetites. Coming soon, Baj is gonna be collaborating on a bit with me. As usual comments/flames/complaints etc to Matthew.Blair@bbsrc.ac.uk Later, MAtt. It Can't Rain All The Time part 3 ----------------------------------- The next day, the sun came up, though it was still raining as heavy as ever, and the dark clouds did their best to block out what little sunlight there was. Duncan had risen early, and was sitting tapping away at his little laptop when Shelly came through, wearing the robe Duncan had given her the night before. "Hi," Shelly greeted Duncan, "What time is it ?" "9:30", replied Duncan without looking up. "Help yourself to some cofee, it fresh" Duncan motioned towards the kitchen area. "Be with you in a minute." So saying, Duncan tapped a few more keys, then shut down the laptop, with a satisfied look on his face. "There, that's that taken care of." "What's what ?" asked Shelly. Duncan paused for a moment. "Shelly....how much do you remember about last night ?" Shelly looked baffled for a moment, before Duncan continued. "Shelly, what I have to say may be hard for you to understand, but please believe me it's true. Last night....last night, Shelly, you died." Shelly was so shocked, she almost dropped her mug of coffee. "I was outside your apartment the night before last, Devil's Night they call it. There was an ambulance, and a lot of police. They lifted you into the ambulance and took you to the hospital. I knew I had to find you, so I went to the hospital and waited. You were in the operating theatre for almost 3 hours, and clung on for another 30. When you died, you were taken to the morgue, and that's when you woke up and met me." Shelly sat, too stunned to speak, as she listened to Duncan's story. He must be mad, she thought. I *died* ? How can I be *dead* ? What about Eric ? This last thought prompted her to speak. "What about Eric ? Where is he ? What happened to him ? Tell me. Where is he ? Where's Eric ? Oh my God, what's happened to Eric !!!" She was pratically screaming at Duncan. The coffee mug, having temporarily been forgotten, slipped from her hand and smashed on the floor. At this, Shelly burst into tears. Duncan moved closer to her and cradled her in his arms, rocking her gently until her tears subsided. "Shelly", Duncan whispered, rocking her gently all the while, "Shelly, Eric's dead. I checked the hospital records using my laptop. Eric died of a gunshot wound to the head the night you were brought in to the hospital. I'm sorry Shelly, I wish there were an easier way to tell you, but....." he trailed off, not knowing what else to say. Death was never any easy subject, even for an immortal. To his surprise, Shelly pulled herself back from his and wiped her eyes. "And what about me ? You said I died too. Why am I here ? Why should I be alive if Eric is dead ?" Something in the tone of her voice told Duncan that she was stronger than she looked. In fact, she reminded him so much of Tessa. Both women were beautiful, both seemed so fragile, and both had an inner strength that was surprising. Except, Tessa was dead, and Macleod could do nothing about that. "Duncan ?" Shelly asked, snapping him from his reverie. "Are you alright ?" The notion was so absurd, Duncan smiled, but the tears in his eyes showed otherwise. Here was a new Immortal girl, having been told her fiance is dead, asking *him* if *he* was ok. "It's ok Shelly, I was just remembering someone I knew once. Don't worry about me, I'm ok. It's *you* we should be looking after. I know everything must be confusing for you right now, but I'm here to help you." Macleod smiled reasurringly at Shelly, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt. How could he help anyone else when he couldn't even help himself ? End of Part 3 =========================================================================