========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Mar 1996 12:20:24 -0500 Reply-To: LC Krakowka Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: LC Krakowka Subject: Long Lost 2/5 "Are you crazy?" Adam shouted , slamming into the dojo. Sarah and Mac had been sparring, but stopped to stare at him blankly. "Are you out of your mind, Sarie? Going after Martin?!" "Dawson found him?!" She set down her sword and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the tail of her shirt. "Where is he?" "No way am I going to tell you. You must be stark raving mad." "Look Pete, you saw what Martin did to my family...and I'm sure he's done it hundreds of times over since then..." He took her gently by the shoulders and sighed. "I know Sarie, and he deserves to loose his head...but let someone else take it. Let Mac or me do it for you...Martin is dangerous..." "What, and I've never taken a head before?" She glared at up him. They were almost the same height, but he stood just a hair taller, and she was barefoot. "He's stronger than you are...tell her Mac." Duncan stepped forward and sighed. "Martin is very old...and he is physically stronger than you are, Sarah...I'll do it if you want me to." She jerked away from Adam and glared at them both. "Nine hundred years and I have never asked anyone to fight for me...I'm not going to start now. Thanks for the offer, Mac, but no way." "Sarie..." "And you, Petey, this is not the battle to make your comeback in. It's not even your battle at all." She grabbed her sweatshirt and pulled it on, heading for the door. "Where are you going?" Adam asked. "To find out what Dawson knows." He grabbed her elbow. "Let go of me," she jerked away again. "Back off...you can't interfere with this..." Adam threw up his hands in despair as she stormed out. "Mac, do something!" "She's got the right to face him. It's all part of the Game." "Damn the Game Mac, I can't loose her again." He clutched his head and leaned against the wall. "You know we can't interfere..." "I know." "Look, you're having a rough time...after Alexa and all...Sarah is very capable...she may beat Martin." "And if she doesn't?" "Then one of us will." Adam sighed. "Duncan...that's not good enough." "You love her, don't you?" " She is my best friend...I thought I lost her once...I can't go through that again," Adam shook his head and sank to the floor. "I let myself fall in love with her...that's what made her leave," he gave a sarcastic laugh. "For three hundred years we fought our battles and traveled together...we trained the sons of kings in swordsmanship, we were mercenaries in the far east and Africa.... I was thrilled that she was so good, that she could and did fight her own battles. It left me free to be her friend first...not her guardian. I didn't even think of her as a woman really. Then, one night we went to this ball the King of some small country was having...she wore this green dress...and her hair was long, flowing down her back," he smiled. "Suddenly all of the mud and grime and sweat was gone and she was so beautiful...after that, I just couldn't look at her the same way. We fought a lot...I wanted to protect her, but she wouldn't let me. Then, one night she went to fight one of us...a guy like Martin, only worse...we had a huge blowout and she never came back. I saw the quickening...I thought it was hers..." Duncan sat down next to him and clapped him on the shoulder. "Did you ever tell her how you felt?" "No," Adam shook his head. "I didn't know how she would react and it was more important to me that we stay friends," he paused. "I fought Martin once. I had him on his knees, I could have taken his head, but someone found us...I let him go. I could have killed him, Mac but I didn't...if you could have seen that village after Martin and his men left it...if you could have seen her when I found her...I should have killed him for her." "She's a good swordswoman, Methos...she'll be okay." *** "Okay, word has it that Martin is coming here, looking for you, Mac," Joe said quietly. They were sitting in a corner table in the bar and Sarah was drumming her fingers on the upturned glass in front of her. Duncan nodded and looked at her. "So, you want to set him up?" "No. I want to find him and do it the right way. I just need you to promise me that you won't take his head before I have the chance to." "You have my word." "Martin's MO is to use someone close to the person he wants as bait...so keep an eye on Anne, Mac. And you, Sarah, should keep an eye on Adam." "Petey?" "Martin has been working with a group of mortals...thugs. Now, as far as we know, he doesn't know you're here, but if does, and if he sends them to take Adam, they won't know what they're dealing with...but Martin will...and he's the kind that isn't adverse to taking a head from someone who is gagged and bound." She sighed and nodded. "Isn't this amusing, he's trying to protect me and I'm going to have to watch him." "He's only doing it because he cares about you," Duncan said. "I know." Joe frowned. "Be careful, we can't afford to loose any of the three of you." "When is Martin supposed to get here?" Mac asked. "Any day now." Two days later, Martin made an appearance at the dojo while Sarah was teaching a martial arts class. He was very suave and polite, inquiring after Duncan. "And you are?" He asked, taking Sarah's hand and bowing. "Sarah MacGreggor of the clan MacGreggor," she pulled her hand away. He stared at her blankly for a moment, then a flash of recognition crossed his face. "Yes, THAT, clan MacGreggor," she hissed. "Well, well, it seems I made a mistake all those years ago," he smiled. "I trust you'll give me the chance to rectify it?" She glared at him. "When I take your head, it will be for my family." He glanced over her shoulder at the students and smiled. "Some other time then, Miss MacGreggor. And you will tell MacLeod that I called?" Richie appeared behind Sarah. "If she doesn't take your head, I will. Now get out of here." Martin laughed. "Your quickening wouldn't be worth my time, boy." He turned on his heel and left, snickering. [end part 2] copyright, 1996-Lisa Krakowka -- LC Krakowka /215 CCC/255-5378/ hck1@cornell.edu CIT Learning Technologies Center/Lab Webmistress http://krakowka.cit.cornell.edu/hpage/lisa.html Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it binds the universe together.