Date: Sat, 25 Mar 1995 23:55:00 +0200 Reply-To: Marina Bailey Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Marina Bailey Organization: CDS OnLine BBS, Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA Subject: Loving a Watcher, 4 of 4 "How old are you, Richie?" the girl's mother was asking. "If you don't mind that kind of question." "Ah... no. I guess not. I'm twenty-one." That wasn't quite the truth - Richie had yet to have his 21st birthday - but he knew that he looked too young to say he was older, and yet he behaved as if he were that age. He knew Lily was twenty-three. But with them, age scarcely mattered. He'd be 18 forever, after all. The mother didn't notice his hesitation before answering questions; maybe she thought he was just shy or nervous. "What school did you go to back home?" "School?" "Yeah, you know, college." Richie knew that he didn't lie well. Maybe before he'd met Duncan he'd been a good liar, but he was out of practice. "I... didn't go to college," he finally said, settling for the truth. "And yet you manage a dojo?" This from the father. "Well, I did have a little experience. I worked in an antique store before that. After that I... I spent some time in Spain and France." "You're well-travelled." Richie couldn't very well tell Lily's parents that Duncan had sent him away for a while, or that he'd been arrested for murder (not to mention attempted murder once before) while in Paris. Or that he tended to follow Duncan MacLeod around. So he just smiled. "Yeah. Even went down to Rio. Thought I'd do college later. I figure I have plenty of time for that." "True." Lily's father reached for the salt. As he did so, Richie stared at the Watcher tattoo on the man's wrist. He'd known that Lily and her parents were Watchers, but this brought it home with a jolt. He was surrounded by Watchers. Joe, he trusted. Anyone that Joe said was okay, was. But these people were strangers. And he, an Immortal, was sitting here having lunch with them, telling half-truths. It suddenly made Richie even more uncomfortable, and try though he did, he could not stop staring at the tattoo. Lily's father caught the look. "I got drunk once while on shore leave," he said, by way of explanation. Lily, who had been getting more and more tense, laughed. The laugh was a little too high, as she held up her wrist. "And I copied it. Cute, aren't we?" "Uh... yeah," said Richie, trying to bring his attention back to the table. He'd almost managed it when he felt... He looked up. Another Immortal. The door suddenly crashed open, and Nicholas Crawford stood in the doorway, sword in hand. He looked at the assembled people. "Which of you is it?" Lily's father stood up, assumed what Richie knew to be a classic martial arts pose. "What do you want, Crawford?" Crawford took a step forward. "My, my. You know me, but I don't know you, except..." He looked at Lily. "You. You were there when Beth lost her head. You were watching us." Lily didn't know what to say. "I suppose you're going to tell me that you Watcher people don't kill Immortals," Crawford quipped. "Save it. I've heard it. I know about Darius. And Xavier St. Cloud's scheme. I heard it all, from *my* Watcher. Just after he tried to kill me, and just before I killed him." Richie could see that Lily's father was going to try and block Crawford, but without a sword he knew the man didn't stand a chance. Richie stood up, came around the table. His sword was under his coat in the living room. And now he knew that what he would have to do, what he'd have to say, would end his relationship with Lily. But he couldn't let Crawford kill these people. "They're not all like that, Crawford. Not all the Watchers kill Immortals. Horton was a renegade, a lunatic. Duncan aired him out. That's over." Crawford brought his attention away from Lily's father to Richie. "We'll have our own fight later, kid," he said. "I'm here for these people." "They won't do anything to you!" Richie yelled. "All they do is Watch!" "Sorry. I can't take that chance." As Crawford spoke, Lily's father rushed forward, grabbing the man's sword arm and kicking him to the ground. Crawford landed on his side, flipped himself, and stood again. "You'll pay for that." He lunged with the sword, Lily's father ducked out of the way. Lily and her mother watched the fight, feeling powerless. Lily edged as far out of the way as she could. She still remembered the sight of a blade reflecting in the light, then pain and blackness. The fight continued for a while, as dishes and ornaments crashed everywhere. But Lily's father had no sword. Finally, he made one bad leg move, and Crawford grabbed the leg, shoving him backwards to the floor. He stood over Lily's father, bringing the sword down... It impacted with Richie's as Richie parried the blow. "You and me," said Richie without preamble. "Let's do it." Crawford yanked the blade away, stood back. "Why not. After I kill you, I can finish the job with them." "We'll see," was all Richie said. The fight was joined. Crawford was good, but not that good. Richie knew that Duncan would have finished this guy off in no time. But for himself, it was a different story. They were more evenly matched. Crawford jumped forward, lunging as he did so. Richie had to step back, falling onto the couch which was behind him. Crawford brought the sword down; Richie dived out of the way, rolled across the floor and stood up, bring his own sword to lunge at Crawford, who parried easily. Over and over the same pattern was repeated, as the Watchers stood in the doorway of the dining room, watching. They knew from experience that no Immortal ever got more than one mistake. One was all it took for an Immortal to lose their head. Tears streamed down Lily's face as she watched, her fear for Richie - and of swords - at its peak. Still, she would have rushed forward in an attempt to help had her father not gripped her arm, holding her back. Then they saw it: the mistake that Crawford was making. He was underestimating the young Immortal he was fighting. He was using only standard techniques. One good blip in the curve would throw him right off and give Richie the advantage. They only hoped Richie would see it too. All three Watchers knew the names of techniques that could end the fight with Richie the winner. But no one said anything. Watchers could not get involved. They *could not*. Lily turned to look into her father's eyes, knowing his reasoning. "Please," she whispered, "tell Richie." "It's not allowed." "He'll kill us!" Lily cried softly. "You know that." "I think it's time to leave, then," said her father, pulling her towards the kitchen and the back door. "No!" Lily managed to pull her arm free, rushing back to watch the fight. "Richie, remember in bed last night! Remember!" And Richie did. She had whispered something in Italian, saying it was the only Italian she knew, and Richie had explained that the only Italian words *he* knew were for a sword technique used... Felicia. Used for overly aggressive opponents who were off-balance. Crawford lunged, and Richie took his opportunity. Crawford stared at Richie's sword protruding from his midsection, his eyes wide. He knew he was going to die. Richie pulled the sword out, and Crawford fell to the floor. As he did so, he dropped his sword. Richie stepped on it and raised his own sword, bringing it down in an arc that severed Crawford's head from his body. He looked at the assembled Watchers, at the girl he had saved. "Lily..." Then the Quickening hit. They watched helplessly as Richie screamed, as every window in their house shattered, as all their glassware, plates from the table, ornaments, went the same way. Finally, it was over. Lily rushed forward to where Richie lay on the floor, hugging him tightly. "Richie!" He sat up, putting his arms around her. "I'm sorry." They both knew he wasn't only apologising for Crawford or the house. He was apologising because it was over. They were over. They didn't need words to know it; her parents had seen, and he couldn't stay here. Because, despite what they might tell themselves, it would happen again. A Watcher and an Immortal could be friends, maybe. Not lovers. As they held each other, Lily's father stepped forward, grabbing his daughter by the arm and pulling her away from Richie. "Get out of my house," he said. Lily was furious. "He saved your life, and that's all you have to say?" The girl's father faced her, his eyes blazing. "You knew! You knew he was one of them! And you still brought him here!" "We'd be dead if it wasn't for Richie!" she shouted back. "Crawford wanted to kill me. *Me!* Long before Richie came on the scene, he tried to kill me! And when I didn't have my memory, I tried to kill myself because of what you always said: Immortals don't care! Rather die than be raped or killed by one! Well, you were wrong! Richie cares so much he risked his life to save us!" "He risked his life because there can be only one! We all know it!" Richie stood up. "It's okay. I'll go." "You don't have to." "Yeah, I do. I'll meet you back at your place." And then he went. Lily turned to her father. "I love him," she said. "Rule number one," her father said. "If I'd played by the rules I'd be dead," Lily said. "Thank G-d you can't get pregnant sleeping with one," her father retorted. Until now, Lily's mother had remained silent, but now she stepped in between her husband and daughter. "The war's over, you two." The girl looked at her mother. "My father's a... I don't know. Racist isn't the word. He hates Immortals." "No, he doesn't. He just doesn't believe in fraternising with them." "Oh. They're okay to Watch, but he wouldn't let his daughter marry one." Her father opened his mouth to continue the argument, but Lily threw up her hands. "I'll see you later." The door slammed on her way out, and her parents looked at each other. "Know a place that fits glass real cheap?" the father asked, shaking his head. Lily found Richie packing when she got back to her place. She knew it was over, but she couldn't help wanting... wanting him. She *did* care about him, and she didn't want him leaving like this. "Richie... we could still have a life together. I'll come back to Washington with you." Richie shook his head. "No. We both know it could never work. Your parents know what I am. And I know what you are. You have rules, and so do we. I have to live by Immortal rules, you have to live by Watcher ones." "I'll have the tattoo removed!" The girl started to cry. "We can try, Richie. Please!" "No. Being a Watcher is not what you do, it's what you are. You'll have to keep in contact with others. You'd feel as if you had to report goings-on in my world." "I could try..." Richie ignored the interruption. "You're a Watcher. You have to be what you are. I'm not your Immortal, but if you get reassigned, I'd end up killing your Immortal, or he'd kill me. The Gathering is here." "Richie, don't. We could..." "Go somewhere else? Where the Gathering won't find us? Do you know Immortals have lived in towns of less than 500 people? Where could we go? Desert islands don't exist." Tears spilled down the girl's cheeks. "I know you're right, but... I love you! I do." Richie picked up his bag and went to the door. "You'll get over it." "Is that all you have to say?" "Yeah." She rushed forward and kissed him, crying all the while. "Just tell me this: would it have worked if I weren't a Watcher?" "Maybe. But if you weren't a Watcher we would never have met." He turned in the doorway. "Will your parents report what happened?" "I don't know." Duncan MacLeod sensed an Immortal, and opened the door to find Richie Ryan standing there. "Back so soon?" he asked in a knowing tone of voice. "Yeah." Richie's tone was one of defeat. "You knew it couldn't work." "Well, I hate to say I told you so, but I did tell you." Duncan paused. "So? Did Crawford try anything?" "I had to kill him, Mac. I killed him in Lily's house, in front of her parents. A house full of Watchers, and I cut his head off!" "And if you hadn't he would have killed them." "Yeah. And boy, were they grateful. So grateful that her father kicked me out." His tone was one of bitterness. "Don't be too hard on them, Rich. They're mortals who have to try to figure out what it's all about. They may know about us, but that doesn't mean we don't scare them." Richie nodded. "She's a Watcher. I know she could never be anything else." MacLeod was nodding. "And that's why you left." "Yeah." He took a breath. "Mac, will we always have to give up the people we love? Can't we ever just live a normal life?" Duncan shook his head. "I tried. You tried. Tessa's gone, and she was the only person I ever wanted to have that life with. We can't protect them, Richie. Not even from ourselves." "Yeah, well, it stinks, Mac." "I know." Duncan handed Richie a plate. "Get yourself some food, you must be hungry." "Yeah. Thanks." In Florida, Lily watched the soft rain from her window. "So?" came a voice from the doorway. She turned to face her father, who had come in silently. All her anger toward him was gone now. He was right about most things. She should never have gotten involved with Richie in the first place, once she'd found out what he was, and who she was. "You were right, Dad. About... most of it. A lot of Immortals don't care, but some do. I never felt like you did about them, and now I know you're wrong. Richie cared. Some do care." "Maybe. I'm sorry, honey. I was too hard on you." She shrugged. He was her father; he'd been worried about her, and that was the reason for his behaviour. "You could still have thanked Richie for saving our lives, though." "I know. Maybe you could call and tell him I said thank you." Even as he said it, the father knew his daughter would not call. Then, "Does Joe Dawson know Richie is an Immortal?" Now Lily was forced to lie. But, she had no choice. Rules were rule, and when they were broken, it was always for a good reason. "I don't think so. Richie lives around there, I think they bump into each other." Her father came up and hugged her. "I really am sorry for what I said." "Dad..." She disengaged herself. "You're not going to put any of what happened in the records, are you?" Lily's father knew he owed her one, because despite everything, Richie had saved his daughter. But Richie wasn't here, so the favour would have to go to the other person involved. "I'll have to say something," he said. "What do you want me to leave out?" "That it was Richie who killed Nicholas Crawford." "Lily..." "Please, Dad. We didn't talk about it much, but I know there are still Watchers out there who kill Immortals. I love him, can you understand that? I need to know that he'll be safe - at least from mortals, for a while." "Okay." Looking into her father's eyes, the girl knew that everything had been forgiven - on both sides. "Are you going to ask for reassignment?" her father continued. "Yeah. Richie was right, being a Watcher is what I *am*. I don't think I could learn to go through life without that... that 'magic'." "Honey, don't forget the rules, okay?" Her father had turned away and was now at the door. "I know why those rules are there, and I know not to break them, not when I know who I am. But for a little while... I could dream. We both could." "I'm sorry the dream ended," said her father. "So am I." Duncan and Richie practised on the mat in the dojo: Duncan because he figured that Richie needed to work out more, and Richie because it gave him a way to get rid of his frustrations. There were no others around this late. No *mortals* around. It was a very solitary feeling, but at least they weren't alone: they had each other. Maybe, they mused, one Immortal friend could make up for all the mortals they'd had to leave behind. But when they looked into each other's eyes, they knew that nothing could make up for that. It was the price they had to pay. THE END Copyright Marina Bailey, March 1994. All rights reserved. - Marina. \\ "I don't care about their different thoughts; ||>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> // // different thoughts are good for me." || R I C H I E >> \\ \\ - Tanita Tikaram; Twist in my Sobriety ||>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> // //======tmar@cds.Alt.ZA=======Marina Bailey======|| \\ \\=============Chief Flag Waver and Defender of Richie==============// ... "Dianne, I have in my hand a box of chocolate bunnies." --- Blue Wave/RA v2.12 [NR] =========================================================================