========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Apr 1996 23:55:02 -0400 Reply-To: Jill Marie Spetoskey Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Jill Marie Spetoskey Subject: Mortals 13/14 (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: k s gritten Subject: Mortals 13/14 Mortals 13/14 Her head hurt. Her stomach had stopped hurting for the time being, but the headache really irritated her. An aspirin would be nice. And a big glass of water to wash it down. A huge glass of water to wash it down. Hell, forget the aspirin--just bring a bathtub. "A shower would be really nice right now," came an echo to her own thoughts. "And a shave--I think I'm starting to grow another beard on top of the first one." She jumped a little when he spoke. For some reason she had been expecting LaCroix's voice. It was silly, but she had been thinking about the number of times she had sat in the dark at home, listening to LaCroix on the radio as the Nightcrawler. Natalie could not explain why she listened. Know your enemy? Try to understand the object of Nick's hatred? Try to hate him? Try not to? "Hey, are you still with me?" Joe's voice brought her back, and she squeezed his hand. She pushed aside the memory of LaCroix's voice, concentrating instead on Joe's low, comfortable rumble, still raspy, but reassuring. "Yeah," she said. "Sorry. I was just daydreaming. Nightdreaming. Whatever." She guessed that it had been at least another twenty-four hours since they had last seen Lisa McKenzie. Another sunrise, another sunset. Another day lost. How many left? "Don't tell me that we've run out of deep thoughts, and now we'll have to play mental chess," he said. Some instinct pushed her to put her fingers to his chapped lips, like a searching blind child, to feel the smile there. He grabbed her hand and pressed it closer to his lips, then lay her palm against his rough cheek. She knew that he had given up hope too. "No," she put his other hand to her head and let him feel her shake it. "I'm terrible at chess." His fingers were twined in her hair then, and she enjoyed the sensation. "Monopoly--that I'm good at." "Monopoly, hmm?" He traced his fingers along the back of her hand, sketching its outline, feeling the fingertips rough-hewn by work. "Okay, I rolled a ten. I'm just visiting at the jail." She half-laughed, but it caught in her throat. The end had come too fast. It was so damned frustrating. Then they heard a sound outside the door. Someone was fumbling at the lock. Natalie tensed, but knew that she could put up little defense in her weakened state to whomever might be on the other side. The door opened, revealing only darkness. But a lighter, more welcoming darkness. And, barely discernible, a figure. For a moment Nat wondered if she were delirious. She pulled back as Lisa McKenzie entered the room. Joe put his arm around her protectively, trying unsuccessfully to shield her with his body. "Have you come to gloat?" he rasped. Lisa stood over them triumphantly. Natalie gripped Joe's shoulder--she recognized the aura, the stance. "She got her wish," she hissed. What had Nick done? "Yes," Lisa acknowledged. "I got my wish. Not quite what I expected, but...." She shrugged, then looked at them, examining their state dispassionately. "Just finish it," Natalie said quietly, her free hand clenched, but Lisa raised a finger warningly. "Be patient, Dr. Lambert. Your time will come. But not right now." "You aren't going to kill us?" Joe asked, disbelieving. Lisa glared at both of them, but it was tinged with self-content. "No," she said softly. "Your ends will come soon enough. I want to you live. Live your mortal lives, and watch your immortal friends die." She waved a hand in the direction of the door, in the slight gesture dismissing their entire experience. "Goodbye." She disappeared silently, of course. After she had gone, they sat next to each other, both looking numbly at the open doorway beckoning before them. Suddenly, Natalie felt immeasurably tired. Joe pulled her arm. "Come on," he encouraged her. "Let's go live our mortal lives like the lady said." ******* "Hey Nat, are you okay?" Tracy Vetter entered the hospital room tentatively. Natalie nodded, gesturing for Tracy to sit next to her on the bed where she had been resting. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just dehydrated. They want to keep us around for observation, I think." Natalie did not mention the fact that she had not pressed the hospital staff to release her quickly; it was almost sunrise, and if she delayed long enough then she would not have to face Nick. She did not think that she could deal with him right now. "Well, I think after a shower I'll be okay," a new voice said cheerfully from the doorway. Joe Dawson stood there, leaning heavily on a cane provided by the hospital staff. Tracy eyed them both skeptically, taking in their gaunt figures and exhausted faces. "Yeah, I think a shower would be a great idea," Nat agreed solemnly, but she knew that Joe caught the glint in her eyes. "Hey, are you insinuating something about my personal hygiene?" he complained plaintively. She raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that I wasn't offering to scrub your back?" Tracy laughed. "I can see that you guys are going to be fine." She stood up from the door and gave them both a parting wave. "I'm going to go find Richie before he chats up anymore nurses. Get some rest." "We will," Nat agreed, and then she was gone. Natalie sat still on the bed and watched Joe, who still stood--a little awkwardly now--just inside the doorway. It was odd to actually be able to see him, rather than relying on her hearing to catch inflections in his voice, expressions on his face that had been hidden before. It was odd to face him in the near daylight, after spending so many hours talking about personal details in the dark. Joe cleared his throat. "Well, I guess we can get out of here." She suddenly felt guilty for making him wait there--he was as exhausted as she. "Yeah, let's go," she said, getting up carefully from the bed. She felt dizzy for a moment, and stood still, waiting for it to pass. She waited too long. Nick stood in the doorway. "Nat?" he asked, stepping forward. "Nick." It was a sigh, really. Joe looked at both of them for a brief second, then moved aside to let Nick enter, and turned towards the door. "I guess that I'll see you around Nat." "No, Joe," she stepped towards him, holding out a restraining hand. "Wait." Standing next to Joe, she turned to face Nick. Suddenly she felt even more tired. "So what happened?" Nick shot a glance at Joe, and she could read the indecision written on his face. "Nat," he said in that soft tone which normally would have sent a shiver through her spine. "I'm sorry." "Sorry for what?" she asked wearily. "That you brought her across, or that you didn't?" Nick's eyes were hooded. He picked the words out with care. "It doesn't seem to matter, does it? Either way, I lose." Nat closed her eyes. Maybe he was right. "You better get going," she said dully. "The sun will be up in a few minutes." With her eyes closed, she could not see him move. She heard him, though. As he brushed past her, he stopped. In a voice pitched low, so that only she could hear, he said, "She was already gone when I got there, if that means anything to you." When she opened her eyes, he was gone. Joe put a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?" Natalie nodded. "Let's get out of here," she said. As they turned to leave, she could not help but glance out the window. The first tendrils of dawn shone over the horizon, creating a thin rainbow of light in the distance. It was beautiful.