========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 23:12:22 -0400 Reply-To: Jill Marie Spetoskey Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Jill Marie Spetoskey Subject: Mortals 3/14 (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 17:08:33 -0400 From: k s gritten To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L Subject: Mortals 3/14 Mortals 3/14 Richie Ryan finished a few minor adjustments on his motorcycle, then wondered whether it was safe to go back into Natalie Lambert's apartment. That Nick guy--talk about a cold fish. Actually, now that he thought about it, even his hand had been cold when he shook it. But strong. In the brief moment that they had clasped hands, Knight's grip had tightened like a vise, an implicit threat lying behind his cool expression. Richie shrugged. He had no intention of getting in this guy's way. But he did need to go back up and get his stuff from Natalie's apartment so that he could start looking for his Watcher. Well, he wasn't *his* Watcher, exactly, though as an Immortal--one who could only die by being beheaded--he certainly had one. He was looking for a Watcher-- one of Joe's people. The Watchers were a group that had been observing Immortals for centuries, unnoticed and uninvolved. But Joe, one of the leaders of the group, was a friend of Duncan McLeod, Richie's mentor, and when Joe had mentioned the problem, Richie had offered to help. Besides, he owed Joe for helping him out when Duncan had gone nuts with that Dark Quickening. Duncan had almost taken Richie's head, before Joe stopped him. What a laugh--an Immortal looking for a Watcher. The man in question, Mike McKenzie, had disappeared a couple of days ago, and Joe's contacts had told him that McKenzie had headed to Toronto. Watchers, who had spent most of their lives learning to be invisible, could be damned difficult to find when they did not want to be. Joe was not sure why McKenzie had disappeared, but given the problems that the group still had with Hunters--Watchers who went from observing Immortals to destroying them--Richie understood why Joe was not willing to have any unexplained absences among his people. With a sigh, Richie peeked through the doorway to Natalie's apartment. He did not see either the doctor or her friend, and he moved into the room quietly. He could just grab his stuff and write Doc a note, then take off. Picking up his jacket off the couch, Richie turned-- And jumped when he saw Nick Knight standing in front of him. "Going somewhere?" Knight inquired mildly. "Man you scared me! Where did you come from?" Richie demanded. Nick grinned a little. "Cops have to learn how to move quietly." "Well, you get top marks Knight." Like Duncan, Richie thought inconsequentially. Duncan McLeod could move as quietly as a panther when he wanted to. "Listen, will you tell Doc thanks a lot for letting me stay here, but I really need to get going. It's later than I thought, and I've got a lot of things to do." "Tell her yourself," Natalie said, coming out of the bedroom rubbing a towel through her long, wet hair. "I thought that you were taking Tracy to pick up her car." Richie grinned. "Yeah, I will. She wanted to compare my bike to her friend's. But I still need to get going. I've taken up enough of your time and hospitality." "Good luck finding your friend," Nat offered. "And Richie--if you need some help or someplace to stay, please let me know." Richie was touched by the genuine offer. After too much time spent worrying whether everybody that he met was out to take his young Immortal head, it was pleasant to meet simple, normal people. "Thanks Doc." As he moved to the door, Nick gave him a nod. "Nice meeting you Detective Knight," Richie added. In the hall, with the door shut behind him, Richie paused to put on his coat. Within the apartment he heard Nick say, "You're right--he is a nice kid. But he's hiding something." "Most people are, Nick. You should know that better than anyone," Natalie's voice answered. Her words echoed in his head as Richie moved quietly down the hall and out into the night.