========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 17:51:42 -1000 Reply-To: Heidi S McKeon Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Heidi S McKeon Subject: New Beginnings 5/5 disclaimer same as part 1 **************** New Beginning A Highlander Story Heidi McKeon **************** Chapter 5 Jess and Duncan worked out their immediate crisis concerning Methos, coming to an understanding about her friendship with Adam. They had gone to Jess's cabin for a weekend, leaving Methos with all the animals. When they returned, the three of them spent time together over the next week, often at Joe's or the Dojo. Duncan accepted their friendship, and their past relationhsip. " MacLeod, I am truly glad for you and Jess. You have made her happier than I have ever seen her. I warn you though, my friend, if you ever hurt her I *will* come for *your* head." Methos told him with all seriousness. "She means a lot to me, and I have seen her when she had no hope left, and I don't ever want to see her that low again." Duncan was surprised at Methos' protectiveness of Jess. "She's a big girl Methos, you don't have to protect her." "No, I don't, but I will, because she is my friend." "Don't worry, I have no intention of hurting her, Methos." They settled their discussion and had another beer, the silence surrounded them. "Hey let's go to Joe's, it's too quiet here." Methos commented to Duncan. Jess was working late at Tropicals and as usual Hershey was with her. Duncan was so used to the dog being around that when she was with Jess the place seemed empty with out them both. Not even Richie was around. He made himself scarce when Methos appeared, He was still uncomfortable because of the incident with Kristen. They headed to Joe's and sat around drinking with Joe and talking. Duncan had been quiet all evening, so as the evening wore on he decided to head home. "Guys, its been real, but I'm going to head home." Duncan said as he grabbed his coat and headed out the door. Methos and Joe wondered what was up with Mac, he had been quiet all evening. Usually Mac enjoyed the guys night out, something must really be up. His face, which showed every expression, was a mask tonight. They knew he and Jess were OK, so it must be something else. But what? " Something up with him, think we should call Jess? He's acting really weird tonight." Joe asked as they watched Mac walk out the door. " I thought of that, but I can't get too involved considering everything." Methos said shaking his head.. "I'll go call her, that way you're not involved." Joe told his as he got up and headed for the phone. Joe called Jess and told her about Mac's strange mood. She said she would head over to the loft and check on him. Duncan had been out of sorts for a couple of days. He couldn't put a finger on the problem exactly. Then finally he looked at the calendar, it was the anniversary of Tessa's death. How could he forget? The fact that he did forget, made his guilt all the greater. Duncan went to the box that held all Tessa's pictures, he sorted through them smiling at the memories, there were 12 years worth there, they had shared so many good times. Tears began to run down his cheeks, as the memories overcame him. He was so involved in his thoughts that he missed hearing the elevator, Jess had entered and walked up to him before he noticed her presence. "Duncan, what's wrong?" She asked as she knelt in front of him and wiped away the tears. "Jess, I didn't hear you come in, what are you doing here? I thought you said you were working all night." Duncan said startled. He quickly stuffed what he was holding under the pillow. "Joe called me, he was worried, said you were acting weird and that I should check up on you. What are you hiding, you know don't have to hide anything from me." Jess asked as she reached under the pillow to retrieve the bundle Duncan hid. "Pictures of Tessa. Duncan what's going on?" Jess asked almost scared of the answer. "Tomorrow is the anniversary of Tessa's death, I hadn't realized it until tonight, I imagine that it is the reason that I have not been myself today. Something had been nagging at me and I couldn't put a finger on it until now." "Duncan , why did you have to hide this from me? Did you think I would prevent you from honoring her memory?" Jess asked. Duncan couldn't answer, he just looked at Jess with a haunted expression. " Duncan, what is it? I know that you will aways have feeling for Tessa, but is there more?" Seeing the tortured look on Duncan's face she asked one more question, "Are you still in love with her?" Unable to answer her he just nodded. He did still love Tessa and always would, but how could he explain it to her. He knew that Tessa was part of his past and Jess was his future. He just needed to put the past away and say good-bye. Jess just looked at him as if waiting for him to say more, when he didn't she started to cry. " I wish I could bring Tessa back for you, but I can't, all I can do is love you, but it seems that my loving you isn't enought, you'll always want her."Jess said through her tears before turning to bolt out the door. Duncan stood there stunned, he'd really done it this time. Hershey wined at the door her master had just run through, "Don't worry girl she'll be OK, we'll get a couple of things and go over to her place." Duncan packed a change of clothes and headed out the door with Hershey. On the drive over to Jess's he ran through the events that just happened and what he would tell her when he got there. The shop and apartment was dark, she must be driving around to calm down, he would wait for her. He settled down on the sofa to wait and fell asleep. Merlin and Morganna woke him in the morning, Jess still had not returned, where was she? Duncan called Joe to see if he'd seen her, he hadn't, he had been with Methos all evening and had taken Adam to the airport in the morning for his flight back to Paris, however he'd found a note addressed to Duncan in the bar when he returned. Duncan headed over to retreive the note. It read: Duncan, my love, I love you with all my heart and I know running out last night wasn't the smartest thing to do. I got scared, plain and simple. I have always been insecure where Teaas was concerned, and seeing you tonight really hit me hard, it's difficult living with a ghost always there. I'm going away for a while, I need time to think, I'll come home to you and let you know whether or not I can live with the constant reminder of Tessa's memory. Jess Duncan crumpled the letter when he finished, tears running down his face, " Joe, what have I done?" He asked, " I may have just lost the only woman who I loved as much as if not more than Tessa." Joe put his hand on his friends shoulder and said, " So find her, tell her how you feel, before she has a chance to decide she can't live with Tessa's ghost." Duncan looked up, " Thanks Joe." He now knew what he had to do. But where to start?Duncan called Richie and had him keep an eye on Tropicals, and to watch for Jess while he went to the island to check for her. Next he drove out to her cabin. He found evidence that she had been there. Now where had she gone? Duncan called Methos to talk, listening for anything that would give it away that she was there. She wasn't. It had been 4 days since she ran out he had brought the birds over and settled them into the loft. They were noisy, messy, but they and Hershey were Jess's and were now his only connection with he at the moment. He hated not knowing where she was, he would keep looking. *************************** Jess had run from Duncan's forgetting to even call Hershey to come with her, at least she knew the dog would be in good hands with Duncan. He still loved Tessa, she knew that he did, but could she make him put Tessa's ghost to rest, or would she always be between them? Jess first was going to head home then, she changed her mind and headed to the cabin. She and Duncan had just been there the week before to have some time together after Adam showed up. It had been a wonderful time, they had put all the questions about her and Adam's relationship to rest. Jess had been really happy, then Joe called her last night to tell her Duncan was acting weird. She should really stand by him and help him get through the next couple of days, but she couldn't, not after seeing him with the pictures and hearing him admitted he was still in love with Tessa. She loved the man beyond reason, but she also knew that she could never compete with Tessa in Duncan's heart. Shedidn't want to stay at the cabin long, she just needed some place to collect he thoughts while she made a plan. She knew that Adam was supposed to go back to Paris maybe she would go there, she could stay on the bargefor a while, she knew that Duncan had a busy schedule at the university, and she hoped that he would honour her wishes and leave her alone to think, but right now she needed sleep. Jess awoke that evening, after sleeping all day, packed her bag and headed back down the trail to her Jeep. She would drive back into the city, leave her car at Joe's, catch a cab to the airport. To bad she couldn't get Hershey, but she knew she would be with Duncan constantly, so there was no way to get her and avoid Duncan at the same time. Jess's flight to Paris was a long one. She had several connections and lay-overs because of her last minute flight plans. She didn't mind too much. It gave her more time to think about what happened, but by the time she arrived in Paris she was exhausted, both mentally and physically. It had taken her 4 days of traveling and layovers to reach Paris. The first thing she did was to call Adam to take her to the barge. "Jess, what is going on, why are you here? And what's with all the secrecy?" Adam asked concerned. "Adam, I've left Duncan." "What!" "It's a long story. I'll fill you in on the way to the barge. Please can we go, I'm tired and dirty." Jess told Adam about what happened and why she left. "I'm going to *kill* him. I warned him I would have his head if he hurt you." "Adam, no, please, I may be hurt and angry, but I don't want him dead." They arrived at the barge and Adam saw her inside. She was so tired that she fell asleep almost as soon as she sat down. Methos ran to a grocery and got a few things she would need for the next couple of days as well as stopping by his place for a couple of shirts and a pair of jeans for her to wear. He had noticed that she came with fewclothes and he knew she had never been to the barge before, so she wouldn't have anything here.` Jess found the note Methos left her, ' Jess, got some food for you and a few of my shirts as a change, jeans will be big but they'll do until you can shop. Call Me when you are ready to talk, Adam.' She smiled and headed for the shower, Adam was a good friend, she worried though, would he really try for Duncan's head? Jess spent the next few days roaming around Paris, visiting some of her old haunts. She talked to Adam about every day, just to check in, he was giving her the space she need to clear her mind. She also called her assistant to check on the shop and the birds only to find out that Duncan had taken them to the loft to care for them better. This surprised her, he had never given Merlin and Morganna much thought before. Jess had been in Paris almost a week, and away from Duncan for almost 10 days, when she finally called Adam and had him come over to talk. They had dinner and spent the evening talking when he suddenly halted and went for his sword. "Adam, who?" Jess asked, recognizing the look that meant another immortal. He just waved to her and slipped out the door to meet the other immortal. Jess heard the clashing of swords and ran out the door to the deck. There she saw Adam and Duncan in battle. Duncan yelled to Methos, " Damn it Methos, I love her. Stop this and let me talk to her!" "I warned you MacLeod, not to hurt her, and what do you do, you hurt her!" Methos growled, swinging his sword at Duncan again. "Damn it, Methos! I love her!" "That's why you deliberately hurt her." The men continued to swing their swords at one another. Methos was attacking Ducnan, forcing him to work to defend himself. Jess watched in horror as they continued to circle each other. "Duncan! Adam! No! Adam you promised!" Hearing her scream they both turned to see Jess in tears. "Please, stop. Adam don't do this." She begged. Both men lowered their swords and moved to her. Methos reaching her first wrapped her in his arms as she cried. " Thank you for stopping. Adam, I know I was hurt, but I *love* him." She turned in Adams arms to look at Duncan, he looked haggard and tired. Her heart ached for him. "Please let me explain, Jess, I love you with all my heart, *you* are my life." Duncan pleaded. Jess moved from Adam's arms to stand in front of Duncan. " What about Tessa? You told me you still loved her?" "Yes, I loved her, and she will always hold a part in my heart, but she's gone and no matter how much I wanted her back it'll never happen. When you came into my life, you changed it, the light and happiness I thought was gone was back and you did that. You brought me back from the darkness that Tessa's death left me in, no one else has been able to do that, only you brought that light back into my life. Yes I was upset by the memories of Tessa on the anniversary of her death, and I'm sorry that my grief hurt you, I was just to slow too ask you to stay with me. I need you in my life, without you Methos might as well take my head." Jess gasped at Duncan's admission. She didn't know what to think. "Why don't you two go inside and finish your conversation. My 'promise' still stands though MacLeod." Methos informed them. To Jess he said, "I'll call tomorrow." Methos left Duncan and Jess, heading home, glad that he called Joe to tell him where Jess was. He knew that his old friend would tell MacLeod where to find Jess. Those two, Duncan and Jess, were meant for each other, they juust had a lot of baggage to wade through first. Jess and Duncan went inside and spent the rest of the night talking about what had happened and Duncan's feelings about Tessa. Exhaustion finally won out and Duncan was ready to fall asleep where he sat. Jess convinced him to lay down finally. As she joined him he pulled her into his arms and with a voice husky with sleep she heard him say. " Marry me my love." The End beagle4u@lava.net 'Your dog loves you when no one else does' TRADEWINDS ( ) MFW-DFW [0]xxxxxxx( )=========================>> ( ) member PWFC