Date: Sun, 30 Apr 1995 23:55:47 -0400 Reply-To: aduty Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: aduty Subject: Return of Felica part 5 Duncan sat on the sofa with his feet up on the coffee table,drinking. He had spent most of the day thinking about what he had done wrong,what he could have changed,and what he did right.The only solution he could come up with was finding Felicia before she took Richies head.That,however,was proving very difficult at the moment.He couldnt stake out Richies apartment it would be a breach of trust he could never repair.At the same time he couldnt wait around night after night waiting for Richie to check in so he would know if he was still alive.All he could do was what he was doing,wait for Joe to call with the information he asked for.Then ,as if on cue, the phone rang. "Duncan MacLeod". "Hello Mac,I got that information you requested." "How is it?" "Not good.Is there any chance you could swing by here." "Im on my way....and Joe,dont let Richie leave." "Richie?I havent seen him since yesterday." "Damn.",he said under his breath. _____________________________________________________________________________ Richie stretched out into the black bucket seat of the red convertable Felicia just bought.He looked over at Felicia and she smiled back at him as she drove.The wind felt good blowing through his hair as they rode the interstate leaving the city behind them. "You made the right choice Richie." "Yeah,I guess you're right.",he sighed. Felicia could tell Richie had a few regrets about leaving."Tell you what.We'll drive for a couple of hours then I'll check us into the best hotel money can buy.I know the perfect place." Richies spirits picked up a little at that,"Sounds great." _____________________________________________________________________________ Duncan spent the next two hours searching the city for Richie.His apartment was empty and no one had seen him leave.After that he searched every one of his hang-outs that he knew of than finally gave up and headed for Joe's. Joe could tell Duncan was unsuccessful finding Richie the minute he walked through the doors,"No luck,eh?" "No,none at all.What do you have for me." "Well,like I said we've had trouble keeping track of Felicia since we first found out about her.However,I did a search through our database and cross-referrenced it immortals she may have been in contact with.So I entered her description and I came up with something.Seems like an immortal matching Felicia's description turned up in Rome about a month or two after Felicia vanished here.We had a watcher that worked with the Catholic Church so he could keep a watch on an immortal named Isabella Vionetti.Now she was a Darius type.The only time she had been off holy ground was to move from church to church.Anyway she took in a wandering immortal." "Felicia." "That was our suspicion.She spent over a year at the abbey and the two seemed to hit it off pretty well." "So,what happened." "It appears that the immortal gained Vionetti's trust and convinced her to leave holy ground." "And she took her head." "Yes."he said bitterly. "Thanks Joe,that all I needed to know.Did you find out where Felicia is?" "Not yet.Like I said its real hard to track her down." "Well we've got to do something Richie's life depends on it.Do you have anything that might give me a clue to where they're staying." "I dont....",suddenly Joe had a flash of brilliance,"wait a minute." Joe walked behind the bar and rummaged through his reciept books. "The night she was in here she was showing off for Richie.She bought the band a drink and picked up Richies tab."Joe russeled throught the yellow reciepts. "Aha!Here it is." "Here what is?" "Credit card numbers are like gold to our organization.I cant begin to tell you how many immortals we've traced through these little beauties." Duncan followed as Joe walked into the back office.He sat down behind his desk and turned towards his computer.He pulled up a screen and entered the card number."It should only take a few seconds...if she's still using the card." "Do you use this on me?",he had to ask even given the current circumstances. "I plead the fifth.",he smiled back at him. Then as Joe predicited all of Felicias recent purchases filled the sceen. "Hmmm,very busy girl,"he commented to himself.Then he shot up,"There it is!The Carlyle hotel about fifteen minutes ago.Y'know Ive stayed at that place,real nice." "How do I get there." Joe began hastily writing instructions for the fastest way there. "Its about two,two and a half hours out." Duncan grabbed the paper and started for the door. "What are you going to do MacLeod." "Im going to go there and Im going to kill her." "He'll hate you." "He'll be alive." With that he turned and walked out the door. _____________________________________________________________________________ Richie walked into the huge opulent room."Ive never seen a suite this big." "Only a preview of things to come.",she laughed. Richie stepped down from the entrace hall and down into the sunken den.The room was a rich white boardered in gold colored trimmings. A large white marble fireplace was a center piece of the far wall and huge windows boardered with gold colored curtains flanked each side of it.A large curved couch sat in front of the fire place.Richie jumped over the back of it and landed on his back.He reached over to the polished wood table and picked up the reciever of the antique phone resting there. "So,what next room service?" _____________________________________________________________________________ Duncan raced down the interstate as fast as his T-bird would carry him.He had already memorized the instructions but was no way he could think of to get him to the hotel any faster.All he had going for him now was suprise.Felicia wouldnt be expecting so he doubted she could get away before the buzz gave him away.It was Richie he was worried about.He was worried enough that he would be dead when he got there but another part was equally worried about what Richie would do when he arrived.There was only one chance, he would have to sucker punch him and by the time he was awake it would all be over.He had plenty of time on his drive to think about what would happen then.He had seen to many of his friends turn against him in the past.Richie killed Mako for doing what he was about to do and just a couple weeks ago David tried to do the same thing to him.The last question Richie asked that horrible night with Mako was if they would ever have to face each other. Duncan prayed that he wouldnt find that answer tonight. _____________________________________________________________________________ Richie and Felicia were lying in front of the fire feeding each other the dinners they had ordered.The fire made the white walls glow yellow. Richie looked into her eyes as he fed her the last morsel from his plate."Is it always going to be like this?" Felicia swallowed the last bite,"Lets not think about always Richie lets think about right now." "Thats really hard for me." "Well,I think I know something that will take your mind off it." With that Felicia took his hand and led him into the bedroom. _____________________________________________________________________________ Duncan could see the Carlyle coming into view down the road.He hadnt made the time he hoped for.It had taken him two hours to make it this far and that was even at the extreme speed he was driving.He quickly pulled into the lot and headed into the huge lobby of the hotel.He headed up to the front desk and waved for the clerk. "Yes,sir." "Yes,Im visiting a couple of friends and would like to know thier room number." "Im sorry sir but we cant give out the numbers of our guests suites. I can call them for you." Duncan reached for his money clip and handed the clerk two hundred dollar bills."Well,I sort of wanted it to be a suprise." The clerk grinned a wide smile."Of course,sir.Just give me thier names." _____________________________________________________________________________ Richie smiled basking in the after glow. "So,",Felicia said crawling out of bed,"what say we turn this town upside down." "Sounds good to me." Richie watched as Felicia picked up her clothes and headed into the bath room to get ready.He lay there a few minutes just watching her then decided he should get ready himself.He sat up and grabbed his traveling bag and picked out a pair of jeans.He put them on then sat back down to put his socks and shoes on.He looked up at the dresser and could see Felicia ,reflected in the mirror,putting on make up.She was so beautiful. Richie put his socks on then rooted around the bag for some decent footwear.Again,almost habitually,he looked into the mirror to see the woman he loved so dearly and what he saw made his heart freeze.There standing right behind the bed stood Felicia with the fearsome blade she had shown him the night before held back in an arc about to fall on his neck.Instinctively he thrust forward falling to his knees.He could hear the whoosh of the sword sounding like a hurricanes wind.From the floor Richie could see the glint of metal from the rapier he had placed there.He lunged for the weapon as he heard the bed squeak from Felicia jumping up onto it to take another swipe at him. He rolled away rapier in hand just in time to avoid a blade buring itself into the carpet where Richie had just been.Richie stood up and back peddled a few feet back to the entrance of the bedroom. He took a long look at her not believing what was happening,"Why?" "Nothing last forever Richie.",she laughed,"Why put off the inevitable?" Richie couldnt face her not after all that had just happened.He ran out of the room and slammed the door behind him then raced for the main door. He could hear Felicia right behind him.He ran out of the suite and down the hall towards the stairwell.Felicia was right behind him and he had to make a choice.As he entered the stairwell he decided to run up.If she caught him he didnt want to be in a position where his head would be in close proximity to her sword.He just prayed that the door to the roof was open. _____________________________________________________________________________ Duncan exited the elevator and looked down the hall.He could see that Felicia's suite was open so he headed right for it.No one was around so Duncan drew his katana before entering the suite.He still didnt get a buzz and began worrying.Where were they?He entered the suite and then headed for the bedroom.As he walked in he noticed several items of clothing littering the floor.On closer inspection he discovered the sword cut in the floor. There was no evidence of a quickening so what ever happened wasnt over yet. Duncan quickly came up with a scenario.Felicia tried to take Richies head, they struggled, Richie ran.He traced out the whole battle and it led back out into the hall.He was on the elevator so he didnt miss them there that left the stairwell.He walked over.That left up or down.Which way? _____________________________________________________________________________ Richie surveyed his situation.He was stranded on the roof amid the satelite dishes,air conditioners,heating vents,and other such equipment. He could jump from the roof but there were people down there and there was no guarentee he would ressurect before Felicia got to him.The buzz was still with him so he hadnt gotten away.That left one option...fight.In his heart, however,he knew he couldnt kill her. Felicia leisurely walked onto the roof and approached Richie. "Felicia.I love you.",he pleaded. "I love you to.That still doesnt mean Im not going to take your head. Look at it this way,"she smiled,"this way you really will be with me forever." Felicia lunged forward and the air rang with the sound of clanging metal.Strokes were fairly exchanged but with each blow Richie was pushed farther and farther back.Richie couldnt beat her ,he knew that now,she was to good.He couldnt even use the trick Duncan used on her,she'd be ready for that.Farther and farther back he was pushed until he was pressed against a large air conditioner.Felicia then easily went under his blade and impaled him through the stomach and pinning him to the conditioner.Cool air shot up Richies back and the sword felt like an icicle ran through him. She pulled her sword out and Richie fell to his knees. "Say good bye Richie.",she said raising the sword up high. It was in that moment that Richie finally realized that he was going to die.Part of him never truly believed it.So many thoughts flashed through his head that second.He had seen it happen to others but this time it was different this time it was him.A strange queeziness filled his body.So this was death.It felt....kind of like......another immortal? Richie looked up and saw Felicia frozen in terror.There standing at the entrance of the roof stood Duncan MacLeod the Highlander.Richie realized this was his only chance at survival.He brought his sword to bear and thrust it with all of his might up under Felicias ribs and up into her chest. Felicia looked down at Richie with the same expression of horror that was just locked on Duncan.Richie stood lifting the sword and dropping Felicia to her knees as easily as pulling a lever.She dropped her sword and Richie kicked it away fearing that the situation might reverse once more. "Please,Richie,Im sorry,I love you,I'll change,Please,Richie,Im...", on and on she begged. Richie pulled the sword out and held it up.Felicia just kept staring at him and repeating her mantra.Richie looked at Duncan and there was an instant understanding.Richie gathered strength from his teacher.He knew what had to be done. "There.......There can be only one.",he said sorrowfully. Richie brought down the sword with all of the strength he could muster,releasing Felicias quickening. Duncan turned but did not leave.This was going to be a bad one and he didnt know if he could handle watching it. A slight breeze picked up as Richie stared down at his fallen lover. Small stings of electricitiy began to build in the air.Slowly,the main satilite disk aligned with Richies body.Slowly the electricity built ever quickening.Bolts of energy began lashing around him.Ever faster more and more energy was unleashed.Torrents of pain began running up and down his body and the only sounds he could hear were his screams.Finally when he had gotten to the point where he thought he could not bear no more he felt himself give in to it.For one brief shining second there was no pain,no Richie,no identity, he was one with everthing a total oneness with the universe.Everything had meaning he knew it all.Behind him a bolt of energy was released into the satelite.Down below him he heard a chorus of exploding televisions heralding his victory.Then as soon as it began it was over.All of his problems had returned and once again he was just Richie Ryan. Richie knelt down.He just wanted to die.What he had done was right,he knew that now,but he just couldnt handle the mess he had made. Duncan walked over and picked him up."Come on we have to go." And together they walked off into the night. =========================================================================