Date: Fri, 31 Mar 1995 12:01:34 -0600 Reply-To: Z_DENTONAM@TITAN.SFASU.EDU Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Amy Denton Subject: Revelations Part 4 (of 6) Okay, folks, here we go again. Enjoy! ******************************************************************************** Revelations By Amy M. Denton Part 4 >Knock!< >Knock!< >Knock!< The knocking on the door made Dr. Anne Lindsay look up from the book she had been reading or at least been trying to read. Since Duncan had made his 'revelation' to her, she had thought of almost nothing else, which wasn't good. She didn't like the fact that she couldn't think of an answer, a solution. It bugged her, got under her skin and it got her exactly nowhere. She was no closer to an answer now then she had been 5 days ago. Another series of knocks emenated from the door. She glanced at the clock on the V.C.R.. It read 7:45 p.m. Outside, yet another thunderstorm rumbled on past her townhouse. She wondered who it could be. The thought popped into her head that it was Duncan. She jumped up from the chair, book forgotten and dashed down the stairs to the front door, without even checking to see who it was, she opened the door and...it was Joe Dawson, leaning on his cane, like standing on her doorstep at almost 8 p.m. was the most natural thing in the world. Her surprise, mixed with disappointment, must have shown on her face because Joe snorted and said, "Nice to see you too Anne. May I come in? It's wet out here." Good maners took over and Anne stepped to the side allowing Joe to enter. She shut the door behind him and then turned to look at him. Her townhouse had what the realtor had called a "mini porch." Basically a doorstep with an awing, so he wasn't too wet. She regarded him for a moment before asking "Joe, what are you doing here?" He snorted again and began to walk around in circles. He had almost completed two before he stopped and looked at her. "I thought you might have some questions?" It took a moment for what he had said to sink into Anne. She then laughed, stepped back from Joe and said "Don't tell me, let me guess, you're one too, right?" Joe laughed this time. "My luck's never been that good. Do you mind if I have a seat, my feet are killing me." Anne arched an eyebrow, Joe had a slightly warped sense of humor. She glanced up the stairs she had coming tearing down only moments before and paused, then reconsidered. If he could get up and down the stairs at his club he could manage her steps. "If you can manage..." she trailed off. "Watch." She trailed up the stairs after Joe, wondering what questions he thought she needed answered. When they had both taken a seat, Joe leaned forward, placed his hands on his knees and said "I know he told you. I don't know why but I know he did." A look of absolute surprise crossed her face. She was not only surprised but a little annoyed. >>Who else had he told??<< Joe saw the look. "He didn't tell me. I rather not say who but trust me, it wasn't him. In fact I haven't seen him in almost 6 days." Joe decided not to mention the encounter at the dojo today. No sense in laying a guilt trip on her. "You wouldn't happen to know why, would you?" Well, maybe just a little one. Anne frowned at Joe. "If you're trying to lay a guilt trip on me, it's not working." Despite what she had just said though a little knot of dread started to form in her stomach. >>I wonder where he is?<< The idea that he was probably at the loft had not crossed her mind. She collected herself. "You said you thought I might have some questions that needed answering. What did you mean?" "What you think I mean? Your boyfriend just told you he was immortal. Did he tell you how old he was?" She nodded. >>How did Joe know all this?<< "Okay, your boyfriend just told you he was a 400 year old immortal. A person who can't die. Don't tell me that didn't surprise you." "Wether it did or not, is really none of your business Joe." She was starting to bristle at his questions. "Okay, okay. I didn't mean to be so abrupt. But it is quite a shock, I know, belive me, I know." "How do you know ?" she asked supiciously. Joe was silent for a moment. He thought about telling her about the Watchers but then decided against it. >>She probably think I was nuts if I told her I watch Immortals.<< "I found out probably the way you did. I watched one of them "die" then come back to life. How else would you explain that?" >>I wish I knew.<< Anne thought. "Does the person you saw "die" know you saw him "die"?" That sounded so strange, saying that a person died then came back to life. Joe smiled. "Probably. Anyway I'm here to answer any questions you might have. I'll answer them to the best of my ability." Anne frowned. She hardly knew Joe. How could she ask him anything? >>You're over analyzing again.<< a little voice said inside her. "How do you know so much about...them anyway. What'd you do, follow them around?" Joe winced. She had hit a little too close to home. "I'd rather not say." "I'm tired of being kept in the dark Joe." Anne got up from her chair and paced over to the set of french doors on the far wall. She looked through the curtains on them and out into the storm. Joe sighed. "I'm sorry. But I'm not telling you how I know. I just do. You're just going to have to accept that." >>The things I do for friends.<< he thought. She turned back from the doors. "How?" "How what?" "How does it happen? How do they become immortal? What happens to them?" Joe raised his eyebrows. >>When she asked a question...<< "Well,...the prevailing thought is they just are. They're born like a normal human being and somewhere along the way they die, it's not sure wether a violent death is needed, and the immortal in them is triggered. They are frozen in time, in terms of age and that's it." She frowned, her doctor's mind trying to take all of it in. "You mean, it's abitrary? No rhyme or reason? No set pattern?" "No. It just happens." "You're a big help." she said, moving back toward her chair. Joe shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry. Anything else?" Anne sat down and looked at Joe. "Why do they carry a sword? That's a pretty odd weapon of choice in this day and age." Joe paused. He wasn't sure what to tell her. He didn't know if Duncan had told Anne about The Gathering. If he hadn't, Joe didn't want to be the one to tell her. If he had.... Knowing Duncan's track record on this particular subject, he probably hadn't. So Joe had to think of *something* to tell Anne. "You've got to realize, most them...You do know that Duncan's not the only one, don't you?" Anne nodded. "You've got to realize..."Joe started again. "...that the time most them came from, swords *were* the prefered weapon and so I guess old habbits doe hard." "But why? Surely no one's going to attack them now? And what's this business about the only way he can die is if he gets his head cut off? He's immortal isn't he?" >>I'm going to kill you Duncan, just as soon as I find you.<< Duncan had told her part of what The Gathering was about but not everything. >>Typical.<< "I can't tell you that part Anne. That's up to him to tell. What I can say though is this is the happiest I've seen him in a long time. I think he is truly in love with you and if I know him at all, it probably crushed him when you left." >>Probably nothing, it did crush him.<< "He takes some things very personally. You would think that after so many years they would develop a way to handle things like this. I don't think they have." Joe leaned across the space seperating the two and put his hand on Anne's knee. "He's a good man." Joe look Anne straight in the eye. "One the kindest, most gentlest people I have had the pleasure of meeting. With all he's been through, he *should* be a basket case but he's not. If he holds you at arms' length it's because he's afraid of losing you and he doesn't want to suffer through the pain again." >>Like with Tessa.<< There was silence for a few moments, then Anne spoke "You sound like you know him well." Joe made a face. "Better than I know myself." he muttered. "What was that?" Anne asked, not quite hearing what Joe said. "I said, I do know him and I know how it's affecting him." Pause "And you too." He added softly. "What?" "You can sit here and act at being calm and try to do something else," He looked around the room. His eyes came to rest on the book Anne had been trying to read when Joe had arrived. "..like reading but I heard you come tearing down those stairs and the way you opened the door, you were expecting him, not me." She opened her mouth to protest. "Don't bother to deny it Anne, it's written all over your face. You miss him, probably as much as he misses you." Anne sat there, shocked,that a man she hardly knew could read her so well. He was right, not that she would tell him that but he was right. She did miss Duncan desparately. She missed his smile and his sense of humor and...she felt her face turn red as she thought about his *other* attributes. In spite of that though, she was terrified to see him again and she didn't know why and that's what really bothered. She didn't why he terrified her and until she found out she couldn't see him again, she *wouldn't* see him again. Joe watched Anne for a few minutes and let quiet fall on the room. He watched her face turn red, then watched as a determined look came across it. She opened her mouth to say something but Joe's beeper went off at that exact second. The two stared at the little machine clipped to Joe's belt as if willing to be quiet but of course it wouldn't untill Joe unclipped it, pushed the button on the top and saw the number of the bar flash on the little screen. He frowned. >>Not now.<< He thought. >>Not when I've almost got her. Oh,well might as well see what the problem is, could be something serious.<< Joe glanced up at Anne for a second. She had been watching his face, wondering what he was thinking. "Forgot I had it on." he said apollogetically. "I'm still not used to it." The Watcher Organization had decided to give all it's watchers beepers so they could more closely observe the immortals. Joe didn't like wearing it but he had been given strict instructions *not* to leave it behind, or take it off or lose it and for once, Joe had done as he had been told. "Could I use your phone? It's the bar, probably ran out of something." Anne nodded and pointed at the phone over by the french doors. >>The bar?? Who would be...Duncan.<< The knot of dread forming in her stomach got a little bigger. >>Oh, please don't let it be Duncan.<< Joe got up and lumbered toward the phone. He had an idea of what had prompted the bar to call him but he hoped he was wrong. He dialed the number of the bar and on the 3rd ring, someone picked up. "Joe?" It was Mike, the bartender. So, he had been waiting for Joe to call. Joe looked at Anne before answering, she looked a little too calm for him. "Mike, what's the problem?" "Your friend." Joe could hear the band in the background. "Which one?" "MacLeod. He just started his second bottle of Scotch. You might want to get back here before he starts on the third bottle." "You didn't..." Joe didn't finish the sentence. On the other end, Mike snorted. "I don't need this job that badly and no I didn't watter it down. I didn't have the chance, he came in and asked for 3 bottles of the best scotch, sat down and proceded to get drunk. You might want to get here before he gets into trouble." "You're only calling me now?" "Sorry, I thought he'd stop after one bottle." Joe had to fight back the impulse to swear. "All right, I'll be right there. Don't go anywhere." "He won't, at least I don't think he can." Joe shook his head as he hung up the phone. "Trouble down at the bar. Better to have it resolved now before the cops are called." He moved toward the stairs. Anne remained where she was. "Joe?" "Hmm?" He turned to look at Anne and almost wished he hadn't. She looked absolutely terrified. "Is it Duncan? Is he the drunk?" >>Please say no. Please say no.<< "No, it's not him." Joe lied easily. There was absolutely no point in worring Anne. If Duncan wanted to let her know where he was, he would. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "All right. I'll show you to the door." Good maners took over again as she led him to the door. He stepped through the doorway and onto the porch, then turned. "Remember what I said. He's a good man. He deserves better then what he gets most of the time." Joe turned again and lumbered down the steps and got into his car. Anne watched him go, then shut the door. She had some *serious* thinking to do. ******************************************************************************** Wow! This section was a long one! I didn't mean to write so much. I keep trying to combine scenes but it's not happening. Thanks to everyone who's waited paitently for the end. It's coming, I promise!! I'll try to write faster. As usual comments, questions, complaints and gripes accepted at: z_dentonam@titan.sfasu.edu