Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 15:30:10 -0500 Reply-To: Beth Arritt Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Beth Arritt Subject: Studies In Life - Part 03/10 A little later Madison came back into the room wearing Duncan's robe. "Hope these fit," Duncan said, handing her a t-shirt and some sweatpants. "They should be okay." She went into the bathroom to change, leaving the door open a little so they could talk. "Duncan... do you really thing he'll keep after me?" Duncan was quiet for a moment. "Yes, I really do," he finally answered. "But don't worry about it tonight." "Yeah, right," Maddie said as she came back into the room. "You try having someone after you who you can't kill and you can't call the police on for the rest of your life." "Oh, I think I can empathize," he said with a smile. Maddie thought about if for a second, then gave a slight smile. "I guess so," she said. "But I'm not used to dealing with this." She looked exhausted, and almost ready to cry. Duncan took her in his arms. "It'll be okay." "You're that certain you can beat him?" Her voice was muffled against his shoulder. "Nothing's ever certain," he said carefully, "but I think I can beat him." He turned her around and guided her towards his bed. "You take the bed, I'll sleep on the sofa." She started to protest, but he stopped her. "You're obviously exhausted, and you'll sleep better here. Besides, I've slept in more uncomfortable places than that sofa in the last 400 years," he said with a grin. Madison laughed and got into the bed. Duncan sat down on the edge of the bed, holding her hand. "Are you going to be okay?" he asked. "I think so. I feel safer here than I did in New York when he was after me, I know that." "You're safe here tonight, just keep remembering that." "I will." She snuggled deeper in the covers. "Thanks again, Duncan. Goodnight." "Goodnight." He kissed her hand and went over to the sofa to get some sleep. ***** Madison awoke the next morning to the delicious smell of bacon. She rolled over and looked into the kitchen area to see Duncan at the stove. He looked up, saw she was awake, and brought her a cup of tea. "Wow, when I signed up for protection I didn't know I was getting room service too!" Maddie joked as Duncan sat on the edge of the bed. "Yes, well, we're a full service organization," he said with a smile. Then he studied her face intently. "How do you feel?" he asked seriously. "Much better. It's amazing how much a good night's sleep can help. Duncan scrutinized her face a little more, and then seemed satisfied she was telling the truth. "You look much more rested. If you want to go change, we can have breakfast and then head over to your apartment to get some things together," he said as he rose from the bed. "Well... I don't really have anything to change into # except my cocktail dress." "Oh, right. Well, you can wear what you have on if you like. And the first thing we'll grab at your place will be some shoes. In the meantime, put these on," he handed her a pair of socks. "And then come eat something," he said as he walked back to the kitchen. After they finished breakfast, Duncan and Madison went to her apartment. While Maddie was packing, Duncan looked around. He picked up a picture of Maddie with her parents taken when she was about twelve. Maddie came into the room, still wearing Duncan's t-shirt and sweatpants, but now sporting her tennis shoes and carrying a suitcase. She stopped when she saw the picture he was holding. "God, that was such a long time ago," Maddie said, putting down the suitcase and walking over to Duncan's side. "To you, maybe," he said, glancing at her, then back at the picture. "But to me it seems like yesterday." "I guess your perception of time is a bit different when you've lived for four hundred years," Maddie said. "You could say that." He looked at the picture a moment longer, smiling. "You were really something. "'Our grown-up child' your parents used to call you. Always so serious, so adult." "Geez, Duncan, you make it sound like I was a stick in the mud!" she said, grimacing. "Not at all," he protested. "You knew how to have fun, but you also know when to be serious. And you were quick, too. Didn't take you long to pick up on anything # especially the fact that I would always cover for you when you misbehaved." "So, have I changed?" Maddie asked, tilting her head. "Or am I exactly the same?" Duncan looked at the picture again, and then at Maddie. "You've definitely grown up. But I have a feeling you're still basically the same person inside # only older and even more intelligent." Maddie smiled. "Gee, what do I say after a compliment like that? Thank you?" "That works." Duncan placed the picture back on the table and gestured towards Maddie's suitcase. "That's everything?" "Everything I need for now." "Okay, then let's get out of here." Duncan picked up her suitcase and walked out. Maddie locked the apartment and the pair went out to Duncan's T-bird, then headed back to the dojo. "Richie is coming by this morning to stay with you for a little while," Duncan said as they neared the dojo. "Why?" Maddie wanted to knoll "What's going on?" "I need to go check on a few things," Duncan replied. "I want to see if I can find out where Kostas has been staying." "Maybe he's gone now," Maddie said as Duncan parked the car. Duncan shut off the engine and turned in the seat to face her. "I doubt it," he said. "I don't want to scare you, Maddie, but you have to understand the danger you're in. Kostas does not give up. He may seem to have given up, but it's just a matter of time. He can afford to wait for a few weeks, lull you into a false sense of security, and then come after you when you least expect it." "But this can't go on that long!" Maddie spoke rapidly, her voice rising an octave. "I have classes to teach in a couple of weeks, and things to do to prepare. I still have unpacking to do #" Duncan grabbed her arm, cutting her off in mid-sentence. "None of which you can do if you're dead! You have to deal with this, or he *will* get you in the end." He eased his grip on her arm into more of a caress. "And I don't want that to happen any more than you do." "Sorry," Maddie said, a bit calmer. "I just hate not knowing what he's going to do. And I hate not being able to defend myself even more." She looked out the window. "I have training in both martial arts and fencing, but my skills would be no match for Kostas # I'm not used to playing for keeps." She laid her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. Duncan laid his hand on hers. "Maybe you won't have to worry about it. Maybe I'll find him today. Maybe he'll come after you soon, and I'll be able to take care of him." Maddie held onto his hand. "That's an awful lot of maybes." "But the point is, you don't know what's going to happen. So let's get you up stairs so I can get started." Duncan kept his hand on his sword all the way up in the elevator. he was fairly certain the buzz had to be Richie, but he wanted to be safe. He relaxed when Richie # holding his rapier # came into view. "Hey, Mac, Maddie," Richie said. Maddie gave a little wave. "Morning, Rich. Thanks for coming over." "No sweat. Maddie beat me in chess last night, so she owes me a rematch anyway." Maddie smiled. "Anytime, Ryan. I can kick your butt anytime. You have no concentration for the game." "Let's just say I save my concentration for other things," Richie retorted. Maddie just raised an eyebrow at him in response and then smiled. Duncan interrupted them to say he was leaving. He took Maddie's hands in his. "Stay here, please, and listen to Richie if anything happens. He'll know what to do, despite his air of cluelessness." He kissed her on the forehead and turned towards the elevator. Richie went down in the elevator with Duncan. "So, what's up, Mac?" he asked. "I'm going to check out a few places," Duncan answered. I have a couple of ideas on how to find Kostas." "So what are you going to do if you find him?" Richie wanted to know as they reached the door of the dojo. "I'm going to kill him," Duncan said. "Stay close to Maddie, and watch your head," he advised as he walked away. "Watch yours!" Richie called as Duncan jogged down the steps to his car. ***** Richie went back upstairs to find Madison standing at the window. "So, ready for that chess match?" he asked brightly. "Sure," she said, leaving the window to sit on the floor by the chess board. "I'll even let you go first." Richie settled on the floor and moved a pawn forward two spaces. "So, tell me, do you have any good stories about Mac?" "A few. Mostly about how good he was to me. I always looked forward to his visits. He was much more fun to hang out with than any of the kids I knew." Maddie smiled as she remembered. "Once I found out about his immortality, he would tell me incredible stories about things that happened long ago." She studied the chess board. "I don't know if I was always interested in history, or if he made it so fascinating that I couldn't resist choosing it as a career." She moved one of her pieces on the board. "You must have some good stories though." "Hmm... let's see." They continued the chess match as she talked. "I did seem to spend a lot more time getting into trouble when Duncan was around. I think I just liked having him come to my rescue." Maddie paused, leaving the words 'just like this time' unspoken. She forced a smile for Richie. "For instance, when I was about seven or eight, I broke a frightfully expensive vase in my parent's house. I was playing with a yardstick, using it as a sword # I had seen Duncan fencing with someone, and I wanted to be able to do what he was doing # and Duncan took the blame for the vase. Told my parents he accidentally bumped it. Even paid them for it # but I wasn't supposed to know that part," she finished with a mischievous grin. "Mac must have really liked you to cover for you." "Yeah, well, that time at least I think he felt partly responsible. If I hadn't been watching him with the sword, I wouldn't have wanted to try it. I used to want to do everything he did." "Sounds like you had a major crush on him," Richie said. "Yeah # I always used to think I was so cool when he was around that he'd never figure out I had a crush on him." Maddie leaned back against the sofa while Richie contemplated his next move. "Of course, looking back now, I was *so* obvious! Everyone within ten miles probably knew about my crush!" She leaned in toward the chess board, to make her move. Richie had left himself wide open for attack with his last move. "That was a bad idea." She smiled as she captured his king. "You lose." "Not fair! You distracted me with that story," Richie said, smiling to let her know he was only joking. "Hey, I'm willing to go again if you are. Reset the pieces, loser," she said with a smile. ******************************************************************************** ****** Questions and comments welcome - arrittb@ezraco.com =========================================================================