Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 15:32:47 -0500 Reply-To: Beth Arritt Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Beth Arritt Subject: Studies In Life - Part 06/10 Another week passed. Duncan and Maddie spent time together, enjoying being in love. They also spent time with Richie, as usual. Maddie and Richie still played chess and fenced # both improving # while Duncan was searching for Kostas. Three days before classes were supposed to start at the university, Richie had gone home, and Maddie was leaning back against Duncan on the sofa, his arms around her. "Duncan... I have to start teaching on Tuesday," she said hesitantly. "You can't," he said shortly. "It's not safe." "I thought the whole idea was for me to be able to live my life normally," she said, twisting around to look at him. "Instead I'm holed up in your place # not that I mind that part," she added, " # and now I can't even teach my own classes? I'm sorry, but this is my job. It's what I'm good at. I love it. And I can't just not show up at the beginning of the term at a new school." "You won't ever teach again if you're dead," he reminded her. "I can't be with you at school and search for Kostas at the same time." "Fine." She stood and headed for the phone. "Wait a minute. Madison # what are you doing?" He followed her. She turned to face him when she reached the phone. "We've both been encouraging Richie to start college # I think now is a perfect time. If he'll help me." "I don't know about this," Duncan said. "You don't have to." Maddie put her hands on her hips. "Nobody's asking you." "Oh, thanks a lot! That's it, no discussion, you decide?" "Duncan, I love you, and I trust you with my life, one hundred percent. But you're being way too over protective about this." "You don't know what you're dealing with # " he began. "Yes I do," Maddie said, cutting him off. "You've spent the last two weeks drilling it into my head every time you thought I might have forgotten." She took a deep breath. "Look, all my classes are in the building next to the chapel. *If* by some strange chance Richie can't help me, I can make it to the chapel. Kostas can't hurt me there, right?" Duncan was silent for a moment. "All right," he said, throwing his hands in the air. "*If* Richie agrees to sit through your classes and not to let you out of his sight, I guess it will be safe enough." "Thank you, oh lord and master," Maddie said, still ticked off. "May I call him now, or do I have to wait for permission?" "I'm sorry, sweetheart," Duncan said softly, touching her face. "I just don't want him to hurt you. I don't mean to be over protective, or bossy. It's just # I love you." "I know." She leaned her head against his chest, her hands on his waist. "I'm sorry I snapped. I'm just so tired of letting this maniac dictate my life!" "I know. It has to end soon. I hate the idea of using you as bait. But maybe once he realizes you've gone on with your life, he'll think he can come after you and we'll get him." "All the more reason to start teaching. I'll call Richie," she said as she picked up the phone. ***** Richie was glad to help. "I can meet all the college girls without doing the work!" he said happily. "Maybe you'll even learn something along the way," Madison said. Standing next to Maddie at the phone, Duncan couldn't help but add "Maybe you'll like it so much you'll decide to enroll." "Hopefully you won't have to attend very long," Maddie said to Richie. "It will be a relief if the guy does come after me at this point." She saw Duncan clinch his teeth before he walked away to sit on the sofa. "Anyway, we'll see you tomorrow morning, and we can talk about the arrangements then. Okay?" "Okay," Richie replied. "See you in the morning," "Yeah. Bye." Maddie hung up the phone and joined Duncan on the sofa, sitting sideways in his lap. "Duncan," she said softly, playing with his hair. "I know you don't like this. But it's the only way." "I know," he said tightly. "But knowing that doesn't make it any easier. We're playing by his rules. He's in control, and I don't like it." "Neither do I, but it can't be helped," Maddie said, her head on his shoulder. "Besides, some good has come out of all this. I finally got you to admit you loved me." She felt him smile as he reached up to stroke her hair. "There is that," he said. "Think of all the time we might have wasted." "So why waste anymore?" Maddie said, one hand pulling his head down for a kiss, while the other was unbuttoning his shirt. "Mmm... you're absolutely right," Duncan said, scooping her up in his arms while still kissing her. Once again he carried her over to the bed. ******************************************************************************** ****** Questions and comments welcome - arrittb@ezraco.com =========================================================================