Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 15:33:53 -0500 Reply-To: Beth Arritt Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Beth Arritt Subject: Studies In Life - Part 07/10 Richie spent the next two weeks going to all of Madison's classes. There was no sign of Kostas, despite Duncan's attempts to find him. Duncan would search during the day, then pick up Maddie at the university. At the end of the second week, the threesome were sitting around Duncan's loft, the table littered with two empty pizza boxes and an empty bottle of wine. Richie was seated on the floor. Maddie was leaning back against Duncan on the sofa. "Mac..." Richie began hesitantly, then stopped. "Yes?" Duncan inquired, looking at him over the top of Maddie's head. "Were you serious about paying for college if I wanted to go?" "Yes," Duncan said. "Why?" Maddie looked at Richie hopefully, her hand clutching Duncan's arm. "Well..." Richie said, "I think I'd like to enroll and take some more classes after this is over." He looked at them uncertainly. Maddie launched herself off the sofa, earning a grunt from Duncan as she pushed hard against his stomach. "Richie!" she exclaimed, almost knocking him over with a hug. "That's wonderful!" She pulled back and looked at him. He grinned. "Congratulations, Richie!" Duncan said, reaching over to shake his hand. "Any idea what you want to major in?" "I'm not sure," Richie answered. "I'm interested in a lot of things. Sheila # this girl in one of Maddie's classes # and I were talking about school. She said she took general courses for a year before she decided on a major. So I thought I'd take some courses in things that interest me, and see where that leads." "I don't think they have courses on girls," Duncan teased with a smirk, earning him a glare from Richie, and a back handed slap to the chest from Maddie, who had moved back onto the sofa with him. "Just kidding!" he said quickly. "I'm thinking of taking some art courses, as well as history and business," Richie continued. "Who knows?" "Well, I'm really happy for you Richie," Maddie said. "I'm glad something else good has come out of this. I'm only sorry you're waiting on my account." "I wouldn't want to start until next semester anyway," Richie said. "And besides, if I hadn't been sitting in on your classes, who knows if I would have decided to go?" He stood and reached for his coat. "I'm gonna head home # it's getting late. See you guys in the morning." "Night," Duncan and Maddie said at the same time. They watched Richie leave, and then sat there on the sofa in silence for a few more minutes. Finally, Maddie spoke. "Duncan... how much longer do you think we'll have to wait?" "For wait?" he said, half-asleep. "For Kostas to make his move," Maddie responded, leaning forward and moving away from Duncan a little. I'm tired of feeling like a prisoner, tired of disrupting your life and Richie's life, tired of forcing my way into your home # " "Hold it! What do you mean?" Duncan broke in, sitting up and turning Maddie around to face him. "Who said you were forcing your way into my home?" "No one said that. But it is your home. And you were kind of forced into letting me stay here. Come on, don't you miss having the place all to yourself?" "Where is all this coming from?" Duncan wanted to know. "When did I ever say I wanted you out of here?" "Well, you didn't. But I figured you were used to living alone, and you really didn't have much of a choice..." she trailed off. "Then let me clear all of this up right now," Duncan said softly, smiling and leaning towards her. "No one forced me to let you stay here. There were other options. I could have sent you to holy ground for one. You are here because I wanted you to be here. *Want* you to be here." He put his hand on her cheek, caressing her face. "And when this is over and Kostas is taken care of, I still want you to stay, if you'll have me." Maddie stared at him for a moment. Then her lips curved slowly into a smile. "If I'll have you?" She leaned forward. "Oh yeah, I'll have you," she said against his lips before she kissed him. ***** That Wednesday Duncan received a phone call in the early morning hours. After he hung up the phone, a sleepy Madison asked what the call was about. "It's a lead on Kostas' location," Duncan replied, climbing out of the bed and fumbling for his clothes. Madison woke up in a hurry. "Where is he?" she demanded. "I'm not exactly sure, but someone who fit his description was spotted a couple of hours ago in a bar on the docks." "Is he still there? Can you find him?" "They followed him back to a hotel. Most likely he's staying there." "Are you going after him?" she asked, even though she knew the answer. "What do you think?" he said as he picked up the phone and dialed. "I'll get Richie to come over and keep you company." Richie was there in less than 10 minutes, looking very disheveled in jeans and a black t-shirt he hadn't bothered to tuck in. He arrived in the elevator to find Duncan tensed, sword in hand. Duncan relaxed when he saw Richie. "Thanks for coming over, Rich." he said, putting on his coat. "Maddie will fill you in on what's going on. I have to go." "Duncan, wait," Maddie said, walking over to him and putting her hand on his arm. "Can't you just wait until it's light out?" "We've been over and over this, Maddie! I *have* to go now." He took her hand from his arm and held it. "I can't take the chance that he'll leave before I get to him." She looked defeated, tears welling up in her eyes. "I know," she said in a low voice, "but I don't have to like it." "Look," Duncan said, his hands on both her arms, "everything will be all right. I'll be back." He kissed her once, then looked into her eyes for a moment. Then he was gone. ******************************************************************************** ****** Questions and comments welcome - arrittb@ezraco.com =========================================================================