Date:         Wed, 7 Dec 1994 01:02:52 -0600
Reply-To:     Highlander TV show stories <HLFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU>
Sender:       Highlander TV show stories <HLFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU>
From:         Jennifer Lynn Hedberg <jlhedber@MAILHOST.ECN.UOKNOR.EDU>
Subject:      The Emperor's New Clothes, Pt1

The Emperor's New Clothes
by Gwen Vohs

        "Hey! Come back with my purse!!"
        Connie looked around to what direction the cry had come from.  When he
deterimined that the theif was running straight for him, he smiled.
        When the young thug was withing reach, Connie just grabbed him and
threw him over his hip, much to the shock of the thief and the delight of the
crowd on the street.  After the malefactor had become intimate aquaintences
with the pavement, Connie put his boot on his enemy's throat while threatening
to give him a spiral fracture with a gentle twist of his left arm.
        "I suggest you give the lady her purse back or you and I are going to
have a SERIOUS disagreement, sir."
        The mugger's right hand handed the purse back to his victim, who
Connie still hadn't bothered to look at.  It didn't matter what she looked like
....she was a lady who needed her purse back.  But as she grabbed her purse
back from the thief, she came into his line of sight.
        She was young, maybe twenty-five.  She had platinum hair, with that
healthy glow that told you it was natural.  She was tall, standing only a couple
 inches shy of Connie's 6'3".  As her green eyes beamed thanks to Connie, he
noticed something else....she was with child.
        His eyes flashed to the mugger's as he applied more force to the arm.
        "are you alright, ma'am?" he asked the lady, strugling to keep his
voice level.
        "Yes, I'm fine.  Normally I would have beaten the crap out of him
myself, but in my condition it wasn't worth the risk."
        By this time a cop had arrived to haul off the assailant.
        After they were gone, Connie asked again,"Are you sure you're okay? Do
you want to call your husband?" He finished by offering her his cellular
phone aout of one of his jacket's many pockets.
        "No, I'm fine, Mr......????"
        "Shepherd.  Constantine Shepherd.  But friends call me Connie."
        "Connie.  As I said I'm fine....and I'm not married."
        he blushed at his error."I'm sorry. I....."
        "it's okay.  I lost my fiance to lukemia a few months ago, and it's
my fault for not taking off the ring."
        "Again. I'm sorry, Miss....???"
        "Elizabeth Taylor."
        Connie looked startled. "As in.....?"
        "yes, as in THE Elizabeth Taylor.  I've also got a sister named In-
grid and brother's named Carey and Clark."
        he laughed."Parents are movie buffs eh?"
        She nodded and laughed too.
        "Look, you've been very kind...but I don't want to take up any more of
your time."
        Connie protested sicncerely.  "Nonsense. I'll at least wait with you
until your ride gets here.  you must be really shaken up."
        "Not as shaken up as that kid after the tumble you gave him.  And
there's my mom now."
        Connie bowed, ackowledging her dismissal.  She waved goodbye and
w got into a car driven by another woman, an older version of her
daughter.  As he watched them drive out of sight, he suddenly felt the
Presence.  He turned around and saw Duncan standing on the street corner
laughing.
        "still playing Galahad, Connie?"
        He smiled and picked his friend up in a bear hug. "DUNCAN!!!"
        "Come with me....Richie's waiting for us."
        Connie picked up the duffle bag at guitar at his feet and said, "Lead
on, Mac...."
        Duncan flashed him a playful look of warning.
        "MacLeod!! I was gonna say MacLeod!"
        End Chapter 1
=========================================================================