Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 07:57:19 -0500 Reply-To: Frank Balon Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Frank Balon Subject: The Old Timer 4/5 "The Old Timer" part 4 of 5 A Highlander Story by Frank D. Balon The group continued their conversations through the night. By the time that the first pangs of morning light began filtering through the loft windows, Anne was dozing soundly to one side of the sofa. Joe Dawson, in want of sleep himself, found himself yawning uncontrollably. Rising stiffly from his seat, he leaned over and touched Anne gently on the shoulder. "C'mon Doctor. Time to get on home." Anne stirred, blinking the sleep from her eyes. "What time is it?" She asked, looking around the room. "It's almost 8:00." Dawson answered, glancing at his wrist watch. "How is Mr. Pavelski holding up?" Anne looked toward the white haired man still talking to Richie. "He's had one hell of a night." Dawson snorted. "You know what? Our newest Immortal is one tough old guy." Smiling he added, "Sure, there were a couple sensitive moments while we talked last night, but I think he's capable of handling it." Anne grabbed him on the arm and led him into the kitchen area. Her intention was to get out of the hearing range of the others. "What about the sword fighting? How could he ever be expected to survive?" Joe frowned, "Anne, I just can't answer that. Fate has dealt the man this hand. Look, If it would have been you or I attacked in that alley, we'd still be in the morgue." Letting that thought sink in for a moment, he went on. " As far as fighting or not fighting, some Immortals manage to avoid *The Game* for decades at a time." "But can he learn to defend himself? I've seen Duncan use a sword...." Anne recalled that night in Paris, several months earlier, when she had seen MacLeod battle the evil Immortal Daimler, outside of Father Bernard's Church. "To fight like MacLeod? No, never. But Mac is as good as anyone, ever. Mr. Pavelski only needs to learn enough to stay alive. Richie understands this. And I think Mr. Pavelski does as well." Eying the two Immortals, he said, "It's up to them now." Then louder, for them to hear, "Hey you two, we'll be going now." He led Anne towards the elevator. Joe Pavelski stood up and stepped over to the pair. Shaking Dawson's hand, he said, "Thank you Joe," He grinned, "for a very interesting night of conversation." And then turning to Anne, touching her arm. "I don't really know how to thank you, what to say...." "You don't have to say anything." She smiled. "I only got you to people... who could ...at least begin to help you." Dawson interrupted, "C'mon Doctor, breakfast is on me." "Why didn't you say so before?" She laughed, "Let's go!" After Dawson and Anne left, Richie suggested that they both probably needed to get a little bit of sleep. Accepting the sense in this, Joe asked if he could use the couch. After having been subject to hours of emotional ups and downs, he finally allowed himself the realization that he was exhausted. Richie lowered the window shades, offering some degree of darkness. Yawning, he turned toward the older man and tossed him a blanket from a chest of drawers. "Do you need anything else?" "I have everything I need for now... Richie..." his voice trembled slightly, "...thank you ... for everything." Just a little embarrassed, the young man responded, "I'll see you in a few hours, now, let's get some rest." Exhausted, he threw himself onto the fold-out bed and pulled the sheet up over his shoulder. Within in minute, the two men were fast asleep. When Richie woke early that afternoon he laid on the bed for a few moments, thinking. Staring at the ceiling, he wondered what Mac would have to say about the situation that he now found himself in. Sadly, he recalled the episode with the Immortal Mikey a few months earlier. At that time, he had tried to take the mentally challenged man under his wing. Things had turned out very badly, however, with poor Mickey eventually taking his own life. But this was different, Richie told himself. Although dangerously strong, Mikey was basically helpless, especially against another Immortal. Mr. Pavelski, on the other hand, although physically old, was intelligent and thoughtful. At least so far, he seemed to accept and understand what had happened to him. And most importantly, he had asked for Richie's help. In the three years that he had known him, Mac had never turned away a new immortal. In fact, Duncan had practically regarded the early guidance of a new Immortal as an honor bound duty. With this thought, Richie actually gained a degree of confidence. Maybe Mac would approve, he reasoned. Sitting up, he swung himself out of the bed and went to the doorway. Peering out, he saw that Pavelski was still peacefully asleep on the sofa. Quietly, he made his way to the bathroom. They started with the wooden practice swords. Slowly at first, Richie demonstrated the basic guards and parries. Over and over they repeated these fundamental motions, picking up speed. Richie had decided to concentrate on the techniques of the rapier, rather than those of the two handed katana. He found Mr. Pavelski's endurance and arm strength to be better than he expected. Although utterly inexperienced in fencing, the old man showed that he must have been a terrific athlete in his younger days. Even though the movements were simple and slow, Joe performed them with coordination and control. In admiration, Richie said to himself, 'Man, I hope I'm in as good as shape when I'm his age...' then he abruptly stopped the thought. Immortal for barely two years, he was still subject to the occasional random thought of his past mortality. They finished the session after about an hour's worth of work. Richie showed Joe a few basic stretching exercises and warm downs. While doing these, the old man turned to him with an expression of surprise. "Richie, I just remembered. I left my car on the side of the road, just off of Route 218. Do you think we could call a garage, and then maybe take a ride out?" "Sure we can." Richie answered. "Let's clean up, then we'll go on out." End of part 4 of 5 =========================================================================