========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Apr 1996 20:31:46 -0500 Reply-To: LC Krakowka Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: LC Krakowka Subject: Twists of Fate 1/5 Disclaimer: Allison Benton and Sarah MacGreggor belong to me. The rest are Rysher's. I promise to give them back when this latest obsession fades. For Shan, Julia, Vi, Laura, Melody and all the many other ladies who filled my mailbox hollering about Sarah and Adam/Methos/Petey. For Heidi, who was the ONLY one to get *why* I named him Petey, and who convinced me that the thing to do was throw things down in print and see what happened. For Mike, who flattered me immensely, then wanted a three dimensional bad guy. For Wendy, just because. For Sandra and Russet, whose work I aspire to reach the level of. And, for Mary Sue, who is rumored to enjoy a happy ending. Note: Re Methos: cucumbers, spiders, seasickness not cannon....just me having some fun with the old dude. Thanks especially to Vi Moreau for her beta reading. And to Heidi for her warm fuzzies. Oh...one more thing. This story takes place after my other two (Long Lost and Cardinal Rules). I think it'll stand alone, but the history of the characters and their relationships start there. I can mail them to you if you want...or they're on my HL web site. Comments encouraged and welcome--no need to be gentle...but do try to be polite. Twists of Fate LC Krakowka-copyright 1996 hck1@cornell.edu part 1 Allison Benton sat quietly by the bedside of her husband, listening to the erratic beeping of the heart monitor and trying to block the image of their daughter lying on a slab in the morgue. They had called her to identify the body of the nine year old, but Mandy was barely recognizable from the burns and cuts of the car wreck that she and her father had been pulled out of. Matthew's ex-wife would need to be notified, but that could wait until later. Right now, she had to concentrate on getting Matthew through this. If only she could take some of that mysterious power that healed her when she was injured and pass it into his body. She'd gladly give her head if it would save him. He stirred in his bed and she leaned close. The doctors had told her that he would probably wake up briefly, but that the internal bleeding would most likely kill him before morning. "Matt?" He groaned and opened his eyes slowly. "Allie. How's Mandy?" "She's okay," Allison lied. There was no point in telling him the truth. He'd be with his Mandy soon. And she would live on, alone. "What about the other woman?" "What other woman?" "There was a woman. A brunette. I remember seeing her crawl from the car, before I passed out." Allison frowned. Anyone that made it out of that wreck would have to make it to the hospital, or they'd die for certain. She shuddered at the thought of a woman lying, wounded and dying, on the side of the mountain where the two cars had crashed head on. "I'm sure she'll be fine," she lied again. "You just get some sleep. You'll feel better in the morning." "Allie, I love you," he said softly. "I love you too Matt," she kissed him on the forehead and sat back. Six hours later, at 10:14 am, Matthew Benton died of a massive hemorrhage of the spleen. Allison sat in his empty room for two hours before she worked up the courage to leave the hospital. She thought nothing more of the woman who had killed her husband and daughter. She was busy making funeral arrangements and trying to keep from falling apart. This was the first mortal lover she had lost in her brief seventy five years. She thought the dull ache in her heart would drive her insane. Then, at the cemetery, after all the other mourners had left and she was standing alone by the graves, she felt the distinct ringing in her ears that meant another of her kind was in close proximity. At least this was Holy Ground. She looked up to see a tall brunette standing a few yards away. Suddenly, what Matthew had said in the hospital made sense. Of course the ambulance crews hadn't been able to find the other driver. She was long healed and gone by the time they arrived. And now, she had the gall to show up at the funeral. Something snapped inside the small woman. "Get out of here," she said. The other woman took two steps closer and halted. "Get out of here, or I'll take you head now. Holy ground or not." The brunette sighed. "I just came to pay my respects and tell you how sorry I am." Allison glared at her for a moment, wishing she had her sword. She clenched her fists and looked away. Several minutes later, the other immortal left quietly. *** Duncan was having a quiet dinner with Richie and Sarah when Amanda breezed back into his life. It was late May and the loft windows were open, letting in early summer breezes and sounds from the street below. Both he and Sarah had just finished up teaching for the Summer and were having their first meal in weeks that didn't come with papers to correct for dessert. It had promised to be a relaxing evening. All three stopped eating suddenly as the buzz hit and Sarah reached instinctively for her sword; an elegant swept hilt rapier. "Don't bother," Duncan said, recognizing the feel of it. "It's an old friend." Moments later, Amanda arrived via the lift. She was wearing a vibrant red cat suit and carrying shopping bags from the most expensive boutiques in town. Instead of offering Mac a greeting, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. "Who's the sex kitten?" Sarah asked Richie, not as quietly as she had intended. "I'm Amanda," the other woman released Duncan and crossed the room, obviously sizing up Sarah. "And you are?" Sarah stood up and stared her in the eye for a moment. They were of equal height and similar build, though Amanda appeared to be far more voluptuous. "Sarah MacGreggor." "Of the clan MacGreggor, no doubt." Sarah nodded curtly. "Highlanders," Amanda sighed. "So many Highlanders among us. Why do you suppose that is?" Duncan was watching the expressions shift on Sarah's face and decided to jump in before harsh words were exchanged. "Amanda, we were just sitting down to dinner, would you like some?" "I'm starved! What are we having?" Richie leapt up to help Mac clear a place for Amanda. "Beef Stroganoff, it's really good," he said. He started to follow Mac into the kitchen, but stopped dead in his tracks at the look Duncan flashed him. Don't leave those two alone, it said. Reluctant to step back into the almost tangible tension, he returned to his seat between the two women. "So, what brings you to Seacouver, Sarah?" Amanda asked. "I came to see Duncan and decided to stay," Sarah responded enigmatically. Amanda frowned. "And just where do you stay?" Sarah flashed her a look that Richie found to be incredibly out of character for his friend. Cocked eyebrow, small smirk...smoky eyes. It was almost as if she was goading Amanda into believing there was something going on between her and Mac. "Sarah has an apartment out on the edge of the city," he jumped in. "She teaches at the university." "With Duncan? How nice." "Actually," Duncan set down a plate and a glass of wine for Amanda "Sarah teaches Literature." "And just how much literature do you remember from when it was still in draft form?" Amanda asked. "More than Duncan does," she replied. "If you want to know how old I am, just ask." "Okay, how old are you?" "You first." Amanda frowned again. This woman wasn't going to be easy to deal with. They might have to take things up with swords if Sarah MacGreggor didn't lighten up a bit. "A true lady never tells her age," she said. Sarah raised both eyebrows at her, then went back to calmly eating her meal. "So, what do you do for a living?" Amanda paused, thinking of the perfect way to phrase her occupation. "I...I am an aquirer of antiquities." "Archeologist, or Thief?" Sarah asked, reaching for the wine bottle. Duncan kicked her sharply in the shin under the table. *** "Oh ho, I would have loved to have seen that," Adam chuckled into his coffee the next morning. "Sarie and Amanda...now that would be a fight to put money on." "I'd rather it didn't come to that," Duncan scowled. "Who do you think would win?" Richie asked. "Tough call," Adam said. "Sarie's probably better with a sword, but I bet Amanda has a few surprises in her." "I'd like to see them spar sometime," Richie continued, dunking his donut into the cup to sop up the remaining dregs of coffee. Duncan shook his head. "It wouldn't be a sparring match for long. They're both too hot tempered." "Sarie would have challenged her outright if she were interested in taking her head. I think she was just playing with her," Adam drained his mug and took it to Duncan's sink. "Not a very smart thing to do," Duncan mused. They all paused for a moment as they sensed another immortal arriving in the dojo downstairs. "That would be Sarah, she's teaching a Tai Chi class this morning," Duncan said, adding his mug to the small pile in the sink. They piled into the lift and arrived downstairs to find Sarah stretching against the wall. She grinned a hello and crossed over to them. "You should have been here last night, Petey. I finally got to meet the infamous Amanda." "I heard all about it," he smiled. "Surprised you both still have your heads." Sarah shrugged. "Why don't you like Amanda?" Richie asked. "I don't dislike her, I just think she's a little...well...over the top. She's kind of comical actually, like someone who thinks life is a beauty pageant or something. I mean, who dresses like that in real life?" Duncan chuckled, over the top was a good way to describe Amanda. "Still, do us all a favor, Sarah, and don't get on her bad side. I can't deal with having to keep you two from killing each other." "She's obviously got the hots for you, Mac," Sarah grinned again. "Worried that she'd challenge me to duel for your hand?" As if she had known they were talking about her, Amanda waltzed into the dojo at that very moment. She crossed the floor, her heels clicking loudly, and approached their group. "Duncan! I thought you might like to go out to breakfast with me," she said. "You too, Adam." Sarah looked up at her, trying not to scowl. The other woman was dressed to the hilt again, and stood a good three inches over Sarah, who was bare foot. Heels. Nice tactic. Did that woman have her own makeup crew? "You can come too, of course," Amanda turned to her, looking down her nose at the tank top and drawstring pants Sarah was wearing. "But do please change out of your pajamas first." Adam barked a cough to cover his giggle, but Richie lacked the sophistication to attempt to hide his own laugh. Somehow, Duncan managed to keep a straight face, quietly thanking the powers that be that there were no swords within reach. "I have a class to teach," Sarah growled. "Martial arts...you know...fighting... where those heels of yours would last all of about three seconds, like your head." Amanda looked down at her, "Is that a challenge?" "Unless you're afraid you'll break a nail." Amanda took a step forward, but Adam threw himself between the two women. He was facing Amanda, but with a hand stretched behind him against Sarah's shoulder. "Now ladies, let's not fight. You're both far lovelier with your heads." Duncan took Amanda's arm, "And you'll get my floor dirty...I'm sure Richie isn't in the mood to mop." Amanda glanced at him, then looked down over Adam's shoulder at Sarah and smiled thinly. "Well, we'll miss you at breakfast then, some other time. Are you boys coming?" Sarah stalked off, clenching her fists repeatedly and swearing softly. "Hold on a minute," Adam said, following Sarah across the room. "You have to admit, the pajama crack was funny," he said as she squatted down into a stretch. Sarah glared up at him. "You started the war last night, from what I heard," he added. "Amanda's not the kind of person who likes to be toyed with, especially when there is a man involved." "So I've discovered," she grunted, switching to stretch the other leg. "Just promise me you won't let her get to you? I think you guys would get along if you gave it a shot." Sarah collapsed back into a sitting position and looked up at him. "How about this, I won't *start* a fight with her." "Good enough," he smiled, knowing that she would keep her word. "Are we still on for dinner tonight?" She nodded. "Just remember that it's your turn to buy." *** Outside the dojo, Allison Benton sunk low in her car seat and pulled the baseball cap down to shade most of her face. She had been tracking Amanda for months, and had no desire to be discovered until she was ready. Allison said a silent prayer as the three immortals crossed the street. If they came much closer, she'd be found. Maybe if she concentrated very hard, she could hide her buzz from them. Not likely. Maybe they would think it was coming from Sarah MacGreggor. Luck was with her though, and she sighed in relief as the tallest of the three held open the door to a black Thunderbird and waited while Amanda climbed in. The one Allison recognized to be Duncan MacLeod said something that made them all laugh and crossed to the driver's side. Was that tall one MacLeod's latest student? What was his name? Ryan? Vaguely, she remembered Ryan being described as having reddish hair. As the car roared off down the street she finally relaxed. She didn't have her plan formulated yet, but she knew that Amanda and MacLeod had a history together and that Amanda would most likely stay in the city for a while. That would give her time to think. All she really wanted to do was take the woman's head and get it over with. In a dark part of her heart, Allison somehow believed that it would ease her pain. She toyed with the idea of bringing her dilemma to Sarah. The older woman had helped her in the past. But, something in her gut told her that, this time, her old friend wouldn't want to get involved. Sarah was nothing if not adamant about fighting your own battles. [end pt 1] -- LC Krakowka/hck1@cornell.edu