Date: Sun, 13 Nov 1994 21:09:45 EST Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: the dungeon of souls Subject: "Unwelcome Inheritance" Act II, part 5 "Unwelcome Inheritance" by Caile Donachaidh Kane Act II, part 5 comments (&flames) to _Part 5_ Duncan could not sleep. He looked over at Shae beside him, feeling guilty. What was happening? He got up and padded out to his desk, unlocking the top drawer and taking out the framed photograph of Tessa. "I'm so sorry," he said to the picture. "But what am I supposed to do? She's so much lke you... so strong... But *she* is alive. *She* will be here, forever." A tear slipped from his eye, followed by another, and another. He put the photograph back in the drawer, and resisted the urge to slam it shut. He didn't want to wake Shae, it wasn't often that she slept this well. Damn. Here he was, doing it again. Putting Shae before everything, before even himself. But it seemed the least she deserved. She could easily live without him. He just hoped she didn't *want* to. On the other hand, did *he* want to spend the next century sacrificing himself? But then, he wasn't really sacrificing himself, he reflected, as he walked back to bed. He was doing what he'd done for centuries - the girl always came first. Why did he have to be such a romantic? He crawled in beside Shae, and she curled into his arms. He held her tightly, absently playing with her hair. She really did have the most beautiful hair... This really isn't working, he thought with some annoyance. She was simply impossible to concentrate around. She made one want to forget - the past, the present, everything. Shae stirred and she looked up sleepily at him. "What time is it?" she yawned. "About two o'clock," he answered quietly. "What's wrong?" "Can't sleep." "Oh. Do you know why?" "I keep thinking about... the files, you. If you'll leave when you find out. If you'll ever find out." "I suppose I will. I don't know." She thought on this. "If you want me to...?" He shrugged, not sure how to answer. Then he kissed her roughly and got out of bed. "I'll be out on the couch if you need me." He left her wondering why.... The file, the file. That was what was really driving himm crazy. The feeling that there was something to be found, if only he looked a little *harder*. He dropped down onto the couch, taking up the file. Who was the last one that Shae had asked about? Ashe, that's it. He found the story and began to read. No-one knew where Ashe had come from, or how old she was. She was incredibly powerful and beautiful. She had an almost supernatural talent for fighting, so much so that she was already a legend hundreds of years before her death. Many considered her cold and ruthless, yet many accounted her as kind and warrmhearted. Indeed, she apparently founded almshouses, convents, and hospitals. She excelled in the Game, for she was said to have a very strategic and calculating mind. She never ran from a fight, but spent years at a time on holy ground. She was wealthy beyond comprehension. But her life was not without its... troubles. Although she spent a great deal of time and money helping mortals, and although she had some mortal friends, she did not really prefer their company. She instead preferred the company of her own kind, and had several immortal lovers. But these relationships invariably ended in disaster. Her lovers would always challenge her, and she always won. Eventually, she became so disheartened with her existence that she commited suicide. Duncan almost choked as he read the word "suicide". Good God, this was it, wasn't it?! He read on, eager for more details. Ashe convinced her only close mortal friend to cut off her head. the woman who did it inherited all of Ashe's money and estates, and the family apparently lived in the London area. There was an asterisk here, Duncan glanced down and saw a penciled in footnote: "The Taylor family was lost to our historians from 1563 until early this century, when they reemerged in Japan and England. The family is very private, and very little is known about them to this day, except that they are strangely fond of competitive swordplay." He cursed silently. Joe had to know then, didn't he? If he'd explained the whole story about Shae, Joe could've cleared it all up in 5 minutes. No, wait, not really. He drummed the arm of the couch with his fingertips. Joe could have provided the connection, but not the explanation. And although he might suspect, he didn't *really* know that Shae was immortal. It probably wouldn't have been a good idea to tell him - he didn't like the idea oof Shae as a target. Even if Joe was one of the good ones, once Shae's name went down in the books, every *bad* one had access to it. And to her. No, here was the connection, but still no damned explanation. He wondered if his reincarnation theory was still valid. It seemed almost *less* likely now, he thought, glancing at the clock. Three-thirty am. Still pitch black. Ten-thirty in London. Yeah, Fitz would probably be up. Duncan thought he ought to call him and tell him to get his butt over here - especially on the off chance that he might have known Ashe. He vaguely recalled the number out of the back of his mind, and dialled hopefully. He stretched out on the couch with a yawn as he listened to the ringing. Maybe he was wrong - wrong number, or too early. After all, "early" for Fitz could mean anytime before one. But just as he was about to hang up, he heard Fitz's sleepy voice: "Hallo?" "Hello, Fitzcairn?" "MacLeod? Isn't it a bit early?" "Early where I am, but not where you are. How are you?" "Fine, fine, good god, ten-thirty?" Fitz grumbled. "How's my protege? Or shall I say, dilemma?" "Well, that's what I'm calling about." He paused, and decided it was way too early in the morning for subtlety. "How soon can you get over here?" "That bad, eh?" "Not so bad as... weird. I'd much rather explain in person." "Of course. I'll be on the next availible flight." Duncan gave Fitzcairn the address, they said their goodbyes, and hung up. Satisfied for the time being, Duncan fell fast asleep on the couch. **************** further parts will be forthcoming =========================================================================