========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 17:51:27 -1000 Reply-To: Heidi S McKeon Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Heidi S McKeon Subject: New Beginnings 4/5 see part 1 for disclaimer ***************** New Beginnings A Highlander Story Heidi McKeon ***************** Chapter 4 It had been almost two months since Jess gave Duncan Darius's sword. It was spring now and all the trees were in bloom. Tropical was keeping Jess busy, so they spent as much time together as their schedules allowed, often spending the night at one or the others place, pending on who had the most free time on a given day. Jess was amazed at the intensity of her feeling towards Duncan. She never felt this way before. Even though they rotated where they spent the night, there was no doubt about their commitment to each other, or the love they shared. One evening during a romantic dinner, Jess announced," Duncan, I am going to Paris next month to see about getting some more Orchids for the store, we are getting orders faster than I can find suppliers to fill my needs. I thought that I might visit an old friend while I'm there. Would you like to come with me?" " Let me see if I can work it out with my lecturing schedule at the University and I'd love to, we can stay at the barge. This old friend, just how good a friend is he?" Duncan teased. "I'm glad you'll be coming with me, and yea the old friend was a lover for a while. He was there for me when I needed someone after Tom and Amy were killed. We parted as friends, saying that our long term friendship was more important." They spent the rest of dinner talking about their favorite places, amazed that there were some places that they both frequented. "It's a wonder we never met before this." Duncan commented. "Would we have even noticed each other if we had met 5 years ago? For all we know we did meet, probably at Darius'." "Why don't we adjourn to the sofa for some wine. I have one I think you'll like." Duncan poured 2 glasses and sat down, pulling Jess into his arms. They sat sipping the wine listening to the soft jazz that played. Jess, feeling playful, started to lazily caress his chest, unbuttoning his shirt while she slowly moved downward. Duncan, his eyes closed, allowed her to continue. As she moved downward she discovered the affect her caresses had on him. Duncan stood pulling her with him. Placing their glasses on the table, he swung Jess into his arms and headed towards the bed. Duncan suddenly stopped mid stride and set Jess on her feet. He could sense another immortal. "Damn Richie, I'll get him for this if he comes up now." Duncan waited for the elevator to sound. Surprised when a knock on the door came instead. "Who?" Duncan moved away from Jess and headed across the room to the short hallway that led to the door. Opening the door, "Methos!" he said surprised, " What are you doing here?" "Am I interrupting something?" Methos replied with a gleam in his eye, taking in Duncan's undone shirt. "As a matter of fact, yes, but come in anyway, there's somebody I want you to meet." Duncan stated as they headed back into the loft. Jess had moved back to the sofa and was about to sit-down when Methos stepped out from behind Duncan. "Adam, My God! What are you doing here? Jess exclaimed, as she started toward him. "Jessie, I could ask you the same question. Come here." Adam stated, opening his arms to welcome her in. Duncan stood there looking stunned. "I,ah, take it you know each other." Adam smiled, "You could say we know each other *very* well.", his eyes gleaming as he teased Duncan. "Would someone care to explain what is going on?" Duncan stated rather disgustedly. "Duncan, Adam is the friend that I told you I was going to visit next month. We met years ago in Paris" Jess said turning in Adam's arms. "Adam, what *are* you doing here?" "Since it turned out that I had 2 friends in the same city, I thought that I would come visit and check up on you. Especially since I hadn't heard from you for the past year." Methos said, smiling, and poking a finger at Jess. Jess just sheepishly grinned and shrugged her shoulders, as she embrassed Adam again, " What can I say." "Methos, do you mind removing your hands from Jess." Duncan said flatly, the anger starting to show, at their obvious affection. "Sorry MacLeod, its just *natural* to have her here, you know what I mean?" Methos watched as Duncan got angry. Jess, knowing that Adam was teasing Duncan, turned and gave him a light kiss before leaving his embrace. Duncan stood fuming as he watched the exchange. "Since you two obviously want to have a reunion, why don't you leave now, before I'm tempted to take *someones* head." "Duncan, what is wrong with you? Jess asked alarmed. She had never seen such anger in Duncan before. "Why are you so angry at us. Adam and I are old friends, we were just having a bit of fun." "Damn it! Just go!" "I'll be back first thing tomorrow and you better be ready to explain!" Jess told him angrily. Duncan watched the pair leave. He didn't want to explain his sudden anger. How could he tell Jess that the anger was jealously. It hurt to see the woman he loved in the arms of a friend. He knew that Jess had other loves, but it threw him to discover that one of those loves was a friend and another immortal. Methos had never told her so that must have meant something. What? He decided to go downstairs and work off some of his anger. He would explain it to them tomorrow. Jess and Adam didn't talk must on the way to 'Tropicals'. Both were too stunned at Duncan's reaction to a little teasing. Each had seen him angry, but he usually took a little teasing better than this. He was the one who often instigated the teasing. As they walked into the loft, Jess came out of her thoughts to ask, "Adam, why did Duncan call you Methos? Are you an immortal?" Stunned at her question, he replied "Methos is my real name, Adam Pierson is the name I have chosen for this time. MacLeod told you about immortals I take it? Did he tell you all of it?" Jess nodded and led Methos into the livingroom. After indicating that Methos should sit, Jess headed into the kitchen to get drinks, a beer for Adam and a glass of wine for herself. Handing the beer to Methos, he smiled," You didn't forget?!" Jess smiled as she sat down next to him. "Adam I'm scared, what just happened with Duncan?" "Honey, I don't know. He could be jealous, it could be the shock that you know another immortal, you did tell him you knew Darius didn't you? Or maybe a combination of everything. Most men wouldn't like to find out that the woman they love, and MacLeod does love you, has been intimate with someone who is a friend." Methos replied wrapping an arm around Jess. He himself was also in shock at seeing Jess with Duncan. Though it should not have come as a surprise, Darius had told him that Jess would be perfect for MacLeod. It was still hard for him. Jess had come the closest to getting inside, something he didn't let happen too often. He was glad that their parting had been as friends. Most of his mortal friends were watchers, and he didn't let them get too close lest they discover his secret. Jess was someone he had thought about trusting with his secret, he knew that Darius had even considered telling her, but he never got around to it. Methos was glad he didn't have to hide it from her any more. She was a special woman. Had things been different, the circumstances of their friendship, he could have loved Jess more. They spent the next few hours talking. About Methos, about Duncan, about Jess, and the happiness of the past year. "OK, Adam, why are you really here?" she asked suspiciously. " Like I said at MacLeod's, I figured that I would come visit both of my friends since you lived in the same city. I didn't expect to find you *together*, but I am glad you are happy, my friend. Darius always said you two were meant for each other. But now, it's bed time for you, can't have MacLeod thinking I kept you up all night." He said with a twinkle in his eye, "Besides I want to keep my head firmly attached for a few more centuries." Jess showed Methos the guest room, then headed to bed. She tossed and turned most of the night. Close to dawn Jess was woken up by a commotion in the hall. She sat up to find a haggard Duncan walking in her bedroom door. Not saying a word, she patted the bed next to her, motioning for Duncan to join her. He started toward the bed when Methos threw open the doors, sword in hand. He was awakened by the feeling of another immortal. Methos lowered the sword when he saw it was Duncan. "I wondered if you would last until morning before coming over?" Methos said laughing, as he turned and walked out the door. Duncan just shook his head "Damn him." He was relieved to find Jess alone in her room. His imagination was working over time about whether they would *reaquaint* themselves or not. He knew she loved him, but with Methos back in her life, would she still want him, or would she go back to Methos? Jess held out her hand to Duncan as he sat down on the bed. Pulling him into her arms, she smoothed his hair and whispered into it, " *You* are my love, my life, Adam is my friend and I love him as that, and just that, now and forever." How did she do it? Know just what to say, just what he *needed* to hear. Were they that much in tune with each other? He loved her, of that there was no doubt. He was just going to need some time to adjust to this Methos 'friendship', and he told her as much. Jess held him as he explained it to her, as if she knew that her closeness was needed. How did one woman have so much capacity for love? She reminded him of Tessa in that way. Their similarities were becoming more and more obvious to him. Was that why he fell in love with her so fast? The fact that she reminded him of Tessa, in how she related to him. No, he had fallen in love with Jess before he noticed how much she and Tessa shared in similar qualities. Someday when the thought of Tessa was less of a threat to Jess, he would have to tell her. Now it just wouldn't be fair to her. Even if she didn't want to admit it, Jess still had a lot of insecurities, especially where Tessa was concerned. For now, he would just love her with all that he had to give. Methos was up before Duncan and Jess, he decided to let them sleep and borrowed Jess's car to go see Joe. Thus letting the lovers have the morning to talk. Joe was doing paper work in the office when a knock sounded at the door. "Yea, come in if you dare." Joe called gruffly. "Well that's some welcome, watching MacLeod getting to you?" Methos joked as he walked in the door. " Methos, when did you get in?" Joe said surprised, getting up to grab Methos' hand. Laughing he told Methos, " No, MacLeod has been pretty boring since he returned from his 'retreat', especially since he has a new woman in his life." "Yes, I found out about his new friend last night, the coincidence is that she is also an old friend of mine. MacLeod wasn't to happy too discover that though." Joe laughed, " I can imagine." Joe and Methos sat and continued to talk , mostly about what has happened since they last got together and what had happened at MacLeod's the night before. beagle4u@lava.net 'Your dog loves you when no one else does' TRADEWINDS ( ) MFW-DFW [0]xxxxxxx( )=========================>> ( ) member PWFC