Darkness Into Light 6/6
Terry L Odell (tlco777@JUNO.COM)
Fri, 31 Aug 2001 13:27:35 -0400
Darkness Into Light
T. L. Odell
Part 6/6
See Part 0 for Disclaimers
Richie leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Sleep well,
Tess."
Duncan didn't say anything when Richie came back to the shop; he
had the spare set of car keys in his hand, and he was out the door
immediately.
Richie stared after Duncan. He wished Tessa had taken the bet.
He liked double chocolate fudge as much as she did.
After talking with Tessa, he could accept Duncan's avoiding him.
He just wished it would end soon. Nothing Tessa could say would
alleviate the fear he felt any time he was alone.
Three weeks later, the doctors proclaimed Tessa well enough to go
home. Richie hired a professional service to clean the apartment.
Duncan filled the apartment with flowers; Richie was afraid Tessa
would think it was a funeral parlor. Richie also put half a gallon of
double chocolate fudge ice cream in the freezer. He didn't know if
Tessa was on a restricted diet. If she was, well, then he'd eat it and
get her another one when she was allowed it.
He felt Duncan's approach almost before he heard the T-bird drive
up. He had learned to relax into the strange sensation so it wasn't
as debilitating as it had been at first. The door opened. Duncan
entered, carrying Tessa in his arms like a new bride across the
threshold.
"I can walk, Mac. You know that the doctors insist on it." She
looked around the apartment. "The place looks wonderful. But so
many flowers. What did you do, buy out an entire florist?"
"Two," mumbled Richie under his breath. He grinned at Tessa.
"Welcome home, Tess. It's great to have you back."
"Mac, put me down," she insisted. "I want to give Richie a proper
hello. You can put my bag in the bedroom."
Richie watched her walk gingerly toward him. He started toward
her, but she motioned him to stay where he was.
"I need to move around," she said. "I get stiff if I stay still too
long." She gave him a gentle hug; he kissed her on both cheeks.
"I'm glad to be home. It's been a long time."
Duncan came out of the bedroom. "Okay, Tessa. Let's get you to
bed. You've had enough for a while. I'm sure the drive from the
hospital tired you out." He reached for her.
"All right. I'll get into bed, but only if you let me walk there under
my own power." She rolled her eyes at Richie behind Duncan's
back.
They soon settled into a comfortable routine. Duncan and Richie
shared caring for the shop and Tessa, although the division of labor
was far from equal. Duncan did take over the cooking duties, to
the relief of all three of them.
Four days later, Richie started rearranging a display case to make
room for a shipment of porcelain. Tessa had settled down for her
afternoon nap; Duncan was undoubtedly with her. Richie
suddenly became aware that the background hum in his head had
been overshadowed by another stronger one. His mouth dried; his
palms sweated; his heart throbbed so loudly he could barely hear
the stranger bellow, "Duncan MacLeod, I presume."
He tried to say, "No," but he couldn't get the word out. He shook
his head and sidled toward the drawer with the gun. Before he got
there, an icy-cold steel blade pressed against his neck. With the
adrenaline intensifying his senses, Richie took in his attacker. He
was only slightly taller than Richie, but built like a refrigerator.
His eyes were pale blue. Richie could almost count the gray hairs
standing up amongst the dark brown of the rest of his crew cut.
The cloying scent of his cologne imprinted itself on Richie's
memory. So this is how it's going to end.
"I believe you're looking for me," came the familiar baritone from
behind him. "I'm Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod. Leave
the boy alone."
The other Immortal lowered his sword and scowled at the Scot.
"Go," Duncan said to Richie, nodding toward the apartment.
Richie turned and took some reassurance from the cold look of
determination in Duncan's eyes. He backed out of the shop and
into Tessa's workshop. He leaned against the large sculpture Tessa
had been working on before the accident and waited for the
drumming in his chest to quiet. He looked frantically around for
something to use as a weapon. He picked up one of her large
hammers from the workbench. He had to protect Tessa if Duncan
didn't survive the challenge.
"Don't be stupid," he muttered. "How's a hammer going to protect
you from a sword?"
He no longer felt the presence of an Immortal. Straining with his
senses, he crept closer to the shop door. Had they left? He felt and
heard nothing. With shaking knees, he made his way to into the
shop and traded the hammer for the gun. He moved as quickly as
he could back to the apartment, double-checked the locks on the
doors, and sat crouched in the hallway leading to Duncan and
Tessa's bedroom, the gun in his lap. He waited in the semi-
darkness, certain his raspy breathing would wake Tessa.
He didn't know how long he had been sitting before he felt the
resonance. He held the gun out in front of him, using his knees as
a tripod to keep it from shaking. "Please, please, be Mac." He saw
the unmistakable shadow coming down the hallway, heard his
name spoken softly. He started to rise. His knees buckled and the
room grew strangely dark and bright at the same time. He felt
himself supported by a pair of strong arms, heard his name over
and over.
"Richie ... Richie ... It's all right. It's over. I'm sorry. I am so
sorry." A damp cloth pressed against the back of his neck. The
room came back into focus. He found himself sitting on the couch
next to Duncan, supported by one of the Scot's strong arms. "It
wasn't supposed to be this way. I am so sorry."
Richie pulled away and looked into the Scot's eyes. They glistened
with tears. Richie tried to suppress his own, but the overwhelming
relief at being safe released them. Duncan gathered him into his
arms and let him cry, running his fingers through Richie's hair.
"Let go. You've been through enough."
His tears spent, Richie pulled back. "I wouldn't have let him get
Tessa, Mac. I promise."
"I know you wouldn't. Let's talk about you. Richie, I don't know
if you can forgive me for the way I've behaved. If it hadn't been
Tessa, I would never have left you."
"I know, Mac. I understand, really. You knew I'd be okay. It's
just that I'm ..."
"Scared?"
Richie nodded, not meeting Duncan's eyes.
Duncan lifted Richie's chin. "Look at me. You're going to be
scared again. Many times. Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. But
we're going to work to give you some ways to control your fear, to
make it work for you instead of against you."
"Were you scared when you first became Immortal?"
The Scot didn't answer for a moment. "It wasn't quite the same,
Richie. Nobody in the clan could have imagined an Immortal. To
them, I was a demon. But, yes, I was scared. Terrified. I believed
in demons, too. But I didn't see how I could possible be a demon.
I felt the same as I always had. I was banished; I was alone. But I
didn't know enough to fear for my head."
Richie let out a long, shaky breath.
Duncan clapped Richie on the shoulder. "How about a drink? I
think we both could use one."
The next morning, Duncan came into the shop, a chagrined
expression on his face. "Tessa wants to see you."
"Does she know about yesterday? Never mind. Of course she
knows."
Richie entered the bedroom. Tessa immediately reached her arms
out to him. Richie saw her wince. "Don't mind me," she said.
"I'm fine. Come here. Are you all right."
"Just a bruised ego. Tessa, I could hardly move. I was so scared."
"Of course you were. And that's part of what I need to talk to you
about. Mac's finally admitted he's neglected you far too long. He
said he started to make amends last night. Is that true?"
"Yes, we're cool."
"Cool," she repeated. "I guess that's good."
"Now," Tessa went on. " Duncan's driving me nuts with all this
attention. He's making up for lost time, I think, but I can't stand
him hovering over me day and night. I'll also never get any
stronger if he's waiting on me hand and foot. I'm supposed to be
getting my strength back, but it's all I can do to keep him from
carrying me to the bathroom."
"What can I do?"
"First, I am going to insist that you and Duncan start whatever it is
Immortals do after they become Immortal. Next, I am going to call
Cecile and she's going to come back here and help out. Duncan's
still too emotionally entangled to handle my rehab properly. You
and Duncan will mind the shop and play with your swords during
the day while Cecile stays with me. You can take over for Cecile
at night."
"But will he listen to you?"
"What do you think?"
Richie knew that look, that tone that brooked no nonsense. The
Scot was doomed. He grinned in agreement.
"Now, please hand me the phone. I need to let Cecile know that
she's going to insist on coming to help out." She winked at Richie.
"Do you think you can sneak me some ice cream?"
"Tessa, it's barely ten in the morning. Are you sure you're even
allowed to eat ice cream?"
"I've got pages of instructions and restrictions, but I read the list
very carefully, and there's absolutely nothing on it that says
anything at all about ice cream."
"It's double chocolate fudge."
"Your doing, I'll bet."
"Yes," he confessed.
"Go. I'm sick of oatmeal."
Richie picked Cecile up at the airport two days later. After a brief
stop at the hotel to check in and drop off her bags, she breezed into
the apartment, shooing Duncan out of the bedroom. "You can
have her at night. During the day, she's mine to care for. Go sell
antiques or something."
Richie stifled a laugh. Duncan glared at him and said, "Tomorrow
you start working out. Early. I'll wake you."
***
"Get up, Richie. Time to run."
"Mmmph. What time is it?"
"Time to start training. We have time for a good five miles before
the shop opens. Cecile is already here. Come on. Five minutes."
Richie groaned and rolled out of bed. He staggered into the
bathroom and wondered why Immortal training had to start so
early in the morning.
Shut up, stupid. Three days ago you were a wreck because Duncan
was ignoring you. You can't have it both ways. He splashed some
cold water on his face and went out to meet Duncan.
"Tomorrow you're getting some decent running shoes," Duncan
said, looking at Richie's worn sneakers. "Those will have to do for
today. Let's go."
Richie climbed into the passenger seat of the T-bird and closed his
eyes as they drove to the park. After some warm up stretches,
Duncan led the way along the path. Richie was soon red-faced and
panting trying to keep up. "How far have we gone?" he huffed.
"About a mile. We can pick up the pace now that we're warmed
up."
"Mac, you're killing me!"
"Not a chance. Conditioning is vital. Sometimes winning can
come down to who has the most endurance, not necessarily who is
best with a sword."
Richie stopped talking and started concentrating on breathing.
Duncan showed no mercy; they ran the full five miles and then
walked one more to cool down. Duncan talked to him, started
answering some of the questions that had been plaguing Richie.
Duncan admitted taking him in because he was pre-Immortal.
"If I'd been mortal, I'd probably be in jail by now. If not for
robbing your shop, for something else."
"That would have been up to you, Richie. I don't know if I'd have
had you released if you'd been mortal, but the lifestyle choices
have always been yours."
"So, instead of being a petty thief, I've become a killer? Is that it?"
"You're one of us now," Duncan said quietly. "Your life will
change. You'll have time to do so much, to see and learn so much.
The price you pay is the Game. There will be times when you
won't be sure it's worth it. I can only try to give you the skills
you'll need to survive as long as possible. But you shouldn't think
of yourself as a killer. You'll kill if and when you have to."
"I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I'm not sure I know how
to deal with it."
"I'll do my best to make sure you have plenty of time to figure it
out."
"Thanks, Mac."
Duncan led Richie through some more stretches before they got in
the car. "Just because you heal quickly doesn't mean you can
ignore taking proper care of your body."
"Go shower," Duncan said when they were back at the apartment.
"I'm going to check on Tessa. Meet me in the office when you're
cleaned up."
Richie was physically exhausted, but he felt in control for the first
time since the shooting. He let the hot water pour over him,
soothing his aching muscles. His thoughts turned to his future. He
might be stuck with this new life, but at least he'd be learning from
one of the good guys. He vowed not to let Mac down.
Duncan was sitting at his desk polishing a wooden case when
Richie entered. He stood up and crossed to the front of the desk
and extended the box to Richie. "I want you to have this," he said.
Richie opened the case and saw the Spanish rapier gleaming
inside. He smiled at his friend.
"Thanks," he said, his voice cracking. He set the box down and
grasped the hilt. The touch of cold steel sent an electric quiver
through his body. A sinking feeling quickly replaced his initial
elation, and he withdrew his hand.
This is it. You're going to have to learn to kill people now.
He wiped his hands on his jeans. He raised his head slowly,
meeting Duncan's solemn stare.
"Take it," said Duncan. "Make it a part of you. There are times
when it might be your only friend. We'll start training with it
tomorrow."
Richie nodded. He ran his fingers over the hilt and slowly
removed the weapon from its nest. It felt awkward in his hand. He
watched the light dance and shimmer as he tentatively moved the
blade through the air. So beautiful. Yet so deadly. This would be
his partner in the Game, the key to his new life. With Duncan's
teaching and Tessa's support, he just might get through this. For a
while, anyway.
He returned the sword to its resting place and looked soberly at
Duncan. "Why not today?"
The End.
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