Note : Sorry it's taken so long to post this, but RL has been giving me hell. I'll try to update more often. Once again, sorry about the wait. ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~ Methos sat at the large desk in his home office with his laptop open and a long list of names. When he had started looking for MacLeod two years ago, Methos had made sure that he kept up to date on where all of MacLeod’s friends were. Who they were at all times, along with their addresses and phone numbers. It had taken him and Joe months before they finally gave up and decided that they were not going to find their friend, since it seemed that MacLeod didn’t want to be found by anyone. So Methos quietly kept his list handy, and periodically checked for any sign of the Scot. If for no other reason than to ensure that when Joe finally passed on, then Methos couldn’t be accused of hiding it from the other Immortal. ‘It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you want to make sure that the Highlander is around for centuries to come. Absolutely nothing to do with the hope that one day that you and the Scot will be together.’ Methos’ inner voice chastised him. If it was one thing that the oldest Immortal hated it was when his own inner voice worked against him. “Whatever the damn reason is, MacLeod better get his arse out of hiding.” Methos said out loud hoping to quiet the voice. Picking up the phone, he continued on his mission. So far he had called over half of the names on his list, including some Watchers who owned him a favor or two. ‘And if I hear one more word about how they can’t tell me where their Immortals are, or whether or not they can say they saw MacLeod, it will not be pretty.’ Methos thought with a small smile. ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~ Methos sat at one of the many tables scattered across the floor, next to Brian and Justin as they listened to Joe’s band warm-up. Tonight was the second day of the ‘Grand Opening’, and Methos knew that Joe was pleased with the outcome thus far. Brian had worked hard promoting Joe’s. Opening night, the place was packed, and it was starting to look like tonight would be the same. “How many of your ‘friends’ do you think will show up?” “I know Deb said she would bring Carl. Emmett said he might make it. Hell if I know. They’ll come if they come, and frankly I don’t give a damn whether or not they do.” Brian placed his arm around his lover’s shoulder, pulling him closer to him so he could place a light kiss on his neck. “The most important people are here, so why should I give a damn if anyone else shows up.” Justin leaned his head on Brian’s shoulder, taking comfort in his life-partner’s presence. “I think it would nice if they showed up. We do need to continue appearances if nothing else. They have been a huge part of your life here; we can’t very well just shut them out, especially not Michael.” “I really don’t want to talk about him right now.” Brian reached over and lifted his beer up to his lips. “Ahh, trouble in paradise?” Methos asked with a small smile playing on his lips. “I can honestly say that I haven’t really spent that much time with him lately, so I don’t know if there is any problems or not.” Brian glanced up at the stage, watching as Joe gave his band their final instructions for the night. “And before you say anything, I know what I’m doing. Michael has already shown that he has a problem with Justin, and instead of taking his fucking head I am avoiding the whole thing.” Justin only shrugged, knowing exactly where his lover was coming from. He hoped that Brian wouldn’t do anything rash against his ‘friend’, but he knew that the second Michael said anything against him, Brian would lose it. It is the way it has been throughout the thousands of years. Justin knew that it wouldn’t change. “I’m working on that part.” Justin stuck his tongue out slightly when he saw the irritated look on his lover’s face. “For now, we have to keep Michael around. If things change, then we will figure it out when that happens. Until then, you still have to at least pretend. Who knows, you and Michael might still get along.” “As long as Michael keeps his mouth shut, I’m sure that things will work out well.” Methos laughed, shaking his head. All three Immortals stole a glance up toward the door the second they felt another of their kind’s presence. Seeing Amanda walk in with Mel on her arm, Methos rolled his eyes and continued to drink. “I wonder how much she has told her.” “Amanda would tell us if she has said anything. She’s skating on thin ice the longer she lets this charade go.” Justin shook his head, hoping that his long-time friend wouldn’t get hurt when the truth came out. He knew that Amanda hadn’t had much experience with having mortal lovers, and having to explain to them what they really were. Justin only hoped that Amanda would make it through this in one piece. “She’ll learn.” Brian stole a glance over to Amanda and nodded a slight greeting. Silently he let her know that he was there if she ever needed him. Stealing another glance up to the door, he spotted Deb, Carl, Vic and Vic’s boyfriend walk down the steps. “Guess that answers the question on whether or not they would be showing.” Justin turned and waived toward Deb and the others. “I’ll be back.” Standing, Justin made his way over to where they were, falling into his role of host and part owner of the club. “Deb, Vic… I’m glad you guys could make it.” He said as way of greeting as Deb pulled him into a quick hug. “Justin, I’d like you to meet Carl, and this is Rodney.” Deb took a quick glance around the room, nodding her approval. “Not a bad place you got here kiddo.” “We kinda like it.” “Looks like some of us old queens like it as well.” Vic nodded to some of his friends that he saw lining the small tables throughout the club. “You didn’t tell us that Joe could sing.” Justin smiled as he began to lead them toward an empty table. “You didn’t happen to hear if anyone else was coming?” Vic shook his head. “They will come around. Things have just been happening rather fast, and it’s taking time to get used to some things.” “Yeah, I know. I just hate to be the cause of problems between Brian and everyone else. That was never my intention. One day the others will have to see that I’m not a threat, and I’m not going anywhere.” Justin gave as a slight warning, without having it sound like one. He knew he was going to be around, for much longer than anyone else here would. Everyone here will be dust long before Justin even thought about leaving his lover’s side again. “Anyway, first round is on me.” With that Justin walked back over to where his lover was, waiting to enjoy the rest of the night. ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~ Four Hundred Years Previously Bryan paced the length of the grand ballroom. Back and forth he walked his gait steady and sure as his long legs moved him quickly over the inlaid wood floors. Jutis was out once again playing cards with the mortals he’d befriended despite Bryon’s warnings. The young one would never learn. And then Bryan laughed out loud at the absurdity of thinking that Jutis was young. Hearing laughter outside the room, Bryan had to quell his jealousy. You’d think after all of these years together that he would know by now that Jutis was his and his alone. They were legend among other immortals. For none had shared a love such as theirs, though many had tried and lost, but still it hurt when he thought of a blond head cradled on another’s shoulder. It hurt more than he would ever admit to. “Bryan, what are you doing in here?” Jutis asked as he and three other young men walked into the vast ballroom. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” He left the men standing inside the door and strode over to Bryan where he wrapped his arms around the stiff and unyielding body of his soul mate. “Why do you care my darling Bryan, you know I’m yours.” He whispered in his lover’s ear. “I’m brooding; you know how I feel about you and these mortals. They want to take your money.” And your heart he finished inside his head. “You are my life, my heart, my soul. I am your slave until the end of time. That will never change my master.” Jutis batted his darkened eyelashes making his blue eyes sparkle like the Aegean sea. His voice was low and seductive. Bryan pulled the blond close to him and looked over his shoulders at the three standing by the door. “Be off with you and mind that you take nothing when you leave. You’ll be watched.” Bryan growled. The tone of his voice and the dangerous flash of his hazel eyes didn’t allow for the men to protest. They all three, turned as one and disappeared down the stairs. “Now I have you to myself” Bryan’s growl had turned to one of seduction and Jutis melted into the taller man’s body. “I’ve told you since the day we met that you will have me forever.” “Jutis, I hate this never ending whoring and drink.” Bryan muttered. His lips began to move over his lover’s neck. He could smell the other men on Jutis but he quelled his jealousy and continued to kiss away the smell and taste that lingered on the pale skin. “Bryan, I love you. You know that I’m always going to return to you.” Jutis turned his lover’s chin up and began to ravish the full lips, stopping any protest that Bryan might have. ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~ PRESENT DAY “All I want to know is if you have heard from him… yes, I understand that he needs some time to himself, but this is urgent!... yes… Gina… I know, I know it’s been a rough couple of years for him, but I need his assistance… please, if you hear from him, tell him to contact me… if he doesn’t want to do that, then tell him to call Amanda or Joe… I understand… yes… thank-you, Gina. It means a lot.” Methos hung up the phone and let out a deep breath. Justin walked over and handed his teacher a beer from the fridge, moving into Brian’s arms at the end of the couch. “Would it help if we did something? Is there anything we can do?” Methos shrugged as he leaned back on the couch, nudging his feet against his former students’ legs. “Somehow I don’t think anything or anyone will help. I’ve been calling everyone I know, and so far the damn Scot isn’t answering a thing. E-mails, letters, phone calls… I’m running out of options.” Methos hoped that if MacLeod didn’t want to talk to him he would call either Joe or Amanda. It was all he could do. “I’ll keep trying, but…” “You know what… fuck it. If he isn’t willing to come out of his damn isolation for this… we don’t need his help.” Brian lifted Justin off of his lap and walked over to his computer, trying to calm the boiling anger deep inside him. He had heard only good things about this Duncan MacLeod, and now he was finding out different things. Knowing that the man wasn’t willing to even contact anyone to find out what the emergency was… Brian didn’t want the man anywhere near his Jutis, not if he could help it. Justin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Standing he went over to his lover and wrapped his arms around Brian’s shoulders. “We’ll find a way, as we always do. If this MacLeod could help, then we have to keep trying. If not… well we’ll figure something out. It’s my memories we’re trying to bring to the surface, and I can wait.” “But none of us know what it is you remember.” Methos called out from his spot on the couch. “All you remember is that Kronos had something planned, some back-up plan that he never told any of the Horsemen. Who knows what it was, or what it might end up being. I can say knowing Kronos like I did, it isn’t good.” Methos moved so that he could look over the back of the couch toward his two former students. “Then there is the fact that we have no idea what he did to you. How did you get that scar? What if anything did he do? It’s something that we need to know. And as much as I hate to admit it, we need MacLeod. We need what he has buried inside his thick skull. He can come, tell us what he knows, then get the hell out of dodge for all I care… but he owes me this.” Justin glanced down at Brian, both realizing that Methos wouldn’t stop until everything that happened four years ago came to light. Even if it meant finding a stubborn Scot and forcing him to help, then that was what Methos was going to do. ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~ “Dawson.” Joe said into the phone, throwing his cleaning rag onto the counter. It was lunch-time, and the place was starting to fill up with people. He never would have imagined that the place would this popular, especially in a town like this. But it was one thing that Joe had learned over the years was things can always surprise you… things are never what they seem. “Joe.” Joe stopped in his tracks, clenching the phone tighter in his hand as he leaned up against the counter. “MacLeod… what the hell? Where the hell are you?” “Actually that’s what I was wanting to ask you. Thought I would stop by for a visit. I tried the club in Paris, but…” Joe shook his head, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. “After all these years… all this time that we have been worried to death… We’ve been trying to reach you for months… Hell years!” “I know. Gina told me you were looking for me. Sorry, Joe, but I needed some time.” “Time… yeah well, not all of us can just put everything on hold like that. Least of all not tell anyone where we are.” ”Come on Joe, you know as well as I do that Methos has done the same thing time and time again.” Duncan sighed into the phone. “Look, Joe. Can we not get into this now? I just called to find out what’s going on, and see… well if I need to make a trip.” “Need to make a trip? So what? If it doesn’t hold up to what you want then you say nice knowing you… see you in a couple of years?!” Joe was beyond angry. Running his hand through his hair, he took a deep breath. He knew that he was angry at MacLeod for not keeping in touch, and that he had been worried about his charge, but Joe was smart enough to know that getting angry at that time would not help matters any. “Look, frankly if I had my say, I’d tell our friends to forget it. It’s not like you have cared one bit for the past couple of years to bother wondering if we were even alive.” “Joe, you know that’s not true.” Mac tried to explain. “I just needed to get away. Being around me was dangerous, we both know that…” “Dangerous, yeah right. Like it’s not dangerous with or without you.” “Joe…” Mac tried again. Joe could hear the other man take a deep breath, as he himself did. “Has something happened? Is everyone okay?” Joe closed his eyes and swallowed his pride. “We need your help, and frankly we need it as soon as you can get here. It has to do with someone you once knew, okay. Something that might have been left undone.” Joe figured if anything would get MacLeod to Pittsburgh is bringing up the real reason behind the frantic calls in the last couple of months. “It’s about something that Koran might have left behind.” “What?! But Joe, he’s been dead for years. I know.” “Yeah, well.” Joe turned to the door as he heard the bell go off over it and gave a slight wave toward Methos as he came in, letting the other man know that he was needed. “What’s up?” Methos asked as he came to the bar and reached over to grab himself a beer. Lifting the bottle toward the phone, Methos sat down and waited for some type of explanation. “It seems that he might have had something in the works that no one knew about. Something that… well we need your help to try and uncover it. It’s important Mac, and I would like to think that you would be wiling to help.” Methos’ eyes went wide for a brief second, then rolled his lips into his mouth. “Let me guess, he won’t come?” Methos asked loud enough for it to carry across the phone lines. “Figures. I don’t know why I even bothered. Brian was right… Tell MacLeod, I’ll handle it. I’ll just have to do things MY way.” With that Methos stood and walked toward one of the back offices. “Joe…” Mac began hearing the older Immortal’s voice coming through the lines. “I heard him. Look, I’ll be on the first flight out. Okay?” “Don’t do us any favors, Mac. Lord knows I have enough to deal with.” “Joe, I’ll be on the first flight out. Tell him… Tell him that I’ll be there, okay?” ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~ FLASHBACK MARCH 1999 Methos stood there before MacLeod waiting to see what the Scot would do, if he could get a reaction out of him. Amanda had asked for his help, and in all honesty, Methos didn’t want to stand by and watch as MacLeod gave up his life to this pissant Keane. He was happy to see that he was getting some sort of reaction out of the bloody Scot, and not cold acceptance of this uncalled for fate. “While none of us perfect, MacLeod. Not you, not me… not even Darius. And sure not your friend Steven Keane.” MacLeod looked at Methos and shook his head slightly as he continued to walk away from Methos. "You should write fortune cookies." "Yeah, well, maybe I should." Speeding up and placing himself in front of MacLeod, Methos decides to try and pull out all the stops. No one would ever say that he wasn’t trying to talk this out before things got even uglier. "Just so long as I am not writing your epitaph. What Keane hates you for, happened. Nothing you do is going to change that. You accept it, MacLeod. It's part of who you are." "Are we talking about me now?" Methos rolled his eyes, wondering if and when MacLeod would ever get over this ‘hatred’ of him over the whole Horsemen business. "Yes. Do you remember what happened after Culloden?" ‘In for a penny in for a pound,’ Methos figured. Duncan looked away, not wanting to remember, then turned back to look at Methos. "Yeah. I went after innocent men and slaughtered them." "No, that's how Keane tells it. I want to know how you remember it. Because they weren't innocent, were they?” Just as Methos knew he wasn’t innocent during his time. If he could convince MacLeod that everyone makes mistakes, then he figured he had done his job. “There were murderers. They were the English bastards who had destroyed your people, and they deserved to die, all of them." "You sure all of them did?" Duncan asked, getting annoyed with the older Immortal. "Well, you were. You wanted to kill, you killed them,” he told MacLeod honestly. There was no way of getting around the truth. A person couldn’t deny the past, it was a part of them, it made up who they were today. Why couldn’t MacLeod see that? Methos could feel the anger start to build inside him. "You know, Keane is just like you. He wants to divide the world up into good and bad. Well it's not that simple. We are all both. Good and evil. We have rage and compassion. We have love and hate…Murder and forgiveness." Duncan looks away, almost like he's bored, but Methos wouldn’t let him get out of it. He couldn’t let MacLeod just push this off to the side. "Why don't you try forgiving yourself, for once?" "Why don't you try minding your own business. For once." Methos doesn't answer Mac, only narrowed his eyes to glare at the Scot. "Tell Amanda to do the same." Stepping aside, Methos gave Mac a small smirk, arms stretching out to his side. "She can't say I didn't try." The second that Mac walked past him and turned away, Methos shook his head slightly and reached into his coat to pull out a gun. It wasn’t the first time, and most likely wouldn’t be the last time that he would shoot someone in the back. Methos figured if he couldn’t talk MacLeod into NOT going through with this, then he would just have to take matters into his own hand. Shaking his head, Methos walked past the dead body of MacLeod, toward where Steven Keane was waiting. "You are such a pain in the ass.” ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~ PRESENT DAY Methos placed the phone down, and reclined back in his chair. He knew he should head out to meet with Brian and Justin, but the oldest Immortal wasn’t sure he could move. Just knowing that MacLeod was on his way… Methos wasn’t sure what to think. “You okay?” Joe asked as he came into the office and sat down in the chair across from Methos. “What exactly did he say? Do we know where the hell he is?” “I don’t know. He told me he found out from Gina… but then again he could be anywhere.” Joe told Methos, shaking his head. “He said he will get on the first flight out…” “Yeah, but considering we have no idea where the hell he is… It could be days yet.” Standing and reaching for his trench coat, Methos looked down at Joe. “When you find out… let me know. We’ll figure something out.” “Where you off to?” “I have a meeting with Brian and Justin at the diner. I’ll be back later. Hopefully by then we’ll know something.” With that Methos left the bar, thinking of what the coming days would bring. ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~ Brian felt another presence before he spotted Methos as the older Immortal walked through the door. He could tell just by the way the other Immortal was holding himself that something was wrong. Reaching out, Brian took a hold of his lover’s hand as they waited for Methos to join them. “What’s up?” “Glad you could make it.” Methos moved into the booth across from the two lovers, and ordered a coffee. “Why can’t this place serve beer? It would make things a hell of a lot better.” “Somehow, I don’t think that serving beer to those who are trying to sober up would be very good.” Justin said with a small smile. He was anxious to hear what his former teacher had to say. “Is everything okay?” Thanking the waitress for the drink, Methos leaned back and ran his hand over his face. “MacLeod will be here later. I don’t know when he will arrive, but he should be here soon.” Justin sat forward in his chair and let out a large breath. “Really? So is he going to help? Does he even know?” “I didn’t talk to him. Joe got a call from him, and Mac said that he would be on the first flight out.” Brian stole a glance at his lover before turning his attention back to Methos. “And just where the hell has he been?” Brian still wasn’t too impressed with this so called ‘champion’. He had seen both Joe and Methos… hell even Amanda work for months trying to hunt down the illustrious Scotsman. Methos shrugged. “I didn’t really talk to him, and from what I did catch of the conversation between Joe and Mac… well let’s just say that Joe isn’t too happy with the damn boy scout.” Justin reached across and laid his hand on Methos’. “Do you think he will help? Really?” Methos sat back and seriously thought about the question. He could never lie to these two, no matter how painful the admission might be, and Methos wasn’t going to start now. “Yes and no.” Seeing both men’s questioning look, Methos shook his head. “MacLeod is called a boy scout for a reason. If he has it in him… he will move heaven and Earth to try and find the answers we need. Plus the fact that it was… well, he would do what he could to try and protect the world, so to speak.” “But…” “But. He might not do it for two reasons. Sean Burns was a good friend of MacLeod’s. Just remembering what happened, how Burns died… it won’t be easy for him. MacLeod has the Scottish brood down to an art form, and it could send him packing faster than not.” Methos took a sip of his coffee trying to figure out a way to get MacLeod to help. He had to, if for no other reason then the man – men, sitting across from him. “Then there is the Kronos factor… and the Horsemen. That’s a very touchy subject where Mac and I are concerned.” Justin nodded as he felt Brian’s arm go around his shoulder. “He’ll help. I know he will.” “I hope you’re right. For all of our sake.” ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~ Methos stood beside Joe as they waited outside the Customs area, silently dreading this encounter. He had asked Amanda if she could make this run to the airport, but she had other plans and would meet them later. Joe’s car was in the shop, and it wasn’t like any of them could just lend Joe theirs. Methos knew that he would have to be the one to – if nothing else – take Joe to the airport. The long awaited ‘reunion’ would happen before Methos himself was ready. He felt the ‘buzz’ of the Immortal long before either of them saw MacLeod. Just the feeling of the buzz was enough to send Methos into a tailspin, his emotions and feelings threatening to overtake him. He had always had dreams and fantasies about the two of them being together, but there had never once been a time when he felt that there was even a chance. No, MacLeod would never feel that way about Methos, at least that’s what the old Immortal always told himself. “Joe.” MacLeod called out as he came through the doors. He reached out to take the Watcher’s hand into his own, and then quickly pulled him into a hug. He turned toward Methos and tried not to feel hurt when Methos turned and walked toward the baggage claim area without a word or touch. “So…” “Later, MacLeod.” Methos said, hands in pocket. Methos stayed silent the entire time they were picking up MacLeod’s bags, the entire time into town. He had no idea what to say, and only wanted to get through the next couple of days until MacLeod once again disappeared with his heart intact. Picking up his cell, he dialed a familiar number. “Brian? We have him… I believe we’re heading to Joe’s place since that’s where he’ll be staying… no… Do you want to meet us there?... okay, Look, we’re almost to the diner now, I’ll just pick you two up and we’ll all head over from there… At least when you get ready to leave it will give me an excuse… We’ll talk about it later, I promise… see you soon.” Methos quickly hung up the phone, knowing that the other two in the car were curious as to what he had just said. Not for the first time, Methos was grateful that someone else knew at least one of the dead languages of old. It helped to keep things to himself. “We’re picking up the boys on the way to your place,” Methos stole a quick glance to Joe letting the man know his intention. They had talked before, and Methos had expressed his interest in getting this over and done with as quickly as possible. “Brian said that Amanda is there, so who knows if she’ll be tagging along or not.” “Considering that she is on her date tonight… I somehow doubt that.” Joe replied with a small shake of his head. He still couldn’t believe the Amanda he had seen since their arrival in this town. More importantly the Amanda he had seen since the arrival of Melanie in her life. All in all things had been good for all of them. Joe only hoped that things weren’t entirely thrown to the depths of hell with Mac’s sudden return. Mac remained quiet as he took in all that Joe had told him. He knew that the full details were yet to come, but he at least had a small idea of what the emergency was. He only wished that Methos would look at him, say something. It was the one regret that he had when he left the way he did. He hadn’t realized it at the time, but as the years came and went, MacLeod slowly realized that he wanted Methos in his life. In every way. Never before had he felt this way about a man… but Methos wasn’t just a man. To MacLeod, Methos was everything. It wasn’t that Duncan was ignorant to sex and relationships between men. He had been around for over 400 years and he had ‘tested the waters‘, so to speak. But what he felt for Methos went far beyond anything he had ever felt for anyone… including Tessa and Amanda. He only hoped that he would get the chance to talk to Methos, try and bridge the gap between them and maybe... just maybe move on to something more. As the Jeep moved through the streets, slowing down once they reached a small diner, MacLeod looked around at his surroundings. He had been to many gay districts over the centuries, and he knew one when he saw it. He could only hope that this might mean that Methos was open to the idea of maybe something between them, but Mac knew that now was not the time to even broach the subject. Something had caused the older Immortal to seek him out, and Mac would just have to wait. Methos stepped out of the jeep and walked into the diner as Mac watched from the backseat. “He’s really upset with me, isn’t he?” Joe let out a small laugh as he shook his head. “You don’t know the half of it, Mac. All I can say is this… tread carefully. If you want the old man to be on your side, and maybe someday be real friends, then you have to work hard for it.” “Joe…” “No, you listen for once.” Joe turned slightly in his seat to look at his old friend, if Joe could call him that anymore. “Methos has been here for all of us when you disappeared. Me, Amanda… hell practically everyone, when I know all he wanted to do was go and disappear himself. But he didn’t. He stuck around.” “Joe, you know why I had to leave.” Mac tried to explain. “In your mind only, pal.” Joe muttered. “Methos felt that the two of you were friends, that he could trust you, but you just couldn’t get over what he was over two thousand fucking years ago. No matter what you said at the end, he knew. So you just play nice, and keep your mouth shut, and maybe… just maybe the two of you can rebuild that friendship I saw at the beginning, before Kronos came back into his life.” Mac just raised his hands in surrender, knowing he had nothing to say. He had treated Methos badly, he hadn’t trusted the man fully after the revelation of Methos’ involvement with Kronos. But over the years of his seclusion, Mac had a lot of time to think, and to understand the oldest Immortal. He was willing to let everything go, if only to be allowed to share things with the man he was willing to admit he loved. Inside the diner, Methos made his way over to where Brian, Justin, and Amanda were. Giving them a small smile, he sat down next to Amanda and ran his hand through is hair. “Can this day get any better?” “I guess Duncan made it safe and sound?” Amanda asked laying her hand on Methos’ arm. “Are you okay?” “Ask about MacLeod first? It’s good to know where I stand in all of this.” Methos shook his head, giving her a small smile to know he was only joking. “I haven’t told him anything yet, I figure we can hash all of that out when we get to Joe’s.” “Are you okay?” Justin asked, worried about his former mentor and friend. They all could see what MacLeod’s presence was already having on the oldest of them. Seeing Methos shrug, Justin grabbed a hold of Brian’s hand and dragged him up from the booth. “Well, let’s get this over with. See if he’ll help us, and then we can go home and rest.” Methos had an idea just what the ‘rest’ would entail if they were planning on dragging him along with them. It wouldn’t be the first time he shared a bed with these two men, and for some reason Methos knew it wouldn’t be the last either. Turning to Amanda, Methos held out his hand. “Are you coming, or do you have other plans?” Amanda sat still for a moment trying to think. She wasn’t sure she was ready to see MacLeod again, and with the way she had been feeling about the Scott lately she wasn’t sure she would be able to be civil. She had, and still loved MacLeod, but after seeing the way the two men who meant the world to her in recent years hurt, she wasn’t sure she would be able to forgive Duncan. “I think I will see Mac some other time. What I have to say to him… well let’s just say, darling, now is not the time.” Methos nodding knowing full well what Amanda had planned. “Just leave him in one piece. We do need him. Don’t make Joe’s or my problems with MacLeod yours.” “Just go. Tell Joe I’ll see him later.” Methos gave her a light kiss on the cheek as he lead the way out of the diner toward his jeep. He could feel Brian’s hand on his lower back and was grateful for the help. He needed his head about him, and seeing MacLeod again had thrown him. All Methos knew was that he would need Brian and if he was going to get through this, just like they had always been there for each other over the years. ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~ Brian moved over to the refrigerator in Joe’s kitchen listening as Joe told MacLeod where everything was. He tried not to smile as he remembered the looks he had received from the Scotsman on the ride over. Methos was never without a touch or kiss from either himself or Justin. Trying not to laugh as he remember the death glares he had seen, Brian grabbed four beers and headed back out to the living room. It was judgment time. Handing out the beers to Methos, Justin, and Joe, Brian took his own as he pulled his lover down onto his lap. “So what did I miss,” he asked as he tried not to smile seeing MacLeod’s empty hands. “Oh did you want anything?” “No, I’m fine.” MacLeod said trying not to act hurt at being dismissed. Methos reached over, pulled off a bottle of scotch from the table next to him and handed it to MacLeod. “We were waiting on you.” Methos informed Brian. Methos wasn’t sure where to begin, how to explain everything that was going on. Running a hand over his face, Methos let out a deep sigh. “Brian and Justin are former students of mine.” Methos began deciding to use their current alias’ instead of their real names. The last thing he wanted was for MacLeod to have heard about some of their ‘exploits’ and turn away from them because of it. No one was without a dark past, and Methos knew better than anyone Brian and Justin’s past wasn’t without some very dark moments. “What does that have to do with Kronos?” Mac asked taking a long sip of the strong whiskey. “It was the Horsemen who had caused our first death.” Justin explained. “Methos took us to safety before the other Horsemen could … well could kill us.” “When was this?” MacLeod asked, thoughts running through his head. “What?” Methos replied staring hard at the youngest Immortal in the room. “Are you wondering how I could possibly help them and then turn around and do what I did to Cassandra? How couldn’t I be as… considerate to her as I was to them?” Methos had a feeling he knew where MacLeod was heading, and he figured he wasn’t ready to deal with that just yet. In time, if they decided to continue their friendship, he would. But that day was not today. “Methos.” Brian began as he reached out to place his hand on his teacher’s arm. “Can we just get to why he’s here so we can go?” “Fine!” Methos leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Justin was held by Kronos. We believe that Kronos had something more planned than what we originally knew, what he had originally told me. We need to access any memories that Shawn Burns might have.” “What?” MacLeod felt as if his stomach had turned to lead at the thought of what bringing forth the memories of Shawn Burns might entail. “I don’t know how I could help.” “I have a way, but I can’t do any of that without your presence. It’s not like I …” Methos stopped what he was going to say, knowing that it would only make matters worse. “All we need is for you to allow me to ‘talk’ to Burns. Once I have the information I need, you can go back to whatever hole you came from.” “Methos.” Joe tried to stop the argument or hurt before it began. He knew that Methos was holding on by a thread already and it didn’t take an idiot to hear the disgust in Mac’s voice. Joe just wasn’t sure if it was from the thought of what he did to Burns, or if it was the whole Horsemen thing. All he knew for sure was that he had to put a stop to this before it all came to a crashing halt. “How about this? Mac can think about it for a day or so, then we’ll discuss it more. There’s no point to get into anything unless he agrees to help. Right?” “Sounds fair,” Justin stated stealing a quick glace toward his lover. “We should go for now. If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them tomorrow.” Justin offered, knowing he wasn’t going to put Methos in the position of explaining everything. The wounds were too close to the surface. “Brian… Methos?” “Yeah. I’ll talk to you later, Joe.” With that Methos followed his former students out of the apartment. The last thing he wanted was to think about MacLeod and the anger and disgust he had seen in the Scots eyes. ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~ End of Part Four ~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~