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#Post#: 114--------------------------------------------------
CONCESSIONS (complete)
By: 22639 Date: November 5, 2011, 7:47 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center][sub]The part of Richie Ryan is temporarily being
understudied.[/sub][/center]
[center]***3 days after Joe and Zoe's wedding***[/center]
Richie picks up the receiver of the phone in the Dojo's office
and listens.
Richie: Dammit! Come on Pacific Bell......fix the damn thing.
Richie grumbles and slams the receiver back down. He returns to
the ledger he has been working on.
Methos parks his SUV in front of MacLeod's Dojo and exits with a
sigh, he thought he'd get some peace and quiet now that MacLeod
is in Paris but apparently he was wrong. Now he had to babysit
for his student. He locks the car and quickly climbs the stairs
to go inside.
Richie feels a strong Immortal buzz and looks up from the
ledger. He watches the door of the Dojo to see who is here.
Methos looks at Richie for a moment without saying anything,
then slowly looks around.
Methos: I see you still didn't burn the place down.
Richie breathes a sigh of relief seeing that it is only Methos.
Richie: Let me guess....Mac couldn't get through so he sent you
to check on me.....right?
Richie says leaning back in the office desk chair.
Methos nods as he gets near a chair and sits down.
Methos: Yes, what the hell did you do to the phone?
Richie: I didn't do anything. It's Pac Bell and its reliably
unreliable service. There's evidently some sort of outage that
is effecting all phone numbers with this prefix.
Richie says with a shrug.
Richie: Go figure.
Methos: Well he thought you were in trouble, I'd give him a call
if I were you.
Methos shrugs before he sits back on the chair.
Methos: Not to mention the fact that I have better things to do
than to check on you.
Richie: I will as soon as they either fix the phone lines or my
cell phone charges. It's as dead as Moses right now.
Richie says with a nod. One of the Dojo members walks up to the
office door and leans in saying, "hey, Rich....did you know that
the phone's out?" And Richie rolls his eyes.
Richie: No.....really?
Richie says sarcastically The member gets the hint and turns
around...going back to his workout.
Methos: Let me get this straight, the phone isn't working and
you forgot to charge your cell phone?
Methos shakes his head thinking the kid was even dumber than he
gave him credit for.
Richie nods a bit sheepishly and his freckled cheeks redden a
bit.
Richie: Yeah....well.....I guess I've been distracted or
something.
Methos: What if that blonde friend of yours tries to get in
touch?
Methos teases with a smirk.
Richie: What blond friend?
Richie asks...looking at Methos questioningly. He thinks Methos
is talking about a guy friend and he can't remember having a
blond male friend.
Methos rolls his eyes, who did the kid think he was fooling.
Methos: Zoe's friend. I saw you two sneak out of the wedding
party and I'm not naive, you know?
Richie: Oh....Athy? I mean Athinai? Yeah. We've been seeing each
other.
Richie says with what he hopes is a nonchalant shrug.
Methos: Big surprise.
Methos shakes his head amused, he knew they were each other's
type.
Richie: Which reminds me.....
Richie says getting up and walking over to the small fridge and
getting out a bottle of water.
Richie: ....I want to make sure to thank Mac. I was supposed to
be doing him a favor but it ended up I came out on the winning
end of it.
Richie says with a chuckle as he walks back over to the chair
and sits back down.
Methos stares at Richie with a smile playing across his lips,
the kid was too much.
Methos: If you say so.
Methos says with a shrug.
Richie shrugs.
Richie: Anyway.....turns out that Mac didn't have anything to
worry about. She wasn't interested in repeating their.....shall
we say....encounter?
Richie says with a little smirk.
Methos: That makes two of them.
Methos chuckles softly remembering the way MacLeod behaved after
the night he'd spent with Athinai.
Methos: And what would you expect from a dumb blonde?
Richie: She's not all that dumb.
Methos murmurs under his breath as an afterthought
Richie says in defense of Athinai.
Methos: Oh and you're the perfect person to judge that I take
it?
Methos shakes his head chuckling amused, as far as he knew those
two were almost alike.
Richie: She just wasn't all that impressed with.....shall we
say....Mac's performance? And....as she put it...."if I try
squash and don't like it....I see no reason to try it again."
Richie says with a chuckle.
Methos: Why do you assume I need to know that?
Methos rolls his eyes, as if it wasn't obvious to him after that
drinking competition.
Richie looks at Methos and frowns.
Richie: I guess you don't. I just thought.....
Richie hesitates a few seconds then waves it off.
Richie: ....never mind.
Richie adds and takes a drink of his water. He picks up the
receiver of the phone and listens then slams it back down.
Methos: You drink as much as he drank that night and then let's
see what she says about your performance.
Methos points out with a smirk remembering the kid had slept on
the floor of the Dojo.
Another member of the Dojo comes to the door of the office and
sticks his head in. "Hey, Rich.....we're out of towels
upstairs," the member announces.
Richie: Yeah? Here!
Richie says as he opens the center drawer of the desk. He takes
out a key and tosses it to the member.
Richie: That's to the storage cabinet next to the showers.
Richie explains. "Thanks," the member says and disappears up the
stairs to the showers.
Richie: Anyway.....so did Mac say how he's doing over there?
Richie asks Methos....figuring there was a need to change the
subject.
Methos: Hmm actually, I remember you passed out with two
Immortals around, which was even worse than what Mac did.
Methos teases ignoring Richie's question.
Methos: You do that a lot and you'll wake up a head shorter.
Richie takes a drink of his water as he tries to remember the
moments just before oblivion but they're too blurred.
Richie: Two Immortals? Meaning you and the stripper?
Richie asks looking at Methos and quirking an eyebrow.
Methos nods amused that apparently Richie didn't remember
anything.
Methos: Yes, me and the stripper, the only two sober people at
that party.
Richie: Well.....I knew I could trust you and she didn't look
like she was interested in doing anything other than her
routine.....even if she did focus it on the wrong person.
Richie says with a shrug.
Methos: Oh she didn't look interested, huh? You might get a
surprise some day.
Methos shakes his head at the kid foolishness.
Richie: Yeah....I might at that.
Richie says with an unworried shrug. He finishes his water and
tosses the empty bottle in the recycle can next to the fridge.
Methos shakes his head again, the kid didn't even have the sense
to look a bit worried. After he'd read the stripper's profile he
wasn't so sure it wouldn't be that day Richie would get a
surprise if the two of them were alone.
Michelle pulls up in front of Duncan's Dojo and wonders why
nobody answered the phone. It's obvious the place is open. With
an shrug to herself she enters the building and feels the buzz
of other immortals.
Richie feels another Immortal buzz and looks at the Dojo door
wondering who this could be.
Methos shakes his head again, the kid didn't even have the sense
to look a bit worried. After he'd read the stripper's profile he
wasn't so sure it wouldn't be that day Richie would get a
surprise if the two of them were alone. He sits up straight on
his chair once he feels an Immortal buzz, he knows it can't be
MacLeod, so he turns to look at the door.
Michelle looks around the crowded Dojo looking for the familiar
shape of Duncan.
Richie: Well...speak of the devil.
Richie says seeing Michelle walk into the Dojo
Methos: Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.
Methos nods keeping his eyes on the approaching Immortal.
Richie gets up and walks out of the office. He walks up to
Michelle and stops in front of her.
Richie: Hi. Can I help you?
Richie asks as he flashes his boyish smile.
Michelle: I'm sure you can.
Michelle says with a bright smile. Recognize the immortal from
the bachelor party the night before.
Michelle: I'm looking for Duncan, is he here?
A few days ago it would have bothered Richie a little that
another pretty girl was looking for Mac. But since getting to
know Athinai....it doesn't bother him at all.
Richie: No. He's out of town.
Richie says simply and flashes his innocent boyish grin again.
Michelle: Oh no! I was so hoping he and I would have a chance to
catch up!
Michelle cries.
Richie: Catch up?
Richie asks, quirking an eyebrow curiously.
Michelle: Yeah. I've known Duncan for years. Haven't seen him
since for years either.
Michelle sighs.
Richie: Oh yeah? Well....like I said....he's out of town and he
didn't say when he would be back. So I guess the best I can do
for you is to tell him you were here the next time he checks in.
Richie says with a shrug.
Richie: So is there anything ele I can do for you?
Richie asks trying to remember the girl's name. "Damn! I guess I
was really soused," he thinks to himself.
Methos smirks listening to the conversation, yeah he was sure
MacLeod would be delighted to hear that.
Michelle: I suppose maybe you could tell me what he's been up
to for the last 20 years. I haven't seen him since he handed me
over to my teacher and I grew up with him as an... honorary
uncle. He and my parents were really good friends.
Michelle says with a charming smile.
Richie: Yeah? Who was your teacher?
Richie asks only half interested.
Michelle: Amanda.
Michelle replies.
Michelle: Have you heard of her?
Methos: Who hasn't?
Methos murmurs under his breath still listening to the
conversation.
Richie blinks at the girl in surprise.
Richie: Amanda? Yeah. I have not only heard of her but I know
her pretty well. She's a good friend of Mac's.
Richie says leaning a little closer to Michelle so their
conversation can't be overheard by the Dojo members working out
around them.
Michelle: I know she is.
Michelle chuckles.
A member of the Dojo calls down from the catwalk above saying,
"hey Rich.....the drain is plugged up in shower 4."
Richie: Just put a sign on the shower door and I'll get to it
later. There's 3 other showers.
Richie calls out over his shoulder without looking up at the
guy.
Richie: Well.....as you can see.....I'm kinda busy....so if
there's nothing else....
Richie says to Michelle and smiles politely.
Michelle: Actually yes, there is.
Michelle says, getting a little more serious.
Michelle: I need to get paid for the bachelor party.
Richie glances over his shoulder at the office and is a bit
surprised that one of Joe's 2 best-men hadn't taken care of the
stripper’s bill yet.
Richie: Really. How much do we owe you?
Richie asks and places his hand on the small of Michelle's back
and guides her toward the office.
Michelle: That's actually why I was really looking for Duncan.
Catching up would just be an added benefit
Michelle explains as she pulls the bill for her time out of her
pocket and hands it to Richie.
Richie: Well....you may have struck out when it comes to seeing
Mac.....but it just so happens that I manage the Dojo when Mac's
not around and can cut you a check right now.
Richie says taking the bill from Michelle and looking at it as
he walks into the office.
Richie: Have a seat.....ummmm....Michelle.....right?
Richie says indicating the small couch against the wall.
Michelle: You remembered. I'm impressed, given how drunk you
were.
Michelle chuckles stepping into office behind Richie, then
pausing at the door catching sight of the other immortal.
Richie: I remember from when I booked you a couple days before
the party.
Richie says as he walks over to the desk and sits down. He opens
the top drawer of the desk and removes the Dojo's ledger style
check book and opens it.
Richie: Oh....Michelle? Do you remember Adam Pierson? He was
one of the best-men Adam.....this is Michelle.
Richie says, making introductions as he looks over Michelle's
bill then picks up a pen and begins making out a check for the
amount.
Methos nods at Michelle, giving her his Adam Pierson innocent
look.
Methos: How do you do?
The phone rings, startling Richie. He picks up the receiver and
says, "Dojo." But he doesn't hear anything except for a high
pitch squeal He says, "hello? Hello?" When he still doesn't hear
anything he hangs up the receiver.
Richie: Yay Pac Bell!
Richie grumbles as he signs the check and enters it into the
ledger.
Michelle: Nice to meet you.
Michelle says with a brief smile at Adam before moving to the
couch that Richie had originally indicated.
Methos: Same here.
Methos nods again, then turns his attention to Richie, he knows
she's the sticky type and doesn't want the kind of attention she
gives MacLeod transferred to him.
Richie marks Michelle's bill as paid and the number of the
check. He gets up and walks over to the printer/copier on the
shelf behind the desk and makes a copy of the bill. then he
hands the check and the copy of the bill to Michelle.
Richie: Here you go.
Richie says holding the check and the bill out to Michelle.
Michelle: Thanks.
Michelle says with a smile.
A couple of the members begin arguing loudly over the use of one
of the speed bags and Richie rolls his eyes and excuses himself.
He goes to the door of the office.
Michelle: So... where'd Duncan go? Richie said he was out of
town, I'm assuming its out of this town. Is he in another?
Richie: Hey! You guys want to go to the mat to work it out?
Michelle asks looking to Adam.
Richie calls out to the two men. Both men decline.
Richie: Then either settle it or take it outside.
Richie says firmly.
Methos: Hmm, I'm not sure, he just told me he'd be away on
business.
Methos shrugs like he didn't care where MacLeod was anyway.
Richie turns his back to the Dojo as soon as he is sure the two
men are going to comply and he walks back to the desk chair and
sits back down.
Richie: I swear.....it's more like babysitting than managing.
Richie grumbles.
Methos: Yeah, those two sounded like they were in kindergarten.
Methos nods chuckling amused.
Richie puts the checkbook back in the drawer which he closes and
locks then he gets up and gets another bottle of water out of
the fridge.
Richie: Well.....I really need to go upstairs and check out
that clogged drain.....so if we're finished here....
Richie says to Michelle and walks over to the door of the office
where he waits to see if she is going to stick around and talk
to Methos or leave.
Methos: I should go back to work. Already gave you the message
from that common friend of ours.
Methos says as he gets to his feet. If the kid is leaving he's
not going to talk too much in front of Michelle, so it's safe to
go.
Michelle: I guess, I should go deposit this. Maybe I'll see you
guys around.
Michelle says standing up when it was clear she wasn't going to
get much entertainment out of either one of them... at least,
not right now.
Methos: Yes, I'm sure you will.
Richie: I'll be sure and tell Mac you stopped by.
Methos nods hoping he didn't get the "pleasure" anytime soon.
Richie says and steps out of the office so that Michelle can get
through the door.
Michelle: Bye guys!
Michelle says brightly, then heads back towards the entrance of
the Dojo and her car.
Richie waves goodbye. He watches Michelle leave then turns to
Methos.
Methos: Careful what you say to her, she's the reason MacLeod
moved to France.
Methos warns, glad the kid didn't say anything about MacLeod's
whereabouts.
Richie: Moved? I thought it was just his usual Paris vacation.
Do you know something I don't?
Richie asks feeling a bit worried.
Methos: Come on, you saw the way she behaved at the party,
MacLeod is just not interested.
Methos shrugs, thinking MacLeod should be the one to explain
Richie if he wanted to.
Richie: Not interested is one thing. But to the point of moving
to another continent? That's a little drastic....don't you
think?
Richie says and takes a drink of his water...closing the cap
back when he's done.
Methos: Well he was planning to go there anyway, she just made
him go sooner than planned.
Methos shrugs again as he begins to walk to the door.
A member comes to the railing of the catwalk above and calls
down, "Hey Rich!" Richie closes his eyes.
Richie: I'm coming. I'm coming.
Richie says through gritted teeth. Mac better not be moving
there permanently, he thinks to himself.
Richie: I gotta go take care of this.
Richie says with an apologetic shrug.
Methos: Have fun.
Methos waves at Richie with a smirk before he exits the door.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 115--------------------------------------------------
CONCESSIONS Part 2
By: 22639 Date: November 5, 2011, 9:18 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center][sup][sub]The part of Michelle Webster is temporarily
being understudied.[/sub][/sup][/center]
Michelle is sitting at one of the dressing tables in the
strippers' dressing room of the Fantasy Ballroom, applying her
makeup and humming a tune.
The door of the dressing room opens and Natalie, one of the
other strippers, walks in and goes over to the wall of lockers.
She stops in front of one with her name inscribed on a piece of
masking tape on the door. She fiddles with the combination lock
on the door until it opens and she begins to undress...putting
her street clothes on the hooks in the locker. She glances over
at the humming Michelle and quirks an eyebrow.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]What are you in such a good mood
about?
[/font]Natalie asks as she slips on a short silk robe.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]Nothing in particular.[/font]
Michelle says as she applies false eyelashes to her eyelids.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light] Bull ****.[/font]
Natalie says as she walks over to a rack of skimpy costumes and
begins looking through the rack's inventory[font=segoe ui
light].
[/font][Natalie][font=segoe ui light]You've worked here for 3
months and I have never seen you in a good mood.[/font]
Natalie removes one of the costumes from the rack and holds it
up in front of her to get a better look.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light] So there has to be a reason for
it.[/font]
Natalie lowers the hanger with the costume on it and looks at
Michelle.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]So? Give, girlfriend.[/font]
Michelle finishes applying the second false eyelash and sits
back in her chair...closing her eyes while she waits for the
false eyelash glue to dry before applying mascara.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light] I had a dream last night.
[/font]Michelle says pointedly.
Natalie returns the costume to the rack and removes another one.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]A good one I take it.[/font]
Natalie says as she inspects the costume she is holding up in
front of her.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]The best. I didn't want to wake
up.
[/font]Michelle says as she slowly opens her eyes and looks at
her reflection in the mirror.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light] I just wanted it to go on
forever. You know?[/font]
Michelle says, dreamily. She sighs and begins to apply mascara
to her false eyelashes.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]Yeah...well...unfortunately...if
you want to pay your rent and eat you have to live in the real
world where you can earn a buck.[/font]
Natalie says as she takes the costume over to her locker and
hangs the hanger on the open locker door.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]Not for long.[/font]
Michelle says confidently as she sits back and looks at her
reflection in the large dressing table mirror.
Natalie is in the process of slipping her robe off and she stops
and looks over her shoulder at Michelle.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]Really? And just what is this
grand plan of yours?[/font]
Natalie asks a bit dubiously.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]The same as it's always been.
I'm just closer to completing it is all.[/font]
Michelle says as she applies some blush to her cheeks.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]Yeah?
[/font]Natalie says...rolling her eyes as she turns back to the
task of getting dressed.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]I take it you finally found your
missing knight in shining armor?[/font]
Natalie says as she wriggles into the tight and skimpy costume.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]Not yet. But I will.[/font]
Michelle says and she puts on some bright red lipstick.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]I know that his friends know
where he went and eventually I will get one of them to tell
me.[/font]
Natalie pulls the bodice of the costume over her ample breasts
and “adjust” them into each of the costume's cups.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]Then what?[/font]
Michelle sits back and reviews her makeup in the mirror. She
then proceeds to twist her hair into a tight knot at the back of
her head.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]Depends. If he's only going to be
gone a short time....I might as well wait here for him to come
home. But if he's going to be gone for awhile....I'll go to
him.[/font]Natalie inspects her reflection in the full length
mirror on the inside of her locker door.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]So what makes this guy so damn
special?
[/font]Natalie asks as she slips into a pair of 6” stiletto
heels.
Michelle sticks a long plastic hair stick into the knot of hair
on the back of her head to hold the knot in place and shakes her
head a couple of times to make sure it's secure. Satisfied, she
gets up and walks over to the only other open locker...her
locker. Taped to the top of the full length mirror on the
inside of her locker door are several snapshots and she removes
one.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]You're kidding....right? Didn't
I show you a picture of him?[/font]
Michelle asks...walking over to Natalie.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]Nope.[/font]
Natalie says, shaking her head.
Michelle holds out the snapshot of Duncan MacLeod...one she had
taken during one of his and Amanda's visits to the convent where
Michelle had lived during the beginning of her training with
Amanda.
Natalie takes the picture from Michelle and looks at it.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]Yeah....well....he is gorgeous.
I'll give you that. [/font]
Natalie says as she hands the snapshot back to Michelle.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]But it would take more than a
pretty face.....[/font]
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]And killer body......[/font]
Michelle interjects.
Natalie][font=segoe ui light]Ok....and killer bod...to make me
want to follow him across the globe. I mean....it might be one
thing if we were rich and could afford to fly anywhere,
anytime....but let's face it....we don't make **** here. Just
barely enough to pay rent and eat.[/font]
Natalie walks over to one of the dressing tables and sits down
to put on her makeup and do her hair.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]So it would take a hell of a lot
more than looking like he just walked off Mount Olympus.[/font]
Michelle replaces the snapshot on her mirror and stares at it a
few more seconds....a dream-like smile on her face.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]Oh. Take my word for it....Duncan
is very special.[/font]
Michelle says dreamily.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]Yeah? What's so special about
this....what's his name?....Duncan?[/font]
Natalie asks as she applies her makeup...working rapidly....as
if she has been doing it for years.
Michelle walks back to the dressing table she has been using and
sits down. She reaches down by her chair and picks up a pair of
4” stiletto heels and slips them on.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]He's perfect. [/font]
Natalie rolls her eyes and chuckles.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]Yeah. Right. Nobody....especially
a guy....is perfect.
[/font]Natalie says, shaking her head.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]Duncan is.
[/font]Michelle argues.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]He's thoughtful...sweet...a
gentleman to a fault. He's classy, cultured, caring and funny.
He's really smart.....and...oh....did I mention...
.[/font]Michelle says as she sits back in her chair and looks at
Natalie.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]….he's rich?[/font]
Natalie stops putting lipstick on and looks over at
Michelle...quirking an eyebrow.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]No....as a matter of fact....you
failed to mention that little tidbit of information.[/font]
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]Like I said....he's
perfect.[/font]
Michelle says victoriously.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]So how did you and Mr. Perfect
hook up?
[/font]Natalie asks as she returns to putting on lipstick. What
she is actually thinking is, “how did a small time, third rate
stripper get a guy like you just described?”
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]He was close friends to my
adoptive parents. I always had a crush on him. When I became
an adult....well....you know....one thing led to
another....and....well....you know.
[/font]Michelle says and winks, mischievously.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]So if everything was so wonderful
....why are you stripping in this roach infested dive instead of
with Mr. Perfect....and spending his money?
[/font]Natalie asks as she styles her hair. “Five minutes,
ladies,” a voice announces from the other side of the dressing
room door.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light] THANKS CARLOS.
[/font]Natalie yells back.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]I had just become an adult. I
had lived such a sheltered life....and I was so naive I didn't
feel worthy of him. Besides.....at that age I was rebellious
and wanted my freedom....my independence.
[/font]Michelle looks up at the ceiling, thoughtfully then
shrugs.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]I admit it. I was stupid. But
that's all in the past.[/font]
Natalie inspects her reflection in the mirror.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]Are you sure it's not too late?
That he didn't move on? That he'll take you back? Someone that
gorgeous....and if he's as perfect as you say he is....wouldn't
have any trouble finding a replacement.[/font]
Michelle looks at Natalie and frowns.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]Oh....he's had women...but they
never lasted. That's because he is still in love with me. He
fell for me when I was just a kid....now that I am a
woman....with “skills”....[/font]
Michelle makes quotation marks in the air with her fingers and
winks at Natalie.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]I just can't wait to see
him.[/font]
Michelle says with a wi****l sigh.
Natalie looks over at Michelle and snickers.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]You can't wait to do more than
just see him.[/font]
Natalie says and laughs.
Michelle laughs along with Natalie.
Natalie gets up from her chair...walks over to her locker,
closes and locks the door...then walks to the dressing room
door. She opens it but before stepping across the threshold
into the hallway that leads to the back of the small stage, she
turns and looks back at Michelle.
[Natalie][font=segoe ui light]Yeah....well....that's all in the
future, girlfriend. Tonight you are in the real world. Tonight
you have to get out there, take your clothes off and hope the
customers are generous.
[/font]Natalie says. She touches her fingertips to her forehead
as if doffing a hat then leaves the dressing room.
Michelle swivels her chair and looks at herself in the dressing
table mirror.
[Michelle][font=segoe ui light]Soon, Duncan. Very soon, my
love.[/font]
Michelle says to her reflection....although it is the face of
Duncan MacLeod she is seeing.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 116--------------------------------------------------
CONCESSIONS Part 3
By: 22639 Date: November 5, 2011, 9:52 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Nikki walks out of the County Offices after her meeting with
the supervisors from Children's Services and the County District
Attorney. The meeting had been a success and she is feeling
pretty good about herself and life in general. She gets into her
truck and heads for the road that leads to the ranch. Three
miles after she has turned off of the main road she begins to
hear a loud grinding sound coming from her engine. She slows
down...rolls down her window and leans her head out...listening.
Nikki: Come on, baby. I don't know what's wrong but hang on
until we get home.
Nikki says aloud and lovingly pats the dashboard.After another 2
miles Nikki's truck begins emitting a cloud of black smoke from
the tail pipe and the grinding gets louder. Now there's a loud
knocking, too.
Nikki: No...no....come on.
Nikki moans as she realizes that her truck is losing power. She
may not know a lot about automobile engines but she does know
that if she doesn't pull over and shut it down she would be
looking at major damage. So she pulls as far off the pavement as
she dares and takes out her cell phone. Unfortunately she isn't
getting a signal.
Nikki: Great! Just ****ing great!
Nikki exclaims angrily and smacks her hand against the steering
wheel. She looks behind her and grimaces as she realizes she's
going to have to walk almost 5....maybe more....miles to the
highway where there's a gas station and where she will either
get cell phone service or be able to use their payphone. And
she's going to have to do it wearing high heels.
Nikki: Well.....so much for thinking this was going to be a
great day.
Nikki grumbles as she secures her valuables in the
truck....including her sword which she locks in the metal tool
cabinet behind the cab. She writes a note stating that the truck
is broke down and leaving her phone number and places it under
the windshield wiper then locks everything up and begins her
long hike.
[CENTER]
[/CENTER]
[CENTER]***3 miles later****[/CENTER]
Nikki stops to take off one of her shoes and shake out a pebble
that has managed to find its way inside and is rubbing one
hellashiss blister on her foot. While she stretches her toes out
she takes out her cell phone and holds it up...slowly turning in
place and looking for any kind of signal.
Nikki: Come on....just one more bar.
Nikki says looking up at her cell phone which she is now holding
over her head. When she doesn't get a signal strong enough to
make a call she shuts her phone off and puts it back in her
purse. She slips her shoe on and starts walking again.
Nikki: Ok.....don't think about it. Think about something else.
Nikki says aloud to herself.
Nikki: Follow the yellow brick road. Follow the yellow brick
road. Follow...follow...follow​ ...follow...follow the
yellow brick road.
Nikki sings at the top of her lungs.
Nikki: We're off to see the wizard....the wonderful wizard of
Oz. We hear he is a whiz of a wiz, if ever a wiz there was If
ever, oh ever a wiz there was, The Wizard of Oz is one because
...because, because, because, because, because....because of the
wonderful things he does.....
Nikki stops and looks around. Seeing that there is no one in
sight she removes both of her shoes...reaches up under her skirt
and slips her panty hose off....tossing them in a nearby
bush....and continues barefoot.
Nikki: We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz.
Nikki stops and takes out her cell phone. She stands still as
she watches the little bars in the upper right hand corner of
her phone's screen slowly go from none to 4. Quickly she dials
*1....the first number in her speed dial....without even looking
at what she is dialing until the phone begins to ring and she
quickly looks at the screen to see who she called...finding out
it is Methos' number.
Methos is on his way to the kitchen to get some coffee. He'd
been working all morning on Watcher business until he decided
that enough was enough and he deserved a break. Just as he'd
about to enter the kitchen he hears his cell phone ringing on
the desk and turns back with a sigh.
Methos: And I don't suppose you could have called five minutes
earlier.
Methos grumbles under his breath to whoever is calling as he
walks to his desk. He frowns when he sees it's Nikki.
Methos: I thought you had a meeting this morning.
Nikki: I did.
Nikki says shaking her head. No hi...how are you....what a
guy....she thinks to herself and smiles.
Nikki: How do you feel about playing Knight in Shining Armor?
Methos: Knight in...
Nikki asks as she changes her grip on her phone....afraid to
move for fear of losing the signal.
Methos' frown deepens while he looks at his computer without
seeing what's in there.
Methos: Me? Have you been drinking so early?
Nikki: If not.....just please do me a favor since I'll probably
lose this signal soon....and call Triple A for me. I'm on rural
route 10...the road that goes to the ranch? About 4 or 5 miles
from the main road. I'm walking and I'm wearing heels.
Nikki explains quickly.
Methos: Oh you want a ride? Why didn't you say so before? Had
me startled for a split second.
Nikki: Why startled?
Methos chuckles softly as he moves to get his coat with the
sword concealed in it.
Nikki asks curiously.
Methos: You mentioned a meeting and then that you needed a
favor, what was I supposed to think? Had enough red tape for one
day thank you very much.
Methos explains while he tries to put on his coat and still keep
talking on the phone at the same time.
Nikki is unable to make out the last part of Methos' sentence as
every few words are cut out as the signal begins to fade.
Nikki: I'm starting to lose you. I'm going to keep on walking
and I'll look for either your car or a tow truck. Just look for
a disheveled redhead in a business suit and high heels.
Nikki says loudly...making sure she can be heard.
Methos: I'm on my way.
Methos says before he disconnects the call, checks if he has the
keys inside his pocket and exits the door to go to his car.
Nikki loses the signal so she flips her phone off and puts it
back in her purse. Taking a deep breath and readying herself to
continue walking...she begins chanting cadence like she did when
she was in the Army.
Nikki: They say that in the Army, the chicken's mighty fine One
jumped off the table and started marking time. Oh Lord, I wanna
go But they won't let me go Oh Lord, I wanna go hoo-hoo-hoooome.
They say that in the Army the coffee's mighty fine It looks like
muddy water and tastes like turpentine . Oh, Lord I wanna go But
they won't let me go Oh Lord, I wanna go hoo-hoo-hoooome.They
say that in the Army the biscuits are mighty fine One rolled off
the table and killed a friend of mine. Oh I don't want no more
of Army life Oh Lord, I wanna go But they won't let me go Oh
Lord, I wanna go hoo-hoo-hoooome. They say that in the Army the
pay is mighty fine They give you a hundred dollars and take back
ninety-nine Oh I don't want no more of Army life Oh Lord, I
wanna go But they won't let me go Oh Lord, I wanna go
hoo-hoo-hoooome. They say that in the Army, the shoes are
mighty fine You ask for size eleven, they give you size nine Oh
I don't want no more of Army life Oh Lord, I wanna go But they
won't let me go Oh Lord, I wanna go hoo-hoo-hoooome. They say
that in the Army, the pancakes are mighty fine You can try to
chew them, but you're only wasting time. Oh I don't want no more
of Army life Oh Lord, I wanna go But they won't let me go Oh
Lord, I wanna go hoo-hoo-hoooome. They say that in the army, the
toilets are mighty fine You flush them up at seven, they come
back up at nine. Oh I don't want no more of Army life Oh Lord, I
wanna go But they won't let me go Oh Lord, I wanna go
hoo-hoo-hoooome.
Methos remembers to check if he has enough gas when he passes a
gas station, the last thing he wants is to run out of gas when
he gets to Nikki but then he remembers he'd filled it up last
time he used his car so he just concentrates in getting to Nikki
as fast as he can.
Nikki steps on a sharp rock in the road.
Nikki: OWWWW! DAMMIT!
Nikki exclaims loudly and hops around on her uninjured
foot.....swearing like a sailor and even making up some swear
words.
Methos frowns when he sees a woman jumping on one foot on the
road, then he realizes it's Nikki and stops the car near her.
Methos: Hello, may I ask what's going on?
Methos asks raising an eyebrow at her.
Nikki: I stepped on a motha f.....
Nikki catches herself.
Nikki: ...frigging rock. That's what.
Nikki says as she hops around the front of Methos' car and
climbs into the passenger seat.
Methos: Why didn't you just wait? You knew I was on my way.
Nikki: Well....let's see.
Methos points out, refraining himself to comment that people
wore shoes for that reason.
Nikki says pretending to be thoughtful and rubbing her chin with
one hand as she buckles her seat belt with the other.
Nikki: For one thing.....there was no place to sit and no shade
to sit under...so I figured if I was going to sweat I might as
well do it while shortening the distance you would have to come.
Nikki says and glances sideways to see if Methos is going to
accept that answer or if she needs to think up another one.
Methos: Well, it's not like I'm walking. A couple of miles
wouldn't make any difference to me.
Methos says with a shrug, then he frowns looking at Nikki.
Methos: Besides don't you want to go back to the ranch?
Nikki: At this point I really don't give a crap. I just want to
get where there's a descent signal on this damn thing....
Nikki says as she takes her cell phone out of her purse and
holds it up looking for a signal.
Nikki: ....so I can call AAA to come tow my truck to a mechanic.
Nikki watches as the bars fluctuate from 3 to 1 and back up
again.
Nikki: Global coverage my ass.
Nikki grumbles.
Methos: Fine, better go the opposite direction then.
Methos shrugs as he turns the car around and goes back the way
he came from.
After several minutes of almost getting a signal and then having
it disappear just as quick, Nikki loses her patience and her
Irish temper flares.
Nikki: You dirty rotten **** sucking piece of ****!
Nikki yells at her cell phone. She rolls down the window and
starts to throw the phone out the window.
Methos stops her and grabs the phone before Nikki manages to
throw it out the window.
Methos: Trust me, you don't want to do that, you'll regret
later.
Nikki: I don't see how.
Methos smiles when he looks down and sees the phone already has
a signal.
Nikki snaps as Methos' snatches the cell phone out of her hand.
Methos: Besides I don't see anything wrong with it. Are you
sure you were using this correctly?
Methos teases still smiling at the phone.
Nikki sighs and rolls her eyes.
Nikki: Well....gosh darn it......maybe I ain't. Just cain't get
usenta not having to crank the ol' thin' up to get the operator
to make the call for me.
Nikki says in a thick southern hillbilly accent.
Methos: Maybe you don't get along with machines, that's all, as
soon as it got to my hand it got a signal. See?
Methos says as he turns the cell phone for Nikki to see with a
smug smile on his face.
Nikki sees that all 6 bars are lit on her phone and sneers at
Methos.
Nikki: Grrrr.
Nikki growls at him.
Nikki: Figures.
Nikki says then punches his arm.
Nikki: Dial *11. That's AAA.
Nikki says dejectedly.
Nikki: And put it on speaker.
Nikki adds figuring with the way her luck is going if she takes
the phone it'll stop working.
Methos: Fine.
Nikki: And it's not that I don't like technology....it's that
technology doesn't like me.
Nikki mutters softly.
Methos nods and presses the keys keeping an eye on the road, not
that it had any traffic anyway.
Methos: Oh it likes me, I have a sort of a special touch with
it.
When the AAA dispatcher answers Nikki leans closer to the phone
and speaks loudly...giving the location of her truck...its year,
make and model and the license number then she gives the
dispatcher her name and account number.
Nikki: Just tow it to the nearest Ford dealership.
Nikki instructs and gives the dispatcher her cell phone number
and asks that she be called with the location her truck has been
towed to. The dispatcher agrees and thanks Nikki and the call is
terminated.
Methos: It will probably take a while, you should get a car or
you're going to be stuck at that ranch of yours.
Methos suggests as he gives the cell phone back to Nikki.
Nikki: Is there some particular reason you seem bent on me going
back to the ranch?
Nikki asks turning in her seat so she is facing him.
Methos takes his eyes of the road and looks at Nikki with a
frown.
Methos: Isn't that what you want? I thought it was.
Nikki touches the tip of her index finger to her temple and
closes her eyes as though she were meditating.
Nikki: I believe the conversation went like this.....You said,
"Besides don't you want to go back to the ranch?" And I said,
"At this point I really don't give a crap. I just want to get
where there's a descent signal on this damn thing At this point
I really don't give a crap. I just want to get where there's a
descent signal on this damn thing."
Methos: You're welcome to stay at my place if you want.
Methos shrugs as his turns his head to watch where they were
going.
Nikki: Well.....let's just say that if I were to take your
advice and get a rental car until my truck gets fixed.....I
would still have to come into town to get it....right?
Nikki says with a smarmy smirk on her face.
Methos: Right, and it doesn't even need to be today. What do
you say we take the afternoon off and go somewhere or do
something?
Methos suggests with a smile, before he checks his watch.
Methos: After lunch that is.
Nikki: You know.... sometimes I like the way you think.
Nikki says with a smile and turns around in her seat so she is
facing front. She lays her head back against the head rest of
her seat and looks out of the windshield at the clouds in the
blue sky.
Nikki: So!
Nikki says pointedly without looking at Methos.
Nikki: How was your day?
Methos: Boring, not even the Watchers escape red tape.
[CENTER]
[/CENTER]
[CENTER]****2 hours later***[/CENTER]
Nikki sits back in the passenger seat of Methos' car and places
both hands on her stomach.
Nikki: Man! I'm stuffed.
Nikki says.
Nikki: That was great. Thank you.
Methos: You're welcome. Company is appreciated anyway.
Methos shrugs as he starts the car, "Especially your company."
He points out with a smile before he drives off.
Nikki opens her eyes and turns her head to look at Methos.
Nikki: Well....thank you.
Nikki runs his last comment over and over in her mind and each
time her smile gets a little bigger.
Nikki: I think you just made my day.
Nikki says a little whimsically.
Methos: Really? Do I need to remind you this day began at
midnight? You mean you prefer lunch to our night in bed?
Methos side glances at Nikki, with a slightly puzzled expression
on his face even though he's half teasing her.
Nikki: No you doofus.
Nikki says with a giggle.
Nikki: I mean you made my day as in you took what was looking
like a pretty screwed up day and turned it into a good one.
Nikki explains.
Methos: We still have the afternoon.
Methos smiles mischievously as he returns his attention to the
road.
Methos: Might even get better.
Nikki ****s her head back and looks at Methos...quirking an
eyebrow questioningly.
Nikki: Really. And just what do you have in mind?
Nikki asks a bit suspiciously.
Methos: It's time to move again, so I was planning to take a
look at a couple of houses in the afternoon. Why don't you come
with me and help me pick?
Methos suggests turning his head to look at Nikki and see if
she liked the idea.
Methos: You'll be a regular visitor anyway.
Nikki's expression changes from the suspicious one to an
impressed look and she smiles as she thinks to her self, "A
regular visitor? Really?"
Nikki: You really want my input?
Nikki asks instead.
Methos: Sure, I can always ignore it if I don't like it.
Methos chuckles softly as he says that.
Nikki turns her head and looks out the front windshield again.
"One step forward...two steps back," she thinks to herself.
Nikki: Just as long as I don't have to put my shoes back
on....I'm game.
Nikki says closing her eyes and leaning her back against the
headrest again.
Methos: Hey, I was joking, can't you take a joke?
Methos points out when he sees that Nikki was slightly upset by
what he said.
Nikki opens her eyes and looks at him.
Nikki: I'm not. I REALLY don't want to have to put these heels
back on.
Nikki says with a bit of a smirk. Her emerald green eyes are
twinkling mischievously.
[CENTER]
[/CENTER]
[CENTER]***1 1/2 hours and 4 houses later***[/CENTER]
Methos parks his SUV in front of the last house on his list, so
far he didn't like any of them. He's beginning to wonder if he's
going to find anything he likes for the price he's willing to
pay as Adam Pierson. He sighs as he turns off the engine,
turning his head to look at Nikki, "And here we are. This is the
last one." He comments as if it's not obvious enough.
[img width=150
height=112]
HTML http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg16/Cyberfox277/Real%20Estate/Other%20Houses/House003.jpg[/img]
Nikki leans forward and looks out the windshield at the front of
the house.
Nikki: So far so good.
Nikki says....her voice laced with just a hint of teasing.
Methos: At least, doesn't it look like all the others houses on
the block.
Methos says tiredly, he's spent the last few hours going from
one house to another which almost looked exactly the same.
Nikki sees the real estate agent's car pull up so she unbuckles
her seat belt and gets out of Methos' car.
Nikki: Well....the other ones were nice....but none of them
said..."I house the original ROG."
Nikki says with a giggle as she closes the passenger door.
Methos: Nice? They all looked the same.
Methos shakes his head amused before he opens the door of his
car to meet the real estate agent.
Nikki: Now I see why you brought me along. If you thought they
all looked the same.....you are definitely architecturally
challenged.
Nikki teases and follows Methos and the real estate agent to the
front door.
Methos: Almost the same.
Methos shrugs before he walks in the door and the real estate
agent starts taking. He sighs they also looked all the same to
him, he wishes they'd shut up and just showed him the house.
Nikki steps across the threshold of the front door and looks
around the spacious front room. She wanders into the
kitchen...ignoring the real estate agent's "tour" spiel.
Nikki: Good enough for a bachelor.
Nikki says aloud to the empty kitchen. She walks out of it and
heads for the only other room on the first floor.
Nikki: This would make a great library!
Nikki calls out from the empty room....totally interrupting the
agent.
Nikki: I see bookcases on every wall.
Nikki says more to herself. She leaves that room and heads for
the stares.
Nikki: What's upstairs?
Nikki asks the agent....again interrupting the woman.
Methos side glances at the agent, she looked upset Nikki cut off
her speech. He smirks while he follows her to the stairs.
Methos: Bedroom I assume?
Methos answers Nikki, also ignoring the real estate agent.
Nikki heads up the stairs. She walks through the 2 bedrooms (1
of which is lager than the other) and looks in the door of the
bathroom then goes to the head of the stares. She motions to get
Methos' attention and when he looks up she mouths the
words....get rid of her.
Methos raises an eyebrow questioningly at Nikki, before he
decides to take a better look at the larger bedroom. He walks
around for a while side glancing at Nikki suspiciously,
wondering what she had in mind.
Methos: So you like this one?
Methos asks half deciding to get this house, looked right for
the price Adam Pierson would be willing to afford.
Nikki: Yes.
Nikki nods enthusiastically.
Nikki: It has you written all over it and a lot of potential.
Nikki adds.
Methos: It has me written all over it?
Methos asks looking around slightly surprised.
Methos: Really?
Nikki walks down the stairs....borrows the agent's pen and
writes on the wall by the front door, "Adam Pierson".
Nikki: Yup. See?
Nikki says pointing to what she wrote on the wall and giggles.
Methos bites his lower lip to prevent him from laughing, when he
sees the look the real estate agent shoots Nikki.
Methos: Nothing to worry about. I want this one.
Methos reassures the woman before she had time to say anything.
Nikki watches as he and the agent go through the paperwork and
when it is time for him to sign everything, she disappears into
the larger bedroom.
Methos quickly finishes paperwork, as far he's concerned the
faster he got rid of that boring real estate agent the better.
Then he frowns slightly when he misses Nikki, he looks around
but can't find her so he assumes she's in one of the bedroom. He
walks there still looking around at his new house.
Nikki is laying stark naked on the floor of the larger
bedroom....assuming a sultry pose.
Methos freezes in surprise when he's about to enter the bedroom,
then he smirks when a thought comes to his mind.
Methos: What if that woman forgot something in here?
Methos asks while he pushes his raincoat back, and it slips to
the floor with a loud thud.
Nikki: Then I would assume she would ring the doorbell.....you
would answer the door....give her what she forgot and show her
out.
Nikki says with a sultry smile and she pats the floor next to
her.
Methos: I mean before she left?
Methospoints out before he pulls his sweater up and tosses it
aside. Then he sits on the floor near Nikki planning to untie
his boots.
Nikki: She didn't come upstairs so if she had forgotten anything
it would have been downstairs.
Nikki says rolling onto her back and staring up at the ceiling.
Methos can't help to chuckle softly when he remembers it.
Methos: You almost gave her a heart attack when you wrote on
the wall.
Nikki: Obviously she has never heard of paint. I assumed you
plan on repainting to your tastes.
Nikki says turning on her side. While Methos unlaces one
boot....she unties the other.
Methos: Yes, wouldn't want that color anyway.
Methos nods while he pulls off his boots and throws them away.
Nikki reaches over and begins to unbuckle his belt.
Methos: So this is your idea of a house warming party?
Methos teases as he unzips his pants and waits Nikki finished
with his belt.
Nikki: Gotta christen your new bedroom.
Nikki says and gives him a gentle shove onto his back. She leans
over him and kisses him passionately.
Methos manages to pull off his pants and kiss her back at the
same time, then he proceeds on making love to her.
[CENTER]
[/CENTER]
[CENTER]***30 minutes later***[/CENTER]
Nikki falls on her back, breathless.
Nikki: Holy crap!
Nikki exclaims softly.
Methos smirks looking at Nikki while his breathing slowly
returns to normal.
Methos: Is that the best you can say?
Methos teases slowly pushing her hair away from her face.
Nikki looks at him out of the corner of her eye and sticks out
her tongue at him.
Nikki: No. Actually I could say a lot more but my mother raised
a lady.....not a sailor.
Nikki says and flashes him a smarmy smirk.
Methos: Then why not say like the old southern ladies, that was
most pleasurable, Dr. Adams.
Nikki: Do I have to call you that in private?
Methos teases imitating their accent with a sightly smile
playing across his face.
Nikki says wrinkling up her nose.
Methos: It was the name I was using.
Nikki: Besides.....back then ladies believed that they weren't
supposed to enjoy making love. It was purely to make their
husbands happy and to procreate.
Methos shrugs still smiling amused.
Nikki says with a mischievous smirk.
Methos: Oh really? Did I mention I was married to them?
Nikki: I'd definitely be considered an immoral woman because I
definitely enjoyed it.
Methos shakes his head as his smile broadens.
Nikki: Now.....I have just one question.
Nikki says looking up at Methos....her emerald green eyes
twinkling mischievously.
Methos: And what question would that be?
Methosasks raising an eyebrow at her, slightly suspicious, he
was beginning to know that twinkle in her eyes.
Nikki: Do you want to christen the rest of the rooms in your new
house?
Nikki says goadingly.
[CENTER]To Be Continued[/CENTER]
#Post#: 131--------------------------------------------------
CONCESSIONS Part 4
By: Cyberfox277 Date: November 15, 2011, 11:03 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]***Mid-morning on a Saturday at the fair grounds'
stadium***[/center]
Nikki pulls her truck and horse trailer into an empty parking
slot in the “staging area” of the stadium where all of the other
rodeo contestants have parked. She gets out of her truck and
walks to the back of the trailer and unlatches the trailer gate.
She steps into the trailer and slips past Blaze. She unhooks
his tether, places her hand on his chest and applies gentle
pressure.
Nikki: Back, boy.
Nikki says softly...looking up at him...and she winks. The
Andalusian slowly backs out of the trailer and down the ramp.
Nikki leads him around to the side of the trailer and hooks his
tether to a ring on the side of the trailer. She gives Blaze a
loving pat on his rump and walks back into the
trailer...returning carrying Blaze's saddle, blankets and bridle
which she drops on the ground next to the horse. She goes back
into the trailer and this time she returns with a small bucket
which holds Blaze's brush, comb and other grooming accoutrements
That, too, she sets on the ground by the tack. She removes the
brush and brushes Blaze's jet black coat until it shines in the
sunlight like black lacquer...all the while, softly humming the
Irish ballad, “May It Be”.
[URL=
HTML http://www.4shared.com/audio/OArvuU1x/May_It_Be.html]May
It
Be.mp3[/URL] She gets the comb out of the bucket and combs
Blaze's flaming red mane and tail until there are no tangles and
they flow like feathers of silk. She steps back and looks at
the finished product of her labors. Blaze turns his head and
looks at Nikki. He shakes his head a couple of times then
tosses his head up and down, paws the ground...looking quite
proud...and whinnies.
Nikki: Yes. You're beautiful.
Nikki says shaking her head and chuckling softly. The
Andalusian tosses his head a couple of times as though nodding
in agreement.
Nikki: But then you already know that....right?
Nikki asks...still shaking her head...and she walks over to the
grooming bucket and drops the curry comb into it as Blaze snorts
in agreement.
Nikki: There's no conceit in your family....because you got it
all.
Nikki says, chidingly. A couple of young cowboys walk by and
one calls out, “Beautiful horse.” Blaze stomps the ground and
tosses his head, proudly.
Nikki: Thanks.
Nikki calls back.
Nikki: Don't encourage him. He's conceited enough as it is.
Nikki adds with a giggle and a wave of thanks. The cowboys
laugh, wave and go on their way. Nikki carries the grooming
bucket back into the trailer and brings out a wooden box about
2' long, 1' across and 2' high. She walks over to the left side
of the stallion and sets the box on the ground next to him. She
picks up the saddle blankets from the ground, shakes them out,
steps up onto the wooden box and lays them across Blaze's back.
She steps down from the box and gets the saddle. Stepping back
up onto the box she slings the saddle up onto Blaze's back and
adjusts its position.
Richard, having spent the night at the fairgrounds, walks out of
the men's room, freshly shaven and ready to greet the day. He
carries his shaving kit back to the ranch's truck and stashes it
behind the front seat of the crew cab. He gives his already
saddled horse a pat as he walks past it and sets about the task
of finding his boss in the chaotic “”staging area”. After
several minutes of wandering through the crowd of cowboys,
cowgirls and their horses, he sees Nikki in the process of
saddling her horse. Out of the corner of his eye he sees a
vendor's cart with a sign that reads, “Fresh Homemade Cinnamon
Rolls”. He walks over to the vendor and a couple of minutes
later walks away carrying a large cup of coffee in one hand and
a huge gooey, warm cinnamon roll on a paper plate in the other.
By the time he walks up to Nikki she has finished saddling Blaze
and is in the process of slipping the stallion's bridle over his
head. As she loosely winds the extra long reins around the
saddle horn, Richard clears his throat.
Richard: How about a break?
Richard asks...holding out the cinnamon roll and coffee.
Nikki starts to turn her head to look over her shoulder and the
smell of the fresh, warm cinnamon roll reaches her before her
head has turned enough to see what Richard is holding. She
moves the wooden box away from Blaze with her foot, looks at
Richard and smiles.
Nikki: Is that one of those.....
Nikki starts to say...her eyes wide with excitement as she
stares hungrily at the cinnamon roll in Richard's hand.
Richard: Yup.
Richard says with a nod.
Richard: And...if I recall...your favorite?
Nikki: How did you know?
Nikki asks as she reaches out and takes the plate from Richard.
She breaks off a piece of the cinnamon roll and puts it in her
mouth...closing her eyes as she savors the warm and gooey
delight.
Richard watches his boss who is obviously in her own heaven at
the moment...and smiles.
Richard: I remembered a conversation we had had a while back
about how much you enjoyed county fairs and all of the food
vendors and you told me how much you loved the Homemade Cinnamon
Roll guy. So when I saw the cart set up just outside the gate
over there....
Richard points in the direction of the vendor.
Richard: ….well....it's not rocket science, after all.
Richard concludes with a shrug.
Nikki takes the cup of coffee from Richard and walks around to
the back of the horse trailer. She sits on the upper part of
the ramp and sets the plate on the floor of the trailer. She
takes a cautious sip of the coffee and nods approvingly.
Nikki: I can't believe you remember that. It was a couple of
years ago.
Nikki says and takes another sip of the coffee.
Richard: It's called paying attention. A concept I know you
think is foreign to us guys.
Richard says with a chuckle.
Nikki: Well....it's definitely not foreign to you. I guess
that's why my father hired you to keep an eye on me.
Nikki says as she sets the cup of coffee on the floor of the
trailer and picks up the plate...tearing off another piece of
the warm cinnamon roll and popping it into her mouth.
Richard: Oooo....low blow.
Richard says with a wince.
Richard: But I guess I deserve that. Are you ever going to
forgive me for that?
Richard asks, hopefully.
Nikki tears off another piece of the cinnamon roll.
Nikki: Like I said before....there's nothing to forgive. You
were only doing what my father paid you to do.
Nikki says then pops the piece of cinnamon roll into her mouth.
Nikki: Want some of this? I won't be able to eat the whole
thing. They're HUGE!
Nikki says holding the plate out to Richard.
Richard looks at Nikki...trying to read her...but her “armor” is
up and her well guarded expression gives no hint as to what she
is truly feeling or thinking. He takes the plate from her,
tears off a large chunk of the gooey cinnamon roll and hands the
plate back to her.
Richard: Thanks.
Richard says with a grateful smile.
Nikki: Besides....that's all in the past....right? Now you
just work for me and even though I don't pay as much as my
father did...I have faith in your loyalty.
Nikki says, matter of factually. She takes the plate from
Richard and sets it on the floor of the trailer. She picks up
her cup of coffee and takes a welcoming sip.
Richard takes a bite of the cinnamon roll and watches Nikki as
she sips her coffee. Having gotten to know his boss fairly well
in the time he has worked for her as the foreman of her
ranch....as well as working for her father as his anonymous eyes
and ears...he decides to let the subject drop. She may have
said that there was nothing to forgive....that she didn't blame
him for his secrecy....but he knew that she would test his
loyalty to her many times in the future...not as a punishment
but until she was absolutely sure his loyalty lay with her and
not her father....or anyone else, for that matter. And although
it was frustrating to know that he had to walk on egg shells for
an indeterminate period of time...he was grateful for the fact
that she hadn't fired him on the spot and was determined to win
back her trust...no matter how long it took...because he not
only liked his job at the ranch and had become emotionally
attached to several of the kids living at Nua Tosu, but he had
become quite fond of his feisty redheaded boss. Richard's cell
phone rings and he quickly wipes his sticky fingers of one hand
on his jeans then fishes his phone out of his jeans' pocket and
flips it open.
Richard: It's the ranch.
color=darkred]Richard announces to Nikki after checking the
caller ID.[/color]
Richard: Hello?.......Oh no. You're kidding........well tell
him not to worry about it and to get well soon. There'll be
other times......Ok....I will....Bye.
Richard closes his phone and shoves it back in his pocket.
Nikki watches Richard's expression as he takes his call...her
curiosity and concern growing.
Nikki: What's wrong?
Nikki asks when Richard hangs up.
Richard: Looks like I have to drop out of the team roping. I
just lost my heeler.
Richard says, disappointedly. He shoves the rest of the piece
of cinnamon roll, he had taken off of Nikki's, in his mouth.
Nikki: Why? What happened?
Nikki asks, concerned. She knew that Richard and Chuck, one of
the ranch's older teen residences, had been practicing for
weeks...getting Chuck ready to be Richard's heeler (the partner
who ropes the back legs of the calf) in the team roping event
and that Chuck had been so looking forward to it that it was all
he could talk about for the last couple of weeks.
Richard: Seems Chuck has come down with the measles.
Richard says after swallowing the cinnamon roll.
Nikki: Measles!
Nikki exclaims, incredulously. She takes a big drink of her
coffee and sets the cup on the floor of the trailer. She takes
her cell phone out of its case that is hooked to her belt and
flips it open. She dials the ranch and asks to speak to their
resident physician's assistant. She gets up and begins to
slowly pace around the back of the trailer as she talks to the
PA.
Richard picks up Nikki's coffee cup and takes a drink to wash
down the cinnamon roll he had swallowed then he sets it back
down on the trailer floor.
Nikki closes her phone and replaces it in its case then walks
back to the back of the trailer and picks up her coffee cup.
For the first time since greeting Nikki this morning, Richard
sees some honest emotion in her eyes.
Richard: What's up?
Richard asks as Nikki picks up her cup of coffee.
Nikki: Seems Tony called the school and there's been a measles
breakout and a third of Chuck's junior class have contracted it.
Nikki says then takes a drink of her coffee.
Richard: Really? Measles? In the high school? That seems
odd. Don't they vaccinate for that?
Richard asks...unable to understand how a disease like the
measles breaks out in a high school. In an elementary school
filled with small children known for runny noses and uncovered
coughs, yes...but in a high school?
Nikki shrugs.
Nikki: It's not like it used to be when schools offered the
basic vaccinations. Nowadays parents are responsible for
getting the proper inoculations before their kid starts school.
And with the way things are with the economy and health
care....most parents can't afford it and the kids go without.
If the school fails to enforce their vaccination policy....and
with schools being over crowded like they are that happens more
often than not....well....all it takes is one kid with a highly
contagious disease to pass it on.
Nikki explains.
Richard: But the measles? Don't most kids get them when they
are small making them immune when they are older?
Nikki shakes her head.
Nikki: No. That's a misconception. Besides....there are 2
different forms of measles. The German Measles or Rubella and
the Seven Day Measles. Rubella can be vaccinated against but
not the Seven Day Measles. And...yes...once you've had Rubella
you can't get it again. But you can catch the Seven Day Measles
over and over. Other than the contagion and immunity
factors...the difference between the two is that with Rubella
there's the threat of blindness in the very young and it is
usually accompanied and complicated by severe upper respiratory
infections like Bronchial Pneumonia and Bronchitis and high
fevers...where the Seven Day Measles just itch really really
bad.
Nikki explains.
Nikki: Speaking of which....have you ever had the measles?
Nikki asks...looking at Richard, seriously.
Richard: Possibly. I remember having something that made me
itch real bad and my mom taping socks on my hands to keep me
from scratching. They also kept the curtains closed in my room
and only allowed me to have one dim light on....and no TV, which
made everything worse.
Richard says...chuckling at the last.
Nikki: That was Rubella....the German Measles. You can't get
them again. But if Chuck has the Seven Day Measles....since you
were with him almost everyday in the past 2 weeks....and the
incubation time is 7 days....well....if you suddenly get a rash
on your stomach that itches almost as bad as if you had rolled
naked in a patch of poison oak....go see Tony.
Nikki warns. She suppresses the urge to giggle at the thought
of Richard....not only a grown man but the tough cowboy macho
type....covered in pink splotches of Calamine Lotion covering
the red rash of the measles.
Richard: Is there any way of finding out which measles Chuck
has?
Richard asks...already itching from the power of suggestion.
Nikki: Tony can take a blood sample to the lab on Monday but
until then....
Nikki says with a shrug.
Nikki: All we can do now is focus on what we can control and
that's getting you a new heeler so you don't have to drop out of
the competition.
Nikki says and finishes her coffee. She walks over to the
trailer and sets the empty Styrofoam cup on the floor close to
the wall.
Richard: Yeah? Well....I suppose I could always ask around and
they usually have a list of available candidates.
Richard says with a unenthusiastic shrug.
Nikki whirls around and glares at Richard.
Nikki: Why go to some list and end up with someone you don't
know and who may or may not know what they're doing?
Besides....most of those on the list don't even have their own
horse so you'd have to provide one and I know that since Chuck
has been working exclusively with Waffles for the past 2 years
she barely tolerates anyone else even saddling her....let alone
a complete stranger riding her.
Nikki says...picturing the camaraderie shared by the young
resident and the dapple mare named for the waffle pattern of
silver dappling.
Richard: What other choice have I got?
Richard asks and sees that mischievous twinkle in Nikki's
emerald green eyes....something she has kept hidden, along with
most other emotions and thoughts, around him since learning that
he had originally applied for the job as ranch foreman because
her father had paid him to be his eyes and ears so that he could
anonymously lend a helping hand.
Richard: What have you got in mind?
Richard asks, suspiciously.
Instead of answering him, Nikki walks over to the bed of her
truck, unlocks the built in toolbox and lifts the lid. She
removes a coil of waxed rope and walks back to the rear of the
trailer. She takes the pair of riding gloves out of the back
pocket of her jeans and puts them on. As she opens up the lasso
and shakes it out she looks around. She spots an untethered dog
sniffing around one of the fair grounds' trash barrels. On a
hunch she picks up a stick from the ground near her feet and
whistles to get the dog's attention. When he looks at her she
throws the stick so that it lands several yards away. When the
dog looks in the direction the stick had gone...showing signs of
interest...Nikki begins twirling the lasso over her head.
Nikki: Go get it boy.
Nikki calls out to the dog and it takes off running to retrieve
the thrown stick. After four twirls of the lasso, Nikki...using
a sidearm throw...throws the lasso. The open loop of rope lands
just in front of the dogs back feet and as it steps into the
loop Nikki steps back, pulling sharply on the rope in her hands.
Between her moving backward and the dog still running forward,
the loop of rope slips up over the dogs back legs. Nikki snaps
the rope in her hands behind her and the lasso
closes...tightening around the dog's back legs and pulling them
upward as the dog instinctively tries to pull away from the
lasso....pulling it even tighter. She turns just enough to be
able to look over her shoulder at Richard and she raises one
eyebrow as if to say, “need I say more?”
Richard bursts into laughter and waves in surrender.
Richard: Ok. Point taken.
Richard says through his fit of laughter.
Nikki shakes the rope in her hands in front of her to loosen the
lasso and when it has loosened she lets the lasso slip off of
the dog's legs then “reels” it back in.
Richard: I had no idea.
Richard says when he has gotten control of his laughter.
Richard: I wonder if you will ever run out of ways to surprise
me.
Richard adds, shaking his head.
Richard: I guess we better go get you signed in as my new
partner.
Richard says with a smile.
Nikki: Only if it's near a little girls' room. Coffee is like
beer. You don't buy it....you only rent it.
Nikki says with a giggle.
Richard: Right this way, Miss Flynn.
Richard says and extends his elbow in an escort fashion.
Nikki tosses the coil of rope into the bed of her truck and
slips her arm through Richard's.
Nikki: Lead the way, Mr. Williams.
Nikki says with a giggle.
[center]****2 hours into the rodeo***[/center]
After having placed first in the Bareback Bronc Riding, tied for
first in the Saddle Bronc Riding and first in the Calf Roping
(single) events...Richard makes his way through the “staging
area” crowd to the area where the Barrel Racers are.
Nikki checks the strap of Blaze's saddle to make sure it is
tight enough.
Nikki: Are you ready, partner?
Nikki says to Blaze...giving the stallion a loving pat on his
neck. Blaze tosses his head as if nodding yes. She feels an
Immortal buzz and looks around...hoping it is Methos....and sees
Richard walking towards her....eating an apple. She gathers the
reins of Blaze's bridle and grabs the saddle horn in her left
hand as she lifts her left foot into the stirrup.
Richard: Brought you something, big boy.
Richard says...taking another bite of the apple and holds the
rest of it out for Blaze. As Blaze takes the apple from his
hand he reaches up and rubs the Andalusian's forehead.
Nikki: As if he isn't spoiled enough already.
Nikki says...shaking her head. She places her right hand on the
saddle's cantle and mounts her horse.
Richard: Look who's talking.
Richard says...looking up at Blaze and winking. He moves to
Blaze's side and checks the length of Nikki's left stirrup.
Nikki: I already did that and they're perfect...thank you very
much.
Richard moves around to the horse's right side and checks that
stirrup.
Richard: Then how come this one's pin isn't in the hole?
Richard says as he pushes the pin through the hole of the strap
and tucks the end of the strap through the buckle.
Richard: I'd hate to see you break that pretty little neck of
yours....or worse. At least before you signed my paycheck.
Richard says...looking up at Nikki and winking.
Methos makes his way through the people attending the rodeo,
until he finds a free seat in the grandstand, where he sits with
a sigh of relief. He checks his watch while he takes a sip of
the coffee he bought on the way in. He'd made a point of not
being there right from the beginning, he's here to see Nikki,
he's not interested in the rest, but maybe he exaggerated a
little, the women were already competing. He hopes Nikki didn't
compete yet or he's going to need a really good excuse. There
wasn't such a thing as pretending to be there to an Immortal,
she'd know he wasn't there when she didn't feel him.
Announcer: And that's a great time of 17.6 for Jenny Walker.
That puts her in first place. If she can hold onto her position
it will be the fourth year in a row that Jenny has won this
event.
The announcer's voice blares over the applause and cheers of the
crowd as Jenny Walker and her Palomino cross the finish line and
come to a stop near Nikki and Blaze.
Nikki: Good run.
Nikki calls out to the young rider who waves a thank you as she
reins her horse out of the way.
Nikki: That time will be hard to beat.
Nikki says looking down at Richard.
Richard: You didn't think this was going to be easy, did you?
Nikki: Well.....I hoped it would.
Nikki says with a shrug. She adjust her hat and reins Blaze to
the starting point (which is about 50' from the line where the
clock starts.
Richard: Good luck, boss.
Richard calls out and steps back out of the way.
Announcer: Our next and last contestant is Miss Nikki Flynn on
Midnight Blaze. She is riding for the Nua Tosu Ranch here in
Seacouver.
Methos sighs in relief when he hears Nikki's name, glad he
didn't miss her after all. He knows she'd be hurt if he didn't
show up after he promised he'd be here. “Just in time.” He
murmurs under his breath.
Nikki leans forward and gives Blaze a pat on the side of his
neck. She holds the reins in her left hand, gently nudges
Blaze’s sides with the heel of her boot and they burst through
the gate into the arena...heading for the first barrel.
Richard hurries over to the side of the arena gate so he can
watch Nikki's run.
Nikki and Blaze round the first barrel smoothly. Blaze digs in
and heads for barrel #2 which is the closest of the 3 barrels to
the grandstands. As they near the second barrel Nikki feels the
familiar strong buzz of an Immortal and she knows that Methos is
somewhere in the stands. Horse and rider round barrel
#2...leaning so low and tight that Nikki's knee almost touches
the ground. Once around the barrel, Blaze digs in again and
sprints for barrel #3. They round the third (and last) barrel
quickly and, to Nikki, the finish line seems miles away. She
raises up in the stirrups and leans forward...making a
“shhht....shhht” sound that only Blaze can hear. The stallion
breaks into a full run. The wind caused from the speed of the
run blows Nikki's hat off and it falls to the ground behind
them. As soon as they cross the finish line Nikki leans back
against the cantle and pulls back, hard, on the reins.
Announcer: Excellent run for Nikki Flynn with a time of 16.3
which makes her the new Seacouver Pioneer Days Rodeo Barrel
Racing Champion and breaks the record time made by Jenny Walker
of 16.8. Congratulations, Nikki.
The announcer says as the crowd cheers.
Methos cheers Nikki along with the crowd. She certainly deserved
to win after all the trouble she had the last couple of months,
practicing almost daily.
Nikki finally brings Blaze to a stop only a few feet from the
side of someone's horse trailer.
Richard runs up to Nikki.
Richard: YEE HAW!
Richard hollers victoriously.
Richard: Way to go, boss. Way to go!
Nikki dismounts and takes hold of the reins just underneath
Blaze's chin as the crowd of rodeo contestants in the “staging
area” gather around her and Blaze...congratulating them.
Methos considers leaving and try to find Nikki but he knows it's
going to be hard to find her in the middle of all the
competitors and horses backstage. And besides probably he
couldn't pass this way and would have to go all the way around.
So he decides to sit back and enjoy the rest of the show for
now.
The announcer can be heard joking around with the rodeo clowns
who are entertaining the crowd as rodeo hands remove the barrels
from the arena to make way for the next event.
Nikki: Meet you at your trailer.
Nikki calls out to Richard. She thanks the well wishers and
excuses herself as she leads Blaze out of the crowd and back to
their trailer. She slips his bridle off...replacing it with his
halter and tethers him to the trailer. She opens a panel in the
side of the trailer and in front of her horse...exposing a
feeder and water trough. She gets into the cab of her truck and
opens the glove box between the front bucket seats and takes two
sugar cubes out of a small tin container and stuffs them into
her shirt pocket. She goes to the bed of her truck and
retrieves the coil of rope she had used to “audition” for
Richard earlier and hurries to Richard's truck and trailer.
When she arrives, Waffles, the dappled mare that Chuck was going
to ride, is already saddled and ready to go.
Richard sees Nikki heading his way and he unhooks the tethers of
both horses and begins to remove both Waffles' and his pure
white quarter horse, Ghost's, halters.
Nikki: You should have told me you parked a gazillion miles
away. I would have called a cab and been here faster.
Nikki teases...a little out of breath from hurrying the distance
between her and Richard's truck and trailer.
Richard: Are you saying you're a bit out of shape?
Richard says as he leads both horses to her and hands Waffles'
reins to Nikki.
Nikki: What was that about wanting a paycheck?
Nikki asks...raising an eyebrow, tauntingly.
Richard: Point taken.
Richard says in surrender.
Waffles takes a couple of steps backward, nervously, and Nikki
reaches up and cups her hand under the mare's chin.
Nikki: Easy, girl.
Nikki says in a soothing voice as she looks up at the mare and
gently caresses her soft chin.
Nikki: I know I'm not Chuck but you can trust me. Ask any of
your barn-mates.
Nikki takes the 2 sugar cubes out of her shirt pocket and places
them in the palm of her hand which she opens and holds out to
Waffles. The mare sniffs Nikki's hand then, cautiously takes
the treats. Nikki moves closer to Waffles...reaching up and
gently rubbing the bridge of the mare's nose.
Nikki: Atta girl.
Nikki says softly when Waffles doesn't move away.
Nikki: Now....are you going to let me ride you?
Nikki asks...looking up at the mare. Waffles paws at the ground
a couple of times as if thinking about it then she takes a step
closer to Nikki and snorts. Nikki takes that as a yes and
places the coil of rope she brought with her around the horn of
Waffles' saddle. She gathers up the reins and, cautiously,
climbs onto the mare's back. At first Waffles prances around,
nervously, but Nikki holds a firm rein and says, “easy girl.
You might as well calm down and accept it because it's a done
deal.”
Richard mounts his own horse and watches Nikki take control of
Waffles.
Announcer: Our next event, ladies and gentlemen, is Team
Roping.
The announcer's voice can be heard back in the “staging area” as
he proceeds to explain the rules of the event to the audience.
Richard: Sounds like our cue.
As soon as Waffles submits to Nikki's control and accepts her on
her back, Nikki urges the mare forward with a gentle nudge of
her boot heels against Waffles' sides.
Richard follows Waffles and Nikki as they head for the roping
chutes
Announcer: Oh....too bad for the Johnson/Hawkins team. Better
luck next time guys.
The announcer says...sounding a bit condescending
Richard reins his horse into position on the left side of the
calf chute and gets his rope ready.
Nikki and Waffles take their position in the stall on the right
side of the calf chute and shakes out her rope...holding the
lasso in her right hand.
Announcer: Our next team is Richard Williams and Nikki Flynn
from the Nua Tosu Ranch. Are you ready?
The announcer asks and one of the rodeo hands waves an
affirmative once the calf is secure in the chute. The rodeo
hand watches Richard for his signal to open the chute.
Methos frowns slightly puzzled when he hears Nikki's name
instead of the kid he saw practicing with Nikki's foreman. He
wonders what happened to the kid for a moment, then shrugs and
pays attention to what is going on.
Nikki keeps one eye on Richard for his signal and the other on
the chute gate.
Nikki: Ready, Waffles?
Nikki asks and pats the mare on the side of her neck.
Richard sees that Nikki is ready and nods at the rodeo hand.
When the chute opens and the calf darts out, Richard spurs Ghost
into a full run...twirling his lasso over his head.
Nikki and Waffles leave their stall just seconds after the calf
leaves the chute and she twirls her lasso over her head. When
the calf is the right distance ahead of her she throws her
lasso...aiming for the calf's back legs. Just as it did with
the dog, the lasso falls a little ahead of the calf's hind legs
and when he steps into the noose, Nikki yanks the rope
back...tightening the lasso around the lower part of both hind
legs.
Richard throws his lasso as soon as he sees that Nikki's throw
is good and it lands over the calf's head and he simultaneously
wraps the rope around the saddle horn. Ghost immediately side
steps then begins to walk backwards...keeping the rope between
him and the calf tight.
Nikki wraps her rope around the saddle horn and pulls back on
Waffles' reins. Waffles had been well trained and she
immediately begins to walk backwards...keeping the rope tight
between her and the calf and keeping the calf's hind legs up off
the ground.
Announcer: Nice job you two.
The announcer says as the crowd cheers.
Announcer: That'll be a time of 5.46 seconds which puts team
Nua Tosu in the lead. Looks like the last two teams have their
work cut out for them.
The announcer says and launches into an explanation of how a
well trained roping horse is an asset to a cowboy while the
rodeo hands get set up for the next team.
Richard flashes Nikki a thumbs up and shakes his lasso loose and
lifts it off of the calf's head...then reels it in.
Nikki gets her lasso free of the calf's hind legs and as she
reels it in she looks into the grandstands...trying to find
Methos in the crowd.
Methos waves at Nikki with a smile, hoping she can see him in
the middle of all the crowd cheering at them.
Nikki sees Methos waving and smiles as she waves back. She
rides Waffles out of the arena and to Richard's truck and
trailer. She dismounts, slips the mare's halter over her head,
tethers her to the side of the trailer and begins to remove her
saddle.
Richard rides up and dismounts Ghost next to Waffles.
Richard: I can get that.
Richard offers.
Nikki slides the saddle and blankets off of Waffles back.
Nikki: Already done.
Nikki says and carries the saddle and blankets to the back of
the trailer and sets them on the ground by the ramp.
Nikki: What you can do is give me a lift back to my trailer
though
Nikki says. After competing in, not only the Barrel Racing and
Team Roping events...she had also competed in the Ladies Slalom,
the Rescue the Cowboy Race and the ladies' version of the Bull
Dogging events...placing first and tied for first...and her
muscles are beginning to feel the strain. She is exhausted but
is still high from the exhilaration and adrenaline rush and she
is completely happy.
Richard: You got it, boss.
Richard says with a laugh. He gets back on Ghost and rides up
to Nikki...holding out his left hand for her to grab.
Nikki grabs Richard's hand and climbs on Ghost behind Richard
and they head for her truck and trailer.
[center]****30 minutes later***[/center]
After the last event the rodeo area becomes a bustle of activity
as they prepare for the award ceremony. A small stage is placed
in the center of the arena and a long table with a red table
cloth is placed toward the back of the stage with 5 chairs
behind it. A podium and microphone are set up near the front of
the stage and off to the left. The Seacouver Pioneer Days queen
and her 4 princesses, dressed in matching cowgirl attire take
their seats in the chairs behind the table and begin assisting
the judges with organizing the awards. All the while the
audience is being entertained by the antics of the 3 rodeo
clowns. The announcer leaves the elevated reviewing stand (and
announcer's booth) and walks up to the microphone at the podium
and taps it.
Announcer: Testing...one...two...three.
Satisfied that the audio system is working the announcer
kibitzes with the clowns for a few minutes then gives them a
signal and they collect their props and exit the arena.
Announcer: Let's give those guys a big hand, everyone. They
have earned it today that's for sure.
The announcer says to the audience.
Announcer: Thanks guys.
The announcer says to the exiting clowns and waves.
Announcer: Can we get our winning contestants out here?
The announcer speaks extra loudly so he can be heard in the
“staging area” and he looks towards the arena gate.
As have the other event winners, Nikki has changed out of her
dust and sweat covered blue jeans and shirt into a pair of
celery colored dress Western pants, matching jacket and felt
cowboy hat and a peach colored ruffled Western style blouse.
She and Blaze join Richard at the arena gate, get their assigned
place in line from one of the event coordinators and wait for
their cue to ride into the arena.
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen. The Seacouver Pioneer Days
Association proudly presents the winners of the 2011 Seacouver
Pioneer Days Rodeo.
Nikki and Blaze enter the arena and follow the Parade of Winners
as they cantor once around the arena.
Richard and Ghost fall in behind Nikki.
As they ride close to the grandstand railing, Nikki looks for
Methos and when she sees him she blows him a kiss as she rides
by.
Methos smiles amused when Nikki blows him a kiss and decides to
do the same, even though she probably can't see it. It's not
important really, he's planning to do that in person pretty
soon.
Announcer: Let's give 'em a round of applause, everyone. They
worked hard today.
The announcer says and the crowd cheers.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 209--------------------------------------------------
CONCESSIONS Part 5
By: 22639 Date: December 31, 2011, 3:47 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center][sub]The part of Michelle Webster is temporarily being
understudied.[/sub][/center]
When Natalie shows up at the Fantasy Ballroom's booth on the
main concourse of the fairgrounds Michelle decides to take a
well deserved break. She throws on a robe over her costume and
leaves the booth. She wanders along the concourse...stopping
every once in a while to look at one of the vendors' displays.
Eventually she gets close to the arena and hears the crowd
cheering. Curiosity gets the better of her and she decides to
see what is going on. She arrives at the gate to the grandstands
just as the rodeo comes to an end and people begin filing out of
the gate, forcing her to stand back out of the way.
Nikki rides Blaze out of the arena and dismounts once she is out
of the main traffic.
Richard gets out of the arena and jumps off of Ghost and runs up
to Nikki, grabbing her and whirling her around gleefully.
Methos stands up from his seat among the crowd watching the
rodeo and decides to try to pass through the gate to meet Nikki,
now that it was over he sees no reason why they won't let him
pass. He frowns when he feels an Immortal buzz on the way there,
wondering if Nikki was coming his way or if it was someone else.
Michelle feels the buzz of another Immortal and looks around to
see if she can tell who the buzz belongs to. But she doesn't see
anyone right away and there are still too many people exiting
the arena.
Methos stops for a moment, hesitating if he should go on or not,
but since there's so many people around, he's safe, so he
resumes walking.
Richard: I am so proud of you.
Richard says as he whirls Nikki around one more time.
Nikki giggles, caught up in the excitement.
Methos gets to the gate and sees Nikki's horse right away, he
also sees something that makes him stare in disbelief for a
moment. Is that possible that girl forgot what her foreman did
so fast? They looked like they never had a trusting problem
before.
As the crowd begins to thin out, Michelle tries to go against
the flow and get into the arena.
Methos shakes his head as he decides not to go to Nikki right
away, he knows he'll end up saying something she won't like. But
come on, that man had betrayed once for money, he could do it
again, what was she expecting to fire him, the second time he
did that? He turns back and goes back to the arena to get a
seat, giving himself some time to cool off.
Richard puts Nikki down.
Richard: I better get Ghost and his pal trailered and back to
the ranch.
Richard announces to Nikki.
Nikki: Ok. See you there.
Nikki says and runs up to Blaze and gives him a big hug and
kisses his neck.
Nikki: You did great, boy. I couldn't have done it without you.
Thanks.
Nikki tells the stallion.
Once Michelle is inside the gate she sees some of the horse in
the staging area and decides to check them out. As she gets
closer to the staging area gate she feels the Immortal buzz
again.
Nikki takes Blaze by the reins and heads for her truck and
trailer.
Methos looks up when he feels an Immortal buzz again, wondering
who was it, when he sees a female looking around and suspects it
must be her, that was always a give away, he smirks while he
wonders why they all kept doing it. He of all people should know
better.
Michelle looks around and finally sees a face that seems
familiar. Then she remembers that he was at the bachelor party
she danced at. The one that Duncan had been at. "He'll know
where Duncan is," she thinks to herself and...smiling her most
innocent, sweet smile heads for the man.
Methos almost rolls his eyes when the woman approaches and he
recognizes the stripper from Joe's bachelor party. Of all the
female Immortals he met so far, she'd be the one he'd like to
avoid. "Hmm, maybe Cassandra first." He murmurs under his
breath, "Then her."
Nikki unsaddles Blaze and gives him a quick rub down then loads
his tack into the trailer. When everything is loaded up she
coaxes the horse into the trailer as well and secures the
trailer gate. Having seen Methos in the audience...and assuming
that he wouldn't leave without saying anything to her she
decides to go look for him.
Michelle walks up to the man she figures must be a friend of
Duncan's.
Michelle: Hi. Remember me?
Michelle says using her innocent girl voice. The one that has
melted many a man's heart...thinking her a helpless little girl.
Methos: And how would I forget you?
Methos asks with a fake smile, knowing she would take his answer
for something else.
Michelle: You seemed to be enjoying yourself.
Michelle says and leans back against a fence post with her hands
innocently folded behind her back. She allows her robe to fall
open just enough to make it known that she is wearing
very...very little underneath.
Methos studies the assets in front of him, seeing through her
act, after reading her profile in the Watcher Database, he knows
that innocence is nothing else than that.
Methos: Don't you think it's kind of cold to be dressed to go to
the beach?
Methos asks with a smile playing across his lips.
Nikki is stopped every few feet to be congratulated by the other
riders in the staging area.
Michelle: The Fantasy Ballroom....where I work? Has a booth on
the main concourse and a few of us dancers kinda give a preview
of what will be seen at the club. I'm on a break.
Michelle says with an innocent shrug.
Methos: Oh missed that, but I got here late anyway, so...
Methos shrugs, he wouldn't be interested in seeing that anyway.
Michelle: You know.....Duncan never told me he had such a good
looking friend.
Michelle says boldly.
Methos: Maybe because I'm not his type?
Methos chuckles amused, like Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod
would ever tell anyone a man was good looking.
Michelle: So where is good old Duncan anyway? I was hoping to
say hello.
Michelle asks innocently.
Michelle: He's was the one who told me what I was when I first
died and set me up with his friend, Amanda, to be my teacher.
Michelle adds proudly.
Methos smiles at her, while he thinks to himself, " Ah voila,
now we're getting to business, aren't we?". He shrugs
unconcerned.
Methos: I don't know, he didn't tell me, just told me he'd be
away on business, and I didn't ask.
Methos frowns a little, as if he wasn't sure when in fact he is.
Methos: I seem to recall I told you that before.
A big black bumble bee begins buzzing around Michelle and she
tries to jump out of its way.
Michelle: Get away. Shoo....oh go away.
Michelle squeals The heel of her high heel sandals catches on an
uneven board in the floor of the grandstand that they are
standing on and she falls into Methos.
Methos only has time to extend his arms before she falls over
him and lands on his lap.
Methos: Oh come on, that thing wouldn't kill you, you know?
Nikki finally makes it through the throng of well wishers. She
gets to the pedestrian gate that leads to the side of the
grandstands and she suddenly comes to a stop as she sees Methos
embrace a woman.
Michelle: Sorry about that.
Methos says shaking his head, while he thinks even Immortal
women had this thing for bugs.
Michelle says stepping back from Methos.
Michelle: I was stung by one of those things and I was swollen
up like a balloon for hours until it finally healed. And it hurt
like hell.
Michelle explains.
Michelle: I steer clear of them as much as possible.
Michelle adds.
Methos: You were only stung because you touched it, leave it
alone and it will go away eventually.
Nikki recognizes the girl when she steps away from Methos.
Methos shrugs unconcerned, every fool would know that.
Nikki: Michelle frigging Webster.
Nikki grumbles to herself. What is he doing with that ****? And
why is he hugging her?
Michelle looks up at Methos.
Michelle: When do you think Duncan will be coming back?
Michelle asks innocently.
Methos: I don't know, he didn't tell me.
Methos shrugs again, and this time he didn't even have to lie
about it, he thinks to himself considering the irony.
Methos: He's a big boy anyway, he can take care of himself.
Methos adds with another shrug.
Nikki feels her anger grow and a new emotion she has never
experienced before. Jealousy. She doesn't like this new feeling
at all and she shoves her hands in her jeans pockets, turns and
stomps back to her truck.
Michelle: I know. I just am anxious to see him. I owe him my
life. I almost made a very bad mistake. Duncan saved me from a
very bad guy named Axle
Michelle says and she gets a look in her eyes like that of a
school girl thinking about her hero or knight in shining armor.
Nikki gets into her truck and carefully drives out of the
staging area and off the fairgrounds. Within minutes she is
headed for Nua Tosu....still fuming over what she thinks she
saw.
Methos rolls his eyes when he hears MacLeod played boyscout yet
again. "So what else is new?" He murmurs under his breath.
Michelle notices by Methos' watch that her break is up.
Michelle: I hate to cut this short but I need to get back to the
booth.
Michelle announces. She reaches up and runs her finger tips
under his chin.
Methos: Oh alright.
Michelle: You are cute, though. I really hope you stop by
sometime and let me show you....
Michelle licks her lips seductively.
Michelle: ...some of my special talents.
Methos manages to keep the sigh of relief that almost comes out
when he hears this, maybe then he can go looking for Nikki. He
frowns a little wondering what's keeping her.
Michelle says then hurries off toward the main concourse and the
Fantasy Ballroom's booth.
Methos: Thanks, but no thanks.
Methos murmurs after she leaves, thinking he'd prefer to take a
snake to bed, at least his odds of keeping his head were a lot
higher.
[center]**2 hours later***
[/center]Having unloaded Blaze and put him in his paddock by her
house, Nikki storms inside, goes into her bedroom and gets
undressed. She gets into the shower and stands, letting the hot
water wash over her...hoping that it will wash away this feeling
she hates feeling.
Methos drives to Nikki's ranch wondering what else could happen
today, it started awkward, with him waking up late and kept
going down from there. His frown deepens when he remembers
Nikki's mysterious disappearance when they were supposed to have
something together, and he had to get something alone. He shakes
is head thinking about it, something was definitely wrong in
this picture.
Nikki gets out of the shower when the water begins to turn cold.
She wraps her hair in a towel and dries off. She gets dressed in
a pair of sweat pants and a matching sweat shirt, dries her hair
and goes into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. But she still
can't get the picture of Methos' arms around Michelle so she
decides against the coffee and gets a bottle of tequila out of
the cabinet over the fridge and pours a shot. Without the aid of
a lemon wedge and some salt she downs the shot and refills the
glass.
Methos takes a deep sigh of relief as he gets to the ranch and
sees Nikki's truck parked near her house, at least he didn't
have to go looking for her, his guess was correct. He'd soon
find out what was going on with her.
Nikki downs the shot and re-corks the bottle, putting it back in
the cupboard. She sets her shot glass in the sink and opens the
refrigerator door to look for something to eat since she hasn't
eaten since breakfast.
Nikki: Hmmmm.
Nikki mutters thoughtfully. She takes a pickle spear off of a
platter of vegetable spears and munches on it as she continues
to examine the contents of her fridge.
Methos parks his SUV in front of Nikki's house and grabs the
roses he bought on the way to her ranch, before he exits his car
and locks the door. Then he walks quickly to the door and knocks
lightly, hiding the roses behind his back.
Nikki feels an Immortal buzz and looks up from the fridge. She
closes the refrigerator door and walks cautiously toward the
front door.
Nikki: Yeah? Who is it?
Nikki calls through the closed door as she reaches for her sword
that is in its rack above the door.
Methos rolls his eyes at the question, what was she expecting
him to do when she disappeared? Go to the movies?
Methos: Who do you think? Santa Claus? Only he got too fat to go
through the chimney?
Nikki lets go of her sword...leaving it in its place over the
door. As she reaches for the door knob she forces the jealousy
down inside her so that he doesn't see it. Then she opens the
door and steps aside.
Nikki: Well...Santa....come on in.
Nikki says sarcastically and waits until he has passed by her
before closing the door.
Methos enters her house giving her the roses on the way in.
Methos: I thought you might like these, it's your favorite color
and all.
Methos says smiling at her while he extends the roses so she can
get them.
[img width=225
height=225]
HTML http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/22639/Highlander/Misc%20RPGs/roses.jpg[/img]
HTML http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/22639/Highlander/Misc%20RPGs/roses.jpg
Nikki, prepared to be angry with him, sees his boyish grin and
the twinkle in his eyes...coupled with the scent of the
roses...and her anger begins to fade. She takes the flowers from
him...sniffs them...then looks into his eyes.
Nikki: Thank you. But what's the occasion?
Methos raises his eyebrow surprised at her question.
Methos: This morning? You won? Remember?
Methos points out while he thinks this keeps getting weirder and
weirder.
Nikki: Thank you. You want a beer?
Nikki asks as she heads for the kitchen to find a vase to put
the flowers in.
Methos: Yes, need to ask?
Methos answers with a smile following her to the kitchen as he
decides to give her some time before he asks what's going on.
Nikki finds a vase, fills it with water and puts the roses in
it. She gets a bottle of beer out of the fridge and hands it to
Methos. She takes the roses out of the kitchen and places them
in the center of the dining room table.
Nikki: So why didn't you come back to the staging area after the
rodeo?
Nikki asks without looking back at Methos. She pretends to
straighten the roses in the vase.
Methos looks at the beer bottle for a while before he decides to
open it, he wanted to postpone this for a while but since she
asked, so be it.
Methos: I did, or was on my way... but i figured I didn't want
to interrupt the hug.
Methos shrugs before he picks up the bottle and moves to a couch
to sit down.
Nikki: The what?
Nikki asks, looking at him...confused. That was not quite the
answer she expected.
Methos: I'm not upset by the hug, you're entitled to hug anyone
you want.
Methos shrugs again, before he sprawls on the couch.
Nikki: What hug?
Nikki asks and then she remembers Richard whirling her around in
celebration and she closes her eyes and slowly nods her head.
Nikki: Oh. THAT hug.
Nikki says in realization.
Methos: But I think you're trusting that guy too much, I see him
taking money to give something to the horses. I just don't get
why you didn't fire him when you caught him spying on you. He
took money to spy on you, the fact that it was your father is
irrelevant.
Methos points out before he takes a sip of beer.
Nikki walks over to the sunken area of the living room and steps
into the "pit" and sits down on the cushions. She pats the
cushion next to her in invitation.
Methos gets up with a sigh, just when he was getting
comfortable, but he didn't want Nikki to think he was that upset
when in fact he wasn't. So he moves to sit next to her.
Nikki: At one point my Da' co-owned a couple of prize winning
studs. When I was about 11 years old he had a falling out with
his partner and his partner...or should I say...ex-partner...got
vendictive over a decision Da' made and tried to get him black
balled from what was at the time like the local ranchers' union.
Things got ugly for a while and Da' almost lost everything.
Nikki explains.
Nikki: Yet even with everything his ex-partner did...Da' would
still drink with him at the local tavern...**** with him on
horse races and poker. He treated him as though nothing had ever
happened. So I asked him one day why?
Methos: So?
Nikki reaches over and takes Methos' bottle of beer out of his
hand and takes a big drink then hands it back to him.
Methos asks, wondering how that was related to what he just
said.
Nikki: He told me to always remember to keep you friends close
and your enemies closer.
Nikki said and looked at Methos to see if he understood.
Methos rolls his eyes why did he keep listening to that line
when he didn't agree with it at all?
Nikki: Yeah. I could have fired Richard.
Nikki says matter of factly.
Nikki: But I need a good foreman and when it comes to horses....
Nikki says with a shrug.
Nikki: ...well....I have only seen one other person with that
special touch and that was my Da'. So I had to weigh the pros
and cons.
Nikki continues to explain.
Methos: Wrong, all you do is to end up is with a bunch of people
you don't trust and can't wait to get to you again around.
Methos says while he shakes his head, was it because it sounded
right?
Nikki: I needed him.....and I also wanted to keep an eye on him.
What better way?
Methos: What if someone pays him to drug the horses so you won't
win a competition? Can you trust him not to take it?
Methos asks shaking his head again, while he thinks he wouldn't
trust a mule to that guy.
Nikki: Look, I don't mean to be disrespectful or
argumentative....
Nikki begins.
Nikki: ...because I do love you.
Nikki says looking directly into his eyes.
Methos: But?
Methos asks, he can't help to be slightly amused though.
Nikki: ...but....I'm really not an idiot and I think I have
managed to live 176 because I am a fairly good judge of people.
Nikki says confidently.
Methos: Fine, it's your problem.
Methos shrugs unconcerned, if she wanted to find out for herself
so be it.
Methos: But don't tell me I didn't warn you.
Methos can't help to smile when he thinks that's the reason he
stayed away back at the rodeo.
Methos: And to think I didn't go there because I didn't want to
tell you anything anyway.
Nikki: Speaking of problems....
Nikki says, quirking an eyebrow?
Methos: Problems? That's why you left with him? Something wrong
with one of the horses?
Nikki: No. The horses are fine. The residents have an outbreak
of measles but that's not why I left.
Nikki says.
Methos decides to ask, realizing he still doesn't know the
reason. Not that it could be that serious or she'd be worried.
Nikki: Ready for another beer?
Nikki asks as an attempt to stall.
Methos: Sure?
Methos nods, giving her the now empty bottle.
Nikki gets up and takes the empty bottle from him and heads for
the kitchen.
Nikki: The problem is.....that I am wondering if you would
listen and heed a warning if it came from me.
Nikki calls out from the kitchen as she trashes the empty bottle
and gets a full one from the fridge.
Methos frowns slightly, trying to figure out where she was
trying to get.
Methos: Thought you could tell me anything.
Nikki: Oh.....I know I can but the issue is whether or not you
will listen. You men have a tendency to have selective hearing.
Nikki says as she carries the bottle of beer back into the
living room and hands it to Methos.
Methos gets the bottle then taps the cushion next to him in
invitation.
Methos: I'm listening.
Nikki: Am I your partner? Or just your arm candy?
Nikki asks as she sits back down.
Methos: You mean you don't know? Why the sudden interest?
Methos asks puzzled, he still thinks he's missing something
here.
Nikki: Because if I'm just your arm candy I'd be wasting my
breath. If I'm your partner....I have a 50% chance that you'll
actually listen to what I have to say.
Nikki answers Methos' question.
Methos: I've told you I'm listening.
Methos answers slightly impatient, why didn't she just get to
what's bothering her?
Nikki: I know that part of your charm is that you enjoy playing
the flirt game but you really should be more careful who you
play it with.
Nikki says completely serious
Methos: Flirt game...
Methos starts, then suddenly he puts two and two together and
chuckles softly.
Methos: You can't be talking about sweet Michelle, can you? I
rather sleep with a snake.
Nikki: Do you make it a habit of embracing snakes?
Nikki asks...still completely serious.
Methos: She was falling over me, no time for anything else.
Methos shrugs unconcerned.
Methos: I would extend my arm to catch a snake if it kept her
from falling over me.
Nikki remembers one of the lessons Amanda had imparted on her
while her teacher was preparing her to survive as a female
Immortal. She could hear her voice as clear as if it were
yesterday. "Men always think they have things under control or
that they can control things...when the opposite is usually
true. But they never realize that until it is too late and they
are in a world of hurt," she had said. Of course the lesson went
on to explain how she could use that male fault to her
advantage. So with that memory in her mind...Nikki decided to
not press the issue with Methos any farther....that she was
talking to the wrong person.
Methos shakes his head amused, thinking about what happened back
at the rodeo arena.
Methos:She actually though she could use the oldest trick in the
book on me. Stupid young ImmortalS just don't get it. And it's
not me she's interested, she was only trying to find out where
is MacLeod.
Methos goes on, with another shrug.
Methos: Like I'd tell that woman anything.
Nikki: Then to quote what you said to me earlier...."fine. Then
it is your problem. Just don't say I didn't warn you."
Nikki says using his own words.
Nikki: Now...
Nikki says leaning closer to Methos.
Nikki: ...is there anything else we need to discuss right at
this moment?
Nikki asks...her voice almost a whisper.
Methos: What problem? The only problem I see is that you got
jealous, huh? That's why you left?
Methos asks still amused as he lightly touches her cheek.
Nikki sits back and looks at Methos, aghast.
Nikki: I was what? What makes you think I was jealous?
Nikki asks.
Nikki: Jealous of what?
Nikki wonders how in the hell he knew that.
Methos: Your actions speak louder than your words? And I have no
idea what, that woman can't hold a candle to you. Why would you
be jealous of her is beyond me.
Nikki shakes her head.
Methos shrugs, then sobers up looking down at her.
Methos: Well I'm not the jealous type, it's all a matter of
trust, if you don't trust someone might as well end it. When I'm
with someone I don't go around cheating my partner so no need to
be jealous. If I'm sick and tired of it you'll be the first to
know, not the last.
Methos points out hoping to end the possible jealousy right
here, it really ruined a relationship if someone got too
jealous.
Nikki: That's good to know.
Nikki says matter of factly.
Nikki: As for me....I have never been jealous of anyone or
anything in my entire life.
Nikki partially lies.
Nikki: And unless you have 8 x 10 glossies to prove it.....
Nikki says with a shrug.
Nikki: Or an eye witness. Got either of those?
Nikki asks but doesn't wait for an answer.
Nikki: Nope. Didn't think so.
Nikki says shaking her head.
Nikki: Now.....I don't know about you but I am starving. I doubt
you have eaten either so how about I fix us some dinner?
Nikki asks as she gets to her feet.
Nikki: I have the ingredients to make a mean omelet if you're
interested.
Nikki says as she heads for the kitchen.
Methos: The only eye witness I can think of is your horse but
even if spoke, which he doesn't, he'd never turn you so I think
you're safe.
Methos smiles as he gets to his feet to follow her to the
kitchen.
Nikki: What do you mean he doesn't speak? Just because he
doesn't speak to you doesn't he mean he doesn't speak to anyone
else.
Nikki calls out teasingly from the kitchen.
Methos: And I ate a sandwich on the way here, but it's hardly
enough with all this fresh air on the way, so I'm up to it.
Nikki: Good. Then how are you at chopping onions?
Nikki asks as she gets the ingredients out of the
fridge.[center]
To be continued
[/center]
#Post#: 213--------------------------------------------------
CONCESSIONS Part 6
By: 22639 Date: January 4, 2012, 4:21 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center][sub][sub]The part of Michelle Webster is temporarily
being understudied.[/sub][/sub][/center]
Nikki reviews the information displayed on the laptop in front
of her then she moves her computer's mouse so that the cursor
moves up to the “close page” and clicks the icon. The screen
with Michelle's picture and biographical history fades out and a
large picture of the Watchers' symbol replaces it. She closes
the laptop and lovingly rubs her hand across the engraving on
the laptop's lid that says “property of Peggy Oaks”. Nikki gets
up from the kitchen bar and stuffs the laptop into its satchel
and stashes it in the cabinet under the bar. She grabs her keys
to her truck, her duster and her sword and leaves her house.
She gets into her truck and heads for Seacouver. When Nikki is
within the city limits she activates her Blue Tooth then calls
Directory Assistance.
[Nikki] I need the number to the Fantasy Ballroom, please.
Nikki says to the operator. She memorizes the number the
operator gives her, disconnects the call and then dials the
number.
[Nikki] Is Michelle Webster working tonight?
Nikki asks when the phone is answered.
[Nikki] She is? Good. I'd like to leave a message for her if I
may.
Nikki says in a professional sounding voice.
[Nikki] Yes...tell her I know where Duncan is and I will tell
her but she has to meet me in the parking lot of the old Cliff
Top Restaurant when she gets off work.
Nikki doesn't wait for her message to be read back to her. She
disconnects the call and shuts off her phone...tossing her Blue
Tooth ear piece into the compartment between the bucket seats.
She parks down the block and across the street from the Fantasy
Ballroom...just far enough away to not be felt...and waits for
Michelle to get off of work. She uses a small pair of
binoculars to clearly see who comes in and out of the back door
of the strip club.
Michelle walks out of the club a little after 2:00 AM and gets
into her old beat up clunker of a car and drives out of the
parking lot.
Nikki sees Michelle leave the club and starts the engine of her
truck. When Michelle pulls out of the parking lot, Nikki
follows...making sure to stay far enough back to not be felt but
still keep Michelle's car in sight.
Michelle is both curious and excited about the message she had
gotten earlier and the prospect of finally finding out where
Duncan is. The bar tender who had taken the call said that the
caller had definitely been a female and she wonders who it is
and why they had to meet in an empty parking lot of an old
abandoned restaurant. But if it meant finding out where Duncan
was...it didn't really matter. Michelle drives to the location
the message had told her to go to and drives up the long and
curving driveway to the empty parking lot of the abandoned
restaurant that used to overlook the city and parks her car.
She gets out and walks over to the edge of the parking lot and
looks down, admiring the lights of the city below.
Nikki turns onto the old Cliff Top Restaurant's driveway a few
minutes behind Michelle. As she approaches the top of the long
driveway she feels and Immortal buzz. She sets her jaw and her
face looses all of its softness.
Michelle sees the beams from headlights on the large carved
wooden sign with the restaurant's name on it letting her know
that someone was coming up the driveway. Just as the vehicle
becomes visible she feels the buzz of another Immortal and
suddenly she thinks this may not have been a good idea. She
starts back toward her car, walking as fast as her 6” stiletto
heels will let her.
Nikki enters the parking lot and sees Michelle's silhouette
hurrying to her car which is parked near the center of the
parking lot. She chuckles menacingly, accelerates and comes to
a screeching stop between Michelle and her car.
Michelle comes to an abrupt stop and stares at the truck that is
only a few yards from her and blocking her way to her car and
escape.
Nikki reaches between the bucket seats and grasps the hilt of
her Goddess of the Sun Katana with her right hand as she opens
her door with her left. She gets out and shuts the door of her
truck. She has to only take a few long strides to bring her
close enough to Michelle to be able to place the tip of her
sword against the front of Michelle's throat.
Michelle inconspicuously reaches into her jacket pocket.
[Michelle]Who are you?
Michelle asks as her mind races with options.
[Nikki]It doesn't matter who I am.
Nikki says in a cold voice.
[Michelle]What do you want?
Michelle asks as she gathers up her courage.
Nikki takes a step closer and presses the tip of her sword
harder against Michelle's throat.
[Nikki]I'm here to give you a warning.
Nikki says coldly.
[Michelle]A warning? What kind of warning?
Michelle asks and suddenly, without waiting for an answer, she
pulls her hand out of her jacket pocket. She is holding a
small object...a little larger than a tube of lipstick. She
turns the object in her hand and extends her arm out in front of
her. Her index finger presses the top and the small cylindrical
objects suddenly sprays a narrow stream into the other
Immortal's face and at the same time Michelle kicks off her high
heels.
Nikki lets out a yell and stumbles backward a few steps.
Michelle reaches out and shoves the temporarily incapacitated
Immortal then runs for her her car.
Nikki reaches out blindly and manages, as she stumbles
backward...knocked off balance from being shoved..., to grab a
handful of Michelle's jacket and she pulls it back towards her.
Michelle lets her jacket slide off of her shoulders and
straightens her arms out so, with the other Immortal pulling on
it and her running in the opposite direction the jacket slips
down her arms and she litterally runs out of it as she rounds
the front of the truck.
Nikki feels the fabric in her hand go limp and she pulls it to
her and uses the jacket to wipe her eyes. They are still
burning and everything is blurry but they are beginning to heal.
She darts around the back of her truck and heads for the
drivers side of Michelle's car.
Michelle sees that her opponent is heading for the drivers side
of her car so she races to the back door on the passenger side.
She grabs the handle and pulls the door open and practically
dives into the back seat...grabbing her sword that is laying on
the floor.
Nikki reaches the drivers door and reaches for the handle to
open it as she sees Michelle reach into the back seat through
the rear passenger door so she quickly changes direction and
heads toward the back of the car.
Michelle moves backward a few steps away from her car and holds
her sword out in front of her.
Nikki leaps across the back of the car and slides across the
trunk lid, landing on her feet a few feet from Michelle.
Michelle frantically slashes at the air in front of her with her
sword.
Nikki blocks Michelle's wild slashing...gradually moving forward
each time she blocks Michelle's sword.
Michelle steps backward trying to move away from her opponent.
Her arms are already growing tired from her wild slashing. She
stumbles sideways when she steps on an uneven spot in the aged
asphalt but she manages to regain her balance without falling.
Nikki uses the seconds during Michelle's stumble to her
advantage and aims a cut at Michelle's thigh.
Michelle cries out as she feels her opponent's blade connect
with her flesh and she staggers away and uses her own blade to
bat away her opponent's blade.
Nikki raises her sword almost over her head and brings it down
hard.
Michelle manages to get her sword out in front of her and holds
it up to block her opponent's attack.
Nikki continues to hammer her blade against Michelle's with such
force that she begins backing Michelle up.
Michelle can do nothing but stumble backward while holding her
sword in front of her head.
When Nikki has Michelle only a couple of steps from the
passenger side of her truck she turns slightly to the side and
delivers a swift and powerful kick to Michelle's gut, slamming
her against the side of her truck.
Michelle's back slams against the truck and knocks the wind out
of her. The back of her head smacks against the truck door and
her vision is suddenly filled with little bright dots as she
begins to slide down the side of the truck towards the ground
and jarring her sword out of her hand.
Nikki steps up and lays the top edge of her blade against the
front of Michelle's throat and applies pressure as she slowly
raises it upward, forcing Michelle to move in the same
direction.
Michelle feels the cold steel of her opponent's blade against
her throat and she stops herself from sliding all the way to the
ground. As the blade presses harder in an upward direction,
Michelle finds her footing and moves upward with it until she is
standing practically on her toes and flat against the side of
the truck behind her.
[Nikki] I said I was here to give you a warning but you had to
go and **** me off.
Nikki says in a cold and even voice. She glares into Michelle's
eyes...her own gvreen eyes hard and menacing. Now that she has
Michelle standing again she flips her blade over so that the
sharp edge is now pressing dangerously against Michelle's
throat.
Michelle tries to move her head.
Nikki applies a little more pressure with her blade and a fewe
tiny droplets of blood appear on Michelle's neck where the blade
has broken only a couple layers of skin.
Michelle flattens herself against the side of the truck and
holds her breath.
[Nikki] Always have to do things the hard way, don't you.
Nikki says and slowly shakes her head.
[Nikki]That was one of Amanda's biggest complaints about
teaching you. That and the fact that you didn't listen. How
you've managed to stay alive this long is a mystery.
Nikki leans closer so that her face is only a few inches from
Michelle's.
[Nikki]You'd better listen and listen good, you stupid little
twit.
Nikki says...her voice almost hissing and her eyes seething with
subdued anger.
[Nikki]You have come to the wrong city to play your little
games. Seacouver is MY city and the Immortals who live here are
MY friends. Do you understand what I'm telling you?
Nikki hisses vehemently.
Michelle tries to nod her head but feels the blade against her
throat pierce another layer of skin so she chokes out the word,
“yes.”
[Nikki]Oh. And that Immortal you were hitting on at the rodeo?
He's mine so you keep your ****ty little hands off of him. Got
it?
Michelle chokes out another “yes”.
[Nikki]Because you were Amanda's student I'm going to make some
concessions and not take your head THIS time. If Amanda thinks
you need to be taught a stronger lesson she can deal with it.
Nikki steps backward and releases the pressure of her blade
against Michelle's throat. She takes a couple more steps
backward, extending her sword in front of her so that only the
tip is at Michlle's throat now.
[Nikki] Remember....the only reason that I'm letting you live is
because of Amanda. But if you in any way screw with the lives
of any of my friends....all bets are off and I will finish what
I started here tonight.
Nikki removes the tip of her sword from Michelle's throat and
steps to the side...clearing the way to Michelle's car.
[Nikki]Now get the hell out of my sight before I change my mind.
Nikki growls.
Michelle's legs are shaking and feel like they're made of rubber
as she stumbels to her car and gets in on the passenger side,
slides into the drivers seat and starts the engine. With one
last look at the female Immortal, she guns the engine and
punches the accelerator.
Nikki stands next to her truck and watches as Michelle's car
disappears down the driveway then she walks around to the
drivers side, stowes her sword in between the bucket seats, gets
in and casually pulls out of the old Clifftop Restaurant's
parking lot and heads for Joe's for a well needed drink.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 236--------------------------------------------------
CONCESSIONS Part 7
By: 22639 Date: January 15, 2012, 2:06 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]***Afternoon at Nua Tosu***[/center]
Nikki is in one of the corrals holding a halter in one hand and
holding her empty hand out in front of her as she slowly
approaches a young Friesian mare that is standing at the far
side of the corral.
Nikki: Easy girl. Nice and easy.
Nikki says in a soft and soothing voice.
Richard stands on the outside of the corral, leaning against the
fence with one foot on the bottom rung of the fence and watches
Nikki as she approaches the unbroken mare.
Nikki: It's alright, girl.
Nikki says softly, her gaze locked with the horse's. She steps
closer and lets the mare sniff her open free hand.
Nikki: Easy now. See? I'm not going to hurt you. Look at me.
Nikki says softly and the mare's ears prick up and her stare is
more through Nikki than at her.
Nikki: You can see that I can be trusted.....can't you?
Nikki takes another step closer, still holding her empty hand
out for the horse to sniff. The mare paws at the ground
nervously but doesn't back away. Without taking her eye off of
Nikki she lowers her nose and sniffs at Nikki's hand. The mare's
whiskers tickle Nikki's palm and she smiles, feeling the warmth
of the mare's breath against her hand. When the mare doesn't
jerk her head away, offended by the smell of Nikki's hand, Nikki
gently touches the mare's chin and when the mare still doesn't
jerk away, Nikki cautiously moves her hand around to the front
of the horse’s muzzle and gently caresses it. She smiles warmly
at the horse.
Richard chews on a tooth pick and shakes his head slowly in
amazement at his boss's seemingly magical touch with the horses.
He and the other ranch hands had been trying to get this mare to
accept a halter so that they could begin working with her and
eventually saddle break her but they had failed in each attempt
to even get close enough to her to even introduce her to the
halter. He was beginning to think that this might be that one
horse you're always told exists that can't be broken without
breaking its spirit and that was a method that Richard didn't
condone. And neither did his boss....which is why she decided to
give it a try.
The mare allows Nikki to rub her muzzle...still her gaze locked
with Nikki's. Encouraged by the horse tolerating her touch Nikki
takes another step closer and moves her hand up to the mare's
forehead which she gently rubs.
Nikki: Like that?
Nikki asks softly.
Nikki: Of course you do. It feels good doesn't it? Does it feel
like the touch of someone who will hurt you?
Nikki 's voice is soft, low and soothing as she moves her hand
up under the mare's "bangs" then around behind her ears. The
mare instinctively tilts her head to the side and leans it into
Nikki's hand...a sign that she likes what she is feeling and
wants more. So Nikki obliges the mare for several more minutes.
Methos drives to Nikki's ranch still thinking about the report
Michelle's Watcher wrote describing the fight last night, it
sounded like Nikki was alright but he'd decided to check on her
anyway. Also he wanted to know what was that about, it couldn't
be because he talked to that woman at the rodeo, could he? He
thinks with a frown, he thought he'd made clear how he felt
about that brat.
Nikki steps up next to the horse and moves her hand around to
under side of the horse's neck, then up the other side so that
she is loosely hugging the mare's neck.
Richard unconsciously holds his breath as Nikki gets closer to
the mare. He can see the horse rearing back and knocking his
boss down and possibly causing injury. But the mare is
tolerating the closeness and he can see, even from as far away
as he is, that the wild look of fear has lessened in the horse's
eyes.
Nikki gently scratches the side of the mare's neck.
Nikki: See? It's not all that bad now is it?
Nikki says softly. When she is confident that the horse isn't
going to spook she moves her hand back under the mare's neck and
along the closer side of her neck and back up to her forehead.
The mare only snorts. Nikki sees the mare's eyes softening as
the fear begins to dissolve so she slowly moves to the left side
of the horse and brings the halter from behind her back. She
slowly raises it so the mare can smell it.
Nikki: You trust me now....don't you? I'm not going to do
anything you don't want me to. Trust me.
Nikki says soothingly as the mare tentatively sniffs at the
halter in Nikki's hand.
Nikki: And I would never do anything to hurt you.
Nikki says looking into the mare's eye. At first the mare tosses
her head and lets out a little nicker in protest. But Nikki is
still gently caressing her neck and her touch is calming. When
she stops tossing her head, the mare sniffs at the halter
again....this time without pulling away.
Methos begins to see Nikki's ranch at a distance, still deep in
thought, he just hopes she didn't end up disappointing him by
turning into a jealous hag, when he was in a relationship he
didn’t jump from bed to bed and he thought Nikki knew that. He
takes a deep breath as he gets to Nikki's ranch and feels the
familiar buzz He can see her near a horse outside so he parks
the car and exits to take a look.
Nikki feels an Immortal buzz but she is focused on the task at
hand and chooses to ignore it. Whoever it is....if they came to
take her head they would just have to wait.
Richard hears the sound of a vehicle pull up nearby and turns to
see who it is. Seeing that it is Nikki's friend he waves him
over then turns his attention back to what is going on in the
corral.
Methos takes a look at the corral where he sees Nikki training a
young mare, then when he hears Sultan calling him from the
paddock he walks there to pat his nose. "Forgot to bring
something for you boy, but don't worry I'll snatch something for
you." He murmurs to him with a smile.
Richard sees that Nikki's friend ignores his invitation to join
him and watch Nikki at work and he simply shrugs and returns his
attention to Nikki and the mare.
Nikki slowly reaches up with her free hand and moves it behind
the mare's ears...applying gentle pressure to the top of the
horse's head so that she lowers it and Nikki then slowly moves
the halter up to meet her free hand.
Nikki: That's right. Trust me. I promise this isn't going to
hurt.
Nikki says soothingly.
Richard: Easy now.
Richard mutters to himself as he watches in hopes that Nikki is
able to do what he and three other seasoned cowboys had failed
to accomplish.
Nikki takes hold of the top strap of the halter with her free
hand and...still applying gentle pressure on the top of the
mare's head to keep it down...she slides the strap over the
horse’s ears until the front of the halter is laying flat
against the mare's face and she waits a few minutes for the mare
to get used to it.
Methos pats his horse for a while, then whispers to him, "Better
take a look what my girlfriend is doing to your girl friend,
well one of them." He says with a final pat, then moves to the
corral so he can have a better view.
Nikki continues to gently caress the mare's neck and speak
softly to her...almost whispering as though they were sharing a
secret...until the tension in the horse’s neck begins to
subside.
Richard: That's farther than we got.
Richard mutters to himself as he grins proudly. He is a lucky
man to work for someone who not only loves horses but respects
them as much as he does.
Methos side glances at Nikki's foreman suspiciously when he gets
to the fence, before he pays attention to what Nikki is doing.
When she is sure that the mare is relaxed and trusts her, Nikki
reaches under the mare's neck and begins buckling the halter's
straps.
Richard: Well....I'll be dammed.
Richard mutters to himself...slowly shaking his head in
amazement.
Nikki finishes buckling the halter's straps under the horse's
neck and scratches the mare's forehead with one hand as she
reached into the back pocket of her jeans and took out a couple
of sugar cubes. Since they taught the kids at the ranch that
sugar isn't really good for horses Nikki quickly glances around
to make sure none of the kids are watching her then she holds
out her hand...palm open and the cubes on her palm...and lets
the mare sniff at what is on it. The mare puckers her upper lip
and moves the cubes around on Nikki's palm. Then...tempted by
their sweetness...she takes them off of Nikki's palm and
proceeds to eat them. Nikki smiles victoriously and steps back
from the mare.
Nikki: Now see? That wasn't all that bad...right? And you made
me look good. Thank you.
Nikki says softly to the horse who tosses her head but this time
not out of fear. Nikki turns and starts toward the fence.
When Nikki turns and starts walking towards the fence, Richard
starts applauding cheerfully.
Richard: Way to go boss.
Richard calls out.
Richard: Way to go.
Nikki: Thank you.
Nikki says and quickly bows.
Nikki: Thank you...thank you. I'll be here all week if anyone
wants some pointers.
Nikki says jokingly.
Methos walks over to where Nikki is heading and smiles.
Methos: You really are wonderful with horses, only saw one guy
as good as you, and he did it by instinct, he was never very
good thinking.
Methos tells Nikki chuckling softly when she arrives at the
fence.
Nikki: Thanks, Adam.
Nikki says smiling at Methos.
Richard: She just did what me and three other hands failed to
do.
Richard says to Nikki's friend proudly.
Nikki climbs through the rungs of the fence to join Methos and
Richard outside of the corral.
Richard: And....by the way....
Richard says, bumping Nikki playfully.
Richard: I saw what you handed her.
Richard says raising an eyebrow disapprovingly.
Richard: How are we supposed to make the kids stop feeding the
horse sugar when the boss does it?
Richard looks at Nikki questioningly.
Nikki: Nobody saw me.
Nikki defends herself.
Nikki: I made sure no one was watching.
Nikki says with an innocent shrug.
Richard: Talk about double standards.
Richard says to Methos with a smirk.
Methos looks around, the talk reminding him he'd promised his
horse a treat, and you better keep your word to the one carrying
you around.
Methos: Don't see a problem with that.
Methos answers with a shrug, wondering what he could get around
here.
Richard simply shakes his head.
Nikki looks at Methos and thinks to herself, "if that had been
anyone else he would have played along and agreed with him."
Shakes her head and looks back at Richard.
Nikki: Let's give her an hour to get used to the halter than
I'll put her in her stall and remove it.
Nikki instructs her foreman.
Richard: Gotcha, boss.
Richard says in agreement.
Richard: I've got next weeks schedule to see to. With all of the
kids down with the measles we're a bit short handed.
Richard says and tips his hat in salute to Nikki then heads for
his office in the barn.
Nikki: Ok. Thanks, Richard.
Nikki says then turns to Methos.
Nikki: So. What brings you out here?
Nikki asks walking up to him and linking her arm in his.
Methos: Before we start, do you have anything I could give
Sultan? Promised him a treat and I don't want him to stop
trusting me. Not sugar though, a carrot or something?
Methos asks looking down at Nikki, with a smile playing on his
lips.
Nikki: There's some carrots and apples in the barn.
Nikki replies and starts leading Methos to the barn.
Nikki: Come on. I'll show you so you know where they are next
time.
Methos: Yes, probably a good idea so I don't have to carry
carrots around all the time.
Methos nods following Nikki to the barn.
Nikki takes him into the barn and shows him the crate of apples
and the sack of carrots.
Nikki: These are donated to us by a local farmer who delivers
them fresh every day.
Nikki says as she lets go of his arm so he can help himself.
Methos: Oh really? I had no idea.
Methos says as he bends to get a couple of carrots to give his
horse.
Methos: No need to buy some later to replace your stock then.
Nikki: So did you come all the way out here just to visit
Sultan?
Nikki asks her eyes twinkling mischievously.
Methos: Hmm no, I know what you were up to last night.
Methos tells Nikki as he straightens up to look her in the eyes.
Nikki blinks a bit taken aback but quickly recovers and picks an
apple out of the crate. She tosses it in the air and catches it
nonchalantly.
Nikki: Yeah? And what was I up to last night?
Nikki asks innocently. She takes Methos' hand and begins to lead
him toward the back door of the barn and Sultan's paddock.
Methos rolls his eyes, before he starts walking, shaking his
head as he moves.
Methos: Let's save time, alright? Michelle has a Watcher.
Nikki rolls her eyes and sighs audibly.
Nikki: Of course she does.
Nikki says shaking her head.
Nikki: And why did they feel it was necessary to tell you about
it?
Nikki asks letting go of Methos' hand when they arrive at his
horse’s paddock.
Methos: I asked them to? If you'd read her profile you'd
understand why.
Methos shrugs before he gives one of the carrots to Sultan,
patting his neck with his free hand.
Methos: I don't trust that woman at all.
"I have read it," Nikki thinks to herself but says nothing as
nobody knows that when her Watcher and good friend, Peggy, died
she had left her laptop to Nikki with the entire Watcher
Database on it. Nikki takes a bite out of the apple before
holding it out to the Arabian stallion.
Nikki: So if you knew what I did last night why are you asking
me? Is this some sort of test?
Nikki asks without looking at Methos. When Sultan has eaten the
apple she reaches up and strokes his forehead.
Methos: Tell me that it didn't have something to do with me?
Methos says while he turns his head to side glance at her.
Nikki rolls her eyes again.
Nikki: Why is it men think that everything we women do is about
them?
Nikki asks in a smarmy tone of voice.
Methos: Too much of a coincidence? The woman tries to seduce me
or something, and even though I've told you I don't want
anything to do with her, you manage to get into a fight with
her?
Methos points out rolling his eyes, then when Sultan noses his
arm he gives him the other carrot without really paying
attention to it, still concentrated on Nikki.
Nikki turns around, leans her back against the fence and folds
her arms across her chest.
Nikki: Did I take the little snot's head?
Nikki asks, becoming perturbed with having to justify her
actions. She is used to not having to answer to anyone for
anything, having been single for 100 + years.
Methos: Well that was even worse, what do you think you're
doing? You challenged her, you won, so why give her a chance to
try a second time?
Methos shakes his head at that.
Methos: I would have finished it right there.
Nikki pushes away from the fence and puts her hands on her hips,
defiantly.
Nikki: First of all, Mr. Know-it-all.....I didn't challenge her.
You need to tell your precious Watcher to get his or her story
straight. Secondly....I'm NOT YOU. I have my own way of doing
things and it has worked for me for over a century so it must
not be all that wrong. Thirdly.....and most importantly....
Nikki says, her anger showing in her green eyes. She takes a
breath and then waves her hands and shakes her head slowly.
Nikki: ...oh never mind.
Nikki says and walks away heading back towards the barn.
Methos stares at Nikki walking to the barn in silence for a
while, before he turns his head to look down at his horse, "And
there she goes, I was actually surprised she didn't walk out on
me yet." He shakes his head patting Sultan's neck.
Nikki storms into the barn and walks over to a couple of hay
bales that have fallen off their stack, grabs a couple of hay
hooks and starts re-stacking them.
Nikki: I'm getting sick and tired of always being wrong.
Nikki grumbles under her breath.
Nikki: What makes him so right all the time?
Nikki tosses another bale on top of the stack but it falls back
off and knocks over a large broom leaning against the wall and
that falls into a bucket that is on top of a wooden crate,
knocking it to the ground and the clatter echoes through the
barn.
Methos turns his head and frowns puzzled at the barn, before he
takes a deep breath, apparently Nikki was really upset about
something he said. "Do you realize I thought I understood women
when I was younger? I wonder what was I thinking back then." He
whispers to Sultan while he keeps patting his neck.
Richard hears the ruckus in the barn and gets up from his desk.
He goes to the door of his office at the rear of the barn and
looks out to see what all of the noise is about.
Nikki: Oh sure! Go ahead and fall. Stupid piece of....
Richard: Ahhhem!
Richard clears his throat loudly, interrupting Nikki's tirade.
Nikki stops what she's doing and looks over her shoulder. Seeing
Richard leaning against the door jam of his office door with his
arms folded across his chest she suddenly feels a bit
embarrassed about her temper tantrum being observed.
Richard: And just what got your Irish up?
Richard asks, still leaning against the door jam of his office
door.
Nikki: Nothing.
Nikki grumbles quietly and starts picking up the things that
fell.
Richard: Right. And I'm the Prince of Persia and this is the Taj
Mahal.
Richard says jokingly.
Nikki whirls around and puts her hands on her hips, defiantly.
Nikki: Alright. You really want to know? It's you men. You think
that you're always right. That a woman is completely unable to
do anything right or have an intelligent thought. You men don't
treat us any differant now than you did in the dark ages.
Nikki says angrily.
Richard: Don't put me in that group. I wasn't around in the dark
ages.
Richard says light heartedly....not realizing that his boss's
anger is real and he is only fanning the flames.
Nikki: ARRRGH!
Nikki growls. She picks up a large scrub brush and hurls it at
Richard.
Nikki: God! Men!
Nikki yells vehemently.
Richard ducks and the scrub brush smacks against the wall only
inches from his head.
Richard: Nice shot!
Richard says, a bit surprised at the accuracy of her throw.
Methos smiles despite himself when he hears a loud thud,
apparently Nikki was trying to tear down the barn. He wonders
again why she's so upset, he didn't think he said anything out
of the ordinary.
Nikki ignores Richard's comment and turns around and goes back
to picking up the things that fell.
Richard turns his head and looks out the back doors of the barn
at Nikki's friend, standing at the fence of his horse's paddock
and wonders if he has anything to do with Nikki's temper
tantrum. He thinks about going up to her and lending her a
fatherly ear and advice but when he looks back at her he decides
against it and to stay out of it. The last thing he should do is
to act understanding when the truth is that he has never
understood women and probably never will. So he simply slips
back into his office and closes the door.
Nikki gets everything back to the way it was and re-stacks the
bale of hay then slams the hooks into it, leaving them there.
She turns and looks out the back of the barn at Methos then
turns and heads out the front of the barn, removing her work
gloves and stuffing them into the back pocket of her jeans. She
walks up to the corral with the Friesian mare and climbs through
the fence. She purses her lips and makes a kissing sound and the
mare pricks up her ears.
Nikki: It's just me, girl. You remember me...right?
Nikki says, approaching the mare cautiously. The horse sniffs at
the air then lets out a snort and tosses her head a couple of
times. Nikki walks up to her and holds her hand out in front of
her. The mare sniffs at her hand then lowers her head
submissively
Nikki: Getting hungry? Ready to go in and have some dinner?
Methos looks back at the barn when all the noise subsides, and
sees Nikki near the mare she was training before, so he assumes
she's cooled off like he was giving her time to. "Maybe now I
can find out what's going on?" He murmurs to himself.
Nikki asks as she reaches up and strokes the mare's neck. The
horse tosses her head as if nodding, yes. Nikki takes hold of
the mare's halter under her chin and takes a few steps forward
to see if the mare will allow her to lead her. The horse follows
along side of Nikki without hesitation and Nikki leads her to
the gate of the corral, opens it and leads the mare through it
and head for the barn.
Methos pats Sultan one final time and walks slowly to the barn,
giving Nikki and the mare enough time to see him approaching,
then he leans against the door frame and goes on like there was
no interruption.
Methos: And thirdly.....and most importantly... you were saying?
Nikki leads the mare to her stall, opens the door and leads her
inside. She removes the halter and checks the level of the
mare's water trough then leaves the stall, latching it behind
her.
Nikki: Just forget it.
Nikki says quietly as she walks over to the sack of oats, scoops
some up and puts the contents of the scoop into the mare's
feeding trough.
Methos shrugs with one shoulder, still leaning the other
shoulder against the door frame, maybe he shouldn't push that
subject.
Methos: OK, I just want to know one thing then. Are you going to
get all this upset every time I give you my opinion on
something? People don't have to agree all the time, you know?
Nikki visibly takes in a deep breath, holds it for a few seconds
with her eyes closed, then exhales slowly and opens her eyes.
Nikki: Hang on. Just stay there.
Nikki says and walks to the office, goes inside and...ignoring
Richard...takes the Websters Dictionary off of the book shelf on
the office wall and carries it back into the barn. As she walks
up to Methos she opens it up and looks up a word.
Methos frowns slightly when Nikki disappears, when she shows up
with a dictionary he smirks amused.
Nikki: According to Merriam-Webster....the definition of the
word opinion is...and I quote....a view, impression, thought
about a particular matter.
Nikki says reading directly from the dictionary. Then she hands
the book to Methos to see for himself.
Nikki: Now.....before you say anything...
Nikki says as she takes the book back and looks up another word.
Nikki: Again....according to Merriam-Webster the definition of
the word Judgment is....and I quote....a formal utterance of an
authoritative opinion. And a person who judges is called
judgmental Synonyms for the word Judgmental are faultfinding and
hypercritical.
Nikki, once again, hands Methos the dictionary to show proof of
what she is saying. She steps back and shoves her hands in her
pockets while she waits for him to read the text.
Methos looks at Nikki disbelievingly, without bothering to read
what the dictionary says about the matter. He stares at her in
surprise for a moment before he manages to say.
Methos: You think I'm judging you?
Nikki: Do you know that since I've known you I have never been
right in your eyes?
Nikki asks as she steps up and grabs him by the arm and pulls
him out of the barn. She pulls him far enough away from the barn
to be overheard and lowers her voice.
Nikki: Just because you are waaay older than me does not mean
that you are always right about everything. That your way is the
way things should be done.
Nikki says softly so as not to be over heard.
Nikki: I honestly thought that that was going to change when we
started whatever it is we are doing.
Nikki says and shakes her head...looking down at her feet.
Nikki: Unfortunately it hasn't.
Nikki says disappointedly.
Methos sighs unhappily, while he shakes his head, he never
imagined she felt that way.
Methos: I've always meant it to sound like an opinion, like I'd
do things? I don't know what's right and wrong anymore, the
concept keeps changing, what was right once is wrong now and the
other way around.
Nikki: Alright fine. Then lets talk about the incident in
question.
Nikki says and looks around.
Nikki: But not here. Come here.
Methos: Fine.
Methos lets Nikki lead him, wondering where she's taking him.
Nikki says and leads him to the third paddock away from the back
of the barn and climbs up on the top rung of the
fence...straddling it. "Might as well sit down," she thinks to
herself. "This may take awhile. Men are normally slow and this
one is 5000 years old so he'd be beat by a snail if in a race
with one."
Methos rolls his eyes when he realizes where she's planning to
sit but decides to follow her move anyway.
Methos: And I don't suppose you could have picked a place a
little more comfortable.
Methos says as he climbs the fence and mirrors what she did.
"See?" Nikki thinks to herself. "It's comments like that." But
she keeps that thought to herself and says instead, "I'm
comfortable."
Methos: Well, I could be better but it's just my opinion.
Methos shakes his head with a smile, thinking this was some kind
of test but he failed to see the point in this.
Nikki: Do you really not hear how condescending you just
sounded?
Nikki asks looking at him seriously.
Methos: Are you going to pick on everything I say today? What's
wrong in wanting some comfort?
Methos asks raising his eyebrows, someone had slept on the wrong
side of the bed this night.
Nikki: If you're going to answer a question with a question to
avoid answering the question we're not going to get anywhere and
I'll just be wasting my breath.
Nikki says with a frustrated sigh.
Methos: And the answer is yes, you are.
Methos smirks, he can't help to find it slightly amusing though.
Methos: You are going to pick on everything I say today.
Nikki is a bit shocked by his answer. It takes her a couple of
minutes for it to sink in.
Nikki: Then I guess there's nothing left to say.
Methos: Ah come on, if you have something to say, just say it.
Methos sighs all this drama was beginning to become slightly
annoying.
Methos: I wish you'd stop beating around the bush and tell me
what's bothering you, that's all, is it so hard to ask?
Nikki: Why? What's the point?
Nikki says and climbs down off of the fence.
Methos: What's the point? So we can understand each other?
Methos points out still not moving from where he was sitting, he
wonders when did they stop talking the same language, it's like
they were talking two different languages here.
Nikki: I'm not used to having to explain myself....or even
justify myself to anyone and why should I even bother if...as
you said...I'll be wasting my breath?
Nikki says without looking up at him.
Methos: I didn't say you were wasting your breath, I said you
were going to pick on everything I say today. Failed to hear
that part?
Methos asks with a puzzled frown.
Nikki shoves her hands in the pockets of her jeans and looks
down at her feet.
Nikki: Would anything I say make a difference?
Nikki asks without looking up from the ground.
Nikki: I mean would you even make an effort to see a side other
than yours?
Nikki adds to clarify.
Methos: Well, a good strategist must assess a problem from all
angles, so yes?
Methos explains, surprised Nikki was hesitating so much to tell
him something.
Nikki: You are the most infuriating man I have ever met.
Nikki says, dejectedly and leans against the fence post. She
slides down until she is sitting on the ground with her back
against the post and she crosses her legs "Indian style".
Methos: Guilty as charged, so is that all you have to tell me?
Methos asks wishing she'd just tell him what was bothering her,
and she keeps dragging this along.
Nikki: If I told you that when you first brought up the issue of
last night first of all you made it sound like I simply
challenged her out of jealousy then let her go and that you
never even asked me why I confronted her in the first place. You
simply assumed I went and did something half ****ed....and even
more importantly...that...and this isn't the only time....you
made me feel like I had to justify myself to you when I don't.
Like I said....I'm not used to having to explain and justify
myself to anyone. If I told you all of that would it make a
difference?
Nikki asks without looking up. She picks up a small twig from
the ground and begins to clean her finger nails with it.
Methos: No, you don't need to justify yourself to anyone, I
never wanted it to sound that way.
Methos explains while he climbs down the fence, so he can watch
her better, he didn't have much of a chance to see her face from
up there.
Methos: All I can do is ask, if you don't want to answer, tell
me to mind my own business.
Methos shrugs as he looks around for another place to sit.
Nikki: What about the rest of it? You just seem to always avoid
the issue of how condescending you can be to everyone who is
younger than you....especially me.
Nikki says as a tear brought on by her being overwhelmed with
frustration, anger and hurt, trickles down her cheek and she
quickly looks away and wipes her face with the sleeve of her
shirt.
Methos stares down at her in disbelief for a moment, then he
moves to sit next to her on the ground.
Methos: Nikki, I'm not being condescending, but I do realize I
need to make some concessions to those who are younger than me,
who never been through what I've been through. I've done a lot
of things, you know? And not necessarily good things, so I've
been there.
Nikki: That doesn't mean you are smarter than anyone else or
that you know everything. I'd bet money that I may have been
through things that you haven't. And I would also bet money that
I know some things that you don't know.
Nikki says, quickly wiping her face again.
Nikki: I'm just tired of always being wrong in your eyes. I have
tried and tried to show you I'm not a total idiot but I just get
the feeling you will never see me as anything but a stupid kid.
Nikki says...her voice thick with emotion.
Methos: I know I don't know everything, why do you assume that I
think that? I wouldn't keep learning new things if I thought
that, now would I? And you have a lot to learn, but so do I. The
world isn't exactly the same it was when I was your age.
Methos explains as he slowly puts an arm over her shoulders,
giving her time to move if she wanted.
Methos: Do you have a problem I'm so old?
Nikki: Didn't you once tell me that age was irrelevant with
Immortals?
Nikki asks, pulling her knees up, resting her right elbow on
one, her chin on her fist and keeping her face turned away while
she tries desperately to control her emotions.
Methos: It is, but not if I make you feel like a stupid kid, do
we have some sort of age gap here?
Nikki: It's not an age gap.
Nikki hisses, her anger returning. At least she didn't feel like
crying anymore.
Nikki: If women are from Venus and men from Mars I don't ever
want to go to Mars.
Nikki adds doubling up her fist and tensing up in preparation to
get to her feet and leave.
Methos: Oh I'm all for Venus, always my favorite goddess.
Methos pulls her closer, realizing she's about to run away
again.
Methos: And not so fast.
Nikki doesn't fight to get away but doesn't relax either. She
simply stays put...still looking away.
Methos: I swear, getting you to stay in one place is like trying
to hold water with your bare hands.
Methos murmurs relaxing the hold, when he realizes she's not
trying to get up anymore.
Methos: You know why I came here this morning? When I heard
about Michelle and you? It wasn't because of Michelle, to hell
with Michelle, couldn't care less if she lives or dies.
Nikki doesn't say anything but she turns her head just enough
that her face, smudged with dirt from the sleeve of her shirt
and tears, is visible.
Methos: I was worried about you, about what you were feeling,
why you went after her. And yes I think you shouldn't have let
her go but that's just because I've seen weaker fighters get
lucky and take best fighters, the Game isn't an exact science
you know?
Methos goes on explaining as he looks for a clean handkerchief
in his pocket, unfolds it and starts wiping out the dirt and the
tears from her face with the lightest of touches.
Methos: And I love you, I don't want to lose you.
Methos lifts her chin and whispers it a few inches from her
lips, then he closes the distance between their months and
kisses her lovingly.
[center]The End[/center]
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