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#Post#: 187--------------------------------------------------
PIERCING THE ARMOR
By: Cyberfox277 Date: December 18, 2011, 12:57 am
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[center]***New Year's Eve – A few minutes before
2011***[/center]
Nikki parks her truck in front of Methos building and gets out.
She opens the back door and carefully lifts out two boxes...one
wrapped in festive birthday wrapping paper. Balancing the boxes
and a large bottle. She kicks the door shut, sets her truck's
alarm and proceeds to do a balancing act into the building and
up the stairs.
Methos is on his way to the kitchen to make something to eat, he
was in the mood to greet 2011 alone, when he feels the buzz. He
stops on his tracks looking at the door and trying to decide
what to do.
Methos: Great.
Methos murmurs under his breath.
Nikki manages to reach Methos' floor without dropping anything
and twists her arm so she can see her wris****ch. It is four
minutes before midnight so she stands in front of Methos' door
and when her watch says it is one minute until 12:00 she reaches
out and knocks three times on the door.
Methos takes a deep breath and walks to the door picking his
sword on the way.
Methos: Must be nice to be able to pretend you're not home.
Methos grumbles before he reaches the door.
Nikki hears the latches being released from the other side of
the door at the exact moment that the booms of Seacouver's New
Years fireworks display over the peninsula begins.
Methos opens a crack of the door and peeps outside. He's
relieved to see Nikki.
Methos: Oh, surprise?
Methos asks as he pulls the door open.
Methos: I wasn't expecting you.
Nikki: Happy New Year and Happy Birthday!
Nikki announces...beaming from ear to ear.
Methos: Birth... Oh yeah, for a moment I thought you were a week
late.
Methos shakes his head when he realizes he'd forgotten his own
birthday, or Adam Pierson birthday or whatever.
Nikki: I trust I'm not interrupting anything?
Nikki asks as she moves past Methos and into his apartment.
Nikki: And even if I am....tough toenails.
Nikki adds with a mischievous twinkle in her green eyes.
Methos: Hmm, actually I was about to start a menage-a-trois but
you're welcome to join the party.
Methos says with a smirk as he closes the door.
Nikki heads for his kitchen.
Nikki: I wouldn't want to show the others up.
Nikki calls out over her shoulder. She sets the bottle on the
counter then the top box and returns to the living room.
Methos: Hmm, my party buddies are in the kitchen not the
bedroom.
Methos chuckles softly as he sprawls on the sofa.
Nikki: I have to run back down to my truck. I'll be right back.
Nikki says and sets the wrapped box on Methos' coffee table.
Nikki: And no peeking!
Methos: Oh there's more?
Methos asks looking up at Nikki.
Nikki says in a commanding voice. Then she rushes out of the
apartment and back down the stairs to her truck where she takes
out a small ice chest and a grocery bag. She locks her truck
back....shivers from the icy Winter breeze and hurries back up
the stairs.
Nikki: Man! I'm getting too old for stairs.
Nikki says to herself when she reaches Methos' floor, out of
breath and perspiring.
Methos: Helps you keep in shape without needing to exercise
much.
Methos says raising his voice from the sofa after he hears
Nikki’s' comment.
Methos: Running for fun is just not my thing.
Nikki steps into the apartment and closes the door behind her.
The fireworks can be heard in the distance and as she heads for
the kitchen again she wonders what kind of turnout they had
since it had been snowing since Christmas and the air was
frigid.
Nikki: I hope you're hungry.
Nikki calls out from the kitchen as she opens cupboards and
takes out what she needs.
Methos: Oh yes, I was about to start partying with my friends.
Methos nods with a soft chuckle.
Nikki slips out of her coat and as she carries it to the coat
rack by Methos' front door she quickly glances around the
apartment.
Nikki: Been playing with those imaginary friends again...I take
it.
Nikki teases as she returns to the kitchen.
Methos: No, these are quite real, I was planning to eat them.
Methos says still sprawling on the couch and watching Nikki move
around.
Methos: You can't fill your stomach with imaginary friends.
Nikki unloads the ice chest and sets up a large platter with a
variety of cheeses, crackers and dips then she prepares a
platter of fresh fruit. Once those two platters are finished she
fills one more platter with smoked oysters on the half shell,
smoked salmon (right out of the Puget Sound) and two small
bowls...one with melted butter and one with lemon juice
sprinkled with a hint of garlic. She carries the cheese platter
in first and sets it on the coffee table, then goes back for the
fruit and lastly, the seafood. She hooks two stemmed glasses in
her hand and picks up the bottle and carries it all into the
living room.
Methos raises an eyebrow as she keeps bringing food from the
kitchen, and finally shows up with a bottle.
Methos: Just how many people did you invite?
Methos asks as he extends his hand offering to open the bottle.
Nikki: Just three. Me, myself and I. Who else do you need?
Nikki says teasingly as she struggles under her load toward the
sofa.
Methos: Also planning to eat for three I take it.
Methos says as he jumps to his feet to help her carry the rest
of the stuff.
Nikki: Well, thank ya kindly kind sir.
Nikki says in an exaggerated Southern accent.. She lets him take
the platter and she walks over and takes a seat on the sofa.
Leaning forward she lifts the lids on the platters exposing
their contents then hands the bottle to Methos.
Methos: Let me help you before you drop anything. Probably I'd
have to clean it anyway.
Methos adds with a teasing smile.
Nikki: I tried to get a Le Fete 45 but all they had was the 46.
I hope that's OK.
Nikki says as she sets the two glasses on the table.
Methos: I bet it's drinkable.
Methos shrugs as he starts to uncap the bottle.
Nikki watches admiringly as Methos expertly works at loosening
the champagne bottle's cork. When it is almost out she looks
away in case it goes flying.
Methos: I have a question though. What would you do if I wasn't
at home?
Methos asks as he pops up the cork and starts filling the
glasses.
Nikki: Oh.....I had a plan for that, too.
Nikki says with a mischievous wink.
Methos: Oh really? Care to enlighten me?
Methos puts the bottle on the table and picks up his glass.
Nikki: Let's just say that when you got home this would have all
been waiting for you.
Nikki says, gesturing to the spread and to herself with a sly
grin.
Methos: If I was out of town it would have been a long wait.
Methos shakes his head with a smile as he clicks his glass on
hers.
Methos: Salud.
Nikki shrugs.
Nikki: I'm an Immortal. I have nothing but time.
Nikki says and winks at him. She picks up her glass and clinks
it against his.
Nikki: May green be the grass you walk on, May blue be the skies
above you, May pure be the joys that surround you, May true be
the hearts that love you.
Nikki says allowing a slight Irish brogue to surface. Then she
takes a sip.
Methos: The Irish always had a way with words, sounds a lot
better then Happy New Year.
Methos says recognizing the Irish saying. He sprawls on the
couch again and looks at Nikki.
Methos: Oh and the same to you, of course.
Nikki sets her glass on the table and gets to her feet. As she
steps past Methos she leans up and gives him a quick and gentle
kiss on the corner of his mouth then heads back into the kitchen
where she picks up another wrapped box and carries it back into
the living room. She sets it on top of the other wrapped box
then reclaims her seat on the sofa.
Methos looks at Nikki intently for a moment, wishing she just
didn’t move so fast all the time. Then he takes a deep breath
and drinks some champagne. Probably it was better this way, he
wouldn't ruin their friendship on a whim.
Nikki: So....dig in birthday boy. This is your feast.
Nikki says indicating the platters of food.
Nikki: I tried to remember what your favorites were.
Nikki sips at her champagne as she waits for the guest of honor
to begin eating first.
Methos: Thank you.
Methos nods with a smile as he picks some of the food.
Methos: I'm glad Immortals don't get indigestion though.
Methos adds with a soft chuckle recognizing it was kind of late
to eat oysters.
Nikki picks up one of the shells and puts it to her lips.
Tilting her head back slightly she lets the oyster slide out of
the shell and into her mouth where she chews it
slowly...savoring it's flavor. She swallows the shell fish and
picks up a small slice of cheese which she lays on a cracker
then pops it into her mouth. She washes it down with a drink of
her champagne. Without being obvious, she watches Methos as he
seems to enjoy the contents of the platters.
Methos: Hmm, there's some cold turkey if you want. Not that I
think we need more food but...
Methos offers as he picks a piece of cheese and puts it in his
mouth.
Methos: Cold turkey and some wine was supposed to be my supper.
Nikki: Well....if you'd rather....
Nikki says and acts like she's going to pick up one of the
platters to remove it from the table.
Methos swallows the cheese and picks up an oyster mirroring the
way Nikki had eaten deciding two could play that game. He side
glaces at her trying to see her reaction.
Nikki pretends not to notice what Methos is doing but she
mentally shivers. "Has he always looked this good?" she thinks
to herself. "Or is it just tonight? Maybe it's the champagne."
She picks up the bottle of champagne and refills Methos' glass
just to be doing something.
Methos chews with a contented sigh while he contemplates the
irony, ever since they got back from Ireland he had keep to
himself, trying to distance himself to whatever happened there
and now she shows on his doorstep.
Methos: And no, I rather not, what we have here is more than
enough.
Methos adds after he swallows, wondering if he was still talking
about food.
Nikki notices a little drop of the juice from the oyster on the
corner of his mouth so she picks up a napkin...wraps it around
the tip of her index finger and gently wipes the drop away.
Nikki: OK. So open your presents.
Nikki says, sounding like an excited school girl.
Methos sighs in relief that she'd provided a distraction.
Methos: Yes, I was beginning to wonder what's in the boxes.
Methos lies, he'd forgotten about it completely.
Methos sits up on the couch and extends his arm to pick one of
the boxes and is slightly surprised when he feels the weight.
Methos: It's heavy, what is it?
Methos asks as he moves forward to use the other hand.
Nikki picks up a strawberry and dips it into the bowl of melted
chocolate. She sits back on the sofa and watches Methos with
anticipation.
Methos finally manages to pick the box and puts it on his lap,
leaning back he starts to remove the paper.
Methos: Don't want to tell me, huh?
Methos smirks at Nikki while he keeps unwrapping it. He gasps in
surprise when he sees what it is.
Methos: Mary Shelley?
Nikki 's smile broadens with pride at seeing Methos' reaction.
She so hoped that he would like her gift.
Methos says as he picks the book on top.
Methos: Did I ever tell you I met her?
Nikki can only nod enthusiastically because seeing his
reaction....knowing that she nailed it with the perfect
gift...(it is, after all, hard to shop for someone 5000 years
old)...has caused a small lump to begin growing in her throat.
Methos smiles sadly when he sees the book under the one he has
in his hand, remembering Byron.
Methos: Actually we were her inspiration for this one, guess who
gave her the idea of electricity and coming back from the dead.
Nikki swallows hard then says, "I'm guessing it was a certain
Dr. Benjamin Adams." She reaches forward and picks up her glass
of champagne and takes a drink as she watches Methos examine the
rest of the collection.
Methos: Hmm, no. Not really. She saw Byron take a Quickening and
coming back to live. I had to tell her what was going on, of
course.
Nikki: I know how much you admired her work and I have never
seen any of her books on your shelf so....well....now you have
all 25 of them.
Nikki says smiling.
Nikki: And they are all first prints.
Methos: Yes, she was a great woman.
Methos nods affirmatively.
Nikki takes a couple more sips of champagne then reaches over
and picks a big bright red strawberry off of the platter and
dips it in the chocolate. Glass in one hand and strawberry in
the other she sits back on the sofa and takes a bite out of the
tip of the berry. It is so sweet and luscious that she actually
moans with pleasure as she sucks the juice out of the end of the
berry.
Methos watches Nikki, the book in his hand forgotten for a
moment, until he gets himself together.
Methos: Hmm, thank you I love the present. I have some of them
around somewhere but not the whole collection.
Nikki: Oh....mmmmm. You gotta taste this.
Nikki says and sits up. She reaches over with the half eaten
strawberry and proceeds to feed it to Methos.
Methos bites the rest of the strawberry then he licks the
chocolate on her fingers absentmindedly, moaning softly while he
does that.
Nikki 's stomach fills with butterflies and she sucks in a
breath. She suddenly realizes what she is doing and her cheeks
turn red and her face gets hot with embarrassment.
Methos raises his eyebrows in surprise when he realizes what
he's doing. He looks at Nikki and sees her embarrassment.
Methos: Sorry, didn't mean to embarrass you, it just felt better
this way, don't know why.
Methos shakes his head with a soft chuckle.
Nikki thinks to herself, "yeah. Too good." She quickly lowers
her hand and sits on the edge of the sofa...busying herself in
cleaning up the coffee table.
Nikki: I'm not embarrassed.
Nikki says and hopes she sounds convincing. She gets up and
stacks the two empty platters then picks them up to take them to
the kitchen. She isn't embarrassed by what he was doing...more
like she is embarrassed by her actions. What was she thinking?
This is Methos. He never would think of her in any way like
that. "Get a grip, Flynn," she thinks to herself as she heads
for the kitchen.
Nikki: It's the champagne.
Nikki mumbles to herself once she is in the kitchen and out of
earshot. She looks at her reflection in the glass door of
Methos' microwave.
Nikki: You've just been cut off, young lady.
Nikki mumbles to her her reflection. She sets the platters in
the sink and throws away the napkins, used toothpicks and oyster
shells. When she has finished she returns to the living room and
begins to gather up the shredded wrapping paper.
Nikki: I'm glad you like your birthday present.
Nikki says to Methos.
Methos: I love it.
Methos nods with a smile sprawling on the couch.
Nikki: But it's getting late so I think I'm going to head home.
Nikki takes the wrapping paper into the kitchen and stuffs it
into the trash can. She comes out of the kitchen and walks over
to the coat rack. She removes her coat and slips it on. Reaching
into her coat pocket she removes a pair of gloves and puts them
on, knowing that it will be freezing outside.
Methos is slightly disappointed she's planning to leave right
away, but thinking better, the way things were going tonight
maybe it wasn't such a bad idea.
Methos: Get a grip, man. She's a friend.
Methos murmurs in ancient Greek, knowing she can't understand
him anyway.
Nikki buttons up her coat as she walks over to the sofa. She
leans down and gives Methos a quick peck on the top of his head.
Nikki: Happy birthday, Methos.
Nikki says softly then turns and hurries out of the apartment.
Methos is about to say she means Adam Pierson, but she had
already hurried out of his apartment. He shakes his head with a
sigh, thinking again the woman moved way too fast. He stares at
the bottle of champagne wondering what he was thinking tonight
and decides maybe it was the champagne.
Methos: Yes, Le Fete 46 definitely works.
Methos shakes his head again, deciding to drink the rest of the
bottle. He fills his glass again and toasts.
Methos: So happy birthday Adam Pierson.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 190--------------------------------------------------
PIERCING THE ARMOR Part 2
By: Cyberfox277 Date: December 18, 2011, 4:28 am
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[center]***About 3 weeks later***[/center]
As Richard and another hand unload Methos' horse from the
trailer, Nikki takes out her cell phone and dials Methos'
number.
Methos is about to enter his SUV, but throws the pack he's
carrying on the driver's seat and stops by the open door to
answer his cell phone.
Methos: Pierson.
Methos says without bothering to check who's calling but
expecting to hear one of the Watchers.
Nikki: Hey.....it's me.
Nikki says when Methos finally answers his phone.
Nikki: I have something that belongs to you.
Nikki announces mischievously.
Methos: Yeah? What?
Methos asks frowning puzzled, wondering what it could be.
Nikki: Well.....it has 4 legs and I believe he speaks Arabic.
Nikki teases.
Methos bends his arm and puts his elbow on the roof of his car
as his frown deepens.
Methos: Just what the hell are you talking about? Have you been
drinking at...
Methos looks down to check his watch.
Methos: 9 AM?
Nikki rolls her eyes.
Nikki: Did someone get up on the wrong side of the bed this
morning?
Nikki asks playfully.
Methos: Not on the wrong side, but I woke up late and I need
some coffee, alright?
Methos admits as he straightens up and decides to enter his car.
Methos: So what do you want?
Methos asks while he pushes the pack to the other seat.
Nikki: Well.....unless you have something EXTREMELY pressing to
do....why don't you come out to the ranch and I'll fix you some
breakfast?
Nikki offers sincerely.
Methos: Is that the reason you called? To offer me breakfast?
Methos frowns while he switches the cell phone to the other side
to be able to close the door.
Methos: I should go to the library.
Nikki sighs exasperatedly.
Nikki: No. That is not the reason I called you. I called to
inform you that your Ireland purchase has just been delivered in
case you would like to inspect it.
Nikki says...her tone changing to very business-like.
Nikki: At your convenience, that is.
Methos: My Ireland purchase...
Nikki adds with a slight bit of sarcasm.
Methos repeats until it dawns on him.
Methos: The horse? Those fools sent the horse here?
Methos asks opening his eyes wide in surprise.
Nikki: No. You left my number as a contact number and they
called to inform me that they would not be able to accommodate
you as contracted so I told them to ship him here.
Nikki explains in a purely business voice.
Nikki: You're here more than in London anyway.
Nikki adds.
Methos: And who mentioned anything about London?
Methos takes a deep breath while he rubs his forehead for a
moment.
Methos: OK, on my way. I'll be there in about an hour, get
breakfast going.
Richard is calling to Nikki so she moves away from the fence she
has been leaning against.
Methos turns off his cell phone, closes the door and starts the
car to drive to Nikki's ranch.
Nikki: I'll see you when you get here.
Nikki says and hangs up. Shaking her head she joins Richard as
they take the Arabian stallion to its stall.
Nikki: Give him an extra helping of oats.
Nikki instructs one of the ranch's residents who is working on
giving the rest of the horses their breakfast.
Nikki: His owner is supposedly on his way.
Nikki adds then goes into the office at the back of the barn and
fills her travel mug with coffee. Nikki leaves the office and
heads for one of the back paddocks to meet with the students of
one of her riding classes.
[center]****1 hour later****[/center]
Nikki: Heels down.
Nikki calls out to one of her students.
Nikki: Posture, Terry. Posture.
Nikki calls out as she watches the 6 students ride their mounts
around in a circle.
Nikki: OK.....everyone cantor.
Nikki calls out and the 6 students ease their horses into a slow
cantor.
Nikki: That's right. Good. Very nice, Mark. Sheryl relax your
grip. He's fighting the bit too much. Good. Good.
Nikki says as she turns in the center of the circle and watches
each student.
Methos stops his car and stops to look at Nikki when he sees her
trying to teach the kids how to ride.
Nikki: Everyone post.
Nikki calls out and the students slow their horses to a trot.
Nikki: Get your rhythm, Sheryl. That's it. Nice. Very nice.
Nikki feels an Immortal buzz and she turns and looks over her
shoulder.
Nikki: OK.....that's good, everyone. Cool your mounts down and
put them in their stalls.
Nikki instructs and she watches as her students dismount and
begin to file out of the paddock.
Nikki: Sheryl? Can I see you please?
Nikki calls out to one of the girls. She walks over to the fence
where she has hung her jacket and picks up her travel mug and a
manilla envelope from the ground.
Nikki: I have that video I promised you.
Nikki says as the girl walks up to her. She hands the envelope
to the girl who thanks her excitedly.
Nikki: Watch this. It will give you an idea of what they expect
for dressage judging.
The girl thanks Nikki again then asks, "do you think I'm ready,
Miss Flynn?"
Nikki: The question is....do YOU think you're ready? Better
yet....do you think your horse is ready?
Nikki asks lifting an eyebrow questioningly.
Methos approaches listening to the conversation, apparently that
girl wanted to be in some sort of contest.
The girl looks at Nikki for a couple of seconds then slowly nods
her head. "I think I'm ready," the girl says confidently.
Nikki: Then you watch this video and do some research about
training for dressage then come see me and we'll schedule some
training time.
Nikki says with a satisfied smile.
Nikki: For now....take care of your horse and get yourself
cleaned up because it'll be lunch time by the time you're
finished.
Nikki instructs. "Yes, Miss Flynn. Thank you," the girl says and
leads her horse out of the paddock and into the barn. As Nikki
turns to greet Methos she takes a drink of her coffee.
Methos: What's it like to be mother of all these kids?
Methos teases looking around at her ranch.
Methos: Seems you got quite a few of them.
Nikki: I'm not. Their teachers and counselors see them more than
I do. I only see a few of them once a week or so.
Nikki explains as she grabs her coat off of the fence and crawls
through the fence rungs. She slings her coat over her shoulder
as she walks up to Methos.
Nikki: I just have a few special kids I'm giving some extra
lessons to because they have potential and have showed a special
interest.
Methos: And I thought you were one big happy family.
Methos shakes his head with a smirk.
Nikki: I'd like to think so but most of the kids out here are
too damaged to want to be part of a family. At least right now.
But I'm hopeful.
Nikki says with a big smile.
Nikki: Now would you like to meet your new 4 legged friend?
Nikki asks walking backwards in front of Methos.
Methos: Oh yes, I hope you can keep him here for a while though.
I've got no place to put him.
Methos confesses while he rubs his forehead again and thinking
about this mess. Maybe he should have explained to Nikki that
London was only a stop on the way, not the final destination,
but he liked to keep his aliases as much separated as possible.
Nikki: I wouldn't have had him brought here if I didn't have
room for him.
Nikki says emphatically and turns around. She leads Methos into
the barn and up to the new horse's stall. One of the boys is
just putting the last screw into the brass name plate on the
stall door. He rubs off his fingerprints and steps aside when
Nikki approaches.
Nikki: Very nice, Jim. Did you engrave that yourself?
The boy nods his head proudly.
Nikki: Very nice.
Nikki repeats. She steps up to the gate and holds her hand out.
Making a clucking sound with her tongue she gets the attention
of the stallion who takes a few tentative steps toward her.
Nikki steps aside so that Methos can join her.
Nikki: Adam Pierson....meet Sultan. Sultan....Adam Pierson.
Methos: We've met.
Nikki rolls her eyes.
Methos points out patting the horse's neck but side glancing at
Nikki suspiciously.
Nikki: Humor me. It's been awhile since you saw each other.
Nikki says in a soft voice.
Nikki: Here.
Nikki takes a carrot from her back pocket that she had intended
to give to her own horse and she hands it to Methos.
Nikki: Start off with a peace offering.
Methos: And how long did you know he was coming? Time enough to
make a brass plate?
Nikki: I didn't know anything about the plate.
Nikki says with a shrug.
Nikki: Seems Jim has an engraving machine and he must have made
it as soon as he got Sultan's name.
The boy nods vigorously "Yes, sir. I'm making plates for all of
the stalls," the boy explains.
Methos shakes his head as he gives the carrot to his horse. He
can see Nikki is avoiding the first question.
Methos: So how long did you know he was coming to the States?
Methos repeats, if she thought she could avoid it, she was
wrong.
Nikki: Since the third.
Nikki answers.
Nikki: Good boy.
Nikki says softly to the horse as she rubs his soft nose.
Methos looks at Nikki in disbelief forgetting his horse.
Methos: The third January?
Nikki: Yeah. Why?
Nikki asks looking at Methos questioningly.
Methos: It's been almost a month.
Methos points out. His horse nuzzles his arm and he pats him
absentmindedly, without seeing him.
Methos: What are you up to now, Nikki?
Nikki: Nothing. I just thought I'd surprise you.
Nikki says looking at him. She's a bit taken aback at his
attitude and she takes a step back.
Nikki: Jeez. Excuse the hell out of me.
Nikki says holding up her hands in a gesture of surrender.
Methos is about to say "Oh, you've surprised me indeed. Just
told me about him when it was too late to send him to England."
but thinks better and doesn't.
Methos: What's done is done. Now I'll get to see him more often.
Methos shrugs while he pats his horse again.
Methos: And you get to take care of him.
Methos points out with a smirk.
Nikki: You do plan on coming out and riding him once in a while
don't you?
Nikki asks, jamming her hands into the front pockets of her
jeans.
Methos: Oh yes, when I have time.
Methos nods then looks down when his stomach rumbles.
Methos: Didn't you mention something about breakfast?
Nikki: Yeah. Come on.
Nikki says a bit dejectedly. She leads him out of the barn and
over to a golf cart. She gets in and turns the key while she
waits for Methos to join her.
Methos pats Sultan's neck one last time before he follows Nikki
outside and into the golf cart.
Methos: What about my car?
Nikki: It'll be fine where it is.
Nikki says and steers the golf cart toward her house. She drives
the rest of the way in silence....trying to figure out why she
is so bothered by Methos' reaction to her attempt to do
something she thought was nice.
Methos: You're not upset, are you?
Methos asks when Nikki parks the golf cart at the front of her
house, realizing she didn't talk all the way.
Methos: This is me without coffee, I hope you made a large pot.
Nikki stops the golf cart at the bottom of the steps that lead
to her front deck and gets out. Without a word she walks up the
steps and opens her front door....walking in and leaving the
door open behind her. She heads for the kitchen where she washes
her hands and proceeds to prepare a bacon, eggs and hash brown
breakfast.
Nikki: You know where the coffee maker and cups are. Help
yourself.
Nikki says as she goes about the task at hand.
Nikki: And what would I have to be upset about?
Nikki asks as she grates a couple of potatoes.
Methos rolls his eyes as he walks to the coffee maker, thinking
that now she was sulking, how very typical female.
Methos: Don't see a reason to, but you've been too quiet.
Methos shrugs before he opens the cupboard to get a couple of
coffee cups.
Nikki: Now I'm too quiet? Jeez. There's just no pleasing you is
there. You complain when I talk too much now you complain when I
don't.
Nikki shakes her head.
Nikki: Men! Sheesh!
Nikki says as she puts the grated potatoes in a skillet.
Methos: And I'd say women, it's all or nothing. I bet you do
this on purpose...
Methos grumbles while he fills one of the cups.
Nikki: Do what on purpose?
Methos: So we don't know where we stand with you.
Methos moans in pleasure when he takes the first sip of coffee.
Nikki lays strips of bacon on the griddle.
Nikki: So tell me just what I did that was so wrong?
Nikki says as she stirs the potatoes.
Methos: Really needed this.
Methos comments before he empties the cup and refills it again.
Methos: Adam Pierson can't afford a horse, I like to keep things
separated.
Methos explains with a shrug.
Nikki: Look.....
Nikki says waggling her spatula at him.
Nikki: The stables you had arranged to board Sultan burned down
so they had no place to put him. It just seemed easier to have
him brought here rather than try to find another boarding
stables over there from over here. And....as you are constantly
reminding me....because you are so "busy" I didn't want to
bother you with it. I was just trying to help. If that is wrong
then I humbly beg your forgiveness and promise that it will
NEVER happen again.
Nikki says firmly.
Methos: He wasn't supposed to stay there for long anyway, I
would have told you if you'd asked. I just sent him there so it
couldn't be linked to Adam Pierson. Like I've said I like to
keep things separated.
Methos tries to explain as he puts the cup on the counter and
turns to look at her.
Nikki: For all anyone around here knows I bought him for you.
Not that I have said so much. But I am assuming that if they are
thinking anything that would be what they think. But....to be
quite honest with you.....I doubt anyone has even thought about
it since no one knows you....or cares what you do. We have about
10 horses that we are boarding out for people so another new 4
legged resident isn't the least bit unusual.
Methos: And stop waggling that thing at me or is it a challenge?
Methos smiles picking up a wooden spoon to defend himself.
Nikki smacks away the wooden spoon with her spatula.
Nikki: Yeah. Dueling cooking utensils at dawn.
Nikki says using her spatula to bat away the spoon again. Then
she turns back to the stove and turns each strip of bacon over.
She gets out another skillet and breaks 2 eggs into it.
Nikki: Over easy....right?
Nikki asks regarding how he likes his eggs.
Methos: Yeah.
Methos nods before he puts down the wooden spoon to drink some
more coffee.
Nikki picks up the skillet and swishes the 2 eggs around in it
then...with the flip of her wrist she flips the the eggs over
without breaking their yolks.
Nikki: So have you heard from Ally since we got back from
Ireland?
Nikki asks as she slides the 2 eggs out of the pan and onto a
plate. She spoons out some of the hash browns and places the
strips of bacon onto another plate.
Methos: Yes, we've met at Joe's, had a few drinks together.
Nikki: I've tried to call her a couple of times but only got her
voice mail. I left messages but she hasn't returned any of them.
Methos explains while he carries the cups and the pot of coffee
to the bar.
Methos: She's a judge, she's busy.
Methos shrugs as he pulls a chair to sit down.
Methos: Or she's flying somewhere.
Nikki carries the plate with the potatoes and eggs and the one
with the bacon over to the bar and sets them down. She gets out
a knife and fork and a napkin and sets a place for Methos at the
bar then slides the plate of eggs and potatoes into place. She
grabs a strip of bacon and chews on it while she pours herself a
cup of coffee.
Nikki: Yeah. That's what I figured.
Nikki says as she takes out a bottle of ketchup and a bottle of
hot sauce and sets them on the bar next to the plate of bacon.
She leans against the counter and takes a sip of her coffee.
Methos raises an eyebrow at the hot sauce for breakfast but
doesn't say anything, deciding it's none of his business.
Methos: Best place to find her is at Joe's, she stops there to
relax once in a while.
Methos says while he picks up his knife and fork to start
eating.
Nikki shrugs.
Nikki: It wasn't anything important. Just girl talk. You know.
Nikki takes another sip of her coffee.
Methos: Yeah, I do.
Methos nods wondering what women talked about when men weren't
around, they always seemed to have a lot to say to each other.
Nikki: Just tell her I said hi the next time you see her.
Nikki says with a nonchalant shrug.
Methos: OK, I will.
Methos says as he puts his knife down to drink some coffee.
Methos: Maybe we can even have a few drinks together.
Nikki: Yeah. That would be nice.
Methos: Oh, before I forget, I want you to give me your account
number, don't be startled if the money comes from a guy you
never heard of before.
Methos tells Nikki with a smirk.
Nikki: Money? What money?
Nikki asks curiously.
Methos: I realize you're not Joe, even though I plan to pay my
tab someday.
Nikki looks at Methos with a confused look on her face. She
shakes her head as if trying to clear the cobwebs.
Nikki: What are you talking about?
Methos: The horse? You paid for it, remember?
Nikki looks at him completely confused.
Methos reminds her, arching an eyebrow, wondering how could she
forget that.
Nikki rolls her eyes.
Nikki: Oh. That. And you paid for the room in Raheen and all of
the meals we ate there.
Nikki leans back against the counter and shakes her head.
Nikki: I figure it all evens itself out eventually.
Nikki takes another sip of her coffee.
Nikki: But if you insist.....
Nikki gets a post it note off of the door of the refrigerator
and writes down a name and telephone number and slides it over
to Methos.
Nikki: This is the name and number of my accountant. I hate math
so he takes care of that crap for me.
Nikki says with a soft snicker and takes another sip of her
coffee.
Methos shakes his head disbelievingly.
Methos: You don't know the number of your own account?
Methos asks as he gets the paper and puts it in a pocket of his
jeans.
Nikki: Why should I? That's why God invented accountants. I have
more important things to keep track of.
Nikki says only half way joking.
Methos: Watch it, Nikki. He'll end up robbing you.
Methos warns before he eats the rest of his food.
Nikki: I have trusted him for 75 years now. If he was going to
rob me he would have done it already. Besides....if he ever
does....he knows I won't just fire him.....I'll take his head
and he enjoys life too much.
Nikki says with a giggle.
Methos: I'm thinking since I'm here I should take Sultan out for
a ride, if he's up to it.
Methos comments after he empties his plate.
Nikki: Yeah? That's a great idea. Want some company?
Nikki asks hopefully.
Methos: If the company is you, I certainly would.
Methos chuckles softly as his next thought.
Methos: But don't bring all the kids after you, deal?
Nikki: I'm assuming you know how to drive a golf cart....right?
Nikki asks and finishes her coffee.
Methos: Hey, I resent that. I can drive anything.
Methos complains trying to look offended.
Methos: Not planes though, I prefer to keep my feet on the
ground.
Nikki: Then you take the golf cart down to the barn and I'll
call down and have Richard set you up with some tack. I'll
saddle Blaze up and meet you down there.
Nikki says as she picks up Methos empty plate and sets it in the
sink.
Methos: Alright.
Methos jumps to his feet excitedly, suddenly he can wait to ride
a horse again, it had been a while since he'd done that.
Nikki makes sure that everything is shut off then heads for the
front door. She grabs her cowboy hat off of the hat rack by the
door....opens the door and holds it open for Methos.
Methos: See you in a while then.
Methos tells Nikki as he moves fast to the golf cart and drives
it to the place where his horse is.
Nikki shuts the door behind them and flips open her cell phone
as she heads for Blaze's paddock next to the house. She calls
down to give her instructions to Richard. As she saddles her
horse she wonders why she is suddenly so excited for a few
minutes then pushes the wonderment aside....attributing it to
just being excited about riding.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 195--------------------------------------------------
PIERCING THE ARMOR Part 3
By: Cyberfox277 Date: December 18, 2011, 8:50 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Richard walks up to Nikki's front door and knocks.
Nikki takes one last look at her reflection in the full length
mirror in her bedroom. Satisfied with what she sees, she grabs
her wrap and handbag off of the bed, shuts off her bedroom light
and hurries to answer the door. Nikki had been looking forward
to Claudia Jardine's concert ever since Duncan had invited her
to be his date for the evening and had told her about Claudia.
But two days ago he had come out to the ranch to tell her that
he had to go out of town and wouldn't be able to attend. Knowing
that she had been eager to hear Claudia perform, Duncan had
given her the tickets so that they wouldn't be wasted. She had
called Methos and asked him if he had plans for that night
without telling him why she was asking and he had informed her
that he was busy that night. Richard, seeing her disappointment
at the prospect of missing the concert, offered to be her escort
and she took him up on his offer.
When the front door opens, Richard holds out the bouquet of 6
lavender roses he had brought.
Richard: Wow!
Richard says when he sees Nikki in the form fitting black and
silver gown.
HTML http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/22639/Highlander/Misc%20RPGs/untitledaite.jpg
Nikki blushes.
Nikki: Thank you.
Nikki says and smiles demurely.
Nikki: You clean up pretty good yourself, Mr. Williams.
Nikki adds as she takes the roses from him and sniffs them.
Richard grins proudly.
Richard: Why thank you, mam.
Richard says in a Southern drawl.
Nikki: Would you like to come in while I put these in water?
Nikki asks, stepping aside.
Richard: Thank you.
Richard says with a nod. He steps across the threshold and looks
around the front room of Nikki's house.
Richard: Nice place.
Richard comments. It's the first time he has been inside Nikki's
house.
Nikki closes the door and heads for the kitchen.
Nikki: Thanks.
Nikki says over her shoulder. Draping her wrap over the back of
one of the dining room chairs and setting her handbag on the
table, she goes into the kitchen, gets a vase out of the cabinet
above the fridge and puts the flowers into it. She fills it with
water and sets the vase in the center of the bar.
Nikki: Shall we?
Nikki says, taking note of the time on the clock on the
fireplace mantle.
Richard: Yup.
Richard says. He opens the front door and holds it open for
Nikki.
Nikki grabs her wrap and handbag and heads for the door.
Richard steps up to Nikki before she moves past him and takes
her wrap. He carefully drapes it across her shoulders then
steps back so that she can pass.
Nikki is a bit surprised at how gentlemanly Richard is being.
She would never have guessed that the cowboy knew the art of
being a gentleman. But....then....he probably never imagined
that she not only knew how to dress formally but act
accordingly, either.
As if reading her mind, Richard says with a soft chuckle, “so
what did you do with my boss lady? Lock her in a closet
somewhere?”
Nikki: No. She's tied up and gagged in Blaze's stall.
Nikki says with a giggle.
Richard: I guess it's true what they say about us Geminis being
two different people.
Nikki nods her head as she locks her front door.
Nikki: Yes it is.
Nikki gives Richard a once over and adds, impressed by what she
sees, “yes...it definitely is.” As she walks across the deck she
notices that the vehicle parked next to her truck isn't the
ranch's work truck, as she had expected. It's a shiny Mercedes
sports car.
Nikki: Where did that come from?
Nikki asks not trying to hide her surprise.
Richard: It's a rental. I thought it would be more appropriate
than pulling up to a black tie event in the ranch's beat up
pickup truck.
Richard says as he leads Nikki to the passenger door, opens it,
and helps her into her seat.
Nikki: Oh. Whew.
Nikki says as she settles into her seat.
Nikki: There for a moment I thought I was paying you too much.
Nikki adds with a smile.
Richard: Not a chance.
Richard chuckles and closes the door. He gets into the drivers
seat, starts the car and pulls away from Nikki's house. Forty
five minutes later he pulls up under the valet parking awning at
the Seacouver Metropolitan Opera House, gets out and takes the
ticket the valet hands him. He walks around the car and joins
Nikki who has already been helped out of the car by the
assistant valet. He extends his elbow to Nikki.
Nikki smiles her thank you to the valet, takes the tickets out
of her handbag, hands them to Richard and takes his arm.
Richard escorts Nikki up the steps to the entrance of the opera
house, hands the usher their tickets.
Nikki steps past the usher and into the lobby where she stops
and waits for Richard to join her.
Richard escorts Nikki into the auditorium and to their seats.
Nikki settles into her seat just as the house lights blink on
and off, signaling that the concert is about to start. A few
minutes later the auditorium goes dark and the curtains on the
stage slowly slide open. A single spot light illuminates the
grand piano in the center of the stage. A couple of seconds
later and Nikki feels the buzz of another Immortal as Claudia
Jardine enters the stage and walks to the piano.
Ally: So... Is she any good, or should I have tossed the tickets
in the garbage?
Ally asks Methos as she pulls up to the Valet parking.
[img width=150
height=200]
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Methos: Oh she's good, MacLeod sponsored her education; I'm sure
she's invited him here.
Methos nods adjusting the bow tie before he had to exit the car.
Ally: In other words expect others...
Ally mutters to herself as the valet opens the car door for her.
[img width=150
height=200]
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Valet: Dude, you let your girl drive your Ferrari?
Valet says to the man who road shotgun in the sweet car that had
just pulled up to the Claudia Jardine concert.
Methos: Yeah, better keep wife happy than have her ask her
mother for a holiday at our place.
Methos nods giving the man his Adam Pierson look, while he exits
the car.
Methos: A very looong holiday.
Valet: **** dude... That bad?
Valet says eyes widening.
Methos: The only different between the old bat and a snake is
that a snake can't walk.
Methos murmurs while he winks at the valet, pretending he didn't
want "his wife" to listen.
Valet: Take it you mean a poisonous snake. Hope to hell, your
wife is worth it.
Valet mutters.
Methos: Oh yes, she definitely is, why do you think she's
driving the Ferrari?
Methos chuckles softly before he walks to Aldria shaking his
head amused, that one wasn't going to get married in a long
time.
Valet: Good luck man.
Valet murmurs to the Ferrari man's retreating back.
Ally: What's funny?
Ally asks as Methos comes up chuckling.
Methos: Tell you inside. Come on.
Methos tells Aldria without looking back, he didn't want her to
burst out laughing in there, the valet might suspect something.
Ally: Alright.
Ally murmurs, and handed the tickets to an usher who lead the
way to their box.
Methos: The valet was surprised I let you drive the Ferrari so I
told him I was trying to keep you happy so you wouldn't ask your
mother to have a holiday with us.
Methos explains in a low voice while they walk to their box.
Methos: You know how much I hate the old bat.
Methos shakes his head with a sigh, managing to keep a straight
face.
Ally coughs several times, to keep from laughing.
Ally: Yes, I know. That's why she's such an effective threat.
Ally says then coughs again.
Methos: Yes, I wish you'd stop threatening me with that. Some
day I might get tired of it and file for divorce.
Methos smirks while he looks at the man leading the way to make
sure he's not listening to the conversation.
Methos: And no way you're keeping the Ferrari.
Ally: Fine. I'm keeping everything else then. Including your
pants.
Ally smiles.
Methos: And why would you want that? Too big for you anyway.
Methos smiles at her answer, and thinking not to be able to use
something never stopped women before.
Ally: So? What's that got to do with it?
Ally asks with an amused smirk.
Methos: Just keep your mother away from us and we'll be fine.
Methos chuckles softly just as the man leading the way stops by
a curtain and opens a small door inviting them inside.
Methos: Just in time.
Methos comments when he sees the stage curtains slowly slide
open and feels the expected Immortal buzz.
Ally: So... is that Valet ever going to marry? Or did you
convince him not too?
Ally asks as she settles into her seat watching the young
Immortal walk onto the stage and to the piano.
Methos: Probably not.
Methos shrugs unconcerned watching Claudia Jardine sit by the
piano.
Methos: The only way people learn something is by making their
own mistakes.
Ally: Hmm...
Ally agrees softly as Claudia begins playing.
[center]***1 hour later***[/center]
Claudia finishes the concerto she has been playing and gets to
her feet as the audience rises and applauds. The master of
ceremonies enters and crosses to the center of the stage and
announces that there will be a 30 minute intermission as Claudia
steps backward and disappears beyond the spotlight. The curtains
slide shut and the house lights come on.
Richard gets to his feet and holds out his hand to Nikki.
Nikki takes his hand and stands up.
Richard escorts Nikki out of the auditorium and into the lobby
which is beginning to fill with audience members.
Richard: Would you like something from the bar?
Richard asks as he notices the bar set up at one end of the
lobby.
Methos: So is she good or what?
Methos asks Aldria as the lights come on and after the curtains
shut.
Ally: She's good.
Ally agrees with a smile.
Methos: You're almost glad she's one of us.
Methos adds remembering her choice.
Ally: Almost.
Ally chuckles.
Methos: No, you got me wrong, it's not because of her skills.
Methos side glances at Aldria but soon turns back to watch
people leave the room.
Methos: She's not going to last long, she chose to not learn how
to fight.
Ally: Idiot.
Ally mutters shaking her head sadly. Then sighs.
Ally: Tell you what. You go get us something to drink while I go
powder my nose.
Methos: Yes, I've noticed women do that a lot in the ladies'
room, why can't they just say nature calls instead?
Methos asks chuckling amused.
Methos: And yes a drink is definitely welcome.
Methos nods while he gets to his feet.
Ally: Want me to tell the truth?
Ally asks looking over at Methos.
Ally: Want me to say I have to go take a ****? 'Cause I have no
problem with that. I was just trying to be... a little more
tactful, given our current venue.
Ally smirks slightly.
Methos: Oh so you actually admit that you're human? How
shocking.
Methos shakes his head smiling amused as he walks to the door.
Ally: Honey, I ain't just human. I'm woman.
Ally smirks and heads down the hallway towards the bathroom.
Methos: I meet you at the bar.
Methos says after Aldria just in time for her to listen.
Ally waves a hand to show that she's heard.
Nikki thinks for a moment then nods with a smile.
Nikki: A Fuzzy Naval would be nice. Blended.
Richard: Be right back.
Richard says and disappears into the throng of people.
Nikki moves closer to the wall so she isn't standing alone in
the middle of things and getting in people's way and she begins
to slowly observe her surroundings....admiring the other ladies'
dresses and accessories.
Richard returns carrying Nikki's drink and a tall pilsner of
beer. He hands Nikki her drink and takes a sip of his beer.
Nikki: Thank you.
Nikki says taking her drink and taking a sip.
Nikki: So? What do you think of the concert? Are you completely
bored to tears?
Nikki asks partly kidding.
Richard: Not at all.
Richard says, shaking his head.
Richard: She plays beautifully. She seems to get lost in her
music.....as if she is becoming a part of it....not just playing
it.
Nikki is surprised and impressed with Richard's critique.
Richard: Did you say you know her?
Nikki shakes her head.
Nikki: No, although I would like to. A friend of mine knows her.
Well....better than knows her. He sponsored her enrollment to
Julliard. She sent him tickets but he was unable to make it.
Nikki explains.
Richard: Ahhh.
Richard says nodding.
Nikki: I'm really surprised that you like this long hair stuff.
I picture you as being strictly a country music man.
Nikki says only partly kidding.
Richard: I have always liked classical music. Some more than
others.
Richard says with a smile.
Richard: Something about it is very relaxing....even to horses.
Nikki was looking over Richard's shoulder at the other audience
members milling around the lobby when she suddenly felt the buzz
of another Immortal. Knowing that Claudia wouldn't be mingling
among the audience during intermission and was probably back
stage relaxing, Nikki stiffened a bit and her eyes began to
quickly survey the faces of each person. Her eyes stopped when
she caught a glimpse of the back of a man's head just before
some woman with “big hair” moved and blocked Nikki's view. She
continued to stare in that direction until the woman moved out
of the way. Just then Nikki is distracted by a young woman
approaching the man and Nikki immediately recognizes the
honorable Judge Ally Everson. “That explains the buzz,” Nikki
thinks to herself.
Methos walks to the bar with his lips still twitching, after
that talk with Aldria and the words still present on his mind,
he's still surprised he could control himself when he saw a man
powdering his nose at the man's room. He stops and looks around,
his amusement gone as he feels an Immortal buzz when he gets to
the bar. He sighs in relief when he sees Aldria, for a moment he
thought there was another one of them around.
Ally: Don't tell me you just got here?
Ally asks as she walks up to Methos, smiling.
Methos: Yes, went to the man's room, powder room has a different
meaning these days.
Methos nods chuckling softly.
Ally: Oh?
Ally asks raising an eyebrow.
Methos: Apparently it's also in the man's room, just saw a guy
put some powder in his nose. So he was powdering his nose?
Methos points out his smile widening.
Methos: Nothing a judge has never heard of.
Ally: Powder in his nose?
Ally rolls her eyes.
Ally: **** is so highly overrated.
Methos: Hmm yes, but maybe it doesn't have the same effect on
mortals, you never know.
Methos nods remembering he didn't like it much when he tried it.
Ally: Probably...
Ally shrugs.
Ally: Can't say it did anything for me.
Methos: You should have increased the dose, I ended up feeling
something with a dosage that would kill a horse.
Methos says with a smile while he walks to the bar and orders
champagne.
Methos: Definitely a champagne night, no?
Ally: Yes, I think so. And I did up the dose, to something that
would kill a pony anyways... still didn't feel anything.
Ally sighs.
Nikki sees that there are actually two sources of the Immortal
buzz....Ally and Methos. Nikki continues to watch Methos as she
sips her drink....totally unaware of anything Richard is saying.
The people standing around Ally and Methos seemed to have faded
away and the two Immortals are back dropped by memories of
sharing a room with Methos in the Inn in Raheen, Ireland
(especially the times Methos would walk out of the bathroom
after taking a shower with just a towel wrapped around his
waist)...the picnic on the cliffs over looking the St. George
Straight on the coast of Ireland Nikki and Methos' last day
there...the “celebration” of Adam Pierson's birthday and the day
Nikki and Methos went riding.
Richard: Don't get me wrong.....if given a choice....I would
prefer a Texas Two Step...
Nikki hears Richard's voice and realizes that she has tuned him
out and immediately starts to pay attention to what he is
saying.
Richard looks down at Nikki and notices that she is staring at
something over her shoulder with a far-a-way look in her eyes.
There's a hint of a smile on her mouth when she isn't mindlessly
sipping at her drink. And even though he wonders what has her
attention he continues what he is saying.
Richard: ...or the Cotton-eyed Joe to a Viennese Waltz....but I
do enjoy some Mozart and my horse seems to enjoy Chopin during
his bath.
Nikki looks up at Richard and smiles...hoping he hadn't noticed
that she had taken a brief mental vacation...so to speak.
Nikki: Just Chopin?
Nikki asks with a smile.
Methos: I'm surprised I don't see MacLeod here, I though he
wouldn't miss it for the world.
Methos comments while he looks at the people in the room,
wondering if he's too far from him to see him. He sees a woman
in black and thinks she looks like Nikki but keeps going,
deciding it can't be her. Then he sees Nikki's foreman and
frowns in confusion for a second, before he goes back to the
woman. He almost gasps in surprise.
Methos: Look who's there.
Methos tells Aldria still frowning a little.
Methos: And what's she doing with that creep?
Ally: What, Nikki? And what?
Ally shrugs.
Ally: He seems attentive enough.
Ally says after studying the two for a minute.
Methos: Nikki's foreman.
Methos nods still frowning at the man.
Methos: He was hired to spy on her. OK, the man who hired him
turned out to be Nikki's father but still he took money to spy
on her. I would have fired him so fast his head would spin.
Ally: Uh huh...
Ally says her voice unimpressed.
Ally: But a spy known is better than one not. One can pass on
false information that way. Besides, Nikki is short handed
enough as it is. How is he with the children?
Ally asks.
Methos: How should I know?
Methos shrugs finally turning his head to refill his glass with
more champagne.
Ally: Well, I guess unless he wasn't good with horses or
children, I wouldn't get rid of him.. spy or not. Admittedly, I
would have picked someone else to come to the concert with,
but...
Methos: That line about keeping you friends closer and your
enemies closer is bull**** you know? It was bad enough to have
Caspian around for centuries.
Methos grumbles before he takes a sip.
Methos: I'm not the most trusting guy anyway but if anyone has
betrayed me once, he's not going to be around for a reprieve.
Ally: Ah, see, my issue is that he was spying. If you find a spy
out you can usually find out WHO is paying him, and then you can
kill them both.
Ally shrugs.
Ally: I'd rather have a spy I know about and can feed
information to, than one I don't, but have reason to trust.
Methos: Trust no one is still the best policy.
Methos shrugs turning back to take a side glance at Nikki and
her foreman, wondering what they were talking about.
Ally shrugs.
Ally: There IS a reason I keep my secretary where he is.
Ally points out.
Nikki: No Schubert or Brahms....or Bach?
Richard shoots her a smirk and says, “Nope....just Chopin. It's
either that or Charlie Daniels Band.”
Nikki: Now you're talking.
Nikki says with a broad grin and nodding her head in agreement.
Richard: Aha! A Charlie Daniels fan I see.
Methos: Hmm, yes, and I'm not going to ask you what reason would
it be.
Methos shakes his head amused, it's impossible to spy an
Immortal who knows all about the Watchers without being noticed.
Ally snickers.
Ally: You should know. Besides, that, he's smart enough NOT to
follow me around, outside of work. And seldom does even in work.
Why would I want them trying to sick another one on me? I'll
ditch him when I die.
Ally smirks again.
Nikki takes a sip of her drink and nods excitedly.
Nikki: Absolutely. No one plays a fiddle like that man.
Richard: Now that's a concert.
Richard says adamantly.
Nikki: Yeah. I saw him in concert at the annual fair in Seattle
a few years ago. It was awesome.
A fleeting thought flies across Nikki's mind. “I bet I wouldn't
see Methos in that audience,” she thinks to herself and steels a
quick glance over Richard's shoulder at her Immortal friend then
quickly looks back up at Richard with a smile.
Methos: See the difference between you and me? I would have
disappeared as soon as I found out about it.
Methos says as he checks his watch.
Ally: Usually do... But I do let the Watchers find me every 50
years or so.... not that they're great at putting two and two
together. Half the time they think I'm some new Immortal.
Methos: The intermission should be about to end, maybe we should
go back?
Methos suggests as he puts his glass on the bar counter.
Ally shakes head in exasperation at the Watchers. Then nods.
Ally: Yeah, let's go.
Methos nods and begins walking, looking around as he goes.
Methos: It's been a while since I've listened to Mozart, I'm
enjoying it. Of course I listened to his music long before all
the people here.
Ally: Except me.
Ally says rolling her eyes.
Methos: Oh yeah, present company excluded, of course.
Methos nods with a smirk.
Richard is about to ask Nikki what other genre of music she
liked when three soft tones chimed over the sound system of the
lobby and the lights flashed on and off signaling the end of
intermission.
Richard: Looks like it's time to go back to our seats.
Richard says and drinks the rest of his beer.
Nikki finishes her own drink and places her empty glass on a
passing waiter's tray.
Richard follows suit with his empty glass.
Nikki takes hold of Richard's arm.
Ally just grins broadly at Methos as she settles into her seat
in their box.
Methos: I meant everybody else.
Methos chuckles softly as he closes the door, then he takes his
seat back.
Ally: I know.
Ally smirks.
Ally: I just chose to take you literally.
Methos looks down at the auditorium trying to see Nikki come
back to her seat, while he teases Aldria.
Methos: I'd stop reminding me about your age if I were you, I
don't find older women that appealing.
Ally: Older women? There are NO women older than you.
Ally smirks.
Methos: Maybe that's the reason I don't find them appealing,
never met any of them.
Methos nods with a smirk.
Methos: Probably met some when I was younger but I don't
remember that now.
Methos finally sees Nikki's foreman take her back to her seat
just as the lights begin to fade.
Ally: Probably...
Ally grins, as she feels the buzz of a young Immortal as Claudia
Jardine walks back on stage.
Methos: Yes, probably.
Methos nods slowly thinking if that was the case, as Claudia
Jardine sits by the piano and starts playing.
Richard escorts Nikki back to their seats just as the house
lights begin to fade and the curtains on the stage slowly slide
open.
As Claudia Jardine begins to play Mozart's haunting Number 9
Concerto Nikki's mind drifts off with the music...and instead of
seeing what was happening on the stage in front of her Nikki was
seeing the stream in the forest behind Nikki's house where she
and Methos had stopped to let their horses get a drink while
they, themselves, took a short break. Methos was sitting on a
log in a stream of sunlight filtering through the trees like a
spot light and laughing an honest and hearty laugh at something
Nikki had said. The look on his face was one of total relaxation
and his eyes twinkled with sincere happiness as he obviously was
thoroughly enjoying himself. Nikki closes her eyes and lets the
music carry further into her thoughts and she is suddenly no
longer sitting in the concert hall but is back in the room they
shared in the Irish inn the night after discovering that her
father was an Immortal and still alive. She is laying next to
Methos with her head on his bare chest and his arm around her
shoulders. The warmth of his skin against her cheek, his scent
and the rhythm of his heart beat are as strong as when she was
really there. She gets goose bumps as he runs the tip of his
fingers up and down her upper arm the way he did before he fell
asleep. It isn't until the audience around her begins to applaud
that Nikki comes back to reality and realizes that Claudia has
finished the piece she was playing. She quickly joins in the
applause and as the applause begins to die down Nikki wonders
why she was thinking what she was thinking...and feeling what
her thoughts were making her feel. When Claudia begins to play
her next piece...accompanied by the Seacouver Metropolitan
Orchestra...Nikki forces herself to stop thinking about anything
and focusing 100% on the rest of the concert.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 282--------------------------------------------------
PIERCING THE ARMOR Part 4
By: Cyberfox277 Date: February 3, 2012, 9:37 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Nikki walks out of the office building in downtown Seacouver,
where she had her quarterly meeting with the Child Protective
Service social workers assigned to several of Tus Nua's
residents, and heads for her truck. She pulls away from the curb
and heads for Amanda's condo where she had spent the night.
She's looking forward to changing out of her business clothes
into a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt and taking a run on the
beach behind the Queen Anne Condominiums.
[center]***45 minutes later***[/center]
Nikki makes her way down the cobblestone path that leads to the
beach area. As she steps onto the sand she looks around and is
happy to see that the beach is fairly deserted. She checks her
watch and sees that it is mid morning so she figures she has, at
least, a couple of hours before beach goers begin to arrive. She
chuckles to herself and shakes her head and thinks, “amazing.
It's February...in the Pacific Northwest...and people still hang
out at the beach.” She does a few pre-run stretches, puts her
Ipod's earbuds in her ears, sets her PO (Personal Odometer) and,
putting the Queen Anne Condos behind her, begins her run. Two
miles from the Queen Anne Condos the public beach area changes
from open beach to a narrow wedge of sand that winds through a
major construction site where several new high rise condos are
being built....or were being built, that is, until the economy
caught up to the developers and construction had to be shut down
until they could afford to complete it. As Nikki nears one of
the condo “shells” that is closer to the shoreline than the
others an Immortal buzz brings her to a sudden stop.
[Nikki] No. Seriously?
Nikki says to herself as she nervously looks around for the
source. As her eyes scan the area outside of the half built
condominium her mind quickly calculates how long it has been
since the last time she faced a challenger. “Five years,” she
thinks to herself. “I guess it was too much to hope that my
respite would last.” She doesn't see anyone outside of the
building and she toys with the thought of simply turning around
and jogging back the other way and just ignore it. That's where
her sword is anyway....but she hears a familiar voice in her
head saying, “running away is never the answer.”
[Nikki] Dammit MacLeod!
Nikki whispers to herself.
[Nikki] Get the fuck out of my head.
With a resigned shrug and sigh, Nikki cautiously moves toward
the building shell. She stops when she reaches the building's
framework and peers inside. She still doesn't see anyone but the
Immortal buzz is still present so she steps into the building.
[Nikki] OK....now that you've totally ruined my morning
run....show yourself.
Nikki calls out...her voice echoing inside the half built
structure. Keeping her back close to what there is of the wall,
she moves around what would, someday, be the lobby of this
particular condo building.
[Nikki] Look....if you don't want to show yourself then it won't
hurt my feelings. I'd just as soon go home and continue my
peaceful day.
Nikki calls out as she scans every corner and shadowed area.
Finally she shakes her head and thinks, “screw this idiot. I'm
going home.” She moves toward the doorway she had come through
and is almost there when she hears movement behind her and she
whirls around.
Brian jumps down from one of the rafters and lands on the cement
foundation with a thud that echos throughout the building' s
shell.
[Brian] Leaving so soon?
Brian asks tauntingly and produces a Samurai sword from inside
his long trench coat.
Nikki is surprised to see that the source of the Immortal buzz
is just a boy who looks like he's not any older than 15 or 16
years old.
[Nikki] Who the hell are you?
Nikki asks planting her feet firmly under her...just in case the
kid charges.
[Brian] Name's Brian Mathews.
Brian answers simply.
[Nikki] How old are you?
Nikki asks incredulously.
[Brian] Well....I'm actually 25 years old but I was killed two
days before my 15th birthday.
Brian says with a snicker.
[Brian] And who are you?
[Nikki] Nicayla Flynn.
Nikki answers simply.
[Brian] And how old are you?
Brian asks continuing what he thinks is nonsensical banter.
[Nikki] A whole hell of a lot older than you.
Nikki answers, rolling her eyes.
[Brian] So are you planning on questioning me to death or what?
Brian asks impatiently.
[Nikki] Well....as you can see....I am not armed. I wasn't
planning on taking any ones head this morning.
Nikki says holding her hands out to show that they're empty.
[color=white][Brian] I'm assuming that your sword isn't too far
way, though. Am I right?
Brian says with a sneer.
Nikki unhooks her PO from the waste band of her sweat pants and
looks at the display.
[Nikki] 2.7 miles to be exact.
Nikki answers.
[Brian] Then it shouldn't take you long to go get it....right?
Brian asks as he slowly takes a couple of steps forward....still
holding his sword in front of him “at the ready”.
[Brian] I assume you're talking about the Queen Anne Condos.
Brian adds.
[Nikki] So what's your point, Mr. Matthews?
Nikki asks with a twinge of sarcasm in her voice.
[Brian] Well....if I have to spell it out for you....
Brian says and rolls his eyes.
[Brian] You go get your sword and meet me back here in....
Brian looks at his watch.
[Brian] ….say 30 minutes. And don't think that you will be able
to simply not come back because I know the Queen Anne and it
wouldn't be hard to find an Immortal living there. And I will
come looking for you.
Brian says. Even though he is trying to sound firm he still
sounds like a kid.
[Nikki] And why would you go to all that trouble?
Nikki asks as she watches him slowly move toward her.
[Brian] Because....there's one thing I have learned since
becoming an Immortal and that's that I need to compensate for my
physical youth and its disadvantages and the only way to do that
is to collect as many Quickenings as I can to gain more power. I
have been in this stupid city for a few months now and I have
only found one other Immortal besides you. So....since I took
care of him post haste....it's your turn.
Brian says confidently.
[Nikki] So you just go around beheading Immortals for no other
reason than to get their Quickening?
Nikki asks with dismay.
[Brian] What other reason is there? After all....there can be
only one.
[Nikki] ….only one.
Nikki says at the same time as Brian.
[Nikki] Yeah. I know. I've heard it before.
Nikki groans and rolls her eyes.
Brian takes two long strides toward Nikki...bringing him
dangerously close to her and glares at her.
Nikki instinctively takes a step backward.
[Brian] So....we're wasting time. Go get your sword and hurry
back. I won't wait one second over 30 minutes before I come
looking for you. And if I have to come looking for you I'll be
pissed. Really, really pissed.
Brian says menacingly.
[Nikki] Oh....we wouldn't want that, now would we?
Nikki says sarcastically.
Brian raises his sword to shoulder height and takes another step
in Nikki's direction.
[Brian] GO!!!
Brian yells.
Startled by Brian's yelling, Nikki jumps a little and takes
another step backward. She stares into his eyes and she can see
his seriousness and she absolutely believes that he will do what
he says and come looking for her. And even though she doesn't
actually live in the Queen Anne condos Amanda does and he might
settle for her when he can't find her. She knows that Amanda can
take care of herself but she gets the feeling that another
compensation the kid makes is to be sneaky and sneaky
people....mortal or Immortal can't be trusted.
[Nikki] Fine. Don't get your panties in a bunch. I'll go.
Nikki says and backs the rest of the way out of the building.
When she is outside she turns and begins running back to
Amanda's to get her sword.
[center]***30 minutes later***[/center]
Nikki, now dressed in a pair of black stretch jeans, black
spandex turtleneck shirt (because it moves with her body as if
it were her own skin and doesn't get in the way of any
movements), black cowboy boots and her suede duster, approaches
the construction sight. She feels the Immortal buzz as she walks
up to the building shell she had just left less than a half hour
ago. As she steps across the threshold into the incomplete
building's first floor, removes her sword from the sheath in the
lining of her coat, shrugs the duster off and lets it drop to
the floor. With the toe of her boot she kicks it closer to the
wall.
[Nikki] OK, Master Matthews. Now what?
Nikki calls out. She holds her sword in front of her “at the
ready” but her grip on the hilt is relaxed as she is still not
convinced an actual battle will occur between her and the boy.
Brian suddenly appears from behind one of the few finished walls
in the incomplete ground floor of the building and he whips his
Samurai sword out from his side and holds the gleaming curved
blade in front of him. His facial expression is one of
concentration and determination.
Nikki looks into the eyes of her challenger and still can't
quite come to grips with the fact that he is...for all intents
and purposes...a child.
[Nikki] We don't have to do this, you know. We could choose to
walk away....to live another day and grow stronger.
Nikki says...paraphrasing something she had heard Methos say
once a while back.
Brian scowls and positions himself so that one foot is slightly
in front of the other.
[Brian] I'm sure that that tactic has worked for you in the past
but it won't work this time.
Brian says evenly.
Nikki recognizes Brian's stance and realizes that whoever his
teacher was had been schooled in Aikido and her mind quickly
reviews what she knows of that particular Martial Art form so
she can more effectively counter his attacks. But this is all
out of instinct as, consciously, Nikki can not accept the
possibility of having to take this young boy's head or his
Quickening.
[Nikki] Nothing in this world....or this life...absolutely
nothing is that black and white.
Nikki states emphatically.
Without a word, Brian literally runs at Nikki.
Seeing that her opponent has sprung into action...Nikki runs at
Brian and their swords clash over their heads. Nikki turns and
faces Brian and swings his sword downwards and to the left.
Brian blocks Nikki's blade and counters by bringing his sword up
over his head then repeats his previous move.
They batter each other repeatedly as they move sideways. Nikki
swings low.
Brian leaps over Nikki's blade.
Nikki comes around and slashes downward.
Brian blocks Nikki's slash.
Nikki slices from left to right.
Brian blocks Nikki and forces Nikki's blade to the right in an
awkward stance. He spins around and parries with a slice from
right to left at head level.
Nikki deflects Brian's blade by thrusting his upward then
parries.
Brian recovers and brings his blade back handed to block Nikki's
parry. Then he brings his sword to the left to block Nikki
again.
Nikki brings his sword around with a forceful cut from left to
right.
Brian turns sideways bringing his sword over his left shoulder
and pointed downward to block Nikki.
Nikki parries with a slice from right to left.
Brian swings for Nikki's head.
Nikki ducks but loses his balance and falls to the floor on his
stomach. He raises up and raises his sword up to block Brian's
attacks.
Brian swings his sword back and forth in front of Nikki. He
raises his sword above his head and brings it downward
attempting the final blow.
Nikki rolls away and gets up on one knee.
Brian slashes at Nikki.
Nikki deflects Brian's blade.
Brian parries toward Nikki's head.
Nikki leans backward away from Brian's blade and, again, loses
his balance landing on his back. He rolls almost up on his
shoulders and places his hands on the floor above his shoulders
and pushes himself upward, throwing his feet out and down. The
momentum bringing him to his feet.
Brian lunges at Nikki.
Nikki kicks Brian in the gut sending him backward.
Brian is now backed up against the wall. He brings his sword out
in front of him, pointing it directly at Nikki. He lunges at
Nikki and they exchange several frantic volleys. Then Brian
kicks Nikki in the thigh and when he leans forward Brian kicks
him square in the face.
Nikki staggers backward but maintains her footing. She is facing
away from Brian. She starts to turn around.
Brian brings his sword over his head and slashes downward.
Nikki whirls around and deflects Brian's blade.
Brian hammers repeatedly at Nikki.
Nikki slashes from right to left at a low level.
Brian leaps over Nikki's blade.
Nikki quickly thrusts his sword in an upward motion catching the
left side of Brian's face with the tip of his blade.
The cut takes Brian by surprise and his head snaps backward.
Nikki leaps up and kicks Brian in the chin.
The force of Nikki's kick sends Brian into a backward motion and
he tries to turn it into a back flip but lands on his stomach
instead.
Nikki hammers at Brian.
Brian rolls into Nikki's legs hoping to bowl her over.
Nikki leaps over Brian.
Brian gets to his feet and spins around. They hammer at each
other for several minutes.
Nikki kicks Brian in the gut.
Brian staggers backward.
Nikki leaps at Brian attempting to flip over him and slash at
him in the process.
Brian leans backward so the Nikki sails over him and when Nikki
is directly above him he leaps into a back flip, his knees
catching Nikki in the lower abdomen and sending him into an out
of control dive. Brian lands in a crouch with his sword in front
of him.
Nikki hits the floor and slides toward the wall. To prevent
hitting the wall with her head she wriggles herself around so
that her feet hit the wall instead. Once she has come to a stop
she leaps to her feet.
Brian attacks with a series of thrusts and slashes.
Nikki blocks each one moving back towards the center of the
room.
Becoming exhausted, Brian's moves are beginning to slow. He
deliberately locks guards several times.
Nikki bashes Brian in the face with her elbow to break the lock
each time. The last time she does she can hear the bones in
Brian's nose shatter. She whirls around and, using the heel of
her hand, hits Brian in the nose at an upward angle sending
broken bones directly into his brain.
Brian looks surprised. Then his eyes roll back in his head and
he falls to the ground.
Nikki reacts poorly out of an instinct engraved into her soul
over 100 years ago and she steps up next to him and in one
swift, smooth stroke of her Katana, Nikki takes Brian's
head...ending his short lived life. A sparkling energy leaves
the corpse and slithers across the cement floor towards Nikki.
She not only did not want to have to kill the young boy but she
definitely did not want his Quickening either. She staggers
backward in a feeble attempt to back away from the fingers of
lightening headed for her.
[Nikki] NOOOOO!!!!!
Nikki cries out...as if her cries of protest would stop what she
knows has to and is going to happen. The fingers of sparkling
energy quickly engulf Nikki and they actually lift her up
several inches so that her feet are no longer touching the
floor. She begins to glow like a rainbow. Her hair stands on
end. Colors of bright, pure light erupt from her eyes. She looks
(and feels) like a human Roman Candle in the dimly lit partially
constructed building. The wind howls. Nikki opens her mouth
letting out a howl of both intense pain and pleasure. Brian's
Quickening suddenly drops her and her fatigued leg muscles are
unable to sustain her weight and she drops to her knees. Nikki
begins to see faces of many different people that she has never
met...hear voices she doesn't recognize and see places she has
never been. She begins to feel things she's never felt. Suddenly
the shell of a room is lit up by bolts of lightening that seem
to burst from the clear sky and her body acts like a lightening
rod. Nikki is hit by many of them causing her body to almost
convulse with each hit. Around her what few windows that had
been installed before all construction had been put on hold,
shatter...light bulbs explode...water pipes burst and small
combustibles burst into flame. Then, as suddenly as it started,
the sky clears, and everything becomes eerily quiet. Only a few
small fires remain (along with a tone of shattered glass). Every
muscle in Nikki's body have become jelly and she doesn't even
try to stand up. When the smoke in the room dissipates and her
vision begins to clear Nikki looks around at the devastation
created by the force of the Quickening. Her eyes fall on the
headless corpse of her opponent and the first conscious thought
that goes through her brain is that the young kid had,
evidently, managed to take quite a few heads in his short
existence because his Quickening had been as strong and intense
as one coming from someone over three times his age. But right
on the end of that thought...another one follows and this one
seems to scream inside of her head,
“YOU...JUST...KILLED...A...KID!!!” and causes her to cover her
ears with her hands as if that will shut it out. When the sound
of her own voice's scream stops echoing in her head...Nikki
moves her hands from over her ears to cover her face and she
crumples into a heap and begins to sob uncontrollably.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 285--------------------------------------------------
PIERCING THE ARMOR Part 5
By: Cyberfox277 Date: February 4, 2012, 7:25 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Nikki finishes her shower and gets dressed. She takes the
clothes she was wearing during her battle, now bloody and torn,
and stuffs them into trash can in Amanda's kitchen. She gets a
glass from the cupboard and a bottle of bourbon from Amanda's
liquor cabinet and pours it into the glass. Without setting the
bottle down she downs her drink in one gulp then pours more into
the glass and caps the bottle, replacing it in the cabinet. She
carries her drink into the living room and sits on the sofa,
propping her feet on the edge of the coffee table and slouching
back against the cushions. She wishes Amanda wasn't at the Queen
of Spades or Jacob at his studio because she needs someone to
talk to.
[Nikki] He was just a kid.
Nikki says aloud. She takes a sip of her drink and leans her
head back and stares up at the ceiling.
[Nikki] I should have tried harder to talk him out of it.
Nikki says aloud. She closes her eyes as they fill with tears.
[Nikki] He was just a kid.
Nikki whispers and tears trickle out of her closed eyes. As she
swallows a sob her cell phone begins to buzz in circles on the
coffee table. Nikki opens her eyes, sniffles and wipes her eyes
as she sits up, sets her drink on the table and picks up her
phone. Without looking at the screen to see who is calling she
flips the phone open and presses the talk button.
[Nikki] Hello?
Nikki says a bit shaky.
[Liam] Nicayla?
Liam says concerned about the tone of her voice.
[Liam] Are you alright, aingeal?
Liam asks, calling her angel in Gaelic.
Nikki, hearing her father's voice, allows more of the tears
brimming in her eyes to fall and she sniffles.
[Nikki] Daidi.
Nikki says, using the Gaelic term for Dad, and a quiet sob
escapes.
[Liam] Talk to me. What's wrong?
Liam asks in a soft, soothing voice.
[Nikki] Oh, Daidi....I had to k..kill a k..kid today.
Nikki says and another sob escapes.
[Liam] What?
Liam asks, not sure he heard her right.
Nikki, through her tears tells her father about her battle
against the young Immortal. When she finishes her story she
overs her face with her free hand, lays her forehead on her
knees and sobs openly.
Liam's heart breaks for his daughter and he takes a slow deep
breath as he calmly chooses his words.
[Liam] OK, baby.....calm down. You didn't have a choice. It
sounds like the boy had his mind set. I doubt anything you might
have said would have swayed him.
Nikki gets control of herself and raises her head. As she wipes
her eyes and nose with the sleeve of her sweat shirt she leans
back against the sofa cushions.
[Nikki] I just......
Nikki begins then can't think of anything else to say so she
shrugs.
[Nikki] I don't know. I just feel like I should have done
something. Maybe I could have tried harder to disarm him and
forced him to listen to me. Something. Something besides taking
his head. He was just a kid.
Nikki says and swallows hard to keep from bursting into tears
again.
[Liam] I doubt he would have listened to you, aingeal.
Liam says softly, trying to console his daughter from 6000 miles
away.
[Nikki] I've never felt like this before, Da'. I can't get it
out of my mind. I keep going over and over it again....trying to
find out what I could have done differently.
Nikki says as she sits up and puts her feet on the floor. She
picks up her glass and takes a big gulp of the bourbon and feels
her nerves begin to calm down.
[Liam] To what end, Nicayla?
Liam asks in his soft and soothing voice.
[Liam] What's done is done. You can't erase what happened.
[Nikki] I know Da'. But......
[Liam] No. No buts. Beating yourself up over it won't change
anything. It'll only result in you second guessing yourself and
that, mo aingeal, will get you killed.
Liam says firmly but still softly.
[Liam] Nicayla? Are you listening to me?
Liam asks softly when Nikki doesn't say anything right away.
[Nikki] Yes, Da'. I hear you.
Nikki says taking a deep breath to settle the last of her
nerves. Listening to her father's voice....the calmness of
it...its soft and soothing tone...she remembers the many times
he consoled her as a child when one of their horses had to be
put down....or a new foal was still born...or when she would
fall down and skin her knee. It worked then and it is working
now.....over 100 years later. She takes a sip of her drink and
sets the glass back on the table.
[Nikki] I know you're right.
Nikki says in a calmer...stronger voice. She does know he's
right.
[Nikki] Thank you.
Nikki says with a healing sigh.
[Liam] For what?
Liam asks, glad to hear the change in his daughter's voice.
[Nikki] For having incredible timing.
Nikki answers.
[Nikki] It must be late where you are.
Nikki adds with a bit of a chuckle.
[Liam] It is.
Liam admits with a shrug.
[Liam] But I was up anyway. We just delivered another foal,
which always gets me keyed up and I couldn't get you out of my
mind so I decided to give you a call.
[Nikki] You always did know when I needed you.
Nikki says with a smile and lays back against the sofa cushions
again and closes her eyes.
[Liam] I feel kind of helpless being so far away. I could be on
the next flight to the States if you need me.
Liam says, looking over at Beth...sleeping peacefully in his
bed. He wonders if she would want to accompany him to Seacouver,
Washington.
[Nikki] No, Daidi. That's not necessary. I'll be OK.
Nikki says, opening her eyes and shaking her head.
[Nikki] I love you for saying so but really....I'm fine.
Nikki adds and bites her tongue to keep from reminding him that
she has been on her own for a very long time and wasn't a child
anymore.
[Liam] Are you sure?
[Nikki] Yes, Da' I'm sure. How's Beth?
Nikki asks in an attempt to change the subject.
Liam realizes what Nikki is doing and decides that it wouldn't
do either of them any good to argue...remembering how stubborn
and independent his daughter has always been.
[Liam] She's good. Sleeping right now....but good.
Liam answers and looks over at Beth again. He gently takes hold
of the edge of the comforter and pulls it up over her shoulder.
[Nikki] So how serious is between you two?
Nikki asks bluntly.
Liam is a bit taken aback by Nikki's question and is unable to
answer her right away.
[Nikki] Da'? Are you still there?
Nikki asks and quickly takes a look at her phone's screen to
make sure the connection is still intact.
[Liam] Aye. I'm still here.
Liam answers finally.
[Nikki] Well?
Nikki prods.
[Liam] Well what?
Liam asks in an attempt to avoid the question as he tries to
figure out how to answer his daughter.
[Nikki] Are you and Beth serious?
Nikki repeats her query.
[Liam] I.....
Liam starts then stops, still not sure how to answer Nikki.
Nikki shakes her head and sits up. She finishes her drink and
sets the empty glass back on the table.
[Nikki] Look Da'....I like Beth. She's a great lady. And she
obviously cares a lot for you. I could see it in her eyes. She's
beautiful, smart, and she seems to be able to put up with you.
Nikki says with a giggle.
[Nikki] You'd be a fool to let her get away.
Liam chuckles.
[Liam] You don't mince words...do you.
Liam says as more of a statement than a question.
[Nikki] So? Am I going to have a new mother?
Nikki presses.
[Liam] Nicayla!
Liam whispers firmly. He quietly gets up and, after checking to
make sure he hasn't woke Beth up, walks out of the bedroom and
closes the door behind him.
[Nikki] What?
Nikki asks innocently...a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
[Liam] We haven't talked about that. We're still getting to know
each other.
Nikki rolls her eyes.
[Nikki] What's to know? She's perfect and you're perfect. Seems
to me it's a match made in Heaven.
Nikki teases.
[Liam] I'm far from perfect.
Liam says a bit embarrassed.
[Nikki] You are to me.
Nikki says proudly.
[Liam] You're biased.
Liam chuckles.
[Nikki] Well....if you're waiting for my blessing...you have it.
I like her. She makes you happy.
[Liam] Good. To know. Thank you, súile geal.
Liam says, calling her bright eyes in Gaelic.
[Liam] Now....how about some quid pro quo?
[Nikki] What do you mean?
Nikki asks curiously.
[Liam] How are you and your boyfriend getting along?
Liam asks, turning the tables on his inquisitive daughter.
[Nikki] Boyfriend? What boyfriend?
Nikki asks a bit confused.
[Liam] What was his name? Allan...no Adam. The guy that was with
you when you came here.
[Nikki] Adam? He's not my boyfriend, Da'. He's just a good
friend.
Nikki asks feeling her cheeks warm up as she blushes.
[Liam] Uh huh.
Liam says disbelievingly.
[Nikki] No....really, Da'. He's more like a big brother than
anything.
Nikki insists.
[Liam] If you say so.
Liam teases.
[Nikki] I do. We're just good friends. That's all.
Nikki says emphatically.
[Liam] Me thinks the lady protests too much.
Liam says quoting Shakespeare.
Nikki rolls her eyes and sighs loudly.
[Nikki] Da'!
[Liam] Alright.
Liam says with a chuckle.
[Liam] I'll stop. But I think you need to open your eyes,
aingeal. I saw the way you two looked at each other and there's
more there than just friendship.
Liam says more seriously.
[Nikki] I think you need to get your eyes checked, Da'. Because
he just thinks of me as a bratty kid sister. Besides.....I'm not
looking for any kind of romantic relationship....with anyone.
Nikki says, shaking her head. She gets to her feet and picks up
her empty glass. She carries it into the kitchen and puts it in
the dishwasher then opens the refrigerator to look for something
to eat.
[Liam] You don't have to look for love, Nicayla. It's when you
aren't looking for it that it finds you and you can't run from
it forever. You're a beautiful woman with a big heart. You
deserve to love and be loved.
[Nikki] I am, Da'. I love the kids at Tus' Nua...my horse,
Blaze...my friends and you.
Nikki insists.
[Liam] I'm not talking about that kind of love, súile geal. I'm
talking about being in love. About sharing your life with that
special someone.....waking up with them next to you....someone
to laugh and cry with. You can't spend your life alone. You
deserve that kind of love and happiness.
[Nikki] You mean like you and Beth?
Nikki tries to change the subject.
[Liam] Yes. Like me and Beth.
Liam gives in.
[Nikki] So you admit that you're in love with her?
Nikki presses again.
[Liam] Yes. I admit it. I am in love with Beth and she says that
she is in love with me. And I want that for you, mo aingeal.
[Nikki] Yeah....well....
Nikki walks to the front door of Amanda's condo and opens the
door. She reaches around and presses the door bell and holds the
phone so that her father will hear it ring.
[Nikki] Da'...someone's at the door. I gotta go.
Nikki says quickly and closes the door.
[Liam] Alright. I love you.
Liam says with a smile.
[Nikki] I love you too, Daidi.
[Liam] Take care of yourself, aingeal, and I'll talk to you
later. Call me if you need me.
[Nikki] I will. Give Beth a kiss for me.
Nikki says and hangs up with a sigh of relief.
[Nikki] Me and Methos. Yeah...right. Like that's ever going to
happen.
Nikki says with a laugh and goes back into the kitchen to make
something to eat.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 287--------------------------------------------------
PIERCING THE ARMOR Part 6
By: Cyberfox277 Date: February 4, 2012, 8:36 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Nikki stands on a stack of hay bales on the trailer of a flatbed
truck and she has hay hooks in both hands. She jabs one on each
end of a bale of hay and lifts the bale then tosses it to the
ground below where one of the ranch hands loads it onto a hand
trolley to be taken into the barn. Nikki jabs another bale of
hay with the hooks and send the bale to the ground. She
continues to do this with three more bales then stops to let the
ranch hand catch up. Even though it is cold outside, Nikki
wipes sweat from her forehead with the sleeve of her shirt.
Methos drives to Nikki's ranch to take a look at his horse. He
slows down when he sees her near the barn unloading hay.
Methos: I hope that wasn't your lunch.
Methos teases Nikki with a soft chuckle.
Nikki feels a strong Immortal buzz and looks around. Seeing
Methos' SUV she jumps waves then jumps down from the trailer.
She lays her hooks on the trailer and tells one of the other
hands to take over. As she walks up to Methos' car she removes
her work gloves and uses them to wipe hay dust off of her
clothes.
Nikki: Say what?
Nikki asks not hearing exactly what he said.
Methos: I've said I hope that wasn't your lunch.
Methos repeats while his smile widens.
Nikki: Haven't had lunch.
Nikki says with a grin.
Nikki: To what do I owe this unexpected visit?
Nikki asks as she stuffs her gloves into the back pocket of her
jeans.
Methos: I came to take a look at Sultan, maybe ride for a while?
Methos says as he takes the car keys from the ignition. Then he
opens the door and exits his car.
Methos: If it's alright with you that is.
Nikki: Of course it is.
Nikki says and playfully smacks Methos on the arm. She turns and
looks around. Seeing one of the residents she puts her fingers
in her mouth and lets out a shrill whistle. When the kid turns
to look at her she tells him to bring Sultan out so his owner
can saddle him.
Methos: No, set him free and let him come to me. I'm prepared.
Methos smirks as he pulls out a couple of carrots from his
raincoat pocket.
Nikki: You sure?
Nikki questions a bit dubious.
Methos: Yes, I'm sure. I usually train my horses to come to me
when I call them, you don't expect me to run faster than them,
now do you?
Methos smirks waving the carrots in front of him.
Nikki: OK.
Nikki says with a shrug and calls out to the kid to tell him to
take Sultan to the small paddock behind the barn and set him
free.
Methos: It might take some trouble in the beginning but it pays
back when they get the idea.
Methos puts the carrots on the hood of his car so he can take
his raincoat with the sword. He moves to the trunk to hide it in
there, when it's less likely to be seen.
Methos: Right, now I'm ready to ride.
Methos says as he closes the trunk of his car.
Nikki giggles and leads the way toward the barn. A cool breeze
causes her to shiver so as she passes the fence post her rough
out jacket is hanging on she grabs it and slips it on.
Methos follows Nikki towards the barn playing with the carrots
on his hand.
Methos: I hope he's smart enough to learn fast, so I don't have
to carry these all the time.
Methos murmurs as he follows Nikki.
As Nikki nears the barn she hears a horse's whinny and someone
cry out in pain. The sounds are coming from behind the barn and
Nikki breaks into a run. She quickly notices that Methos' horse
is not in the paddock and she looks around. Standing several
yards away is the dapple gray stallion..his lead hanging loosely
to the ground. His muscles are twitching and his eyes have a
wild look in them. Nikki begins to slowly walk towards the
horse...her arms outstretched and palms facing the horse. She
looks directly into the big stallion's eyes with a look of
complete calm on her face.
Nikki: Shhhh.....it's OK big fella.....shhhh.....take​ it
easy.
Nikki says in a soft and soothing voice as she slowly takes a
step forward then another.
Nikki: Easy, boy.......easy. It's OK. Shhhh.
Methos stops watching the scene before him, Nikki is taking care
of the horse so he moves to the boy to see if his injuries are
bad.
Nikki continues to speak softly...never taking her eyes off of
his. Their gazes seemed to be locked with one another as she
slowly advances toward him.
Methos doesn't need to probe for long to see the boy as a broken
arm, he tells one of the ranch hands to get some wood so they
can splint his arm until the ambulance comes.
Nikki: Easy boy.....easy. No one's going to hurt you. Especially
not me. Easy.....shhhh.
Nikki is now only a couple of feet from the Arabian. He paws at
the ground nervously but never unlocks his gaze from Nikki's.
Methos side glances at Nikki and Sultan while he waits for the
ranch hand to return. He notices she has managed to calm down
the horse and is about to get him. He nods approvingly before he
looks down at the boy again.
Nikki: Easy boy.....easy. It's alright.
Nikki says soothingly as she very slowly reaches out and instead
of grabbing Sultan's lead she places her open hands close to his
nose for him to smell.
Nikki: See? I'm not going to hurt you. OK?
Nikki says softly. When Sultan doesn't step away from Nikki and
has smelled her hands, she places one hand under his chin and
the other just above his muzzle and steps closer...gently
caressing his nose.
Nikki: There. It's OK. It's OK.
Nikki says soothingly. When she is sure that the stallion is
calm she casually takes hold of his lead then step even closer
so that she is standing under his neck. She reaches her arm up
so that she is sort of hugging him and gently caresses his neck
until she feels his muscles begin to relax.
When the ranch hand comes back with the wood, Methos explains
the reluctant boy that the pain would ease once his arm is
between the splints and manages to convince him to try that.
Nikki looks over at the paddock and decides that there is too
much commotion going on there so she slowly leads Sultan into
one of the other empty paddocks nearby. Once inside a paddock
with the gate closed she unhooks the lead and lets the horse
loose, slinging the lead rope over the top rung of the gate.
Then she crawls through the rungs of the paddock's fence and
heads for the injured boy.
Methos quickly finishes his work, trying not to hurt the boy
more than necessary while he tries to remember the last time he
had to do that to a patient He gives up with a sigh, playing
house doctor was the last thing he was planning for today.
Nikki asks one of the ranch hands if anyone called the ambulance
and when they all look at each other and it is determined that
no one actually placed the call she instructs one of the men to
take the ranch's truck and take the boy to the
hospital...explaining that it will be quicker than waiting for
the ambulance to come all the way out to the ranch. Then she
asks the boy what happened. The boy explains that when he
opened the gate to the paddock the big stallion jumped back and
startled him and when he tried to lead the horse into the
paddock the stallion reared up and one of his hooves clipped the
boy's shoulder and he fell backwards.
Nikki: Were you afraid of him?
Nikki asks softly. The boy simply nods his head.
Nikki: He sensed your fear. That's what made him nervous. That's
why he reacted the way he did.
Nikki calmly explains to the boy.
Nikki: If you are ever afraid of any of the horses....leave them
alone and come and tell someone. They can sense your fear and
I'd rather not have you try to work with them while you're
feeling afraid. OK?
Methos rolls his eyes as he straightens up, telling that to the
boy now hardly helped. He already had a broken arm.
Methos: I don't think it's the time, Nikki. You tell him that
when he's feeling better.
Nikki says with an understanding smile. She asks the boy if he
is OK other than the injured arm and he nods and apologizes.
Nikki: Don't be sorry. This is how we learn. Just remember.....a
broken arm isn't going to get you out of work.
Nikki says with a wink. The truck pulls up and the ranch hand
gets out so Nikki steps aside to let them help the boy to the
truck. She instructs the ranch hand to call her after the doctor
has examined the boy and let her know how he is.
Nikki: OK...everyone back to work. Excitement's over.
Nikki says and walks out of the paddock. Halfway between the
paddock where the boy got injured and the one Sultan is in a
memory flashes through her head of the last time one of "her
kids" got hurt and she begins to tremble. She walks over to the
fence of one of the paddocks and leans against it trying to
control her body's reaction.
Methos turns back when he realizes he forgot the carrots on the
ground. He frowns when he sees Nikki trembling near the fence.
Methos: He's going to be OK, Dr. Adams took a look at him,
remember?
Methos reminds her while he puts an arm over her shoulders to
comfort her.
Methos: History is not repeating itself, OK?
Methos adds assuming she's thinking about the dead girl.
Nikki 's trembling has advanced to full blown shaking as
adrenalin surges through her body and she leans against
Methos...grateful for the comfort of his arm around her.
Nikki: I....I know. It's j...j..just that.....
Nikki stammers through chattering teeth. Unable to form words
without stammering she gives up and turns to face
Methos...burying her face against his chest.
Methos: To live is to take chances, people get accidents, cut
themselves, get bruised, break bones...
Methos points out pulling her closer to him.
Methos: You can't protect them all the time.
Nikki: I....know.
Nikki says...her voiced muffled by Methos' chest. Slowly the
adrenalin begins to run its course and her shaking begins to
subside. But even after she has calmed down, Nikki hates to
leave the warmth and comfort of his arms.
Methos: Then keep that in mind another time someone has an
accident, it's only a matter of time in a ranch.
Methos says moving his hand up and down her back.
Methos: Damn, they can get hurt indoors, a ranch is twice as
dangerous.
Nikki takes a deep breath, slowly pushes away from Methos and
looks up at him.
Nikki: I know. I'm sorry to seem like I was so upset. I was just
reacting to the adrenalin rush. I'm fine.
Nikki explains....hoping she sounds convincing.
Nikki: I think this incident was just like the straw that broke
the camel's back after what happened yesterday.
Nikki says and turns to head for the paddock Sultan is in.
Methos: Adrenalin rush? Yeah right. I've seen you fight before
and no you didn't tremble.
Methos looks at Nikki like he doesn't believe her.
Methos: So what happened yesterday?
Methos asks after Nikki, he picks up the carrots on the ground
and follows her to Sultan's paddock.
Nikki waves nonchalantly over her shoulder without turning
around.
Nikki: Oh...nothing earth shattering. I was just forced to kill
a kid is all.
Methos walks faster so he can catch up to her and he doesn't
have to talk too loud.
Methos: A kid? One of us?
Nikki: Yup.
Nikki says simply as she approaches Sultan's paddock. She walks
up to the fence, climbs up on the bottom rung of the fence and
clucks at the horse....holding her hand out over the fence.
Methos pats Sultan's nose when he comes to them giving him one
of the carrots.
Methos: So how did it happen? Did he challenge you?
Nikki: Yeah. I was out for a run on the beach behind Amanda's
place and you know that construction site down the beach from
her condo? The one where they had to suspend work because they
ran out of money?
Nikki says and looks over at Methos.
Methos: Yes, perfect place for a sword fight.
Methos nods still patting Sultan's nose.
Nikki: He was hiding out in one of the unfinished buildings. He
was totally bent on taking my head so I had no choice.
Nikki explains with a shrug.
Nikki: I tried to talk him out of it but he had his mind made up
and gave me no choice.
Nikki looks back at the horse.
Nikki: He said he became an Immortal 27 years ago the day before
his 15th birthday.
Nikki adds unable to hide the sadness in her voice.
Methos side glances at Nikki disbelievingly for a moment.
Methos: So he wasn't a kid anymore.
Methos points out before he looks back at the horse.
Nikki: Not technically.....although​.....
Nikki does some quick math in her head....and fingers.
Nikki: ....42 is still a kid to you and me.
Methos: If he was old enough to challenge you he was old enough
to take the results.
Nikki: All I can think of is....his teacher must be or was a
total idiot. To convince him that the only way for him to
survive the Game is to get as many Quickenings as possible
instead of skill....and then to just put him out into the world
like that.
Nikki shakes her head.
Methos: What makes you think his teacher wasn't his first
Quickening? Happens all the time if the teacher is stupid
enough.
Methos chuckles softly, he still wondered if it wasn't his
case, he never met someone who was his first teacher.
Nikki: Yeah. Possibly.
Nikki says with a shrug.
Nikki: Wouldn't surprise me. I guess I'm pretty lucky to have
been found by someone who had morals....somewhat....or​ at
least a sense of morality.....scruples.
Nikki says with a grin and looks over at Methos.
Nikki: Otherwise I may have turned out just like him. Or worse.
Nikki quickly glances around to make sure nobody is within
earshot.
Nikki: Methos? Do you remember your teacher?
Nikki asks, laying her cheek on her hands which are folded on
the top rung of the fence and looking at Methos.
Methos: No, I don't remember anything before my first
Quickening, I've often wondered if it wasn't him.
Methos confesses with a soft chuckle.
Methos: If he was my first Quickening I assume we weren't
friends.
Nikki: Soooo.....if you don't remember your teacher....how do
you remember what he taught you?
Nikki asks curiously. She lifts her head up...still looking at
him.
Methos: It's funny actually, just like mortals who get amnesia,
you forget people and places but you don't forget the things you
can do. Mortals don't forget to speak or walk when they have
amnesia.
Methos shrugs beginning to pat Sultan's nose again.
Nikki nods.
Nikki: Yeah. You have a point.
Nikki agrees.
Nikki: That's another reason I feel lucky, I guess.
Nikki says stepping down from the fence but still looking at
Methos.
Methos: Why's that?
Nikki: Since Amanda and I became best friends....I'll never
forget her. No matter how old I get.
Nikki says with a smile.
Methos chuckles amused, shaking his head.
Methos: Well, I'd say the little vixen is kind of hard to forget
anyway.
Nikki: Did you have any other teachers?
Nikki asks sincerely interested.
Methos: Of course, I've learned from the best swordsman who were
willing to teach me. knowledge is power.
Methos shrugs indifferently
Methos: Actually I've learned everything that I could, not just
sword fighting.
Nikki: Really? Like who? Anyone I might have heard of?
Nikki asks thinking how neat it would be to have Lancelot or
King Arthur or Robin Hood as a teacher.
Methos: Hmm, I don't know if you've heard of them. Sun Tzu?
Saladin?
Methos offers a few names looking back at Nikki.
Methos: I think you've heard of Julius Caesar?
Nikki: Sun Tzu I've heard of and yes....I think I recall
something about Julius Caesar Didn't he create the first Caesar
salad or something?
Nikki says jokingly.
Methos: The inventor of the Caesar salad was Caesar Cardini in
1924, so you see different Caesar.
Methos adds with a smirk.
Nikki makes a clucking noise with her tongue and turns away from
him.
Nikki: No sense of humor. Is that what I have to look forward to
when I'm 5000 years old? God. Kill me now.
Nikki says rolling her eyes.
Nikki: By the way.....
Nikki says turning back to look at him and stuffing her hands in
her pocket.
Nikki: How did you like Claudia Jardin's concert?
Nikki asks with a mischievous twinkle in her green eyes.
Methos: Oh I loved it. I saw you there, I almost didn't
recognize you.
Methos looks back at Nikki with a mischievous smile.
Methos: You looked beautiful.
Nikki blushes and looks down at the ground.
Nikki: Thank you.
Nikki looks back up at him.
Nikki: Why didn't you come over and say hi or something?
Methos: I was with Ally and you were with that guy, you know how
I feel about that guy still working here.
Methos shrugs, while he thinks he's glad he still didn't show
up.
Nikki: You know.....that's the first time I've ever seen you
dressed up like that. I thought you only owned big bulky
sweaters.
Nikki says teasingly.
Methos: I do, or better yet, Adam Pierson does.
Methos chuckles amused.
Methos: Had to get one for the occasion.
Nikki: You looked....very debonair.
Nikki says a bit shyly and looks down at the ground.
Methos: So did you. Maybe we could go out one of these days?
It's a shame not to put them to use more often.
Methos suggests side glancing at Nikki to study her reaction.
Nikki: Debonair? Not exactly the look I was going for.
Nikki says looking up at him with a smarmy grin.
Methos: Hey if it's good enough for me, it's good enough for
you.
Methos points out smiling at Nikki.
Nikki: So....are you serious about what you just asked?
Nikki asks a bit awkwardly. She mentally slaps herself thinking,
"what's wrong with you? You know how to talk to men. Sheesh!".
Methos: Yes? We could go to... dinner, a concert, a walk on the
beach, a picnic... though we probably don't have to dress
formally to that.
Methos frowns like he's really considering it.
Methos: A film? A treasure hunt?
Methos keeps enumerating the things that they can do.
Nikki giggles and puts her hand up in surrender.
Nikki: OK. OK. Stop. Sure. I'd love to.
Methos: You'd love to do which one? All of the above?
Methos asks with an amused smirk.
Nikki: Whatever. You choose.
Nikki says, still laughing.
Methos: Forgot to mention a horse ride, should we try that
first?
Methos suggests, Sultan is calm enough now and there shouldn't
be any problem.
Nikki looks up at him with sparkling green eyes.
Nikki: That we don't have to wait to do. We can do that right
now. You want to saddle Sultan out here or in the barn?
Nikki asks feeling surprisingly lighthearted.....as if she were
floating. But she can't explain why.
Methos: Makes no difference to me.
Methos shrugs still patting Sultan nose and giving him another
carrot.
Methos: Or him I think.
Nikki walks over to one of the larger corrals, goes up to the
gate and puts her fingers in her mouth. She lets out a shrill
whistle and a few seconds later her horse gallops up to the
gate. She slips her fingers through his halter, opens the gate
and leads him out.
Nikki: Meet you in the barn.
Nikki says happily and leads Blaze to the barn to saddle him.
Methos nods as he takes Sultan's lead so he can open the
paddock. He's not carrying the saddle all the way over here if
he doesn't have to.
Methos: Come on, boy. Let's take a walk.
Methos murmurs to the horse while he walks to the barn. As he
walks a small voice inside his head starts bugging him as to why
he just asked Nikki out on a date. He shakes his head and
dismisses the idea.
Methos: Shut up, old man. She's a friend, I like my friend's
company.
Methos murmurs under his breath as he enters the barn.
[CENTER]To be continued[/CENTER]
#Post#: 290--------------------------------------------------
PIERCING THE ARMOR Part 7
By: Cyberfox277 Date: February 6, 2012, 8:19 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Methos walks to the desk outside Ally's office and waits until
her secretary out of the phone before he tells him what he
wants.
[Methos] Hello Seymond, Judge Everson is waiting for me.
Methos waits looking around while her secretary calls her
office, but soon Seymond tells him he can go in. He nods in
acknowledgment, noticing her secretary looks slightly puzzled to
see him there. Probably thinking what a researcher is doing here
in the first place, he thinks with a smile while he walks to
Ally's office.
[Ally] Adam.
Ally says with a smile as her office door opens and Methos steps
inside.
[Methos] So what's up? What's so urgent you couldn't tell me
over the phone?
Methos asks as he closes the door and moves to one of the chairs
in front of Aldria's desk.
[Ally] Vasilyev.
Ally says the name flatly.
Methos frowns when he hears the name.
[Methos] Where is he?
[Ally] In jail.
Ally smirks slightly.
[Ally] He was drinking and driving. He should be released
tomorrow morning.
Ally adds, allowing the smirk to drop away.
[Methos] Really? You've arrested him?
Methos asks amused, thinking that particular Immortal should
know better.
[Ally] Not me. A patrol officer, in New York. But I got word
from contacts that yes, he has been arrested. I also know that
he won't be released until tomorrow, so this should allow time
for a Watcher to be placed on him.
Ally says giving Methos a knowing look.
Methos nods leaning back on his seat to get a better position.
[Methos] Yes, I'll tell Joe. It's about time we put someone on
the Russian weasel.
[Ally] That's what I was thinking.
Ally smiles.
[Ally] Oh, and lunch should be here shortly.
Ally adds.
[Methos] Let's hope they can stay on him, the man is as slippery
as an eel.
Methos shrugs unconcerned.
[Methos] Well, it's not my problem, I'm on research.
Methos shakes his head smiling amused as a thought comes to his
mind.
[Methos] Should be amusing I tried to follow him, he'd find me
in... 10 seconds?
Ally rolls her eyes.
[Ally] Come on...we both know better than that. You and I are
probably the ONLY Immortals who COULD follow another Immortal
successfully. Not that we're about to volunteer for that duty.
Ally snickers softly.
[Ally] We're smarter than that.
[Methos] Yes, I'm not about to test your theory with him.
Methos nods vigorously.
[Ally] No, neither would I.
Ally chuckles.
[Ally] If I were to test it, I'd test it on a newbie who has no
clue as to what he or she is and what the buzz means.
[Methos] Or maybe an Immortal who collects daisies not heads.
Methos says chuckling softly.
[Ally] I would still test first on a clueless newbie. THEN if
the test was a success I'd try it out on an Immortal who
collects daisies, or coins or something else completely
harmless.... Or maybe one of the damn boy scouts.
Ally says with a grin.
[Methos] Yeah, I love good guys.
Methos nods with a smirk.
[Methos] You almost need to convince them to fight you, not that
I'm complaining or anything.
Methos points out, his smile widening.
[Ally] Oh, me either.
Ally grins.
[Ally] But it does make them safe to be around... if annoying to
be around.
Ally chuckles.
Methos shrugs as he checks his watch.
[Methos] Well, I rather be annoyed than fighting them.
Methos points out looking up at Aldria.
[Methos] Besides you know they always end up doing something
amusing.
[Ally] Sooner or later.
Ally laughs. Ally then opens her mouth to say something more but
is interrupted by her assistant knocking on the door, requesting
permission to enter with the delivered lunch. Ally grants
permission and Seymond enters with to boxes from Brave Bull's
House of Steaks. He also brings a selection of cold sodas for
Ally and Adam.
[Ally] Thank you, Seymond.
Ally says as Seymond quickly and efficiently takes himself out.
[Ally] Hope you like steak.
Ally says with a grin.
[Ally] And sorry, but can't have any beer in the courthouse.
Methos side glances at Seymond, following him to the door. The
man still looked slightly puzzled. Luckily he had an excuse to
be there as Seymond would find out later when the report on
Vasilyev came out.
[Methos] Oh, I'm invited for lunch, huh?
Methos comments checking his watch again. He should grab
something at Joe's or it would be too late.
[Methos] And that's OK, where's the wine?
Methos asks with a smirk.
[Ally] Yes. Wasn't sure how long this was going to take. Oh, and
I should have said alcohol isn't permitted in the courthouse.
Sorry, not my rules on that one.
Ally said with a shrug.
[Methos] No alcohol in the courthouse? Remind me not to go to
law-school.
Methos says shaking his head. Not that he was planning to
anyway.
[Ally] No, we just do extra drinking after hours to make up for
it. And at high priced places. Haven't you ever noticed?
Ally asks with a chuckle, opening the box to her stake, baked
potato side salad and slice of cheesecake.
Methos shrugs opening the box Seymond brought for him.
[Methos] Oh I try to stay away from lawyers as far as I can.
[Ally] I've noticed.
Ally snorted as she cut into her stake.
[Ally] I've also noticed there are other things you don't stay
away from.
Methos was about to start eating but stops raising an eyebrow at
Aldria.
[Methos] Really? Like what?
[Ally][/size][color=#ff8080] Oh, different things. Beer for
example.
Ally says.
Methos rolls his eyes going back to his steak.
[Methos] And I thought you were going to say something original.
Methos grumbles before he begins to cut his steak.
[Ally] Yes well... There is also a certain young, pretty, red
haired Immortal.
Ally adds taking a bite of the side salad and watching Methos
carefully.
Methos looks up frowning slightly, wondering what Aldria meant
by that.
[Methos] There is?
[Ally] Nikki?
Ally says naming the Immortal.
[Ally] And don't try my intelligence, by claiming there's
nothing there. I saw the way you looked at her, at the concert,
and THAT my friend is not "nothing."
Methos' frown deepens, so far Aldria isn't making any sense at
all.
[Methos] Aldria, what the hell are you talking about? She's my
friend.
[Ally] Methos, she's more than just a friend. How much more,
only you can tell me that. But it doesn't take a blind man to
see that you care for her more than just friendship.
Ally explains softly.
[Methos] I do?
Methos is about to totally deny it, then he remembers that night
in Ireland and doesn't say anything.
[Methos] Well, yes, I do care about her.
Methos admits after a while.
[Methos] But...
Methos trails off not sure what to say next.
[Ally] But? You don't know how she feels?
Ally guesses.
[Methos] Been there, done that. Ruined some very good
friendships for a roll in the hay and lived to regret it.
Methos sighs looking down at his food.
[Methos] I'm not going to do the same mistake yet again.
[Ally] It is a hard choice to make, but... you're still avoiding
the whole point.
Ally says.
Methos looks up, raising an eyebrow at Aldria.
[Methos] And what would that be?
[Ally] What are your feelings for her?
Ally asks.
Methos stares at Aldria in silence, slightly surprised at her
question, while he tries to figure out what were his feelings
for Nikki.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 291--------------------------------------------------
PIERCING THE ARMOR Part 8
By: Cyberfox277 Date: February 6, 2012, 8:28 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Methos smiles at Nikki while he pulls down the elevator door.
He'd managed to convince her to come up and have a drink after
their date. He tells her to do ahead and look for something in
the fridge while he turns the lights on. He frowns as he turns
around and sees Nikki didn't move from where she's standing only
let her wrap and handbag slip to the floor. She extends her arms
to him in a silent invitation.
Methos is so surprised by her action he just stands there
looking at her while she moves slowly to him. He just stays
there admiring the view, and thinking she really looked great in
that dress. When she gets near him, she unlaces his bow tie and
begins to unbutton his shirt, her glaze locked in his. He
decides to help and lets his dinner-jacket fall to the floor. As
his jacket falls she puts her arms behind his neck, and gently
pulls his head down to kiss him passionately on the lips. It's
all the invitation Methos needs, he lifts her up in his arms and
carries her to bed. Soon clothes are flying everywhere and they
make love like there's no tomorrow. Later, much later, they
cuddle together in bed, and after Nikki tells him she loves him,
Methos replies, "I love you too".
Methos wakes up with a start after this. He sits on the bed
looking around, when he realizes it was a dream and he's alone,
he throws himself back on the pillow again with a sigh. He
smiles briefly at the mess of the dream he just had, realizing
they were in MacLeod's loft above the Dojo. He shakes his head
amused, but sobers up when he thinks if the rest is also hard to
believe. He'd been thinking about this since he had that talk
with Aldria and apparently his mind had been working on the
problem while he slept, giving him the answer to question he'd
been asking himself.
Methos sits up on the bed, his sleep gone, while he thinks that
to be in love again it's the last thing he wants right now, but
he's old enough to know that you don't get to choose. He takes a
deep breath as he stands up and moves to the kitchen to get some
coffee. He puts some cold coffee in a cup trying to figure out
when love found him without him realizing it.
Methos wonders if it was that night in Ireland last year, Nikki
never knew how close they were of making love. She didn't
remember and he wasn't about to point it out to her. He stares
at the coffee cup absentmindedly thinking about that night in
Ireland. Nikki was drunk, she began pulling her clothes off
saying she was hot. He'd just stayed there admiring the view,
until Nikki asked him if he liked what he saw. Methos smiles
when he remembers he'd answered he loved the view, that she
should do it more often. Nikki had come to him and kissed him as
an answer to that, and before he knew it he was kissing her back
and they were falling on the bed together.
Methos takes a deep breath as he picks up the coffee cup
wondering what would have happened if she didn't fall asleep on
him. Probably the same thing that happened in the dream, he
thinks to himself.
Methos carries the cup to the kitchen table and sits on a bench.
Apparently he'd dismissed the thought that there was something
there and just blamed it on too much alcohol, he'd also drunk
too much that night. But he had to admit that something had
changed that night. That and seeing Nikki with her father, he'd
realized she already had a father. He'd been trying to replace
him someway, playing the older brother and treating her as a kid
so he wouldn't see the woman in front of him.
"Gods what a fool he had been," Methos thinks while he shakes
his head with a sigh. He keeps thinking he of all people should
have known better, but he knows it's not the first time he's
been in love without realizing it at first. He'd also been using
what happened with Alexa as an excuse to not to fall in love
again, his mind had used it, he corrects himself, his heart
apparently had other ideas.
Methos almost smacks his forehead when he remembers he'd been
thinking about Nikki when he's having sex with other women and
even that wasn't enough for him to get a hint. He makes a face
when he empties his cup, wondering if he's doing that because he
hates cold coffee or because he hates acting like an idiot.
Methos stands up, he goes to the sink to wash the cup and puts
it back on its place. Then he goes back to bed, it's the middle
of the night, he can't do anything at the moment but try to go
back to sleep. He keeps thinking what to do next as he tidies up
the bed covers and lays down again. Well, one thing he really
needs to do is to talk to MacLeod and try to find out if Nikki
and him are still going out together. He frowns thinking for a
moment, realizing he has no idea, none of them had mentioned
anything lately. If they are the problem is solved, and he can
move on, he's not going to fight MacLeod over a woman, not even
the woman being Nikki.
Methos sighs unhappy, moving slightly on the bed, when he
realizes he also needs to leave if that's the case, he can't
stay there watching them together, unable to do something for
himself. He'll have to ask Joe to transfer him back to Europe,
or maybe leave the Watchers altogether and just disappear.
Methos makes a face at the thought, the last thing he wants
right now is leave but... He shakes his head disbelievingly when
he realizes what he's doing, why worry with something that
hasn't happened yet? To suffer in anticipation was never his
style, he tried to enjoy life as it was. "Right, first you need
to talk to MacLeod, then worry about the rest." Methos turns on
his side and having decided what to do next allows him to go
back to sleep almost right away.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 292--------------------------------------------------
PIERCING THE ARMOR Part 9
By: Cyberfox277 Date: February 6, 2012, 8:42 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
The day is sunny and the perfect temperature. Not too hot and
not too cool. Nikki's long red hair blows in the wind created
as Midnight Blaze (Nikki's black Andalusian stallion with the
flaming red main and tail) races across a mountain meadow. The
big black stallion crashes into the forest on the north end of
the meadow and gallops along the narrow trail that follows a
babbling stream on its way to join a lake further down the
mountain.
“Whoa!” Nikki calls out and pulls back on the reigns when they
round a curve in the trail and come up on a waterfall. Obsidian
comes to a stop and Nikki jumps off of the big black stallion
and tosses the reigns over a low tree branch and says, “you're
tied.” She jogs over to a large flat boulder along side of the
small pond that the water fall is cascading into and quickly
strips off her clothing as another horse's galloping hooves
begin to get louder the closer it gets.
Nikki removes the last of her clothing and dives into the pool
of water just as a dapple gray Arabian stallion comes barreling
around the corner and is pulled to a stop by its rider who
swings his leg over his horse's neck, jumps to the ground and
begins removing his boots as he runs toward the flat boulder.
By the time Methos gets to the boulder he has left a trail of
his boots, socks and shirt between the rock and where he left
his horse. As soon as his bare feet touch the cool, smooth rock
he unbuckles his belt and quickly begins to remove his pants.
“Come on in,” Nikki calls up from the pool of water. “The
water's perfect,” she adds then dives down a few feet....just
enough that she can't be seen from above and swims under the
waterfall. When she has cleared the stream of cascading water
she surfaces and swims to the rock face behind the waterfall.
She reaches up and grasps the edge of a wide, flat outcropping
of granite and hoists herself onto the ledge. She lays down on
her side, props her head on her hand and watches Methos finish
undressing and step to the edge of the flat boulder.
Methos tosses his pants on the ground and walks over to the edge
of the large boulder. He looks around for Nikki but doesn't see
her. Then he looks at the waterfall...and through the cascading
water he sees her. He dives into the pool of cool water and
swims under the waterfall to the rock face behind it. Like
Nikki, he hoists himself up onto the granite ledge.
“Slow poke,” Nikki teases Methos....her emerald green eyes
twinkling mischievously.
“Not fair,” Methos says, slightly out of breath and he lays down
on the ledge next and facing Nikki
“Excuses, excuses,” Nikki chides. “I won fair and square,” she
adds and holds out her hand...palm up. “Pay up.”
Methos points behind him to the flat boulder where his pants lay
and says, “I left my money in my pants.”
“Hmmm...,” Nikki says and rubs her chin thoughtfully. “Then I
guess I'll have to take it out in trade,” she says in a sultry
voice.
“Is that right?” Methos asks and quirks an eyebrow
questioningly. Then he reaches out and cups his hand on the
back of Nikki's neck and pulls her to him.
“Yes. It is,” Nikki says dreamily as her lips get closer to
his. “And I don't take I.O.U.s,” she adds.
When their lips are centimeters apart, Methos leans closer and
makes contact...kissing Nikki passionately
Nikki submits to the kiss...returning it with equal amounts of
passion and one kiss leads to another and another until they
seem to become one unending kiss and the entire world disappears
around them.
Methos gently lays Nikki back and runs his hand down he side to
her buttocks as he begins to kiss her neck.
Nikki responds to Methos' touch with a moan of ecstasy which
builds in intensity as their foreplay progresses and when Methos
moves on top of her, Nikki wraps her legs around his
hips....ready to receive him.
Nikki, suddenly feels something tickle her face and gradually
becomes aware of soft puffs of warm breath on her cheek and,
after several seconds of disorientation, she opens her eyes to
see Blaze's soft muzzle gently nudging her face in an attempt to
wake her up.
[Nikki] Blaze....!
Nikki groans. At the sound of her voice, the stallion,
realizing that she is finally awake, grabs the brim of her
cowboy hat with his teeth and takes it off of her head.
[Nikki] Hey!
Nikki exclaims and sits up, trying to grab her hat away from
Blaze. The stallion tosses his head...hat still in his
teeth...and turns around and “dances” away playfully.
[Nikki] Oh come on, Blaze.
Nikki groans as she gets to her feet.
[Nikki] Bring back my hat.
When Blaze only tosses the hat in the air, lets it fall to the
ground then picks it up in his teeth and tosses it again, Nikki
throws her hands up in surrender.
[Nikki] Fine. But it looks better on me than it will on you,
Nikki calls to the horse. As she heads for the gate of the
upper pasture where she had been napping under a tree and Blaze
had been grazing until he got bored and decided to wake Nikki up
to play with him, Nikki remembers what she was dreaming about
before Blaze had woke her up and she comes to a sudden stop and
says aloud, “oh my God!” Her hand instinctively covers her
mouth and she looks around to make sure she isn't being observed
by anyone. As her memory of her dream clears she feels her face
heat up as she blushes.
[Nikki] Oh my God!
Nikki repeats and starts walking again. By the time she gets to
the pasture fence she is completely un-nerved by the content of
her dream that she decides she can't face anyone just yet and
she doubles back and heads up the hill towards her house. Once
in the solace and privacy of her house, Nikki goes into her
bathroom, strips off her clothes and proceeds to take a cold
shower and tries to put her dream....no matter how pleasant a
part of her feels it was....out of her mind.
[center]To be continued[/center]
#Post#: 293--------------------------------------------------
PIERCING THE ARMOR Part 10
By: Cyberfox277 Date: February 6, 2012, 9:57 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center][sub]The part of Duncan MacLeod is temporarily being
understudied[/sub][/center]
Duncan is in the Dojo (along with 3 or 4 of its members) and
laying on one of the bench presses. He has the weight bar in his
hands and slowly lifts it to the full extent of his arms' reach.
Methos stops his car in front of MacLeod's Dojo, and feels an
Immortal buzz. He was thinking in going around to the back
staircase but assumes MacLeod is down at the Dojo anyway. He
locks the car and moves to the front door.
Duncan feels a strong Immortal buzz just as he is raising the
bar for the 10th time and he stops and glances toward the Dojo
door without actually turning his head.
Methos: Weight lifting. Sounds fun.
Methos says as he approaches the bench.
Duncan sees that the Immortal is Methos (which he had already
assumed by the strength of the buzz) and he returns his
attention back to what he is doing. He does 5 more repetitions
then lifts the bar onto the weight rests and lets out a
cleansing breath before sitting up and wiping the sweat from his
face with the towel he has had draped behind his neck.
Methos: Don't tell me you do this everyday.
Methos sighs at the young Immortal's foolishness.
Duncan shakes his head as he gets to his feet.
Methos: Can't find anything better to do?
Duncan: Not EVERY day.
Duncan picks up his bottle of water and takes a long, deserved
drink.
Duncan: You ought to try it. Might improve your disposition.
Duncan says, teasingly then heads for his office.
Methos: Probably would have the opposite effect.
Methos chuckles softly following MacLeod to his office.
Duncan gives Methos a look that is the combination of disdain
and pity as he takes a seat in his desk chair.
Methos: Well, one would assume someone who owns a Dojo loves to
exercise, don't know what I was expecting.
Methos shakes his head with a sigh, young Immortals were too
much.
Duncan: So. Are you here for a specific reason or just to bust
my chops for caring about the shape my body is in?
Duncan asks and quirks an eyebrow.
Methos: Hmm, actually I was wondering if everything is alright,
I was at Claudia's Jardine concert and I didn't see you there.
Methos explains as he sits in one of the chairs in front of
MacLeod's desk.
Methos: Can't believe you missed it, it was pretty good.
Duncan: Actually....she had sent me tickets for the concert but
I had to go out of town at the last minute so I gave them to
Nikki. No need for them to go to waste.
Duncan explains.
Duncan: You would have known that if you had gone with
Nikki....so I am assuming you didn't?
Duncan asks looking up at Methos curiously.
Methos: No, I was there with Ally. Judge Everson to you.
Duncan: I know who Ally is.
Duncan says and rolls his eyes.
Duncan: You two have been joined at the hip ever since you met
her.
Duncan adds partly teasingly.
Methos: Hmm, not really.
Methos chuckles amused remembering they met over 3,000 years
ago.
Duncan shrugs.
Duncan: Just seems like when I see you at Joe's....she's sitting
there with you.
Duncan says and refrains from winking slyly.
Methos: She also likes a drink at the end of work, what do you
expect me to do, ask her to sit at another table? And why would
I do that?
Methos shakes his head disbelievingly.
Duncan raises his hands in surrender.
Duncan: Hey....just yanking your chain, buddy. I didn't mean to
hit a sore spot.
Duncan says apologetically.
Methos: Not a sore spot, but everybody is starting to see us as
a couple.
Methos rolls his eyes, leaning back on the chair.
Methos: Just because we drink together?
Duncan: Not exactly a bad thing.
Duncan says with a shrug.
Duncan: Especially considering how attractive the lady is.
Duncan adds with a grin.
Methos manages to smile back at MacLeod even though he can't
stop thinking about what's going on with Nikki. He resists the
urge to smack his own head.
Duncan: So how was Claudia's concert?
Duncan asks in an attempt to change the subject before Methos
gets ****ed.
Methos: Oh, it was pretty good. She was brilliant.
Methos repeats apparently MacLeod didn't hear the first time
he'd mentioned it.
Duncan smiles...not even attempting to hide his pride.
Duncan: Of course she was.
Duncan says with the smile of a proud sponsor.
Duncan: So you did see Nikki at the concert?
Duncan asks as he removes the towel from behind his neck and
tosses it on the top of the book case behind his desk.
Duncan: Good. I'm glad she decided to go.
Duncan adds and leans back in his chair.
Methos: Hmm yes, she was there with that foreman of hers.
Methos says studying MacLeod's reaction. that's what he's doing
there in the first place.
Duncan frowns.
Duncan: Her foreman?
Duncan asks curiously.
Duncan: Really?
Methos: Yes, his name is Richard Williams.
Methos says refraining himself to tell MacLeod what that guy did
working for her.
Duncan: Interesting.
Duncan says thoughtfully.
Methos: Interesting?
Methos frowns at MacLeod still studying him.
Methos: You mean you don't mind?
Duncan: Mind? Why would I mind? I just never pictured him as
someone who would like the genre of music Claudia plays.
Duncan says with a nonchalant shrug.
Methos: I thought you and Nikki were dating or something.
Methos says trying to sound nonchalantly but still studying
MacLeod.
Duncan gets to his feet and walks over to the small
refrigerator. He opens it and takes out a bottle of cold
water...holding it out to Methos in a silent invitation.
Duncan: We.....well....let's just say that we had a moment.
Duncan says casually as he uncaps the bottle and takes a thirsty
drink of the ice cold water.
Duncan: But that's all it was.
Duncan says, leaving out the details, and returns to his chair
and sits down.
Methos: Oh really? So you don't mind she dates other people?
Methos asks raising an eyebrow at MacLeod.
Duncan looks over at Methos and furrows his brow.
Duncan: Why would I mind?
Duncan asks, wondering what his friend is getting at.
Methos: Fine, just curious that's all.
Duncan shakes his head and looks directly into Methos' eyes.
Methos shrugs hoping to look like he didn't care about MacLeod's
answer.
Duncan: Huh uh.
Duncan says completely serious.
Duncan: You have a reason for asking. What is it?
Duncan asks, knowing that the ancient Immortal has something
more specific on his mind.
Methos takes a deep breath, he wasn't planning to tell this to
MacLeod but he realizes that if he lies now MacLeod would be
furious later.
Methos: Hmm, you know we went to Ireland together last year,
right?
Duncan: Yes.
Duncan says simply and continues to look directly into Methos'
eyes.
Methos: Ever since then I started to see her in a new light. But
I don't want to get in the middle of you or anything, so...
Methos shrugs unsure how to go on.
Methos: I was planning to ask her out or something.
Duncan sits back in his chair a bit surprised by his friend's
answer.
Duncan: A "new light"?
Duncan asks making quotation marks in the air.
Methos: Hmm, yes. I realize I was trying to treat her as a kid
because she missed her father, but I saw them together and she
already has a father.
Methos moves on the chair uncomfortably.
Methos: I'm not sure how to explain it.
Duncan clasps his hands behind his head and leans his chair back
into a reclining position and lets out a long whistle.
Duncan: Wow! Have I been living with my head under a rock or
something?
Duncan asks to no one in specific.
Duncan: I must have if I totally missed this.
Duncan says and shakes his head as if to clear it.
Duncan: And just how long has THIS been going on?
Duncan asks looking back at Methos.
Methos: Damn, I missed it until recently. I'm not surprised you
did.
Methos takes a deep breath looking down.
Methos: I thought we were just friends, but you know what?
Methos asks looking up at MacLeod.
Duncan leans forward in his chair....completely interested in
what his friend is saying.
Duncan: What?
Methos: I think there's so more to it than that.
Methos tries to explain gesturing a little with his hands.
Methos: I mean she managed to sneak under my defenses without me
realizing it until it was too late.
Duncan leans back in his chair, nodding slowly.
Duncan: She does have a way of doing that.
Duncan says understandingly.
Duncan: So...just how "too late" is it?
Duncan asks making quotation marks in the air.
Methos: Yeah, tell me about it.
Methos nods in agreement.
Methos: The only reason I don't try to take whatever
relationship we have to the next level is because I don't want
to scare her off or something.
Methos shrugs trying to look unconcerned.
Duncan leans forward again and clears his throat.
Duncan: Are you....
Duncan starts to say and hesitates...not sure if he even has the
right to finish his question.
Methos: Am I what, MacLeod?
Methos asks after a while when the rest of the question doesn't
come.
Duncan clears his throat again a bit awkwardly.
Duncan: Just how serious is this for you?
Duncan asks...rewording his question.
Methos: You think I'd have all this trouble on lust?
Methos shakes his head disbelievingly.
Methos: That's the first thing I made sure of when I realized
she was getting to me. To make sure I wasn't seeing too much
because of lust.
Methos shakes his head again at MacLeod's question.
Duncan looks down at the floor, thoughtfully, for several silent
seconds. Leaning his forearms on his thighs, Duncan looks back
over at Methos.
Duncan: OK. As I said....Nikki and I had a moment.
Duncan says softly.
Duncan: Because of that....and because you are BOTH my
friends....GOOD friends.....
Duncan says and takes a deep breath for effect.
Methos: Yes?
Methos urges MacLeod to go on wondering why he was taking so
long.
Duncan: ....I feel it is important that I say something. And if
I am over stepping any boundaries....just take what I am about
to say in the spirit it is offered....advice to a good friend.
Duncan takes a second to organize his thoughts then continues.
Duncan: Nikki is a very special lady. She's not only beautiful
and very intelligent with an awesome sense of humor but she has
a huge heart and the capacity to love intensely She is probably
one of the most loyal friends I have known. That being
said.....she has one....and I hate to call it a flaw....but she
has one "flaw".
Duncan says making quotation marks in the air.
Duncan: She wouldn't take a second thought or blink twice about
facing another one of us....no matter how much more experienced
or stronger they are. But she will turn and run away....leaving
skid marks on the heart of anyone who asks her for a more
permanent commitment.
Duncan explains.
Methos: Yeah, I know. Her actions speak louder than words.
Methos nods in agreement.
Methos: Refusing to take a student is a sign of it.
Duncan shakes his head.
Duncan: I thought you knew her better than that.
Duncan says observantly.
Duncan: Her reasons for never having taken a student have
nothing to do with her fear of commitment.
Duncan explains.
Methos: Well I wasn't planning to have a relationship with her,
now was I?
Methos shrugs unconcerned thinking about Craig.
Duncan: She hasn't taken on a student because she feels that
there are more qualified Immortals than she to teach.
Methos: When she turned down that guy, Craig something, I
thought it was because of you.
Duncan: Me???!
Duncan exclaims...obviously shocked.
Methos: Why not? You two were going out about that time.
Methos chuckles softly shaking his head.
Methos: And then you weren't, and then you were and then you
weren't... Should I go on?
Duncan's face reddens slightly. He chuckles softly and looks
down at the floor for a couple of seconds.
Duncan: I'm a bit of a slow learner....I guess.
Duncan says...his disappointment only slightly showing. Then he
looks back up at Methos.
Duncan: Basically....Nikki's fear of commitment is limited to
the kind of commitment that involves a relationship with
someone. And not just Immortals. As soon as she hears the words,
"I love you," she is packed and ready to leave the
country....no...the planet.
Methos: Don't worry I'm not planning to push her too much. I had
to move fast with Alexa but she was dying so it was different.
Methos says deciding he's not going to comment on MacLeod's
disappointed remark.
Methos: We have time to figure it out.
Duncan sits back in his chair and looks up at the clock on the
wall behind him. He looks out the window into the Dojo and sees
that it is now empty.
Duncan: Well....I have to close the Dojo up....so....if you want
to stick around I will buy you a beer...or more at Joe's.
Duncan says as he gets to his feet.
Methos: I'll meet you there, I need to go somewhere first.
Duncan smiles and nods.
Duncan: You got it, pal. Meet you there.
Duncan says and walks out of his office. He grabs the push broom
that is leaning against the wall next to his office door and
starts to push it around the Dojo floor.
Methos jumps to his feet when he sees the time.
Methos: OK, I should be there in about an hour.
Methos nods checking his watch again.
Methos: I had no idea it was so late.
Duncan: In some parts of the universe it is early....not late.
Duncan says jokingly.
Methos shakes his head as he walks to the door, then he turns
back for a moment stopping near MacLeod.
Duncan stops pushing his broom and looks at Methos.
Methos: Oh, and thanks for the advice... Dad.
Methos tells him with a smirk before moving to the door.
Duncan chuckles, shaking his head.
[center]To be continued[/center]
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