Lost

Chapter 32

Rich was pissed. Methos and Connor had taken off into the night and left him behind. Just because they took off on horses didn’t mean all that much, right? He could ride motorcycles so horses couldn’t be all that different. Well, okay, maybe it was. Foxtrot 3 prodded the last guard ahead of him as they brought them all into what was probably a ballroom. There were a few injuries. Delta and Foxtrot medics patched the guys up while they waited. Then one of the Delta guys came in with two other people. Another huge guard...where the hell did Lacasse find these guys? ...and a young woman. Mmmm, kind of tall but pretty. Turns out they had been out and had only just returned when they were captured and brought in.

Foxtrot1 separated the guard from the young woman, despite the fact that the guard wasn’t too pleased at that idea. Rich followed Foxtrot1 as he led her to the library. Foxtrot 1 knew that she was a friendly and had taken the pictures of the documents. He smirked as Rich volunteered to watch her. He decided to let the kid find out on his own just what he was getting into.

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Connor heard the echo of a shot fired and scrambled in the direction he thought it came from but cursed as the night again turned black around him. He stumbled and hit a wall as the cloud drifted by and the world was again illuminated but he’d lost one of his guns. He rounded a corner and found more steps. He crossed them in giant leaps.

Once the cloud passed Methos could see the tableau before him. Lacasse was now bent over with his left hand holding his shoulder, the sword gone. Duncan kneeled on the ground, a curiously blank look on his face partially obscured by the wildly blowing halo of hair. Methos ran towards them just as Andre pulled a gun from his pocket and began firing. Leaping to the side Methos rolled but hit a rock and felt a rib crack. Scrambling back he made it behind a pile of fallen stones. He looked over the rock to see that Duncan still knelt on the ground although Lacasse had him by the arm and appeared to be trying to drag him away. He aimed and took another shot.

When Duncan had seen Andre raise the sword over his head, he’d been very accepting of the idea of finally dying. It had seemed like the answer to all the pain and threat. He bowed his head, offering all that he had left. But echoes of the shot rang through Duncan’s head bringing him out of his daze. He saw the sword fall from Andre’s hand. The world darkened around him but he was aware of Andre bending over and clutching his injured arm. As the light returned he felt Andre grab his arm and try to drag him up. No...no! He pulled back, trying to crawl away from the monster. Out of the corner of his eye he saw someone jump up from around a pile of stones, firing a gun at Andre and belatedly recognized that unique Presence. Methos! He turned slightly and kicked out catching Andre in the thigh. His arm was released as Andre fell backwards, rolling down the pile of rubble. Suddenly Methos was there, his arms around him and helping him to stand.

“Are you alright?” Methos’ eyes raked over Duncan, trying to see if he was hurt knowing that even if he was he’d heal. But the scene remained burned in his head...Duncan offering his head, the dazed look. Methos had never been so terrified in his life.

“Get away from her!” Andre’s yell caught the whore and her lover as he brought himself painfully upright, fury boiling through him at the sight of the two holding one another. He clutched the gun tighter in his hand. “Drop it.”

Methos turned and raised his hands letting the gun slip but he could see Lacasse’s gun waver. Lacasse was hurt. He kept his hands up as he moved slowly to the left, forcing Andre to turn away from Duncan even though he knew that Duncan wouldn’t be able to fight. Where the hell was Connor?

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“So, Louisa, you’re the one who took the pictures of the paperwork, right?” Rich walked around and sat in front of her as she leaned back into the couch. She nodded but didn’t speak and acted pretty nervous. He didn’t normally go for the real shy ones, but what the heck.

“Adam says it took a lot of guts for you to do what you did. You’re pretty brave.” She had really pretty almond shaped eyes and her skin...man, what a color. He tried to find a word to describe it...maybe some kind of coffee color. It didn’t matter...she was a looker.

Louisa was so nervous. When those men had separated her from her brother she nearly fainted. What was happening? It was obvious that Adam’s men had succeeded and she was so glad they’d been gone during the siege, but where was Sarah? And who was this child that was trying to come on to her? “You are, ah...Richie, yes? I’m Sarah’s companion. Can you tell me where she is? Where is Adam?”

Richie wasn’t too happy with her referring to Mac as ‘Sarah’ and calling him a ‘her’. But that was probably her job. Adam had called her Mac’s friend, so he’d let it slide. He told her what they knew so far and she seemed even more nervous.

“So you think that Monsieur Lacasse took Sarah out somewhere before you got here? Mon Dieu, I knew something was not right. Monsieur Lacasse has been acting so strangely lately.” Louisa twisted her hands together. It was then that the boy told her that Monsieur Lacasse was very ill, quite probably dying. Oh, no! What would he do to Sarah?

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“She’s mine, you bastard. She always will be.” Lacasse glanced back to Sarah. “Sarah, pick up the gun and come here.” He kept his eye on Pierson fully expecting Sarah to do as she was told.

Fear curled so tightly in Duncan’s belly he couldn’t breathe, but he wouldn’t let anything happen to Methos. He moved away until he bumped up against a wooden pole. “No, Andre.” Oh, God, the pain in his head was unbearable. “I am not yours!” He screamed as spots started dancing before his eyes. He fell to his knees and began retching.

“Sarah, do not defy me!” Andre couldn’t believe his pet was doing this...the bitch was turning against him!

Methos, seeing Lacasse’s attention on Duncan, took a step forward, but Andre turned and fired a single shot straight into his heart. He died with such an intense look of fear on his face that Andre was mesmerized.

But Andre’s attention was caught as Connor came around a far corner firing his own weapon and ducking behind the same pile of stones Methos had used for cover only moments before. Andre ducked down near Methos’ body and returned fire. Just as Connor dropped back a cloud again obscured the moon. Andre reached down and grabbed Methos’ hand, dragging him backwards until Andre was again behind cover.

Duncan had seen Methos get shot but couldn’t move. He curled more tightly into a ball, the pain making him want to shut eyes but he kept them open, needing to see what Andre would do. Through his tears he saw Andre pull Methos with him behind some stones. He had to do something!

Damn! As soon as the cloud cover cleared Connor just saw Lacasse dragging Pierson behind some rocks. He couldn’t see Duncan. He checked his weapon. He had half a clip left.

Duncan leaned against the wooden pole and saw Andre pick something up...the sword! Oh, God.

“Drop your weapon, MacLeod! I have a sword at Pierson’s neck. So now the question is who will get his Quickening? You or Sarah. If it’s you, how long do you think you’ll last before I take your head, too?”

Unknown to Lacasse, Methos had recovered from the gunshot. Unfortunately, Lacasse had a pretty good hold on his head and the blade was very sharp. This was not good. Looking over to where he knew Duncan was, he saw him leaning against one of the wooden support poles. Then something fell next to him. He looked up and could just make out the top of the wall. It was starting to crumble. Well, he thought with amusement, at least Connor was there to dig them up. It was a shame, though, that he couldn’t do to Lacasse what he’d planned, but life was full of disappointments. His eyes slid back to Duncan...he didn’t look good but he did look up. Their eyes met and Methos pointedly looked up. Duncan dragged his eyes upward and then back to Methos. Methos could see the desperation in the dark eyes. He understood.

Connor figured he could buy some time for Pierson to recover. Raising his hands he slowly stood. “Alright, Lacasse, I’m coming out!”

Duncan wasn’t sure if he could move the ancient pole, but he put all of his not inconsiderable weight behind a great push at the base. The pole shifted.

Connor walked out into the open with his hands in the air. He moved slowly, making a big show of putting the gun on the ground.

Methos had remained completely relaxed as he lay in Lacasse’s arms, hoping the big man still believed he was dead, grateful that he hadn’t hurt Duncan while he was dead. He saw Duncan push the pole a second time, watched as it gave way and the wall begin to shift. It seemed to move in slow motion as Duncan darted away to the side. Methos used all his strength to push against Lacasse’s sword arm and pulled around, swinging in hard with his left fist and then he was moving. Jumping to the side he was still moving as a huge stone fell against his back then he knew no more.

Connor saw the wall begin to fall and threw himself backwards. Something hit his head and that pain was the last thing he knew.

The fierce wind battered the stone walls, swirling and eddying in angry coils as it fought its way free of the ancient edifice taking the choking dust with it. Covered in dust and debris Connor fought his way to consciousness. “Duncan! Where are you?” He saw some movement out of the corner of his eye and found his kinsman pulling himself up out of some debris. “Duncan!” He ran to his side and helped him up.

Duncan’s head was splitting in two, but he didn’t know if he was injured or if it was because of his defiance. He shifted and rocks fell off of him as he moved to get up. He felt hands grasp his arms…Connor, and suddenly remembered. “Methos!” Oh, God, Andre had the sword to his throat. He pulled out of the arms holding him, scrambling desperately over the pile of rubble. “Methos!”

Connor couldn’t believe what he was hearing...it wasn’t possible. But it seemed to make sense. Methos. He rushed to Duncan’s side and began to search. He was positive there hadn’t been a quickening so they just needed to find Pierson...Methos. He shook his head in amazement and began pulling rocks aside. Leave it to Duncan to find the legendary Methos!

Duncan pushed a rock away and saw a hand. He grabbed it but quickly realized that it belonged to Andre. He was momentarily frozen in shock as he held the hand of the man he hated more than anyone else in the world. After a moment, he dropped it and thought no more of him as he continued the search for his husband.

“Here!” Connor had found a foot under a large stone. Pushing it away he found Pierson quite dead but mercifully intact. Duncan reached his side in a moment and stroked the bloody hair.

Connor looked at his kinsman and knew that Duncan loved this man Pierson or Methos or whoever he was. The wind continued to blow around them and Connor decided they needed to move before more of the wall came down. “Duncan, let’s move him away from these walls. I hate being crushed to death.” Duncan gave him a shaky laugh in response and together they moved the broken body to a clear area.

Connor was surprised at how quickly Pierson recovered but since he was Methos, it, too, made sense. But Duncan had begun weeping and hadn’t stopped. So now that Pierson was alive he held Duncan in his arms and stroked the dark hair, speaking quietly into an ear. With Pierson’s help, he hoped Duncan would recover and again be the man he once was. Time would tell.

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Louisa was really worried. Rich had just put his arm around her to try and calm her when he heard a commotion outside. They both jumped up as Connor, Methos and Mac came in. In fact, Connor and Methos were holding Mac up. He didn’t look real good. His hair was a real mess and he was barefoot and covered in dirt. Rich tried not to notice the fact that he was wearing a skirt.

“Sarah!” Louisa was at his side in a second brushing the dark hair away from the pale face. Methos said something about shock and getting him upstairs. It didn’t take long before they all disappeared. A few moments later Connor came back downstairs. He was a mess, too.

“How is he?” Rich was pretty worried and it showed.

“He’ll be fine, Richie. How are things here?” Connor was again in control. Pierson was caring for his kinsman with the help of the other one...Connor wasn’t sure if he should refer to Louisa as him or her...and seemed to be doing as well as possible, considering. “Where are the guards?” He’d have to talk to them and tell them of Lacasse. It remained to be seen how they would react. He wasn’t in the mood to kill all of them.

As it turned out they were very accepting of the fact that Lacasse had died when the wall crushed him. It was probably a good thing that they didn’t know just how disappointed both Connor and Methos were over the same fact. But the guards had somehow known of his illness and figured, as most soldiers do, that it was best for him to die fighting than to wither away in a hospital bed. Revenge wasn’t an issue, especially since it was the Madame that had fought and won. Connor was pretty sure, in fact, that some of them might even be recruited by Foxtrot 1. Unarmed, most of the men were allowed to leave under escort knowing that the soldiers would remain on site until morning.

Now Connor sat in the library and poured himself another shot of Lacasse’s fine scotch. Rich and Foxtrot1 sat with him as they waited to hear about Duncan. Sitting back with his own drink Richie’s mind wandered back to Louisa. He wondered if he could get her to go out with him.

“What are you thinking so hard about, Richie?” Connor had noted the unusual silence from Duncan’s young student.

“Oh, I was just wondering what kind of food Louisa might like. I’m thinking of asking her out...” His voice trailed off as both of the other men broke out into laughter. “What?”

“Richie, did you get a good look at Louisa?” Connor wasn’t quite sure how to break the news to the young man...and a perverse streak in him didn’t want to. But he figured Duncan wouldn’t be too happy with him if he let the kid make a fool of himself. It might, after all, be a delicate subject with his kinsman. That thought sobered him.

“Well, yeah, Connor. I think she’s really pretty...awesome eyes and...” He stopped at Connor’s raised hand.

“Lad, she is a he. Did you not see her Adam’s apple?”

Richie paled and shook his head. “Naw, no way...you’re kidding, right?” At Connor’s look he slapped himself on the forehead as Foxtrot 1 and Connor broke out in another laugh. Oh, man. But at least they’d told him. He watched Foxtrot 1 and decided then and there that even if he did meet the guy in a bar somewhere, there was no way in hell he was buying him a beer.