Double Trouble

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STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY. The characters from Highlander: The Series belong to Panzer/Davis and Rhysher, I have only borrowed them for the moment. Although it now seems like they are through with them (Sad sigh.) I promise to return them in approximately the same condition (It's not like I make anything from doing this...other than the pleasure of spending some quality time with Amanda <G!>.) As always, comments are welcome and anticipated. Just E-Mail me!

Double Trouble
By The Grey Owl

It wasn't often that the desire for a shiny bauble got the better of her, but the sapphire necklace she'd seen at the charity ball last week was an exception. But then, she had wanted that particular necklace since she'd seen it worn by Tsarina Alexandra at the Summer Palace in 1910. How it came to be in the possession of that fat, old dowager was something she would never understand. So here she was, preparing to open a safe that appeared to have more alarms and sensors than Fort Knox. Not that they were doing any good since they weren't even turned on. A few more seconds effort and the necklace was hers, along with some minor diamonds. She quickly exited the building. The beams of an approaching car's headlights momentarily lit her face, and then she was gone.

The burglary was discovered almost immediately because the car belonged to the dowager. The police were called and arrived with dispatch; friends of the Commissioner received extra attention. As the lab personnel dusted for prints, the detectives took everybody's statements. When the chauffeur mentioned the woman he'd seen dressed in a black cat suit, he was passed on to a police artist. Quickly a sketch of the woman took shape under the artist's skillful fingers. Since the sketch did not match any one known to the detectives, the sketch was sent by wire to all police agencies. In a few hours, they had a response...from Interpol. The imaged matched that of one Amanda Darieux, age unknown, place of residence unknown, suspected of several burglaries in France and surrounding areas. A photograph was faxed and shown to the chauffeur; he positively identified Amanda Darieux as the woman he'd seen outside the dowager's home. An all points bulletin was sent out for Amanda Darieux.

***

As Jessie waited for her luggage at the Seacover carrousel, she thought about how exhausted she was from her trip. After all, she'd just spent the last 18 hours in airplanes and airports. First, flying from Orly outside Paris to London's Heathrow on Air France. Then it was British Air to JKF in New York, followed by a three-hour wait for her connection to Seacover by United. Lord how she hated traveling. Still, since she'd met Amanda, her "doppelganger", she'd been able to go places she'd only dreamed of going before. It had been fun, except for those times when some immortal headhunter had confronted them; then it got a little scary.

She spotted her luggage, but a hand on her arm stopped her from picking it up. She turned to see who had grabbed her and found herself facing a police officer. "Ma'am, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. You have..."

As the officer continued his litany of the Mired Warning, Jessie was momentarily stunned. //What in the world is going on now? Why do they want me? What did I do? I'm sure I claimed everything on my customs declaration. Lord knows I paid enough damn duty on it!// The officer's partner had picked up her bags. She felt outrage at the humiliation...people staring at her as she was led handcuffed through the terminal and placed into the back of the police car.

"What is going on here? Why have you arrested me? What am I being charged with?" Her questions fell on deaf ears. The officers just drove downtown to the main police headquarters and turned her over to a police matron, who took her through the booking process. While the fingerprinting and mug shot was just like on the TV, nothing had prepared her for the cavity search. The fury at the indignities kept mounting. //Boy, when I have a chance to talk to someone in power, I am going to have a few choice things to say!//

After sitting in her cell for about an hour, she was escorted into an interrogation room. It looked just like "the box" from that TV show, 'Homicide: Life on the Streets'. It was a bare, spartan room with a beat up table, two chairs, and a mirrored window. She heard the matron lock the door and she was left in the room. Jessie sat in one of the chairs facing the mirror; she knew someone was looking at her through the one-way glass; she could feel their eyes on her. //Go ahead and look. It won't do you any good, because you've got the wrong person.//

The door to the room opened and a middle-aged man entered. He was wearing a gray suit, baggy in the knees and seat, which obviously had not seen a cleaner in weeks. He reeked of stale tobacco smoke. His gray hair was just a shade too long; it had been a while since he'd been to the barber, too. His eyes were tired, both physically and emotionally. They looked like he'd seen it all. She waited for him to speak first.

"My name is Detective Sergeant Long. While the arresting officers have already read you your rights, I will read them to you again to ensure you understand them before I begin questioning you." With that preamble, he read the Miranda warning from a small card that he carried in his pocket. "Do you understand these rights as I have explained them? Do you wish to have an attorney present before questioning?"

"Look, I don't have a clue as to what this is all about. I just spent 18 hours flying here from Paris, get off a plane, and get arrested. No one has told me what I am charged with so how can I possibly judge the need for an attorney?" Jessie began. "I'll tell you what. Why don't you tell me what this is all about and then I'll let you know about the attorney."

Surprisingly, the detective smiled. "Sounds fair enough. Miss Darieux, you are charged with breaking and entering, burglary, and grand theft. I must tell you that a witness has positively identified you as the woman seen fleeing the scene last night. Why don't you just admit it, tell us where the jewels are, and I'll see if I can get you a break in sentencing."

"Well, there are several things wrong with that. First of all, my name is Jessie Mallory, not Darieux. I am not nor have I ever been a burglar. This is my second visit to Seacover; I was here six weeks ago before I went to Europe. Depending on when this so-called crime took place, I was either in an airplane over the Atlantic, sitting in the VIP lounge at JFK, or on the flight to Seacover. There are plenty of people who can verify that, especially the stewards; men seem to notice me. So here's my counter-offer to you. How quickly you get me released from here and get me and my luggage to my hotel will determine whether I sue this police department for false arrest and for how much."

The detective looked stunned. He looked at the field notes from the arresting patrolmen and noted she'd been taken at the arrival carrousel, not departures. Her luggage did in fact have customs stickers on them showing they'd been inspected at JFK late last night. Somehow...he didn't know how...they had the wrong person in custody. "I don't know how I can make this right. I will expedite your release, but first I would like to show you something." With that, he handed her the photograph of Amanda that had been faxed from Interpol. "This is the woman we are after; as you can see, you could easily be mistaken for her."

Jessie looked at the picture. It was grainy, but still a good shot of Amanda. It had been taken in Paris in the fall...the leaves on the trees had turned and the clothing indicated the weather was cool. "Detective, I've only been to France once, and I've just come back. I wasn't in Paris in the fall. You can look at my passport to see that."

Apologizing for the mix-up, the detective left the room to arrange her release. She noted he did not lock the door as he left. //Good, the police were thoroughly rattled now. Oh, Amanda, what have you been up to now?//

***
Amanda stretched herself in a classic warm-up before beginning her daily exercise regimen. While being immortal had its advantages, you still had to work at being in shape. Sword fighting required speed, agility, and coordination. And practice, lots of practice. Duncan's dojo provided the perfect place to work out...both in the daylight and at night. She was sore in places from his ardent welcome.

"Amanda! Telephone!" Duncan called from the office. She towelled the sweat from her neck and chest as she walked over to the telephone. "Hello?"

"Hey, Twin! You owe me big!"

"Jessie! Where are you? I thought you'd be here by now?"

"Oh, I would have been if I hadn't been grabbed by a pair of Seacover's finest as soon as I got off the plane. I have spent the better part of the day in jail, thank you very much. I don't have to ask what you've been up to since they thought I had done it. Don't you ever have enough jewelry?" Jessie laughed. "Anyway, the detective brought me to the hotel personally in an effort to calm me down and keep me from suing them for false arrest."

"Oh dear, I wonder how they knew it was me?"

"The detective said a witness had picked you out. I know they had a picture of you from Interpol. I think it would be a very good idea if you were to maintain a very low profile for a while, Amanda. Above all, we cannot be seen together or the police will figure out there are two of us."

"Oh, pooh. I'd so looked forward to seeing you. I know Duncan and Joe would have liked to see you, too."

Jessie laughed. "Oh, I can see them. It's you I have to avoid, my dear felon. I was planning on dropping by Joe's about 9 tonight. Would you see if Duncan could be there, please."

"Well, I like that-trying to steal my fella right from under my nose. And you want my help arranging the rendezvous, too. Sure, I'll tell him to meet you there." Amanda responded. "Oh, this is so unfair. But you're right. If we tried to get together, that would be the moment the cops walked up."

***

Joe's Blues Bar, 9:15 PM

As Duncan sat at his table, he thought once again about the level of cigarette smoke in the bar. //It's a good thing we're immortal and can heal from injuries or I'd get cancer for sure.// He took a drink and scanned the crowd. He frowned as he saw Amanda try to slip unnoticed through the crowd. When she reached the table, he said, "I thought we'd agreed you'd stay at the loft."

"Nice to see you again, too, MacLeod." The woman replied.

"Jessie?" Duncan stood and gave her a hug. He should have known; there was no "buzz" from the mortal woman. Hugging her felt exactly the same as hugging Amanda. Duncan could not tell the difference between them physically, other than the immortality part. Of course, he'd only had that one night with Jessie and Amanda had been there, too. Ah, now that was a memory!

Jessie started to tell Duncan all about her activities after he'd left her in Europe. He nodded his head in the appropriate places, when he felt the buzz of another immortal edging around his conscious mind. //Amanda couldn't be stupid enough to try to sneak in here. Well, she could but would she? No, so it must be someone else.// His senses now on edge, Duncan scanned the crowd looking for the cause of the sensation.

Jessie could see that Duncan was not really paying any attention. After all, she'd just told him she'd bought him a live aardvark as a wedding present and he hadn't batted an eye. Something was definitely wrong here. The last time she'd seen him act like this was when he felt another immortal. She could see he was really concentrating on isolating the source of whatever-it-is that he felt; in fact, she didn't think he was aware that Joe Dawson was coming up behind him.

"Joe," she said, "how wonderful it is to see you again."

"Jessie?" Joe did a double take. He could have sworn that this woman was Amanda. Of course, he hadn't known Jessie was back in town. Since she was a mortal, she didn't have a Watcher assigned. "When did you get back?" It was like shoving a quarter in a jukebox; Jessie started over again with the story of her experience with the police. As she talked, Joe looked at Duncan. The tension in Duncan's shoulders and the measured sweeps of his eyes told Dawson that there was another immortal somewhere in his club. Smiling encouragement at Jessie, Joe asked her some brief questions about the arrest, which wound Jessie up again. He found himself secretly amused at the detective's predicament; finding out that your prime suspect wasn't so 'prime' after all. He just wish Amanda hadn't been so larcenous. The news had been full of the robbery. You can't steal something like the Romanov Sapphires without a media circus. What on earth did she think she would do with it?

Duncan's sudden relaxation announced to Dawson that he'd spotted the other immortal and that there was no threat. Joe glanced around and spotted Methos approaching with two beers dangling from his long fingers. "Adam, nice to see you," Joe said.

"Hello, Dawson, Duncan. Amanda, you're looking good. What have you been up to?" Methos looked puzzled as he spoke to her, and Duncan knew he was wondering about the absent buzz.

"Adam, may I introduce Jessica Mallory? She's a friend from back east, who just arrived in town this morning. Jessie, this is Adam Pierson, who is friend from way back." At Duncan's use of that expression, Jessie looked sharply at Adam. //So, this was another immortal. He's kind of cute in a cuddly-puppy kind of way.//

"Has anyone ever told you that you look just like a friend of ours?" Adam/Methos asked as he slid closer to Jessie.

"Sure, especially the police."

"And what has Our Lady of the Light Fingers done now?"

"Haven't you seen the news? She's accused to stealing some priceless sapphire necklace that once belonged to the Tsarina Alexandra Romanov." Dawson shook his head. "Why would anyone take something like that? I mean, what could you do with it? It's too distinctive to ever attempt to wear it. It's historic value means you couldn't break it down for the gold and jewels. You'd have to have a private collector lined up to take it."

"Now, Joe. You are thinking logically. When it comes to Amanda and jewels, its pure lust." Duncan laughed.

The foursome enjoyed themselves for the rest of the evening. Joe played a couple of sets with the band, and everyone danced with Jessie. When closing time came, it was with regret that she declined Duncan's offer of a nightcap at his place. She knew she had to stay away from Amanda while she was in Seacover. Anyway, she was hoping the cute one would ask her.

Adam/Methos walked her to her car. "Where are you staying?"

"I have a room at the Plaza Hotel. Adam, would you like to join me for a brandy at the hotel bar?"

"Sure. I thought you'd never ask!" He folded his lanky body into her rental car, and they drove to the Plaza. She turned her car over to the parking valet and they went into the bar. The place was almost empty, so they had their pick of seating. Jessie chose a booth farthest from the door and the bartender. Adam ordered their brandies and carried the snifters over to the table. "Prosit!" he announced, and they each sipped the fiery liquid.

"Adam, I must ask you a strange question. Are you like Duncan and Amanda?"

"What do you mean?" Adam/Methos replied, wondering just what she was asking.

"Well, they've both been around a very long time. I was wondering if you'd been friends a long time."

"I've known Duncan for about three years, I guess. I've known Amanda a while longer." Adam/Methos couldn't help it, this was fun. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, it's just that I spent some time with them in Europe recently. Joe was there, too, in his other capacity."

"Okay, so you know about that, too. What made you ask if I was one, too?"

"Your eyes. They look very sad sometimes. It just struck me that they looked like they'd seen the death of too many people dear to you. Anyway, I know all about Amanda and Duncan. They had to tell me when I was mistaken for Amanda by people in the employ of another immortal in Germany. They had to explain why I was at risk. I had a tough time believing at first; I mean, immortals? Be real. But Duncan proved it by cutting himself and showing me how it healed itself. Then, in Germany, I saw what happens when one of you dies for real...the lightning frightened me."

"Frightens me, too. I have been living this way for so long...longer than you can imagine. I've seen a lot of friends die, both immortal and mortal. That's one of the reasons why I hide as I do. Who would look for me in the Watchers?"

"Who are you? No, don't answer that. You don't have to tell me if you don't want. I just wanted to know about you because...because..." Jessie hesitated and then plunged on "because I'm attracted to you."

Adam/Methos took her hand in his and gazed deeply into her eyes, He leaned over the table and kissed her gently. When they broke the kiss, she tossed her brandy down in a single gulp and then pulled him to his feet. She didn't say a word as she led him to the elevator.

***

Some time later.

Jessie's head rested on his bare chest. She toyed with his nipple as she relaxed in that glorious afterglow. His hand stroked her hair.

"My real name is Methos. I am somewhere around 5,000 years old. I don't really know for sure. There are many people, Watcher and immortal, who want to find me since I am supposedly the oldest immortal." He paused as he kissed the top of her head. "I have lost a lot of friends and lovers over the centuries, including someone very recently. I'm telling you that because I want you to understand that I am not looking for any kind of long term relationship right now."

Jessie's quiet laughter filled his ears. "I guess when your kind has a long term relationship, it is really long term!"

Methos swatted her on the butt as she moved out of the bed. He chased her around the room, catching her by the foot of the bed. He swept her up into his arms, kissed her deeply and then threw her back onto the bed, jumping after her. Laughing, they began tickling one another, each trying to gain the upper hand over the other. Methos pinned Jessie and kissed her deeply. She relaxed into the kiss, and Methos left her hands go so he was free to explore the curves of her body. He was just starting to toy with one nipple when Jessica heaved him completely off the bed. He landed with a loud *THUMP* with a very surprised look on his face. Jessie fled laughing into the bath. Methos listened as the shower started and, rubbing his sore backside, followed Jessie into the shower.

***

Duncan's Loft

"So tell me about Jessie. How did she look? What does she have to say? What did you guys do all this time?"

"Amanda, give me a break. It is 4 o'clock in the morning. I'm tired and I want to get some sleep." Duncan growled, rolling onto his side facing away from Amanda.

"Oh, no you don't, buster. I want details."

"She looks fine. She did not enjoy jail. We danced, listened to Joe, and drank. She left with Methos. That's all you're going to get now let me sleep."

"Methos? She left with Methos? Why would she leave with Methos? Oh, he's cute enough, I guess, but he's so old. And he's sarcastic, and cynical, and snide. How could you let her leave with Methos?"

"Amanda, I didn't *let* her do anything. She's a grown woman with a mind of her own. Anyway, she doesn't know he's Methos. To her he is Adam. And Adam was very charming tonight. So I imagine, they are probably still together...maybe even sleeping right this minute like normal people."

"Well, I like that! Can't a girl show a little concern for her sister's welfare without you getting your nose out of joint? You mark my words, if Methos or Adam or whatever he wants to call himself hurts her in any way, I will personally take his 5,000 year old head off of his scrawny shoulders."

Her only answer was Mac's gentle snore.

***

Jessie opened one eye. //What was that awful shrill clanging? God, it sounded like fire bells from hell were going off in the bedroom.// Rational thought intruded at that point and she identified the sound as the telephone. Since she didn't seem to be telekinetic this morning, she slowly reached out and knocked the telephone off the night stand. //Great, at least the noise stopped.// "Hello, Jessie? Jessie! Jessie, pick up!" //Who was that screeching through the phone?// She blindly reached and felt for the receiver. Once she found it, she turned it the right way and placed it alongside her head.

"This place had better be on fire or Ed MacMahon had better be looking for me with 10 million dollars. Otherwise, I am going to be very unhappy with whoever is calling."

"Jessie, it's me. Amanda. I just called to see if you were okay. I heard you left with Adam last night, and I was worried about you."

"Amanda, you snoopy cat. You just want all the lurid details. Well, I'm not going to oblige. Waking me at this ungodly hour. What time is it, anyway?"

"Noon. Why don't you shake your mortal butt off that mattress and come down to the dojo so I can kick your attitude right where it needs it. I try to show a little concern, and this is the thanks I get. First Duncan and now you...I just give up."

Jessie quietly laid the receiver on the bed, and went into the bathroom. A steaming shower to start, sluicing off the residue of last night's lovemaking, followed by a blast of straight cold water to clear the cob webs from her head. A brisk toweling, a couple of minutes with the blow dryer, and she was back in the room. She could hear Amanda still spouting her vituperations. //Amazing.// Selecting her outfit, she quickly donned a thong, a wisp of a bra, and a linen dress. She picked up the phone and, when Amanda took a breath, said "Are you through now? Do you feel better. Really Amanda, I'd swear you didn't get any and you were jealous. Since I know you're at Duncan's, I don't believe the first half of that is true. I will tell you what, though. I will come by the loft after I visit the grocery store. I will fix us lunch and we can catch up on old times."

Duncan was in the dojo office when Jessie strolled in an hour later. The fact he saw her and didn't "feel" her told him that it was Jessie. "Hi, Jessie. What brings you here and what's in the bag? I hope it's food."

Jessie laughed in the shared joke about Amanda's inability to create anything in a kitchen other than a mess. "She still hasn't learned how to cook?"

"Jess, she's over a thousand now. I don't think she *can* learn any new tricks." Laughing together now, they went upstairs to the loft. Amanda greeted them as they exited the elevator. "Duncan, you can stay through lunch, but then get lost. It's girl talk time."

"Oh, don't mind her, Duncan. She just wants all the juicy details of my time with Methos."

"Methos?" both Amanda and Duncan said simultaneously.

"Yes, Methos. Do I look stupid to you? I knew he was one of you guys right away. It's the eyes. You know that eyes are the windows to the soul. Well, he has a very old and sad soul. I got him to laugh last night and have some fun. And that's all the details you get. Now, Amanda, what's with this jewelry thing you've mixed me up in? I understand it's really old. What on earth are you going to do with and why did you take it in the first place?"

Amanda left the room, and returned moments later with a heavy cloth bundle. Reverently opening the pouch, she displayed the Romanov Sapphires. The afternoon sunlight struck the stones and flickered about the room. Jessie's breath caught at the sight of the ostentatious necklace; she'd never seen its like outside of a museum. Amanda explained, "I saw Alexandra wear this for the first time. I wanted it so badly then, it became almost an obsession. After the royal family was assassinated, there was no trace of this necklace. I was convinced it had been destroyed or else disappeared with Anastasia. Then last week, I went to a charity ball and there it was, around the neck of this sweaty dowager. You know she doesn't really have any idea what she had; few know the story of these Sapphires. They were a gift from Nicholas in an effort to cheer her up over their boy's constant illness. I'd suggested diamonds but he found these sapphires instead." Amanda took a sip of her water. "At any rate, I could not let them go. I followed Fatso back to her town house. The next day, while everyone was out, I cased the place. When I saw the alarm company's box prominently displayed, I knew getting in would be no trouble at all. I mean, you might as well leave the doors unlocked. I was in and out in less than five minutes, no alarms no fuss. I have no idea how they identified me."

"Simple, really. Remember the car coming down the street as you left? It was her, and the chauffeur got a good look at you. Want some advise? Ditch the cat-suit and wear coveralls to disguise your figure. A mask would help to, if you insist on showing your face to every car that passes the crime scene."

"You are enjoying this, aren't you?" Amanda asked Duncan. "Just what are your grinning at?"

"You. It's not often that you *get* as good as you *give*. Knowing you the way I do, I understand the impulse that made you take the necklace, but what are you going to do with it?"

Amanda sat quietly, and then in a small voice, said, "I don't know." Then with a little more confidence, she added, "That's where you come in, me bucko!"

Duncan groaned. "Okay, I will call a meeting of the SAF tonight."

"SAF?" Jessie asked.

"Yeah. The SAVE AMANDA FOUNDATION. Its a charitable organization that specializes in saving the cute little backside on Our Lady of the Light Fingers here."

Amanda pretended to be miffed, but Jessie could see the relief in her eyes.

***

4 PM, POLICE HEADQUARTERS

Detective Sergeant Long had just finished another fruitless day trying to solve the mystery of Amanda Darieux and the sapphire necklace. He'd reached the decision that there must be two women who looked exactly alike. It was the only explanation that made sense. Unfortunately, the accidental arrest of the wrong woman had tainted his standing with The Powers That Be and no one was interested in his ideas. He was just closing his desk when he heard his name called.

"De-tec-a-tive Long? My name is Dimitri Kasegian. I am from Russian Republic. May I have some moments of your time?"

A Russian! Well, this case just gets stranger and stranger. "Sure, what can I do for you?"

Dimitri laid a newspaper clipping about the robbery in front of the detective, along with an insurance company photograph of the necklace. "You are investigating theft of Romanov Sapphires, Yes?" When the detective nodded, Dimitri continued. "Me, too. Only my theft was in 1917 at time of revolution. This necklace is property of Russian peoples and we want it back."

"You will have the full cooperation of this department." At the sound of his Captain's voice, long spun around. "Sorry Detective Long, but I just got off the phone with the Chief. He's been called by the Mayor and the State Department. We've been ordered to cooperate, and that comes from the very top."

'Zo," Dimitri began, "tell me about woman who got away."

"You mean, Amanda Darieux?"

"No. I mean Jessica Mallory."

***

An emergency session of the "Save Amanda Foundation" convened in the dojo after lunch. Joe brought Methos with him, since Methos had been at the bar when Duncan had called.

"Okay, we need to come up with some way to get Amanda off the hook about this necklace." Duncan said.

"That's easy. Give it back."

"Methos, that's not acceptable." Amanda said. "They'd just give it back to fatso."

"So, it's hers."

"Is it? I think the necklace is a stolen Russian antiquity. I will bet we could give it to the Russians and it would be immediately on display in the Hermitage. The problem would be getting it to them"

"Yeah, especially when every cop and bounty hunter will be watching for it."

Joe had been fairly quiet. "What is it, Joe" Duncan asked.

"I probably shouldn't say anything, but I was asked to extend every courtesy to a Watcher who just arrived from Russia. He watches Dimitri Kasegian."

Seeing the grim look in Methos eyes, Jessie turned to him. "Who is he?"

***

Outside St. Petersburg, 1916

Kasegian spit in the face of the man kneeling in the snow in front of him. Tsar Nicholas Romanov glared back at him, the anger evident in his eyes. "So, your Highness has some fight left after all," Kasegian chuckled. "And how about you, my pretty one?" he asked as he stepped over to Tsarina Alexandra. She shuddered as Kasegian ran his hands over her body, her eyes locked on Nicholas—begging him not to move, not to speak, telling him that the indignity did not matter. She winced as Kasegian twisted her nipple hard. "Oh, so you are tough, too, hmm? You will beg me to let you please me before this night is over. You will see."

Alexandra looked him straight in the eye as she said, "Never. I will die first."

"Oh, no, you won't get off that easy. Watch this." Kasegian strode over to the eldest daughter and ripped the clothes from her body. His men gave out cat-calls and shouted nasty suggestions as he fondled her. She stood very still for the moment, then quickly slammed her knee into Kasegian's groin. His gasp of pain filled the silence brought on by her action as the communist revolutionaries were stunned by her audacity. Kasegian stood and slowly, very slowly, cut her throat. Her eyes went wild as the blade started across, but she never moved. It was as if she knew this release was for the best.

There was a sudden flurry of motion as the other children began screaming and running away. The peasants quickly chased them. The night was filled with the sounds of the children's screams as, one by one, they were cornered and killed. The peasants dragged their bodies back and threw them into the ditch in front of Alexandra and Nicholas.

The Tsar began to shout and rage at Kasegian and his men, but Alexandra did not speak. She just stared at the bodies of her children. A small smile touched her lips when she noticed that one body was missing. Anastasia. Anastasia had not been captured with them, and was free somewhere in this terrible night. She gave a silent prayer for her last remaining child as she turned to look at Kasegian.

As he began to approach her, gunfire could be heard. Calls from down the road warned of the approach of loyalist forces. Kasegian quickly placed a gun up to the Tsar's face and pulled the trigger. Nicholas' beloved face was frozen with a look of surprise, as if the moment of death had brought him face-to-face with an unexpected friend. Kasegian then touched Alexandra, and said "Pity to waste this" as he cut her throat. The pain flashed only for a moment, then she was filled with a warm peace of spirit. She took Nicholas' hand and followed her children into the light...

Kasegian threw the Tsarina's body into the ditch with the others. His men gathered at the edge and fired their rifles at the bodies, over and over again. Stones and dirt were pushed over the bullet riddled corpses until they were hidden from view and the ditch was no more. The traces of blood on the ground were soon covered by the falling shroud of snow, and the clearing was empty once again.

***

Present Day

Methos shook his head to clear the vision of that terrible night. "He's bad news, that's who he is. Kasegian was been in the killing business for a very long time. He was a Cossack back in the days when they terrorized the Steppes. He was part of the revolution, and he led the band that killed the Tsar and his family. He was a brutal member of the KGB's best interrogation squad. He likes to hurt people. He likes to kill people. He doesn't care if they are mortal or immortal; in the end, we're just so much meat to him. Had he been around a few thousand years earlier, he might have been a Horseman."

"What is someone like that doing in Seacover?"

"Looking for the Romanov Sapphires, no doubt."

"Look, while this animal is in town, I don't want either Jessie or Amanda left alone. Amanda, don't argue about this, please. Look at it this way, We'll get Jessie's things and move here in here, so you two can be together." Seeing the look of dismay on Methos face, Duncan chuckled. "Methos, you can stay, too, of course. But first we must get Jessie's stuff and remove all traces that could lead anyone here."

***
The door to Jessica's room was ajar when Duncan and Methos reached the hotel. The muted buzz inside Duncan's head warned of the other immortal before the sword slashed through the door. Methos kicked the door open, pinning the blade in the door. Methos slammed the pommel of his sword into the other's forehead, and said, "Hello again, Dimitri. Duncan, quickly gather her things. I'll keep him under until we can get the hell out of Dodge."

Duncan raced about the room packing Jessie's belongings. He wasn't neat; he just threw her things into the suitcase. Some of the racy lingerie was on the floor...scoop it up and throw it in. Check the bath; take everything except the towels. Slamming the suitcase closed, he made one last sweep of the room. He watched as Methos administered another rap from his sword pommel to Kasegian's head to keep him down. "Let's go."

"Boy, that was close."

***

Kasegian woke with a terrible headache. He lay on the floor still stunned, assessing what had happened. Someone had come to the door. It had been another immortal...no, two other immortals. One had kicked the door, trapping his sword, then he'd hit him. And that person had been ... Methos! Could he still be alive? This assignment just gets better and better. Not only will he get a chance to retrieve that damned necklace, but another shot at that weasel Methos!

He looked around the room, and knew they had removed all of this Jessie's belongings. But they weren't trained as spies like he was. His eyes lit on the telephone and he smiled.

A few moments later, he had a listing of the calls placed by Jessie Mallory and the desk clerk had a broken arm. There was only one call to a local number. This would be easier than he thought.

***

The detective on the night shift had been briefed to provide support to their Russian visitor. He could remember the good-old-days when you wouldn't piss on a Russian if he was on fire. Oh well, it wasn't like the information he wanted was important. Just an address to go with the local telephone number he had, some martial arts dojo.

———

Kasegian stood in the dark across the alley from the dojo. He could sense the immortals inside. Was it Methos? Or was Methos' friend with the pony-tail there, too. No matter. He'd kill them both and the woman, too. He would make her tell him where the necklace was first. Making her talk would be fun. He liked making women do things, especially after they'd suffered a lot of intense pain. It was such a kick when that look came to their face; the look that said they'd had enough and would do anything, anything at all, to make its stop hurting.
———

Methos stood in the shadows of the dojo watching the alley. He sensed Duncan's approach in the dark. "He's out there, watching us."

"I know," Duncan said. "How do you want to handle this?"

"Well, I guess I will have to kill him this time."

***

Moscow, 1959

Methos had been watching the parade through Red Square. He'd actually seen Nikita Khrushchev, the Premier, up at the dais. He was mulling over the probabilities of mankind surviving the atomic age, thinking that it would be ironic to survive 5,000 years of headhunting by other immortals, only to be vaporized by a bunch of mortals with no brains. He was so deep in his thoughts that he failed to notice the black Zil automobile that drifted to the curb behind him. Two state security officers, clad in their standard long black leather coats, stepped up behind him.

"Your papers, " the first demanded in Russian.

Methos turned and handed over his identity books. "You are a student of antiquities? Hah, I do not believe it. You are a spy!" The KGB agent said as he drew his sidearm and ordered Methos into the car.

The car sped away from the curb as soon as the door closed, with Methos sandwiched between the two agents in the back. //Now what// Methos thought, as the car sped through traffic. When the car slowed and turned into the grim entrance of Lubyanka, the Soviet Security Headquarters and prison, Methos felt something he'd not known in a 1,000 years — fear.

He was stripped, strapped into a metal chair, and left in the damp cellar room. Methos could hear to sound of someone screaming in terrible agony somewhere in the building. The screams would rise in intensity and then, suddenly, stop. Either the person had died or passed into unconsciousness. // I'm not having any fun here. I don't like this.// The door behind him opened and he felt it - that unmistakable buzz of another immortal. Methos strained to see him as this newcomer moved about behind him. Methos was not expecting the tremendous blow to the side of his head as the man kicked his steel-toed boot into Methos' temple. He could feel his skull fracture, and the razor sharp bone fragment enter his brain killing him.

//Oh, God, next to the dying, I hate resurrecting almost as much. It always hurts.// Methos thought as he gasped in that first new breath of air, and regained consciousness. His left eye was still swollen shut, although it was visibly healing, but that didn't stop him from seeing his tormentor. He reminded Methos of Silas from the Four Horseman, only this guy was bigger. His eyes were more feral than Kronos' were, and there was something in that smile that reminded him of Kaspian whenever he'd just tortured a small child. //This is not good.//

"You are back again, I see. I am Kasegian, the Cossack. I have often wondered what it would be like to have one of our kind in these chambers. You will bring me much amusement over the next few weeks. I wonder, how much damage you can take and still heal? Yes, this promises to be most amusing."

Methos shuddered at the very idea, and struggled to speak. "What do you want to know? I am just a student at the University."

"Want to know? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Oh, my friend, you will tell me anything and everything you know or thought you knew before we are done. But it will make no difference, because I don't want to know anything at all. No one knows about you, no one cares about you, no one will miss you. You have entered a place where nothing matters except pain. Yes, pain does matter. It will be your whole world from this day forward, and will continue to be your world until I tire of you and take your head."

***

Present Day

"Over the next two years, he performed vile unspeakable acts of torture on me. My initial appraisal of him was right; he was a Horseman come too late. I no longer knew who I was or what I was; my only existence was pain."

"How did you escape?" Duncan asked, shaken by the horrible story.

"One day, a new guard was moving me to the terror cell when he took a wrong turn. He actually got lost in Lubyanka, if you can believe that. Well, as we wandered along, my brain started to clear. I continued to shuffle along like the brain-dead automaton I'd been, waiting for a chance, some slim opportunity to escape the hell I had been in. It came as we entered another level. As we walked along the hallway, the door at the other end opened and I could see daylight. I pretended to stumble, crashing into the bumbling guard. In the collision, I took his pistol and hit him over the head with it. I ran out the door and found myself facing the back of a delivery truck. I crawled under the tarp just as it began to drive out of the gates. A few miles away, I jumped from the truck and disappeared. I have not been back in Russia since."

"Well, I certainly understand why you want to kill Kasegian. Why didn't you do it at the hotel?"

"Your damned code of honor seems to have rubbed off on me, I guess. I can't just kill someone when they are helpless like that, Mac. And now, well, I don't know whether I can take him. I'm standing here facing the fact that today might be the end of my 5,000 year existence, and it is not a very pleasant train of thought."

"Oh, don't be silly, Methos. You'll be fine."

"Don't kid a kidder, MacLeod. Remember, you're just a kid to me."

"Okay, Grandfather." MacLeod laughed. "I promise that,. if the worse happens, he won't live to enjoy it."

***

They were just finishing dinner. Jessie had made a superb pot roast, with new potatoes, succulent baby carrots, onions, celery, in a delicate wine sauce. She'd excused herself to visit the bathroom as the three immortals cleaned up the dishes. Amanda started to dry the dishes and Duncan washed them. Methos leaned against the refrigerator as he sipped from a long neck beer bottle. Suddenly the window facing the alley shattered as a man hurtled through the glass. Kasegian.

"So, we meet again, Methos. You left the other night without saying hello. Is that any way to treat an old friend." He pointed with his sword at Duncan and Amanda. "You know the rules...only one on one and my fight at the moment is with Methos." With that, Kasegian swung his sword at the ancient immortal. Methos feinted left, and then rolled right to dodge Kasegian's next thrust. As he rolled clear, Duncan tossed Methos sword through the air to his friend. Their blades rang as they traded blows. Methos had been out of the game for many years and he was out of practice. Kasegian had never really been a part of the game because he relied on the State's sanctions to work for him. While Methos had the edge in skills and experience, Kasegian had sheer brute strength and fanatical determination.

Duncan began to worry as the battle raged on. He could see Methos was tiring. His parries were getting weaker. Blocking those heavy blows brought a wince of pain every time now. It was only a matter of time before...

Methos sword was knocked from his deadened fingers. His entire arm was now numb from the pounding. he knew that Amanda and Duncan were behind him, unable to help what was about to happen. He watched in dread as Kasegian raised the sword over his head. "You left Moscow without saying good-bye, little Methos. Das Vadanya." Methos closed his eyes as the sword began its forward movement. Kasegian's grunt of pain and the sound of his sword clattering to the floor snapped Methos eyes open.

Kasegian stared at the blade of the sword that exited his chest. It had passed through him completely; he could feel the hilt against his spine. //How? Who?// He knew he'd not felt another immortal, so who had plunged Methos' sword into his back? As he fell to his knees, she appeared.

"Jessie!" Methos cried out. She rushed around the giant Russian and into Methos' arms.

"I couldn't let him kill you. Not when I just found you. Tell me I did right," she sobbed as she huddled against Methos' chest. Grimly, he turned to MacLeod. "Take her out of here, please, and I will finish this. Duncan, I am sorry for the mess."

Duncan nodded as he led the two women out into the night air. They watched as the actinic arc of light pierced the evening sky heralding the beginning of the quickening. Jessie recalled the quickening she'd witnessed in Germany, how the lightning had slammed into Duncan again and again, how it seemed to hurt so, and she knew that Methos was experiencing that right now. What was it Amanda had said...that the strength of the quickening was determined by how long and how the immortal had lived. Kasegian had not been very old, but he made up for it in evil.

Methos staggered out of the dojo a short while later. Jessie went to him, placed her arms around him and just held him tight. She might be just a mortal, but she knew where she was needed.

END

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I am aware that I did not resolve the issue with the necklace...I'm saving it for later.