DISCLAIMER: Duncan MacLeod, Amanda, Richie Ryan, Joe Dawson, Methos/Adam Pierson, Greg Powers, Cassandra, and Kenny are all property of Rysher Entertainment.  No money is being made, just lots of fun, so please don't sue me!  Not that I have any money anyway...

Victoria DiThon Kestral, Marie Branwald, Kane Nalamas, Elizabet Aspen, Justin Le Faye and all other unknowns belong to me.  If any of them start talking to you, please let me know first!

This story is rated PG-13 for violence and a bit of bad language.

Part 1
Northern Wales
Saturday, June 14, 1797

Surrounded by trees and calmed by a sense of familiarity and security.  A solid presence at her back.  Then -- two gunshots.  A sudden pain.  A scream.

Blackness.  Infinite blackness.

Victoria DiThon Kestral awoke with a start from her nightmare.  She grasped at the threads in her mind, but it was already fading from her memory.  A quick glance at the tiny window erased all concern from her mind as she realized that she had slept in.  Cursing quietly to herself, she quickly rose from the small pallet in the loft above her uncle's farmhouse and hastily dressed in some of her clothes -- hand-me-downs from her cousin William.  Victoria doused her face and hair with some of the cold water in the basic next to her clothes-chest, then pulled her shoulder-length hair back with a leather cord.  Feeling herself presentable, she dropped back onto her pallet and began pulling on her boots.  As she did so, she summoned her dagger from it's hiding place in the rafters and slid it into her right boot.

She smiled slyly to herself at this daily act of rebellion.  After coming into her telekinetic powers over a year ago, she had been quietly working on refining her control.  Only her best friend knew about her gift and Victoria preferred to keep it that way.  She already acted completely unlike a girl of her age should, and having witch powers would not help her any.  Her aunt had not been happy when she had cut her hair and begun wearing William's old clothing, but had written it off as cheaper than buying the girl her own clothes.  The dagger had caused a real fight, but Victoria certainly did not care what her aunt thought.

The loft she lived in was above the main room of the farmhouse that she and her adopted family lived in.  Her uncle Jonathan, aunt Rachel, and two older cousins, William and Elaina, were not in the house, so Victoria assumed that they were all out working.  She herself needed to hurry and do her part of the work -- travel into town and collect dairy orders for the next day's delivery.  Victoria was only trusted with this job because Elaina had no head for business and William was constantly busy helping her uncle with the chickens.  None of her adopted family like her - just the money they received on a regular basis from her dead mother's lawyers - but again, she didn't care.  Justin was the best family she could have ever asked for.  Victoria grabbed an apple for breakfast and headed out to the barn to eat as she saddled up the aging mare for the trip into town.  As she headed across to the barn, she was surprised to her Jonathan's loud voice, but not the anger that she heard in it.  Usually he saved his temper for her alone.  This definitely warranted checking out.  Creeping around the side of the barn, she moved into clear hearing range and gasped in shock.  They were going to destroy the stone henge!

"Those stones must be the cause of all our misfortune," her uncle said vicously.  "The disease that has struck some of our crops, and the reason for all the mysterious deaths the past few years.  Even my bastard neice has been corrupted by them."  The men all nodded in agreement.  "The gunpowder was delivered yesterday.  In half an hour, we'll head over there and destroy them once and for all."

Victoria dropped her half eaten apple and whirled to run back into the house. Her aunt and other cousin were also crossing to the front door, and obviously shocked to see her -- especially the expression of rage on her face.

"Get out of my way!" Victoria snarled at them.  She ran over to the ladder to the loft and scrambled up it.  The enraged thirteen-year-old had only one thought and that was to protect the circle of standing stones.  She knew that they were mysterious monuments erected by the ancient Celtic people.  Her mother, an amateur anthropologist, had told her that the stones must be preserved for future generations as proof that the Celts were not a group of barbarous savages.  These combined memories of history and her mother ran through her head as she grabbed her sword, her only heirloom from her mother, out from under her bed and buckled the belt around her waist.

Victoria leapt from the loft and collapsed from the impact when she hit the ground, but immediately rolled to her feet and ran out the door, shoving past Elaina as she did so.  She tore off for the woods leading to the standing stones.  As she ran, she recalled that Justin had had his own premonition and disappeared into the woods a few days ago and had intended to stay for at least another week.  Maybe his prediction of doom was coming true.

Finally, she reached the clearing, a feiry stitch in her side and gasping for breath.  As she came into sight of the large stones, she slowed and walked reverently toward them.

Placing her hand against one, she said, "I won't let you be destroyed.  I can't let you be destroyed."  She sank down to the ground and leaned against the sunwarmed stone, waiting for the inevitable confrontation.  She knew her dagger and sword would be of no use against six grown men, but it was all she had.

A little while later, Victoria heard a crashing in the underbrush and rose to her feet.  She paled as a group of twenty men loaded down with barrels emerged into the clearing.  The already impossible odds had just become that much worse.

When the men saw Victoria there, a few of them stopped nervously.  She had a reputation in the village, and had been accused by some of the older women of witchcraft.  Apparently being an orphan with odd habits counted against her even with keeping her telekinese a secret.  Seeing her standing defensively in front of the stone henge did nothing but encourage that view.

"What are you doing here?" her uncle cried angrily.  "I order you to go home, now!"

"No!" Victoria shouted back.  "I won't let you do this!  You can't destroy history, Jonathan!"

In response, her uncle drew his pistol and took aim.  One of the other men grabbed his arm in shock.  "What are you doing, Boyle?" he asked askance. "You cannot  fire on your own flesh and blood!"

"She is not of my flesh and blood," Jonathan replied furiously. "She is an orphan, taken in by my wife's sister, who is now dead. She has also been corrupted by the stones of Satan.  We must destroy them all!"  By the crazed look in his eyes, Victoria knew he was reaching insanity.  But she did not have time to dwell on this fact as Jonathan fired twice.

The first shot hit the stone to the left of her.  Then, Victoria felt a sharp pain in her chest. She glanced down and saw a flowering of blood on her shirt over the spot where she knew her heart lay.  A momentary thought that if Justin came back he would probably be killed flashed through her mind. That was the last thing she felt as her vision dimmed and she collapsed to the ground.

Part 2
Northern Wales
Monday, September 22, 1997

Amanda surveyed the scattered large stones in front of her, a serious look on her face.  "Well, it is a pretty nice area.  But are you sure you want to build here?  These rocks give me the creeps."  The old Immortal gave a slight shiver, regardless of the unseasonably warm weather.

Her former student, Marie Branwald, placed her camera back in her bag and replied, "Yes, I'm quite sure.  The area is beautiful, even though the stones are odd.  I asked around in the village, and they said that they used to be a stone henge that was destroyed about two hundred years ago."  She shook her head fondly and continued, "And in quaint small village fashion, they mostly refused to talk about it.  But that is one of the reasons I want to build here."  At the blank look she received from Amanda, she hit her friend playfully on the shoulder.  "Holy Ground, silly."

"Oh," Amanda said.  "Well, if you prefer running to a good fight…"

"I was looking for a vacation from the Game for a couple years.  It's not as if I'm getting any older," Marie told her.  "And don't tell me that you've never run from a fight before, Amanda."  As the two Immortal friends turned to leave, they suddenly sensed another of their race.  The two women tensed, reaching for the swords hidden in their long coats.

There were people in her woods.  More specifically, there were people near her ruins.  Even more specifically, they were two Immortal people.  Victoria was not amused.  She had been through too much crap in the past few years to want to deal with this now.  If they weren't after her (which she desperately hoped they weren't), they were most likely looking for an out of the way place to have a fight.  Either way, she had to get rid of them with as little fuss as possible.

Then she could go back to hiding from the world.

"You can't fight here," an accusing voice sounded from the woods.  "This is Holy Ground, and don't give me any crap about not believing in the Celtic religion."

"We weren't planning on a fight," Amanda called back, looking around.  "Where are you?"

"Right here," a voice from behind them said.  "Don't worry, I won't hurt you," the voice continued sarcastically.  Marie and Amanda turned and were astonished to see a teenage girl.  She had short brown hair and was wearing a pair of old jeans and a ratty T-shirt.  Around her waist was an old leather belt, and in her hand was a dagger.

"What are you doing here?" the girl asked, her gaze steely.  "You're not from the village."

"How do you know that?" Marie asked.  "And you can put the knife away. We won't hurt you."

"I'd like to see you try," the girl replied with a derisive laugh.  "You're not from the village, because all of them are convinced that these woods are haunted and won't come near here."  As she talked, the teenager stuck the dagger in her belt.  The two women relaxed visibly.

"Look," Amanda said.  "Do you know where we can go to talk?  I don't think you understand what's going on."

Victoria studied the two women.  They had immediately drawn together at the sound of her voice, the action of two people used to fighting together and not against each other.  She could also tell that they weren't lying, so they weren't after her specifically.  She relaxed as well, and dropped her hand from the hilt of her knife.  If they weren't hear to kill her, she might as well put up with some company for a bit.  Immortals always wanted to grill her about her past and find out how old she really was.  She guessed she could stand some company for a bit.

"I guess we could go to my house.  But you have to promise not to tell anyone about me, okay?  Otherwise all my mystique would be gone."  Marie and Amanda glanced at each other, and merely nodded silently.  They were surprised by the sudden show of faith, but both noted the sense of exhaustion in the girl's manner.  She turned back towards the woods, so Marie and Amanda followed.  Then Marie spoke up.

"My name is Marie, and this is Amanda. What's your name?"

"Victoria," came the slightly terse reply.

"Any last name?" Marie continued quizically.

"You didn't tell me yours," Victoria retorted.  They walked in silence for a few more minutes.  Victoria took pity on their fashionable clothing and led them through the easiest route.  The three emerged from the woods into another clearing.  In it were a small cabin and garden.  "We're here."

"You live here by yourself?" Amanda asked.  "How old are you?  That house looks ancient."

"Old enough," said Victoria shortly.  "Come on in."  She pulled opened the door, and they walked in. It was bigger than it appeared at first glance from the outside.  In the corner farthest from the door was a bed covered with a pile of worn quilts.  Across the room was a small fireplace with a table in front of it.  There was a pot hanging over a dying fire.  Between the table and bed was a desk underneath the only window next to a small wardrobe.  Storage cabinets were on either side of the door.

"Have a seat," Victoria invited them, gesturing towards one of the benches on either side of the table.  "Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, please," said Marie, and Amanda nodded in agreement.  Victoria went to a small cupboard on the wall beside the fireplace and took down three cups.  She then reached into the fireplace and took out a small, steaming kettle from an indentation in the wall. She poured water in the cups and spooned some tea from a small tea caddy on the mantle into each of them.  After Victoria stirred them, she set the cups on the table and joined Marie and Amanda.  They drank silently for a few moments, and then Amanda went right to the point.

"I'm going to assume that you know what you are, since you said that we couldn't hurt you," she said.

"Yes, I know I'm an Immortal," Victoria replied sarcastically.  "I know about the Game and the Gathering.  I know we can't fight on Holy Ground, and that we can only die by having our heads chopped off."  She suddenly laughed.  "You really thought I didn't know what I was?"

"Actually, yes," Amanda said, slightly surprised.  "Who taught you?"

"An Immortal named Arthur Jenkins.  He found me here about two hundred years ago."  As Victoria saw Marie and Amanda's surprised faces, she shrugged. "Don't look so shocked..  I'm two hundred and thirteen.  I became an Immortal all the way back in 1797."

"Wow," Amanda said.  Then she thought of Kenny, her former student who had also been stuck in a young body for hundreds of years.  "Just out of curiosity, have you ever taken a head?"

"No," Victoria said.  "I'm not much for challenges -- waste of time.  But I do have sword and have been in a few fights, so don't think I'm completely helpless."  She reached for the desk, and picked up a long object wrapped in a white cloth.  Victoria unrolled the cloth and held up a broadsword.  She placed it on the table so the two women could look at it, unconsciously resting a hand on her dagger - just in case either of them tried anything, of course.

"That's beautiful," Marie said, dropping natually into her guise of antique dealer and sword afficianado.  "Where did you get it?" The sword was obviously custom built for someone with Victoria's slender build.  The two-handed hilt was covered with black and blue soft leather.  There was a silver Celtic knot pattern on the end of the hilt and across the cross-piece.  The blade itself was  slightly narrower than that of a real broadsword, but still looked quite lethal.

"It was my mother's," Victoria replied softly. "It was commisioned for her by her husband when she decided to learn fencing.  He died before I was adopted.  I got it when she died, and Arthur said it would serve my purposes.  He taught me how to really fight."

"A married woman with a sword two-hundred years ago?" Amanda asked with a light grin. "You must have had the luck to be adopted by either wealth or nobility."

"Both, actually," replied Victoria with a returning smile. "English nobility, and wealth inherited from my mother's parents.  She was encouraged to learn the sword by a woman she loved as an aunt.  I only met her once, when I was nine.  But after that, I also loved swords."

"Almost sounds like your great-aunt was an Immortal, too," asked Amanda.

"Oh, she was," Victoria said quite off-handedly, to the other two women's surprise.  "Cassandra.  Know her?"

"Oh, a close friend of mine does," Amanda replied.  "But I've met her in passing.  Did you know she was an Immortal beforehand?"

"Nope," the girl said.  "Arthur later told me that's why she always knew I was around. I think she knew I was going to die young."

"Why?" Marie asked.

"I overheard her talking with Mama once," Victoria replied with a shrug.  "She said that I would be 'forever young'. I guess she knew all the time."  The three Immortals drank their tea for a few minutes.  Then Victoria had some questions herself.

"Okay, I've told you practically all about me, which I'm not usually prone to do  I think the quiet around here is finally getting to me.  But, who are you? What were you doing around here?" Victoria asked with a gesture out the window.  "And by the way, please don't tell anyone about me.  I like being an enigma to the superstitious villagers."

"Don't worry, we won't," Marie assured her.  "As for who we are, I'm Marie Branwald.  The only reason we were here is because I asked Amanda to help me pick out a nice spot for a summer home."  Victoria nodded and glanced at Amanda.

"My name is Amanda, and I go by many last names," Amanda said.  "Now will you tell us your full name?"

"Victoria DiThon Kestral," Victoria said. She looked like she was about to say more, but apparently decided against it.  Neither of the women showed recognition at her name, which Victoria was quite thankful for.

"Are you really two hundred and thirteen years old?" Marie asked.  She was very curious about this girl, the only Immortal of her kind she had met before.

"Yes," Victoria said simply.  "I was born in 1783. I was killed in 1797 by a gunshot wound to the heart."

"Ouch," Marie sympathized.  "I was shot myself."

"I didn't really care. I had barely anything to live for. So you can obviously imagine my surprise when I woke up again…"

Part 3
Northern Wales
Saturday, June 14, 1797

The first thing Victoria felt when she awoke was pain.  Her chest was on fire, and the rest of her body was filled with a strange tingling sensation.  She gingerly opened her eyes.  After her vision cleared, she saw that it was almost evening and she was lying awkwardly at the far edge of the clearing.  Victoria slowly got to her feet, and gasped when she saw the destruction around her.  All of the standing stones were down, and most were in pieces.   She staggered slightly as she approached them, then dropped to her knees and bowed her head as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Mama," she whispered quietly.  "I failed you.  I'm so, so sorry."  As her eyes fell on the bloody hole in her shirt, she realized that her chest had stopped hurting.  Victoria looked through the hole and was shocked to see that there was not even a scar to show where she had been shot, just dried blood.  She again rose to her feet and walked to where her sword lay.  She knew she could not stay there.  If the men came back they would kill her, and she knew she might not wake up a second time.  Victoria decided to go to a small cottage deep in the woods that her great-aunt, Lady Cassandra, had stayed in many years ago -- before Victoria had been sent to Wales.  She was certain the villagers did not know it's location, only she and Justin, and would never find her there.  She slid her sword into its now broken scabbard and made sure her dagger was still in her boot.

As Victoria started walking towards the woods, exhaustion clouded her eyesight and she tripped clumsily on a clump of grass, hitting her knee on a sharp rock.  She grimaced in pain as she saw blood soaking through her pants.  Then, her knee tingled slightly and the pain faded.  She rolled up her pants and wiped away the wet blood with the corner of her already ruined shirt. She was astonished to see that not a mark remained.  Victoria slowly walked the rest of the way to the cottage.  When she got there, she took off her dirt- and blood-stained clothes and left them in a pile on the floor.  She put on an old shirt from the supplies Justin must have left there, practically collapsed on a small bed in the corner, and was instantly asleep.

Part 4
Northern Wales
Monday, September 22, 1997

"About a week later my adopted family left to visit the city, and I robbed their house of all of my things and some other stuff," Victoria contuinued casually.  "I was tempted to burn down the house after I had taken all that I wanted, but I didn't.  I'm not that cruel."  Marie nodded, unsure of what to say.

Amanda suddenly glanced at her watch.  "Marie, we have to leave if we're going to get back to my hotel in time for dinner," she said.  "Thank-you for the tea, Victoria.  It was a pleasure meeting you."  Amanda and Marie stood up together, and Victoria re-wrapped her sword and put it back on the desk.  She then walked the two women to the door and pointed towards the woods.

"Follow the path next to the stream and it will come out on the road your car is parked on," Victoria directed.  When they reached the woods, Amanda turned back to wave to Victoria, but the girl had disappeared.

I'm not even going to ask how she knows where we parked, Amanda wondered, but dismissed the concern from her mind.  Marie started babbling about children Immortals and the pertaining statistics, and Amanda prepared herself to discuss one of her other errant students.

"Well," Victoria said to her now empty house.  "That was nice."  After nearly two hundred years of living by herself for years at a time, Victoria had fallen into the habit of talking to herself long ago.  She pulled a rough clay bowl down from the cupboard and set it on the table.  She steadied the bowl using her telekinesis while she poured some stew into it.   After she finished eating, she prepared to go on her nightly "ghost walk," where she walked the entire circumference of Avalon.  If she saw anybody, which rarely happened, she scared them away.

As Victoria walked out of her door, she sighed.  Sometimes it really could be a lonely existence.  But the current alternative in the modern world was still unthinkable.  She had left that version of death, murder, and mayhem behind in a spectacular fashion, but was still very afraid of the consequences.  Victoria did now know how long she would be in hiding, and the monotony was beginning to wear on her.  But she preferred to keep her head firmly attached to her shoulders.

"It's still hard to believe that a girl who looks like a teenager is actually over two hundred years old," Marie was repeating once again.  After dinner, the two female Immortals had gone to Marie's small suite in one of the local B&Bs for coffee.  Not surprisingly, the conversation had turned to Victoria.

"I once found an Immortal who died when he was ten," Amanda replied slowly.

"Really?" Marie said.  "How did you tell him to survive?"

"Anyway he could," said Amanda, shaking her head in mild disgust.  "But a couple years ago, Kenny told my friend Duncan MacLeod that he was fourteen.  The brat is actually over eight hundred.  He had been surviving by killing Immortals who had been willing to teach him to at least defend himself.  We met up again a while ago, and he tried to kill me!"

"But how did he actually take heads?" Marie asked.

"Lying, cheating, and just barely staying within the Rules," replied Amanda.

"Honestly, I really don't think we need to worry about that.  Victoria seems like a nice enough person, and her teacher apparently taught her all the correct rules," Marie pointed out.  "But I'm curious who this Arthur Jenkins is.  I've never heard of him."

"Neither have I," Amanda said.  They both took a sip of their coffee.  Then Amanda continued, "You know what I'm going to do?  I think I'll buy her some new clothes and invite her to dinner.  Want to come?"

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Marie replied with a smile.

Part 5
Northern Wales
Wednesday, September 24, 1997

Two days later, Victoria was sitting in her open doorway enjoying the breeze and still very unseasonably warm weather.  She had just gone swimming in the nearby pond  and was now sitting in the sun waiting for her hair to dry.  Victoria had picked some wild blackberries the day before, and was now eating them for lunch.  She tried not to let too much juice drip on to her cut-off denim shorts and old green T-shirt but was not having much luck.  As usual, her belt was around her waist, and her dagger was stuck in it.  Victoria's sword was also beside her, because she had been practicing drills earlier in the morning.  This is what Victoria grabbed when she sensed that another Immortal was nearby.  She leapt to her feet and tensed, ready for anything.  She relaxed slightly when she saw that it was Amanda, but did not put her sword down.

"What are you doing here?" Victoria asked, in a somewhat hostile voice. "No one saw you go into the woods, did they?"

"Don't worry, no one saw me," Amanda assured her.  "Now, would you mind putting the sword down?  I am quite unarmed at the moment."

"Yeah, sure," Victoria said as she lowered the weapon.  "I'll put it away."  Victoria went inside her house and put her sword in its usual place on her desk.  As she walked back outside she noticed that Amanda was carrying a bag.  "What's in the bag?"

"Something for you," Amanda replied.

"Me?" the girl asked in a somewhat disbelieving voice.

"Yes," said Amanda.  "Marie and I wanted to know if you would like to come to dinner with us, and we figured you might need some new clothes."

"Um...sure," Victoria said casually.  Amanda handed her the bag, and Victoria went inside her house to change.  She quickly pulled on a pair of new blue jeans and a white T-shirt.  Over the T-shirt went a baggy black sweater.  There was also a new pair of brown Doc Martens.  After she finished changing, Victoria ran a brush through her now dry hair and walked back outside.

"Thanks, Amanda," she said, a genuine smile on her face.  "When I came back here awhile ago, I didn't get to bring much with me.  It was kind of unexpected."

"No problem," was the reply.  "But before we leave, I think you might want to pick a different last name in case someone asks you."

"Already got it covered," she answered.  "Remember, I've been around awhile.  Victoria Kest, at your service."

Amanda grinned.  "That's certainly good to know."

In the car on the way to Marie's apartment, Amanda asked a question that had been on her mind all day.  "Who is Arthur Jenkins, anyway?" she asked.  "The name doesn't sound familiar."

Victoria was silent for a few moments, staring at the passing trees out the window.  "He was my teacher," she said slowly.  "Arthur Jenkins isn't his real name, but I can't tell you who he really is, because I promised.  Sorry."

"That's okay," Amanda said, dismissively.  But she still wondered who the mysterious Immortal was.

When Amanda and Victoria arrived at Marie's house they saw an envelope taped to the door handle.  Amanda pulled it off and opened it while Victoria rang the doorbell.  When nobody answered, Victoria turned to Amanda, who was reading the note addressed to her that had been inside.

"What's wrong?" Victoria asked cautiously when she saw Amanda grow pale.

"What time is it?" Amanda said slowly.  Victoria glanced at the clock tower at the center of town.

"Four-thirty," she replied.  "Why?"  Amanda silently handed her the note, and she quickly skimmed it.

Amanda, it read.  An Immortal named Thomas Parker called and challenged me while you were out today -- he followed us to Wales.  I had  to accept...he killed my husband seventy years ago.  You understand these things.  If I am not back by four o'clock, assume that he has won.  Don't try to avenge my death, there's no need for you to be involved.  I know how he fights, and he's good. And you have to get Victoria away from here because somehow he knows about her, and he's coming for her next.  Also, take my good sword over the fireplace if I don't refurn.  Give it to someone who needs it.  I've already alerted my lawyer in London what to do if I don't call tonight.  Please, Amanda, do this for me. Your friend and student, Marie.

"Whoa," Victoria said.  "We've got to get out of here."

"No," immediately said Amanda, a hard glint in her eye.  "First I am going to challenge Thomas Parker."

"You can't, Amanda.  Marie said you'll lose," said Victoria, guiltily attempting to make Amanda beleive she was helpless.  "Besides, if you die, he'll come after me.  You're my only way out of here."

"Okay," the older woman said after a long pause, the agony of the decision written on her face. "Okay, let's get out of Wales."

Part 6
Seacouver, Washington
Monday, September 29, 1997

Richie Ryan sat in the dojo office trying not to be bored out of his skull and losing the battle badly.  He didn't need to pick up his date for another two hours, but he couldn’t justify leaving work until 5:30.  So until his evening with Belinda, he had absolutely nothing to do.  He had leaned back and put his feet on the desk hoping to catch a little shut-eye, and was just about to fall asleep when the phone rang.  Richie quickly grabbed it and muttered a sleepy hello.

"Hi, Richie," replied an entirely too perky Amanda.  "Can you do me a favor?"

"Yeah, sure - wait a minute," he said.  "Aren't you still in Wales?"

"Not anymore, darling," Amanda replied.  "We're at the airport.  Can you come pick us up?"

"We?" Richie asked.

"I'll explain later," she said.  "Please?"

"Okay," he sighed.  "Greg’s here, and he can handle the dojo, so I'll be right there."

"So, who exactly is this guy who's coming to pick us up?" Victoria asked Amanda as they waited for Richie outside the airport.

"A friend of mine," she replied.  "He's one of us, but don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."

"I am fully capable of taking care of myself," Victoria said amiably, patting the bag with her sword in it.  "I'm not a kid, you know."

"I know," Amanda said.  "But at times it's hard to remember."  She shifted her suitcase to her other hand.  Victoria only had a backpack besides the strang-looking duffel bag. Both looked up at the same time, sensing another Immortal as a black convertible pulled to a stop at the curb in front of them.

"That's Richie. Let's go," said Amanda, and they both headed for the car.  Amanda put her suitcase in the back and sat in the front passenger seat. Victoria put her bags on top of the suitcase and climbed in next to them in the back.

"Mac let you borrow the car?" Amanda asked Richie as they pulled away from the curb.

"Did you think you would fit on my bike?" Richie replied with a laugh.

"True," Amanda said.  "Richie, I'd like you to meet Victoria DiThon Kestral.  Victoria, this is Richie Ryan."

"Is she one of us?" Richie asked Amanda.  She nodded.  A strange look crossed Richie's face.

"What's wrong?" asked Amanda.  Richie just shook his head, and engaged Amanda in a conversation about his upcoming date with Belinda.  Apparently, Amanda had introduced them, so the other two Immortals pretty much ignored Victoria.  This suited her nicely, and she spent the rest of the ride studying the passing city.  The last time she had been in the American Northwest was about forty years ago.  Finally, the car stopped downtown in front of a large brick building.

"Here we are," Richie said.  The three Immortals got out of the car and walked inside.

"Mac's upstairs.  Tell him I'm going home," Richie said.

"Sure. Say hi to Belinda for me," Amanda said. "Come on, Victoria." Amanda led her to an old freight elevator and pushed it open. As the elevator came to a stop at the top floor of the building, they both sensed another Immortal. Amanda pulled the door open and they stepped out. Sitting on a couch in the room was a man with dark brown hair in a neat ponytail.  He was already standing, having already heard the elevator arrive.

"Hello, Amanda," he said. Amanda put her suitcase down on the floor and gave the man a hug and a deep kiss. Victoria simply stood there looking at the man suspiciously. "Who's this?" he asked when he regained control of his mouth.

"This is Victoria DiThon Kestral," Amanda said. "Victoria, this is my good friend Duncan MacLeod." MacLeod smiled and held out his hand. Victoria shook his hand, but did not return the smile. "Victoria will probably be staying awhile."

"Where is she going to stay?" MacLeod asked Amanda. "I don't exactly have enough room for two long-term visitors."

Amanda thought for a minute. "Do you think Richie would mind if she stayed at his apartment, just for the night?"

"Probably," he said.

"Why?" Amanda asked.

"One word: Kenny.  Besides that hot date he's been raving about."

Amanda winced. "I forgot, Kenny almost took Richie's head, too.  I never thought about how he would react to another 'kid' Immortal.  Especially when he finds out she’s staying. He wasn’t too friendly on the way here." MacLeod shrugged.

MacLeod ignored her. "Hmm. For right now, we could ask Greg or Anne if she can stay with them."

"Hello, remember me?" Victoria said sarcastically, waving a hand from where she will still standing uncomfortably near the elevator. Both older Immortals turned to look at her. "Kindly stop talking about me as if I were a child. I am two hundred and thirteen years old and quite able to take care of myself." Without waiting for an answer, Victoria stalked back into the elevator and rode it down to the first floor.

"I think we need to call all the others who live here," Amanda said. "But I don't know how well Victoria's going to take it when she learns that there are already five of us here, plus others who know about us. She tends to be a bit paranoid."

"I'll start calling," MacLeod said simply.

Victoria was down in the dojo waiting for Amanda, still silently seething. She was sitting on one of the pieces of gym equipment when she heard the outside door open. Really not wanting to deal with anybody at the moment, Victoria glanced around and dashed up the stairs into the locker room. As she crouched near the door, she groaned to herself as she realized that she had left her two bags outside. It was too late now -- a strange woman had walked in. When the woman got to the middle of the room she stopped.

"I could’ve sworn I saw someone in here," Dr. Anne Lindsay said nervously. She looked around the room and saw the two bags. Anne walked over to them and picked up the duffel bag.

Already on edge, Victoria burst from her hiding place and leapt to the ground. She landed nimbly on her feet and commanded fiercely, "Put that down!"

Anne whirled around in surprise. "Who are you?" she asked. Victoria walked over and slung her backpack over her shoulder, at the same time grabbing the duffel bag out of Anne's hands.

Just then, Amanda appeared out of the elevator. "Anne, what are you doing here?" she asked as she walked over to the other two.

"Hello to you, too," Anne said. "Who's this?" she asked, gesturing to Victoria.

Amanda sighed. "This is Victoria, and yes, she is Immortal."  Victoria shot her a glare.

Anne was very surprised. "I know Richie died when he was nineteen, but this is almost ridiculous." She turned to Victoria and said, "Hi, I'm Anne Lindsay."

"Victoria DiThon Kestral," Victoria replied defensively. "Sorry I scared you like that," she said grudgingly when she realized that this was a friend of Amanda’s.

"That’s okay," Anne said, smiling warmly.

Amanda spoke up. "Anne, do you mind if Victoria stays at your house for a few days until we get her settled? Duncan doesn't really have enough room."

"She could if I had a guest room, but it’s being redone," she said. "Why don't you ask Greg?"

"That's who I was going to call next. Thanks anyway," Amanda replied. Amanda turned towards the office to use the phone.

"By the way," Anne called after Amanda.  Leaning on the office doorframe, she continued, "The reason I came was to ask if you've seen Adam lately. His cell phone is off, and he promised to help me with some research I'm doing for a patient."

"I just got back, so I haven't seen him.  Have you checked that ale house he likes so much? I think it's called The Swimming Fish or something," Amanda said as she dialed the phone.

Anne rolled her eyes. "That was the first place I looked. He's not there, either."

"Well, you know Adam. He'll show up when you least expect it," said Amanda. Finally someone picked up on the other side of the line. "Hi, Greg! How are you?" Amanda turned around for some privacy. Anne went back into the gym. She sat by Victoria on a nearby weight bench and waited for Amanda to get off the phone.

"So, have you met Duncan yet?" Anne asked. Victoria nodded, but didn't say anything. Anne realized that she was not going to get a conversation out of the girl and lapsed back into silence.  A few moments later, Victoria surprised her by breaking the silence.

"Obviously you know about us, and so far there has been Amanda, Richie, and MacLeod. Just how many Immortals are there in this city, anyway?" she said.

Anne did not know how to answer that question, because she did not know how Amanda was planning to tell the apparent teenager. Fortunately, the sight of Amanda coming out of the office saved her. "Amanda will tell you," she said. Anne stood to meet the older woman. "What's up?"

Amanda handed her a slip of paper and said, "Meeting tonight at Joe’s at seven o'clock. Do you thing you can get little Mary a babysitter?"

Anne glanced at the paper. "Probably. I think my usual sitter should be free tonight."

Amanda nodded. "Great."

"Ill see you later, then," said Anne. "I am going to go resume the search for Adam. Tell him to call me if you see him."

"Okay, bye," Amanda said. Anne walked out of the dojo and left in her car.

"So, what's going on?" Victoria asked slowly.

Amanda sighed. She was not looking forward to this. "Sit down," she told Victoria. After the two were situated on the weight benches she asked, "Do you trust me?"

"Yes," Victoria replied immediately. "You didn't have to save me from Thomas Parker, and you could have taken my head at any time."  She didn't add that even if Amanda had tried, she probably wouldn't have gotten very far.

"Well, I'm going to have to ask you to trust me for the next couple of days no matter what happens," said Amanda. "It may seem as if I'm keeping secrets from you, but I promise that you'll know what's going on either tomorrow or the next day. Okay?"

Victoria nodded slowly. "Okay."

"Good," Amanda said. "Now, let's go shopping!"  She held up one of MacLeod's credit cards with a sly smile on her face.

"I really do like the way you think" was Victoria's only comment.

Part 7
Seacouver, Washington
Monday, September 29, 1997

It was about six-thirty when Amanda and Victoria arrived at Gregor Power's small townhouse. They had spent the entire afternoon shopping for Victoria, since she had almost no good clothes with her. They walked up to Greg's door each loaded down with bags from Eddie Bauer, Gap, and Hot Topic -- Amanda had been amazed at Victoria's eclectic selection of clothing. Victoria nearly dropped hers when she felt the buzz of yet another Immortal.

"No way am I going to stay at an Immortal's house," she said.

Amanda sighed. "Just trust me," she said as the door opened. "Hi, Greg!" A man who appeared to be in his early-thirties had answered the door.

"Amanda," he said. "Welcome back! How was Wales?"

"Fine," she said. "Victoria, this is-"

"Greg Powers," Victoria interrupted, a small smile on her lips. "Hey, Greg. How’re you doing?"

Amanda stared at the two. "You guys know each other?" she asked in an astonished voice.

Greg smiled. "Yep. Victoria DiThon Kestral. Still moonlighting as a Native American?"

"Still moonlighting as a photographer?" she retorted. Victoria glanced at Amanda, who was still staring at them. "Greg and I met back in the eighteen hundreds. I was living with a Native American tribe, and he was photographing the wild savages out West. So?" she again asked Greg.

"Sorry, I decided to get another medical degree at the University of Washington," Greg replied. "Would you like to come in or are you going to let Amanda freeze in that position?" He led the two women down the hall and into the television room.

"So you don’t mind if Victoria stays here?" Amanda asked, having finally gotten over her shock.

"No problem." To Victoria he added, "You can put your things upstairs in the guest room, second floor, first room to the left. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen."

"We'd better leave now if we're going to get to Joe’s on time," Amanda said. "Bye, Victoria." The two older Immortals left, leaving Victoria by herself.

First Victoria decided to explore the house, standard operating procedure when staying overnight in a strange place. She started on the third floor and worked her way down. On the third floor were a small darkroom and the entrance to the attic. The second floor had two bedrooms, one larger than the other and a bathroom. The first floor had a living room, small kitchen,  and study. Victoria decided that the most interesting room by far was the study.

There were many photographs on the walls not covered with bookshelves. She recognized herself in the one of them from the two weeks he had spent with the Native American tribe in what was now New Mexico. Victoria thought the best was a portrait of a beautiful woman hanging behind the desk. She glanced over the titles of the many books on the shelves and pulled out an old copy of Ivanhoe. She hadn't read it in a while and carried it into the TV room. Settling on the couch, she began to read.

Amanda and Greg were the last people to arrive at Joe Dawson’s blues club and bar, appropriately named Joe's. All the others were sitting on the barstools and at the nearest two tables. Greg sat at the bar and Amanda slipped into a chair next to Duncan MacLeod.

"So, what's the deal?" Richie asked. "Mac refuses to talk about it." Richie cast an annoyed glance at his mentor, but MacLeod ignored him.

Amanda looked at the group. It had been a while since all that had immediate knowledge of the Immortals in Seacouver had all met together. Seated at the bar were Richie Ryan, MacLeod’s student, Adam Pierson, otherwise known as Methos, the oldest living Immortal, and Greg Powers. Methos was, of course, drinking his ever-present beer. Behind the bar was Joe Dawson, MacLeod’s Watcher. On either side of Duncan MacLeod were Anne Lindsay and Amanda. The entire group was watching Amanda so she began the story.

"My former student, Marie Branwald, and I were walking through the woods looking for a good place for her new house in Wales when we felt the buzz. It was a teenage girl. She knew that Marie and I were Immortal, and that she was, too. It turns out that she's two hundred and thirteen years old," Amanda said. She paused and was about to go on, but Methos interrupted her.

"I don't suppose her name happens to be Victoria, does it?" he asked. Amanda nodded, looking at him curiously. "Did she tell you her teacher was Arthur Jenkins?"

"Yes! Do you know him?" Amanda asked. Finally, she would get some information on the mysterious Immortal.

"You could say that," he said mysteriously.  A few moments later, he gave a wry laugh.

"Well, who is he?" Joe asked. He had heard of the Immortal Amanda was talking about, but the Watchers had never figured out who her teacher was.

Methos looked around the room at the eyes staring at him expectantly.  He shrugged.  "Well, I guess he'd be me." Everyone looked at him in surprise, and Amanda's mouth dropped open.

"You!" she cried.

"Would somebody please explain what is going on here?" Joe asked. "I'm confused."

"Same here," Richie said.

"Her name is Victoria DiThon Kestral. She first died when she was thirteen, and she would be a little over two hundred now. I found her in 1799 and taught her everything she needed to know," Methos explained. To Amanda he said, "She's not going to be very happy to see me."

"Why?" Amanda asked.

"I lived with her in Wales for about six years as Arthur Jenkins. The day I decided that she was good enough to survive on her own -- and the girl is, or at least was, very good -- I told her who I really was. The next morning she woke up…" he paused.

"And?" Anne asked.

"And I was gone," Methos said.

Richie snorted in laughter. "You're real nice."

"The reason I asked us to meet tonight," Amanda said quickly, hoping to ward off an argument when she saw the look in Methos’ eyes, "was to see if you all would mind if Victoria stayed in Seacouver for awhile." She glanced at  Anne.

"I say yes," she said.

"Me, too," Methos said. "She was my student."

"Well, I say no," Greg said slowly.  "Regardless of the fact that she's crashing at my house, I still don’t know her that well, and she's going to come running to us every time someone challenges her."

"I taught Victoria better than that," Methos said. "She knows all the rules, including the one about non-interference." Greg just shrugged.

Next was Joe, but he just put up his hands and said, "Whatever you guys decide. I am officially not interfering."

"Shouldn’t we let her stay only if she wants to?" Anne asked. Richie looked torn. He wanted to say no, visions of Kenny dancing in his mind. Finally, he decided.

"I say no," Richie said. "The last time I met a kid Immortal, the brat tried to take my head."

"Victoria is not like that," Methos said.

"How do you know?" Richie asked. "You said yourself you haven't seen her for almost two hundred years."

"But I know for a fact that she hates death and the thought of killing," Methos said.

Richie still did not look convinced.  "Two hundred years, old man.  People change."

"You didn't want to let me stay around, because of - you know," Greg said; referring to the incident before Richie became Immortal. "But now everything's all right."

"Okay, okay. I can see when I'm outvoted," Richie said -- he knew he wasn't going to win this one.

"Then I guess I have to say yes, also," Greg said, changing his mind when he realized he'd just stuck up for the girl. "We can always refuse to help her."

"If she stays, Ill probably help her get her own apartment. She’s certainly got enough money to do it," Amanda said. Methos looked surprised at this comment, but did not say anything. Greg shrugged. He didn't really care.

"Where should we introduce her to everybody and explain what’s going on?" MacLeod asked.

"Here’s fine," Joe volunteered. "Neutral ground and all. But you better make it before we open."

"Good idea," Amanda said. "Tomorrow at four?" Everybody nodded.

"Ill try to get your Watchers distracted," Joe said.

"Thanks, Dawson," Richie said. "It might look strange if we all come here at once, twice in two days."

"So, we'll see everybody tomorrow," Duncan said. Everybody got up and started leaving the club. Methos waited at the bar for Joe until everyone else left.

"When do you think Victoria will be assigned a Watcher?" he asked when Joe turned to him.

"Probably once I make the report that she's here, so definitely within a couple of days," Joe replied.

"Make sure it's someone good," Methos advised.

"Why?" Joe asked.

Methos shrugged. "It's just that she's very good at disappearing. Especially when she's angry. Once she got mad at me and was gone for three months. That's why it took her six years to learn everything."

"It took MacLeod seven years and he never left Connor," Joe said.

"That's true," Methos admitted. "But they're both stubborn Scots. I’m not surprised."

"I'll try to request somebody good, Adam. Don't worry," Joe said, falling back into the habit of calling the ancient Immortal Adam when discussing the Watchers.

"Thanks, Joe," he said and walked out to his car. Joe stared at the doorway for a minute before starting to clean up behind the bar in preparation for the next day.

When Greg got home, he found Victoria asleep on the couch with Ivanhoe and her sword on the coffee table. Greg covered her with a blanket and walked quietly out of the room, turning off the lights behind him. In the hall he stopped. Victoria was exactly the same as he remembered for over a century ago. It always saddened him that the girl had become Immortal so young. Greg smiled and shook his head fondly. "I am glad that you’re still alive, Victoria," he said softly.

Victoria smiled when she heard his quick comment.  Of course she wasn't asleep, Greg's Immortal presence had woken her up.  But she was tired enough to pretend otherwise.  "I'm glad you're still alive, too, Greg," she whispered in return before curling up underneath the blanket and drifting back off to sleep.

Part 8
Seacouver, Washington
Tesday, September 30, 1997

The next morning, Victoria woke and wandered into the kitchen. Greg had gone to MacLeod's dojo for a work out earlier in the morning. Richie had volunteered to wait for the teenager to wake up and was sitting at the kitchen table having blueberry muffins for breakfast. Victoria chose a muffin from the box on the counter before saying anything.

"Morning, Richie," she said.

Richie still wasn't used to the idea of Victoria staying in Seacouver and merely nodded a greeting. Victoria furled her eyebrows at him in a hurt expression and stalked out of the room.

"Uh-oh. I guess that's what Methos meant about disappearing," he muttered softly. The ancient Immortal had called earlier to warn him of her habit, knowing that Richie still wasn't exactly thrilled at her presence. "Well, better go explain." He walked into the TV room where Victoria was sitting cross-legged on the couch. The blond Immortal sat to her left. Victoria did not give any acknowledgement of his presence and kept calmly staring straight ahead. Unable to stand it any longer, Richie broke the silence.

"Look, Victoria, I'm sorry that I'm acting this way," he said. "I'm just not used to the idea of an Immortal like you."

Victoria slowly turned her head to look at him and Richie saw that her eyes were not those of a young girl but of an Immortal many times his age. Victoria studied him intently. Then she cocked her head to the side, suddenly looking like the teenager she had died as. Richie was startled by the change. "Why?" she asked. "I'm exactly the same as you, except I died a little too early for my taste."

"And mine," Richie said. Many times he had gotten insanely jealous that he had died at the age he did.

"How old were you when you became an Immortal?" Victoria asked, somehow sensing the problem.

"Nineteen," he answered.

"Consider yourself lucky then" Victoria said. "At least you can pass as an adult."

"I never thought of it that way. You're right, I am lucky," Richie said.

"Then I take it you're not that old." Victoria stated with a small smile.

"I'm only twenty-four," he replied. "Compared to you I'm still a kid."

"Well just don't come running to me for wisdom or any such junk. I may be old to you, but to others I'm still a baby, too," Victoria said. "Two hundred years isn't that much in the grand scheme of things."

"True," Richie admitted. "I think I like you. You don't act as if I can't take care of myself just because I'm younger than everyone else."

"Who's everyone else?" Victoria asked, sensing the opportunity for information.

"Um, all of the Immortals in this city," Richie replied slowly.

"And how many would that be?" Victoria questioned, an innocent smile on her face.

Richie quickly counted on his fingers. "Not including you, five."

"What?" Victoria asked in an amazed voice. "And you haven't killed each other off yet?"

"Nope," Richie replied. "We're pretty much all friends."

"What do you mean, you're 'all friends'" Victoria said. "Ever heard of the Game?" Her voice was getting dangerously sarcastic. Richie was also slightly surprised to hear that it sounded much like Methos' own brand of sarcasm.

Richie looked slightly hurt. "Of course." He thought for a second. "But I can't tell you why."

"And why not?" Now Victoria simply sounded annoyed.

"Because everyone is going to tell you tonight," he replied. "And right now you need to put on the sweats you got with Amanda yesterday, because she's going to pick you up in an hour. She's going to bring you to the dojo. I think she wants to see how good you are with a sword."

Victoria rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm good. I had the best teacher in the world."

Richie stood up. "How about a truce? I don't treat you like a kid and you don't treat me like one."

Victoria smiled. "Now that's the best idea I've heard in days. Deal." Richie smiled at her and walked out of the room. Of course, Victoria was certainly going to be surprised when she found out her teacher was here!

A little over an hour later, Amanda and Victoria walked into the dojo. MacLeod was lifting weights in a corner, and Greg and Richie were sitting in the office talking. The three men looked up when Amanda and Victoria walked into the room.

"Okay, Victoria," Amanda said. "Let's find out how good you are."

"Fine with me," Victoria replied with a shrug. She placed her duffel bag on a bench and pulled out her sword.

"You're not going to use real swords, are you?" MacLeod asked in a slightly worried voice.

"Do you have a two-handed practice one that's not a katana?" Amanda said.

MacLeod frowned as if in deep thought and then snapped his fingers. "As a matter of fact, I do," he said. He walked over to the elevator and disappeared.

"May I see your sword?" Greg asked as he walked out of the office, with Richie trailing after him. Richie did not give a word of greeting, but smiled at the girl and gave a wink. Victoria nodded and handed the sword to Greg. "I was tempted to look at it last night, but I was afraid you'd notice if someone touched it," he continued. While he examined it, Victoria took off her sweatshirt, shoes and socks, so that she was only wearing a form-fitting black tank top and gray sweatpants. Amanda was wearing a similar outfit, but with leggings. As Greg was handing Victoria's sword back to her, MacLeod came out of the elevator. He was holding a wooden practice sword with an elongated handle.

"Here you go," he said. Victoria took the sword and nodded her thanks. She placed it on the bench next to her own and started stretching out her muscles, as Amanda retrieved the practice sword she usually used from the rack on the wall. Amanda took off her sandals and moved to the center of the sparring floor. Victoria picked up her new practice sword and followed her. Amanda waited while Victoria swung her sword around gently to get used to the weight. After adjusting her grip slightly, Victoria glanced at Amanda, signaling her readiness.

Amanda smiled. "Shall we dance?" she asked.

"It would be my pleasure," Victoria responded in a decent imitation of Amanda's indefinable accent.

"I don't have an accent," Amanda protested.

"Wanna bet?" Victoria said, and quickly swung towards Amanda's neck. The older Immortal easily blocked and immediately went on the offensive. The three spectators could see that Victoria was holding out nicely on her own. She was breathing heavily but not sweating noticeably. Suddenly, Amanda swung her sword downward right above Victoria's hilt. The jar caused her to loose her grip and drop her weapon. Amanda kicked it out of reach. Victoria hastily scrambled backwards. Amanda rushed at Victoria, but the smaller girl ducked underneath the sword and caught the bottom of the hilt. Amanda kept going, minus her sword. When she turned around she found it next to her neck with Victoria grinning wildly.

"It finally worked!" she said in an amazed voice. "And he said I couldn't do it."

"Who?" Amanda asked. "Where did you learn that move?"

"I don't even know how to do that," MacLeod said.

"It looks familiar," Richie commented.

"You've probably fallen for it," Amanda retorted automatically. Turning her attention back to Victoria, she asked, "So? Who taught you how to do that?"

The sudden look of anguish on Victoria's face was clear. "Do you really need to know?"

"It would be nice," MacLeod said.

"Okay," she sighed. "It was Methos."

"Methos?" Amanda cried.

Greg looked at all the adult Immortals hard, silently telling them not to say anything that would give away the ancient. "Don't you know Methos is a myth?" he asked Victoria.

She laughed. "No, no. It was the fake Methos."

"That's where I had seen that move!" Richie cried. "And yes, Amanda, I did fall for it," he said sarcastically before she could comment.

"I take it you've heard of him," Victoria said dryly.

"Oh, we've met," MacLeod said dryly.

"Let me guess," Victoria said. "He convinced you that you didn't have to play the Game, and left you for dead to the next Immortal who came along and didn't share your beliefs."

"Yep," Richie said. "Luckily, I survived. He tried the same act on you?"

"Yeah," she replied. "I played along to learn all of his disarms, but for some reason he tried to take my head anyway.  I put up too good a fight and the coward ran. He came back later that night. I told him I knew he wasn't Methos and he was gone the next morning."

"Weren't you worried about him taking your head during the night?" asked Amanda.

"My house is on Holy Ground," she replied smugly.

"But it's so far away from the ruins!" Amanda said.

"Most of the forest on that side of the village is Holy Ground.  Not just where the old stone henge was," Victoria explained.

"He attacked you on Holy Ground?" Richie asked.

"I wasn't in Avalon when he tried to take my head. I was picking raspberries on the other side of the village," she said.

"Avalon?" MacLeod asked.

Victoria looked embarrassed. "That's what I named it. My teacher loved telling me stories about his namesake, and that's what I started calling the woods that were Holy Ground."

"Who were you? Guinevere?" Greg asked sarcastically. He knew Methos was a good liar, but he hadn't known the ancient Immortal was that good. A few weeks earlier Methos had been at Greg's house watching TV with him when they came across a movie about medieval England. He told Greg that King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table really were a fairy tale.

Victoria smiled wryly. "More like Morgana the witch." Before she could continue, Victoria heard the dojo door open. The other Immortals recognized Joe Dawson. Victoria, however, did not know this, and even though she did not feel the buzz, she spun around, instantly on guard. She was still holding the practice sword, and held it up defensively.

"Hello?" Joe said. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"Not at all. Come on in," MacLeod said. He led Joe into the office. As he passed Victoria he gave her a look that plainly said to behave.

Victoria just gave his back a face before turning back to the others. "Who is he?" she demanded to know once the office door was closed. "Does he know about Immortals?"

"Yes," Amanda replied. "He's a Watcher."

"A Watcher?" Victoria asked.  "No kidding."

"You know about them?" Richie asked, suprised.

"For a while now, yeah," Victoria asked. "Who does that guy watch?"

"Mac," Richie answered.

Victoria thought it over. "Do you know if I have one yet?" she asked suddenly.

Richie glanced at Amanda and Greg before replying. Amanda shook her head slightly so Victoria wouldn't notice. "Probably not."

"You're lying," Victoria stated.

"No, I'm not," Richie exclaimed.

"Your aura flared. You're lying," Victoria repeated calmly.

"My aura? What's that?" the younger Immortal asked.

Before Victoria could reply, Greg said, "You can see auras?  You never told me that."

"Kind of," Victoria said. "I can see them when somebody is really angry or lying, and I can see them faintly when the I feel the buzz. Otherwise I have to be touching another Immortal."

"Who taught you how?" Greg asked.

"Cassandra. Even though I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about at the time, she explained why I normally couldn't see them. She thinks that my Quickening blocks it out so I don't get overloaded. But when I touch another Immortal and concentrate I can see them. I think I unconsciously tap into their Quickening and use it to overpower mine."

"Cool," Richie said.

"Hi, Victoria," Joe said as he walked out of the office, followed by MacLeod. "My name is Joe Dawson."

"Nice to meet you," Victoria said shaking his hand.

"I have to go," Joe said. "It was nice finally getting to meet you, Victoria." At Victoria's questioning look, he smiled. "You're pretty famous in the Watcher network."

"Oh," Victoria said. "Thanks, I think." Everybody said goodbye and the gray-haired Watcher left.

"Interesting nickname, 'Mac'," Victoria said. "Mind if I call you that?"

"Not at all," he replied graciously. He was about to say more when but was interrupted when the group sensed another Immortal.

"Adam," Amanda and MacLeod said at the same time. "He didn't call," continued the latter. "We really need to teach him how to use a phone."

"But it's so much more fun this way. And besides, you’d get worried if I did," Methos said.

Victoria's eyes widened. She had learned a long time ago that it was not wise to startle an Immortal, so had not turned around yet. She was truly surprised by this voice from her past. Victoria slowly turned to face the door. The man she saw had shorter hair than she remembered, and his skin was not as tanned, but it was the same man who had lived with her for six years and taught her everything she needed to know to survive as an Immortal.

"Arthur," she breathed, as the wooden sword clattered to the ground unnoticed from nerveless fingers.

"Hello, Victoria," Methos said softly. He stopped about an arm length away from her, unsure of what to say next.

Victoria reached out with her left hand and gingerly touched him on the shoulder. When she was satisfied that he was real, she gave him a wry smile. Before anyone could stop her, Victoria swung her right fist. It connected solidly with Methos' jaw, and everyone heard it crack. The ancient Immortal staggered back, his mouth bloody. Victoria grabbed the bag with her street clothes and her sword from the bench and calmly walked into the woman's locker room.

Everyone stood and gaped at Methos for a few seconds before he suddenly sat down on the long bench.

"You should really set that," Greg said conversationally, motioning towards the broken jaw. He thought it had been hilarious to see the ancient man being slugged by a teenage girl.

Methos scowled at Greg, and motioned for him to do it. He winced as it slid into place. "I should have been expecting that. Amanda, go get her so I can explain," he said when he could speak again.

Amanda grinned at him but did as she was told. She walked into the restroom and looked around. There was no one in the stalls or the showers. However, the window was open. "Oh, great," she said, and walked back out. The four men looked at her expectantly, Methos still rubbing his sore jaw. "I think we have a problem," she said slowly.

"What do you mean?" Methos asked, though he was certain he knew what had happened.

Amanda looked at the other Immortals and sighed. "Victoria's gone."

Author's Notes: Hey, I'd punch my teacher if he never came back after he left, too. Wouldn't you? ;-)

Part 9
Seacouver, Washington
Tuesday, September 30, 1997

It was nearly lunchtime, and there had been no success in finding Victoria. MacLeod, Methos, Greg, and Amanda had searched everywhere near the dojo, while Richie stayed in case she came back. Now they were all standing in the office, racking their brains for places the apparent teenager may have gone.

"I think I'll call Anne to tell her to keep an eye out," Greg suggested and grabbed the phone off the desk to call the doctor.

"And I'll use my phone to call Joe and ask if any Watchers have seen her," MacLeod said and headed for the elevator.

Methos motioned for Amanda and Richie to follow and led them out of the office. "I think I may know where she went,"  he told the two younger Immortals.

Amanda snapped her fingers. "The park! Of course.  She's a nature nut.  How could we have been so stupid?"

Methos shrugged. "No clue. Besides, I should have thought of it earlier. Richie, stay here and wait for Greg and Mac to get off the phone. Tell them where we've gone, but not to follow us."

Victoria was mad. She was mad at Arthur for never contacting her, and she was mad at Amanda for not telling her that her former teacher was here. She really hated having secrets kept from her. Victoria was walking along a path between a thick grove of trees and a steep hill leading up to a baseball field when she felt the buzz. By the deep gold and molten silver that flashed momentarily in her vision, she knew that it was Arthur and Amanda.

"Victoria!" she heard Arthur call out. She crept up the hill until the top of her head peeked over. Arthur and Amanda were walking across the playing field only a little ways away. Victoria hastily ducked back down and scrambled back down to the path. She peered into the grove of trees and saw one with branches close to the ground, perfect for climbing. Victoria walked to the foot of the tree and looked up, mentally mapping a route to one of the branches, then started up. When she was seated comfortably, she looked out through the branches. Victoria nearly fell out of the tree when the buzz reached her again. She was expecting it to be Arthur or Amanda coming back into range, but the color that she saw was a deep black. Victoria looked through the branches for the source.

"Greg," she heard Amanda call. "Didn't Richie tell you not to bother following us?" Victoria looked out of the trees and saw the former photographer talking to Arthur and Amanda on the path. Suddenly, Arthur peered into the trees and started walking towards her hiding spot. Victoria silently willed herself invisible, though she knew the effort was futile. He stopped at the bottom of the tree Victoria was in and looked up. Fortunately, the leaves shielded her from view.

"Victoria, I know you're up there," Methos said. "Come down so I can explain, will you?"

Victoria considered her options. Suddenly, a great idea started forming in her mind. She looked out through the trees. Amanda and Greg were still on the path, and Arthur was right where she wanted him. Victoria grinned mischievously as she prepared what she was going to do.

Methos looked up into the branches and sighed. "Come on, Tor-". He was cut off when something heavy slammed into him from above. Methos dropped like a stone. As he fell, he hit his head on a stone and fell unconscious.

When Methos awoke, he did not immediately open his eyes. From past experience, he knew that it was better to wait for the pain to go away first.

"He's awake," Victoria said in concern as she crouched beside him. She had not meant to knock him out; punching him was enough for her. Victoria remembered the first time they had met. She had been hiding in a tree so as not to be discovered. However, she was not expecting the buzz. When she fell out of the tree, Methos' horse had gotten scared and reared up on its hind legs. He had gotten thrown from the saddle and cracked his skull on a rock. Just goes to show that history does repeat itself, Victoria thought.  At least this time he wouldn't scare the crap out of her when he woke up again.

Methos finally opened his eyes. Staring intently into his was a pair of deep blue-gray eyes. "What did you do that for?" he asked, grimacing as he sat up.

Victoria grinned impishly. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to knock you out, honest."

"Yeah, right," Methos said. Then he grinned at Victoria so she did not think he was mad at her. The last thing he needed was for her to disappear again.

Victoria reached down to help pull Methos up. "It's good to see you again, Arthur."  The two looked at each for a moment before simultaneously wrapping their arms around each other.

Methos smiled, his face against her soft brown hair.  "I missed you too, girl," he whispered with a smile.  She squeezed him tightly, then stepped back.  "Quick correction though," Methos said. "It's Adam now. The Watchers think I'm a newbie. Just so you know, Arthur Jenkins died when he left you."

"Okay, Adam," Victoria said, sliding easily into the new name.  Methos smiled when he realized that she'd obviously had practice.  He was interested to see how much the girl had changed and how much she had used what he had taught her.

"It's almost one o'clock," Amanda said. "Is anyone hungry?"

"Starved," agreed Victoria. Methos nodded.

"I have to get to class at the University, but I'll tell the others Victoria's been found. See you guys tonight," Greg said. Everyone said goodbye, and he left.

"All right, let's go have lunch," Methos said.

After they had eaten, Amanda and Methos showed Victoria around the city of Seacouver. While the apparent teenager was talking animately with a street musician, Amanda commented to Methos how diverse the girl was.

"It's as if one minute she's acting like an ordinary kid, and the next she's as mature and sophisticated as me," Amanda said.

Methos mentioned something about Victoria being raised in London, but Victoria joined them again before he could finish.

At about four o'clock, they had coffee and a snack at a small café. Then, they headed for Joe's, where everyone was already waiting.

Victoria froze in front of the door as the full impact of all the other Immortals hit her. She turned to her two companions. "Are you sure no one's going to want my head?"

"Positive," Amanda replied.

"Besides, I wouldn't let them," Methos added.

Victoria glanced at him. "You're not going to start treating me like a kid, are you? I can take care of myself."

"Of course not," he replied as he opened the door.

Amanda glanced slyly at Victoria. "You have no idea how happy I am to have another female around."

"My pleasure," Victoria replied. "But what about Anne?"

"You know what I mean," the other woman said. They smiled at each other.

"Men of the world, be warned," Methos muttered. He led them into the bar, where everyone else, minus Anne, were already sitting in various spots. Amanda sat next to Duncan at a table, and Methos sat on a barstool. Victoria glanced around, shrugged, walked across the room, and jumped up onto the bar next to Methos.

Duncan, who had always been the "leader" of the group, started to speak. "You already know everybody, so we won't bother with introductions," he said. "The reason we called this gathering is to get to know you."

"What is this, an interrogation?" Victoria asked with raised eyebrows. "Well, go ahead. Ask away, since I've got questions myself."

Over the next hour, the group took turns telling Victoria who they were and why they were all living in Seacouver. About halfway through, Anne arrived. They explained many things Victoria had been curious about, from Anne and MacLeod's previous relationship, to Methos' accidental death in front of Richie's Watcher. This had prompted the ancient to spin the story that he was a new Immortal. Richie and Greg also half-heartedly told her of their rocky past and recent reconciliation. Victoria listened with rapt interest, her attention never wavering. After Richie finished, Victoria finally spoke.

"Just out of curiosity, why are you telling me this?" she asked.

"Because we want you to stick around," Methos replied. "If you'd like to, that is. We can't force to stay in Seacouver."

"What if I said no? Would you kill me?" Victoria asked defiantly.

The Immortals glanced around at each other. They had certainly not been expecting this response. "Of course not," Amanda said. "Why would we?"

The teenager smiled mischievously. "Then I guess I'll just have to say yes anyway."

Methos rolled his eyes while the others smiled at each other. "Great! So you'll stay?" Amanda asked.

"Wait a minute. Why?" Victoria asked suspiciously, her attitude inexplicably changing.

Methos looked at her curiously. "Why what?" he asked.

"Pardon the sudden paranoia, but I haven't survived this long without it. Why are you so interested in me staying?  It's not like I've got any better place to be, but still," Victoria said. The others looked at each other uneasily. "Well?"

Methos quickly stood up. "I need to talk to you in private. Come on, Toria," he said, and walked out of the room.

Victoria looked at his back and said in a sarcastic voice, "Yes, your majesty." She jumped off the bar and followed him behind the bar into the kitchen. When she left the room, the others heard her say "And don't call me Toria!"

Methos walked into the kitchen with Victoria close behind.

"So…" Victoria said slowly. "What's up?"

Methos stopped when he reached the middle of the room. He motioned for Victoria to stand in front of him. "Do you really want to stay?" he asked.

"Yes," Victoria said simply.

"Then let me ask you this. Why?" Methos said.

This made Victoria pause. "I don't know," she said softly, looking down. "Maybe because I'm lonely. Maybe because I miss you." She glanced up into her former teacher's eyes. "Maybe I just want another adventure, and you guys seem to be the best bet on getting one."

"Are you absolutely sure, though? I can't make you do anything, and neither can the others. If you want, you can be on the next plane back to Avalon," Methos told her.

"But I want to stay," Victoria assured him. "If nothing else, to bug you." She smiled mischievously. "Wart."

Methos sighed. "You read The Once and Future King, didn't you," he stated wearily, wondering what he was getting himself into.  Just because he thought of the girl as a daughter did not necessarily mean that she'd ever respected him as a father.

"And just about every other book written about Arthurian legend. Hey, you started it, with all your stories," Victoria replied.

Methos suddenly looked at her quizzically. "What about-?"

"Arthur and Avalon written by Vicki Kest?" Victoria interrupted with a wicked smile. "Nope, never heard of it."

Methos smiled fondly. "So you'll stay?"

"Why not? I was serious when I said I had no place better to be," the girl said. Methos grinned at his former student, and was happy to see her infectious smile in return. He led her back into the bar, and they returned to their seats.

"Look out, all, I'm staying," Victoria announced.

"What'd he say to you, Victoria?" Joe asked. "It had to be pretty convincing."

"I'll tell you later," Methos answered for Victoria.

Victoria fixed Methos with a steely gaze. "Arthur, I am fully capable of talking for myself," she said. "You do not need to take care of me."

"Will you guys please stop arguing?" Amanda pleaded.

Victoria looked at her quizzically. "Why?"

Amanda sighed. "Never mind. You and Methos have only been arguing all day. You act like you’re married."

The apparent teenager raised her eyebrow. "No worse than you and Mac. Are you two an item or something? You haven’t stopped giving each other mushy glances all evening."

MacLeod smiled at Amanda. "I hope so," MacLeod said.

"Definitely," she agreed.

Methos rolled his eyes. "How sweet," he said.

MacLeod stood up. "I think this meeting is over, before we all die of their sarcasm. Now we have to deal with two cynics."

"Oh, damn," Victoria said. Amanda smiled at her and headed out the door with Duncan.

Methos stood up and Victoria asked, "Uh, where am I staying?"

"I don't have a guest room, but you can stay at my place until you get an apartment if you'd like," Methos said.

"Great!" Victoria said. "But all my stuff is still at Greg’s house."

"Richie brought it over earlier," Methos replied.

Victoria grinned. "All this was planned already, wasn’t it?" Methos nodded cautiously. "Thought so. Oh well, I’m flexible." She looked at her former teacher. "Let's go, Wart." Methos glared at her, but held his arm for Victoria to slip hers in. When they walked out of the door, the others remaining in the room heard a squeal as Methos started to tickle her in retaliation.

Authors Notes: The book I mentioned written by Vicki Kest doesn’t exist, so don’t waste your time looking for it. If you do find a book with the same title, please tell me so I can change mine. However, The Once and Future King does exist, and I highly recomend it to anyone with an interest in Arthurian legend.

Part 10
Friday, October 10, 1997
Secouver, Washington

"Okay, so explain this to me again, Anne: why do I have to go to school?" Victoria complained.

"Because you’re a kid, and kids go to school," the doctor countered. She was driving Victoria to the local junior high, and Victoria was making a last ditch effort to get out of having to go.

"But I don't want to get made fun of," the girl whined.  "And this is a whole lot different than the high school that I went to back in the sixties."

"But you’re lucky that you’re so smart, "Anne replied.  "You’ll be in the grade above your 'age' group, and one of your classes in even more advanced."

"Great," Victoria sulked. "So now I'll get laughed at for being the youngest kid in ninth grade."

"But you’re over two hundred, Victoria," Anne said.

"And I'm older than you! How come you get to tell me what to do?" Victoria shot back. Anne just shook her head and rolled her eyes. Victoria slumped down in her seat as they entered the parking lot of the school. She eyed the kids walking toward the building warily.

"Okay, Amanda’s going to pick you up at one-thirty," Anne said.

Victoria looked at her in confusion. "But you said school gets out at two-forty."

"You’re only taking five classes," Anne explained.

"Whatever," Victoria said and opened the car door. She was about to get out when Anne held out her hand.

"Give me your dagger. You can get suspended for having a knife at school. Ill give it to Amanda, and she can give it back to you this afternoon," she said.

Victoria sighed, but gave her the ever-present dagger from the small scabbard inside her coat, neglecting to mention the stilleto strapped to her wrist. She grabbed her new backpack from the floor of the car and reluctantly got out.

"Bye!" Anne called. Victoria tossed a wave over her shoulder and walked into the building without looking back.

By lunchtime, Victoria had started to change her opinion about the school. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t as bad as Richie had made it sound, either. She was already done with three of her classes. English was okay, being in advanced math wasn’t too bad, and choir was actually kind of fun. None of her teachers had made a big deal about her, except to ask what it was like to live in Wales. A few people had introduced themselves, but hadn’t really made an effort to make her feel welcome. That was fine with Victoria, who was naturally a loner.

She set her lunch tray on an empty table and sat down to eat. As she raised the slice of pizza to her mouth, someone cleared their throat behind her. Victoria set the pizza down and twisted around in her chair. Behind her were five boys. "Yes?" she asked.

The boy who had gotten her attention circled around the table and sat directly across from Victoria. The other four filled in the remaining seats, two on each side of the round table.

"Yes?" Victoria repeated the question. "What do you want?"

The boy across from her said, "You do realize that you’re sitting at our table, don’t you?"

Victoria raised her left eyebrow. "No, I didn't. Is that a problem?"

"Yes it is," the boy said. "You need to move."

Victoria sighed. "First of all, I don’t respond well to orders. Second, I don’t know your names, and I prefer not to make deals with people I don’t know. And third, you didn't say please." She looked at them expectantly, a small smile touching her lips.  No, Richie was wrong.  School had not changed in thirty years.

"Okay, fine," the boy said. "I’m Mike, and these are Paul, Dan, Billy, and Tyler. Now who are you?"

"Victoria," she answered simply. "So why can’t I sit here?"

Mike thought for a moment. "Because you don’t want to mess with the guy who does."

"Am I supposed to be scared?" Victoria asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Mike replied.

"I’m not," she said. "What’s his name?"

"Kane," Mike said. Suddenly Paul leaned over and whispered something to Mike. "Good idea," Mike said to him. Then he asked Victoria, "Do you know how to play any sports?"

Victoria thought for a moment. "Not any that you would consider normal," she replied.

"Try me," Mike challenged.

"Um, some martial arts and, uh, fencing," she answered. They won’t know fencing, so now I’m glad that the fake Methos taught me his weird mixture of martial arts, Victoria thought.

"You know how to use a sword?" Mike asked in surprise. "I thought Paul and I were the only kids in Seacouver who could!"

Victoria smiled. "I think my style is a little out of your league, though."  This was looking like it could be fun.

"I doubt it," Mike said. "Two out of three. Whoever wins gets to choose who sits at this table."

"Fine, but where are we going to fight?" Victoria asked, greatly amused by the teenage posturing. The six thought for a minute. "I know," Victoria answered herself. She could posture with the best of them. "A friend of mine owns a dojo downtown. Do you know where DeSalvo’s Martial Arts is?"

The boys nodded. Dan spoke up, "You know that guy? I’ve seen him, and he looks like a stiff."

Victoria was caught between defending MacLeod and going along with her newfound friends. She decided to go for the prospect of friends, considering how MacLeod had been treating her recently. "He is, sometimes. But the manager is really nice."

"Richie?" Paul said. "Yeah, he’s the one who taught us how to really fight with a sword, not like that sissy stuff they teach at the school where we take formal lessons."

"Do you know that blonde lady who lives with the owner?" Paul asked. "She’s a hottie!"

Victoria nodded. "That’s Amanda. How about we meet at four? I should be able to convince Richie to let me fight you by then. He’s a little over protective." And so are all the other Immortals around here. If they think they’re going to fight my battles for me, they’ve got another thing coming, Victoria added silently.

"Great," Mike said. The six teenagers spent the rest of the lunch period talking about various subjects. Victoria breezed through her last two classes, Physical Science and Computer Study. When Amanda picked her up, she made the older woman drop her off at Methos’ house just long enough to grab her gym bag. Then she had Amanda drive her to the dojo.

Victoria exercised for about an hour before she got severly bored with lifting weights and jumping rope. Richie was teaching a couple of members of the dojo some basic self-defense, and since they were all men, Victoria figured she wouldn't be roped into playing punching bag.  So she started on some of the backup paperwork in the office. It seemed like she was the only one who could keep a complete handle on the dojo’s paperwork besides Richie. And she usually got stuck with the job when MacLeod wanted her to, because she was the only one who could figure out Richie’s demented filing system.  She really needed to get on the payroll at this rate, but it wasn't as if the place was making any sort of profit.

At about three forty-five, Richie finished the class and came into the office, where Victoria was playing pinball on the computer. "How come you’re still here?" he asked. "Go home and do homework or something. Mac said that Amanda was going shopping later. Why don’t you go with her?"

"Can’t," Victoria said not taking her eyes off the screen. "I’m meeting some friends over here in about fifteen minutes. Oh, and I beat your high score again in pinball."

"I'll play again tomorrow. Who?"

"A guy named Mike and some of his friends," Victoria answered, finally looking up before launching another ball. "He mentioned that they knew you."

"Yeah," Richie said. "Why are they coming over here?"

Victoria was saved from answering by the boys in question entering the dojo. "Hey, guys!" she called.

"Hey!" Mike answered. "Sorry we’re early.  Oh, and Ty and Billy couldn't come - too much homework. Hi, Richie!"

"That’s fine," Victoria said. "You ready to lose?"

"Never!" Mike said with a grin.

"What’s going on?" Richie asked.

Victoria walked over and picked up her practice sword from the rack. "We’re going to have a fight."

Richie held up his hands. "Okay, I’m confused. You’re going to have a fight? You seem like friends to me."

"Oh, we’re friends," Victoria answered. "This is just to settle something."

"Your first day there and you're already picking fights, Richie groaned.  Victoria just grinned at him.  "Well, okay, just remember, you guys aren’t immortal."

"Yeah, and you are," Mike said laughingly.

Victoria looked at Richie in surprise, raising both eyebrows in question.  Richie just laughed and replied, "Yeah, right."  She laughed gleefully at the joke.

"By the way, ow old are you, Victoria?" Paul asked.

The question startled her.  Maybe the kid knew more than he let on.  "Some things you just have to keep to yourself, you know?" Victoria answered. "I am, however, itching to spar.  Not to boast, but I feel obligated to warn you that I'm about to kick your ass."

"Just how much training have you had, anyway?" Mike asked, beginning to look nervous.

"A lot," she said. "But just to make things even, I’m only going to use one hand, and my left one at that."

Mike looked at Richie. "Will it make a difference?" he asked.

Richie smiled. "She’s great with two hands. I honestly don’t know how good she is with one, and I didn't know she could fight with either one."

Victoria rolled her eyes. "Trust me, Richie, give it enough time, and you'll know how, too," she replied sarcastically, switching the sword to her left.  Then, silver and burnished bronze auras flashed in front of her eyes.

The three boys realized there must be another Immortal around when Richie looked towards the door, and Victoria brought the wooden sword up using both hands. Then Duncan MacLeod walked in with Amanda.

"What is going on here?" MacLeod asked with a scowl, directed mainly at Victoria. He was obviously in a bad mood about something. "This is a dojo, not a playground." Richie immediately realized he was angry, but ducked back into the office to answer the ringing phone.

Practically taking his mood out on Victoria was not a wise thing to do, and she immediately went on the defensive. She looked at Mike and said, "Now that I think about it, he can be a stiff sometimes."

MacLeod started to look angry at that remark. "What?" he growled at Victoria.

"Butt out, MacLeod," Victoria said, her voice getting dangerously soft. As they had learned quite fast, the girl never raised her voice when she was angry. When her voice got low, that was the danger sign. "What we are doing does not concern you."

MacLeod stood there and silently seethed, Amanda spoke up. "What are you doing, Victoria?" she asked.

"Why does everybody care? As I recall we have this little rule called non-interference. Well, I am now putting this rule into effect. If you would like to stay, make sure you get rid of the attitude," Victoria said hotly.

MacLeod glared at her, but headed toward the freight elevator. Amanda looked at Victoria in sympathy. "I've been on the receiving end of his temper, too," she said. "I'll try to talk to him." The blonde headed for the elevator.

Richie came out of the office. "Don't start yet. Adam just called, and he wants to watch."

Victoria nodded to him. She turned back to the boys and sighed. "I'm sorry," she said to them. "They treat me like a kid, and MacLeod doesn't really like me anyway. That's the third time in two weeks that he's lost his temper with me."

"That’s okay," Mike said. "Do you want to wait for Adam? I’ve met him before, and I don’t care if he watches."

"Me either," Victoria said. "But if he does, I’m going to do my best. Otherwise, he’ll rank on me forever."

"I'll consider myself warned," Mike replied. "By the way, can I use the phone? I forgot to call Kane."

Victoria gestured towards the office. "Go ahead."

"Why won’t you tell us how old you are?" Paul asked, but Victoria was staring down at his hands. He followed her gaze and quickly crossed his arms, but not before Victoria caught a glimpse of a doodle on his wrist.

Victoria lifted her head to stare thoughtfully into Paul’s eyes. "You tell me," she said.

Paul looked back at her and shook his head slightly, then tilted it towards Mike. "I might be able to guess, but he wouldn’t."

Victoria’s eyes lit up in comprehension. Mike was not a Watcher. Paul wasn't either because that drawing wasn't even a tattoo, much less anything official.  Her guess was it was the "family business."  He might have been the son of one of the local Watchers keeping an eye on MacLeod's local clan.  Why this boy was allowed to associate with them, she had no idea, but decided to go with it for now.  "Let’s just say that I'm not quite as old as this country, but I've definitely been around the block a few times," she said with a smile.

Mike walked out of the office and reported, "Kane's not home, but he told me would be.  I'm kinda worried."

"Where do you think he is?" Paul asked Mike.

He shrugged, but his attention was quickly attracted elsewhere.  "Hey, do you have one of those dance-things like Richie?"

"A dance-thing?" Victoria asked in confusion. "Oh, a kata! Yeah, I do. Why?"

"Well, Adam's not going to be here for a couple minutes, so maybe you could show us yours?" he asked tentatively.

Richie, who had been listening from the office, appeared at the doorway. "Yeah, Victoria. I’ve never seen you do one, either."

Victoria thought it over. "Okay, I'll do it. But if I get tired, I’m gonna stop. It’s not fair if we fight when Mike’s fresh and I’m not." She walked over to her bag and pulled out her real sword, then slowly walked to the center of the room and stood with her feet planted slightly apart and her sword held out in front of her.

As the others watched silently, Victoria closed her eyes. She stood there for nearly a minute, her stance never wavering. Suddenly, her eyes flew open, and she began to move in an intricate series of steps that slid her across the floor. You could almost imagine that she was performing a ballet of sorts, except for the way she was handling her sword. It thrust and parried as if she were in a real battle. The observers could practically see the person she was fighting. Victoria only faltered once, when Adam entered the dojo. She went through the entire kata, ending with a final sweep in front of her as the fatal blow was struck. Victoria looked around as if waking from a dream when everyone started to applaud.

"Wow!" Mike said, completely entranced. "The kata that Richie has is, I don’t know, harsher looking. But that was really like a dance!"

 "Hey, Adam's here," Richie said. "So you guys can start your competition, or whatever it is."

"Great," Mike said. He walked over to the rack containing the wooden swords, while Paul settled himself onto a bench to watch the show. Mike had already removed his shoes. Victoria exchanged her steel sword for her usual wooden one and met him in the center of the floor. "Yo, Paul," Mike called. "I forget again, what are the rules we decided on?"

Paul rolled his eyes. "I swear, you have got the most short term memory. You win if you strike a death blow to each other. I guess Victoria forfeits if she puts both hands on her sword, or uses her right one. Agreed?"

"Agreed," they said in unison, then grinned at each other. The two started circling each other, both slightly unwilling to make the first move. As if on cue, both swung towards each other. The wooden blades met between them and the hilts locked. At first, the two teenagers tried to stare each other down, but because of simple arm strength it appeared that Victoria was going to lose, especially since her right hand was still faithfully held behind her back. Then she started to smile.

"Why are you smiling? You're barely winning!" Mike grunted. The constant strain was also wearing him down  The girl was stronger than she looked.

"That's what you think!" she replied. Victoria kicked her foot out and wrapped it around Mike's knee, tugging with her ankle. He was pulled off balance and let go of his sword in order to use his hands to break his fall. He still landed heavily.

Victoria gently tapped her sword on his neck. She then knelt beside him. "I win!"

"Yeah, I noticed," he replied as Victoria pulled him to his feet.  She left her sword on the ground.

"That was cool!" Richie said. "I never would have thought to do that."

"That's because you're not as good as me," Victoria said loftily in a fake English accent, drawing herself up to her full five foot eight.

Richie rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right."

"Is that why she always beats you when you spar?" Methos asked jokingly.

Richie responded by picking up a free weight and pretending to throw it at the older Immortal.

"Can we get to the next round before they hurt each other?" Paul asked, smiling.

"Yes, let's," Victoria agreed, still with the bad accent.

"We'll make the next round more interesting, shall we?" Mike asked.

"Your wish is my command," Victoria responded, this time without the accent. She prepared to use her foot to kick the practice sword on the floor into her hand, but Richie distracted her.

"Uh oh, she's getting sarcastic. Hurry up and swing at her before she gets really bad!" Richie said.

Mike smiled and immediately swung his sword toward her again, this time at the neck. Victoria yelped and ducked under the wooden blade. She again tried to trip Mike by kicking him in the back of the leg. Mike only stumbled, but this gave Victoria enough time to retrieve her sword. Both teenagers met each other in the middle of the floor again. Then started a rapid flurry of attacks by each of them. Even though Victoria was only using one hand to hold her sword, she was still obviously better.  It was obvious to the other Immortals she was going easy on Mike, though.  After this testing of skill was finished, they each backed away and started circling again. Then Amanda and MacLeod walked out of the freight elevator. When Victoria glanced at them, Mike slammed the flat of his blade into her side, making her crumple to the ground. Before Victoria could stand again, she felt the wood of Mike's sword against her neck. She looked up at Mike. "I win," he said.

"Whatever," Victoria replied. "That was so not fair. You could have broken my ribs."

"So?" he asked.

"Well, it still hurts," Victoria complained. Then she glanced sheepishly at Methos. "Don't say a word, Adam," she warned.

"I wasn't going to," Methos replied in fake innocence. "Maybe I'll yell at you later, but I wasn't going to say anything right now. Besides, when have you ever broken any ribs?"

"Only the last time my beloved teacher did that to me," Victoria said sweetly, refering to their intense sparring session a week earlier. Methos rolled his eyes, but the others just looked at them curiously.

The phone rang in the office and Richie went to answer it. He came back out a few seconds later and announced, "Mike, that was your dad. He said Kane left your house for here a couple minutes ago." At that instant, all five Immortals in the dojo felt a buzz that was definitely not familiar. Since it had been agreed long ago for the Immortals to not alert to many others that there were so many of them in the city, Methos immediately took charge.

"Kids, get in the locker room. Amanda, you get in the elevator. Richie and Toria, in the office. Stay here, MacLeod."

Everyone scattered, except Paul and Mike who stood and looked confused. "Paul, Mike, move!" Victoria said in such a commanding voice that they immediately ran up to the locker room.  She would come up with a way to explain later.  MacLeod being chased by the mob sounded like an amusing excuse. Not a moment too soon, the outside dojo doors opened. When the next set of doors opened, it revealed a teenage boy with shaggy brown hair. He was rubbing his forehead.

"Not another one," Richie muttered softly from his place on the floor next to Victoria.

"What the-? Mike!" the boy called. Mike and Paul came out of the locker room. The elevator again opened to reveal Amanda. Richie left the office to stand next to MacLeod and Methos, while Victoria stood at the office window and stared in shock.

Paul grabbed Kane's arm and whispered quickly into his ear.  Kane gave him a startled look, then gazed wearily around the room.  Paul looked at the rest of the group.  "Uh, guys, this is Kane, and he's...well, I'm sure you know."

Everyone was silent, and Victoria walked slowly across the dojo.  The boy looked too familiar, and she immediately felt a surge of protectiveness go through her.  Kane met her gaze.  She stopped in front of him and said, ""How old are you?  For real."

"Seventeen," he whispered warily, giving Mike a glance.

Victoria broke out into a grin of part happiness and part relief.  She held out her hand to him. "My name is Victoria DiThon Kestral, and I'm like you."

The look of pure relief on Kane's face was heartwrenching to her.  He clasped her hand and merely replied, "Thank you."

On to Part 2.  Back to the Fanfiction Page.  Back to the Main Page.

This page last updated: 6.14.4 ~jlg~