Homecoming (ATTN: Connor, Duncan, Joe, Darius)

[colin]

Colin's cellphone rang one time before he picked it up and put it to his ear. Rachel had given Carter the number and now Colin wished he had never met Rachel. It had taken two hours of nervous waiting, wondering if Rachel was alive or dead. Colin knew that if he were to get her out of this mess, he'd have to do some explaining.

"Yes?" Colin greeted.

"I'm only going to say this once MacLeod." Carter began. "You want to see your kinswoman again you'll do what I say."

"Where are you?"

"Loch Shiel harbor." Carter answered. "You come alone. I smell any hint of a trap and the woman gets snuffed, understand?"

"Fine." Colin agreed, he hung up the cellphone.

"It was him wasn't it?"asked Katie. She looked towards Colin from the chair she was sitting in, her eyes wide. Fear written all over her face.

Colin went over to her and kissed her forehead. "I have to go." He whispered.

Katie wrapped her arms around his waist and began to cry.

"Don't go Colin PLEASE!" She sobbed. "Just call the police."

"If I do he kills Rachel, I have to do this alone Katie. Stay here and if I'm not back within two hours then you call the police."

"Colin-" Katie began, but realized that it was no use. She unwrapped herself from Colin's waist. Colin then grabbed his trenchcoat and katana and headed out the room and into his car.

During the drive Colin took no notice of the Aston Martin following him at a distance. He realized that he should have taken Carter's head during the last encounter. This time, if luck was on his side; Jason Carter wouldn't leave the harbor alive.

He parked his Lotus near the harbor and walked the rest of the way. His katana in his hands and ready for anything. As soon as he entered the harbor he felt Carter's presence. It led him directly to Jason who was standing by a warehouse, Rachel tied to a chair and gagged. She looked at Colin and said an inner prayer/

"Now that is a fine looking blade." Carter said, unleashing his sabre from the scabbard at his side. "In the future it'll be my primary weapon, after you throw it down and offer your life for the woman that is."

"You don't have a future." Colin answered. He ran, charging towards Carter, the two blades ringing and sparking in hated fury. Colin took the offensive like before, this time adding more strength to his attacks. Now that Carter was only one handed it was alittle bit easier to cut and slash at certain points of Jason's body.

Jason put up a decent defense, blocking one attack then another, he took the offense from Colin. Causing the Scotsman to retreat a few steps. However, Colin used a tactic he learned in 1862 and used Carter's movements against him. When Jason left himself open Colin scored deep cuts on Jason's abdomen, right leg, left arm, and right calf.

Then Jason jumped a few inches backwards from Colin, MacLeod took a defensive stance and waited for Jason's next attack. He saw the feral look in Carter's eyes and knew this was the 'now or never' moment. Jason yelled, then outright charged at Colin, who ran then quickly ducked out of the way of Carter's blade by performing a forward roll. Allowing Colin to quickly get to his feet and by the time Jason realized what happened it was too lade, as Colin's katana sliced three times across Jason's back then across Carter's arm, cutting a tendon.

Jason fell to his knees. Tired and unable to move his hand. He dropped his sword. Colin had the blade of his katana right to Carter's throat. Colin raised the blade for the final stroke.

"Damn you MacLeod, damn you to he-"

And with a quick slice, Jason Carter's short life was permanently ended. The quickening erupted from Carter's corpse and enveloped Colin in electrical fury; causing Colin to scream in pain and ecstacy. When it ended he fell to his knees and breathed hard for a few minutes.

Colin got to his feet and untied Rachel. Slowly undoing the duct tape that was used to silence her. She took a few steps away from Colin then quickly sprinted to him, put her arms around him and cried; confused and terrified at what she just witnessed.

[nathan]

Disposing of Jason Carter's body didn't take up too much time. However, remaining hidden while the two Immortals fought it out presented a minor problem. Abbie and Nathan observed the battle from the vantage point of an empty warehouse. After calling in a removal unit Abbie and Nathan took notes of the battle and agreed that the outcome had been in Colin's favor.

The next morning as Rachel awoke, showered and breakfasted Nathan went to visit her. Rachel looked very shaken and confused. He learned that Colin and Katie checked out of the inn late at night and possibly went home. Nathan sat across from Rachel in the empty cafe, the two of them were discussing events from the previous night when Nathan switched his laptop on. He appeared to be typing something, then turned it over to Rachel.

"This is your kinsman Connor." He explained. "Born in 1518, still very much alive."

Rachel's gaze went from shock to awe within seconds. "How?"

Nathan turned the laptop back towards him and punched in some more keys. "Duncan Macleod, born in 1592. You met him in the mid nineties I believe?"

"I-I mistook him for a graverobber." She whispered. "I thought he really did come back from the dead."

"It's not the first time he did." Nathan answered. "Now as for Colin-"

He typed up Colin's profile from the Watcher Database.

"-here we are." he continued. "Colin MacLeod, born in northern England in 26th of February in 100 AD. Died in 125 AD but mysteriously came back to life and met up with Immortal Ameragan Taliesin who at the time donned the robes of a druid priest."

Rachel shook her head in disbelief. "That's impossible, he would be..."

"Very old." Nathan admitted. "Last time we spoke I told you that I would explain everything to you Rachel, but you have to make a choice. If you want to know, you'll have alot to learn. But once you make this choice you can't ever turn back. " Nathan looked directly into her eyes. "Understand?"

"Who are you?" She asked.

"I am a Watcher." he began. "Part of a secret society that has been watching and recording the activities of Immortals for four thousand years, but we never ever interfere."

"So Colin, Duncan and Connor are.."

Nathan nodded. "You have alot to learn Rachel, I hope you're prepared for what you're about to receive."

.............................................................................................................

After the meeting with Rachel, Nathan drove Abbie back to the airport. He parked his car and walked Abbie to the departure gate.

"Who's your assignment now?" He asked.

"Galen MacQueen. For the moment he's in Seacoucer. Ever hear of him?"

"Bits and pieces." Nathan answered.

She smiled. "At least he's one of the good guys. What will happen with Rachel?"

"She'll be off to the Watcher academy in Paris Later on today. I think she'll do fine."

"And Colin?"

Nathan shrugged. "I'll plan an accidental meeting and see for myself."

"You think he might be the one?" Abbie wondered.

Nathan chewed it over. "Possibly one of the three, hopefully we won't find out soon. It could even be Galen for all we know."

A voice over the intercom announced Abbie's flight. She looked at Nathan and gave him a hug.

"Take care of yourself Nathan. I'll call when I can."

"Be careful Abigail." He kissed her cheek. "And good luck."

Nathan stayed to watch Abbie board the plane then take off. He wondered what would be in store for her, and for him. He still had to enter Colin's battle in his chronicle. He forgot how long it had been since Colin's last battle: a year? a few months?

What did it matter? Colin was surviving, he was doing well. That was fine by Nathan.


The End.

[highlandgirl]

thanks guys

Renate