PART 7

Methos sighed at the accusation. He'd never planned on telling David that he was an Immortal. Oh, Don knew, but he had discovered by accident when he had seen Methos injure himself and it had healed before Don's eyes. "I never lied to you, David, I just didn't tell you."

"Why?" David's voice sounded hurt.

"Because I know how much you love being a Watcher. If I had told you what I was, *who* I was, and then I was discovered, and they found out that you knew. David, they would have thrown you out. I was trying to protect you."

Methos looked at his friend, genuinely sorry for the hurt he had caused him.

"I'm sorry. I thought it was for the best that you didn't know. Do you understand why?" Methos thought it best not to mention that the reason their friendship had started was because of Kavik. The only Immortal Methos classed as a friend was Kavik. They had known each other for centuries and their relationship had passed mere friendship, they were part of each other. As soon as he had heard that Kavik's old Watcher was retiring from the organization, he had made sure to find out who would be given the assignment. He had been tried for days to get David Mitchell alone to see what kind of a person he was when the incident with the lift occurred. Never one to pass up an opportunity, Methos had struck up a conversation with David and was surprised to find that he liked the man. They had quite a lot in common, ignoring the fact that one was a 5,000 year old Immortal and the other was a 24 year old Watcher. Yes, it had been *fortuitous* that the lift had suddenly and inexplicably broken down like that.

David knew that what Ad- Methos was saying made sense. The Watchers went to great lengths to keep their existence a secret from Immortals. If Adam was found out, then who knew what would happen to him and those who knew what he was. David smiled. "Yes, I understand why you didn't tell me, but now I know, I promise that no one will find out."

"I know, I wouldn't have come if I thought otherwise."

David realized what Methos was saying. He had to know that if he'd come then David would have discovered he was an Immortal. There'd be no way to keep it from Kavik.

"Why did you come? You knew that I'd find out what you were, if not who you were."

"By saving Kavik, you proved that what you believed was more important to you than the rules of the Watchers. You realize that those at the Headquarters will look on this as interference."

"But Horton - "

"It won't mater why you helped her, just that you did."

"I didn't think of it," admitted David.

"Exactly," Methos stressed. "Kavik's life was more important than the rules. *That's* how I knew that I could trust you."

"What are we going to tell her?" David looked at Methos.

"The truth."

"Are you sure?"

"David, I've never lied to Vikki before, I'm not about to start now."

"Vikki? *Kavik!* You *know* Kavik?"

"For quite some time, actually."

David's next question was cut off as Methos looked up sharply. Dropping his head quickly, he looked back at David. "She's awake," he said softly.

Sensation filled Kavik's body and she opened her eyes with a sharp, painful intake of air. Almost immediately, she sensed the Presence of another Immortal. Instinctively, her hand went down to where her sword should have been, but she was not surprised to find it gone. she berated herself, Kavik answered her own question, "Get a grip, 'Vik, arguing with yourself isn't going to get you out of here." Looking around, she saw that she was in a bedroom. Getting up from the bed she glanced around. As well as her sword, her shirt and coat had been taken. Kavik saw a shirt hanging on the door, and walked over to it. The shirt was too big, but she put it on anyway. Kavik was just about to burst out of the door and take whoever was on the other side by surprise when she realized there was something suprisingly and reassuringly familiar about the Presence she was feeling. Tentatively, she turned the door handle and was surprised to find the door open.

"Calm down, Kavik, it's not what you think." The voice came through the door.

thought Kavik as she walked out of the bedroom and came face to face with her oldest friend.

Methos grinned and swept Kavik into his arms. If David had had any doubts about whether Methos and Kavik knew each other, they were driven away by the blinding kiss he was witnessing. Kavik's lips opened under the assault of Methos' tongue. She tasted the sweetness in his mouth as her lower lip was pulled into his mouth by his teeth. Methos bit down on her lip hard enough to break the skin, leaving them both with a faint metallic, coppery taste of blood in their mouths when they eventually broke the kiss. Methos smiled at the already fading purple bruising on Kavik's lips, testament to the force of the passion between them. "By the way, it's Adam Pierson now," he whispered breathlessly. "But he's knows I'm Methos."

"Is this your doing?" She asked.

"No," admitted Methos. "Vikki, I'd like you to meet David Mitchell."

Methos gestured to the young man standing behind him. "David's your Watcher."

Kavik stared at the two men. "My what?"

"Your Watcher."

"I think you'd better explain this from the beginning," Kavik said.

"What do you want to know?" Methos asked innocently.

"For a start, what are Watchers? Why were people shooting at me? And what have you got to do with all of this?" She aimed her last question directly at Methos.

Methos sighed. "This may take some explaining."

"Don't worry, I've got time."

Methos sat on the couch and motioned for Kavik to sit. "The Watchers are a society of people who record the lives of Immortals. They're historians, recording everything they can about the Game."

"Wait a minute," interrupted Kavik. "How do these people find out about us?"

"Well in my case, it was through family," explained David. "My uncle was a Watcher. I found one of his Chronicles by accident and I was fascinated by it. When I was old enough I joined the Watchers myself."

"David, right?" The man nodded. "And you're my Watcher?" Another nod. "So what does that mean?"

"Each Immortal has a Chronicle, detailing what we know of their lives. We know because we follow you."

"Follow me? But I've never seen you before."

"What's one more face in a crowd?" David shrugged.

"And just how long have you been 'watching me'?" Kavik's voice was angry.

"I've been your Watcher for just over five years now."

"You've been watching me for *five* years?" Kavik stood up and walked over to the window.

"*I* have, yes, but altogether you Chronicle goes back to when you first became an Immortal."

Kavik spun round and glared at David. "How?"

"Jean-Luc LaCroix's Watcher," David said by way of an explanation.

"Actually, yours is one of the more complete Chronicles." David wasn't looking so he missed the sharp glance that Kavik threw Methos and the slight shake of the head that was the reply. "Please believe us, you've got nothing to fear from us. We just record, we don't interfere."

"He's telling the truth, 'Vik." Methos said. "I found out about the Watchers about 10 years ago, and by some strange twist of fate, managed to get myself recruited into them." Methos walked over to where Kavik was standing. "If they were a threat, I would have told you about them." Methos placed his hand on Kavik's shoulder. "Trust me."

Methos moved his hand and Kavik saw a flash of blue on his wrist. She grabbed his hand. "How do you explain this?" She demanded, revealing his tattoo.

"That's a Watcher tattoo. Everyone in the Watchers has one."

"The guy who shot me had one of these."

"That's where things get complicated," admitted Methos.

Kavik's eyes narrowed. "How?"

"A splinter group of Watchers has broken away from the main organization," explain David. "They call themselves the Hunters."

"Why don't I like the sound of that?"

Methos smiled at Kavik's sarcasm. "These Hunters believe that we are an abomination of nature."

"A few weeks ago, the Watchers received a report about an Immortal who had been killed on Holy Ground. The Hunters killed her." David looked at Kavik, trying to gauge her reaction. But Kavik was ignoring him and glaring at Methos.

"What the hell have you gotten involved in, Methos? A group of mortals who know what we are, *who* we are. Don't you realize how much of a threat that makes them."

"They aren't a threat. I would never have gotten involved if they were."

Methos' voice was steady but low.

"Tell that to Darius," snarled Kavik. "He was *monk*. He was on Holy Ground. He should have been safe."

"The Watchers aren't a threat," repeated Methos. "But the Hunters are. And we have to figure out a way to stop them."

Kavik looked up suddenly. "Oh Gods, Duncan."

"What about him?" Methos knew about most of the Immortals that Kavik knew. And even though he had never met the Highlander personally, he knew he man was important to Kavik. He was also one of the Immortals with a better than fair chance of winning the Prize. As were Kavik, and, if Methos was being perfectly honest, himself.

"Darius had a book. It had the Watcher symbol on the cover," explained Kavik.

"It's possibly one of the missing Chronicles," guessed Methos. "So?"

"It had a post code on the inside page. He could be walking into a trap."

"Where was the post code for?" David asked quickly.

"It was the post code of a book shop. A place called 'Shakespeare & Co.', I think."

David relaxed visibly. "It's okay, that's Joe Dawson's shop."

"Who's he?" Kavik asked.

David smiled slightly as he answered. "Dawson is Duncan's Watcher. He's a good man, and definitely *not* one of the Hunters."

"You're sure?"

"Joe and I are good friends." David explained further at Kavik's questioning look. "You'd be surprised how often your Chronicle overlaps with Duncan's." Kavik's eyebrows raised. "Well, maybe you wouldn't. It means that Joe and I sometimes end up in the same place at the same time."

"Do you know this Joe Dawson?" Kavik looked at Methos.

"Yes, David's right, he a good man."

Kavik heard the unfinished sentence. "But?"

Methos sighed. "He's James Horton's brother-in-law."

"He's *what*?" Kavik ran and grabbed her sword. "We've got to go after Duncan. This Dawson could be working with Horton."

"I doubt it," said David, trying to reassure her. "Joe doesn't get on with Horton."

Kavik looked at her Watcher. "Are you sure that this guy can be trusted?"

"I would stake my life on it," replied David.

"Well we're not staking *your* life on it, we're staking Duncan's." Kavik looked from David to Methos, then back at David again. "Can I use your phone?"

"Em, yeah, go for it."

Kavik picked up the phone and dialed a few numbers. She waited a few seconds, smiling in relief as the person she was ringing answered. "Duncan, I know this is going to sound like a stupid question, but are you okay?"

David and Methos couldn't hear the Highlander's answer, but the smile on Kavik's face was a good indication. "Yeah, well that's funny, because there's something I think you should hear, too." Kavik laughed at something Duncan said. "Okay, I'll see you later, Mac." Kavik put the phone down.

"What did he say?" Methos asked.

"That he's just met a very interesting man named Joe Dawson, who had an equally interesting story to tell."

"Joe must have told him about us," speculated Methos.

"He may not have had much choice," said David. "Better that Immortals know the truth than think *all* Watchers are out to kill them."

"And all you're out to do is observe?" Kavik questioned as she rested her sword against a wall.

"Yes, the Watchers believe that something like this, something of this magnitude is too important to go unrecorded. We want there to be something left after the Gathering. Some sort of memorial to all the people who fought and died. I mean, you span history. What knowledge you must have." David's eyes were shining.

"We're just people." Kavik sat on the sofa.

"But you're people who've seen the rise and fall of civilizations. A direct link to the past. In some cases, you're the last of your kind, survivors from ages and cultures that no longer exist."

Kavik smiled at David's enthusiasm. "And that's why you watch us?"

"You're experiences, your *lives* are too important to pass without acknowledgement."

Kavik thought about this and nodded slightly. "Okay," she said, kicking of her boots and tucking her legs beneath her, "I can understand that. It doesn't mean that I'm perfectly comfortable with it. I mean, having someone knowing your every move is a little disconcerting. Especially when you know nothing about *them*."

"So?" Methos prompted.

"So we level the playing field." Kavik flashed a blinding grin. "All right, David Mitchell, tell me about yourself."

The three of them had talked for hours. What had started as uncomfortable small talk developed into the easy conversation of friends. Kavik discovered David to be humorous and intelligent, and by the end of the night, she found the thought of him knowing about her a relatively easy one to accept.

Kavik glanced at her watch and was shocked to discover that it was past one in the morning. "Gods, look at the time. I should go."

"I'll give you a lift back," offered Methos.

"Thanks." Kavik turned to David. "I'll get the shirt back to you."

"Keep it," replied David with a smile. "It looks better on you, then it ever did on me."

"Thanks. Is that my coat?" She asked, pointed to a black plastic bag.

"Yeah," The shirt's a write off, but the coat may be able to be saved."

David handed the bag to Kavik.

"Don't worry about it, I'll just strip it and buy a new one."

"Strip it?" David looked confused.

"I don't just keep my sword in my coat. There are other," Kavik paused, "pieces of equipment that come in handy in various pockets." She picked her sword up and turned to Methos. "Could you put this next to yours for the time being? It may be the middle of night, but I still don't want to risk being seen with a sword."

"Course," Methos took the sword and slid it into his coat, next to his own.

Kavik leaned over and kissed David on the cheek. "Thank you for what you did today, I owe you one."

"It was my pleasure. After all, I *am* your Watcher."

"You *were* my Watcher, you're now my friend." Kavik opened the door and stepped out, following Methos to his car.