TSB 10

The Space Between

By AmandaDoE

Chapter Ten: Justice

Duncan and Baptista saluted before they began fencing. Duncan scored three points. They saluted each other again and took off their masks.

"I never saw that riposte coming," Baptista stated.

"Got lucky, I guess," Duncan replied.

"No. That was more than luck, but I appreciate the lie. We haven't been formally introduced," Baptista stated before he shook Duncan's hand, "I'm Armando Baptista."

"Duncan MacLeod."

"Ah."

"Baptista. Didn't you fence for Argentina in the '84 Olympics?" Duncan asked.

"Ah, and you? You fenced for?" Baptista inquired.

"I gave up my amateur standing a long time ago," Duncan answered.

"Really? How about lunch, MacLeod?" Baptista offered.

"Oh, I have a few errands to run," Duncan answered.

"Oh, please. The least you can do is allow me to lose graciously, no?" Baptista insisted, "What do you say? My home, two hours?"

"Why not?"

"I'll leave you my card at the door."

"Okay, I'll see you later," Duncan stated before he left.

"Good-bye."

-The-Space-Between-

Katya sensed the buzz as she saw a man with dark hair exit the building.

The man saw Katya crouched on roof of nearby building. He walked away down sidewalk and Katya returned to watching the door of the salon through the scope, seeing Baptista exit the building. Katya aimed the scope's crosshairs at him.

"I'm Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod," the man introduced himself as he walked across the roof toward Katya, "I don't think we've been introduced."

Katya whirled around, and shot a bolt at him, hitting him in the shoulder.

Katya walked calmly over to him, carrying crossbow and case, "Now we have. You're not my business, but if you ever get in my way again, you will be."

-The-Space-Between-

As the woman left, Duncan groaned, and got to his feet, looking over the edge of roof at Baptista getting into back of car.

"Oh, my lucky day," Duncan stated.

-The-Space-Between-

"I didn't get into this business to make friends. This is my paper," Baptista spoke into the phone, "If he's corrupt, I have to print it. People are dead because of him. We have to shut him down. Well, find a second source. Uh-huh. Yes. Well, pay him, if you have to, but nail it down, eh?"

Mia arrived holding a stuffed Corgi dog under her arm, and tugged on Baptista's pants leg, "Papa?"

"Princess, please. I'm on the phone," Baptista told his daughter.

"I hate my new school," Mia stated.

"Si . Un momento, eh? Un momento," Baptista stated on the phone before he told his daughter, "Mia, honey. The schools in Europe, they are wonderful, no?"

"But I don't like it there. I want to go home," Mia told her father.

"Mia, this is an important call. I have to talk to him," Baptista insisted, "Why don't you take Maxim and go and play, and we'll talk later, yeah?"

"Okay," Mia replied.

"Okay," Baptista kissed her cheek.

-The-Space-Between-

The man lead Duncan toward the chateau, "He's this way, on the patio. You made quite an impression this morning."

"Nice place he's got here. Baptista must sell a lot of newspapers," Duncan stated, looking around his surroundings.

The man chuckled, "Enough."

"Hello," Duncan stated, noticing a little girl running past them.

"That's Mia, Senor Baptista's daughter," the man introduced the little girl before he led Duncan to the patio.

Baptista was talking into the phone, "I don't care who he knows in Congress. They'll come after us, we'll go after them. It's all part of the game, no? But we print it. SÃ Â . Front page. Eh? Well, tell those bastards they know where to find me, yeah?"

He ended the call.

"I think they already have," Duncan stated.

"What?" Baptista asked.

Duncan held up the crossbow bolt, "Found you."

"You're telling me that an assassin, a woman, was trying to kill me with this arrow?" Baptista asked.

"It's a crossbow bolt. It's not an arrow," Duncan informed him.

"Hmm."

"And it's designed to kill."

"And exactly how did you find it?" Baptista asked.

"Just lucky again, Mr. Baptista. Just lucky," Duncan answered.

-The-Space-Between-

Mia ran down the concrete stairs to lower gardens. A rope was thrown over the garden wall. Mia ran along the tall stone wall bordering the lower gardens.

Katya lowered herself down the rope. Mia walked around round the reflecting pool, giggled, and threw some stones into the water. Mia threw a final stone into the water and continued on.

Katya ran through the woods around the garden. Mia walked to the rectangular reflecting pool, sat on the stone step, threw a rock into pool.

Katya crept through the bushes, holding loaded crossbow. She crouched and looked through scope at Mia.

Mia then saw Katya approaching, "Katya!"

She jumped up and ran to her.

"Mia! Oh! Little Mia," Katya hugged her, "Ooh! Sweetie, I missed you so much."

"I missed you, too," Mia replied.

Katya chuckled as she noticed the dress Mia was wearing, "You're so sweet. You look lovely. Is this a new dress? It's so beautiful."

"I have a new puppy. See? He's a Corgi," Mia held up her stuffed animal.

"Oh, wow. He's so cute," Katya replied, "You know, the queen has exactly the same kind of dogs."

"I knew that."

"Makes him kind of royal, don't you think?" Katya asked.

"Yeah."

"Yeah? Mia, sweetie, where's your father?"

-The-Space-Between-

"We fence, I invite you to lunch, and you turn up with a story right out of, uh, Mission: Impossible," Baptista stated, "and I'm not supposed to be skeptical, huh?"

"Skeptical is fine. Stupid isn't," Duncan replied.

"I'm not stupid, Mr. MacLeod... or gullible."

Duncan sensed the buzz, "It's her."

"What?" Baptista asked.

"She's here," Duncan answered before he walked away.

Baptista and Jose followed Duncan down the hill to the lower gardens.

Duncan grabbed Mia as she ran past him, "There was a woman here. Did you see her? This is important. Did you see anyone?"

"You're scaring her," Baptista told the Highlander.

"It's all right. It's okay. It's all right," Duncan reassured the child, "Don't be scared."

He then told Baptista, "She was here."

Baptista crouched in front of Mia, "Mia, did you see anyone?"

"Just me and Maxim," Mia answered.

"Okay. Come. We'll go back to the house," Baptista told her before telling Duncan, "Lunch is over."

"Come," Baptista told his daughter.

Jose followed them back to the chateau. Duncan remained looking out over grounds. Duncan frowned, walking back toward the chateau.

-The-Space-Between-

Duncan walked past the chateau, and sensed the buzz again.

Duncan approached the rectangular reflecting pool, carrying his katana and ran into the woman he saw earlier.

"Who are you?" Duncan asked.

"The name is Katya," the woman introduced herself before she attacked him. They exchanged parries, and moved around a tree. They exchanged a couple parries, then Katya kicked at him. He blocked her and kicked back.

"You should have gotten out while I gave you the chance," Katya told him.

"That was a chance?" Duncan asked.

"If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead," Katya told him.

"Maybe," Duncan replied before the fight resumed.

"Why are you trying to kill Armando Baptista?" Duncan asked as the fight continued.

Duncan knocked Katya to her knees, "Why are you trying to kill Armando Baptista?"

"Because he killed Elena!" Katya answered.

"Who is Elena?" Duncan asked.

"She was my daughter," Katya explained, "I found Elena Moreno in Buenos Aires. Millions of people, and she was alone, barely surviving. You should've seen her. She was tiny, starving, begging for scraps, living on other people's garbage. There was something in her eyes, something that reached out and grabbed my soul. All she knew was her name and that her parents didn't want her. I couldn't walk past her. Sometimes, I would make-believe that she was part of my own flesh and blood, and maybe because I could never have children of my own, I wanted to be the best mother in the world. I wanted to give her back some of what she had given me. I watched her grow up. She was beautiful, and when she was old enough, I told her the truth about me. We kept moving so that the world wouldn't know I wasn't getting any older. I went from being – her mother to being her older sister, to her younger sister, but she was always my little girl. I came to her home one night. Armando Baptista had shot my beautiful baby.

DM stepped back, and lowers his katana. Katya stood up.

Buenos Aires — 1996

The paramedics wheeled the gurney out of the house. Katya drove up to the house.

Katya got out of car, "Elena!"

She ran to the ambulance, "Elena!"

A paramedic stopped Katya, "No, senora…."

"Get out of my way!" Katya shouted before she climbed in the back of ambulance.

"Mama," Elena weakly greeted Katya.

"Elena. You're gonna be fine. You're gonna be all right. Okay?" Katya assured her daughter through her tears, "You're gonna- You're gonna be fine."

"I feel bad. Am I dying?" Elena asked.

"No, baby. I'm not going to let you die," Katya answered, "You're going to be fine, okay?"

"Mama?"

"Yes?"

"Mama, stay with me."

"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

"Stay with me," was the last words Elena spoke before she died.

"No!" Katya cried.

The Present

"Why didn't you go to the police?" Duncan asked.

"Oh, there were police and a judge and a jury," Katya answered, "but in places like Argentina, a man with important friends…."

"He walked."

Katya sighed before she declared, "Mortal law failed, MacLeod, but I won't. My little girl will have justice."

She walked away.

-The-Space-Between-

"I'm sorry if that man scared you, Mia, this afternoon," Baptista told his daughter, "You like playing with your new dog?"

"Maxim's not just a dog. He's a royal dog," Mia answered.

"Oh. Because you own him?" Baptista asked.

"No, silly. Because the queen of England has lots of them," Mia answered.

"Really? Who told you that?"

Mia made a zipping motion with her fingers across her lips, "It's a secret."

"I see. Oh. Did the queen ask you not to tell?" Baptista then asked. Mia shook her head. Then Baptista asked, "No? The king?"

Mia shook her head.

"No. I, uh- I give up, Mia," Baptista admitted defeat.

"Aunt Katya….." Mia started to say before she slapped her hand over her mouth.

"Mia, when did you see Aunt Katya?" Baptista asked.

"I wasn't supposed to tell," Mia answered.

"The man was right? She was here? This afternoon?" Baptista realized what was going on before calling out his assistant, "Jose."

"Yes, senor," Jose replied.

Baptista walked over to Jose, "Katya's in town. Find her – and dig up all you can on Duncan MacLeod."

"Okay, sir," Jose replied before he left.

Baptista looked around, then down at Mia, and went back to Mia, "Mia, come. Come. Let's go."

He led Mia back toward chateau.

-The-Space-Between-

Klytus stood nearby as he saw the man walk at a nearby room with a little girl in tow. He scanned their images, starting with the man.

Subject Name: Armando Baptista

Species: Human

Friends with Duncan MacLeod

Then he got some information on the little girl that was with him.

Subject Name: Mia Baptista

Species: Human

Daughter of Armando Baptista

He received the information from Duncan as he believed that he was Richie and the Highlander asked him to keep watch upon the news of a woman attacking Baptista.

Klytus saw Mia by herself in a room as she was playing with her stuffed animal. Then he walked over to the little girl, who was startled upon seeing him.

"Who are you?" Mia asked.

"I'm just a friend of Duncan MacLeod," "Richie" answered, "I'm just a friend."

He walked over to the little girl and managed to corner her.

"It's all right," "Richie" tried to assure Mia, "It's all right. Don't be scared."

Mia screamed in terror.

"What the hell are you…" Baptista demanded as he entered the room. He tried knocking down "Richie", but was stopped by Duncan.

"It's all right," Duncan broke up the fight, "It's all right. This is my friend, Richie."

"Your friend has the audacity to scare a child," Baptista retorted as Mia ran out of the room.

"He didn't mean it," Duncan assured him, "Richie has been out of it for the past month since his wife died."

Baptista reluctantly accepted the statement.

"I'm sorry for scaring your child," "Richie" told Baptista.

"All right," Baptista nodded.

"Richie, can you excuse us?" Duncan asked, "We need to have a private talk."

"Of course, MacLeod," "Richie" answered before he left the room.

-The-Space-Between-

Mongo

Richie found that he wasn't dreaming. The portal had dragged him from Earth all the way to Mongo, and now he was strapped to a table, being interrogated by Ming the Merciless and his newly formed Unholy Alliance. By interrogation, they were making him relive the worst memories of his life.

"You're quite an interesting character, Richie," the dark haired man, O' Rourke, eyed his prisoner.

"Go to hell," Richie spat out.

"He's quite spirited," the woman, Cain smirked.

"Yes, he is," Ming replied, "Richie Ryan is one of Duncan MacLeod's closest friends, someone he considers to be a son."

"Whatever plans you have for MacLeod this time," Richie told the alliance, "You won't win! MacLeod will stop you!"

"Maybe," O' Rourke leaned down at Richie, "but will he keep his head to save you? I bet he wouldn't be the first person you have lost in your life."

He turned before typing some stuff on a computer. Richie groaned in pain as he felt a surge from the electrodes above his forehead.

He then saw a memory on the screen, just like before.

Tori walked to the car with Tessa and Richie.

"Don't you dare do anything reckless like that again," Tori told Richie, "you had me worried sick!"

"I just wanted to help," Richie replied.

"The water's under the bridge now," Tessa replied, "let's let it slide, Tori."

"You're right, you know," Tori nodded with a smile.

Richie handed out a jacket, "Tessa."

"Thanks," Tessa replied before putting the jacket back on.

"Let's get out of here," Tori told her friends.

"Yeah," Richie nodded, "let's go."

Suddenly, a young man wearing a jacket a dewrag approached the three, "Nice car. How about a ride?"

"Some other time," Richie declined the offer before looking at the women, "Let's go."

Suddenly, the guy held the three at gunpoint, demanding, "Now! Give me your keys. I want your rings, wallet, necklace! Come on!"

"Okay! Okay!" Tessa exclaimed in fear.

The three complied by giving the mugger what they could give him, including the car keys.

"Come on! Hurry up!" the mugger demanded.

"All right!" Richie exclaimed. Tori was too scared out of her mind to try to fight back. She thought maybe she could have, but it wouldn't do any good. He might hurt her, or worse, hurt Tessa or Richie. She remained calm for the sakes of Tessa and Richie.

"That's all you got?" the mugger demanded, "You got more. Where's her purse?"

"I don't have a purse," Tessa answered, "I swear...only the rings."

"You lying bitch!" the man shouted before shooting Tessa point blank in the torso. She screamed as she fell backwards to the ground.

"No!" Tori cried out in horror.

Then the man shot Richie twice. He screamed before falling backwards to the ground himself.

"This was the night he first became immortal," Cain noted.

"Imagine his reaction when he found out Tessa Noel didn't make it and he did," O' Rourke typed some more on the computer. Richie groaned again upon feeling the pain from the electrodes.

Richie gasped, coughed and spasm, as he found himself laying on the ground. This couldn't have been real. That mugger had just shot him, not once, but twice. He had to be dead, or was he?

He slowly sat up, coming to terms over what was happening, "Mac, I'm still alive, and the pain...it's going away."

"Give it another minute," Duncan told him, holding Tessa's lifeless body, "and you'll be fine."

Tori gasped, reviving as well, "I hate when this happens."

She looked over to see Richie was fully alive, "Richie? You..."

"I'm one of you," Richie stated, "I'm an Immortal?"

"You always were," Duncan told him.

"You knew all along, didn't you?" Richie asked.

"Yes," Duncan answered.

"Tessa too...is she..." Richie asked, sounding hopeful.

Tori glanced over at Duncan, who was looking at the love that was laying in his arms, like a crushed dove. He slowly shook his head.

"Mac?" Tori urged this time.

"No," Duncan finally answered.

"Oh no," Tori sobbed before she fell into Richie's arms. Richie comforted her, tears rimming his eyes as well.

Richie panted as the memories were being watched. He couldn't believe that Ming was bringing up the worst moments of his life, and there was nothing he could do about it.

"What about this Michael Christian guy?" Cain asked, "Why don't we try that memory?"

"No, no, don't," Richie shook his head. He yelled again upon feeling the electrodes.

Richie glared at Christian as he seemed to be amused with him while watching cartoons. Christian was antagonizing him, and Richie was snapping at him as he was struggling with the handcuffs as he had been handcuffed under the table as there was a pole under the table.

"Hi." Christian looked at Rita as she entered the home. Then he glanced at Richie, "Instead of killing this guy, can we keep him instead after I kill his girlfriend?"

"You're crazy." Richie muttered.

"I for one would like to feed him until he fills out of his shirt," Christian looked at his captor, "till those buttons pop and..."

"You sick bastard!" Richie exclaimed, disgusted, "Why would you even dare to think that?!"

Rita took a deep breath, "We'll discuss that after you win."

"What makes you think he'll win?" Richie retorted. Rita slapped him again, causing Christian to smirk, pleased by this.

"That guy must have been a creep to him," O' Rourke stated as he typed a bit more on the laptop.

Richie looked down in despair as he struggled against the handcuffs. He was alone in the motor home, handcuffed under the table. Tears fell down his face as he was worried for his girlfriend. If this creep could take out someone as strong as May – Ling, it was possible he could take out Tori, and possibly MacLeod.

He took some deep breaths as this was not the life he imagined for himself. He'd rather die than be some toy for some immortal creep's sick fantasy, which either that or losing his head would be his fate if Christian happened to be the victor over Tori.

Richie whimpered, forced to relive that terrifying memory.

"So a creepy immortal guy was into him too, huh?"

He looked up and saw a familiar face step out of the shadows.

"D – Donna?" Richie looked on in surprise.

"It's Carrie Frost now, or have you forgotten?" Frost retorted.

In the midst of everything, he forgotten that Angie had already mentioned that to him.

"What the hell are you doing with these creeps?" Richie asked.

"What do you think?" Frost asked, "I have recently joined them. I am a part of the Unholy Alliance now."

"Why?"

"Why the hell not? After all you have done, and not even my family had my back, so it's no wonder I turned to these people," Frost stated, crossing her arms before she looked at O' Rourke, "Say, why don't we relive some memories we had together?"

"Sure," O' Rourke then typed into the computer. Richie screamed in pain, causing Frost to smirk in satisfaction.

Richie looked down at Jeremy as he was laying in his crib, playing with a stuffed animal.

"Donna," Richie asked, "how come you didn't tell me?"

"I was confused," Donna answered, "and afraid."

"Of Joey?" Richie asked.

"Of you," Donna glanced at him, "I was afraid you wouldn't want us. Maybe you wouldn't believe me."

"Donna," Richie assured her, "we're gonna work something out. It'll be okay, for all of us."

"You mean that?" Donna asked.

"I promise," Richie answered. They shared a kiss. He had never been so happy in his life.

"It was a promise that YOU have broken," Frost taunted Richie, "you promised that you would help me raise Jeremy. I gave him up because you ended up choosing that plain Jane bitch over me and Joey didn't give a damn either."

"Who's fault is that?" Richie asked, "Not entirely mine. I couldn't tell you things for a reason. I was trying to protect you."

"Bull!" Frost gave Richie a hard slap.

O' Rourke typed some more on the computer, causing Richie to scream in pain again, giving Frost some satisfaction.

Richie looked at Jeremy as Donna called, "Richie?"

Richie replied, "Yeah, what's up?"

Donna arrived, holding the sword, "You tell me."

He turned around seeing that he had sort of been found out, "Oh, that. Uh, Donna, that's just something I have."

He took the sword from her.

"Richie," Donna replied, "people don't "just have" swords like this. What's it for?"

"Uh, it's a rapier actually," Richie explained, "made in Toledo, Spain about four hundred years ago."

Donna reached to touch the blade and Richie pulled it away, "And it is also very sharp."

He put the sword back in the bedroom.

"I don't like having it around," Donna stated, "It's not safe, Richie."

"It stays," Richie said firmly.

"Why?"

"Look, Donna," Richie walked with Donna, "can we just forget about this?"

"No, no we can't," Donna replied, annoyed, "What's it doing here?"

"I can't tell you," Richie insisted as he sat down on the sofa.

"Richie, families tell each other everything," Donna joined in as she sat down next to him, "Is it stolen?"

"No," Richie answered.

"Then what are you hiding?" Donna asked. He couldn't answer her, causing her to say, "If you can't trust me to tell me about some knife in your closet, how can I trust you to be his father?!"

"How do you know I am his father?" Richie insisted, "Maybe you should take a paternity test to determine whether or not that I am Jeremy's father."

"You're so pathetic," Donna scoffed, "you don't trust me! You want me out of here."

"Look, Donna," Richie replied, "I didn't say that."

"You know why it took me two years to tell you?" Donna stressed, "Because I didn't think you could handle it. You were a pathetic kid then and you still are, especially listening to that Plain Jane girl!"

"Come on, Donna," Richie replied, starting to get mad, "Leave Tori out of this! Besides, I'm trying!"

"Well, try harder," Donna replied before leaving the room.

"Let's try a little further," Frost suggested, "On the moment he told me he chose Tori over me."

"Okay," O' Rourke smirked before typing some more, causing Richie to scream in pain again, something Frost seemed to be enjoying.

Richie looked on as Donna arrived with Jeremy on the stroller. He knew that with his life as an Immortal, he couldn't live the life he wanted with Donna and her son Jeremy. If Kern had gone after them, there was no telling who else would have gone after them if he still remained with them.

He knew Donna would be disappointed, but this was something he had to do. She would never know what he was or why he was going to do what he had to do.

"Richie," Donna called to him as she pushed Jeremy's stroller and walked over to him.

"Hey," Richie replied as he stood up next to her.

"Hi," Donna kissed him before telling him, "I've got great news. My cousin Ralph's got a house on Fourth Street. He said if we painted and did a little work around the place, he wouldn't charge us rent."

"Donna," Richie went straight to the point, "it's not gonna work."

"Sure it is," Donna objected, "I've seen it. It's got two bedrooms, a big kitchen, a huge yard..."

"No, no, no, no, no," Richie cut her off, "I mean us. We're not gonna work."

"What?" Donna looked confused and surprised, "I don't get it, Richie. A couple of days ago, we were one big happy family."

"I know," Richie apologized, "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry," Donna scoffed in disbelief, "Just like that. You say a couple of words and it's over? If you didn't want us, why didn't you just tell me? Why did you lie to me, to him?"

"Donna, I didn't lie," Richie insisted, "Everything I said was true."

"Then why is this happening?" Donna asked.

"I can't tell you," Richie answered.

"Is it because of that genius girl?"

Richie didn't answer, but Donna assumed that was the reason, "Fine. We have to go."

"Donna," Richie tried to comfort her, "You can stay at my place until you get settled, and if you ever need anything: money, help..."

Donna cut him off this time, "We need you, Richie."

She slapped him before muttering, "Go to hell."

With that, Donna turned around and pushed the stroller quickly down the street.

"No more," Richie whimpered, "Please, no more."

He wanted to go home. He wanted to be safe. He didn't want to be in Mongo, especially not like this. He wanted Mac, Joe, Flash or even Amanda to comfort him.

-The-Space-Between-

"I'm a busy man, MacLeod," Baptista told Duncan as they were face to face with each other, "I don't have the time."

"Make the time," Duncan urged his friend.

"I don't think so," Baptista stated before he walked away.

"The door is this way, senor," Jose told Duncan as he blocked him with his arm.

"Elena Moreno," Duncan called out then he knocked Jose's arm aside, and moved toward Baptista. Jose grabbed his shoulder.

Baptista then replied sharply, "Jose, show Mr. MacLeod into the office, but first, make sure he's comfortable."

Duncan spread his arms wide as Jose patted him down, "He said comfortable."

-The-Space-Between-

Jose escorted Duncan into the room as Duncan walked to the desk.

"Before we discuss Elena, let's talk about you," Baptista told Duncan.

"There's nothing to talk about," Duncan insisted.

Baptista held up a file, "You'd be surprised."

He placed the file back on desk, "Duncan MacLeod, born in Glasgow in 1962, at a St. Alistair's Hospital, which burned down in 1966…Duncan MacLeod...born in Glasgow in 1962...at a St. Alistair's Hospital, which burned down in 1966…"

Duncan sat down.

Baptista continued, "conveniently destroying all the original records. Your parents, John and Mary, die in a car accident when you were still a child. So, you were raised by a maiden aunt in America."

"Judith. I still miss her," Duncan replied.

"Mm. But she dies of a stroke when you're seventeen," Baptista stated, "It's amazing how everyone who knew you as a child seems to be, eh, unreachable... or dead."

"It's a sad story."

"Mm. Was it Oscar Wilde who said, Losing one parent is a tragedy."

"And losing both is carelessness. Oscar was a cynic."

"And you, Mr. MacLeod, are a liar. I've been in the newspaper business all my life. I can smell a fake, and you, my friend, stink."

"She's out there and she's coming," Duncan insisted, "and there's nothing you can do to stop her."

"Why is my life so important to you, huh?" Baptista asked.

"All life is important to me, Mr. Baptista, even Elena Moreno's," Duncan answered before he asked, "Why did you kill her?"

Baptista picked up a framed photo of him and Elena from desk, "Elena and I had been married for ten years. Ramon Castillo had been my right arm for nearly as long."

Buenos Aires —1996

"Ah. Ramon," Baptista greeted Ramon as he entered the room.

"I have the final itinerary," Ramon stated as he handed a sheet of paper to Baptista.

Baptista looked at the paper, "Ah. Paris, Nice, Rome, Venice. Nine cities in twelve days, huh? You tryin' to kill me, eh?"

"I have to keep the advertisers happy," Ramon replied.

"Ah. I think I taught you too well, no?"

Elena entered the room, "What time is the car coming?"

"I'm driving myself to the airport, so we have a little time," Baptista answered.

"Good."

Katya then entered the room, "Now, you're sure that it's okay if Mia stays with me tonight, right?"

"Yeah," Elena answered.

"Yeah," Katya informed them, "The, uh, housekeeper will be with her during that dinner thing I have to attend, but she'll be asleep by then anyway."

She went to the sideboard to pour a drink.

"She's been looking forward to it for weeks," Elena stated, "I'll be fine."

Ramon joined Katya at the sideboard, "You look great. You mind if I help myself?"

"No, not at all," Katya answered.

Elena joined them at the sideboard, "I think we need more ice. Katya, a little help?"

"Sure. What, for ice?" Katya replied.

"Yes, please."

"Okay."

Ramon and Baptista both watched as the two women left together.

-The-Space-Between-

"How could you do that to me?" Elena told her mother.

"Do what?" Katya asked.

"Put the moves on Ramon like that," Elena answered.

Katya scoffed, "Me? It's not my fault he can't keep his hands to himself."

"Just stay away from him."

Katya covered her mouth with her hand in realization, "Elena, what are you doing?"

"Ramon makes me feel beautiful," Elena stated. Katya sighed in response before Elena continued, "He makes me feel young. Some of us can't stay twenty-seven forever."

"Does Armando know?" Katya asked.

"Mama, I've only one short life. Let me live it," Elena insisted.

"Please, be careful, Elena," Katya advised, "and-and think of Mia."

Katya sighed before she told her daughter, "You know he'll find out. They always do."

Elena gave her a wry grin. Katya sighed again.

-The-Space-Between-

Baptista looked at some black and white photos of Elena and Ramon together, "Ramon, how could you do this to me?"

He took a breath in and then exhaled, "I can't believe it."

"Pictures don't lie. I'm sorry, senor," the PI informed him before he asked, "Want to see more?"

"No," Baptista answered before he put the photos back in envelope, and handed the PI. a wad of cash.

"Are you all right?" the PI asked.

Baptista got in his car without responding.

-The-Space-Between-

Baptista entered the house, walked to the living room, sat on the couch, and stared at envelope of photos, distraught.

He tossed the envelope on the coffee table, placed his head in his hands. Suddenly he heard a man and woman laughing upstairs.

-The-Space-Between-

Ramon and Elena were in bed together, giggling and moaning. They continued rolling around under the sheets. They were laughing and moaning until Baptista pushed the bedroom door open, and entered. He saw them in bed together, entwined and kissing, and cocked the gun. The lovers froze, and looked up at him.

"Armando- No!" Elena shouted.

Baptista fired his gun twice. Ramon cried out. Baptista walked out of the bedroom, leaving them sprawled on the bed.

Baptista walked partway down the stairs, then collapsed against the wall on the landing, crying.

The Present

"I telephoned for an ambulance, but she died on the way to the hospital," Baptista then told Duncan before he sat the picture frame back on desk, "I loved her."

"So much that you killed her?" Duncan asked.

"You weren't there. You didn't see them," Baptista insisted, "Castillo was my protegee. He was like a brother to me. With my wife."

"So, they had to die because you got your feelings hurt?" Duncan asked.

"No! There was no thought, no plan," Baptista insisted, "The courts understood. It was a crime of passion."

"It was murder, and you beat it," Duncan argued.

"Did I? You have any idea what it's like to see my little daughter's face every day? See her mother looking back at me? She has no idea how her mother died."

"Yes, but she will, because Katya's not going away."

"What does she want me to do, kill myself? Huh? Tell me. Tell me. How can I kill my little girl's father when I've already killed her mother? Huh?"

"I haven't come here to tell you what to do or how to live your life," Duncan told him, "That's your choice."

With that, he left the room.

-The-Space-Between-

Duncan heard a knock on the door as he was asleep with a book propped on his chest, he woke up, and sensed the buzz.

"Come in," Duncan called out.

Katya entered the barge, "Where are they?"

"Disneyland?" Duncan answered.

"Armando's disappeared and taken my granddaughter with him," Katya told Duncan.

DM got up and sighed, "You hungry?"

"What?" Katya asked.

Duncan went to the kitchenette, "I've got some fresh basil in the fridge and, uh, I've got some parmigiana, too."

He told himself, "I've got some extra virgin olive oil somewhere. I hope there's some pine nuts."

"MacLeod?" Katya called out.

Duncan looked up, "Hmm?"

"I need answers," Katya insisted.

"Pesto's no good without pine nuts," Duncan stated before asking, "Now, what about the wine? I say we go with the red."

He held up two bottles, "French or Italian. What do you think? Hmm?"

Katya answered, "French."

They both laughed.

Katya and Duncan proceeded to have dinner.

"You know, I came here thinking I might have to kill you," Katya stated as she was sharing wine a meal with Duncan.

"You don't get out much, do you?" Duncan asked.

"Not lately, no," Katya answered.

"Too busy being the sword of justice?"

"Don't joke."

"I'm not."

"Why are you protecting him?"

"It's not about him."

"You ever raise a child, MacLeod?" Katya asked.

"No, but I understand how you are feeling," Duncan answered, "I know what it is like to lose a daughter. In fact, I lost someone that I considered to be a daughter last year. I think about her often, and I miss her."

"Did her husband kill her?" Katya asked.

"No," Duncan shook his head as he recalled taking Tori's head and Richie screaming in anguish after he took her quickening, "Her husband loved her very much. She gave her life to make sure that he was safe."

"She loved her husband that much," Katya stated, "Just as Armando "loved" Elena."

"Katya, killing's not the answer," Duncan insisted.

"What about revenge?" Katya asked.

"The emptiness you feel won't be filled by anger, or revenge, or hate," Duncan told her, "Armando's death would just leave you feeling emptier, and I don't think you need to feel emptier. I think you need to feel life."

He pulled her to her feet, and began dancing with her to soft music playing in background, "Hmm?"

They both chuckled.

"Your life," Duncan spun her, and continued dancing, "Oops."

He pulled her in, "Yours and mine, and for Elena. For Tori too."

"So, how old are you, really?" Katya asked as they began slow dancing.

"Well, next birthday, I'll be, uh, four hundred and six," Duncan answered.

"You're pretty smart, for a kid," Katya replied before they began to kiss. Eventually, they ended up in bed together. As they finished, Duncan gently wipes the tears from her eye.

-The-Space-Between-

Duncan joined Katya, and handed her a cup of espresso, "Good morning."

Katya sighed, "Every time I close my eyes I see them."

"Who?"

"The jury. They thought Armando's precious honor was more valuable than my daughter's life."

"That's the system."

"No, it was his jury. Twelve men, good and true. I've seen it before."

Katya recalled back in 1362 England, where she dealt with the jury accusing her of being a witch, leading her being stoned to death, which was her first death.

"I went out to dinner, expecting to be treated like a young bride, and I woke up in a charnel pit, Immortal," Katya stated, "Men's justice, Duncan."

"Katya, it's not all men," Duncan insisted.

"I don't want to kill all men, just one," Katya insisted before she started to leave.

"Katya," Duncan called out as she walked away, "Katya."

-The-Space-Between-

Katya sat in a red convertible nearby, and watched as Jose got in the car and droves away.

Jose checked to see if that the French doors are locked, walked through the chateau, and heard the door hinges squeak and went to investigate.

Katya knocked him out, took gun from his pocket, sensed the buzz, rolled her eyes, and met with Duncan in hallway.

"Is this about his guilt... or yours?" Duncan asked.

"Stay out of my way, Duncan," Katya told the Highlander.

"You were a good mother," Duncan told her in turn, "There's nothing you could have done to stop it."

"I can end it," Katya replied.

"Katya….." Duncan started to say.

"The only way you're going to stop me is to kill me," Katya declared.

"I haven't come to kill you or to stop you," Duncan insisted, "Just to tell you that if you do this, it'll never heal. Nothing will ever be the same. Let it go."

He stood beside her for a moment, offering silent comfort, then left her.

-The-Space-Between-

Baptista looked up as Katya entered the room, pointing gun at him, "Katya."

He then called out as Katya walked toward him, "Jose! Jose!"

"He won't be coming," Katya stated before she asked, "Isn't this the same kind of gun you used to kill Elena?"

"For God's sake, Katya, what do you want from me?" Baptista asked.

"I want you to die," Katya answered.

"Don't you think I would do anything to have her back?" Baptista insisted, "I was crazy that night. It was not my fault! They knew that at the trial."

Katya saw two swords on display nearby and grabbed one, "Then I think it's time we had another trial."

She then glanced at the other sword and told him, "Pick it up. I said, pick it up."

She held the sword in front of her face in salute. Baptista grabbed the remaining sword from the display stand, and moved toward her."

"I'm giving you one chance, Armando. Right now, you and me," Katya stated before she attacked.

"Katya, this is insane!" Baptista exclaimed.

The fight continued, and it ended with Katya's blade against Baptista's throat.

"Papa!"

Katya turned and she saw Mia standing at the doorway in shock.

"Mia! Go away. Go away! Get out!" Katya shouted.

"Princess, please, go. It's okay," Baptista told his daughter.

Mia ran out of the room.

"Take care of her," Baptista told Katya.

-The-Space-Between-

Katya walked through gate to the parked Land Rover where Duncan was waiting.

"Mia loves him," Katya stated.

Duncan smiled, hugging her.

-The-Space-Between-

Duncan and Katya walked along the quay toward Pont de la Tournelle bridge.

"Maybe I should never have told her. Maybe I destroyed any chance Elena had to be happy," Katya stated, "I don't know. All I know is that I have to go away and sort this stuff out."

"You gave her a life, a mother, a love she would never have known without you," Duncan assured her.

"Yeah. You know, I always wondered why we could never have children. I used to think it was a curse, but it's not," Katya said.

"We lose friends, and we lose lovers. It always hurts," Duncan told her.

"But no one should ever have to lose a child," Katya stated before she kisses him, "I'm sorry about your daughter."

"Thanks," Duncan nodded.

"Thank you."

They turned to see "Richie" standing close by.

"Are you the husband of his daughter?" Katya asked.

"Yes," Duncan answered, "Richie is the husband of my daughter. He was Tori's husband."

"I'm sorry for scaring Mia yesterday," "Richie" apologized.

"Don't worry about it," Katya replied, "Just be glad I didn't catch you scaring her."

"Of course….Katya," "Richie" replied in turn.