TSB 11

The Space Between

By AmandaDoE

Chapter Eleven: Deadly Exposure

"Richie!" Duncan sat up from his bed, waking up in cold sweat.

He looked around to find himself at his bed in the barge.

"Duncan?"

Duncan trailed to where the voice was and he saw Amanda looking at him with concern.

"Did you have another nightmare?" Amanda asked.

"Just like before," Duncan answered as he saw the images in his head: him taking Tori's head, Richie screaming in anguish, Richie nearly taking Duncan's head and even Richie's recent new look: pale, wearing darker clothes.

"You do realize that what happened to Tori was not your fault, right?" Amanda asked.

"I've realized that by now," Duncan nodded, "but something has been bothering me lately."

"What's that?"

"Richie. He's been acting different lately."

"How so?" Amanda asked.

"Richie has been distant lately," Duncan answered, "more than usual. Normally, he's a cheerful guy, upbeat and ever since Tori died….."

"He hasn't been the same," Amanda cut him off, "I'm aware of that too. Richie should know it's not his fault that April tried to kill me. He does realize that, right? It's not even your fault that happened. She just has her demons that she has to deal with."

"I believe it," Duncan nodded, "April did tell me that she's never going to forgive me for killing Tori, which was the last thing she told me before she left. It's not surprising, but it kind of stings."

"I know, Duncan," Amanda wrapped her arms around her lover, "She knows as well as we do that this is part of the game, part of the rules, even if Ahriman was never around. Two immortals duel, and only one comes out of it alive."

"I know," Duncan stated, "but now, Richie is far from himself that he has ever been. He's been distant, mostly quiet, and when he does speak, it's like he's sounding like a robot. What's worse, I don't sense the buzz whenever he comes near me, and I usually do."

"That is odd," Amanda replied, "You don't think someone, or something has taken his place, do you?"

Duncan looked up in concern, considering that statement.

-The-Space-Between-

Reagan was on the phone at an outdoor cafe, talking to Duncan.

"Well, of course I'm having a great time," Reagan spoke into the phone, chuckling, "Yeah, I've been in town only for four hours and already gained twenty pounds."

She watched a nearby photo shoot as she was talking on the phone.

Reagan was watching Murph posing for Celine's camera, "And you were right, MacLeod. There's always something new to see in Paris. What? No, no, no, I'm – I'm fine. How's Amanda? Really? Oh good. Yeah, the IUA allows free time for us agents. Too bad Tori never mentioned that. She did? Gotcha."

"Back to work," Celine told Murph.

"What?" Murph asked.

"He's seen you," Celine told the women before he told Murph, "You've seen them. Show's over. Let's concentrate. Let's do it again."

"Okay," Murph replied.

"Big smile, Murph. That's my boy."

Celine took a photo where a man was caught in the picture.

"Get that camera. She took my picture," the man called out.

"Uh, six o'clock it is... You still living in that garbage scow of yours?" Reagan asked Duncan over the phone.

Celine stopped taking photos, "This doesn't work."

"Well, just tell me what to do," Murph replied.

"It has nothing to do with you, sweetheart. It's the sun, those trees, everything. It's just not right. We'll have to do it again," Celine stated.

"All of it?" Murph asked.

"When that ad agency sees you for the first time, they've got to say, this is the guy. Okay?" Celine answered, "So, I know you trust me, sweetheart. We'll do it again. And you start with the blue thing, okay?"

"All right."

Murph jogged across the street, crossing in front of car driving slowly past. Celine took the film out of the camera, and tossed it in nearby trash can.

A car stopped, and two men got out of the car.

"Um, six o'clock it is," Reagan declared over the phone.

"Get the hell out of here!" Celine shouted as the men grabbed her.

Reagan saw the commotion and spoke into the phone, "Gotta go."

Celine knocked one of the men down, and ran after the other man, who has her camera, "No!"

She grabbed his arm.

Reagan ran toward them. One of the men shot Celine. The two men got in their car and drove away as Celine fell to the ground. Reagan ran to her, and checked for a pulse. Celine was dead.

-The-Space-Between-

"My grandfather was a miner. My father was a miner. So I did that for a while while I was at school," Murph stated, "I just couldn't take it. After I flunked out of school, well, it was either construction or the army."

Murph then led Reagan through the courtyard, "When I first met Celine, I was twenty foot up on a scaffold. She said I had something."

"Well, she was right," Reagan told him.

"I'm sorry. Do you want something to drink?" Murph offered.

"Uh, how 'bout a beer?"

"Ah, my mum says, alcohol rots the soul," Murph stated before he unlocked the apartment door, and he let Reagan in the apartment.

"Uh, coffee then," said Reagan.

"I'm sorry," Murph followed her inside, "I do have some lovely jasmine tea, though."

"Hold me back," Reagan stated teasingly before she giggled.

"Well, home sweet home and all that," Murph replied.

Reagan looked around the loft, "Nice place."

"Yeah, right. I'm not much of a decorator."

Murph chuckled, and then disappeared into the kitchen. Moments later, he came back through the kitchen door, his hands up, followed at gunpoint by the two men they saw earlier.

"Hands in the air," the first man ordered as he pointed his gun at Reagan.

Reagan raised her hands, "You've got lousy taste in roommates."

"Shut up," the other man barked.

"They want... the film?" Murph stated, confused.

"What film?" Reagan asked.

"Well, that's what I said. Said we didn't have any bloody film," Murph answered.

"Broken record. Maybe your girlfriend will be more... cooperative," the second man stated.

"Never hurts to ask," Reagan replied.

Murph lunged toward the second man, "Don't touch her!"

The second man punched him. Reagan fought him in turn, got his gun and shots the first man, which caused the second man to run away.

"You okay?" Reagan asked Murph as she then [knelt to check on the man she shot.

"Who are you?" Murph asked in turn before he got to his feet, and looked down at the body, and then exchanged a look with Reagan.

-The-Space-Between-

"What do you want from me? The name is Reagan Cole, for the second time today," Reagan told Mitchell as the body was being carried away in a body bag.

Mitchell was sitting on the end of Murph's bed, eating a sub, "Everybody happy?"

Murph had finished his statement. Mitchell groaned, suppressing a belch.

"It always happens when I skip breakfast," Mitchell stated.

"Mum always used to say, cherry bark is a natural digestive," Murph stated.

Mitchell rolled his eyes and went back to eating his sub.

"So, um, what's Interpol doing here? What's the connection between the murder and the break-in?" Reagan asked.

"Connection?" Mitchell inquired.

"The film? The camera? Hello?"

"There isn't any."

"And I suppose you just happened to be in the neighborhood, right?"

Mitchell shrugged and nodded, "It's always nice to liaise with the locals when you can."

Reagan heard her pager beep, "Must be Mum."

Murph took the pager from his robe pocket, and looked at it.

"Well, that's that," Mitchell then stood up, groaning, "Well, there you go. Thanks for everything."

"Well, that's it?" Reagan asked.

"That's all for now. Grateful for the cooperation, et cetera, et cetera," Mitchell answered.

Mitchell and the rest of the police personnel all left.

"What's the matter?" Murph asked.

Reagan scoffed, "Just happened to be in the neighborhood. Come on. I mean, what is it with that film? Why is Interpol sticking their nose in, and why do I get the feeling like my vacation just got trashed?"

She flopped into a chair, and had a sudden realization.

-The-Space-Between-

Reagan and Murph walked quickly across plaza to trash can. Murph dumped the can's contents out. Reagan found the discarded film canister and then they walked off together before they found themselves at a PhotoExpress.

"Thank you very much," Reagan told the cashier before she waved a packet of developed photos at Murph as she left the shop, started looking through them with him.

Reagan noticed as two men got out of a parked car nearby and started walking. Murph followed her. The men followed them.

"What?" Murph asked, following Reagan.

"Don't turn around," Reagan instructed before she led him around a corner.

"This way," the balding man called out. He and his partner walked around the same corner. The balding man ran past the edge of building, and came face to face with Reagan.

"Looking for me?" Reagan asked before she knocked the balding man down, froze when the second man held his gun at her neck, then she whirled and fought him, too, eventually knocking both men out, "It's all right."

Murph came out of hiding, "I'm not used to having a woman do my fighting for me."

Reagan searched the balding man's pockets, "Tell you what. Next time, it's your turn."

She held up the man's police ID.

"They're cops. Oopsie," Murph stated.

Reagan heard sirens wailing in distance, "They're playing our song. Come on."

-The-Space-Between-

New York

"What are you doing here, Ming?" Atascadero asked as she spotted Ming during her lunch with Mandrake, Lothar, LJ, Kshin and Amy, a family picnic.

"She's right," Mandrake added, "You are supposed to be in prison."

"Yeah," a dark haired man stepped out of the shadows, "but I broke him out, and so has my partner, Lauren Cain."

Cain emerged out of the shadows as well.

"And you are?" Kshin asked.

"My name is Liam O' Rourke," the dark haired man introduced himself, "and she's Lauren Cain, as I already mentioned."

"What do you want?" Lothar asked.

"I have come here to let you and the rest of the Defenders know that you are doomed," Ming answered, "Not even Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod will be able to stand a chance."

"You know that won't happen," Mandrake replied, "Like always, we will stop you, and your little alliance will crumble."

"He's right, we will take you to the cleaners!" LJ exclaimed.

"Even if it means sending away a mortal human too?" Cain asked.

"What are you talking about?" Kshin asked, "What would make a mortal human want to join an unholy alliance like yours?"

"A woman by the name of Carrie Frost," O' Rourke answered, "She's stepped up to be one of the members of our unholy alliance. She was originally known as Donna, who helped us out in our revenge against MacLeod."

"And she had started her help with us by helping us take her ex, Richie Ryan, to Mongo as he will be bait for MacLeod," Ming added in, "just as the rest of MacLeod's little friends will be."

"And you're totally nuts," LJ stated.

"He's right," Mandrake chimed in, "Whatever issues this Frost girl has with Richie, there are other ways

Frost suddenly appeared out from the shadows, "Shut up! Duncan MacLeod is going to face damnation. These guys will see to that and their pain will begin, starting with pathetic Richie Ryan, and now, I can try something else."

Amy and Kshin screamed in terror. Amy used her telekinesis to try to ward off the unholy alliance.

"What are you doing with the unholy alliance anyway?" Mandrake asked Frost.

"What's it to you, buddy?" Frost retorted, putting her hands on her hips.

"You're turning your back on the side of good," Atascadero stated, "even your own family."

"So? I don't have a family. My mother is a backstabbing dumb ass," Frost retorted, "She has taken Richie's side in my choices. She knew that I couldn't raise Jeremy all by myself, but she sided with Richie, and cut me off."

"Well, who's fault is that?" LJ retorted in turn, "It was heartless of you to abandon your child because you felt you were too stressed out apparently."

"Do you know how many women would be happy to have children?" Atascadero asked, "and you tossed that poor kid like yesterday's trash. The audacity! At least he's now in a loving family."

"Richie should have just followed through on his word and helped me raise Jeremy," Frost interjected, "Then maybe none of us would be here right now."

"Has it ever occurred to you that Richie had a reason for why he couldn't keep his promise to you?" Mandrake asked calmly.

"It's all a load of crap, you dumb conspiracy buying morons!" Frost blew up, "Richie ruined my life! Now it's only fair that I return the favor, starting with what we're doing right now!"

"Not as long as we're around," Lothar told her, "You're not touching Richie, MacLeod or any of MacLeod's other friends!"

"We already have Richie in our clutches," O' Rourke declared, "so, it's only a matter of time before we get the rest of MacLeod's friends, and then I will have his head because I know, he will offer his life for his friends, all of his friends."

"You won't win," Lothar declared.

"Go to hell, freaks!" Frost shouted.

Atascadero prepared to fight, "You first, you back-stabbing spoiled brat!"

She gave Frost a swift kick and knocked her down to the ground.

Mandrake lifted his hands and created illusions to try to fool the unholy alliance. Lothar and LJ knocked down O' Rourke and Ming while Atascadero knocked down Cain as well.

Suddenly, the group heard police sirens at the distance.

"Looks like the jig is up," Cain stated.

"Another time, Defenders," Ming told the group before he, O' Rourke, Cain and Frost collected themselves and fled the area.

"What'll we do?" Atascadero asked.

"We tell the police the gist of our statements," Mandrake answered, "and then we tell the others about our encounter. Flash is not going to be happy that Ming the Merciless has been sprung out of prison."

-The-Space-Between-

"Nice of you to drop by, but dinner was four hours ago," Duncan stated.

Reagan kissed his cheek, "I'm sorry. Um, Murph, this is Duncan MacLeod, the wonderful, handsome, generous man that I've told you about and my mentor, Amanda."

"It's a little early for snow," Duncan stated.

Murph held out his hand, "Hi."

"Hi," Duncan replied.

"Oooh, ladies first," Amanda stated as she shook Murph's hand, "Such a gentleman."

Then Murph shook Duncan's hand.

Duncan then pulled Reagan aside as Amanda walked over to them, "What's going on?"

"We need a place to crash tonight," Reagan replied.

"So you chose my place. I'm flattered," Duncan replied.

"Well, Reagan can't go back to her hotel because she just conked a couple of cops," Murph stated, "and she already shot one guy at my flat, and the other guy's still alive. Well, he might come back."

"See, it's simple, really," Reagan chimed in.

Duncan sighed loudly.

"So, what's going on, really?" Amanda asked.

Reagan sighed, and handed them stack of photos, "These."

Duncan and Amanda looked at the photos from Murph's shoot.

"Well, um, you always did have a knack of getting in trouble with men in shorts," Duncan stated.

"That statement isn't doing it justice," Amanda chimed in.

Duncan recalled his encounter with Reagan in 1833 London.

Duncan was examining a photo with a magnifying glass, "It might help if I knew what we were looking for."

"I don't know. Something worth killing for," Reagan answered.

"Or someone," Amanda stated.

"They're not my best," Murph stated self-consciously.

"Wait," Reagan grabbed Duncan's magnifying glass.

"What is it?" Amanda asked.

Reagan examined the photo closely, "I've seen this guy before."

Duncan looked closely at photo, "Where?"

Reagan and Amanda looked at the photo over Duncan's shoulder. Duncan walked across barge to fetch his laptop, presumably.

-The-Space-Between-

Kendal was examining some blueprints and schematics at his desk.

Sears entered the room, "You might be interested in this."

He handed Kendal a file folder.

Kendal examined the contents, "Reagan Cole."

"You know her?" Sears asked.

"She's a bounty hunter from the Intergalactic Union Agency," Kendal explained, "She almost got in my way when I hit Vega. Who's the guy?"

"A nobody. A male model from London," Sears answered.

"I bet she has the film, and they've both seen it," Kendal stated.

"What about the police?" Sears asked.

Kendal shook his head, "All she's after is the money. If the police take me, she gets nothing."

"You want us to stake out in front of her hotel and the guy's apartment?" Sears asked.

"No, she'd never go back there," Kendal answered, "She's too smart. We'll just have to be smarter."

-The-Space-Between-

Duncan, Amanda, Reagan and Murph all looked into the computer screen. They saw a black and white photo of a younger Jack Kendal, which revealed these stats:

Name: Jack Kendal, alias Jack Renfro, Jack Wells, Jack Kenton.

Born: Sarajevo, 1953.

Father: Canadian, deceased 1957.

Mother: Croatian, deceased 1971.

Education: Sorbonne, London School of Economics.

Terrorist Affiliations: Red Flag, Arcan Cartel, Shining Path, Hamas.

Last Seen: 1982

"Went to ground fifteen years ago. Hasn't been seen since," Duncan stated.

Murph was looking at computer screen over Duncan's shoulder, "Did he really kill three hundred people in that plane he blew up?"

Reagan remembered the statement, "He was in Miami last week. He killed the guy I was bringing in. Oh, man. I should have recognized him. I thought he was dead."

"Yeah, well, so did the rest of the world," Amanda chimed in.

They looked into the computer screen with the picture of Jack Kendal with the following text:

Terrorist acts include: 1974 bombing of Flight 346. 300 dead.

42 suspected assassinations.

Never arrested.

Presumed dead.

Amanda red from the screen, "Forty-two suspected assassinations. Never arrested."

Reagan tapped at the keyboard, "Oh, this is interesting."

"What?" Duncan asked.

"The price on his head? One million," Reagan stated.

"Yeah, but who is he here to kill?" Duncan asked.

-The-Space-Between-

"Here we go. Decaf," Duncan handed the cup to Murph.

"And, um, for you, my lady, decaf with sugar," Duncan carried cup to Reagan.

Reagan groaned, "Decaf? You're kidding."

"You're welcome," Duncan replied.

"After a night on the futon from hell, I need all the caffeine I can get," Reagan stated.

"Ah, now caffeine…." Murph stated.

Reagan cut him off, "I know, I know."

Duncan looked out porthole, "Here we go."

"What?" Amanda asked as she stepped out with her cup in her hand.

"Looks like a cop. Walks like a cop," Duncan stated.

Reagan looked out the porthole, and saw Mitchell on the quay, eating a crepe, "Yep, it's a cop. Interpol."

-The-Space-Between-

"Duncan MacLeod," Mitchell greeted the Highlander before he eyed Amanda, "and you are?"

"My name's Amanda Montrose," Amanda answered.

"Mm-hmm. Your turn," Duncan told the cop.

"Rowan Mitchell, Interpol," Mitchell introduced himself.

"Well, you got any ID.? Can't be too careful these days," Duncan asked.

Mitchell shoved a last bite of crepe in his mouth, and tossed the paper napkin over his shoulder, "Of course."

He handed Duncan a card, "I'm afraid the dry cleaners did a number on it, but if you squint... you can just make out my name."

"You've got to be kidding," Duncan muttered.

"I don't joke. Oh," Mitchell took his card back, "When I was a young man, I used to make up limericks. You care to hear one? There once was a young man with a film roll... who befriended a lass named Cole- Reagan Cole. You wouldn't happen to know anybody named Reagan Cole, would you, Mr. MacLeod?"

Duncan frowned and shook his head, "Who?"

"Do not know her," Amanda lied.

"I have a log of the calls she placed on her cell phone yesterday. One of them was to this address," Mitchell stated.

"Doesn't ring a bell. No pun intended," Duncan told him.

"I always wondered what one of these looked like inside," Mitchell glanced at the barge.

Duncan blocked his path, "Keep wondering."

"Have it your own way, Mr. MacLeod, Miss Montrose," Mitchell told We can do it here, or we can do it down at my office."

"Good idea. I'll buy you lunch," Duncan replied.

Mitchell shrugged, "Okay."

He stepped off the barge back onto the quay, "Whoa."

Duncan picked up the discarded paper napkin, "I think this is yours."

Mitchell took the napkin, "Oh, thank you very much. You should get some steps there, you know."

-The-Space-Between-

Reagan motioned to a plate on table which had moules et frites – mussels and fries, "Mm. Help yourself."

"Mind if I ask you a personal question?" Murph asked.

"How personal?" Reagan asked in turn.

"Well, I was just wondering... I mean, I know I'm not the smartest guy around, and, well, you probably know loads of guys from university and stuff," Murph stated, "but... it's just that…"

Reagan became distracted by the newspaper left on the table next to theirs, which read: Europe unites against terrorism.

"Yes!" Reagan exclaimed as she read the headline and grabbed the paper.

"Yes?" Murph asked.

"Hang on," Reagan stated before reading the article, "The eyes of the world will be on France tonight as foreign ministers gather in Paris for a forum on European unity."

"So?"

"For Kendal to be in Paris after popping someone last week, it would have to be something important," Reagan stated, "something that would bring him millions."

She stood up.

"Look, tell me what to do," Murph told her.

"Been to the Louvre lately? Perfect place to lose yourself for an afternoon."

"I just want to help."

"I know, and I appreciate it. Meet me back here at two o'clock."

"What about Kendal?" Murph asked.

"He's mine," Reagan answered before she left.

Murph's pager started beeping. He looked at it, which read:

Call Agency re: headshots

08-55-55-00-22

Aug. 14, 1997 10 45am

Murph glanced around the cafe, then left.

-The-Space-Between-

Reagan grabbed a clipboard from the back of a van, went to the hotel entrance and stood outside the door. A man walked through a metal detector on his way out of hotel. Reagan held up a hand to stop him.

"Yes?" the man responded.

Reagan looked at the clipboard, "Dr. Bellows?"

Bellows nodded, "Mm-hmm."

Reagan stepped aside, and allowed him continue past.

Reagan then stopped a blonde female news reporter from entering hotel, "I'm sorry, but your security tag has expired."

The reporter, who bared a superficial resemblance to Reagan, argued, "But I'm already cleared."

"Well, you'll have to reapply," Reagan replied.

The reporter crossed her arms, snarky, "And I'm supposed to do that in time for the conference?"

"Hey," Reagan grabbed the reporter's security badge from her coat lapel, "I don't make the rules."

"What a load of crap!" the reporter exclaimed before she stormed off.

Reagan looked around surreptitiously, clipped badge to her own jacket, and entered the hotel.

-The-Space-Between-

Reagan climbed the stairs, and entered the venue room.

She saw workers chatter indistinctly in background, setting up buffet tables.

Reagan noticed Mitchell entering room behind her.

"And you told me you were on vacation. Misplaced your hotel?" Mitchell asked Reagan.

"Just happen to be in the neighborhood again?" Reagan asked in turn.

"Yes, and no," Mitchell answered, "but then again, that's me. I don't always do what I say. I don't always mean what I think. A walking conundrum."

"Do you ever have a straight answer?"

"Good heavens, no. Everybody's got an agenda."

"Like Kendal?"

"Like you."

"You don't know anything about me."

"Bounty hunters, mercenaries... Fringe dwellers. Usually damaged goods."

"Yeah, whatever. Kendal is mine. The million is mine, period."

"Semicolon. Kendal will be in custody – or dead - within hours."

"He's been running you guys in circles for the past fifteen years," Reagan stated before Mitchell held out an envelope to her, "What's that?"

"It could be two things. It could be your airline ticket back to the States, or it could be a warrant for your arrest," Mitchell answered.

Reagan snatched up the envelope, considered for a moment, then left.

-The-Space-Between-

"Duncan, he's half an hour late already. I thought he might have screwed up and gone to the barge…" Reagan stated over the phone, "His- His apartment? No, he wouldn't be that stupid... Okay, maybe you're right. Later."

Reagan then disconnected the call before she muttered to herself, "Oh, no. Please, no."

She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket, looked at it as she dialed the cell phone, only to get a busy signal, "Oh, no."

Reagan disconnected the call.

-The-Space-Between-

Reagan walked quickly down the sidewalk, looked in apartment window, and saw Murph on phone inside, "Murphy! Murphy! Get out of the apartment! Get out!"

Murphy saw her but motioned with his hand to his ear that he couldn't hear her.

"Get out!" Reagan points frantically.

Murphy is suddenly hit by a sniper bullet. Reagan ran around, buzzed herself into the apartment courtyard, and ran into Murph's apartment and knelt beside him. She checked for a pulse, but he was dead. Reagan stood up, walked slowly out of apartment.

-The-Space-Between-

"I told him not to come here. What was he thinking? Why did he do it?" Reagan stated.

"Well, if it's any consolation, we got the shooter," Mitchell replied as Reagan grabbed the pager from the coffee table, "What's that?"

"That's Murph's beeper," Reagan before she looked at the message, "That is the last person to talk to Murph alive."

"It's the number of an agent Celine set him up with."

"How do you know that? I just... found it," Reagan asked, upset, "What did she say he needed, huh? A picture? A resume?"

She punched Mitchell, "You set him up! You son of a bitch!"

The policemen grabbed her.

"No! She's through now," Mitchell declared. The policemen let her go, and stepped away.

"I think Freud would have something to say about misdirected aggression, but we'll set that aside for now, shall we?" Mitchell asked.

"You used him as bait," Reagan answered.

"If I was that much of a bastard, I'd have been a commissioner a long time ago. We had a tap on his phone."

"You go to hell."

"Most likely. But in the meantime, you've got an airline ticket with your name on it. And an armed escort."

The policemen returned, and grabbed her arms.

"Look, fine. You be stupid," Reagan replied, "but I'm last one who's seen Kendal alive for the last fifteen years. The way he looks now? You put me on a plane, and you're blind."

Mitchell sighed, waved his fingers at the policemen to let her go, and followed her out of apartment. The two cops exited the apartment as well, closing the French doors and standing guard outside them.

-The-Space-Between-

Dr. Bellows, wearing wire-framed glasses, carried a medical case to the car, and unlocked the car door.

Kendal approached the car, "Dr. Bellows?"

Bellows turned, "Yes?"

"I hope I didn't startle you," Kendal stated before he pointed the gun at him.

"No!" Bellows exclaimed.

Kendal shot him. He collapsed to the pavement, dead.

Kendal stuck the gun in his waistband and grabbed the body and placed it in the trunk. Kendal stole the security badge from his coat, pinned it to his own lapel, and placed the wire-framed glasses on. He placed his gun in the bottom of the doctor's empty case.

He placed a false bottom in the case to cover the gun, then filled the case with medical paraphernalia, including a stethoscope, a box of gauze bandages, and a small oxygen tank. He then latched the case, closes the trunk, and walked away.

-The-Space-Between-

"We've been over the place a dozen times," Mitchell told Reagan as he walked down the staircase with her.

"Mm-hmm," Reagan replied.

"I don't know what it is you expect to find."

"It's what I don't expect to find."

-The-Space-Between-

Kendal, as Dr. Bellows, walked to the hotel entrance, carrying the medical case. He walked through the metal detector at the hotel entrance. Metal detector beeped.

"S'il vous plait, monsieur," the guard told him.

Kendal walked back through the detector, setting it off again.

The security guard waved a handheld wand over him. It pinged on his security tag clip and then on the medical case.

"Ouvrez votre mallette, s'il vous plait," the guard asked.

Kendal opened the briefcase and pulled out the oxygen tank, "I'm sorry. It must have been the oxygen tank that set it off."

"Yes, thank you," the guard replied.

Kendal placed the oxygen tank back in the case, and entered the hotel.

-The-Space-Between-

"But nobody gets in without a security tag," Mitchell stated.

"That really stopped me," Reagan replied before she picked up a glass of champagne from the buffet table, and looked around room, "Who's that?"

"Dr. Martin Bellows," Mitchell answered, looking at the man by the window.

"Dr. Bellows?" Reagan noticed the man through fifteen years ago as well as back in Miami. Reagan runs across room toward Kendal.

"What is she doing?" Mitchell asked himself.

Kendal ran out the side door. Reagan chased after him. She walked quickly down a hallway, entered the auditorium. Kendal exited auditorium, and slipped away. Reagan left the other side of auditorium, and looked around.

"Look, Inspector, this guy's a terrorist. He blows things up," Reagan stated.

Mitchell entered the auditorium with her, "Cole, you're not going to find anything. We've been through this place a dozen times. Bomb squads, metal detectors, you name it. There's no need for paranoia. It's clean."

"Clean, huh? You willing to bet your life on it?" Reagan asked.

Reagan walked along the front of table lined with name cards, table mics, water pitchers and empty glasses. She joined Mitchell behind the table, looked at the table again.

"All of those have been checked?" Reagan asked.

"Yeah. You're wasting your time. The dogs have already been through the room," Mitchell answered.

"Mm-hmm," Reagan looked at a tape recorder on side table and investigated the coffee machine.

"Okay?" Mitchell responded.

Reagan pointed at the large medical case on floor by side table, "This?"

Mitchell shrugged, "I don't know. Got to be ready for every eventuality."

Reagan squatted, opened the case, revealing medical supplies inside – including a small oxygen tank. Reagan looked at the oxygen tank from medical case, turned nozzle to test it. Nothing happened.

Mitchell cranked the nozzle wide open – still nothing, "There's no oxygen."

"Even though it's heavy enough to be full," Reagan stated before she unscrewed the bottom of tank, "Oh, I knew it."

She pulled out an explosive device. Timer was counting down from 1:59:10.

"How the hell could they have missed a bomb?" Mitchell asked.

"Probably a nerve toxin. Set to go off in two hours," Reagan answered.

"Right in the middle of the meeting."

"Yep," Reagan pushed the device back into tank, "Ooh, wow."

She slowly handed the tank to Mitchell, "Walk that very carefully out of the chateau."

"And you?"

"I think I need a doctor," Reagan answered as Mitchell left, "I feel a major pain in the ass coming on."

Reagan ran in, spotted Kendal with his back to her, and walked toward him.

"And if I may be of assistance, yes? At any time," Kendal told the VIP.

Reagan called out as she approaches, "His name was Murphy."

Kendal turned to face her as Reagan continued, "Brian Murphy."

Mitchell entered the room, no longer carrying the oxygen tank.

"Who?" Mitchell asked.

"The young man you had killed," Reagan went to stand next to Mitchell.

"Ah."

"Oh, uh, we found your canister."

"I'm walking out of here," Kendal stated, "In two minutes, a helicopter will land. You will allow me safe passage."

Reagan grabbed Mitchell's gun from his shoulder holster under his jacket, points it at Kendal, "I'd allow you to kiss my butt."

She cocked the gun, "What's to stop me from blowing you away right now?"

"I might ask you the same question," Kendal opened his suit jacket, revealing a belt of plastique bricks.

"I suppose a bullet through that sick, twisted brain of yours would stop you," Reagan stated.

"Stop right there!"

A group of IUA agents arrived at the scene.

"Jack Kendal," Jack informed the terrorist, "you are under arrest for your role in the terrorist act from fifteen years ago and the murder of Brian Murphy and Celine Bardot."

"You've got to be kidding me," Kendal stated in disbelief as two of the agents handcuffed him, taking him into custody.

"This is no joke," Jack replied, "and for the record, we disabled your bomb before we came over to this room and you will be taken to the proper authorities. I'll bet they'll be pleased to see that you are finally in custody."

"So your plan has been foiled," Reagan declared.

"Good work, Miss Cole," Jack told her.

"Thanks, Agent Banks," Reagan stated, "I take it MacLeod informed you on what was going on."

"No," Jack shook his head, "Amanda did, your teacher."

-The-Space-Between-

"Here's to a million dollars," Reagan stated as she sipped from her wineglass.

"Too bad you're not here to collect it," Amanda stated.

"Win some, lose some."

"Mm-hmm," Duncan replied.

"Murphy, on the other hand, lost a lot more."

"So, what's next?" Duncan asked.

"For me? I don't know. Probably the usual. Lie low for a while, and then come back with a new identity," Reagan answered.

"New identity, but the same game?" Amanda quipped.

"I'm a big girl. I can take it. Besides, it's not like I have much choice."

"Oh, sure you do," Duncan stated.

"Uh-uh. Can a doctor turn his back on a dying patient?" Reagan asked.

"I don't think it's the same thing," Duncan answered.

"Probably not," Amanda nodded.

"Yes, it is, Duncan. Look around. The Kendals out there are like a cancer, and if it wasn't for me, the world would be a hell of a lot sicker than it already is," Reagan kissed Duncan passionately, then pulled away, "Besides, I'm good at it."

The three immortals laughed as Duncan kissed Reagan's neck and then kissed Amanda on the lips.

"Ohhh, a lovely night... and a starry sky..." Reagan stated.

"And a handsome stallion," Amanda finished.

Duncan laughed, "I wonder what the Countess Ludmilla Albertina Katushka von Tcheka would do?"

Reagan answered with thick Hungarian accent, "Well, here. Let me show you."

Duncan began his make out session with both Amanda and Reagan.

-The-Space-Between-

New York

"Are you sure you got the right Ming?" Flash asked as he was talking to Mandrake, Atascadero and Lothar.

"We saw him clear as day," Mandrake answered, "He was with two immortals out for revenge against MacLeod."

"As well as an unhinged mortal girl who has a vendetta against Richie," Atascadero added.

"Let me guess: you mean Donna?" Flash asked, "Why would she be in cahoots with Ming and his new unholy alliance?"

"Her name is now Carrie Frost," Lothar stated, "She had cut contact from her family."

"Yeah, from what Richie told us," Flash chimed in, "she has been on the deep rails. Abandoning her child because Richie wanted to keep her safe, and then joining a cult before joining Ming and his cohorts."

"They now have Richie," Atascadero stated, "He is now on Mongo held captive by those creeps doing God knows what with him."

"Oh man," Flash stated, "We need to let Duncan MacLeod know right away. With this new threat, he will be needing all the help he can get."

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Author's Note:

Things are definitely about to take a turn here! The plot is definitely taking a turn here. Starting with the next chapter, the endgame has arrived.

As far as the main cast, I've tried to include Amanda, Joe and Methos as much as possible, especially with the new canon in play, and this is the only chapter Richie is absent in as far as I know. Expect Joe and Methos to help out Katherine in the next chapter, along with MacLeod having a revelation regarding his friend.

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Article

Author

Chapters

1: Prelude — Part One

Everyone reflects on the recent events while considering the future.

2: Prelude — Part Two

Angie tends to a despondent Richie. Portals to new dimensions are discovered.

3: Sins of the Father

Duncan embarks on a journey abroad. Richie confronts his trauma.

4: Diplomatic Immunity

Richie joins others in Paris.