TSB 12

The Space Between

By AmandaDoE

Chapter Twelve: Two of Hearts

With their guns drawn, Nick and Katherine made their way around the building to a door.

They moved through the building and they continued to scout the building, coordinating their movements with hand signals.

Katherine climbed the stairs to the upper level, jogged across the length of building, as Nick continued through the lower level.

Nick saw the guy standing guard outside the office. Katherine looked over the railing, saw Nick below her, then she saw another guy aiming his gun at Nick. She shot the guy, blowing their element of surprise.

The other guard and Thompson were on alert now. The guard moved off, searching for the intruders.

Katherine continued jogging down the length of the warehouse on upper floor. The guard moved through the warehouse cautiously. Katherine came out onto the catwalk. The guard saw her, and shot at her. She evaded him. Then the guard saw Nick and shot at him.

Nick jumped down from the shipping container with a gun in each hand, shooting back at the guard much more successfully. He rolled as he hit the ground, then popped back up, guns at the ready, looked around, then holsters the extra gun. Thompson racked the shotgun and headed off into the building, leaving Mindy unguarded.

Nick changed out the clip on his gun and moves out. He came out from between the stacks of wooden crates and found Katherine being held at gunpoint by Thompson. Katherine gave him an embarrassed smile and waved.

Nick lowered his gun, "Oh, Kate."

"I know, I know. I know," Katherine replied.

"Drop the gun," Thompson ordered.

"Why?" Nick asked.

"Because if you don't, I'll kill your girlfriend," Thompson answered.

"Wait. Let me get this straight. Either I drop my gun, or you shoot her?"

"You got it straight. Drop the gun. Now. I mean it. I'll kill the bitch."

Nick sighed, "Okay. Shoot her."

"I mean it. Drop the gun. Are you hard of hearing? Drop it."

"Hey, if you're gonna do it, do it. He's not gonna do it."

"I said drop it! Now!"

"I haven't got all day, pal! Come on! You're going to shoot her, shoot her! Let's go here! Huh?"

"One more time. Drop the gun!"

"I'll tell you what. Hell, I'll do it," Nick then shot Katherine, and then stalked toward Thompson.

Thompson found himself on the ground, "Please. Don't shoot. Don't shoot."

He tried to reach for his dropped shotgun.

"Don't," Nick called out.

Thompson lunged for the shotgun. Nick shot him, and then he looked over at Katherine, sighs, "Now I've done it."

He then walked off.

Katherine revived with a gasp, and then looked at the bullet hole in her shirt.

-The-Space-Between-

"Well, Mindy, you get to go home now," Katherine declared as she and Nick escorted her out of the building.

"Thanks," Mindy replied.

"It's our pleasure," Katherine told her before she told Nick, "Oh, by the way, this was a brand-new blouse, you know. Armani."

"Return it," Nick suggested.

"And how am I going to explain the hole?" Katherine asked.

"Moths," Nick answered.

"You're going to pay for this."

"Ah, I'll let you take it out on trade."

"This way," Nick and Katherine stated in unison as they pointed opposite directions.

"No, this is the way out," Nick stated.

"No, I distinctly remember this being the way out," Katherine argued.

Nick shrugged before he followed Katherine's lead.

Moments later, they reappeared walking the opposite direction.

"I told you it was this way," Nick stated.

"Oh, please, don't start rubbing it in," Katherine retorted.

"I said so."

"I always have a better sense of direction. You finally got it, though."

-The-Space-Between-

A car pulled up next to Katherine and Nick's car. Mindy got out of the car upon seeing it.

Caruso got out of the back of car, and ran to Mindy, "Baby. My little baby."

He hugged her, "Oh, sweetheart. Oh, let me look at you."

"I'm all right, Daddy. I'm all right," Mindy assured her father.

"It's okay."

"Yeah?"

"It's okay now. You're safe now. Let me take you home."

Caruso escorted her to chauffeur/bodyguard waiting by car, "I just want to thank these nice people, sweetheart."

He carried a briefcase over to Nick and Katherine, "Our family would like to offer you a small token of its appreciation."

He opened the briefcase, revealing stacks of money.

Katherine reacted to the sight of the money, "Uh, no. Look, you got your daughter back. Let's just leave it at that."

"I'm not used to doing business with people who refuse my money," Caruso stated.

"We're not 'in business,' Caruso. We took the job because your kid was in trouble," Nick declared.

"So thanks, but no thanks," Katherine added.

Nick suddenly grabbed a $20 bill from the briefcase, "For expenses."

Katherine then grabbed the bill from Nick, "He owes me a blouse."

Caruso shook his head, and closes the briefcase, "You've got style. I'll give you that, and whether you like it or not..."

He handed Katherine a small card, "I owe you."

He walked off moments later.

"Bye, Mr. Caruso," Katherine stated.

-The-Space-Between-

Richie looked on, broken after three weeks of interrogation. All he could do was lie there.

O' Rourke walked in the room, smiling, "How are you doing?"

Richie only looked on, not responding.

"I've gotta tell you this," O' Rourke stated, "you've put up quite a fight for the past few weeks. You've fought quite a battle here against us when we had to relive your worst memories."

Richie looked away, still not responding.

"Quiet now, huh?" O' Rourke glanced at his prisoner, "It's only a matter of time before my plan for MacLeod comes in full swing, and I will have his head."

He paced the room for a moment before he continued, "You're not the only person I plan to use as bait for my plan. You were just the first of my bait. I still need to get Amanda, as well as MacLeod's watcher…...what's his name?"

"Dawson," Richie answered, "MacLeod won't let you hurt them."

"Still have little faith, huh?" O' Rourke taunted, "Too bad you won't be able to stop me from taking MacLeod's head, just as you were unable to stop your beloved Tori from losing her head."

-The-Space-Between-

"Ming has Richie on Mongo?" Duncan asked in surprise.

"That's what he said," Flash answered, "He even has an unholy alliance consisting of two immortals you might be familiar with."

"Give me their names," Duncan told him.

"From what we were told," Mandrake revealed, "they called themselves Liam O' Rourke and Lauren Cain."

"I think I recognize them," Duncan nodded, "and you're telling me they broke Ming out of prison?"

"Exactly what we're telling you!" Lothar exclaimed.

"We have to rescue Richie," Duncan took a step forward.

"Hold on there," Flash grabbed the Highlander by the shoulder, "We know he is luring you in a trap. All of the Unholy Alliance is planning a trap, even a mortal chick by the name of Carrie Frost."

"Carrie Frost?" Duncan glanced at him, confused.

"Not sure if Richie told you that was Donna's new name," Mandrake stated, "I mean, she shown up herself and told us she wanted to hurt Richie."

"You don't think that Donna….I mean, Frost, had something to do with Richie's disappearance, do you?" Duncan asked.

"Exactly," Flash answered, "Why do you think Richie is on Mongo now?"

"Where do we begin?" Duncan asked.

"Jack and the IUA explained to us locations on different portals which are from Earth to Mongo," Flash explained, "Those portals are from the portage initiative that Hans and my father invented years ago. O' Rourke reactivated the portage initiative recently. There's one close by. It might take us to Richie."

-The-Space-Between-

"Warm hand," Nick stated as Katherine drawn patterns on his chest as they were laying next to each other in bed.

"I can feel your heart," Katherine spoke up.

Nick sighed.

"Which reminds me, you never got your cholesterol checked," Katherine told her husband.

"Now you want to talk about my cholesterol?" Nick asked.

"You promised me you'd do it," Katherine reminded him.

"We've been a little busy lately, in case you hadn't noticed. That business in New York. Caruso's little item today. Where are we next week? Berlin?" Nick replied.

"I want to keep you around for a little while," Katherine said before she stroked his hair.

"What?"

"I love you."

"I love you too," Nick then sat up, "Okay, give."

"Hmm?" Katherine replied.

"What's going on? Something's up."

"Nothing's up."

"Nothing?"

"That's right."

"And you're not lying to me?"

"Why would I lie to you?"

"You tell me."

"Look, everything's fine. Can we go to bed now?" Katherine asked.

"Sure. I'll pick up the tickets tomorrow," Nick answered.

"What tickets?"

"The Bahamas, remember? Couple of days on the beach. Couple of dozen pina coladas. Starting to ring a bell here?"

"I can't. Not this weekend."

"No kidding."

"I've got a little business to attend to. It'll take a few days to... wrap it up," Katherine told her husband.

"It'll take us," Nick corrected her.

"Hmm?"

"Take "us" a few days to wrap up."

"No, no, no, no. Not this time."

"Another Immortal?" Nick asked.

"It's late," Katherine answered, trying to avoid the question.

"I don't care. I hate this crap, Kate."

"Good night."

"Did you hear me?"

"I love you."

Nick rolled away, and punched his pillow in anger. Both laid there, not sleeping.

-The-Space-Between-

"What we're talking about are the children of the world," Bartholomew stated as he shown images of hungry children at his office, among other images, "There is a battle going on that humanity cannot lose. We must pray more."

Another click; image of a small girl carrying water buckets appeared on screen, "We must do more."

An image of a group of children washing their hands in a metal pan, "We must give more. We have no choice."

He stepped into frame, as the images continued to cycle behind him, "Even as we speak, three cargo planes are being loaded with food and medical supplies. Sisters, this is a great day for us, and for the children. We must never forget the children."

-The-Space-Between-

Katherine left the elevator, and looked at the displayed poster entitled "MISSION FOR KIDS", and she scoffed, "Mission for kids, my ass."

She walked to the reception desk, "I'd like to see Bartholomew."

"If you mean Mr. Bartholomew….." the secretary started to say.

"Fine. I'd like to see Mr. Bartholomew," Katherine replied.

"I'm afraid his schedule's quite full," the secretary informed her before she asked, "Is he expecting you?"

"Only for the past seven hundred years," Katherine answered before she made a run past the desk as another gentleman was buzzed through.

"Uh, wait. No. Wait. You can't go in there!" the secretary called out to her, but she didn't hear her.

-The-Space-Between-

Bartholomew sensed the buzz. He and the three nuns he was talking to turned as the office door opened. Katherine entered the office.

"Excuse me. Do we have an appointment?" Bartholomew asked.

"Think hard," Katherine answered.

Northern England —1270

Katherine ran to the hut.

"Oh, please!" a woman wailed nearby.

"Where the devil have you been, girl?" Berta asked as she entered, "This is no time to be running about."

She comforted the wailing peasant girl on the bed, "There, there, poor dear."

Katherine prepared some herbs in a bowl, "How is she doing, Berta?"

"Her fits are coming stronger and faster. If we can't calm the brain fever, I fear we'll lose her... and the child," Berta answered.

"Try and get some of this down her," Katherine instructed before she held out a cup.

"What is that?" Berta asked.

"Yellow root and Saint John's wort from the forest," Katherine answered.

"Yellow root? Are you trying to kill her then?"

"We don't have much time. Berta, you must trust me."

"Come on, love. Drink, drink," Berta held the cup for peasant girl to drink, "That's it. That's it. Good girl."

"All of it! She needs all of it," Katherine urged her.

"Come on, love. More. Have more," Berta urged the woman, "Good girl. There. That's it. That's it. Dear Lord, please…."

The peasant girl calmed down. Katherine sighed in relief, and moved away from the bed. The peasant girl slipped into a peaceful sleep.

Berta stated quietly, "Yellow root is poison. How- How did you know that it would calm the fits?"

Katherine answered in turn, "Oh, it's nothing. It's just something I remember from when I was a child."

"Five years ago, you- you came to me to learn the healing arts, but... I think I've learned more from you than you from me," Berta informed her, "You're the true healer, Katherine. Me, I- I'm just an old woman who knows a few remedies."

"No, Berta. You gave me a home," Katherine replied, "You made me part of your life, part of your village. When I came to you, I was alone and weary. You healed me in more ways than you could ever imagine."

"Here," Berta held up a Celtic cross necklace, "I want you to take this."

"Nay, Berta. No. I couldn't," Katherine insisted.

"It's time the village acknowledged its real healer," Berta insisted in turn.

"No. No. The healer's not the one that knows the most recipes for potions, Berta. It should be the one that has the most love to give. That will always be you, Berta."

The two women hugged.

"Hear me, my brothers and sisters! Hear me! I come before you with the words of the Lord," Bartholomew stated from outside, "Brave pilgrims!"

Katherine and Berta left their hut to investigate.

"God has sent me to your village. The day of judgment is at hand," Bartholomew continued, "We must wrest Christendom's holy places from the blood-crazed infidels. It is God's will that we fight for him!"

Bartholomew sensed the buzz as Katherine approached.

"Through me, all who march on Jerusalem shall be blessed by the Holy Spirit. They will attain glory in this life... and paradise in the next," Bartholomew declared.

"Who is he?" Katherine asked Berta.

"Brother Bartholomew. They say he's an agent of the Pope," Berta answered.

"A quest for death? Is it not true that thousands perish on the journey alone?"

"Who are you to question God's will?" Bartholomew asked her, upon hearing what she said.

"I am not speaking to God. I'm speaking to you," Katherine replied.

"Any who die on this holy quest, either on the journey or in battle, shall have all their sins remitted," Bartholomew affirmed.

"By you?" Katherine asked.

"None of you shall be denied the opportunity to give to this most sacred cause. In his name and for your souls, I go to do the Lord's work," Bartholomew declared before he kissed his cross and rode away.

Villagers gathered as a soldier nailed a notice to a tree.

"Read it for me, Katherine," Berta told her friend as the soldier walked away.

"It says- Well, this can't be," Katherine looked at the notice in surprise.

"What? What does it say?" Berta asked.

"By order of the baron, half of the coming harvest will be tithed," Katherine answered.

"Half? No! But we'll starve," Berta stated in disbelief.

The villagers around her murmured in discontent.

"No one will starve," Katherine insisted.

"What will we do?" Berta asked.

"We will not pay the tithe," Katherine answered.

"It is His Lordship's command."

"It's outrageous! And I for one do not believe this is God's will."

"I agree," a man replied nearby.

Katherine ripped the notice down and left as the villagers moved away, still murmuring in complaint.

-The-Space-Between-

Katherine ran up to the group Bartholomew was with, "I must speak to the baron!"

A first soldier stepped in front of her, "Halt!"

"Go. Leave the peasant woman to me," Bartholomew told the guard.

"Yes, milord," the soldier replied.

"Go!" Bartholomew exclaimed.

"Yes. Yes. Sir," the soldiers replied before they bowed and left.

"The baron is otherwise engaged," Bartholomew told Katherine.

Katherine waved the notice at him, "Surely even you must see that this tithe is excessive."

"I see no such thing," Bartholomew argued.

"But the people cannot possibly survive a demand such as this without starving to death! Is that what His Lordship wishes?" Katherine demanded, "Is it! How many men and women must die to line your pockets with gold?"

"Who are we to question God's will?" Bartholomew asked.

Katherine drawn out her sword, "Let us see what God's will really is."

"So be it," Bartholomew replied before he drawn out his sword.

As their swords engaged, Katherine gasped, falling with an arrow in her back, dead.

The Present

"Now I remember," Bartholomew stated.

"I thought you might," Katherine replied.

"As you can see, I'm otherwise engaged. Shall we meet for lunch?" Bartholomew offered.

"Sounds wonderful," Katherine accepted the offer.

"My car's on level one. Say noon?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

-The-Space-Between-

Katherine walked through the parking garage, and senses the buzz, then she turned to face Bartholomew as he walked toward her, "Love your coat."

"Picked it up in Hong Kong on my last holy mission," Bartholomew replied.

"Holy mission. Right. Did you take the yacht or the Lear jet?" Katherine inquired.

"I owe my life to the generosity of others," Bartholomew answered.

"I'm sorry. I'm not so generous," Katherine drawn out her sword.

"Faith, hope and charity. These are my weapons now," Bartholomew affirmed.

"Spare me."

"I don't think so."

Bartholomew's bodyguards stepped into view, cocking their guns and pointing them at Katherine.

"What happened to faith, hope and charity?" Katherine asked.

"Meet Mr. Faith, Mr. Hope. Charity has the day off," Bartholomew introduced his bodyguards.

Katherine gave him a skeptical look.

Bartholomew told his bodyguards, "Do it."

Katherine and Bartholomew both sensed the buzz as a car squealed into view, interrupting them.

"What's this?" Bartholomew demanded.

"He's got a gun!" Mr. Faith exclaimed.

"Get in!" Nick shouted [shoots at bodyguards as Katherine jumps in car, seeing not just Nick, but she also saw a familiar dark haired man as well as an older man whom she had never met before.

"Nick….." Katherine started to say.

"You're welcome," Nick stated.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Katherine asked.

"I felt like a weekend in Paris," Nick answered.

"Who are…..I think I recognize the handsome dark haired man next to me," Katherine eyed the dark haired man, "Methos, right?"

Methos chuckled before he nodded, "Yes, that would be me. Long time no see Katherine."

"Wait, you know each other?" Nick asked.

"We've had history," Katherine answered, "but don't worry, he's just a good friend."

She eyed the older man, "Speaking of which, who's your friend, Methos?"

"My name is Joe Dawson," the older man introduced himself, "and yeah, Methos and I are good acquaintances."

"Nice to meet you, Joe," Katherine replied before she asked Nick, "Did you follow me here?"

"No, I just happened to be passing by," Nick answered, "Caruso told me where you were, okay?"

-The-Space-Between-

Katherine entered the apartment, with Methos, Joe and Nick following. Nick closed the door behind him.

"Yeah, well, all I can say is that Senor Caruso has a big mouth," Katherine stated.

"What am I, blind? Think I didn't see him slip you that note?" Nick retorted.

"It appears that the IUA knows what they are doing when it comes to immortals," Methos stated, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, it looks like they do," Joe added.

"Guys, listen, if I would've needed your help, I would've asked you for your help," Katherine insisted.

"Were we in the same place? I just saved your ass," Nick argued.

"We saved her ass," Methos corrected him.

"Come on. I had everything under control. I was fine," Katherine stated.

"Right. From what we saw there were two guys with guns and one with a sword, who happened to have been immortal," Joe stated, "yeah, you really had the situation completely under control."

"Who is he?" Nick asked.

"You don't need to know that," Katherine answered.

"Who is he, Kate?" Nick urged.

"His name is Bartholomew," Joe answered.

"How do you know?" Katherine asked.

"It's part of my job," Joe answered in turn, "I'm a watcher, and it's my job to observe and record, but not to interfere with immortal business."

"Exactly," Methos nodded in agreement.

"Wait. Let me guess. You've been searching for him for a zillion years, and now that you've found him, you're going to have to kill him. How am I doing here?" Nick asked.

"Don't do that," Katherine told her husband.

"What?" Nick answered.

"Piss on something you don't understand," Joe answered.

"Exactly," Katherine chimed in, "You don't understand what's going on."

Northern England, 1270

"Will you not reconsider, Brother Bartholomew?" the Baron asked.

"My place is with my fellow pilgrims," Bartholomew answered.

"Marching to Jerusalem. You set a fine Christian example for the rest of us. By my word, the Pope shall hear of this directly," the Baron replied.

"Milord is too kind. Before I leave... the small matter of the tithe."

"Ah, the peasants refuse to pay?" the Baron asked.

"They blame you for the death of their healer," Bartholomew answered.

"That witch who attacked you?"

"Something must be done."

"Yes, yes."

"And soon. The king would not look kindly upon a rebellion. Even less kindly upon a lord who allowed his peasants to run amok."

"You are wise in such things. Counsel me."

"Well, firstly, I think an example must be made," Bartholomew declared.

"An example. Yes," the Baron replied.

-The-Space-Between-

Katherine gasped, sat up, and climbed out of the pit, looked down at burned village in shock, ran to village, only to find smoldering ruins.

"No!" Katherine ran through the village, crying, "Oh, no! No! Berta! Berta! Berta! No! No!"

She fell to her knees by the village well, and saw Berta's necklace in the mud before she picked it up.

Katherine then heard Berta's voice, "I want you to take this. It's time the village acknowledged its real healer. You're the true healer, Katherine. I'm just an old woman who knows a few remedies."

The Present

"I tracked that bastard halfway across Europe, but he managed to fake his death before reaching the Holy Land," Katherine explained to the men, "Over the years, I'd get a line on him. When there was a war…..a famine, he'd be there. I'd hear about how he was raising money…..to save the suffering..and crusading to provide for refugees, the lost souls of the world. But in reality, it was mostly going to his favorite charity, himself. The bastard was cleverly hiding the cash he'd ripped off."

"Now he's in Paris running the same old scam," Nick stated.

"Exactly," Joe nodded, "I really hate hypocrites like that."

"Nothing changes," Katherine stated, "People are still dying, and that son of a bitch keeps raking in the millions."

"I say we get a line on the money first," Nick stated.

"I don't think a Robin Hood move is a good idea at the moment," Methos interjected.

"I don't want his money. I want his head," Katherine replied.

"That's very big of you," Nick stated, "I wonder if that's what the kids want... you know, the ones he's stealing from."

"I hate you."

"That money could feed a lot of babies. But if you want to kill him, kill him."

"I really hate you."

"Yeah?" Nick asked with a grin.

"Yeah," Katherine answered.

"You guys can hate on each other all you want after Bartholomew is taken care of," Joe spoke up, "but first, I believe the missus has an immortal to take care of."

"Exactly," Methos nodded in agreement.

-The-Space-Between-

Katherine entered the darkened office, made her way to the desk chair, turned on the table lamp, and opened the laptop.

Nick joined her, "Cleaning crew's still on the second floor."

"Excellent," Katherine replied.

Katherine placed the headphones on, "There's got to be some hidden files, maybe a whole directory in here somewhere."

Nick also placed on headphones, "Come on."

"Hey, look, if you've got a better idea, I'm all ears. Besides, Bartholomew was never very subtle."

Katherine pulled up the search window, and typed "Financial Portfolio", "Aha!"

"I don't believe it. Well done," Nick stated.

"Not bad, huh?" Katherine asked before she realized something, "Damn it."

"It's encrypted," Nick realized it as well.

"Yeah."

"Figures."

"Okay, my turn."

Katherine moved aside, "Be my guest."

"Well, you said he wasn't big on subtlety," Nick stated before he typed at the laptop keyboard.

Nick typed into password field: Crusade.

Katherine scoffed, "No way."

She hit the enter button, and received the correct password message, "God."

Katherine laughed, "I can't believe you. God, no wonder I fell in love with you. Look at this."

She brought up 'Bartholomew Portfolio' list: Stocks, Bonds, Funds, Currency and she clicked on 'Funds', brought up 'Foothold Fund' stats/graph.

"We've got the son of a bitch. Stocks, bonds…" Katherine declared.

"And you were worried," Nick replied.

"Holy…." Katherine stated before she smiled at the computer screen.

"Police! Freeze!"

Katherine and Nick slowly raised their hands.

-The-Space-Between-

Bertrand whistled to himself as he red the computer printout, "No outstanding warrants. Record's clean. In fact….."

He turned the page, "My, my! What's this? Commendation."

He turned another page, "No, actually... two official commendations for services rendered in the apprehension of... et cetera, et cetera, et cetera."

He set the report down, "Next thing I know, you'll be helping little old ladies cross the street."

"I'm glad you approve. So, I guess we'll be on our way," Katherine stated.

"Not so fast," Bertrand stated as Nick and Katherine stood up.

The assistant dropped the briefcase onto the table and opened it.

"Surprised?" Bertrand asked, showing the briefcase containing money from various nations, a gun, passports, credit cards, among others, "Hmm?"

They sat back down.

"That was my first reaction, too. I thought to myself, "So many passports... for just two people?" Money from a half a dozen countries, and look at the names on these credit cards!" Bertrand stated, "Who are all these people? Not to mention the weapons. My goodness. I was completely overwhelmed."

"I assume that you've got a search warrant for all of this stuff," Katherine interjected.

"Do you really think I need one?" Bertrand replied before he closed the briefcase.

Nick - [aside, to Katherine] "Why am I not surprised?" Nick asked Katherine as they were aside.

"I suppose you have the proper permits and licenses for these," Bertrand stated. Then the couple had nothing to say.

"Why am I not surprised? Would you care to tell me how you got the guns through airport security?" Bertrand asked.

"If you'll tell us why you're bugging Bartholomew's office," Nick answered.

"I ask the questions. What are you doing in Paris?" Bertrand asked.

"Vacation," Katherine answered.

"With guns? A dozen passports? Breaking and entering?"

"Package deal?" Katherine interjected.

"Look, why don't we cut through it? You were staking out Bartholomew. You must know he's dirty."

"And now you've got his Swiss bank account numbers," Katherine answered.

"Thanks to you."

"Yeah. Just trace the account, you got him," Nick stated.

"What a wonderful suggestion. I certainly would not have thought of it myself," Bertrand replied, "Cause if I had, I would've discovered that our charming Mr. Bartholomew had exactly, uh…"

He shuffled some papers, and then read from the report, "Six thousand, three hundred dollars in his Swiss account."

"Sixty-three hundred? You must mean sixty-three million," Katherine stated in surprise.

"Not unless the exchange rate has taken a sudden turn for the worse."

"Tha-That can't be," Katherine stammered.

"You see, we've had the charming Mr. Bartholomew under surveillance for months now."

"And?" Katherine asked.

"Nothing," Bertrand answered.

"Nothing?" Nick chimed in.

"And that's all we're going to get," Bertrand replied, "Nine months of work, three thousand man hours... for nothing. We're pulling the operation. It's over, thanks to you good Samaritans."

-The-Space-Between-

"Thank you. You've made my day," Bartholomew stated on the phone before he hung up the phone.

"Are they out?" Mr. Faith asked.

"In ten minutes they will be," Bartholomew answered.

"And that makes you happy?"

"They've confiscated their guns. She'll be unarmed. that makes me happy."

Mr. Faith turned, and left.

Bartholomew raised his eyes skyward, "Thank you."

-The-Space-Between-

Bertrand sat on the couch, whistling.

Nick and Katherine sat on nearby futon while Joe and Methos were standing. The travel bags were piled on the floor nearby. Katherine and Nick exchanged a look.

"You don't have to babysit us, Bertrand," Nick spoke up.

"Nonsense. I'm saving you all that taxi fare to the airport," Bertrand replied.

Both Katherine and Methos sensed the buzz, and sat up in reaction.

"What?" Nick asked.

"Immortal?" Joe asked.

"He's here," Katherine answered.

"Who's here?" Bertrand asked.

"Do you have a gun?" Katherine asked.

"No," Bertrand answered.

Katherine and Nick glanced at Joe and Methos, who then dragged Bertrand to his feet.

"Bartholomew's here," Katherine announced.

"How do you know?" Bertrand asked.

"Trust her. She knows," Nick answered.

"So do I," Methos chimed in before he and Joe dragged him out of the room.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Bertrand demanded.

"We're just saving your life," Methos answered.

"Upstairs," Nick told the two men.

"Geez," Bertrand resisted them.

"Upstairs!" Joe exclaimed.

"What kind of a game is this?" Bertrand asked.

"It's not a game. Bartholomew's on his way. We don't have a gun. You figure it out!" Katherine exclaimed as she watched Joe and Methos were taking him away.

"No one even knows we're here," Bertrand stated.

"Don't go near that door," Katherine stated as Bertrand turned toward the door, "Get away from the door!"

Suddenly, Bertrand was shot through the door, and fells to the floor, dead.

"That went well," Methos stated sarcastically.

"Not really," Joe shook his head.

Mr. Faith entered the apartment through broken door, racked the gun for another shot. Bartholomew followed him into the apartment, shot at Nick and Katherine as they ran up the stairs.

They opened a window and escape out onto the roof. Bartholomew and Mr. Faith ran up the stairs after them. Nick and Katherine disappeared over the far side of the roof.

"What about the men with them?" Mr. Faith asked.

"Leave them," Bartholomew answered, "It's the woman I want."

Back on the ground, Nick kicked aside a section of metal fencing, letting them out onto a sidewalk.

"That cop's dead, Katherine, because of us," Nick stated.

"I'm sorry for him. He was doing his job. It happens," Katherine replied.

"It's not his job to babysit Immortals."

"He wasn't even supposed to be involved. Neither were you. Remember? I was supposed to get in, take out Bartholomew and be gone. Then you show up, and all hell breaks loose."

"If you're straight with me, this doesn't happen."

"This is my fight. You can't get involved," Katherine insisted.

"Because you say so?" Nick asked.

"Because, Nick, that's the way it is. Are we going to get into this again, now, here?" Katherine answered.

"Forget it," Nick replied before he stormed off.

Katherine sighed and ran after him.

-The-Space-Between-

Katherine sighed as she joined him, "Look, I'm sorry. I'm Immortal, Nick. There's nothing I can do about it."

"Now you're getting irrational," Nick replied.

"Tell me it doesn't drive you crazy."

"What?"

"That I can't die and you can."

"I don't believe this. First you lie to me, then when things don't work out, you lay this on me."

Katherine – Look, you knew what I was when we met. You know the game. You know the rules.

"And you know me, Kate. Am I the type of guy who's going to sit on his ass and let you walk off and maybe get whacked? Tell me, Kate, is that who you ever thought I was?"

Katherine shook her head, "No."

Nick sighed, "How the hell did we happen?"

Katherine laughed, "I didn't know we were going to happen. I didn't know I was going to fall in love with you. Nick, the part of my life that's about being Immortal has nothing to do with you. It can't."

"Katherine, I'm either in your life – all of it – or I'm gone," Nick argued.

They reacted to sirens wailing nearby.

"How about we take care of one thing at a time? What do we need?" Katherine asked.

"A gun would be good," Nick answered.

"Yeah. Okay, we got no gun, we got no money, no ID, no credit cards."

"Got any change?" Nick asked.

"About eighty francs," Katherine answered.

"Just enough for a long-distance phone call," Nick replied before he took her hand, and led her away.

-The-Space-Between-

Katherine cleared her throat, drawing Nick's attention as Checco approached them.

"Hello. Good morning," Checco stated before he opened the trunk of a car, revealing cache of weapons, "Variety is the spice of life, huh?"

"You're not kidding," Nick replied.

"Oh, and before I forget, a jar of my Rose's best Bolognese," Checco pulled a glass jar of homemade pasta sauce out of trunk, and handed it to Nick.

"Ah! Ma grazie mille," Katherine exclaimed before she took the jar from Nick, "I love Bolognese, huh?"

"How much for the hardware?" Nick asked.

"Gratis. This one's on Don Caruso," Checco answered.

"That's much appreciated. You tell Caruso that we're even now," Katherine replied.

"Don't worry. He already knows that," Checco replied before he left.

Katherine took a sniff of the pasta sauce, "It's good."

She laughed, and closed the lid of the jar, reaching for the weapons in trunk.

-The-Space-Between-

"I'm sorry, Mr. B. We lost them," Mr. Faith told Bartholomew, "They're pros, and it's a big city. The cops? Cops are on it."

"And that just fills me with confidence," Bartholomew replied with sarcasm.

"They're probably out of the country by now," Mr. Faith reassured him.

"You wouldn't want to bet a year's salary on that."

"Come on. What are they gonna do?" Mr. Faith asked.

"I don't know what he's going to do, but I certainly know what she's going to do," Bartholomew answered before he pressed some buttons on wall safe: 1,9,5,5.

"Bip, bip, bop, bop, bang," Bartholomew stated as he turned the dial on the safe, opened it, removed the leather-bound Bible, and carried it to desk, "As long as I'm around, she's just going to keep coming. In times like these, it's so reassuring to know that one can seek comfort from the good book."

He caressed the spine of the Bible, sat it down, and opened it to reveal vial of diamonds hidden inside cut-out pages, "Thirty million dollars' worth…"

He poured the diamonds out of vial, "To be exact."

He snapped the book closed.

-The-Space-Between-

A guard walked down the gravel path to a metal gate, he heard a noise and went to investigate. He walked through the wooded area, along a small path, to a larger path and toward the side of the chateau. He saw movement through the trees, raised his gun and moved forward slowly. He moved around the bushes toward the chateau and Nick came into view. The guard racked his shotgun. Nick froze at the sound.

"Hey," the guard called out.

Nick turned around slowly with his hands up.

"Come here," the guard said. Nick complied and then the guard took the gun from Nick, "Okay. Let's go."

"Go ahead, shoot him," Katherine stated from behind the guard.

The guard turned and Katherine kicked the gun from his hands, and knocked him out.

"Hey," Katherine handed the gun to Nick with a smile.

"I love it when you play rough," Nick stated

"Me, too," Katherine replied before she blew him a kiss as they spitted up again.

-The-Space-Between-

"Call the airport. Get the plane ready. We're going to take an extended vacation," Bartholomew instructed.

"For how long?" Mr. Faith asked.

"Till that bitch loses the scent," Bartholomew answered before he sensed the buzz.

"What is it?" Mr. Faith asked.

Bartholomew sighed, "On the other hand…"

He chuckled, and grabbed his sword, "There's no time like the present."

"I'll come with you."

"No. You stay here. This won't take long."

Bartholomew examined a Crusade shield displayed by library entrance, "Yes, I think so."

He grabbed the shield before he left the library.

-The-Space-Between-

Bartholomew confronted Katherine, who had her sword in one hand and a gun in the other, "A gun? Hmm. My, my, our standards are slipping."

"Not mine," Katherine replied.

She tossed the gun away and faced off against Bartholomew.

The swordfight began.

-The-Space-Between-

Nick broke into the chateau library, looked around, and got shot by Mr. Faith.

Mr. Faith approached Nick, and toed him, thinking he was dead.

"Amateur," Mr. Faith stated. He was hit from behind. Nick looked to see Methos arriving in the room with Joe right next to him. Then Nick kicked him, knocked him down and knocked the Bible off the table, spilling diamonds everywhere.

"Nice," Nick noticed the diamonds spilling.

"You're Immortal," Mr. Faith noted.

"No," Methos shook his head, "but I am. The only immortal in this room."

Nick then knocked out Mr. Faith, "And I just had the bulletproof vest."

"Good work," Joe stated.

"You should go check on your wife," Methos suggested.

"Exactly what I had in mind," Nick replied as he proceeded to leave.

-The-Space-Between-

The swordfight continued. Nick ran out of the chateau, and pointed his gun at Bartholomew.

"No! Don't!" Katherine exclaimed.

Nick held his fire.

"How charitable of you," Bartholomew sarcastically replied.

The swordfight continued.

Katherine mortally wounds Bartholomew before she declared, "Charity begins at home."

She beheads him, and took his quickening, leading to one big fireworks in front of the chateau.

-The-Space-Between-

Flash stood next to Duncan. Jack, Lothar and Mandrake looked at them.

"Where do you think a portal could be located at?" Duncan asked.

"This is the area," Jack answered, "Towards the alleyway."

The four men took a step back upon seeing a portal appear in front of them.

"Be careful," Jack advised, "these portals aren't stable."

"I'm aware of that," Flash replied, "you forget, Hans, Dale and I have stumbled across these portals when we first came to Mongo. I never imagined that we'd see these portals ever again after my father deactivated the portals after Ming's first invasion of Earth."

"That's quite a story," Jack quipped.

"A true one at that," Mandrake replied.

"You were there?" Jack asked.

"No," Mandrake answered, "but Lothar and I have been friends with Flash Gordon for the longest time. We didn't form the Defenders until after Dale was killed by Ming."

"I see," Jack nodded.

"We have to know if Richie is there," Duncan insisted, walking closer to the portal, "If he's on Mongo, I have to know if he's safe. I'd never forgive myself if anything happens to him."

"MacLeod, be careful!" Jack exclaimed.

"I'll help him out in case he gets sucked in," Flash stepped forward.

Moments later, Duncan was being pulled into the portal, Flash following not too long after.

Jack, Lothar and Mandrake looked on in shock as Duncan and Flash were pulled into the portal and it closed behind them seconds later.

"Oh no!" Lothar exclaimed.

"We have to get them out of there," Mandrake stated, trying to remain as calm as possible.

"We will," Jack replied as he got out his tablet, "I gotta inform my group and make another portal open. It's gonna take a little bit."

-The-Space-Between-

Duncan fell to the ground. He felt the cold snow on him, "That was a rough landing!"

"You now know how I felt," Flash replied as he and the Highlander stood back up. They looked around and saw the snow environment around them.

"We're at the planet Mongo," Duncan noted, "I wonder why it's still snowing."

"It's been like that for years now," Flash replied.

"The organic material is called snow."

The two men turned and saw what appeared to be Richie as he walked towards him.

"Richie, are…..what are you doing here?" Duncan asked, "How did you end up on Mongo? Let me guess: you weren't careful and you found yourself here."

"MacLeod," Flash called out to his friend.

"It doesn't matter," Duncan replied, "You're all right now, and that's all that matters. I was really worried about you."

"Your concern is invalid," "Richie" stated, "This being was in no physical danger. He was quite an interesting sample."

Duncan looked at him with confusion.

"It was easy to assimilate the being you call Richie Ryan because his data was so similar to mine," "Richie" explained, "His thoughts were focused on destruction in what you humans call sadness and despair."

"Richie, what's the matter with you?" Duncan asked, "This isn't funny!"

"Richie" smirked, "He has proven to be invaluable in the unholy alliance's study of humans: mortals and immortals alike.

"Richie!" Duncan shouted, starting to shake him, "Richie, stop it!"

"But your kind does remain difficult to decipher," "Richie" stated, "whether you are mortal or immortal."

"Wait a minute," Flash muttered, realizing something before he spoke up, "MacLeod, that's not Richie!"

"What are you talking about, Flash?" Duncan asked, "Of course, it's Richie, just look at him."

"I'm serious, Duncan," Flash insisted, "it's not!"

"It is Richie!" Duncan exclaimed in denial, "It just has to be him!"

"We were able to sample the being known as Richie Ryan in order to analyze all life forms, especially those who are in alliance with one Duncan MacLeod," "Richie" then explained, "as well as bringing him a disadvantage in the plan of revenge for the Unholy Alliance. You are all such confusing creatures – disorderly, illogical and without respect for boundaries."

"Richie, for God's sake, stop talking like that!" Duncan exclaimed before he felt his hands burning and backed away from "Richie".

Duncan looked up and saw "Richie" glowing a dark red color before his clothes turned into a familiar black robe.

"It's Klytus!" Flash exclaimed, getting out his gun, "but it can't be! You were destroyed so long ago."

"Oh, contraire, Flash Gordon," Klytus replied, still using Richie's voice, "my subconscious remained even though my original physical form died all those years ago."

"And until now, you've been waiting in the shadows?" Flash asked.

"Exactly," Klytus answered.

"Where's Richie?" Duncan asked, drawing out his katana, "What have you done with him?"

"I don't think it has been so easy to lure you in a trap, Duncan MacLeod," Klytus stated, using Richie's voice now in a more computerized voice, "After you are finished, Earth and Mongo will be finished as well."

"By the reactivation of the portage initiative?" Flash asked.

"You better tell me where Richie is right now, or you'll be sorry!" Duncan demanded.

"My kind is unable to be sorry, or to be sad or happy," Klytus replied, "Those such emotions are part of the reason that humans of Earth and those on Mongo are to be eliminated."

"We stopped you before and we'll stop you again!" Flash declared.

"You'd sacrifice yourself for Richie Ryan, would you not?" Klytus asked.

"Yes," Flash answered, "Yes, I would. He's family to me!"

"And you, Duncan MacLeod, would you sacrifice yourself for your student?" Klytus asked.

"There's no doubt about that," Duncan answered, "I'm not about to let anyone else die because of me!"

He reflected on those he had lost, seeing images of them: Little Deer, Kahani, Tessa, Darius, Fitzcairn, Tori. All of them good friends of his. All died because of him.

"Fascinating," Klytus replied, "Your feelings of concern and compassion do nothing but make you weak."

"Says the being that is nothing more than technology," Flash retorted, "Of course, you wouldn't understand such feelings!"

"What you call weakness is what going to help us beat you," Duncan declared.

"Your defiance is pointless," Klytus stated, "You do know you cannot win."

"This is far from over," Duncan insisted, "You should know it's going to take much more than words to scare me!"

"That goes for me too," Flash nodded in agreement.

"I swear we'll save Richie if it's the last thing we do," Duncan declared.

Klytus began to turn away, "Your emotion will get you nowhere. The unholy alliance will eliminate all of you, starting with you, Duncan MacLeod."

He then walked away.

"You tell the unholy alliance, it will be eliminated!" Flash exclaimed.

-The-Space-Between-

Nick, Joe and Methos approached Katherine.

"How are you holding?" Methos asked.

"Holding out just fine, if that's what you're wondering," Katherine answered.

"Well, that's good to hear," Joe replied.

Nick crouched beside her, and held out leather pouch of diamonds, "These ought to help a few kids."

He tossed the pouch on ground in front of them.

"Hell of a day, huh?" Joe asked.

"Yeah," Nick answered.

"Nick….." Katherine started to say.

"What are we going to say we haven't said twenty times already?" Nick asked.

Katherine sighed, "I seem to recall somebody mentioning the Bahamas."

"That was me."

"Sand, sun, rum."

"I've been to the Bahamas before," Methos spoke up, "How about this for a suggestion: Santorini. Alexa loved it there. I was going to bury her there after she passed."

"What happened?" Katharine asked.

Methos shook his head, "It was too far away, and I wanted to visit Alexa any chance I could."

"So you buried her in Paris?" Nick asked.

"Yes," Methos answered, "I buried her in Paris."

Nick nodded, "Santorini and Bahamas sound like a plan. We'll talk."

"Yeah, we'll talk," Katherine added.

Nick and Katherine kissed.

"What about the IUA?" Methos inquired.

"We won't resign from the IUA," Katherine answered, "Don't forget, Nick and I are a married couple. We need some time to ourselves, but we will be willing to help in whatever crisis."

"That's good," Joe replied, "Because we're gonna need your help."

"I'll bet," Nick quipped, "Until then."

Nick grabbed the pouch of diamonds and they walked off together. Joe and Methos were right behind them.

Author's Note: Holy moley! 28 pages and 8,337 words! That's a record for this story so far. As you can see here, we're in the endgame now.

I got the idea for Klytus disguising as Richie from the Digimon Tamers anime when the D Reaper did the same to Jeri, and the portal scenario is a homage to the 2007 Flash Gordon series. Yeah, I am mixing up the Flash Gordon origins, it mostly has the 1980 origins, but with the mixture of the 2007 series and of course, the Defenders of the Earth cartoon!

Of all the girls who appeared in Season 6, Katherine is my favorite, and I felt she had the most potential out of all of the girls to have her spin off. Too bad none of the girls panned out. I wish Richie didn't die so he could be the one who has the spin off. There you go. However, the only thing I didn't like about the original episode was the fact that none of the main characters from the Highlander series appeared in the series.

Of all the girls, Reagan was the only one who didn't have her own flashback in my story. I don't hate her or anything, I just didn't find the flashback as interesting as the others: Jack encountering Alex Raven, Kyra's flashback with the day she lost Richard (I didn't have her flashback with Duncan, so not entirely), and Katya with the flashback in which she lost her daughter (she also didn't have her first death flashback in her chapter, so not entirely with her as well).

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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.