TSB 3

The Space Between

By AmandaDoE

Chapter Three: Sins of the Father

Duncan was playing Patanque at the park with George. He threw his boule, hit George's boule away from the cochonnet, "Your turn, George."

"Uh huh," George replied before he threw the boule horribly.

"Oops," Duncan stated.

"Please, Duncan, there's no need to state the obvious," George stated.

"Everything okay?" Duncan asked.

"What? No, I'm fine," George answered, "I just don't like being retired. One minute, you're changing your grandson's diapers. The next thing you know, he's managing your bank."

He threw another boule, somewhat better, "But I'll tell you, that kid could find a penny at the bottom of the ocean. Tell me, Duncan, do you think it's only good deeds that define a man's soul?"

He made another horrible throw.

"Why do you ask, George?" Duncan inquired.

"Oh."

"Something troubling you?"

"Just too much time on my hands," George explained, "Finally catching up on my reading. You know, great tragedies of good men and temptation. Dickens, Goethe…...Mickey Spillane."

"This will make three, George," Duncan declared before he threw his last boule, which rolled right up against the cochonnet, "Oooh!"

"Ah, enough. Enough," George chuckled, "Have pity on this poor man."

He laughed.

"Well, just this once," Duncan replied before he collected the boules and cochonnet.

"Yeah, but it's not just this once," George replied.

"Well, here you go, George," Duncan handed some of the boules to George.

"Thanks, yeah," George replied, "Did we have money on this?"

"Mm. Let me think," Duncan stated, "Mm – mm, possibly."

"How much?" George asked.

Duncan laughed, "Should I name a figure?"

George walked with Duncan to a door in the stone wall, "No. No, no, no, no. I'll name a figure."

They both laughed, going through a doorway to the parking lot.

George finished putting on his jacket and took back the boules from Duncan, "Mm – hmm."

"There you go, George," Duncan stated.

"Right."

"You'll need those next week."

"Mm – hmmm, yeah," George replied as the church bell tolled nearby, "Uh oh."

"How, uh, ahem, Grant doing?" Duncan asked as the two men walked to George's car.

"I just hope he meets a nice girl one day," George answered, "I could do with some grandchildren."

Duncan suddenly sensed the Buzz, "Stay out of trouble, George."

"What sort of trouble can a man at my age get into?" George laughed before he got in the car.

Duncan walked down to where his Land Rover was parked, and waved to George.

George started his car, and it exploded. Duncan ducked behind his jeep in reaction, then he looked up at the conflagration. He ran back up to the burning car, but the flames are too hot. There was nothing Duncan could have done.

-The-Space-Between-

"Well?" Max inquired as saw Alex getting into the car.

"He's dead, Max," Alex answered.

"Now we talk to the boy," Max told her, "He has to know about this. That money is ours. We must have it back, whatever it takes. We never forget."

Alex recalled when David and Max as a child were talking.

"Max, when the war is over, you know what to do with this list, right?" David asked.

"Yes, papa," Max answered.

Alex nodded, she knew what had to be done.

-The-Space-Between-

"I can't believe this," Grant stated, "A bomb. Did you hear that? They told me it was a bomb."

"I'm sorry," Duncan replied.

"Why should anyone do this?" Grant asked.

"I don't know," Duncan answered, "Did George have any enemies? Did he receive any threats lately?"

"Threats? Enemies? No," Grant answered.

"You're sure?"

"Everybody loved the guy."

"Not everybody."

"Pardon, monsieur," a policeman told Duncan, "I have to ask you some questions."

"Yeah, just a moment," Duncan replied before he told Grant, "The police want to talk to me. Will you be okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'll be okay – right after they get the bastard that did this," Grant answered.

"Excusez-moi, monsieur," the policeman stated before Grant walked away, leaving Duncan to join the policemen by George's burnt car.

-The-Space-Between-

Alex rose up into view in the back seat behind Grant after he got in his car.

"That's a neat trick," Grant stated.

"Here's another one," Alex replied before she cocked her gun, "I've got a Sig Sauer P – Two – Two – Six nine – millimeter right behind your seat. Average muzzle velocity, roughly two thousand feet per second. Now I can only really guess where your spinal cord is, so it's gonna take a few shots before you become paralyzed for life, but hey, what's a couple of kidneys between friends?"

Alex noticed that Grant was looking out the car window, "Never a cop around when you need one, is there?"

"Look, what do you want?" Grant demanded.

"I want to finish what I started with your grandfather," Alex answered.

"I don't have time for riddles," Grant retorted.

"I'm talking about the money," Alex stated.

"Look, I've got a couple of hundred in my wallet," Grant started to say, "I mean….."

"Sixty million dollars," Alex cut him off. Grant then stammered for a moment, speechless and then she continued, "You know, let me just bring you up to speed here. I've had a really bad day today. I'm a little moody. Cranky, you know? Could be PMS or it could be because you're pissing me off so much, I won't be able to control myself."

"Let's work something out," Grant told her.

"That's better," Alex replied.

"What do you want me to do?" Grant asked.

"Go over those bank records of yours and look for the name David Leiner. Then we'll talk," Alex instructed before she handed him a card, "My number, and don't worry, cause I've already got yours."

She left the car.

-The-Space-Between-

"Crazy day, isn't it?" Jack inquired as he walked over to Duncan.

"What do you know about what happened?" Duncan asked.

"Just what I saw," Jack answered, "George was killed in an explosion. Kind of crazy, if you ask me."

"Do you have any idea on who's responsible?" Duncan asked.

Before he could answer, Jack and Duncan both sensed the Buzz. They looked to see a young lady arriving at their spot.

Jack recognized the young lady, "You look familiar."

"Is that right?" the young lady asked.

France, 1796

Jack noticed a beautiful young woman was chasing after a man. He rode his horse toward her as the man continued to flee on foot. The young woman jumped on another horse and chased him. The man ran to a nearby stream. The young lady caught up to him, dismounted and sensed the buzz as Jack joined the party.

Jack watched from a nearby copse of trees as the young lady confronted the young man at the stream.

"You can't run away from me now, you bastard!" the young lady exclaimed.

"No, please!" the man begged, "I beg you!"

"You beg me?" the young woman retorted, "You've destroyed the best part of my life. All of his goodness and all of his light – gone! The only man I've loved in a hundred years, and you beg me for life?"

"No, please, I beg you," the man begged.

"Beg all you want," the young lady replied, "You don't deserve to live."

"Mercy!" the man begged, "Please, mercy!"

"Mercy, my ass," the young woman replied before she beheaded him and took his quickening.

Jack watched as the spring exploded as the young woman was taking the man's quickening. After the quickening ended, Jack walked over to where she was standing, "Interesting style there. Chasing an unarmed opponent on horseback and then taking his head?"

"Was he a friend of yours?" the young woman asked.

"Oh, no, no," Jack shook his head, "No. I don't even know the guy."

"Then we have no quarrel, unless you choose to make one," the young woman replied.

"Some other time," Jack replied.

"Some other time," the young woman replied.

With that, Jack rode away.

The Present

Jack glanced around, as he recognized the young woman from two hundred and two years ago. It was too ironic as he and Duncan walked towards the young woman.

"You responsible for this?" Duncan asked.

"It's none of your business," the young woman answered.

"Wrong," Duncan corrected her, "it is my business. It was a friend of mine."

"Then we have a problem, haven't we?" the young woman asked.

"Maybe him," Jack stepped forward awkwardly, "but I just came by the neighborhood. Anyway, my name is Jack Banks."

"I'm Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod," Duncan introduced himself to the young woman.

"Alex Raven," the young woman introduced herself to the two men before she got on her parked motorcycle.

"So, your full name must be Alexandra," Jack stated, "or I can call you Lexi."

Alex chuckled before stating, "See ya around, Duncan MacLeod, Jack Banks."

"Yes, you will, Lexi," Jack replied before Alex rode off.

You're Reading

The Space Between

Seacouver, Washington

Richie squirmed nervously. They were outside the apartment building that he once shared with Tori and Jenny. Nikki, Maria and Angie all stood with him. Angie and Nikki have been supporting him since he had moved Tori's body back to Seacouver, and since he'd been here for the past couple of months. Maria had managed to arrive in town yesterday to give her foster brother support.

"Thanks for coming guys," Richie told his friends.

"We're here for you," Maria gave him a comforting touch, "I know it's hard for you to enter that apartment after Tori died."

Richie nodded, "That's an understatement. Too many memories, but Jack was nice enough to pay my rent and what I needed for my apartment in case I ever came by."

"That was nice of him," Angie smiled, "Now, I think you know what you have to do."

Richie nodded and took a deep breath.

"We'll be right here with you," Nikki assured him.

Reluctantly, Richie walked over to the apartment and the girls were right behind him. He wondered how the apartment would look like over the course of the past year and a half.

Richie unlocked the door and what followed was the longest 30 seconds of his life. Then he opened the door and he saw that his apartment hadn't changed much ever since he had left.

He felt various emotions run through him as he looked at the apartment. Richie felt the memories surge through him: when he first was in a relationship with Tori where she moved in shortly afterwards, the times they spent together at the apartment, romantic times, times when she comforted him during the ordeals he had to endure and even when their daughter Jenny was living with them.

"Richie?" Angie called out.

That was when Richie realized he felt tears falling down his face. It was clear he was feeling overwhelmed over returning to the apartment. Angie walked over to her friend and hugged him as he started to cry. Nikki and Maria joined them moments later.

"It'll be okay," Maria assured her foster brother, "We'll get through this."

"We should take a seat," Nikki suggested. Richie nodded before he walked over to the couch. Then, Angie, Nikki and Maria were all seated with him and comforted him as he started crying again.

-The-Space-Between-

Paris

Duncan drunk some tea as he stared at his katana, still wrapped in a cloth. Sticks on incense burned at the opposite ends of the low table.

He reflected on when he first received his katana in 1778 Japan.

"When it is over…." Hideo handed Duncan the katana, "the sword is yours."

Duncan reflected on various times where he fought using his sword with honor. He had fought with honor with his katana in hand, until the fateful night he killed Tori. He saw Richie screaming in anguish, and crying, holding his wife's body in the aftermath. Now, Duncan found himself unable to hold his sword. Tori, someone he considered a daughter, was dead. Richie, his best friend and someone he considered a son, was alone and widowed. He couldn't use his sword anymore and cause anymore damage.

Duncan picked up the wrapped katana and put it in a nearby steamer trunk.

"You can't step away from the game forever," Connor told him, "You know that you have done that before when you lost Little Deer and her son, and that doesn't last. You'll have to pick up your sword or later. We are immortal, and there is no escaping the game forever."

Maybe Connor was right. No, Connor was right. He couldn't escape the game forever. Duncan knew that, but for right now, he couldn't find it in him to pick up his sword.

-The-Space-Between-

Duncan drove up and parked his car before he walked up the steps.

"Duncan, what gives?" Grant asked as at the top of the steps.

"I have a few questions," Duncan answered.

"A little pressed for time right now," Grant replied.

"Oh, a couple of minutes should do it," Duncan insisted. Grant escorted him inside and he noticed some suitcases in the foyer, "Mm. Going somewhere?"

"Out of town. Couple of days," Grant informed him, "The bank, the press. You know how it is."

"Yeah, yeah," Duncan inquired, "You going alone?"

"Alone? Sure. Why?" Grant asked in turn.

"Oh, I just thought maybe she was going with you," Duncan answered.

"Who?"

"The girl I saw getting out of your car today."

"Girl? My car?"

"Tall, beautiful, long hair," Duncan described the woman, "Kinda hard to miss."

"Doesn't compute," Grant replied.

"Mm. Black Daimler, right?" Duncan asked.

"Right car, wrong people," Grant answered.

"Friends don't usually lie to me," Duncan replied.

"Pull up a minute, Duncan," Grant stated, "You asked, I told. You don't like it, too bad."

Duncan sensed the buzz and took a quick look outside, "Where is she?"

Grant scoffed, "This is getting a little old."

"Get going," Duncan told his friend, "Go on. Get out of here."

"What are…" Grant started to ask.

"Now," Duncan shoved Grant out the door.

"What are you doing?" Grant demanded.

Duncan closed the door behind him and went in search of the Buzz.

-The-Space-Between-

Alex leaned close, working on the bomb.

"Step away from that," Duncan told her upon entering the basement.

Alex noticed his presence, "MacLeod, you're like a bad penny."

"I said move away," Duncan told her.

"I'm in a bit of a hurry here, so why don't you just fetch us something cool to drink," Alex replied.

"Very cute," Duncan sarcastically replied, walking closer to her, "Maybe I should let you arm that bomb too."

"It's already armed," Alex informed him, "I'm trying to disarm it."

"Right," Duncan took the tool from her. Alex stepped back in response as Duncan looked at the timer.

Alex cleared her throat, "The yellow wire."

Duncan didn't believe her, "Maybe you've got a bridge for sale."

"Have it your way," Alex replied.

Duncan pulled a wire and the beeping sped up. Duncan then looked over at Alex, who told him again, "The yellow wire."

Duncan pulled the yellow wire and the timer stopped at 0001.

"I told you," Alex replied.

"Well, now maybe you'll be a good girl and tell me about the rest of it," Duncan told her.

"Move it or lose it," Alex replied.

"Not until you talk to me," Duncan insisted.

"I've got nothing left to say," Alex replied.

Duncan took out an escrima stick out of his coat and twirled it. Alex drawn out her sword.

"That's the best you can do?" Alex asked as Duncan removed his coat.

"We'll see," Duncan answered.

Alex attacked and Duncan fended her off. They moved from the basement to the hallway.

"Not bad," Alex noted during the fight, "Maybe I'll take some lessons sometime."

"You're gonna need 'em," Duncan stated before the fight continued. Duncan pinned Alex against the wall, "You were saying?"

"Say goodnight, MacLeod," Alex replied before she kneed him, and hit the fuse box to knock out the power before running away, "Damn."

-The-Space-Between-

"The truth, Grant," Duncan walked towards Grant, who backed away in turn.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Grant answered.

"And you have no idea what she wants?" Duncan inquired.

"What? No."

"You're running out of excuses, and you're running out of time," Duncan informed his friend before he threw the disarmed bomb in his lap.

"Are you crazy?" Grant demanded.

"It's disarmed," Duncan told him, "I'm trying to save your life."

"That bitch," Grant finally revealed the truth, "She killed my grandfather and she said she'd kill me too."

"Go on," Duncan urged him.

"A couple of years ago," Grant explained, "my grandfather got the bank into leveraged bonds."

"That's a pretty risky investment for a conservative man like George," Duncan replied.

"Tell me about it," Grant replied before continuing, "He wanted to retire big time. The bottom line is they tanked. The bank was going under. We needed money, as in "cash" – truckloads of I. Along come these businessmen, offered to bail us out. We don't ask any questions."

"Businessmen?" Duncan asked.

"International traders," Grant answered, "according to them. Russian mafia, according to everybody else."

"And they were the ones who threatened George," Duncan inquired.

"Not if he cooperated," Grant answered, "but he couldn't keep it up. One day, he pulled the plug. He'd had enough."

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

"Scandal," Grant answered, "The last thing George wanted was a run on the bank. Everything he'd work for would be gone overnight."

"And what's stopping you now?"

"I don't know. How's fear? End of story," Grant told his friend, "My bank, my problem. I'll handle it."

"You can't handle it," Duncan insisted.

"No police," Grant insisted in turn.

"No. No police," Duncan replied, "Can you contact this woman?"

"I have a telephone number," Grant informed him, "That's all."

"Then call her," Duncan instructed, "It's time to set up a meeting."

"Okay," Grant relented.

-The-Space-Between-

Duncan waited among the twelve columns and saw Alex arriving on her motorcycle.

"We've got to stop meeting like this," Alex said as she walked towards him.

"And you've got to stop trying to blow up my friends," Duncan interjected.

"I don't suppose you'd believe me if I said I had nothing to do with it," Alex stated.

"Not at the moment," Duncan replied.

Alex drawn out her sword, "One more time?"

Suddenly, she was shot from behind by Grant, who came out from behind one of the column, "Good thing I followed you."

"What are you doing here?" Duncan asked.

"She had a sword in her hand," Grant answered, "She was gonna kill you."

"I could've handled it," Duncan insisted before he took the gun from him, "You didn't have to shoot her."

"You're welcome," Grant replied before he asked, "What the hell was she doing with a sword anyway?"

"Let's get you out of here," Duncan lead his friend away from the area.

-The-Space-Between-

Alex gasped as she was now back to life, and she looked around, "That bastard."

She drawn out her sword as she sensed the Buzz, "And now I'll let him have it."

Alex was about to swing her sword, but was interrupted by a shout.

"Whoa!" Jack exclaimed as he dodged her blow, "Whoa, whoa there!"

Alex backed off, realizing who it actually was, "Sorry. MacLeod had that bastard to shoot me."

"What are you talking about?" Jack asked, confused, "Why are you even going after Grant anyway?"

Alex sighed, "You're a nice guy. I will fill you in on everything on my way to confront MacLeod."

"Sure thing," Jack nodded.

"Wanna ride?" Alex asked as she glanced at her motorcycle.

"Sure," Jack slowly nodded.

"And I'll introduce you to my friend too," Alex got on her motorcycle with Jack right behind her before she started her motorcycle.

-The-Space-Between-

Seacouver, Washington

Richie sighed sadly as he walked down the streets, walking out of his apartment. He was reflecting on the times he had with his beloved Tori as he was walking down the streets. He. Maria, Angie and Nikki made a reluctant agreement to spend the night at his old apartment to help him heal, and Nikki would bring Melinda with her after school was out.

Richie was thinking about his beloved Tori, when they first met.

"It's going to be okay. Just trust me on this." She licked her lips, thankful that he might have helped the agency out. "I guess we should kind of introduce ourselves."

"All right." He paused, composing himself. "Ladies first."

"What a gentleman." She forced a small smile. "I'm Victoria. People call me Tori."

"I'm Richard Ryan. People call me Richie."

"Nice to meet you, Richie."

He then reflected on when they were joking around at the barge deck after Richie was released from jail from being framed by Hyde.

It was night time, and Richie, Tori and Duncan were standing at the deck of the barge. Tori was in a sing song tune before she hugged Richie, and then backed off.

"What's wrong?" Richie asked, "I actually liked that."

"Well, um," Tori answered, "we don't want to alert Maurice. What if he thinks we are a couple?"

Richie then reflected on when he and Tori officially became a couple.

"Um, Tori," Richie stammered before he asked, "why didn't you just tell me you have feelings for me?"

Tori looked around for a bit before answering, "I didn't think you shared the same feelings. Do you?"

"Well, um," Richie looked around for a moment before looking back at Tori, "yeah. Oh, what the hell, let's make it official."

With that, Tori and Richie held each other in a loving embrace and shared a passionate kiss.

He recalled the times he and Tori had with each other ever since being a couple, including Tori comforting him and vice versa. They stuck with each other through the good times and the bad times.

Then, finally, he remembered one of the happiest moments of his life: proposing to Tori.

Suddenly, Richie went down on one knee, and Tori blushed as she watched him.

"Victoria Gordon," Richie held the ring in his hands, "will you marry me?"

Maurice, Amanda and everyone else in the restaurant watched with anticipation.

Tori smiled happily, "Yes, I will marry you, Richie Ryan!"

Richie placed the ring on Tori's finger and then everyone in the restaurant cheered and clapped their hands.

He thought about marrying the woman he loved.

Richie said his vows first, "Tori, I had no idea I needed someone as wonderful, smart, and beautiful as you. You were good to me ever since we first met, and you were the only one who stuck with me, no matter how bad things got. You are my rock, and you saw a side of me I never thought I was capable of showing. You have always been there for me through the good times and the bad times. I vow to be the best husband I can be, and support and protect you till death do we part. I promise this in front of our loved ones present here today."

Tori then said her vows, "Richie, you have a wonderful personality, and a great sense of humor. I never thought I was capable of love, let alone someone like you until I let you in my life, and the night we first met was the night where our lives had changed for the better. You are a gentlemen and a wonderful soul. While you are stubborn at times, I always had faith in you, and I still do. I love you, Richie Ryan, and I vow to be the best wife I can be, and to support and protect you till death do we part. I promise this in front of our loved ones present here today."

"By the power invested in me," the minster declared, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Methos handed the rings to the minster before Richie placed a ring on her right finger, and Tori did the same to him. Then, Richie lifted the veil and saw Tori's face for the first time as his wife and they shared a kiss on the lips.

And then a memory of the worst night of his life arrived.

Tori managed to catch up with Richie as they were looking for Joe and Amanda. They see Duncan with his sword, looking around as if he was seeing something they didn't see.

"Mac?" Richie muttered.

As he came closer to his teacher, Tori noticed the decorations. They were the same decorations described in both Rick and Katarina's premonitions. Tori realized if she didn't act fast, Richie would be dead.

"No!" Tori exclaimed. She hurried over to Richie and pushed him out of the way. Tori used her tachi to block the first blow as Duncan swung. Then he swung again, and this time, things went black.

Richie sighed sadly as he looked down. From there he reflected on screaming in anguish upon seeing MacLeod took Tori's quickening, him holding his wife's body, and even the memorial service.

The final flashback was when he saw Tori's grave for the first time since the memorial service, followed by Tori's current grave here in Seacouver, which read:

Victoria "Tori" Gordon-Ryan

Beloved Wife

Richie broke down again, trying to wipe some tears away.

"Richie Ryan?"

He looked up, and noticed two familiar faces: Mark Roszca and his girlfriend/wife Alicia. He stood still for a moment, not knowing what he could say. He wasn't angry with them, all things considered. He never blamed Alicia. It was Mark he had beef with for killing Tessa, but Tori talked him out of killing him.

"That was me?!" Mark exclaimed in shock, seeing the image of himself at the time of Tessa's death versus now, "My God?! How could I….."

"How could you what?!" Richie exclaimed.

"The Mohawk," Mark answered, "I lost that jacket a year ago…..I did it. I killed her. Oh man. I'm – I'm so sorry."

"So am I," Richie replied before he threw Mark over the railing, but not letting him go.

"Oh please," Mark pleaded as he was hanging onto the railing, "Please…..I'm going to have a kid. I'm supposed to get married."

Richie replied coldly, "So was she."

"Richie, stop!" Tori shouted, "Tessa wouldn't want this!"

Richie looked at her, "What?"

"Tessa wouldn't want you to lose yourself like this," Tori stressed, "I know killing him won't bring Tessa back. Tessa would want us to do what was right."

Richie was hesitant, but he eventually pulling Mark back up.

"We heard about what happened to your wife," Alicia spoke up, pulling Richie from his thoughts. He looked at them, not knowing what he could say, how he could respond.

"We're very sorry for your loss," Mark added, "We know how you feel."

"Thanks," Richie finally replied as his voice broke.

"After the scuffle you had with Mark," Alicia spoke up, "Tori came by and told us about you, her and MacLeod being immortal, and the hunters being responsible for the tragedy."

Richie slowly looked up as that statement took him by surprise to a degree. This was something Tori never told him. He guessed she never told him because she knew he'd somehow react, more than likely. Probably for the best.

Two Years Ago

"Hey," Tori greeted Mark and Alicia.

"Thanks for talking your boyfriend out of killing my Mark," Alicia told her before she glanced over at her boyfriend, "He told me everything, including what he realized what he had done two years ago."

"I'm sorry for what I did to your friend," Mark apologized.

Tori nodded, "That's why I'm here. There's more to the story than what you two witnessed, and I think I should tell you."

Mark and Alicia looked at each other before looking back at Tori.

"Mind if I tell you?" Tori asked.

"Sure," Alicia answered, "Come on in."

Tori walked into the apartment as they led her inside.

"You might want to take a seat," Tori suggested, "This might take a little bit."

Mark and Alicia took a seat on the sofa as Tori stood up and explained what was going on.

"There's something that you should know," Tori started her story, "Because of what happened that night, Richie is now immortal and so am I, and MacLeod. That means that we don't die unless we lose our head."

"By beheading?" Mark asked.

Tori nodded, "Yeah. There was a hunter that had kidnapped Tessa that fateful week as he was targeting MacLeod, something a gypsy predicted the night before she was taken. Anyway, the hunters were the one who put Tessa in the cross hairs. The hunters were the one who caused everything. We were all in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"I'm sorry," Mark told her, "I really am."

"Look, I believe you," Tori told him, "I do. We were all victims of the hunters, especially their leader Horton's campaign against my kind. You may have pulled the trigger while loaded, and killed both Tessa and Richie, with the latter becoming immortal, they, while sober, put Tessa in the cross hairs."

"So, what now?" Alicia asked.

"You promise you never speak of this to anyone?" Tori inquired.

"We promise," Alicia answered.

"You can count on that," Mark added.

"Thanks," Tori smiled and nodded, "If you have any other questions, go to Joe's. He'll help you two."

She started to leave the apartment.

"What about you?" Alicia asked.

"It's all water under the bridge," Tori answered, "Our business is concluded."

The Present

"I'm glad you know the truth about what happened," Richie stated. He took a deep breath before speaking up, "I'm sorry about your stillbirth."

"Thanks," Alicia replied, "We're pregnant again after trying again. Five months along."

Richie faked a smile, trying not to show any sign of pain, "That's good to hear."

"Tori was the one who told us to not give up on our relationship," Mark spoke up, "After she found out what happened two years ago. She told us it was up to us on how we take our relationship after the loss."

Richie gave out a small smile. He blamed himself for indirectly causing the possible stress leading to the stillbirth that Alicia must have endured, "I'm sorry….for everything that happened that day."

"It's okay," Mark replied, "As Tori said, it's all water under the bridge. It's all in the past."

"She was right," Richie told the couple, "The Hunters were responsible for everything and we were all in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Mark nodded, "We are very sorry for the death of your wife."

"Our condolences," Alicia added.

"Thanks," Richie replied. He shook hands with the couple. He wasn't buddies with Mark, probably never would be, but at least there was some closure. It was something he felt he needed. It was sad that they had a stillborn, but he found a little peace as Alicia was now expecting again, Mark's child.

Richie was glad Tori was able to save their relationship. Maybe it was for the best that he never knew prior to this meeting.

-The-Space-Between-

Paris

Duncan walked down the quay towards the barge, sensing the buzz. He looked around, and didn't see anyone and cautiously entered the barge.

He entered the barge to find Jack and Alex waiting for him.

"Hello, MacLeod," Jack greeted awkwardly.

"At least you didn't kill me while I was dead," Alex chimed in.

"For the record, I had nothing to do with you being shot," Duncan told her.

"Eh, I had a hunch," Jack stated, "but I wasn't sure."

"Now who's got the bridge for sale?" Alex replied in turn.

"You're not going to kill Grant," Duncan firmly told her.

"I hate to burst your bubble, MacLeod," Jack spoke up, "but she's trying to keep him alive."

"Why?" Duncan asked.

"I'll let Max tell you," Alex answered as an old man entered the barge as she introduced him to the Highlander, "Jack here has already met him, but um, Duncan MacLeod, Max Leiner. I think it's time you two should meet."

"Chello vee eka kat or ah vah vweh oo bee lee bwil my eem droo gum," Duncan told Max in Russian, letting him know the man he killed was his friend.

"He didn't kill anybody," Alex insisted, "and he doesn't speak Russian."

"Then why are you interested in Grant and the bank?" Duncan asked.

"I think Max and Lexi should tell you what's going on," Jack answered.

"They stole sixty million dollars," Alex spoke up.

"It's true, MacLeod," Max stated.

"Come again?" Duncan asked.

"Blood money," Alex elaborated further, "The Nazis killed David, Max's father, and they left me for dead."

"He knows about us?" Duncan asked.

"Yeah, he knows," Alex answered.

Warsaw Ghetto, 1942

A young Max climbed out of his hiding place as he knelt towards his father's dead body before he reached out for Alex.

Alex revived with a gasp, startling the child, "I'm all right. See? I'm alive."

"But how?" Max asked.

"Max, can you keep a secret?" Alex asked in turn. The boy nodded.

"I'm not like other people," Alex informed him.

"You mean you're an angel," Max inquired.

"No, no," Alex insisted, "I'm not an angel."

"Yes, you are."

"Max, listen to me."

"Like the one who came to Abraham to wrestle Jacob," Max elaborated further, "Papa said you'd come to protect us. I just had to believe."

He touched the blood on her coat where she was shot, "Now I believe."

"Well then, if David said it's true," Alex relented, "I'll protect you, but you've got to keep it a secret, okay?"

"I can keep a secret," Max agreed.

"I know you can," Alex sniffled and smiled through her tears, "You know, you've got your father's eyes – strong ones, good ones. You're going to be an important man, and he's going to be so proud of you."

"Then I can protect you," Max replied.

"I'd like that," Alex smiled.

"Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"I won't tell," Max informed her before she hugged him.

The Present

"And he's kept it a secret for all these years," Alex stated.

"Not many survived the Warsaw Ghetto," Duncan declared.

"Exactly what I said when she told me," Jack chimed in.

"I had to," Max replied before he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.

"What's that?" Duncan asked.

"A list," Jack answered, "Something surprising if you ask me."

"And it's not what," Alex answered, "Who?"

"Gisella Weisshaus, Elie Grotch," Max read out of the list as he held out the paper to show Duncan the handwritten names on it, "Rose Trilling, Benjamin Wall, Alex Bermann, Bert Linder. I know them all by heart."

"People hid their money in foreign bank accounts…." Alex explained, "before their families were rounded up and taken to the camps."

"And you think George Thomas's bank was one of them?" Duncan asked.

"They have millions of dollars stolen from our dead, and they deny it," Max answered.

"That's where Grant comes in," Alex added in.

Max scoffed, "He's just like his grandfather: tries to bury me under their paperwork. Doesn't realize he's dealing with a human shredder."

"Yes, but there must be some way to trace the money – some proof, some records," Duncan stated.

"There's a safe somewhere in Grant's house," Alex informed him, "That's what I was looking for before I found the bomb and you crashed my party."

"Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember," Duncan replied, "I remember, but I've known George and Grant for years."

"Mr. MacLeod, I'm an old man," Max told the Highlander, "Many things I have seen. Some things I still cannot speak of. I have looked into the face of darkness. Do you know what that face looks like? It looks you. It looks like Alex, even Jack. It looks like me too."

Duncan turned to leave.

"Hey, where are you going?" Alex asked.

"To find out why Grant lied to me," Duncan answered.

"Go home, Max," Alex instructed, "Wait for me there."

She and Jack followed Duncan out the barge.

-The-Space-Between-

Alex, Duncan and Jack made their way to the hallway of the hotel where Grant was staying.

"We make better friends than enemies, MacLeod," Alex spoke up, "now that you finally trust me."

"Who says I trust you?" Duncan asked.

"I trust you," Jack told her.

"Why are you doing this?" Duncan asked in turn.

"Cause I loved Max's father," Alex answered, "because it needs to be done."

"That's all?" Duncan stated.

"That's enough," Alex interjected.

Duncan knocked the door to Room 306. The door swung open.

"Sure you got the right room?" Alex asked.

"I've got the right room," Duncan answered before he called out, "Grant?"

He was shot from inside the room and stumbled back to the hallway.

"You got the right room, huh?" Alex sarcastically asked.

"Go," Duncan slumped to the floor.

Alex entered the room with Jack right behind her, they looked around, saw an open window, looked out and saw another man running away. Alex jumped out of the window and chased the man onto the bridge, tackling him. They fought hand to hand. Another man drove onto the bridge, shooting at Alex from the car window. Alex jumped over the edge of the bridge, and found herself dangling from the side of the bridge, over traffic below.

She pulled herself back up and over the bridge rail and looked around.

-The-Space-Between-

Duncan opened the cabinet door, revealing the safe inside. Jack and Alex were right behind him.

"I knew it," Alex spoke up, "Now we can deposit records to the account numbers on Max's list."

"Yeah, and then they get the sixty million dollars," Duncan stated as Alex pulled a brick of plastique out of her bag, catching his attention, "What are you doing with that? You want to open this thing or send it into orbit?"

"Well, you got any ideas?" Alex asked.

"Let's hear it," Jack added.

"Yeah, if you have a nail file," Duncan answered.

"What?" Alex quipped.

Duncan sighed and squatted in front of the safe with a Swiss Army knife, nail file extended, "Watch and learn."

He sanded the tips of his fingers with the file.

"This I've got to see," Alex stated.

"Shush," Jack lightly elbowed her.

Duncan put the knife away, leaned close to the safe and started the four small brass knobs on the door, listening to the tumblers clicking, and eventually opened the door.

"Where'd you learn how to do that?" Alex asked, impressed.

"A friend," Duncan answered before looking at the safe, "It's empty."

"I could have told you that," Grant stated as he entered the room, pointing a gun at the trio.

"I told you, MacLeod," Alex chimed in, "What do you expect from a guy who shoots a woman in the back, but you don't listen, do you?"

"Would you listen?" Duncan asked, "At least for ten seconds?"

"What the hell does it take to kill you Three Stooges?" Grant asked.

"Why don't you come and find out?" Alex interjected.

"And if you wish to insult us," Jack chimed in, "Do it with something or someone who isn't likable. Tell us, Grant, why did you kill your grandfather?"

"Conscience," Grant answered.

Alex laughed, "Conscience?"

"Not mine. His," Grant answered, "The old man was only getting older, didn't want to meet with Saint Peter with pockets full of stolen money."

"He was gonna give it back," Duncan stated.

"Yeah," Grant answered, "She actually convinced me it was the right thing to do."

"So you blew him up," Jack chimed in.

"I'm a banker," Grant stated as the two men walked in the room, "I don't do bombs. They do bombs."

"And they were the ones that planted one in here," Duncan spoke up.

"I had to throw suspicion off me," Grant stated, "Shame you disarmed it."

"So there is no Russian mafia," Duncan inquired.

"Sure there is, somewhere," Grant answered before declaring, "Time to go for a swim."

"Oh boy," Jack muttered.

-The-Space-Between-

"You know this is completely and utterly your fault," Duncan told Alex as they were walking out back with Jack in tow as the two men were planning to kill them.

"Excuse me?" Alex retorted, "I was the one who's been right all along."

"She has a point you know," Jack chimed in.

"Keep out of it!" Duncan exclaimed.

"Who said pull the yellow wire?" Alex asked.

"I did," Duncan answered.

The three immortals turned as one as Duncan and Alex fought the two men, knocking them out.

"Great work," Jack stated, "Looks like my agents won't have a hard time taking them into custody."

As if on cue, a group of IUA agents picked up the unconscious men and handcuffed them before taking them into custody.

"These men will be taken into the proper custody, Leader," one of the agents informed Jack.

"Good," Jack nodded, "Do your thing. They will get what they deserved."

With that, the agents took the two henchmen into custody.

"I'll never get used to that," Jack muttered.

"Now what?" Alex asked.

"Grant thinks we're dead," Duncan answered, "There's only one person that can link him to the money."

-The-Space-Between-

"Killing me will change nothing, you fool," Max stated as Grant was holding him at gunpoint as they were walking down the warehouse, "There are hundreds more who will come when I'm gone. All those souls, those voices. Do you have enough bullets for all of them?"

"No," Grant answered, "Just enough for you."

Max got in the passenger side of the car when another car drove up with a screech. Grant shot at Alex, Duncan and Jack as they got out and he ran off. They chased him and took cover as he shot some more until he ran out of bullets.

Duncan walked towards Grant, "What are you going to do now, Grant?"

Grant backed away towards the ledge.

"Grant, no!" Duncan exclaimed.

Grant fell off the ledge, screaming and landed on the floor below, dead.

-The-Space-Between-

Duncan, Alex, Jack and Max were all at the living room of Grant's family home, searching for the money but they couldn't find anything.

"Well, that's it," Duncan declared, "We searched the whole home."

"Without those ledgers, all is lost," Max stated.

"They must be somewhere here," Alex insisted.

"Are you sure he didn't mention anything to you, MacLeod?" Jack asked.

"Nothing that would do us any good," Duncan answered.

He suddenly remembered something George told him before his death.

"Tell me Duncan," George asked, "do you think it's only good deeds that define a man's soul?"

He then recalled something else he said that day.

"Finally catching up on my reading," George explained, "You know, great tragedies of good men and temptation. Dickens, Goethe."

"Goethe," the word echoed.

"Good men…...and temptation," Duncan said to himself.

"What are you talking about?" Alex asked.

"A story of a good man tempted," Duncan answered, ""Great tragedies of good men and temptation". That's what George said."

He started scanning some books on a shelf.

Alex joined him, "Or a good doctor."

Jack followed suit, "Tempted by the devil."

"Faust," all three immortals said together.

Duncan pulled a book from the shelf, "Here."

He flipped through pages of a book, found a folded piece of paper. They looked at it, and took it over to Max.

"Don't tease an old man," Max stated.

Duncan handed him the paper. He pulled out his own list, and compared them.

"Gisella Weisshaus, Elie Grotch. Rose Trilling, Benjamin Wall," Max read the papers before replying, "Oh my God."

"All the names and secret numbers," Alex stated in awe, "They match."

"What is it?" Jack asked as Duncan found another piece of paper in another book.

"Looks like a confession," Duncan answered.

"From George Thomas?" Alex asked.

"All the names and dates," Duncan answered, "The whole money trail."

He handed the letter to Max which read: I, George Thomas hope that this document will permit the resolution of their money to Jewish families who deposited their savings, unaware of what would happen in the future.

Gisella Weisshaus

Elie Grotch

Rose Trilling

Benjamin Wall

Alex Berman

Bert Linder

Wanda Gurnstien

Sacha Gruber

Sarah Wertheimer

Helene Bressler

Rachel Stein

Mina Tanembaum

David Krawezick

Ariel Rosenthal

Gertrud Stein

Joseph Rosenberg

Abraham Graubaum

Issac Bolstein

"At last," Max declared.

"Looks like you'll be able to trace everything – all the money, Max," Duncan stated.

"For years, I hated myself for being alive," Max told the immortals, "Why was I spared? Why did I survive when so many better people perished? Now I know. All those left behind, all those poor souls…...finally laid to rest."

"All those souls," Duncan stated before thinking about George's confession, "and maybe one more."

-The-Space-Between-

Jack walked down the quay by the barge with Alex and Duncan in tow.

"I believe your friend from Warsaw would have been very proud," Jack told Alex.

"David. It was fifty years ago – a heartbeat for you and me," Alex replied, "I hope he's watching this from somewhere."

"That day we met in the forest," Jack inquired, "The man you beheaded?"

"He killed someone, someone I loved very much," Alex answered.

"I'm sorry," Jack offered his condolences before he asked, "Say, you, Alex Raven, have great potential. You would make an excellent addition to the Intergalactic Union Agency. How would you like to join us?"

Alex took a couple of steps back in surprise, "I…..you really think so?"

"I know potential when I see it," Jack answered.

Alex was speechless at first. She didn't know what she could say initially, but thinking about it, she could be useful in defending this world and be of help when needed, "Okay. I'm up for it."

"Great," Jack shook her hand, "Welcome to the Intergalactic Union Agency."

"Thanks," Alex smiled, shaking his hand.

"This could be the beginning of a wonderful relationship," Jack declared.

"Possibly so," Alex nodded.

"You guys hungry?" Duncan asked, who was quiet prior to now.

"Thanks, but we'll eat when we get back to my agency," Jack declined.

"Yeah," Alex nodded, "We have made other plans."

"Some other time?" Duncan asked.

"Some other time," Alex and Jack answered in unison.

They left Duncan by himself side by side.

Duncan sighed as he saw them walk away. It was great that Alex was going to do something good in her life. He wondered what Max would think of this and also wondered how things would turn out or even if Alex and Jack would make a perfect couple.

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Author's Commentary:

"It'll be okay," Maria assured her foster brother, "We'll get through this."

"We should take a seat," Nikki suggested. Richie nodded before he walked over to the couch. Then, Angie, Nikki and Maria were all seated with him and comforted him as he started crying again.

Thinking about it, this scene could possibly have "Who Wants to Live Forever" playing in the background, or "Dust in the Wind" when Duncan returned to the barge for the first time since Tessa's death in "Unholy Alliance Part Two." That's what was going through my mind here.

Richie sighed sadly as he looked down. From there he reflected on screaming in anguish upon seeing MacLeod took Tori's quickening, him holding his wife's body, and even the memorial service.

The final flashback was when he saw Tori's grave for the first time since the memorial service, followed by Tori's current grave here in Seacouver, which read:

Victoria "Tori" Gordon-Ryan

Beloved Wife

Richie broke down again, trying to wipe some tears away.

Writing this scene, I could picture "Who Wants to Live Forever" by Queen playing while Richie was thinking about Tori, just as when Duncan was thinking about Tessa during a run in "Leader of the Pack". Either during this scene or when Richie was back in the apartment with Angie, Nikki and Maria for the first time since Tori's death and he was crying, when I come to think about it.

"You promise you never speak of this to anyone?" Tori inquired.

"We promise," Alicia answered.

"You can count on that," Mark added.

"Thanks," Tori smiled and nodded, "If you have any other questions, go to Joe's. He'll help you two."

She started to leave the apartment.

"What about you?" Alicia asked.

"It's all water under the bridge," Tori answered, "Our business is concluded."

The flashback when Tori was talking to Mark and Alicia was inspired by Roland Cain, who did something similar, in his take on "Leader of the Pack". This will also be featured in the Season 4 part of the lost stories when I get to "Leader of the Pack".

"Was he a friend of yours?" the young woman asked.

"Oh, no, no," Jack shook his head, "No. I don't even know the guy."

"Then we have no quarrel, unless you choose to make one," the young woman replied.

"Some other time," Jack replied.

"Some other time," the young woman replied.

With that, Jack rode away.

About the flashback with Alex, I decided Jack would be the one who encountered her instead of Duncan because I thought it'd be an interesting take of that flashback.

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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.