Chapter 2

Rachel--New York--1978

Rachel's day began like any other day in the busy city she called home. She woke early that day, wanting to get to the antique store early. After all it was inventory time, and she was the only employee of her adoptive father's store. He didn't trust too many people with knowledge about his life, and even she wasn&'t so sure about parts of it. All she knew was that he had adopted her nearly 40 years ago and had raised her as his own. There were many times that she wondered about the man she called Father. He never seemed to grow older or change at all. He did look as young as when she first met him. She loved him dearly though and would never question him too much about his past. She knew that his past caused him pain however. All too often she would catch a glimpse of him when he wasn't looking and she could see the pain etched memories in his eyes. She often teased him out of his depressions with a joke about how he should bottle his youthful appearance formula. He would often burst out in a soft laugh and say "Aye Rachel, if I only could we'd be richer than we already are. But daughter along with this youthful face comes many a curse, and I would not wish that on a soul." Many was the time Rachel wished he would finally tell her his secrets, as she knew he had more secrets than most men, but she held her counsel. She loved her father after all, and his life was his own. That did not mean that she couldn't wish for him to tell her though.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts of the past, Rachel went into the kitchen to brew up a morning pot of tea before getting ready to go in and open the store. It was, after all going to be a very busy day.

As Rachel showered her thoughts again turned to her life with her father. She had never thought to marry, until late in her life. Taking care of her adoptive dad seemed to her to be more important. She had a great love of antiques, as did her father Russell. He had a knack for finding the most beautiful objects of art and furniture from some of the oddest sources, which he would never name. Although he seemed to specialize in antique weaponry, his shop carried a bit of it all. He stored his favorite things, along with his memories in a secret round room behind one of the shelves, which was always off-limits to Rachel, but she respected his space and never tried to inventory that.

Finally at the age of 30 she had met and fallen in love with a man named Jake Ellenstein, who loved her more than life and respected her father greatly. Their life together for the last 10 years had been full and happy. The only marring of sadness on their otherwise happy marriage was the absence of children. Rachel fretted never giving Jake a child, but he constantly reassured her that she, Rachel, was all he needed. Rachel remembered voicing her despair over her childlessness to her father once and his words stayed with her always. "Ah, Rachel, I understand you far more than you know. I have never been able to have a child of my own, but I have learned over time that there are many out there needing a family. Remember Daughter, I adopted you and I love you as if you were my own. This will happen for you as well, in the right time and place." Her father then hugged her in that strong bear hug way that made her dizzy and smiled at her. "Don't worry Rachel. You will be a wonderful mother when you are ready to be."

Brenda--New York--1978

Angry, that's what she was, angry. Connor had never stood her up before, yet here it was, nearly 2 p.m. in the afternoon and he had never arrived for their lunch at their favorite restaurant. "Well, he is going to get a GOOD piece of my mind as soon as I see him. How dare he not show up at all??" Brenda knew that time had no meaning for Connor, and she loved him none the less for it. Many a time he would be thirty minutes late then arrive with a soft embarrassed laugh and say "Sorry love, I forgot the time." She always forgave him, but he'd never forgotten to show up at all before. Her anger gave way to worry in the next few minutes. New York wasn't such a safe place, that psycho Kurgan was proof of that. A little shiver passed over her as she wondered if Connor had an accident or something as equally as bad happen to keep him from showing up. All thoughts of her good news vanished as she turned and hurriedly caught a taxi, wanting to get home to see if he had left her a message, or just in case a phone call came telling her he was in some hospital or another after being robbed.

As she sped home her mind ran the gamut of every conceivable bad thing that could have happened to Connor before he could meet her. Brenda had worked herself up into a righteous paranoia about his absence. The thought that he was hurt wiped away any anger she was feeling over his lateness. The taxi screeched to a halt in front of her brownstone, and Brenda hopped out of the cab paying the driver far more than what the ride is worth. She turned and hurried up to her building without a backwards glance. As the cabby drove off he muttered about crazy women and their lack of respect for money. Brenda never heard or cared one bit about any of it. Her only thoughts centered on Connor and his absence.

Brenda hurried into her apartment and went straight to the answering machine. She waded through a lot of useless messages from friends inviting her and Connor to different functions, but found no messages from Connor. "What the hell has happened to that man?"; she thought as she turned to put her coat on the coat stand. She turned as she always did, out of pure habit, to check her hair and makeup in the mirror there. As she looked up she saw an envelope on the mirror. The only word on the front was Brenda, and it was in Connor's writing. She quickly took the envelope from the mirror and opened it. One single sheet of paper fluttered out. Opening the folded page with both curiosity she begin to read. What she saw on the page filled her heart with a mixture of anger, despair and grief.

My Dearest Brenda,

What I have to say now is not easy, has never been easy for me. There is never an easy way to say goodbye, and that is what I must do. I have to move on now. Never think that it is anything you did or didn't do. It has nothing to do with you. I love you and probably always will. But circumstances which are beyond my control at the moment dictate that I have to leave town. How long I will be gone is not known. I will try to return to you my fair Brenda. You are one special woman, someone that I have grown to respect and love like none other. I hate to the depths of my heart to have to leave you so suddenly.

Know that I have made arrangements so that you will always be taken care of. You can do your research with no worries for money or a place to live. The brownstone is now in your name, and you have a sizable monthly income to spend.

I will always love you and I will try to return..

Connor

Brenda was stunned. He was gone! Just like that, no warnings no fights no reasons, just Gone to who knows where. He would never know her news now. She wondered for a moment or two if he had found out and that was why he left. Brenda dashed those thoughts quickly, after all there was Rachel, the lady in the antique store. According to Connor and Rachel both he had taken care of Rachel for years. RACHEL!! She could go to Rachel and find out. Surely Rachel would know what had become of Connor. Yes, Rachel should know.

Chapter 1

Brenda, New York--1978--

Brenda stood on 5th Avenue impatiently waiting for Connor to arrive. She had some mighty important news to tell him. Their trip to Scotland after Kurgan's rather explosive death was productive in more ways than one. She smiled a soft smile because she knew in her heart that Connor, a man alone for so long, who had longed for family and a place to mostly be settled in would finally see that come to pass. With Kurgan's Death, he now had No reasons to fear loving again. No-one could come out of the wood work again to cast a shadow over his life.

Impatiently she stamped her foot in the cold crisp winter air wondering for the hundredth time why he was so late. Thoughts of quickenings and sword battles were far from her mind. After all, Connor had won the Prize hadn't he? He was the final immortal standing.

She still had a bit of a problem with the whole immortal idea. It was so very ludicrous sounding when you thought about it. People born with the ability to never die. The only way you could kill them was to unceremoniously cut off their head in some endless silly battle called a Game. To her it just seemed crazy. There were times when her logical police woman's brain thought that Connor was a bit daft. That his love of antiques had went to his brain. She remembered with crystal clarity the day he put a dagger into her hand and had her push it into his chest. She watched as he supposedly died and came back.. But really, it wasn't possible. Even as she saw all the happenings in those short but eventful days, her logical mind simply put a new explanation on everything. Connor used a fake stage knife on her, one of those break away types. As for Kurgan.. he didn't really lose his head.. it just seemed that way from her spot in the corner of the SilverCup roof. As for the explosions rocking the place afterwards, her mind had totally convinced itself that those were simply gas leaks and explosions.

Connor--New York--1978

Connor MacLeod stood 5 blocks away from Brenda watching her as she stood impatiently awaiting his arrival. He could tell by the look on her face that she was extremely irritated by his apparent lateness. He loved her, but at times he didn't know quite what to make of her. She was a modern lady. Things didn't phase her as it had so many people in the past. She was persistent too. He had to give her that, as a small smile fleetingly traced his serious yet handsome face. He was in a quandary about Brenda. He did love her, as he could love, just as he loved his adopted daughter Rachel. There were times when he was glad that Brenda had convinced herself that the facts about being immortal was nonsense. It was especially important that she keep believing immortals didn't exist.

The Game wasn't Over as he had thought. He had learned this little bit of information one day when he happened upon Leah. Strange woman that Leah was. He caught her following him around, but always in such a way as she thought he wouldn't see her. If he bought a cup of coffee she was there writing away in a little notebook. Being immortal he had adopted a state of high awareness over the centuries of anyone watching or following him, but this Leah took watching him to a new level. He could tell she was not immortal, he had gotten close enough to her over time to take a good reading of that, no immortal buzz coming from her.

He remembered well the day he confronted her finally. He was a private man for all intents and purposes, and even a daffy crazed woman that loved antiques and wrote all about him was just finally too much to bear. After much talk or arguing as he saw it he learned what her duties were. A watcher, a person that actually got paid to watch and chronicle his life as an immortal. It seemed all immortals had a watcher. The group had been around nearly as long as Immortals themselves, however long that was. Connor was still unsure of how immortals came to be and even this watcher, Leah, didn't seem to know.Strange business indeed, He thought to himself,but then, no stranger than immortals themselves.

Connor yanked himself back to the present day and his worries over what to do about Brenda and Rachel too for that matter. He had come to realize recently, after speaking at length with Leah the Watcher, that the Game wasn't over. He learned with joy filled surprise, that clansmen Duncan MacLeod, was still alive, although he had not seen him for nearly 80 years. Their last meeting was in Paris, France nearly 80 years ago. He had thought, as he'd not heard from Duncan in over half a century that Duncan had lost his head to a better swordsmen. But no, Duncan was very much alive, and still the same honorable Scot as always. The joy of learning his fellow clansmen was alive was overshadowed by his now present dilemma. What to do about Brenda and Rachel? The idea that the two women he loved could very well get in the way of yet another immortal fight was an anathema to his soul. He knew in his heart that the time had come to disappear again, to take upon himself a new identity. Russell Nash would have to disappear now. He only hoped that Rachel and Brenda would find it in their hearts to forgive him some day somehow.

Connor turned away from Brenda and strode off in the opposite direction. He had little time to gather what things he would take with him and contact the lawyers that always helped him prepare for his disappearances. Many weeks ago he had included instructions in his will for Brenda's care, just as he had for Rachel. That was one positive thing that came with immortality. He was able to accumulate a large amount of wealth and resources over his long unending life. Since he could not be with them himself, all Connor could do was make sure they would never have to worry about their futures. There was no doubt in his mind to leave Rachel the antiques store. She loved that so much, and as for Brenda, well she was always looking some elusive sword or another so he would make sure she could continue her research with no worries over money. He knew it would never be enough, the money, but that and a short note saying goodbye was all he would leave. It was how it had always been, and he doubted that it would change anytime in the future.

Cast of Characters

Connor MacLeod

Born in the Highlands of Scotland Near Glenfinnan by the shores of Loch Sheil in the year 1518.He became immortal in the year of 1536 and was cast out of his clan for being a demon after his sudden resurrection after his first death. He moved to Glenn Furin and married Heather, whom he called Blossom. During his years in New York, he called himself Russell Nash.

Duncan MacLeod
Adopted by the chieftain of the MacLeod family after his birth in 1592. During a battle in 1622 he was killed and become immortal. He has wandered the world ever since, although in the last 25 years he seems to have found a home in both Paris, France and Seacouver, Washington USA ((close to Seattle best this author can figure out)).

Methos (aka Adam Pierson)

At the lofty age of 5000 years old, is known to only few. To most immortals and watchers alike Methos is a Legend, a myth. In his incarnation as Adam Pierson, Methos became a Watcher responsible for researching the myth of Methos. ((At which he said once, "what better job can I have? I am in charge of finding myself and I make sure it never happens!" Methos/Adam was a watcher for over 10 years, until there came a time that it was found out that he was immortal himself. His timeline is so lengthy and so complex it seems that no one could monitor it all ((but we all can try))

Heather MacLeod (Blossom)

Connors first love and wife. Connor lived with her until her death. Connor always lights a candle for her on her birthday, due to a promise she garnered from him on the day of her death.

Rachel Ellenstein

Rachel Ellenstein was a small child when Connor MacLeod found her during one of the Great World Wars. Connor then raised Rachel as his own daughter. In later years she became one of his trusted friends and confidantes about his immortality. Adoptive mother of Heather Ellenstein.

Brenda Wyatt

Inquisitive sword specialist that works with the New York Police Department in the early to mid 70's. Became involved with Connor MacLeod during the late 70's.

Jacob Kell

Former priest and friend of Connor MacLeod. When they burned Connor's Mother at the stake in Glennfinnan in 1555, Connor in his despair killed the priest that had raised Kell from a Child. Kell in his rage attacked Connor, causing Kells's first death and subsequent rage and tormenting of Connor through the centuries.

Heather Ellenstein ((aka Heather Nash MacLeod))

A mysterious young woman of unsure parentage in search of who she is. She stands about 5 foot 7 inches, with streaked dirty blonde hair and green eyes. Stubborn to a fault Heather has a great ability to find trouble.

Joe Dawson

Duncan MacLeod's Watcher, who at times needs a watcher himself. Joe tends to forgo following the Watcher's hierarchy of rules when it comes to helping Duncan and his friend Adam, who he knew for years as a watcher, and has recently come to know as Methos. Joe takes the rules and interprets them in his own way. But it works for the good of Duncan himself and Methos. Joe is a extremely proficient blues musician and owns a couple of bars, Joes in Seacouver and Le' Blues Bar in Paris.

Cassandra

Cassandra is a 3000 year old immortal with a very elusive past. We all know she started her immortality at the hands of Methos ((thereby ensuring everlasting anger and rage against the Really old guy)). She is also a known Witch and Healer. She has a verified past with Duncan MacLeod from his Childhood and rumour abounds that shes also been involved with Connor MacLeod although this is not verified in canon.

Endgame etal: Kell's posse, Kate etc..
Various immortals who aided Kell in his quest to hurt immortals and sway the Gathering to his own ends.
Various OCs of the author's invention.

Introduction

Authors Notes:

This story, although for the most part will take place around the time of Endgame, also incorporates a lot of what ifs from the first Movie. What did Connor do after he took The Kurgan's head. What exactly happened to Brenda and Rachel? I have tried to not play with the established happenings ((including the unreleased parts on the Endgame DVD.)) What I tried to do was incorporate all that happened into what I saw happening in my head. The entire group just would NOT hush in my head. It was they who are WRITING the story. I just went along for the ride. Really!! Now before any of you go how could this have been happening, let me reiterate. Only Duncan was really busy during that movie, and I seriously doubt that Joe Dawson, Methos or other people were just standing around willy nilly waiting to help or rescue Duncan. Hence this idea was born.

It is all based on the theory of something Connor said at the very end of the first Highlander movie, how he could now grow old and die.. how he could have children. Although it is standard knowledge that no immortal can procreate.. what if.. in some 1 in a million chance.. Some of them was able too? I mean.. they have gotta come from somewhere.. they dont just appear as babies without being born. Right?

Disclaimer: As stated before, Joe, Methos, Conner et al. are property of Rysher/Panzer David Productions. I only borrowed them lovingly.