Mary's Diary

kizmet's korner of the web- Fan Fic:Diary

Before you go reading Mary's Diary, I need to make a disclaimer. All of the Highlander characters belong to Rysher Entertainment. I recognize this and have no wish to steal them. (Actually, I do- but that can't be discussed here!) They are just on loan (darn it!) and will be returned when they have completed their jobs in the writings. The other characters that may develop are the property of kizmet and any one else who helped to create them. They may come and go as they please.

Thank you for your patience. The creative differences have been worked around and parts of the story have been rewritten and chapters have been added. We will continue to add to it as parts are written. We hope you enjoy Mary's Diary.

This fanfic continues to be a collaborative effort between myself and Old Soul.

The first sense of my being was lightning and sounds, which I have since learned were screams of anguish. Since that time, I seem to be extra sensitive to certain people, sensing their presence more than seeing them. I also, according to others, have a remarkable knowledge of history.

I was born in the spring of 1996, into the wreckage of the subway tunnels of Seacouver, at a time when my mother was sure she was going to die. Instead of the death she had witnessed and expected, I was presented to her prematurely.

My mother, at one time, told me I was named after a dear friend's mother, the same friend who risked his life to help rescue her. I don't think I ever met him. If I did meet him amongst her friends, she never distinguished him from the others. All I know of this friend is that, to quote my mother, he had a very old soul and lost his mother when he was much younger. (I can't imagine losing my mother when I was younger. She helped me deal with so much.)

Enough history. Back to the reason for this entry. I am writing this soon after my mother's death. I am now 16 years old and have just finished reading a letter written to me by my mother. The letter contained the secret to an unbelievable story. I think my mother told me the secret since it may explain why I was born the way I was. This entry that I am writing will go no further than this diary, which is a vow I make to my mother's memory.

As I said before, my first sense of being was of lightning and sounds. The letter explains that while my mother was carrying me, her friend was exposed to a Quickening, which is where an Immortal is bombarded with numerous volts of electricity and the memories of the Immortal that was just killed. She was nearby when this happened and felt that I may have received some of the energy and knowledge that was transferred to her friend.

Now, as every one knows, Immortals were exposed soon after the turn of the century when a computer disk was found in an old bookstore and made public. Everyone thought it was a ruse, until people started to disappear, never to be seen again. (Rumor at the time was that tattoo parlors were unusually busy, too, but it could not be confirmed.) Since then, it has been assumed that the Immortals no longer exist, if they ever did. Mom's letter, however, confirms that the Immortals did indeed exist and that my mother knew at least one, maybe more. She was, in fact, romantically involved with him. She learned of his immortality when she saw him die, then received a plane ticket to Paris, where he met her at the airport. Can you believe it? Immortals did, and maybe still do, exist! It totally boggles the mind, doesn't it?

My mother's letter explains that Immortals cannot have children, so there is no way that her friend could be my father. She hoped that knowing of the close proximity to a Quickening while I was in vitro would give me a starting point in my search for discovering the feelings I have concerning others.

My feelings for others...what a misnomer! I can't explain it but sometimes when I meet someone I feel a pressure inside my head, kind of like a headache, but more intense and overwhelming. I sometimes experience this same feeling while walking down the sidewalk or on the highway. The letter said that Immortals can sense each other, and that is what I may be experiencing. I have never had anyone approach me about this feeling, but if I sense them, can they sense me? I've never thought about that, but the letter opened up that possibility. Could I be a threat to Immortals, since the feelings I have may prove that Immortals do exist?

I wish I could meet my mother's friend, if he is still alive. He would, I am sure, be able to help me. Immortals, according to my mother, must kill each other until there is only one left, which is called the Gathering. Has the Gathering occurred or is it still approaching? How would I find out?

Hearing that Anne had died, Duncan recognized his need for help in dealing with Mary and he immediately called Connor.

"Hi Connor, it's Duncan. I need your help."

"You have it. What do you need?"

"Anne died today and I have a situation that I don’t think I can handle."

"I'm sorry about Anne, Duncan. Explain the situation and we’ll work on it together."

"Anne’s daughter, Mary, appears to be a pre-immortal. I don’t know how it happened, but things have to be explained to her. Connor, I don't think I can do it. I was there when she was born and I watched her grow for the first year of her life. How can I explain what she is facing when I feel like she's my own daughter?"

"I'll get a flight out immediately. I need the addresses, etc. and I have to tell you that the time will come when you will have to confront her."

"I know Connor, I know." Duncan gave Connor Mary's address and the date, time and place of her mother's funeral. They hung up and Connor headed to the airport to catch the first plane out.

Connor arrived on the day of the funeral and made it to the graveyard just in time for the service to start. He saw Mary and walked over to her. At that time, Mary felt that strange headache that her mother told her was the presence of an immortal. She looked around and saw Connor, who had approached her by now.

"Hello, I'm Connor, a friend of your mother's. I am here to help you through this and explain things to you." Mary, overwhelmed with emotion, just nodded her head. Connor puts his arms around Mary and said, "I'm very sorry about your mother's death, she was a great woman, whom many loved and respected."

After the service, Mary and Connor walked to her car. Escorting her to the car, Connor watched Mary’s face. The grief was evident in the face that looked so much like Anne's. “No wonder Duncan had a problem with teaching her,” Connor thought. Upon arriving at the car, Connor automatically helped Mary into the passenger seat. Not hearing a word of protest, he walked around the hood of the car. Sliding behind the wheel, Connor let the silence remain, before quietly asking her for the keys. As if startled, Mary looked at Connor as if seeing him for the first time. After a moment, she handed him the keys.

Before starting the car, Connor took hold of Mary’s hands, both to provide warmth to the chilliness and to offer comfort. Realizing they were not moving, Mary looked at Connor with a faint questioning look. Having gained her attention, Connor quietly stated, "I will explain it all to you soon, Mary. Give me directions to your house."

Following the directions given, Connor soon arrived at the house. Pulling into the drive, he immediately sensed another Immortal. Judging by Mary’s expression, she also sensed the Immortal, apparently with the same intensity as he did. "Interesting," he thought.

Climbing out of the car, Connor looked around, but was unable to immediately spot the lurking Immortal. Walking around the front of the car, Connor assisted Mary out, noting her reactions. Holding her head, she did not search for the source of the sensation. She appeared to accept it as part of her life and not as the threat it could be. Turning with Mary toward the front steps, Connor spotted Duncan walking toward them on the sidewalk.

"Hello, Connor." Holding out his hand toward Mary, he introduced himself. "Hello, Mary. I'm Duncan MacLeod. Your mother and I were friends. I was sorry to hear of her passing."

Almost closing her eyes against the pain in her head, Mary looked at Duncan. "Oh, my God! You're an Immortal, too."

Backing away from Connor and Duncan, Mary clutched her head. "Why have you both come now? What do you know about my mother and me? I have never heard of either of you, but you both know me. How? Please leave me alone. I won't tell anybody about you. I promise."

"Mary, let's go inside and discuss this. I know this has all been a shock to you, but it does need to be discussed." Taking her elbow, he started to walk toward the door. Not knowing what else to do, Mary let him lead her inside.

Once inside, the familiarity of her surroundings seemed to restore Mary's inner balance. Sitting down on the couch, Mary placed her fingers against her temples and began to rub them. She watched Connor, who made himself at home and Duncan who seemed ill at ease. She wondered about the expressions that flittered across his face as he looked around the room.

"Mary," Connor's voice interrupted her observations. "We do need to talk about this. Earlier you said that we were immortals. Why do you think this Mary? Is it something we said or did? It's important that you explain why you think that we are immortal."

"Well, I don't think that you're immortal. I *feel* that you're immortal. Do you know what I mean? There was this pressure inside my head and my body when you showed up at the cemetery. When we got here and he," pointing at Duncan, "showed up the feeling increased to the point that it gave me a headache."

At that statement, Duncan quietly left the room and walked to the bathroom to get some aspirin and some water. On the way back, he paused in the doorway of a bedroom. Looking at the posters on the wall and the disorder of it, he assumed it must be Mary's. As he began moving again, he spied an object on her dresser. Walking forward, he slowly stretched his hand out and touched the teddy bear that was sitting on top. With a faint smile, he remembered the day that he had bought that for Mary. It was the day she had taken her first steps. With a sigh, he picked it up and took it, along with the aspirin and water, to Mary.

When he came back into the living room, Mary and Connor were talking quietly. Walking to Mary, he handed her the things he had brought with him. With a smile she thanked him and buried her face in the bear's fur. Both could see the tears glistening in her eyes.

After she had gathered her composure, Connor asked her to go on to explain what she knew about immortals. "Well, I--"

Taking a deep breath, she started again. "All I know is what my mother told me, which I guess is the basics: you live forever unless someone cuts off your head, you're safe on Holy Ground, you fight with swords, and screw up mortals heads."

"What?'" interrupted Duncan.

"Sorry," she replied. "It's just something my mother would sometimes throw in if she was mad, but I am beginning to see her point."

"I didn't screw up..."

"Duncan, please, let her continue," interrupted Connor.

"Really the rest is the headaches and weird feeling I get when I meet certain people. I don't know, it's not like she painted it as a wonderful life or anything, she would cry whenever we would talk about it."

Pausing, Mary stared into space. Duncan and Connor watched the grief play through her eyes and over her face. Duncan's insides clenched as he watched her tears begin to fall. Leaning forward, he pressed a handkerchief into her clenched hands and gave her a couple of aspirin. With a watery smile, she took them and bowed her head and rubbed her temples.

Mary looked at the medicine Duncan gave her and said, "You already gave me two." Duncan looked at her and shook his head, "I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't thinking." Connor looked up at Duncan and then continued to ask Mary questions, "Mary, what is the first thing you remember?"

When she seemed unsure what to say, he encouraged her to continue by questioning her about her memories and what she remembered about her early years.

"Well, Mom knew that I had nightmares, but she didn't know what they were until I was older. The first thing I remember is hearing loud sounds and bright lights. There were also sounds I didn't understand but I didn't like them- it made me hurt inside. When I got older and told Mom about them, she started crying. She never told me why she cried, but every time I had the nightmare she would start to cry when she held me. Since then, I've identified those things as lightning and screams of anguish. As I grew older, I stopped telling Mom when I had the dreams. I hated upsetting her.

"As I got older, I began to notice that I had weird feelings when I met certain people. I also got the feeling sometimes when I was outside playing, but no one was around. Mom just said it was my imagination. Now I know it wasn't."

With a pleading look, Mary asked, "Are you going to explain what is going on? You seem to know what's happening to me."

Connor looked up at Duncan and suggested, "Why don't you go and pack some of her things." Duncan nodded in agreement and proceeded to Mary's room as Connor returned his attention to Mary, "Please continue."

"Wait a minute, why is he going to get my things?" Connor reached for Mary's face and gently wiped the tears away, "You don't have any living family do you?"

Mary shook her head no, "But how did you know that?"

Connor glanced at his hands, sighed, and looked back up at Mary, "Because I..," he paused as Duncan returned from the bedroom with two suitcases, "We have been there. You lost your whole world, you lost your mother and now you are left confused, angry, and sad. Neither Duncan or I knew our real parents, you are very blessed to have known your mother.

"Connor and I know that losing your mother has been traumatic, but we need to deal with what is happening to you. It is very important that you trust us, Mary. We would never hurt you and just want to help you."

"Why should I trust you?" demanded Mary. "I have never heard of either of you until today. Both of you claim to know my mother, but she never mentioned either of you to me. So, why should I trust you and why should I go anywhere with you?"

"“Mary, I *am* an old friend of you mother's." With a sigh, Duncan decided to tell her some of the truth. Crouching down in front of her, he continued, "I knew your mother before she became pregnant with you. I was with her when you were born. You were born early and in a dangerous situation.

"Mary, Connor has taught me many things in my life. I think that he can help you with your problem. That's why we want you to come with us- so we can help you. It's the least I can do for your mother."

Wiping a tear from her cheek, Duncan quietly waited for her to respond. Watching her, he was able to watch the emotions cross her face. Finally, with a sigh, she spoke and stunned him with her reply.

"Are you my father?"

"I'm sorry, I am not him. I didn't know your father, but your mother told me that they were best friends in med. school," replied a soft spoken Duncan.

Mary, now a bit more upset, "She didn't even write about him in her letter." Duncan interrupted, "What letter?"

"The one I have been talking about!” she said, now angry, "Haven't you been listening?"

"I'm sorry," replied Duncan, "Yes, I have been listening. Is there anything more to the letter that you haven't told us?"

"Just that she knew an immortal and that she... or I .... got some remnants of something called a Quickening. I guess it deals with energy and power from a dead immortal. And there was something about a Gathering, but she said I would learn that later."

Connor, listening quietly to what she has ben saying, looked at Duncan. Both knew that standing in front of them could be the answer to where immortals come from.

"We better go," replied Connor.

"But what about all my mother's stuff and my..."

Connor interrupted the grief stricken Mary, "Relax Mary, you will be back here, you are not leaving for good."

Looking at the two immortals in front of her, Mary watched their faces. She was getting used to the feeling in her head. It now felt like a low hum in the background of her head. Watching the the two men, Mary mulled over what she had read in the letter and the conversation she had with Duncan and Connor.

Suddenly it struck her. With wide eyes, she looked at Duncan and said, "It's you!" and pointed to Duncan, who asked, "What are you talking about?"

"The Quickening my mom saw and.. and everything I have been talking about is you. My mother loved you and you screwed up her head with love and betrayal and..."

Duncan interrupted with a firm voice. "She left me because she couldn't deal with the truth."

Mary angrily replied, "How dare you say that about my mother?"

"Duncan, Mary, please," interrupted Connor, "This yelling won't get us anywhere. Please let's go and we will take things one step at a time."

Duncan nodded his head in agreement and both he and Connor walked toward the door to open it. They then turned to look at Mary, who stared at them in anger.

"I hate you, I hate you both!" she cried as she ran out the door, leaving Duncan and Connor to follow her out with their heads held low.

Silence filled the journey to the airport, for no one knew what to say. Frustration and sadness covered both Duncan's and Connor's face, as tears silently flowed down Mary's. When they arrived at the airport, Connor took care of all the necessities as Duncan and Mary remained silent.

While on the plane, Mary finally broke the silence, "Could someone please tell me where you are taking me?"

Connor replied, "To the highlands of Scotland, where I live."

Mary, upset and confused, asked, "Why so far away?"

Connor, trying to keep her calm, "I thought up there we could be at a quiet place where we can all think clearly and concentrate on what is important."

"And what is so important?" questioned Mary.

"You finding out the truth of what your mother was trying to tell you and how you are part of it." replied Connor. Duncan's eyes filled with tears as silence overpowered them once again.

Upon the arrival at Connor's home, he showed Mary to her new room and then left her alone to gather her thoughts. Returning to the living room, Connor saw Duncan pacing back and forth. "What is it Duncan? You have been as silent as Mary." Duncan replied with frustration, "I feel like I am destroying her life. I feel like I have let Anne down."

"Connor, Anne didn't want to continue our relationship because of my need to fight and kill to survive. She was a doctor who worked to save lives. That was the reason she wanted to sever our relationship- I took lives to live."

Connor sat silently in a chair by the fire, listening to Duncan speak and watching him continue to pace the room.

"But I couldn't do it," Duncan continued. "Anne and her baby were my chance to have a semblance of a normal life. So I renovated the house and gave it to Mary after she was born. I wanted to stay in Anne's and Mary's life. But Anne didn't want that. I had contact with Mary until she was about a year old, then Anne asked me to stop. She didn't want Mary to become attached to me.

"Now, Mary may be what Anne could not handle. And Anne knew of this, but never told me. She knew I could have helped Mary, but she wouldn't let me."

Stopping before Connor, Duncan plunged a hand through his hair and then spun, facing the fire. "Connor, we've both dealt with young Immortals, but they had always had their first death." Spinning around to face him, Duncan's voice vibrated with emotion. "Mary has NOT died, so how do we explain it to her? It's hard enough to believe, even after you've died and come back to life. How hard is it going to be for her to comprehend what is going to happen to her and what she'll have to do to survive?"

Connor was slow to respond to Duncan's impassioned question. Giving it much thought, Connor watched while Duncan again began to pace, much like a caged lion might. He knew Duncan felt like it was his responsibility to deal with the situation, but in all truth, he was too close to the situation and was not thinking too clearly. He had suffered many losses in recent years, among them Richie and Claudia.

Standing up, he stepped in front of Duncan and suggested, "We just found out about this situation, Duncan. I suggest that we talk to someone who might know more about this. We have always been told that Immortals have no parents, that they are foundlings. That's not true with Mary. We need to do some investigating."

Seeing Duncan was ready to protest, he held up his hand. "Until that time, Duncan, I suggest we take Mary to Holy Ground. She'll be safe there while you and I start training her to protect herself and to learn to control her emotions. Until we know more, I think we should refrain from teaching her to use a sword, however."

"If she is anything like her mother she won't accept half of the truth, she will want the whole truth." Duncan paused for a brief moment and then continued, "We have always been so secretive, but why? Why not tell her everything about us, about her, and go from there?"

Connor, shocked by Duncan's idea, queried, "Are you willing to suffer the consequences?"

"What consequences are left for her to suffer through? She is already angry, hurt, fearful, and confused, what more?"

Connor, pensive over Duncan's statements, realized that he may be right. That by revealing the truth to Mary could actually save her from other immortals that would harm her for the answers to the questions she couldn’t even answer. For Mary to be an immortal and be born from two mortals could be the answer to a question that had haunted all immortals for centuries. Connor finally answered Duncan, "Agreed, we will do it your way."

The next morning at the breakfast table, Connor and Duncan were silent as theyglanced at the empty chair. They were both wondering if Mary would surface. She did, coming from her bedroom and joining them at the table.

Connor broke the silence, "Good morning."

"Good morning," replied Mary. "So what is our goal for today?" Duncan and Connor both glanced up at Mary, while she continued, "Look, I am angry, hurt, and scared, and I feel I have every right to be." Connor and Duncan both nodded in agreement. "I am willing to listen to you if you two are willing to tell me the truth, the whole truth. Deal?" Simultaneously, Duncan and Connor said, "Deal."

They finished their breakfast and proceeded to walk outside along the beautiful Scottish countryside. Duncan began, "Some of the things we will tell you, you already know from your mother, but we feel it is best to start from the beginning."

Recognizing how hard it was for Duncan, Connor waited silently for him to begin. Shoving his hands into the pockets of his coat, Duncan took a deep breath and began the story that had been passed down through the centuries from one Immortal to another.

"Mary, no one knows how long Immortals have been alive. I know of one who claims to have been alive for over 5000 years. I was born in 1592 and Connor was born 1518. All we know about Immortals is what is passed on from the teacher to the student. I was Connor's student a few years after my death. I had many teachers after him, but he is the one that explained the rules to me.

"No one knows where Immortals come from or how they came to be, but they have no real parents. In my time, children without parents were called foundlings. These days they are often called orphans. But all Immortals are born as mortals, with their Immortality lying dormant within them. At some point in their life, they will die by some violent means- an accident, murder, whatever. This usually happens when they are young or in the prime of their life. Most Immortals are in their late 20s to mid 40s at the time of their first death. If a mortal is destined to become Immortal, after they die, they revive. At that point, they are Immortal and become part of the Game. From this point on, they will never scar, die from disease or anything like that. They will remain healthy and whole. They may die, but will revive again and again.

"Immortals can never die, unless their head is severed from their body. When an Immortal cuts the head off another Immortal, the surviving Immortal absorbs all of the power, strength and knowledge of the dead Immortal. That is the Quickening. The Quickening is a violent and painful experience. That is what your mother witnessed and which caused you to be the way you are.

"“We recognize each other by an innate sense. We can actually feel each other. The feeling differs for each Immortal, but it is usually a pressure within and around us. What you feel when you get a headache around certain people is the essence of an Immortal. We need to recognize each other since we must fight to the last Immortal.

"This fight is called the Gathering. At some point in time, all Immortals will feel an overpowering urge to travel to a certain place. No one knows where this place is or when it will occur, but we all know that it will happen. At that time, all the remaining Immortals will battle to the death until there is only one left. The lone surviving Immortal will receive all the power and knowledge of all of the Immortals that ever lived. This winner will rule the world."

Duncan paused in the recital, facing away from them. The wind blew through the grasses, sending his coat flapping. Dressed as he was in black jeans and a dark knitted sweater, Mary could envision him as the specter of Death- dark, foreboding and bringing chaos into her world. She considered what he had told her. Some she had known, but other things were new and scary to her. Was she an Immortal now or was she to become one in the future? If so, that meant that she would be dying violently within the next 20 years. Shuddering, she thought, "Who wants to know that?"

Noticing the pensive look on Mary's face, Connor asked her what she was thinking about. Mary looked at Connor, studying his strong features and realizing that the men next to her are both over 400 years old. With that thought, she stopped walking and looked at them and said, "I'm sorry."

Both Connor and Duncan stopped walking and looked at Mary who continued talking, "I don't mean to be blunt or insensitive, but you are telling me, or at least I think you are telling me, that I am or soon will be an immortal and I will be spending centuries losing people I love and beheading other immortals. Then this Gathering comes about and we all kill each other till there is only one, and then, as history repeats itself so will the immortal cycle. So, I guess I am thinking what the purpose of life is now, all we do is kill and be killed. What is the whole point?"

Connor and Duncan, both speechless, looked at each other when suddenly the immortal feeling came over them. Mary moved closer to Connor due to overwhelming fear over what she had just been told. Connor drew his sword as he gently pulled Mary behind him. Duncan also drew his sword and looked around. A voice was heard from the nearby ruins of a Scottish castle, "What a welcome, two drawn swords and a frightened girl. I didn't know I still had that effect on people."

"I know that voice," interrupted Duncan.

"Well, I sure hope you do," replied the stranger.

"Methos?" asked Duncan. Methos appeared from the castle ruins and says, "In the flesh."

Mary leaned up to Connor's ear and whispers, "Is he good or evil?"

Duncan, overhearing Mary, put his sword down and replied, "He's good."

Methos casually walked up to them, his hands in his pockets, a smirk on his face, and said, "I'm glad you think of me that way. Hello, Connor and Mary."

Mary, slowly coming from behind Connor, asked, "How did you know my name?"

"Yeah, Methos," interrupted Duncan, "How did you know we were here?"

"I dragged it out of Joe."

"Joe?" Connor questioned. "He is still working?"

"No, he's retired, but he is still a top official with a lot of pull. I figured you two stubborn Scots could use my help." replied Methos.

"Yeah right, you are just as curious about her birth-right as we are."

"How could you think that, Mac?" Duncan smirked at Methos who replied, "Well, maybe a little bit, but I really do want to help."

"Well," Methos smirked "I overheard Mary ask THE question.” Methos paused as he looked at Duncan and Connor, knowing that neither of them wanted to answer that question. Duncan and Connor looked at each other, but before either of them could reply, Mary interrupted them, "What is the point of immortality?"

"Ah yes," replied Methos, "the inevitable question, right up there with the meaning of life. So, boys, do you want to answer her?"

"Well Methos, since you so graciously offered to help," replied Duncan, "we will let you answer her."

Methos laughed and said, "Why don't you two go and put some lunch on and we will meet you back at the house in an hour."

Duncan and Connor looked at each other in agreement and then they looked at Mary and saw a fearful look on her face. Connor approached Mary and looked into her eyes and said, "It's okay, he won't hurt you, he is a friend."

Mary, looked back at Connor and glanced at Duncan, "Are you sure?"

Duncan and Connor nodded their heads yes and Methos interrupted and said, "I was only a member of the 4 Horseman, but don't worry I'm over that."

"Methos!" yelled Duncan.

"Oh, relax Mac, it was a joke!" replied Methos.

"A very bad one," retorted Duncan. Methos just smiled as he walked up to Mary, who looked confused because she didn't understand the Horseman joke. "Let's walk and talk," said Methos as he and Mary began to walk.

"Immortality," Methos began, "what a paradox." He smiled and looked at Mary."You know, it's actually a lot like mortal life."

"How so?" questioned Mary.

"Immortals live a life just like mortals do," continued Methos. "We eat, drink, get married, work etc., but we are just able to live many of these lives. The wonderful thing is that you can do everything you ever dreamed of, you can be any and all occupations, you can travel the world, and when you are done seeing it all, you can start all over again. That is if you can keep your head long enough."

Mary looked up at Methos and said, "But, what about all the death, the lost loved ones, and the... the..," she paused, "How can one behead another? I couldn't," she paused again and the thought of it had her repeating, "I can't..."

Methos interrupted her, "You realize that it all becomes a part of surviving. Unfortunately, you never get used to it, but you do what you have to do to stay alive."

They walked the rest of the way in silence. As they approached Connor's home, all of them felt each other. As Mary and Methos walked in through the door, both Duncan and Connor looked at them. Methos just shrugged his shoulders, unsure whether or not the talk had helped Mary any.

As they all sat down at the table to eat, only the clink of silverware against china disturbed the silence. When he could no longer stand the brooding atmosphere, Methos spoke up.

"OK, now. We have a slight dilemma here. Mary is mortal, with a known mother. Yet she has the signs of being an immortal. Now, the sixty-four thousand dollar question is- what do we do now?

"Even as far back I can remember, I have never heard of this happening. While it is true that we try to avoid having mortals witness our fights, never mind being near us during one, it does happen occasionally.

"In fact, I can remember once in Rome when I battled another immortal. Well, during the quickening, a young lady walked by. I can still see the horror on her face as she watched the lightning and fire. One of the more powerful surges of energy flew off and hit a tree near her. It toppled over, right onto her. Unfortunate for her, but it prevented me from having to make explanations."

Noticing the lack of *any* sound, Methos looked around the table. Seeing their shocked expressions, he shrugged and said, "Sorry, but that's the way it was." "I wasn't much for explanations back then, either," he muttered to himself.

"The point I was TRYING to make was there must have been instances of mortals being in the area during a quickening. Who better to ask then..."

"Joe..," Duncan interrupted. "But does he still have access to the Chronicles? I know after the information on immortals was released, all the Chronicles disappeared- along with the Watchers. Does Joe know where they are?"

"Well, that might not be as much of a problem as you might think, MacLeod. Joe... well Joe was the one who took all the Chronicles and hid them. I don't think he hid the Watchers, but I do know he hid the Chronicles."

"Joe- Watchers- Chronicles," Mary put her silverware down and looked at the three guys. "I don't know what you are talking about and frankly I have heard enough for today. So, if you don't mind I am going to my room." Mary got up to leave the table as the men looked at her, then stood up while she stormed to her room.

The men sat back down. "Was it something I said?" asked Methos.

"Probably." replied Duncan. Methos looked up at Duncan as he put a piece of chicken in his mouth and shrugged his shoulders.

"Guys," began Connor, "She just needs some time. Don't you remember how overwhelming all this information was to you in the beginning?"

Duncan nodded his head in agreement, while Methos replied, "No." Duncan dropped his fork and gave Methos a dirty look.

"What Mac? I don't remember learning all this stuff."

"It was the point Methos- the point of it."

"I realize that, but I don't remember having those difficulties and that was MY point. I am going to call Joe to see if he can help out on the Chronicles." Methos got up from the table and walked away.

Duncan and Connor looked at each other, wondering how they got themselves mixed up in all of this and how to solve it.

Mary entered her room and went over to her luggage and started to throw things out to find her diary. Finding it, she grabbed a pen and plopped onto the bed. Opening it up, she found a blank page and stared at the stark white paper. Her tears started to flow as she took a deep breath and began to write.

“Oh, Mom, I miss you so much! Why did you leave me? Do you know what is happening to me? Do you know that I am in Scotland with three strange men learning things you promised to tell me? I am so confused, hurt and angry, I want to scream, but can't. Where are you? Who is my father? Can you believe I asked Duncan MacLeod if he was my father- even though I know immortals could not have children. Maybe it was because I want to know my father so badly. I... I don't know. I can't even think straight, let alone write all this down. Goodbye for now.”

Return to the Fan Fic Page

Return to My Highlander Page