Sandcastles
Sandcastles
By Darian
Summary: Third in my Pipe Dreams Series. Won´t make much sense if you don ´t read the other two fics. And Bonnie thanks for reminding you know who. Don´t worry she will show up later 8o)))
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Chapter 1
The beach looked really great. The sun was high but it wasn´t terribly hot and there was a gentle wind that soothed the skin just right.
Methos took a deep breath of the fresh salty air. He should do this more often. Just relax and not worry about tomorrow. Enjoy the life while he could.
The world's oldest Immortal carefully marked the page in the book he was reading and looked around.
Julia and Joseph were building a sand castle only a few meters away from where he was sitting.
Methos had to grin at how concentrated Joseph was at his task. The stick from the ice-cream they ate together earlier was firmly held in his little hand and he was using it as a chisel to create battlements . The tip of his tongue was sticking out of the corner of his mouth.
Each stroke had to be perfect, he wouldn´t be satisfied otherwise.
Julia was right next to him with pail full of wet sand in case it would be needed to repair something that wasn´t according to the main castle architect's expectations . Her blonde hair was tied loosely in one thick braid but a few strands had already escaped it and were now framing her amused face.
The tower on the other side of their castle started to fall down. Sand grains slowly slipped away until the whole top just fell off.
Methos chuckled and stood up so he could join them. Maybe give them some tips about what castles really looked like. The one they were building definitely wouldn't stand any chance if it ever came under siege.
After a few steps he realized that something wasn´t right. They were only five meters away from him but with each another step they looked further and further apart from him than before instead of closer.
He started running, but the sand under his feet changed into a swamp and he started to sink.
Julia and Josef didn´t notice, like he wasn´t even here. Methos tried to call them but his mouth was already full of sand. His vision was turning grey and his lungs were burning from lack of oxygen. The sand was firmly wrapped around him and his arms and legs were trapped. It also felt weird, like it was made of fabric instead of grains.
Methos opened his eyes and found himself looking at the unknown ceiling. The beach and sand were both gone -- "so are Julia and Joseph" whispered his traitorous mind -- and his feet and arms were tangled in the thick blanket that Duncan had given him the night before.
With a sigh, the world's oldest Immortal untangled himself and stretched his limbs.
"Good morning. I was wondering when you'd wake up," Duncan said. He was standing in the kitchen. Methos could already smell the fresh coffee he had put on.
"I didn´t exactly get much sleep last night,“ retorted Methos, still a little drowsily. That dream had really scrambled his mind.
"Me neither, and whose fault is that again, hmm?“ Duncan folded his arms and gave him an irritated look.
"One night without sleep won't kill you, besides you were awake for what? Ten minutes tops and then you went right back to bed, so don´t act like some martyr.“
"You are stalling again. I didn´t press you last night but I still want to know why you're here.“
"Can´t I just visit an old friend? You know if you are still grumpy about my slightly late arrival, I can make you breakfast as an apology. What do you say?“
"Now I definitely know that you don´t want to answer me. In the whole time I've known you, you never offered to cook for me.“
Methos rolled his eyes. During their conversation, he'd folded his blanket. Now he put it back onto the couch. "I swear, you and Joe must be in collusion. He said almost the same thing.“
Macleod's mood immediately improved.
"You saw Joe? I couldn´t find him anywhere. When I went to the bar to visit him there was some young lad that told me that he'd gone on vacation but he's been gone almost nine months and I´m starting to get worried.“
Methos send a mental thanks to whoever was listening for the change in topic.
,,He isn´t on vacation, he's retired. They gave him his gold watch and told him to keep away from you. That young lad you met is probably your Watcher now.“
The world's most famous frown was back again and with a vengeance.
"Is he all right?“
"He is fine, but he's getting older. For us a few years is nothing, but for him, not so much.“
"Yeah, I know, sometimes it´s really hard to keep track of time.“
"If you think so now, wait until you will be my age. Five thousand years can really put everything in weird perspective.“
"I doubt I will live that long.” Just then Duncan´s stomach rumbled loudly, reminding both of them that they hadn't eaten yet.
“ I´m going to buy some rolls for breakfast do you want something?“
"No. What I want is shower. Did I mention I really do hate commercial flights?“
"Repeatedly. I will be back in ten minutes. You can take some clean clothes from the wardrobe on the left. I know you would do it anyway so...“
Methos grinned."You wound me, my dear Highlander. I would never steal clothes from a friend.“
"Tell that to my favorite white sweater. It´s still missing since your last visit.“
"I was cold so I borrowed it. Sue me“
"It was three years ago! If you really just borrowed it, you should have given it back already. I will be back in ten.“
Main door clicked shut and Methos stretched again. The sweaty shirt was uncomfortably sticky and it was also starting to smell.
Methos grimaced and went straight to the bathroom.
I hope he has better towels than at his old place. Maybe I could steal some later just to mess with his grouchy host.
TBC