Fic: Reckoning
Methos spotted Caoimhín just where he had expected to - leaning nonchalantly against a wall glancing absently in the direction of MacLeod, who was seated in a café just a block away. Methos hadn’t been able to find where he was staying on such short notice but according to the Watcher’s database Caoimhín was the only Immortal in town. Of course Methos had first known him as Cailtram when he was mortal, and had bumped into him only a few times since Cailtram had become Immortal and taken up the name of Caoimhín.
Still, he knew Cailtram’s nature and knew that the man was a hunter more than anything else. That was not something that could be educated or civilised out of someone. And Cailtram had resisted civilisation to the last. As a result Methos wasn’t all together happy with the conclusions he was reaching, but the only way to find out the truth was to confront Cailtram himself.
He stepped forward and let the buzz of another Immortal’s presence wash over him. The slightest shift in Cailtram’s stance was all that alerted Methos to the fact that the other Immortal was aware of him. Methos had always respected Cailtram’s firm self-control, he just wished that MacLeod could learn the same.
Methos walked forward until he was facing Cailtram. Close enough that they would have at least some privacy, but far enough away that he’d have some warning if Cailtram made a threatening move.
“You’re hunting MacLeod.”
Cailtram did not reply, but Methos knew that he had the man’s full attention. From the moment Cailtram had sensed the presence of an Immortal he had turned his attention away from MacLeod.
“He’s a good man,” Methos said.
“Your good man killed a friend of mine.”
With that Cailtram turned back to watch MacLeod, though Methos could tell from the man’s tense stance that Cailtram was still very much aware of him.
“I know,” Methos told him.
“Don’t try to change my mind,” Cailtram warned, turning back to look at Methos. “I’d rather not lose another friend over this.”
Cailtram brushed passed him before he could reply, but Methos knew that he wouldn’t have listened anyway, not yet. He pulled out his cell and dialled MacLeod’s number.
“MacLeod,” he answered.
“Have you ever thought about visiting the Bahamas?” Methos asked as he glanced down the street to where MacLeod was seated at the café. “I hear it’s nice this time of year.”
***
MacLeod stepped into Joe’s with a distracted expression. For several days now he had been feeling vaguely on edge. He wasn’t entirely sure what it was, since everything was quiet and he hadn’t sensed an Immortal, but he couldn’t quite shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Then came Methos’ phone call. Methos hadn’t said anything specific but he’d certainly been trying to get MacLeod to leave Seacouver. Finally he’d decided to see if Joe knew anything.
Joe was sitting at the stage playing his guitar. MacLeod waited just inside the doorway for a pause in Joe’s playing so that he could interrupt. Finally Joe looked up from his guitar and beckoned MacLeod over.
“Something you need?”
“I need to know who’s in town.”
“Has someone been bothering you?” Joe asked, concern clearly in his features as he gripped his cane and made his way toward the bar.
“Not exactly,” MacLeod replied with a frown. “Just a feeling I have.”
“MacLeod, I can’t violate my oath because of a feeling.”
“Joe, you know I wouldn’t bother you if I thought it was trivial. I just can’t shake the feeling that someone’s following me, and it’s not the Watchers.”
“There is a new Immortal in town, but from what I hear he’s generally peaceful,” Joe began reluctantly.
“I’m not planning on challenging anyone, Joe. I just need to how careful I should be for the next while.”
“Caoimhín, currently known as Kevin Tanner,” Joe said as he entered the back room. MacLeod trailed after him. “His file is pretty sparse, that much I do know.”
Joe logged onto the Database and quickly located the right file.
“Exact date of birth unknown, estimated to be somewhere between AD 400 and 600. Due to his name it’s assumed that he’s from Ireland, but that can’t be verified. Despite this he was first spotted in Russia in the late 600s. He was a prolific head-hunter until some time in the 700s when he abruptly stopped and dropped off the Watcher’s radar.”
“He was a head-hunter?”
“Very much in the past, it would seem. From what his file says he’s taken fewer heads in the last 500 years than you have in the last five years.”
“But you can’t say for certain? I mean, his file is incomplete.”
Joe shrugged. “That’s the most I can tell you.”
MacLeod looked up as he sensed a Quickening, and then they both heard someone fiddling around in the bar area. Joe quickly logged out of the database and shut the computer down. Moments later Methos wandered into the room, beer in hand.
“I suppose you’re not paying for that,” Joe said with a long-suffering sigh.
“Add it to my tab,” Methos replied nonchalantly as he drank deeply from the bottle.
MacLeod looked at Methos speculatively and Methos narrowed his eyes in response.
“What do you want MacLeod?”
“You ever met an Immortal named Caoimhín?”
Methos paused for only the briefest moment as he wondered whether or not he should tell MacLeod what was going on. Of course MacLeod would then seek Cailtram out and Cailtram was set on killing him. No, for now it would be best to keep them apart, at least until he could convince Cailtram that MacLeod deserved to live. Methos wondered if Cassandra would find that amusing.
“Any last name?” he asked.
MacLeod looked at Joe who shook his head.
“Doesn’t ring a bell,” Methos said finally as he drank from his beer.
“He goes by the name Kevin Tanner now,” Joe added. Methos thought for a moment before shaking his head once more.
“I can’t say I’ve ever met an Immortal by that name.”
MacLeod frowned doubtfully at Methos but didn’t make any further comment. Methos simply looked at MacLeod with a raised eyebrow, as though daring the Highlander to call him a liar.