"Well that was a good evening," said Joe wryly as Duncan noisily cleared up in the kitchen. "Interesting relatives you have Mac."
"Now don't blame me Joe," said Duncan. "I didn't know any of this was going to happen. If I had I'd have kept her away from Methos that's for sure."
"Don't you think you're being a little hard on her? After all she didn't do it on purpose," Joe said, putting a hand on Duncan's arm.
"I don't know Joe, maybe. God what a mess!" Duncan sighed and leaned heavily on the kitchen counter.
"Methos is right," Joe said. "Much better to leave it for now and look at it afresh in the morning."
"I suppose so," Duncan acknowledged, and sighed again.
Joe stretched and then stood. "Well I think I've had all I can cope with for this evening. Call me tomorrow Mac."
"OK Joe." Duncan sighed again.
He walked Joe to the elevator and then turned toward the bed at the opposite end of the loft. Might as well try and get some sleep and then see if he could sort out his feelings about the night's events when he was calmer and more able to focus on the reason for his anger.
Methos had driven about a mile when he finally saw Catriona. It was raining very hard by now and her hair was hanging in streaming tails around her face. He pulled up ahead of her and got out of the car, walking back to meet her.
Catriona saw the figure of a man coming toward her through the torrential downpour and was getting ready to defend herself from a potential attacker when she realised who it was. At first she was set to turn away and avoid another meeting with this man but then she realised that if any one had the right to pursue her it was him, so instead she stood her ground and waited for him .
Methos looked at her. She was standing very still as if afraid that any movement on her part would trigger some event she would rather avoid. She was soaked to the skin and her face was red from the lashing rain.
"Wouldn't you rather have a lift home?" he asked her gently, indicating his car ahead.
"I like the rain." She said quietly, but she made no effort to move.
"Oh sure, rain is fine, rain is great but you are tired and a little overwrought. I should say that you need to be at home catching up on your sleep." He insisted. "My car is your car," he said smiling at her offering his arm and his services as a chauffeur.
"Are you serious?" Catriona asked him.
"Absolutely." He said. "Can't have you catching cold now can we?"
"Aren't you the least bit concerned about what has happened between us?" Said Catriona, waiting for him to say what was really on his mind.
Methos shook his head. "No use crying over spilt milk, what happened has happened. How we deal with it is something we can decide later. For now I think I should do something about getting you home, warm and dry as soon as possible. Shall we?" He indicated the car again.
Shrugging, Catriona nodded. There was no denying the fact that she was worn out and beginning to feel feverish from being wet and cold on top of it all. "Thank you," she said, in a subdued voice, "I appreciate your kindness." She took Methos' proffered arm and , keeping her insights under strict control, allowed him to lead her toward the car.
They drove in silence to the faculty housing block with Catriona struggling to stay awake. So much had happened in the last twenty four hours that her body was about to shut down from fatigue if she let it. She'd arrived in Seacouver at six that morning, made her way to the campus, moved in to the block, attended the faculty meeting, tried to orient herself to the University, started work, gone to dinner with Duncan, met Methos. God! She felt drained, as if centuries of living had been crammed into less than one day. 'In a way they have,' She thought grimly.
"Will you come in for coffee?" she asked Methos as they pulled up outside her building.
"I think not tonight." He declined. "Can I take a rain check on that?"
"Sure," Catriona smiled wanly, unsure if she was relieved or disappointed that he wouldn't be staying for a while. "Anytime. Thank you for the lift."
She opened the door and then hesitated.
"What is it? Are you OK?" Methos asked.
She turned and looked at him earnestly. "I meant what I said before. If you ask me for details of your past, your lost memories, I'll give them to you. If you want others to know that's up to you, but it is your past and I'll not tell another soul unless you say so."
Methos nodded. "I know. I trust you Catriona. Don't worry, I am not angry with you. I just think we both need a little time to assimilate what happened before we approach the subject, OK?"
Catriona looked at him. His face was so open and his eyes so clear that it made her catch her breath. She could see the absolute conviction and veracity behind his words and she felt part of the weight of worry lift from her mind.
"OK. Goodnight..Adam, and thanks for the lift." She reached out her hand to shake his in farewell.
Methos took her hand and smiled reassuringly at her, grateful that she had thought to use his cover name here in a public place.
"Goodnight Catriona, sleep well." He said as she left the car and entered the building.
"Sweet dreams I hope." He murmured as he started the car and steered toward Joe's.