Here's a short-short I wrote the other day. Enjoy! Highlander and
its characters aren't mine. No profit being made, no harm
intended, you know the drill. Comments welcome!

Consultation - by Joanne Madge (j0lander@juno.com)

Okay, so I left.

Why are you looking at me like that? Just what was I supposed to
do, follow him? I'm not a Watcher anymore, you know.

Oh, right.... fine, bring friendship into it. Our friendship
meant so much when the shoe was on the other foot. Or have you
managed to forget Byron so easily?

Poor Byron. God, he was brilliant.

So that's it, then. MacLeod killed my student.... my friend, so
to hell with him. Except, be fair, he killed his own as well.

The Dark Quickening was too much for him. Too great a shock. He's
lost it. Completely. Seeing demons. The symbolism would probably
fascinate Sean Burns if Mac hadn't killed him, too.

You think that's funny? You would.

So that's it, then. It's over. MacLeod's lost. I really believed
he would be The One. Yes, yes, I know. Hope springs eternal, or
however that goes.

Byron hated Shakespeare.

There is no way I'm going to follow him this time. No, it's not
that I think he's particularly dangerous without a sword. In
fact, had he kept it I might have been more inclined to do
something. Talk to him, try to get to the bottom of it all. But
he's given up. When a man like MacLeod gives up, then he's
finished.

He never even said he was sorry for killing Byron. "I know he was
your friend." Richie's mantra. Never MacLeod's.

Why would his demon take his student's form? Horton I can
understand, or Kronos.

He's been tired lately. Talking about how weary he is of.... how
did he put it? Of deciding who would live or die? So why Richie?
Byron I can understand, if not approve of, but why would he turn
on the kid? Was he just tired of the responsibility? I never
considered myself responsible for my students. Not much. They
have minds of their own. If they won't listen....

You never heard a word I said, did you, Byron? Sometimes I felt
more like your student than you teacher. Did you hate me for
that? You certainly hated yourself.

Ah. Perhaps MacLeod wanted to die.... well, he went off without
his sword, yes, but I mean before. Do you see what I'm getting
at? Too many responsibilities. He couldn't handle it anymore. Was
he afraid to do himself in? Not hard, even for an Immortal.
Piss-off the right person, misplace your sword, and wait. God
knows I'd never have the guts. I think he does, though.

So what was stopping him? Responsibility. He was important to the
Game -- to the world, and he knew it. Add to that a student. Too
old to guard all the time, too young to really be left totally on
his own.

Two birds -- one stone. Only someone evil.... or insane would
kill his own student. An insane or evil Immortal doesn't deserve
to be The One.

No more responsibilities. And now he can die.

There's method in your madness, MacLeod. (Shakespeare again.
Sorry, Byron).

So that's it, then. I left. Mac's a big boy, he can do what he
wants.

What? You don't honestly think he'd listen to me, do you? I'm not
going after him. Not this time. Joe can try if he wants. Not me.




Methos turned away from his bathroom mirror. "Well, not today,
anyway."

End