It was dark in the garage. Darker actually than it should have been. Asher walked quickly to where she had parked her car but stopped when she felt the familiar buzz. Drawing her sword, she peered into the darkness. A shadow stepped into view it's own sword drawn.
"Lovely night. Isn't it, dear Asher?" The shadow called to her.
"Bloody wonderful. You know my name, how about telling me yours?" She watched him closely.
"You've probably heard of me. I'm sure my brother has told you of me."
"Your brother?" She asked.
"My brother in arms Methos. He did tell you of when we rode together as Death and Pestilence, didn't he?"
"Kronos." Asher breathed his name softly, all her instincts telling her to run. He attacked quickly and she blocked his thrusts. His reach was longer but she was quick and avoided his blade. She ducked to one side and Kronos pulled out a gun and shot her three times in the stomach. She fell to the ground in a heap. He threw her over his shoulder and carried her to his car.
Mac answered the phone, one hand busy stirring a pot of Marinara sauce. "Hello?"
"MacLeod, have you seen Asher today?" Methos' concerned voice came from the other end.
"I haven't seen her since lunch yesterday. What's up?"
Methos went on. "She didn't show up for any of her classes today and her supervisor called here looking for her. No one's seen her since last night. I broke into her flat and her bed hasn't been slept in. I'm worried."
"Methos, you knew this was going to happen sometime." Mac chided.
"No, MacLeod! She wouldn't leave. Not like this. Not without at least letting me know." Methos sounded angry.
"She might not have left." Mac said gently.
"NO! She is not gone. She can't be."
"Have you talked to Joe?"
"No. I called you first."
Duncan looked down at the sauce. He could always reheat it. "Alright. I'll stop and talk to him. Then I'll come to your place."
"I'm at Asher's." Methos said softly and hung up.
Joe was behind the bar when Mac came in. He saw him and waved. "Hey Mac. Thought you were spending the evening at home."
"So did I. Methos called. Asher's been gone since last night. I was wondering if you've heard anything." Mac said hopefully.
Joe shook his head. "No. Let me make a call." He went back into the office. Five minutes later he came out, his brow creased with worry. "Kelly, her Watcher hasn't been able to find her today but she found Asher's car and book bag in a parking garage near the municipal building downtown."
"Great. No one reported a fight, did they?"
"No. Last night was quiet." Joe shrugged. "What are you going to do?"
"Go to Asher's, see if anyone we know has seen her." Mac told him. "Let us know if you hear anything."
"I will. Good luck."
"Thanks Joe." The Immortal left.
When he got to Asher's flat, he found Methos sitting in Asher's living room holding a picture frame in one hand and Byron, Asher's runt of a Persian cat in the other. Duncan went over to him and gently touched his shoulder. He looked up at him then, noticing him for the first time.
"What did Joe say?" He asked Duncan fervently.
"It was quiet last night. Her Watcher found her car and her bag in a parking garage in midtown." Duncan told him gently.
"So someone's taken her." Methos said dejectedly.
Asher felt someone touching her and opened her eyes. Kronos was standing over her touching her stomach.
"You heal faster than I hoped." He remarked.
Asher screamed but the gag over her mouth muffled the sound. Her arms and legs were tied.
"I haven't had one of Methos' bitches in a very long time. Not since Cassandra." He ran his hand up Asher's leg under her skirt. She tried to kick at him but only succeeded in causing her skirt to inch up. Kronos laughed and caught her face roughly, pulling off her gag. "I can see why he likes you, pixie. You've got fire. I like that, too." He used Duncan and Methos' nickname for her mockingly. She bit down hard on the finger running over her lips. He cursed and slapped her.
"That wasn't nice, Asher." He told her.
Duncan opened the door and let Joe into the flat. "Did you find anything new?"
"Yeah." He came in and sat down in one of the easy chairs. "Kelly said she talked to the Watcher of an Immortal named Korzinski. He saw Korzinski carrying a woman matching Ash's description to a car the night she disappeared. But the Watcher lost him when he got into traffic." He looked at Methos who was sitting in the other chair. "Jeez, Methos. How long have you been here?"
"Two days." His voice was hoarse and there were dark circles under his eyes. His skin had a pale pallor and he need to shave.
Duncan gently touched his arm. "Methos." He waited until he looked at him. "You should go take a shower. Maybe get some rest. You'll feel better. I promise, we'll be right here in case we get any news."
After a long moment he nodded slowly. "Okay." He rose from the chair and slowly made his way to the back of the flat.
"Is he gonna be alright?" Joe asked Duncan. Byron jumped up onto the arm of his chair and Joe absently scratched his ears.
He shrugged, his brow wrinkling in worry. "I hope so, Joe."
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