Outside the Dojo - Later that Evening

Stepping out of the cab, Methos paused feeling the presence of not one but four Immortals in the loft.

"What's wrong?" Joe asked, getting out beside him.

"It would seem Duncan has visitors."

"It's probably just Richie."

"Not unless he mad two clones of himself."

"Well, we might as well find out what's going on. They already know you're here."

In deference to Joe's injury and Methos' laziness they rode up in the elevator. When he opened the gate he wasn't surprised to find several eyes on them. He was surprised to see Cait sitting on the couch.

"Caitie?"

"Uncle Adam? But..." she stared at him rising to her feet. "But you died. You died almost ten years ago."

"Um, yes, I can explain that." He looked desperately at Mac, who just shrugged indicating he was on his own.

"Explain? Explain that you didn't trust Dad or me enough to tell us you were Immortal? Do you have any idea of how we felt when we heard you were dead? It took two days to get Dad sober again and I was heart broken. I idolized you. I would have done anything for you, but you couldn't trust us. Explain that. I'd really like to hear this."

"I'm sure...," Jarod started to say, touching her shoulder.

"No, Jarod. I want him to explain."

Methos idly wondered who Jarod was and why he and Richie were hovering so protectively around her.

"Caitie, I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you. I was going to tell you, but you were still too young. If I had told you or your father it would have brought up a whole lot of questions I wasn't ready to answer and you weren't ready to hear. The car accident was an accident and I died. I had to disappear. I was going to come back in a few years and tell you, just not right then."

"Questions? Like what? I want the truth, Uncle Adam. I assume your name is Adam Pierson, isn't it?"

"Actually, my real name is Methos and before you ask I'm around 5,000 years old. The next question you're probably going to ask is did I know Patrick O'Reilly wasn't your real father. Yes. I know because I'm the one who gave you to him. Thanks, Mac." Methos took the beer and sat down in the armchair. Mac sat on the arm, his right hand falling to gently massage the back of Methos' neck.

"If you gave me to Dad then you know who my real parents are?"

"No. I found you in a far corner of the Colorado Faire. I'd known Patrick a few years and knew he would take good care of you."

"So, I still don't know where I came from."

"None of us do," Methos said sadly.

Joe looked around at all the sad faces and realized they'd forgotten he was there. "Uh-hmm."

"Oh God, Joe, I'm sorry," Mac said, rising and grabbing a chair for him. He frowned noticing Joe's limp was even more pronounced than usual. "Joe, this is Caitlin O'Reilly and Jarod. I'm sure you've guessed Cait is newly Immortal. This is Joe Dawson, a friend of ours and a Watcher."

"A watcher? What do you watch?" Jarod asked.

"Immortals actually."

"What? You mean people will be watching everything I do? Why'd you tell him I was Immortal?"

"Relax, Cait," Richie said, stroking her left hand; Jarod had a hold of her right. "We all have Watchers. Well, except for Methos, but that's because..."

"Not anymore," he interrupted, figuring now was as good a time as any to tell Mac about Paris.

"What do you mean not anymore?" Mac frowned down at his lover.

"Um, well."

"Methos."

"It wasn't his fault, Mac," Joe put in.

"Why don't I believe that?"

"I'm hurt. I'm really hurt." Methos started to rise.

Mac pushed him back into the chair. "Tell me what happened."

"The Council found out about us. Another Watcher passing by a restaurant happened to notice us inside having dinner together and took some pictures. When they tried to tell me to discontinue the relationship I quit."

"I quit also when they turned on me," Joe said.

Mac looked from one to the other, his frown turning into a full-fledged scowl. "You don't just quit the Watchers. You both know that."

"We do now," Methos muttered. Joe winced knowing Mac was about to explode.

"What happened, Methos?"

He sighed staring down at his beer, "They shot at us."

"Is that why Joe is limping?"

"Yes, but it's nothing to worry about. It just grazed him. None of the other bullets hit him."

"Methos."

"They hit me," he said in defeat. Mac got up and paced a few steps. Opened his mouth, closed it again, and paced a few more steps.

"It's not big deal, Duncan. So, Adam Pierson is an Immortal now. They don't know I'm Methos. I'm still safe from head-hunters looking for the legendary Methos."

"Legendary? You always did have a big ego," Cait snorted.

"I do not."

"Unfortunately, he is a legend," Richie said. "Methos is the oldest known Immortal to still be alive."

"I have good survival skills."

"Yeah, you hide," Richie said, his voice full of sarcasm.

"I do not."

Mac glared.

"All right, but only some of the time. I'm not a coward. Anyway, now that we have that out of the way, who is the thoroughly confused young man and why are Connor and Caitie here?"

This time Mac couldn't meet Methos' eyes and started to turn red. "It's kind of a long story."

"Not really," Cait said. "I was being chased by these wackos Saturday night. I ran into Mac and Richie camping by the Faire, but I didn't stay long. The wackos caught up with me, kidnapped me, and took me to this dungeon. This guy on an air tank there expected me to do whatever he said. After I tried to turn him into a crispy critter they locked me up in a box. Jarod found out somehow and he located Mac and Richie and they contacted Connor, then they all came and rescued me. End of story."

"And knowing Cait there's a million details left out. Like how did Jarod find out and why'd he come to Mac and Richie?"

"Well, to make another long story short. I was raised by the Center. The guy on the air tank is Mr. Raines and the wackos are a sweeper team that works for him. They kidnapped Cait because of her empathic ability. When she didn't cooperate they put her in a sensory deprivation box. I have a friend still in the Center who told me about her and sent me a copy of Mac's business card which had been found on her. I went to Mac and Richie, assuming they were friends of hers, to ask for help rescuing her. We went in and rescued her. While we were leaving Miss Parker shot Cait. I shot Miss Parker." Jarod's eyes widened suddenly in shock. "Oh god, I shot Miss Parker."

Bolting to his feet, he rushed to his bag and pulled out his cell phone. Dialing, he paced impatiently waiting for the call to go through. "Sydney, how is she? She's alive? Critical? Oh god, Sydney, I didn't mean to...I...I'll try. Cait? She'll survive. It wasn't as bad as it looked. Okay. I'll talk to you again soon."

With a click he closed the phone and leaned back against the wall before sliding down it into a sitting position. Cait and Richie were by his side in an instant. Cait took both his hands in hers while Richie gently caressed the back of his head with one hand and the other rested on top of their clasped hands. Joe and Methos looked at Mac in question, but he just shook his head.

"It'll be all right, Jarod," Cait said softly.

"But I hot Miss Parker. I might have killed her."

"But you didn't," Richie put in, his eyes darting briefly to Mac. "You reacted without thinking. We don't always mean to hurt the one's we care about but it happens. There's nothing you can do about it. All you can do is forgive yourself and move on. We'll keep in touch with Sydney and he'll tell us how she's doing. I'm sure she'll be fine."

"Do you think so?"

"Yes," Cait said. "I refuse to let this be anything other than a happy ending. Everything will work out."

Jarod nodded and rested his check on their hands, needing to feel their closeness and comfort. The others discreetly moved into the kitchen.

Joe and Methos waited patiently for Mac to explain what was going on in the living room.

"I still don't quite understand it," Mac said, sipping from a fresh beer. "Even before they all really met each other they seemed to feel a bond. The only one who seems completely comfortable with it is Cait. Although, knowing what I do of Jarod and Richie's histories I can kind of understand it. The whole thing is complicated."

"When isn't it, with you?" Joe asked, drawing chuckles from Methos and Connor.

"It's not like I do it on purpose."

"No, but it's why we love you," Methos said, quickly kissing him.

"Hmm, well I offered to let everyone stay here tonight. I didn't know you would be back so soon, but with those people from the Center still after Jarod, and possibly Cait, I figured they were better off staying here. At least until we can start their training."

"Their training? I thought only Cait was Immortal." Joe said.

"She is," Methos said quickly, when both Macleods seemed at a loss for words. "But think about it, Joe. If this bond between the three of them is real then it makes sense that Jarod should be training with them."

"I still don't follow you."

"You know that our concern is that we put the mortals we love in danger when we reveal our secret, right?" Mac said.

"That I understand."

"Then take it a little farther. If Jarod already knows sword fighting and how to defend himself then he becomes less of a target. It means Richie and Cait spend less time worrying about him"

"All right. I'll buy it." Joe knew there was more they weren't telling him but he let it go. There were probably some things about Immortality he didn't want to know. But then again, he looked thoughtfully at the trio in the living room. They had moved back onto the couch. Richie was sitting on one side with Jarod leaning back against him. Cait was gently massaging his feet, smiling as his eyes slowly drifted shut in sleep.

"A good foot massage always helps me calm down when I'm upset," Cait said quietly.

Richie smiled down at Jarod. "I'd say it worked."

Mac squatted down next to the couch. "It's time we all went to bed. Connor is leaving early in the morning and we have to decide who is going to teach you and Jarod," Mac said to Cait.

"I wanted to ask you, is he..."

"Sort of," Mac interrupted quickly. "We'll explain later, not now. Methos has offered to continue your training if you're willing, Cait."

She looked over at where Methos was standing at the counter, staring at his beer. With a shrug, she said, "As long as he doesn't mind getting hamstrung a few times."

She saw him smile and knew that had heard her. She could also sense his amusement and smug certainty that she'd never be able to follow through on it. "You always did have a big ego, Uncle Adam. I've been practicing in the past ten years."

He glanced up at her startled, then nodded in understanding. "We'll see, little one. We'll see."

"We have to decide who'll teach Jarod. Connor has to get back to New York."

"And I don't think I'm good enough yet to teach him. Why don't you train him? You didn't do too bad with me"

"Are you sure, Rich? I don't like having more than one student at a time. I've always felt it takes something away from both students. I don't want you to feel the I'm abandoning or anything."

"It's okay. I'm to the point where I'm learning more on my own and just need someone to spar with. Besides, watching you work with Jarod I might learn some of the lessons I missed the first time around."

"You learned the important one, Rich. You're still alive."

"Yes, well, now that we're all teary-eyed," Methos said, gently touching Mac's shoulder and breaking the mood. "I think it's time we all go to bed. Why don't you get those cots we bought while I dig out some extra linens."

Mac nodded in agreement. It didn't take long to get everyone settled for the night.

In their own bed Methos smuggled up against Mac, his hand splayed across the Scots well-muscled chest. He could feel the steady beating of his heart. "I still can't get over Richie and Cait," he said, quietly so as not to disturb the others.

"And Jarod," Mac reminded him.

Methos flicked his hand in dismissal; "I don't know Jarod so I can't really comment on that."

"Like it's stopped you before."

"Hey. You can just sleep alone."

Mac grabbed the waistband of his boxers before he'd done much more than sit up. "Get back here, old man," he growled playfully.

Lying stiffly back down, he didn't respond to Mac's gentle caresses until a hand slipped beneath the waistband of his boxers. Mac caught his gasp in his mouth, kissing him deeply. Slipping his hand back out he caressed Methos' cheek. "Forgiven?"

"Always," he smiled, the cynicism replaced with affection. "As I was saying before, I can't see Richie and Cait together. He's young and reckless and I don't want to see her get hurt. He's just not her type."

Before Mac could say anything Cait spoke up, "You have no clue what my type is Uncle Adam. It's been ten years since the last time you saw me so be quiet and go to sleep. And quit getting each other all hot and bothered. I am an Empath, you know."

The only sound in the darkness sounded suspiciously like Connor snickering.

A Week Later

Connor had returned to New York and, despite everyone's protests that it was still to dangerous, Joe had gone back to work at the bar. Richie and Jarod were sitting with their backs against the wall of the office. Cait and Methos were sparring as Richie pointed out the different techniques they used to Jarod.

In a sudden move Cait dropped to one knee landing inside Methos' guard and a little behind him. Before he could move out of the way there was a glint of silver. Methos bellowed in pain and rage as she cut his Achilles tendon for the third time that day. Richie and Jarod listened in awe as he cursed in several different languages, most of which had been dead for centuries, if not millennia

Cait just calmly wiped the blood off yet another small knife she had pulled from one of her mysterious hiding places,

"That's it," he growled in English finally, "I'm using a bloody metal detector on you every time we spar."

"If you think it will help you beat me," she said, so sweetly he glared at her in suspicion

"I don't trust you. Especially not with that look on your face."

"Good. We're even, because I don't trust you. Besides, I'd told you I've been practicing and I've only been following your advice."

"My advice?"

"Use whatever means necessary to survive and win, even if it means retreat. My knives are necessary means to surviving. They've come in handy on more than one occasion"

"That wasn't quite what I meant."

"Well it should have been," Mac said, coming out of the office. Tucking a tanto into the back of his belt, he raised his katana in salute, "Ready for another round?"

Cait shrugged, "Sure. Why not?"

Richie's mouth opened but no sound came out as he watched them face off.

"What? What's going on?" Jarod asked in confusion, looking from Richie to Mac and Cait.

"Somebody's in for a rude awakening," Methos said, limping to a bench, his leg almost healed.

"Who is?

"That remains to be seen. Richie, close your mouth. It's just a little sparring session."

They watched as Cait and Mac went after each other. First blood went to Cait, making her grin. It was quickly replaced by a frown as the next two hits went to Mac. Dropping to one knee, she tried the same trick she'd used on Methos and almost lost her hand with her knife. Rolling out of the way to her feet, she quickly rushed him.

In a flurry of flashing steel and sparks they danced across the room. Cait's small knives were scattered around the room where Mac had knocked them from her hand. In two places they were imbedded in the wall. One was closer to Methos' head than he preferred.

Pausing a brief second to plan a new attack, Cait was caught off guard when Mac suddenly spun. He deflected her sword with his and buried the tanto in her stomach without anyone seeing him reach for it. Jarod and Richie were on their feet in an instant, but Methos stopped them.

"Calm down, children. He isn't going to take her head. Sneaky little thing isn't she?" He said to Mac.

"Reminds me of Amanda." Mac removed the blade, then held her down when she tried to sit up. "Lie still for a moment. It will heal faster."

"How," she paused gulping for air, "how did you do that?"

"I waited until you'd forgotten about the tanto to use it." He shrugged when she glared at him. "It's the same trick you were using on Methos. Giving him the impression that you were only carrying one or two knives when you actually had closer to a dozen on you."

Pushing herself up on her elbows, she grinned, "Fourteen to be exact."

"Fourteen?" Methos bellowed, advancing towards her. "You sneaky little bitch. Shut up, Richie. It’s not funny."

"Yes...it...is," he gasped out between gales of laughter. He was laughing so hard Jarod had to hold him up.

"Bloody children," he growled. Stalking into the lift, he slammed the cage down and scowled at them until he rose out of sight. Mac shook his head, "All right you three, hit the showers. If you promise to be good we may even go to Joe's tonight."

"Do you mean it?" Cait asked. All three perked up. They'd only been confined to the dojo for a week, but they were still restless. It was also difficult for them to do anything about the relationship between the three of them with Mac and Methos constantly watching.

"Yes, I mean it."

"Yes!" Richie shouted. He moved to kiss Jarod, stopping halfway when Jarod's cell phone rang. Every night at 6 o'clock Jarod called Sydney to find out if Miss Parker had woken from her coma yet. It was 4:15. Jarod stared at the ringing phone afraid to answer it. Finally Richie picked it up and handed it to him.

"Hello, Sydney." He sat down on a bench, Richie beside him. Cait kneeled in front of him while Mac made a discreet exit.

"She is? She's awake," he said softly, without thinking he wound his fingers through Richie's, leaning against him. Cait massaged his lower thighs trying to soothe the guilt she felt from him.

"Does she...I...thank you, Sydney. Tell her...tell her I'm sorry."

Disconnecting the call he carefully put the phone to the side. He closed his eyes unable to look at either of them, as he tried to hold back the tears that threatened to overwhelm him. Cait wrapped her arms around him, pressing her cheeks to his chest. She didn't know how to soothe him. While she was glad for Jarod's sake that Miss Parker was alive and awake she secretly wished she wasn't. No matter how you looked at it Miss Parker had taken something away from her that day. Had taken it without a thought to how it would affect Cait's life.

Gently rubbing the small of his back Richie searched for something to say. "Mac took a Dark Quickening several years ago. He almost killed me. The only thing that stopped him was Joe shooting him. I felt so betrayed. My teacher, the man I looked up to as a father, had betrayed me and I didn't know why. I took off. Challenged every Immortal I came across. It didn't matter to me who they were or if they were good or evil. I just hoped they would be better than me and take my head. Everything I believed in, everything I thought to be true and right had been destroyed. I was on a major self-destruction kick and was determined to bring down everyone around me. Then one night it happened.

"I encountered another Immortal but I was so drunk at that point I could barely stand much less hold a sword. Instead of taking my head though, he just knocked me out and took me back to the abandoned church he was living in. He got me sober and told me his name was Matthew. He's a missionary of sorts, had been all his life, which is a little over 2,000 years old. Anyway, he got me to tell him about what had happened with Mac. Considering who he was I expected him to tell me that I should forgive Mac what he had done because it was what God wanted. Instead he told me that I need to face Mac because I needed to forgive myself. Of course, I couldn't see why I needed to forgive myself until I realized that I blamed myself for Mac's betrayal. I had decided that I hadn't lived up to Mac's expectations of a student and he had decided to eliminate me. I needed to prove to myself that I was worthy of Mac's respect.

"Matthew told me that God understands that we have our weaknesses and are going to make mistakes. He understands that we cannot always forgive, but we can try to understand. We also have to learn how to forgive ourselves before we can forgive others."

Jarod nodded, "I guess. I don't know if I can."

"This isn't an overnight thing, babe," Richie said, shaking his head. "It was almost six months before I was ready to face Mac again and even longer before I was really able to forgive him."

Turning Jarod's face towards him he gently brushed away the tears from his cheeks. "Everything will work out."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Good." Jarod leaned forward to kiss him. It was a light kiss at first, just a gentle pressing of lips, but then Richie ran the tip of his tongue over Jarod's lips tasting him. With a soft moan Jarod parted his lips allowing Richie access. He lost himself in the feeling of Richie's tongue gently exploring his mouth, tasting him, caressing him. Cait spoke, getting their attention.

"Um, hello, Empath here? I think you two need to hit the shower."

"Sorry, Cait," Richie grinned at her. Jarod blushed and looked away.

Sliding back a little, Cait nudged his knee, "Go hit the shower, dear. I love you, but you stink. Richie'll be right behind you. I want to ask him something."

Jarod nodded, leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers, then headed to the shower.

"What's up, Cait?" He pushed a strand of strawberry red hair out of her face and behind her ear.

"You and Jarod need to...uh...um, consummate your relationship."

"Excuse me?"

She gave him a 'don't-be-stupid' look. "You need to have sex."

"I understood consummate. I don't understand why we 'need' to," Richie paused, "well, there is the fact that I'd love to jump him, but..."

"No. That's exactly it. You both want each other and you're both afraid to do something about it. Which is driving me crazy, by the way. It's hard enough trying to keep control of my own raging libido, but with the added pressure of yours and Jarod's, well I'm getting ready to explode. For all of us to move forward you two need to acknowledge and do something about your feelings for each other."

He stared at her for a moment. "So, you're saying I should go in there and seduce him?"

"Yes."

"All right," he said hesitantly.

"You know it's not like this is a bad thing."

"I know," he grinned and kissed her. She leaned into him, nipping at his lower lip and then sucking on it. Cait pulled away, her breathing ragged, "Go, before I jump you, right here."

With one last kiss he rose and walked into the men's locker room. Jarod was already undressed and in the shower. Stripping off his clothes Richie walked into the shower area. Jarod's back was to the door so he didn't see him come in. He grinned when he realized Jarod was jerking off. Coming up behind him, he circled his arms around Jarod's waist grasping Jarod's stiff member in his hand.

"Need some help with that?"

Jarod just moaned ass his hand began moving up and down. Richie nipped and kisses his neck and shoulder as he caressed him. His breathing was coming in short gasps letting Richie know he was on the verge of climaxing. Releasing him, Richie ignored Jarod's whimpers of protest as he moved around to face him. It took Jarod a moment to open his eyes and focus on Richie, his body still tingling from the feel of Richie pressed up against him.

He caressed Jarod's cheek, brushing his thumb across his lips. "I want you."

It took him a moment to reply. "I want you too."

"No," Richie said, stepping closer. "I want you. I need to feel you inside me."

Jarod stared at him, his eyes so wide Richie wondered if they were going to fall out. He swallowed nervously. "I...I've never...I've never done this before."

Grinning he leaned into Jarod, kissing him. "It's all right," he whispered. "I'll teach you."

His hands roamed over Jarod's chest caressing him as he nibbled at his lips and jaw line. Placing feather light kisses along his collarbone, Richie made his way down Jarod's chest, stopping to pay special attention to his nipples. He licked each pink nub of flesh until they hardened , then he suckled them, rolling them with his teeth. His fingers skimmed across Jarod's skin, seeming to be everywhere but the place Jarod wanted them most. His cock.

"Riiiichieee," he whimpered, needing but not sure of what it was he wanted. He felt him smile against his chest, before those maddening lips began trailing kisses across his body again. He shuddered as finally Richie's hand closed around his aching cock. Looking down, he watched as Richie's small pink tongue darted out to lap at the tip of his cock. He gasped in startlement and pleasure, his hips bucking forward trying to keep in contact with that tongue.

With a low chuckle Richie grasped his hips holding him still. He felt Jarod's fingers tangle themselves in his hair as he took the mushroom shaped head of Jarod's penis into his mouth. Sucking on it gently, he listened to Jarod moan. Moving his head up and down, he would take as much as he could into his mouth before sliding it back out, his tongue tracing a path over the thick vein that ran along the underside. He could feel the tension beginning to build in Jarod indicating he'd have to stop soon if they wanted to continue in other ways. Slipping a hand between Jarod's legs, he rubbed a fingertip over Jarod's puckered entrance.

Suddenly he was hauled up off Jarod by his hair and pushed back against the wall so hard he cracked his head, making him see stars. Before he could react his hands were pinned above his head, a hard body pressed against him seeking entrance. He struggled to get free but the terror, current and long forgotten, overwhelmed him holding him captive.

Jarod held Richie up against the wall, kissing him, pressing against him. He wanted, needed, to be joined with Richie but didn't know how. He felt Richie moving against him but didn't realize Richie was fighting him until he heard, "Please, no."

Instantly he backed off in confusion. "Richie, what is it? What's wrong?"

Cait and Methos burst into the shower as Richie slid down the wall and curled into a fetal position. Methos shut off the water watching Cait and Jarod kneel next to the redhead.

"What happened?" Cait asked, frowning when Richie flinched away from her hand.

"I don't know. Everything was going fine. We were...," Jarod gulped, blushing bright red. "We were...."

"I know what you were doing, but what set him off? One minute all I'm getting is mind-numbing pleasure from the both of you, the next he's so terrified I almost wet myself in panic."

"I'm not sure. I pushed him up against the wall. A little harder than I'd intended to, I guess."

"That's it," Methos broke in. "You used force on him."

"But I didn't..."

"Mean to, I know," Methos said gently. "You couldn't have known. I only suspect because of an incident about a year ago when Richie walked in on Mac and me."

Ignoring the water on the floor, Methos kneeled next to the almost comatose young man. In the years he'd been a doctor he'd worked with several of the mentally distraught. Unable to deal with what had happened to them his patients would go into a similar state in an attempt to hide from it. The best course of action was usually direct confrontation. Grasping one of Richie's arms, he was not surprised when the young man fought back. He made sure he had a hold of both arms before forcing Richie to look at him.

"Look at me, Richie. It's Methos. Do you understand? It's Methos. I'm not going to hurt you. No one is going to hurt you."

It took a few seconds but rationality quickly returned to his eyes along with confusion. The confusion was replaced by understanding and regret as he saw Jarod fidgeting uncomfortably behind Methos.

"Oh god, Jarod. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he said. Richie could see the hurt and uncertainty in his eyes. Before he could say anything a rather upset Highlander burst in.

"What in hell is going on?" Mac demanded, his brogue so thick they could barely understand him. "I could hear Richie screaming all the way upstairs. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Really, I am," he said when Cait looked at him strangely. "It's just, Jarod accidentally triggered a bad memory. I never meant to react the way I did."

"I was afraid this would happen," Mac sighed. Helping Richie to his feet, he handed him a robe. Methos did the same for Jarod. "I haven't pushed, but I think it's time we had a talk, Rich."

Grimacing, he drew the robe tight around him. "I don't really want to talk about it. No one needs to have my nightmares."

"Rich..."

"No, I don't..."

"Yes," Methos interrupted angrily. "If you won't talk about it for yourself then do it for Cait and Jarod." He gestured at Cait who was huddled against Jarod trying to block out the anger and underlying fear she was picking up from Richie. "For some reason the three of you have formed a bond. What hurts one of you hurts all of you."

He stared at them for a long moment before nodding his head in resignation. Richie had known this would have to come to an end sooner or later. He'd just wanted to believe they could have a happy relationship together. That this time might be different.

He followed them upstairs, but instead of sitting on the sofa with Cait and Jarod he took the armchair. It hurt too much to sit near them when he knew they would reject him after what he was about to say. He tried not to wince at the sight of them holding hands, supporting each other.

"Why don't you start at the beginning, Richie? What happened to cause this?" Mac suggested.

"It started when I was thirteen."

"The flashbacks?"

"Hardly," he snorted. "Until then all the foster parent of the month would do is smack me around with the occasional trip to the hospital. No, I was thirteen the first time I was raped."

He swallowed back the bile that had risen in his throat at the memory. Almost eleven years since it happened and he could remember it like it was yesterday.

Seacouver 1988

It was bout 2:30 in the afternoon when Richie let himself in the door of his latest foster home. Unlike many of his other foster families it was only him, his foster father, Doug, and another foster kid, Matt. Doug was pretty easygoing and let him and Matt do whatever they wanted. Matt was really cool too. Even though he was sixteen he'd let Richie hang out with him.

He was supposed to go to detention after school, but he'd decided to sneak out and go home so he could hang out with Matt. Doug wouldn't get home from work until after five. It had taken him a while, but he'd finally realized he had a crush on Matt. At first he'd tried to deny it, telling himself he was only interested in girls that way. It didn't work. So today he was going to see if there was any chance Matt might have the same feelings for him.

First he stopped in the kitchen to grab something to snack on. He always thought better with a full stomach. Closing the refrigerator door he paused, certain he heard voices coming from the back of the house. Matt probably had a friend over or was watching a video in his room. Either way Matt would probably let him hangout.

Walking down the hallway, he raised the volume on the Walkman Doug had given him. Doug was really cool. Always giving him and Matt presents; letting them get their favorite foods at the grocery store; and even letting him watch R rated movies.

Matt's door was closed over but Richie pushed it open. If Matt had wanted to be left alone he would have closed it all the way.

"Hey, Matt…" Richie ground to a halt in shock. Matt was on the bed on his hands and knees, naked. Behind him was Doug with his briefs pushed down around his thighs. It took him a moment to realize they were having sex. Blushing bright red he started stammering out apologies as he backed out the door.

This seemed to break Doug and Matt out of their own shock. Matt grabbed at his clothes, but Doug was more concerned with Richie. He didn't make it two steps into the hallway before Doug grabbed him by the collar and dragged him back into the room.

"You little shit, why aren't you at school?"

"I…I…I snuck out of d…detention. I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'm sorry."

"That's not good enough. You weren't supposed to be home until after 3:30. Why couldn't you stay in school you little brat," Doug growled, before drawing back his arm and smacking him. Richie's head snapped back, a trickle of blood starting at the corner of his mouth.

"Easy, Doug. The kid has a crush on me. He probably figured he'd get to hang out alone with me," Matt said, catching Doug's arm when he raised it a second time.

"Is that so?" Doug looked at him, a speculative gleam in his eyes, making Richie shiver. "I knew you were into guys the first time I saw you. What do you say we break him in, Matt?"

"What? No!" Richie began to struggle as Doug started stripping him. Doug smacked him again dazing him. Stunned he barely felt the following blows. He put up little resistance as they finished pulling his clothes off him. The feel of his hands being tied above his made him renew his struggles.

"No. Don't. Matt, please don't," he begged. He could see the tears in Matt's eyes as he gagged Richie, Then Doug was forcing his legs apart.

"No!" Richie surged to his feet. Everyone jumped, startled. Trembling violently, Richie put distance between himself and the others.

"After that they never left me alone for very long, and when they did I was usually tied up. I tried running away three times. The first two times they caught me before I'd even gotten a block away from the house. The third time I got smart. I paid another kid at school to pull the fire alarm at school. It was really easy while we were all outside to slip away. It was almost four months before Child Services found me. I was sent to a new foster home. My new foster father tried his best to beat my 'unnatural tendencies' out of me. Apparently Doug told them I'd run away after Matt rejected an advance I'd made towards him."

"That's when the flashbacks started happening?" Mac asked.

Richie closed his eyes, swallowing convulsively. "No. They started when I was sixteen. After a gang of bikers stumbled across my sleeping spot in a warehouse and decided to have a little fun. They left me with the scars on my back and the flashbacks." Wrapping his arms around himself, Richie couldn't look at the others. "So, that's it. That's my messed up life. I'll see you around. Say bye to Joe for me."

He didn't get very far before Cait moved to block his way. He could feel Jarod standing behind him, but didn't look. The only place he looked was at the floor. It would hurt too much to see the pity or even worse, the disgust.

"Don't presume to know what I feel, Richie Ryan," Cait said, angry at whoever it was that had rejected him before for sharing his tragedy.

"I don't understand," Richie glanced briefly at her, before looking at the floor again.

"No, because you're not the Empath in our little group. So don't presume to know what I feel. I am not disgusted by you. I don't know how you got it into your head that what those bastards did was your fault because it's not. You didn't do anything to provoke or warrant abuse like that. It wasn't your fault. Just like it wasn't Jarod's fault that the Center kidnapped him." She locked eyes with Jarod for a moment, seeing the shocked recognition of an emotion he'd never acknowledged before. "We are not going to reject you, Richie. You don't disgust us and any pity I feel is for the child you were that had to live through such a nightmare. What I feel for the man I front of me is love and admiration."

"Admiration?"

"Actually I was thinking more along the lines of awe," Jarod said, moving closer behind him so he could wrap his arms around him.

"Awe? That's a good one," Richie sniffled, brushing at the tears on his cheeks.

"I'm serious. I'm awed by you. We both know that my life growing up in the Center wasn't any where near normal, but except for a very short period of time I was never really abused. I never suffered through what you did. There are days when I feel like the demons that haunt me are too much to bear and I want to curl into a ball and close out the world. If I had gone through what you have I probably would close out the world. But you awe me. I'm awed by the fact that you are still willing to love and be loved. You are one of the most decent and caring people I know. I love you."

"I love you both too," he whispered, tears closing his throat.

Cait wrapped her arms around them, holding tightly for a long moment. Sensing Richie's emotional crisis had passed, she pulled back a little bit. "Why didn't you say anything when I told you to jump him?"

"Because I wanted to jump him," he said sheepishly. "Hell, I still want to."

"You want to jump on me?" Jarod asked, puzzled by the odd phrasing.

Richie turned to face him, smiling gently. "I want to make love with you, Jarod. I want you so badly it’s a physical ache sometimes."

"And you wonder why I'm in awe of you," Jarod grinned. Pulling Cait into another three way hug, he said, "Now what this about sending Richie in to seduce me without you?"

"Well, I…just…it's, that is, I thought it would be easier if you two settled things between you first."

"You thought wrong." Jarod kissed her gently. "This is something we need to do together. Methos was right. What affects one of us affects all of us."

Richie stiffened peering over Jarod's shoulder. He relaxed slightly seeing the empty loft, "Where'd Mac and Methos go?"

Cait spotted the note on the table first. Reading it she smiled, then started to laugh when she got to the bottom. Taking the note from her, Richie read it and grinned. Mac had written: Didn't want to intrude. We'll meet you at Joe's at six. If you use the bed please change the sheets. Mac. Underneath in Methos' nearly illegible scrawl was - You better not use that bed, Caitlin.

"I suppose we could use the floor," Jarod said with a shrug. "What?"

She shook her head doubling over with laughter. With a grin Richie pushed her onto the couch making her laugh even harder.

"I don't understand."

"It's not that Methos doesn't want us using the bed. He doesn't want Cait having sex."

"But…I don't understand."

He looked so confused Richie's heart turned into mush. Hugging and kissing him, he said, "Methos is being an overprotective dad."

"He's not my dad," Cait glared from the couch.

"I didn't say he was, love. Just that he's acting like one."

"Well, he can just stop," she said, getting up. Wriggling her way between them, she made sure to rub her bottom against Jarod's groin, making him moan. Smiling she kissed Richie, opening her mouth when she felt his tongue brush against her lips. She sucked gently on his probing tongue, caressing it with her own, making him shudder. Jarod began kissing and nibbling her neck while he wrapped one arm around her waist, pressing her against him, his free hand coming up to fondle her breast.

It was as if a floodgate had been opened. Their hands moved at a frantic pace, needing to touch, to caress each other. Somehow they managed to get to the bed while pulling off their clothes without tripping. Falling onto the bed they came together fast and hard. They lay on their sides, hands and lips roaming all over each other. Cait moaned at the feel of both their erections pressed against her. Richie’s hand slipped between her legs to stroke her most intimate spot. She arched forward against him, whimpering low in her throat. Reaching behind her, she grasped Jarod’s thickness, stroking and squeezing him in time to the rhythm of Richie’s skillful fingers.

The pleasure built in Cait, swirling around her, filling her up as the emotions of the two men beside her overwhelmed her barriers. She was a writhing mass of passion and desire. Richie’s lips covered hers, nibbling passionately on them. Kissing his way along her jaw line, along the curve of her neck to her shoulder, Richie raised his head to press his lips to Jarod’s. They pressed Cait between them, giving in to the passion that raged between them until they were panting heavily.

Jarod whimpered into her shoulder; she could feel his aching desire and the underlying uncertainty of not knowing what to do to ease that ache. Richie rolled away for a brief moment to grab the tube of lube he knew Mac kept in the night table drawer. Squeezing a generous amount onto his fingers, Richie coated the insides and back of her thighs.

"What are you doing?" Jarod asked. He’d led such a sheltered life and so much of this was new to him. Richie just smiled at him. The smile grew even wider at the soft gasp as he wrapped his hand around Jarod’s cock. Coaxing him forward, Richie helped him slip between Cait’s thighs. Cait and Jarod moaned in unison. The lube allowed him to slide smoothly between her legs, but with just enough friction to increase their pleasure.

"Richie," Cait whimpered, almost incoherent. "Need…please, I…oh god, please."

He knew what she asked. Their lips met again, his tongue thrusting into her warm mouth as he brought his hardness to her entrance. In one hard thrust he entered her. They all gasped as something inside them was awakened and reached for each other, linking them. Something primeval overtook them and they began to move in the ancient ritual of mating. They ceased to be three separate beings, instead becoming one. Their emotions and thoughts became one.

As they surged towards completion the heavens surrounded them, moving at a whirlwind pace until everything exploded in one electrifying instant. For a brief instant the world ceased to exist and then they could breathe again.

Several minutes passed as Jarod struggled to regain control of his breathing. He knew he had far less experience than either Richie or Cait, but he suspected it had been just as intense for them as it had been for him. At least he hoped it had been. Propping himself up on an elbow, he looked down at Richie and Cait, sighing in contentment. Gently he reached over Cait to brush his fingertips across Richie’s cheek. There was a light tingling in his fingers at the touch. He started to pull away but Richie’s hand came up to grasp his, holding him where he was. Light blue eyes blinked open to peer at him a moment before a soft smile spread across wonderfully expressive lips.

Turning his head slightly, Richie kissed those fingers, watching warm brown eyes turn almost black with desire. Then Cait stirred between them. Without opening her eyes, she said, "Gods, you two are insatiable."

The two men in question chuckled. Jarod bent his head to kiss her neck as Richie said, "Yeah, but you like us this way."

"You know me too well."

"Never too well," Richie said.

"There is always something more to learn," Jarod finished for him and they grinned at each other.

"Great. I’m in love with philosophers."

Noticing the time on the clock, Jarod said, "I think we’d better get going. It’s almost a quarter after five."

"Who gets the shower first?" Cait asked, finally opening her eyes. They stared at each other for a long moment. Richie made the first move, rolling over and swinging his feet to the floor. In a mad dash they raced each other to the bathroom. In the end Richie won with his small head start. Not that any of them cared since they just piled in together.

Amid a lot of laughing, giggling and the occasional moan they managed to get themselves clean. Dressing went much quicker, mostly because they didn’t have much to choose from. Richie had some clothes from his apartment, but Cait and Jarod didn’t have that option. All of Cait’s clothes were in her trailer at the Faire grounds and Jarod just didn’t have many clothes. Mac had remedied the situation earlier in the week by taking them shopping.

When they were dressed it became obvious they had similar tastes. They wore matching black jeans and tan work boots. Their leather jackets reached mid-thigh, perfect for concealing a sword, although Cait and Jarod’s were black while Richie’s was a battered tan color. Their short sleeve shirts were a bright jewel tone. Cait wore forest green; Richie royal blue, and Jarod burgundy.

It was at the door of the dojo that they realized they had a transportation problem. Richie only had a motorcycle and none of them thought it would be a good idea to take the bus. So, it was back inside to call a cab. Fifteen minutes later at ten after six they walked into Joe's. It was till early in the evening, but already the club was starting to fill up in anticipation of the evenings live entertainment. Joe grinned at them from the bar.

"So the kids finally decided to show up. The old folks have been here over an hour," he gestured towards the table where Mac and Methos were sitting.

The trio returned the grin. Richie laughed and said, "You know me, Joe. I'd be late for…"

"Your own funeral. I know, kid. Listen up, you two," he said, attempting a serious tone. "You have allied yourselves with Richie Ryan the perpetually late. It's up to you to get him places on time. Help him turn over a new leaf."

"I resent that."

"No you don't," Jarod said, looping an arm over Richie's shoulder.

"Well, I can pretend," Richie grinned. He glanced over at Mac and Methos, who were watching them with interest. "So, what are the old folks drinking?"

"Mac's got uisegebeghe and Adam has his usual."

"Beer," all four said in unison and broke into laughter.

"So what will you have?" Joe asked, once the mirth passed.

"I'll try what Mac's having."

"Sorry, kid," Joe shook his head. "Unless you're planning on pouring yourself into a cab I wouldn't suggest it. That stuff would knock an elephant off its feet. Hell, even I don't drink that fire water. I only keep it around for Mac. How about a beer instead? I'll even give you one from out of Adam's private stash."

"God, no. Not that imported European crap. Just give me a pint of whatever's on tap."

"And you two?"

"You wouldn't happen to have some mead stashed away back there, now would you? Honey mead, in particular." Cait asked hopefully.

"Honey mead? I can't remember the last time anyone asked for that, but amazingly enough I do have a bottle. I don't know how good it is. It was mixed in by accident with a shipment of Mac's uisegebeghe. I'll be right back."

Once Joe was gone Jarod asked, "What's the difference between beer and honey mead and the stuff Mac is drinking?"

Richie and Cait stared at him.

"What?"

"You've never had beer?" Richie asked.

"Have you ever had any alcohol?" Cait wanted to know.

"No. I was never told about it in the Centre and I was never really curious when I got out."

"Now that I think about it all I've ever seen you drink is juice."

"We're just going to have to change that," Richie said, as Joe returned from the back.

"Change what?" He asked.

"Jarod's never had alcohol before," Richie told him.

"Never even tried it?"

Jarod shrugged his shoulders.

"Well that's got to change if you're planning on hanging around with these folks. Tell you what, first pint is on the house. After that it goes on your tab. Speaking of tabs, yours is getting up there, kid. Planning on coming over and doing the books anytime soon?"

"I'll be by this week sometime to work on them."

"Good. Here's the mead. I don't know how good it is."

Taking the bottle, Cait read the label and grinned. "Oh this is the good stuff. My friend, Arg, was able to get a bottle of this once. Boy, did we party that night."

"Arg?" Richie asked.

"Clan Chief Evan Argyle. He runs the Dancing Dagger Tavern at the RPFN."

"RPFN?" Joe asked.

"Renaissance Pleasure Faire North. It's in Northern California." Cait explained. Leaning over the counter she grabbed the corkscrew. Once it was open she sniffed appreciatively at the opening. "Oh yeah, this is the good stuff. Glass, please?"

Joe smiled placing pints in front of Richie and Jarod. "What kind of glass do you want?"

"A rocks glass is fine."

"Here you go."

"Thanks." She started to walk away with the bottle and glass, but stopped at Joe's ahem. "Yes?"

"One glass at a time. That stuff's not cheap."

Handing it back to Joe, she glared at Richie, "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Come one, Jarod. Let's go join the old folks."

"Brat," she muttered, following behind them. Grinning evilly, she tested the mental bond between them. She'd noticed almost right after they rescued her that she'd had a bond with Richie and Jarod that was present all the time. Even when she was shielding she still felt them to a certain extent. After the events of that afternoon the bond had almost doubled in strength. Time to experiment she thought.

Perpetual teenager that he was, Richie's hormones were always raging. She just built on them, swamping him with desire. What she didn't expect was to see both Richie and Jarod tense and flush. Realizing she'd been broadcasting to both of them, she tried to stop the flow of emotions. She wasn't sure which one of them caught on to what she'd done, but suddenly she was overwhelmed by the same emotions she'd been feeding them.

Sitting down at the table, they mumbled greetings to Mac and Methos. They studied the trio sitting across from them silently. There was a light sheen of sweat on Richie’s forehead and his gaze was fixed on a spot somewhere above Mac’s head. Cait couldn’t bring herself to meet Methos’ eyes as she swirled the honey colored liquid around in her glass. Jarod appeared to find the condensation on the side of his pint fascinating, but his fingers shook as they traced patterns over the glass. Methos was the first to speak his tone amused.

"You decided to push the bond and were surprised when they pushed back. Did you really expect it to be one way, Caitie?"

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat; "I don’t know what I thought. They’re not Empaths; I didn’t think they’d even notice the bond."

"You shouldn’t make too many assumptions about something you don’t understand," Methos said, his gaze flickering to Mac for a brief instant. "These types of bonds don’t just occur out of thin air. There is always something there to provide a spark."

He sipped from his bottle of imported English Ale letting them digest what he’d just said. Joe came up to the table then, noticing all the serious faces. Well, everyone was serious but Methos. He was looking around with a knowing smirk. But Joe didn’t count him since it was rare the man was truly serious unless his hide was on the line.

"That’s it. New Rule," he said. "No serious thoughts while at Joe’s. Just good booze, fine women, or men as the case may be, and smooth jazz. Leave everything else at the door."

As he planned it helped lighten things up and soon everyone was laughing. Conversation wandered over several pleasant topics after resting briefly on whether or not the trio had settled things between them. While Mac and Cait debated some of the finer points of swordplay, Richie and Methos coached Jarod through his first taste of beer. Richie was amused by his reaction while Methos was a little disgruntled.

"Ugh," Jarod grimaced, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. "You actually like the taste of that?"

"Well, beer is something of an acquired taste," Richie shrugged.

"You mean American beer," Methos said, waving over Melanie, the waitress. "A glass of water please. A good beer or ale or lager should be rich and smooth. Not that there aren’t good beers with bit of bite to them. American beers I have found are much more suited for stripping the varnish from one’s furniture, rather than consumption."

"There is nothing wrong with American beer. I wouldn’t feed my dog that European import crap, assuming I had one," Richie retorted.

"That is because you have not taste or class. You are little better than a barbarian."

"Oh that’s good. This from the guy who predates the Bronze Age."

Mac patter Jarod’s arm reassuringly when he started to look concerned; "Don’t worry, they have the same argument all the time."

"Do not," they responded at the same time and grinned.

"They also respond the same way every time I point it out."

Everyone laughed and conversation resumed. The blues band Joe had hired for the evening began their first set. After the first song Cait rose from her chair, "I feel like dancing. Who’s coming?"

"I’m game," Richie rose from his seat. They looked at Jarod.

"I…I don’t know hoe."

They each grabbed one of his hands, pulling him from his chair, as Cait said, "It’s time you learned."

Dragging him onto the dance floor, Richie and Cait proceeded to teach him how to dance. Jarod quickly caught on to the idea that it involved a lot of rubbing up against his two beloveds. Although there were times when one of them would back away to dance alone to the sensual rhythm of the music.

Mac and Methos watched fondly from the table. They were reminded of times they had danced the same dance of seduction and passion, only it was usually after Joe had closed the doors to the public and the music was provided by the stereo system. Gazing at the beautiful man next to him, Mac once again thanked whatever twist of fate had brought them together. He was content. His clan was safe and protected. Everything was as it should be.

"I think it’s time," Methos said, breaking into his thoughts.

"Time for what?"

Methos looked meaningfully at the trio dancing, raising an eyebrow at his lover’s confused look. "You know what I’m talking about, Duncan. As much as I hate the idea of Caitie moving in with two men I know there’s nothing I can do about it. We have to let them leave the nest some time and they’re going to want to leave soon."

"It’s still too dangerous. The Centre is definitely still after Jarod; they could still be looking for Cait. And what about other Immortals? What if one of them is challenged?"

"Duncan, I love you, but there are times when you really fail to see the obvious or you choose not to. Jarod has been eluding the Centre for a year and a half. They raised him; he knows how they think, how they react. As for Cait they think she’s dead, they’re not looking for her. And what about other Immortals? You can’t protect them forever. Richie is more than capable of taking care of himself. I know Joe should you the Watcher’s reports from when he disappeared. As for Cait, you’ve seen her fight. I mean, she beat me. Several times in fact."

"I suppose. It doesn’t mean I have to like it."

"Hey, who said I liked it? It’s part of life. Deal with it."

"I am. It’s going to be quiet in the loft without them around."

"I’m sure we can find some way to fill the silence," he smirked. He rubbed his thumb lightly over Mac’s full bottom lip, then replaced the digit with his own lips. He sucked gently on Mac’s tongue as it slipped into his mouth.

"Ewww, the old folks are kissing."

Methos sighed as he pulled away and leveled a glare at Cait, who grinned unrepentantly at him. Richie and Jarod stood behind her, grinning as well. "Go home, children. We want to be alone tonight."

"Um, that’s a little difficult since we sleep in your living room," Jarod pointed out.

"I didn’t say go to our home. Richie has an apartment. Go there."

"You’re kicking us out?" Cait asked.

"No. We’re giving you your freedom. Go enjoy it."

"We don’t have to stay at the loft anymore?" Richie asked.

"We can go back to our normal lives?" Cait asked.

"What was our normal lives?" Jarod asked.

Methos groaned, his head falling forward to rest against Mac’s chest.

"I thought you said this was going to be easy?" Mac smiled down at his lover. "Yes, no, and I don’t know. You don’t have to stay at the loft anymore but I still want the three of you there once a day for lessons."

"For how long? I have to get back to the Faire. My things are there and I have a job that needs me. I may not get paid much but it helps with the mortgage payments."

"Mortgage payments?" Richie asked, frowning.

"Patrick finally managed to scrap together enough for that land he always wanted, didn’t he? I knew he’d do it one day." Methos said.

Cait nodded, "That money you left us gave him enough to make a down payment on about a hundred acres and helped us buy about a dozen horses to start our herd. When I’m not out on the Faire circuit I’m at the ranch training the yearlings and overseeing the breeding program. We’re doing pretty good for ourselves. Most of the Faires in the northwest region buy or lease their horses from us."

"It sounds like you do more than well for yourself," Mac said.

"Spoken like a man who’s never had to spend hours arguing with the help because they don’t believe a woman could possibly know what she’s talking about when it comes to the manly art of horse training." Cait shrugged sipping from her glass. "It’s a pain, but I love my life. I don’t want it to change."

Methos shook his head; "You don’t seem to understand that your life has already changed. Once you became Immortal, once you bonded with Jarod and Richie your life was irrevocably altered. Nothing you can say or do is going to change it back to the way it was. Oh, I’m not saying you can’t try but it won’t work. It never works. To avoid other Immortals you’ll have to spend the rest of your life on Holy Ground. Somehow I can’t quite see you taking the vows of a nun. As for the bond, do you really want to leave Jarod and Richie behind now that you’ve found them?"

"No, never," Cait replied instantly, grasping Jarod and Richie’s hands in her own. "I would sooner give up my life than leave them behind."

"I hope you remember that when one of you does something incredibly stupid," Methos said with a smirk. Then a little more seriously, "Things aren’t going to return to the normality of your former lives, but it will get easier. You will create a new life for yourselves and all will work out. Now go away. I’m tired of being philosophical."

"Yes, o wise one," Cait grinned, rising from her chair. Jarod and Richie stood as well.

"Yes, o wise ancient one," Richie added, earning himself a glare from Methos. Mac just smiled blandly as he massaged the back of his lover’s neck. "We’ll see you at the dojo tomorrow at ten. Do try and get some sleep tonight."

"Yes, Clan Chief," Jarod said slyly.

"Out with ye, you insolent brats," Mac smiled to take the sting from his words.

The trio laughed and headed for the door. Their first stop was the dojo to pick up there things and then to Richie’s apartment to get to know each other a whole lot better.

The End. – Well, sort of.