Disclaimer : Highlander is owned by Panzer/Davis.

I would like to thank my good friend Fanlass for beta reading and adding some much needed sparkle to this story. She has also written Chapter 7 as a welcome and refreshing finish to the story. I would highly recommend visiting her stories, The Doppelganger, Methos Passion and The Original Good Time Girl.

Chapter 7

Paris Pleasure and Pursuit

Macleod and Spiros were still laughing as they entered Joe's Bar, they had spent the flight to Paris discussing just how they were going to track down Crasswell. Le Blues Bar was quiet but it was a Monday night and Joe didn't offer entertainment until Thursday. Methos was sitting at his regular table sharing a bottle of Scotch with a pretty dark haired women. Joe was behind the bar chatting with a few of the regulars.

Spiros felt the strong Buzz hit him as soon as he walked through the door, he looked at MacLeod and questioned him as to who they were meeting.

"Spiros he is just an old friend he's been out of town a while but flew in a week or two before I met you, I have not even asked him by what name he's going by these days. But be careful he's a little paranoid and suspicious and cynical. But you get used to him and his ways after a while."

"Sounds like my first teacher Remus, by the Gods the man could make me crazy, he'd have you convinced there was someone after your head every moment of every day." Spiros laughed. "But on the good side he did teach me how to survive as an immortal and play the game, he was a master strategist."

The lights in the bar were low and Methos glanced toward the two immortals coming towards him. He clearly could see the silhouette of Duncan MacLeod, but Methos took out his blade not recognizing the man with Mac.

Spiros halted seeing the glimmer of the tall thin immortal's sword. "Duncan you're sure he and you are friends?"

"Spiros don't worry he is just paranoid as hell." then turning to Methos Mac said "Hey old man it's just me and a friend, I'd like you to meet Spiros."

Methos put his sword back in his coat and bent over and whispered to the lady at the table, then took a few steps forward to greet MacLeod. Immediately his gaze went to Spiros and the uncertain look on his face changed into a large smile as Methos reached out to take Spiros's hand.

"Artorius, its so good to see you again, I thought perhaps you were dead. Its been too long my friend!" Methos laughed.

"Remus, you sly dog, well if anyone would be still alive it would be you, Its so good to see you again!" and the two men embraced.

Joe walked over from the bar "Artorius, Remus , Mac do you know what going on? Those are Roman names. In fact Remus was one of the names Methos used when he was in Rome, so who is Artorius?"

Methos looked up at Joe with daggers in his eyes "thank you so much Joeseph for telling everyone in the room of my alias. Artorius I'd like you to meet Joe Dawson my personal watcher and bibliographer. Artorius was one of my students so Mac I hope you really are his friend I do not want a repeat of the last time you met one of my students." Methos seemed to be in a huff. "Artorius come join me and a friend for a drink, Mac why don't you stay and catch up with Joe!"

Spiros laughed and just shook his head and put his arm around his old teacher. "Sure Remus, I'll be right back Duncan we have a lot of catching up to do, and I am called Spiros these days I haven't heard the name Artorius in 2,000 years. Since you gave it me."

"Hey Artorius was the Roman name that means "noble strength." it fits you and we couldn't go around calling you by your old slave name any more, now could we?. It drew too much attention to you, and isn't that one of the first things I taught you, blend in don't stick out. Of course that was always pretty difficult for you not to stand out in a crowd. Hey you look good for an old gladiator." Methos smiled as he brought Spiros to his table in the back of the bar.

"And you are Methos, I should have know it even then I heard stories about Methos." Spiros said.

"Well we all have our secrets and I trust you will keep mine, for now just call me Doc or Edwin for I am now Dr ME Stacy, formally of Chicago and I'd like to introduce you to my friend Miss Rachael MacLeod, same clan different vintage. She knows about us immortals. She came to town to visit Mac but since he wasn't here I have been entertaining her for the past few days. Rachael I'd like you to meet a very old friend of mine Spiros." Methos was playful in his introduction. Rachael was in her early forties but looked younger with striking black hair and a lovely figure and face.

"So nice to meet you Spiros, I meet so few of Methos's old friends, its a pleasure." Rachael smiled back at Spiros.

"Rachael didn't you just hear me explain to Spiros not to call me that in public! Is everyone here trying to out me and get me killed tonight! Just please do me a favour Rachel please entertain Spiros while I have a talk with Joe and Mac and do not call me Methos." Methos tilted his head and gave her that half smile he was so famous for, then kissed her on the cheek and waltzed away.

"Is he always like that?" Spiros asked.

"Most of the time he's worse." Rachael laughed.

"Good then he hasn't changed one bit in 2,000 years, same old Methos." Spiros smiled "its good to know something's never change. Miss Macleod."

"Rachael please, and do you want some Scotch? Methos bought the bottle and I can tell you its good."

"So Rachael how do you know our mutual friend? And yes I'd love a glass please." Spiros asked.

"Back about 15 years ago Duncan needed help and our mutual friend left his dying wife to come to see me in order to get the Clan MacLeod's Claymore to help Duncan out of a rather large problem. I remember giving him quite a difficult time. But he was persistent and I finally gave in and followed him to Paris. By the time I got here everything was fine. I stayed with Duncan a while but he did not need to spend his days protecting a wee women like me. I went back to Glenfinnan Scotland where I have run a pub and was on the town council until recently. When I get some free time I still visit Paris and my friends here." Rachel voice was live velvet and smooth and soft as it washed over Spiros. " So how do you know our friend Methos?"

"Oh that is a long story."

"Well it seems Methos, Joe and Mac are in an argument now and if I know them it could last a while. We have this almost full bottle of good Scotch and the night is young, tell me your tale, honestly it couldn't be any stranger than anything Duncan or Methos have told me." Rachael smiled and poured Spiros a drink.

Spiros was intrigued by this women, she knew immortals and yet she had no fear of them, and counted his teacher as her friend. She was not any child, there were a few gray strains in her hair but she carried herself with grace and dignity. Her beauty was one that transcended time, Spiros knew she would somehow be just as beautiful at 60 as she was now or had been at 25. She was intelligent and spoke with manners, this Rachel MacLead was a true classey women, he enjoyed how she called herself a wee women who Duncan shouldn't spend his time protecting. Spiros thought Duncan had made a very big mistake because Rachel was the sort of women, who was extremely worth protecting. Funny he hadn't felt that way in longer than he could remember.

"Where to begin" Spiros said a bit flustered.

"The Beginning is always a good place to start." Rachael smiled back at him.

"My name was Spartacus and I led the Third Servile War against the Romans. I did not know I was immortal. Methos, he called himself Remus back then was a chariot driver in Circus Maximus and he joined my slave army after Crixus a good friend was killed."

"You are trying to tell me you were The Spartacus?" Rachael asked, she gave Spiros a better look. He had muscles to spare under his jacket and a strong jaw but she saw pain in his blue eyes. "I am so sorry for all you had to endure in your mortal life." she said not out of pity but out of empathy.

Spiros reached over and touched Rachel hand, she took his in hers and they intertwined their fingers.

"You are not a wee women by any means" Spiros said to her.

"Thank you Spiros, but I am compared to you." Rachael bowed her head and looked away.

Spiros took his other hand and touched her chin pushing it back so he could see her eyes. "Rachael I like to get to know you, if that would be OK? You are different from any other woman that I have met in a very, very long time."

"Oh I am not that special, just a Scottish lass, that enjoys spending time with mature men, OK maybe Methos is something way past mature." she laughed. "Or sometime immature I think, but he's just a friend, I am not his type." she nervously smiled.

"Too bad for Methos, what about Duncan?"

"We had a few moments but as I said I don't want him spending his days protecting a wee woman like me."

"Rachael I told you before you are not a wee women."

Methos suddenly appeared at the table "Spiros, Rachael sorry to abandon you but, hey I know it's been 2000 year but what's a few hours between friends. Rachael why don't you take Spiros back to my place. It looks like we are going to be having a healthy discussion over here for a while longer and Spiros Rachael's been staying in my spare room anyway. Chez hotel Stacy. We'll meet you back there in a couple of hours. What do you say? OK Kids go have fun drink my liquor and eat my food, Go get out of here, I stay with the two old stick in the muds and finish this argument." Methos smiled with a mischievous grin.

Spiros and Rachael walked out of the bar. "What was that about" Spiros asked.

"Are you telling me you understand Methos' motives?"

"No I haven't a clue what he's up to" Spiros lied. He could see well enough his old teacher was playing match maker and for once he didn't mind, the prospect of the pleasure to come from Rachel's company excited him, his usually steady pulse began to quicken at the thought of spending time with this beautiful mortal woman. "So is his place far?"

"No Just a couple of blocks." she replied then shivered the famous Paris weather had a chill in the air.

"Here take my jacket I insist." Spiros said as he took it off and helped Rachael put in on.

"OK now tell me all about the Third Servile War and how you became Methos's student"

"Anything you wish my lady." Spiros said as they joined hands and walked to Methos's Flat.

Back at the Bar Mac finally noticed Spiros was gone.

"Methos where is Spiros?"Mac said with a wisp of anger in his voice.

"Oh he's off to fight the fifth Servile War." Methos laughed. "and that's the worst one any man can fight because its one he can't win that one."

"What the hell are you talking about, I was just explaining to you and Joe all about what Spiros and I have been through this week and you're being cryptic, Methos!"

"Sorry Mac he left with Rachael MacLeod five minuets ago, hey they are fumigating my place, Bloody hell you know how much I hate bugs, can I stay at the barge tonight?"Methos looked so serious.

"Sure Methos the couch is always yours, Rachael! So that was her in the shadows? Joe you've got to do something with these lights.! I didn't even know she was in town." Mac spit back at Methos.

MacLeod paused as he realized Methos had arranged for Spiros and Rachael to be alone at his place, then said.

"Hang on a minute Methos you're such a liar, fumigating your place indeed, more like you are getting the two of them together."

"Well I'm sure they'll both have lots to talk about." Methos gave a knowing devious smile as he spoke. "Shall we be off." Methos yawed. "Come on old buddy let's all just go to the barge and talk about this maybe over a game of cards, coming Joe?" Methos said as he walked to the door.

"Fine we are coming but you cheat at cards Methos."

Methos replied trying to sound hurt, but smirking at the same time.

"I never cheat Joseph, I'm just a better player than either you or MacLeod."

At the barge the card game had been going for half an hour, Methos sat with most of the poker chips in front of him, Joe had just thrown another useless hand on the table as he protested to MacLeod.

"I told you Mac he cheats, I don't know how he does it but I'll find out and when I do…"

Joe's rant was cut short by his cell phone ringing, he flipped open the display cover to answer it. Nodding his head and looking concerned he ended the call and looked at MacLeod as he spoke.

"That was Dobbs he's the guy who watches Crasswell, bad news Mac Crasswell is in Paris he arrived just after you and Spiros, God only knows what he's got planned but I bet it ain't going to be good my friend."

MacLeod threw his cards down looked at Joe and Methos and said.

"We've got to warn Spiros, Methos phone your place, tell him to stay put until we get there!"

At Methos's home.

Spiros moved closer to Rachael leaned over and just before he could kiss her the phone rang. Under his breath Spiros was cursing the timing of the call. Rachael picked up the receiver and listened before passing it to Spiros.

Hanging up the receiver Spiros calmly told Rachael; "it looks like we'll be having company Methos Duncan and Joe are on their way over, something to do with Crasswell, you know the guy me and Duncan had such a good time with back in England. I hope we can continue where we left off later Rachael, I really would like to get to know everything about you?"

Rachael smiling seductively licked her lips and said. "Aye that can definitely be arranged."

The End?