Chris's Chronicles Book 3: Part 4:
Birthday Wishes and Shattered Dreams...
Wednesday Afternoon- Joe's Place
"Joe, I want to know where you're taking me." Chris said blindfolded, as Joe lead her to the door of the bar.
"To your birthday surprise." He said with a devilish tone in his voice.
Chris got the buzz and stopped. "Joe, I know Duncan, Richie, Adam, and Cat are all in there, and if you've thrown me a party, I'll..."
"SURPRISE!" everyone shouted as Joe entered the bar and took the blindfold off. He stood there smiling and kissed her. "Happy Birthday."
"You do know I love you right?" she said and he nodded. "Good because now I am going to kill you."
"Ah this is only part of the surprise." Methos said as he walked up to her. He was hiding something behind his back.
"That better not be what I think that is, Meaty." She mocked him.
He produced a spanking paddle and smiled as he gently hit it against the palm of his hand. "Just wait, you're still due for about 175 more spanks."
"I'll be back in a few, I've got to go check something." Joe said as he kissed her. "Will you be ok?"
"Yes, Joe, as long as that paddle stays away from me, Methos will still be the Oldest Living Immortal." She said stressing Living. Joe left her side and headed behind the curtain that had been placed around the stage.
Chris walked around the bar and mingled. Duncan was there with Anne and they had brought Little Mary who was being watched by Cat. Richie was there with his girlfriend and he and Methos were talking secretly about why Richie wanted to borrow the paddle. Suddenly the lights dimmed and everyone started to sing "Happy Birthday" as the curtain opened. There on stage Joe was playing the piano that Will had given her on their anniversary. Chris wasn't sure whether to cry or scream.
"Joe, how did you ever...?" she said as she went to him and hugged him. "I never thought I would see it again." She said as he slid down the bench and let her sit next to him.
"I had some help, it wasn't easy. Especially since I only found out about it a few days ago."
"But how?" she said as she started to play a slow song. Then it hit her. The only other person who knew about the piano was of course, Methos. She looked over at him and smiled. He came to the edge of the stage and smiled back. "I do not know how you got this, and I do not think I want to try and understand, but thank you. Thank you both."
"I knew when you were packing things up after Will died, even if you had wanted to, there was no way to take the piano, so I put it in storage all this time." Methos said.
"For almost 60 years?! You' have got to be crazy!" Chris said as everyone laughed.
"Yes, and I'll just add it to your bill. Are you going to sing?"
"She sings?!?!" came out of the lips of every person in the bar but Chris, Methos, and Joe.
"Only in the shower." Joe responded as Chris grabbed the paddle from the top of the piano and playfully whapped Joe on the shoulder.
"Not alone." Chris said. "Any volunteers?" No one said anything. "Hey, Mac this is right up your alley." She started playing what she could remember of the song she had learned by ear.
Anne started laughing when she remembered the last time she had heard Duncan sing. She was shaking her head and had her hand to her mouth trying to keep her composure. "What song?" he asked.
"Phantom of the Opera, Webber's version. Act 1 Scene 12 the final duet?" Duncan looked puzzled.
"All I Ask of You." Joe said as he started playing it with her.
"You know it, Mr. I-only-like-to-play-the-blues?" she said stopping to let him play.
"Hey I'm his Watcher. When he goes to that kind of thing, I do too. Besides what's wrong with liking the blues. What do you call what the Phantom has at the end of that scene."
Richie couldn't resist. "Gas!" Everyone started an uproar. A few years ago, Mac, Anne, Richie, Cat, Chris, and Amanda had all gone to see the touring company of Phantom. Richie swore up and down the guy that played the Phantom sung worse than Carlotta.
"Somebody hide the beer from him please." Joe said as he still continued to play. He looked at Chris and smiled. "No more talk of darkness. Forget these wide eyed fears. I'm here, nothing can harm you. My words will warm and calm you. Let me be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears. I'm here with you beside you to guard you and to guide you."
Chris kept smiling the whole time Joe sang. She had never sang in front of a crowd, and only Methos knew her secret talent. Now there was no way she was going to get out of this. "Say you love me every waking moment. Turn my head with thoughts of summertime. Say you will need me with you now and always. Promise me that all you say is true..."
"That is all I ask of you." They both sang. Everyone in the bar clapped and Chris blushed.
"I didn't know you could sing." Joe said as he kissed her cheek.
"It is not something I like to broadcast."
The door to the bar opened and a young man walked in. "The bar is closed." Joe said.
"I'm looking for Joe Dawson. I was told I could find him here."
"I told you the bar is closed."
"Joe, be nice." Chris said "Is there anything we can help you with?"
"My name is Rick Schaefer, and I was told to talk to Dawson about... things."
Joe recognized the name and sighed. "Cat's Watcher." He whispered to her. "Be right back guys. Chris come with me."
"Joe I do not think that is such a good idea."
Joe took her hand, and motioned for Rick to follow them to the back office. He shut the door and sat down at the desk in front of the computer. "Rick this is Chris Renwyck , Cat's guardian. It's ok, she knows." He said as Rick eyed Chris.
"How do you do. Look Mr. Dawson..."
"Joe, please."
"Joe, I'm sorry I interrupted the party, but I was told to contact you immediately. I've read her files and everything, and I wanted to tell you, that the Hunter's have caught on. They know about Chris."
"Shit!" Chris said as she ran her hand through her hair. "How much do they know?"
"Just that you're still alive and their only link to Methos. I came to offer a solution."
"Why should we trust you? You could be working for the Hunters." Joe said.
"I promise you sir. I'm not working for them, but they are after Chris. They're looking for her and I came to warn you. Honestly sir. I overheard them talking at HQ."
Chris stood up and started walking to the door. "Joe, I am leaving. I will go somewhere where they can not find me."
"Chris no." Joe said going to her. "Wait please."
"If they know about me, then they may know about us. I will talk to you later." She said as she walked out the door.
Joe cursed knowing it was better to let her leave. "Are you sure?" Rick nodded.
"They're coming for her soon. They've already ransacked her place in Arizona, and if she goes there, they won't think..."
"They'll keep searching until they find her. Look, I want you to watch both of them until this gets straightened out.
"What if we make it look like she was beheaded. I can alter Cat's Chronicles to make it look true. Then if Chris lays low for awhile..."
"Ok. Go see what else you can find. Can I trust you? Are you telling me the truth?"
"Watcher's honor. I swear if I'm lying you can have my head."
Joe left his office and went back out to the party. Chris was nowhere to be found. "Where is she?"
"She took off like a bat out of hell Joe, what's going on? What's Cats' Watcher doing here?" Methos asked concerned.
"Hunters are after her."
"No wonder she was pissed." Richie said. "They know then?"
Joe nodded. "We have to find her."