Immortal's Holocaust: Part 2:
In the middle of nowhere, a few days later.
"I'm carrying an Immortals love child?" Cat said looking at a tabloid cover. "See, this shows how much mortals don't know about us."
"That one is nothing compared to this one." Mary said showing Cat another one. "I experienced an Immortals quickie Quickening! You know this person is NOT talking about just the Quickening." She said laughing.
"Mary Lindsey, what would your mother say if she heard you talking like that?"
"That I've been around you, Chris, and Uncle Duncan too long."
"So why are we waiting out in the middle of nowhere, in a tiny grocery store? I thought you said you were going to help me."
"I am. We're meeting a friend of mine who can help." Mary looked around the store. "There he is now."
Cat looked around the store towards where Mary was looking. "Joe?" she asked, "Joe!" Cat ran to her old friend who was now in his late 60's and as always, unsteady on his feet, and hugged him.
"It's good to see you again, Cat. How have you been?"
"All things considered, I'm hanging in there. You look great Joe."
"Ah, but you're the one with eternal youth and beauty. How long has it been, about 10 years? How's Chris?"
Cat pulled away from Joe. Chris and Joe had been close, and for awhile were romantically involved. They broke up saying it was because they both felt they were breaking the rule about Watchers interfering with Immortals, even though Chris was both. Later Chris had confided in Cat that is was because Joe wasn't getting any younger, and it appeared to him that Chris was, even though she was over 350 years old. They had remained close throughout the years, but apparently Joe hadn't heard. "I don't know how to tell you Joe, but..."
"Oh God, not Chris. The war?" Cat nodded. "Damn! Any idea who it might have been?"
"None." Mary said. "And like I said, Cat may also be in danger."
"We are all in danger, Watcher's and Immortals alike, but Cat seems to be in a bit more trouble." Joe said. "I know how we can protect you."
"How?" Cat asked. For the past three years, she and Chris had been running from the war searching for a place to hide, and leave it to Joe after Chris was gone, to offer to help.
"Joe runs a safe haven for Immortals on the outskirts of town." Mary answered.
"I started it after the war broke out and I retired. It's not exactly the way I planned to spend my retirement, but hanging out with people older than me, sort of gives me a will to out live all of you. It's quiet, and being so far out, no one would ever think of searching for Immortals there."
"Are you sure I'll be safe?"
"Have I ever lied to you before?"
"Yes, but I believe you this time. all right, I'll go. Mary, are you coming along as well?"
"For a while, then I have to get home to mom. She's uncomfortable when I'm gone for so long. She worries and all sorts of things go through her mind."
"Well, let's get out of here. If we're in here to long, people might get suspicious." He said as the started to walk towards the front of the store and out the door onto the street. "Cat?"
"Yes Joe?"
"I'm really sorry about Chris. I knew how much she meant to you. I'm going to miss her as much as you will."
"Joe, do you ever regret leaving her?"
"There's not a day that doesn't go by where I don't think about her. I loved her very much, and I wish she could be here. But, she lived a long and happy life. I know she died honorably, and that she's with Will now, which is where she ought to be."
"Do you ever feel guilty?"
"Cat," Mary said. "I keep telling you it's not your fault."
"She's right. You can't blame yourself for something you have no control over. Chris wouldn't have wanted that."
"How would you know!" Cat screamed her anger had been building for a few days and it just started to pour out. "You stopped knowing what she wanted the day you left her because she looked young enough to be your daughter." Cat looked at Joe, and he looked as if he had slapped her across his face.
"Uncle Joe?" Mary started. "Is that true? I thought you said..."
"We can talk about it later. I know your upset, Cat, but if you're going to stay with us, you're going have to get over you're attitude problem. I'm surprised you've been able to keep your head this long with it. If you've been like this for the past twenty years, I'm surprised Chris didn't take it herself."
No one said a word the rest of the way to Joe's car. Everyone had been hurt and had hurt with the words that were said, and the all silently agreed to be silent.