Immortal's Holocaust: Part 3:
Joe's Safe Haven
Cat and Mary had been at the Safe Haven for a few days, and were beginning to enjoy the peace and quiet of not fighting the war. The Game was bad enough, but when everyone becomes an Immortals enemy, then there's no hope but to survive. The Safe Haven was filled with fear. Not the fear of loosing your head to another in the Game- Joe had made it perfectly clear that this was to be considered Holy Ground, the fear was loosing your head to someone who wasn't in the Game.
Cat looked around for someone familiar. There were people she recognized but they had all been either her enemies at one point or someone she had just happened to cross paths with. None of them were her old friends like Duncan, Richie, Amanda, or Methos. There was no sign which she could know they were all right. A few years ago she had lost touch with Amanda and Methos, Richie had gone into hiding after the war broke out with his Immortal girlfriend, and the only contact she had with Duncan was through Mary. But because of the Watcher's oath which she took very seriously, she would never tell Cat where he was.
"Cat?" Mary said coming up from behind and putting her hand on Cat's shoulder who jumped when she heard the voice. Cat had been sitting on the porch swing and not heard Mary come up. "Are you ok?"
"That's one thing I hate about Mortals, they can sneak up on you to easy." Since the day they had come to the safe haven and after the words that had been spoken on the trip, things had been quite tense between Cat, Mary, and Joe. This was their first attempt to talk to each other and it was not going well.
"I'm sorry." Mary said. She meant it more for the other day than sneaking up on her. Mary would never know first hand what it was like to be an Immortal, but for the past 4 years she had gotten as close to it as she ever would. "Sorry for everything."
"I am too." Cat said as she smiled. "I've been under a lot of stress lately and I don't mean to take it out on you."
Mary sat down on the swing next to Cat and Cat did something she hadn't done since Mary was a kid- she tickled her on the side where she was the most ticklish. When Cat stopped, Mary realized the fight had passed. They sat in silence for a moment, and Joe limped out of the door, sat on the rocker, and lit a cigar.
"Well..." Mary started. "Since both of you are here, I might as well tell you I received news from mom today."
"I already know." Joe said. "She called me after you hung up with her. She wanted me to make sure you were ok."
For the first time, Cat realized both mortals eyes were red and swollen. "Will someone like to let me know what the Hell you're talking about?"
Joe looked at Mary and Mary said it. "It's Duncan."
Cat grew silent for a moment, and Mary could tell she was knew without being told. hugged her. The tears were already filling both their eyes. "When?"
"Night before last. Are you ok?"
Cat stood up and looked out over the railing. She stared out into the field at the horses. "I will be. No, I take that back," she said turning towards Mary and Joe. "I won't be ok. I'm loosing anyone I have ever cared about slowly. I have been all my life. What do you think? I'll just go on living life day by day forgetting people? That one day I'll wake up and not remember my mom, my dad, Franz, Chris, Duncan, or everyone I've beheaded? Let me tell you, it won't happen! I won't let it happen!" she said as she walked off the porch and towards the stables.
Mary started to go after her. "She needs to be alone." Joe said.
"Uncle Joe, does it ever get any easier for them?"
"No. Especially now a days. Duncan meant a lot to her. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't be here now."
"He meant a lot to me to." Mary said as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Maybe I shouldn't have told her."
"No, she needed to be told. If she had found out later and knew that we knew, she would never forgive us."
Mary crossed over to Joe and kneeled in front of him. "Maybe this wasn't the right job for me. I don't think I'm cut out to be a Watcher."
"I know his is hard for you. I know how much you loved Duncan." He said as he wiped the tears away. "But you made the choice to become a Watcher. It's what you always wanted to do. Getting close to them is drawback we can't afford, but it happens. You'll get use to it in time."
"Will you tell me more stories about when you were a Watcher?"
"Sure." He smiled. "You always did like to hear Fairy Tales."