Through Perplexing Ways by Bone (NC-17)

[rhi]

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Methos/Warren Cochrane
Author on LJ: thisisbone
Author Website: Coffee Slash
Why this must be read: Because it answers the questions of what happened after Richie's death: Where did Duncan go? Who handled Richie's funeral? Why did Duncan go? When Methos needs answers, who better to explain Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod than another Scottish immortal, almost the same age, who fought beside him, slept beside him, drank beside him?

"He'd be here if he could. I know he would," she'd whispered insistently into Methos' ear. "Something's wrong."

A man in front shushed them, and Methos tightened his lips, then whispered back, "Of course there's something wrong, Amanda. But what do you expect me to do about it?"

"Well, go get him," she said, giving him a look that said if he hadn't figured that much out already, there was something wrong with him, too.

Methos had sighed, bracing himself to keep his balance when Amanda leaned more of her weight on him. The funeral, ostensibly to honor Richie, felt more and more like a memorial in absentia for Duncan MacLeod. Joe had stopped asking about him on the third day. Amanda had looked shocked when Methos first told her of Richie's death, but had burst into tears at hearing how it happened. "Poor Duncan," she'd said.

Poor Duncan, indeed. Poor Richie, too. Poor Joe. Poor Amanda, for having to worry so.

And poor Methos, for finding himself once again caught in the middle of a muddle, when all history and inclinations propelled him to bid farewell to the complication his life had become and simply become someone else. He thought it ironic that he'd now mastered the art of accepting a ham from a teary woman while Duncan MacLeod went walkabout.

Through Perplexing Ways