crack_van | Dead Man series, by Mary Galasso (PG13)

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: None
Length: Varies from short to medium long
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Seventh Dimension, page down to see Mary's listings
Why this must be read:

'Dead Man' starts at the end of Archangel, when a traumatized and grieving Joe is left to take care of Richie's body and to protect Metho's secret. His desire to honor the fallen youth puts him in grave danger from the Watchers, with their harsh and medieval rules about contact between Watchers and Immortals. In this six story arc we discover Methos is not the only Immortal hiding in the ranks of the Watchers. But unlike Methos, who avoids conflict, this one is ruthlessly using the Watchers to hunt Methos. The arc explores Joe's history with the Watchers, what happened during the year Macleod disappeared after Archangel, and stretches into the future, when another Watcher is charged with verifying the records left by Joe and finds he must decide whether his allegiance is to the Watchers or the Immortals.

The stories are exciting, intricately plotted, and vividly told. They are special treats for those of us who love Joe and are intrigued by the Watchers. Plus there are several complex and fully realized original characters.

These are some of the first Highlander stories I read and I've returned to them several times since. They always satisfy.

Dig into Dead Man

"Joe? Joe?"
Methos' voice nudged Joe back. He slowly pushed away from Methos' chest and wiped his eyes, then looked down again at Richie's body. The young man's sword lay nearby on the concrete floor. MacLeod's katana was still beside Richie's arm, where Mac had dropped it after begging Methos to use it to take his head.
Only a couple of minutes had passed at the deserted racetrack since MacLeod had left and Joe began crying. Just minutes, but there was an urgency in Methos' tone. Joe looked into Methos' ancient eyes and forced himself to pay attention.
"Joe, are you all right?"
Joe cleared his throat and wiped his eyes again.
"I'll be OK. But Methos, for God's sake, why. ..."
"Not now, Joe," Methos cut him off. "We have to take care of Richie. I'll help you move him. Then I'm going to disappear for a while."
"Disappear? Methos, no, not now!"
The slender, much-younger-looking man hunched his shoulders, which seemed deceptively thin and frail in his large gray overcoat. He looked at Joe, then at Richie, then abruptly turned away for a moment. Joe sensed that for once the five-thousand-year-old ex-Watcher was struggling to find the right words to say. Then Methos turned around to face Joe again. "I'll endanger you if I stay."

Dead Man
Bench Press
Balance
Reconciling the Books
Accounts Payable
Resting Place