"Alright," Duncan gently pushed Richie down onto the couch, reluctantly relinquishing his hold around the lad's shoulders. "Stay put."

Moving swiftly, he went over and poured out a generous measure of scotch and took it back to the couch, kneeling in front of the teen as he offered the glass.

"Take small sips." He advised.

"Right," Richie complied, coughing a little as the strong spirit burnt its way down his throat, then closed his eyes letting his head loll back. "Oh man."

"Pretty rough, huh?" Duncan commiserated, patting his leg comfortingly.

Richie opened one eye a slit and regarded him thoughtfully.

"You're not looking so hot yourself."

Duncan was touched beyond measure that the lad would worry about him. It was second nature for the Highlander to care for others, but it was rare for those around him to see past the aura of strength and appreciate that he himself was not invincible.

"I'll live." He joked weakly. "But thanks for noticing."

"Anytime." Richie took another sip of the whiskey and then closed his eyes again. "You mind if I go to bed?"

Duncan glanced in surprise at the clock. It was still quite early.

"You sure? I thought we could make some hot chocolate, maybe a couple of bowls of popcorn and crash out on the couch with a few videos?" Truth be told, he was reluctant to let the lad out of his sight, at least until he knew that there would be no new nightmares from this.

"Well, I for one like the sound of that." Tessa came to sit on the back of the sofa.

Richie tipped his head back to look up at her.

"You OK?"

"I'm quite well," She assured him. "I am more worried about you."

"Hey," Richie gave her a cocky smile. "You don't gotta worry about me. I can take care of myself."

"So, you are perfectly fine?"

"Sure."

"So, you are drinking this whiskey, because?"

"Because Mac gave it me." Richie said with sweet reason.

"Really Duncan," She sniffed. "I do not know why you must always give him such a thing."

"Think of it as a family tradition." Duncan told her.

"And what about my family traditions? You could not teach him to appreciate a good French cognac?"

"This is America, Tess. He's not actually supposed to drink."

"And you will explain this to my father, when my nieces and nephews are raised to tell Merlot from Cabernet?"

"Those are wines, right?" Richie piped up.

"Actually, they're grapes," Duncan told him. "But they're used to make different types of wine."

"Maybe you should just leave me at home."

"Absolutely not," Tessa declared. "It is our annual family reunion. You must come."

"If I have to go, you're coming too." Duncan vowed.

"How does that work then?" Richie wanted to know. "I mean, you guys have been together twelve years. They all gotta wonder why you aren't looking any older."

"Its amazing what a good diet and a healthy lifestyle can do." Duncan joked.

"No, I'm serious." Richie insisted.

"It was a lot harder in the old days," Duncan admitted. "Sometimes, there was no choice but to move on and cut all ties. Nowadays there are things you can do. Hair dye, prosthetics. It can all help you look older."

"You mean, like in the movies?" Richie asked.

"Exactly," Tessa smiled. "The last time we visited for my Grandmother's birthday, Duncan put this grey dye on his sideburns, he looked most distinguished."

"Did you use a cane as well?" Richie teased.

"Hey, they don't think I'm that old!" Duncan smiled as his little family ganged up on him. In truth, he was glad of the distraction, it had been a rough few days for them all.

"Duncan, we have a problem." Connor spoke from the doorway.

And clearly it wasn't over yet.

"What now?"

"There's an Officer Powell out front, he wants to talk to the lad."

"Oh great," Richie sagged. "Just friggin great."

"Easy, Rich, he can't prove anything," Duncan advised. His eyes alighted on the whiskey glass that Richie was still holding. "Gimme that."

!!!

"Word on the street is, you got into a fight with Ferria. Made him look bad. That he was out for revenge?" Powell looked up, pencil poised.

"Yeah, right," Richie scoffed. "There's no way I could beat Vinnie."

"You haven't been in a fight?" Powell eyed the cut on his cheek.

"This?" Richie shook his head. "I fell over playing basketball, someone had left this glass all over the playground. You know, you people really should do something about that. I mean, I was lucky, I could have lost an eye. I'm thinking of suing."

"Don't you get smart, with me, Ryan, I know a knife cut, when I see one."

"Officer Powell," Duncan cut in. "Is there a point to any of this?"

"Ferria is saying it was all a set up, that Ryan here met them at the playground over on fourth, gave them the low down, told him the alarm codes. Everything."

"Richie's been here all evening."

"You quite sure about that?" Powell challenged. "He has a reputation as a pretty slippery customer. He's just as good at breaking out of places, as he is breaking in. He once absconded from an apartment block over on Vine and his foster parents were none the wiser, till he came home in a Police car. Isn't that right, Slick?" Powell mocked.

"They locked me in my room," Richie scowled at him. "I needed to go to the bathroom."

"You were on the sixth floor and there was no fire escape outside your window."

"I needed to go real bad."

"Richie has been here all evening," Duncan repeated. "My cousin, Russell, came from New York for a visit, we had a family dinner and watched some TV."

"Oh yeah?" Powell looked around the living room, but failed to stop the TV, hidden as it was behind the walnut cabinet. "What was on?"

Without missing a beat, Richie rattled off that evening's TV schedule, right up to the moment the gang broke in.

"You need some more hobbies." Duncan murmured, sotto voice, as Powell was busy writing down his answers.

"You gonna teach me how to use a sword?"

"No. But how about we head down to the gym tomorrow, and I'll teach you some of the finer points of the ancient art of boxing?"

"Like you're ever gonna get Tess to agree to that."

"She already has." Duncan grinned tightly at Richie's look of surprise.

"Alright," Powell looked up from his notebook. "Don't leave town Ryan. I'm not done with you yet."

"I'll see you out." Duncan said.

Powell gave him a searching look.

"Ferria says you took him down with a sword, Mr Macleod?"

"New acquisition," Duncan shrugged. "My cousin is also in the Antiques business, I just happened to be showing him the blade when the gang broke in."

"That was very convenient."

"Hey," Richie sprang to his defence. "Mac's a good guy. The best."

Powell regarded him steadily for a moment. But when he spoke it was to Duncan.

"You know, Mr Macleod, I've never really understood why you wanted to take Ryan in. But if you think that a roof over his head and a few square meals are enough to transform him into a model citizen, I strongly suggest you think again. These street kids are all alike. Isn't one of them who wouldn't sell there own Grandmother if the price was right."

Duncan pressed his lips together tightly, even as he stepped forward and put a comforting, and restraining, hand on Richie's shoulder.

"Richie's a good kid."

"We'll see. I can see myself out."

!!!

"Finally," Connor groused as he came into the living room. "I thought the police were never going to leave."

"And after you parcelled the thieves up so neatly for them." Duncan said with a lightness he did not feel.

Richie was sitting with his muddy trainers up on the polished surface of the coffee table, his face set in a mutinous scowl, as if he was goading Duncan to bawl him out for it. His whole posture was stiff and tense. He hadn't spoken a word for the last fifteen minutes. Damn Powell.

"Well, I wasn't going to take the chance that one of them would shoot me, again." Connor commented sourly, as he helped himself to a drink.

"Caught you off guard, did they?" He couldn't resist teasing his teacher.

"One of them thought it would be fine sport to let off a shot in Tessa's workshop. If those butane gas canisters had gone up, you've had more than a new window to worry about, laddie."

"Ah," Duncan realised. "I owe you my thanks then."

"And a new shirt."

"Did you get all your blood stains out of my floor?" Duncan contered.

"I'll give you blood stains," Connor groused, as he took a long swallow of his drink. "What ails the lad?"

"Powell gave him a pretty hard time," Duncan sighed. "He thinks he can link him to the robbery."

"Thinks?" Richie surged to his feet. "C'mon Mac. He knows. He's not gonna let this go."

"Give him a day or two. He'll soon have more important things to worry about." Duncan soothed.

"Nuh uh. You know how much he hates me. He's gonna keep on at this until he's got enough evidence to prove that I was in on it."

"C'mon, Rich. All he has is Vinnie's word, against yours. No court as going to accept his own gang as independent witnesses."

"But you think they're gonna take my word?" Richie scoffed. "Against Powell's?"

"It won't come to that."

"What if someone saw us? Like at the playground?"

"They didn't. I was careful. And Connor and Tess and I will all swear blind that you were here all night."

"Doesn't change anything though, does it?" Richie said bitterly. "He still thinks I'm the kind of scum who would sell out his friends to save his own skin. Just like Vinnie. It wasn't like it was hard to persuade him that I'd set you guys up in return for getting myself off the hook."

"Hey," Duncan caught him by the arm and turned him to face him. "That's not who you are. And you know it"

"Do I?" Richie looked up at him.

"You should." Connor murmured.

"Huh?" Duncan and Richie both looked at him.

Connor went to stand in front of Richie.

"Do you remember what I told you would happen, if you did anything foolish tonight and caused Duncan to worry?"

Richie stiffened slightly, as if he had indeed, forgotten, but then he met Connor's eyes defiantly. "Yeah. Like in Technicolor."

"Well?" Connor crossed his arms and raised a brow.

He blushed at being made to say it, two bright pink spots appearing in his cheeks, but he spoke up bravely.

"You said, if I insisted on acting like a kid, you'd treat me like one and I wouldn't sit down for a week."

"Now hold on a minute, Connor!" Duncan protested.

His kinsman ignored him and looked at Richie.

"Maybe, you thought that Duncan here, would talk me out of giving you a well deserved hiding? The way I hear it, you had your chance to escape when Tessa did, and you dinna take it. You deliberately stayed behind."

"If I'd have gone with Tess, they would have seen the doorway, right off and come after both of us," Richie defended himself. "At least, this way, I had a chance to hide it behind her and one of us, had a real chance to get away."

"So, you knew it was dangerous?" Connor clarified. "And you knew that there would be consequences?"

"Yeah," Richie shot back. "And you know what? I don't care what you do to me, I'd still do it all over again to get Tess out safely."

"Doesn't sound like someone who would sell out their friends to me." Duncan murmured, with sudden understanding.

"You .. what .. Connor!" Richie spluttered.

"What?" Connor flashed him a devilish grin. "If I'd just told you Powell was being an ass, you'd never have believed me."

"So," Richie looked from one to the other in confusion. "Am I in trouble, or not?"

"No laddie," Connor assured him. "What you did was very smart and very brave. And I owe you an apology."

"You do?"

"I was afraid you'd be too rash. I was wrong. You did us proud tonight, laddie."

"That's been happening a lot recently." Duncan murmured.

"Does that mean I'm not gonna get grounded anymore?" Richie grinned.

!!!

"Hey, Rich?," Duncan knocked lightly, before popping his head around the bedroom door. "Are you asleep?"

"Naw," Richie used the remote control to flick off the television. "I guess, I'm still pretty wired."

"I could make you some hot milk?"

"Hey, I thought I wasn't being punished anymore!"

"How about a story?" Duncan offered, settling himself on the bed.

"I'm a little old don't ya think?."

"Alright, then you can tell me one. How exactly did you know about that door?"

"Its just a door, Mac. What's to know?"

"A locked door, up in the attic, that's been covered with boxes for the last decade."

"So, I went looking," Richie admitted. "Look, it wasn't you. Or anything you've done. You heard what Powell said. I never knew a place that didn't have an escape route or three. I just like to know where they are. That's all."

"How did you get out of that apartment block?"

"The brickwork was pretty old. It made for plenty of hand and foot holds."

"You climbed down six stories?" Duncan didn't know whether to be awed at his bravely or appalled at his bravado. With such unsound brickwork the lad could have slipped and fallen at any time. It didn't bear thinking about. Maybe he should add climbing to Richie's new list of hobbies. If he was going to do it, Duncan wanted to be sure he was doing it right.

"Mac," Richie asked into the silence. "What will happen to Vinnie and the others now?"

"Prison, I expect. They all had priors."

"Oh." Richie said flatly.

"Don't worry about it, Tough Guy. You're not responsible for the choices they make. And the next people that Vinnie pointed his gun at might not have been so lucky. Remember that."

"I guess," Richie said, unhappily. "Its just, its not like my own choices have always been so good. You know?"

"Talking of which, it didn't occur to you to mention your little tete a tete with Connor to me??"

"I thought you knew. You were standing right there."

"I thought he was being reassuring. You dinna really think I'd let him lay a hand on you, did you?"

"Its not like he's some stranger," Richie hedged. "I mean, he's family. And you always do what he says."

"Richie .." Duncan scrubbed at his face. "Tessa was right, you do need to know where we stand."

Standing up he pulled a cream coloured envelope out of his pocket and offered it to Richie. Feeling a sudden tightness in his chest, Richie reached out to take it. Only to have the Immortal turn and start to walk towards the door.

"Mac, hold on," Richie waited until the Immortal was facing him. "Don't you need to know where we stand too?"

Duncan hitched one shoulder in an awkward shrug.

"I didn't want to make you feel .. awkward .. embarrassed."

"C'mon Mac," Richie grinned. "Connor threatening to spank me. That was embarrassing. This, .. this is .. pretty great."

Duncan gave him an appraising look.

"You haven't even opened it yet."

"So, you can be Immortal, but I can't have X-Ray eyes?" Richie teased.

"Tessa." Duncan realised.

The card was simple enough, a pencil sketch of a basketball player. All lines and movement. But it was the legend across the top that took Richie's breath away. "To the best son in the world." Inside in Duncan's flowing hand, was written, "A Father's Love - When you are hungry, I will feed you, when you are cold, I will warm you, when you are sick I will tend to you, when you are sad, I will comfort you, when you are happy, I will share in your joys, when you succeed, I will celebrate your endeavours, when you fail, I will encourage you, when you need guidance I will teach you, when you err, I will forgive you, and when you call, I will hear you. For you are my world." Underneath he had written. "Love always Da."

"Oh," Richie felt the tears burn behind his eyes and he blinked hard. This was stupid. He was happy, he wasn't gonna cry.

"You're supposed to like it." Suddenly Duncan was sitting beside him again, using his thumb to wipe away a single escaping tear.

"No-one ever .." Richie swallowed hard and reached out to hug Duncan hard, letting the spontaneous display of affection say all the things he could not yet put into words.

"First of many." Duncan assured, him patting his back comfortingly.

"Thanks," Richie pulled back, slightly self conciously.

"You're welcome."

Without another word, Richie carefully tucked the card back into its envelope. Duncan felt a stab of bitter disappointment. Maybe it was just too much, after all. Until he realised that the lad had slipped the card under his pillow so it would be close by as he slept.

"Thanks, for today," Richie hesitant voice spoke up. "With Vinnie. When you turned up, I don't think I've ever been so glad to see anyone in my whole life I just knew everything would be alright. I knew you wouldn't let anything bad happen to me. "

"I couldn't have done it without you."

"We make a great team, huh?" Richie smiled.

"Yeah, we do," Duncan tousled his hair. "You think you can sleep now?"

"Yeah." Richie scooted down.

"Remember, we're just down the hall if you need us?"

"You gonna leave me a night light on too?" Richie joked.

Duncan grinned back. He would never offend the lad's dignity like that. Especially, when leaving the hall light on and the door slightly ajar worked just as well.

"Night, Rich." Duncan dropped a light kiss on his forehead.

"G'night, Mac."

He walked over to the door and put his hand on the light switch.

"Oh and Rich," he waited until the teenager looked up. "One day, I swear, I'll teach you to be as good with a sword, as I am."

The look on Richie's face was priceless.

"You really mean that?"

"Aye lad. With all my heart."