Actions

Work Header

Rating:
Archive Warning:
Category:
Fandom:
Characters:
Additional Tags:
Language:
English
Series:
Part 2 of Canon Divergence Sprouts
Stats:
Published:
2024-09-26
Words:
531
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
21
Kudos:
75
Bookmarks:
6
Hits:
474

Intervention

Summary:

During MacLeod's dark quickening, Methos opts to carry a gun, and to save a life.

Notes:

A small concept I've had in the back of my mind for a bit that was finally prompted into existence. I'm not sure where it goes after this, but it would no doubt be interesting.

Written and edited 2024.

(See the end of the work for other works inspired by this one.)

Work Text:

A cold, inevitable sort of despair settled in the pit of Sean's stomach as Duncan's hand tightened around his own, preventing any hope of escape or evasion. There was no time to even try. He could see and understand what was about to happen, but there was not enough time for his body to respond as the gleaming arc of Duncan's sword rose, flashing in the afternoon sunlight.

A gunshot sounded practically in his ear.

He felt Duncan's hand tear free of his own even as he flinched away from the sound. When he opened his eyes, his old friend lay sprawled on the ground at his feet, sword fallen at his side.

The lanky immortal who'd followed Duncan here had not lowered the gun, and he spared barely a glance for Sean when Sean looked at him. 

"You interfered," he gasped unsteadily, working his jaw in an automatic effort to get his ringing ears to pop.

The other immortal scoffed, taking a cautious step forward, keeping the gun trained on Duncan's body. "This wasn't a challenge, this was an execution," he said flatly. 

Sean's eyes lingered on the gun, wary and concerned. "You expected this?" The Duncan he knew wouldn't do this, but there was no denying that he very nearly had. Sean was alive only because of this other immortal's intervention, because he had been prepared for Duncan's uncharacteristic violence.

"I expect a lot of things."

He shifted his gaze to the other immortal's face, and for all that he had spent so much of his life learning the mind and the body and how the two interacted, he could not read any of the thoughts behind that expression. 

And at present, there were more important things to be concerned about.

He gave himself a shake, stepping quickly around Duncan's legs to kneel cautiously beside him. The other immortal had shot him in the head, and Sean winced. That would be a while healing, and Duncan would not enjoy his eventual revival, but it did buy them time. "What's happened to him?" He asked worriedly, reaching out and turning Duncan's face carefully toward him.

His initial assessment had been correct. Alive or dead, his old friend looked like hell. Something terrible had occurred. That had been clear even when they'd spoken on the phone.

The other immortal approached cautiously, stopping on Duncan's other side. The gun never wavered. He was prepared to shoot Duncan as many times as he had to, it seemed. "Have you heard of a dark quickening?" he asked almost conversationally.

Sean suppressed a shiver, frowning down at Duncan's slack face. That was what he had been asking about, even as he'd struggled to find the right words. "Speculation and theory only," he replied softly. "Are you sure?"

"Oh, I'm sure," The other immortal said grimly. He sank slowly into a crouch, tilting his head to frown at Duncan. "This one's going to test all your skills, doctor. I hope you're prepared."

Sean swallowed and took a slow, steadying breath. He would do anything he could for his old friend, but he had no experience with something of this nature.

He hoped he was prepared, too.

Series this work belongs to:

Works inspired by this one: