I went home to get my stuff, and to tell Jeff I was leaving, but Jeff wasn't there. I called his girlfriend, Tina's, place, trying to find him.
"Didn't you hear?" she said. "Jeffy was in a car accident and is in the hospital.
I hung up the phone and dialed the number for DeSalvo's dojo.
"DeSalvo's Gym, Richard H. Ryan speaking."
"Hey Richie. Gavin here. Can you five me a lift? I'll give your sword back."
"Sure Gav, where to?"
"The hospital. I'll explain on the way."

"Could you tell me what room Jeffery Wright is in?" I asked the desk nurse.
"He's in intesnive care. Are you family?"
"Yes, I'm Gavin Scott, he's my guardian."
"Room 315."
When I got to his floor, and told the nurese there, she sighed in relief.
"He's been calling for you all day. He keeps saying 'Gavin, I killed Gavin'."
I looked at Richie "Well, I'm obviously alive, aren't I? Matbe if he sees me, he'll calm down."
"He's been sleeping on and off," said the nurese, "maybe he's awake now."
"I'll see," I said, stepping into the toom. "Jeff? You awake buddy?"
"Gavin, man? Am I seen' a ghost?"
"No, Jeff, I'm a living-breathing-walking Gavin," I smiled.
"But I hit you with my car," Jeff protested.
"No, I saw it Jeff," I lied, "I was on the sidewalk and you hit a trash can."
"A trash can? You sure?" he questioned dubiously.
"Well I'm standing here, aren't I? Of course it was a trash can," I insisted. "Now you just lay there and rest. Don't worry about me; I'm staying with a friend, okay?" But Jeff was already asleep.
When Richie and I were back in the car, I told him, "Turns ou it was Jeff who'killed' me." Richie nodded, not sure if he was supposed to respond. "Can you drop me at Methos'?" I questioned, breaking the silence. "I'm going to be staying there for a bit."

It was dusk when I arrived at Methos' and rang the door bell. II felt his presence before he opend the door, as I knew Methos felt mine. It was an immortal's early warning system, to keep the game fair.
"Oh, it's you," he said upon opening the door. "I thought you might've forgotten."
"Not a chance,"I smiled, "roomie..." Methos gave me a warning glance, and I shut up. A little teasing was not worth losing my head over.
"I'm too old for this," he mumbled.
"So, where do I sleep?" I questioned, changing the subject.
"Anywhere but my bed," Methos said.
"Well, do you have another bed?" I asked.
"Nope."

I spent that night on the floor, and many nights thereafter. Methos had just gotten the flat in the states, and had yet to purchase a coudch. Eventually he got one, but that was two months later.
The next morning, I went to my job at DeSalvo's Gym. I swepy the floors, then wiped down the machines, and then Duncan came down.
"Grab a sword," he said,"We'll practice."
After a long work out and listenting to Mac's critiscism, I was exhausted. I took a quick shower, borrowed a sword from MacLeod (just in case!), and headed to the Watcher head quarters to do my research job. Then I went "home" to more working- out. Not just with a sword thoug. Methos taught me the rules, and the tactics needed to win.
This lesson was about nkowing who to kill.
"That's easy," I said, "evil immortals."
"Ah," he said, "but how do you tell who is evil?"
He had me stumped.
"You can't divide the world up between good and evil," he continued, "It's not that simple. We are all both, good and evil, We have rage and compassion, we have love and hate- murder and forgiveness."
That was basically my daily routine-work at the dojo, with either Richie or macLeod giving me a lesson, work with the Watchers, and lessons with Methos.
But none of what they taught me could have prepared me for my first encounter with an unknown immortal.
I was walking to Adam's from Watcher headquarters when I felt the "buzz." I looked around and saw a big Aryan guy- blonde hair-blue eyes-huge- pulling out a sword.
"I am Fredreich Keiser," he said.
"Nice to meet you," I said. I pulled up the hood on my sweatshirt, and looked about for Keiser's watcher. It wouldn't do for him/her to recognize me.
"I challenge you to immortal combat," said Keiser.
"Uh, couldn't we just go get a couplea beers?" I pleaded.
He laughed an evil, menacing laugh, and I bolted. I ran and ran and ran, even agter Keiser stopped following me. I ran all the way to Methos' and banged on the oor.
"Do you want to knock a bit louder?" He asked, opening the door "I don't think they heard you in Florida."
"Another immortal," I gasped.
"Yes, there are bound to be," he said, then, seeing how panicked I was, "Name?"
"Keiser, Frederick." I resonded.
"Size?"
"Massive!"
"Sword?"
"I think it was a broad sword."
"You think? You really should know your swords if you want to be a field agen," Methos said.
"Sorry," I replied meekly.
"Alright. You've got two choices: Run, and he'll probably find you," he said.
"Or?" I questioned.
"Or," he continued, "find him first, and you'll have the upper hand."
"What about his Watcher," I demanded.
"I'll take care of that," he said mischieviously, "But first, you're going to need something."
"What?" I asked wondering what the old man had in mind.
"Guess," he said, holding out a long, skinny case.
"My own sword?" I guessed.
"Bright boy," he said, "It's a black braided tachi. I picked it up in Japan."
"Thanks," I said.
"I wasn't using it." Methos shrugged. "Now let's see if we can find your new friend." He got out his lap-top, and accessed the Watcher data base. "Ah, here we are...Fredreich Keiser. Born in 1890 in Germany...soldire in both world wars...came to the U.S. in 1975 and started a cult of skin heads (I'm paraphrasing, of course)...current residence," he smiled, "Hilton Hotel, in this very city."
"Can I beat him?" I asked- the question of the day.
"I think so. As long as you don't get sloppy. You've been training for over 3 months, under three teachers, one of them the somewhat famous Methos," he smiled.

I worked out extra hard with Mac and Richie that day, though I didn't tell them why. I think MacLeod suspected something when I asked him to teach me trick moves. He didn't say anything if he did, though.
Cassandra dropped in at the dojo, and motioned for me.
"Good luck," she whispered.
"How do you know?!" I exclaimed.
She simplt shrugged. She kissed me on the cheek, then went upstairs to wait for Duncan.
"A little too old for you, Gavin," I reminded myself.
I went to my research job a bit preoccupied. Methos was there, but we couldn't talk about what was bothering me. Not there.
After work, I wnet to the Hilton. I sensed Keiser as he came out of the front entrance. I waited until he saw me, then walked to a secluded alley.
"Decided to take up my offer, boy?" he snidely questioned, revealing his sword.
"Unless you want those beers," I said drawing my own sword. "I am Gavin Scott."
I sure hoped Methos had taked care of Fredreich's Watcher then.
"En Guarde, you fool," I said, imitating Richie. During the fight I thought of everything Duncan, Richie, and Methos had taught me, combining it to form a style uniquely my own. The battle lasted at least half an hour; we were pretty evenly matched. Then, Keiser dropped his guard, and I ran him through."
"There can be only one," I said. I removed my sword, lifting it above my head, and brought it down in one swift, decapitating, stroke.
Methos had told me about the quickening, but you don't know what it is until you actually experience it. It was amazing; a mixture of pain and pleasure. While it gives you your opponents knowledge and energy, it exhausts you completely. I lifted my arms in the ait,
Accept it
bringing my sword above, it becoming a conduit for the electricity surging in the air.
Release
I droppped to my knees, planting the sword in the ground to give me balance.
I had taken my first head.

When I got home, Methos wasn't there yet. I stayed awake until he came back. He smiled when he saw me alive.
"Now," he said, "you are ready to go out on your own. And, I get my house back."
I decided to head to Europe- see the world, but that's another story. In case you're wondering how Methos deviated Keiser's watcher, I asked him. "She owed me a favor," he said.