Rememberances
part 2
Old Friends, New Faces
By Pat
He was about to pour the eggs in the pan when he froze. There it was…that sensation that surrounded him; filled his very being…he wasn’t alone. There was another immortal near by. Setting the bowl down and turning off the stove, he reached for the sword that he always kept near at hand. Was this going to be a friend or someone looking for his head? In the years since being reborn into his life as an immortal, he had faced challenges from others of his kind, and while every fiber of his being hated to kill, he had done what needed to be done in order to survive. And Luka wanted to live. He grasped the sword tighter as he heard the knock on the door.
Taking a deep breath, he cautiously approached the closed door. Then he heard a familiar voice, “Luka? Its MacLeod.”
Throwing open the door, he exclaimed, “Duncan! What are you doing standing out there? Come on in!” Luka was overjoyed at seeing his old friend again. Every time the two friends parted, it was always with the knowledge they might never see each other again. That was part of the cost of their immortality.
Stepping through the doorway, Duncan raised an eyebrow at the sword in Luka’s hand. “I hope that isn’t for me.” He quipped sardonically.
“Nope,” Luka laughed, “just remembering some hard learned lessons taught by my cranky old teacher.”
“Good to see something got through that thick head of yours.” Duncan laughed. “It is good to see you again, Luka.”
“Well, come on in and sit down,” Luka offered, “I’m just fixing breakfast. How about some coffee to start with?”
“Coffee sounds good. But you go ahead and eat, I didn’t mean to interrupt your meal.”
Luka poured two cups of coffee, placing one in front of MacLeod. “Don’t worry about it and you have to eat…I’ve done what I always do, made way too much food for one person!” Luka quickly finished the eggs, spooning them on to plates along with bacon and toast.
Conversation was stilled for a few minutes as both men concentrated on breakfast. “This is good, Luka. When did you learn to cook?” MacLeod queried, as he finished his eggs and reached for his coffee.
“When I got tired of living on take-out food and Melanie decided it was time I learned to care for myself.” Luka replied. He took a sip of coffee. “So Duncan, what have you been up to? Did you just get into town? Where have you been traveling this time?”
“Not too much. Yes, just arrived from Paris this morning.” Luka heard the strange tone in Duncan’s voice at the mention of Paris. He glanced at the calendar on the wall. He knew now where MacLeod had been and why. He had been so wrapped up with Melanie and David he hadn’t noted the date. He should have been expecting this visit from Duncan.
“Why do you do this to yourself, Duncan?” Luka asked softly. “You know it won’t bring her back. Why keep torturing yourself this way?”
“Maybe for the same reason you go back to Vukovar.”
“No,” Luka shook his head, “I went back there once. I had to say good-bye. You know how long it took me to be able to do that and how hard it was to say those words. You need to listen to your own advice and do the same, Duncan.”
MacLeod knew exactly how hard that had been for his friend. Luka had asked him to accompany him to Vukovar and he had done so. He had stood there with Luka in front of the three graves, supporting him as the tears streamed down Luka’s face as he worked through his grief, then acceptance, and finally the strength to say farewell to his family.
“I’ve said my good-byes, Luka.” Duncan answered. “Tessa gave me 12 years of her love and care. All I’m doing is giving her one day a year out of my life to honor the vow I made to her.” He grew silent then as his thoughts returned to the beautiful woman who had shared his life, his secret, the woman who would have been his wife if only….
“I understand, Duncan.” Luka spoke quietly. “I just want to make sure you are going to be okay.”
“I am.” Duncan replied firmly. Then changing the subject, he questioned, “And just who is this Melanie you mentioned? Last I knew you were still with Abby.” He noted with interest the way Luka’s face lit up at the mention of Melanie’s name.
“Things didn’t work out with Abby. She ended up marrying Carter and before I left Chicago, I heard things weren’t going well there either. But anyway, it was time I got out of Chicago, people were beginning to joke about my having a face lift and dying my hair!”
Duncan nodded. One of the things he had taught Luka was not to stay in one place too long. Eventually people would notice that you never aged, and would ask too many questions.
“There was an opening here at Penrose Hospital, and I always wanted to see the mountains, so I applied and got the job, that’s how I ended up here in Colorado Springs.” Luka explained.
“Okay…but you still haven’t told me about Melanie.” Duncan laughed.
“Hang on, I’m getting to that part!” Luka quipped, as he refilled their coffee cups. “I had some problems with my first paycheck, and so I had to go to Payroll to get it straightened out. I was told to talk to Melanie Lowell. I did. She helped me straighten out my check, we talked, and one thing led to another. We’ve been seeing each other now for about six months. She’s a super person and she’s got a little boy, David, who’s a great kid!”
As he spoke, MacLeod observed his friend. He had never seen Luka as animated and happy. He was obviously in love with this woman. This mortal woman. He hesitated, he didn’t want to diminish Luka’s happiness, but he felt he had to speak.
“Luka, I’m happy for you. Its obvious you care deeply for this woman…”
“I love her, Duncan. I’m going to ask her to marry me.” Luka interrupted.
“I know you love her, Luka, but stop and think a moment. You know the life we lead. Are you prepared to bring her and her son into that world?”
“You were going to marry Tessa, being an immortal didn’t change that for you.” Luka protested.
“I told Tessa the truth about myself before we became lovers. She knew the life she would have to live. The uncertainty, the fact that I could never give her children, all that went with loving an immortal. I gave her the choice. Are you willing to share your secret with Melanie? Will she be able to accept what you are and be a part of it? Will you be able to handle the fact that she’s a mortal, you will have to watch her grow old and die?”
Luka was silent as he contemplated MacLeod’s words. Everything his friend said made sense, but it didn’t change the feelings in his heart.
“I honestly don’t know, MacLeod,” he finally replied. “I just know I Iove this woman with my heart and soul, and I want to spend whatever time we have together. And I know she loves me.”
“Then I wish you both the very best, my friend. Just choose your path carefully, Luka. ” Duncan answered, “She must be quite a woman to have captured your heart so completely. ”
“That she is!” Luka smiled. “And you are going to get to meet her this afternoon. We’ve got a date to take David to the circus, and I won’t take no for answer! You’re coming along!” He knew MacLeod was going to decline, but he wasn’t going to let him. His friend needed some lighthearted diversion and what better than a circus!
“Okay, okay…you don’t have to twist my arm!” Duncan joked. He hadn’t been to the circus for many, many years, might be fun…