From: martin@abacus.mc.duke.edu (Michele Martin)
Message-Id: <9503272101.AA13858@abacus.mc.duke.edu>
Subject: XOVER:The Witness pt10
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 15:48:04 -0500 (EST)

scene 11c
Infirmary
10:25pm
  "How are you feeling?" asked Nat as she led Scott over to the 
infirmary.  The thought that he'd been attacked by a vampire...and had 
apparantly _overcome_ an attack by a vampire...didn't do a thing to ease 
her tension about the night's events.  She began to wonder if anything else 
could go wrong, but stopped herself for fear that something else would 
just to spite her.  It was one of those nights.  She instead wondered how 
much Paul and Scott had surmised about who had attacked them.  The way 
Paul had been looking at Nick..it was almost as if he _knew_.  But how 
could he?  And how in the world had he been able to take out a 
vampire...if that's who or what had attacked them.  And looking at the 
injuries on Scott's neck, she couldn't come up with any other 
explanation.  She didn't even want to speculate on why a vampire would 
attack their witness.
  "Um, I'm feeling a bit tired, honestly...probably too much excitement 
for one night.  And my neck feels a little numb.  Fortunately he wasn't 
able to do too much damage before Dad got to him...at least, I hope not.  
Am I going to be okay?"  Scott asked, beginning to sound a little bit uneasy.
  "Ah, have you had your tetanus shot?" She asked as she bent to try and 
clean the wound.  Scott didn't move when the alcohol pad swabbed his 
neck, which indicated to her that the region had really gone numb.  *As 
if a tetanus shot would really help*.
  "Yeah.  But I don't think that's really going to help in this 
particular instance is it?"
  "Um, I'm not sure what you mean by that..." Nat hedged.  *How much does 
he know?*  She picked up a bandage and covered the wounded area.  It was 
all she really could do at this point.  "There, all done."
  Scott turned to face her, and the look in his eyes said he was trying 
to determine something...like whether or not she was being honest with 
him.  And how much she knew.  Then he asked, "You don't think I'm going 
to end up on the all liquid diet plan, do you?"
  Nat was taken aback by that question, and it obviously showed.  Scott 
nodded and said, "Thought so.  You know about Detective Knight, don't you?"
  "Know what about Detective Knight?"  she replied, feigning innocence.  
She didn't think she was fooling him.  *But what I want to know is how 
_you_ know.  I gotta talk to Nick...if these people suspect, we could be 
in alot of trouble.  And if certain other parties find out they suspect....*
  Scott just shrugged, having come to his own conclusions about the 
matter.  He stood up and rubbed his eyes.  "Now I'm really ready for a 
good night's sleep.  Thanks for your help, doctor.  I hope no one is 
going to object to me going home..."
  "Actually, I think the detectives'll want your help on one other 
matter.  They just apprehended a suspect who matches the composite.  They 
may want you to identify him," she replied, returning to professional 
mode.  She had the suspicion she wasn't going to get too much out of him 
if she pressed, and didn't want to give away any more than she had 
already.  Not until she could talk with Nick and find out what he'd learn 
from Scott's father.
  "Figures.  Well, might as well get everything over with now.  Dad'll 
probably be back in the lobby.  I might as well go tell him that I'm 
needed again.  Mom's probably climbing the walls wondering where we're 
at.  Thanks again," with that, he made his way back towards the lobby.  
Nat followed, hoping to catch Nick.  She was disappointed, however.  Paul 
met them in the hall and informed them that Nick had taken the attacker 
to a 'safe place'.  Most likely the Raven.
  "He asked me to tell the FBI agents and Schanke that he'd be back 
shortly," Paul concluded. "Perhaps you could pass the message on for me? 
I think Scott and I would like to get home now..."
  "Actually, it looks like I'm going to be here a while longer.  Seems 
they caught that guy I saw tonight...the one with the sword?  They'll 
probably want me to identify him so they can be sure.  I think I want to 
get it all over with since I'm already here," Scott interrupted.
  "Are you sure you're up to it?  You look a little tired," Paul said, 
sounding very concerned.  "Doctor Lambert, do you think he's going to be 
alright?"  The look in his eyes said he knew Nat was aware of the exact 
nature of Scott's injury...and that it was very important to him to know 
the truth.  Nat wished she had a definite answer.
  "Too be honest, I don't really know.  If there's any problem, let me or 
Nick know right away.  Other than being tired, Scott seems to be fine."
  Paul nodded.  "Then I guess we'd better let the others know that 
Detective Knight will be delayed and find out how soon they'll need Scott 
to identify the suspect."  The trio then made their way toward the desk 
where Mulder was interviewing Duncan MacLeod.

  The interview was not, in Mulder's mind, going very well.  MacLeod was, 
to put it mildly, less than helpful.  It was more than a bit frustrating, 
since Mulder felt they were very near a breakthrough and he was sure 
MacLeod was somehow tied into everything.  It was just too convenient 
that this apparant close friend of a man suspected in the Toronto and 
1985 New York beheadings was from Seattle, where similar incidents had 
taken place in the last three years.  But MacLeod managed to answer all 
Mulder's questions without actually telling him anything.  He was 
obviously hiding something--the psychologist in Mulder sensed that right 
off--but he was also very good at hiding it.  And Mulder didn't really 
have anything to hold him on.  MacLeod seemed to know that, which made it 
all the more frustrating.  Of course, Mulder had another motive for 
wanting to solve this case ASAP.  Somewhere in Toronto was a man 
suspected of being an extraterrestrial...and Mulder wanted to find him.  
Before someone else did.
  "Look Agent Mulder, I've answered all your questions.  I don't 
recognize any of those people you showed me pictures of, I don't know 
anything about beheadings, and I don't know why you're keeping me here. I 
told you, I run a dojo, and I'm a collector of antiques.  That's all.  I 
know Robert from my interest in antiques," MacLeod was saying.
  Mulder took a swallow from the cup of coffee he'd requested a few 
minutes ago.  Not that he really needed the caffeine to stay awake, but 
it gave him time to think. "Mr. MacLeod, I know you're hiding something.  
I don't know what it is, but I intend to find out."
  "Are you going to arrest me?  Because if you're not, there's really no 
reason for me to stay here."
  "True, but do you really want me to keep calling your hotel and 
pestering you?  Because I have no qualms about..."
  "Agent Mulder?" a voice said behind him. He recognized it as Scott's.  
  "Are you okay?" Mulder asked.  "I hope you got a good look at who 
attacked you."
  "I'm fine.  My dad gave a description of the attacker to Detective 
Knight, who's looking into now.  He said he'd be back as soon as possible.  
Dr. Lambert said you might need me to identify someone?"  
  Mulder nodded.  "Let me finish up here and I'll see if Schanke and 
Scully can get the lineup set up.  Listen, did your assailant say 
anything, do anything that might indicate why he attacked you?"
  "Well, I wasn't paying that much attention.  Maybe Dad can help you 
out.  Hey Dad!"
  Mulder took another sip from his coffee cup as he turned in the 
direction Scott had called out to.  He saw Dr. Lambert talking to a man 
over by the Captain's office.  As Scott called, the man looked up.  
Mulder got a good look at him and nearly choked on his coffee.  *Oh my 
God!  That's...him.  That's the alien!  Paul _Edward_ Forrester.  And 
that means that Scott 'Edwards' is Scott Hayden.  They're here.  Right 
under my nose!*

  Duncan was annoyed.  Law enforcement officials asking questions always 
seemd to affect him that way.  Usually because they always asked him 
things when it was horribly inconvenient.  Right now, he _really_ wanted 
to find out who...or more precisely, what...Detective Knight was.  
Because he should NOT have been there...not if he was the same man Duncan 
had met in 1863.  Unfortunately, instead of being able to talk to Knight, 
he was stuck answering this FBI agent's questions.  He used his best 
'polite but evasive' approach, hoping to stall long enough for Knight to 
get back from whatever had called him away.  Now, listening to Mulder's 
conversation with the young man called 'Scott', Duncan became concerned.  
It appeared that this Scott had witnessed Connor's beheading of Stayde.  
And that spelled bad news for Connor.  Not only that, but someone had 
attacked him--and it probably had something to do with Scott's going to 
the police with what he saw. Which meant that either another Immortal or 
a Watcher was involved.  And that spelled bad news for alot of people.  
Duncan was also worried about Anne...or more precisely, about Anne 
finding out what was going on before he had a chance to explain.  Natalie 
was probably going to spill the whole story unless he found someway to 
step in and salvage what he could from the situation.  If he could just 
get away from this agent...
  "...Hey Dad!" Scott called across the room.
  Duncan noticed the man talking to Natalie across the room who responded 
to Scott's call.  Agent Mulder did as well, and Duncan saw him almost 
choke.  Interesting.  Scott's father approached the desk as the FBI 
agent recovered his composure. 
  "Ah, Agent Mulder, this is my father Paul Edwards," Scott said, as Paul 
reached out to shake Mulder's hand.  Paul's eyes than shifted to Duncan, 
apparantly expecting some sort of introduction. *Sure, why not. After 
all, he and his kid just took the 'heat' off me.  Besides, it'll probably 
annoy Mulder.*  With that thought, he reached across to shake Paul's hand.
  "I'm Duncan MacLeod," he said.  Paul smiled at first, but then an odd 
look crossed his face as he took Duncan's hand.  Duncan didn't know what 
to make of that.  He did note, however, that Mulder looked mildly 
annoyed. Good.
  "Ah, Mr. MacLeod was just answering some questions. He's an 
_acquaintance_ of our suspect," Mulder filled in.
  "Do you cut off people's heads, too?" asked Paul.  
  Duncan sighed.  "As I was just telling Agent Mulder, I don't know 
anything about what's going on here."  Which was partly true...he didn't 
know too much about Stayde's motives, after all.  Mulder shot him a 
look.  Then said, "Mr. MacLeod, if you'll excuse us... But don't leave.  
I may want to ask you some more questions.  And I'm pretty sure the 
detectives will as well."
  Duncan was tempted to just leave, knowing there really wasn't much 
Mulder could do to him short of arresting him.  And he didn't have the 
evidence to do so.  But he really wanted to talk to Knight. And Natalie.  
So he nodded as he rose from his seat.  He decided he'd best start with 
talking to Natalie.  As he made his way over to where she stood, he caught 
more of the conversation behind him.
  "So, ah, Mr. Edwards.  Is there anything you noticed about the 
assailant that would be of any help to us?  Anything to connect him to 
this case?"
  "Actually, he did say something about Scott's witnessing 'the Game'.  
Does that mean anything?  And I also noticed that he had a tatoo on his 
wrist."
  It may not have meant anything to Agent Mulder, but it sure did to 
Duncan.  It confirmed his suspicions.  A Watcher had attacked Scott.  But 
why?  As Mulder requested a drawing of the tatoo, Duncan arrived next to 
Nat.  She was apparantly lost in thought and didn't see him approach.
  "Natalie?  Can we talk?"
  She looked at him, distantly at first, then seemed to focus in on him.
"Duncan?  Ah, yeah.  I guess so..."
  "I just want you to know I'm sorry this had to happen.  I really don't 
know anything about what's going on with Robert.  And I hope you don't 
think..."
  Natalie sighed, "Frankly, I don't know what to think.  I'll be 
blunt--you seem to be a pretty nice guy, but so did Robert... So I don't 
know whether or not to believe you.  I hope you're not pulling any crap 
on Anne, because if you are...."
  "Believe me, I would never do anything to hurt Anne.  And I really am a 
decent guy.  I know this looks bad, but really it's all a 
misunderstanding." He didn't know if she believed him, but it was the 
best he could do.  And at the moment, he felt a pressing need to call Joe 
Dawson.  To find out why a Watcher would be trying to kill the witness.