Author’s Note: This is for SouthernChickie and foxyladyhubbards who thought that there was more to this story. Hope y’all like it.

The police were waiting for Duncan as he exited the bathroom. The paramedics had let him ride in the ambulance, afraid to let him drive himself, or perhaps afraid to let him out of their sight. Richie had been whisked away as soon as they had arrived at the hospital, leaving Duncan alone and blood-soaked, shaken and afraid. A nurse had taken pity on him, giving him a large pair of hospital scrubs and directing him to the bathroom.

Sergeant Bennett was there, a grim expression on his face. It was obvious that no matter how often Richie had been the thorn in the detective’s side, Bennett realized that the boy hadn’t deserved this, no one did.

It was somehow worse to see the policeman’s horror and pity for Richie, made it more real, emphasizing Duncan’s failure. He was supposed to protect the boy, to guide Richie into a better life, and to teach him when he became immortal. But instead…this had happened…he had failed, how could they recover…God, how was he going to tell Tessa?!

The police officers led him to a different waiting room. They must’ve seen the tears in Duncan’s eyes because they were quiet on the way, giving the immortal time to collect himself.

Duncan had been unwilling to involve the police before, certain that Richie had been taken by an immortal. Now the decision was out of his hands and he didn’t know what to tell them. How could he explain what he had done?

“Mr. MacLeod…” Sergeant Bennett’s voice was softer than normal, almost apologetic in tone. Duncan knew that he was not presenting his normal defiant picture either. He had an overwhelming urge to drop his head into his hands but he didn’t. Duncan waited stoically, his eyes downcast for the detective to continue.

“How long had Mr. Ryan been missing?”

“Four days.” Such a short time for things to have changed so irrevocably.

“Why didn’t you report him missing?”

Duncan scowled. “Would you have done anything?”

Bennett frowned but didn’t respond. “So you went looking for him yourself?”

Duncan only nodded, it was quite obvious exactly what he had done. He only waited, with baited breath. If they arrested him for the murder of those men…he would have to break out, he had to be there for Richie no matter what happened and he didn’t want to have to take the boy on the run.

The sergeant raised himself up to his full height, suddenly somber. “We found videotapes in the warehouse…” He paused then as Duncan gasped and lifted his eyes to the detective’s. The immortal did not even want to imagine what those tapes showed, but he hated the idea of anyone seeing what had happened to Richie.

The policeman continued speaking, “You’re not on the tapes but we know that the men had guns…” There was another pause as Bennett stared into Duncan’s eyes as if he were looking for something, guilt or innocence perhaps. “We’re going to consider your actions self-defense.”

A long sigh escaped the immortal. One less thing to worry about. Duncan stood, wanting to get back to check on the boy. “Thank you.”

“Well, I doubt that there’s a jury in the world that would convict you.” The detective’s voice was haunted and Duncan hurried from the room, not wanting to hear it and know what Sergeant Bennett had seen.

Duncan left the room feeling miserable. He spotted Richie’s doctor across the room and rushed over to the man.

“Dr. Hillman, how is he?! How is Richie?”

The man looked up, surprised at the intrusion but his expression softened as he recognized Duncan.

“He’s still in critical condition, but the surgery went well. We’re moving him to the ICU now.”

“Is he going to be ok?” Duncan persisted.

“We fixed the perforation in Richie’s colon and replaced the blood lost, but we still need to worry about infections, particularly as long as he stays on the respirator.”

“He’s not breathing?! Why is he still on a respirator, how long…?”

“Mr. MacLeod,” the doctor gripped Duncan’s arm to get the Highlander’s attention. “There is nothing to do now but wait.”

Duncan nodded and the doctor dropped his hand before continuing. The man seemed almost embarrassed by his next words. “There will be a psychiatrist available to him as soon as Richie wakes up…and to you.”

Again Duncan just nodded. He didn’t want to think about how the teen would deal with the horror of his ordeal, he was only concentrating on making sure Richie survived.

As the doctor walked away, Duncan knew that he had put off calling Tessa as long as he could. He headed towards the payphones before heading upstairs to the ICU.

The immortal held his breath as the phone rang. Tessa answered on the second ring. Duncan felt awful about leaving her to worry when he head the desperation in her voice.

“Hello?”

“Tessa…it’s me.”

“Duncan! Where are you?! Did you find him, how is he?”

“Yes, I found him. Tessa…,” Duncan didn’t know how to tell her. His throat was tight and tears sprung to his eyes. “Tessa, Richie was raped. We’re at the hospital now.”

He burst into tears then. Duncan had not cried until that moment. Somehow telling Tessa how he had failed Richie, failed them both, was more than he could handle dry-eyed.

“What?! I’m coming there now.” There was a pregnant pause. Tessa was silent for a moment as Duncan choked on the sobs that he couldn’t control, then he heard her voice again. Softly she said, “Duncan, it’s not your fault. I’ll be right there.”