Reina was never convinced in the virtuousness of patience. When she wanted something done she wanted it done now. Unfortunately the rest of the world never seemed to be in line with her personal time table. This time was no exception.
The plane she was waiting for was over an hour and a half late. Reynaldo had not come back to meet her. He wasn't answering the any of his phones. It doesn't take two hours to take someone's head. Where the hell is he? Reina said to herself irritably as she checked her watch for what felt like the millionth time. You'll know. Reina rolled her eyes irritably. Damn Reynaldo and his blasted surprises. He knows I can't stand surprises.
Richie Ryan chatted excitedly as he and Duncan MacLeod disembarked from the plane. He was looking forward to being in New York. In addition he was also excited about seeing Reina again. This will be the first time he'll see her in three years. He was looking forward to hanging out with someone his own age. Being around older immortals most of the time made him feel like a perpetual kid. He hated always being lectured to and he hated the "I told you so's" that often came with being wrong. Sometimes he wished that Mac and the others would treat him like the full grown adult that a mortal would. At least he knew that Reina, being a mere two years older than he and mortal would do that. There was no chance of being subject to centuries of conventional wisdom with someone who was your contemporary.
MacLeod smiled to himself as he watched his student and friend. He hoped this trip would be a chance to reestablish the bonds that had been broken when he had tried to take Richie's head under the influence of a dark quickening. He knew that it would take awhile for things to get back to the way they were before and he hoped that the change of venue would help.
"So, Mac," Richie said after failing to charm a phone number from a married flight attendant. "How long have you and Reynaldo been friends?"
"About 140 years," MacLeod said thoughtfully.
Richie stopped abruptly as he sensed another immortal. "I hope that's your friend," he said. "An airport would be a bad place for you know," he made swishing motions with his hands.
MacLeod quickly scanned the crowd looking for the mystery immortal. The two men left the gate and very quickly saw the immortal in question. Richie's mouth dropped in surprise as he realized who it was.
"I didn't know she was immortal," he said.
"Not all of us can tell before the first death," MacLeod said.
"You knew. The same way you knew about me."
"Yeah. It's something you get better at when you've been around awhile.
Reina stopped in mid pace as she felt the presence of another immortal. She turned hoping the immortal in question was Reynaldo. Reina's eyes widened in surprise when she saw who it was.
"Duncan!" She said as she ran up to the older immortal and hugged him. "I had no idea you were coming to New York. What brings you here?"
"Reynaldo invited us to the east coast for the weekend."
"So you're the mystery guests," Reina said. "Reynaldo just said we had guests. He said it was a surprise. That's so typical of him."
"Reynaldo likes to surprise people," MacLeod said grinning.
Reina kissed MacLeod on the cheek before turning to Richie. "Well it's nice seeing you again Richie."
"Same here." Richie said.
"Not that I'm not glad to see you Reina," MacLeod said. "But where's Reynaldo?"
"One of you will not be so glad when we get to my car," Reina said sheepishly. "My car isn't very big. I wouldn't even ride in the back seat of it."
"What are you driving?" Richie asked.
Reina shrugged. "A Saturn."
Richie groaned. "You're right. I'm not so glad."
MacLeod raised an eyebrow at Richie.
"Like you were going to sit in the back seat," Richie said.
"Good point," MacLeod grinned.
"We were supposed to come out in Reynaldo's car which is much bigger," Reina explained. "But an –unexpected visitor showed up as we were leaving. He sent me to pick you up by myself. Without telling me a thing I might add."
"I'm sure he'll be all right," MacLeod told her.
"Your plane is over an hour and a half late Duncan," Reina informed him. "I've been here for nearly two."
"He has survived sword fights before."
"I know," Reina replied. "But how many of them were with known cheats."
Richie raised an eyebrow at MacLeod. MacLeod suddenly looked worried.
"Did you check anything?"
"No," Richie answered.
"Then we can skip through the unpleasantness of the baggage carousel," Reina said. "Come on. Your chariot awaits."
The trip back to Brooklyn took longer than expected. There was an accident on the Belt and as usual, everyone had to stop and stare. The rubberneckers were always worse than any accident on the road. Then there were the drivers who refused to leave the closed lane until the last possible second. They always expected someone to let them in. Usually they would just force the issue by squeezing in. Reina was biting her lip trying not to respond to the inconsiderate drivers around her. That is until a driver who had passed her a couple of moments earlier tried to cut in front of her.
"That does it," Reina rolled the window down. "Hey, asshole! In which 99-cent store did you buy your license? Are you illiterate as well as stupid?!" She shouted out the window.
Richie laughed. It was refreshing to find someone with a mouth as smart as his.
"That's not helping," Duncan told him. "Haven't you heard of road rage?" He asked the driver.
Reina shrugged indifferently. "Sure I have. Don't worry. That's just an urban legend."
"That's not what I hear on the news."
"I wouldn't believe everything I hear on the news."
MacLeod turned his attention ahead of him. What was the worse that could happen? Someone could get shot. That wasn't likely. The sound of buttons being pushed caused MacLeod to turn his attention to the New York driver in the driver's seat.
"What's wrong?" He asked her.
"There's still no answer at Reynaldo's," Reina said, scowling.
"Maybe he went to the store," Richie suggested.
"No," Reina told him. "Reynaldo already went to the store. He's really anal about stuff like that. Besides, Reynaldo wouldn't leave me to greet people at the airport without knowing who they were the way he did unless something was wrong."
"I'm sure everything's fine," MacLeod said.
"It doesn't take two hours to take someone's head!" Reina snapped.
"You said it yourself Reina," Duncan said. "The person Reynaldo's fighting is a cheat. I'm sure Reynaldo's taking extra precautions. He could be hiding from the police because someone saw something they shouldn't have. There are a lot of reasons why you can't get in touch with Reynaldo."
"I'd like to believe that."
So would I. MacLeod thought.
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