* * * Fitz's Flat * * *

As they pull up outside Fitz's apartment building Aremis and Conner both stared in awe at the architecture. The gothic building stood as a foreboding warning to all who thought to trespass. 

"Well here it is my building," Fitz beamed.

 "What do you mean 'your' building, Fitz?" Conner asks bewildered. 

"I thought you knew lad, I own the whole building. Of course its under a different name but who cares" Fitz says with a chuckle. 

"Aremis you are gonna love the second floor," he says with a grin.

 "Why is that?" Aremis asked. 

"Probably because the whole second floor is medieval weaponry. You see I've amassed quite a collection and had to keep track of it all. A place for everything and everything in it's place," Fitz says as he grins and unlocked the door and they entered into what appeared to be a museum. 

"Welcome to my Humble Abode!" Fitz said with a grin. 

With awed expressions Fitz's companions marveled at the antiques of all eras, relics from all around the world. Upon a shelf Conner noticed one of the remaining intact Ming Dynasty vases. Aremis stopped to admire an original Van Gogh. 

"Do you have The Crown Jewels hidden in here somewhere?" jested Conner. 

"Since when did you have time and the money to get all this?" 

"Most of this was given to me by Artos before his death. After he died some of my investors procured it." he replies bluntly. 

"Investors?" Aremis said eying Fitz.

 "All legally I assure you." He defended. "But now , this is what we came here for." 

Fitz lead them up a cast iron staircase, that encircled an abstract modern sculpture. 

"Third floor. Women's wear and lingerie." Fitz chuckled. Conner and Aremis, amused with Fitz, noticed his fancy and proudness with his home. The stairs led them to a well furnished study with an ornate oak desk and magnificent paintings on the walls. 

"Fitz I didn't know the Information business paid this well." Aremis asked with a curious gaze around the room. 

"It doesn't, always. I also own other companies, and Artos left me most everything he owned. After 2,000 years you amass a lot more than you could ever think possible" Fitz explains as he heads toward a display case filled with various guns.

Conner eyes one of the more impressive displays of firepower and couldn't help but let out... "Oooo..."

 "We should take along these," Fitz said picking out three specific guns, standard secret service weapons. "I know this isn't much, but I think hauling in the big guns would attract a little to much attention. 

"Don't you agree?" Conner seemed a bit disappointed, but nodded along with Aremis. 

"A couple of things guys. These are people that I have worked with. I trained with them. Try not to kill too many of them. Good help is so hard to find." Fitz said with a sly grin.

 "No problem at all Fitz. I know where you are coming from." Aremis remarked. 

"Well then off we go lads," Fitz said grabbing some spare clips and heading back down the stairs and out the door.

 

* * * In the back alley of Fitz's building* * *

"Dammit Fitz. We ain't gettin' any younger," Conner snapped. 

"Patience kid, we're not gettin' any older either, but we need to be stopped by the police either." 

As they drive through the street of London the came to where the road had ended and a set of stairs led underground. 

"Looks like you were right, Con. This is the location of one of the safe houses we've used. It hasn't been used in many years, but I guess someone has now." Fitz pulled a half a block ahead, they climbed out and headed toward the underground entrance. 

"I'm shocked that there are no guards out here," Aremis noticed.

 "I don't think they figured we'd find 'em here," Fitz answered.

 "I hope not," Conner added. 

They headed down the stairs and through the maze of tunnels, searching for the maintenance section.

 "I suppose we are just going to knock?" Conner said with a hint of sarcasm. 

"Of course, Conn. What else could we do." Fitz says with a grin. "Just follow my lead." 

"Yeah," Aremis agreed. "Let the professional do it. No offense to you though old man." 

The three crept along the wall. They came upon a door marked 'Maintenance - Authorized Personnel Only. As Conner passed it he scoffed and said, "Authorize this..." He smacked the door.

 Once inside, Fitz followed the hall down to where and rapped on the door. "Who is it?" a voice asked. 

"Pizza delivery," Fitz said with a sly grin He readied his gun and wedged himself in the door. 

"We didn't order any pi-..." The guard inside didn't get a chance to finish his sentence.

 "Hello there," Fitz began, "We're here just to get the girl. So now, don't make any sudden moves and I won't have to let my friends, here, offer you some 'pain compliance', Okay?" Fitz said with an amused grin.

 "Conn, Aremis check the other rooms I will talk, here, with Robert."Okay." the two reply and go off to the other parts of the station.

 "She isn't here" the man with the gun in his forehead says with a hint of fear. 

"What do you mean she's not here Robert?" Fitz asks calmly. "Warren left. Took her someplace. Left about forty-five minutes. He said when Fitz shows, tell him Barnes Woods. He also said you should know where to find him." 

"How did he know we would show? Tell me who else is working for him." Fitz says with an edge on his voice.

 "I don't know. There's just four of us, and we don't know each others names." 

"All right, now get the hell outta here, and don't bother coming in to work Monday at Excalibur, or any other other job." Robert see the the quick flash of fist before the blackness of unconscious.

 

* * *Barnes Wood* * *

As the three race through the streets and highways on the way to Barnes Woods Fitz explained the situation. 

"Okay I hate to say this guys, but Warren is up to something up, and its big. I am not sure how much backup he will have with him. So this is the deal. Conn since Angelic knows you, come up the front and meet Warren. He's an expert swordsman, so be warned. Aremis, you and I shall each come up from different sides and take out his backup men, I don't like having to kill my men, but these guys aren't there to let us walk in there and take her." 

"Okay, Fitz," they both reply.

 

* * *A Small Cabin In A Clearing In Barnes Woods* * *

Warren waits for the his former employer and friends, to get there. 

"So now it shall end. Soon your boyfriend and his friends will be dead, then you." Warren said to Angelic. 

"Don't count on it! Conn, Fitz and Aremis are going make sure you don't ever hurt anyone again," she's says icily. Warren walked up and delivered her a prelude of violence across the face with his hand. 

"Shut up, or I will kill you now," Warren said shaking his gun in her face.

 Stopping the van a few miles from the sight Fitz said. "Conn, just keep going. You should see smoke from a fireplace and a clearing about three miles up. Warren and Angelic are there, good luck kid." Fitz nods and smiles. 

"Thanks, Fitz," Conner closes the door and starts driving. 

"Aremis lets do this. You take the right, and keep going. I will take left," 

"Gotcha," Aremis nodded. They headed their separate ways.

 
A few minutes later Conner pulled up to the clearing and parked the van. He saw Angelic tied up. Taking a deep breath Conner mutters, "Okay lets finish this, you bastard," 

Conner crept out of the van with gun in hand. Out of the shadows behind Angelic, Warren appeared holding a giant broad sword. 

"Ah, Angelic. It is your white knight come to save you," Looking to Conner Warren continued, "I see you have come to die at last. Drop the pistol or I kill her now," 

Warren's words dripped with violence as he put the sword to her throat. "Where's Fitz and Aremis?" 

"They couldn't make it." Conner replied sarcastically. "Just let her go. This is between me and you. She's not part of this."

 "Oh but she is!" Warren said correctingly. "She is just as much a part of it as you are. So is everyone who knows of your profane little secret." Warren paced methodically around Angelic, drawing a circle in the mulch of the forest with his sword. "Your kind parade through time gathering your wealth, collecting your 'prizes'. It ends now."

 

Meanwhile, Aremis and Fitz stalk the backup. That Warren sent into the trees. Silently coming up on them one by one they end their life. 

"God I hate doing this, but this is the only way," Fitz said to himself.

 "Yes it is between us boy," Warren said knocking Angelic out. She fell to the ground.

 Conner yelled and launched himself at Warren, and is blocked a high blow. Warren countered with a flurry of attacks that Conner barely deflected. 

"I was killing Immortals before you were even born, boy." Warren mocked delivering a kick to the gut and that drops Conner to the ground. 

As Conner falls he whipped out a small knife and with an upward motion buried it in Warren's gut. Sending him staggering back, almost losing his grip on his sword. Conner seeing an opening stands and nailed Warren in the face with the butt of his sword. Warren fell over and yelled, "Louis! Nigel! Where are my men!" 

With that Aremis and Fitz walked out of the shadows and replied, "Sorry they can't help you right now , they are a little dead." 

"NO!" Warren stood to resume his attack. Both Conner and Warren bore marks and trails of blood from numerous wounds. Conner traps Warrens blade and reversed it to the ground. 

With a raised eyebrow, Conner replies. "See you later." 

Realizing his final moments Warren wore a look of surprise. Conner completed his swing and the remains of Warren's body falls to the ground. 

There is no bright flash of light. No transfer of power through a brilliant pyrotechnics display. There is only the outpour of emotion.

 "Angelic!" Conner ran to her unconscious form and picked her up. Conner's friends take a step closer to Conner and Angelic. 

Fitz clapped Conner on the back,"Good job Conn. How is Angelic?" 

"I am not sure, she's unconscious," his voice full of frustration, "Lets take her to the hospital, fast."

 

* * * A London Hospital I.C.U. * * *
Conner stepped from the ICU room and came to stand in front of his friends. "The doctor says she will be fine. She just suffered a small concussion. She she be travel worth in a week."

 "Travel?" Aremis said with a bit of curiousness.

 "Yeah, I've decided that Angelic and I should go back to Seattle for a while. With the business of Hunters and all, now angelic being hurt. We need the get away from all this excitement," Conner said with a slight laugh.

 Fitz spoke up, "You know what is best for you. I shall miss your presence.

 "I'm not going away for long. You make it sound like I am dying," Conner's grin grew a smile. "I intend to be around for a long time."

 With that said, Fitz and Aremis exchanged their good-byes and made their way out. Conner turned and went back to Angelic's side. She opened her eyes to meet the caring gaze of her man.

 "Hey," he said in a hushed voice. "Nice to see you among the living again."

 "You too," Angelic shot back.

 "Well don't worry it is all over now. And when you are ship shape we will head back home."

 "Back to your flat?" Angelic questioned.

 "No I mean... HOME. Seattle," Conner leaned in and gently kissed her forehead. The both smiled knowing that they were once again safe, and soon to be back in familiar surrounding.

 The lights were being dimmed in the hall for the night. An orderly pushed a linen cart past the ICU room. Stopping momentarily in front of Angelic's room. Taking note of Conner's presence and then went on about his 'business'.

 

FIN
 Copyright November 1996 by C. Scott Rodgers & J. Dick. All rights reserved.