Chapter Twenty-two Caitlin plumped up the pillows piled against the headboard before leaning back and reaching for the book on the nightstand. Laying it across her lap, she raised her knees and stared at the familiar symbol on the cover. She'd been tossing and turning for several hours, when she finally threw back the covers in frustration and retrieved the reason why she couldn't sleep.*The journal.*Sitting up a little straighter, she removed the envelope of photographs tucked inside, and laid them on the bed beside her. Still somewhat reluctant to find out exactly what she was delving into, she began to slowly read her father's handwritten account of events he'd witnessed in the life of Duncan MacLeod, Immortal. Immortal, that was impossible. She found it especially hard to comprehend the concept of anyone being immortal, especially Duncan. He was so- normal. What exactly did it mean? What was so different about his genetic makeup that made him so unique. As she read, she was drawn into his world and discovered the kind of life he led. Having to fight others of his kind in order to survive. Quickenings, beheadings, sword fights, a world so bizarre, if it wasn't written in her father's own handwriting, she would have suspected she was reading the ravings of a complete lunatic. How could all of this have been happening for so many years without more people finding out about it. This strange dual world, where two groups of people co-existed. One group completely unaware the other was observing them. Picking up the envelope of pictures and dumping them out on the bed, she sorted through the photographs as she read the more detailed descriptions in the journal. She learned the blonde woman's name was Tessa Noel and the youngman, Richie Ryan. The three of them formed a family of sorts. Reading the story behind each picture, she saw them differently and with a new understanding. Now, at least she knew why Duncan had had to kill Caleb Cole, and why Tessa looked so mesmerized as she watched him endure what her father called a "Quickening" for the first time. From the words her father used to describe her and her devotion to Duncan, and their relationship, she must be very special woman. Her father obviously had great affection and respect for both of them. Evidently she and Duncan had been together for many years had made their unique situation work. She wondered why they never married or had children, and what happened to her. Her last question was soon answered. Tears came to her eyes, as she read her father's moving description of the circumstances that lead to Tessa's tragic death and Richie's rebirth as an Immortal. It all seemed so brutal, and such a terrible waste. She felt heartsick as she remembered the horrible things she had said to Duncan, and how much she must have hurt him when she accused him of killing Tessa. No wonder his eyes were filled with such a mixture of anger and pain when he turned to glare at her as he denied her charges. "I'm so sorry, I wouldn't listen Duncan, I just didn't know." She murmured. The man her father described as he struggled to deal with his grief and tried to build a new life for himself and Richie without her, was the man she knew. The sensitive, caring man she fell in love with. He was not the cold blooded killer she had accused him of being. Her regard for Duncan's strength of character and his humanity was renewed by her father's stirring endorsement. His almost fatherly relationship with Richie, filled her with both optimism and curiosity. It was clear Duncan cared deeply about the youngman and did his best to give him the skills he would need to survive. She wondered where he was now and what he was doing. As she continued to read, she noticed many of the entries were just her father's observations about the normal comings and goings from the island until the last entry about a fight between Duncan and an Immortal named Michael Christian with a questionable reputation. While leaving the cabin for a meeting in the city, her father had came upon the battle by accident, already in progress. His contempt for Christian and his lack of scruples for attacking an unarmed man filled every sentence as he described the uneven duel. His feeling of pride as he watched Duncan outwit the ambusher and win, was obvious. Closing her father's journal, Caitlin realized it explained many of his sudden trips out of town at all hours of the day and night, that had sent her mother into a frenzy. It was clear he had more admiration and fondness for the Immortal Scotsman than he had ever expressed for her ex-husband, Brad. Looking up, Caitlin thought sadly. Dad, you're probably up there right now looking down and shaking your head at the irony. I fell in love with the very man you obviously preferred over your own son-in-law. Too bad I was such a fool. There were still many things she didn't quite understand and found hard to comprehend, about this strange parallel world, but there was one thing she knew for certain. She had misjudged Duncan MacLeod miserably and probably had thrown away any chance to tell him how sorry she was and that she realized now how much she loved him. Because of her fear and stubbornness, she had driven him away with her cruel accusations and her refusal to see him or hear him out even after he had told her he still loved her. Now he was gone, and she had only herself to blame.