DISCLAIMER: Highlander and its familiar characters are the property of Davis/Panzer Productions; no copyright infringement is intended. Please archive at 7th Dim. Info for archiving: Rating: PG Characters: Various Watchers Summary: In this short-short inspired by the Producers' Cut of Highlander: Endgame, Joe Dawson's shooting of Watcher Matthew Hale may have far-reaching consequences. ************************************************* "Joe Dawson can't be allowed to get away with this!" Arnaud Molari crumpled a computer printout and hurled it across the room, then swiveled his chair-- violently--to face the window. "We've let him break every rule in the book. But killing a fellow Watcher is unforgivable. He actually emptied the damn gun into Matt!" Behind him, Brian Kirk cleared his throat and said, "Uh, it wasn't all Dawson's fault. He didn't know the Tribunal had authorized us to bag Duncan MacLeod and force him into a new Sanctuary. "And it's not like he won't pay. When we finally do take MacLeod, he'll grieve for the rest of his life." The Chairman of the Tribunal spun around and glared at him. He didn't like being reminded that they bore a share of the blame. But the younger Watcher met his gaze without flinching. At last he said grudgingly, "True. And you people are probably right that we shouldn't try another snatch too soon. We'll let Dawson believe you were renegades, and we've decided to drop the Sanctuary altogether. Then when MacLeod disappears, he'll think he was beheaded by some unknown Immortal." "And MacLeod's the *only* one you'll have to take against his will," said the slender man perched on a corner of his desk. Molari shifted uncomfortably. "You don't have to do this. You absolutely don't have to do this." "Yes, I do," the Immortal said softly. "It's personal with MacLeod and me--he'd never tell Dawson, but he's probably hunting me right now. I'll join you in hunting him, and then you can have both of us. "I won't pretend I'm happy about it. I don't want to sleep for all eternity, any more than he does. "But the value of the Sanctuary depends on its having two Immortals in stasis. No more are required. And when you've devoted your whole adult life to an ideal--" Matthew Hale managed a strained smile. "You can't sing a different tune when it hits close to home." (Finis)