Five Times Duncan MacLeod Learned Something From Ellen Harvelle - HL/SPN
Title:Five times Duncan MacLeod Learned Something From Ellen Harvelle
Author: strangevisitor7
Beta: idontlikegravy and pen37
Written for: spn_twisted 5 things prompt
Prompt: #56 Breakfast for crossovers100
Character: Duncan MacLeod and Ellen Harvelle
Summary: Ellen and Duncan have know each other along time. Here are 5 glimpses into that friendship.
A/N: The is a side-story in the Immortal!Dean Universe.
5 Times Duncan MacLeod Learned Something From Ellen Harvelle
The Rescue
The first time Duncan saw Ellen, she was seventeen and chained to a pipe in a dirty, abandoned warehouse. It was the summer of 1977 and Duncan had gotten wind of a rogue Immortal. He usually didn’t chase after Immortals preferring to let the fight come to him.
But this guy had crossed the line, taking Immortal heads wasn’t enough. The mystery Immortal had started taking the heads of young girls in between Immortal duels. The police thought they were chasing a serial killer. They weren’t wrong but Duncan knew he needed to find him first.
Duncan had tracked the pattern of kills to a small town in Nebraska. As he wandered around the industrial district of abandoned warehouses, he finally felt the Buzz he’d been chasing.
***************************
Ellen swam toward consciousness. Her first thought was that her wrists hurt and it took her a moment to grasp why. She came fully awake and yanked on her hands. She was handcuffed to a pipe.
Worried, she realized she had no memory of where she was or how she had gotten here. The last thing she remembered was the crappy hotel room where she had stayed waiting for her father and brother to return from their reconnaissance of the area and then…nothing.
She stood shakily; carefully sliding her bound wrists up the pipe. She was in a warehouse. She could just make out the figure of a man watching her from the shadows. It had to be the thing her family was chasing. It had a penchant for teenage girls. She didn’t need any more evidence to conclude that she was likely to be its next victim.
She grimaced; her family had no idea where she was. Still, Ellen wasn’t one to give up easily. If she could get it to undo the handcuffs then she could get away. Her father’s words kept running through her mind.
“Never show fear, stay calm. There’s always a way out if you don’t lose your head.”
Except that beheading was this creature’s preferred that method of killing. She allowed her self a quiet laugh at the irony.
She waited. When the figure moved no closer, she called out. “What are you? Who are you?”
It stepped out of the shadows and into the pool of light coming through the high windows above her. A man? Well, it looked like a man. Could her dad have been wrong? Was he simply a serial killer? But that didn’t explain the electrical storms that accompanied several of the killings.
It ignored her questions. “You were following me.” He said simply. “I can’t allow you to take my Quickening.”
Quickening? What the hell was that? . She wondered. Sounding braver than she felt, she stated angrily. “You better let me go. My dad will be here any minute and he’s gonna do more than take your quickening.” No fear, no fear. She thought but she could feel her knees buckling. In a way she was grateful for the pipe. She clung to it, steadying herself.
The creature laughed. “I don’t think so.” He moved a few steps closer.
Ellen stared into his eyes and blanched. Even at seventeen, Ellen recognized crazy when she saw it. “What are you?” She demanded again.
He made as if to speak and then paused. His gaze drifted away from hers. After a moment he shifted it back to her; his anger pieced right through her. “It seems you may have a savior after all.”
Confused, Ellen scanned the empty warehouse. Tentatively she called out into the darkened cavern, “Hello. Anybody there? The crazy man has me tied up.” No answer.
Her heart was pounding and time seemed to stand still. She watched as her captor drew a sword and positioned himself facing away from her.
Moments later another man stepped into the light. He also had a sword. He was tall and wearing a long tan overcoat. Dark hair, dark eyes. Ellen stared at him; he was gorgeous and he was here to save her.
“I’m Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod.” He stated.
Her captor laughed. “So dramatic MacLeod. I’ve heard of you. I am Jackson Kern and I am the instrument of your final death.” He flourished his sword and stood ready to meet the newcomer.
“Let the girl go first.” Duncan commanded. “Then we can finish this in private as it is meant to be.”
“I don’t think so. She’s mine. You want to free her; you go through me.” Kern responded.
“Then I will.” He declared
Ellen watched as her savior shed his coat and took up a ready position. Suddenly, Kern charged and the sound of their swords meeting rang throughout the cavernous warehouse.
The two men danced in and out of the light. Swords ringing like bells. Ellen couldn’t tell who was winning.
She watched as Kern sliced across Duncan’s left shoulder and it began dripping blood. But his triumph was short lived as Duncan twirled and speared him through his stomach, driving him to his knees. Kicking away Kern’s sword, Duncan raised his blade.
He hesitated as he met Ellen’s eyes. She saw he was worried about what she was about to witness. “Do it.” She commanded.
Duncan nodded and with a downward slash, separated Kern’s head from his body. Then the lightening came. It lashed out, busting windows and exploding around Duncan. Arms spread wide, he screamed as the lightening attacked his body and he was driven to the ground by the force of it. Instead of burning him, Ellen saw that his body absorbed the power.
Just when she thought she might be saved. Ellen grew fearful again. Was Duncan the same as Kern? Had she simply traded one captor for another?
Frantically, she tried yanking at the pipe but it was unmoving. When it had grown quiet, she turned back to face the winner of the duel.
*******************
Duncan regained his feet and tried to shake off the fogginess that always accompanied the Quickening.
He looked over at the young girl chained to the pipe. He could see the fear in her eyes. Quickly, he dropped his sword and spread his arms wide.
“I’m here to help you.” He tried to sound reassuring. He watched as she straightened her shoulders and glared at him.
“Prove it.” She demanded and rattled her cuffs.
He smiled at her bravado and knelt down to search Kern’s body for the key. Finding it, he held it aloft as he stood and approached her. “My name is Duncan. What’s yours?”
“Ellen.” She said softly. “Thank you…for rescuing me.”
Duncan released the cuffs and dropped them to the ground. “Nice to meet you Ellen.” He said cheerily. He hoped she might be too shocked by what she’d seen to ask the difficult questions.
She rubbed her wrists. Then she reached out to finger the hole in his sleeve. “You were hurt and now it’s healed.” She observed.
Duncan grabbed her wrist to stop its exploration. “It’s nothing. Barely a scratch.” He insisted. He could see she didn’t believe him.
She pulled her wrist free and stepped back from him. “What are you? What was he?” She demanded.
Duncan was impressed. She’d witness something unusual and yet didn’t seem that distressed by it as he would have expected from the typical teenage girl. “I don’t know what you mean.” He said evading her questions. “I’m just a guy and he was obviously a sick bastard who kidnapped young girls.”
Ellen shook her head. “I know that tone. Placate the civilians; give them a plausible explanation which they gratefully accept and beat a hasty retreat. You’re a hunter aren’t you but also something more?” She asserted.
Now it was Duncan with the confused look on his face. He didn’t know what to say. “A hunter.” He parroted. What had she meant by that?
Ellen stood there hands on hips, anger cascaded out from her. “You’re just a hunter?” She sneered. “Fine, don’t tell me. But I need to know: What. Is. He?” She punctuated each word as she pointed to the corpse.
She’d misunderstood but he didn’t try to correct her. Duncan swallowed. The truth seemed to be the best option, if he wanted to know what she’d meant by hunter. “He was…an Immortal. Beheading is the only way to really kill him.”
“Huh.” Ellen grunted and absorbed this piece of information. “My dad thought he might be a Demon or some sort of demi-God. Which I guess is a type of Immortal?” She mused.
“Trust me he’s no God. Immortals just are humans with great healing abilities.”
She looked at him critically. Her eyes flicked to the non-wound on his shoulder. “You’re an Immortal too. But you’re a good one, aren’t you? You hunt down the ones like him”
Smiling, Duncan nodded. “I never thought of it as hunting but yes.”
Ellen smiled. “That’s what we in the community call it. Dad mostly hunts ghost and spirits but every once in a while we come up against something more. Being Immortal would be a great asset on a hunt.”
This girl was something. Duncan snickered. “Ghost, Demons. You believe they’re real.”
Ellen laughed. “Of course they’re real. Everything supernatural is real. I have to tell my dad all about Immortals.” She was getting excited. “You should hunt with us. We can tell you all about the other stuff that’s out there.”
Duncan shook his head. “Ellen, I need you to promise me that you won’t tell anyone about me. Not even your dad.”
***********************************
“But…they should know. Hunters should know.” She insisted. She didn’t like the idea of lying to her dad
“Ellen please, most people won’t be so accepting like you.”
She was about to insist he was wrong when she remembered that some hunters wouldn’t care if he were good. He was more than human and that was enough in their minds to hunt him down. Nodding she promised.
“I won’t tell anyone. But, you have to tell me everything about Immortals.”
Duncan laughed, “Of course. And you have to tell me all about hunting. But first don’t you think we should call your dad and let him know your okay.”
Ellen smacked her head, “Holy crap. He’s probably going crazy. How can we explain why you were here?”
“Easy enough; use your original story. I am a hunter and I was tracking the same creature who turned out to be just a guy.” He winked.
“Just a guy, right.” Ellen winked back. “Hey, maybe you can even hunt with us. It’s the best way to learn the business.”
“I think I’d like that.” Duncan said as he put his arm around her and lead her toward the door.
Ellen looked up at him. “Thanks again for the rescue.”
“My pleasure.” He said. As he smiled down at her and Ellen felt her breath hitch.
He had saved her, they shared an important secret and he was gorgeous. She was in teen girl heaven.
The Misunderstanding
Duncan opened the door to his Paris apartment to find a twenty-one year-old Ellen standing on the other side.
“Ellen! What are you doing here?” Duncan was shocked. He’d spent time hunting with Ellen and her family and while he’d stayed in touch, he hadn’t seen her in almost two years.
“I came to see you.” She smiled up at him. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“What? Sure.” Duncan stepped aside to let her enter. “Does your father know you’re here?”
“Nice place.” She observed, ignoring his question. She dropped her duffel on the floor, stripped off her jacket and laid it over the back of the couch.
“Ellen.” Duncan said sternly. “Answer the question.”
Ellen turned to face him. “I’m 21 and a legal adult. But yeah, dad knows I’m here.” She stepped toward him. “I thought you’d be happier to see me, Duncan.”
Mac smiled and reached to give her a hug. “Don’t be silly. Of course I’m glad to see you. A little warning might have been nice.” Duncan paused as a woman’s voice called for him from the back of the apartment.
“Duncan, have you seen my brush?” a voice with a thick French accent asked.
A blonde woman in a white shirt and black pants walked into the living room. She was still drying her hair with a towel. She stopped when she saw Duncan still holding onto Ellen. “Oh, I didn’t realize we had company.”
Duncan separated himself from Ellen. “Tessa, this is Ellen Miller. She’s a friend from the states.”
Tessa dropped the towel on a chair and ran a hand through her hair. “Hello. It’s so nice to finally meet a friend of Duncan’s.” Tessa held out her other hand as she approached. “He led me to believe he didn’t have any.” She laughed.
Numbly, Ellen took the proffered hand and shook it. “I didn’t realize I was interrupting,” she whispered.
Duncan smiled. “It’s okay. I really am glad you’re here. I can’t wait to show you around Paris.”
Ellen continued to stare at Tessa who threw a confused look at Duncan.
“Ellen,” he prompted. “Have you had breakfast?”
She looked up at him and asked quietly, “You’re together?”
Duncan started at the question. “For about a year. Why?”
Ellen turned beet red. “I have to go,” she blurted. She bolted for the door; stopping only long enough to snag her jacket and duffel. Duncan started to chase after her.
“Ellen! Wait!” He turned back to Tessa. “I be right back”
Tessa had an amused look on her face that added to Duncan’s confusion. “Take your time.” She grinned.
With a nod he headed out to the street. He finally caught up to her outside the building. Grabbing her arm he swung her around to face him. “What’s going on? Why did you run?”
She tried to pull away from him. “Leave me alone. It was stupid to come here.” Tears were spilling down her cheeks.
Understanding dawned on Duncan. “Oh Ellen.” He folded her into a hug. “I didn’t realize. I’m sorry.”
She sniffled against his chest. “It was just a silly fantasy.”
He placed a finger under her chin and tiled her face to look at him. “It’s not silly and I’m very flattered but you know you’re like a little sister to me.”
She huffed out laugh “Sister. Right.” Ellen pushed away from him and composed herself. She swiped at her eyes, leaned against the wall of the apartment building and refused to look at him.
Duncan hesitated. “Come back upstairs and let’s talk about this.”
Ellen shook her head. “Talk about what?” Her voice grew quiet. “I thought you cared about me. I thought…” she swallowed hard and stayed silent. With a miserable look down, she kicked off the wall and started to walk away again.
“Please Ellen.” Duncan grabbed her arm. “You are important to me.” He hesitated not wanting to hurt her. “You’re a good friend; a true friend. You’ve kept my secret and I’ve valued the time we’ve known each other. I’d hate to lose our friendship over a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?” She yanked her arm away. “I love you. I know I was too young when you were living with my family but I’m not any more.”
“Love? Ellen you were 17 and I’m almost 400. You will always be too young.” Duncan sighed. He’d been aware of the school girl crush but hadn’t given it much weight.
“But she’s not?” Ellen snapped.
“That’s different.” Duncan insisted.
“Oh really! Because she’s not much older than me,” she pointed out.
Duncan started at the realization. Ellen was right Tessa was only 5 years older and yet they’d connected on a completely different level.
“Ellen, you and I…our relationship…I do love you but like a sister. You know that.” Duncan reached out trying to hold Ellen but she backed away from him.
“You said that already.”
“Well it’s true. Ellen, you are family to me and you of all people know how important family is too someone like me.”
Ellen snorted. “Lucky me.”
Duncan stepped closer and forced her to look at him. “I’m the lucky one. Please be happy for me. Someday you will find that guy and I will be happy for you.”
Ellen nodded slowly in resignation. “I suppose I knew deep down that was the way you felt.” She said as she allowed herself to be pulled into a hug.
Duncan stroked her hair gently. They stood that way for a while, silently renewing their friendship.
“Do you love her?” Ellen finally asked breaking the silence
Without hesitation, Duncan answered, “Yeah, I do.”
She nodded against his chest. “Does she know....I mean about what you are?”
“No, of course not.”
She stepped away to look up at him. “But you love her.” Ellen insisted.
“I can’t. She’s wouldn’t understand. She’s not like you. Supernatural things don’t happen to Tessa.” Duncan reminded her.
Ellen laughed ruefully, “I guess that’s why I thought…you know what, never mind.” She shook her head and pointed a determined finger into his chest. “She will understand. You have to tell her.”
“I don’t know, Ellen. I don’t think I can.” He knew that he feared that the truth might drive Tessa away.
She laughed at him. “So much for the big, brave Immortal.
“I am not scared.” He protested. She continued to smile at him with a ‘Yeah Right’ expression.
“You do realize that if you plan to stay with her, then sooner or later you’ll have to tell her.” Ellen chided him. “It would be easier for her to know now, rather than find out when someone comes for your head.”
Duncan stood staring at this young girl who never failed to surprise him. She was right but he really wasn’t ready to have this discussion. “Hey, how about breakfast?” He asked trying to distract her.
Ellen shook her head. “Changing the subject?” she observed. “Okay, but this conversation is not over. If you fancy yourself my big brother than I get to keep insisting that you follow my sisterly advice.” She smirked.
He laughed and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “I’ve really missed you.”
The Phone Call
Then there was the time Duncan had to call Ellen about Methos’ possessed Vacuum. When she had finally stopped laughing, she taught him the appropriate chants to exorcise the demon. And really, the less said about that incident the better.
The Truth
The last thing Duncan expected was for one of Ellen’s friends to become an Immortal. When she’d called to ask him to train Dean Winchester, he hadn’t hesitated after all they’d been friends for 30 years and she was practically family.
But it hadn’t been that simple. From the moment he’d met Dean, everything about his Immortality was called into question. As he’d stood in Bobby’s kitchen that summer, the world changed in the blink of an eye. Ellen had been the one to figure it out. Immortals had been set at each others throats; literally, by the demonic command that there could be only one. Ellen had suggested that Immortals were really champions for good. In almost four hundred years of Immortal existence, he couldn’t remember a better day.
The Romance
Joe had been Duncan’s Watcher and eventually his friend. It hadn’t always been a smooth friendship but it was a solid one. Joe had lived a fairly solitary existence over the fifteen years they’d known each other. It often worried Duncan that Joe spent too much time alone or with Immortals. It didn’t seem healthy.
Then he’d walked into the back storeroom and to find Joe and Ellen in a serious lip lock. They broke apart like to teenagers caught after curfew.
“Mac, I …ah…Ellen and I…” Joe sputtered and looked at Ellen.
Duncan had to laugh at his pained expression. “What, Joe? You trying to tell me that you two are going steady.” He paused and added jokingly, “Do we need to have that talk?”
Duncan exchanged a conspiratorial wink with Ellen. She smiled and tilted her head toward Joe indicating she was happy. She may be older but he still thought of her as that seventeen year old girl that he’d saved all those years ago.
Joe glared at Duncan, oblivious to the silent conversation going on right beside him. “Very funny, Mac. I’m not that old you know. I have needs…”
“Whoa, Joe!” Duncan’s attention snapped back to his friend. “Ellen is like a sister to me and there are somethings a big brother just doesn’t want to know.”
Ellen laughed. “Now I know why you wanted to keep it a secret, Joe. The boys are going have fun with this.”
Ellen had taken to calling their crew; Himself, Dean, Sam and Richie, ‘the boys’. She was right; they were a little heavy on the testosterone. Duncan snickered. “Especially since Joe is the only one with a girlfriend.”
Ellen batted her eyes at Joe, “Oh, am I your girlfriend, Joe.” She said with mock sweetness.
“Okay not you too. You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“Oh really. I didn’t know this relationship came with sides.” Ellen quipped.
Joe just shook his head. He knew when he was out numbered.
Grinning, Duncan pointed a finger at his friend. “You be good to her. She’s something special.”
Joe drew Ellen close to his side. “Don’t I know it.”
“Well, now that we have an understanding, don’t let me interrupt.” Duncan chuckled as he backed out of the door.
***************
A/N: The official version of the vacuum story is by idontlikegravy and can be found here
Author: strangevisitor7
Beta: idontlikegravy and pen37
Written for: spn_twisted 5 things prompt
Prompt: #56 Breakfast for crossovers100
Character: Duncan MacLeod and Ellen Harvelle
Summary: Ellen and Duncan have know each other along time. Here are 5 glimpses into that friendship.
A/N: The is a side-story in the Immortal!Dean Universe.
5 Times Duncan MacLeod Learned Something From Ellen Harvelle
The Rescue
The first time Duncan saw Ellen, she was seventeen and chained to a pipe in a dirty, abandoned warehouse. It was the summer of 1977 and Duncan had gotten wind of a rogue Immortal. He usually didn’t chase after Immortals preferring to let the fight come to him.
But this guy had crossed the line, taking Immortal heads wasn’t enough. The mystery Immortal had started taking the heads of young girls in between Immortal duels. The police thought they were chasing a serial killer. They weren’t wrong but Duncan knew he needed to find him first.
Duncan had tracked the pattern of kills to a small town in Nebraska. As he wandered around the industrial district of abandoned warehouses, he finally felt the Buzz he’d been chasing.
***************************
Ellen swam toward consciousness. Her first thought was that her wrists hurt and it took her a moment to grasp why. She came fully awake and yanked on her hands. She was handcuffed to a pipe.
Worried, she realized she had no memory of where she was or how she had gotten here. The last thing she remembered was the crappy hotel room where she had stayed waiting for her father and brother to return from their reconnaissance of the area and then…nothing.
She stood shakily; carefully sliding her bound wrists up the pipe. She was in a warehouse. She could just make out the figure of a man watching her from the shadows. It had to be the thing her family was chasing. It had a penchant for teenage girls. She didn’t need any more evidence to conclude that she was likely to be its next victim.
She grimaced; her family had no idea where she was. Still, Ellen wasn’t one to give up easily. If she could get it to undo the handcuffs then she could get away. Her father’s words kept running through her mind.
“Never show fear, stay calm. There’s always a way out if you don’t lose your head.”
Except that beheading was this creature’s preferred that method of killing. She allowed her self a quiet laugh at the irony.
She waited. When the figure moved no closer, she called out. “What are you? Who are you?”
It stepped out of the shadows and into the pool of light coming through the high windows above her. A man? Well, it looked like a man. Could her dad have been wrong? Was he simply a serial killer? But that didn’t explain the electrical storms that accompanied several of the killings.
It ignored her questions. “You were following me.” He said simply. “I can’t allow you to take my Quickening.”
Quickening? What the hell was that? . She wondered. Sounding braver than she felt, she stated angrily. “You better let me go. My dad will be here any minute and he’s gonna do more than take your quickening.” No fear, no fear. She thought but she could feel her knees buckling. In a way she was grateful for the pipe. She clung to it, steadying herself.
The creature laughed. “I don’t think so.” He moved a few steps closer.
Ellen stared into his eyes and blanched. Even at seventeen, Ellen recognized crazy when she saw it. “What are you?” She demanded again.
He made as if to speak and then paused. His gaze drifted away from hers. After a moment he shifted it back to her; his anger pieced right through her. “It seems you may have a savior after all.”
Confused, Ellen scanned the empty warehouse. Tentatively she called out into the darkened cavern, “Hello. Anybody there? The crazy man has me tied up.” No answer.
Her heart was pounding and time seemed to stand still. She watched as her captor drew a sword and positioned himself facing away from her.
Moments later another man stepped into the light. He also had a sword. He was tall and wearing a long tan overcoat. Dark hair, dark eyes. Ellen stared at him; he was gorgeous and he was here to save her.
“I’m Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod.” He stated.
Her captor laughed. “So dramatic MacLeod. I’ve heard of you. I am Jackson Kern and I am the instrument of your final death.” He flourished his sword and stood ready to meet the newcomer.
“Let the girl go first.” Duncan commanded. “Then we can finish this in private as it is meant to be.”
“I don’t think so. She’s mine. You want to free her; you go through me.” Kern responded.
“Then I will.” He declared
Ellen watched as her savior shed his coat and took up a ready position. Suddenly, Kern charged and the sound of their swords meeting rang throughout the cavernous warehouse.
The two men danced in and out of the light. Swords ringing like bells. Ellen couldn’t tell who was winning.
She watched as Kern sliced across Duncan’s left shoulder and it began dripping blood. But his triumph was short lived as Duncan twirled and speared him through his stomach, driving him to his knees. Kicking away Kern’s sword, Duncan raised his blade.
He hesitated as he met Ellen’s eyes. She saw he was worried about what she was about to witness. “Do it.” She commanded.
Duncan nodded and with a downward slash, separated Kern’s head from his body. Then the lightening came. It lashed out, busting windows and exploding around Duncan. Arms spread wide, he screamed as the lightening attacked his body and he was driven to the ground by the force of it. Instead of burning him, Ellen saw that his body absorbed the power.
Just when she thought she might be saved. Ellen grew fearful again. Was Duncan the same as Kern? Had she simply traded one captor for another?
Frantically, she tried yanking at the pipe but it was unmoving. When it had grown quiet, she turned back to face the winner of the duel.
*******************
Duncan regained his feet and tried to shake off the fogginess that always accompanied the Quickening.
He looked over at the young girl chained to the pipe. He could see the fear in her eyes. Quickly, he dropped his sword and spread his arms wide.
“I’m here to help you.” He tried to sound reassuring. He watched as she straightened her shoulders and glared at him.
“Prove it.” She demanded and rattled her cuffs.
He smiled at her bravado and knelt down to search Kern’s body for the key. Finding it, he held it aloft as he stood and approached her. “My name is Duncan. What’s yours?”
“Ellen.” She said softly. “Thank you…for rescuing me.”
Duncan released the cuffs and dropped them to the ground. “Nice to meet you Ellen.” He said cheerily. He hoped she might be too shocked by what she’d seen to ask the difficult questions.
She rubbed her wrists. Then she reached out to finger the hole in his sleeve. “You were hurt and now it’s healed.” She observed.
Duncan grabbed her wrist to stop its exploration. “It’s nothing. Barely a scratch.” He insisted. He could see she didn’t believe him.
She pulled her wrist free and stepped back from him. “What are you? What was he?” She demanded.
Duncan was impressed. She’d witness something unusual and yet didn’t seem that distressed by it as he would have expected from the typical teenage girl. “I don’t know what you mean.” He said evading her questions. “I’m just a guy and he was obviously a sick bastard who kidnapped young girls.”
Ellen shook her head. “I know that tone. Placate the civilians; give them a plausible explanation which they gratefully accept and beat a hasty retreat. You’re a hunter aren’t you but also something more?” She asserted.
Now it was Duncan with the confused look on his face. He didn’t know what to say. “A hunter.” He parroted. What had she meant by that?
Ellen stood there hands on hips, anger cascaded out from her. “You’re just a hunter?” She sneered. “Fine, don’t tell me. But I need to know: What. Is. He?” She punctuated each word as she pointed to the corpse.
She’d misunderstood but he didn’t try to correct her. Duncan swallowed. The truth seemed to be the best option, if he wanted to know what she’d meant by hunter. “He was…an Immortal. Beheading is the only way to really kill him.”
“Huh.” Ellen grunted and absorbed this piece of information. “My dad thought he might be a Demon or some sort of demi-God. Which I guess is a type of Immortal?” She mused.
“Trust me he’s no God. Immortals just are humans with great healing abilities.”
She looked at him critically. Her eyes flicked to the non-wound on his shoulder. “You’re an Immortal too. But you’re a good one, aren’t you? You hunt down the ones like him”
Smiling, Duncan nodded. “I never thought of it as hunting but yes.”
Ellen smiled. “That’s what we in the community call it. Dad mostly hunts ghost and spirits but every once in a while we come up against something more. Being Immortal would be a great asset on a hunt.”
This girl was something. Duncan snickered. “Ghost, Demons. You believe they’re real.”
Ellen laughed. “Of course they’re real. Everything supernatural is real. I have to tell my dad all about Immortals.” She was getting excited. “You should hunt with us. We can tell you all about the other stuff that’s out there.”
Duncan shook his head. “Ellen, I need you to promise me that you won’t tell anyone about me. Not even your dad.”
***********************************
“But…they should know. Hunters should know.” She insisted. She didn’t like the idea of lying to her dad
“Ellen please, most people won’t be so accepting like you.”
She was about to insist he was wrong when she remembered that some hunters wouldn’t care if he were good. He was more than human and that was enough in their minds to hunt him down. Nodding she promised.
“I won’t tell anyone. But, you have to tell me everything about Immortals.”
Duncan laughed, “Of course. And you have to tell me all about hunting. But first don’t you think we should call your dad and let him know your okay.”
Ellen smacked her head, “Holy crap. He’s probably going crazy. How can we explain why you were here?”
“Easy enough; use your original story. I am a hunter and I was tracking the same creature who turned out to be just a guy.” He winked.
“Just a guy, right.” Ellen winked back. “Hey, maybe you can even hunt with us. It’s the best way to learn the business.”
“I think I’d like that.” Duncan said as he put his arm around her and lead her toward the door.
Ellen looked up at him. “Thanks again for the rescue.”
“My pleasure.” He said. As he smiled down at her and Ellen felt her breath hitch.
He had saved her, they shared an important secret and he was gorgeous. She was in teen girl heaven.
The Misunderstanding
Duncan opened the door to his Paris apartment to find a twenty-one year-old Ellen standing on the other side.
“Ellen! What are you doing here?” Duncan was shocked. He’d spent time hunting with Ellen and her family and while he’d stayed in touch, he hadn’t seen her in almost two years.
“I came to see you.” She smiled up at him. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“What? Sure.” Duncan stepped aside to let her enter. “Does your father know you’re here?”
“Nice place.” She observed, ignoring his question. She dropped her duffel on the floor, stripped off her jacket and laid it over the back of the couch.
“Ellen.” Duncan said sternly. “Answer the question.”
Ellen turned to face him. “I’m 21 and a legal adult. But yeah, dad knows I’m here.” She stepped toward him. “I thought you’d be happier to see me, Duncan.”
Mac smiled and reached to give her a hug. “Don’t be silly. Of course I’m glad to see you. A little warning might have been nice.” Duncan paused as a woman’s voice called for him from the back of the apartment.
“Duncan, have you seen my brush?” a voice with a thick French accent asked.
A blonde woman in a white shirt and black pants walked into the living room. She was still drying her hair with a towel. She stopped when she saw Duncan still holding onto Ellen. “Oh, I didn’t realize we had company.”
Duncan separated himself from Ellen. “Tessa, this is Ellen Miller. She’s a friend from the states.”
Tessa dropped the towel on a chair and ran a hand through her hair. “Hello. It’s so nice to finally meet a friend of Duncan’s.” Tessa held out her other hand as she approached. “He led me to believe he didn’t have any.” She laughed.
Numbly, Ellen took the proffered hand and shook it. “I didn’t realize I was interrupting,” she whispered.
Duncan smiled. “It’s okay. I really am glad you’re here. I can’t wait to show you around Paris.”
Ellen continued to stare at Tessa who threw a confused look at Duncan.
“Ellen,” he prompted. “Have you had breakfast?”
She looked up at him and asked quietly, “You’re together?”
Duncan started at the question. “For about a year. Why?”
Ellen turned beet red. “I have to go,” she blurted. She bolted for the door; stopping only long enough to snag her jacket and duffel. Duncan started to chase after her.
“Ellen! Wait!” He turned back to Tessa. “I be right back”
Tessa had an amused look on her face that added to Duncan’s confusion. “Take your time.” She grinned.
With a nod he headed out to the street. He finally caught up to her outside the building. Grabbing her arm he swung her around to face him. “What’s going on? Why did you run?”
She tried to pull away from him. “Leave me alone. It was stupid to come here.” Tears were spilling down her cheeks.
Understanding dawned on Duncan. “Oh Ellen.” He folded her into a hug. “I didn’t realize. I’m sorry.”
She sniffled against his chest. “It was just a silly fantasy.”
He placed a finger under her chin and tiled her face to look at him. “It’s not silly and I’m very flattered but you know you’re like a little sister to me.”
She huffed out laugh “Sister. Right.” Ellen pushed away from him and composed herself. She swiped at her eyes, leaned against the wall of the apartment building and refused to look at him.
Duncan hesitated. “Come back upstairs and let’s talk about this.”
Ellen shook her head. “Talk about what?” Her voice grew quiet. “I thought you cared about me. I thought…” she swallowed hard and stayed silent. With a miserable look down, she kicked off the wall and started to walk away again.
“Please Ellen.” Duncan grabbed her arm. “You are important to me.” He hesitated not wanting to hurt her. “You’re a good friend; a true friend. You’ve kept my secret and I’ve valued the time we’ve known each other. I’d hate to lose our friendship over a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?” She yanked her arm away. “I love you. I know I was too young when you were living with my family but I’m not any more.”
“Love? Ellen you were 17 and I’m almost 400. You will always be too young.” Duncan sighed. He’d been aware of the school girl crush but hadn’t given it much weight.
“But she’s not?” Ellen snapped.
“That’s different.” Duncan insisted.
“Oh really! Because she’s not much older than me,” she pointed out.
Duncan started at the realization. Ellen was right Tessa was only 5 years older and yet they’d connected on a completely different level.
“Ellen, you and I…our relationship…I do love you but like a sister. You know that.” Duncan reached out trying to hold Ellen but she backed away from him.
“You said that already.”
“Well it’s true. Ellen, you are family to me and you of all people know how important family is too someone like me.”
Ellen snorted. “Lucky me.”
Duncan stepped closer and forced her to look at him. “I’m the lucky one. Please be happy for me. Someday you will find that guy and I will be happy for you.”
Ellen nodded slowly in resignation. “I suppose I knew deep down that was the way you felt.” She said as she allowed herself to be pulled into a hug.
Duncan stroked her hair gently. They stood that way for a while, silently renewing their friendship.
“Do you love her?” Ellen finally asked breaking the silence
Without hesitation, Duncan answered, “Yeah, I do.”
She nodded against his chest. “Does she know....I mean about what you are?”
“No, of course not.”
She stepped away to look up at him. “But you love her.” Ellen insisted.
“I can’t. She’s wouldn’t understand. She’s not like you. Supernatural things don’t happen to Tessa.” Duncan reminded her.
Ellen laughed ruefully, “I guess that’s why I thought…you know what, never mind.” She shook her head and pointed a determined finger into his chest. “She will understand. You have to tell her.”
“I don’t know, Ellen. I don’t think I can.” He knew that he feared that the truth might drive Tessa away.
She laughed at him. “So much for the big, brave Immortal.
“I am not scared.” He protested. She continued to smile at him with a ‘Yeah Right’ expression.
“You do realize that if you plan to stay with her, then sooner or later you’ll have to tell her.” Ellen chided him. “It would be easier for her to know now, rather than find out when someone comes for your head.”
Duncan stood staring at this young girl who never failed to surprise him. She was right but he really wasn’t ready to have this discussion. “Hey, how about breakfast?” He asked trying to distract her.
Ellen shook her head. “Changing the subject?” she observed. “Okay, but this conversation is not over. If you fancy yourself my big brother than I get to keep insisting that you follow my sisterly advice.” She smirked.
He laughed and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “I’ve really missed you.”
The Phone Call
Then there was the time Duncan had to call Ellen about Methos’ possessed Vacuum. When she had finally stopped laughing, she taught him the appropriate chants to exorcise the demon. And really, the less said about that incident the better.
The Truth
The last thing Duncan expected was for one of Ellen’s friends to become an Immortal. When she’d called to ask him to train Dean Winchester, he hadn’t hesitated after all they’d been friends for 30 years and she was practically family.
But it hadn’t been that simple. From the moment he’d met Dean, everything about his Immortality was called into question. As he’d stood in Bobby’s kitchen that summer, the world changed in the blink of an eye. Ellen had been the one to figure it out. Immortals had been set at each others throats; literally, by the demonic command that there could be only one. Ellen had suggested that Immortals were really champions for good. In almost four hundred years of Immortal existence, he couldn’t remember a better day.
The Romance
Joe had been Duncan’s Watcher and eventually his friend. It hadn’t always been a smooth friendship but it was a solid one. Joe had lived a fairly solitary existence over the fifteen years they’d known each other. It often worried Duncan that Joe spent too much time alone or with Immortals. It didn’t seem healthy.
Then he’d walked into the back storeroom and to find Joe and Ellen in a serious lip lock. They broke apart like to teenagers caught after curfew.
“Mac, I …ah…Ellen and I…” Joe sputtered and looked at Ellen.
Duncan had to laugh at his pained expression. “What, Joe? You trying to tell me that you two are going steady.” He paused and added jokingly, “Do we need to have that talk?”
Duncan exchanged a conspiratorial wink with Ellen. She smiled and tilted her head toward Joe indicating she was happy. She may be older but he still thought of her as that seventeen year old girl that he’d saved all those years ago.
Joe glared at Duncan, oblivious to the silent conversation going on right beside him. “Very funny, Mac. I’m not that old you know. I have needs…”
“Whoa, Joe!” Duncan’s attention snapped back to his friend. “Ellen is like a sister to me and there are somethings a big brother just doesn’t want to know.”
Ellen laughed. “Now I know why you wanted to keep it a secret, Joe. The boys are going have fun with this.”
Ellen had taken to calling their crew; Himself, Dean, Sam and Richie, ‘the boys’. She was right; they were a little heavy on the testosterone. Duncan snickered. “Especially since Joe is the only one with a girlfriend.”
Ellen batted her eyes at Joe, “Oh, am I your girlfriend, Joe.” She said with mock sweetness.
“Okay not you too. You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“Oh really. I didn’t know this relationship came with sides.” Ellen quipped.
Joe just shook his head. He knew when he was out numbered.
Grinning, Duncan pointed a finger at his friend. “You be good to her. She’s something special.”
Joe drew Ellen close to his side. “Don’t I know it.”
“Well, now that we have an understanding, don’t let me interrupt.” Duncan chuckled as he backed out of the door.
***************
A/N: The official version of the vacuum story is by idontlikegravy and can be found here