Duncan and Methos showed up a few days later. Connor embraced Duncan, and shot a puzzled look in Methos' direction. Duncan's explanation of, "He's my secretary," only brought a glower from the older man.

Connor smiled and said, "You may need the help more than you think. Come on, I'll introduce you to the boys."

Connor led them through a maze of tunnels that, well, must have led somewhere.   Eventually, they entered the main space of a huge stadium, set up (most of the way) for a concert. The new-comers instantly looked at the stage, where they felt the Immortal presence. Chris was prepared to bolt, until he noticed they were with Connor.

As the walked up to the stage, Connor spoke, "I'd like to introduce you to Duncan McLeod and. . ." he trailed off, realizing that he didn't know what name Methos was using lately.

Duncan smoothly picked up the sentence, "Adam Kent, my secretary."   He smirked at Methos with the end of the sentence.

Methos glared at him and muttered something in Gaelic. Connor gave a bark of laughter while Chris' eyes widened in shock.

The boys all looked confused. "What did he say?" asked Justin.

"I believe it was an off-color comment about Duncan's ancestors and some sheep," Connor replied with a grin.

Joey snorted, JC started to giggle, and Lance just smiled and turned a little pink. Justin still looked confused, until Lance leaned over and whispered in his ear. Justin just raised his eyebrow and said, "Yo, man, that's gross."

The aspirin wasn't helping. The tea wasn't helping. Duncan wondered if the bottle of Scotch in his suitcase would help. He doubted it. The worst part of it was, Methos was fine. Methos could handle them. Duncan didn't know if he could keep up with the old man.

After Connor's illustrious introduction, Wade had gotten very antsy and insisted on finishing rehearsal. So, Duncan and Methos sat down on the edge of the stage, and watched. The Scot was impressed with the boys' agility and dexterity, not to mention their energy. Up until then, he was fine. He was almost looking forward to creating a program for the young pre-immortals.

Then Wade dismissed them for the day.

Duncan thought about the wars he'd lived through, the evil he'd fought, the insanity he'd witnessed, and he was afraid. When he thought of the way they decimated the craft services' table, he cringed. When he recalled the state the dressing room was in after they had finished with it, he shuddered. When he remembered the towel snapping and flying objects and insults, he realized why Methos had wanted to come.

Taken as a whole, the boys of 'NSync acted just like Methos.

Duncan pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. It really was about time he got up. He could hear the sound of Methos elaborating on the finer points of strip poker, and he figured he ought to get out there before his new students caught a chill.

Methos eyed the cards in his hands and then squinted at Chris across the table from him. The little imp was the only remaining threat to the old man's modesty.   Joey was mostly nude and all the way passed out, having attempted to drink Methos under the table. Justin had started out strong, but his poker face had deteriorated right along with his sobriety. He was currently clad in red boxer-briefs and a laundry-pink wife-beater. Methos felt he should teach the boy how to do his own laundry, but some things you have learn from experience. JC really shouldn't have tried to play poker or drink competitively, his face was an open book, and Methos could now see just about everything else about the boy as well. Lance had skills and knew how bluff, but he wasn't a match for the man who practically invented strip poker. To give Lance credit, he had managed to take off his underwear before his slacks, and was hanging on to the khakis for all they were worth.

But, Chris was practically fully clothed. He had an interesting technique.   He didn't really win, but he never lost either. He just sat there, playing each of them off each other, laughing on the inside. Methos could feel that little internal smirk. And he wanted to wipe it off his little metaphorical ass.

Methos contemplated his cards while idly glancing around the table. He caught the goofy grin on JC's face that indicated he had a good hand. Of course, it might indicate that the beer had removed the chill from his skinny body. The skinny body that Methos was having a hard time keeping his mind off of, let alone his eyes.

"Focus!" Methos admonished himself inwardly. He couldn't think about the beautiful boy next to him, he had to think about defeating the obnoxious Immortal on the other side of the table.

"So, are you in or out." Justin interrupted Methos' musings.

Not taking his eyes off Chris, Methos smirked in such a way that Duncan would have warned them to run for their lives, "In. Lay down your cards, child."

"Four nines, read 'em and weep." Chris grinned because he finally won a hand. Justin and Lance grumbled and tossed in their cards.

"Not so fast, little man," Methos turned over his cards. "Full house, your pants are mine."

Chris just gaped at the cards on the table. He didn't know how Adam could have gotten that hand. Didn't he stack the deck right?

Methos continued, "Don't stack the deck when you don't know who you're playing with. That'll could be very dangerous. Good thing I'm such a nice guy."