randomplaces | Love Me When I'm Gone. Chapter Two.

I crouched in the apple orchard, my eyes on a big hole in the ground in front of me as my bored mind went back to my first day of classes. It had been about as exciting as sitting here waiting for a woodchuck to come out of his hole. The proff we'd been worried about had been sarcastic and way too obviously considered himself the ultimate gift to women, but the only trouble he'd given me were a few digs about my name.

I glanced up into the young tree above me, smiling at the little green lumps that decorated the spindly branches like Christmas balls. These apple trees were Uncle Chuck's babies, brought from the old orchard back in what was once Westchester County, New York. And now some dumb newcomer had turned their pet woodchuck loose, and Wolvie and I were out here with nooses to catch it alive for the zoo. Wolvie had been disgusted with the request, stating that the only thing 'chucks were good for was roasting when there wasn't any beef. I'd agreed, though I've never, to my knowledge, eaten woodchuck.

I scowled and moved slowly into a slightly more comfortable position. Wolive had taught me to sit still for hours if I needed to, but the collection of cuts and bruises that I'd come home with had to be moved regularly or they'd stiffen up. Pushing my peppermint into my other cheek, I tried to see if I could smell anything, but only picked up the scent of water from the irrigation pipes, the slight odd tang of the Shi'ar forcefield that surrounded Haven, and the ripe tangerines and peaches a few rows over.

Great, now I feel like I'll die if I don't get a peach... Quit thinkin' about it.

I did, and was musing on Ro's liking for sucking on my hand when voices broke the whispering silence of the orchard.

"[I don't see him.]"

"[Nor do I. And these trees are asleep, so there is no rumor of him.]"

I cocked my head, wondering where I'd learnt the language they were speaking, and what they were doing out here. The orchards weren't open to the general public, and it was usually the teenagers of our sidehall that tended them. Neither of these guys sounded like a kid, though the one had a light tenor voice. I was just going to get up and chase them off when Wolvie gave a whoop of triumph from the direction of the almond grove.

Forgetting the tresspassers, I bounded to my feet and ran over. "You got 'im?"

"Her," said Wolvie, holding down a squirming bundle of fat and fur as he took the noose off its neck. "There she is." He lifted it carefully and chuckled as it went limp and gave him a beady-eyed look. "Looks like one fer the pettin' zoo."

I poked it cautiously, and it turned to look at me, nose quivering. "You eat these things? It looks like a giant rat."

Wolvie chuckled. "They taste a lot better, darlin'."

"Yeah, but you eat raw liver." I turned back toward Haven. "Can we spar a bit after we drop it off?"

"Sounds good." Wolvie stuffed his noose into his pocket, then took mine and put it away too. "Ben awhile since I had a good workout." He hefted the woodchuck under his arm and started toward the orchard door.

"Marko gettin' lazy?" I fell into step with him.

"Juggernaut? Nah, teachin' jus' takes up most 'a his time." He caught the woodchuck by a handful of fur when it began to spin out as we came in. "'N he's found somebody now."

"That should be good for 'im."

"Yeah, but ya gotta see how stupid 'e looks when he's around 'er." Wolvie snickered.

"Like you do in that old picture of you 'n Mariko?"

He shot me a look but kept grinning, and I knew I was in for it when we got to the dojo. "Yeah, somethin' like that."

I grinned fiercely back at him. Man, did it feel good to be home.

* * *

I knew I was dreaming. I had to be. I'd never run around the Mall in the buff. Especially not because I was looking for some guy.

I stopped walking with a grimace and tried to wake up, only to end up back in the Mall. "No. This ain't real." I tried again with the same result.

"Here I am, my love!"

I barely glanced at the guy as the scene changed to the apple orchard. "I ain't... here! This is a dream!"

"No. This is reality." He stepped close and started to put his arms around me, but my dream claws shot out of my knuckles, gleaming in the sun.

"Keep yer distance, bub!" I snarled.

He looked at me puzzledly, then shook his head. "You can't hurt me, my lovely. Now come here!"

I dug my heels into the grass, fighting down the rush of sensations that flowed through my body. "No! Jesus, help me, please."

He flinched, then scowled. "Don't say that again!"

I felt my mouth and lips go heavy and numb, but managed to force out Jesus' name again before turning and bolting away.

"You can't get away," he called. "And you know you don't really want to."

I just kept going, diving into the tunnel of wild hazel bushes that grew near the almond grove in my dreams.

A hand grabbed my foot and pulled me back, and I rolled over and slashed at him with my claws.

"Those aren't going to do anything," he said sternly. "Now let me..."

Forgetting myself entirely in my panic, I raised both hands and k-pushed as hard as I could.

-Kimmie? Kimmie, what's wrong?-

-Dream! I can't get out!-

I was staring up at the shattered ceiling of my bunk, shaking all over and feeling sick.

"Kimber?" Wolvie burst through the bedroom door with a crash, claws out.

"No," I said softly. "No. God, I never even dreamt about doin' that with Noah."

"Kimber?" Wolvie put a hand on my shoulder. "Darlin', what happened?" Pounding on the hall door made him flince and swear.

-Kimmie? It's us. Let us in before Brock breaks the door.-

"Remind me ta un-TKproof th' door," muttered Wolvie, going to open it.

The next thing I knew I was wrapped in Brock's beefy arms as my almost brother held me close and rocked me.

"We have you now," he murmured. "You're safe now. You're safe."

"A dream," I said, still trying to get the last of it out of my mind.

"No, it wasn't," said Rae from where she sat next to us rubbing Ro's back. "There was someone in a link with you. I felt him hwen you let go with the kinetic energy. So did Brock."

"Someone in a link with 'er?" repeated Wolvie sharply. "Who? Did ya see?"

I looked over Brock's arm and saw the green fire in my best friend's eyes.

"Yes," she said, her voice gone deadly cold. "It was Duncan McTaggart."

I spent the rest of the night in the living room, on the flor next to Rae. She must have done something to help me sleep, because the next thing I remember (other than dreams of playing with Ro, who was sleeping on me) was waking up to a slobbery baby kiss.

"Ugh. Pthoi! Not the mouth, Ro." I sat up and set her on my lap.

"How do you feel," asked Rae softly, turning over to look at me.

"It's faded, like a dream does." I fluffed up Ro's reddish curls, and she looked up at me contentedly and grabbed a handful of my nightshirt.

"Good." Rae sat up and took Ro, then lifted her camisole to feed her. "Uncle Logan and Brock have gone to check on him in the lockup."

I ran my fingers through my hair, wincing as they caught on a knot. "How did he do that, Rae? I thought he wasn't supposed to have any gift."

"He was strong enough to hide it from Mom and Uncle Charles." Rae looked down at Ro, who was making soft gulping sounds as she nursed. "I've felt him a couple of times, just the barest of quest probes. But the touch was always so brief that I couldn't track it. I thought it was one of the kids just learning, so I never made anything of it." She frowned, eyes unfocused. "I'm sorry."

"You didn't know," I said dully, feeling like my whole nervous system wanted to puke. "He made me feel... stuff I'd barely started to feel for Noah. Now I feel dirty."

She shifted Ro to her shoulder and rubbed the baby's back. "I know. I felt it too, after you managed to break away. Just remember how you felt with Noah; what it feels like to hug a good man that loves you. That will help make the things he put into your mind fade."

"Yeah." I got up and headed for the bathroom, trying to do like she said. "I think I'm gonna go ta the dojo. I needta beat the crud outta somethin'."

"Do you want us to come?" Rae stood gracefully without putting her hand on the floor.

"No. Just stay linked, okay?" I stopped halfway through the door and looked back as Ro shouted.

She cracked me a huge grin, then turned away and started nuzzling Rae's chest.

"Yeah." I blinked back tears. "I love you too, darlin'."

* * *

I set the sword down on a bench and walked over to the mirror in the little private dojo, fighting away a surreal feeling as I looked at myself.

Same hair. Same eyes. Same stocky body that looked like a boy's in the same baggy T-shirt and hakima that I always worked out in. But I know I was different. I'd faced evil in a place I'd thought I was safe, and it had left a mark just as painful as the one over my kidney.

-But I'll heal, right, God?- I turned away and pulled a bamboo bo out of the rack, then started to loosen up my muscles. -I didn' say it last night, but I should've. Thanks for gettin' me out of that.- I gritted my teeth as my left hamstring protested being stretched. -And please take away the memories and the feelings. Rae won't do it, because she believes like Uncle Chuck does.- I did a back flip with no hands and began going through a kata. -But You can make them go without messing anything up.-

I twirled the bo over my shoulder and around my waist, then lashed out, knocking imagineary Sentinels flying. Turning and running a few steps, I stood the bo on end and twirled around it, kicking with both feet.

Memory vanished. Thought was stilled. It was only me, God, the bo, and an army of ethereal foes.

Spinning, tucking, kicking, ducking, I decimated the ranks of my fears, pounded my sorrows to insensibility, worked my rage till it gave up in exhaustion and died. I found myself singing a wild fierce song in a language that I couldn't recall learning, about a battle I knew I'd never seen.

The war song changed to a praise song, and still I passed through the ancient, measured paces, glorying in the freedom of movement and the One Who made it possible for me to dance this dance.

The song faded gradually, and I slowed my movement to match it, then walked to the rack and let the bo fall back into its place.

Humming, I strolled back to the bench and picked up the eagle sword, slipping it partially from the sheath and studying the strange flowing writing on the blade, then weighing it thoughtfully in my hands. It felt so right, almost as though it was a part of me, like my gift was.

"Just wish I knew where I got you," I murmured, my eyes searching the golden ones of the eagle for some clue.

"[You do not remember?]"

I whirled, the scabbard flying free as the sword dove for the chest of the man who'd come up behind me.

He leapt back with a laugh, then gave a gasp of dismay and dove to the side as I lifted my hand. The k-push caught him on the shoulder and sent him spinning. Before he could recover I was kneeling on his back with his arms pinned behind him.

"[Ouch. Kimber, I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you.]"

"How do you know my name?" I demanded, tightening my pin on his arms.

"[Ouch! I do not know what you just said!]" His beautiful face creased with pain and confusion.

More of that strange language. And he'd called me by name, too. I knelt there, pondering that fact and feeling the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

"[Kimber, please... my arms...]" gritted the stranger. "[What is wrong, friend? Why are you doing this?]"

I blinked and let him go, stepping back and holding the sword at the ready as she slowly got to his feet, his grey-green eyes studying my face.

"[Kimber? What is wrong?]" he repeated softly, sounding concerned.

"[Who... who are you?]" I said, fishing for words. "[How do you know me?]"

His eyes widened. "[You do not remember.]"

"[That is true.]"

He looked like he was going to cry. "[What has happened to you, brother?]"

"[Brother?]" I raised an eyebrow. "[You must have me confused with another. I am a woman.]"

His face showed total shock. "[But you told us that you were a lad. I... But it is you, there is no mistake, Kimber.]"

"[Proe it.]" I felt myself starting to shake.

"[You fought a champion of Harad on the field of the Pelannor, taking a thrust to your side in order to get past his guard.]" His expression showed his pain at the memory. "[I am surprised that you are up so soon after such a wound.]"

I stepped back quickly and fell onto the bench as my legs gave way, my hand pressed to the scar above my kidney.

-Kimmie?-

-I'm okay, Rae.-

-You're in shock. Don't move! I'll be right there!-

"[Kimber?]" Gentle hands supported me. "[You really have no memory of me?]"

"[None.]" I closed my eyes as the room started to spin.

"[Put your head down,]" he said. "[Breathe deeply.]"

"Who are you? Get away from her!"

"No! Brock... Rae... it's okay. He's okay... Oh crud!"

* * *

I came to looking up at the dojo ceiling, my head resting on something soft. "Crud."

"Rest gently, Kimmie-Lee," said Brock, his ape face marked with worry. "You've had a shock."

"No shoot, Sherlock." I turned my head and saw the stranger sitting and looking at me.

"[I am sorry,] he said.

"[It was not you.]" I caught Brock's arm and pulled myself up to sitting, then leaned against him feeling like I had the time I'd drunk all of Uncle Chuck's sherry.

Rae touched my forehead and some of the dizziness faded.

"Thanks." I sat up a little straighter. "Where's Wolvie?"

"In your hall, talking to one of the kids," she said, her eyes flicking to the stranger.

I turned toward him. "[Let us start from the start again, please.]"

"[Beginning,]" he said absently, studying my face.

"[Start from the beginning.] I nodded. "[I am Kimber Lee. This is my sworn sister, Rachel McCoy, and this is her husband and my sworn brother, Brock McCoy.]"

The stranger bowed to us. "[I am Legolas Thranduilin, lord of Ithilien. May Elbereth shine on our meeting.]"

"Legolas..." I shook my head and turned back to Brock and Rae. "This is Legolas, son of Thranduil, from the woods of the moon."

"A poetic reference?" asked Brock, blinking.

"I have no idea. I don't remember, and him bein' here don't remind me." I sighed and rubbed my temples, feeling the urge to bang my head against something to try and get a picture.

"Pleased to meet you, Legolas," said Rae, glancing sideways at Brock.

"Oh! Yes. And I likewise!" He bowed and pushed his glasses back up on his nose.

Legolas bowed again, looking a little lost.

"[They say that they are happy to meet you,]" I translated.

His smile got stronger. "[Kimber spoke of the two of you often as we journeyed.]"

"[I did?]" I stared at him. "[I remembered here when I was there?]"

"Yes," he said, the English word sounding like music.

"Kimmie-Lee?" Brock leaned toward me. "You were translating?"

"Oh. He says I talked 'bout you guys a lot while we travelled together." I frowned at Legolas. "[Where were we travelling? Where did we meet?]"

"[Perhaps I should wait to tell the story till all are together?]" he suggested gently.

"[All?]"

"[Your father and our friend Gimli are not here.]"

"[Yes. Good idea.]" I got up wearily, shaking my head at Brock as he bounded to his feet and offered his arm. "Let's go find them."

"Find who, Kimmie-Lee?" "[I understood that!]"

I looked from Brock's expression of gentle inquiry, to Legolas' pleased grin and cracked a slight grin of my own.

"Find Wolverine," said Legolas. "And Gimli."

"Good work," said Rae, though her eyes were still wary.

"Uncle Logan is found," said Brock. "Whither is this Gimli?"

Legolas blinked and his face fell. "What?"

"[He asked where your friend is. Gimli,]" I explained, heading for the dojo door.

"[Ah. He is in the orchard. I will go and get him. Where will you be?]" He fell into step with me.

"[We'll wait by the front door.]" I looked at the others.

-I should get back to Ro,- thought Rae.

Legolas missed a step and glanced at her, then continued on.

"Right. Meet at your place? I don't think we'll all fit in mine."

"Good idea." She smiled and jogged away. -I'll call Uncle Logan.-

I watched her go, then looked up at the two tall guys on either side of me, seeing identical expressions on their faces as they glanced down at me. It was comforting.

About as much as anything can be right now, I thought. I need sugar.

Legolas laughed softly and handed me a small package wrapped in leaves.

"What's this?" I glanced down at it, then looked up again as we came out into the Mall.

"Lembas," he said, eyes dancing.

I lifted the package to my nose and sniffed. "Smells good."

"What?" He looked down at me, smile playing around his mouth.

"[It smells good.]" I held it up for Brock to sniff.

He did so appreciatively. "Indeed it does. What is it, Kimmie-Lee?"

"Bread," I said softly, remembering the image that had come to my mind the day I'd gotten home. "Sweet, crunchy bread. I remember it."

"You remember it?" He looked at me hopefully.

"Yeah, but that's all I remember," I growled, feeling frustrated again.

"What?" asked Legolas gently.

"[Lembas is the only thing I remember,]" I said absently.

"[You ate so much.]" His smile returned. "[How could your stomach forget?]"

"Whatever." I scowled. "[Did you tease me when I was there, too?]"

"[About lembas.]" He paused and looked through the glass doors of the main entrance at the park that stood in front of them. "[You are waiting here?]"

"Over there." I pointed to a table in front of the frozen yogurt place.

He nodded. "I'll be back."

I coughed. "Okay. See ya."

Brock watched him go through the lock, then turned and looked down at me with one eyebrow raised. "Terminator quotes?"

"We must've ben friends if I taught him somethin' that stupid," I said, rolling my eyes.

"And there must have been a ready supply of sugar on hand, as well," laughed Brock as we sat at the table. "No, I pray you, unveil this wonderous bread that we may feast upon it."

"You think yer gettin' some?" I eyed him narrowly.

"I'm not?" His face fell.

"Sheesh, what a rube." I unwrapped the leaf carefully and broke off a piece of the thin cake inside. "There you go."

Brock chewed thoughtfully, his brown face lighting up. "Exquisite! I wonder if our mysterious friend would be so kind as to share the recipe?"

I shrugged, chomping happily. "Beats me. Want another bite?"

"Yes, please." He held out his hand.

I looked at the big hand, the exact colour of mine, then put a bigger piece of lembas in it than I'd intended. "Remember when we used to pretend we were twins?"

He smilled tenderly, nodding. "We were in all but blood. Two blue-eyed babes nursed at the same breast."

I swallowed. Darn, I miss Aunt Storm so much... Not thinking about it. NOT thinking about it.

I looked up as Legolas sat next to Brock, glancing at us questioningly.

"[So you do not remember us.]"

I turned toward the rumbling bass voice and met the concerned grey eyes of a broad-shouldered guy who was slightly shorter than me. A blond beard and eyebrows covered most of his face except for the eyes and a big nose. He wore clothes similar to the ones I'd come home in, only embroidered with gold and little sparkly things on the front and cuffs. His grey hood was pulled up, and his beard was done into two braids and tucked into his wide brown belt.

"[You're Gimli?]"

"[At your service.]" He bowed so low that his beard would've swept the flor if it'd been loose.

"Um. Okay." I glanced at Legolas, who sighed.

"[Let us go to your sworn brother's hall. This story needs telling.]"

"Yeah. Let's go." I put the last of the lembas in my mouth and handed the leaf to Brock for his collection.