Love Me When I'm Gone. Chapter Three.

[random_xtras]

Wolvie was leaning on the wall by Brock and Rae's door when we go there, chewing a cigar and staring at the opposite wall with narrowed eyes.

"Greetings, Uncle Logan. Why hast thou not made thyself at home?"

"Can it, Brock," he growled, pushing away from the wall and walking over to put his hand on the back of my head. "Y' alright, darlin'?"

I blinked back tears at the fear and anger in his low voice. "Yeah. I will be."

He grinned proudly and squashed me in a quick hug, then turned toward Legolas and Gimli. "Who're you?"

Legolas smiled and looked down at me, carefully showing hs hands from the sleeves of the open robe that he wore over his tunic and pants.

I mentally shook my head at his discomfort. "Wolvie, this is Legolas Thranduilin."

"Pleased to meet you," said Legolas carefully, bowing his head.

"And this is Gimli... Um, [do you have another name?]"

"[Gloin's son, of the Glittering Caverns.]" He looked up at me sadly.

"Gimli, Gloin's son," I finished.

"[At your service!]" He bowed again.

Wolvie's eyebrows quirked, but his face didn't get any nicer.

I sighed and pushed the door open, motioning for everyone to go in ahead of me, then following them and flopping down in a circular basket chair.

Rae's got the decorating done, I thought absently, looking around the bright, airy living room. You'd almost think those were real windows instead 'a trick lighting, 'n the vine climbing up to the loft is a nice touch...

"So what's this about, darlin'?"

I blinked and looked at Wolvie blankly, then rubbed my face and sat up slightly. "Legolas and Gimli are from another world. They say I met them the last time I disappeared. They're friends... or would be if I remembered 'em."

"Another world, or another universe?" asked Wolvie, frowning.

"I don't know," I said. "But they're mutants, so..."

"No they ain't, Kimber," he interrupted gently.

"They aren't?" I frowned. "But they're not normal."

"They ain't human, either, though the tall one's close. Smells fairy ta me."

"Kimber, what?" Legolast leaned toward me hopefully.

I turned the frown toward him. "[You are not...]" I wracked my brains for the word. "[Not person like me?]"

"[No.]" He shook his head, looking confused. "[I am Eldar. Elven.]"

I wrinkled my forehead and raised one eyebrow, clueless as to what he was saying with the last two words.

"[The Fair People,]" he tried. "[The people of the hollow hills. We are immortal, and closer to trees and living things than Man is.]"

I blinked as a soft light seemed to play for a moment in his face. "Elven... Wolvie was right. [And you?]" I turned to Gimli.

"[Dwarf,]" he said gruffly. "[Mountain delver. Metal worker.]"

I shook my head slowly. "[You are legends. There are some here in Haven with elven blood, but they are not like you, Legolas. And of Dwarves there is only the memory of a memory.]"

Gimli nodded, looking sad. "[The lady said that it would happen that way, once the Age of Men had come.]"

"[You thought that were were of your own race,]" said Legolas somberly.

"[Yes. You look no different than some of us.]" I shrugged.

"[And what are you, Kimber? Child of Men you seem, yet now that I have seen your people it would appear that this is not so.]"

"I'm a mutant," I said in English. "From humans... [Men], but no longer of them, though we have human babies sometimes."

Legolas didn't ask me to translate, though I don't think he understood half of the words. Instead he reached out and put his and on my arm. "[So the Age of Men is ending here.]"

"The end of the time of humans..." I shrugged. "[Some think so. But that is not what we are here to speak of.]"

"No." He shook his head pensively.

-I'm back.- Rae's thought heralded her entrance with bags of takeout, Ro peering over her back from the packer. Legolas looked up quickly and she raised an eyebrow at him. -I got it from my mother.-

I looked back and forth between them as Brock bounced up to help with the food. -Rae?-

-He's a telepath. He was surprised to hear me.- She turned back to Legolas. -Sorry, didn't catch that. You'll have to ask Kimmie.-

He turned to me, looking frustrated. "[Please. Ask her if she felt an evil will last night. It seemed to be hunting.]"

I froze. "[An evil will?]"

"[Yes. I struck at it, but I do not know if I stopped it.]"

"[Where did you feel it.]" My feet went cold.

"[Somewhere here inside your city. I felt terror as it seized on another. It was then that I struck.]"

"Rae, did you feel anyone else last night?" I turned to look at her, my heart thumping.

"No." She shook her head as dishes of food floated out of the kitchen. "I didn't feel anything till you broke his concentration."

"But I didn't," I said.

"What're ya sayin', darlin'?" asked Wolvie.

"Legolas saved my rear last night," I said slowly. "He got me away from McTaggart."

Wolvie turned and stared at him, then jumped up, yanked him out of his chair, and gave him a bone-crushing hug.

"What?" gasped Legolas, eyes wide.

"[That was me that you rescued last night,]" I explained. "[Wolvie's just... emotional.]"

"Thanks, bub," Wolvie was saying gruffly, embarrassed by his outburst.

"You?" Legolas' mouth fell open, then closed in a grim line. "[Where is that man?]"

"Sit!" Rae pointed to his chair.

He did, his beautiful face dark. "[Did he... did he hurt you, Kimber?]"

"[No. You stopped him in time.]"

Wolvie sat down and looked him in the eye. "Y' ever need anythin', bub, jes' come ta me."

"Or me," said Brock quietly from the kitchen door.

Legolas nodded. "Okay. I hear you."

-Hear me too. That's my gwathel that you helped.-

He turned to Rae with a smile like a rainbow after a storm. "My gwathel, too. We do lots... Hmph. [Many battles have we fought together, though I thought her a brother at the time.]"

Gimli nodded his agreement.

I translated, feeling a little choked up.

"Which brings us back to the question..." Brock jumped over the back of the couch and landed next to Rae, then set the dish of popcorn chicken down and put his arm around her shoulders. "Where did you first meet our Kimmie-Lee?"

-I'll get the translation from your mind, Kimmie,- said Rae. -And broadcast it.-

-Okay.- I turned to Legolas. "[Brock says that it is time to hear the story while we eat.]"

"Let's do the blessin' first," interjected Wolvie.

"[Yes], blessing first." Gimli chuckled, glancing at me. "Always."

I looked at him questioningly, then bowed my head as Brock gave thanks.

"[I did that?]" I asked, after the "amen".

"[Whenever we ate.]" His eyes twinkled. "[You used your fist on me once when I insisted that I was too hungry to wait.]" He took a chicken leg and bit it appreciatively.

I looked at Wolvie and saw him grinning at me. -So I did talk to You while I was gone,- I thought to God, feeling relieved.

Legolas looked down at a black olive in his hand. "[Kimber, I first met you in Imladris. I had been sent there by my father, King Thranduil of Mirkwood, to bring report of the escape of a prisoner that had been left in our keeping.

You were standing beside Elrond Halfelven as I rode into the courtyard. I was confused, wondering what a child of the Soutrons was doing in the Last Homely House.]" He grinned. "[You looked so grim. Elrond told me that you were a warrior from another land, come to Imladris to seek a guide to take you South, to the city of Gondor. I did not think of the meeting overmuch, as I was called the next morn to a secret council. But some time later a company of nine, including myself and Gimli here, left Imladris to go South and seek a passage to Mordor, the land of darkness. Before we set out Elrond took me aside and told me that you would be shadowing the Fellowship for much of the journey. He asked me to keep an eye out for you and to see that no harm befell you. I thought the request strange, but agreed.

In the days that followed you proved yoursef a valuable wall at our backs. I would often leave the camp to speak with you, and we would share tales of our families and peoples. You told stories of lands that I had never heard of, that lay under suns I had never seen.]"

"[Do you mean other... Earths?]" I asked, wide-eyed.

"[Like Earth, but not Earth. One was lit by a sea of tiny suns, and fair trees with golden, glowing fruit.]"

"My word," murmured Brock, chicken forgotten in his hand.

"[You left us at the base of the mountains to take the swiftest way South, but we could not go that route, for we had with us the Enemy's ring of power and the way that you took ran too closely to the holding of a powerful traitor. Much did I rue the loss of your presence when one of our number, our leader, fell there in the darkness under the mountains. Yet the rest of us came through safely and made our way to the fair land of Lothlorien, where lord Celeborn and his wife, lady Galadriel, bid us welcome.

We rested there for a time, recovering from our sorrow under the golden leaves of the Mallorn trees. The lady told me that you had turned aside due to some summons and had passed through the Golden Wood ahead of us, and that she had gifted you with an elven blade.]"

He stopped and looked down at it where it lay on the floor by my feet. "[Her name is Windcutter.]"

I looked down at the sword, a little surprised to see it there. "Windcutter. Okay."

"What happened next?" asked Rae, leaning against Brock as she nursed Ro.

Legolas smiled. "[We continued our journey, going on the river Anduin in boats given us by the people of Lorien. We soon came to the point where we had to choose the way we would go: to Mordor to try and destroy the ring in the fires whence it was forged, or to Gondor to offer our aid to the beleagured city of the ancient kings.]" He sighed, his face creasing with sadness. "[There in the shadow of Amon Hen, hill of sight, our company was broken asunder. Orcs came upon us and carried two of our number. Another was slain defending them. And the one who bore the ring slipped away with his servant to continue the journey to Mordor alone. We three who were left, Gimli and I, and Aragorn son of Arathorn, went after the two who had been taken. The trail led us to the eves of ancient Fangorn forest, where we were reunited with the one we had thought lost under the mountain. He told us that our young friends had been found and were safe, then led us to the hall of the king of the horse lords. We fought one battle at King Theoden's side, then rode through the mountains to a high valley where the women and children of the people had gone for safety. We went because Aragorn had decided that he would heed the words brought him from Elrond by his kinsmen, Elladan and Elrohir, who had joined us with many other men of the West shortly after the first battle.]"

"Don't mug the suspense," I growled. "What'd they tell him?"

Legolas grinned, then sobered again. "[They reminded him of the ancient prophacy concerning the Paths of the Dead.]" He stopped and turned as Wolvie growled softly.

"Never mind. Go on."

"[Aragorn and his kinsmen set forth to take this way and call forth the shades of the ancient oathbreakers who lurked there. Gimli and I accompanied them. And there, under the shadow of black trees that were foul even to me, we were met by a hooded warrior astride a dark horse, who demanded leave to join us and pass through the forgotten way in our company. Gimli challenged the stranger, only to be shoved away by an unseen hand.

I recognized you then, for you had shown me your gift on the road South. I greeted you and introduced you to the Grey Company, and Aragorn welcomed you gladly. You passed through the haunted ways singing softly to yourself and showing no fear, then rode with the best on the way to Pelargir.]" He faltered slightly, then continued. "[We spoke little on the voyage up the river in the captured Corsair fleet, but it was on that journey that Gimli came to know your wrath at mealtime.

The fields of Gondor were overrun by foes when we arrived, but they were disconcerted by our presence where they had expected friends.]"

His expression grew more somber as he continued. "[Many mighty deeds were done in the shadow of Mount Mindolluin that day, there on the field before the city. And not the least was the challenging of a fell Captain of the Haradrim by one small lad... maid.]"

He looked at me. "[I had taught you the use of the sword as we travelled from Imladris, but what you did that day was beyond my teaching. Still, it was clear that you were overmatched. I was trying to break away and come to your aid when you turned his blade aside with your gift and took the thrust into your side, then drove your own blade through his heart. I caught you as you fell, and you looked up at me and asked if your foe was dead. When Gimli said that he was you smiled and looked past me.

'It is done, then,' you said. 'The story is preserved.'

I began to ask what you meant, but at that moment I suddenly felt the presence of another behind me and you vanished.]"

"Vanished." Wolvie sat up.

"[Presence... of... another?] asked Rae haltingly. "[What another?]"

I had stopped listening, disturbed by Legolas' telling of the fight in front of the city. I'd killed someone. On purpose. I'd gone looking for him on purpose so that I could do it. The thought made me feel dizzy and sick. Uncle Chuck stressed not killing humans. Jesus said not to kill anybody. And I had done it.

"Kimber? Translating?"

I blinked and looked at Legolas expressionlessly. "Sorry, missed the last bit."

His eyes searched mine as a crease appeared between his brows. "[What is troubling you?]"

"[Nothing. What do you want me to translate?]"

He frowned, but turned back to Rae. "[I do not know. I did not see her before Kimber left.]"

I translated and Rae latched onto one word. "Her?" She sat forward. "It was a woman?"

Legolas listened to me, then raised his hands in a shrug. "[I presume so, because it was the voice of a woman that sent us here.]"

"Which leads us to the second question," said Brock. "Why have the two of you come to Haven?"

"[Before I answer that question I must explain that, though Kimber has just returned here, several years have passed in our land.]" He looked around at our faces, then went on. "[I was walking in my garden two days ago, arguing with Gimli over the merits of our holdings, when a woman's voice called to us and said that Kimber's homeland needed true friends and asking would we go.]"

"[Of course we said yes,]" rumbled Gimli.

"[How do you know about the time difference?]" I asked, tracing the scab with my fingers.

"[The voice told us when we arrived here.]" Legolas looked at my hand. "[That is why I was surprised to see you praticing so strenuously when I found you.]"

I shrugged shortly. "[The wound is closed, nearly healed. Brock thought it was at least a week old.]"

"Let's see it." Wolvie leaned forward, elbows on knees, eyes sharp.

I pushed down the hakima waistband and lifted my T-shirt.

Wolvie traced the mark with one finger, then looked up questioningly. "No stitches. Y' had anythin' else heal faster than usual?"

I shook my head.

He looked back down at the scab thoughtfully, sniffing. "Looks like ya run inta a healer."

"There aren't any healers in Haven," I said, letting my clothes fall back into place.

"Yeah, there are." He sat back, his hairy mug deeply thoughtful, then jumped as Ro shouted and leaned toward me, holding out her arms.

I ignored her and turned back to Legolas, translating what we'd just said.

He listened, but his eyes were on Ro. "[Kimber, the babe is speaking to you.]"

"[So the woman did not tell you what sort of help would be needed?]" I asked.

He frowned at me, then glanced at Rae and nodded. "No."

Ro put her arms around herself and started to cry. Both Wolvie and Gimli reached for her, but she turned away and hid against Rae.

I looked at her, feeling like a crud, the noticed the looks Legolas and Gimli were giving me. Wincing inside, I stood up, dumping my plate of food on the floor.

"Sorry." I picked it up quickly and set it on the coffee table.

"Kimber..." Gimli started.

"I need ta think!" I growled, turning and walking out of the apartment. I was halfway down the outside hall when a hand caught my shoulder and turned me around.

"T's rude ta walk out on guests, kid," said Wolvie softly.

I just stared at him, wanting him to let go of me, but knowing that he wouldn't.

He looked down at my hands. "You take that thing everywhere now?"

I blinked as I realized that I was holding the sheathed sword, then shuddered, dropping it and trying to turn away.

"Kimber, what's eatin' ya?" He turned me back to face him again.

I firmed my lips and glared at him.

He looked back evenly, waiting, then tighened his grip on my shoulder and gave me a warning frown as I lifted my hand to try a k-push.

"Goin' other places ain't the end 'a the world, kid," he said as the silence began to grow annoying. "I've done it. Usually happens fer a good reason."

"Since when is murder a good reason?" I growled coldly.

He blinked, realization dawning in his eyes.

"You 'n Uncle Chuck've drilled it inta me since I was a baby that it was wrong ta kill. Was all that a crock?" I demanded, clenching my teeth.

Wolvie sighed and rubbed my cheek with one thumb, and I realized that he was chasing a tear. "Come on 'n sit." He pulled me over to a niche made up like a miniature outside garden and shoved me gently down onto the bench.

I looked at the gravel-pattern floor as he sat next to me, wanting to k-push a very big hole through something.

"No," said Wolvie. "It ain't a crock. Killin's wrong, 'n it always will be. But sometimes, like in a war, there'll be a case where ya gotta choose between killin' one person or killin' a lot more."

I turned and scowled at him in confusion.

He sighed. "Y' remember Apocalypse?"

I nodded briefly. I'd heard the stories.

"He was set up ta hurt 'n kill a lotta people. We tried ta stop 'im, but he wouldn' quit. If we'd'a just left him we would'a ben just as bad as he was. It would've ben us killin' all those people."

"Nobody said this guy was another Apocolypse." I tugged on my hakima belt.

"He was gonna mess up history, from what Legolas was sayin'." Wolvie turned and looked at the koi that swam in the pool next to the bench. "But that ain't the point. Point is, God forgave ya for it a long time ago."

I jumped. Wolvie had taken me to church since I was little, but he didn't talk about it, or about God, very much.

"Get over it, darlin'. Tell Him about it 'n repent, like Hannah says, 'n quit wallowin' in self pity."

I scowled fiercely at my feet. -Jesus, it can't be that easy! Killing someone isn't somethin' small like fibbing about who cleaned out the syrup bottle!-

-So His blood's not good enough to cover it?-

-Rae! I wasn' talkin' ta you!-

-I'm talking to you. Don't doubt in the dark what God's taught you in the light.-

-Sheesh!-

-Remember the apostle Paul? How many people did he kill?-

-Rae! I wanna talk ta Jesus here!-

-Then talk to Him! But don't tell Him He can't forgive you!- Rae's sending cut off with a distinct click.

I sighed and nodded, already feeling the anger and guilt washing away and turning into the relief that always comes with spilling your guts. -Thanks, Jesus. And thanks for makin' it so that I don't remember doin' it. That would be too sick.-

After awhile I looked at Wolvie and saw him studying Windcutter thoughtfully, a look in his eyes that I hadn't seen in them before. I opened my mouth to ask him what he was thinking when it suddenly felt like my awareness was wrenched to one side. The garden nook vanished, and instead of seeing green plants and the flash of bright fish I was squinting at a blurry image in front of me. -What is this?-

The blur sharpened and became a baby face frowning at me from a brightly-framed mirror.

-Ro?-

The frown changed to a grin, and a stream of wordless thoughts zipped through my brain.

-Crud, Ro, how're ya doin' this. Where's Mommy?-

-Ma.- She turned her head and I saw Rae talking to Gimli as she sat on the couch and leaned on Brock.

-Rae?-

-Ma,- agreed Ro.

-No. I need to talk to her. Um, me talk to Mommy.-

I felt a wordless reproach and was rewarded with another frown from the mirror.

-Sorry, kid, sorry!- I raised my hands in a gesture of appeasement I'd picked up from Brock. -Can I talk to her please?-

There was another jarring shift of perspective and I was staring at the pebbly floor again.

-Kimmie?- asked Rae uncertainly.

-What just happened here?-

-Ro projected a picture of you and shouted,- said Rae, sounding surprised that I was really in the link.

-Well she had me lookin' through her eyes,- I said, feeling a slight headache starting from the mental jerking around.

-She did??-

-Uh huh. Ain't she a bit young? A lot young?-

-Oh my stars and garters... Excuse me, Kimmie.-

I turned to look at Wolvie as I felt her close the link. "I just got buzzed by a four-month-old."

"Huh?" He blinked and looked at me uncertainly, then focused and frowned. "Buzzed how?"

"Ro was showin' me what she was seein'." I reached out unconsciously and took the sword, running my fingertips over the pattern on the scabbard.

"Mentally?" He frowned.

I nodded.

He turned away, eyebrows raising. "Oh boy. This could be trouble."

"Rae'll take care of it." I stood up and turned back toward the apartment.

"Wait up, squirt." Wolvie caught up and looked at my face. "You okay now?"

"I'll do." I gave him a half grin.

He grinned back, looking relieved, then opened the door for me.

Brock and the others were sitting and watching Rae stare unfocusedly at Ro as we came in. Ro frowned back in concentration, the tip of her tongue sticking out.

"What's she doin'?" I whispered.

"Attempting to communicate with our precocious offspring," said Brock softly.

Ro turned her head to look at me, and Rae gave a little gasp and swayed slightly, then smiled and nodded.

Gimli turned toward Wolvie, who'd taken the chair next to his. "This strange," he said, glancing back to Rae and Ro.

"Tell me 'bout it, bub." Wolvie leaned back and watched, a worried frown on his face.

Rae jolted again and blinked, then laughed softly. "You little stinker."

"What'd ya find?" asked Wolvie.

"She's using our link." Rae rubbed her temples. "Something like when I let two of you talk through your links with me. And she's very pleased with herself for doing it."

"So she's not manifestin' her mutation yet." I threw a leg over the arm of my chair.

"Actually she is." Rae picked Ro up and handed her to me. "You should have seen her trying to get a piece of chicken while you were gone."

"TK?" I sat the baby in my lap and leaned her against my leg, then watched her as she played with my belt.

"Her McCoy family agility." Rae chuckled, then sobered. -You're feeling better?-

-Yeah. It's not like I can remember it or anythin'.- I fluffed Ro's hair so that it stood on end, but she ignored me. "I jes' this mystery woman would've told us what Haven needs strong friends for."

"Indeed," said Brock, pulling up his legs so that he was crouching with his arms hanging down to either side of him. "And why not simply warn us, as she did with the bomb the other eve?"

"Supposin' that her," said Wolvie, eyes narrowed. "She's got some explainin' ta do."

"[Can you not call to her?] asked Legolas after I'd translated.

I frowned at him, then shrugged. "Hey you, invisible woman. Y' mind comin' 'n explainin' yerself?"

There was a hopeful pause, then Rae sat forward and listened, her head cocked.

"What is it, Rae?" Wolvie asked, also listening.

"[Trouble,]" said Legolas, his face creased with dismay.

"McTaggart's escaped," said Rae, as Wolvie's cell phone started ringing. "They just found the guard dead."