Love Me When I'm Gone. Chapter Five.

[random_xtras]

"We are the broken
You are the healer
Jesus Redeemer
mighty to save

I'd been half-listening to the singing for awhile before I realized what I was doing and became aware of light.

You are the love song
we'll sing forever
Bowing before You
blessing Your name

It was a good voice, deep and soft, and without any screechyness. I finally remembered how to get my eyes open and looked up at the underside of a bunk. Pushing my shoulders into the mattress, I sighed and turned my head. "Hey, Conchita." My voice caught in my throat and I coughed.

She came over and bent to look at me, then knelt and propped me up wiht one arm while she offered me a glass of water.

I guzzled thirstily, then watched the glass regretfully as she set it on the bed shelf and lay me back on the pillow.

"No." I tried to push my arms out of the blankets and was floored to find out that I could barely move them. "Crud. Help me sit up."

She gave me a measuring look, then propped me up with a rolled blanket. "How do you feel?"

"Worried. How long was I out?"

"Three days." She reached back, then set a medic kit beside me and started taking out instruments.

"Have you heard from the others?" I tried pushing the stethoscope away, but my arms still weren't listening to me.

"Mr. Logan and Dr. McCoy? No." She listened to my heart and lungs, then changed tools and shone a light in my eyes.

"Okay. The Bolthols're bit." I made another try at pushing something away. "Where's Gimli?"

"In the bunk over here." She pointed toward my head. "Angel is over there, sleeping on the floor by the monitor, and Brian's in the bunk above you."

"What about Leif?" I gagged as she stuck a tongue depressor in my mouth.

"Hanging from the ceiling in the kitchen by his toes."

I blinked, then remembered Wolvie commenting on that habit. "So everyone's asleep. What time is it?"

"One in the morning." She chucked the tongue depressor and glanced at her watch.

"Why are you up?" I tried to push myself higher in the bed and scowled when I failed.

"Gimli assigned me this watch," she said, straightening me out and then putting her tools away.

"But Cerebro's keepin' watch." I frowned. "It started when I opened the hatch in the service hall."

"None of us knew that," she reminded me shortly. "Are you hungry?"

"What's wrong with you?" I looked at her puzzledly.

She sighed. "My parents and brother are still up there." She pointed toward the ceiling. "I don't know if they're okay. And I've got a patient with probable neurological damage, and none of the skills or machinery necessary to help her."

"Neurological damage? Who's that?" I frowned. Had one of the others gotten hurt while I was out of it?

Conchita looked me right in the eye. "You."

"What?" I stared at her, feeling like someone had hit me upside the head.

She sighed and knelt, putting up one knee and resting her arm on it. "Your muscle control is nearly nil, your responses are sluggish, and your pupils don't respond properly to stimuli." Her big brown eyes looked down at me sadly. "I'm surprised your awake and talking."

I lifted my head with an effort and looked at the lump that was my body under the blanket, wondering what to say. Then I looked up at Conchita again. "That song you were jus' singin'... do you belong ta Jesus?"

"Yes." Green lights glinted dangerously in her eyes as she unconsciously squared her shoulders.

I nodded, laying back. "Then ya know He's got ever'thin' under control." I remembered what Rae had told me a few days ago and decided it sounded right. "Don't forget in the darkness what you learned in the light. Trust Him ta get us through this." Then I added mentally, -And please help me ta do it too.-

"Truth," rumbled Gimli, coming to where I could see him and giving me a 'You got it' look. "Eru never leave His [children]"

Conchita wiped tears off her cheeks. "I know. I know. But it's so strange right now... So hard."

Gimli brightened slightly. "Hard make the diamond good."

She nodded. "'God works all things together for good for those who love Him'. I know."

Gimli looked lost, but nodded. "Trust. He patted her shoulder gently. "Rest. I will watch now."

"Thanks." She smiled at him, gave me a last look of concern, then moved out of my line of sight. I heard a bunk creak softly, shoes dropping, then the swish of blankets and a sigh.

"You ben pickin' up a lotta English, Gimli," I commented.

He turned back from watching Conchita settle down and grinned, though his eyes were worried. "[I had to. You were sleeping.]"

"[Yes... What happened?]"

"[Not very much. Brian practiced his fighting skills. Angel and Conchita spoke of what could be done for you. And Leif cooked wonderful meals and worried the others by hanging from the ceiling like a bat. There has been no sign of the enemy.]"

"[No. He cannot come down here. Only Wolvie and I know the way, besides my uncle, and it is shielded in our minds so that no one can find it from us.]"

He nodded, then sighed and shook his head. "[This is a strange world. Women fight and children lead battles.]"

"[It is a world turned against itself,]" I replied softly, staring at the bottom of the bunk over mine. "[In desperate times desperate methods come to light.]"

"Desperate measures," he rumbled, eyes dark. "Why, Kimber? Why people fight their kids? Still [Men]."

I clenched my jaw. "[No we aren't. We are no more Men than Legolas is. We are different. They made us become something different. They do not realize that Eru never makes mistakes.]" I hesitated, then looked at him, feeling a rush of longing. "[But maybe this conflict between races means that He will return soon? It would be wonderous to see the return of the King.]"

Gimli stared at me for a few minutes, then seemed to realize it and stroked his beard. "[Aye. Wonderous indeed.]"

I sighed and tried to get my arms out of the blankets. "Help me up. I've gotta find the others." -Wisp? You here?-

Gimli planted one big rough hand on my chest and held me down. "[You must rest. I will go and find them.]"

"[You would get lost.]" I scowled at him.

He snorted. "[A Dwarf get lost underground? That would be akin to a fish drowning.]"

"[And I have seen them do it,]" I said. "Look, my way's faster. Help me get to the screen."

He frowned down at me and I looked back, waiting the way Wolvie used to do when one of us girls threw a fit.

"Alright," he said at last with a sigh, scooping me up carefully. He carried me over to the padded chair in front of the darkened computer screen, then held me up when I nearly fell back out of it.

"Alright now." I gritted my teeth and got my hand up and on the mouse.

"Miss Lee?" Angel Yates sat up and looked at me groggily. "You shouldn't be up."

"Go to bed," I said shortly, concentrating on getting the mouse to move. A tiny k-push finally did the trick. The screen flashed to life and shone a somber dark blue. "Crud."

"What is it," asked Yates, at the same time as Gimli said, "What?"

"I said ta go ta bed," I growled at the medic. "You can't help me with this."

She got up slowly, checking me over with her eyes, then turned and walked toward the bunks.

"Kimber?" rumbled Gimli.

I turned back to the screen and clenched my fist weakly in frustration. "There's a message and I can't get it."

"[What do you need to do to get it?]"

"Read English, fer a start." I pointed at the keyboard with my chin.

He looked over his shoulder and studied it, bushy eyebrows raising. "Crud."

"Y' kin say that again." I tried to rub my face. -Jesus? Should I call Yates back?- I hated the idea of telling a civilian closed secrets, but if it was the only way...

There was the lightest of touches on my right temple. -You know you shield really well when you're concentrating on something.-

"Wisp!" I could have cheered. -Thank You, Jesus! Thank You!-

-What's up?- Something seemed to rest on my shoulder, as though someone had folded her arms and leaned on me.

"Coded message. 'N I don't have the coordination t' get it."

-Show me how.- My shoulder suddenly felt cool.

"Can you type?" If I could barely feel her...

-No,- she said with a sigh. -But I can probably input the necessary data another way.-

Probably? I looked sideways at the empty space next to me. "Okay."

I pictured the sequence, and there was a pause. Then a soft beep came from the computer. A series of ominous pops, squeaks, and dire warnings came next. Finally there was a soft sound like a sigh and kanji started to pop out of the blue background.

I sagged with relief and gave a shaky sigh of my own.

-Japanese?- asked Wisp.

"German." I grinned at my and Wolvie's old secret code.

"What it say?" Gimli squinted.

"They're in gamma sector. Barrack three..." I felt my grin fade as ice seemed to freeze in my guts. "He's askin' if Brock 'n Ro 're with us."

I felt an insubstantial hug over the back of the chair as I swallowed down the rush of fear. Trust. Gotta trust. -Jesus, protect them, please.=

I took a deep breath. "Wisp, can you go get 'em?"

-Yes. I see where they are.- The arms around my neck went away. -I should be able to get their attention, I'm strong right now.-

"Oh crud, I didn' think 'a that. Should I send Gimli?"

There was no reply and I sighed and got my hand up to hit the return key and delete the message.

"Kimber?" asked Gimli.

I closed my eyes against a sudden rush of dizziness and exhaustion. "Oh… crud."

"Kimber, you need rest."

>"Yeah…" I spaced out for a minute, then came to, blinking but not seeing much. "Put… me on... couch. Please."

"Okay."

The last thing I remember is tripping out and thinking it was Wolvie carrying me.


* * *


-Kimber? Kimber, friend, come back to us.-

-Kimmie? Can you hear us?-

-Rook, if you give up, I'll…-

I blinked at a band of silver, green and burnished gold that seemed to stand against blackness, then blinked again and looked up into Legolas' concerned grey-green eyes.

He smiled when he saw me looking at him, though his face seemed tired and sad. "There you are. Can you understand me?"

"Yeah," I croaked.

"Wait… wait," I heard Gimli saying.

"Shut up, Dwarf," growled Wolvie. "I'm waitin'."

I turned my head slightly and saw Rae leaning over the back of the sunken couch, looking at me with that preoccupied telepath look on her face.

"What do you see, Rae?" asked Legolas.

"I've straightened out her synapses as best as I can." Rae put an arm over the couch back and touched me on the forehead. "She'll be okay now."

"That's good." He smiled at me again, then turned to look to the side. "How's Brian?"

"We won't know till we get him to the medlab," said an unfamiliar male voice.

"Brian?" I sat up and looked, my heart taking a dive as I saw him lying on a stretcher, his face still and pale. "What happened ta him?"

The stranger, a guy with grizzled grey hair and a rumpled medic's uniform, turned and looked at me thoughtfully. "He's a healer. He took what was wrong with you."

"Oh crud. Who told him he could do that?" I clenched my fists in frustrated anger.

"He did, Kimmie," said Rae. "He'll be alright after a few days in a bio bed."

"Do we have those down here?" I looked at her.

"Yeah." She turned and gave Wolvie a lifted eyebrow. "Of course. There are two fully stocked medlabs."

-Don't blame Mr. Logan,- said Wisp. -Remember, I messed her mind up a bit when I pushed her out of the link with McTaggart.-

"Okay," said Yates from behind me. "He's stabilized, let's get him to the lab."

"Right." The grey-haired guy stepped back so Conchita could pick up the stretcher and carry it out.

I turned and looked back at Rae after they were gone. "Howcome you're so sure he'll be alright?"

"He's got a healing factor. Just not as fast as Uncle Wolvie's." She slid over the back of the couch and sat next to me, then leaned against me with a sigh that sounded like it was wrung out of her.

"Get outta my way, Gimli."

"Okay, okay, don't get yer tail in a knot."

Wolvie stopped and looked down at the Dwarf in shock, then growled and shook his head.

"He sounded just like you!" gasped Rae, then sniffed and hid her face on my shoulder.

"It'll be alright," I said, suddenly bawling myself. "It's gonna be alright."

Wolvie was there with us suddenly, holding us as though we were little kids again, crying over a dead bird or a broken doll.

"Shh," he murmured, rocking us. "Shh. I know. I know."

"Brock's smart," I said, hugging Rae. "He won't let anythin' happen ta Ro."

She cried harder, her shoulder banging into my chin. "I can't hear them. I hope it's just the psi shielding. Mom was frantic…'n I feel so empty…"

After awhile we cried ourselves out, and I slid onto the floor and pulled my knees up to my chin, ignoring Wolvie's sigh behind me.

-It's good to see you up and cantankerous again,- said Wisp, touching me on the arm.

"What does 'cantankerous' mean?" asked Legolas.

I lifted my head and stared at him where he knelt near me, then looked at where Wisp was. "Didn't you say you were a touch telepath?"

-Yes. I am. Legolas can hear my voice.- I felt her lean against the side of me that was away from everyone else.

"Oh." I looked at him and noticed that he was looking beside me with a smile. "I think he can see you, too."

Legolas'smile widened and he nodded. "Yes. (I see the faint form of a maiden with skin like amber, and eyes of a solid, pure, bright blue.)"

I turned my head to smile at her and suddenly knew she wasn't there anymore.

"Wisp?" I frowned. "Where'd ya go?" I heard sniffing and a soft growl from Wolvie and turned to see him frowning and looking around uneasily.

Just as suddenly as Wisp had vanished she was back and I felt her grab my wrist and hold onto it.

"Yer shakin' like a leaf." I cautiously put my arm out and let it drop till I felt her shoulders.

"What's wrong?" growled Wolvie.

She started and ducked away, then came back and leaned against me again. -I've spent my whole life hiding. Having someone see me scares me.-

"I won't hurt you," said Legolas, reaching toward her.

"Hands off," I growled, giving him a warning look as she gasped and vanished again. Then I turned my head. -Where'd you go, Wisp? Can ya feel her, Rae?-

-No, I haven't felt her at all.- Rae shifted away from Wolvie and wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her lab coat.

I blinked as I digested this news. -Wisp, where are you? Legolas ain't gonna hurt you.-

-Yes, he will,- she said with quiet finality.

"What do ya mean?" I frowned.

-You're the only person I can touch, Rook. Even brushing against someone else hurts. Both me and the other person.-

Rae sat up, eyes wide. "But then how did you bring Gimli and Legolas here?"

-I don't need to touch someone to teleport them.-

Rae cocked her head, glancing at me, and I realized that she was hearing Wisp through me.

"So… you don't touch," she said softly. -Not if I can help it.- I felt a slight breeze and knew she was back.

"How did you find out you could touch me?" I asked, trying to see something where I knew she was.

-You bumped into me the first day I came here, and I grabbed you to keep from falling.-

"That was here?" I frowned. "I don't remember."

-No. We went someplace else right after that.-

"What place was that?" asked Wolvie suddenly.

-I can't tell you that.-

"Why not?" he growled, scowling.

-Because I promised,- she said softly.

He snarled under his breath. "Who are you anyhow?"

-I'm Wisp,- she replied. -That's the only name anyone's ever given me.-

He sat up, looking chagrined. "Yer from outside."

-Yeah.- Her voice hardened. -Just leave me alone, alright? If you get me upset I might lose my hold, 'n then I don't know when I can come back. And I really want to be here right now.-

Wolvie blinked. "Sorry kid. Ya can't be too careful nowadays."

-I know.- She sighed, sounding old and tired.

I put my forehead on my knees. -Wisp, why don't I remember those places we went?-

She sighed again. -I can't tell that, either.-

-Another promise?- I thought sarcastically.

-Yes.- She vanished again as Leif came galloping out of the kitchen yelling, 'come and get it!'.

Wolvie got up and gave him a gentle clock upside the head. "Keep it down, bub."

Then he turned to the rest of us as Conchita and the grey-haired guy came back. "Everybody listen up! You too, Elf." He waited to make sure everyone was looking at him. "Good. Now all 'a ya know about Wisp?"

Everyone nodded.

"Well, ya all leave 'er alone. Nobody talks t' her but Kimber, unless she talks ta you first. Capeesh?"

The others gave varying sounds of agreement, then turned hopefully toward the mouth-watering smells coming from the kitchen.

-Thank you, Mr. Logan.-

"She says 'thanks', Wolvie."

He grinned and messed up my hair, then hauled me off the floor by the arm. "Can ya walk alright?"

"I think so." I staggered sideways a few steps when he let go of me, then headed for the kitchen and grabbed a chair at the table.

Wolvie stood at the head of it and looked down at us all, that remembering look on his face again.

Then he shook himself. "Paul, you wanna ask the blessin'?"

"Sure, Logan. Everyone want to bow their heads?"

I did, heart racing as I realized who the guy was. The former senator of New York state, who had smuggled mutant kids to Haven till he got caught. A human.

-What's wrong, Rook?-

"Nothin'," I muttered, earning a glance from Conchita, who was sitting on the other side of me from Rae. "You eatin'?"

-No. I think I'll go case the Mall.-

"Be careful, okay?"

-Always,- she said sadly.

Rae caught my eye, raising one eyebrow.

I raised mine back, then leaned forward and looked at Wolvie. "So what're we gonna do?"

He swallowed a mouthful of beef stroganoff. "We're gonna eat."

I scowled at him. "I meant about him."

He chewed a piece of gristle, looking thoughtful. "First we gotta find out what he's up ta."

I blinked and looked around the Mall, seeing that it had been changed into a throne room. There were people with guns standing all around the edges of it, and I recognized most of the people I'd gone to school with, along with a bunch of kids from my hall…

"Kimber? What'd ya see?" Wolvie leaned toward me.

I frowned. -How'd you get that past the psi shielding?-

-I didn't. Tell him.- I felt a poke on my back.

"Don't poke me," I growled.

"Kimber?" Wolvie bounced a pea off my nose to get my attention.

I scowled at him. "He's set up a throne room in the Mall. There must be a hundred guards, and some of them are our kids. He's got some sort of mental or emotional control over…" I blinked as the
next image unrolled in front of my eyes.

"Them," I finished. "Emotional, probably, from what he did t' me 'n Brock, 'n the fact that he's got a bunch of the girls convinced he's the man 'a their dreams. But it seems like he's suckin'
the emotions outta them, too." My eyes narrowed as that idea became a certainty. "That's what he lives off! He's an emotion vampire."

I felt Wisp bump into me, then gave a yell of anger. "He's got Brock 'n Ro!"

Rae gasped and clutched the edge of the table with both hands.

Wolvie got up and went to her, steadying her with a hand on each shoulder. "How are they?"

I looked at him, but didn't really see him past the blackness in my mind. "I didn' see Ro, but I heard her yellin'." My throat closed off with a rush of pride for my niece. "Sounded mad enough
ta bite. Brock…" I swallowed as my voice failed.

-He's alive,- said Wisp. -You should have heard what he told Mctaggart to do with his job offer.-

I made my face impassive. "Brock was layin' on the floor in front of Duncy-boy's throne. Wisp says he was givin' the creep a piece 'a his mind."

Rae choked, eyes seeming to shoot green fire as the dishes rattled on the table.

"Easy, darlin'." Wolvie rubbed her shoulders.

She sighed and bowed her head, eyes closed as tears ran down her cheeks and off her chin.

Wolvie put his hand on the back of her head, his face tender, then looked up at the rest of us.

"We gotta get up there without bein' seen. Kimber, you'n Legolas take Paul, 'n Conchita 'n try ta sneak around behind him. Me, Gimli, Rae, 'n Leif'll come from the front."

-And me?-

"What about Wisp?" I relayed absently, pounding my fist on the table.

"Ain't she with you?" He frowned, intent on strategy.

"It's nice to be mentioned," I said shortly.

"Sorry," he growled, giving me a look.

I glared back, taking a peppermint out of my pocket and sticking it in my mouth.

He winced slightly and looked down at Rae, clearing his throat.

"Remember, he's linked with those kids," said Paul, leaning over to get a better view of the end of the table.

"I ain't forgot," rasped Wolvie. "We gotta take 'im without killin' 'im."

"Slave collar?" I said, looking up again.

"Have ta get it on 'im, but yeah, that's what I'm thinkin'." He started rubbing Rae's shoulders again and I knew that he was doing it to try and deal with his own tension.

"Have we got those things here?" asked Paul, frowning.

I nodded. "Kids need ta wear them sometimes when their mutations first kick in."

"Are there any down here?" Rae's voice sounded drugged.

"Got two fully stocked medlabs, there should be." Wolvie frowned and poked his finger at some tough knot on her left shoulder.

I turned my head. "Wisp, do you know what a slave collar looks like?"

-Do skunks stink?- she asked bitterly. -Show me where the lab is.-

I got the co-ordinates from Rae, and two collars suddenly fell onto the table.

Wolvie jumped, eyes widening, then took a deep breath. "Thanks, kid." He took his hands away from Rae's neck and fished in his pocket, pulling out a plastic stir-stick and putting it in his mouth.

"How did you bring them so fast?" asked Legolas, eyes scanning the room before he reached to pick up one of the collars.

-Time jump. We don't have any to waste.-

"(True)." He turned the grey plastic ring over in his hands. "What does this do?"

"Takes away a mutant's powers," said Wolvie, now leaning on the wall and 'smoking' the stir-stick.

Legolas' eyes widened and he dropped it back onto the table. "(What foul sorcery is this?)"

"Not (sorcery)," I said. "It's all mechanical except the computer chips."

"I didn't catch that, sorry." He looked at the collar like it was a snake.

"(It is a machine. It can not harm you.)" I started pounding the other fist.

He looked at me uncertainly, but then picked it up again and hung it from a loop on his belt. "Gimli and I should carry them."

I saw Wolvie do a little half grin before turning to Rae. "Can ya put the layout a th' Mall in everyone's head?"

"Yes. But it might be too hard for me to shield nine people."

-I can shield my group,- said Wisp, and I repeated her out loud.

"You sure, darlin'?" asked Wolvie.

-Yes. Oh yes.- Her mental voice was full of satisfaction.

Wolvie nodded and pushed away from the wall. "Good. Anyone wanna change clothes or anythin'?"

I looked down at my rumpled, slept in T-shirt and hakima and shook my head. "I just need clean socks."

"Same here," said Paul. Rae, Leif, and Conchita nodded.

"Good idea. Don't wanna give ourselves away with stinkin' feet." Wolvie's eyes twinkled as he threw the stir-stick away.

Then they hardened again. "So hurry it up. We don't got all day."