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

I stopped just on the other side of the ring of guards and stood on my toes, trying to see McTaggart. Hands around my middle gently lifted me about seven feet into the air and
sat me on a broad shoulder.

I nodded my thanks to Conchita, remembering when Noah used to do the same thing. Darn! Don't remember! This ain't a good time ta cry.

There was a tap on my slippered toe. -Listen!-

I looked down to where Wisp was, then glanced at Paul and cocked my head, scowling as I caught what McTaggart was saying.

"I know you can hear me, Mz McCoy," he crooned. "I want you to listen carefully: I have your daughter, and I have your husband. Now young Master McCoy might prove useful to me, his mind is so malleable. But this worthless, squalling brat has no use. And she will be dealt with accordingly unless you stop your futile little rebellion and give yourself up."

I saw his head turn, waiting, and pulled my hand resolutely away from Windcutter's hilt.

-Keep it down, Rook. Strong feelings are hard to shield.-

-Sorry.-

McTaggart laughed and spoke again. "Logan! Do you want to see the baby die? She will unle…" He stiffened and turned his head again. "I feel you. Come out before I lose my patience."

-Was it me?- I ground my teeth.

-No. Look at Rae.-

I stood on my perch and saw her across the way, standing beside Wolvie, her fists clenched as her hair blew in a nonexistent breeze.

"Go to $#@, McTaggart," came her voice, echoing from all corners of the Mall. "I won't let you destroy Uncle Charles' dream."

"You don't believe me, girl?" he barked, holding Ro up by her overall straps.

"You can kill her body," replied Rae, her voice eerily calm. "But that's all you can do. Someday we'll be together again."

I looked down as Brock cried out in grief at her words but didn't contest them, then back up as Wolvie put an arm around her shoulders, his face set.

"Just know one thing, McTaggart," he added, his voice echoing like Rae's had. "You do anythin' ta that pup, 'er ta any 'a these kids, and yer dead. Don't matter how long it takes; ya won't live ta die 'a old age."

McTaggart laughed. "Is that supposed to frighten me, old man? You don't understand. I'm in control here. I am the new King of Haven. And I'm tired of wasting words with idiots."

All around the Mall the guards suddenly stood to attention, then began to cast around like hounds.

-[His will is too strong,]- said Legolas, looking frustrated. -[He will sense me before I can act. If there were some way to break his concentration without endangering the babe…]-

A guard cried out in triumph and began to struggle with Gimli. Others ran to help as Rae tried to keep them off with her TK.

-How's that, Legolas?- I looked down at him.

He shook his head, long hair swaying. -He's not [distracted].-

I growled under my breath and measured the distance to the throne, wondering if I could k-push myself over there.

-Rook, remember me, okay?-

-Wha? What're ya doin', Wisp?-

-I'm going to go and grab that sorry lump.- I heard a tune start up in my mind.

-Wisp, no! You could hurt yourself bad!- I crouched to jump, hearing the noise in the Mall get louder. I felt my muscles lock up. Only Conchita's quick catch kept me from doing a header.

-Kimber?- asked Legolas.

-Get Wisp!-

There was a scream of agony and terror from the throne that echoed around the Mall and cut through my skull.

I cried out, grabbing my head, feeling the world go grey around me. Through the haze of pain I saw Legolas leap forward and snap the collar around Mctaggart's neck, then catch Ro as she fell. He seemed to slide across the floor in slow motion as the song played to its end in my darkening mind and the pain vanished with final suddenness.

I stood there in Conchita's grip, staring into Paul's concerned face and feeling the absence of something I hadn't even realized was there till it wasn't.

"Kimber?" He shook me gently. "How do you feel?"

I blinked and looked at him impassively, then pushed away Conchita's hands. "The two 'a you check Brock."

"Kimber…" He frowned.

"Check Brock!" I yelled, fists clenched.

He stepped back and looked at me inscrutably, then motioned to Conchita and spun on his heel.

I watched them walk away. Watched Wolvie, Leif, and Gimli taking the guns away from the stunned guards. Watched Rae kneel next to Brock and cradle his head in her lap. I wasn't aware of the tears running down my face till Legolas reached down and gently wiped some away with his thumb, cupping my chin in his hand.

I looked up at him blankly, feeling fresh rivers flowing down my cheeks.

"Kimber?" He bent to look into my eyes as Ro snuggled her head against his chest and hiccuped.

-Why… why does everyone have ta go away?- I closed my eyes and tried to shut out the loss, but it wouldn't go away.

"Everyone?" he murmured, voice catching slightly.

I nodded without opening my eyes. -Everyone.- I pictured all the people I'd loved. My parents, Aunt Jean and Uncle Scott, Aunt Dom and Uncle Nate, Aunt Storm and Uncle Hank, Noah, and now Wisp. -They're all gone away.-

I felt him pull me close and smelled something like the orchard, only wilder and fuller, on his shirt. "[Little Sister, my heart grieves with you. But remember that no parting is forever. Even if you never see these again in this life you will see them again. All will stand before the Throne at the end of the world, when the King returns.]"

I heard him distantly, his words reminding me of what Rae had told McTaggart.

-Someday we'll be together again.-

I rested my forehead against his chest, looking at a vista too shining and wonderful for me to focus on. All around me stood people, their faces just lighting with the joy and wonder of realizing the Truth. I knew that some of them had never even heard of Jesus before they died, others had never had the seed planted in their hearts, while yet others hadn't seen the seed bear fruit.

-He is not willing that any should perish,- I murmured, suddenly feeling the wetness of the cloth under my face.

"Not one," agreed Legolas, his voice vibrating in his chest softly. "All will have the chance to choose."

"But I miss 'em now." -I don't think I could stand losing any more friends. I've got so few…-

"Make more."

I saw Brian in my mind's eye, laying in the bio bed down in the Boltholes. Saw Conchita as she knelt over a sobbing college girl, offering comfort. -Yes.-

"Tatatata," said Ro, and I heard the skritch of her nails against the embroidery on Legolas' shirt. The sound seemed to trigger some catch and suddenly I was bawling like I hadn't since I was eight years old.

I felt Legolas' hand on my back, and heard him murmuring in that musical other language as years of hurt seemed to wash out of me in a few minutes.

Finally, I opened my eyes, feeling empty, but clean, and looked into Ro's as she snuggled with her fist by her cheek.

She grinned when she saw me looking at her and reached to touch my face.

"Come here, darlin'." I turned and took her, still leaning against Legolas. "How're ya feelin'?"

She chuckled and leaned her head on my shoulder, then thoughtfully patted the wet spot I'd left.

"Yuck." I moved my face away from it, then straightened and looked up at Legolas. "Thanks, [brother]."

"You're welcome, Gwathel." He smiled down at me, then wiped tears from his own eyes.

I pulled at his shirt, grimacing, then jumped as a sending came from Rae.

-Can I have my baby now?-

"Ma," said Rae, looking over my shoulder.

"Yeah." My arms tightened around her. "Ma. And Dad."

"Ta," she agreed, reaching with both hands.

"Come, Kimber." Legolas herded me over gently, and I gave Ro to Rae, then started toward the others.

"No." Legolas pushed me down to sit next to Brock, who was laying with his arm over his eyes. "Stay with your family. I'll go to help."

I watched him walk off, then reached over and pulled one of Rae's curls out of Ro's hand. "How ya feelin', Brock?"

"Weary." I saw his hand tighten on Rae's. "But grateful." He took the arm off his face and wrapped it around my waist, pulling me close to his side, jammed up against Rae. "What of you, Kimmie-Lee?"

I put up one knee and used it to lean my forehead on my hand. "Sad, but better." I lifted my head and watched Wolvie drag Mctaggart toward the Lockup like a sack of potatoes.

"And Wisp…?" Brock's soft blue eyes looked up at me enquiringly.

"She's gone." I shook my head and stared at an inkblot on his white wifebeater. "Even our link's gone."

He closed his eyes, a tear escaping to run down into his pointed ear.

"I'm sorry, Kimmie," murmured Rae, putting her arm around my shoulders.

"It's… it'll be alright." I frowned. "I just wish there was something I could'a done for her. Outsiders, the mutants left aboveground in the camps 'n stuff… She never got any chances."

"No." Rae tightened her hold on Ro.

"But now that she's gone Gimli 'n Legolas don't have any way ta get home," I realized.

Brock stiffened and looked up at me. "Oh my stars and garters, do they realize that, Kimmie-Lee?"

I looked at Legolas and saw him holding a crying girl while her twin brother watched blearily. He glanced at me with a nod, then went back to the kids.

"Yeah. They know. And they're okay with it." I pushed away from them gently and got up to meet Wolvie as he came back.

"Hey, scrub." He stopped and looked at me questioningly.

I didn't answer, only walked right up and lay my head on his chest with a sigh.

He stood there for a minute, then tentatively put his arms up to hug me. "Ya alright, darlin'?"

"I will be," I said, mentally kicking teenage independence over the hill.