Kim Ford

Kevin isn't the only one feeling helpless.

In a way, it's stronger here than it was in Milliways. There, there was Raven, and Bran, and the flash of the Baelrath; there was the belief that there was something for them to learn, a purpose in them being there. A belief that was eventually validated.

Here - here, there is only the helplessness. Helplessness, and waiting, and Paul - Paul is not a patient man.

He is silent, as the waitresses come and take their orders. Restraining himself. Silent, until they are alone at the table, and then he looks at Kim, and says only, "Well?"

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"Stop it. Just stop."

Kim both looks and sounds irritated, now.

"If something happens, I'll tell you."

And you should know that, she almost adds, but doesn't. Not all of those at this table know of the place between worlds that the two of them have visited, while they've all been waiting.

She stabs a fork into the salad in front of her with unnecessary force, then sets it aside.

"Stop pushing me, okay?"

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"Hey, hey."

Kevin holds up a conciliatory hand.

"Take it easy, Kim. You have to understand how we feel. You're our only link."

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"Not right now I'm not, and that's all there is to it." Kim sighs, absently turning the vellin stone -- Matt's gift -- around on her wrist as she does.

"There's a place I have to see. I have to find it, and it's not like I can control my dreaming. Wherever it is, it's in this world, that's all I know."

Her clear gray glance flicks to Paul for a long moment before she looks around at the rest of them.

"And I can't do anything else until I do. Do you think I'm enjoying this any more than you three are?"

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Dave - Dave, unfortunately, does not have Kevin's way with words.

He knows it, of course. But still, he can't seem to stop himself from saying the wrong thing at the wrong time - for example: now.

Confused: "Can't you send us back?"

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"I am not a goddamned subway system!" Kim snaps at him. "I got us out because the Baelrath flared, for some reason. I'm not a trained seal, I can't do it on command."

No matter what Bran Davies might have thought.

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Kevin sags in his chair, foot tapping almost moodily.

"Which means we're stuck here."

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"Unless Loren comes for us," Dave amends.

It's a little gruff, because he's feeling a little stupid. Of course, if Kim could send them back, she would have done it already.

He's only just now realized that part of him has been thinking that, you know, they'd be going back to Fionavar after he passed the bar exam.

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But Paul's already shaking his head.

"He won't," he says, quietly.

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Dave frowns at Paul.

He knows Paul is probably smarter than him. He doesn't like having his face rubbed in it.

"Why?"

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"Loren's been playing hands-off, I think," Paul answers, his voice matter-of-fact.

He's given this a fair amount of thought. He's had time to do it in, since they got back from Milliways.

"He set things in motion, but he's leaving it up to us now - us and some of the others."

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Kim is nodding, while Paul speaks.

"He put a thread in the loom," she murmurs, "but he won't weave this tapestry."

She exchanges a quick glance with Paul.

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"But why?"

The frustration is clear in Dave's voice.

"He needs us - or at least Kim and Paul," he amends, although without much bitterness.

He's okay, now, without being all that special, when it comes to mystical burdens of power. He's fine with his axe. He likes his axe.

"Why won't he come for us?"

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"Because of Jennifer," Paul answers; and it stops all conversation for a moment, including the words in his own throat.

Because of Jennifer.

"He thinks we've suffered enough," he adds, finally. "He won't impose anymore."

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Because of Jennifer.

Eventually Kevin clears his throat, and tries to get back to business.

"As I understand it, though, whatever happens in Fionavar is going to be reflected here and in the other worlds too, wherever they are. Isn't that true?"

Some part of him is still hoping the answer to that is 'no'.

It's a very small part, by now.

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"Yes."

Simply said, and with a quiet weight of calm that is unusual for Kim save when treating patients-- but not at all unusual for the Seer of Brennin.

"It is true. Not immediately, perhaps-- but if Rakoth takes dominion in Fionavar, he takes dominion everywhere."

Each word is as clear as her bright gray gaze, which moves to each of them in turn.

"There is only one Tapestry."

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"Even so," Paul adds, before anyone has time to protest further, "we have to do it on our own. Loren won't demand it. If the four of us want to go back, we'll have to find a way ourselves."

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Paul is clearly cracked.

"The four of us?"

He looks to Kim.

Surely someone has to have a better answer than that.

Surely.

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"I don't know."

It's a whisper, no louder than that, for Kim can't choke the words out past the tightness in her throat. She looks away from them down at her hands, at the ring on her finger, which blurs as hot tears fill her eyes.

"I just don't know. She-- she won't see you, any of you. She never goes out of the house. She talks to me about work and the weather, and the news, and she's-- she's--"

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