You don't have to say you're sorry
To look on further down the line
Into the sun
Too close at heaven
Love is fine
But you can't hold it like a...

The scents of humanity, musk upon soured musk, and the underlay of carbon fumes and rotting garbage filled Kim's nostrils with their foul presence. All about her people bustled, some waiting on benches for the next bus, some standing in line at the ticket counter like sheep herded to their next grazing pasture. The sight was nothing new to Kim, but not for the first time she wandered amidst her own sorrow how she could so love people and so despise them for their ignorance and laziness at once.

Her mission held any more such thoughts at bay as she looked down at the letter she clutched in her alabaster white fingers like it was a life-line and a curse all in one. It was rather crumpled from the manhandling of both its writer and recipient, stained in tears as numerous as falling raindrops, and bore the heavenly sweet scents of vanilla and raspberries which bespoke of the raven haired gypsy girl who had set the words upon its surface.

Dearest Kim,

You do not know how hard it is for me to write these words. No, you do know. For it will be just as hard for you to read them.

I cannot believe I write this, even as I watch it go down on paper in yet another attempt to find the right words. But there are no right words.

You are my soul, Kim. My heart. I'm dying inside as I think I may not see your smile, feel your touch or hold you again. How will I take myself from your side? I hate myself for doing this to you, to Julie, to all those that I love. But I have no choice. My duty, a promise made before my heart became yours, calls and I cannot pretend not to hear. I must go.

I wish it were not this way. I am weak and a coward. I cannot look into your eyes and say goodbye. The words would never reach my lips. Would that it were some other way.

Please take care of yourself, my beloved, and know that you will always be in my heart, my thoughts, my soul. Take care of Julie and watch out for Bea. Be stronger than I, my love.

When I reach my destination and discover my situation, at the very least I will let you know that I am okay.

There is no end to this letter, I cannot write it. I'm sorry,

Aliya

Two worlds apart, two together
Into that good night kiss away
Into that good night kiss away
One takes the hard, one the other
Kiss away

The poor letter received a bit more punishment as Kim clutched it in an iron grip for a moment, only smoothing its surface with the odd mingling of anger and serene love that was pulsing through her very being. Even The Angel was quiet as though out of respect. Neatly folding the battered paper with a soft, dry, crackling as a cold rain began to drizzle the morning air, she skimmed the area with her amber eyes for someone who looked like they had been around the depot for a few hours. Looking through the green tint of her aviators which protected her eyes from the bright light and hid the tears she could not keep wholly at bay, she went over what she had found in the brief time between waking and following her present course of action.

Are you living for love?
Are you living for love?
When the road gets too tough
Is your love strong enough?

/Kim awoke alone, her willowy slender body wrapped nude in the sheets, a fact that bothered her for only a moment as the rational of the waking Scientist's mind told her that Aliya likely just went on some sort of errand or was probably having a morning tea with Beatrice./

/Fully alert in seconds, a trait that had been with her for years as an experienced soldier, Kim took her morning shower in the Winnebago's little bathroom. She was not quite able to put her finger on the nagging that something was wrong as the steam caressed her skin and the warmth of the water revived long limbs. It was not until she sat upon the bed, wrapped in a thick terri-cloth towel that she saw the letter she had missed on the way to the shower./

/Saying the words atop the folded paper aloud "To my Dearest Kim" her fingertips froze above the white paper. She heard the soft beat of wings that chilled her to the bone, the same feeling that passed through her shivering form when Beatrice told her on the phone from Vanna's apartment "Sue needs to help someone". It was the certainty of Fate within the words, a harbinger of something to come. Steeling herself, she forced her fingers to grasp the paper and even commanded them mentally to still as she unfolded it and read what she already had an inkling she would find inside./

Are you living?
Are you living for love?
Are you living for love?
Are you living?
Are you living for love?
Are you living for love?

A quick dip into the database of the bus station though a payphone and she found the information she needed. The payphone had a convenient lapse of recording looped with a scene of open street while she worked. A ticket had been purchased in Aliya Mcceether's name one week previous to the departure date and the bus had been due to disembark the morning she left the letter. Kim did not know exactly what she was going to do save that she knew she had to watch over Aliya whether the girl had any intent of returning or no.

She had left simple phone messages for Beatrice and Rad, knowing that Bea would take care of Julie for the week especially since the far-too-adult young girl needed little supervision. Her reaction to finding Aliya's letter had been a heartbreaking faith that Aliya would return, despite what Aliya's writing had said. Moving on, Kim decided that asking to be sure of the gypsy girl's earlier presence would be a bad idea.

Aside from asking the personnel who ran the place, there weren't many prospects for finding out if a certain enchanting gypsy girl had been through recently with the constant turnover of people through the station. Asking the authorities questions would raise eyebrows and leave a description of her floating around that she did not want, especially since she was packing as much hardware of various types as a strike commando. Momentarily she wondered at how she was managing to remain as cool as she was when she felt like her heart was dangling on the end of a barbed pike, and Alan's words came back to her.

"Errin is still in there, and she's not a bad person"

Stepping towards the bus like a wraith clad in black, a shade amidst the early morning light who avoided its glare as though she were a night stalker, she thought to herself "Damn you Alan, and your numerology. How could a damned Sleeper have pegged me so right on the money? Damn you for being right."

Do you feel your head is full of thunder?
Questions never end?
Empty nights alone?
No wonder
It all comes back again

Settling herself into the backseat of the bus, Kim watched the station dwindle into the morning on her way to Reno Navada. She knew her heart would not rest until she knew what Aliya's obligation was and until she knew Aliya was safe. Confronting the stranger whose pale visage, amber eyes, and hair that reflected the constellations like a living star chart to those who looked closely, saw her Avatar, the Iron Clad Angel standing just behind her.

"Who am I, Kim?" she asked, the half-cowl of her helm showing lips so like Kim's own, and hair that was spun of the cosmos and stars.

"You are Rahtiel, Angel of the Constellations" Kim replied softly, murmuring to herself as people around her who could not understand the words shifted uncomfortably and unconsciously pulled away.

Right or wrong, Kim felt that to be the answer and Rahtiel asked "Why do you follow this path?"

"Because I love her and she needs me." responded Kim quietly.

"So you love her enough to chase after her, wind-finder?"

"I love her enough that, if I must, I will let her go" came Kim's soft reply as the Angle Rahtiel vanished into the shimmer of the morning light.

Are you living for love?
Are you living for love?
I've been under the gun
I've lost and I've...
Are you living for love?
Are you living for love?
I've been under the gun
I've lost and I've won...

[Lyrics: "Under the Gun" by The Sisters of Mercy.]