(Three)

Kimble was drifting in a warm cone of light. He knew he wasn't in the Black Room but couldn't tell where this was. It was wonderful, though. Peaceful. He could hear soft beautiful music in his ears. Such amazing voices. He couldn't catch the words, but the message was of love and hope. He looked up when he saw a shadow cross through the light, a figure was coming down towards him. When he saw who it was, he was filled with joy, but was a little sad because he now knew he was dead. Joseph had killed him.

"Sheyman!" Kimble cried. He spread his wings like an angel and flew up into the other man's arms. Kimble kissed him passionately and began to cry. "I've missed ya so much...It's been so long!" He gripped him tightly and refused to let go.

Sheyman laughed and allowed himself to be unmercifully squeezed and kissed. He held onto Kimble for a moment, letting him cry out and calm down. He was human, a Siskan and had Kimble's lazy drawl. "Hey, my good Kimble. Easy now, baby doll."

"Don' gots that girl skin no more. It wuz yer favorite, I remembers. The Clan tooks it away from me," Kimble replied, sad now.

"Doesn't matter. You'll always be my baby doll. Besides, ya looks good in this skin, kid. You always did likes it better as a man, I knows that. It's pretty and you've grown up some. You should keeps it."

"Don' much matter now what I looks like. I'm gonna stay here with you," Kimble insisted stubbornly. Impossibly, he squeezed Sheyman even tighter.

"Sorry, baby doll, but it ain't yer time. Ya came all this way cuz I had a message fer ya. It's important, sos ya gotta listen ta me."

"What? What message?"

"You gots work left ta do, butcha gotta git through this bad spot yer in right now. You hafta find yerself again. Find Kimble. Ya hafta remember what you've forgotten sos you kin find what you've lost."

"What do ya mean? I ain't lost nuthin'. I'm still Kimble," he protested.

"No. Ya gots too much anger and hate still inside a ya from Zander."

Kimble shuddered at the name and put his head down.

Sheyman continued. "Ya hafta let go of yer anger. Ya hafta let go of Zander."

"How kin I do that? Evratime I turn around someone's yellin' at me or tryin' ta hurts me. All there is, is pain an' fightin'. Don't wants it around me no more. I wants stay here with you. No one's ever loved me like you did. There ain't been nobody since you."

"I knows it ain't been easy fer you, my love," Sheyman soothed, smoothing Kimble's hair back. His touch was gentle and kind. "But the greatest love of yer life is cummin'. It's not what yer expectin' sos ya ain't gonna wants ta miss it. Butcha gots ta be ready fer it. Ya gots ta be ready ta protects that love. Keep it safe. Yer goin' down Zander's road again. This is a vera dangerous time fer you. If ya keeps on goin' like ya been, things are gonna git real bad an' stay that way fer a long time. You'll lose that precious gift of love. Ya need ta git yer shit together, darlin'. Ya gots friends now. Family. Use them. Let them helps ya. Don' push 'em away."

"What do ya wants me ta do?" Kimble asked quietly.

"You hafta play back them hologram memory files what got unlocked by the access code Seth found."

"Nnnoooo...!" Kimble whined sharply. He gripped Sheyman even harder and tried to tuck his head under Sheyman's arms. He had always done this when he was afraid. "I don' wanna! Ya cain't makes me! Please! I'll do ananthin' else ya wants!"

Sheyman continued to soothe him with his hands and spoke softly. "You hafta, Kimble. I know it's gonna hurt an' you'll be screamin' an cryin', but sometimes ya hafta remember who ya been ta knows who yer goin' to be."

Kimble broke down again. "I cain't! I cain't! It wuz so awful! Urrgh! No! I wants ta stay here with you. I kin be happy here. I don' need nuthin' else!"

Sheyman took Kimble's head in his hands and tipped his chin up to look at him. He smiled at Kimble and kissed him gently on the lips as he wiped his tears away. Sheyman laughed. "Ya always were a stubborn one. But you ain't gonna git yer way this time, Kim. This is jus' too important. - An' it's fer yer own good. Lot's of others are countin' on ya."

"Why? Them files ain't nuthin' but trouble. S' why they wuz locked away in the first place. I cain't go there again. I don' wants ta be Zander no more!"

"It's only fer a little while. The pain'll come an' you'll see where ya need ta be again. This is important, Kimble. Ya gots a job ta do. A vera important one."

"Why me?" Kimble whined, still sobbing.

"Cuz yer sumpthin' special. I've known it since I first saw ya. Ya haves a gift, Kimble. Yer so special, baby doll, I ain't even gots the words. You kin see inside a folks an' see what they want an' need. I always toldja it would be a waste not ta shares it. Now ya gots some new powers, too. That's good cuz yer gonna need all the skills you kin learn. Learn 'em well. Learn from anaone ya can. Be strong. Remember the lessons I taught ya. Do this fer me. Do it fer yerself."

"Nnnooo...!" Kimble gently bumped his head against Sheyman's and rubbed it back and forth in denial. "I cain't do it! I won't!"

"Yes ya can an' ya will. You'll be fine. You'll see."

"What kin I do? I cain't even watch over Fallen an' the kid," he complained bitterly. "All I do is fuck up all the time."

"Ya worry too much. You'll know whatcha gotta do cuz an angel's gonna come. You gots a job ta do and you'll know as soon as ya sees her what that's gonna be. As fer takin' care of yer Fallen... well, ya did th' best ya could considerin' how badly the deck wuz stacked against ya. She's got some issues of 'er own ta work out. Yer brother will see to that, don't you worry. You've strayed a little from the path, but you'll find it again. Now, Kimble. Do what I asked ya ta do. I hafta go."

"No! I cain't lose ya again!" Kimble sobbed. "Not twice! Not again, please!" He broke down again.

"Kimble, listen ta me. Ya ain't never lost me. I've always been here. I'm always lookin' out fer ya. I'll be waitin' here fer you, no matter how long it takes. I won't ever ferget ya. Not never. I loves ya, Kimble. I always have."

"Nnnooo!" Kimble bawled, unable to control his distress. Tears streamed from his eyes and his body shook from the pain.

"Don' ferget what I taught ya, kid. I hafta go now," Sheyman lightly touched Kimble's forehead with his finger. "Remember." he whispered.

"No!" Kimble screamed as the files started to play back inside of his head. He reached out, but clutched only emptiness, Sheyman was gone. "Don' leaves me! FATHER!"