The BLTS Archive - Blood of the Lamb
Third in The Pohutakawas Are Bleeding series
by Amiroq. aka Gypzy (fitchett@netaccess.co.nz)

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Disclaimer: Character theft? Me? Never!

(c) Amiroq. aka Gypzy, October 2001

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I haven't been to China in a year, almost exactly. Today I'm armed
with a map, but it still  takes me a good half hour to find the place
once I'm in the right part of town. It's not very big, which still
surprises me - I don't know, I guess it seems cemeteries in Beijing
should really be huge places - but makes it easier to find Harry. He
doesn't look up as I walk over. I sit down next to him and look at the
headstone: "Stella Mai Kim, RIP".

"I'm sorry," he says finally.

I nod. "Me, too." No point in bearing grudges. "B'Elanna's pregnant."

"That's great."

Funny, he doesn't sound too excited about it. "It's a boy," I
continue. "We're thinking of calling him Rhys Harrison. After his
godfather."

He smiles a little, now, and looks over at me. "I still say Rhys is a
wussy name for a kid."

"And I still say I like it. And this one's mine, so you have no right
to complain."

He looks back at the slab of stone in front of us, and for a moment
I'm scared I've ruined the fragile cease fire between us. Then he
says, "I've got baby stuff in the basement if you need anything."

He's letting go, laying the past to rest, and I nod, even though we
could just as easily get stuff from my mother. "Thanks."

We sit in silence for a few more moments, then he opens his bag and
pulls out something brown and furry. After an instant of confusion, I
recognise it - it's the kiwi B'Elanna brought over last time we were
here, the one she gave to Stella. He hands it to me. "I don't need
this anymore."

I'm hit by a sudden memory, Stella lying pale in that hospital bed,
throwing the kiwi and her teddy together in a mock fight, the kiwi
screaming out its name. I close my eyes, wishing I'd got to know her
better. I was too proud. "Bee told you I was coming?" I guess.

There's a pause, then he mutters, "Can't see me nodding...", barely
audible, before saying louder, "Yeah. She called me this morning.
Didn't mention Rhys, though."

That's Harry all through. Kid won't even be born for another seven and
a half months, and already he's calling him by his name. Most people
just say 'it' or 'the baby'. "I told her I'd  tell you."

"And you came all the way to China to do it."

"I wanted to say it in person."

No words.

He stands up eventually, looks at me for a moment, then says, "Take
care of this one" before turning and walking away.

I will, Har. You don't need to worry about that.

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The End