Forgiven 
by Chrissy Bennett
Summary:        Hadji’s girlfriend was jealous of a friend of his.  She 
        apologizes, too late.
Archivers:      I don’t care.  Just tell me.
Category:       A, Hadji/other HR
Disclaimer:     Lex owns Tai-Lee.  Hanna Barbera owns Hadji.  
**********************************************************

A dark skinned girl walked through the rain and the wind and the 
darkness near the Quest Compound.  The freezing droplets left dark spots 
on her silk blouse and denim skirt.  

*How could this have happened?* 

She gazed toward the lights of the nearby town and shuddered, not 
because of the cold that bit through her with every raindrop that fell, 
but because she was forcing herself to remember the tragic events of the 
week.

*I’ve been dating Hadji for five years now; our anniversary was the day 
it all began.  The Asian girl had come from Tokyo to visit June for a 
month.  That’s when Hadji had started ignoring her.  June had brought 
Tai-Lee to meet us. I was just being jealous, but it seemed as though 
Hadji suddenly didn’t know I existed.*

A tear fell down her cheek as she remembered what had happened next. She 
had given Tai-Lee a warning at school one day.  The Negro girl easily 
remembered the events as she lit a lantern in the darkness.

*I had walked to the locker that June and Tai-Lee shared.  I tapped her 
on the shoulder and waited for her to turn around.  When Tai-Lee faced 
me, I said: "Stay away from my boyfriend, honey.  Or you’ll be in for 
it."  Then I walked away.  How could I have been so cruel?*

The girl shivered again at what the next event had been.  The scene 
played in her head… for the millionth time.  Her steps quickened so she 
could complete her mission before her curfew

*The phone rang.  When I answered, it was June.  She was crying.  All I 
could make out was that someone was dead.  I wish I’d have known then.*

She was still walking.  Her tears mixed with the raindrops that 
constantly pelted her beautiful face. 

*Hadji had called.  That’s when I found out the whole story.  Tai-Lee’s 
parents had been killed in a freak accident.* 

Her steps were slowing as she recalled the most tragic event of the past 
week.  She could now see her goal.

*Her mother always wanted to go to Maine, so Tai-Lee had the body 
shipped to New York…*

By now, she had reached her destination.  The sat the lantern on the 
ground and read the.  The rain suddenly stopped, as if to soothe the 
silent figure.
        
        Tai-Lee Natsume
        1983-2000

        Keneda Natsume
        1954-2000

        Kun-Me Takome Natsume
        1957-2000

*and then Tai-Lee was killed in a drive-by shooting.*

There was a large blank space at the bottom of Tai-Lee’s tombstone.  She 
took a special marker out of her pocket and wrote a message at the 
bottom.

        Forgive me.  
        
She said a short prayer for her friend and stood up.  A few moments 
later, she saw flashlights coming up the hill.  She recognized Hadji and 
June.

Suddenly, from behind her, a voice said: "I forgive you, Tricia."  She 
whirled around just in time to see the soul of Tai-Lee Natsume vanish.

"Thank you."

"Who are you talking to, Trish?"

"Oh, hey, Hadji.  I was just saying goodbye."  She stepped closer to 
him.  "I love you, Hadji."  She kissed him, and he knew that she would 
eventually tell him what she had been doing at Tai-Lee’s grave -- but 
that day was yet to come.  For now, she just needed to know he loved 
her.  "Promise you’ll never leave me?" she said.

"I promise."

The End

(c) Christina Bennett