Author: Danja
Disclaimer: Birds of Prey, it's characters and concepts are the property of Warner Brothers, Tollin-Robbins Productions & DC Comics.
Author Comments: Dinah uttered something (it was either in "Slick" or the pilot … I can't remember which ep :( ) about her foster parents threatening to send her "to a place that would make her powers stronger". That got me thinking: what if they actually did it … and Dinah lied about it? It wouldn't be the first time our Dinah has tried to bury a piece of her past. ;)
This is my first BOP fanfic … bear with me. ;)
The Factory Chapter One
It was 2 a.m.
Helena was jolted awake by the sound of Dinah screaming bloody murder from her quarters next door:
"NOOOO! PLEASE! STOP! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! YOU'RE HURTING ME! NO! STOP! NO!"
What the…? thought Helena as she scrambled to her feet and ran next door to Dinah's room. She banged frantically on the door.
"Dinah … Dinah! You OK?"
Dinah kept screaming from inside as Helena turned the doorknob and opened the door. Unlocked, Helena thought. Thank God.
Helena ran inside and turned on the light. Dinah was screaming in her sleep.
"NO! STOP! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! MY HEAD IS KILLING ME!"
Helena ran over to Dinah, grabbed her shoulder, and shook her awake.
"Dinah … Dinah! Dinah, wake up!"
Dinah's eyes suddenly popped open.
"What happened?" Dinah asked drowsily.
"You were screaming in your sleep," Helena replied. "I could hear it in my room!"
"Oh … God", said Dinah, her breathing labored.
"What's the matter? You OK, kid?"
Dinah shook her head and looked up at Helena. Helena was touching one of her transceiver earrings.
Oh, God, Dinah thought. I woke Barbara too.
"Dinah was having a nightmare", Helena replied to her earring.
"I wish it was just a nightmare", said Dinah softly, her voice quavering. "It was more like … a flashback."
"Correction … flashback", said Helena into her earring.
"I'm sorry I woke everyone", Dinah apologized. Tears were streaming down her face.
Helena touched her earring again. "OK. Will do", she said into her earring. She then made a beckoning gesture to Dinah. "C'mon", she said softly. "Barbara wants to see you."