Chapter 2-Sara

As the door slides open to my room, I wait for her to go in. She gradually shuffles her feet into the room, glazing in all directions. I follow from a short distance, all of my focus on her. She looks panicked. I reach out my hand to brush her arm reassuringly. Ava gasps and flinches back.

"Hey it's just me. I'm going to grab my clothes and go change. Will you be okay while I'm gone?" I want to give her a moment to breathe and try to wrap her head around all that has taken place today. She glances at me and nods, then turns away to look at the far wall. I sigh and gather my things to get ready for bed. I slip out of the room and go back to the bathroom. I head back to my room when I'm done, wondering what state I will find her in upon my arrival. The door slides open and I see her curled up in bed, back facing me. Creeping across the floor, I put away my things and turn back to leave.

"Please stay. I don't want to be alone." I turn and see she hasn't moved from her position.

"Okay babe, I'll be right here." I crawl into bed next to her, laying as close as possible without any contact. I'm afraid to breathe wrong, fearing it will some how start her downward spiral. As if sensing my thoughts, Ava reached back and pulled my hand over her hip to rest on her stomach. The act of comfort propelled me forward, satisfying my urge to touch her and hold her. I curved my body around her hunched form, pulling her body into mine. We both held our breath and waited. After a moment, she sighed of contentment, making my muscles relax. Her breathing grew quiet, heart rate slowing.

I stayed there, cherishing this moment. The adrenaline of the chaotic day dissipated from my body, leaving behind a euphoric feeling as I succumbed to my exhaustion.

A whimper pulls my consciousness from sleep. Pain laces up my arms. My eyes shoot open just in time to register a knife coming at my head. My league training kicks in. I roll off the bed to the floor and come up in a crouch. My eyes scan the room for the threat but can't see anyone there. I crane my neck to the door way when I am tackled from my front. I struggle with my attacker while making out some of their features. It's a woman, slim and tall very good hand to hand combat skills. As I continue to block and look for her weakness, she slices my upper arm open with a knife.

SHIT, at least it's only a flesh wound I hope. I finally manage to jump back, preparing my own strike. I lift my fist to rear back and just barely stop myself from clocking Ava in the face. That's when I realize the intruder isn't just anyone, it's my girlfriend.

My mind starts to take in her state, registering her lack of focus and brashness. I realize she isn't seeing me. She has the glazed look in her eyes, seeing something that isn't even there. With this new knowledge, I flip on the light and knock the knife out of her hand. This causes a frenzy, making her swings come faster and more sporadic. I continue to block now knowing I can't attack back. Her openings are starting to get wider, and I wait patiently for the right opportunity.

When she least expects it, I duck under her guard and wrap her upper body, arms and all, in a tight bear hug. Ava struggles, fighting off unseen attackers. I pin her to the bed with my body and frame her face with my hands.

"Ava, honey wake up! Wake up, its not real! You are here with me in my room! You are safe!" I pause to see if my words are having effect on her. The glazed expression has dimmed but is still present.

Running out of options, I lunge forward and kiss her. This kiss was not gentle because she continued to fight me. After a few seconds, her muscles stilled. Her hands grabbed at my shirt while her lips moved against mine. I lifted most of my body off of her trying to give her space, but my director had other plans.

She pull my shirt closer and wrapped a hand in my hair, holding my head in place and effectively trapping me. I kiss her for a little longer and then pull back. I see love and desire in her eyes instead of fear, a night and day difference in such a short time. I caress her face.

"It was just a dream, love. We are safe in my room on the Waverider."

"It was just so real. I was fighting for my life against him again." My jaw clenches.

"No fighting, just a bad nightmare. Speaking of nightmares, I thought we agreed no more knives in bed anymore." I raised my eyebrow. We had agreed no more knives after the last nightmare I had that ended with one on her neck. We had been lucky that time.

"We did. But you left and I searched for one in the drawers. I didn't feel safe being in here. With having so little control lately, I thought I wouldn't have control in my sleep. I should have been worried for a different reason." She wouldn't look at my face during her confession. I pull her into my embrace and cradle her head to my neck.

"You are safe though. John and Nora have placed protection spells all over the ship." I feel her nod into my neck. After a few minutes, I stand back and look at her face.

"Now, let's try to get some Z's so we won't be dragging tomorrow. Can't be a Legend without legendary sleep, am I right?" I wink at her earning me a giggle. My heart swells at the sound. I kiss her head and guide her back to bed. II sit up to clean and bandage my cut, returning to her side when I'm done. She curls into my arms, head on my chest and immediately her breathing simmers down to transform into light snores.

I gaze at her. My armor finally has too many chinks in it to hold back my emotions. My tears fall and won't let up. I stay there quietly hoping they will stop soon. When the water works are going strong after ten minutes, I extricate myself from her vice grip and place blankets over her sleeping form. Once I see she is settled, I slip out of the room.

Surprisingly, the team has been helpful in staying scarce during this hard event. The ship's halls are strangely quiet. The slight sounds of my footsteps echo as I head to the other side of the vessel. I am in search of the one, well really two people who can help put Ava at ease during her transition home. I hear whispering that continues to escalate the closer I get to the lab. Inside I see John Constantine and Nora Darhk whisper shouting about something, throwing their hands dramatically as if it will bring their points to light.

John throws his hands up and spins around sulking a few feet away. He stabs his fingers into his disheveled hair, pulling on the blonde locks. I can't see his face from here because his signature trench coat's collar is popped. He swings his red tie over his shoulder with a huff and leans forward. I know he is trying to catch a smoke, who wouldn't with all the stress around here. He turns back around slowly, sucking in a puff. Just as he starts to pull the cig from his lips, I flick it away to the floor. He looks at me with shock, obviously not hearing my footsteps. I was losing control of my emotions and my training was the only thing keeping me from the edge.

"Oi, Lance! What's the big idea sneaking up on me like that?" I finally looked up, focusing on his face. He looked worn out like truly bogged down. His 5 o'clock shadow was starting to get length and the circles under his eyes were more defined.

"Had to get rid of that before Gideon did. Wouldn't want an extinguisher knocking you out when I need answers." He looked intrigued.

"What did you need, lass?"

"First, what are you two arguing about?" I turn to lock my gaze on Nora. She closes her lips tight and tilts her bright blue eyes away from mine. I notice she looks extremely pale against her dark hair. What have these two been up to? Their combined tired looks put me on edge.

"Forget about that, love. What did you come for?" John had an irritated tone. I looked back over at him. I explain the night terror episode that had just happened with Ava, shelving my inquiry for another day.

"I don't think she will be able to sleep on her own. I need your help. She just needs some sleep to help her get through some of the trauma. Can you help with that?" I plead with him. I hate sounding desperate, but John doesn't comment on it.

"Sure, when I get done here I'll pop over and whip up a sleep aid charm that will keep her calm and cease the nightmares for tonight."

"Thank you, John." I pause. "I think that mark is keeping her from sleeping." That gets both of their attention.

"What do you mean a mark?" Nora asks.

"Did you two not notice the mark on the back of her shoulder? Where she was cut and burned? She said it meant 'Awake'. He carved it into her skin. It was to maintain her consciousness during her physical moments of pain. So that when things got so hard, her mind couldn't recover from it!" At this point I am screaming, my mind listening to my words and reliving my fear from when I found out what had happened to her. Nora places a soothing hand on my back, but I step away feeling undeserving of her comfort.

"She might have lingering effects from it. That is something that will have to fade in time. The demon's magic was too powerful for a non magic wielding mortal to combat. I can make her a salve to put on it to help nullify the effects some." I nodded and thanked Nora for her offer.

"I'm going to have Gideon heal it tomorrow. That will hopefully-"

"Don't." I stopped talking and looked at Nora in surprise.

"Why not? It'll make the effects go away."

"No it won't. Trust me, it will only cause her pain if you try to heal that specific area." I could see a ghost of pain in her eyes. As quickly as it was there, she blinked it away.

"How would you know that it would cause her pain?" I didn't believe her statement. Ava would be healed and whole after seeing Gideon again. Seeing my determination, Nora grabbed my arm and told John to follow. He had a grim look on his face like he knew the secret that was about to be shared. We walked in silence. When I was about to ask where we were going, Nora guided us to the medbay. She goes over to the chair and sits in it, placing the cuff on her wrist.

"Gideon, please heal the mark on my ribs for 5 seconds and then stop." Nora gets a steeled look on her face. She pulls her shirt up exposing her skin all the way up to the edge of her bra. A jagged symbol appears on her upper right side.

"Are you sure Ms. Darhk?" Gideon hesitates.

"Yes, just do it Gideon now." The light beam that Gideon uses to heal us turns on and gathers over Nora's mark. Smoke and heat start to form around the mark making the air in the room heat up. Nora has clamped her lip in between her teeth. Tears are streaming down her face. She can't hold her scream back any longer. Just as she begins, the beam turns off and its over.

Nora is panting in air, gasping for the breaths that were taken by the pain. The whole event seemed like it took hours. John looks at me with pitty knowing the thoughts that are going through my mind.

"But how? Gideon has been healing her injuries!" My mind can't comprehend what I just witnessed.

"Yes, her non magical afflictions can be healed. But when the healing is focused on something caused by or used for dark magic, the process can be tricky. Her mark is similar to mine. The marks were made with a ceremonial blade that is meant to prepare the barer to allow dark magic flow into them. Since Ava didn't willingly accept it, Neron burned the mark, giving it a catalyst to merge with. That is partly why her effects haven't been severed. If he hadn't burned it, the lack of a binding agent would have already nulled the effects. In this case, the charcoal he used to paint the runes on her. Without the physical form and magics, they have no power left."

"So she is stuck baring that mark for the rest of her life." My voice sounds void, I see Ava's pain in my eyes.

"Unfortunately, yes. It will fade and grow smaller with time, but it will always be there." I finally look up to meet Nora's eyes. She has sympathy in them, not like John's. Her eyes hold an understanding of what Ava will soon face. Nora takes my hand and squeezes.

"She needs you. Things will get harder before they get better." I nod at her words. Then I stop and step toward the door. Just as I am about to leave, I turn to see their confused looks.

"Keep her comfortable and safe. I'll be back." I dash out the door and head to the jump ship. I can hear John chase after me for a few steps, telling me to wait. I ignore him and continue forward.

"Gideon, find a time in Star City that I can go and not effect the timeline." The jump ship door closes locking me in and everyone else who might try to stop me out.

"Yes captain. Who are you planning to find there?"

"Oliver Queen."

"Charting a course to 2018 Star City."