DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. As always, I'll point out this was written over a decade ago, when, here in the UK, Season 2 of the JL cartoon had yet to air. So Hawkgirl had not been revealed as a spy, and the massive, every-hero-in-the-DCU roster of Unlimited wasn't a factor. My timeline picks up after the Season 1 finale, "The Savage Time". All my Wayback Wednesday stories are numbered chronologically, if you get stuck.

3. There are aspects of these stories that, in hindsight, I would change. However, I have kept them as I originally wrote them for history's sake. Not laziness.

PART 3

Superman flew through the morning sky, his spirits as low as his body was high above the streets.

Lois was bad. Her Parkinson's Decease had hit her hard… and it was only getting worse.

Lois was such a strong woman. So independent, so stubborn. But now… it did not matter. She HAD to admit she was ill.

He remembered when they had the tests done at the hospital. They had taken hours… he wondered how Dr. Holurt could concentrate all his time on Lois, and ignore his other patients. Still… maybe that's what his medical staff was doing.

The results had not been good. The Parkinson's was spreading. Within a few years… Lois would be totally at the mercy of the illness. And knowing Lois… she would rather die than live her life in pain.

Superman sighed. How could this have happened? WHY did it happen? He loved Lois with all his heart… she did not deserve this. THEY did not deserve this. They should have lived a long, happy life together.

True, they had. But Lois was only in her late 60s. She was always a fit woman, always looking after herself. He would not have been surprised if she passed her 100th birthday.

But now… it seemed she would not make it into her 70s. The decease would only get worse… she had already quit her job at the Planet, after she lobbied so hard to get it back. Their children had been supportive, of course, but they led their own lives. They could not be with her 24/7.

And of course, Superman had other responsibilities…

He wondered if he could retire… even temporarily. Diana had, several times – she had had five pregnancies, and obviously had taken time off for them… and now, she was offduty, wanting to spend her time with Bruce… in case his time did not last much longer.

That was the curse of living long. Watching your loved ones die. Superman was not immortal, but the years of gathering the yellow sun's rays had slowed his aging… he was in his 70s, yet his hair was not even greying yet. He had to wear makeup when he appeared as Clark Kent, to look older.

He knew it was only a matter of time. Lois was bound to die before him… but… not now. Not yet. They should still have decades infront of him.

And of course, part of him hoped he would die in battle… thus sparing him of watching her die. It was silly, he knew, but… he did not want to see her go. He was only Hum… only a man.

He stopped infront of the old LexCorp building, which was now the Metropolis offices of Wayne Enterprises. An American flag blew in the wind, mirroring the motion of Superman's cape.

He was Superman. He had a bigger responsibility than his wife. When all was said and done… he would have to let her go. He would have to forget about her, and concentrate on his duty.

He was Superman.

But he was also Clark Kent.

A man for whom the thought of losing his wife was scarier than any villain he could ever face…

/

Batman and Robin sat on the edge of the rooftop, overlooking the streets below. It had been a slow night. Just the odd mugging… one or two robberies… and of course, the now-usual drug trading.

Robin sighed. "How do you think your old man's doing?"

Batman did not look at him. "I'm worried. He won't give up… he won't rest. He acts like he's fine… but even after all these years… he still won't let it go."

"It seems he's fighting a lost cause," Robin said.

"Maybe," Batman said. "This is terrible. Jason's my brother… I shouldn't give up… but… when he left, it was a bad time. And he was the cause of it. I know it doesn't sound very brotherly… but a part of me never wants to see him again."

Robin looked at the night sky. "I understand, man. You're only Human."

Batman looked at him.

"Well," Robin continued, "You are, technically. Amazons aren't ALIENS, are they?"

Batman opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He frowned. "You know…" he eventually said, "I have no idea."

Robin's smile fell, and he took a deep breath. "Listen man… seriously, I think you should have a talk with your dad. You're the only who can."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Batman.

"He treats you like an equal," replied Robin. "Me, Dawn, Monica… we're all 'kids'. You and Diana are the only ones he considers on equal footing."

"I don't know about that," said Batman. "That would be degrading you three. I just think…" He sighed. "He's not ready to talk. Not yet. And besides, if he was, he'd talk to Mom."

"How is she?" the Boy Wonder asked.

Batman sighed again. "She tries to act like everything's OK… but I can tell she's not. I have my father's skills at reading people. She's hurting. To be honest… I don't know what's going to happen. She wants to spend all the time she can with Dad… but he keeps pushing her away… keeps pushing us all away. He's so single-minded. And then I think, maybe I'm a bad person for giving up on Jason. But…" His voice trailed.

"It's OK," Robin said, putting his hand on his shoulder. "From what I've heard, he hurt you all pretty bad. If it was MY brother, I don't know if I'd ever want to see him again. Your feelings are only natural."

Batman's expression went pained. "Look… can we talk about something else? How's Dana?"

Robin smiled slightly. "She's great, thanks. We're going to the theatre tomorrow… that is, if I still have the night off."

"I'd double-check with the old man," Batman said, "but it's fine with me."

"Speaking of girls," Robin said, "any potential prospects on the horizon?"

Batman lowered his head. "This line of work doesn't leave much time for women. At least, not when you're in it as much as me."

Robin cocked an eyebrow. "There must have been someone."

Batman was silent for a few moments. "Well…" he eventually said, "there was this one girl."

"Who?" Robin asked.

"Megan West," said Batman. "Daughter of Wally West, the Flash."

Robin's face fell. "Oh. What happened?"

Batman looked at the stars. "We liked eachother since we were kids… but she was six years younger than me… I always thought I was too old for her. And she didn't exactly like the fact that I was a vigilante…"

Robin frowned. "She didn't?"

"No," Batman sighed. "She was pretty effected by her dad's death… she blamed the whole superhero system. That's why she never became one herself… she didn't even like using her speed powers. Twenty years ago… she was about to go to college…"

Robin waited for him to continue.

"When Dad had his first attack," Batman said sadly. "And I took over. She wasn't best pleased… she had hoped I would retire with him, and live a normal life. With her. By then, of course, she was old enough to be in a proper relationship. But… work came first. She made me choose… what else could I do?" He stared at the sky, as if he could see her face in the stars. "So she left. She graduated… moved to Europe… got married, had a couple of kids. She's put the whole superhero thing behind her."

Robin looked down. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Batman said. "We all made choices. She's happy now… that's what matters."

"Did you love her?"

Batman looked at Robin.

"Well…" Robin pressed, "did you?"

Batman turned his head, and closed his eyes. He was about to answer, when he receive a call in his cowl radio. He put his hand to his ear and opened the link. "Batman here. Who…"

"Thomas… Thomas…" The signal was terrible, broken and distorted, but he recognised the voice as Batwoman's.

"Grace… what is it…?"

There was static on the other end, and Batman concentrated to make out his sister's voice. "It's…. Jason… ARRRRRGH!"

The line then went dead.

Batman darted his head at Robin. "What is it? Something wrong?"

Batman's eyes were wide. "We have to get to Bludhaven. Now."

TO BE CONTINUED