digi-gal-rox: another chapter up! happy readings!
CHAPTER 3
"Thanks for coming, Leslie."
"No problem, Barbara." the elderly woman sighed. "Afterall, she's all you have left."
"I don't understand why she said her name was Susan. How can she not remember me?" the red-head hugged herself. The elderly woman sighed sadly.
"Amnesia is the only thing that can explain this. The blast may have been bigger than witnessed."
"Than there could be a possibility that Dick and everyone else is alive." Leslie hung her head.
"Barbara..."
"I know." the red-headed mumbled. "Impossible." she paused, "So what do we do know?" Leslie Thompkins smiled at the saddened mother.
"I can't say for sure. Who knows how long she's been like this. But she will remember. When the time is right." she nodded her head slightly.
"She... it's just that she looks so much like Dick. I...-I don't know if I can handle this."
"You're not alone, Barbara." Leslie said gently. "You have your team. And me." Barbara nodded, before leaving the room.
Gotham. It was the darkest city known to men. And who knew how long it'll stay like this. A world living in darkness very much what Bludhaven once was. Sighing heavily Danny starred out the hotel window. It was obvious that something was troubling him. Something was definately missing. He stared at the darkened sky. Waiting. But what was it exactly he was waiting for? A sign? His wife? That's when he noticed some mysterious figure walking past, in what seemed like an important business. He had to find this Oracle person. She was the only person who could find the answers he was looking for. But the question is, where was she?
"Watch where ya goin'!"
"Sorry," he quietly mumbled. His eyes scanned the area, hoping to see a familiar face, but as of yet, nothing seemed familiar. But he knew he had been here.
"Will Batman save us, mummy?" he heard a small child ask.
"No honey." the mother responded sadly, "Batman died along time ago, saving us."
"Who will save us, mummy?"
"The Oracle will." the child nodded slightly, before both mother and child rushed into their tattered homes.
"Well, well," a voice sneered from behind him, "What do we have here?" Danny turned around slightly, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Someone, not following the rules, huh?"
"Rules?"
"By the looks of it, a newcomer as well." another smirked. "There's a payment for coming here, mate." he added, advancing towards him. Before they could make a move, a flock of bats flew past, followed by a gliding figure.
"What's going on 'ere?" a new voice joined the scene.
"Well, if it ain't one of Oracle's people." the new guest smirked. "What do they call you know?"
"That's for me to know and for you to find out."
"Reports are coming in," Summer Gleeson reported, "That former Cheif Rojas is responsible for this new world. It seemed that he was black-mailed, during the time of the war between the heroes and villians, causing the explosion that took place, fifteen months ago, from this day." In the background, the new Commissioner was standing next to Captain Ellen Yin, as they investigated yet another fire. Shaking her head slightly, Oracle switched of the TV, before checking on the sleeping girl.
"We're all thinking the same thing." Dinah said quietly. "How did she survive it? Is Nightwing really out there? And what about the man responsible for this?" Oracle looked at her slightly.
"We thought the war was over when the explosion took place. We were wrong. It was just the beginning." Dinah watched sadly as the woman headed back to the monitors. "Check up on Ben will you? He thinks he's all that. But he still has much to learn."
"Something's not right," Stone murmured. Oracle looked up slightly, starring at the monitor, somewhat lost.
"What do you mean?"
"Call it intuition, but I have a feeling we're about to see some old faces again." Oracle frowned slightly. "I don't think we can hold them up much longer, Oracle."
"I know." she paused, "Any old signals going off?"
"Only Superman's." Stone replied, "We only just found his body. Seems he really is indestructable." her eyes fell.
"I see..."
"We will keep looking, Barbara." Stone said quietly. "We will find them all. Including your husband."
"I get this funny feeling that he doesn't want to be found."
"He doesn't?" she scoffed slightly.
"I remember him always saying that the reason he was always cold towards me was to protect me... before we got back together..." Stone looked away uneasily. He didn't know what to say. "I have a feeling that he's doing that again."
"So tell me, where will you go?" she asked.
"Somewhere. Somewhere that's not here." he replied.
"What about-" she started.
"No!" he cut in, "I can't."
"Why not?"
"I just can't." he looked away uneasily. "Not after what I've done." she looked at him hard, before touching his cheek softly.
"What about me?" his features softened. She smiled at him. "Do you love me?" in response he kissed her.
He looked out the window. His unshavened face and messy hair had grown accustomed to him. Turning around slightly, he smiled at the sleeping figure on the bed. She had always been there for him, since the new world had started. She nursed him, stood by him, without a words complaint. And he loved her. Starring back out the window, he noticed a lonesome figure walking past, carrying a child on her back, being followed by another. He was about to shout out to her, but it seemed that she knew how to take care of herself. Pulling the blinds down, he climbed back into bed.
"Damn it," she muttered, kicking the guy as hard as she could. The man smirked.
"Girl knows howdda play rough."
"You got that right," she grinded her teeth. "Poke the bear, and you'll get more." kicking him once more she took off, before the guy had a chance to recover.
"This way!" a voice she thought she'd never hear call out. Hesitating, she obeyed. Running into a run down apartment she realised there were more of them.
"Selina, thought I'd never see you on this side." she greeted.
"I should say the same thing to you, Gordon... or should I say Grayson?" Barbara's eyes fell. "Sorry."
"No. It's O.K. I have to accept that he may never come back." she observed the room. "How many of you are there?"
"Just enough." Selina hastily replied. Barbara nodded slightly, placing the sleeping child on a sofa.
"I'm still wondering why you called out to me."
"You look like you could use a hand."
"I need a favour." Barbara announced quietly, "Seeing that my chances of heading to my father is flat, can you do it for me? I have to head back."
"Wait, you're-"
"Yep."
"Thought you never wanted to head back to that life," the older woman smirked.
"With our world coming like this? I had to. No. I wanted to." Selina nodded slightly.
"I'll drop her off. Under one condition." Selina said slowly, "Let me help."
"So where is he?"
"Went missing after the job."
"Well what ever it is, you have to find him. And get rid of all these new threats."
"Ofcourse."
© Copyright 2007 digi-gal-rox (FanFiction ID:542420). All rights reserved. Distribution of any kind is prohibited without the written consent of digi-gal-rox.
digi-gal-rox: that's it for now. happy readings!
