The three of them walked back into the Watchtower, looking forlorn. Irey walked over to the window of the Watchtower, sliding down against it. She didn't care that she was crying, and she didn't care who saw it. All she cared about now was getting back to the future. She needed to know who had gone in her place and if her mother and Flash was safe. She needed to know this.
She looked over her shoulder at the world below, wishing so badly that it was hers. But this one wasn't…not exactly at least.
Flash sped into the room, whatever he was about to say completely stopped by the sight of Irey and the fact that she was crying against the window of the Watchtower. "What happened?" He demanded, doing his best bat-scowl at the two boys.
Wally rubbed his neck, shaking his head as he shrugged slowly. "It's gone." He dropped the shrug as he finished saying it. "The time machine she used…it was used by someone else. It's not there anymore." He glanced over at Irey; sad to see her like that when just a bit ago she was so happy and excited. It was a dramatic change, but he sympathized with her. "She's got no way to get back now…"
Superboy came into the room with Miss Martian and Lagoon Boy following him. They wore their civilian outfits and looked as though they were going to leave. Miss Martian made a shocked face and flew over to Irey's side. "Irey, what's the matter?" She asked, floating to sit on the ground beside her.
"What's going on?" Conner asked, looking around at the group.
Flash's head dropped and he put his hands on his hips. "Irey can't get back home…"
"Did she try to leave already?" Conner asked with slight surprise. No one had informed the Team that she'd even left…
"Didn't she come in a time machine, or something?" La'gaan asked.
Kaldur nodded, "She did. But it appears to have been used by another. So, like Bart, she is stuck in this time."
Irey looked up at M'gann, sadness written all over her face. "I'm stuck," She said with a shaky breath. "I'm stuck in this time." She looked down at the floor knowing that what she said was true, there was no possible way for her to go back without her time machine. "I can't get back."
M'gann smiled sadly, unsure what to say.
Irey grabbed M'gann's hand and M'gann felt a flood of emotions from the girl. Her head spun at the strength of what Irey was feeling but she was able to push past it. "Irey," She said quietly. "You brought Wally back to us. I think you can do more than even you know." She felt the sadness, the hope, and the fear that coursed through Irey. She felt it so strong from her that she had to pull her hand away, steadying herself by leaning against the window herself.
"Are you okay Miss M?" She asked, suddenly worried that she'd hurt her.
She smirked, "I am fine. You are just in a very emotional state right now and those emotions you are feeling the greatest are quite potent."
"I'm sorry."
"It is nothing to be sorry for Irey. This revelation would be hard on any."
Flash came over and kneeled down to Irey's height. He smiled softly, his eyes worried for her. He held his hand out to her, "Come on Irey, lets get you to your room so you can clean yourself off."
Irey nodded and grabbed on to his hand. He pulled her to her feet and walked her out of Command deck. The group watched silently as she walked away. M'gann flew over to the group, sadly watching her leave. "There are a million things racing through her mind right now."
"M'gann," Conner scolded.
"I can't help it Conner, they speak so loudly right now. If I could cut the connection-I would." She looked at the others. "Her emotions will remain strong until she's able to calm them and think through what she is going through her mind."
"Any chance you can enlighten us?" La'gaan asked with a small shrug.
M'gann gave him a quick glare. "That is personal and for her to share with whom she likes. I do not think she would like me voicing her thoughts to any, much less knows that I can hear them."
Irey leaned against Flash, silently crying. She was glad that he walked her to her room for she might have just snuck into one of the many closets they passed and balled. She wasn't one for crying, not much at least, but this…this was different. She was stuck with no way to get back home, no way to see her mother, her father, no way. Her hope of returning to Artemis and Wally was dwindling faster than she walked.
They passed the gym on their way and as they did Artemis walked out of the room, halting at the sight of them. Shock was evident on her face at seeing Irey was still there. Their eyes locked for a moment, Artemis' eyes saddening at the sight of the crying girl. Irey looked away, down at her feet, not wanting to look at her any longer. Artemis looked much the same as in the future, only now she didn't have the laugh lines or the crow's feet.
"Here you go," Barry said lightly, holding the door open for her. "I'll have some regular clothes brought to your room so you can be more comfortable. Most of us eat at around five thirty in the cafeteria if you'd like to join us."
Irey walked in to the room. It was the same room she woke in, not surprisingly. Where else was she supposed to stay? She gave him the biggest smile she could at the moment, which wasn't very big. "Thank you Barry."
He paused, as he was about to leave. "I understand that this is hard for you and will grow in toughness, but know that we are here to help you. We'll do all we can to help you go back home Irey."
Her smile grew and fresh tears lined her eyes. She raced over to him, hugging him tightly around the waist. "Thank you so much Uncle Barry." Irey sniffled, releasing him and going over to curl up on the bed.
Barry frowned, watching her curl up on the bed and quietly closed the door. He felt for the girl and wished he knew some way to help her right out. He headed back to command deck, surprised to see the group of heroes that had amassed. Most, half of The Team stood around along with many of the Justice League members.
Artemis looked up when she noticed the sudden flash of color speed in to the room. She walked over to him. "How is she?" She asked in a whisper.
Barry sighed, "I don't know. Sad, scared, alone…"
Artemis looked down at the floor slowly, grabbing on to her arm and rubbing it. Wally was quickly at her side, his arms wrapped around her waist and pulling her into a hug. "Everything is going to be okay," He whispered to her. He was consoling both of her and himself. "She'll get back."
"Will she?" Artemis asked, looking over his shoulder at Bart.
Flash weaved his way through the gossiping crowd to Batman, Superman, and Black Canary. They were quietly conversing away from the groups. Black Canary looked up at Flash when he walked over, her eyes questioning what Artemis already asked.
He sighed again, shaking his head. He looked to Batman and Superman and asked, "How are we going to fix this?"
The older man stared in surprise, looking up at the Flash with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. He'd never seen the Flash up close like this and even now it seemed like something was off with him. Flash stared at the guy with the same look of surprise, only his was saddened by the fact that it was not Irey sitting in the seat where the man sat.
Bart quickly moved around, opening up the panel that hid the main components of the time machine. A thin line of smoke billowed to the sky. As he suspected the power adapter was dust. He brushed it off, looking it over critically, if he made a new one, readjusted the input wires and scrapped the adapter base he might be able to refurbish the machine to—
"Flash?" The old man asked, slowly getting out and looking aver the small, egg-shaped thing at the red clad hero. "Wh-what is going on?" He looked around, his eyes squinting in the light that was the sky. "Where's my warehouse? Where am—"
The older man was suddenly silenced and he was gently laid on the ground. "Old guy?" Bart zoomed around, stopping quickly in front of the man standing before him. "W-Wally?" He asked.
Wally, now a grown adult clenched his jaw, a firm line appearing and then disappearing. He glared at Bart in anger, "How can we get my daughter back?"
Well this is more of a filler chapter, which I promise I will rarely ever do. But I was really excited to write it, mainly because of the last line-loved it! But I hope you guys liked it.
XD
