Primal Instinct
A Birds of Prey Story
(TV-Verse; H/B)
By Enginerd
Chapter 10 - Break Down
"Hel?" Barbara called out as she looked around the oddly quiet clock tower.
"In the gym." The response surprised her. As she rolled towards the gym she felt something was off.
"Helena?" She called as she entered what looked like a war zone. "My GOD, what happened?" She asked as she moved towards Helena, who was uprighting the weapons rack with a groan.
"Meta-me came by," Helena said sarcastically with a tired sigh.
"She attacked you?" Barbara said with alarm as she took stock of Helena's latest injuries.
"We had a . . . discussion. One that involved claws and sais," Helena said.
"Come on, let's get you patched up," Barbara said firmly.
"Again," Helena said with a heavy sigh.
/BoP\
"Hel, what happened?" Barbara asked softly as Helena sat on the edge of the bed. Helena stared at the small metal basin as Barbara submerged the washcloth in the water and began to clean her wounds.
"She came, got angry, and left," Helena mumbled, hissing as Barbara dabbed on antiseptic.
"Sorry," Barbara said with a wince. "What got her so angry?" she asked softly, applying the antibacterial cream to another set of claw marks. Not hearing an answer, Barbara looked up from the wound to see moisture forming in the young woman's eyes. "Hel?"
"Everything is so fucked up," Helena said, angrily wiping an unwanted tear from her eye.
Barbara looked at her, feeling helpless, unable to imagine what she must be going through. Pushing down her incredible curiosity and the plethora of questions at the tip of her tongue, Barbara instead offered what little comfort and quiet support she could. "This is the last one," Barbara said softly, gingerly moving the shredded top aside to expose the marks on her stomach. "Lie back. I'm going to get some clean water and more dressings. I'll be right back," she said, getting a sluggish nod from Helena, who complied.
Barbara returned quickly and silently continued to gently wash the cuts, finding the act of tending her wounds oddly comforting, knowing at least she could do this for the young woman.
After a few quiet moments, Helena broke the tense silence with a quiet question. "Was I always an angry person?" She asked, staring at the ceiling.
Barbara looked up, startled. "No, Helena. You had a temper and you could get very angry. But no. You were not an angry person. You are a loving young woman who cares about others, even if you had trouble admitting that," she offered, then continued to clean the wound.
The quiet stretched on as Barbara applied the salve.
"She said . . . ," Helena said softly and paused.
Barbara's ears perked up though she forced herself to focus on applying the bandage, not grilling her former ward.
"She said we fought about a lot of things," Helena finally offered, her moist blue eyes still staring at the ceiling. "Kind of makes me wonder if I really want to go back to that," she said uneasily.
Barbara looked at her in shock, not having anticipated Helena might not want to return to normal. "It's . . . not like you have to decide now," she said hesitantly. "I still don't know how to . . . fix this," she added, feeling the situation just become more daunting.
/BoP\
After Helena went to bed, Barbara nursed a mug of tea as she sifted through the latest research papers on genetic engineering. She placed her mug down with disgust at her inability to focus on the reading. Not that she was close to finding anything helpful. Each paper Delphi called up from her search parameters seemed to concentrate on small genetic manipulations to enhance the resistance of crops to disease or drone on about "exciting" new DNA information from small-scale laboratory work. She was almost tempted to enter "Meta Zapper Thingy" just to see what Delphi would do with that.
Rubbing her eyes, she rolled back from Delphi and headed for the balcony and some fresh air. She honestly didn't expect that Helena might not want to return to her metahuman form. While she had always seemed to enjoy her abilities, the human Helena had no recollection of them. Her only experience with her meta abilities were unfortunately directed at her in a painful way. Barbara frowned, wondering why Helena's metaside would physically fight her human side.
She looked out over the skyline, hoping to see the metabeing Helena. Besides the not-so-trivial matter of needing both Helenas, which she knew was necessary to accomplish the merging even without knowing "the how," she had so many questions for the metabeing.
From what Helena relayed, she felt angry . . . and alone. But she didn't have to be alone, Barbara sighed sadly, wishing she would just come home. But something had been keeping her away. And without understanding that, she had no idea what it would take to make her want to come home.
/BoP\
In Helena's sparse apartment above the Dark Horse bar, she curled up on her bed, trembling. The deep throbbing bass of the music below seemed to aggravate her pain. The metabeing glanced at her hands, which she clenched into fists, angry at her inability to keep them from shaking. It was getting worse, she knew with a sinking feeling.
/BoP\
"I'll have a latte," Dinah said energetically to the waiter who smiled, then looked at Helena, who sighed and said flatly "milk."
"Dinah? Helena?"
Helena turned to see a handsome man approach their table.
"Wade . . . I mean Mr. Brixton," Dinah said with surprise.
"Since we're not in school, I'll let that slip," he joked then looked at Helena and her piercing, critical gaze. "You don't remember me, do you?"
"Sorry. No," Helena said neutrally.
"Well, you're not the first woman who didn't remember me," he joked, surprising Helena with his self-depreciating humor. "I hope things are going all right?" He said cautiously, eyeing her bruises and cuts with a wince.
"I guess they could be worse," Helena offered, though she couldn't think how. From where she sat, things pretty much sucked. Wade smiled with amusement, making him even more handsome, she thought with annoyance.
"Well, I'll leave you ladies to enjoy your day. Take care, both of you," he said, getting twin nods.
Dinah remained quiet and bit her lip as she toyed with a sugar packet. She looked at the saying on it and frowned. It's always darkest before the dawn. Great.
"So. That was Wade," Helena said absently as Dinah shifted uncomfortably and quickly shoved the sugar packet and its unwanted nugget of wisdom into the small container.
"Yeah," Dinah said with a weak smile.
"He's really . . . nice," Helena said, watching the man disappear into the crowd. He looked like he worked out too, she thought critically.
"Yeah. So! I wonder where that cute waitress went," Dinah asked, wanting to change the subject.
"Gwen just graduated - I would hope she got a better job," Helena said, glancing out at the street at the oblivious citizens of New Gotham. There was a dangerous undercurrent of crime that was ready to pull them under at any moment. And they didn't have a clue, she thought morosely.
"Gwen? You know her name? You know she graduated?" Dinah asked with concern.
"We bumped into each other when I went to my apartment the other night, you know, the FIRST time I got the crap beat out of me? She gave me her number, a lot of good that will do now," Hel said with a heavy sigh.
"What's wrong with the number?"
"Nothing's wrong with the number," Helena said with exasperation. "It's just I never called her and too much time has passed," Helena said as the milk was placed down in front of her and a latte in front of Dinah.
"Shouldn't I be the judge of that?" Gwen said with a grin, surprising the two women.
"You know, I should go to . . . well, over there. Away from you two," Dinah blurted with awkward honesty as she picked up her latte and left for a distant table.
"Hi," Helena said with a hopeful smile.
"I don't mean to be rude but - what happened to your face?" Gwen said with concern.
"I was mugged?" Helena said with a wince.
"Oh my god. Are you all right?" She asked, sitting down and inspecting the bruised eye that was less purple and more yellow now.
"I'm healing. You should see the other guy," Helena said, then joked. "Not even a scratch."
Gwen looked at her with mild amusement. "Well, if I had a choice, I would prefer you as a lover over a fighter any day," she said, causing Helena's eyes to widen at the bold comment.
"Oh . . . Uh, why are you still here? Decided your doctorates are great - but serving coffee and milk is your true calling?"
"Hardly. Just helping out a friend and I'm off now. Care to go for a walk?" Gwen asked, eyeing Helena.
"I'd love to," Helena said. "Let me tell Dinah she's on her own."
"She could come with us," Gwen offered graciously with a shrug.
"Not a chance," Helena said, causing a pleased grin.
/BoP\
"So I am now working here . . . for my Dad," Gwen said with a bit of embarrassment, pointing to one of the pictures on the wall as they entered an impressive glass and chrome building.
"He's a genetic engineer?" Helena asked, glancing at the picture of the distinguished looking man, then around the modern building with interest.
"Yep. And one of the reasons for my interest in the field. He is a Vice President of research at Garrow Industries."
"A brainy family. Wow."
"No cracks about nepotism?' Gwen asked uneasily.
"I take it people are giving you a hard time."
"Not outright, thankfully," Gwen said, then smiled at the guard behind the front desk as she showed her badge and signed them in.
"Ma'am, do you have some ID?" the guard asked Helena, who quickly pulled out her wallet and showed him her driver's license.
"Thanks. Can't be too careful these days. The company had some equipment stolen a couple weeks ago. They'll steal the shirt off your back if you sit still long enough," the guard grumbled.
Helena looked at the guard and Gwen curiously. "What did they take?"
"Lab equipment," the guard said again, looking at her as if she were a bit slow.
"Very expensive lab equipment from what my father said," Gwen said.
The lights flickered, causing the guard to sigh and pick up the phone. "Hey, George? It's Dan, the lights are acting up again. Oh. All right. You'd think New Gotham Electric would be a bit more reliable. Yeah. Bye," he said, then hung up.
"Any thing wrong?" Gwen asked.
"We've been experiencing power interruptions for a few hours now. Electric company says it's unanticipated usage. But it's not like it's smoldering out there and people need their air conditioning . . . .," the guard complained, then looked at Gwen sternly. "Make sure you escort her at all times," he said handing the badge over to her.
"I won't take my eyes off her," Gwen said with a smirk, then clipped the badge on Helena. "Congratulations! You are my first guest."
"Cool. Am I going to see your equipment?" Helena asked, waggling her eyebrows.
"If you're lucky," she said softly into her ear and headed to the elevator. Helena quickly followed.
Eager lips descended on Helena's as the elevator doors shut.
/BoP\
When the elevator doors opened, Dinah marched out, fuming. Everything was just screwed up! And what was even more screwed up was that NO ONE seemed to acknowledge how screwed up everything was!
Barbara looked at her curiously. "What's wrong?"
"What's NOT wrong?!" Dinah said bluntly. She had vowed to stay out of their personal business - even if it was all screwed up. She kept hoping that when Barbara got a clue, which she knew she would eventually, the path would be clear for Helena to finally say something. But if Helena was off getting cozy with a new girlfriend, one who appeared to be much more serious than her typical boy-toy or bimb-ette . . . she might just have to say something!
Seeing patient, but tired green eyes on her, Dinah sighed. Not today.
"So, any new robberies?" Dinah said, changing the subject, joining Oracle at her computer.
"No. But there have been some unusually high power usages on 4th and Merchant Street. They are causing fluctuations on the grid in the surrounding neighborhoods."
"Should I check it out?" Dinah said, eager to do something productive to help Helena, even if she was busy screwing up her life.
"Eh . . . I don't want you going alone," Barbara said.
"But we haven't had any leads, in like, forever! Come on, Barbara - I'll be careful. Promise. And you'll be giving me guidance which I, for one, have no problem following. You know as well as I do that we need to have a break and this is the closest thing to an actual lead we have had," Dinah rapidly blurted without taking a breath, which made Barbara wonder if that ability was due to her metapowers - or just being a teen.
"All right," she said reluctantly, knowing Dinah was right. They hadn't had a good lead in a long time.
"Cool," Dinah said with a big smile and quickly left.
Barbara sighed, suddenly wondering where Helena was.
/BoP\
"So this is your lab?" Helena said, looking around the area with interest. There was something sexy about a beautiful, smart woman surrounded by lab equipment and powerful comput . . . . Helena silently cursed her thoughts that drifted so easily back to the clock tower.
"Yep," Gwen said, slipping her arms around Helena from behind, and pulled her into a hug. "I'm working with three others on a project that will take my Doctoral research to the next level," she said softly into her ear before kissing her earlobe.
"Really? Isn't that . . . unusual for a recent graduate?" Helena said with a smile, turning around in her arms and stepping back a bit.
"I guess it pays to have family on the research board," she said, eyeing Helena almost in challenge.
"I don't think a company would risk any money on a pet project of one of their Vice Presidents. No matter how persuasive his beautiful and brilliant daughter is," Helena countered, pleasing the young woman, who always seemed to expect the worst. "So what are you working on?"
"You're really interested?" Gwen asked, once again surprised by the brunette.
"Yeah. I mean, I may not understand what the hell you are talking about but . . . I'd really like to know," Helena said honestly.
Gwen smiled warmly. "You are something else, Helena Kyle," she said softly, leaning in for a gentle kiss. "What do you know about the 21st chromosome?" she suddenly quizzed and pulled Helena's hand, leading her to her computer.
"It can legally drink?"
Gwen rolled her eyes then continued. "Are you familiar with the genetic disorder called Down's Syndrome?" she said, pulling out a chair for Helena as she turned on her computer screen.
"Yeah, a little," she said, sitting down. "People with it are academically slow, requiring special education and, don't they have distinctive features?" Helena said uncomfortably, not sure how politically correct she was.
"Yes. Of my family of ten siblings, two had Down's Syndrome," Gwen said, pointing to the family picture over her computer. The look of horror that filled Helena's face filled Gwen with great disappointment.
"Just how many bathrooms did you have growing up?!" Helena asked with great concern, causing Gwen to laugh.
"Two and a half. And thank GOD for the half," Gwen said, shaking her head with a big smile on her face. Helena Kyle was something else.
"You said . . . two siblings had Down's Syndrome?" Helena asked gently, getting an uncomfortable nod from the young woman.
"My oldest sister, Kathryn, died two years ago. She drowned rescuing a toddler who was caught by an undertow. She saved him, but they couldn't revive her. She was one of the kindest people I have ever known. Such a pure, unselfish heart. Like my sister Grace. It's amazing that with all the difficulties they lived with - the social rejection because of their appearance, and the struggle day-to-day just to keep up with things that we take for granted -they could always enjoy life and always give of themselves. They've helped me to not take the simple things for granted."
Gwen fell silent as she remembered.
"So how does that all fit in with your work?" Helena asked, getting a smile.
"The genetic defect occurs when there is the presence of all or part of an additional 21st chromosome. Geneticists call it trisomy 21," she explained, showing a graphic of the defect on her computer screen.
"And?" Helena still wasn't following.
"Well, I've found a way to mark and isolate the extra 21st chromosome in mouse embryos. I've also been able to extract the defect without damage to the remaining chromosome. Unfortunately, I could never get the embryos to survive long after the splicing. But that's what we're working on now. I think before the year is out we will successfully extract this defect from mouse embryos and get them to grow into healthy baby mice," Gwen said with enthusiasm.
Helena took an uneasy breath. "Could any . . . genetic mutation . . . be extracted by your method?"
"That's my hope someday. It's theoretically possible to mark, isolate, and extract any part of the gene. And once we can do that . . . just think, no one would ever have to live with a genetic defect again."