AN: Sorry for the late update guys, I know it's short, but I've been a little bit busy these days. Sorry. Thanks again for your fb, it means a lot.
This is unbetaed, excuse any weird typos and else.
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San Francisco two months earlier…
Dinah walked through the streets distractedly, when she turned her head and saw a painting being exhibited in the window display maked stop and she went into the gallery full of curiosity. She wasn't much for art and such things, but for some reason the paintings that she had been able to see from outside of the gallery caught her attention. They reminded her of New Gotham. After Gabby had left that morning, she recalled having read something in the morning paper as she ate breakfast about the artist that was all the rage in the California art world, and seeing as she was now here she decided to go in and take a look.
As she walked through the exhibit, she couldn't help but notice that there was something in the paintings, which reminded her of home. She couldn't explain it but she could feel it. Suddenly as she turned, she came to a dead stop. In front of her there was a painting that left her stunned. "Barbara!" she gasped not believing what she saw. "It was Barbara!" Shaking she drew closer and studied the painting. There in the corner was the signature. HK, nothing else, just the initials, but she didn't need to see anything else. Dinah knew perfectly well what those initials meant, Helena Kyle.
Her whole body shook from the emotion, now she understood why she felt that strange connection with the paintings in the exhibit. Barbara starred back at her from the painting proudly, beautiful. She recognized he tower, she recognized the background, those unfathomless eyes that stared back at her, Barbara's. She wasn't sure how long she spent staring at the painting, but at some point she snapped out of her trance and began to study the rest of the paintings, her gut instinct was sure, every one of them had a bold HK in the corner.
These are all by Helena! She thought in astonishment, she would never have imagined Helena had so much talent. The paintings were impressive. She retraced her steps through the exhibit trying to convince herself that what was in front of her was none other than works by Helena, it was incredible. She must have spent more time than normal at the gallery because soon enough an older woman with a warm smile approached.
"Impressive don't you think? The artist is very talented."
"More than you can imagine." Dinah said distractedly. Kate who had been the one to approach her seemed a bit disconcerted by the words murmured by Dinah without even realizing it. It was almost as if she knew whom she was talking about; worried Kate asked her a few more questions.
"Excuse me, but I noticed that you've been admiring the paintings for well over an hour. Is there one that interests you in particular? They are a bit expensive but the artist is worth it. An original HK is a great investment." Kate observed that Dinah's cloths were of good quality and she had an air of self-confidence in herself typical of people with money. True she looked very young, but one never knew.
"They are all impressive, but there is one that caught my attention, it's the one "Untitled" Dinah said, still a little stunned by the discovery.
"Oh, it's beautiful, unfortunately it's part of the artist's prívate collection, she only loaned it out for the exhibit. It isn't for sale."
"I'd like to speak to the artist, is that possible?" Dinah asked looking into Kate's eyes. It was taking everything she had to control the urge to grab the woman and take the answers from her head. She knew she could do it, but it would be a violation of Helena's trust, even though she was dying to know she had to respect her wishes.
"I'm sorry, the artist guards her privacy very carefully, and she doesn't like interviews or wants anyone to know her identity."
"I need to talk to her, it's important. It's about the painting." Dinah insisted.
"I'm sorry." Kate said, nervously, there was something in the young blonde eyes that made her feel that way.
"I understand your position, Ms?" She paused waiting for the woman to give her name.
"Spencer, Kate Spencer, I'm the gallery owner."
"Mrs. Spencer, it's very important that I speak with the artist, please."
"I repeat the artist doesn't do interviews and is not planning on selling this particular painting."
Dinah was desperate, she had to talk to Helena, she had to tell her about Barbara, she needed to know. Destiny had brought her to SF and not just by coincidence. Nothing in this life was.
"Mrs. Spencer, I understand what you are saying, believe me I do, but I NEED," she said emphatically", to talk to her, I need to speak with Hel, please, I beg you."
Kate stared at her dumbfounded; it was obvious that this young woman knew Hel, that not only did she recognize the painting, but also that it was her exhibit.
"I'm sorry Miss…" this time it was Kate's turn to ask for her name.
"Dinah, Dinah Lance."
"Miss Lance, please understand, I can't give you the information on the artist, I am not authorized to do so." Dinah noticed the omission of Helena's name.
"And I repeat, I need to speak with her, please." She didn't care if she begged; for God's sake, it was Helena.
"I'm sorry, I can't help you." She refused regretfully. The simple fact that the young woman knew Hel's identity told her what she needed to know.
Dinah breathed deeply, the temptation to touch Kate was great, but she had to control herself. Aware that she wasn't about to get any information that day, she accepted the gallery owners silence respectfully.
"I will leave for the moment Mrs. Spencer, but I beg you please tell Hel that I was here. Tell her that I need to talk to her, I beg you. I'll be at the Hyatt for two more days, Room 2345. I'll be waiting for her phone call. I beg you Mrs. Spencer, she's my sister, and I need to speak with her." She added, knowing that the woman would tell Helena everything.
As soon as Dinah left the gallery, she began to cry, it didn't matter that anyone saw her, she had found Helena. Well not technically, but she had a good idea where she was and that was what mattered. She waved down a taxi and headed for the hotel. She needed to be alone to think and wait for Helena's call. She knew deep inside that she would. She just knew it the question was when.
She returned to the hotel and ran to her room, she couldn't stop thinking of Helena, and she didn't know what to do, should she call Barbara? What?! She paced up and down in her room like a caged lioness. Just the idea of knowing that those paintings were Helena's, that she was somewhere here in San Francisco, after two years, two overwhelming years of not knowing anything about her. The need to let Barbara know that she had found her by coincidence was so tempting, but she knew that she couldn't do it; she couldn't unless Helena allowed her too, but not before speaking with her.
"Please, please Hel call me. Let me hear from you!" She begged to herself turning towards the phone from time to time. There were still two hours before Gabby returned, but she would tell her. She would guess that something had happened immediately. Oh God!!!
As son as Kate saw Dinah get into the taxi, she ran to the phone and called Helena on her cell, she wasn't sure if she was at home, but she had mentioned she would be going out to buy some paints.
"Hi, Kate, why don't you come up? Helena responded playfully and in a good mood.
"Something happened this morning." She answered anxiously.
"What?" she immediately tensed.
"Someone recognized the portrait." Kate confessed regretfully.
"WHAT!!" Yelled Helena. "That's impossible!"
"It's true Helena, someone just left, she insisted on talking to you, time and time again. I repeatedly told her that I couldn't give her any information about you, but she insisted in seeing you. She begged me to tell you."
"Who?" Helena was shaking inside, just what she never wanted to happen, what she never thought would happen, someone had recognized Barbara's portrait.
"Dinah Lance, she said she was your sister, oh Hel, you should have seen her, she was trembling and stunned by the portrait. She almost cried in front of me, begging for information about your whereabouts."
Helena closed her eyes at hearing Dinah's name, somehow she felt relieved, Dinah, she wouldn't say anything unless she allowed her to, but was she ready for that?
"Did she touch you?" Helena asked apprehensively.
"No, no she didn't, although twice she was at the point of doing so, but she didn't." Although confused by the question she didn't ask what she meant.
"Don't let her touch you if she returns. What did she say?" Helena insisted.
"She's staying at the Hyatt, room 2345, she'll be there two more days. Just that. But she was very insistent that I pass on the information and to tell you that she wants to see you."
"I see, Kate, please remove the portrait from the exhibit and bring it to my apartment tonight." Her voice sounded distant.
"Alright I'll do it little one, I'm sorry, I should never have insisted that you display it." Kate said in defeat.
"It doesn't matter, just remove it please." She exhaled in resignation.
"Yes, I'll take it to you later." Kate sighed, she knew the reasons why Helena had been reluctant to display the portrait, now she understood that her reservations had been justified, but too late she find out that it had been an error to pressure Helena to do so. Someone had recognized the portrait.
"Thank you." Helena hung up without saying anything else.
Kate hung up the phone and shook her head worriedly. Her insistence on showing Hel's works had placed her in a difficult situation, she had known her history, she knew that she must keep a low profile; she was more than aware that Hel was just learning to live without the love of her life, and now this. Feeling guilty, she hurriedly removed the portrait and put it in her office; she didn't want any more problems.
Helena squeezed her hand so hard that her knuckles turned white, her body shook from pure adrenalin. Dinah had found her, suddenly all the tranquility that she found during those two years of self exile were suddenly gone before her eyes and she didn't know what to do to stop the wave of painful memories that were now assaulting her.
For several nights, she stayed awake afraid of the nightmares that kept following her. In her dreams, she lost Barbara every time, either because she didn't arrive in time to save her from Harley Quinzel or the Joker. However, the one that kept repeating itself was the one where Barbara is marrying Wade, she is happy and smiling in his arms, and she asks Helena to leave her alone because her mere presence will make her unhappy.
During those first few weeks in San Francisco Helena roamed the rooftops of the city looking for an escape from her pain, trying to exhaust herself to the point that she could forget for a moment the love she had for the redhead. Night after night, she cried whispering Barbara's name with only the darkness as her companion, until one day she just couldn't do it any longer and she decided to bury all her memories of Barbara until the pain was tolerable.
She buried herself in her studies, her work; new activities that she had always wanted to do but had never had time for. She quickly advanced in her studies and came to a point where she had to put brush to canvas. Helena began to express all her painful and passionate feelings onto the canvas. Images of torment, sadness and solitude, images that while still dark had a hint of overwhelming hope, a declaration of her determination to survive.
It was these paintings that Kate saw and encouraged her to try to convince Helena repeatedly to let her exhibit the paintings until Helana gave in. The fact that the exhibit was a great success or that they would be in such demand took Helena by surprise, she never imagined they would be so well received. The day after the inauguration, various art critics that had been invited by Kate praised the artists way of expressing such naked emotions on canvas and despite many questions as to who the mysterious HK could be Kate never revealed her identity or that the artist was a woman. All the critics therefore had to give their praise in the third person and declare a new and talented artist with the initials HK to the San Francisco art scene.
Helena was grateful to Kate for having faith in her work, without knowing it she had given her a reason to live. She began to use the canvas as an outlet to rid her soul of the memories of her broken heart. Kate refused to have her as an assistant any longer instead she to paint full time so she could continue to create her impressive paintings. She had found the reason to pull herself out of her self-imposed exile. She began to travel to fill her heart with new memories and hopes. Painting had made her feel alive again something she never would have imagined, she never thought she would be able to be someone normal again, someone more than just Huntress so full of hate and resentment for the murder of her mother. She had left that young dark woman behind, the one that was dangerous and full of violence. In her place Helena Kyle had been reborn, the young woman that her mother had dreamed she would one day become.
Who would have imagined walking through the streets of rural Mexico, wearing cargo pants and a cotton t-shirt and carrying a backpack, enjoying the walk through the colonial city streets, so far away from the New Gotham where she always looked like she had just come off of a Parisian runway. This Helena felt comfortable with herself, it wasn't that she had opted for the bohemian way of life, when in the city, she still dressed with style, but now she didn't need to hide behind the arrogant and insolent image of the young. She was no longer the Huntress that did sweeps on the streets of New Gotham looking for criminals to exorcise her demons and to take out her barely controlled anger. In her place was a woman that was mature and centered, that was charming, sensual, and sure of herself but at the same time was finally, at peace.
However, a part of her knew that everything was just an illusion, just pretending to have found peace. It wasn't that the peace was a lie, on the contrary but that peace had been created on unstable ground, Helena Kyle had a past, and she was running from that past. Moreover, the truth and the demons that we are determined to avoid and hide away from but which eventually come to light to remind us that not everything is what we believe it is.
Wanting to get rid of the anxious energy that was causing her to quiver, Helena headed to her training room and began to work on the punching bag. For more than an hour the young woman attacked the bag with mortal precision, graceful but lethal. Just because Helena had left her old life behind did not mean she should stop training, that was something that she couldn't deny herself, whether she wanted to or not, Helena was the Huntress and she would be forever whether she wanted to admit it or not.
Much later, she showered and dressed in a pair of old jeans that were torn and a t-shirt she used to paint; she sat in front of a canvas and began to paint, searching to clear her mind in her art. When she painted, she would go into a type of trance, her mind would clear, and she would be able to balance her tumultuous thoughts. It was in this place that she permitted herself to feel and to analyze the situation from a cold but not passionless perspective. She needed that more than ever.
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