La'gaan smiled when he opened the letter. There was a picture of Megan in the hospital bed, eyes open. She couldn't use her mouth muscles to smile yet, but she had almost a... smirk on her face. He showed the picture to everyone and pinned it to the cork board on the kitchen wall. Things were getting better for her, and so were things for Cassie.
Finally, Diana was home. She had a longer trial, what with being the second head of the JL, and the princess of another country. Cassie was so glad to see her it wasn't even funny. She ran into her arms and started to cry. Maybe this was a sign. Maybe her situation with Brian-and Dick-would get better. "I missed you so much."
Nightwing watched from afar as the two reunited. This was one of those moments when he wished things were still okay between him and Bruce. He wanted that father-son relationship back. Bruce had taken him in when Dick had nowhere to go. Now, he was on his own. Sadly, he knew Cassie would be one day. It was just as sad to him that he knew if she found out he was the reason Diana had been able to get home so quickly it would make his quest to win her over even harder. Cassie was the kind of woman to do everything on her own; independent and self-sufficient. Dick needed a way to show her that it was okay to want him. He knew she would never need him. But he knew she was afraid of needing him. She was afraid that he'd hurt her like Brian did. It would take time, but if he played his cards right, things might go the way he planned.
Cassie led Diana towards one of the guest rooms in the back. "It's a little far from mine, but I think you'll like it. Maybe later we can go grab a coffee?"
"Yes. And Nightwing needs to come. I have some business matters to discuss with him. Plus, I heard he likes you." Diana winked. Cassie shook her head, trying to hide her blush.
"No. I don't do players like him."
"No one said you had to do him. Just date him."
"Woah. You did not just say that." Cassie's eyes grew wide as she laughed. Diana chuckled in response.
"I'm pretty sure I just did. Still. I think he needs a drink. Especially with Bruce treating him the way he has been. Oh, this room is lovely!" Diana threw her luggage onto the queen sized bed and sat next to it.
"What do you mean, how Bruce's been treating him?"
"Every since the whole fight between them about the League and Zatanna, things have been horrible. But, Bruce still loves him enough to do favors for him."
Cassie nodded. "Yeah, Dick told me about Bruce pitching in for my case with Brian."
"He cares. He wouldn't do that for just anyone, ya know."
"He's only looking out for the Team. He just wants to fuck me to get over Zatanna."
Diana rolled her eyes. "Not everyone's Brian, Cas."
"But he is a young guy who hasn't been laid in a few years and just found out that his ex-girlfriend is dating again. He's lonely. And everyone loves to fuck minors."
"Just go on a date with him. I'll invite him to coffee with us and then let you two go off alone. I think he knows better than to do that to you, Cassie. He seems like a good guy to me. Now, suit up. We're going for a run in the gym. I need some exercise with all that airplane food I just ate." Diana patted her hand on Cassie's shoulder and gently pushed her out of her room.
Two hours later, Cassie found herself sitting at an expensive looking table in an expensive looking restaurant between two people who seemed to hit it off perfectly well. Sadly, Cassie was not enjoying herself. All they were talking about was topics involving the League and conspiracy theories and other political topics Cassie had no interest in. She found herself playing with her food, no longer hungry. Even the food looked boring at this point.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her wrist. "You like your food?" Cassie looked up to see Dick, who was dressed in a fine suit with his hair just as disheveled as usual, staring into her eyes. She shrugged and took another bite-even though she'd only had two.
"It's not bad. But it's... bland."
Both Diana and Dick burst into laughter. "Darling, upper class food is supposed to be bland."
Cassie threw down her fork. "Not to sound ungrateful, but... I don't want anymore. I don't want to eat a meal I can't enjoy. Taste wise and socially. Thank you for coming to dinner, but since I have no interest in political topics such as the ones you speak of, please excuse me. My entertainment seems to be in the clothing store across the street. I'll be over there if you need me." She dropped her napkin on her plate and walked with her bag out of the restaurant and into the store across the street. She knew she'd probably caused a scene; she'd ignored the countless apologies from Diana about how rude Cassie was being and the stone cold "It's fine" responses from Dick. But she couldn't be in that suffocating place any longer. The smell of wine made her drunk without even drinking, and the thickness of cigar smoke clogged her lungs, making her voice raspy and thin. The atmosphere inside the clothing store was totally different. It was crisp and clean, and the clothes were just Cassie's style. She pulled some random pieces off different racks, tried them on, and to her delight, had enough money to purchase them. Happily, she walked out, noticing that Dick and Diana were still inside the restaurant arguing with the manager about something.
Cassie stared up and down the street, looking for another store to wander into and purchase a few more things to get her mind off the scene inside the restaurant. She set her sights on a bakery just ahead.
But all that changed when someone grabbed her and dragged her down a dark alley between the clothing store and a tattoo parlor. Cassie tried to scream, but the guy had a grip on her she couldn't fight. Maybe she wasn't trying to fight. She felt her adrenaline kick into action, and she started nudging against him. He threw her into the center of the alley where they could face each other. She didn't know him, mainly because her wore a ski mask over his face. "What do you want, money?" She threw her bag at him. Cassie tried her best to stay confident, but it wasn't working.
"That's nice, too," said another voice, this one from behind. Suddenly, arms were around her, and slid under her skirt. Cassie tried to buck her leg back, but the man grabbed her knee. "Oh, a fighter, eh? You're gonna be a good one. I got one boys!" Suddenly, out of nowhere, five or six guys all dresses alike were surrounding Cassie. She screamed and they threw her around, touching and grabbing at her. She felt weak, powerless. She knew she could fight against them, but when the one who'd grabbed her second threw her to the ground and ripped her underwear off her, she had flooding memories of Brian all over again. And she couldn't do a thing.
She closed her eyes and braced herself for what she knew was coming. But, surprisingly, it didn't. The was a gush of air and she heard all of the guys yelling. Cassie opened her eyes to see Dick picking off each of the men, knocking them out in one punch. Cassie laid there in awe as he threw them all into a huge pile. He ran over to her, grabbing her into his arms. She tried to hug him, but he held her at arms length, running his eyes over her. "Did they...?"
She shook her head. "No.. I went to fight them off, but I had flashbacks of Brian and.. And..."
"Shh. It's okay. You're safe, I promise." Dick pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back. "Nightwing to Batcave. We need police and Batman here on the corner of Main and Market Streets. Attempted gang rape of Wonder Girl." He paused for a few seconds until Batman responded.
"Batman to Nightwing. On the way. Called Commissioner Gordon. You may leave with attempted victim. Report to Cave immediately."
Dick kissed the top of Cassie's head. "Come on, Cassie. Let's get you home."
Dick handed Cassie a cup of hot coffee. She smiled in return, taking a small sip. "It burns," she whispered, placing it on the stand beside her bed. "Thanks."
"Yeah." He placed a hand on her knee. She jumped a little. "Sorry. I just..."
"I know." Cassie nodded, looking at her photo collage of all her friends back home in California. "Why is it always me? Why can't anything good ever happen to me?"
Dick shook his head. "I can't answer that question for you. But just know that I'm here for you whenever you need me. Try to get some rest, okay?" He smiled and got up, heading towards her door. And then she said the words he'd been dying to hear.
"I can't sleep alone tonight, Dick."
He was next to her so fast she could barely blink. "Okay. I'm here."
Cassie smiled a little and Dick slid in next to her. "Can you turn off the light please?"
"Yeah, sure." Dick reached over and flicked off the light, engulfing them into total darkness. He flipped over and put his arm across her, pulling her close to him. Cassie snuggled her face into his neck, basking in his woodsy scent. After a few moments, she kissed his neck softly. "I felt that."
"Good. There's something wrong with you if you can't."
"You don't seem to be in much pain..."
"I just need someone here in case I get nightmares."
Dick shook his head, lifting her chin. "You won't have any as long as I'm here."
Inside, Cassie knew he was right. Smiling, she leaned forward and kissed him softly. He returned it, and the next thing they knew, they were sleeping so soundly that nothing could wake them up.
