Loss of Control

Chapter 12 Getting Back on Our Feet

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the original storyline that I am spinning off of. They are property of DC comics and probably a lot of other people I'm not aware of to credit.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for the reminder that the Batman in Justice League follows the Batman Animated series. Opps I completely blanked. ^^

Three days, and he hadn't come back… Diana stood now in the darkened streets of Gotham city. It was strangely quiet, the only light coming from a couple unreliable street lamps that flickered in different rhythms. Wonder Woman looked around her cautiously – waiting. She didn't have to wait long as a baterang came down striking the ground where she had stood only moment ago. Jumping to the roof top nearby she saw him, "Found you." She hissed as she flew straight at the Dark Knight fists forward. Batman was quick to grab a hold of her and kick her in the stomach, rolling on his back to further propel her past him.

Diana slammed into the roof top entrance on that particular building. Standing back to her feet she dusted the rubble off herself and once more faced her opponent. During the three days of bed rest, Diana's meta human abilities had healed her, she wondered if Apollo had also had something to do with it, but she wouldn't hold her breath. He may be one of the gods she served, but they tended to be inconsistent in their aide… Her hair had also been restored. Looking at her now you'd have no idea of all the trouble and pain she had been in recently.

A bola came flying at her feet out of the darkness, taking to the air once more the weighted cord crashed uselessly into the rubble. "Is that the best you've got?" She called out. Then diving back towards the ground Diana prepared to continue dancing with her Dark Knight.

Bruce sat in the Batcave looking at the computer monitor. He'd gotten the new Tech from Fox and was ready to deliver it… Looking at the security tapes, he rested his chin on his folded hands, elbows propped up on the table. He'd been checking the watch tower security a lot lately. It was the only way he could convince himself that he didn't need to go up there. He couldn't go up there. If he did, he'd want to stay and sit with her… So he had contented himself over the last few days with watching her through the security monitors. She had been recovering nicely, and she had spent a lot of time staring at that little handkerchief he had left her with…

Swallowing, Bruce didn't want to even think about what her obsession with that cloth was doing to him, emotionally… Especially seeing where she stored it that morning when she was finally given her armor once more. The Wonder Woman outfit didn't exactly have pockets, so she had tucked it over her heart.

Checking the monitors to see what she was doing now, well, he wondered if Diana was a little upset at his lack of appetences over the past few days. Judging from how many hits she was landing on the training program version of him, he guessed she probably was.

He'd explained himself before and she had seemed to back off, now with the disaster of the comlink hack it seemed like Diana was going to be pushing things again. Problem being is that part of him wanted to be with her. That part of him was illogical, irrational and idiotic. It made Bruce feel like a school boy when he thought through that piece of him. He couldn't let it happen.

So lost in his thoughts, Bruce didn't even notice another presence in the room, until it was too late. "Woah! Wonder Woman is really wiping the floor with you." Tim stated in amazement and slight sympathy. The twelve year old handed his mentor a mug of tea. "So what did you do to make her so mad?"

Turning the screen off, Bruce spun his chair around to look at his ward fully. "Nothing." He said calmly, before taking a sip of the tea.

Tim cocked an eyebrow and shook his head, letting it go for now. Taking a sip of his own tea. "If you say so…"

Bruce sighed, he had to go to the watch tower today. He hoped he could keep it together around the Princess. At least she seemed back to normal.

Shayera was running the League. She had been for the last two days. Jo'an was still MIA due to his resignation and disappearance, Diana and Wally had been recovering, Green Lantern had put in a temporary leave of absence and gone who knows where, Superman had also dropped off the face of the Earth three days ago, and well Batman… He'd refused saying something about how badly Gotham had needed him the past few nights…. So after one day of leaderlessness, Shayera took command.

She was still trying to find out what had happened to Captain Atom and Lex after the rescue attempt. But it seemed that Lex was laying low and did not wish to be found at this time.

One thing Shayera was grateful for was that everyone was pretty well recovered now.

Shayera frowned, she deeply missed the comlinks, she had sent Super Girl out to try and find her cousin yesterday. The young adult had yet to return…

Sighing, Hawkgirl looked over the list of active members and those she could reach most easily. Superman had been under Lex's control, and had appeared to be better, but what if he wasn't… What if Super girl was battling her brain washed cousin this whole time with no way to communicate her plight? She should send a team to check on the cousins of steel.

Choice made, Shayera didn't exactly like it, but she'd send in what she had to work with that could be effective.

Flash was so happy to be able to run again. He chalked up his ability to wait the few days for his full recovery to the help of good friends. Shayera had practically moved into his room the first day and kept him company, until she found out that Creeper had taken control of the League and was well, being him… Let's just say Creeper wasn't good leader material. It would take a while before most of the watch tower residence got his laughter out of their nightmares as he had just gotten on the PA system and started broadcasting whatever he felt like between laughs…

Once Shayera had taken over command, Fire had been moved into the same recovery room as Flash was in. Hawkgirl had asked the Brazilian warrior if she would mind, and Fire was very happy to agree. It gave him something to focus on besides sitting still… And when he had tried to run off, Fire or Shayera had been quick to try and talk him out of it or convince him to stay. Though, he preferred Fire's form of persuasion to Shayera's. Fire was such a good kisser…. Shayera let her mace settle him down…. Owch.

Free at last, Flash was sitting at a table in the cafeteria with Bre. He had been so worried about the South American heroine when she had come in hurt from Roulette's fight club. Now that both heroes were well, the speedster was plotting another date. Taking a drink of his iced mocha frappuccino, Wally looked at the mint haired exotic model. "Sooooo…. I guess I had better thank you…" He began blushing under his mask. Trying to keep his nervous hands busy by fiddling with the straw in his drink.

"Thank me? For what?" Bre asked taking a drink of her own iced coffee.

Flash smiled softly, it was funny he normally was so comfortable flirting with girls, but Bre was different, he felt so shy around the confident Brazilian. "Well, I think the special medicine you gave me helped speed up my recovery a lot."

Bre looked at him oddly, "Medicine?"

Wally nodded leaning forward, "Yeah, just like this." He leaned in to peck Bre on the cheek, when he froze hearing his name being called.

"Flash!"

Already jittery from his flirtations, when Wally heard Shayera call out his name his speed kicked in, the rest of the world slowed to stop as Wally leapt up, and zipped across the room, behind Fire, around the table and finally stopped in front of the Thanigarian that now stood at the entrance of the cafeteria. "You called?" He asked trying to sound nonchalant.

Fire stood up as well and was looking around, trying to figure out where Wally had zipped off to.

Shayera sighed placing a hand to her forehead in exasperation, she hadn't meant to startle the speedster so. Cursing in Thanagar's native tongue, she turned to Bre, "Fire, you too."

Bre looked over and was glad to find her lunch date there as well.

Shayera walked with the pair to the training room, she had one more member of the group to pick up.

Laser red eyes landed on the amazon. Noting them, Diana was quick to hold up her bracelets. The twin lasers came for her and bounced away from her arms, as the amazon princess made her way closer. She had fought with Batman as Batman on several different difficulty levels this morning. Some she won, but at the higher levels the Bat had gotten the drop on her a few times. Deciding to play with the settings Diana had found it interesting that not only could she fight Batman, but she could pick another person's power set for that 'character' to use. Right now she was fighting Batman with a Superman power set. It was different that was for sure.

She had just reached where her combatant was, when the simulation ended and the room lost all of its color returning to white.

Diana frowned, and turned to find out who had shut down her practice.

Seeing Hawkgirl, Fire and Flash standing in the doorway, Diana ran a hand through her hair but bit back the complaint. "Yes?" she asked trying to keep herself to business.

Shayera could see that Diana had been testing herself, measuring her abilities, checking that she was once more fighting fit, and from her results, she was fine. "I have a mission for you." She stated simply, one hand on her hit sassily.

Diana nodded in understanding. Grabbing the towel and water bottle she had brought with her, she tossed the fluffy white towel over her shoulders and while walking out, took a good drink of the mountain fresh liquid.

Walking with them to the teleportation room, Hawkgirl started to lay out the mission, "The three of you are going to Superman's fortress of Solitude to check on him and Supergirl. I sent Kara yesterday and she has yet to return. I have no idea what you will face once you arrive."

Hawkgirl looked at the team standing before her, it was their first mission after recovery, and they were strong… it should be fine, even if Superman was not as fixed as they originally thought.

"Any questions?" She asked, using her training from her days in the Thanigarian army to help her lead. When no one spoke up, Shayera nodded, "Alright then if you would report to the- " The international phone rang. Frowning, Shayera answered it, "Hello?"

Listening for a few beats the Thanigarian nodded and hit some buttons on the teleporter. Moments later Batman and several boxes were on the watch tower.

Diana took another drink of her water, finishing the bottle. She was not going to let him know in front of everyone how upset with him she was that he had failed to visit her in the last few days. So she was trying to keep herself busy.

Batman looked around and saw the small group ready to head out, Diana was with them… She stood there looking heathy and strong. Watching the amazon finish her water bottle, he knew he was in a bad spot. She could make the most mundane things look breath taking to him… "I brought the new tech." He reported gesturing to the boxes.

Shayera nodded, "Thank you." She went over and took out a handful of new comlinks. Hawkgirl tossed three in the direction of the outgoing team. "Put these on. And take these to Clark and Kara." She added handing Flash two more of the communication devices.

Batman frowned, "They're visiting Clark?" He inquired, eyes narrowing fractionally. With a team of three it didn't look like it was just a quick friendly drop off… Plus the team had already been assembled before his arrival… He wanted answers now. All three members of that team had just finished recovering from bad fights, two of which had taken some of that damage from the Man of Steel himself….

Shayera sighed seeing the dark look Batman was shooting her, "Clark has been missing since the rescue, and I'm guessing he's in his fortress up North. I sent Kara to check it out yesterday and she hasn't come back…."

Unconsciously placing a hand on the lead lined pocket that contained the Kryptonite Bruce's frown deepened. "I'll go with them." He replied.

Opening her mouth to argue, Shayera felt the words die in her throat at the look he shot her. Her own heart clenching painfully. He was going and nothing she could say would dissuade him. Diana was going, and well Bruce always took the idea of dealing with a rouge Superman personally. Now that would be a fight worth seeing… maybe they'd make a movie – but Hollywood tends to mess things like that up… probably not a good idea. Still even if they weren't together, Shayera knew that look Batman had on his face, John used to get that look over her… Sometimes for a heartbeat she'd think she'd seen him look at her like that once more, but then there was Vixen… If they were on Thanigar then she could challenge her to a duel, or poison her water… But that's not how Earth worked, and not what heroes of Earth do…. Darn!

So lost in all her thoughts, Shayera realized she hadn't said anything yet, "Fine- Okay!" she bit throwing her hands up flustered at the direction her thoughts had headed. She would have emotionally done better to continue contemplating how Hollywood could possibly mess up a movie with Batman fighting Superman- it way less personal. Turning abruptly around she stormed over to the control panel once more, using her ruff steps to gain a measure of control over herself.

Bruce raised an eyebrow, something was obviously eating at Shayera, but for now he'd won. Moving the boxes of comlinks off to the side, he prepared for teleport. Fire, Flash and Wonder Woman – now minus the fluffy sports towel, were also in position.

Diana had seen the interaction between Bruce and Hawkgirl, she'd add it to her 'things to talk to Bruce about' list. She knew how Batman took Superman as his personal responsibility at times, but was that really the only reason he was coming on this mission? Her hand instinctively reaching up to rest on her left side of her chest – where the handkerchief was hidden.

The four of them were teleported down to the fortress of solitude.

John was trying to enjoy his drink. He'd gone to the Omega quadrant third moon of Galtos… It was loud, bustling with aliens from all parts of the galaxies, and the drinks here were sill maggot ridden swill water… and yet this is where he had gone… Why? He couldn't even begin to say. He had hated it when Shayera had brought him here for Christmas three years ago, he'd hated it again when he came here to think after her deception and departure… And yet here he was again after Mari left… If he'd wanted a drink the logical part of his brain wondered why he hadn't gone to a pub on Earth where the drinks were tolerable… Gazing it to the frothy white foam on top of his mug he sighed pushing it away from him again… Well, there was one other activity here that John didn't really mind losing himself in at the moment. Picking up the gray beer mug with a hand he then tossed the putrid, fermented, slop of a drink at another patron of the establishment. He wasn't disappointed as it became an all-out brawl. Maybe this would help him clear his head.

Kara was fuming. She paced the floor in the green house hall. It was the closest to actually being on Krypton, and she needed to clear her head. Her cousin was so – so- so thick headed! So what? He had lost his mind to Lex for a day. She'd had to deal with Roulette making her fight off and on for a week. She was flustered. Why was her cousin considering letting Luther win? He was talking nonsense about leaving to keep everyone else safe! Out raged she slammed her fist into one of the supports for the windows. It crumbled under her force and the glass it supported shattered and fell as well.

Clark had been sitting in the chair by his computer in the grand hall. Staring at the statues of his Krypton parents… Kara had tried so hard to change his mind… but he was still sure at this point he was a bigger threat to Earth than its protector, and with the League in place it would be taken care of…

The sound of shattering glass caught his ear. Standing up so abruptly that the chair clattered to the icy floor, Clark raced toward the green house, toward Kara.

"What happened here?" he demanded, looking around to see if there was a threat.

Kara stood there, surprised, with how low Kal was feeling, she'd never imagined him rushing to her rescue.

"I was just mad…" she murmured, crossing her arms and turning her back to her cousin to protect herself from the emotional chill she expected to come.

Clark let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, shoulders relaxing as the adrenaline started to leave his system. "Be more careful." He stated gently, "Soon I won't be here to protect you.."

Her eyes widening, and tearing up with crystalline tears, her arms trembled and her hands clenched hard into her arms from their crossed position. She wasn't thinking, as she let her emotions have control, "KAL!" she screamed, dropping her arms down to her sides spread out as if to add force to her plea. "You think that YOU leaving is going to help any of us?" Her blond hair snapping with her movements as sharp as her words. "YOU are a HUGE IDIOT!" Her water blue orbs cracking with emotion as she desperately tried to get through to him, "You leaving won't protect us! STOP and THINK please Clark! How will this help me? Lois? Mr. and Mrs. Kent?" She was breathing hard as she took a halting step forward, "You say you care, but if you leave… it won't help any of us… It's not what we WANT!" Still breathing hard Kara took another step forward, "Kal, Please…. Don't do this!"

Clark looked at his cousin… Kara, she was both younger and older than him. It was an odd feeling in that aspect. Right now she looked as if she the last daughter of Krypton were being torn apart from the inside just as the real planet had been… Clark wanted to go to her, to hug her and agree he was an idiot and wrong, that he was no threat to them. That he would always be there to protect them… He wanted to stop Kara's pain so badly, but he recalled how bad Wally and Diana had looked… and when Darkseid had taken control of him, how he'd hurt Kara herself…. How could he go to her now?

Taking a breath he leveled Kara's dishevel form with a sorrowful look, "Kara… I'm – I'm sorry." He clenched his fists trying to stand firm in his convictions, "I can't promise I won't hurt any of you in the future…" He was surprised that his voice didn't crack. He also was feeling the ragged emotions that Kara showed so easily. He just needed to hide them, if he fell prey to them now, he'd crumble and give in to stay… and then not today, not tomorrow, not next week but at some point he'd hurt those he cared about again… Maybe even kill someone! "No." He spoke hollowly. "Kara, I need to go."

He heard a strangled cry of what could be a wounded and dying animal as he turned his back. Talking to Kara only cemented his feeling to leave. He'd go before he let himself be talked out of his conviction… It was painful, but it needed to be done.

Kara had dropped to her knees and was sobbing, she couldn't stop him! He was leaving!

Superman walked back to the grand hall where he'd started at, there before him stood four of his teammates. The sounds of Kara's sobs echoed from where he'd left her, leaving all four faces to look at him disapprovingly.

"Mind telling us what's going on?" Diana asked stepping forward crossing her arms and pinning him with a look that demanded an explanation.

Clark sighed, he knew they weren't going to just let him take off for parts unknown… "I'm leaving Diana." He said evenly.

To be continued….